OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of reducing posterior malleolar fractures via the modified Rammelt transfibular approach. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 26 patients with ankle fractures who met the selection criteria and were admitted between September 2023 and May 2024. There were 13 males and 13 females, aged from 14 to 59 years (median, 43.5 years). Causes of injury included traffic accident (1 case), falls (7 cases), and sprains (18 cases). Time from injury to operation ranged from 1 to 13 days (mean, 3.9 days). According to the Lauge-Hansen classification, there were 5 supination-external rotation type Ⅲ fractures and 21 supination-external rotation type Ⅳ fractures. According to the Bartoníček classification for posterior malleolar fractures, there were 12 type Ⅱ fractures, 10 type Ⅲ fractures, and 4 type Ⅳ fractures. During operation, the fracture was exposed via the modified Rammelt transfibular approach; then, the fracture reduction was achieved under direct vision using techniques such as towel clip traction, posterolateral compression, and lifting with a posterior transverse periosteal elevator; finally, the fracture was fixed using anteroposterior cannulated screws or Kirschner wires. The incision healing was observed after operation. At 4 months after operation, X-ray film and CT were reviewed to evaluate the quality of fracture reduction. The medial clear space, tibiofibular clear space, and the anterior/posterior tibiofibular syndesmotic distances were measured. At last follow-up, the ankle function was assessed using the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) score and the range of motion. RESULTS: The marginal necrosis occurred in 2 lateral malleolar incisions, and superficial infection occurred in 1 lateral malleolar incision; the remaining incisions healed by first intention. All 26 patients were followed up 13-21 months (mean, 15.6 months). X-ray films showed that fractures in 25 patients achieved clinical union within 3-8 months (mean, 5.4 months); 1 case had delayed union of the lateral malleolus. At 4 months after operation, no significant difference was found between the injured and healthy sides in the medial clear space, tibiofibular clear space, or the anterior/posterior tibiofibular syndesmotic distances ( P>0.05). No malreduction of the posterior malleolus or the tibiofibular syndesmosis occurred. At last follow-up, the AOFAS score ranged from 80 to 100 (mean, 91.9). The range of motion ranged from 17° to 22° (mean, 21.0°) in active ankle dorsiflexion and from 40° to 49° (mean, 44.6°) in plantar flexion. Internal fixator was removed in 12 patients at 1 year after operation, with no ankle instability occurring. Ankle joint degeneration was observed in 1 patient at last follow-up. CONCLUSION The modified Rammelt transfibular approach is a safe and reliable technique. It enables precise reduction under direct vision, improves the quality of reduction for the distal tibial articular surface and the tibiofibular syndesmosis, and provides satisfactory ankle functional recovery in short-term follow-up.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Ankle Fractures/diagnostic imaging* ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Adolescent ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult ; Bone Screws ; Ankle Joint/surgery* ; Fibula/surgery* ; Range of Motion, Articular

Chirality is not only a natural phenomenon but also a bridge between chemistry and life sciences. An effective way to obtain a single enantiomer is through racemates resolution. Recent literature shows that chiral metal-organic frameworks (CMOFs) have many applications in various fields because of their diverse topologies and functionalities. This review outlines the design idea and summarizes the latest synthesis strategies and applications of CMOFs. It highlights key advances and issues in the separation domain. In conclusion, the review provides perspectives on the challenges and prospective advancements of CMOFs materials and CMOFs-based separation technologies.

With the continuous development of messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, mRNA-based drugs have shown broad application prospects in recent years. Since mRNA is easy to be degraded and difficult to enter cells directly, the mRNA delivery vectors have always been one of the focuses in the development of mRNA-based drugs. Although lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been widely used for the delivery of mRNA, they tend to accumulate in the liver, and repeated administration can easily induce inflammatory response which leads to tissue damage. Compared with LNPs, virus-like particles (VLPs) have the advantages of high biocompatibility and safety, being expected to offer new solutions for mRNA delivery. Based on the practical application requirements, this review summarized the research progress in VLPs according to the mRNA delivery steps: particle assembly, delivery into cells, and intracellular release. We hope to provide a basis and design ideas for the development of new VLPs as delivery vectors, promote the application of VLPs in mRNA delivery, and provide new possibilities for the research and application of mRNA-based therapeutics.
RNA, Messenger/administration & dosage* ; Humans ; Nanoparticles/chemistry* ; Genetic Vectors ; Lipids/chemistry* ; Drug Delivery Systems/methods* ; Virion ; Animals ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Liposomes

