Objective:To investigate the feasibility and clinical outcome of single-stage posterior total en bloc spondylectomy via posterior approach for lowerlumbar spinal malignant tumors.Methods:The clinical data of 23 patients with metastatic tumors of the lower lumbar spine who underwent single-stage posterior total En bloc spondylectomy in our hospital from January 2012 to June 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 14 males and 9 females, age 57.9±10.8 years old (range, 37-74 years old). All patients were treated with single-stage posterior total en blocspondylectomy, titanium mesh implantation and posterior pedicle screw fixation. Observation items included operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperativehospital stays,the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) physical condition score of the patients before operation,1 month after operationand 6 months after operation, the American spinal injury association (ASIA) spinal cord injury grade pre-operation andpostoperation, perioperative complications, local recurrence and survival state.Results:The median fellow-up time of this group was 20 months (range 6-56 months). At the end of the last follow-up, there were 3 patients who survived, the average follow-up time of the three patients who survived to the last follow-up was 37.3±11.7 months. One of them had local recurrence, but survived with tumor. The operative time was 155-510 min, with an average of 258±96 min, the intraoperative blood loss was 750-2 500 ml, with an average of 1 258.7±528.6 ml, and the postoperative hospital stay was 10-30 d, with an average of 18.4±4.6 d. VAS score decreased from 7.4±0.8 before operation to 2.6±0.6 1 month after operation, and ECOG score decreased from 1.6±0.9 before operation to 0.9±0.76 months after operation, showing statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). 6 patients presented with postoperative acute nerve root stimulation, 3 patients presented with postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage, 3 patients presented with postoperative surgical site infection, 1 with pulmonary infection, and 3 patients presented with titanium mesh displacement. Conclusion:Single-stage posterior total En bloc spondylectomy is feasible for the treatment of metastatic tumors of the lower lumbar spine. Although the operation is quite challenging due to its special anatomical structure and biomechanical characteristics,the long-term follow-up effect is satisfactory.

Objective:To observe the expression changes of nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX4) in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMEC) under different experimental conditions, and to explore the role of Nrf2 in inhibiting ferroptosis in the process of alleviating hyperoxic lung injury(HLI).Methods:Hyperoxic model was established by hyperoxia exposure.HPMEC were treated with blank control (control group), oxygen exposure at the concentration of 950 mL/L (hyperoxia group), oxygen exposure at the concentration of 950 mL/L+ 10 μmol/L Ferrostatin (ferroptosis inhibitor group) and oxygen exposure at the concentration of 950 mL/L + 10 μmol/L ML385 (Nrf2 inhibitor group). Cell viability at 24 h and 48 h was tested by the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were detected by a commercial ROS kit.The mRNA and protein levels of Nrf2 and GPX4 were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively.Differences were analyzed using the Student′s t-test for a two-group comparison or one-way ANOVA test among groups. Results:(1)Compared with the control group, significantly decreased viability and increased ROS levels were detected in hyperoxia group.Meanwhile, the mRNA (24 h: 0.750±0.010 vs.1.010±0.160, 48 h: 0.690±0.050 vs.1.000±0.070) and protein levels of GPX4 (24 h: 0.160±0.010 vs.0.290±0.010, 48 h: 0.190±0.010 vs.0.250±0.010) at 24 h and 48 h were significantly downregulated, while the mRNA (24 h: 1.740±0.050 vs.1.000±0.050, 48 h: 2.130±0.020 vs.1.000±0.030) and protein levels of Nrf2 (24 h: 0.840±0.010 vs.0.480±0.010, 48 h: 0.840±0.010 vs.0.550±0.030) at 24 h and 48 h were significantly upregulated in hyperoxia group than those of control group (all P<0.05). (2)Compared with the hyperoxia group, significantly increased viability and decreased ROS levels were detected in ferroptosis inhibitor group.Meanwhile, the mRNA (24 h: 1.520±0.110, 48 h: 1.880±0.050) and protein levels of GPX4 (24 h: 0.290±0.010, 48 h: 0.250±0.004) at 24 h and 48 h were significantly upregulated, while the mRNA (24 h: 0.780±0.040, 48 h: 0.760±0.030) and protein levels of Nrf2 (24 h: 0.480±0.010, 48 h: 0.540±0.020) at 24 h and 48 h were significantly downregulated in ferroptosis inhibitor group than those of hyperoxia group (all P<0.05). (3)Compared with the hyperoxia group, significantly decreased viability and increased ROS levels were detected in Nrf2 inhibitor group.Meanwhile, the mRNA (24 h: 0.600±0.030, 48 h: 0.590±0.003) and protein levels of GPX4 (24 h: 0.150±0.001, 48 h: 0.180±0.001) at 24 h and 48 h were significantly downregulated, while the mRNA level of Nrf2 was significantly upregulated at 24 h (3.360±0.130), but downregulated at 48 h (1.430±0.130) (all P<0.05). No significant difference was detected in the protein level of Nrf2 at 24 h and 48 h between hyperoxia group and Nrf2 inhibitor group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Ferroptosis is involved in the development of HLI, and Nrf2 is able to alleviate hyperoxic lung injury by inhibiting ferroptosis.Therefore, inhibition of ferroptosis by Nrf2 may provide a new therapeutic target for HLI.

