Objective To investigate the effects of serum cobalt ion concentration on the liver, kidney and heart in mice. Methods Forty 4-week-old male ICR mice were randomly divided into four groups saline were given by intraperitoneal injection once per day for 3 weeks. The body weights of the mice were recorded every 3 days to ensure the correct doses of cobalt chloride. Blood samples for testing were taken at day 4, week 1, week 2 and week 3. Serum cobalt ion concentrations were measured in all samples whereas other serum biochemical variables, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase(ALT),blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), and creatine kinase (CK) were evaluated at week 1, 2 and 3. After killing the mice at week 3, the heart, liver and kidney were collected for pathological evaluation. Results Serum cobalt ion concentration was different between the groups. High-dose cobalt chloride significantly increased AST, ALT and CK concentrations, the concentrations increasing in parallel with treatment duration.Pathological evaluation showed that high-dose cobalt chloride had toxic effects on the heart and liver, however no significant effect was apparent in the kidney. Conclusion High-dose cobalt ion concentration in serum has toxic effects on the heart and liver, but no significant effect on the kidney in mice.

BACKGROUND:Chitosan biological materials can induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate toward neurons. As a derivative of chitosan, carboxymethyl chitosan has a series of excelent properties. However, whether carboxymethyl chitosan can induce the neuronal differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells remains unclear.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of carboxymethyl chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel on the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into neurons and the possible mechanism.METHODS:Passage 3 bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from rats were selected and cultured in carboxymethyl chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel extracts in different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 500 g/L). Control cells were cultured in culture medium with no addition of carboxymethyl chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel extracts. MTT assay was performed to investigate the effects of different concentrations of carboxymethyl chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel extracts on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell proliferation. Western blot assay was used to explore the effect of 150 g/L carboxymethyl chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel extracts on the expression of neuron-specific enolase, Nestin, Vimentin, NF-M, microtubule associated protein 2, glial fibrillary acidic protein, β3-tubulin, Notch1 and Jag1 protein.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:MTT assay showed that carboxymethyl chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel promoted the cell proliferation, and the proliferation rate reached the peak at the concentration of 150 g/L. Western blot assay showed that the cells induced by 150 g/L carboxymethyl chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel extract had significant increases in neuron-specific enolase, Nestin, Vimentin, NF-M, microtubule associated protein 2, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and β3-tubulin protein expression, and obvious decreases in Notch1 and Jag1 protein expression in comparison with the control group. These results indicate that the carboxymethyl chitosan thermosensitive hydrogel induces rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate toward neurons, and suppresses the activity of Notch signal pathway in the process of differentiation.

