Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of a disintegrin and metalloprotease 12 silenced by shR?NA on self-renewal capacity of CD133 positive giloma cells. Methods The shRNA recombinant lentivirus aimed at si?lencing ADAM12 was prepared. Human glioma cells U87 were employed in this study and assigned into three groups:shRNA-ADAM12, shRNA-NCandshRNA-C. ADAM12 expression was detected at mRNA and protein level using Re?al-time quantitative-PCR and western bloting, respectively. U87 cells were cultured with stem cell culture medium, to obtain cell sphere formation in which CD133 positive glioma cells were enriched. Immunofluorescence was employed to detect the expression of ADAM12 and CD133 in cell spheres and U87 cells; Self-renewal was tested by using tumor sphere formation assay. Molecular markers for differentiated or undifferentiated cells (CD133,GFAP and Tuj1) were de?tected at protein using western blotting. Western blotting was employed to test protein expression of HES1. Results AD?AM12 shRNA significantly down-regulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of ADAM12. Compared with shRNA–C group, the relative expression levels of mRNA in shRNA-ADAM12 group and shRNA-NC group were 0.22 ± 0.03 and 0.98 ± 0.06 (F=425.37,P<0.01). The relative expression levels of protein in shRNA-ADAM12 group, shRNA-NC group and shRNA-C group were 28.72%±2.36%, 69.21%±3.92%and 69.04%±3.57%, respectively (F=145.42,P<0.01). Immunofluorescence staining showed that expression levels of ADAM12 and CD133 in cell spheres were significantly higher than those in normal cells. The number of spheres in three groups were 45.5±2.3、104.2±5.8 and 109.6±6.2, tumor sphere formation ability of shRNA-ADAM12 group was lower than that of shRNA-NC group and shRNA-C group (F=147.03,P<0.01). Compared with the shRNA-NC group and shRNA-C group, the protain expression of GFAP and Tuj1 were increased up to 166% and 146% (P<0.01) whereas the protein expression levels of CD133 and HES1 were down-regulated by 54% and 50% (P<0.01). Conclusion Knockdown of ADAM12 may suppress self-renewal ability of CD133 positive glioma cells by inhibiting the Notch pathway activity.

Objective:To explore the clinical pathological characteristics and improve the recognition in the diagnosis and treatment of incidental (stage T1a -T1b)prostate cancer.Methods:Seven hundred and seventy-one patients who underwent TURP from May 2004 to September 2013 were analyzed retro-spectively.In our institution,TURP specimens should be totally submitted in an extensive sampling method.The tumor area was outlined by estimation of an experienced genitourinary pathologist and calcu-lated by the image analysis system software (Image J 1.47 h).The tumor area was then multiplied by the thickness of tissue.The total sum of all tumor volume was the estimated tumor volume.The clinical and pathological factors,follow-up results were obtained and we aimed to collect information about the period of watchful waiting (WW),PSA progression status,intervention status during the follow-up,the reason for intervention on WW and the type of intervention.Results:The average age of 771 patients was (71.3 ±5.9)years old,and the average BMI was (23.9 ±3.1)kg/m2 ,preoperative average tPSA was (4.4 ±2.8)μg/L.Eighty-six (11.2%)cases of incidental prostate cancer were detected.The patients in T1a group (77 cases,89.5%)had tumor volumes of (12.3 ±12.6)mm3 ,and the patients in T1b group had tumor volumes of (105.1 ±41.8)mm3 .The range of tumor volume was 0.4 -180.2 mm3 . The volume of all the 86 cases was less than 500 mm3 as the threshold of insignificant cancer.All the pa-tients were managed by WW.The mean follow-up time was 88.9 (27.9 -150.1)months.The Gleason score was <7 in 79 patients,and ≥7 in 7 patients.There was no significant difference in age,preopera-tive tPSA,preoperative PSAD,postoperative tPSA,prostate volume and TURP resection between T1a group and T1b group (P >0.05).Among 84 patients without follow-up losts,PSA progression occurred in 5 patients.One T1a patient underwent radical prostatectomy (RP)as an intervention,and 3 patients underwent hormone therapy.One patient in T1b group underwent radiotherapy for PSA progression and one was treated because of patient preference without evidence of disease progression.There were no pa-tients who died due to prostate cancer.Conclusion:Eighty-six (11.2%)cases of incidental prostate cancer were detected.The tumor volume of all the cases was insignificant cancer.The clinical outcomes of IPCa were satisfactory with the initial treatment of WW in the Chinese population.

