PURPOSE: The fixation method commonly employed worldwide for treating unstable fractures of the posterior pelvic ring is the percutaneous iliosacral screw technique. However, prolonged operation time and frequent fluoroscopies result in surgical risks. This study aimed to investigate whether a new triangulation method could reduce operative and fluoroscopy times and increase the accuracy of screw placement. METHODS: This study is a real-world retrospective cohort analysis that examined a patient cohort who underwent percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2022. Inclusion criteria were patients (1) diagnosed with posterior pelvic ring instability who underwent pelvic fracture closed reduction and percutaneous S1 transverse-penetrating iliosacral screw placement and (2) aged >18 years. Exclusion criteria were: (1) combined proximal femoral fractures, (2) severe soft tissue injury in the surgical area, (3) incomplete imaging data, and (4) declining to provide written informed consent by the patient. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the screw insertion method: conventional and triangulation methods. Screw placement and fluoroscopy times recorded by the C-arm were compared between the 2 methods. The accuracy of screw placement was evaluated by Smith grading on postoperative CT. Normality tests were conducted to assess the distribution of the quantitative variables and the Chi-square test was used to compare the qualitative variables. RESULTS: The study included a total of 94 patients diagnosed with posterior pelvic ring instability, who underwent percutaneous iliosacral screw placement. The patients were divided into 2 groups: 46 patients treated with the conventional surgical method and 48 patients received the triangulation method. The operation time (61.13±9.69 vs. 35.77±6.27) min and fluoroscopy frequency times (52.15±9.29 vs. 24.40±4.04) of the triangulation method were significantly reduced (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The use of a triangular positioning technique for the surface positioning of percutaneous iliosacral screws could reduce the operative time and fluoroscopy frequency. And the screw placement accuracy using this new method was comparable to that using other conventional methods.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Bone Screws ; Pelvic Bones/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods* ; Fractures, Bone/surgery* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Fluoroscopy ; Aged ; Sacrum/surgery* ; Operative Time

Objective To explore the effectiveness of an integrated laparoscopic simulation training course (best essential surgical technique training, BEST) in enhancing laparoscopic peritoneal suturing techniques in surgical residents.Methods As an integrated two-stage program, the BEST course applied basic laparoscopic training system with simple molds in phase Ⅰ training, and then adopted advanced laparoscopic training system, 3D Laparoscope and ex-vivo animal models in phase Ⅱ training. The laparoscopic suturing techniques were practiced in phase Ⅱ training. From August 2021 to July 2024, surgical residents in the second year of the national standardized training program were divided into pilot and control groups based on whether they had undergone the BEST course. Two cases of laparoscopic peritoneal suture were performed by the surgical residents under supervision in the department of gastrointestinal surgery. The operative time, quality of suture, and independent completion rate were compared between the two groups.Results A total of 33 surgical residents (19 in pilot group and 14 in control group) were included in this study, and a total of 66 cases of laparoscopic peritoneal suture were performed (38 in pilot group and 28 in control group). The operative time was significantly shorter in pilot group than that in control group (15.7 min vs. 17.5 min, P=0.025). The quality of suture was significantly better in pilot group compared to control group (P=0.023). In pilot group, all peritoneal sutures were performed by residents independently, whereas in control group, 3 cases (10.7%) were assisted by the supervisor, and the independent completion rate was different significantly (P=0.039).Conclusions The BEST course can help improve surgical residents′ laparoscopic peritoneal suturing techniques and could be promoted in the national standardized training program for surgical residents.

To promote the development of extracellular vesicles of herbal medicine especially the establishment of standardization, led by the National Expert Committee on Research and Application of Chinese Herbal Vesicles, research experts in the field of herbal medicine and extracellular vesicles were invited nationwide with the support of the Expert Committee on Research and Application of Chinese Herbal Vesicles, Professional Committee on Extracellular Vesicle Research and Application, Chinese Society of Research Hospitals and the Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Herbal Vesicles. Based on the collation of relevant literature, we have adopted the Delphi method, the consensus meeting method combined with the nominal group method to form a discussion draft of "Consensus statement on research and application of Chinese herbal medicine derived extracellular vesicles-like particles (2023)". The first draft was discussed in online and offline meetings on October 12, 14, November 2, 2022 and April and May 2023 on the current status of research, nomenclature, isolation methods, quality standards and research applications of extracellular vesicles of Chinese herbal medicines, and 13 consensus opinions were finally formed. At the Third Academic Conference on Research and Application of Chinese Herbal Vesicles, held on May 26, 2023, Kewei Zhao, convenor of the consensus, presented and read the consensus to the experts of the Expert Committee on Research and Application of Chinese Herbal Vesicles. The consensus highlights the characteristics and advantages of Chinese medicine, inherits the essence, and keeps the righteousness and innovation, aiming to provide a reference for colleagues engaged in research and application of Chinese herbal vesicles at home and abroad, decode the mystery behind Chinese herbal vesicles together, establish a safe, effective and controllable accurate Chinese herbal vesicle prevention and treatment system, and build a bridge for Chinese medicine to the world.