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcomes of periprosthetic femoral fractures (PFF) following hip arthroplasty utilizing locking compression plates (LCP) in regard to tips and tricks on the construction of LCP augmented with locking attachment plate (LAP) and titanium cables (TC).Methods A total of 41 cases of PFF follow hip arthroplasty (THA 3,Hemi-arthroplasty 2) between May 2008 to April 2016 have been retrospectively analyzed.There were 13 males and 28 females with an average age of 70.5±8.6 years,including 11 case of Unified Classification System (UCS) type Ⅳ.3B1.1,21 cases of B2.1 and 9 cases of type C.All were closed fractures caused by simple fall in terms of low-energy injury.Surgical options depended on individual configuration of the fractures with the combination of LCP and LAP or TC.In respect of reduction techniques,minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) was used in 5 cases for type B1.1 and 8 cases for type C,Mini-open in 6 cases for type B1.1 and 1 case for type C.Posterolateral approach with open reduction internal fixation were selected for type B2.1.The patients were followed up periodically.Harris score,Mukundan criteria and complications were recorded.Results Five cases died of the comorbidities (heart failure 3,pulmonary infection 1,multiple organs failure 1) within 1 year postoperatively.The follow-up rate was 78.0％ (32 out of 41 cases) and the average follow-up time was 41 months (ranging 11 to 71 months).No malunion,no reduction lost,no hardware failure,no hip dislocation and revision surgery following PFF care found.All cases showed the signs of fracture healing from 8 to 12 (average 10 weeks) postoperatively except 2 cases of delay union.The postoperative complications shown in 11 cases,including 2 cases of superficial infection of the wound,6 cases of deep vein thrombosis (popliteal vein 2,intramural gastrocnemius vein 4) and 3 cases of the prosthetic loosening.Harris score at the latest follow-up were 91.5±2.1 for group B1.1,77.5±4.2 for group B2.1 and 83.5±3.8 for group C.The LCP lengths were 248.9±24.3 mm,258.6±25.2 mm,280.4±24.0 mm for group B1.1,B2.1 and C respectively.The LCP length of group B1.1 was short than that of group C (P＜0.05).The screw numbers for the proximal fragments were 6.1±1.8,6.5±0.7 and 3.8±0.7 for group B1.1,B2.1 and C respectively.The number of screws used in B1.1 and B2.1 were more than that in C (P＜0.05).The screw numbers for the distal fragments were 3.5±0.5,3.9±0.5 and 5.1±0.8 for group B1.1,B2.1 and C respectively,indicating less screws used in B1.1 and B2.1 than that in C (P＜0.05).The cable numbers were 1.9±1.3,2.5±0.9 and 3.7±0.7 respectively for group B1.1,B2.1 and C (P＜0.05).The LAP used in 2,12 and 6 cases for type B 1.1,B2.1 and C respectively without significant difference statistically (P＞0.05).Conclusion Utilizing LCP for PFF following hip arthroplasty can achieve satisfactory short and mid-term clinical outcomes with the prerequisites of precise and individualized preoperative planning.LCP augmented by LAP and TC is a reliable option with low complication rate.However,type C PFF needs longer plate with more screws at distal fragment and more titanium cables.

Objective To understand the genetic characteristics of wild measles virus in Hubei province during 2008-2012.Methods To collect throat swab specimens from measles outbreak or sporadic cases in Hubei province during 2008-2012,and perform viral isolation using Vero/SLAM cell,then genotype identification and phylogenetic analysis were performed.Results 26 measles virus strains were isolated from clinical specimens collected in the 9 cities in Hubei province from 2008-2012,they all belong to H1a subgenotype within the wild type measles viruses of H1 genotype,no imported genotypes were found.The nucleotide and amino acid identities among 26 measles virus strains of H1 a subgenotype were for 97.1％-100％ and 95.3％-100％,respectively.And compared with the Chinese vaccine strain (Shanghai191 strain),the nucleotide and amino acid identity were 91.8％-92.5％ and 87.4％-90.0％,respectively.Genetic phylogenetic analysis showed that all 26 measles virus strains belong to two different evolutionary branches,represent two transmission chains,and close to the measles virus isolated in other provinces in genetic phylogeny and endemic time.Conclusion H la subgenotype of measles virus continues to spread in Hubei province from 2008-2012,the measles viruses in Hubei province co-evolved with the viruses in other provinces in China.This study provides an important scientific basis for measles elimination in Hubei province.

