Objective To observe the dynamic characteristics of protein kinase ,casein kinase II α (CK2α) ,expression during hepatic fibrogenesis in rats ;and the effects of a matrine derivative ,13-methylamino-18-thione-matrine (M ASM ) ,on CK2αexpression when it is used for anti-fibrotic treatment .Methods Hepatic fibrosis model was established in SD rats by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) injection or by bile duct ligation (BDL) .The established fibrotic rats were given 50 mg/kg MASM or saline as a control by gavage for three weeks .The level of hepatic fibrosis was evaluated by histopathology examina-tion using hematoxylin-eosin staining ,and using the sirius red and Masson's trichrome staining for collagen determination in fi-brosis .The expressions of CK2αandα-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in hepatic tissues were detected by immunohistochemis-ry .Results CK2α is mainly expressed in the stellate cells of fibrotic livers induced by DM N or BDL comparing the control group .Along with the development of hepatic fibrosis as evidenced by α-SMA expression ,increased CK2α-positive cells in liver were detected while injecting DMN in the rats for one to four weeks .MASM treatment significantly inhibited the hepatic fibro-sis and suppressed the expression of CK2αcomparing the model group .Conclusion The expression level of CK2α,and hepatic fibrosis formation are positively correlated .The matrine derivative ,MASM ,can significantly inhibit hepatic fibrosis and sup-press the CK2αexpression .These results suggest CK2αmay be a potential target for hepatic fibrosis therapy .

Objective:To construct a risk prediction and assessment system for incisional infection after spinal surgery.Methods:Based on the failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA), risk factors and assessment indicators of postoperative incisional infection in spinal surgery were sorted out through literature search followed by expert consultation using the Delphi expert consultation method. After three-level assessment indicators were selected according to their importance and expert opinions and assigned by different scores, a risk prediction and evaluation system was constructed for postoperative incisional infection after spinal surgery.Results:The 2 rounds of expert consultation questionnaire resulted in an effective response rate of 100%. The degree of expert consultation authority was 0.85, showing high reliability; the Kendall coordination coefficients of expert consultation ranged from 0.525 to 0.686, showing good coordination ( P<0.05). The three-level assessment indicators consisted of 3 primary, 18 secondary and 54 tertiary ones. After statistical analyses of the important risk indicators selected which consisted of 6 preoperative evaluation ones and 18 postoperative evaluation ones, 6 preoperative and 12 postoperative predictive indicators were obtained. The values of risk priority number (RPN) were calculated for high, medium and low risks for postoperative incisional infection using a semi-quantitative method. Conclusion:A self-designed system has been constructed for risk prediction and assessment of incisional infection after spinal surgery based on expert consultation and FMEA method.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between intramuscular adipose tissue index (IATI) calculated from computed tomography images at transverse process of the first lumbar and all-cause mortality in maintenance dialysis patients, and to provide a reference for improving the prognosis in these patients.Methods:It was a multicenter retrospective cohort study. The clinical data of patients who received maintenance hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis treatment from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019 in 4 grade Ⅲ hospitals including Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University, Taizhou People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, and the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were retrospectively collected. IATI was calculated by low attenuation muscle (LAM) density/skeletal muscle density. The receiver-operating characteristic curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off value of IATI, and the patients were divided into high IATI group and low IATI group according to the optimal cut-off value. The differences of baseline clinical data and measurement parameters of the first lumbar level between the two groups were compared. The follow-up ended on December 23, 2022. The endpoint event was defined as all-cause mortality within 3 years. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test were used to analyze the survival rates and the differences between the two groups. Multivariate Cox regression analysis models were used to analyze the association between IATI and the risk of all-cause mortality in maintenance dialysis patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis model was used to analyze the influencing factors of high IATI.Results:A total of 478 patients were eligibly recruited in this study, with age of (53.55±13.19) years old and 319 (66.7%) males, including 365 (76.4%) hemodialysis patients and 113 (23.6%) peritoneal dialysis patients. There were 376 (78.7%) patients in low IATI (<0.42) group and 102 (21.3%) patients in high IATI (≥0.42) group. The proportion of age ≥ 60 years old ( χ2=24.746, P<0.001), proportion of diabetes mellitus ( χ2=5.570, P=0.018), fasting blood glucose ( t=-2.145, P=0.032), LAM density ( t=-3.735, P<0.001), LAM index ( t=-7.072, P<0.001), and LAM area/skeletal muscle area ratio ( Z=-9.630, P<0.001) in high IATI group were all higher than those in low IATI group, while proportion of males ( χ2=11.116, P<0.001), serum albumin ( Z=2.708, P=0.007) and skeletal muscle density ( t=12.380, P<0.001) were lower than those in low IATI group. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the 3-years overall survival rate of low IATI group was significantly higher than that in high IATI group (Log-rank χ2=19.188, P<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that IATI<0.42 [<0.42/≥0.42, HR(95% CI): 0.50 (0.31-0.83), P=0.007] was an independent protective factor of all-cause mortality, and age ≥60 years old [ HR (95% CI): 2.61 (1.60-4.23), P<0.001], diabetes mellitus [ HR (95% CI): 1.71 (1.06-2.78), P=0.029] and high blood neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio [ HR (95% CI): 1.04 (1.00-1.07), P=0.049] were the independent risk factors of all-cause mortality in maintenance dialysis patients. Stepwise Cox regression analysis showed that IATI<0.42 was still an independent protective factor of all-cause mortality in maintenance dialysis patients [<0.42/≥0.42, HR (95% CI): 0.45 (0.27-0.76), P=0.003]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that low skeletal muscle density [ OR (95% CI): 0.84 (0.81-0.88), P<0.001] and high serum triglyceride [ OR (95% CI): 1.39 (1.07-1.82), P=0.015] were the independent influencing factors of IATI≥0.42. Conclusion:IATI<0.42 of the first lumbar level is an independent protective factor of all-cause mortality in maintenance dialysis patients. Localized myosteatosis within high-quality skeletal muscle may reduce the risk of all-cause mortality in these patients.

Although different types of drugs are available for postmenopausal osteoporosis, the limitations of the current therapies including drug resistances and adverse effects require identification of novel anti-osteoporosis agents. Here, we defined that norlichexanthone (NOR), a natural product, is a ligand of estrogen receptor-alpha (ER