OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical characteristics of foot and ankle deformities combined with knee and lower limb deformities and evaluate the advantages, clinical outcomes, and considerations of QIN Sihe's surgical strategy for treating such complex deformities. METHODS: Between January 2022 and December 2024, 32 patients with foot and ankle deformities combined with knee and lower limb deformities were enrolled. The cohort included 23 males and 9 females, aged 10-67 years (mean, 41.1 years). The main etiologies included post-polio sequelae (20 cases) and congenital limb deformities (3 cases). Deformities were categorized as follows: equinovarus foot (12 cases), equinus foot (2 cases), equinovalgus foot (3 cases), equinus foot with swan-neck deformity (2 cases), calcaneus foot (5 cases), foot valgus (2 cases), knee flexion deformity (14 cases), genu recurvatum (4 cases), genu varum (3 cases), genu valgum (3 cases), lower limb shortening (3 cases), and lower limb external rotation (6 cases). QIN Sihe's surgical strategies included osteotomies, tendon releases, and tendon transfers for deformity correction, followed by external fixation for residual deformity adjustment and stabilization. Outcomes were assessed using QIN Sihe's Postoperative Evaluation Criteria for Lower Limb (Foot and Ankle) Deformity Correction and Functional Reconstruction. RESULTS: All patients were followed up 8-32 months (mean, 16.5 months). Complications included pin tract infection (1 case, 1 site), ankle pain (2 cases), delayed healing at the proximal tibial osteotomy site (1 case), and anterior talar dislocation (1 case). At last follow-up, insufficient correction of foot deformity was observed in 1 case; both knee and lower limb deformities were corrected, with only mild recurrence of knee flexion deformity in 1 case. The foot/ankle and knee joint function improved. Based on QIN Sihe's Postoperative Evaluation Criteria for Lower Limb (Foot and Ankle) Deformity Correction and Functional Reconstruction, outcomes were rated as excellent in 30 cases and good in 2 cases, with an excellent-good rate of 100%. CONCLUSION Foot and ankle deformities combined with knee and lower limb deformities are complex, QIN Sihe's surgical strategy can achieve satisfactory clinical outcomes for simultaneous correction.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Child ; Adolescent ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods* ; Lower Extremity Deformities, Congenital/surgery* ; Osteotomy/methods* ; Foot Deformities, Congenital/surgery* ; Ankle Joint/surgery* ; Knee Joint/surgery* ; Foot Deformities/surgery*

Purpose: Cavernous nerve injury induced erectile dysfunction (ED) is a refractory complication with high incidence in person under radical prostatectomy. Studies have shown that relaxin-2 (RLX-2) plays a vital role of endothelial protection, vasodilation, anti-fibrosis and neuroprotection in a variety of diseases. However, whether penile cavernous erection can benefit from RLX-2 remains unknown. The purpose of the experiment was to explore the effects of RLX-2 on ED in the rat suffering with bilateral cavernous nerve injury (BCNI). Materials and Methods: The rats were divided into three groups: Sham group was underwent sham operation, BCNI+RLX group or BCNI group was underwent bilateral cavernous nerve crush and then randomly treated with RLX-2 (0.4 mg/kg/d) or saline by continuous administration using a subcutaneously implanted micro pump for 4 weeks respectively. Then, erectile function was evaluated by electrical stimulation of cavernous nerves. Cavernous nerves and penile tissues and were collected for histological evaluation. Results: Erectile function of rats with BCNI was partially improved after RLX-2 treatment. The BCNI group had lower expression of relaxin family peptide receptor (RXFP) 1, p-AKT/AKT, p-eNOS/eNOS ratios than sham operation rats, but RLX-2 could partially reversed these changes. Histologically, the BCNI+RLX group had a significant effect on preservation of neurofilament, neuronal glial antigen 2 of penile tissue and nNOS of cavernous nerves when compared with BCNI group. RLX-2 could inhibited the lever of BCNI induced corporal fibrosis and apoptosis via regulating TGFβ1-Smad2/3-CTGF pathway and the expression of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, caspase3. Conclusions RLX-2 could improve erectile function of BCNI rats by protecting cavernous nerve and endothelial function and suppressing corporal fibrosis and apoptosis via RXFP1 and AKT/eNOS pathway. Our findings may provide a promising treatment for refractory BCNI induced ED.

