Objective Construct the finite element model of vertebral pedicle screw fixation in thoracolumbar fractures can obtain the intuitive systematic mechanical effects under different motion conditions, it has a very important significance to the patients' rehabilitation, evaluation of system stability and prognosis.In this study, the biomechanical effects of different motion states of thoracic and lumbar spine fracture models were analyzed by the finite element analysis method.Methods We selected 1 orthopedic health volunteers from Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Region in June 2014, established the finite element model by the CT scan data of the healthy volunteer, used the geometric cutting method for fracture simulation and replacement, assembled posterior orthopedic internal fixation system of vertebral pedicle screw, simulated the different motion states and obtained the stress nephogram and displacement graph of the nail-stick system..Results For the six-nail and two-rod internal fixation system of posterior nail-stick system which set nails through injured vertebrae, we used the finite element operation method to simulate the biomechanical characteristics of different modes of motion in space, it combined by the movement of six directions(flexion, dorsiflexion, left side bend, right side bend, left twist, right twist).The maximum stress(94.99±1.72MPa) and the maximum displacement(0.1854±0.0052mm) and the of the dorsiflexion were significantly lower than that of flexion[(126.82±5.56)MPa、(0.2502±0.0050)mm]、left side bend[(152.18±9.13)Mpa、(0.3172±0.0048)mm]、right side bend[(159.58±13.54)Mpa、(0.3315±0.0051)mm](P<0.05).Conclusion The method of finite element analysis can obtain clear and intuitive biomechanical data, which provides effective evidence for the evaluation of surgical efficacy, the development of postoperative rehabilitation methods and the evaluation of the stability of thoracolumbar spinal system.

Objective:To analyze risk factors that were associated with loss of correction curvature after short-segment restoration and fixation in cases who had single-segment thoracolumbar fracture.Methods:87 Cases who had experienced single-segment thoracolumbar fracture and had underwent short-segment restoration and fixation in our department from Jan 2008 to Jan 2011,and had complete follow-up imaging were included.Cobb angles were measured on lateral thoracolumbar X-ray preoperatively,postoperatively and before removal of internal fixation.And these included the angle formed by vertebras that located above and below injured vertebrae (α angle),superior endplate of injured vertebrae and its superior vertebrae (β angle),inferior endplate of injured vertebrae and its inferior vertebrae (γ angle),inferior and superior endplate of injured vertebrae (δ angle).T-test was used to analyze these angles and their changes.And correlation analysis was used to analyze relationships between α angle change and other risk factors.Results:When compared with preoperative angles,the mean α angle,β angle,γ angle and δ angle were all significantly increased (p＜0.05) after the operation.The mean α angle and δ angle before the removal of internal fixation were both significantly smaller than those after the operation (p＜0.05),and the mean change ofα angle was-2.85 degrees.After the correlation analysis,we found significant correlations between the change ofα angle and postoperative correction curvature(-0.342,p=0.026),injured region in endplate(0.374,p=0.015),and change of the δ angle(0.231,p=0.041).Conclusion:There was significant loss in the correction curvature before the removal of internal fixation.And the loss was significantly associated with postoperative correction curvature,injured region in endplate,and change of the δ angle.

Objective:To investigate the effect of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cytoskeleton rearrangement of renal tubular epithelial cells.Methods:Immortalized renal tubular epithelial cell line NRK52E was cultured in vitro with IL-1β (30 μg/L) for 3 days and 6 days,then the cell morphology was observed;The mRNA expressions of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA),cytoskeleton components β-actin and α-tubulin were semi-quantitative examined by RT-PCR.The protein expression of α-SMA and arrangements of β-actin and α-tubulin were assessed by immunofluorescent staining.Results:After induced by IL-1β for 3 days and 6 days in vitro,the mRNA and protein expression of α-SMA increased significantly compared with corresponding control cells (P<0.001),it prompted that NRK52E cells underwent EMT;At the same time,the cell morphology also changed,from a typical multilateral paving stone to fibroblast-like appearance,with multiple processes; Cytoskeletal protein β-actin mRNA expression was also slightly increased (P<0.05).The distributions and arrangements of β-actin protein were also changed,from cell membrane transferred to peri-nucleus and cytoplasm,moreover it formed fiber bundle-like structures.However,another cytoskeleton protein α-tubulin in IL-1β induced cells,neither it's mRNA expression nor it's distribution had significant differences compared with the control group.Conclusion:IL-1β can induce NRK52E cells undergoing EMT in vitro,cell morphology changes into fibroblast-like appearance with multiple processes,and also the cytoskeleton protein β-actin expression increases and rearrangement occurrs.However,there was no changes onα-tubulin.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the impact of acupuncture on exercise-induced fatigue (EIF). Methods: Scopus, Springer Link, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Academic Journal Full-text Database (Wanfang), Chongqing VIP Database (CQVIP), and China Biology Medicine Disc (CBM) were systematically searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) studying acupuncture treatment of EIF from the inception till August 2020. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane handbook. RevMan 5.3 was used to conduct statistical analysis on the extracted data. Results: A total of 11 RCTs were included for meta-analysis, involving 531 patients. It was revealed that acupuncture produced more significant effects in alleviating subjective fatigue [standardized mean difference (SMD)=-3.08, 95％ confidence interval (CI) (-4.35, -1.81), P<0.001], increasing the hemoglobin content [weighted mean difference (WMD)=3.89, 95％CI (1.37, 6.42), P=0.003], reducing the lactate dehydrogenase content [WMD=-10.63, 95％CI (-17.67, -3.59), P=0.003], reducing the blood lactic acid content [SMD=-2.65, 95％CI (-4.47, -0.83), P=0.004], and down-regulating the levels of serum creatine kinase [SMD=-0.79, 95％CI (-1.10, -0.48), P<0.001] and blood urea nitrogen [WMD=-1.47, 95％CI (-1.84, -1.11), P<0.001] than the control groups. Conclusion: Based on the existing evidence, acupuncture can be recognized as effective in improving EIF and is worthy of promotion in clinical settings.

