OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of 3D printing spinal external fixator combined with McKenzie therapy for patients with lumbar dics herniation (LDH). METHODS: Sixty patients with LDH between January 2022 and January 2023 were enrolled. Among them, 30 patients were given McKinsey training. According to different treatment methods, all patients were divided into McKenzie group and McKenzie + 3D printing group, 30 patients in each group. The McKenzie group provided McKenzie therapy. The McKenzie + 3D printing group were treated with 3D printing spinal external fixation brace on the basis of McKenzie therapy. Patients in both groups were between 25 and 60 years of age and had their first illness. In the McKenzie group, there were 19 males and 11 females, with an average age of (48.57±5.86) years old, and the disease duration was (7.03 ±2.39) months. The McKenzie + 3D printing group, there were 21 males and 9 females, with an average age of (48.80±5.92) years old, and the disease duration was(7.30±2.56) months. Pain was evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and lumbar spine function was assessed using the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score. VAS, ODI and JOA scores were compared between two groups before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after treatment. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 12 months. The VAS for the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment were(6.533±0.860), (5.133±1.008), (3.933±0.868), (2.900±0.759), (2.067±0.640), (1.433±0.504), respectively. In the McKenzie group, the corresponding scores were (6.467±0.860), (5.067±1.048), (4.600±0.968), (3.533±1.008), (2.567±0.728), (1.967±0.809), respectively. The ODI of the McKenzie group before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment were (41.033±6.810)%, (37.933±6.209)%, (35.467±6.962)%, (27.567±10.081)%, (20.800±7.531)%, (13.533±5.158)%, respectively. For the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group, the corresponding ODI were(38.033±5.605)%, (33.000±6.192)%, (28.767±7.045)%, (22.200±5.517)%, (17.700±4.836)%, (11.900±2.771)%, respectively. The JOA scores of the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment were(8.900±2.074), (13.133±2.330), (15.700±3.583), (20.400±3.480), (22.267±3.084), (24.833±2.640), respectively. In the McKenzie group, the corresponding scores were(9.200±2.091), (12.267±2.406), (15.333±3.198), (18.467±2.240), (20.133±2.751), (22.467±2.849), respectively. Before the initiation of treatment, no statistically significant differences were observed in the VAS, ODI, and JOA scores between two groups (P>0.05). At 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment, the VAS in the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group was significantly lower than that in the McKenzie group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The comparison of ODI between two groups at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment revealed statistically significant differences (P<0.05). At 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment, the JOA score in the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group was significantly higher than that in the McKenzie-only group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The combination of 3D printed functional spinal external fixation brace with McKenzie therapy can significantly improve and maintain lumbar function in patients with LDH.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/surgery* ; External Fixators ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Adult ; Braces ; Treatment Outcome

Objective The prevalence of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strains is exacerbating the global burden of tuberculosis (TB), highlighting the urgent need for new treatment strategies for TB. Methods The recombinant adenovirus vaccine expressing cyclic di-adenosine monophosphate (c-di-AMP) phosphodiesterase B (CnpB) (rAd-CnpB), was administered to normal mice via mucosal immunization, either alone or in combination with drug therapy, to treat Mtb respiratory infections in mice.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of antibodies in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Real-time quantitative PCR was performed to assess the transcription levels of cytokines interferon γ(IFN-γ) and interleukin 10(IL-10) in mouse lungs. Flow cytometry was used to determine the proportions of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell subsets in the lungs and spleens. ELISA was employed to measure the levels of cytokines IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-10, inflammatory factors IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) secreted by spleen cells following antigen stimulation. The bacteria loads in the lungs and spleens of Mtb-infected mice were enumerated by plate counting methods. Resluts Intranasal immunization with rAd-CnpB induced high titers of IgG in mouse serum and the production of IgG and IgA in BALF, along with alterations in T lymphocyte subsets in the lungs and spleens. Administration of rAd-CnpB, either alone or in combination with drugs, to Mtb-infected mice significantly increased serum IgG levels as well as IgA and IgG levels in BALF. rAd-CnpB immunization promoted the secretion of CnpB-specific cytokines and inflammatory factors by splenocytes in Mtb-infected mice. However, rAd-CnpB immunotherapy, either alone or combined with drugs, did not significantly affect the bacterial loads in the lungs and spleens of mice with Mtb respiratory infections. Conclusion Mucosal immunization with rAd-CnpB induced significant mucosal, humoral and cellular immune responses in mice, and significantly enhanced CnpB-specific cellular immune responses in Mtb-infected mice.
