BACKGROUND:Clinical treatment of hemivertebrae-induced congenital scoliosis is a complex medical problem. OBJECTIVE:To find the optimal treatment for hemivertebrae accompanied by congenital scoliosis.
METHODS:Total y 142 hemivertebrae patients who had received surgical treatment in the Department of Orthopedics, the 306 Hospital of Chinese PLA, China from 2010 to 2012 were enrol ed. The main surgical treatment was hemivertebrae resection and bone fusion with internal fixation, apical osteotomy for severe scoliosis and spinal shortening with internal fixation, one-stage posterior thoracolumbar osteotomy with internal fixation, spinal decompression with internal fixation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After treatment, the average correction rate was 70.9%for scoliosis and 71.7%for kyphosis. The fol ow-up period was 14-35 months, with an average of 23.4 months. By the end of the final fol ow-up, the loss rate for Cobb’s angle was 7.3%for scoliosis and 7.7%for kyphosis. Fol ow-up X-ray films showed bone fusion and internal fixation without loosening, fracture, and decompensation. Implementation of one-stage posterior thoracolumbar osteotomy with internal fixation can effectively correct hemivertebrae-induced kyphoscoliosis to obtain a satisfactory spinal sagittal and coronal balance.

Objective: To explore the correlation between obesity and first ejaculation in boys aged 11-18 years old in Ningxia in 2019, and to provide the theoretical reference for puberty development among obese boys. Methods: Using the method of stratified random cluster sampling, 5 240 boys aged 11- 18 were selected from Yinchuan, Zhongwei, Wuzhong and Guyuan in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Height, weight, and first ejaculation were obtained.Body mass index (BMI) was calculated to determine nutritional status, and the χ 2 test was used to compare the differences between groups of nutritional status; the probability unit regression method was used to calculater the soth percentile age at ejaculation, and the U test was applied to compare the differences in age at ejaculation between groups. Results: The rates of overweight and obesity among boys aged 11 to 18 years in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in 2019 were 15.5% and 8.8%. The detection rate of overweight and obesity among urban boys was 17.8% and 10.5% and the detection rate of overweight and obesity among rural boys was 12.9% and 6.9%,respectively. The 50 th percentile age at half ejaculation among urban boys aged 11 to 18 years was 14.94 years; the 50 th percentile age at ejaculation among rural boys was 15.33 years( P <0.01). The 50 th percentile age at ejaculation was 15.61, 15.10, 15.05 and 15.05 years for boys in the wasted, normal weight, overweight and obese groups, respectively. Conclusion Nutritional status was not associated with age at first ejaculation in the present study,but warrants farther investigation.

Objective: To understand the nutritional status and physical quality of children and adolescents aged 6-18 in Ningxia in 2019, so as to provide scientific basis for health promotion children and adolescents. Methods: A total of 16 076 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years old from Ningxia were selected by multi stage stratified cluster random sampling. Weight, height and physical fitness indexes (50 m running, standing long jump, sitting forward flexion) were measured and analyzed. The Chi square test was carried out to compare differences between groups, and the relationship between nutritional status and physical fitness was assessed by Logistic regression models. Results: In 2019, detection rate of stunting loss rate, overweight and obesity rate of children and adolescents aged 6-18 in Ningxia were 6.9%, 12.6% and 8.7%, respectively. The below average rates of sitting forward flexion, 50 m running and standing long jump were 10.0%, 8.6% and 26.7%, respectively, while the passing rates were 63.5%, 63.7% and 55.5%, respectively. The good rates were 14.7%, 11.7% and 12.3%, and the excellent rates were 11.8%, 16.0 % and 5.5%, respectively. The passing rates of sitting forward flexion, 50 m running and standing long jump in stunting group were lower than those in the normal weight group ( OR=0.75, 0.72, 0.77, P ＜0.05); the passing rates of 50 m run and standing long jump in the overweight group was lower than that of normal weight group ( OR=0.79, 0.52, P ＜0.05); the passing rates of sitting forward flexion, 50 m running and standing long jump in the obese group were lower than those in the normal weight group ( OR=0.73, 0.52, 0.32, P ＜0.05). Conclusion In 2019, children and adolescents in Ningxia have the doublel burden of stunting, overweight and obesity. Physical fitness is associated with nutritional status, suggesting weight control might be helpful to keep fitness among children and adolescents.

