OBJECTIVE To investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Qiwei dongqingye powder （QDP） on bronchial asthma in mice. METHODS The mice were divided into blank group （normal saline）， model group （normal saline）， dexamethasone group （2 mg/kg）， and QDP low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （200， 400， 800 mg/kg）， with 14 mice in each group. Except for the blank group， mice in all other groups were given ovalbumin via intraperitoneal injection followed by aerosol inhalation to induce a bronchial asthma model. During the modeling process， mice in each group were administered corresponding drug solutions or normal saline intragastrically/intraperitoneally. After the last medication， the number of cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF） of the mice was observed and counted； the pathological changes of the bronchus and lung tissue were observed； the levels of malondialdehyde （MDA）， nitric oxide （NO）， total superoxide dismutase （T-SOD）， and glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） in the lung tissue of the mice were determined， and the level of interleukin-17 （IL-17） in the BALF and serum was determined. Transcriptomics was employed to predict and validate the mechanism of action of QDP against bronchial asthma. RESULTS Compared with the model group， the total cell count， neutrophil count， lymphocyte count， and macrophage counts in the BALF of the QDP high-dose group were all significantly reduced （ P ＜0.05）； the levels of MDA and NO in the lung tissue， and the levels of IL-17 in the BALF and serum were all decreased significantly （ P ＜0.05）； the levels of T-SOD and GSH-Px were significantly increased （ P ＜0.05）； the arrangement of lung tissue cells tended to normalize， with reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells and decreased exfoliation of bronchial simple columnar epithelial cells. The transcriptomic results revealed that the differentially expressed genes were B-cell receptor signaling pathway， nuclear factor κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway， ferroptosis signaling pathway， and others. Further validation revealed that， compared with the model group， the expression levels of NF-κB p65 and chemokine ligand 20， as well as the phosphorylation level of NF-κB inhibitor protein α， were significantly decreased in the lung tissues of the mice in all QDP groups （ P ＜0.05）. Conversely， the protein expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2） and heme oxygenase 1 （HO-1） were significantly increased （ P ＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS QDP can effectively alleviate bronchial asthma by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway， activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway， regulating oxidative stress， and reducing inflammatory responses.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) plays a crucial role in regulating many physiological processes. Activating the AhR-CYP1A1 axis has emerged as a novel therapeutic strategy against various inflammatory diseases. Here, a practical in situ cell-based fluorometric assay was constructed to screen AhR-CYP1A1 axis modulators, via functional sensing of CYP1A1 activities in live cells. Firstly, a cell-permeable, isoform-specific enzyme-activable fluorogenic substrate for CYP1A1 was rationally constructed for in-situ visualizing the dynamic changes of CYP1A1 function in living systems, which was subsequently used for discovering the efficacious modulators of the AhR-CYP1A1 axis. Following screening of a compound library, LAC-7 was identified as an efficacious activator of the AhR-CYP1A1 axis, which dose-dependently up-regulated the expression levels of both CYP1A1 and AhR in multiple cell lines. LAC-7 also suppressed macrophage M1 polarization and reduced the levels of inflammatory factors in LPS-induced bone marrow-derived macrophages. Animal tests showed that LAC-7 could significantly mitigate DSS-induced ulcerative colitis and LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice, and markedly reduced the levels of multiple inflammatory factors. Collectively, an optimized fluorometric cell-based assay was devised for in situ functional imaging of CYP1A1 activities in living systems, which strongly facilitated the discovery of efficacious modulators of the AhR-CYP1A1 axis as novel anti-inflammatory agents.

Stroke is a global disease that seriously threatens human life. The pathological mechanisms of ischemic stroke include neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and the destruction of blood vessels at the lesion site. Here, a biocompatible in situ hydrogel platform was designed to target multiple pathogenic mechanisms post-stroke, including anti-inflammation, anti-oxidant, and promotion of angiogenesis. Double-crosslinked responsive multifunctional hydrogels could quickly respond to the pathological microenvironment of the ischemic damage site and mediate the delivery of nitric oxide (NO) and ISO-1 (inhibitor of macrophage migration inhibitory factor, MIF). The hydrogel demonstrated good biocompatibility and could scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and MIF. In a mouse stroke model, hydrogels, when situated within the microenvironment of cerebral infarction characterized by weak acidity and elevated ROS release, would release anti-inflammatory nanoparticles rapidly that exert an anti-inflammatory effect. Concurrently, NO was sustained release to facilitate angiogenesis and provide neuroprotective effects. Neurological function was significantly improved in treated mice as assessed by the modified neurological severity score, rotarod test, and open field test. These findings indicate that the designed hydrogel held promise for sustained delivery of NO and ISO-1 to alleviate cerebral ischemic injury by responding to the brain's pathological microenvironment.