As adult stem cells, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have the potential for self-replication, renewal, and multidirection differentiation. Their unique biological function determines their wide clinical indications. Researchers can define the quality attributes of hMSCs according to clinical expectations. The quality study of hMSCs should consider microbiological safety, biological safety, cell biological properties, and biological effectiveness. Quality evaluation is a common physical, chemical, and biological evaluation method for hMSCs. Traditional product safety evaluation strategies cannot fully adapt to current technology and product usage characteristics. Researchers have developed new, effective evaluation methods based on current technology. In terms of product efficacy evaluation strategies, an efficacy evaluation system has been gradually established and standardized according to the intended clinical use and based on quality studies, which can enable researchers to evaluate hMSCs products more comprehensively at different stages and processes. In this paper, the progress of quality research and evaluation of human mesenchymal stem cells was reviewed to provide a reference for the utilization of stem cells in the field of regenerative medicine.

Objective:To analyze the characteristics of eyes with congenital optic disc pits (ODPs) through multimodal imaging.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted.Thirty-eight patients (38 eyes) diagnosed with congenital ODPs in the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2009 to January 2020 were enrolled.A comprehensive summary analysis of the imaging results including fundus photography, spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), infrared imaging, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) was performed.This study protocol adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by an Ethics Committee of The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University (No.2021-P011). Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to any medical examination.Results:Among the 38 eyes, there were 32 eyes with ODPs located in or below the temporal side of optic disc, 4 eyes with ODPs located above the temporal side of optic disc, and 2 eyes with ODPs located at the center of optic disc, which were round or quasi-circular pale depression, and dark red eminences with clear or unclear boundaries between milk spots were found in 29 eyes with optical-disc macular degeneration (ODP-M) by fundus photography.SD-OCT examination showed that the structure of lamina cribrosa in the lesion area in all ODPs patients was incomplete, which presented a dark area with no tissue reflection, and the fissure led to the deep optic nerve.Fluid was found in the outer nuclear layer in all ODP-M patients, and there were 27 eyes with fluid in the inner nuclear layer, 13 eyes in the ganglion cell layer, and 4 eyes under the inner limiting membrane.Among the 29 eyes with ODP-M, there were 21 eyes with retinoschisis in outer layer, 27 eyes with neuroepithelial detachment.In the 27 eyes with neuroepithelial detachment, spot-like high reflection and reduced or disappeared ellipsoid band reflectance were seen above the neuroepithelium in 18 eyes.In infrared images, there were circular or quasi-circular low-reflection areas in the temporal side of the optic disc, and the lesion of ODP-M eyes presented low-reflection areas.FAF examination showed that in 27 eyes with ODP-M, there was a hypofluorescent region at the posterior pole consistent with the lesion range, among which, there was a granular or sheet-like hyperfluorescence at the center of the hypofluorescent region in 18 eyes.FFA showed that the optic disc depression in the arterial phase of patients was in a localized hypofluorescence state.During the venous phase, fluorescein dye extravasation along the temporal side of the optic disc could be found.A strong fluorescent arc with unclear boundaries at the temporal edge of the optic disc was formed in the late stage of angiography.Among the 29 eyes with ODP-M, the area of the macular lesion showed hyperfluorescence during the late stage of angiography in 27 eyes with neuroepithelial detachment, and no extension of dye toward the macula was found.ICGA showed that the optic disc depression of ODPs patients presented a localized hypofluorescence, and the lesion showed hyperfluorescence in 27 of the 29 ODP-M eyes with neuroepithelial detachment.Conclusions:Multimodal imaging can be helpful to realize the early diagnosis, etiology analysis of ODPs and make treatment plan.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to establish a standard protocol for detection of EGFR mutations in cytologic specimens.