Objective: To investigate the trend of overweight and obesity among Han students aged 7-18 in Ningxia from the year of 2000 to 2019, and to provide scientific basis for obesity prevention and control among children and adolescents. Methods: Based on the five waves of "National Student Physical Fitness and Health Survey" in Ningxia region during 2000 to 2019, body weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference and other data of Han students aged 7-18 years were included was used for trend analysis. Results: In 2019, the detection rates of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 in Ningxia were 13.34% (1 181/8 855) and 9.19% (814/8 855), respectively. The increase rate of overweight and obesity in boys from 2000 to 2019 was 11.68% and 10.07% ( χ 2=27.60, P <0.01). The rate of overweight and obesity in female students from 2000 to 2019 was 6.95% and 5.77% ( χ 2=33.82, P <0.01). Urban boys had the highest rates of overweight and obesity, which were 11.38% and 10.45%. The growth rate of overweight and obesity in rural boys was higher than that in urban boys after 2010 ( χ 2=13.90,17.09, P < 0.05), and the growth rate of obesity in rural girls was higher than that in urban girls after 2014 ( χ 2=9.94, 33.39, P <0.05). Overweight and obesity prevalence showed positive associations with the economic status in both urban and rural areas ( χ 2=35.19, 35.35, P <0.01). Conclusion From 2000 to 2019, the prevalence of overweight and obesity and body mass index among children and adolescents in Ningxia increased consistently, with more rigirous in rural areas. Specific strategies and measures for overweight and obesity prevention in children and adolescents are in urgent need, to reduce potential social and economic burden.

Objective: To understand the influencing factors underlying physical exercise behavior among children and adolescents aged 9-18 years in Ningxia, China, in 2019, and to provide suggestions for physical exercise among children and adolescents by adopting a social ecological model. Methods: Based on data related to 12 018 children and adolescents in Ningxia aged 9-18 years old which were obtained from the National Survey on Students Constitution and Health in 2019, the survey questions scored based on the four levels of the social ecological model. Results: The proportion of children and adolescents who engaged in physical exercise for less than 1 hour a day accounted for 55.97% of the total number of people in Ningxia. Regardless of whether they were able to engage in enough physical activity, individual factors played a dominant role in influencing the behavior of the children and adolescents, and an interaction was found between influencing factors at different levels( r=-0.01, 0.01, -0.08, 0.04, P <0.01). The results of the stepwise regression analysis showed that the personal factors e.g. sports makes me healthy, I don t have enough time, muscle strength exercise, I have no movement of any relationship partner, sports make me know partner, policy in the number of physical education, number of sports meeting in a school year, the average daily lesson hold number all affect children s sports activities in time( B =-0.05-0.16, P <0.01). Conclusions The lack of physical exercise among children and adolescents in Ningxia is the result of multiple factors. Comprehensive and diversified intervention should be administered from a socio ecological framework to promote the formation of physical exercise habits among children and adolescents.

