OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on the expression of migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in acute spinal cord injury (ASCI) in rats. METHODS: Allen's weight-drop method was used to establish a rat model of ASCI at T10. A total of 110 adult SD rats were divided into a sham operation group (group S, n=10), a control group (group C, n=50), and a TMP group (group T, n=50). Spinal cord functionality was measured by a modified Rivilin loxotic plate degree, BBB score, and combined behavioral score (CBS) at 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 21 d postoperatively. The injured spinal cord tissue samples were harvested at 1, 3, 6, 12 h and 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21 d postoperatively (n=5 at each time point) and used to prepare continuous histological sections, in which the expression of MIF was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The degree in group T measured by modified Rivlin loxotic plate test after the ASCI was significantly higher than that in group C at 7, 14, and 21 d (P<0.05). BBB score in group T was significantly higher than that in group C at 5, 7, 14, and 21 d after the ASCI (P<0.05). CBS score in group C was significantly higher than that in group T at 5, 7, 14, and 21 d after the ASCI (P<0.05). The significantly low number of MIF positive cells was shown in group T when compared with that in group C at 12 h and 1, 3, 5, 7 d after the ASCI (P<0.05). As time passed, there was negative correlation between modified Rivlin loxotic plate degree and MIF expression and also between BBB score and MIF, and there was positive correlation between CBB score and MIF expression. CONCLUSION TMP has protective effect after the ASCI, and may promote the repair of injured spinal cord tissues. TMP may decrease the MIF expression in cells after the ASCI.
Animals ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intramolecular Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors ; metabolism ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; metabolism

Objective:To measure and compare the geometric rotation axis of the talocrucial joint at different poses during the normal gait.Methods:The kinematic data of 15 healthy volunteers, 8 females, 7 males; age, 26.2±5.4 y (range 19-39 y); height, 170.4±6.9 cm (range 160-183 cm); mass, 65.6±14.0 kg (range 52-100 kg). They were collected using the dual-fluoroscopy technique, and the spatial position of the tibia and talus was determined using the 3D-2D registration method. The medial and lateral side of the trochlear of each talus was fitted by two spheres and the geometric rotation axis of the tibiotalar joint was defined as the line connecting the origins of two spheres. Compared the position and orientation of the axis for different poses during the gait and also compared the difference of the radius of the medial and lateral spheres fitting the trochlear of each talus.Results:The radii of the medial spheres fitting the trochlear of each talus 19.52±1.47 mm,were significantly less than that of the lateral spheres 20.62±1.49 ( t=7.081, P<0.05). The averaged anterior-posterior distance between the geometric rotation point of the tibiotalar joint were 1.54±1.84, 1.71±1.69, 1.70±1.57, 1.72±1.62, 1.80±1.75, 1.96±1.86 mm, respectively, while the averaged medial-lateral distance were 0.06±1.84, -0.03±1.83, 0.08±1.83, 0.10±1.73, 0.10±1.47, 0.09±1.46 mm, respectively, and the averaged superior-inferiordistance were -21.92±1.46, -22.10±1.32, -22.10±1.50, -22.06±1.64, -21.93±1.62, -21.98±1.50 mm, respectively. The averaged angle between the geometric rotation axis of the tibiotalar joint and coronal plane were 3.31°±2.48°, 3.10°±2.67°, 3.64°±2.71°, 3.96°±3.19°, 4.28°±2.82°, 4.16°±3.11°, respectively, while the averaged angle between that and sagittal plane were 84.11°± 2.42°, 83.77°±3.19°, 83.77°±3.45°, 83.81°±3.69°, 83.99°±2.97°, 84.23°±3.01°, respectively, and the averaged angle between that and transverse plane were 4.40°±2.93°, 4.54°±3.74°, 3.97°±3.34°, 3.73°±2.49°, 3.78°±2.76°, 4.48°±2.49°, respectively. The position and orientation of the geometrical rotation axis of the tibiotalar joint at different poses during the gait showed no significant difference ( P>0.05). The rotation axis orientated from laterally and inferiorly to medially and superiorly with an averaged inclination angle from the horizontal plane of 3.74° and an averaged deviation angle from the coronal plane of 4.15°. Conclusion:The geometric rotation axis of the tibiotalar joint was fixed during the gait, therefore fitting the talar trochlea with the two-sphere model with a small radius of the medial sphere and a large radius of the lateral sphere may better mimic the kinematics of tibiotalar joint.