Objective:To explore the reoperation rate and risk factors of adjacent segment disease (ASDis) in patients with lumbar degenerative diseases after transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF).Methods:The clinical data of 460 patients who underwent TLIF for lumbar degenerative diseases in our hospital from January 2011 to December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 204 males and 256 females with an age of 54.6±12.6 years (range, 20-85 years). Divided into ASDis group and None ASDis (N-ASDis) group according to the occurrence of ASDis and received surgical treatment. The age of ASDis group was 57.9±12.2 years, with 14 males and 12 females, while the age of N-ASDis group was 54.4±12.5 years, with 188 males and 246 females. Count the reoperation rate of ASDis. Compare the age, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, surgery-related parameters, length of stay, imaging parameters before and after surgery between the two groups, and use univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis to explore risk factors for ASDis.Results:Among 460 patients who underwent TLIF due to lumbar degenerative diseases, 26 patients developed ASDis and received surgical treatment, the reoperation rate was about 5.7%. Among them, the reoperation rate of ASDis with above Pfirrmann grade III in the adjacent intervertebral disc was about 53.1% (17/32). The average onset time of adjacent segment disease was 76.3±25.0 months (range, 30-111 months). Univariate analysis showed that BMI ( t=3.86, P<0.001), history of hypertension (χ 2=5.30, P=0.021), preoperative adjacent vertebral disc degeneration (χ 2=85.90, P<0.001), preoperative adjacent spinal canal stenosis (χ 2=25.35, P<0.001), and preoperative intervertebral space height of adjacent segments ( t=4.33, P<0.001) were statistically different among patients with or without ASDis. Incorporating the above indicators into the logistic regression model, the analysis results showed that body mass index (BMI) >24.9 kg/m 2 and preoperative adjacent intervertebral disc degeneration ≥III degree were risk factors for ASDis after TLIF. Conclusion:The reoperation rate of ASDis after TLIF in patients with lumbar degenerative disease is about 5.7%. BMI>24.9 kg/m 2 and preoperative adjacent intervertebral disc degeneration ≥III degree are risk factors for ASDis and received surgical treatment after TLIF.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of blood lactic acid (BLA) as a predictor for the severity and prognosis of neonatal shock.

METHODSA total of 326 neonates with shock were enrolled and divided into three groups based on the severity, namely mild group (n=147), moderate group (n=105), and severe group (n=74). BLA level was measured during and early after (about 6 hours later) fluid resuscitation, and lactate clearance rate (LCR) was calculated. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to evaluate the predictive value of BLA in neonatal shock.

RESULTSBLA level was high in all subjects prior to treatment, and was highest in the severe group and lowest in the mild group (P<0.01). BLA level was significantly higher among patients with septic shock than among those with hypovolemic, cardiogenic, and asphyxiating shock (P<0.05). BLA level was significantly reduced in patients in recovery after treatment (P<0.05). Mortality was significantly lower in patients with BLA level ≤4 mmol/L or LCR ≥10% than in those with BLA level >4 mmol/L or LCR <10% (P<0.01). BLA at 11.15 mmol/L had 100% sensitivity and 96.8% specificity in predicting severe shock. BLA at 10.65 mmol/L had 88.9% sensitivity and 74.1% specificity in predicting the prognosis (survival or dead) of newborns with shock.