Objective:To investigate the prognosis of patients with initially resectable gastric cancer liver metastasis (GCLM) who were treated by different modalities, and analyze the influencing factors for prognosis of patients.Methods:The retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 327 patients with initially resectable GCLM who were included in the database of a nationwide multicenter retrospective cohort study on GCLM based on real-world data from January 2010 to December 2019 were collected. There were 267 males and 60 females, aged 61(54,68)years. According to the specific situations of patients, treatment modalities included radical surgery combined with systemic treatment, palliative surgery combined with systemic treatment, and systemic treatment alone. Observation indicators: (1) clinical characteristics of patients who were treated by different modalities; (2) prognostic outcomes of patients who were treated by different modalities; (3) analysis of influencing factors for prognosis of patients with initially resectable GCLM; (4) screening of potential beneficiaries in patients who were treated by radical surgery plus systemic treatment and patients who were treated by palliative surgery plus systemic treatment. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the independent sample t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M( Q1, Q3), and comparison between groups was conducted using the rank sum test. Count data were described as absolute numbers or percentages, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rate and draw survival curve, and Log-Rank test was used for survival analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using the COX proportional hazard regression model. The propensity score matching was employed by the 1:1 nearest neighbor matching method with a caliper value of 0.1. The forest plots were utilized to evaluate potential benefits of diverse surgical combined with systemic treatments within the population. Results:(1) Clinical characteristics of patients who were treated by different modalities. Of 327 patients, there were 118 cases undergoing radical surgery plus systemic treatment, 164 cases undergoing palliative surgery plus systemic treatment, and 45 cases undergoing systemic treatment alone. There were significant differences in smoking, drinking, site of primary gastric tumor, diameter of primary gastric tumor, site of liver metastasis, and metastatic interval among the three groups of patients ( P<0.05). (2) Prognostic outcomes of patients who were treated by different modalities. The median overall survival time of the 327 pati-ents was 19.9 months (95% confidence interval as 14.9-24.9 months), with 1-, 3-year overall survival rate of 61.3%, 32.7%, respectively. The 1-year overall survival rates of patients undergoing radical surgery plus systemic treatment, palliative surgery plus systemic treatment and systemic treatment alone were 68.3%, 63.1%, 30.6%, and the 3-year overall survival rates were 41.1%, 29.9%, 11.9%, showing a significant difference in overall survival rate among the three groups of patients ( χ2=19.46, P<0.05). Results of further analysis showed that there was a significant difference in overall survival rate between patients undergoing radical surgery plus systemic treatment and patients undergoing systemic treatment alone ( hazard ratio=0.40, 95% confidence interval as 0.26-0.61, P<0.05), between patients undergoing palliative surgery plus systemic treatment and patients under-going systemic treatment alone ( hazard ratio=0.47, 95% confidence interval as 0.32-0.71, P<0.05). (3) Analysis of influencing factors for prognosis of patients with initially resectable GCLM. Results of multivariate analysis showed that the larger primary gastric tumor, poorly differentiated tumor, larger liver metastasis, multiple hepatic metastases were independent risk factors for prognosis of patients with initially resectable GCLM ( hazard ratio=1.20, 1.70, 1.20, 2.06, 95% confidence interval as 1.14-1.27, 1.25-2.31, 1.04-1.42, 1.45-2.92, P<0.05) and immunotherapy or targeted therapy, the treatment modality of radical or palliative surgery plus systemic therapy were independent protective factors for prognosis of patients with initially resectable GCLM ( hazard ratio=0.60, 0.39, 0.46, 95% confidence interval as 0.42-0.87, 0.25-0.60, 0.30-0.70, P<0.05). (4) Screening of potentinal beneficiaries in patients who were treated by radical surgery plus systemic treatment and patients who were treated by palliative surgery plus systemic treatment. Results of forest plots analysis showed that for patients with high-moderate differentiated GCLM and patients with liver metastasis located in the left liver, the overall survival rate of patients undergoing radical surgery plus systemic treatment was better than patients undergoing palliative surgery plus systemic treatment ( hazard ratio=0.21, 0.42, 95% confidence interval as 0.09-0.48, 0.23-0.78, P<0.05). Conclusions:Compared to systemic therapy alone, both radical and palliative surgery plus systemic therapy can improve the pro-gnosis of patients with initially resectable GCLM. The larger primary gastric tumor, poorly differen-tiated tumor, larger liver metastasis, multiple hepatic metastases are independent risk factors for prognosis of patients with initial resectable GCLM and immunotherapy or targeted therapy, the treatment modality of radical or palliative surgery plus systemic therapy are independent protective factors for prognosis of patients with initially resectable GCLM.

