AIM: To develop a novel gene-delivery therapeutic based on CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology capable of specifically targeting and knocking out the VEGFA gene, thereby achieving sustained suppression of VEGFA expression in retinal pigment epithelial(RPE)cells and providing a new strategy for gene therapy in retinal neovascular diseases.METHODS:Single guide RNAs targeting the human VEGFA gene for knockout were designed, and corresponding recombinant plasmids were constructed. A novel polymer(PTEE)was used to encapsulate the plasmids to prepare a PTEE-loaded anti-VEGFA plasmid(PLAP)gene delivery system. PTEE materials at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 μg/μL were co-incubated with ARPE-19 cells, and the biocompatibility of PTEE was evaluated using the cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay. Recombinant plasmids expressing green fluorescent protein(GFP)were constructed. Lipofectamine 3000 and jetOPTIMUS®DNA transfection reagents were used as control groups, and PTEE nanomaterials were used as the experimental group to encapsulate the plasmids. When the cell confluence reached 80%, the formulations were transfected into ARPE-19 and 293T cells. GFP expression was observed under light microscopy, and the transfection efficiencies of each group were compared. ARPE-19 cells were induced under hypoxia, and PLAP was transfected into the cells. The expression level of VEGFA was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)to evaluate the efficacy of this novel gene delivery system.RESULTS: After co-incubation of ARPE-19 cells with different concentrations of PTEE for 24 h and 48 h, no significant effect on cell viability was observed in any group. The transfection efficiency of PLAP in ARPE-19 cells was higher than that in the Lipo3000 and jetOPTIMUS groups, with statistically significant differences(P<0.01). Hypoxia for 6 h significantly induced the upregulation of VEGFA mRNA expression in ARPE-19 cells, and under hypoxic conditions, the PTEE group exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on VEGFA expression(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:PLAP exhibits favorable biocompatibility and prominent VEGFA inhibitory effects in vitro, making it a potential candidate drug for gene therapy of retinal neovascular diseases.

BACKGROUND:Degenerative scoliosis is defined as a condition that occurs in adulthood with a coronal cobb angle of the spine>10° accompanied by sagittal deformity and rotational subluxation,which often produces symptoms of spinal cord and nerve compression,such as lumbar pain,lower limb pain,numbness,weakness,and neurogenic claudication.The finite element method is a mechanical analysis technique for computer modelling,which can be used for spinal mechanics research by building digital models that can realistically restore the human spine model and design modifications. OBJECTIVE:To review the application of finite element method in the etiology and treatment of degenerative scoliosis. METHODS:The literature databases CNKI,PubMed,and Web of Science were searched for articles on the application of finite element method in degenerative scoliosis published before October 2023.Search terms were"finite element analysis,biomechanics,stress analysis,degenerative scoliosis,adult spinal deformity"in Chinese and English.Fifty-four papers were finally included. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The biomechanical findings from the degenerative scoliosis model constructed using the finite element method were identical to those from the in vivo experimental studies,which proves that the finite element method has a high practical value in degenerative scoliosis.(2)The study of the etiology and treatment of degenerative scoliosis by the finite element method is conducive to the prevention of the occurrence of the scoliosis,slowing down the progress of the scoliosis,the development of a more appropriate treatment plan,the reduction of complications,and the promotion of the patients'surgical operation.(3)The finite element method has gradually evolved from a single bony structure to the inclusion of soft tissues such as muscle ligaments,and the small sample content is increasingly unable to meet the research needs.(4)The finite element method has much room for exploration in degenerative scoliosis.

Objective: To understand the prevalence of elevated blood pressure and its association with dietary patterns in children and adolescents in China, providing evidence for developing dietary intervention of hypertension in children and adolescents. Methods: Data were derived from the China Children s Nutrition and Health System Survey and Application Project(2019-2021). A stratified cluster random sampling method was used to include 7 933 participants from 28 survey sites in seven major regions of Northeast, North, Northwest, East, Central, South and Southwest China. Multivariate Logistic regression models were used to analyze associations between demographic characteristics, nutritional status and elevated blood pressure. Exploratory factor analysis identified dietary patterns, which were divided into three quartile groups (T3, T2, T1) based on factor scores (compliance for dietary pattern) from high to low, and multivariate Logistic regression model assessed the correlation between elevated blood pressure and dietary patterns. Results: The prevalence of elevated blood pressure was 15.4% among Chinese children aged 7-17 years. Significant differences were observed across nutritional status (reference: underweight; normal weight: OR =1.57; overweight: OR = 2.61 ; obesity: OR =3.85), urban/rural residence (reference: rural; urban: OR =0.86), and paternal education (reference: junior high school and below; bachelor degree or above: OR =0.68) ( P <0.05). The detection rates of high blood pressure in T3 group children and adolescents with four dietary patterns (staple food, animal based food, snacks, vegetables and fruits) were 15.7%, 14.6%, 16.8%, and 15.8%, respectively. After adjusting for residence, paternal education, and nutritional status, the "snack dietary pattern" (mainly candy, sugar sweetened beverages, and processed snacks) showed positive associations with elevated blood pressure in T2 ( OR =1.21) and T3 ( OR =1.19) tertiles ( P <0.05). Conclusions The snack dietary pattern is a related factor for elevated blood pressure in children and adolescents. Restricting unhealthy snack intake may promote cardiovascular health.