Objective:To investigate the relationship between the visceral adiposity index(VAI) and cognitive decline.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted.Between October 2020 and March 2023, 483 elderly residents living in communities in Hefei were recruited and divided into four groups based on VAI scores, Q1(VAI ≤ 1.14), Q2(VAI>1.15 and ≤1.85), Q3(VAI>1.86 and ≤2.81) and Q4(VAI>2.82).General cognitive function was assessed by(MMSE)and(MoCA).Attention and working memory were tested by forward and backward digit span tasks.Logistic regression was utilized to analyze the relationship between different VAI scores and insulin resistance.The correlation between different VAI scores and cognitive function domains was analyzed by partial correlation.Results:The values of BMI, fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, HOMA-IR and HOMA-β increased with increasing VAI scores(all P<0.01).VAI was significantly correlated with insulin sensitivity after adjusting for confounding factors including sex.The risk of insulin resistance in Q4 was 7.40 times that in Q1( OR=7.40, 95% CI: 4.30-12.74, P<0.05).In addition, the correlation coefficients between VAI and forward digital span and between VAI and backward digital span were -0.116 and -0.105, respectively(both P<0.05), but there was no correlation between VAI and MMSE or MoCA. Conclusions:VAI is closely related to insulin resistance and also associated with early cognitive decline in elderly people with visceral obesity.

Background::Hypothermia therapy has been suggested to attenuate myocardial necrosis; however, the clinical implementation as a valid therapeutic strategy has failed, and new approaches are needed to translate into clinical applications. This study aimed to assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of a novel selective intracoronary hypothermia (SICH) device in mitigating myocardial reperfusion injury.Methods::This study comprised two phases. The first phase of the SICH was performed in a normal porcine model for 30 minutes ( n = 5) to evaluate its feasibility. The second phase was conducted in a porcine myocardial infarction (MI) model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion which was performed by balloon occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 60 minutes and maintained for 42 days. Pigs in the hypothermia group ( n = 8) received hypothermia intervention onset reperfusion for 30 minutes and controls ( n = 8) received no intervention. All animals were followed for 42 days. Cardiac magnetic resonance analysis (five and 42 days post-MI) and a series of biomarkers/histological studies were performed. Results::The average time to lower temperatures to a steady state was 4.8 ± 0.8 s. SICH had no impact on blood pressure or heart rate and was safely performed without complications by using a 3.9 F catheter. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α, C-reactive protein (CRP), and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were lower at 60 min post perfusion in pigs that underwent SICH as compared with the control group. On day 5 post MI/R, edema, intramyocardial hemorrhage, and microvascular obstruction were reduced in the hypothermia group. On day 42 post MI/R, the infarct size, IL-6, CRP, BNP, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were reduced, and the ejection fraction was improved in pigs that underwent SICH.Conclusions::The SICH device safely and effectively reduced the infarct size and improved heart function in a pig model of MI/R. These beneficial effects indicate the clinical potential of SICH for treatment of myocardial reperfusion injury.