Astaxanthine (AST) has important biological activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects that could alleviate neurological and heart diseases, but its role in the prevention of cisplatin-induced hearing loss (CIHL) is not yet well understood. In our study, a steady interaction between AST and the E3 ligase adapter Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1, a predominant repressor of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), was performed and tested via computer molecular docking and dynamics. AST protected against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity via NRF2 mediated pathway using quantitative PCR and Western blotting. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential revealed that AST reduced ROS overexpression and mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, AST exerted anti-apoptosis effects in mouse cochlear explants using immunofluorescence staining and HEI-OC1 cell lines using quantitative PCR and Western blotting. Finally, AST combined with poloxamer was injected into the middle ear through the tympanum, and the protection against CIHL was evaluated using the acoustic brain stem test and immunofluorescent staining in adult mice. Our results suggest that AST reduced ROS overexpression, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis via NRF2-mediated pathway in cisplatin-exposed HEI-OC1 cell lines and mouse cochlear explants, finally promoting cell survival. Our study demonstrates that AST is a candidate therapeutic agent for CIHL.

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), a fatal heart disease characterized by fibroadipocytic replacement of cardiac myocytes, accounts for 20% of sudden cardiac death and lacks effective treatment. It is often caused by mutations in desmosome proteins, with Desmoglein-2 (DSG2) mutations as a common etiology. However, the mechanism underlying the accumulation of fibrofatty in ACM remains unknown, which impedes the development of curative treatment. Here we investigated the fat accumulation and the underlying mechanism in a mouse model of ACM induced by cardiac-specific knockout of Dsg2 (CS-Dsg2 ^-/-). Heart failure and cardiac lipid accumulation were observed in CS-Dsg2 ^-/- mice. We demonstrated that these phenotypes were caused by decline of fatty acid (FA) β-oxidation resulted from impaired mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. Rapamycin worsened while overexpression of mTOR and 4EBP1 rescued the FA β-oxidation pathway in CS-Dsg2 ^-/- mice. Reactivation of PPARα by fenofibrate or AAV9-Pparα significantly alleviated the lipid accumulation and restored cardiac function. Our results suggest that impaired mTOR-4EBP1-PPARα-dependent FA β-oxidation contributes to myocardial lipid accumulation in ACM and PPARα may be a potential target for curative treatment of ACM.

Objective    To investigate the expression of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) in thymocytes of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and its effect on cytokine secretion and T cell proliferation. Methods    Patients with MG who underwent expanded thoracoscopic thymectomy in the Comprehensive Diagnosis and Treatment Center of the Henan Provincial People’s Hospital from June 2021 to June 2022 were selected and allocated to a MG group. Patients who underwent partial thymectomy to expose the surgical field during the cardiac disease surgery from June 2021 to September 2022 in the Department of Adult Cardiac Surgery of Fuwai Huazhong Cardiovascular Hospital were selected as the control group. Thymic single cell suspensions were prepared from MG and control groups, and the expression of α7 nAChR in thymocytes of the two groups was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Then CD3/CD28 monoclonal antibody coupled with magnetic beads was used to induce T cell activation, and the levels of cytokines interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and IL-21 in thymocytes of the two groups were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The activated T cells of the MG group were divided into a blank control group, an α7 nAChR antagonist group, and an α7 nAChR agonist group according to different treatment methods. After 72 hours of culture, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and IL-21 expression levels in the culture supernatant were measured by ELISA. Afterwards, CD4-PE and CD8-APC antibodies were added, and the proliferation of T cell subsets was detected by flow cytometry. Results    A total of 10 MG patients were collected, including 3 males and 7 females with an average age of 19.25±6.28 years; and 15 control patients were collected, including 6 males and 9 females with an average age of 26.18±6.77 years. Compared with the control group, the mRNA and protein levels of α7 nAChR in the thymocytes of MG group were decreased, and the expression levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-21 in the supernatant were increased (P<0.05), but there was no statistical difference in the expression of IL-10 and IL-17 (P>0.05). The cell-culture experiment showed that compared with the blank control group, the levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-21 secreted by T cells in the α7 nAChR antagonist group were increased (P<0.05), while they were decreased in the α7 nAChR agonist group (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the secretion levels of IL-4, IL-10 or IL-17 among the three groups (P>0.05). CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells in the α7 nAChR agonist group were significantly less than those in the blank control group and α7 nAChR antagonist group (P<0.001), while they were significantly more in the α7 nAChR antagonist group than those in the blank control group (P<0.001). Conclusion    The expression of α7 nAChR in thymocytes of MG patients is decreased, and α7 nAChR may be involved in the inflammatory response in thymocytes and thus in thymic function.