CONCLUSIONSIn neonates with shock, arterial BLA level increases as the disease severity increases and is associated with prognosis, so it is a useful predictor of the severity and prognosis of neonatal shock.

Residue of Mori Cortex was studied to optimize its enzymatic hydrolysis process, and explore its potential as a carbon source for biochemistry and biofuel production. The cellulose content of diluted acid pretreated (DAP) and non-pretreated from Mori Cortex were measured in this study, and the results showed that the cellulose content of DAP and non-pretreated from Mori Cortex were 52.5% and 47%, respectively. This higher cellulose content indicated that residue of Mori Cortex had the potential to act as a carbon source for biochemistry and biofuel production. Enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated and non-pretreated from Mori Cortex was conducted under different enzyme loading amount. 40 FPU·(g DW）⁻¹ enzyme loading was determined as the optimal amount by comparing the yield of sugar and the rate of enzymolysis. Under this condition, the concentrations of glucose, xylose, arabinose sugar were 23.82, 4.84, 3.6 g·L⁻¹, and the corresponding enzymatic hydrolysis rate was 45.33% which was 2.3 times higher than that of non-pretreated from Morus alba residues. Fed-batch enzymatic hydrolysis was conducted finally to get higher sugar yield, and the final glucose concentration reached up to 38 g·L⁻¹ with the enzymatic hydrolysis rate of 36.19%. The results indicated that Mori Cortex residue had higher cellulose and hemicellulose contents, so it had the potential to become a carbon source to produce the bio-chemicals and biofuels. Through enzymatic hydrolysis, it can be converted into microbial available monosaccharides; and through fermentation, it can be converted into high value-added chemicals, biofuels, etc., to solve the problem of residue pollution, and achieve the sustainable development and greening of Chinese pharmaceutical production process.
Carbohydrates ; Cellulose ; chemistry ; Enzymes ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Hydrolysis ; Morus ; chemistry

