Objective:To compare the efficacy of robot system-assisted versus freehand screw revision for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with lower cervical fractures.Methods:A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 57 patients with AS combined with lower cervical fractures admitted to Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou Orthopedic Hospital, and Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, including 46 males and 11 females, aged 38-77 years [(65.4±9.5)years]. Injury segments involved C 3 in 7 patients, C 4 in 13, C 5 in 25, C 6 in 10, and C 7 in 2. All the patients underwent revision surgery, among whom, 22 patients were treated with robot system-assisted cervical pedicle screw placement (robot nailing group, with 190 screws), and 35 with freehand cervical pedicle screw placement (freehand nailing group, with 300 screws). The operative duration, intraoperative bleeding volume, frequency of intraoperative fluoroscopy, incision length, and length of hospital stay of the two groups were compared; the time of single nscrew insertion, the number of single nail revisions, the distance between screws and the anterior cortex, the accuracy of screw placement of grade 0 and grade 0+1 were recorded in the two groups. The visual analogue scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopedic Society (JOA) score, neck dysfunction index (NDI), American Spine Injury Association (ASIA) classification before operation, at 3 days, 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up were compared between the two groups. The complication rate was also noted. Results:All the patients were followed up for 12-16 months [(14.3±2.1)months]. The operative duration, intraoperative bleeding volume, and frequency of intraoperative fluoroscopy were (186.4±12.9)minutes, (486.1±68.6)ml, and (3.4±1.3)times in the robot nailing group, which were shorter or less than (206.7±14.4)minutes, (660.3±45.2)ml, and (13.5±3.6)times in the freehand nailing group ( P<0.01). The incision length was (9.4±2.4)cm in the robot nailing group, longer than (5.6±1.2)cm in the freehand nailing group ( P<0.01), and the length of hospital stay was (3.7±0.4)days, shorter than (4.4±1.4)days in the freehand nailing group ( P<0.01). The length of single nail insertion, the number of single nail revision, and the distance between the screws and the front cortex were (6.5±0.4)minutes, (1.1±0.1)times, and (3.5±1.3)mm in the robot nailing group, which were shorter or less than (11.6±0.2)minutes, (1.5±0.2)times, and (12.4±4.7)mm in the freehand nailing group ( P<0.01). The accuracy of the screw placement in the robot nailing group was 90.0% (171/190) and 95.8% (182/190) with level 0 and 0+1 screws, better than 80.0% (240/300) and 89.0% (267/300) in the freehand nailing group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in VAS, JOA score, NDI, or ASIA grading between the two groups before operation ( P>0.05). The VAS, JOA, and NDI scores at 3 days after operation were (3.1±0.6)points, (12.1±1.2)points, and (15.6±2.9)points, respectively in the robot nailing group, which were better than (5.0±1.4)points, (11.3±1.1)points and (22.5±3.7)points, respectively in the freehand nailing group ( P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in the ASIA grade between the two groups at 3 days after operation ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences in VAS, JOA, NDI scores, or ASIA grading between the two groups at 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). Compared with those before operation, the VAS, JOA, NDI scores, and ASIA grading were significantly improved at 3 days, 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up in the two groups, which were further improved with the passage of time. Two patients in the robot nailing group had pneumonia, with a complication rate of 9% (2/22), while 2 patients in the freehand nailing group had dural sac rupture and cerebrospinal fluid leakage and 3 had lung infection after operation, with a complication rate of 14% (5/35) ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with freehand nailing, the robot system-assisted nailing revision for AS with lower cervical fracture has more advantages in terms of the operative duration, length of hospital stay, intraoperative bleeding volume, frequency of intraoperative fluoroscopy nailing speed and accuracy, screw holding force, early pain relief, function restoration, and complication rate, despite longer surgical incision.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of laminoplasty via the intermuscular approach or posterior midline approach for treating spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA).Methods:A multi-center retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 135 patients with SCIWORA admitted to Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an No.5 Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou Orthopedic Hospital, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University from February 2021 to June 2023, including 75 males and 60 females, aged 35-78 years [(55.3±8.1)years]. The injury segments involved C 3-C 6. All the patients underwent posterior cervical open-door laminoplasty, among whom 70 patients were treated via the intermuscular approach (intermuscular group) and 65 via the posterior midline approach (posterior midline group). The operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, and length of hospital stay were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, neck disability index (NDI), Barthel index, cervical Cobb angle, and cervical range of motion (ROM) were measured preoperatively, at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale was evaluated preoperatively, at 3, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up. The postoperative complication rate was recorded as well. Results:All the patients were followed up for 15-19 months [(16.3±1.6)months]. The operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage and length of hospital stay were (125.0±23.0)minutes, (210.4±34.8)ml, and (165.3±23.7)ml, and (5.3±0.1)days in the intermuscular group, which were significantly shorter or less than (168.0±27.6)minutes, (260.2±45.3)ml, (196.4±31.6)ml, and (6.4±0.2)days in the posterior midline group ( P<0.01). The preoperative VAS score, JOA score, NDI and Barthel index showed no significant differences between the two groups ( P>0.05). The VAS score and JOA score also showed no significant differences between the two groups at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively or at the final follow-up ( P>0.05). The NDI and Barthel index also showed no significant differences between the two groups at 3 months postoperatively ( P>0.05). At 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up, the NDI were (15.4±2.5)points, (11.8±2.1)points and (8.6±1.5)points in the intermuscular group, significantly lower than (19.1±3.4)points, (14.3±2.4)points and (11.9±1.4)points in the posterior midline group ( P<0.01). At 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up, the Barthel index were (71.4±6.2)points, (83.4±5.8)points and (89.2±7.1)points in the intermuscular group, significantly higher than (59.6±4.7)points, (74.2±3.9)points and (78.8±6.2)points in the posterior midline group ( P<0.01). Both groups showed significant improvements in VAS score, JOA score, NDI and Barthel index at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up when compared to those preoperatively ( P<0.05). Among them, the VAS score, NDI and Barthel index were further improved over time ( P<0.05). Simultaneously, the JOA score was significantly improved at 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the last follow-up when compared to that at 3 months postoperatively ( P<0.05), with no significant difference at later time points between the two groups ( P>0.05). The preoperative cervical Cobb angle and ROM showed no significant differences between the two groups ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the Cobb angle between the two groups at 3, 6 or 12 months postoperatively ( P>0.05), while it was (13.6±2.4)° in the intermuscular group at the final follow-up, significantly larger than (10.4±2.8)° in the posterior midline group ( P<0.01). At 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up, the cervical ROM were (34.1±6.4)°, (32.6±7.3)°, (31.8±9.1)° and (29.6±8.7)° in the intermuscular group, significantly larger than (23.7±8.3)°, (22.3±7.8)°, (22.5±8.1)° and (20.6±9.3)° in the posterior midline group ( P<0.01). In the intermuscular group, the cervical Cobb angle showed no significant changes at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up when compared to those preoperatively ( P>0.05). In the posterior midline group, the Cobb angles were significantly reduced at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up when compared to those preoperatively ( P<0.05), showing significant decrease at 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up from those at 3, 6 months postoperatively ( P<0.05), no significant difference at 6 months postoperatively from that at 3 months postoperatively ( P>0.05), and significant decrease at the final follow-up from that at 12 months postoperatively ( P>0.05). In the intermuscular group, the cervical ROM were significantly improved at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up when compared to those preoperatively and showed further improvement over time ( P<0.05). In the posterior midline group, the cervical ROM were significantly improved at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up when compared to those preoperatively ( P<0.05), showing significant decreases at 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up from that at 3 months postoperatively ( P<0.05), significant decreases at the final follow-up from those at 6, 12 months postoperatively ( P<0.05), and no significant difference at 12 months postoperatively from that at 6 months postoperatively ( P>0.05). The ASIA grades showed no significant difference between the two groups preoperatively, at 3, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up ( P>0.05) , but were gradually improved over time in both groups ( P<0.05). The postoperative complication rate was 9%(6/70) in the intermuscular group, significantly lower than 48%(31/65) in the posterior midline group ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Compared to the posterior midline approach, the intermuscular approach for laminoplasty in patients with SCIWORA possesses advantages, including shorter operative time and length of hospital stay, reduced intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage, less postoperative neck disability, higher daily life quality, better long-term preservation of cervical lordosis and motion, and a lower complication rate.