BACKGROUND:Traditional surgery for lumbar disc herniation involves extensive excision of tissue surrounding the nerve for decompression and removal of protruding lumbar intervertebral discs,which poses various risks and complications such as nerve damage causing paralysis,lumbar instability,herniation recurrence,intervertebral space infection,and adjacent vertebral diseases. OBJECTIVE:To propose the symmetrically adduction of lumbar decompression induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous technique for lumbar spine symmetrically decompression,showing the induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous phenomenon and early clinical efficacy,and then analyze its decompression mechanism. METHODS:214 patients with lumbar disc herniation at Department of Orthopedics,First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from March 2021 to May 2023 were enrolled in this study.Among them,81 patients received conservative treatment as the control group,and 133 patients received symmetrically adduction of lumbar decompression induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous treatment as the trial group.Before surgery,immediately after surgery(7-14 days),and early after surgery(over 1 year),MRI images were used to measure the volume changes of lumbar disc herniation.CT images were used to measure the posterior displacement distance of the lumbar spinous process ligament complex,as well as the width and height of the lateral recess.Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores were used to evaluate the patient's neurological function recovery. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Control group:81 patients with lumbar disc herniation were treated conservatively,with a total of 171 herniated lumbar discs.The average follow-up time was(22.7±23.1)months.The first and second MRI measurements of 171 herniated lumbar discs showed herniated lumbar disc volumes of(551.6±257.9)mm3 and(792.2±330.4)mm3,respectively,with an average volume increase rate of(53.2±44.4)%,showing statistically significant differences(P<0.001).Out of 171 herniated lumbar discs,4 experienced natural shrinkage,with an absorption ratio of 2.3%(4/171)and an absorption rate of(24.5±9.9)%.(2)Trial group:133 patients with lumbar disc herniation had a total of 285 herniated lumbar discs.(1)Immediately after surgery:All patients were followed up immediately after surgery.229 out of 285 herniated lumbar discs experienced retraction,with an absorption ratio of 80.3%(229/285)and an average absorption rate of(21.5±20.9)%,with significant and complete absorption accounting for 6.5%.There were a total of 70 herniated lumbar discs in the upper lumbar spine,with an absorption ratio of 85.7%(60/70),an average absorption rate of(23.1±19.5)%,and a maximum absorption rate of 86.6%.There were 215 herniated lumbar discs in the lower lumbar spine,with an absorption ratio of 78.6%(169/215),an average absorption rate of(21.0±21.3)%,and a maximum absorption rate of 83.2%.Significant and complete absorption of the upper and lower lumbar vertebrae accounted for 5.7%and 6.5%,respectively,with no statistically significant difference(P>0.05).The average distance of posterior displacement of the spinous process ligament complex immediately after surgery was(5.2±2.8)mm.There were no significant differences in the width and height of the left and right lateral recess before and immediately after surgery(P>0.05).The Japanese Orthopaedic Association score immediately after surgery increased from(10.1±3.4)before surgery to(17.0±4.8),and the immediate effective rate after surgery reached 95.6%.(2)Early postoperative period:Among them,46 patients completed the early postoperative follow-up.There were 101 herniated lumbar discs,with an absorption ratio of 94%(95/101)and an average absorption rate of(36.9±23.7)%.Significant and complete absorption accounted for 30.6%,with a maximum absorption rate of 100%.Out of 101 herniated lumbar discs,3 remained unchanged in volume,with a volume invariance rate of 2.97%(3/101).Out of 101 herniated lumbar discs,3 had an increased volume of herniated lumbar discs,with an increase ratio of 2.97%(3/101)and an increase rate of(18.5±18.4)%.The Japanese Orthopaedic Association score increased from preoperative(9.3±5.1)to(23.5±4.0),with an excellent and good rate of 93.4%.(3)The early postoperative lumbar disc herniation absorption ratios of the control group and trial group were 2.3%and 85.9%,respectively,with statistically significant differences(P<0.001).(4)Complications:There were two cases of incision exudation and delayed healing in the trial group.After conservative treatment such as dressing change,no nerve injury or death occurred in the incision healing,and no cases underwent a second surgery.(5)It is concluded that symmetrically adduction of lumbar decompression induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous is a new method for treating lumbar disc herniation that can avoid extensive excision of the"ring"nerve and achieve satisfactory early clinical efficacy.It does not damage the lumbar facet joints or alter the basic anatomical structure of the lateral recess,fully preserves the herniated lumbar discs,and can induce significant or even complete induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous.Symmetrically adduction of lumbar decompression induced resorption of herniated nucleus pulpous provides a new basis and method for the clinical treatment of lumbar disc herniation.