Animals ; Adenoviridae/immunology* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/genetics* ; Mice ; Female ; Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases/genetics* ; Tuberculosis Vaccines/administration & dosage* ; Tuberculosis/prevention & control* ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Cytokines ; Lung/microbiology* ; Immunization ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/immunology* ; Immunity, Mucosal

Nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), one of the most severe types of male infertility, etiology often remains unclear in most cases. Therefore, this study aimed to detect four biallelic detrimental variants (0.5%) in the minichromosome maintenance domain containing 2 ( MCMDC2 ) genes in 768 NOA patients by whole-exome sequencing (WES). Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) demonstrated that MCMDC2 deleterious variants caused meiotic arrest in three patients (c.1360G>T, c.1956G>T, and c.685C>T) and hypospermatogenesis in one patient (c.94G>T), as further confirmed through immunofluorescence (IF) staining. The single-cell RNA sequencing data indicated that MCMDC2 was substantially expressed during spermatogenesis. The variants were confirmed as deleterious and responsible for patient infertility through bioinformatics and in vitro experimental analyses. The results revealed four MCMDC2 variants related to NOA, which contributes to the current perception of the function of MCMDC2 in male fertility and presents new perspectives on the genetic etiology of NOA.
Humans ; Male ; Azoospermia/genetics* ; Meiosis/genetics* ; Spermatogenesis/genetics* ; Adult ; Exome Sequencing ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics* ; Alleles ; Infertility, Male/genetics*

The relationship between hyperuricemia (HUA) and erectile dysfunction (ED) remains inadequately understood. Given that HUA is often associated with various metabolic disorders, this study aims to explore the multivariate linear impacts of metabolic parameters on erectile function in ED patients with HUA. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted involving 514 ED patients with HUA in the Department of Andrology, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine (Nanjing, China), aged 18 to 60 years. General demographic information, medical history, and laboratory results were collected to assess metabolic disturbances. Sexual function was evaluated using the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. Based on univariate analysis, variables associated with IIEF-5 scores were identified, and the correlations between them were evaluated. The effects of these variables on IIEF-5 scores were further explored by multiple linear regression models. Fasting plasma glucose ( β = -0.628, P < 0.001), uric acid ( β = -0.552, P < 0.001), triglycerides ( β = -0.088, P = 0.047), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( β = -0.164, P = 0.027), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c; β = -0.562, P = 0.012), and smoking history ( β = -0.074, P = 0.037) exhibited significant negative impacts on erectile function. The coefficient of determination ( R ²) for the model was 0.239, and the adjusted R ² was 0.230, indicating overall statistical significance ( F -statistic = 26.52, P < 0.001). Metabolic parameters play a crucial role in the development of ED. Maintaining normal metabolic indices may aid in the prevention and improvement of erectile function in ED patients with HUA.
