This experiment was aimed to shed light on the correlation and quantitative relationships between the width of bovine periodontal ligament (PDL) and the elastic modulus and, more over, between the width of bovine PDL and the capacity ratio of collagen fibers. The width and length of periodontal ligament of PDL were determined by stereomicroscope, and the elastic modulus by the materials testing systems. The collagen fibers in cross section of the specimen were stained with 1% Sirius Red F3B in saturated carbazotic acid, and the photo of stained PDL was collected by stereomicroscope. Image pro plus6.0 image analysis software was used to measure and calculate the capacity ratio of collagen fibers. It was found that there is a negative correlation between the width of bovine periodontal ligament and elastic modulus. The correlation coefficient is -0.21 and the simple linear regression model is Y = 71. 681-0.021x (Width of PDL); there is a positive correlation between capacity ratio of collagen fibers and elastic modulus. The coefficient correlation is 1.583 and the simple linear regression model is Y = -34.944 + 1.583x (The percentage of collagen fibers). Thus, the elastic modulus of bovine PDL increases while the width of bovine PDL decreases, and it increases while the capacity ratio of collagen fibers increases.
Animals ; Cattle ; Collagen ; chemistry ; Elastic Modulus ; Periodontal Ligament ; physiology ; Tensile Strength ; Tooth Root ; anatomy & histology

Objective To evaluate the value of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) in locally advanced breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (neoCT) and modified radical mastectomy, and to investigate the possibility of individualized radiotherapy according to the response to neoCT.Methods We analyzed 523 patients with stage ⅢA and ⅢB breast cancer who received neoCT and modified radical mastectomy in our hospital from 1999 to 2013.Of all patients, 404 received PMRT, and 119 did not.The locoregional recurrence (LRR), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, survival difference analysis and univariate prognostic analysis were performed using the log-rank test, and multivariate prognostic analysis was performed using the Cox regression model.Results Compared with those not treated with PMRT, the patients treated with PMRT had a significantly lower 5-year LRR rate (13.9% vs.24.8%, P=0.013), a significantly higher DFS rate (64.1% vs.53.9%, P=0.048), and an insignificantly higher OS rate (83.2% vs.78.2%, P=0.389).In the patients with ypT3-T4, ypN2-N3, or pathologic stage Ⅲ disease, those treated with PMRT had a significantly reduced 5-year LRR rate (P<0.05) and a significantly increased 5-year OS rate (P<0.05), as compared with those not treated with PMRT.Among the 158 patients with ypN0 disease, the 5-year LRR rate was significantly lower in those treated with PMRT than in those not treated with PMRT (P=0.004).Of 41 patients who achieved a pathologic complete response, 2 patients, who did not receive PMRT, developed LRR.The multivariate prognostic analysis indicated that PMRT was an independent prognostic factor associated with reduced LRR in all patients and ypN0 patients.Conclusions In patients with stage ⅢA and ⅢB breast cancer treated with neoCT and modified radical mastectomy, PMRT can significantly reduce LRR for all patients and can reduce both recurrence and mortality for those with ypT3-T4, ypN2-N3, or pathologic stage Ⅲ disease.There is no sufficient evidence that PMRT can be omitted safely for ypN0 or pCR patients according to their response to neoCT.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) quantitative parameters for preoperative staging of gastric cancer and its relationship with prognostic factors.Methods:The clinical data of 98 patients with gastric cancer from March 2021 to March 2022 in Guangyuan First People′s Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent DCE-MRI examination, MRI features were observed, and the DCE-MRI quantitative parameters were recorded, including the transport constant (K trans), volume fraction (V e) and rate constant (K ep). The expression levels of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in gastric cancer tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry methods. The correlation between DCE-MRI quantitative parameters and T stage, HER2, EGFR of gastric cancer was analyzed by Spearman method; the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnosis value of DCE-MRI quantitative parameters in T staging of gastric cancer. Results:Among 98 patients with gastric cancer, T 1 to T 2 staging was in 50 cases, T 3 to T 4 staging was in 48 cases; HER2 positive expression in gastric cancer tissue was in 35 cases, negative expression was in 63 cases; EGFR positive expression in gastric cancer tissue was in 43 cases, negative expression was in 55 cases. The K trans and V e in patients with T 3 to T 4 staging were significantly higher than those in patients with T 1 to T 2 staging: (0.25 ± 0.04) min -1 vs. (0.19 ± 0.03) min -1 and 0.45 ± 0.11 vs. 0.39 ± 0.09, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01); there was no statistical difference in K ep between the two ( P>0.05). The K trans and V e in patients with HER2 positive expression were significantly higher than those in patients with HER2 negative expression: (0.27 ± 0.06) min -1 vs. (0.19 ± 0.03) min -1 and 0.49 ± 0.13 vs. 0.38 ± 0.08, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01); there was no statistical difference in K ep between the two ( P>0.05). The K trans and V e in patients with EGFR positive expression were significantly higher than those in patients with EGFR negative expression: (0.28 ± 0.07) min -1 vs. (0.17 ± 0.04) min -1 and 0.50 ± 0.14 vs. 0.36 ± 0.08, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01); there was no statistical difference in K ep between the two ( P>0.05). Spearman analysis result showed that the K trans was positively correlated with gastric cancer T stage, and the expression of HER2, EGFR in gastric cancer tissue ( r = 0.539, 0.612 and 0.640; P<0.01), the V e was positively correlated with gastric cancer T stage, and the expression of HER2, EGFR in gastric cancer tissue ( r = 0.462, 0.551 and 0.583; P<0.01), while there was no correlated between K ep and gastric cancer T stage and the expression of HER2, EGFR in gastric cancer tissue ( P>0.05). ROC curve analysis result showed that the area under the curve of K trans combined with V e in diagnosis the T 3 to T 4 staging of gastric cancer was 0.929, with a specificity of 81.25% and a specificity of 92.00%. Conclusions:The DCE-MRI quantitative parameters K trans and V e have certain value in the diagnosis of gastric cancer T staging, and they are closely related to the expression of prognostic factors HER2 and EGFR.