BACKGROUND:The age distribution of patients with distal femur fracture is bimodal,being more common in young adults with high-energy injuries and older individuals with low-energy injuries.In cases of complex distal femoral fractures,a single less invasive stabilization system or retrograde femoral nail is insufficient to provide a stable environment for fracture healing and combined fixation is often necessary.OBJECTIVE:A novel combined fixation method(less invasive stabilization system combined with retrograde tibial nail)was developed for the treatment of type A3 distal femur fractures.Using finite element analysis,the bio-mechanical properties of this method were compared with two common combined fixation methods—dual plate(less invasive stabilization system combined with locking compression plate)and nail plate combination(less invasive stabilization system combined with retrograde femoral nail).This study aims to provide a theoretical basis for the selection of clinical internal fixation methods for distal femur fracture.METHODS:CT images of a 23-year-old healthy male volunteer were utilized to reconstruct the femur three-dimensional model using Mimics and Geomagic Studio software.This model was then compared with in vitro finite element analysis data from existing literature to validate the accuracy of the femoral three-dimensional model.The three-dimensional model of type A3 distal femur fractures and internal fixation were then created using Creo 5.0 software.Three kinds of different combined fixation methods(less invasive stabilization system+retrograde tibial nail,less invasive stabilization system+locking compression plate,less invasive stabilization system+retrograde femoral nail)were assembled and subjected to Boolean operation to establish three sets of finite element models.These models were then imported into Abaqus finite element analysis software to assign material properties,apply consistent boundary conditions,and submit calculations under three loads(normal standing,slow walking,and descending stairs).The resulting stress distribution within the internal fixation as well as overall and local deformation of the femur was analyzed.Furthermore,the failure risk and anti-deformation ability of the new combined fixation method(less invasive stabilization system combined with retrograde tibial nail)were evaluated.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Although the anti-deformation ability of the less invasive stabilization system combined with retrograde tibial nail was approximately 10％lower than that of the less invasive stabilization system combined with locking compression plate,it was comparable to that of less invasive stabilization system combined with retrograde femoral nail and demonstrated good anti-deformation ability.(2)The stiffness of the femur with all three combined fixation methods remained consistent during gait,while femur displacement increased linearly with load,indicating high stability.(3)The failure risk associated with less invasive stabilization system combined with retrograde tibial nail was lower than that of the other two methods,with a 2.94％reduction in failure risk compared to less invasive stabilization system combined with locking compression plate.(4)This new combined fixation method offers distinct advantages in terms of anti-deformation ability,safety,and effectiveness,laying a theoretical foundation for further clinical application.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of retrograde tibial intramedullary nail (RTN) combined with less invasive stabilization system (LISS) in the treatment of distal femoral fractures.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 11 patients with distal femoral fractures who underwent RTN combined with LISS locking plate treatment at the 909th Hospital from June 2021 to December 2022. There were 5 males and 6 females, with an average age of 56.5±17.5 years. The fracture types were AO/OTA 33A2 in 2 cases, A3 in 2 cases, C1 in 2 cases, and C2 in 2 cases. There were 3 cases of periprosthetic femoral fractures after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), all classified as Rorabeck type Ⅱ. They were treated with retrograde intramedullary nailing of the tibia combined with a minimally invasive lateral internal fixation system. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture healing time, full weight-bearing time, femorotibial angle, range of motion (ROM) of the knee joint, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score, visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, and complications were recorded.Results:The operation was successfully completed in all 11 cases. The operation time was 98.3±9.0 min (range 83-115 min), and the intraoperative blood loss was 167.8±24.3 ml (range 120-210 ml). All 11 cases were followed up for 11.0±1.9 months (range 9-15 months). The healing time of 11 cases was 5.3±0.8 months (range 4-6 months) after operation. The time of complete weight-bearing activity after operation was 55.7±6.5 d (range 46-67 d). At the last follow-up, the femoral-tibial angle of 11 cases was 171.2°±1.8° (range 169°-174°), the ROM of knee joint was 129.5°±4.7° (range 120°-135°), and the HSS score was 86.8±6.9 points (range 69-95 points). There were no major complications except for one case of superficial infection of surgical incision after operation.Conclusion:RTN combined with lateral LISS locking plate showed good clinical effect with the advantages of less trauma, reliable fixation, rapid recovery, less postoperative complications.