Objective:To compare the biomechanical properties of posterolateral distal humeral plate, inverted anterior proximal humerus internal locking system (PHILOS), and anterior reconstruction plate in the treatment of distal humeral shaft fractures by a finite element analysis.Methods:One healthy adult male volunteer, aged 27 years, with a height of 171 cm and a weight of 70 kg, was recruited for this study. The finite element method was used to establish a simulation model of distal humeral shaft fracture. The maximum displacement and maximum stress were compared between fixation with posterolateral distal humeral plate (group A), fixation with inverted anterior PHILOS (group B), and fixation with anterior reconstruction plate (group C).Results:In groups A, B, and C, respectively, the overall stress peak values were 409.07 MPa, 217.04 MPa, and 370.64 MPa; the peak stresses under torsional load were 234.55 MPa, 348.80 MPa and 458.17 MPa; the overall stress peaks under bending load were 250.22 MPa, 466.76 MPa, and 582.32 MPa. The smaller the stress, the smaller the risk of fatigue fracture. In groups A, B, and C, respectively, the overall displacement peak values were 5.18 mm, 3.04 mm and 3.75 mm; the peak displacements under torsional load were 1.20 mm, 1.02 mm and 2.05 mm; the peak displacements under bending load were 3.85 mm, 5.28 mm and 9.04 mm. The smaller the displacement, the better the fixation stability.Conclusions:In the treatment of distal humeral shaft fractures, fixation with inverted anterior PHILOS leads to the best mechanical stability under axial compression and torsional stress, while fixation with the posterolateral distal humeral plate leads to the best mechanical stability under bending stress.

Objective:To investigate the causal relationship between trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and its precursors (betaine, carnitine, and choline) and pancreatic diseases based on the Mendelian randomization (MR) method.Methods:Genome-wide association study data of TMAO, betaine, carnitine, choline, acute pancreatitis (AP), chronic pancreatitis (CP), pancreatic cancer (PC), and circulating immune cell characteristics (white blood cell, lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil, eosinophil and basophil) were collected. According to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE)-MR reporting guidelines, the available genetic variants [single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)] were strictly screened. The causal relationship between exposure (TMAO and its precursors) and outcomes (pancreatic diseases and circulating immune cell characteristics) was evaluated using inverse variance weighting (IVW), MR-Egger regression and weighted median. The reliability of the results was evaluated by sensitivity analysis based on MR-Egger regression, MR-PRESSO, Cochrane's Q test and leave-one-out method. Results:A total of 36 SNP associated with TMAO and its precursors were included. Five of these were associated with TMAO, 13 with betaine, 12 with carnitine, and 6 with choline. ① MR analysis showed that TMAO may increase the risk of AP [odds ratio ( OR) = 1.100, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.008-1.200, P = 0.032], and choline may reduce the risk of alcoholic acute pancreatitis (AAP; OR = 0.743, 95% CI was 0.585-0.944, P = 0.015). The analysis results of MR-Egger regression and weighted median were consistent with the IVW results. There is no evidence to support a causal relationship between TMAO and its precursors and the risk of CP and PC. Sensitivity analysis indicated that SNP analyzed by MR showed no heterogeneity and low pleiotropy. The leave-one-out method analysis determined that after excluding any SNP, the effect intervals of the remaining SNP on the results were similar to the overall effect intervals, which suggested the robustness of MR results. ② There was a positive causal relationship between plasma TMAO level and circulating monocyte count ( OR = 1.017, 95% CI was 1.000*-1.034, P = 0.048, * represented that the data was obtained by correcting to 3 decimal places from 1.000 1). The causal effect obtained by MR-Egger regression and weighted median analysis was consistent with the results of IVW. Sensitivity analysis illustrated SNP analyzed by MR showed no heterogeneity and pleiotropy. The leave-one-out method analysis determined that after excluding any SNP, the effect intervals of the remaining SNP on the results were similar to the overall effect intervals, which suggested the robustness of MR results. Conclusion:TMAO and choline may change the risk of AP, and TMAO may contribute to the increase of circulating monocyte count in AP.