BACKGROUND: The use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) is a major concern for medication safety as it may entail more harm than potential benefits for older adults. This study aimed to explore the prescribing rate, healthcare utilization, and expenditure of older adults using PIMs in China. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using a national representative database of all medical insurance beneficiaries across China, extracting ambulatory visit records of adults aged 65 years and above between 2015 and 2017. Descriptive analysis was conducted to measure the rate of patients exposed to PIM, prescribing rate of each PIM, average annual outpatient visits per patient, average total medication costs for each visit, average annual cost of PIMs for each patient, and average annual medication costs for each patient. Generalized linear model with logit link function and binomial distribution was used to examine the adjusted associations between PIMs and independent variables. RESULTS: In total, 845,278 (33.2%) participants were identified to be exposed to at least one PIM. Patients aged 75-84 years (38.1%, 969,809/2,545,430) and ≥85 years (37.9%, 964,718/2,545,430) were more likely to be prescribed with PIMs. Beneficiaries of the Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI) and living in eastern and southern regions were more frequently prescribed with PIMs. Compared with patients without PIM exposure (7.5 visits, drug cost of RMB 1545.0 Yuan), patients with PIM exposure showed higher adjusted average annual number of outpatient visits (10.7 visits, β = 3.228, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.196-3.261) and higher annual drug costs (RMB 2461.8 Yuan, Coef. = 916.864, 95% CI = RMB 906.292-927.436 Yuan). CONCLUSIONS The results showed that the use of PIM among older adults was common in China. This study suggests that the use of PIM could be considered as a clear target, pending multidimensional efforts, to promote rational prescribing for older adults.
Humans ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Aged, 80 and over ; Male ; Female ; China ; Inappropriate Prescribing/economics* ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data* ; Potentially Inappropriate Medication List/statistics & numerical data* ; Health Expenditures/statistics & numerical data*

BACKGROUND:The relationship between pathological changes of lumbar disc degeneration and lumbar bone mineral density is still controversial.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the relationship between lumbar disc degeneration and lumbar bone mineral density in middle-aged and elderly men and postmenopausal women.METHODS:This study enrolled 208 patients with lumbar disc degeneration,including 64 middle-aged and elderly males and 144 postmenopausal females,with a mean age of(62.10+7.74)years and a mean body mass index of(24.71±3.50)kg/m2,who admitted at the Department of Orthopedics of Zhengdong Hospital,the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 1,2018 to January 1,2019.The bone mineral density of L1-L4 was measured using a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.Magnetic resonance imaging was taken to grade the severity of lumbar disc degeneration in each segment.The correlation between lumbar bone mineral density and lumbar disc degeneration was evaluated by Spearman correlation analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The lumbar bone mineral density of both middle-aged and elderly men and postmenopausal women increased with the lowering of lumbar spine segments,and the L1-L4 bone mineral density and the average lumbar bone mineral density of middle-aged and elderly men were higher than those of postmenopausal women(P＜0.05).The lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration of both middle-aged and elderly men and postmenopausal women increased with the lowering of lumbar spine segments,and there was no significant difference in the grades of lumbar disc degeneration of the same segments in middle-aged and elderly men and postmenopausal women(P＞0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that there were sex differences in the correlation between the lumbar disc degeneration grade and the adjacent vertebral bone mineral density in each segment(L1-L4).The lumbar disc degeneration grade of each segment was positively correlated with the adjacent vertebral bone mineral density in postmenopausal women(P＜0.05),and the correlation between the disc degeneration grade and the lower vertebral bone mineral density was higher than that between the disc degeneration grade and the upper vertebral bone mineral density.However,there was no correlation between lumbar disc degeneration grade of each segment and the adjacent vertebral bone mineral density in middle-aged and elderly men(P＞0.05).To conclude,the grade of lumbar disc degeneration is positively correlated with adjacent vertebral bone mineral density in postmenopausal women and the correlation coefficient of adjacent lower vertebral body is higher,but no significant correlation is found in middle-aged and elderly men.

