Objective To observe the effects of Bushen Huoxue Prescription on the pathway related to necroptosis of nucleus pulposus cells in a model rabbit of intervertebral disc degeneration;To explore its mechanisms in delaying intervertebral disc degeneration.Methods A intervertebral disc degeneration rabbit model was established using the spinal instability method.Totally 40 model rabbits were randomly divided into model group,ibuprofen group and Bushen Huoxue Prescription low-,medium-and high-dosage groups.Additionally,a normal control group and a sham-operation group were set up,with 8 rabbits in each group.Each treatment groups received the corresponding drugs via gavage for two consecutive weeks.HE staining was used to observe morphology of nucleus pulposus tissue,transmission electron microscopy was used to observe ultrastructure in nucleus pulposus cells,immunohistochemical staining was used to assess the expressions of Aggrecan and Collagen Ⅱ in nucleus pulposus tissue,Western blot was used to detect the expressions of p-RIPK1,p-RIPK3 and p-MLKL protein in nucleus pulposus tissue.Results Compared with the sham-operation group,the model group showed a significant decrease in nucleus pulposus cells,disordered cell arrangement,reduced extracellular matrix,interrupted cell membrane continuity under transmission electron microscopy,organelle swelling,nuclear membrane disruption,partial chromatin loss,and positive expression of Aggrecan and Collagen Ⅱ in nucleus pulposus tissue decreased(P<0.01),while the expressions of p-RIPK1,p-RIPK3 and p-MLKL protein significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the treatment groups showed an increased number of nucleus pulposus cells with orderly arrangement and more extracellular matrix,the ultrastructural damage of the cell membrane,organelle and nucleus in nucleus pulposus cells was partially restored under transmission electron microscopy,the positive expressions of Aggrecan and Collagen Ⅱ significantly increased in Bushen Huoxue Prescription medium-and high-dosage groups and the ibuprofen group(P<0.05,P<0.01),while the expressions of p-RIPK1,p-RIPK3 and p-MLKL protein significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Bushen Huoxue Prescription may delay intervertebral disc degeneration of the model rabbit by inhibiting the expressions of p-RIPK1,p-RIPK3 and p-MLKL protein in nucleus pulposus cells,and promoting the generation of extracellular matrix components Aggrecan and Collagen Ⅱ.

Objective To observe the effects of Bushen Huoxue Prescription on pressure-induced necroptosis in human nucleus pulposus cells and the expressions of RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL pathway;To explore its potential mechanism in delaying intervertebral disc degeneration.Methods Human primary nucleus pulposus cells were cultured in vitro,and a model of nucleus pulposus cell degeneration was established using continuous load pressure method.After modeling,the nucleus pulposus cells were divided into model group,Bushen Huoxue Prescription group and inhibitor group,blank serum,Bushen Huoxue Prescription containing serum and necroptotic apoptosis inhibitor(Nec-1)intervention were administered,respectively.Normal group nucleus pulposus cells were cultured routinely.AO/EB fluorescence dual staining method was used for detecting cell apoptosis,flow cytometry was used to detect the necroptosis rate of nucleus pulposus cells,Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of p-receptor interacting protein kinase(RIPK)1,p-RIPK3 and p-mixed lineage kinase domain like protein(MLKL),RT-qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expressions of RIPK1,RIPK3 and MLKL.Results Compared with the normal group,the model group showed more red fluorescence under AO/EB staining of nucleus pulposus cells,which were round and condensed,the necroptosis rate of nucleus pulposus cells increased(P<0.05),the protein expressions of p-RIPK1,p-RIPK3 and p-MLKL increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),while there was no significant difference in RIPK1 mRNA expression(P>0.05),and RIPK3 and MLKL mRNA expression increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,Bushen Huoxue Prescription group and the inhibitor group had less red condensed chromatin in the nucleus pulposus cells,Bushen Huoxue Prescription group had a lower rate of necroptosis(P<0.05),while the inhibitor group showed a decreasing trend in necroptosis rate(P>0.05),the protein expressions of p-RIPK1,p-RIPK3 and p-MLKL decreased in Bushen Huoxue Prescription group and the inhibitor group(P<0.05,P<0.01),while there was no significant difference in RIPK1 mRNA expression(P>0.05),and RIPK3 and MLKL mRNA expressions decreased(P<0.01).Conclusion Bushen Huoxue Prescription can alleviate pressure-induced damage to nucleus pulposus cells and inhibit necroptosis,thereby slowing the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration.Its mechanism may be related to the RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL pathway mediated necroptosis.