OBJECTIVE To establish the fingerprint of Bushen ningshen ointment， determine the contents of its major constituents， and investigate its in vitro antioxidant activity. METHODS High performance liquid chromatography （HPLC） fingerprints of 10 batches of Bushen ningshen ointment were established. Similarity evaluation and identification of common peaks were subsequently performed. The contents of 10 components such as salidroside were determined using the same HPLC method. Using the scavenging rates against 2，2′-azino bis（3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid） （ABTS） and 1，1-diphenyl-2- picrylhydrazyl （DPPH） radicals， as well as ferric ion reducing antioxidant power （FRAP） as indicators， the anti-oxidant activity of the ointment was evaluated； grey relational analysis and partial least squares regression were conducted using SIMCA 14.1 software to establish the spectrum-effect relationship. RESULTS The fingerprint chromatogram of 10 batches of Bushen ningshen ointment contained 24 common peaks， with similarity values all exceeding 0.96. Eleven peaks were identified as adenosine （peak 1）， salidroside （peak 4）， morroniside （peak 6）， catechin （peak 7）， paeoniflorin （peak 10）， spinosin （peak 11）， ferulic acid （peak 12）， isoquercitrin （peak 13）， E-mail：wli1743@163.com verbascoside （peak 14）， paeonol （peak 23）， and emodin （peak 24）. Content determination results showed that the average contents of salidroside， morroniside， catechin， paeoniflorin， spinosin， ferulic acid， isoquercitrin， verbascoside， paeonol， and emodin were 0.725， 1.962， 0.214， 3.395， 0.124， 0.107， 0.286， 0.019， 0.034 and 0.067 mg/g， respectively. The antioxidant potency composite index （APC） for the 10 batches ranged from 85.08% to 96.35%. Spectrum-effect relationship analysis indicated that all 24 common peaks were positively correlated with the antioxidant capacity. Seventeen peaks had variable importance in projection values ＞1， specitically peaks 2， 5， 6， 7， 9， 10， 13- 21， 23， and 24. CONCLUSIONS This study successfully established the HPLC fingerprint and content determination method for Bushen ningshen ointment. The compounds represented by the 17 common peaks such as morroniside may be the active components contributing to its antioxidant effects.

Objective To investigate the application effect of postural gravity traction combined with floss and titanium clip pulley external traction in endoscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)for early intestinal lesions.Methods A total of 100 patients with early colorectal lesions admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University from January 2022 to September 2024 were selected as the research subjects and divided in-to the observation group and the control group,with 50 cases in each group.The control group underwent con-ventional intestinal ESD treatment,while the observation group used positional gravity traction combined with dental floss and titanium clips to form pulley external traction in ESD treatment.Clinical data including opera-tion time,number of submucosal injections,intraoperative blood loss,lesion resection effect,complication inci-dence,and hospital stay were compared between the two groups.Results The total operation time in the ob-servation group was shorter than that in the control group,and the total number of submucosal injections was less than that in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).There were no signifi-cant differences in intraoperative blood loss,complete resection rate,complication incidence,en bloc resection rate,and hospital stay between the two groups(P>0.05).For lesions≤1 cm or>5 cm in size,there were no significant differences in operation time,complete resection rate and en bloc resection rate between the two groups(P>0.05).For lesions>1-3 cm or>3-5 cm in size and laterally spreading lesions,significant differences were observed in operation time,number of submucosal injections,complete resection rate,and en bloc resection rate between the two groups(P<0.05).For pedunculated polyps,there were no significant differences in the number of submucosal injections,complete resection rate and en bloc resection rate between the two groups(P>0.05),but the operation time differed significantly(P<0.05).Conclusion Postural gravity traction combined with dental floss and titanium clip to form pulley external traction is simple to oper-ate in ESD for early intestinal lesions.It can maintain a clear field of view,shorten operation time,reduce the incidence of complications,and is safe and effective.