BACKGROUND:The relationship between pathological changes of lumbar disc degeneration and lumbar bone mineral density is still controversial.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the relationship between lumbar disc degeneration and lumbar bone mineral density in middle-aged and elderly men and postmenopausal women.METHODS:This study enrolled 208 patients with lumbar disc degeneration,including 64 middle-aged and elderly males and 144 postmenopausal females,with a mean age of(62.10+7.74)years and a mean body mass index of(24.71±3.50)kg/m2,who admitted at the Department of Orthopedics of Zhengdong Hospital,the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 1,2018 to January 1,2019.The bone mineral density of L1-L4 was measured using a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.Magnetic resonance imaging was taken to grade the severity of lumbar disc degeneration in each segment.The correlation between lumbar bone mineral density and lumbar disc degeneration was evaluated by Spearman correlation analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The lumbar bone mineral density of both middle-aged and elderly men and postmenopausal women increased with the lowering of lumbar spine segments,and the L1-L4 bone mineral density and the average lumbar bone mineral density of middle-aged and elderly men were higher than those of postmenopausal women(P＜0.05).The lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration of both middle-aged and elderly men and postmenopausal women increased with the lowering of lumbar spine segments,and there was no significant difference in the grades of lumbar disc degeneration of the same segments in middle-aged and elderly men and postmenopausal women(P＞0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that there were sex differences in the correlation between the lumbar disc degeneration grade and the adjacent vertebral bone mineral density in each segment(L1-L4).The lumbar disc degeneration grade of each segment was positively correlated with the adjacent vertebral bone mineral density in postmenopausal women(P＜0.05),and the correlation between the disc degeneration grade and the lower vertebral bone mineral density was higher than that between the disc degeneration grade and the upper vertebral bone mineral density.However,there was no correlation between lumbar disc degeneration grade of each segment and the adjacent vertebral bone mineral density in middle-aged and elderly men(P＞0.05).To conclude,the grade of lumbar disc degeneration is positively correlated with adjacent vertebral bone mineral density in postmenopausal women and the correlation coefficient of adjacent lower vertebral body is higher,but no significant correlation is found in middle-aged and elderly men.

BACKGROUND:Mechanical stimulation has been confirmed to promote osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal stem cells,but the mechanism is unknown.Primary cilia are important mechanoreceptors and regulate various signaling pathways such as TGF-β1/BMP-2/SMAD.They are likely to be important targets for mechanical regulation of bone marrow stromal stem cells. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect and mechanism of fluid shear stress on osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal stem cells. METHODS:Rat bone marrow stromal stem cells were divided into control group,mechanical stimulation group(fluid shear mechanics intervention by shaking table),mechanical stimulation + IFT88 silencing group(mechanical stimulation + silencing IFT88 expression with siRNA).After 24 hours of intervention,qRT-PCR was utilized to determine the expression of transforming growth factor β1 and bone morphogenetic protein 2.Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of phosphorylated SMAD2/3 protein.Immunofluorescent staining of primary cilia was conducted and morphology was analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Shear stress stimulation could promote the transcriptional activity of transforming growth factor β1 and bone morphogenetic protein 2 genes,and increase the expression of phosphorylated SMAD2/3 protein.After siRNA interfered with primary cilia,this mechanical response effect was significantly reduced.There was a Spearman correlation between the change ratio of the primary cilium area of bone marrow stromal stem cells and the increased ratio of transforming growth factor β1 and bone morphogenetic protein 2 gene transcription.These findings indicate that primary cilia/intraflagellar transport mediates the activation of fluid shear stress-responsive transforming growth factor β1/bone morphogenetic protein 2/SMAD signaling pathway and promotes osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal stem cells.

Objective A 2-PSU/ RR parallel ankle rehabilitation robot was designed, and the biomechanical properties of human muscles were also analyzed, so as to study rehabilitation strategy of the ankle rehabilitation robot. Methods The actual workspace of the robot was obtained by numerical discrete search method, and the effect of structural parameter changes on the height of robot moving platform was explored. Then the human biomechanical responses such as muscle force and muscle mobility were obtained by human biomechanical simulation software AnyBody, so as to investigate the effect of moving platform height changes on muscle behavior. Results The robot could meet the demand of ankle plantarflexion/ dorsiflexion and inversion/ eversion motion. Appropriately increasing the initial inclination angle and decreasing the length of the fixed-length bar enabled the ankle rehabilitation robot to have a lower overall height. The height of the moving platform was decreased by 10 mm in turn, and the muscle force and muscle activity of the human body involved in the movement were decreased to a certain extent. Conclusions This study provides a new design solution for ankle rehabilitation, offers theoretical guidance for motion analysis of the ankle rehabilitation robot, and accelerates rehabilitation of the patients’ ankles by modifying the mechanism parameters.