Objective To observe the effects of Bushen Huoxue Prescription on the pathway related to necroptosis of nucleus pulposus cells in a model rabbit of intervertebral disc degeneration;To explore its mechanisms in delaying intervertebral disc degeneration.Methods A intervertebral disc degeneration rabbit model was established using the spinal instability method.Totally 40 model rabbits were randomly divided into model group,ibuprofen group and Bushen Huoxue Prescription low-,medium-and high-dosage groups.Additionally,a normal control group and a sham-operation group were set up,with 8 rabbits in each group.Each treatment groups received the corresponding drugs via gavage for two consecutive weeks.HE staining was used to observe morphology of nucleus pulposus tissue,transmission electron microscopy was used to observe ultrastructure in nucleus pulposus cells,immunohistochemical staining was used to assess the expressions of Aggrecan and Collagen Ⅱ in nucleus pulposus tissue,Western blot was used to detect the expressions of p-RIPK1,p-RIPK3 and p-MLKL protein in nucleus pulposus tissue.Results Compared with the sham-operation group,the model group showed a significant decrease in nucleus pulposus cells,disordered cell arrangement,reduced extracellular matrix,interrupted cell membrane continuity under transmission electron microscopy,organelle swelling,nuclear membrane disruption,partial chromatin loss,and positive expression of Aggrecan and Collagen Ⅱ in nucleus pulposus tissue decreased(P<0.01),while the expressions of p-RIPK1,p-RIPK3 and p-MLKL protein significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the treatment groups showed an increased number of nucleus pulposus cells with orderly arrangement and more extracellular matrix,the ultrastructural damage of the cell membrane,organelle and nucleus in nucleus pulposus cells was partially restored under transmission electron microscopy,the positive expressions of Aggrecan and Collagen Ⅱ significantly increased in Bushen Huoxue Prescription medium-and high-dosage groups and the ibuprofen group(P<0.05,P<0.01),while the expressions of p-RIPK1,p-RIPK3 and p-MLKL protein significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Bushen Huoxue Prescription may delay intervertebral disc degeneration of the model rabbit by inhibiting the expressions of p-RIPK1,p-RIPK3 and p-MLKL protein in nucleus pulposus cells,and promoting the generation of extracellular matrix components Aggrecan and Collagen Ⅱ.

Objective To observe the effects of Bushen Huoxue Prescription on pressure-induced necroptosis in human nucleus pulposus cells and the expressions of RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL pathway;To explore its potential mechanism in delaying intervertebral disc degeneration.Methods Human primary nucleus pulposus cells were cultured in vitro,and a model of nucleus pulposus cell degeneration was established using continuous load pressure method.After modeling,the nucleus pulposus cells were divided into model group,Bushen Huoxue Prescription group and inhibitor group,blank serum,Bushen Huoxue Prescription containing serum and necroptotic apoptosis inhibitor(Nec-1)intervention were administered,respectively.Normal group nucleus pulposus cells were cultured routinely.AO/EB fluorescence dual staining method was used for detecting cell apoptosis,flow cytometry was used to detect the necroptosis rate of nucleus pulposus cells,Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of p-receptor interacting protein kinase(RIPK)1,p-RIPK3 and p-mixed lineage kinase domain like protein(MLKL),RT-qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expressions of RIPK1,RIPK3 and MLKL.Results Compared with the normal group,the model group showed more red fluorescence under AO/EB staining of nucleus pulposus cells,which were round and condensed,the necroptosis rate of nucleus pulposus cells increased(P<0.05),the protein expressions of p-RIPK1,p-RIPK3 and p-MLKL increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),while there was no significant difference in RIPK1 mRNA expression(P>0.05),and RIPK3 and MLKL mRNA expression increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,Bushen Huoxue Prescription group and the inhibitor group had less red condensed chromatin in the nucleus pulposus cells,Bushen Huoxue Prescription group had a lower rate of necroptosis(P<0.05),while the inhibitor group showed a decreasing trend in necroptosis rate(P>0.05),the protein expressions of p-RIPK1,p-RIPK3 and p-MLKL decreased in Bushen Huoxue Prescription group and the inhibitor group(P<0.05,P<0.01),while there was no significant difference in RIPK1 mRNA expression(P>0.05),and RIPK3 and MLKL mRNA expressions decreased(P<0.01).Conclusion Bushen Huoxue Prescription can alleviate pressure-induced damage to nucleus pulposus cells and inhibit necroptosis,thereby slowing the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration.Its mechanism may be related to the RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL pathway mediated necroptosis.

