BACKGROUND:Previous studies of the research group have found that icariin-containing serum can delay the progression of knee osteoarthritis,promote chondrocyte proliferation and stem cell cartilage differentiation in rats,but there is still a lack of sufficient basis for clinical application.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the repair effect of icariin-containing serum on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory damage of human chondrocytes.METHODS:The effect of icariin-containing serum on chondrocyte viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 method,and the optimal volume fraction and time of icariin-containing serum were screened.The cells were then divided into blank group,lipopolysaccharide group,icariin-containing serum group and lipopolysaccharide+icariin-containing serum group.After grouping,immunofluorescence was used to detect the secretion of type Ⅱ collagen in chondrocytes in each group.Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of related genes.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Icariin-containing serum showed good biosafety characteristics for human chondrocytes,and the cell viability reached the highest level after 48 hours of intervention when the icariin-containing serum volume fraction was 15％,and the follow-up experiments were carried out according to the conditions.(2)Compared with the blank group,lipopolysaccharide significantly inhibited the expression of type Ⅱ collagen in chondrocytes,while icariin-containing serum showed a positive mobilization effect,which could effectively promote the secretion of type Ⅱ collagen in chondrocytes under normal and inflammatory conditions.(3)The mRNA expression of type Ⅱ collagen and Aggrecan in chondrocytes decreased significantly under lipopolysaccharide stimulation,and the mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 13 and a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5 increased significantly.Icariin-containing serum promoted the mRNA expression of type Ⅱ collagen in human chondrocytes under inflammatory conditions and reduced the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 and a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5 in chondrocytes after lipopolysaccharide intervention.Therefore,these findings indicate that the icariin-containing serum has good safety for human chondrocytes and plays an important role in maintaining the normal physiological functions of chondrocytes,promoting the synthesis of extracellular matrix,and inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory factors.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies of the research group have found that icariin-containing serum can delay the progression of knee osteoarthritis,promote chondrocyte proliferation and stem cell cartilage differentiation in rats,but there is still a lack of sufficient basis for clinical application.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the repair effect of icariin-containing serum on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory damage of human chondrocytes.METHODS:The effect of icariin-containing serum on chondrocyte viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 method,and the optimal volume fraction and time of icariin-containing serum were screened.The cells were then divided into blank group,lipopolysaccharide group,icariin-containing serum group and lipopolysaccharide+icariin-containing serum group.After grouping,immunofluorescence was used to detect the secretion of type Ⅱ collagen in chondrocytes in each group.Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of related genes.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Icariin-containing serum showed good biosafety characteristics for human chondrocytes,and the cell viability reached the highest level after 48 hours of intervention when the icariin-containing serum volume fraction was 15％,and the follow-up experiments were carried out according to the conditions.(2)Compared with the blank group,lipopolysaccharide significantly inhibited the expression of type Ⅱ collagen in chondrocytes,while icariin-containing serum showed a positive mobilization effect,which could effectively promote the secretion of type Ⅱ collagen in chondrocytes under normal and inflammatory conditions.(3)The mRNA expression of type Ⅱ collagen and Aggrecan in chondrocytes decreased significantly under lipopolysaccharide stimulation,and the mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 13 and a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5 increased significantly.Icariin-containing serum promoted the mRNA expression of type Ⅱ collagen in human chondrocytes under inflammatory conditions and reduced the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 and a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5 in chondrocytes after lipopolysaccharide intervention.Therefore,these findings indicate that the icariin-containing serum has good safety for human chondrocytes and plays an important role in maintaining the normal physiological functions of chondrocytes,promoting the synthesis of extracellular matrix,and inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory factors.

[Objective] To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of treatment-naive patients with highly suspected prostate cancer (PCa) with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level ≥20 ng/mL, to provide reference for promoting early screening of PCa. [Methods] A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of treatment-naive patients with PSA level ≥20 ng/mL, undergoing prostate biopsy for highly suspected PCa at the Department of Urology, Tianjin Medical University Second Hospital during Jan.2013 and Jun.2023. The correlation between patients' age, body mass index (BMI), PSA, prostate volume (PV), prostate cancer-specific antigen density (PSAD), prostate imaging reporting and data system (PI-RADS) score, and International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade with highly suspected PCa metastasis and PSA stratification were analyzed. [Results] A total of 1778 suspected patients were enrolled. Pathological findings confirmed PCa in 1465 cases (82.4%), with 487(33.2%) diagnosed as metastatic PCa. Over the past decade, the number of patients undergoing prostate biopsy for highly suspected PCa and being confirmed has been increasing annually, with the proportion of metastatic cases remaining at around 30%. Compared with those with PSA level being 20-50 ng/mL, patients with PSA level >50 ng/mL had older age, lower BMI, higher PSAD, higher PI-RADS, higher ISUP, more diverse pathological types, and a higher incidence of metastasis (P<0.05) with lower proportion of urban residents. Additionally, analysis of metastatic PCa cases showed that 46.8%(228/487) had oligometastasis (≤5 metastatic lesions), including 99.0% bone metastasis, 4.1% extraregional lymph node metastasis, and 4.3% other organ metastasis. [Conclusion] Over the past 10 years, there has been a continuous increase in the number of treatment-naive biopsied cases and newly diagnosed cases of highly suspicious PCa with PSA level ≥20 ng/mL, while the proportion of metastatic cases remains high. Therefore, proactive efforts should be made to promote early screening of high-risk suspected cases.

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OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of Ephedra-Cinnamomum couplet medicinals on respiratory function and airway inflammation in rats with asthma of cold-fluid retention in lung syndrome and its mechanism. METHODS Sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into blank group， model group， dexamethasone group [1 mg/（kg·d）]， and Ephedra-Cinnamomum low-， medium-， high-dose groups [0.234， 0.936， 1.872 g/（kg·d）]， with 10 rats in each group. The model and treatment groups were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of antigen solution （ovalbumin 100 mg + aluminum hydroxide 100 mg） and challenged with 1% ovalbumin nebulization， along with exposure to a cold environment and ingestion of cold water， to establish the asthma model with cold-fluid retention in lung syndrome. From day 2， rats received corresponding drugs or normal saline intragastrically， once a day， for 21 consecutive days. The general behavioral changes in each group of rats were observed during the experimental process. The lung function parameters [peak expiratory flow （PEF）， airway resistance （Raw）， functional residual capacity （FRC）， expiratory flow at 50% of forced vital capacity （EF50%）] Δ 基金项目 国家自然科学基金青年科学基金项目（No.82004233）； were measured before modeling and after the last medication as well as serum contents of interleukin-6 （IL-6）， IL-13， tumor necrosis factor- α （TNF- α） and interferon-gamma （IFN- γ） after the last medication were determined； the histopathological morphological changes in the lung tissues of rats were also observed； mRNA expressions of IL-6， IL-3， TNF-α， IFN-γ， thymic stromal lymphopoietin （TSLP）， and Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）， as well as protein expressions of TSLP and TLR4 were determined in lung tissue. RESULTS Compared with model group， the lung tissue damage of rats was relieved significantly； Raw， FRC， the contents and mRNA expression levels of IL-6， IL-13 and TNF-α， as well as the mRNA and protein expressions of TSLP and TLR4 were significantly decreased （P＜0.05）， while the contents and mRNA expressions of PEF， EF50 % and IFN-γ were significantly increased in the dexamethasone group and Ephedra-Cinnamomum medium- and high-dose groups （P＜0.05）. Moreover， only a few rats in the two groups exhibited typical symptoms of asthma. CONCLUSIONS Ephedra-Cinnamomum couplet medicinals improve respiratory function and ameliorate airway inflammation in asthma rats with cold-fluid retention in lung syndrome， the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting TSLP/TLR4 signaling pathway and modulating Th1/Th2 imbalance.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy for surgical treatments among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis in Gansu Province from 2006 to 2023, so as to provide insights into optimization of the diagnosis and treatment strategies against hepatic cystic echinococcosis. Methods The demographic and clinical data of all echinococcosis cases included in central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control and undergoing surgical treatments in Gansu Province from 2006 to 2023 were captured. Hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients with complete medical records and follow-up data were included in the study, and patients’ characteristics, including hospital where patients received diagnosis and treatment, methods of case identification, year of surgery, classification of lesions, number of lesions, size of lesions, course of disease, surgical methods, and post-surgical follow-up data. The cure and recurrence of hepatic cystic echinococcosis were evaluated according to the Guidelines for Management of Echinococcosis Patients in the Central Government Fiscal Transfer Payment Program, and the cure and recurrent rates were calculated. Results Data were collected from 1 686 surgical patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 1 222 hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients undergoing surgical treatments were included during the period from 2006 to 2022, including 1 166 cured patients (95.42%) and 88 patients with postsurgical recurrence (7.20%), and the cure rate of surgical treatments appeared a tendency towards a rise among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis from 2008 to 2022 (χ²_trend = 19.39, P < 0.05). The cure rates of hepatic cystic echinococcosis were 100% (177/177), 94.81% (128/135) and 94.62% (861/910) among patients detected through regular physical examinations, screened by the central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control, and those who passively sought healthcare services, respectively (χ² = 9.95, P < 0.05). The cure rates of hepatic cystic echinococcosis were 95.96% (1 046/1 090) among patients with a disease course of 2 years and less and 90.90% (120/132) among patients with a disease course of over 2 years (χ² = 6.87, P < 0.05), and there were significant differences in the cure rates among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis in terms of number of lesions (χ² = 24.44, P < 0.05) and surgical methods (P < 0.05). The cure rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients was significantly higher following initiation of the central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control (96.06%, 1 096/1 141) than before the program (86.42%, 70/81) (χ² = 16.06, P < 0.05), and the cure rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients was significantly higher in designated hospitals (96.48%, 741/768) than in non-designated hospitals (93.37%, 366/392) (χ² = 5.78, P < 0.05). The median follow-up period was 4 (interquartile range, 7) years among 1 222 hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients undergoing surgical treatments. The recurrent rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis appeared a tendency towards a decline from 2008 to 2022 (χ²_trend = 36.86, P < 0.05), with a reduction from 23.08% (9/39) in 2008 to 1.85% (1/54) in 2021, and the post-surgical recurrence rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis was lower following initiation of the central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control (5.87%, 67 / 1 141) than before the program (25.93%, 21/81) (χ² = 45.51, P < 0.05). In addition, the post-surgical recurrence rate of hepatic cystic echinococcosis was higher in non-designated hospitals (10.46%, 41/392) than in designated hospitals (5.60%, 43/768) (χ² = 9.12, P < 0.05), and there was a significant difference in the post-surgical recurrence rate among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis in terms of surgical methods (P < 0.05), with the highest recurrence rate (11.54%) seen among patients undergoing percutaneous fine-needle aspiration of cyst fluids-based surgical procedures (P < 0.05). Conclusion Since the initiation of the central government fiscal transfer payment program for echinococcosis control in Gansu Province in 2006, an increase in the surgical cure rate and a reduction in the recurrence of hepatic cystic echinococcosis had been found among patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis, indicating a high overall therapeutic efficacy.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of the modified Lemaire procedure in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in patients with a highly positive pivot shift test. METHODS: The clinical data of 18 patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture and highly positive pivot shift test between April 2020 and September 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 13 males and 5 females with an average age of 28.3 years (range, 17-41 years). Causes of injury included 11 cases of direct violence injury, including 6 cases of traffic accident injury, 4 cases of sports injury, 1 case of falling injury; 7 cases of indirect violence injury, all sports injury. All patients had complete ACL rupture, including 15 acute injuries and 3 old injuries. The preoperative pivot shift test was grade Ⅱ in 9 cases and grade Ⅲ in 9 cases. All patients were treated with ACLR combined with modified Lemaire procedure. The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score and Lysholm score were used to evaluate the effectiveness before operation and at 3, 6, 12 months after operation. KT-2000 arthrometer was used to measure the anterior stability of the knee joint, and the difference between the healthy and affected sides was recorded. Pivot shift test was used to evaluate the rotational stability of the knee joint. During the follow-up, X-ray films were taken to observe the bone tunnel and internal fixation, and MRI was used to examine the healing of ACL, anterolateral collateral ligament and fibular collateral ligament grafts. RESULTS: All patients completed the operation successfully without complications such as knee joint infection, vascular and nerve injury. All patients were followed up 12-19 months (mean, 13.2 months). After operation, the rotational stability of the knee joint recovered satisfactorily, and there was no adverse symptom such as knee instability and locking at last follow-up. X-ray film and MRI showed that the bone tunnel was anatomically located and healed well, the internal fixation was in good position, and the reconstructed ACL and iliotibial band were continuous and in good tension. The IKDC score, Lysholm score, and the difference of KT-2000 between the healthy and the affected sides significantly improved at 3, 6, and 12 months after operation ( P<0.05). All the indicators further improved with time after operation, except that there was no significant difference in IKDC score between 3 and 6 months after operation and in the difference of KT-2000 between 3 months and 6, 12 months after operation ( P>0.05), and there were significant differences in other indicators between different time points ( P<0.05). Pivot shift test was negative immediately after operation and at last follow-up. CONCLUSION In ACL injuries with a highly positive pivot shift test, ACLR combined with the modified Lemaire procedure can effectively restore anterolateral knee stability, leading to satisfactory knee stability and function in the early postoperative period.
Humans ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries/physiopathology* ; Adult ; Adolescent ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Joint Instability/surgery* ; Knee Joint/physiopathology* ; Range of Motion, Articular

BACKGROUND:Polylactic acid(PLA)has good biocompatibility and a controllable degradation rate and is currently widely used in biomedical engineering.However,PLA has shortcomings such as low mechanical strength and insufficient biological activity,which limits its further application in bone tissue engineering. OBJECTIVE:To construct polylactic acid/polydopamine/tantalum(PLA/PDA/Ta)bone tissue engineering scaffolds,and explore their biosafety and in vitro osteogenesis. METHODS:A PLA scaffold with a porous structure was prepared through liquid crystal display light-curing technology.PLA/PDA scaffolds and PLA/PDA/Ta scaffolds were prepared by soaking PLA scaffolds in dopamine solution and dopamine-tantalum nanoparticle solution,respectively.The microstructure and water contact angle of scaffolds were characterized.MC3T3-E1 cells were co-cultured with PLA,PLA/PDA,and PLA/PDA/Ta scaffolds,respectively,and CCK-8 assay and live/dead cell staining were performed.After osteogenic differentiation,alkaline phosphatase,alizarin red staining,and osteogenic gene detection were performed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The scanning electron microscope results exhibited that the three kinds of prepared scaffolds had an interconnected porous three-dimensional structure,and the average pore diameter was 200 μm.The water contact angle of PLA/PDA/Ta scaffolds was lower than that of PLA and PLA/PDA scaffolds(P<0.05).(2)CCK-8 assay showed that compared with PLA and PLA/PDA scaffolds,PLA/PDA/Ta scaffolds could promote cell proliferation(P<0.05).Live/dead cell staining showed good cell proliferation in the three groups.(3)Alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red staining showed that compared with PLA and PLA/PDA scaffolds,PLA/PDA/Ta scaffolds could promote the expression of alkaline phosphatase and the formation of mineralized nodules.RT-qPCR showed that compared with PLA and PLA/PDA scaffolds,PLA/PDA/Ta scaffolds could enhance the mRNA expression of cell bone morphogenetic protein,Runx-2,and type I collagen(P<0.05,P<0.01).(4)The results showed that the PLA/PDA/Ta scaffold had excellent osteogenic activity and the ability to promote cell proliferation.

Objective To investigate the relationship between plasma von willebrand factory-lytic protease (ADAMTS13) level and the severity of the disease and its prognostic value in patients with endometriosis (EMS). Methods 130 patients with EMS treated in the hospital from January 2019 to December 2022 were retrospectively selected. Plasma ADAMTS13 level was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),and its correla-tion with American Fertility Society (r-AFS) stage and endometriosis Health Status Scale (EHP-30) score was analyzed. The 1-year prognosis was recorded,and the risk factors of poor prognosis were analyzed by logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was plotted to evaluate the predictive value of plasma ADAMTS13 levels in patients with EMS. Results The plasma ADAMTS13 level of EMS patients decreased signifi-cantly with the increase of r-AFS stage,and was negatively correlated with the score of EHP-30 (P<0.001). Multiple factors showed that low plasma ADAMTS13 level,bilateral location of pelvic lesions and high r-AFS stage were independent risk factors for poor prognosis (all P<0.05). ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of plasma ADAMTS13 was 0.889 (cut-off point 13.315,sensitivity 0.931,specificity 0.690). Conclusion Plasma ADAMTS13 level is negatively correlated with the severity of EMS,and is an independent risk factor for poor prognosis of EMS patients,and has a certain predictive value for prognosis of EMS patients.

Objective:To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of lingual mucosal graft ureteroplasty (LMGU) for managing long-segment (≥5 cm) ureteral strictures in a multi-institutional cohort of patients.Methods:A multi-center retrospective case series study was conducted on clinical data from 42 patients undergoing LMGU for long-segment ureteral strictures (≥5 cm) across five institutions between February 2017 and June 2024. The cohort comprised 31 males and 11 females, with an age of (43.4±12.0) years (range: 15 to 64 years) and a body mass index of (24.6±2.6) kg/m2 (range: 16.0 to 30.0 kg/m2). Strictures involved the left ureter in 24 cases and right ureter in 18 cases, demonstrating a stricture length of (6.4±1.5) cm (range: 5.0 to 11.5 cm). Surgical interventions included either onlay ureteroplasty or augmented anastomotic ureteroplasty, selected according to intraoperative findings. Intraoperative parameters, postoperative complications, and follow-up outcomes were analyzed.Results:Laparoscopic surgery was performed in 22 cases and robot-assisted surgery in 20 cases. Among the 42 patients, 22 underwent onlay ureteroplasty while 20 received augmented anastomotic ureteroplasty. The graft length was (5.9±1.8) cm (range: 3.0 to 12.0 cm), operative time (191.5±55.6) minutes (range: 105.0 to 350.0 minutes), and intraoperative estimated blood loss (86.7±73.6) ml (range: 10.0 to 400.0 ml). All procedures were successfully completed without conversion to open surgery. The postoperative hospital stay was (7.6±2.0) days (range: 4.0 to 15.0 days), with double-J stent removal at 6 to 8 weeks postoperatively. During a follow-up of (49.1±25.0) months (range: 12.0 to 99.0 months), no stricture recurrence was observed in any patient.Conclusion:LMGU is a safe, feasible, and effective long-term technique for managing long-segment (≥5 cm) ureteral strictures.