OBJECTIVE: To explore the methods, fixation points, and effectiveness of staged therapy using external fixation frame in treatment of infectious nonunion near knee joint. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 60 patients with infectious nonunion near knee joint, who underwent staged therapy using external fixation frame between June 2021 and June 2024 and were followed up. There were 48 males and 12 females with an average age of 47.9 years (range, 16-70 years). The disease duration ranged from 9 months to 20 years, with a median of 14 months. Among them, 21 cases of infectious nonunion located in the distal femur, 36 cases in the proximal tibia, and 3 cases in the patella; 12 cases exhibited segmental bone defects (≥4 cm), while 48 cases presented with localized bone defects (<4 cm). Osteomyelitis was classified using the Cierny-Mader system, with 3 cases classified as type Ⅰ, 6 cases as type Ⅱ, 35 cases as type Ⅲ, and 16 cases as type Ⅳ. Preoperative C-reactive protein levels ranged from 15.1 to 55.8 mg/L (mean, 36.4 mg/L). The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 35-80 mm/1 h (mean, 56.9 mm/1 h). The Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score for knee joint was 69.3±17.7 and the range of motion was (70.61±40.60)°. After debridement and placement of antibiotic carriers at the first-stage operation, unilateral orbital frames ( n=14), combined frames ( n=27), or Ilizarov frames ( n=19) were used for cross joint fixation ( n=9) or joint preservation fixation ( n=51). After 6-8 weeks of infection control, the bone grafting or bone transport was performed at the second-stage operation based on the type of bone defect, with internal fixation employed as an adjunct if necessary. After operation, the infection control and fracture healing were observed and the bone healing time was recorded. The knee joint function was assessed using the HSS score, and the knee joint range of motion was measured as well as the angle of motion loss. Patients were grouped according to the site of nonunion, type of external fixation frame, and fixation method. The bone healing time, change value of HSS score, and knee joint range of motion loss (difference between pre- and post-operation) were compared between groups. RESULTS: All infection markers returned to the normal range within 6 weeks after the first-stage operation. All patients were followed up 12-48 months (mean, 22.0 months) after the second-stage operation. There were 5 cases of needle tract infection during the external fixation period, and 3 cases of infection recurrence after the second-stage operation, all of which were cured after symptomatic treatment. The bone healing time was 6-18 months (mean, 11.0 months). At last follow-up, the HSS score was 88.5±7.9 and the range of motion was (61.84±40.59)°, with significant differences compared to preoperative values ( P<0.05); the knee joint range of motion loss was (8.77±11.07)°. The bone healing time was significantly longer in the distal femur group than in the proximal tibia group ( P<0.05), and in the unilateral orbital frames group than in the Ilizarov frames group and the combined frames group ( P<0.05). The angle of motion loss was significantly larger in the Ilizarov frames group than in the unilateral orbital frames group and the combined frames group ( P<0.05). The change value of HSS score was significantly higher in the cross joint fixation group than in the joint preservation fixation group ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION During the first-stage operation, debridement is performed and antibiotic carriers are placed to control infection. External fixation frames are then precisely positioned based on the distance between the lesion and the joint surface, avoiding the infected wound while ensuring mechanical balance. During the second-stage operation, bone grafting options are selected according to the extent of bone defects to enhance the bone union. Postoperative early functional exercises of the knee joint are permitted to improve joint function.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Fractures, Ununited/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; External Fixators ; Aged ; Knee Joint/surgery* ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Osteomyelitis/surgery* ; Fracture Fixation/instrumentation* ; Bone Transplantation ; Tibial Fractures/surgery*