Objective: To Summarize the safety, clinical outcome and technical evolution of laparoscopic gastric cancer surgery. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out. Clinical data of 3012 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer from January 2010 to March 2022 at Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Case inclusion criteria were gastric malignancies confirmed by pathology, without distant metastasis by examination before operation and exploration during operation, patients undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy, intact function of important organs and with complete data. Exclusion criteria were patients who underwent emergency gastric cancer resection due to gastric bleeding, perforation or obstruction, etc., tumor found to invade adjacent organs such as pancreas or transverse colon during the operation, conversion to open surgery during the operation, those who had other malignant tumors (except thyroid cancer) within 5 years, and those had severe cardiopulmonary, liver, or kidney insufficiency before surgery. Outcomes included: (1) baseline information of patients; (2) trend of the quantity of laparoscopic radical gastrectomy year by year; (3) evolution of the mode of digestive tract reconstruction; (4) periopertive outcome short-term complication was defined as complication occurring within 30 days after operation and classified accordiny to the clavien-Dindo criteria; and (5) 5-year overall survival. SPSS software was used for statistical analysis. Continuous variables that obeyed the normal distribution were expressed in the form of Mean±SD. Days of hospital stay that did not follow a normal distribution were expressed as median (Q₁,Q₃), and the Mann-Whiney U test was used for comparison. Discrete variables were expressed as cases (%), and chi-square test or rank sum test was used for comparison between groups. Linear regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the amount of surgery and the year of surgery. Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test were used for survival analysis. Two-tailed P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Among the 3012 cases, 2114 were male and 898 were female. The patients' average age at surgery was (61.1±10.7) years old. According to the number of cumulative cases, the patients were divided into three groups: early, intermediate and late, with 1004 patients in each group. The early group consisted of patients undergoing operation from January 2010 to October 2018, the intermediate group consisted of patients undergoing operation from October 2018 to January 2021, and the late group consisted of patients undergoing operation from January 2021 to March 2022. (1) General information: There were 691 (68.8%), 699 (69.6%) and 724 (72.1%) male patients in early, intermediate and late groups respectively; the average age increased from 56.6 years in 2010 to 62.8 years in March 2022. As for the tumor stage T1, T2, T3, T4, there were 49.0%, 14.4%, 23.9% and 12.6% in the early group; 47.5%, 12.9%, 26.9% and 12.6% in the intermediate group; 39.7%, 14.6%, 30.0%, and 15.6% in the late group, respectively. Patients with N0, N1, N2, N3a, N3b stage were 56.8%, 13.7%, 13.4%, 11.0%, and 5.0% in the early group; 55.7%, 12.9%, 12.8%, 11.6%, and 6.9% in the intermediate group; 51.0%, 16.1%, 12.8%, 12.5%, and 7.5% in the late group, respectively. (2) Year-by-year change in the number of gastric cancer operations: From 19 cases per year in 2010 to 786 per year in 2021, the annual number of gastric cancer operations was proportional to the year of operation (y=47.505x, R²=0.67). The proportion of patients with stage I disease showed a fluctuating downward trend over time, while the proportion of patients with stage III disease increased slightly, accounting for 34% until March 2022. (3) Evolution of digestive tract reconstruction methods: Except in 2010, the digestive tract reconstruction method of distal gastrectomy focused on Billroth-II+Braun anastomosis among patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric cancer surgery in other years, whose proportion had gradually increased from less than 20% in 2016 to about 70% after 2021; the gastrointestinal reconstruction methods after total gastrectomy had gradually increased in π anastomosis and overlap anastomosis since 2016, of which π anastomosis reached about 65% in 2019, and overlap anastomosis reached almost 30% in 2020; the anastomosis methods after proximal gastrectomy had been mainly double-channel anastomosis (54%) and esophagogastric anastomosis (30%) since 2016, and double-channel anastomosis accounted for up to 70% in 2019. (4) Operation time: The operation time of early, intermediate and late group was (193.3±49.8) min, (186.9±44.3) min and (206.7±51.4) min respectively. Intermediate group was significantly shorter than early group (t=3.005, P=0.003), while late group was significantly longer than early group (t=5.875, P<0.001) and intermediate group (t=9.180, P<0.001). (5) Postoperative hospital stay: The median length of hospital stay for gastric cancer patients in early, intermediate and late groups was 9 (8, 11) d, 8 (7, 10) d, and 8 (7.5, 10) d respectively. The postoperative hospital stay of intermediate group and late group was significantly shorter than that of early group (Z=-12.467, Z=-5.981, both P<0.001), but there was no significant difference between intermediate group and late group (Z=0.415,P=0.678). (6) Postoperative complication: The morbidity of short-term complication in early, intermediate and late group was 20.4% (205/1004), 16.2% (163/1004), and 16.2% (162/1004) respectively, and above morbidity of intermediate group and late group was significantly lower than that of early group (χ²=5.869, P=0.015; χ²=6.165, P=0.013), while there was no significant difference between intermediate group and late group (χ²=0.004,P=0.952). The morbidity of short-term complication of grade IIIor higher was 8.0% (80/1004), 7.6% (76/1004), and 4.9% (49/1004) in early, intermediate and late group respectively, and above morbidity of late group was significantly lower than that of early and intermediate group (χ²=7.965, P=0.005; χ²=6.219,P=0.013), while there was no significant difference between intermediate group and early group (χ²=0.111,P=0.739). (7) Survival analysis: The follow-up deadline for survival data was December 31, 2021, and the median follow-up time was 29.5 months. The overall 5-year survival rate of all the patients was 74.7%. The 5-year survival rates of stage I, II and III patients were 92.0%, 77.2%, and 40.3% respectively and 5-year survival rates of patients with stage IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB and IIIC were 93.2%, 87.8%, 81.1%, 72.7%, 46.2%, 37.1%, and 34.0% respectively. Conclusions: The number of laparoscopic gastric cancer operation in our center is increasing year by year. With the maturity of laparoscopic technology, the morbidity of complication in laparoscopic gastric cancer surgery is decreasing.
Aged ; Data Analysis ; Female ; Gastrectomy/methods* ; Humans ; Laparoscopy/methods* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome

In this study, a novel oral drug delivery system based on linolenic acid-modified chitosan (CS-LA) micelle was developed to improve the oral bioavailability of doxorubicin (DOX), which was proven by its in vivo intestinal absorption in rats. The DOX-loaded CS-LA micelles (CS-LA@DOX) were prepared by the dialysis method. The synthesized micelle material was identified by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). A series of the micelle properties, including particle size distribution, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency (EE), drug loading (DL), micromorphology, polymorphy, and critical micelle concentration (CMC) were characterized or tested. The in vitro release of micelles was observed by the dialysis method, and the absorption-promoting effect of micelles was investigated by intestinal circulation experiments in rats. The animal welfare and experimental procedures were in accordance with the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Guilin Medical University. The results of ¹H-NMR and FT-IR showed that CS and LA were covalently bound via an amide linkage. The DOX encapsulated in the micelle core was in an amorphous state. The as-prepared micelles in the transmission electron microscope (TEM) image showed regular spherical shapes and uniform sizes with a series of excellent characteristics including (119.2 ± 2.1) nm of mean particle size [polymer dispersity index (PDI), 0.190 ± 0.08], +12.1 mV of zeta potential, (70.23 ± 0.74) % of EE, (8.77 ± 0.02) % of DL and 51.75 μg·mL^-1 of CMC. Compared with the reference, DOX hydrochloride, the proposed micelle drug delivery system showed an obvious sustained-release effect in vitro release; and enhanced drug absorption in the small intestine of rats.

A sensitive method was proposed for determination of 13 kinds of sulfonylurea herbicides residues in aquatic products by solid phase extraction-ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (SPE-UPLC-MS/MS). The edible part of carp, penaeus vannamei,crab,clam and sea cucumber were collected and homogenized. Analytes was extracted with ethyl acetate,and then cleaned up by MAX solid phase extraction column. Qualitation of the analytes was achieved with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) and the external standard method was used for quantification. The 13 kinds of sulfonylurea herbicides showed good linearity in the concentration range of 5.0-100.0 μg/L respectively. The detection limits of the 13 analytes were 1.0 μg/kg, and the limit of quantification was 2.0 μg/kg. The average recoveries ranged from 75.4% to 118.3% with relative standard deviations from 2.1% to 14.5%. The 13 target analytes were not detected in grass carp,carp,sea cucumber,prawn,turbot of breeding and crabs from the market. The halosulfuron-methyl was detected in the edible tissues of crabs exposed to a 1.0 mg/L halosulfuron-methyl solution for 24,48 and 72 h,and the concentrations were 6.20, 12.1 and 16. 6 μg/kg respectively. The method can be stable and sensitive, and is applied to the determination of 13 kinds of sulfonylurea herbicides residues in aquatic products.