Humans ; COVID-19 ; Consensus ; SARS-CoV-2 ; China

Objective:To investigate whether microRNA-338-3p (miR-338-3p) affects the proliferation and apoptosis of choroidal microvascular endothelial cells by regulating the expression of T cell factor 4 (TCF4).Methods:Human choroidal microvascular endothelial cells were cultured in vitro, and they were divided into vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) group and Normal control group.The Cultured cells in the VEGF group were divided into four subgroups, and were transfected with miR-NC, miR-338-3p mimics, miR-338-3p mimics + pcDNA, miR-338-3p mimics + pcDNA-TCF4 before VEGF treatment, respectively.Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of miR-338-3p and TCF4.MTT assay was used to detect cell proliferation.Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rate.The double luciferase report experiment verified the targeting relationship of miR-338-3p and TCF4.Western blot was used to detect the expression of Ki-67, PCNA, bax, and bcl-2. Results:After VEGF treatment, the expression level of miR-338-3p was significantly reduced, the expression level of TCF4 mRNA was significantly increased, the cell viability was significantly increased, and the apoptosis rate was significantly decreased, the levels of Ki-67, PCNA, bcl-2 protein were increased significantly, and the level of bax protein was decreased significantly (all at P<0.05). After miR-338-3p overexpression, the cell viability was significantly reduced, the apoptosis rate was significantly increased, and the levels of Ki-67, PCNA, and bcl-2 proteins were significantly reduced, the level of bax protein was increased significantly (all at P<0.05). Double luciferase reporting experiments confirmed that miR-338-3p targeted TCF4.Compared with the VEGF + miR-338-3p + pcDNA group, the cell viability of the VEGF + miR-338-3p + pcDNA-TCF4 group was significantly increased ([56.48±13.20]% vs. [96.24±16.24]%), and the apoptosis rate was significantly reduced ([30.59±3.57]% vs.[12.36±1.29]%), the levels of Ki-67, PCNA and bcl-2 protein were significantly increased (0.41±0.11 vs. 0.96±0.19; 0.44±0.10 vs. 0.97±0.20; 0.55±0.12 vs. 0.98±0.15), and the levels of bax protein were significantly decreased (0.87±0.13 vs. 0.42±0.11) ( t=5.700, 14.408, 7.516, 7.111, 6.715, 7.927; all at P<0.01). Conclusions:Overexpression of miR-338-3p can negatively regulate TCF4 expression, thereby inhibite choroidal microvascular endothelial cell proliferation and induce apoptosis.

Objective: To discuss the clinical application and effects of domestic external fixator in the treatment of patients with malformations of limbs. Methods: A total of 7 289 patients with malformation of limbs who had been operated in Qin Sihe orthopedic surgery team from January 1989 to June 2016 were retrospective analyzed. The patients were treated with domestic external fixator, including 4 033 males and 3 256 females, aging from 2 to 82 years with a mean age of 23.4 years. There were 2 732 patients using Ilizarov external fixator, 4 713 patients using hybrid external fixator, 57 patients using monobrachial external fixator, 232 patients using Ilizarov external fixator and hybrid external fixator. The Ilizarov, hybrid and monobrachial external fixator were used in 67, 65 and 0 patients on the upper limbs and in 2 665, 4 616 and 57 patients on the lower limbs. There were 3 028 patients operated on the left limbs, 3 260 patients operated on the right limbs and 1 001 patients operated on the bilateral limbs. The top three types of diseases were sequelae of poliomyelitis, cerebral palsy and post-traumatic stress disorder peromely. Deformity types inclued talipes equinovarus, knee flexion deformity, cavus foot and so on. Results: All the patients were followed up for a period of 2.5 months to 22.4 years, with an average follow-up time of 5.4 years. All of the external fixators were used for single once, and there was no substitute for external fixator quality problem. All the patients were completed surgery goal until removing external fixation except 1 patient gave up treatment and 1 removed the fixator because of metal allergy. The common complications included wire or pin infection and joint movement limitation and so on. Conclusions The domestic external fixator developed and produced based on the characteristics of Chinese limb deformity disability. The domestic external fixator can be used to treat kinds of limb deformities with the advantages of practical, economical, adjustable, universal and portable. The domestic external fixator could meet the clinical demand for fixation of the osteotomy end of the limbs, the correction of the deformity, the repair of the defects and the limb lengthening.

Objective To analyze the regions of abdominal lymph node metastasis in recurrent thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma ( TE-SCC) after radical surgery, and to guide the design of target volume in postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy. Methods Patients with TE-SCC who were admitted to our hospital from February 2005 to April 2013 were enrolled as subjects. All patients were diagnosed with abdominal lymph node metastasis by imaging after R0 radical surgery. The exact regions of abdominal lymph node metastasis were classified according to the 7th edition of American Joint Committee on Cancer ( AJCC) TNM staging system for gastric cancer, and then retrospectively analyzed. The difference of two group was analyzed by χ2 test. Results Among the 1593 eligible patients, 148( 9. 3%) were diagnosed with abdominal lymph node metastasis after surgery. In the 148 patients, the abdominal lymph node metastasis rates in the upper, middle, and lower thoracic esophagus were 2. 3%, 7. 8%, and 26. 6%, respectively ( P=0. 000);the incidence rates of pathological stages T1/2 and T3/4 were 8. 7% and 9. 5%, respectively ( P=0. 601);the incidence rates of 0-2 and ≥3 metastatic lymph nodes in postoperative pathological examination were 4. 8%and 20. 1%, respectively (P=0. 000). The abdominal lymph node metastasis rate was the highest in the para-aortic lymph node ( 16a2) , followed by para-aortic lymph node ( 16a1) and the lymph nodes around the celiac trunk, posterior area of the pancreatic head, and common hepatic artery ( 64. 9%, 41. 2%, 37. 8%, 32. 4%, and 20. 9%) , yielding an overall metastasis rate of 91. 9%. Conclusions The major regions of abdominal lymph node metastasis in esophageal carcinoma after radical surgery include para-aortic lymph nodes ( 16a2 and 16a1) and the lymph nodes around the celiac trunk, posterior area of the pancreatic head, and common hepatic artery. These regions are the abdominal target volumes of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy.

Objective To investigate the effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA) interference in the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on the radiosensitivity of esophageal squamous carcinoma (Eca-109) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (OE-19) cell lines.Methods Human Eca-109 and OE-19 cell lines were selected as study subjects.Various EGFR-siRNA and negative siRNA were synthesized chemically through lipofection.Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were applied to measure the expression of EGFR before and after transfection,and the CCK8 assay was applied to analyze the influence of transfection on cell proliferation.Blank control groups of Eca-109 and OE-19 cells (O1 and O2 groups),simple irradiation groups (R1 and R2 groups),and EGFR-siRNA irradiation groups (E-R1 and E-R2 groups) were set,and the doses for single irradiation were 0,2,4,6,and 8 Gy.The colony-forming assay was applied to calculate survival fraction (SF) and sensitization enhancement ratio (SERD0 ratio),and flow cytometry was applied to evaluate the influence of EGFR-siRNA combined with radiotherapy on cell cycle distribution and apoptosis rate,and the dose for single irradiation was 6 Gy.Results The expression of EGFR in both cell lines was significantly down-regulated by EGFR-siRNA,and the inhibition rate of cell proliferation by transfection was＜5％ (4.9％ and 4.5％,respectively).The results of colony-forming assay showed that the cells in the E-R1 and E-R2 groups had a lower SF than those in the O1 and O2 groups,with an SERD0ratio of 1.40 and 1.01,respectively.The results from flow cytometry showed that compared with the E-R2 group,the E-R1 group had a higher proportion of cells in G2/M phase and a lower proportion of cells in S phase after irradiation (P=0.016 and 0.028),as well as a higher apoptosis rate (P=0.007).Conclusions Compared with the cell line OE-19,the cell line Eca-109 has a significantly increased radiosensitivity when treated with siRNA interference in EGFR expression.

OBJECTIVETo retrospectively compare the efficacy of postoperative radiotherapy (RT) alone with that of postoperative radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy (CRT) for thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (EPC) with positive lymph nodes, and to evaluate the clinical value of RT + CRT.

METHODS304 EPC patients underwent esophagectomy with three-field lymph node dissection had pathological lymph node metastases, but no hematogenous distant metastasis. Among them, 140 cases underwent postoperative RT alone, and 164 cases underwent postoperative CRT. The dose of irradiation was 50 Gy, and the chemotherapy regimen was taxol and cis-platinum, and a cycle was 21 days.