METHODS287 cytologic samples were collected from the patients who were suspected of having lung cancer at six hospitals in Beijing. A detection protocol for EGFR mutations was designed. Two comparative experiments were carried out for the coincidence in EGFR mutation rates between direct sequencing (Seq) and amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) methods, and between 40 matched cytologic samples with formaldehyde-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) cytologic blocks and cytospin slides.

RESULTSTumor cells were found in 236 out of 287 cases (82.2%, 236/287) . Among them, there were 31 cases (13.1%, 31/236) of low tumor cell content samples and 205 cases (86.9%, 205/236) of high tumor cell content samples. 180 cases in the high tumor cell content samples (87.8%, 180/205) were diagnosed to be consistent with NSCLC. 25 out of 194 cases were ruled out or indefinite to be diagnosed as NSCLC by immunohistochemistry. By direct sequencing, the mutation rate of EGFR was 27.8% (50/180) in NSCLC samples and 28.2% (50/177) in adenocarcinoma samples (high tumor content samples) . By ARMS, the mutation rate of EGFR was 45.6% (82/180) in NSCLC samples and 46.3% (82/177) in adenocarcinoma samples (high tumor content samples). The EGFR mutation rate in low tumor content samples was 38.7% (12/31) , there was no significant difference in EGFR mutation rates between the groups of low tumor cell content samples and high tumor cell content samples (P = 0.12). The concordance rate of EGFR mutation rates was 100% between scraping tumor cells from slides samples and from FFEP blocks in the 40 matched samples. Forty-eight out of 180 definitive NSCLC patients received Gefitinib therapy. The FPS was 12 months in the gefitinib-treated ARMS⁺ group and 2 months in the ARMS⁻ group (P < 0.001), and the OS was 19 months in the gefitinib-treated ARMS⁺ group and 7 months in the ARMS⁻ group (P = 0.003), but no significant differences were found in the efficacy (PFS and OS) of Gefitinib between Seq⁺ and Seq⁻ groups (P = 0.227, P = 0.510, respectively), and Seq⁺/ARMS⁺ and Seq⁻/ARMS⁺ groups (P = 0.354, P = 0.334, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSThe detection protocol for EGFR mutations in cytological specimens introduced in this study is tested to be reliable and feasible. Pathological evaluation and immunohistochemistry are important in the detection procedure of EGFR mutations in cytologic specimens. High sensitivity methods should be selected for detection of EGFR mutations in cytologic samples.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Mutation Rate ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To study the value of reduced field-of-view (rFOV DWI) in differentiating patients with solid pancreatic focal lesions.Methods 139 patients with solid pancreatic mass were enrolled,including 105 patients with pancreatic ductal acinar carcinoma (PDAC),16 patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms,7 patients with mass forming chronic pancreatitis (MFCP) and 11 patients with solid papillary tumor (SPT).38 healthy adult volunteers served as controls,and underwent single stimulated echo planar imaging (ss-EPI) DWI and rFOV DWI(b value =0 and 600 s/mm2) MRI examination.Quartation method was used to evaluate the image quality of ss-EPI) DWI and rFOV DWI in the three terms of the visibility of anatomical structure,contrast of pancreatic lesions,motion and the susceptibility artifacts during MRI.Work station self-carried software was used to measure the ADC value of the region of interest (ROI).The image quality and ADC values of different pancreatic diseases and normal pancreas were compared.ROC curve for ADC value was drawn to evaluate the difference among PDAC,other benign pancreatic masses and normal pancreas.Results At b value of 0 and 600 s/mm2,rFOV DWI was superior to ss-EPI DWI in terms of showing pancreatic anatomic structure,the contrast of the lesion and the score evaluation for susceptibility artifacts(b =0 s/mm22.99 ±0.51 vs 2.79 ±0.64,2.37±0.48 vs 1.81 ±0.63,3.17 ±0.56 vs 2.91 ±0.60;b =600 s/mm23.63 ±0.50 vs 3.32 ±0.56,3.45 ±0.50 vs 3.01 ±0.49,3.74 ±0.44 vs 3.12 ±0.37),and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.001).ADC values of PDAC,NET,MFCP,SPT and normal pancreas were (1.38 ± 0.17) × 10-3,(1.22 ± 0.35) × 10-3,(1.29 ± 0.13) × 10-3,(1.04 ± 0.38) ×10-3and(1.86±0.15) ×10-3mm2/sforrFOV DWI,and (1.73 ± 0.24) ×10-3,(1.63±0.39) ×10-3,(1.58±0.19) × 10-3,(1.25±0.26) × 10-3 and(2.04±0.20) × 10-3mm2/s for ss-EPI DWI.The difference on ADC values among different groups and within one group were all statistically significant (P ＜0.001).There were no statistical significant differences on ADC values between MFCP and PDAC,between MFCP and SPT as well as on ss-EPI DWI ADC values between PDAC and NET,but statistical differences were found between other two groups (P ＜ 0.05).The area under the ROC curve of rFOV and ssEPI DWI was 0.983 (95％ CI 0.944-0.998) and 0.889 (95％ CI 0.822-0.936),respectively,and the difference was statistically significant (P =0.0004),but rFOV DWI and ss-EPI DWI ADC values for PDAC and all benign solid diseases were 0.799 (95％ CI 0.719-0.864) and 0.755 (95％ CI 0.672-0.827),and the difference was not statistically significant.Conclusions rFOV DWI could significantly enhance the quality of DWI images,and its diagnostic efficacy was much better than ss-EPI DWI.

