Objective To investigate the mechanism of inducing production of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) by recombinant human S100 calcium binding protein A4 (rhS100A4) in rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RAFLSs).Methods Synovial tissue was sampled from the patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) undergoing knee arthroplasty for in vitro culture of RAFLSs.CCK-8 assay was conducted to detect the effect of rhS100A4 and the effect of its interaction with Rapamycin (Rap),an inhibitor of mammalian rapamycin target 1 (mTORC1) signaling pathway,on the proliferation of RAFLSs.The effects of rhS100A4 and its interaction with Rap on the expression of VEGF in RAFLSs were detected by immunofluorescence.After rhS100A4 and its cooperation with Rap stimulated the conditioned medium (CM)produced by RAFLSs,the effect of CM on formation of lumen in human unbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro was observed to detect the angiogenic ability of rhS100A4.Western blot was used to detect the effect of rhS100A4 on the phosphorylation of downstream ribosomal protein S6 (S6) in the mTORC1 signaling pathway in RAFLSs and to analyze the effects of rhS100A4 and Rap on phosphorylation of S6 protein and expression of VEGF protein in RAFLSs.Results rhS100A4 promoted cell proliferation and expression of VEGF protein in RAFLSs,and the CM formed by rhS100A4 promoted HUVECs to form blood vessels in vitro.Rap inhibited the above biological effects of rhS100A4,rhS100A4 activated the downstream protein S6 in the mTORC1 signaling pathway in RAFLSs cells to increase their phosphorylation levels.The effects of rhS100A4 on the phosphorylation of S6 protein and on the expression of VEGF protein in RAFLSs were inhibited by Rap.Conclusion rhS10OA4 promotes production of VEGF in RAFLSs by activating the mTORC 1 signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the effects of biased constitutions on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and mechanisms of the role of sleep quality in the relationship between biased constitutions and HRQOL.Methods Data collected from the propulation of Beijing and Shijiazhuang,Hebei province for health check-up from March 2015 to December 2016. The biased constitutions were evaluated using the Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CCMQ) score;CCMQ consists of gentleness type (A type),qi-deficiency type (B type),yang-deficiency type (C type),yin-deficiency type (D type),phlegm-wetness type (E type),wet-heat type (F type),blood-stasis type (G type),qi-depression type (H type),and special diathesis type (I type),the eight constitutions except A type are classified as biased constitution (BC),Sleep quality (SQ) was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). HRQOL was evaluated using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Pearson's correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation among the eight BCs,SQ,and HRQOL,and the structural equation model was further constructed to explore the effects of the eight BCs on HRQOL and the mediating effect of SQ.Results A total of 2,170 samples were included in the database. Finally,1,982 samples were included as study subjects after excluding 188 unqualified samples. The SF-36 and PSQI scores of the samples were 79.73±12.89 and 4.29±2.66,respectively,and the scores for the eight BCs were 27.46±14.84,25.12±19.17,23.55±14.99,21.57±15.20,23.67±15.49,21.68±14.49,22.00±16.14,and 16.13±14.19 for B,C,D,E,F,G,H,and I types,respectively. The result of Pearson's correlation analysis showed that all biased constitution scores were negatively correlated with the SF-36 score (r=-0.562 to-0.327,P<0.01),and were positively correlated with the PSQI score (r=0.272 to 0.431,P<0.01),and PSQI score was negatively correlated with the SF-36 score (r=-0.471,P<0.01). The result of the structural equation model showed that all biased constitutions had a negative effect on HRQOL and that the mediating role of SQ in the relationship between eight BCs and HRQOL was all statistically significant. The total effects of the eight BCs on HRQOL were-0.776,-0.528,-0.603,-0.684,-0.596,-0.678,-0.751,and-0.452 for the B,C,D,E,F,G,H,and I types,respectively. Moreover,the absolute effects of the B and H types were significantly higher than in other BCs;the mediation effect of SQ was-0.242,-0.272,-0.291,-0.261,-0.265,-0.395,-0.203,and-0.287 for the B,C,D,E,F,G,H,and I types,respectively,the absolute value of the mediation effect between G type and HRQOL was significantly higher than that of other BCs. Conclusion The eight BCs had negative effects on HRQOL,and SQ played a mediator role in the relationship between the eight BCs and HRQOL.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of cannulated screws combined with suture anchor in the treatment of comminuted patellar fractures.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the data of 72 patients who had been admitted to Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University for comminuted patellar fractures between January 2020 and June 2023. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on the surgical techniques used. In group A of 34 patients subjected to fixation using cannulated screws combined with suture anchors, there were 22 males and 12 females with an age of 49 (39, 58) years, and 7 cases of AO type 34-C2 and 27 cases of AO type 34-C3. In group B of 38 patients subjected to fixation using cannulated screws combined with titanium cables, there were 19 males and 19 females with an age of 55 (40, 62) years, and 11 cases of AO type 34-C2 and 27 cases of AO type 34-C3. Comparisons were made between the 2 groups regarding general preoperative data, postoperative range of knee motion, fracture healing time, complications, soft tissue irritation, secondary surgery, postoperative pain assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS), postoperative Bostman knee score, and postoperative Levack knee score.Results:The 2 groups were comparable because there were no statistically significant differences in the general preoperative data and follow-up time between them ( P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups either in postoperative range of knee motion, fracture healing time, or Bostman knee score or Levack knee score at the last follow-up (all P>0.05). In group A, the VAS pain score and the rate of soft tissue irritation at the last follow-up were respectively 0.0 (0.0, 1.0) and 0% (0/34), significantly lower than those in group B [1.0 (0.0, 1.3) and 15.8% (6/38)] ( P<0.05). The overall incidence of complications and secondary surgery rate in group A were respectively 5.9% (2/34) and 2.9% (1/34), lower than those in group B [21.1% (8/38) and 15.8% (6/38)], but showing no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:In the treatment of comminuted patellar fractures, fixation using cannulated screws combined with both titanium cables and suture anchors can lead to comparable clinical efficacy, but fixation using cannulated screws and suture anchors can reduce soft tissue irritation, alleviate pain, and improve the quality of life of patients.