Objective To investigate the association between phage-mediated shiga toxin and molecular distribution of CRISPR in Escherichia (E.) coli O26:H11 or NM.Methods A total of 135 E.coli O26:H11 or NM strains were collected from NCBI database.Software CRT and CRISPR Finder were used to extract CRISPR and Excel was used to assign the spacer of unique number and type CRISPR.And the relationship between CRISPR and stx phage was analyzed.Results All the 135 E.coli O26:H11 or NM strains had the CRISPR.For CRISPRI,CRISPR2.1,CRISPR2.2 and CRISPR3-4,19,22,1 and 1 subtypes were found,respectively.According to the four CRISPR sites,the strains could be divided into 40 subtypes.Stx-phage was only observed in the group C of CRISPR.Compared with E.coli of stx-phage negative,E.coli with stx-phage harbored more spacers.Conclusions CRISPR loci was extensively existed in E.coli O26:H11 or NM,and many subtypes were found in these strains.The presence of stx-phage was related to the molecular distribution of CRISPR in E.coli O26:H11 or NM.CRISPR might be a valuable biomarker to identify strains with high virulent potential.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical factors affecting the probability of malignant micro-sized (≤10 mm) solitary pulmonary nodules (≤10 mm, micro-sized SPN), and established a clinical prediction model. Methods:Medical records from 102 patients with a pathological diagnosis of micro-sized SPN (Group A), established between June 2012 and March 2014, were reviewed. Clinical data were collected to evaluate the independent predictors of malignant micro-sized SPN using single factor analysis and Logistic regression analysis. A clinical prediction model was subsequently created. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed using the prediction model. Between January 2015 and August 2017, data from an additional 10 patients enrolled from January 2015 to August 2017 from Jinhua Guangfu Hospital (Group B) with a pathological y diagnosed micro-sized SPN were used to validate this clinical prediction model. The model was also compared with the Mayo Clinic Model. Results:Median age of 102 patients (Group A) was 55.31±10.77 years old. There were 75.5％malignant nodules and 24.5％benign ones. Logistic regression analysis identified six clinical characteristics (no symptoms, upper lobe, diameter>5 mm, no clear border, not irregular round, no calcification) as independent predictors of malignancy in patients with micro-sized SPN. The area under the ROC curve for our model was 0.922 (95％CI:0.857-0.986). In our model, the diagnosis sensitivity and specificity were 88.3％and 84.0％, respectively. The test power of the model was better compared with the Mayo Clinic Model. Conclusions:In this study, we had found the independent predictors of malignant micro-sized SPN, and developed a prediction model that could accurately identify malignant micro-sized SPN in patients.

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of newly reported HIV-infected cases aged 50 years and above in Henan province during 1995-2020, and to provide evidence for strategies on HIV/AIDS prevention and control.Methods:Information about newly reported HIV-infected cases aged 50 years and above in Henan between 1995 and 2020 were collected from the National Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Information System. The demographic and behavioral characteristics of HIV-infected cases aged ≥50 were analyzed, and the mixed linear model based on CD4 + T lymphocyte (CD4) counts back calculation was used to estimate the years, time and age of the HIV infection. Results:During 1995-2020, a total of 25 038 HIV-infected cases aged 50 years and above were newly reported, accounting for 25.8% (25 038/96 867) of the total number of newly reported HIV-infected cases in Henan. The proportion of newly reported cases over 50-years-old gradually increased from 4.5% (18/396) in 1995-2000 to 35.5% (9 666/27 239) in 2016-2020, with statistically significant difference ( χ2=3 105.53, P<0.001). Among them, the proportion of HIV-infected cases aged 60 years and above were increasing year by year. The proportion of male cases were increasing along with ageing. The proportion of HIV-infected cases detected by medical institutions also showed an upward trend. The newly reported HIV-infected cases aged 50 years and above were mainly transmitted through sexual contact. The proportion of heterosexual transmission increased from 5.5% (1/18) in 1995-2000 to 86.2% (8 334/9 666) in 2016-2020, and the proportion of MSM-behavior-related transmission increased from 0.0% in 1995-2000 to 13.5% (1 304/9 666) in 2016-2020. The majority of cases had extra-marital and/or non-commercial heterosexual behavior (48.1%, 4 007/8 334) and the proportion showed an upward trend. The majority of male cases had commercial heterosexual behavior (54.9%, 3 169/5 775), and with increasing proportion along with the increase of age. The majority of female cases had extra-marital and/or non-commercial heterosexual behavior (62.5%, 1 600/2 559), with increasing proportion of extra-marital and/or non-commercial heterosexual behavior. The proportion of heterosexual behavior with spouse or stable sexual partners showed a downward trend. The estimations based on CD4 counts back calculation model showed that among the newly reported HIV-infected cases aged 50 years and above, the average age being infected was (54.8±10.2) years, with 33.8% (4 263/12 621) infected before 50. The interval between infection and diagnosis was (5.7±6.2) years, of which 52.6% (6 636/12 621) were infected for 5 years or longer and 34.7% (4 384/12 621) were in the last 3 years. There was no linear correlation trend in the composition of infection years among the newly reported HIV-infected cases over 50-years-old. Conclusions:In Henan, from 1995 to 2020, the number of newly reported HIV-infected cases aged 50 years and above was increasing and sexual transmission becoming the main transmission route. The increase of prevalence was mostly seen in 60-years-old men, low education level and detected mainly by medical institutions. For this age group, the focus of HIV/AIDS prevention and control should target on those who were transmitted through extra-marital and/or non-commercial heterosexual, commercial heterosexual and MSM behavior and it is necessary to strengthen the HIV testing and detection in this population and in the elderly floating group.