Objective:To investigate the value of intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics models based on 18F-FDG PET-CT in predicting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status in lung adenocarcinoma and interpret peritumoral radiomics features. Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. Patients with lung adenocarcinoma who underwent 18F-FDG PET-CT at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between January 2018 and April 2022 were retrospectively collected and samplied into a training set (309 cases) and a test set (206 cases) in a 6∶4 ratio randomly. Radiomics features were extracted from the intratumoral and peritumoral regions of interest based on PET and CT images, respectively, and the optimal feature sets were selected. Radiomics models were established using the XGBoost algorithm, and radiomics scores (intratumoral CT label, peritumoral CT label, intratumoral PET label, peritumoral PET label) were calculated. Logistic regression analysis was used to construct a clinical model and a combined model (incorporating PET-CT intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics, clinical features, and CT semantic features). The predictive performance of the models was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves and the area under the curve (AUC). Unsupervised clustering, Spearman correlation analysis, and visualization methods were used for the interpretability of peritumoral radiomics features. Results:In both the training and test sets, the AUC value of CT peritumoral labels was greater than that of CT intratumoral labels for predicting EGFR mutation status in lung adenocarcinoma (training set: Z=3.84, P<0.001; test set: Z=1.99, P=0.046). In the test set, the AUC value of PET intratumoral labels (0.684) was slightly higher than that of PET peritumoral labels (0.672) for predicting EGFR mutation status, but the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). The combined model had the highest AUC value for predicting EGFR mutation status of lung adenocarcinoma in both the training and test sets and was significantly better than the clinical model (training set: Z=6.52, P<0.001; test set: Z=2.31, P=0.021). Interpretability analysis revealed that CT peritumoral radiomics features were correlated with CT shape features, and there were significant differences in CT peritumoral features between different EGFR mutation statuses. Conclusions:The value of CT peritumoral labels is superior to that of CT intratumoral labels in predicting EGFR mutation status in lung adenocarcinoma. The predictive performance of the model can be improved by combining PET-CT intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics, clinical features, and CT semantic features.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prognostic value of death-associated protein 5 (DAP5) in gastric cancer (GC) and its regulatory effect on aerobic glycolysis in GC cells. METHODS: We analyzed DAP5 expression levels in GC and adjacent tissues and its association with survival outcomes of GC patients using public databases. We collected paired samples of GC and adjacent tissues from 102 patients undergoing radical resection of GC in our hospital from June, 2012 to July, 2017, and analyzed the correlation of DAP5 expression level detected immunohistochemically with the clinicopathological parameters of the patients. Cox regression analysis, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and ROC curves were used to explore the independent risk factors and the predictive value of DAP5 expression for 5-year survival of the patients. In the cell experiments, we observed the changes in aerobic glycolysis in MGC-803 cells following lentivirus-mediated DAP5 knockdown or overexpression by measuring glucose uptake and cellular lactate level and using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: Analysis using the public databases showed that DAP5 was highly expressed in GC and correlated with tumor progression and poor survival outcomes of the patients (P < 0.05). In the clinical samples, DAP5 expression was significantly higher in GC than in the adjacent tissues (3.19±0.60 vs 1.00±0.12; t=36.863, P < 0.01), and a high expression of DAP5 was associated with a reduced 5-year survival rate of the patients (17.6% vs 72.5%; χ²=29.921, P < 0.05). A high DAP5 expression, T3-4, N2-3, and CEA≥5 ng/mL were identified as independent risk factors affecting 5-year survival outcomes of GC (P < 0.05), for which DAP5 expression showed a prediction sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 73.2%, 80.4% and 79.0%, respectively. In MGC-803 cells, DAP5 knockdown significantly reduced glucose uptake, lactate level and the expressions of GLUT1, HK2 and LDHA, and DAP5 overexpression produced the opposite effects (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION A high expression of DAP5 in GC, which enhances cellular aerobic glycolysis to promote cancer progression, is correlated with a poor survival outcome and may serve as a biomarker for evaluating long-term prognosis of GC patients.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Blotting, Western ; Databases, Factual ; Glucose ; Lactates

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is one of the most common malignant head and neck tumors, and radiotherapy is the main treatment. However, radio-resistance is a key cause of local recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Therefore, overcoming the radio-resistance of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and enhancing the radiosensitivity have become urgent problems in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which also play a key role in improving the overall survival rate of patients. In this article, recent studies on DNA, non-coding RNA (ncRNA), protein and cell behaviors related to radio-resistance of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were reviewed, aiming to provide valuable ideas for clinical treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.