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: Patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection frequently develop central nervous system damage, yet the mechanisms driving this pathology remain unclear. This study investigated the primary pathways and key factors underlying brain tissue damage induced by the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant (lineage B.1.351). METHODS: K18-hACE2 and C57BL/6 mice were intranasally infected with the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant. Viral replication, pathological phenotypes, and brain transcriptomes were analyzed. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis was performed to identify altered pathways. Expression changes of host genes were verified using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. RESULTS: Pathological alterations were observed in the lungs of both mouse strains. However, only K18-hACE2 mice exhibited elevated viral RNA loads and infectious titers in the brain at 3 days post-infection, accompanied by neuropathological injury and weight loss. GO analysis of infected K18-hACE2 brain tissue revealed significant dysregulation of genes associated with innate immunity and antiviral defense responses, including type I interferons, pro-inflammatory cytokines, Toll-like receptor signaling components, and interferon-stimulated genes. Neuroinflammation was evident, alongside activation of apoptotic and pyroptotic pathways. Furthermore, altered neural cell marker expression suggested viral-induced neuroglial activation, resulting in caspase 4 and lipocalin 2 release and disruption of neuronal molecular networks. CONCLUSION These findings elucidate mechanisms of neuropathogenicity associated with the SARS-CoV-2 beta variant and highlight therapeutic targets to mitigate COVID-19-related neurological dysfunction.
Animals ; COVID-19/genetics* ; Mice ; Brain/metabolism* ; Apoptosis ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; SARS-CoV-2/physiology* ; Pyroptosis ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Transcriptome ; Male ; Female

Syringa pinnatifolia, belonging to the family Oleaceae, is a species endemic to China. It is predominantly distributed in the Helan Mountains region of Inner Mongolia and Ningxia of China. The peeled roots, stems, and thick branches have been used as a distinctive Mongolian medicinal material known as "Shan-chen-xiang", which has effects such as suppressing "khii", clearing heat, and relieving pain and is employed for the treatment of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases and joint pain. Over the past five years, significant increase was achieved in research on chemical constituents and pharmacological effects. There were a total of 130 new constituents reported, covering sesquiterpenoids, lignans, and alkaloids. Its effects of anti-myocardial ischemia, anti-cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, sedation, and analgesia were revealed, and the mechanisms of agarwood formation were also investigated. To better understand its medical value and potential of clinical application, this review updates the research progress in recent five years focusing on the chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of S. pinnatifolia, providing reference for subsequent research on active ingredient and support for its innovative application in modern medicine system.
Medicine, Mongolian Traditional ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Animals ; Syringa/chemistry*

Objective To study the application effects of different inferior vena cava filters(IVCF)placed in the renal vein for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis(DVT).Methods A total of 102 patients with lower limb DVT who underwent renal vein IVCF at the Second People's Hospital of Baoshan from January 2021 to June 2022 were selected.According to the type of IVCF,patients were divided into a retrievable group(n=51)and a permanent group(n=51).The two groups were compared in terms of filter placement conditions,perioperative limb circumference differences,D-dimer,fibrinogen,venous recanalization scores,venous recanalization rates,as well as complications and recurrence-free survival status 12 months post-operation.Results The surgical success rate was 100%.The differences in limb circumference above the knee(15 cm)and below the knee(10 cm)at 1 day,3 days,and 7 days post-operation were significantly reduced compared to pre-operative measurements and showed a downward trend(P<0.05).D-dimer and fibrinogen levels at 1 day,3 days,and 7 days post-operation were also significantly reduced compared to pre-operative levels,with a downward tren(P<0.05).The venous recanalization scores at 7 days post-operation were significantly lower than pre-operative scores in both groups(P<0.05).The incidence of postoperative complications in the retrievable group was lower than that in the permanent group(P<0.05).Conclusion The placement of a retrievable IVCF on the renal vein for endovascular treatment of DVT has significant therapeutic effects,can adjust the circumference difference of the lower limb,improve coagulation function,and reduce the incidence of complications and recurrence.