BACKGROUNDSafe placement of the screws is a critical aspect of trans-pedicle internal fixation, and little information on in vivo morphology of the cervical vertebrae pedicle measured with imaging methods is available. The aim of this study was to measure the dimensions of cervical vertebrae C3 to C7 and provide screw length, screw diameter and tilt angle for clinical cervical vertebra trans-pedicle internal fixation.

METHODSThirty Chinese men and women underwent high-speed spiral computed tomography measurements to obtain data for C3 to C7, and the morphology of the cervical vertebra pedicles was reconstructed.

RESULTSReconstructed computer tomography image data revealed that: (1) pedicle sponge width increased incrementally from C3 to C7, (2) pedicle depth was similar for C3 to C7, (3) pedicle angle decreased incrementally from 47.20° to 33.76° for C3 to C7, and (4) pedicle point to midline distance was similar for C3 to C7. There were no statistical differences in morphological data between the right and the left side. Men had statistically larger values than women for all morphological parameters.

CONCLUSIONSReconstructed computed tomography images can provide useful data for clinical cervical vertebra trans-pedicle internal fixation. The individual measurement of cervical vertebra pedicles is recommended for safe placement of trans-vertebra pedicle screws.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Cervical Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Internal Fixators ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the predicators of survival and recurrence after curative resection for gastric cancer patients with serosal invasion.

METHODSClinical and follow-up data of 280 patients with T4a gastric cancer(according to the 7th UICC TNM Classification for gastric cancer) who underwent curative resection for gastric cancer between January 1997 and December 2003 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSFive-year survival rate of these 280 patients was 50.0% and 158 patients (56.4%) presented with recurrence after surgery. The 3-year disease-free survival rate was 57.5%. The number of lymph node metastasis and metastatic lymph node ratio(MLR) were identified as the independent predicators for overall survival(P<0.05). The extent of lymph node metastasis was identified as the independent predicators for disease free survival (P<0.05). The extent of lymph node metastasis, the number of lymph node metastasis, and MLR were identified as the independent predicators for recurrence after surgery(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe number of lymph node metastases, extent of lymph node metastasis and MLR are independent predictors of overall survival and recurrence in T4a gastric cancer patients after curative resection.

Disease-Free Survival ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Survival Rate

Objective To investigate the effect of different methods for the treatment of degree Ⅱ burns surface in early stage of local inflammation and tissue damage following burns in rats.Methods Sixty healthy Wistar rats were chosen for the development of the 30％ degree Ⅱ burns model.Surgery was performed 23 hours after injury.The animals were randomly divided into the bums group (n =20),the tangential excision group (n =20) and the tangential excision combined with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment group (or the combined therapy group,n =20).Skin samples were collected at h 12,24,48,72 and d 21 after surgery.HE staining was performed to observe early tissue inflammatory response and to detect levels of malonylaldehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in the burn surface.Results (1) Skin surface cell dehydration and coagulation necrosis were noted in the animals of the burns group.Inflammatory response was not obvious 12 hours after injury.Twenty-four hours later,inflammatory response occurred,which became more serious and expanded further 48 hours later.(2) Twenty-four hours after injury,tissue damage in the animals of the tangential excision group reached the deep dermal layer and inflammatory cell infiltration could clearly be seen,with gradual relief48 hours later.Bums injury healed 21 days later,but airs were seen.(3) For the combined therapy group,tissue damage reached the shallow dermal layer and inflammatory cell infiltration was obviously alleviated 24 hours later.Forty-eight hours later,the response band disappeared,and 21 days later,uniform but slightly sparse hair growth could be seen.The levels of NO and MDA were all lower than those of the burns group and the tangential excision group (P ＜ 0.01 or P ＜ 0.05),and returned to pre-injury levels earlier.Conclusions Tangential excision and HBO combined with tangential excision could prevent the wound surface from further infiltrating.It was shown that HBO combined with tangential excision could alleviate local inflammatory response in degree Ⅱ burns surface more significantly,and would promote healing of the wound surface.