Objective: To screen dynamic cardiorespiratory fitness indices for effective assessment of aerobic endurance using incremental load exercise tests. Methods: From March to November 2019, 266 volunteers who were able to understand the trial and voluntarily cooperated with the entire testing process were randomly recruited from 5 universities in Beijing. Gas metabolism and cardiac function were monitored in real time using the German Cortex Metalyzer 3B system and the US Cheetah NICOM system, and maximum oxygen uptake was measured by a linear incremental loading scheme. Aerobic endurance and dynamic cardiopulmonary function indices were selected according to the study design, and the relationship between the two indicators was analyzed using correlation and typicality correlation. Results: The absolute maximum oxygen uptake (VO 2max ), relative maximum oxygen uptake, maximum stroke volume (SV max ), and maximum stroke volume index (SVI max ) were significantly higher in males than in females, and the dynamic cardiopulmonary function index K was significantly lower than in females ( t =17.8, 10.1, 8.5, 4.3 , -6.3, P < 0.05 ). Simple correlation revealed that absolute VO 2max and relative VO 2max were negatively correlated with K and b, and absolute VO 2max and relative VO 2max were positively correlated with SV max and SVI max ( P <0.01); Both dynamic cardiopulmonary function indices were significantly correlated with aerobic endurance. Aerobic endurance indexes closely related to dynamic cardiopulmonary function were absolute VO 2max , relative VO 2max ; dynamic cardiopulmonary function indexes closely related to aerobic endurance were K, b, SV max , SVI max . Conclusion Improvement of dynamic cardiorespiratory fitness contributes to the improvement of aerobic endurance, the dynamic cardiorespiratory fitness indices K, b, SV max , and SVI max can be used as important candidates to predict the assessment of aerobic exercise capacity.

In the paper， national and international ethical requirements and supervision on stem cell research and clinical application were analyzed after literature review. It is suggested that the development of stem cell technology should be timely tracked， prospective ethical research related to stem cells should be enhanced， and that stem cell research and clinical translation should comply with relevant international ethical guidelines and national regulations in China. In addition， it is indicated that the oversight of stem cell products and their clinical use will be continuously improved in our country.

ObjectiveTo analyze the effectiveness and safety of clinical use of different types of stem cells to provide evidence for governmental supervision of key issues in clinical utilization of stem cells. MethodsSix literature databases in China and abroad were searched for relevant literature published from January 2010 to July 2020， and a systematic review was conducted. ResultsThe study showed 72 studies concerning the effectiveness and safety of different types of stem cells in clinical utilization. Although clinical utilization of stem cells had some therapeutic effects for certain diseases， their long-term effect and safety need to be further evaluated， especially their potential risk of tumorigenicity. ConclusionTo protect the patients’ interest， physicians should fully weigh the benefits against the risks of clinical utilization of stem cells， and relevant governmental departments should strengthen supervision of ethics of clinical research and therapies involving stem cells as well as supervision of stem cell products.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of induced hypotension and hypotension in carotid endarterectomy (CEA).Methods Data of 1 486 patients who underwent CEA in multicenters from Aug 2012 to Aug 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.After screening,a total of 1 448 patients met the inclusion criteria.Induced hypertension and hypotension was used in all thees patients.Results 87.8％ of the patients were with severe carotid stenosis.The average operative time was (51.8 ± 6.1) min,and the internal carotid artery clamping time was (11.4 ± 3.1) min.After induced hypertension,the stump pressure were higher than that before,of which 1 438 (99.3％) were greater than 50 mmHg.Monitoring of EEG oxygen saturation showed that the value of ipsilateral rSO2 was significantly lower than that of the contralateral [(56％ ± 3％) vs.(64％ ± 4％),P ＜ 0.05] before induced hypertension.After induced hypertension and clamp removal,the value of ipsilateral rSO2 was lower than that of the contralateral,but there was not significant difference (all P ＞ 0.05).Perioperative cerebral infarction occurred in 2 cases,ipsilateral cerebral hemorrhage in 1 case,contralateral cerebral hemorrhage in 1 case and myocardial infarction in 2 cases.Connclusion The technique of induced hypotension and hypotension play a temporary role in brain protection for patients undergoing CEA.This study demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of induced hypertension and hypotension technique.