Humans ; Male ; Erectile Dysfunction/metabolism* ; Hyperuricemia/metabolism* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Glycated Hemoglobin/metabolism* ; Blood Glucose/metabolism* ; Uric Acid/blood* ; Young Adult ; Triglycerides/blood* ; Adolescent ; Cholesterol, LDL/blood* ; Penile Erection/physiology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: To explore the immunophenotypic characteristics of bone marrow granulocytes (G) and their clinical significance in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). METHODS: The granulocyte immunophenotypes of bone marrow in 70 MM patients (MM group) and 40 anemia patients (control group) were detected by flow cytometry, and its correlation with clinical characteristics was further analyzed. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis were used to screen factors that affected prognosis. RESULTS: The CD56⁺G%, CD13⁺G%, CD22⁺G% and CD117⁺G% in MM group were higher than those in the control group (all P <0.05). CD56⁺G% and CD117⁺G% in CR⁺VGPR group were significantly lower than those in PR+MR+PD group (both P <0.05). The CD10⁺G% in RISS Ⅲ stage and Ca²⁺ ≥2.65 mmol/L groups were increased (both P <0.05). The CD56⁺G% in elevated lactate dehydrogenase, β₂-microglobulin≥5.5 mg/L and hemoglobin <85 g/L groups were increased (all P <0.05), while the CD117⁺G% in high-risk cytogenetic positive group was decreased (P <0.05). The expression rate of CD molecules on granulocytes was divided into low (L) and high (H) groups according to the median value. The overall survival (OS) of the LCD56⁺G%, LCD13⁺G% and LCD22⁺G% groups was significantly prolonged (all P <0.05). CD13⁺G% and CD22⁺G% were independent risk factors for OS in MM patients (HR=0.443, 0.410, both P <0.05). CONCLUSION The CD56⁺G%, CD10⁺G% and CD117⁺G% are closely correlated with clinical features in MM patients, while CD13⁺G% and CD22⁺G% are closely correlated with prognosis. Detection of CD molecules expression on granulocytes may be used to evaluate prognosis and guide treatment.
Humans ; Multiple Myeloma/immunology* ; Granulocytes/immunology* ; Prognosis ; Immunophenotyping ; Male ; Bone Marrow ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Clinical Relevance

BACKGROUND: Our understanding of the correlation between postdischarge cancer and mortality in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) remains incomplete. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between postdischarge cancers and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in CAD patients. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, 25% of CAD patients without prior cancer history who underwent coronary artery angiography between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2015, were randomly enrolled using SPSS 26.0. Patients were monitored for the incidence of postdischarge cancer, which was defined as cancer diagnosed after the index hospitalization, survival status and cause of death. Cox regression analysis was used to explore the association between postdischarge cancer and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in CAD patients. RESULTS: A total of 4085 patients were included in the final analysis. During a median follow-up period of 8 years, 174 patients (4.3%) developed postdischarge cancer, and 343 patients (8.4%) died. A total of 173 patients died from cardiovascular diseases. Postdischarge cancer was associated with increased all-cause mortality risk (HR = 2.653, 95% CI: 1.727-4.076, P < 0.001) and cardiovascular mortality risk (HR = 2.756, 95% CI: 1.470-5.167, P = 0.002). Postdischarge lung cancer (HR = 5.497, 95% CI: 2.922-10.343, P < 0.001) and gastrointestinal cancer (HR = 1.984, 95% CI: 1.049-3.750, P = 0.035) were associated with all-cause mortality in CAD patients. Postdischarge lung cancer was significantly associated with cardiovascular death in CAD patients (HR = 4.979, 95% CI: 2.114-11.728, P < 0.001), and cardiovascular death was not significantly correlated with gastrointestinal cancer or other types of cancer. CONCLUSIONS Postdischarge cancer was associated with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in CAD patients. Compared with other cancers, postdischarge lung cancer had a more significant effect on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in CAD patients.

The oxytocin receptor (OXTR) has garnered increasing attention for its role in regulating both mature behaviors and brain development. It has been established that OXTR mediates a range of effects that are region-specific or period-specific. However, the current studies of OXTR expression patterns in mice only provide limited help due to limitations in resolution. Therefore, our objective was to generate a comprehensive, high-resolution spatiotemporal expression map of Oxtr mRNA across the entire developing mouse brain. We applied RNAscope in situ hybridization to investigate the spatiotemporal expression pattern of Oxtr in the brains of male mice at six distinct postnatal developmental stages (P7, P14, P21, P28, P42, P56). We provide detailed descriptions of Oxtr expression patterns in key brain regions, including the cortex, basal forebrain, hippocampus, and amygdaloid complex, with a focus on the precise localization of Oxtr⁺ cells and the variance of expression between different neurons. Furthermore, we identified some neuronal populations with high Oxtr expression levels that have been little studied, including glutamatergic neurons in the ventral dentate gyrus, Vgat⁺Oxtr⁺ cells in the basal forebrain, and GABAergic neurons in layers 4/5 of the cortex. Our study provides a novel perspective for understanding the distribution of Oxtr and encourages further investigations into its functions.