OBJECTIVETo assess the clinical effect and safety of the Chinese medicine Longbishu Capsule combined with mesylate doxazosin in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) of the kidney deficiency and blood stagnation type.

METHODSThis was a randomized, double-blind, double-simulation control study. We equally assigned 60 men diagnosed with BPH of the kidney deficiency and blood stagnation type to an experimental and a control group, the former treated with mesylate doxazosin plus Longbishu Capsule and the latter with mesylate doxazosin plus placebo. We compared the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL), Chinese symptom score (CSS), maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), and prostate volume between the two groups of patients before and after 6 months of medication.

RESULTSAfter treatment, there were 5 cured cases, 13 markedly effective cases, 9 effective cases, 1 ineffective case, and 2 eliminated cases in the experimental group, as compared with 2 cured cases, 8 markedly effective cases, 10 effective cases, 7 ineffective cases, and 3 eliminated cases in the control group. The total effectiveness rate was obviously higher in the former (96.4%) than in the latter (74.1%). IPSS, Qmax, and CSS were improved in both of the groups after medication, even more significantly in the experimental than in the control group (IPSS: 15.22 ± 2.98 vs 18.15 ± 5.88, P <0.05; Qmax: [13.56 ± 2.26] ml/s vs [11.78 ± 2.97] ml/s, P <0.05; CSS: 6.18 ± 2.13 vs 9.52 ± 3.15, P <0.05). Because of the difference in the QOL score between the two groups at the baseline (P = 0.038 <0.05), no more comparison was made in this aspect after treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of Longbishu Capsule with mesylate doxazosin is safe and effective for the treatment of BPH.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Capsules ; Double-Blind Method ; Doxazosin ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome ; Urination

Objective:To investigate the consistency of myocardial extracellular volume between systole and diastole using dual-layer detector spectral CT.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. Thirty-five patients who underwent cardiac spectral CT examination in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from April 2022 to December 2022 were retrospectively collected. Hematocrit was collected within 3 days before the CT scan. The delayed phases holographic spectral images in systole (45%) and diastole (75%) were obtained using dual-layer spectral CT. CT data were processed using a spectral post-processing workstation, and the extracellular volume (ECV) based on iodine density images, referred as CT-ECV, in systolic and diastolic phases were calculated, respectively. According to the American Heart Association′s 16-segment model of left ventricular, the standard short-axis images were constructed, and the myocardium was standardized into 16 segments at the basal, mid-cavity, and apical levels of the left ventricle. Two radiologists performed a subjective evaluation in the image quality of the CT-ECV images of the whole heart and the three sections in systole and diastole using a "five-point" scale. The ECV of the 16 segments and the whole heart in systole and diastole was calculated. The consistency of subjective evaluations between systole and diastole was assessed using Kappa statistics. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare the differences in scores between systole and diastole. Paired sample t-test was used to compare the differences in CT-ECV scores between systole and diastole. The intraclass correlation coefficient was used to test the intra-and inter-observer consistency of CT-ECV measurements between two radiologists. P<0.05 was statistically significant. Results:There was good agreement between the two radiologists on subjective scores of CT-ECV image quality between systole and diastole ( Kappa>0.80), and there was no statistical difference in image quality among the basal, mid-cavity, and apical levels of the left ventricle and whole heart between systole and diastole ( P>0.05). The systolic and diastolic CT-ECV for the entire heart obtained through the delay phase were (33.29±3.46)% and (33.50±3.39)%, respectively, with no statistically significant difference ( t=-0.78, P=0.442). CT-ECV in systole and diastole were (34.15±3.94)% and (35.30±3.99)% for segment 8, (34.03±3.76)% and (35.46±3.74)% for segment 9, and (33.98±3.32)% and (35.05±3.98)% for segment 14, respectively. The mean values of the systolic CT-ECV of segments 8, 9 and 14 were significantly lower than those of diastolic CT-ECV ( t=-2.65, -3.26, -2.42, P=0.012, 0.003, 0.022, respectively). The ICCs for CT-ECV measurements of 16 segments by the two radiologists were greater than 0.90 in both systolic and diastolic, indicating good agreement. Conclusions:There is no significant difference in whole heart CT-ECV values between systolic and diastolic myocardial ECV based on dual-layer spectral CT. However, minor differences (less than 2%) are found between systolic and diastolic myocardial CT-ECV for some segments. Myocardial CT-ECV measurement should be performed on the same segment during the same phase to obtain stable and accurate ECV values.

Galangal (Alpinia officinaruim Hance) is the rhizome of the perennial herb belonging to Zingiberaceae family. There are many active components in galangal, such as volatile oil, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids and glycosides, among which the content of volatile oil is higher. The bioactivities of galangal volatile oil on health effect includesanti-inflammatory, anti-hypertension, anti-oxidation and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a kind of diseases related to circulatory system, which is also called circulatory system diseases. Over the past decade, the number of people dying from CVD has increased by 12.5％ worldwide, and it is now the leading cause of human death worldwide. Studies have shown that galangal volatile oil has good pharmacological effects in treating CVD. ① Regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism: studies have found that abnormal lipid metabolism can lead to obesity, diabetes, CVD and other diseases. The serum total triglyceride (TG) content in liver and serum will increase in patients with abnormal fat metabolism. The results showed that the volatile oil of galangal could increase the excretion of neutral cholesterol, significantly reduce liver TG and serum TG, and thus regulate glucose and lipid metabo?lism, prevent lipid deposition and prevent CVD. ② Improving insulin resistance (IR): inhibition of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6 activation and expression of TNF-α, improves IR, thereby protecting myocardium from IR-mediated damage. Through the establishment of endothelial cell injury model induced by high glucose in vitro, it was found that the volatile oil of galangal can significantly reduce the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-αand IL-8, and inhib?it the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 induced by high glucose, suggesting that it has protective effect on endothelial dysfunction and inflammation induced by high glucose.③Regulate blood oxygenation:during acute myocardial hypoxia, the activity of free radical scavenging system is decreased, and oxygen free radicals are produced in large quantity, which reacts with unsaturated fatty acids on the cell membrane and forms lipid peroxidation, resulting in myocardial structural damage. The results showed that the water extract of Galangal could reduce the content of MDA in blood and protect the SOD activity of ischemic and hypoxic myocardium.④ Protective effect of vascular endothelial cells (ES):ES injury is the pathological basis of some cardiovascular diseases. The results showed that the volatile oil of galangal had a protective effect on ES apoptosis. Compared with the morphology and activity of ES treated with oxidized LDL, galan?gal volatile oil could ameliorate these morphological changes and improve cell viability. ⑤ Antiplatelet agglutination:inhibit platelet aggregation and thromboxane release, improve blood circulation, and have obvious anti-thrombotic effect, which has a good effect on the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The results showed that the volatile oil of galangal had inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation and anticoagulant effect. In conclusion, the volatile oil of galangal can be used to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases. Based on the mechanism of CVD, this study summa?rized the role of the essential oil of Alpinia officinaruim in CVD, providing basis for the clinical application of alpiniaoffici?nalis essential oil in the prevention and treatment of CVD and the development of new drugs.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effects of antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate-autologous iliac bone combined with sural neurocutaneous flap in the one-stage treatment of chronic calcaneus osteomyelitis plus skin and soft tissue defects.Methods:From January 2013 to September 2019, 48 patients were admitted to Department of Orthopedic Trauma, Xi'an Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University for chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis complicated with skin and soft tissue defects. They were divided into 2 groups according to different bone grafts. In group A of 26 patients treated at one stage by antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate-autologous iliac bone combined with sural neurocutaneous flap, there were 16 males and 10 females with an age of (45.0±11.7) years and an area of skin defect of (56.0±16.7) cm 2. In group B of 22 patients treated at one stage by simple autologous iliac bone combined with sural neurocutaneous flap, there were 13 males and 9 females with an age of (43.6±9.6) years and an area of skin defect of (53.8±16.2) cm 2. The volume of the ilium harvested, fracture healing time, infection control, donor site complications, pain score of visual analogue scale (VAS) and function recovery of the ankle were compared between the 2 groups. Results:There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 2 groups, showing comparability ( P>0.05). The 48 patients were followed up for (15.3±6.0) months. Group A had a significantly smaller volume of the ilium harvested [(67.3±14.1) cm 3] than group B [(90.7±23.5) cm 3], a significantly lower rate of donor site complications [3.8% (1/26)] than group B [31.8% (7/22)], significantly lower VAS pain scores at 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours than group B, and significantly lower WBC count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein at 2, 4, 8 weeks after operation than group B (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in the infection control rate [96.2% (25/26) versus 77.3% (17/22)], the fracture healing time [(6.2±1.9) months versus (6.4±2.1) months], or the ankle-hindfoot score of AOFAS (The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) (83.9±7.2 versus 82.5±8.7) at 6 months after operation (all P>0.05). Conclusion:In one-stage treatment of chronic calcaneal osteomyelitis complicated with skin and soft tissue defects, compared with simple autologous iliac bone combined with sural neurocutaneous flap, antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate-autologous iliac bone combined with sural neurocutaneous flap can reduce the volume of the ilium harvested, pain score of VAS, and incidence of donor site complications, and improve the recovery of inflammatory indicators, leading to fine clinical effects.

