OBJECTIVE: To explore the construction of a canine model of vascularized allogeneic spinal cord transplantation (vASCT) and preliminarily evaluate its therapeutic efficacy for spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: Sixteen female Beagle dogs aged 8-12 months were randomly selected, with 8 dogs serving as donors for the harvesting of spinal cord tissue with a vascular pedicle [dorsal intercostal artery (DIA) at the T₁₀ level and accompanying vein]. The remaining 8 dogs underwent a 1.5-cm-length spinal cord defect at the T₁₀ level, followed by transplantation of the donor spinal cord tissue for repair. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was applied to both ends to spinal cord graft; then, using a random number table method, the dogs were divided into an experimental group (n=4) and a control group (n=4). The experimental group received immunosuppressive intervention with oral tacrolimus [0.1 mg/(kg∙d)] postoperatively, while the control group received no treatment. The operation time and ischemia-reperfusion time of two groups were recorded. The recovery of hind limb function was estimated by Olby score within 2 months after operation; the motor evoked potentials (MEP) was measured through neuroelectrophysiological examination, and the spinal cord integrity was observed through MRI. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the operation time and ischemia-reperfusion time between the two groups (P>0.05). All dogs survived until the completion of the experiment. Within 2 months after operation, all dogs in the control group failed to regain the movement function of hind limbs, and Olby scores were all 0. In the experimental group, the movement and weight-bearing, as well as walking abilities of the hind limbs gradually recovered, and the Olby scores also showed a gradually increasing trend. There was a significant difference between the two groups from 3 to 8 weeks after operation (P<0.05). Neuroelectrophysiological examination indicated that the electrical signals of the experimental group passed through the transplanted area, and the latency was shortened compared to that at 1 month after operation (P<0.05), showing continuous improvement, but the amplitude did not show significant improvement (P>0.05). The control group was unable to detect any MEP changes after operation. MRI examination showed that the transplanted spinal cord in the experimental group survived and had good continuity with normal spinal cord tissue, while no relevant change was observed in the control group. CONCLUSION The vASCT model of dogs was successfully constructed. This surgical procedure can restore the continuity of the spinal cord. The combination of tacrolimus anti-immunity is a key factor for the success of transplantation.
Animals ; Dogs ; Female ; Spinal Cord/blood supply* ; Spinal Cord Injuries/surgery* ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Disease Models, Animal ; Recovery of Function ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods* ; Tacrolimus ; Immunosuppressive Agents

Osteoporosis and cardiovascular calcification,two major age-related chronic diseases that China is confronting today,pose serious threats to public health.Previous studies have reported overlapping connections in the pathological processes and molecular mechanisms of these two diseases,particularly concerning inflammation,oxidative stress,and dysregulation of mineral metabolism,and that these two diseases tend to share common pathogenic factors.However,research exploring the comorbidity mechanisms of the two diseases remains limited in both depth and scope,largely due to the lack of widely accepted comorbidity animal models.Herein,we analyzed the latest research findings on the comorbidity mechanisms of vascular calcification and osteoporosis,focusing on summarizing the animal disease models currently in extensive use and the relevant evaluation criteria.We aim to provide new references for comorbidity research models and offer scientific evidence for future studies on pathological mechanisms and the development of new therapeutic strategies.

Clinically,the incidence of portal vein thrombosis(PVT)in patients with cirrhosis can be up to 10％-23％.When PVT is not treated promptly,it may develop to cavernous transformation of the portal vein(CTPV).CTPV can aggravate portal hypertension,accelerate the progression of esophagogastric varices bleeding,refractory ascites,refractory peritonitis,biliary tract diseases,and hepatic insufficiency.At present,noninvasive imaging techniques such as portal vein reconstruction,enhanced CT and ultrasound are mostly used to make the diagnosis and evaluation of CTPV.It is rather difficult to perform portosystemic shunt surgery in patients with CTPV complicated by portal hypertension,which was once regarded as a contraindication for interventional portosystemic shunt procedures.With the improvement of related technologies and surgical instruments,the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)has become an important treatment for CTPV.This paper aims to make a comprehensive review about the relevant researches concerning the portosystemic shunt surgery in patients with CTPV so as to clarify the importance of TIPS in the treatment of CTPV.