RESULTSThe 1-, 3- and 5-year total survival rates of the whole group were 90.1%, 56.6% and 43.3%, respectively, with a median survival time of 49.7 months. The 5-year overall survival rates of the CRT and RT groups were 47.4% and 38.6%, respectively (P = 0.030), with a median survival time of 53.5 and 41.7 months, respectively (P = 0.030). The overall survival rates of the patients who underwent 1, 2, 3, 4 cycles of chemotherapy were 24.4%, 53.0%, 58.1% and 43.3%, respectively (P = 0.007). Among them, the 5-year total survival rate of patients with 2-4 cycles of chemotherapy was significantly better than that of patients who underwent one cycle of chemotherapy (P = 0.001). Univariate analysis showed that number of metastatic lymph nodes, pT stage, therapeutic regimen and number of chemotherapy cycles were significantly correlated with the prognosis of the patients (P < 0.05 for all). Multivariate analysis showed that number of metastatic lymph nodes, pT stage, and number of chemotherapy cycles were independent prognostic factors of the patients (P < 0.05 for all). Early toxic effects including neutropenia, radiation esophagitis, and gastrointestinal effects were significantly more severe in the CRT group than that in the RT group (P < 0.05), however, there were no significant differences of late toxic effects between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPostoperative CRT for thoracic EPC with positive lymph nodes can improve the survival rate, with tolerable adverse effects.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Chemoradiotherapy ; adverse effects ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; Esophagitis ; etiology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Irradiation ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neutropenia ; chemically induced ; etiology ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; Particle Accelerators ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Background and purpose: Lymph node (LN) metastasis of esophageal cancer of neck rate higher, but there is little bulk reports. This article aimed to analyze the characteristics of cervical lymph node metastasis (CLN) in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (TE-SCC) and the clinical role. Methods:A total number of 1 131 TE-SCC patients underwent radical esophagectomy plus three-ifeld lymph node dissection at Fujian Provincial Tumor Hospital between Jan. 1993 to Dec. 2003, during which, 367 patients had pathological metastasis of CLN. Results:The metastatic rate of CLN was 33.2%for the entire group, 43.7%, 33.0%and 16.0%for the upper, middle and lower TE-SCC respectively. Single factor analysis showed that the metastatic rate of CLN was relevant with the tumor site, pathological differentiated degree, lesion length showed in X-ray, pT stage and the number of CLN (P<0.05). But multivariate regression analysis showed that the metastatic rate of CLN was just relevant with the tumor site, pT stage and the number of CLN (P<0.05). Metastasis of cervical paraesophageal lymph nodes was the most common, and Background and purpose: Lymph node (LN) metastasis of esophageal cancer of neck rate higher, but there is little bulk reports. This article aimed to analyze the characteristics of cervical lymph node metastasis (CLN) in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (TE-SCC) and the clinical role. Methods:A total number of 1 131 TE-SCC patients underwent radical esophagectomy plus three-ifeld lymph node dissection at Fujian Provincial Tumor Hospital between Jan. 1993 to Dec. 2003, during which, 367 patients had pathological metastasis of CLN. Results:The metastatic rate of CLN was 33.2%for the entire group, 43.7%, 33.0%and 16.0%for the upper, middle and lower TE-SCC respectively. Single factor analysis showed that the metastatic rate of CLN was relevant with the tumor site, pathological differentiated degree, lesion length showed in X-ray, pT stage and the number of CLN (P<0.05). But multivariate regression analysis showed that the metastatic rate of CLN was just relevant with the tumor site, pT stage and the number of CLN (P<0.05). Metastasis of cervical paraesophageal lymph nodes was the most common, and supraclavicular lymph node metastasis was next, and metastasis of cervical profound lymph nodes and retropharyngeal lymph nodes were rare. The ratio of the number of CLN occupied the sum of the segmental CLN were 57.7%, 32.0%and 10.0%for the upper, middle and lower TE-SCC respectively (P<0.05). Right CLN of each segmental TE-SCC was more than left CLN. Conclusion:Independent factors on CLN in TE-SCC are the tumor site, pT stage and the number of CLN. Metastasis of cervical paraesophageal lymph nodes is the most common, and supraclavicular lymph node metastasis is next, and metastasis of cervical profound lymph nodes and retropharyngeal lymph nodes are rare.

Objective To retrospectively analyze the treatment results and side effects of postoperative chemoradiotherapy and postoperative radiotherapy of thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (EPC) with positive lymph nodes.Methods Three hundred and four patients of thoracic EPC were initially treated with three-field lymphadenectomy, with pathological positive lymph nodes and without distant metastases;and randomly divided into two groups:140 patients of the simple postoperative radiotherapy (RT) and 164 patients of postoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT).The median total dose was 50 Gy.The regimen of concurrent chemotherapy included cisplatin and taxol, and the intermission was 21 days;the median cycles were 2.35.Results The 3-year overall survival rates were 65.7% of CRT and 52.8% of RT (χ2=6.90,P=0.009), and The 3-year disease-free survival rates were 62.5% of CRT and 52.8% of RT (χ2=4.75,P=0.029).The incidences of the supraclavicular lymph-node metastases were 1.8% and 7.1%(χ2=5.21,P=0.022), respectively;and the incidences of distant metastases were 18.3% and 27.9%(χ2=3.94,P=0.047), respectively;and the incidences of overall metastases and recurrences were 27.4% and 39.3%(χ2=4.80,P=0.028), respectively.Early side effects included granulopenia (96.3% and 32.1%,χ2=140.31,P=0.000), radiation-induced esophagitis (37.2% and 26.4%,χ2=4.01,P=0.045),and gastrointestinal toxicity (23.2% and 5.0%,χ2=19.77,P=0.000).Late side effects were 6.1% and 5.0%(χ2=0.17,P=0.678), respectively.Conclusions Postoperative chemoradiotherapy of thoracic EPC with positive lymph nodes can improve the overall survival and disease-free survival, decrease the incidence of the supraclavicular metastases, the distant metastases, the total metastases and recurrences.More severe early side effects were observed in chemoradiotherapy than in the radiotherapy group,but well tolerated.