Animals ; Receptors, Oxytocin/metabolism* ; Male ; Brain/growth & development* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Single-Cell Analysis ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Animals, Newborn

Objective:To explore the potential of integrating virtual surgery with three-dimensional (3D) printed guides in the surgical management of mandibular benign tumors and subsequent reconstruction of bone defects.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients who underwent computer-assisted resection and vascularized fibular flap reconstruction for benign mandibular tumors at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, from June 2013 to December 2020. According to the utilization of guide plates for mandibular and fibular osteotomy during surgical procedures or not, the patients were categorized into two cohorts: a guide plate cohort and a non-guide plate cohort. In the guide plate group, custom-designed gudie plates based on virtual surgical plans were fabricated using 3D printing technology and employed intraoperatively; In the non-guide plate group, surgery was exclusively performed based on virtual surgical plan and prebent titanium plate without any supplementary plating. The measured outcomes included fibular flap osteotomy, operation duration, and clinical flap survival. Computed tomography images obtained one week post-surgery were utilized to assess the intersegmental commissure degree between fibular segments as well as between fibular segments and mandible, commissure degree between fibular segments and prebent titanium plate, and condyle position. The satisfaction of patients with their facial appearance was evaluated 6 months after the surgery using a visual analogue scale. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 21.0 software. Independent sample t-tests was utilized to compare the duration of operation and and postoperative evaluation of facial appearance, the Chi-square tests was utilized for condyle position, commissure degrees among interactions involving fibular segments, prebent titanium plates, bone segments( P<0.05 denoted statistical significance). Results:A total of 30 patients were enrolled, comprising 17 males and 13 females, with a median age of 24 years (16-64 years). The preparation process of fibular flaps proceeded smoothly. The required length of fibula was measured as (14.1 ± 1.9) cm (5.7-18.1 cm), while the number of fibular segments ranged from 2 to 4, averaging at approximately 2.9 ± 0.6. The mandibular defects were repaired using a single-layer fibula in 12 cases, a vascularized folded fibula in 7 cases and a combination of vascularized and non-vascularized fibula in 11 cases. The operation time for the guide plate group was recorded as ( 335.9 ± 64.0) min (240-433 min), while it was observed to be (470.7 ± 140.5 ) min (280-680 min) for the non-guide plate group.The postoperative follow-up duration ranged from 9 to 23 months, with an average period of 11 months. All fibular flaps demonstrated clinical survival. The number of patients with good commissure degree between fibular and mandibular segments, between prebent titanium plate and fibular and mandibular segments and the position of condyle were 15, 15 and 13 cases in guide plate group, 10, 13 and 11 cases in non-guide plate group respectively. The statistical analysis revealed a significant difference ( P<0.05) in the degree of commissure between the fibular and the mandibular segments (15/15 vs. 10/15) in the two groups. Both groups exhibited high levels of satisfaction regarding their postoperative facial appearance at the 6 months follow-up, observed to be 9.6±0.5 and 9.3±0.5 respectively, and the statisticla analysis revealed non-significant difference ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The integration of virtual surgery with 3D printed guide plates can effectively reduce operative time and improve precision in the repair and reconstruction of free-fibular flaps following resection of benign tumors of the mandible.