ObjectiveTo explore the impact of exogenous chitosan on the growth and metabolism of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. (G. uralensis) and to improve the quality of cultivated G. uralensis for both medicine and food and aid in the increase in the content of effective components in G. uralensis.MethodsIn this study, whole G. uralensis plants were treated with exogenous chitosan, and comprehensive analyses of secondary metabolites and proteins were conducted using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry and isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation, respectively. Effects of chitosan induction on endogenous hormones of G. uralensis were analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Gene ontology function annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway annotation were conducted to study the effect of chitosan induction on the proteome.ResultsChitosan induction significantly increased the levels of flavonoids in G. uralensis; however, the variation in triterpenoids was not substantial. Biological processes, including photosynthesis, secondary metabolism, and abiotic stress responses, were significantly enriched. Additionally, the photosynthetic pathway, photosynthesis-antenna protein pathway, and plant hormone signal transduction pathway were significantly enriched. In the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, the upstream-related enzyme phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and the downstream-related enzymes chalcone synthase (CHS), polyketide reductase (PKR), chalcone isomerase (CHI), and vestitone reductase (VR) were significantly upregulated.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that chitosan induction may promote the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and the TCA cycle enhancement significantly upregulated PAL, CHS, PKR, CHI, and VR, the five key enzymes involved in flavonoid synthesis of G. uralensis, indicating that chitosan induction activated the entire metabolic pathway associated with flavonoids in G. uralensis. Our findings provide a reference for improving the quality of cultivated G. uralensis from the perspective of pharmacodynamic components.

Background Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) in ambient air is an important carrier of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and long-term inhalation of heavy metals and PAHs poses a potential threat to human health. Objective To analyze the ambient PM_2.5 concentrations and the distribution characteristics and sources of heavy metals and PAHs in PM_2.5 in an urban area of Taizhou City, aiming to provide basic data and a scientific basis for local air pollution management and population health prevention. Methods From 9am to 8pm on the 10th to 16th of each month from 2017 to 2022 (23 h·d⁻¹), a monitoring point was set up on the top floor of a building in the main urban area of Taizhou to collect PM_2.5 samples (sampling flow rate: 2.3 m³·h⁻¹) and measure its concentration. The characteristics of 12 heavy metals and 16 priority PAHs in PM_2.5 were analyzed. The pollution sources of heavy metals and PAHs were determined by enrichment factor method and isomer characteristic ratio method, respectively. Results From 2017 to 2022, the average daily concentration of PM_2.5 in this urban area ranged from 4 to 141 μg·m⁻³, and the median annual concentrations were lower than the national secondary standard limit. The seasonal concentration of PM_2.5 was as follows: winter>spring>summer and autumn, and the difference was statistically significant (H=134.077, P<0.01). The concentration of PM_2.5 in 2017.1 to 2020.1 was higher than that in 2020.2 to 2022.12 (Z=−3.989, P<0.01). The main heavy metal pollutants in this area were manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), and chromium (Cr). Except for beryllium (Be) and mercury (Hg), the concentrations of other heavy metals had seasonal differences (P<0.01), higher in winter and spring than in summer and autumn. Except for manganese (Mn) and arsenic (As), the concentrations of other heavy metals were higher from 2017.1 to 2020.1 than from 2020.2 to 2022.12, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The results of enrichment factor indicated anthropogenic pollution sources of antimony (Sb), cadmium (Cd), and selenium (Se). The average daily concentration of PAHs ranged from 0.88 to 24.56 ng·m⁻³, with a seasonal trend of winter>spring>autumn>summer, and the difference was statistically significant (H=231.387, P<0.01). Among the 16 PAHs, the top pollutants were benzo [b] fluoranthene (BbF) (25.36%), indene [1,2,3-c,d] pyrene (IcdP) (11.22%), and benzo [g,h,i] perylene (BghiP) (9.02%). The results of characteristic ratio method showed that the 16 PAHs pollutants were produced by a combined action of gasoline buring, coal burning, and biomass burning. Conclusion In selected urban area of Taizhou City, the concentrations of PM_2.5, heavy metals, and PAHs all show a downward trend year by year at a relatively low level, and obvious seasonal distributions which are higher in winter and spring. Man-made pollution is the main source of heavy metals, and automobile exhaust emissions, industrial coal burning, and waste incineration may be the main sources of PAHs.

Objective:To investigate the effect of folding and filling the orbicularis muscle flap of the inferiorcentral pedicle in correction of sunken upper eyelids.Methods:From August 2020 to April 2022, 39 female patients aged 36-63 (47.1±6.3) years with dermatochalasis and sunken upper eyelid were admitted to the Plastic Surgery Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University. During the surgery, the orbicularis oculi muscle in the skin resection area was preserved and a muscle flap was formed with the central part of the lower margin of the incision as the pedicle, which was folded deep and filled in the anterior orbital septal space. 6 months after surgery, the Park method was used to compare the effects before and after surgery, and the doctors and patients were scored on the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale, respectively.Results:Unilateral upper eyelid hematoma appeared in 1 patient and healed after local acupuncture and aspiration, unilateral incision induration appeared in 2 patients, and gradually disappeared after 6 months of follow-up. The wounds of other patients healed in one stage. All the 39 patients were followed up for 6-12 months. The scores of the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale at 6 months after surgery were (4.12±0.95) for doctors and (3.82±1.27) for patients. Park method showed that the degree of sunken upper eyelid after surgery was significantly better than that before surgery, and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=-7.721, P=0.000). Conclusions:The folding and filling of the orbicularis muscle flap of the eye with the inferior central pedicle can correct the laxity of the upper eyelid and improve the sunken upper eyelid. This operation can make full use of local tissue, and the effect is simple and lasting.