Following the principles of evidence-based medicine,in accordance with the structure and drafting rules of standardized documents,based on literature research,according to the characteristics of chronic cough in children and issues that need to form a consensus,the TCM Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Cough in Children was formulated based on the Delphi method,expert discussion meetings,and public solicitation of opinions.The guideline includes scope of application,terms and definitions,eti-ology and diagnosis,auxiliary examination,treatment,prevention and care.The aim is to clarify the optimal treatment plan of Chinese medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease,and to provide guidance for improving the clinical diagnosis and treatment of chronic cough in children with Chinese medicine.

Background::Although some well-established oncogenes are involved in cancer initiation and progression such as prostate cancer (PCa), the long tail of cancer genes remains to be defined. Goosecoid ( GSC) has been implicated in cancer development. However, the comprehensive biological role of GSC in pan-cancer, specifically in PCa, remains unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of GSC in PCa development. Methods::We performed a systematic bioinformatics exploration of GSC using datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas, Genotype-Tissue Expression, Gene Expression Omnibus, German Cancer Research Center, and our in-house cohorts. First, we evaluated the expression of GSC and its association with patient prognosis, and identified GSC-relevant genetic alterations in cancers. Further, we focused on the clinical characterization and prognostic analysis of GSC in PCa. To understand the transcriptional regulation of GSC by E2F transcription factor 1 ( E2F1), we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Functional experiments were conducted to validate the effect of GSC on the tumor cellular phenotype and sensitivity to trametinib. Results::GSC expression was elevated in various tumors and significantly correlated with patient prognosis. The alterations of GSC contribute to the progression of various tumors especially in PCa. Patients with PCa and high GSC expression exhibited worse progression-free survival and biochemical recurrence outcomes. Further, GSC upregulation in patients with PCa was mostly accompanied with higher Gleason score, advanced tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, and elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Mechanistically, the transcription factor, E2F1, stimulates GSC by binding to its promoter region. Detailed experiments further demonstrated that GSC acted as an oncogene and influenced the response of PCa cells to trametinib treatment. Conclusions::GSC was highly overexpressed and strongly correlated with patient prognosis in PCa. We found that GSC, regulated by E2F1, acted as an oncogene and impeded the therapeutic efficacy of trametinib in PCa.

Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.
Female ; Humans ; Adolescent ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Smell ; COVID-19/complications* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; COVID-19 Vaccines ; Incidence ; Olfaction Disorders/etiology* ; Taste Disorders/etiology* ; Prognosis