Objective To understand the changes in body weight,spleen weight and complete blood cells in BALB/c mice infected with Babesia microti.Methods For the infection group,six weeks old BALB/c mice were injected intraperitoneally with a dose of 100μL of B.microti infected blood(20％RBC infection rate,each mouse).For the determination of the progres-sion of B.microti infection up to 28 days of the infection,the microscopic visualization of thin blood smears of tail blood stained with Giemsa staining was performed in the infection group.The experiment was carried out at different intervals on days 0,7,14,21,and 28 after the infection,respectively.The mice were sacrificed,and spleens were collected and weighed,and the body weight of the mice was also determined.The blood cells of the mice were analyzed by using Mindray BC-5300 Vet animal automatic hematology analyzer.Results On the first day after the infection,B.microti was visualized in RBC of the infection group.The significantly highest infection rate(55％)appeared on the seventh day of the infection,and then steadily decreased;the mice attained the latent infection phase on the 28th day post-infection,when the parasite could not be visualized in the pe-ripheral blood.The mice in the infected group acquired a significantly lowest body weight on the 7th day of the infection,and then gradually returned to normal.The weight of the spleen was the significantly highest on the 14th day of the infection,and then consistently decreased.On the 28th day of infection,the spleen weight was still higher than that of the control group.There were no significant changes in the number of white blood cells(WBC),lymphocytes,and eosinophils in the infected mice;and altered levels were all within the normal mouse reference range.The number of red blood cells,hemoglobin,and platelet count in the infected mice were decreased to the lowest level when the B.microti infection rate achieved to the highest,and then gradu-ally returned to the normal levels.Conclusions B.microti infection can cause body weight loss,splenic weight gain,and re-duction in the number of erythrocytes and platelets in whole blood of the mice.Besides,the whole blood cell analyzer has a diag-nostic significance in the identification of babesiosis.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects on hippocampal neuronal structure and hippocampal monoamine neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine (NE), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) with acupuncture for promoting the circulation of the governor vessel and regulating the mental state ( acupuncture) in rats with post-stroke depression and explore the underlying effect mechanism of acupuncture on post-stroke depression. METHODS: A total of 48 clean-grade SD rats were randomized into a sham-operation group, a model group, a Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture group and a non-meridian-non-acupoint group, 12 rats in each one. In the model group, the Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture group and the non-meridian-non-acupoint group, the compound method of cerebral medial arterial occlusion and the chronic unpredictable mild stress was adopted to prepare the model of post-stroke depression. In the sham-operation group, skin was opened and the fascia muscle was separated, after artery exposed, no ligation was operated and the incision was sutured directly. In the sham-operation group and the model group, no any intervention was performed. In the Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to "Baihui" (GV 20), "Shuigou" (GV 26), "Shenting" (CV 24) and "Dazhui" (GV 14) for 40 min in each treatment and the needles were manipulated at the acupoints once in 20 min. The treatment was given once a day, 6 times a week for 4 weeks consecutively. In the non-meridian-non-acupoint group, the depression between the 3rd and 4th metatarsal bones on the dorsum of the forelimb was selected in intervention and the needling technique was same as the Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture group. The behavioral changes were observed after intervention in each group. Using transmission electron microscopy, the ultrastructure of hippocampal CA 1 neurons was observed in the rats of each group. Using high performance liquid chromatography, the contents of NE, 5-HT and DA were determined. RESULTS: Compared with the sham-operation group, the Zea-longa neurobehavioral score was increased (<0.01), the sucrose water consumption was reduced (<0.01), the number of times of horizontal movement and vertical movement in open-field test were reduced (both <0.01), the damage of the ultrastructure of hippocampal CA 1 neurons was aggravated and the contents of NE, 5-HT and DA were reduced in the model group (<0.01). Compared with the model group, the Zea-Longa neurobehavioral score was reduced (<0.01), the sucrose water consumption was increased (<0.01), the number of times of horizontal movement and vertical movement in open-field test were increased (both <0.01), the damage of the ultrastructure of hippocampal CA 1 neurons was alleviated and the contents of NE, 5-HT and DA were increased in the Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture group (<0.01, <0.05). Compared with the non-meridian-non-acupoint group, the Zea-Longa neurobehavioral score was reduced (<0.01), the sucrose water consumption was increased (<0.01), the number of times of horizontal movement and vertical movement in open-field test were increased (both <0.01), the damage of the ultrastructure of hippocampal CA 1 neurons was alleviated and the contents of NE, 5-HT and DA were increased in the Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture group (<0.01, <0.05). CONCLUSION The acupuncture improves the behavior of the model rats with post-stroke depression, repairs hippocampal neuronal damage, which is probably related to the contents of hippocampal monoamine neurotransmitters (NE, 5-HT and DA).
Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Depression ; Hippocampus ; Neurons ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stroke

【Objective】 To learn the production efficient of platelet components among prefecture-level blood stations in China, to provide supporting data for those blood stations to optimize the production mode of platelet components and continuously improve production efficiency and supply capacity. 【Methods】 The data from 2017 to 2020 was obtained from 24 prefecture-level blood stations who were the members of the practice comparison network for blood institutes in China. The collection units of apheresis platelets, the number of dual-collections of apheresis platelets and plasma, the average apheresis units of one platelet apheresis procedure, the discarded rate of apheresis platelets, the amount of expired apheresis platelets and the amount of apheresis platelets issued were collected. For concentrated platelets, the prepared amount of platelet concentrates and the amount of expired platelet concentrates were collected; both the quantity of qualified and issued concentrated platelets were submitted for statistical analysis.The total output and efficiency of platelet components were calculated based on the collected data. 【Results】 The average annual growth rate of apheresis platelets collection in 24 prefecture-level blood stations was 12.23%, accounting for 99.80% of the total platelet output; the average collection unit of one platelets apheresis procedure was 1.75; from 2019 to 2020, only 5 blood stations performed dual-collection of platelet and plasma during one apheresis procedure; the discarded rate of apheresis platelets was 0.28%, of which 0.007% was due to expiration. A total of 1 621.2 therapeutic units of concentrated platelets were prepared, and 13.03% of them was discarded due to the expiration. The production efficiency of platelet components was 97.56%, of which the production efficiency of apheresis platelets was 97.61% and the production efficiency of concentrated platelets was 74.43%. 【Conclusion】 There are large regional differences in the supply capacity of platelet components in prefecture-level blood stations. Apheresis platelets are the main resource of platelet components product, and the collection capacity is increasing over the years with the characteristics of high production efficiency and low expiration scrapping rate. However, the preparation of concentrated platelets are still limited with relatively low production and high expiration discarded rate.