Objective: To investigate the current status of knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding drinking water among primary school students in rural areas of China, so as to provide scientific basis for implementing health interventions related to drinking water. Methods: From November to December 2023, a stratified cluster random sampling method was employed to select 6 354 fourth to sixth grade primary school students in Shanxi, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Guangxi and Gansu for a questionnaire survey. A uniformly designed questionnaire (including basic information, drinking water-related knowledge, attitudes and practices indicators) was distributed and completed by the students themselves. The χ 2 test was used to analyze the differences in drinking water-related indicators among students of different gender and boarder, and Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of drinking water practices among students. Results: Among the indicators of drinking water knowledge, the awareness rate of appropriate daily water intake for respective student age groups was the lowest (27.90%). The awareness rate among nonresident students was significantly higher than that among boarding students (31.29%, 15.49%, χ 2=132.75, P <0.01). Regarding attitudes toward drinking water, 13.33% of the students believed that well water or tap water could be drunk directly, and 9.58% believed that going to the toilet at school was troublesome. Regarding practices, the self-reported water intake among students was 1 000 (600, 1 200) mL. The results of multifactorial Logistic regression showed that higher grades ( OR=1.60, 95%CI =1.34-1.92), nonresident students ( OR=1.32, 95%CI = 1.15 -1.52), northern region ( OR=1.43, 95%CI =1.27-1.61), knowledge of appropriate daily water intake ( OR=1.41, 95%CI =1.24-1.60), drinking temperature ( OR=1.43, 95%CI =1.28-1.60), scientific hydration methods ( OR=1.25, 95%CI =1.08- 1.44 ), and adopting scientific hydration methods regularly ( OR=1.75, 95%CI =1.50-2.04) were the independent influences on daily water intake attainment ( P <0.05). Conclusions Rural primary school students lack knowledge about healthy drinking water, have cognitive biases about safe drinking water and exhibit unhealthy drinking behavior. It is suggested that health education be carried out in combination with the characteristics of students to enhance their drinking water literacy.