Objective:To evaluate the nutritional status of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and explore the correlation with malnutrition and the risk factors of depressed mood.Methods:190 cirrhotic patients admitted to the Department of Gastroenterology of the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from June to September 2023 were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eligible patients were divided into subgroups based on the presence or absence of malnutrition as determined by subjective global assessment (SGA). The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale was used to assess patients' propensity for depressed mood. Relevant clinical data were also collected and analyzed.Results:A total of 185 patients were included, of which 126 were in the non-malnutrition group and 59 malnutrition group. There were significant between-group differences in terms of CES-D results, age, body mass index, platelets, D-dimer, serum sodium, third lumbar skeletal muscle index, grip strength, triceps skinfold thickness, and upper arm muscle circumference (all P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that grip strength, triceps skinfold thickness, upper arm muscle circumference, serum sodium, and depressed mood tendency status were correlated with the development of cirrhotic malnutrition ( P<0.05). The diagnostic model for malnutrition in cirrhosis using these five indicators showed the area under the curve of 81.9%. Conclusions:Depression is closely related to the development of malnutrition in patients with liver cirrhosis. Independent risk factors for malnutrition in cirrhosis include serum sodium≤135 mmol/L, grip strength, triceps skinfold thickness, lower-than-normal upper arm circumference , and the tendency of depression , which demonstrate the combined contribution to the diagnosis of malnutrition in cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND:Hypoxic exercise can promote the degradation of body fat,and changes in the external environment can affect the circadian rhythm of animals,but the mechanisms by which changes in circadian rhythm regulate adipose tissue browning and fat degradation are unclear. OBJECTIVE:To elucidate the mechanism of clock gene regulation on epididymal adipose tissue Browning in obese rats undergoing hypoxia exercise. METHODS:Forty obese rats were randomly selected and divided into four groups(n=10 per group):normoxic sedentary group,hypoxic sedentary group,normoxic exercise group,and hypoxic exercise group for 4 weeks of intervention.The rats in the sedentary groups were not intervened,while those in the hypoxic groups lived in a hypoxic chamber with an oxygen concentration of 13.6%for the whole day.In the exercise groups,adaptive training was performed in the 1st week,and the speed and length of training remained unchanged for the last 3 weeks.The body mass,body length and perirenal fat mass of obese rats were measured.Serum levels of triacylglycerol,total cholesterol,low-density lipoprotein cholesterol,and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in obese rats were detected by a biochemical assay kit.Liver fat content was observed by oil red O staining.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to evaluate the browning of epididymal adipose tissue of rats in different groups.RNA sequencing combined with bioinformatics analysis was used to analyze transcriptome changes in adipose tissue.The mRNA expressions of PGC-1α,Beclin 1,KLF 2 and Perilipin 1 in epididymal adipose tissue were detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Hypoxic exercise intervention significantly decreased body mass,body fat percentage,Lee's index,serum triacylglycerol,total cholesterol,and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels(P＜0.01),and significantly increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level(P＜0.01).Oil red O staining and hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed that hypoxic exercise was more effective in promoting fat mobilization in liver tissue and promoting the browning of parepididymal adipose tissue compared with normoxic sedentary group,hypoxic sedentary group,and normoxic exercise group.RNA-seq results showed that hypoxic exercise significantly upregulated the expression of clock genes Dbp,Nr1d1,Sik1 and adipose tissue browning gene Ppargc1a(PGC-1α)and downregulated the expression of Arntl(Bmal1),accompanied by the enhanced expression of genes related to substance metabolism.qRT-PCR indicated that hypoxic exercise significantly increased the mRNA expression levels of PGC-1α and Perilipin1(P＜0.01).Therefore,these findings indicate that clock genes play an important role in promoting adipose tissue browning during hypoxic exercise.