Objective:To investigate the prognostic significance of plasma fibrinogen (FIB) and D-dimer in elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) before any anti-cancer treatments.Methods:97 cases of patients with lung cancer (lung cancer group) and 36 healthy subjects (control group) were enrolled;the level of plasma D-dimer and FIB were compared;the relationship between their levels and clinical pathological factors of NSCLC as well as prognosis was analyzed.Results:The levels of plasma FIB and D-dimer in lung cancer group were higher than those in healthy control group (P＜0.05).FIB in lung cancer group was related to TNM stage,and D-dimer was related to lymph node metastasis and TNM stage.Univariate analysis showed that FIB,D-dimer,tumor size,lymph node metastasis and TNM staging were associated with overall survival time (OS) and progression free survival (PFS).Multivariate analysis revealed that only D-dimer and FIB were independent prognostic factors of patients with NSCLC.Conclusion:Detection of fibrinogen and D-dimer in elderly patients with NSCLC before anti-cancer treatment would be useful for prognosis and might provide a certain value for individualized therapy.

Objective:Through histological analysis, immunofluorescence staining, electrophysiological detection and Sensory and motor function evaluation to investigate the effects of 3D printed hydrogel scaffold combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in promoting functional recovery of spinal cord injury.Methods:10% GelMA hydrogel and 10 6 U stem cell suspension were prepared into bioink of appropriate concentration to construct the biomimetic spinal cord scaffold through 3D printing platform. The scaffold was placed in the medium and cultured in an environment of 37 ℃ CO 2 incubator. The microstructure of the scaffolds and the distribution of BMSC in the scaffolds was observed by scanning electron microscope. CAM/PI staining and confocal microscopy were used to observe the survival of stem cells in the scaffolds and determine the biocompatibility of the scaffolds. The scaffolds were implanted into the subcutaneous tissues of the back of rats, and the subcutaneous tissues were determined by HE staining to detect the immunogenicity of the scaffolds. After the rat model of hemicytoma defect was made, stents were transplanted for treatment, and confocal microscopy was used to evaluate the regeneration of neurons and axons in local area of spinal cord injury. At the same time, BBB score was used to evaluate motor function, mechanical pain score was used to evaluate sensory function, and surface electrode detection method was used to evaluate electrophysiological recovery weekly. Results:The long spindle shaped BSMC were uniformly distributed in the scaffold with a loose reticular structure. The scaffolds had good biocompatibility, and the cell survival rate of the prepared scaffolds reached 96% after 24 hours of printing. After 28 days of subcutaneous transplantation, the immune rejection was mild and immunogenicity was low. It was shown that the regenerated spinal cord tissue in the treatment group was significantly increased compared with the control group, which was widely distributed with cells after 28 days by HE staining. It was confirmed that part of the regenerated spinal cord tissue was neurons by immunohistochemical staining.Compared with the injured group, the regeneration of neurons and axons in the treatment group were significantly increased by immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy. In the treatment group, the BBB score recovered to 10 points, while the control group only recovered to about 1 point in the first week, which was statistically significant. And it recovered to 17 in the fourth week, while the control group only recovered to about 4 point in the four week, which was statistically significant. The Angle of inclined plate support of the treatment group was restored to 40 degrees, while it was only restored to 22 degrees in the control group. The pain threshold of the treatment group decreased to 18.5 points, which was not statistically different from that of the control group. The latent recovery effect of electrophysiology in the treatment group was the same as that in the sham operation group and better than that in the control group.Conclusion:3D printing hydrogel scaffold with loose network structure is suitable for cell proliferation. It has well biological survival, low cytotoxicity and low immunogenicity, which promoted neurons and axons to recovery and extend so as to effectively promote the recovery of motor function, sensory function and neural signal transmission rate after spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND:Lymph-targeted tracing and therapy based on carbon nanotubes have been one of the hottest researches on targeting tumor diagnosis and treatment. To evaluate the accumulation of carbon nanotubes in axil ary lymph node can provide experimental evidences for developing nano-tracers and drug carriers which are more lymph-specific and more biocompatible. OBJECTIVE:To study the accumulation of the intravenously injected carboxylated single-wal ed carbon nanotubes in axil ary lymph nodes of Sprague-Dawley rats, and to evaluate their effect on blood cel s. METHODS:Sixty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups. Rats in testing group were injected with carboxylated single-wal ed carbon nanotubes suspension (2 mg/kg), while those in control group were injected with 5%glucose solution (1 mL/kg), both through the tail vein, three times per week. Four periods of 7, 60, 90 and 120 days were set (the 120-day period referred to 90 days of administration fol owed by 30 days of drug withdrawal). At the end of each period, eight rats from each group were randomly picked out, to col ect blood samples via the abdominal aorta for blood routine test. Final y the axil ary lymph nodes were observed, and the lymph node samples of rats in the testing group were col ected and analyzed at 120 days by transmission electron microscope. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group, black staining of axil ary lymph nodes of rats in testing group was not obvious at the end of the 7-day period. However, with the increase of the dosing periods, the lymph nodes of the rats in the testing group became enlarged, firm and black stained, coupled with a significant rising in the percentage of blood neutrophils. After 30 days of drug withdrawal, the size of the rat axil ary lymph nodes was reduced and black staining partly faded, with the decreasing of blood neutrophil percentage. Under the transmission electron microscope, abundant carboxylated single-wal ed carbon nanotubes were uptaken by lymphocytes to form a large number of phagocytic vacuoles after drug withdrawal for 30 days. It indicates that the short-term tracing of rat axil ary lymph nodes by carboxylated single-wal ed carbon nanotubes injected through the tail vein is relatively weak, while the long-term intravenous injection can cause their accumulation in rat axil ary lymph nodes, coupled with the increase of neutrophils;after drug withdrawal, the carboxylated single-wal ed carbon nanotubes can be slowly cleared by the lymph nodes.

Objectives:To analyze the correction of postoperative coronal imbalance in adult degenerative scoliosis patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery,and to explore the impact of leveling of the most tilted vertebra(L4 or L5)in the lumbosacral curve on the correction of coronal imbalance.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 61 patients(17 male and 44 female;aged 51 to 78 years,mean 63.57±8.41 years;body mass index 15.79-35.55kg/m2,mean 25.83±3.69kg/m2)who underwent degenerative scoliosis correction surgery between January 2019 and March 2023 in Tianjin Union Medical Center.The patients were catego-rized based on the Obeid classification and the length of fusion segments into concave long segment group(17 cases),concave short segment group(15 cases),convex long segment group(15 cases),and convex short seg-ment group(14 cases).Coronal radiographic parameters[Cobb angle,coronal balance distance(CBD),coronal tilt angle]and sagittal radiographic parameters(sagittal vertical axis,thoracic kyphosis,lumbar lordosis,pelvic inci-dence,pelvic tilt,sacral slope)were measured on full spine anteroposterior and lateral X-rays preoperatively and on 3d postoperatively.The postoperative coronal and sagittal imbalance corrections were compared be-tween groups.Pearson correlation analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between the correction ratio of the maximal coronal tilt angle in the lumbosacral curve(L4 or L5)and postoperative CBD.The opera-tive time,blood loss,and visual analogue scale(VAS)pre-and postoperatively were compared between the four groups.Results:The postoperative coronal Cobb angle,CBD,and maximal coronal tilt angle at L4 or L5 of the concave long segment group,convex long segment group,and convex short segment group were statisti-cally different from those before operation(P＜0.05).In the concave short segment group,the postoperative coronal Cobb angle and maximal coronal tilt angle at L4 or L5 were significantly different from those before operation(P＜0.05),while no significant difference was found between pre-and postoperative CBD(P=0.085).Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation(r=-0.570,P＜0.01)between postoperative CBD and coronal tilt correction ratio in the convex group,with the linear regression equation being postoper-ative CBD=32.81-28.38 x coronal tilt correction ratio.When the correction ratio of the maximal coronal tilt angle at L4 or L5 exceeding 45％in convex coronal malalignment patients,it's predicted that the CBD could be corrected to within 20mm.No significant correlation was found between postoperative CBD and the coronal tilt correction ratio in the concave group(r=0.098,P=0.59).Patients in both the convex and concave short segment groups had shorter operative time and less blood loss than long segment groups.Postoperative VAS scores improved significantly in all groups(P＜0.05).Conclusions:In adult degenerative scoliosis patients with convex coronal malalignment,both short and long segment fusions are capable of correcting coronal imbalance.Concave coronal malalignment patients require long segment fusion for the correction of coronal imbalance.To achieve optimal coronal balance in convex coronal malalignment patients,a correction ratio of the maximal coronal tilt angle at L4 or L5 shall exceed 45％.

Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) represents a variety of sensorineural deafness conditions characterized by abnormal inner hair cells and/or auditory nerve function, but with the preservation of outer hair cell function. ANSD represents up to 15％ of individuals with hearing impairments. Through mutation screening, bioinformatic analysis and expression studies, we have previously identified several apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) mitochondria-associated 1 (AIFM1) variants in ANSD families and in some other sporadic cases. Here, to elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms underlying each AIFM1 variant, we generated AIF-null cells using the clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system and constructed AIF-wild type (WT) and AIF-mutant (mut) (p.T260A, p.R422W, and p.R451Q) stable transfection cell lines. We then analyzed AIF structure, coenzyme-binding affinity, apoptosis, and other aspects. Results revealed that these variants resulted in impaired dimerization, compromising AIF function. The reduction reaction of AIF variants had proceeded slower than that of AIF-WT. The average levels of AIF dimerization in AIF variant cells were only 34.5％?49.7％ of that of AIF-WT cells, resulting in caspase-independent apoptosis. The average percentage of apoptotic cells in the variants was 12.3％?17.9％, which was significantly higher than that (6.9％?7.4％) in controls. However, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) treatment promoted the reduction of apoptosis by rescuing AIF dimerization in AIF variant cells. Our findings show that the impairment of AIF dimerization by AIFM1 variants causes apoptosis contributing to ANSD, and introduce NADH as a potential drug for ANSD treatment. Our results help elucidate the mechanisms of ANSD and may lead to the provision of novel therapies.

Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) represents a variety of sensorineural deafness conditions characterized by abnormal inner hair cells and/or auditory nerve function, but with the preservation of outer hair cell function. ANSD represents up to 15% of individuals with hearing impairments. Through mutation screening, bioinformatic analysis and expression studies, we have previously identified several apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) mitochondria-associated 1 (AIFM1) variants in ANSD families and in some other sporadic cases. Here, to elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms underlying each AIFM1 variant, we generated AIF-null cells using the clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system and constructed AIF-wild type (WT) and AIF-mutant (mut) (p.‍T260A, p.‍R422W, and p.‍R451Q) stable transfection cell lines. We then analyzed AIF structure, coenzyme-binding affinity, apoptosis, and other aspects. Results revealed that these variants resulted in impaired dimerization, compromising AIF function. The reduction reaction of AIF variants had proceeded slower than that of AIF-WT. The average levels of AIF dimerization in AIF variant cells were only 34.5%‍‒‍49.7% of that of AIF-WT cells, resulting in caspase-independent apoptosis. The average percentage of apoptotic cells in the variants was 12.3%‍‒‍17.9%, which was significantly higher than that (6.9%‍‒‍7.4%) in controls. However, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) treatment promoted the reduction of apoptosis by rescuing AIF dimerization in AIF variant cells. Our findings show that the impairment of AIF dimerization by AIFM1 variants causes apoptosis contributing to ANSD, and introduce NADH as a potential drug for ANSD treatment. Our results help elucidate the mechanisms of ANSD and may lead to the provision of novel therapies.
Humans ; Apoptosis Inducing Factor/metabolism* ; NAD/metabolism* ; Dimerization ; Apoptosis