Objective:To investigate the clinical significance of CD105 and erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular receptor A2 (EPHA2) expressions in breast invasive ductal carcinoma and the effects of the combination of diabetes mellitus on CD105 and EPHA2 expressions.Methods:A retrospective case series study was conducted. A total of 74 patients with breast invasive ductal carcinoma in Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University from June 2019 to June 2024 were selected, and paraffin specimens from the patients after surgery were collected. Immunohistochemistry SP method was used to detect the expressions of CD105 and EPHA2 proteins in specimens. CD105 expression was expressed as the number of CD105 labeled microvessels, and EPHA2 expression was expressed as the proportion of EPHA2 positive expression area. The correlation of CD105 and EPHA2 expressions with the clinicopathological characteristics and diabetes mellitus of patients, as well as the relationship between the expressions of CD105 and EPHA2 were analyzed. Cox proportional hazards model was used to make univariate and multivariate analysis of the factors influencing overall survival of patients.Results:All 74 patients were female. The median age was 60 years old, 44 patients (59.46%) had tumor grade ≥ grade 3, 36 patients (48.65%) had tumor diameter ≥ 2 cm, 28 patients (37.84%) had lymph node metastasis, 30 patients (40.54%) had nerve vessel invasion, and 32 patients (43.24%) had diabetes mellitus. There were statistically significant differences in the proportion of patients with different age, tumor diameter, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis or not and nerve vessel invasion or not between diabetes mellitus group and non-diabetes mellitus group (all P < 0.05). The number of CD105 marking the microvessel was (32±9) and (24±8), respectively in diabetes mellitus group and non-diabetes mellitus group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t = 3.63, P < 0.010); the positive expression area proportion of EPHA2 was (19±5)% and (15±4)%, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( t = 3.85, P < 0.010). The expression of CD105 was related to the duration of diabetes mellitus, tumor diameter, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis or not (all P < 0.05), and the expression of EPHA2 was related to tumor diameter and TNM stage (all P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between CD105 and EPHA2 expression ( r = 0.75, P < 0.001). The differences in overall survival of patients with or without diabetes mellitus and patients with different CD105 and EPHA2 expressions were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that CD105 expression ( HR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04-1.16, P = 0.001) and EPHA2 expression ( HR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.10-1.66, P = 0.005) were independent factors influencing the overall survival of patients with breast invasive ductal carcinoma. Conclusions:The expressions of CD105 and EPHA2 are independent prognostic factors in patients with breast invasive ductal carcinoma, and diabetes mellitus can promote the expressions of CD105 and EPHA2, which may increase the risk of poor prognosis.

BACKGROUND:The highest incidence of spinal fracture is in the thoracolumbar segment,and its symptoms are back pain,posterior convexity deformity,activity limitation,or with spinal cord nerve injury causing lower limb pain,numbness,and even paraplegia and other complications.The finite element method is a digital computer modeling technique,which can simulate the physical model and carry out force analysis realistically.OBJECTIVE:To review the application of finite element method in thoracolumbar spine fractures.METHODS:We searched the Chinese and English literature databases PubMed,Web of Science,and CNKI for relevant literature on the application of the finite element analysis method in spinal thoracolumbar fracture published before March 2024.The search terms in Chinese and English were:finite element analysis methods,biomechanical phenomena,stress analysis,thoracolumbar fractures,spinal fractures.Finally,55 papers were included.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The exploration of thoracolumbar fractures caused by different etiologies(osteoporotic,traumatic,and pathological)through the finite element method is conducive to a deeper understanding of the biomechanics of various types of thoracolumbar fractures,and to improve the individualized and fine-tuned treatment of thoracolumbar fractures.(2)The finite element analysis of a single sample or a small number of samples has the chance,and a larger number of samples are required for the future finite element analysis to reduce the chance caused by the sample.(3)The rigid structure of bones alone cannot meet the biomechanical working conditions of the integrity of the physical object,and future finite element models need to incorporate all the structures of the physical object(e.g.,soft tissues,such as muscles and ligaments)as far as possible.(4)The finite element method has been used in more studies on osteoporotic and traumatic thoracolumbar spine fractures,which will need to be more in-depth in the future,and less in the field of pathologic thoracolumbar fractures,which has a wider scope for future research.