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the long-non-coding RNA LINC00342 expression and the clinicopathological parameters of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and the biological function of LINC00342 in HNSCC cells. Methods: The expression level of LINC00342 in the HNSCC was analyzed using transcriptome sequencing data from TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) database, and the expressions of LINC00342 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissues (LSCC) of 27 patients in the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University were detected by transcriptome sequencing. The expression levels of LINC00342 in human embryonic lung diploid cells 2BS, HNSCC cell lines FD-LSC-1, CAL-27 and Detroit562 were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). RNAi (RNA interference) was used for LINC00342 knockdown in HNSCC cell lines, and the changes of malignant phenotype in the tumor cells after LINC00342 knockdown were examined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, flow cytometry, transwell invasion and migration assays. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to construct a LINC00342-centered competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network, and GO (Gene Ontology) enrichment analysis was performed. Statistical analysis and graphing were performed using SPSS 25.0 software and GraphPad Prism 6 software. Results: Mean LINC00342 levels in HNSCC tissues and TCGA database were higher than that in normal control tissues, but with no significantly statistical difference (P=0.522). LINC00342 expression levels were positively correlated with cervical lymph node metastasis and pathological grade in patients with HNSCC, with higher expression in male patients than in female patients (P<0.05). Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that mean expression level of LINC00342 in LSCC tissues of 27 patients was significantly higher than that in the paired adjacent normal mucosa tissues (t=1.56, P=0.036). LINC00342 expression was significantly upregulated in HNSCC cell lines FD-LSC-1, CAL-27 and Detroit562 (t-values of -12.17, -23.26 and -388.57, respectively; all P<0.001). Knockdown of LINC00342 by transfecting si-LINC00342-1 and si-LINC00342-2 inhibited HNSCC cell proliferation (t-values of 8.95 and 4.84, 2.70 and 5.55, 2.02 and 3.70, respectively), colony formation (t-values of 6.66 and 6.17, 7.38 and 11.65, 4.90 and 5.79, respectively), migration (t-values of 8.21 and 7.19, 5.76 and 6.46, 6.28 and 9.92, respectively) and invasion abilities (t-values of 9.29 and 10.25, 11.30 and 11.36, 8.02 and 8.66, respectively), but promoting apoptosis in cell lines FD-LSC-1 and CAL-27 (t-values of -2.21 and -5.83, -3.05 and -5.25 respectively) (all P-values<0.05). The LINC00342-centered ceRNA network consists of 10 downregulated microRNA and 647 upregulated mRNA nodes. GO analysis results indicated that LINC00342-regulated mRNAs were enriched in 22 biological processes, 32 molecular functions, and 12 cellular components. Conclusion: High level of LINC00342 is associated with the malignant progression of HNSCC. LINC00342 promotes the proliferation, migration, invasion, and antagonizes apoptosis of HNSCC cells, which serves as a potential molecular marker in HNSCC.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck/genetics* ; RNA, Long Noncoding/genetics* ; Clinical Relevance ; Epithelial Cells ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/genetics*

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of the first-day suspension method for improving the success rate of construction of nasopharyngeal carcinoma-patient derived organoids (NPC-PDO). Methods: The tumor samples of 14 nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) patients, i.e.,13 males and 1 female, with a mean age of 43.0±12.0 years old, were collected from the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University and the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from January 2022 to July 2022. The tumor samples of 3 patients were digested into single cell suspension and divided into 2 groups, for comparing the efficacy of NPC-PDO construction by the direct inoculation method and the first-day suspension method. The remaining 11 patients were randomized to receive either the direct inoculation method or the first-day suspension method for NPC-PDO construction. The diameter and the number of spheres of NPC-PDO constructed by the two methods were compared by optical microscope; the 3D cell viability detection kit was used to compare the cell viability; the survival rates were compared by trypan blue staining; the success rates of the two construction methods were compared; the number of cases which could be successfully passaged for more than 5 generations and were consistent with the original tissue by pathological examination was counted; and the dynamic changes of cells in suspension overnight were observed by live cell workstation. The independent sample t-test was applied to compare the measurement data of the two groups, and the chi-square test was used to compare the classification data. Results: Compared with the direct inoculation, the diameter and the number of spheres of NPC-PDO constructed by the first-day suspension method were increased, with a higher cell activity, and the success rate of construction was obviously improved (80.0% vs 16.7%, χ²=4.41, P<0.05). In the suspension state, some of the cells aggregated and increased their ability to proliferate. Conclusion: The first-day suspension method can improve the success rate of NPC-PDO construction, especially for those whose original tumor sample size is small.
Male ; Humans ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; China ; Microscopy ; Organoids ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms

The global COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has infected over 109 million people, leading to over 2 million deaths up to date and still lacking of effective drugs for patient treatment. Here, we screened about 1.8 million small molecules against the main protease (M^pro) and papain like protease (PL^pro), two major proteases in severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 genome, and identified 1851M^pro inhibitors and 205 PL^pro inhibitors with low nmol/l activity of the best hits. Among these inhibitors, eight small molecules showed dual inhibition effects on both M^pro and PL^pro, exhibiting potential as better candidates for COVID-19 treatment. The best inhibitors of each protease were tested in antiviral assay, with over 40% of M^pro inhibitors and over 20% of PL^pro inhibitors showing high potency in viral inhibition with low cytotoxicity. The X-ray crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 M^pro in complex with its potent inhibitor 4a was determined at 1.8 Å resolution. Together with docking assays, our results provide a comprehensive resource for future research on anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug development.
Humans ; Antiviral Agents/chemistry* ; COVID-19 ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Protease Inhibitors/chemistry* ; SARS-CoV-2/enzymology* ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins