1.Pancreatic cancer neuroecology: Current status, mechanisms, and prospect from multi-dimensional perspectives
Shangyou ZHENG ; Honghui JIANG ; Chonghui HU ; Tingting LI ; Tianhao HUANG ; Rihua HE ; Yong JIANG ; Rufu CHEN
Journal of Clinical Hepatology 2025;41(4):611-618
Pancreatic cancer is characterized by nerve invasion and a high mortality rate, and its pathological process depends on the complex interaction network between tumor and the nervous system. Based on the concept of “pancreatic cancer neuroecology”, this article analyzes the mechanism of action of peripheral motor nerve, sensory nerve, and central nerve in tumorigenesis, pain regulation, and cachexia formation and emphasizes the synergistic regulatory role of immune cells, Schwann cells, and extracellular matrix in the microenvironment of perineural invasion. At the same time, this article further elaborates on the metabolic interaction and chemotaxis between neuraxis and tumor, the effect on promoting chemotherapy resistance, and the dynamic relationship between neuroplasticity and tumor adaptability. In clinical practice, this article summarizes the key value of perineural invasion in prognostic evaluation, preoperative evaluation, and the selection of surgical strategy. In addition, this article reviews the basic research advances in the biomarkers and potential targets associated with perineural invasion in pancreatic cancer and points out the limitations of current model and transformation research. In the future, systematically analyzing the nerve-tumor-immune network and targeting its key nodes may provide multi-dimensional strategies and new breakthroughs for the precise intervention of pancreatic cancer, the reversal of drug resistance, and the relief of symptoms.
2.Biomechanical effects of medial and lateral translation deviations of femoral components in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty on tibial prosthesis fixation.
Jingting XU ; Jing ZHANG ; Bing ZHANG ; Wen CUI ; Weijie ZHANG ; Zhenxian CHEN
Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2025;42(1):105-112
Prosthesis loosening is the leading cause of postoperative revision in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). The deviation of medial and lateral translational installation of the prosthesis during surgery is a common clinical phenomenon and an important factor in increasing the risk of prosthesis loosening. This study established a UKA finite element model and a bone-prosthesis fixation interface micromotion prediction model. The predicted medial contact force and joint motion of the knee joint from a patient-specific lower extremity musculoskeletal multibody dynamics model of UKA were used as boundary conditions. The effects of 9 femoral component medial and lateral translational installation deviations on the Von Mises stress of the proximal tibia, the contact stress, and the micro-motion of the bone prosthesis fixation interface were quantitatively studied. It was found that compared with the neutral position (a/A of 0.492), the lateral translational deviation of the femoral component significantly increased the tibial Von Mises stress and the bone-prosthesis fixation interface contact stress. The maximum Von Mises stress and the maximum contact stress of the fixation interface increased by 14.08% and 143.15%, respectively, when a/A was 0.361. The medial translational deviation of the femoral component significantly increased the bone-prosthesis fixation interface micro-motion. The maximum value of micromotion under the conditions of femoral neutral and medial translation deviation was in the range of 20-50 μm, which is suitable for osseointegration. Therefore, based on considerations such as the micromotion range suitable for osseointegration reported in the literature, the risk of reducing prosthesis loosening, and factors that may induce pain, it is recommended that clinicians control the mounting position of the femoral component during surgery within the safe range of 0-4 mm medial translation deviation.
Humans
;
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/methods*
;
Finite Element Analysis
;
Biomechanical Phenomena
;
Knee Prosthesis
;
Tibia/surgery*
;
Femur/surgery*
;
Stress, Mechanical
;
Prosthesis Failure
;
Knee Joint/surgery*
;
Prosthesis Design
3.Effects of elastic modulus of the metal block on the condylar-constrained knee prosthesis tibial fixation stability.
Yuhan ZHANG ; Jing ZHANG ; Tianqi DONG ; Xuan ZHANG ; Weijie ZHANG ; Lei GUO ; Zhenxian CHEN
Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2025;42(4):782-789
Although metal blocks have been widely used for reconstructing uncontained tibial bone defects, the influence of their elastic modulus on the stability of tibial prosthesis fixation remains unclear. Based on this, a finite element model incorporating constrained condylar knee (CCK) prosthesis, tibia, and metal block was established. Considering the influence of the post-restraint structure of the prosthesis, the effects of variations in the elastic modulus of the block on the von Mises stress distribution in the tibia and the block, as well as on the micromotion at the bone-prosthesis fixation interface, were investigated. Results demonstrated that collision between the insert post and femoral prosthesis during tibial internal rotation increased tibial von Mises stress, significantly influencing the prediction of block elastic modulus variation. A decrease in the elastic modulus of the metal block resulted in increased von Mises stress in the proximal tibia, significantly reduced von Mises stress in the distal tibia, decreased von Mises stress of the block, and increased micromotion at the bone-prosthesis fixation interface. When the elastic modulus of the metal block fell below that of bone cement, inadequate block support substantially increased the risk of stress shielding in the distal tibia and fixation interface loosening. Therefore, this study recommends that biomechanical investigations of CCK prostheses must consider the post-constraint effect, and the elastic modulus of metal blocks for bone reconstruction should not be lower than 3 600 MPa.
Knee Prosthesis
;
Humans
;
Finite Element Analysis
;
Tibia/surgery*
;
Elastic Modulus
;
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/methods*
;
Stress, Mechanical
;
Metals
;
Prosthesis Design
;
Knee Joint/surgery*
;
Biomechanical Phenomena
4.Finite element modeling and simulation study of solid-liquid biphase fiber-reinforced lumbar intervertebral disc.
Yongchang GAO ; Yantao FU ; Qingfeng CUI ; Shibin CHEN ; Peng LIU ; Xifang LIU
Journal of Biomedical Engineering 2025;42(4):799-807
The lumbar intervertebral disc exhibits a complex physiological structure with interactions between various segments, and its components are extremely complex. The material properties of different components in the lumbar intervertebral disc, especially the water content (undergoing dynamic change as influenced by age, degeneration, mechanical loading, and proteoglycan content) - critically determine its mechanical properties. When the lumbar intervertebral disc is under continuous pressure, water seeps out, and after the pressure is removed, water re-infiltrates. This dynamic fluid exchange process directly affects the mechanical properties of the lumbar intervertebral disc, while previous isotropic modeling methods have been unable to accurately reflect such solid-liquid phase behaviors. To explore the load-bearing mechanism of the lumbar intervertebral disc and establish a more realistic mechanical model of the lumbar intervertebral disc, this study developed a solid-liquid biphasic, fiber-reinforced finite element model. This model was used to simulate the four movements of the human lumbar spine in daily life, namely flexion, extension, axial rotation, and lateral bending. The fluid pressure, effective solid stress, and liquid pressure-bearing ratio of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus of different lumbar intervertebral discs were compared and analyzed under the movements. Under all the movements, the fluid pressure distribution was closer to the nucleus pulposus, while the effective solid stress distribution was more concentrated in the outer annulus fibrosus. In terms of fluid pressure, the maximum fluid pressure of the lumbar intervertebral disc during lateral bending was 1.95 MPa, significantly higher than the maximum fluid pressure under other movements. Meanwhile, the maximum effective solid stress of the lumbar intervertebral disc during flexion was 2.43 MPa, markedly higher than the maximum effective solid stress under other movements. Overall, the liquid pressure-bearing ratio under axial rotation was smaller than that under other movements. Based on the solid-liquid biphasic modeling method, this study more accurately revealed the dominant role of the liquid phase in the daily load-bearing process of the lumbar intervertebral disc and the solid-phase mechanical mechanism of the annulus fibrosus load-bearing, and more effectively predicted the solid-liquid phase co-load-bearing mechanism of the lumbar intervertebral disc in daily life.
Humans
;
Finite Element Analysis
;
Intervertebral Disc/physiology*
;
Lumbar Vertebrae/physiology*
;
Weight-Bearing/physiology*
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Biomechanical Phenomena
;
Stress, Mechanical
;
Computer Simulation
;
Models, Biological
5.Effects of different concentrations of ropivacaine in femoral nerve block on early motor function following total knee arthroplasty.
Yong-Cheng CHEN ; Qiang ZAN ; Yu-Meng FU ; Shi-Hang CAO ; Li-Qiang ZHI
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2025;38(7):693-697
OBJECTIVE:
To compare the effects of different concentrations of ropivacaine femoral nerve block on postoperative pain and early exercise fllowing total knee arthroplasty(TKA).
METHODS:
A total of 90 patients who underwent primary TKA between September 2022 and February 2023 were consecutively enrolled in this study. The cohort consisted of 34 males and 56 females, with a mean age of (66.66±7.03) years old. According to different concentrations of ropivacaine, patients were divided into 0.1% group, 0.2% group and 0.4% group, with 30 patients in each group. The age, gender, body mass index(BMI), American Society of Aneshesiologists(ASA) grade, operation time, anesthesia time, tourniquet using time, Post Anesthesia care unit(PACU) stay duration, ambulation time, first reaching to Bromage 0 grade time, visual analogue scale(VAS), hospitalization period and postoperative adverse reactions were compared among the three groups.
RESULTS:
All 90 patients were followed up for an average of (31.56±5.62) days, and no postoperative adverse reactions occurred. There were no significant differences among the three groups in terms of age, gender, BMI, ASA classification, operation time, anesthesia time, tourniquet application time, PACU stay duration, and hospitalization period (P>0.05). Significant differences were observed in VAS scores at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 12 hours post-operation among the three groups (P<0.05). Additionally, significant variations were noted in ambulation time and the first reaching to Bromage level 0 time among the three groups (P<0.05). In terms of postoperative pain, the VAS of the 0.1% group at 1, 2, 4, 6, and 12 hours after surgery(1.93±0.52), (2.57±0.77), (3.10±0.71), (3.10±0.71), (3.07±0.45) points were higher than those of the 0.4% group (1.57±0.50), (2.10±0.55), (2.23±0.57), (2.47±0.73), (2.50±0.57) points, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05);the VAS of the 0.1% group at 4, 6, and 12 hours after surgery were higher than those of the 0.2% group (2.43±0.57), (2.53±0.57), (2.63±0.56) points, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05);there was no statistically significant difference in VAS between the 0.2% group and the 0.4% group (P>0.05). In terms of early postoperative mobility, the time to ambulation time (8.30±2.76) h and the time to achieve the first Bromage grade 0 (6.13±2.18) h were significantly prolonged in the 0.4% group compared to both the 0.1% group (6.93±1.76) h, (4.17±1.18) h and the 0.2% group (6.53±1.59) h, (4.87±1.53) h. No statistically significant differences were observed between the 0.1% and 0.2% groups (P>0.05).
CONCLUSION
0.2% ropivacaine femoral nerve block can effectively reduce postoperative pain after TKA and can perform early exercise earlier.
Humans
;
Male
;
Female
;
Ropivacaine/administration & dosage*
;
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee/adverse effects*
;
Aged
;
Nerve Block/methods*
;
Femoral Nerve/drug effects*
;
Middle Aged
;
Pain, Postoperative/drug therapy*
;
Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage*
;
Amides
6.Progress in autophagy effect on the progression of SLE pathogenesis by regulating the immune system.
Tianzhen MA ; Honghui TANG ; Xuan CHEN ; Yuqing GUO ; Liping ZHANG ; Baiqing LI ; Jin XI ; Yuanyuan WANG
Chinese Journal of Cellular and Molecular Immunology 2025;41(7):649-654
Autophagy is a fundamental biological metabolic process involved in immune defense, material metabolism, and homeostasis and closely linked to immune regulation. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a widespread connective tissue disorder primarily resulting from immune system imbalance. Due to the immune system's failure to recognize its own substances, it generates autoantibodies that can affect various tissues and organs, leading to diverse clinical manifestations. The pathogenesis and treatment of SLE are currently under extensive investigation. In normal metabolic processes, autophagy engages in both innate and adaptive immunity, regulates the immune response, and is crucial for maintaining normal immune function and the body's internal homeostasis. Research has indicated that SLE patients exhibit immune dysfunction and altered autophagy levels. Modulating autophagy expression can influence immune system functionality and alleviate SLE symptoms. Additionally, autophagy aids in the innate immune response and adaptive immunity by clearing metabolites and regulating the life cycle of immune cells. Studies suggest that drugs targeting autophagy can positively influence the progression of SLE. This article reviews advancements in research regarding the impact of autophagy on the pathogenesis of SLE through the regulation of immune system functions.
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/pathology*
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Autophagy/immunology*
;
Humans
;
Animals
;
Immunity, Innate
;
Adaptive Immunity
;
Disease Progression
;
Immune System/immunology*
7.Exogenous leptin improves cerebral ischemia-reperfusion-induced glutamate excitotoxic injury in mice by up-regulating GLT-1 and GLAST expression in astrocytes
Jie CHEN ; Chenxu LIU ; Chun WANG ; Li LI ; Weiting TAO ; Jingru XUN ; Honghui TANG ; Li HUANG
Journal of Southern Medical University 2024;44(6):1079-1087
Objective To investigate the protective effect of exogenous leptin against focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion(I/R)injury in mice and explore the underlying mechanism.Methods A total of 100 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 5 groups,including a sham-operated group,cerebral I/R model group,and 3 leptin treatment groups with intraperitoneal injections of 0.5,1.0 or 2.0 leptin immediately after occlusion of the internal carotid artery.At 24 h after reperfusion,neurological function scores of the mice were assessed,and TTC staining was used to determine the area of cerebral infarction.The pathological changes in the cortical brain tissue of the mice were observed using HE staining,and degenerative damage of the cortical neurons were assessed with Fluoro-Jade C staining.The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in cortical brain tissues was detected using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.In another 45 C57BL/6 mice with sham operation,I/R modeling,or leptin(1 mg/kg)treatment,glutamic acid in the cortical brain tissue was detected using glutamate assay,and cortical glutamate-aspartate transporter(GLAST)and glutamate transporter-1(GLT-1)protein expressions were detected using immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with the I/R model mice,the leptin-treated mice had significantly lower neurological deficit scores,smaller cerebral infarct area,milder pathologies in the cortical brain tissue,and lessened cortical neuronal damage with normal morphology and less excessive proliferation of the astrocytes.Leptin treatment significantly up-regulated the expressions of GLT-1 and GLAST and lowered the content of glutamic acid in the brain tissue of the I/R mice.Conclusion Exogenous leptin has obvious neuroprotective effect against cerebral I/R injury in mice,mediated probably by controlling excessive astrocyte proliferation and up-regulating cortical GLT-1 and GLAST expressions to reduce glutamate-mediated excitotoxic injury of the astrocytes.
8.Exogenous leptin improves cerebral ischemia-reperfusion-induced glutamate excitotoxic injury in mice by up-regulating GLT-1 and GLAST expression in astrocytes
Jie CHEN ; Chenxu LIU ; Chun WANG ; Li LI ; Weiting TAO ; Jingru XUN ; Honghui TANG ; Li HUANG
Journal of Southern Medical University 2024;44(6):1079-1087
Objective To investigate the protective effect of exogenous leptin against focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion(I/R)injury in mice and explore the underlying mechanism.Methods A total of 100 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 5 groups,including a sham-operated group,cerebral I/R model group,and 3 leptin treatment groups with intraperitoneal injections of 0.5,1.0 or 2.0 leptin immediately after occlusion of the internal carotid artery.At 24 h after reperfusion,neurological function scores of the mice were assessed,and TTC staining was used to determine the area of cerebral infarction.The pathological changes in the cortical brain tissue of the mice were observed using HE staining,and degenerative damage of the cortical neurons were assessed with Fluoro-Jade C staining.The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in cortical brain tissues was detected using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.In another 45 C57BL/6 mice with sham operation,I/R modeling,or leptin(1 mg/kg)treatment,glutamic acid in the cortical brain tissue was detected using glutamate assay,and cortical glutamate-aspartate transporter(GLAST)and glutamate transporter-1(GLT-1)protein expressions were detected using immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with the I/R model mice,the leptin-treated mice had significantly lower neurological deficit scores,smaller cerebral infarct area,milder pathologies in the cortical brain tissue,and lessened cortical neuronal damage with normal morphology and less excessive proliferation of the astrocytes.Leptin treatment significantly up-regulated the expressions of GLT-1 and GLAST and lowered the content of glutamic acid in the brain tissue of the I/R mice.Conclusion Exogenous leptin has obvious neuroprotective effect against cerebral I/R injury in mice,mediated probably by controlling excessive astrocyte proliferation and up-regulating cortical GLT-1 and GLAST expressions to reduce glutamate-mediated excitotoxic injury of the astrocytes.
9.Investigation on current health literacy among military personnel on plateau and analysis of influencing factors
Peng JIN ; Honghui RONG ; Ling ZHANG ; Chuanfen ZHENG ; Ji'an CHEN
Journal of Army Medical University 2024;46(11):1306-1315
Objective To investigate the status quo of health literacy among military personnel stationing on plateau and analyze its influencing factors.Methods National Health Literacy Monitoring Questionnaire(2015),self-made questionnaire for demographic data based on literature,Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale,Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire,and Positive and Negative Affect Scale were employed to survey 2 516 officers and soldiers stationing on plateau with aid of a WeChat APP Questionnaire Star.Their current status of health literacy and its influencing factors were analyzed.Results The survey results showed that the overall health literacy level was 20.03%among the 2 516 participants.The literacy levels of basic knowledge and concepts,healthy lifestyles and behaviors,and health skills were 31.08%,26.23%,and 26.63%,respectively,and the health literacy levels of scientific health concepts,infectious disease prevention and treatment,chronic disease prevention and treatment,safety and first aid,basic medical care,and health information were 40.58%,19.36%,9.62%,82.75%,29.61%,and 45.03%,respectively.Multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis indicated that the influencing factors of health literacy level were years of working(OR=1.857,95%CI:1.391~2.479;OR=4.657,95%CI:3.297~6.578),ethnicity(OR=0.394,95%CI:0.251~0.620),marriage(OR=0.609,95%CI:0.430~0.861),only-child family(OR=0.759,95%CI:0.585~0.985),home location(OR=0.545,95%CI:0.359~0.827),smoking(OR=1.579,95%CI:1.254~1.988),education level(OR=3.638,95%CI:1.500~8.822),weekly online game time(OR=0.517,95%CI:0.365~0.731;OR=0.351,95%CI:0.172~0.716),number of physical checkups per year(OR=3.251,95%CI:1.359~7.778;OR=4.545,95%CI:1.841~11.221),father's occupation(OR=5.185,95%CI:1.800~14.933;OR=3.229,95%CI:1.261~8.270),mother's occupation(OR=0.221,95%CI:0.086~0.568;OR=0.218,95%CI:0.081~0.587;OR=0.046,95%CI:0.018~0.118),positive coping(OR=1.052,95%CI:1.033~1.072),and negative coping(OR=0.950,95%CI:0.929~0.972).Conclusion The overall health literacy level is quite low among the plateau military personnel in this ministry,and the relevant departments should actively explore effective interventions to comprehensively improve their health literacy based on the influencing factors.
10.Concomitant extragenital malformations of female reproductive tract anomalies: analysis of 444 cases in Peking Union Medical College Hospital
Si SU ; Xinmiao BAO ; Shu WANG ; Na CHEN ; Zhufeng LIU ; Dawei SUN ; Jinhua LENG ; Qingbo FAN ; Honghui SHI ; Zhijing SUN ; Juan CHEN ; Haiyuan LIU ; Xin YU ; Junji ZHANG ; Yi DAI ; Jinghe LANG ; Lan ZHU
Chinese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2024;59(5):346-352
Objective:To analyze the incidence and clinical phenotype of the concomitant extragenital malformations in the patients with female reproductive tract anomalies.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted using clinical data of hospitalized patients diagnosed with uterine, cervical, or vaginal malformations from January 2003 to December 2022 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital. The malformations were classified according to American Society for Reproductive Medicine müllerian anomalies classification 2021, and in each type, the incidence and specific manifestations of concomitant extragnital malformations were analyzed.Results:A total of 444 patients were included. The overall incidence of concomitant extragenital malformations was 43.5% (193/444), including urinary system, skeletal system, and other system malformations. Renal malformations on the obstructed side were present in all patients with oblique vaginal septum syndrome (100.0%, 78/78). The total incidence of concomitant extragnital malformations was as high as 8/11 in uterus didelphys, 43.5% (10/23) in unicornuate uterus, 33.6% (79/235) in Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, 18.8% (6/32) in septate uterus and 18.5% (12/65) in cervical agenesis. Urinary system malformations (30.6%, 136/444) and skeletal system malformations (13.5%, 60/444) were the most common concomitant malformations in all types, in which, unilateral renal agenesis and scoliosis were the most common.Conclusions:Urinary and skeletal system malformations are important features of female reproductive tract anomalies. Urologic ultrasonography and spinal roentgenogram are recommended for all patients with female reproductive tract anomalies.

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