Objective:To identify the spatial clustering and its temporal trends among newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in Henan Province during 1995-2020, and to provide evidence for strategies on prevention and control of the disease.Methods:Information about newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in Henan between 1995 and 2020 were obtained from China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention and to describe their demographic characteristics, spatial autocorrelation and changing trends. This program was conducted at county level, using the ArcGIS 10.2.Results:A total of 96 528 HIV/AIDS cases with complete current address information in counties (districts) were newly reported during 1995-2020 in Henan, and the spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that Global Moran's I index was 0.249, Z G value of the Global Getis-Ord G coefficient was 6.472 (all P<0.001), indicating that there was a high clustered positive spatial autocorrelation of HIV/AIDS. The newly reported HIV/AIDS cases from 1995 to 2000, 2001 to 2005, 2006 to 2010, 2011 to 2015, and 2016 to 2020 in Henan Province all exhibited high values of global spatial clustering. Their Moran's I indices were 0.197, 0.103, 0.491, 0.411 and 0.383, respectively. The Z G values of the Global Getis-Ord G coefficient were 4.580, 3.386, 10.246, 8.378 and 8.093, respectively. All of global spatial correlation were statistically significant (all P<0.001). The results of local spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that newly reported HIV/AIDS cases in Henan Province had high-high clustering areas at each time stage mentioned above. The number of high-high clustering counties/districts gradually increased from 6 in 2001-2005 to 21 in 2016-2020, spreading from Zhumadian City and Zhoukou City in southeast Henan to Nanyang City in southwest Henan, Zhengzhou City and its surrounding counties/districts in central Henan. Conclusions:In Henan Province, an increasing trend of clusters appeared on HIV epidemic among newly reported HIV/AIDS cases from 1995 to 2020, and high-high clustering areas gradually expanded from Zhumadian City and Zhoukou City to Nanyang City, Zhengzhou City and its surrounding counties/districts, indicating that it is necessary to strengthen the AIDS prevention and control programs in these areas in Henan.

Objective:To explore the clinical outcomes of locking compression plating (LCP) in the treatment of periprosthetic fracture (PPF) of the distal femur in the aged patients.Methods:A retrospective study was performed to analyze the 31 aged patients who had been treated at Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital to Nantong University for PPF of the distal femur with LCP between June 2012 and May 2023. There were 27 females and 4 males with an age of (80.2±6.1) years. According to the Unified Classification System (UCS), 18 PPFs were classified as type Ⅴ.3B1 and 6 PPFs as type Ⅴ.3B2 after total knee arthroplasty and 7 PPFs as type Ⅳ.3C after total hip arthroplasty. The patients were fixated with a lateral single plate in 25 cases, and with lateral and medial dual plates in 6 cases. The surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, hospitalization time, postoperative weight-bearing time, fracture healing time, and knee joint function and complications during follow-up were recorded.Results:For the 25 patients undergoing fixation with a lateral single plate, the surgical time was (58.7±7.9) minutes, the intraoperative blood loss (78.0±15.1) mL, the hospitalization time (6.9±1.6) days, the postoperative weight-bearing time (5.9±1.4) days, and the follow-up time 37 (15, 51) months. For the 6 patients undergoing fixation with lateral and medial dual plates, the surgical time was (186.6±9.8) minutes, the intraoperative blood loss (1,256.7±231.2) mL, the hospitalization time (17.8±3.3) days, the postoperative weight-bearing time (3.6±0.6) days, and the follow-up time 17 (16, 21) months. The fracture healing time was (14.9±2.0) and (18.7±2.6) weeks, respectively, for patients fixed with single and double steel plates. By the scoring criteria of the American Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), the knee joint function was evaluated at the last follow-up as excellent in 10 cases and as good in 15 cases for the 25 patients undergoing fixation with a lateral single plate, and as good for all the 6 patients undergoing fixation with lateral and medial dual plates. No patient experienced such complications as incision infection, bone nonunion, or internal fixation failure during the follow-up period.Conclusions:LCP fixation can achieve satisfactory outcomes in the treatment of PPF of the distal femur in the aged patients. As fixation with a single lateral femoral plate is suitable for most of the aged patients with PPF of the distal femur, it can be used as the first choice. Fixation with dual plates can provide stronger stability, but its indications should be strictly controlled.