Objective:To investigate the association between the parameters of thin-section computed tomography and the invasion and histological subtypes of subsolid nodules measuring 1-2 centimeters in diameter as lung adenocarcinoma.Methods:We retrospectively reviewed the cases with subsolid nodules measuring 1-2 centimeters on thin-section computed tomography and histologically confirmed as lung adenocarcinoma.Results:A total of 135 patients were enrolled in this study, including 23 with pure ground glass nodules and 112 with part-solid ground glass nodule. We observed significant differences of nodule size, solid component size, consolidation-to-tumor ratio, nodule attenuation and attenuation ratio( P<0.0001). The receiver operating curve indicated certain predictive value of solid component size, nodule attenuation and attenuation ratio: AUC were 0.838(0.756-0.919)、0.823(0.729-0.917) and 0.820(0.726-0.914), respectively. Of the invasive adenocarcinoma, those with solid or micropapillary components merely showed a significance in solid component size( P=0.024). Conclusion:The parameters of thin-section computed tomography of 1-2 centimeters subsolid nodules showed significant differences in varied invasiveness of lung adenocarcinoma, and these could have certain predictive value.

Objective:To analyze the therapeutic effect of 3D printing technology combined with locking plate fixation on femoral shaft fracture in patients with femoral deformity.Methods:The clinical data of 33 patients with femoral shaft fracture with femoral deformity who met the inclusion criteria and underwent locking plate fixation in the Xi′an Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi′an Jiaotong University from June 2014 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into 3D printing group ( n=18) and control group ( n=15) according to whether 3D printing was performed before operation. The 3D printing group including 11 males and 7 females with an age of (46.78±13.76) years.The control group including 9 males and 6 females with an age of (48.20±14.27) years.The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture healing time and complications of the two groups were recorded. Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of pain were evaluated before and 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after operation. According to the Harris hip score, the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score and The MOS 36-item short-from Health Survey (SF-36), the hip and knee function and quality of life of the patients before and 12 months after injury were evaluated. The measurement data were represented as mean±standard deviation( ± s), and the comparison between groups was conducted using the t-test; the comparison of count data between groups was conducted by Chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Results:The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and incidence of complications in the 3D printing group were (91.50±9.07) min, (191.11±16.01) mL, and 0(0/18), respectively, and those in the control group were (118.07±14.19) min, (270.27±17.59) mL, and 26.7% (4/15), the differences between the two groups were statistically significant ( P <0.05). The pain VAS scores of the 3D printing group were significantly better than those of the control group at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after operation ( P<0.05). There were no differences in fracture healing time and preoperative pain VAS between the two groups( P>0.05). There were no significant differences in hip function, knee function and quality of life scores between the two groups before injury and 12 months after injury( P>0.05). Conclusion:In the treatment of femoral shaft fractures in patients with femoral deformity with locking plate fixation, the application of 3D printing technology can be used for preoperative design and plate preshaping, which can shorten the operation time, reduce the amount of intraoperative blood loss, reduce the VAS of pain and the incidence of complications, improve the satisfaction of surgery, and provide a new option for the treatment of femoral shaft fractures in patients with femoral deformity.

Objective:To explore the genetic background for a patient with refractory myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MDS/MPN) with co-morbid neutrophilia patient.Methods:A MDS/MPN patient who was admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University in May 2021 was selected as the study subject. RNA sequencing was carried out to identify fusion genes in his peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Fusion gene sequence was searched through transcriptome-wide analysis with a STAR-fusion procedure. The novel fusion genes were verified by quantitative real-time PCR and Sanger sequencing.Results:The patient, a 67-year-old male, had progressive thrombocytopenia. Based on the morphological and molecular examinations, he was diagnosed as MDS/MPN with co-morbid neutropenia, and was treated with demethylating agents and Bcl-2 inhibitors. Seventeen months after the diagnosis, he had progressed to AML. A novel fusion gene NCOR1: : GLYR1 was identified by RNA-sequencing in his peripheral blood sample, which was verified by quantitative real-time PCR and Sanger sequencing. The patient had attained morphological remission after a DCAG regimen (a combinatory chemotherapy of decitabine, cytarabine, aclarubicin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factors) plus Chidamide treatment. A significant decrease in the NCOR1: : GLYR1 expression was revealed by quantitative real-time PCR at post-chemotherapy evaluation. Conclusion:NCOR1: : GLYR1 gene is considered as the pathogenic factor for the MDS/MPN patient with neutropenia.