Objective:To investigate the relationship between walking speed, life-space mobility (LSM), cognitive function and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in community, and compare the predictive value of walking speed and LSM alone and combined in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. Using the convenient sampling method, a total of 448 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from three communities in Hefei City were selected as the research objects from September 2022 to May 2023. Daily walking speed was measured using the 4-Meter Walking Speed, LSM was assessed using the Chinese version of Life-Space Assessment (LSA), and cognitive function was evaluated using the Chinese version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Participants were divided to the MCI group and non-MCI group. Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the relationships between walking speed, LSM and cognitive function. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between walking speed, LSM and MCI. Area under the curve ( AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to compare the effects of walking speed and Chinese version LSA score on the prediction of MCI alone and in combination. Results:The walking speed and the Chinese version LSA score were both positively correlated with the Chinese version MoCA score ( r=0.598, 0.543; P<0.05). Chinese version LSA score ( OR=0.942) and walking speed score ( OR=0.490) were influencing factors for MCI in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus ( P<0.05). The AUC for walking speed in predicting MCI was 0.875, with a cutoff value of 3 points. Chinese version LSA score in predicting MCI had an AUC of 0.887 with a cutoff value of 59 points. When used in combination, they achieved an AUC of 0.915, with cutoff values of 55 points for Chinese version LSA scores and 3 points for walking speed scores. Conclusions:The combination of walking speed and LSM can more accurately predict the occurrence of MCI in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus than the single application, which provide a reference for improving the cognitive function of elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective:To explore the chain mediating effect of self-rated health and aging attitudes on the relationship between life space and psychological distress of community-dwelling older adults.Methods:From August to November 2023, convenience sampling was used to select older adults from three communities of Baohe District in Hefei City as subjects. General Information Questionnaire, Life Space Assessment (LSA), Self-Rated Health (SRH), Attitudes to Aging Questionnaire (AAQ), and 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) were used for the survey. Spearman correlation was used to analyze the correlation between life space and self-rated health, aging attitudes, and psychological distress. Process macro program of SPSS 25.0 software was used to test for mediating effects.Results:A total of 700 questionnaires were distributed and 669 valid questionnaires were collected, with a valid response rate of 95.57%. Among 669 community-dwelling older adults, the LSA, SRH, AAQ, and K10 scores were (74.35±19.39), (3.23±0.96), (80.66±13.43), and (19.29±6.26), respectively. Spearman correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between life space and attitudes to aging ( rs=0.568, P<0.01) and negative correlations between life space and self-rated health and psychological distress ( rs=-0.334 and -0.455; both P<0.01). The mediating effect test showed that self-rated health and aging attitudes had chain mediating effects on life space and psychological distress, with a mediating effect value of -0.053, accounting for 11.60% of the total effect. Conclusions:Life space can not only directly affect the psychological distress of community-dwelling older adults but also indirectly predict psychological distress through the mediating effect of self-rated health and aging attitudes.

ObjectiveTo study the effect of Jianpi Xiaoai prescription on the protein expression of metastasis-related factors in tumor microenvironment such as chemokine receptor 4 （CXCR4）， transformation growth factor-β （TGF-β）， integrin a_v β₅ （ITGα_v β₅）， serum calcium-binding protein A4 （S100A4）， serum calcium-binding protein A8 （S100A8）， and serum calcium-binding protein A9 （S100A9） in the liver tissue of the nude mouse model of liver metastasis of colon cancer， and to explore the possible mechanism of its anti-liver metastasis of colon cancer. MethodBALB/c nude mice were randomly divided into blank group， model group， and Jianpi Xiaoai prescription low， medium， and high-dose groups. A nude mouse model of liver metastasis of human colon cancer was established. Jianpi Xiaoai prescription low， medium， and high-dose groups were given 5.4， 10.8， 21.6 g·kg^-1 liquid medicine， respectively， and the model group and the blank group were given the same volume of distilled water by gavage， once a day for 3 consecutive weeks. 24 h after the last administration， the nude mice were sacrificed by neck removal， and the liver metastasis of each group was observed. Western blot was used to determine the protein expression of metastasis-related factors in the tumor microenvironment， such as CXCR4， TGF-β， ITGα_v β₅， S100A4， S100A8， and S100A9. ResultThe proportion of metastatic tumor area was 73% in the model group， 72% in the low-dose group， 55% in the medium-dose group， and 42% in the high-dose group. The high-dose group was significantly lower than the model group （P<0.05）. As compared with the model group， the expression of CXCR4， TFG-β， ITGα_v β₅， S100A8， and S100A9 in the Jianpi Xiaoai prescription high and medium-dose groups were significantly decreased （P<0.05）. As compared with the model group， the expression of S100A4 in the Jianpi Xiaoai prescription high， medium， and low-dose groups was significantly decreased （P<0.05）. The expression of CXCR4， TFG-β， ITGα_v β₅， S100A8， and S100A9 in the Jianpi Xiaoai prescription low-dose group was not significantly different from that in the model group. ConclusionJianpi Xiaoai prescription can inhibit liver metastasis of colon cancer， and its mechanism may be related to the reduction of the expression of metastasis-related factors such as CXCR4， TGF-β， ITGα_v β₅， S100A4， S100A8， and S100A9 in tumor microenvironment.

A case of suppurative meningitis caused by Streptococcus suis infection is reported. The patient was an elderly female with an atypical epidemiological history. The common symptoms included fever, headache and cervicodynia. According to the results of blood bacterial culture and next-generation sequencing of cerebrospinal fluid, the patient was considered purulent meningitis caused by Streptococcus suis. After treatment with the third generation cephalosporins, the symptoms improved significantly. One week after the onset of the disease, herpes labialis occurred, followed by hearing loss about 1 week later. The patient was treated with antiviral and hormone therapy, and was discharged after improvement.