Objective:To compare the operative treatment and non-operative treatment of the re-ruptured Achilles tendon with rupture end distance within 1 cm.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 14 cases with Achilles tendon postoperative re-rupture in our hospital from May 2012 to March 2019. All 14 cases showed distance of rupture end less than 1cm during imaging in a passive plantarflexion position. Among the 14 cases with re-rupture, 8 were in the operative treatment group (7 males and 1 female, mean age 36.3±6.4 years, duration from initial rupture to re-rupture 3 to 213 weeks, height 174.9±8.7 cm, weight 75.5±13.9 kg, body mass index 24.5±2.7 kg/m 2, distance of re-ruptured ends 4.9±2.5 mm) and 6 were in the non-operative treatment group (5 males and 1 female, mean age 40.0±9.0 years, duration from initial rupture to re-rupture 4 to 60 weeks, height 173.8±3.5 cm, weight 77.5±7.4 kg, body mass index 25.7±2.5 kg/m 2, distance of re-ruptured ends 5.7±2.1 mm). The Achilles tendon rupture score (ATRS), visual analogue scale (VAS), and foot and ankle ability measure (FAAM) were used to evaluate the result at the patients' last follow-up. Results:All the 14 cases were followed for 8.7 to 92.2 months, with mean follow-up of 39.6 months. Ultrasound or MRI was performed at 6 months postoperatively or at last follow-up to ensure the Achilles tendons' healing. The average ATRS score, VAS score, FAAM-ADL score, and FAAM-Sports score of the operative treatment group were 85.4±13.5, 0 (0, 1.0) , 86.9±8.3, and 76.3±15.4, respectively. While those of the non-operative treatment group were 82.8±5.7, 0.5 (0, 1.3) , 88.1±8.3, and 77.2±15.0, respectively. The average VAS score, FAAM-ADL score, and FAAM-Sports score of the operative treatment group and those of the non-operative treatment group was not significantly different. The ATRS scores of 7 patients of the operative treatment group were between 81 and 96. The satisfaction rate of operative treatment group was 87.5% (7/8). The ATRS scores of 5 patients of the non-operative treatment group were between 81 and 91. The satisfactory rate of non-operative treatment group was 83.3% (5/6). All Achilles tendon re-rupture cases had no complications such as a third time Achilles tendon rupture or wound infection after treatment.Conclusion:For the re-ruptured Achilles tendon with rupture end distance within 1 cm, non-operative treatment achieved similar curative effect compared to operative treatment through extended duration of immobilization and non-weightbearing.

【Objective】 To investigate the status of blood donation of pregnant women's family members, so as to recruit their family members and establish potential blood donation team. 【Methods】 Questionnaire survey was carried out among family members of pregnant women who participated in blood preparation plan by random sampling. 【Results】 The motivations of self-efficacy, internal reward, severity and stress of blood donors were significantly higher than those of non-donors, but non-donors concerned more about negative feelings of phlebotomy(P<0.05). People with rare blood type, low age, high income, weak negative motivation and strong positive motivation had stronger blood donation intention and higher probability of blood donation behavior(P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 It is necessary to expand blood sources through multiple channels by organizing publicity activities around targeted groups, such as establishing channels for blood donation reservation, taking the lead role of the donated crowd, so as to build up a recruitment team for voluntary blood donation.