Objective To construct a cDNA library of Sparganum mansoni and immunoscreen antigen candidates for immunodiagnosis of sparganosis mansoni. Methods Total RNA was extracted from S. mansoni, and reversely transcribed into cDNA, which was ligated into the phage vector. These recombinant vectors were packaged in vitro to construct the SMART cDNA library of S. mansoni. Then, the cDNA library was immunoscreened with sera from patients with sparganosis mansoni to yield positive clones. The inserted fragments of positive clones were sequenced and subjected to homology analyses, and the structure and functions of the coding proteins were predicted. Results The SMATR cDNA library of S. mansoni was successfully constructed. The titer of the cDNA library was 6.25 × 10⁶ pfu/mL, with a recombinant efficiency of 100%, and the mean length of the inserted fragments in the library was larger than 1 100 bp. A total of 12 positive clones were obtained by immunoscreening, and were categorized into Sm-I (Sm60-1), Sm-II (Sm58-1), Sm-III (Sm20-1) and Sm-IV (Sm22-3), with 1 134, 1 063, 883 bp and 969 bp long inserted fragments. Their coding proteins were highly homologous with the Spirometra erinaceieuropaei antigenic polypeptide, cytoplasmic antigen, ribosomal protein S4-like protein and unnamed protein product, respectively. Conclusions A SMART cDNA library of S. mansoni has been successfully constructed and 4 categories of positive clones have been identified, which provides a basis for further studies on diagnostic antigens for sparganosis mansoni.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether Salvianolic acid A (SAA) can restore cartilage endplate cell degeneration of intervertebral discs and to identify the mechanism via regulation of micro-RNA. METHODS: Cartilage endplate cells were isolated from lumbar intervertebral disc surgical samples and were treated with serum containing a series of concentrations of SAA (2, 5, and 10 ?M) for 24, 48, and 72 h to identify a proper dose and treatment time of SAA. The effect SAA on interlenkin-1β (IL-1β)-induced extracellular matrix degradation of cartilage endplate cells were analyzed by Alcian blue staining and assessment of the expression levels of ADAMTS-5, MMP3 and Col2a1. Further, the potential target miRNAs were preliminarily screened by micro-RNA sequencing combining qRT-PCR and Western blot, and then, the miRNAs mimics and inhibitors were used to verify the regulatory effect of SAA on potential target miRNAs. RESULTS: The 10 μM SAA treatment for 48 h significantly enhanced the viability of cartilage endplate cells, and increased Col2a1 expression and glycosaminoglycan accumulation that were repressed by IL-1β, and reduced the effect of IL-1β on ADAMTS-5, and MMP3. Screening analysis based on micro-RNA sequencing and Venny analysis identified the downstream micro-RNAs, including miR-940 and miR-576-5p. Then, the miR-940-mimic or miR-576-5p-mimic were transfected into CEPCs. Compared with the SAA group, the expression of ADAMTS-5 and MMP3 increased significantly and the expression of COL2A1 obviously decreased after overexpression of miR-940 or miR-576-5p in CEPCs. CONCLUSION Salvianolic acid A attenuated the IL-1β-induced extracellular matrix degradation of cartilage endplate cells by targeting regulate the miR-940 and the miR-576-5p.
Humans ; Apoptosis ; Cartilage/metabolism* ; Chondrocytes/metabolism* ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 3/metabolism* ; MicroRNAs/metabolism*