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of robot system-assisted versus freehand screw revision for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with lower cervical fractures.Methods:A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 57 patients with AS combined with lower cervical fractures admitted to Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou Orthopedic Hospital, and Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, including 46 males and 11 females, aged 38-77 years [(65.4±9.5)years]. Injury segments involved C 3 in 7 patients, C 4 in 13, C 5 in 25, C 6 in 10, and C 7 in 2. All the patients underwent revision surgery, among whom, 22 patients were treated with robot system-assisted cervical pedicle screw placement (robot nailing group, with 190 screws), and 35 with freehand cervical pedicle screw placement (freehand nailing group, with 300 screws). The operative duration, intraoperative bleeding volume, frequency of intraoperative fluoroscopy, incision length, and length of hospital stay of the two groups were compared; the time of single nscrew insertion, the number of single nail revisions, the distance between screws and the anterior cortex, the accuracy of screw placement of grade 0 and grade 0+1 were recorded in the two groups. The visual analogue scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopedic Society (JOA) score, neck dysfunction index (NDI), American Spine Injury Association (ASIA) classification before operation, at 3 days, 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up were compared between the two groups. The complication rate was also noted. Results:All the patients were followed up for 12-16 months [(14.3±2.1)months]. The operative duration, intraoperative bleeding volume, and frequency of intraoperative fluoroscopy were (186.4±12.9)minutes, (486.1±68.6)ml, and (3.4±1.3)times in the robot nailing group, which were shorter or less than (206.7±14.4)minutes, (660.3±45.2)ml, and (13.5±3.6)times in the freehand nailing group ( P<0.01). The incision length was (9.4±2.4)cm in the robot nailing group, longer than (5.6±1.2)cm in the freehand nailing group ( P<0.01), and the length of hospital stay was (3.7±0.4)days, shorter than (4.4±1.4)days in the freehand nailing group ( P<0.01). The length of single nail insertion, the number of single nail revision, and the distance between the screws and the front cortex were (6.5±0.4)minutes, (1.1±0.1)times, and (3.5±1.3)mm in the robot nailing group, which were shorter or less than (11.6±0.2)minutes, (1.5±0.2)times, and (12.4±4.7)mm in the freehand nailing group ( P<0.01). The accuracy of the screw placement in the robot nailing group was 90.0% (171/190) and 95.8% (182/190) with level 0 and 0+1 screws, better than 80.0% (240/300) and 89.0% (267/300) in the freehand nailing group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in VAS, JOA score, NDI, or ASIA grading between the two groups before operation ( P>0.05). The VAS, JOA, and NDI scores at 3 days after operation were (3.1±0.6)points, (12.1±1.2)points, and (15.6±2.9)points, respectively in the robot nailing group, which were better than (5.0±1.4)points, (11.3±1.1)points and (22.5±3.7)points, respectively in the freehand nailing group ( P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in the ASIA grade between the two groups at 3 days after operation ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences in VAS, JOA, NDI scores, or ASIA grading between the two groups at 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). Compared with those before operation, the VAS, JOA, NDI scores, and ASIA grading were significantly improved at 3 days, 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up in the two groups, which were further improved with the passage of time. Two patients in the robot nailing group had pneumonia, with a complication rate of 9% (2/22), while 2 patients in the freehand nailing group had dural sac rupture and cerebrospinal fluid leakage and 3 had lung infection after operation, with a complication rate of 14% (5/35) ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with freehand nailing, the robot system-assisted nailing revision for AS with lower cervical fracture has more advantages in terms of the operative duration, length of hospital stay, intraoperative bleeding volume, frequency of intraoperative fluoroscopy nailing speed and accuracy, screw holding force, early pain relief, function restoration, and complication rate, despite longer surgical incision.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of laminoplasty via the intermuscular approach or posterior midline approach for treating spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA).Methods:A multi-center retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 135 patients with SCIWORA admitted to Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Xi'an No.5 Hospital, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou Orthopedic Hospital, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University from February 2021 to June 2023, including 75 males and 60 females, aged 35-78 years [(55.3±8.1)years]. The injury segments involved C 3-C 6. All the patients underwent posterior cervical open-door laminoplasty, among whom 70 patients were treated via the intermuscular approach (intermuscular group) and 65 via the posterior midline approach (posterior midline group). The operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, and length of hospital stay