【Objective】 To explore the feasibility and necessity of establishing a scheduled blood donation team focusing on pregnant women′s blood preparation by the comparative analysis between RhD positive and negative pregnant women′s family participation in the team, so as to provide basis for decision-making on fine management of key groups of voluntary blood donation. 【Methods】 A questionnaire survey was conducted between the families of RhD negative and positive pregnant women participating in the blood preparation program from January to September 2020 to compare the differences in incentive measures, blood donation cognition, motivation, intention and behavior between the two groups. 【Results】 For common incentive measures for blood donation, both families of RhD negative pregnant women(the former) and families of RhD positive pregnant women(the latter) preferred expectant mothers to use blood first, accounting for 98.02% (99/101) and 98.51% (132/134), respectively, with no significant difference.For other incentive measures, the preference of the former were significantly higher (P<0.05). For the cognition of voluntary blood donation, the awareness of the former was higher than that of the latter, with significant difference(P<0.05), except for clinical blood use expenses; the score of intention to donate blood of the former was higher than that of the latter(P<0.05); among the six factors of motivation to blood donation, the score of severity of the former(understanding of the status of blood supply) was higher than that of the latter, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). Analysis of ROC curve showed that AUC of fitting model of the former and latter was 0.816 (95% CI: 0.731~0.902) and 0.924 (95% CI: 0.871~0.977). 【Conclusion】 Pregnant women families participated in the program are more interested in the incentive measures of health policies.The former has higher awareness of the current supply situation hence demonstrates higher intention to donate blood than the latter.Therefore, relevant policies should be formulated to improve the enthusiasm of pregnant women families to participate in voluntary blood donation, optimize the construction strategy of scheduled blood donation team and expand the donation team while ensuring blood use of pregnant women.

Objective To modify the mouse model of orthotopic left lung transplantation from different perspectives, aiming to establish a simpler, faster and stabler mouse model of lung transplantation. Methods Based on preliminary modified rat model of orthotopic left lung transplantation established by our team, varying extent of modifications were made regarding the tracheal intubation, cannula preparation and anastomosis procedures of orthotopic left lung transplantation in the recipient mice. Orthotopic left lung transplantation in 40 mice were performed by an operator with microsurgical experience. The dissection of the recipient's hilar structure was carried out at the plane of the hilar clamp model within the reverse-view, and the three branches (left main bronchus, pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein) of the pulmonary hilum were anastomosed in turn by the "pendulum" anastomosis method. The operation time of each procedure was recorded. The recipient mice were sacrificed at postoperative 2 weeks, and the incidence of postoperative complications was recorded. Results Lung transplantation was successfully completed in 40 mice, with no bronchial and vascular tearing or twisting, and no bleeding at the anastomosis site. The overall cardiopulmonary procurement time was (10.7±1.5) min, cannula preparation time was (16.2±1.5) min, cold ischemia time was (25.1±2.4) min, warm ischemia time was (19.4±1.6) min, and the total operation time was (57.2±2.9) min, respectively. During the follow-up from 6 to 14 days after surgery, one recipient mouse died of pleural effusion, probably caused by infection. No pneumothorax, thrombosis or atelectasis was found in the remaining recipient mice during postoperative follow-up. Conclusions The modified mouse model of orthotopic left lung transplantation based on "pendulum" anastomosis of the reverse-view plane possesses multiple advantages of short operation time, high success rate and few complications, which is expected to become an alternative model of studying pathological changes after lung transplantation and worthy of further application.

Mesocotyl elongation is a key trait influencing seedling emergence and establishment in direct-seeding rice cultivation. The phytohormone gibberellin (GA) has positive effects on mesocotyl elongation in rice. However, the physiological and molecular basis underlying the regulation of mesocotyl elongation mediated by GA priming under deep-sowing conditions remains largely unclear. In the present study, we performed a physiological and comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of the function of GA priming in mesocotyl elongation and seedling emergence using a direct-seeding

The ChatGPT, a lite and conversational variant of Generative Pretrained Transformer 4 (GPT-4) developed by OpenAI, is one of the milestone Large Language Models (LLMs) with billions of parameters. LLMs have stirred up much interest among researchers and practitioners in their impressive skills in natural language processing tasks, which profoundly impact various fields. This paper mainly discusses the future applications of LLMs in dentistry. We introduce two primary LLM deployment methods in dentistry, including automated dental diagnosis and cross-modal dental diagnosis, and examine their potential applications. Especially, equipped with a cross-modal encoder, a single LLM can manage multi-source data and conduct advanced natural language reasoning to perform complex clinical operations. We also present cases to demonstrate the potential of a fully automatic Multi-Modal LLM AI system for dentistry clinical application. While LLMs offer significant potential benefits, the challenges, such as data privacy, data quality, and model bias, need further study. Overall, LLMs have the potential to revolutionize dental diagnosis and treatment, which indicates a promising avenue for clinical application and research in dentistry.
Dentistry ; Artificial Intelligence