Objective:To examine the heritability of body mass index (BMI) and coronary heart disease (CHD), and to explore whether genetic factors can explain their correlation.Methods:Participants were from 11 provinces/municipalities reqistered in the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) from 2010 to 2018. Participants data were collected from face-to-face questionnaire survey. Bivariate structure equation model was used to estimate the heritability and the genetic correlation of BMI and CHD.Results:A total of 20 340 pairs of same-sex twins aged ≥25 years were included in this study. After adjusting for age and gender, the heritability of BMI and CHD was 0.52 (95% CI: 0.49-0.55) and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.69-0.81), respectively. Further, a genetic correlation was identified between BMI and CHD ( rA=0.10, 95% CI:0.02-0.17). Conclusion:In Chinese adult twin population, BMI and CHD are affected by genetic factors, and their correlation can be attributed to the common genetic basis.

Objective:To examine the heritability of body mass index (BMI) and coronary heart disease (CHD), and to explore whether genetic factors can explain their correlation.Methods:Participants were from 11 provinces/municipalities reqistered in the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) from 2010 to 2018. Participants data were collected from face-to-face questionnaire survey. Bivariate structure equation model was used to estimate the heritability and the genetic correlation of BMI and CHD.Results:A total of 20 340 pairs of same-sex twins aged ≥25 years were included in this study. After adjusting for age and gender, the heritability of BMI and CHD was 0.52 (95% CI: 0.49-0.55) and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.69-0.81), respectively. Further, a genetic correlation was identified between BMI and CHD ( rA=0.10, 95% CI:0.02-0.17). Conclusion:In Chinese adult twin population, BMI and CHD are affected by genetic factors, and their correlation can be attributed to the common genetic basis.

Objective:To describe the differences in body mass index (BMI) distribution in adult twins registered in Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR), and provide evidence for the risk factor analysis and prevention and control of overweight or obesity.Methods:A total of 32 725 twin pairs aged 18 years and above who completed the questionnaire survey during 2010-2018 and had complete registered information in CNTR and normal body weight and length were included in the analysis on the population and region specific distributions of BMI of twin pairs and the difference in BMI in twin pairs.Results:The twin pairs included in the analysis were aged (34.6±12.4) years, the twin pairs of same gender accounted for 79.7%. The average BMI was 22.5 kg/m 2. The overall prevalence of obesity and overweight was 4.9% and 23.7%, respectively. Participants who were men, 50-59 years old, married, had lower education level, and lived in northern China had higher overweight rate and obesity rate ( P<0.001). The difference in overweight or obesity prevalence between monozygotic (MZ) twin pars and dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs was not significant, but firstborn twin pairs had slightly higher rates of overweight and obesity than later-born twin pairs ( P<0.05). The analysis in same gender-twin pairs indicated that the difference in BMI was associated with age (trend test: P<0.001), and the difference was more obvious in DZ twin pair in MZ pair and this difference increased with age. The concordant rate of BMI was higher in MZ twin pairs than DZ twin pairs ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The distribution of BMI of twin pairs varied with population and region and BMI varied with age due to its genetic nature.

Objective:To explore the modification effect of physical activity on the genetic effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods:The univariate moderation model was fitted to calculate the modifying effect of physical activity on the genetic effects of T2DM based on the data of 12 107 pairs of same gender twins aged 30 years and older enrolled by the Chinese National Twin Registry in 11 provinces/cities in China.Results:After adjusting for age and gender, the heritability of T2DM was 0.56 (0.31-0.84). Qualified physical activity could attenuate the genetic effects of T2DM. The heritability of T2DM in twin pairs with qualified physical activity was 0.46 (0.06-0.88), which was lower than that in twin pairs without qualified physical activity during the same model [0.68(0.36-0.94)].Conclusion:T2DM is a moderate genetic disease, physical activity can modify the genetic effects of T2DM.

Objective:To explore the gene-body mass index (BMI) interaction on coronary heart disease (CHD) in the Chinese adult twins.Methods:A total of 20 340 same-sex twin pairs registered in the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) were enrolled in this study. Classical twin structure equation model was used to estimate the gene-BMI interaction on CHD.Results:After adjusting for age, we found that genetic variance of CHD differed as the function of BMI in male twins, which indicated the presence of a gene-BMI interaction on CHD ( P=0.008).The genetic moderating effect ( βa) was -0.14 (95% CI: -0.22--0.04), indicating that for each logarithmic transformation value of BMI increase, genetic path parameters would decrease by 0.14, which would result in the decrease of genetic variance of CHD. And the heritability of CHD was 0.77 (95% CI: 0.65-0.86) among the male twins with lower BMI (<24.0 kg/m 2), but 0.56 (95% CI: 0.33-0.74) among the male twins with high BMI (≥24.0 kg/m 2). However, there was no evidence suggesting that BMI could moderate genetic variants of CHD in female. Conclusion:We found a significant gene-BMI interaction on CHD in the Chinese male adult twins in China, and the heritability of CHD was higher among the twins whose BMI was <24.0 kg/m 2.