were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, neck disability index (NDI), Barthel index, cervical Cobb angle, and cervical range of motion (ROM) were measured preoperatively, at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale was evaluated preoperatively, at 3, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up. The postoperative complication rate was recorded as well. Results:All the patients were followed up for 15-19 months [(16.3±1.6)months]. The operation duration, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage and length of hospital stay were (125.0±23.0)minutes, (210.4±34.8)ml, and (165.3±23.7)ml, and (5.3±0.1)days in the intermuscular group, which were significantly shorter or less than (168.0±27.6)minutes, (260.2±45.3)ml, (196.4±31.6)ml, and (6.4±0.2)days in the posterior midline group ( P<0.01). The preoperative VAS score, JOA score, NDI and Barthel index showed no significant differences between the two groups ( P>0.05). The VAS score and JOA score also showed no significant differences between the two groups at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively or at the final follow-up ( P>0.05). The NDI and Barthel index also showed no significant differences between the two groups at 3 months postoperatively ( P>0.05). At 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up, the NDI were (15.4±2.5)points, (11.8±2.1)points and (8.6±1.5)points in the intermuscular group, significantly lower than (19.1±3.4)points, (14.3±2.4)points and (11.9±1.4)points in the posterior midline group ( P<0.01). At 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up, the Barthel index were (71.4±6.2)points, (83.4±5.8)points and (89.2±7.1)points in the intermuscular group, significantly higher than (59.6±4.7)points, (74.2±3.9)points and (78.8±6.2)points in the posterior midline group ( P<0.01). Both groups showed significant improvements in VAS score, JOA score, NDI and Barthel index at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up when compared to those preoperatively ( P<0.05). Among them, the VAS score, NDI and Barthel index were further improved over time ( P<0.05). Simultaneously, the JOA score was significantly improved at 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the last follow-up when compared to that at 3 months postoperatively ( P<0.05), with no significant difference at later time points between the two groups ( P>0.05). The preoperative cervical Cobb angle and ROM showed no significant differences between the two groups ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the Cobb angle between the two groups at 3, 6 or 12 months postoperatively ( P>0.05), while it was (13.6±2.4)° in the intermuscular group at the final follow-up, significantly larger than (10.4±2.8)° in the posterior midline group ( P<0.01). At 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up, the cervical ROM were (34.1±6.4)°, (32.6±7.3)°, (31.8±9.1)° and (29.6±8.7)° in the intermuscular group, significantly larger than (23.7±8.3)°, (22.3±7.8)°, (22.5±8.1)° and (20.6±9.3)° in the posterior midline group ( P<0.01). In the intermuscular group, the cervical Cobb angle showed no significant changes at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up when compared to those preoperatively ( P>0.05). In the posterior midline group, the Cobb angles were significantly reduced at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up when compared to those preoperatively ( P<0.05), showing significant decrease at 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up from those at 3, 6 months postoperatively ( P<0.05), no significant difference at 6 months postoperatively from that at 3 months postoperatively ( P>0.05), and significant decrease at the final follow-up from that at 12 months postoperatively ( P>0.05). In the intermuscular group, the cervical ROM were significantly improved at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up when compared to those preoperatively and showed further improvement over time ( P<0.05). In the posterior midline group, the cervical ROM were significantly improved at 3, 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up when compared to those preoperatively ( P<0.05), showing significant decreases at 6, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up from that at 3 months postoperatively ( P<0.05), significant decreases at the final follow-up from those at 6, 12 months postoperatively ( P<0.05), and no significant difference at 12 months postoperatively from that at 6 months postoperatively ( P>0.05). The ASIA grades showed no significant difference between the two groups preoperatively, at 3, 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow-up ( P>0.05) , but were gradually improved over time in both groups ( P<0.05). The postoperative complication rate was 9%(6/70) in the intermuscular group, significantly lower than 48%(31/65) in the posterior midline group ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Compared to the posterior midline approach, the intermuscular approach for laminoplasty in patients with SCIWORA possesses advantages, including shorter operative time and length of hospital stay, reduced intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage, less postoperative neck disability, higher daily life quality, better long-term preservation of cervical lordosis and motion, and a lower complication rate.

Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), a time-saving and cost-effective repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation regime, has been shown to improve cognition in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the specific mechanism underlying iTBS-induced cognitive enhancement remains unknown. Previous studies suggested that mitochondrial functions are modulated by magnetic stimulation. Here, we showed that iTBS upregulates the expression of iron-sulfur cluster assembly 1 (ISCA1, an essential regulatory factor for mitochondrial respiration) in the brain of APP/PS1 mice. In vivo and in vitro studies revealed that iTBS modulates mitochondrial iron-sulfur cluster assembly to facilitate mitochondrial respiration and function, which is required for ISCA1. Moreover, iTBS rescues cognitive decline and attenuates AD-type pathologies in APP/PS1 mice. The present study uncovers a novel mechanism by which iTBS modulates mitochondrial respiration and function via ISCA1-mediated iron-sulfur cluster assembly to alleviate cognitive impairments and pathologies in AD. We provide the mechanistic target of iTBS that warrants its therapeutic potential for AD patients.
Humans ; Mice ; Animals ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ; Alzheimer Disease/therapy* ; Cognitive Dysfunction/therapy* ; Cognition ; Sulfur ; Iron ; Iron-Sulfur Proteins ; Mitochondrial Proteins

Objective To investigate the expression of Midkine(MDK)in cholangiocarcinoma(CCA)and its value in predicting the prognosis of CCA,as well as the potential mechanism of the effect of MDK on the progression of CCA.Methods The data of CCA samples were obtained from TCGA database to analyze the difference in the expression of MDK between cancer tissue and paracancerous tissue and its association with clinical features,and the data collected from GEO database and 11 CCA patients who underwent surgical resection in The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from June 2018 to September 2021 were used for validation.STRING and Cytoscape were used to construct a protein-protein interaction network,and gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses were used to investigate the biological functions and tumor-related pathways involving MDK-related genes.In addition,TIMER and TISIDB databases were used to analyze the correlation between MDK expression and immune cell infiltration in CCA tissue.The independent-samples t test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups,and the Fisher's exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves,and the Log-rank test was used for comparison between groups.The Spearman correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between two variables.Results The expression level of MDK in cancer tissue and paracancerous tissue of CCA patients was compared based on TCGA database,and the results of the non-paired and paired analyses showed that the expression level of MDK in CCA tumor tissue was significantly higher than that in paracancerous tissue(P<0.001).Transcriptome sequencing was performed for the tumor tissue and its corresponding paracancerous tissue from 11 CCA patients,and the results showed that the expression level of MDK in CCA tumor tissue was significantly higher than that in corresponding paracancerous tissue(P<0.01).High expression of MDK was associated with lymph node metastasis(P=0.045)and vascular invasion(P=0.044).Survival analysis showed that compared with the CCA patients with low MDK expression,the CCA patients with high MDK expression had significantly shorter overall survival time(χ2=5.30,P=0.028)and disease-specific survival time(χ2=6.25,P=0.019).The GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that the 30 MDK-related genes were closely associated with ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis and affected the prognosis of CCA patients.The TIMER analysis showed that the expression level of MDK was positively correlated with the infiltration of B cells(r=0.356,P=0.035 6)and dendritic cells(r=0.409,P=0.014 7)in tumor microenvironment of CCA;the TISIDB analysis showed that the expression level of MDK was positively correlated with CXCL16(r=0.465,P=0.004 67)and was negatively correlated with CXCL12(r=-0.389,P=0.019 7)and CXCR5(r=-0.393,P=0.018 5),and it was also negatively correlated with the immune checkpoint regulators VTCN1(r=-0.393,P=0.018 3),LTA(r=-0.380,P=0.022 7),and PVR(r=-0.350,P=0.037 3).Conclusion High expression of MDK is associated with poor prognosis in CCA patients,and MDK has the potential of being used as a molecular marker for predicting the prognosis of CCA.MDK may promote the development and progression of CCA by regulating ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis and the infiltration of B cells and dendritic cells.