BACKGROUND:Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head is a refractory disease in the field of orthopedics.There is no definitive idea to fully explain its pathogenesis.With the increased research on the active ingredients of Panax notoginseng interfering with the signaling pathways related to various diseases,the active ingredients of Panax notoginseng that treat steroid-induced necrosis of the femoral head via the regulation of relevant signaling pathways have gradually become a hot research topic. OBJECTIVE:To systematically summarize the literature on the pathological mechanism of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head and the regulation of signaling pathways by the active ingredients of Panax notoginseng in recent years,thereby providing a reference for the follow-up study on the active ingredients of Panax notoginseng in the treatment of this disease. METHODS:CNKI,WanFang,and PubMed were searched for relevant literature with the key words of"glucocorticoid,steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head,pathological mechanism,signaling pathway,Panax notoginseng,active ingredient"in Chinese and English.Documents related to the pathological mechanism of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head as well as related to the intervention of active ingredients of Panax notoginseng on the signaling pathway of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head were retrieved.A total of 63 documents were finally included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The main ingredients of Panax notoginseng include Panax notoginseng saponins,ginsenoside,Panax notoginseng saponins,quercetin,kaempferol,etc.Panax notoginseng saponins,ginsenoside Rb1 and quercetin can promote bone repair and angiogenesis by acting on the transforming growth factor-β/bone morphogenetic protein pathway.Panax notoginseng saponins,ginsenoside CK and kaempferol can promote osteogenic differentiation and lipid metabolism by acting on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.Panax notoginseng saponins and Panax notoginseng saponins R1/R2 act on the MAPK pathway to inhibit osteoclastogenesis and promote bone repair.Panax notoginseng saponins,ginsenoside Rb2 and quercetin can inhibit osteoclast proliferation and promote osteoblastic differentiation by acting on the RANKL/RANK/OPG pathway.Panax notoginseng saponins,quercetin and kaempferol can repair vascular injury and promote osteogenesis by acting on the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α pathway.Panax notoginseng saponins R1,quercetin combined with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles,Panax notoginseng saponins combined with polyethylene-L-lactic acid and other biomaterials have good research prospects in the treatment of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head.The active ingredients of Panax notoginseng can regulate the signaling pathways related to steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head through various mechanisms,and play an active intervention role in the disease.However,the depth and breadth of relevant research are insufficient at present,and the future research should be based on the existing mechanism to explore the specific mechanism of Panax notoginseng regulating different pathways and the interaction between pathways,which will be beneficial to the multi-development of the active ingredients of Panax notoginseng in the treatment of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and prognostic factors of breast cancer patients with ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph node metastasis (ISLNM) receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy,surgery combined with radiotherapy at diagnosis.Methods Therapeutic outcomes of 65 breast cancer patients with ISLNM treated in our hospital between 1999 and 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were pathologically diagnosed with breast cancer.They were complicated with ISLNM,without distant metastasis confirmed by pathological or imaging examinations.All patients received multi-modality therapy consisting of neoadjuvant chemotherapy,surgery and postoperative radiotherapy.KaplanMeier method was adopted to calculate the overall survival (OS),progression-free survival (PFS) and supraclavicular lymph node recurrence (SCFR).The differences between two groups were statistically analyzed by the log-rank test.Results The median follow-up time was 66 months (range:6-137 months).Five patients had SCFR after corresponding treatment.The overall 5-year SCFR,OS and PFS rates were 9.2％,71.5％ and 49.5％,respectively.Following preoperative chemotherapy,the complete response (CR) of supraclavicular lymph node was a prognostic factor affecting OS.The 5-year OS rates in patients with and without CR were 81.4％ and 53.9％ (P=O.035).The size of supraclavicular lymph node (≤ 1 cm vs.＞ 1 cm at diagnosis was a risk factor of the SCFR (0％ vs.21.0％,P=0.037) and OS rates (≤1 cm vs.＞1 cm:86.1％ vs.55.6％,P =0.001).Conclusions Breast cancer patients with ISLM at diagnosis can obtain high OS rate and excellent tumor control after undergoing multi-modality therapy consisting of preoperative chemotherapy,surgery and postoperative radiotherapy.

Objective To develop a radiomics nomogram based on contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) for preoperative prediction of high-risk and low-risk thymomas. Methods Clinical data of patients with thymoma who underwent surgical resection and pathological confirmation at Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital from January 2018 to February 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Feature selection was performed using the Pearson correlation coefficient and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method. An ExtraTrees classifier was used to construct the radiomics signature model and the radiomics signature. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression was applied to analyze clinical-radiological characteristics and identify variables for developing a clinical model. The radiomics nomogram model was developed by combining the radiomics signature and clinical features. Model performance was evaluated using area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value. Calibration curves and decision curves were plotted to assess model accuracy and clinical values. Results A total of 120 patients including 59 females and 61 males with an average age of 56.30±12.10 years. There were 84 patients in the training group and 36 in the validation group, 62 in the low-risk thymoma group and 58 in the high-risk thymoma group. Radiomics features (1 038 in total) were extracted from the arterial phase of CECT scans, among which 6 radiomics features were used to construct the radiomics signature. The radiomics nomogram model, combining clinical-radiological characteristics and the radiomics signature, achieved an AUC of 0.872 in the training group and 0.833 in the validation group. Decision curve analysis demonstrated better clinical efficacy of the radiomics nomogram than the radiomics signature and clinical model. Conclusion The radiomics nomogram based on CECT showed good diagnostic value in distinguishing high-risk and low-risk thymoma, which may provide a noninvasive and efficient method for clinical decision-making.

Objective: To analyze the outcomes of clinical T1-3N1M0 breast cancer patients with pathological negative axillary lymph nodes (ypN0) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and mastectomy, and investigate the role of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT). Methods: A total of 185 patients with clinical T1-3N1M0 breast cancer treated between 1999 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were treated with NAC and mastectomy, and achieved ypN0. Of them, 89 patients received additional PMRT and 96 patients did not. 101 patients had clinical stage Ⅱ disease. 84 patients had clinical stage Ⅲ disease. The rates of locoregional recurrence (LRR), distant metastasis (DM), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and differences were compared using the log-rank test. Univariate analysis was used to interpret the impact of clinical features and treatment on patients′ outcome. Results: The 5-year rates of LRR, DM, DFS, and OS for all patients were 4.5%, 10.4%, 86.6%, and 97.1%, respectively. For patients with and without PMRT, the 5-year LRR rates were 1.1% and 7.5% (P=0.071), the 5-year DM rates were 5.1% and 15.0% (P=0.023), the 5-year DFS rates were 95.0% and 79.0% (P=0.008), and the 5-year OS rates were 100.0% and 94.5% (P=0.089) respectively. In univariate analysis, lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI) was poor prognostic factor of LRR (P=0.001), < 40 years old and lack of PMRT was a poor prognostic factor for DM (P<0.05), lack of PMRT was a poor prognostic factor for DFS (P=0.008), primary lesion residual and mild-moderate pathological response to NAC were poor prognostic factors for OS (P<0.05). In the subgroup of Stage Ⅲ disease, for patients with and without PMRT, the 5-year LRR rates were 1.9% and 14.4% (P=0.041), the 5-year DFS rates were 91.9% and 67.4% (P=0.022), respectively. In the subgroup of Stage Ⅱ disease, for patients with and without PMRT, the 5-year DM rates were 0 and 11.5% (P=0.044), the 5-year DFS rates were 100.0% and 84.9% (P=0.023), respectively. Conclusions The LRR rate of clinical T1-3N1M0 breast cancer patients who achieved ypN0 after NAC and mastectomy was low. PMRT decreased the DM rate and increased DFS rate in all patients, and significantly decreased the LRR rate in Stage Ⅲ disease. PMRT should be considered for patients with Stage Ⅲ disease, and further research is warranted to investigate the benefit of PMRT for Stage Ⅱ disease.