Objective:To explore the potential of integrating virtual surgery with three-dimensional (3D) printed guides in the surgical management of mandibular benign tumors and subsequent reconstruction of bone defects.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of patients who underwent computer-assisted resection and vascularized fibular flap reconstruction for benign mandibular tumors at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, from June 2013 to December 2020. According to the utilization of guide plates for mandibular and fibular osteotomy during surgical procedures or not, the patients were categorized into two cohorts: a guide plate cohort and a non-guide plate cohort. In the guide plate group, custom-designed gudie plates based on virtual surgical plans were fabricated using 3D printing technology and employed intraoperatively; In the non-guide plate group, surgery was exclusively performed based on virtual surgical plan and prebent titanium plate without any supplementary plating. The measured outcomes included fibular flap osteotomy, operation duration, and clinical flap survival. Computed tomography images obtained one week post-surgery were utilized to assess the intersegmental commissure degree between fibular segments as well as between fibular segments and mandible, commissure degree between fibular segments and prebent titanium plate, and condyle position. The satisfaction of patients with their facial appearance was evaluated 6 months after the surgery using a visual analogue scale. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 21.0 software. Independent sample t-tests was utilized to compare the duration of operation and and postoperative evaluation of facial appearance, the Chi-square tests was utilized for condyle position, commissure degrees among interactions involving fibular segments, prebent titanium plates, bone segments( P<0.05 denoted statistical significance). Results:A total of 30 patients were enrolled, comprising 17 males and 13 females, with a median age of 24 years (16-64 years). The preparation process of fibular flaps proceeded smoothly. The required length of fibula was measured as (14.1 ± 1.9) cm (5.7-18.1 cm), while the number of fibular segments ranged from 2 to 4, averaging at approximately 2.9 ± 0.6. The mandibular defects were repaired using a single-layer fibula in 12 cases, a vascularized folded fibula in 7 cases and a combination of vascularized and non-vascularized fibula in 11 cases. The operation time for the guide plate group was recorded as ( 335.9 ± 64.0) min (240-433 min), while it was observed to be (470.7 ± 140.5 ) min (280-680 min) for the non-guide plate group.The postoperative follow-up duration ranged from 9 to 23 months, with an average period of 11 months. All fibular flaps demonstrated clinical survival. The number of patients with good commissure degree between fibular and mandibular segments, between prebent titanium plate and fibular and mandibular segments and the position of condyle were 15, 15 and 13 cases in guide plate group, 10, 13 and 11 cases in non-guide plate group respectively. The statistical analysis revealed a significant difference ( P<0.05) in the degree of commissure between the fibular and the mandibular segments (15/15 vs. 10/15) in the two groups. Both groups exhibited high levels of satisfaction regarding their postoperative facial appearance at the 6 months follow-up, observed to be 9.6±0.5 and 9.3±0.5 respectively, and the statisticla analysis revealed non-significant difference ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The integration of virtual surgery with 3D printed guide plates can effectively reduce operative time and improve precision in the repair and reconstruction of free-fibular flaps following resection of benign tumors of the mandible.

Objective To investigate the effects of long-term high altitude exposure on the composition and structure of the gut microbiota in rats in different intestinal segments,and to explore the key affected intestinal segments initially.Methods Six-week-old C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a control group(Control group)and a high altitude exposed group(HA group).The HA group was exposed to a low-pressure oxygen chamber at a simulated altitude of 3500-4000 m for 20 weeks,after which the microbiomes of both groups were analysed using high-throughput 16s rRNA sequencing and core changes in the duodenal,jejunal,ileal and colonic microflora communities were determined.Results The microbial abundance of the colon was significantly reduced in the hypoxic environment of high altitude,the microbial abundance and diversity of the foregut did not change significantly,and the AVD value of the colon was higher than that of the other intestinal segments,and it tended to be more stable after prolonged exposure to treatment in high altitude;At the Bray-curtis distance,the Microbial structure of the ileum and colon was significantly different between the Control and HA groups,whereas the duodenum and jejunum showed no significant changes;The predominant phylum in all intestinal segments was Firmicutes,but the dominant phyla varied in different intestinal segments and treatment groups,with Lactobacillus spp.contributing highly to the changes in the gut microflora;the complexity of the phylogenetic network of the ileum was higher than that of the other intestinal segments,whereas the colon had the fewest phylogenetic interactions;the jejunum and the ileum consisted mainly of abundant taxa,whereas the colon had a significantly smaller proportion of abundant taxa,mainly Conditionally rare taxa.The duodenum differed in taxa composition between the Control and HA groups.Conclusion High-altitude hypoxia can affect the microecological environment of the ileum and colon by remodelling the composition and structure of the intestinal microflora,especially in the ileum compared with the other three intestinal segments.In addition,the ileum is characterised by both lower complexity of the microflora structure and the prominent role of key genera in the high altitude hypoxia study,in which the changes of Lactobacillus spp.are worthy of more in-depth study at a later stage.Therefore,the ileal microbiota of rats may have a higher research value compared with other intestinal segments.