Objective:To investigate the combination of internal fixation for periprosthetic fractures of the proximal femur (PFFF) after hip arthroplasty.Methods:The data of 58 patients with periprosthetic fractures after hip arthroplasty from May 2008 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed, including 31 males and 27 females. The average age was 75.5±18.2 years (range, 35-95 years). There were 39 total hip arthroplasty and 19 hemiarthroplasty; 37 biological prosthesis and 21 cemented prosthesis. Intraoperative periprosthetic fractures occurred in 6 cases and 52 cases postoperatively. Unified classification system (UCS): UCS IV.3A1 type 2 cases, 3A2 type 1 case, 3B1.1 type 19 cases, 3B2.1 type 25 cases, 3B3 type 2 cases, 3C type 9 cases. Fracture site: 3 cases in zone A (greater trochanter), 46 cases in zone B (around the femoral stem), and 9 cases in zone C (distal to the tip of the femoral stem. Internal fixation is composed of primary and secondary fixation, the main fixation method was the cerclage of steel wire or titanium cable, locking compression plate, and locking attachment plate fixation. The secondary fixation method was the cerclage of titanium cable, which was required to cover three zones A, B and C to form an overall balanced fixation. The modified Harris hip scores (mHHS), plate length, working length and screw number of different internal fixation combinations were compared.Results:The follow-up time was 54.2±21.6 months (range, 11-86 months). All patients showed signs of fracture healing at 10.2±1.5 weeks (range, 7-13 weeks) after operation, and bony union was observed at 19.6±1.3 weeks (range, 17-22 weeks) after operation. No delayed union or nonunion was observed. After operation, one case had a stress fracture and was revised with double-plate internal fixation; one case had a failed internal fixation and was revised with double-plate internal fixation and a large allograft bone graft. The mHHS score of UCSIV.3B2.1 group (80.3±4.6) was the lowest at 6 months after operation, and the difference between the groups of different types was statistically significant ( F=256.72, P<0.001). The score of simple internal fixation group (91.6±4.2) was higher than that of revision combined with internal fixation group (81.9±4.1), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=8.32, P<0.001). The plate length and working length were 24.9±2.5 cm and 12.6±1.7 cm for UCS IV.3B1.1, 25.4±2.6 cm and 13.6±1.8 cm for 3B2.1 and 28.1±2.5 cm and 4.9±1.9 cm for 3C, respectively ( F=5.33, P=0.005; F=6.78, P<0.001). The number of screws in zone A was significant difference among different UCS types ( F=52.67, P<0.001); UCS IV.3B1.1 (6.5±2.3) and 3B2.1 (6.7±2.2) were more than 3B3 (3.5±1.5) and 3C (3.7±1.6). The number of screws in zone B was significant difference among different UCS types ( F=42.15, P<0.001); The number of UCS IV.3B1.1 (2.3±1.6) and 3B2.1 (2.8±1.9) were significantly more than that of 3B3 (1.0±0.5) and 3C (1.2±0.6). The number of screws in zone C was significant differences among different UCS types ( F=39.62, P<0.001); The number of UCS IV.3B1.1 (3.8±1.9) and 3B2.1 (3.9±1.7) were more than that of 3B3 (2.0±0.5), the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The function of hip after simple internal fixation of proximal femoral periprosthetic fractures was better than that of those who underwent revision at the same time; the number of screws of UCSIV.B1 and B2 is more than that of B3.