In 2022, WHO updated the classification and concept of adrenal cortical and medullary tumors. In terms of adrenal cortical tumors, the WHO classification further standardizes the nomenclature of nodular adrenal cortical disease and refines the pathological classification of primary aldosteronism. In terms of adrenal medullary tumors, the WHO classification unifies the concepts of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma, and reclassifies various concepts, including paraganglioma-like neuroendocrine tumors. The new standards not only cover the clinical manifestations of the disease, but also include other multiple aspects such as the histological origin of the disease, immunohistochemical manifestations, physiological mechanisms of the disease, hereditary susceptibility and prognostic factors. This article intends to explore how to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic level of adrenal tumors.

In 2022, WHO updated the classification and concept of adrenal cortical and medullary tumors. In terms of adrenal cortical tumors, the WHO classification further standardizes the nomenclature of nodular adrenal cortical disease and refines the pathological classification of primary aldosteronism. In terms of adrenal medullary tumors, the WHO classification unifies the concepts of pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma, and reclassifies various concepts, including paraganglioma-like neuroendocrine tumors. The new standards not only cover the clinical manifestations of the disease, but also include other multiple aspects such as the histological origin of the disease, immunohistochemical manifestations, physiological mechanisms of the disease, hereditary susceptibility and prognostic factors. This article intends to explore how to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic level of adrenal tumors.

Objective:To explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of two children with Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) due to variants of TANC2 gene. Methods:Clinical data of two children who were admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University respectively in April 2020 and April 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Peripheral blood samples of the children and their parents were collected and subjected to whole exome sequencing. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. By using " TANC2 gene", "Neurodevelopmental disorders", "Nervous system development disorders", " TANC2" as the key words, similar cases were searched from the CNKI, Wanfang database platform and PubMed database, with the search time set as from the establishment of the database to December 2023. This study was approved by Medical Ethics Committee of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Ethics No. 2020-57). Results:Case 1 was a 1-year-and-3-month-old girl who had developed convulsions at 1 year old and had three episodes of seizures. Her epilepsy had resolved with the treatment of oxcarbazepine, which was stopped at the age of 2-year-and-7-month. Her language, movement and intelligence development were all normal. Case 2 was a 1-year-and-10-month-old boy, who had developed convulsions at 1 year old. His seizure type was myoclonus, and the frequency was dozens of times a day. His epilepsy had resolved with the treatment of sodium valproate. His language, movement and intelligence development was delayed for about half a year. Genetic analysis showed that both children had harbored novel variants of the TANC2 gene (NM_025185.4), including c. 3398G>A (p.Gly1133Glu) and c.2829+ 1G>A, respectively. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the former was rated as likely pathogenic (PS2+ PM2_Supporting+ PP3) and the latter was rated as pathogenic (PVS1+ PS2+ PM2_Supporting). Two previous reports were retrieved, which had involved 17 cases and 16 variants. Common features had included autism spectrum disorder (70.6%, 12/17), intellectual disability (94.1%, 16/17), language and motor retardation (88.2%, 15/17; 58.8%, 10/17), facial dysmorphism, epilepsy, ataxia, and thoracic and spinal deformities. Conclusion:Variants of the TANC2 gene probably underlay the epilepsy and development delay in these children with NDDs.

Objective To investigate the risk of diabetes mellitus in ABO blood type.Methods The da-ta of 1306397 healthy physical subjects in the Department of Health Management of the First Affiliated Hos-pital of Army Medical University from 2006 to 2018 were retrospectively analyzed,including gender,age, height,weight,blood glucose,blood lipid and ABO blood type.A total of 61296 subjects with both blood type and fasting blood glucose data were selected as the study population.Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the risk of diabetes in different ABO blood types.Results There were significant differences in gender,age and BMI distribution between the total population and the study population (P<0.05).The num-ber of patients with diabetes and prediabetes in the study population was 2649 (4.3％) and 3979 (6.5％),re-spectively.There were significant differences in the distribution of cholesterol,low-density lipoprotein choles-terol (LDL-C),diabetes and pre-diabetes among people with different blood types (P<0.05).Multivariate lo-gistic regression analysis showed that compared with type O blood,type A blood had an increased risk of dia-betes (OR=1.38,95％CI:1.02-1.86,P=0.04),while type B blood (OR=1.28,95％CI:0.93-1.77,P=0.13) and type AB blood (OR=1.33,95％CI:0.83-2.11,P=0.23) did not increase the risk of diabetes. Conclusion Early screening of type A blood population and preventive treatment and intervention can be used to reduce the incidence of diabetes.