Objective: To analyze the consumption frequency of major foods among Chinese children aged 6-17 years old, and to provide a basis for optimizing the dietary structure of children in China. Methods: Using data from the China Nutrition and Health System Survey and Application Program for Children 0-18 years old, 56 734 children aged 6-17 years old from North, Norththeast East, Central, South, Southwest and Northwest seven regions in China were selected for the study using stratified cluster random sampling from 2019 to 2021. A food frequency questionnaire was used to investigate the intake frequency of eight food groups in a month, including fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, livestock and poultry meats, aquatic products, eggs, dairy products, legumes, and cereals and potatoes. The foods were grouped according to whether they met the recommended intake criteria outlined in the Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents 2022. The〖KG*2〗χ2 test was used to compare the differences in the proportion of childrens intake frequency of each food group meeting the standard in different regions and age groups. Results: The proportions of Chinese children aged 6-17 years who consumed fresh vegetables and cereals and potatoes ≥3 times/d were 12.1% and 67.2%, respectively. The proportions of children who consumed fresh fruits, livestock and poultry meats, eggs and dairy products ≥1 time/d were 50.8%, 58.8%, 36.0% and 54.3%, respectively. The proportion of legumes consumed ≥4 times/week was 37.4%, and the proportion of aquatic products consumed ≥2 times/week was 39.7%. Fresh vegetables (5.5%), fresh fruits (33.1%), and dairy products (36.4%) had the lowest frequency of meeting the recommended standards in South China, and aquatic products (27.4%) and eggs (21.1%) had the lowest frequency of meeting the recommended standards in Northwest (P<0.008 3). Conclusion The overall intake frequency of fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, legumes, and dairy products are insufficient among Chinese children, with significant regional variations.

Objective: To analyze the association of eating dining locations and their association with nutritional status among Chinese children aged 6-17 years,so as to provide reference for guiding children s reasonable diet. Methods: Stratified random cluster sampling was used to select children aged 6 to 17 years from 28 cities and rural areas of 14 provinces in East, North, Central, South, Southwest, Northwest, Northeast of China, and a total of 52 535 children were included in the study from 2019 to 2021. Information including dining locations, demographic characteristics, dietary intakes and physical activity were collected through a questionnaire survey. Fasting body height and weight were measured in the morning. Unordered multiclass Logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between dining locations and nutritional status in children. Results: Regarding children s dining locations, 66.3% ate breakfast at home,25.8% ate breakfast at school,7.9% ate breakfast outside (small dining tables, restaurants, stalls, etc.); 67.7% ate dinner at home,29.0% ate dinner at school,3.3% ate dinner outside; and 63.6% ate lunch at school,30.8% ate lunch at home,5.7% ate lunch outside. The prevalence rates of overweight/obesity and undernutrition were 28.6% and 9.3%, respectively. The adjusted multiclass Logistic regression analysis (controlling for age, region, parental education, household income, total energy intake, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity) demonstrated that, compared to eating at home, school based breakfast and dinner consumption was associated with significantly lower overweight/obesity risks for both genders (boys: breakfast OR =0.70, 95% CI =0.65-0.75; dinner OR =0.80, 95% CI = 0.74- 0.86; girls: breakfast OR = 0.89 , 95% CI = 0.82-0.96; dinner OR =0.88, 95% CI =0.81-0.95), whereas eating lunch away from home significantly increased overweight/obesity risks (boys: OR =1.32, 95% CI =1.17-1.48; girls: OR =1.43, 95% CI =1.26- 1.62 ), with all associations being statistically significant ( P <0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, boys who ate breakfast away from home showed a significantly reduced risk of undernutrition ( OR =0.80,95% CI =0.66-0.97), while those consuming lunch away from home had an increased risk ( OR =1.26, 95% CI =1.01-1.57) ( P <0.05). Conclusions The choice of dining locations for children is becoming more diverse, and a relatively high proportion of children eat meals outside the home and at school. Eating out have a higher risk of malnutrition for children. School feeding may be beneficial to children s physical health.

Objective : To prepare silk protein(SF) guided bone regeneration(GBR) membranes reinforced by aragonite sheets(AP) and to investigate their potential as novel barrier membranes for bone tissue regeneration by testing their tensile properties,biocompatibility,and their effect on osteogenic differentiation. Methods : AP was extracted from natural abalone shell(AS) by oxidation method,and AP-SF composite and pure SF membranes with different component ratios were prepared by solution casting and evaporative self-assembly techniques,and their tensile properties were tested using a universal mechanical machine under wet state conditions.The tensile properties were tested using a universal mechanical machine under wet conditions.The microstructure of the AP-SF membrane with the highest tensile strength was observed using scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR) and X-ray diffraction(XRD).Observation of the adhesion of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(rBMSCs) on the surface by scanning electron microscopy,and exploration of the biocompatibility of AP-SF membrane by CCK-8 and live cell staining.Alkaline phosphatase staining(ALP) and alizarin red staining(ARS) were used to detect the osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs in each group. Results: AP was successfully extracted from AS,and the membrane prepared from a mixed solution of SF and AP with a solid content of 10:9 had the strongest wet tensile performance,reaching 8.46 MPa.The CCK-8 and live dead cell staining test results of the AP-SF membrane showed no significant difference compared to the blank group and SF group,indicating that both membranes had good biocompatibility.The ALP test and ARS results indicated that AP-SF membrane had a more significant ability to promote osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs compared to SF membrane. Conclusion The prepared AP-SF membrane has both good mechanical and biological properties,and has certain clinical application potential.