Objective:To investigate the clinical significance and inducing factors of abnormal intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) signals during surgery for cervical degenerative diseases.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 586 patients who underwent cervical degenerative disease surgery with IONM at the Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, from April 2015 to April 2024. Surgical approaches included 380 anterior spinal canal decompression and fusion procedures, 154 posterior spinal canal decompression and fusion procedures (including single-door laminoplasty, total laminectomy, and hemilaminectomy), and 52 combined anterior-posterior surgeries. The multimodal IONM protocol employed transcranial electrical stimulation motor evoked potentials (TES-MEP) and cortical somatosensory evoked potentials (CSEP), combined with electromyography (EMG). Bilateral deltoid muscles, thenar/hypothenar muscles and abductor hallucis muscles were monitored in all patients. Intraoperative MEP, SEP, and EMG results were recorded to analyze the causes of abnormal signals, intraoperative response strategies, and postoperative neurological function and outcomes. Fourfold table chi-square tests were used to analyze factors possibly associated with IONM alerts.Results:Among the 586 cervical surgeries, 17 cases (2.9%) exhibited abnormal IONM signals. These included 4 cases of anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), 4 cases of anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF), and 2 cases of combined anterior-posterior surgeries for cervical spondylotic myelopathy; and 5 posterior surgeries and 2 anterior ACCF procedures for ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). The rate of abnormal IONM signals was significantly higher in patients with maximum spinal cord compression (MSCC)>60% (5.8%, 12/208) than in those with MSCC≤60% (χ 2=9.417, P=0.002); in patients with intraoperative hypotension during posterior surgery (mean arterial pressure reduction>20% from baseline, cumulative duration>20 min), the abnormal IONM rate was 22.2% (6/27), which was significantly higher than that in patients without intraoperative hypotension (χ 2=33.542, P<0.001); in patients who underwent calcified tissue removal during anterior surgery, the abnormal IONM rate was 9.3% (5/54), which was significantly higher than that in patients without calcified tissue removal (χ 2=13.162, P=0.003). Thus, MSCC>60%, intraoperative hypotension during posterior surgery, and calcified tissue removal during anterior surgery may be inducing factors for abnormal IONM signals. Among the 17 patients with monitoring abnormalities, 8 cases showed no significant improvement after corresponding intraoperative treatments, and 7 of these 8 cases experienced varying degrees of muscle strength decline and sensory numbness immediately after surgery; 9 cases showed partial or complete recovery of signals, among which 8 cases had no new-onset neurological impairment after surgery, and 1 case developed unilateral upper limb grip strength decline. IONM demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.8750 and specificity of 0.8889. Conclusions:Multimodal IONM can detect electrophysiological abnormalities of spinal cord nerve function during cervical degenerative disease surgery, providing real-time warning of potential nerve damage during the operation. The proportion of abnormal IONM signals is relatively high in cases with MSCC>60%, intraoperative hypotension during posterior cervical surgery, or calcified tissue removal during anterior cervical surgery.

Objective To assess functional abnormalities in frontoparietal attention network of patients with traumatic brain injury(TBI),and to analyze neural mechanism of its attention disorders based on independent component analysis(ICA).Methods Totally 84 TBI patients were prospectively enrolled and divided into mild(n=33),moderate(n=27)and severe TBI groups(n=24)according to symptoms,non-contrast enhanced MRI findings,Glasgow coma scale(GCS)and Mayo craniocerebral trauma grading criteria.ICA was used to extract and analyze the optimal independent components(IC)of the dorsal attention network(DAN)and ventral attention network(VAN).Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to explore the correlations of functional connectivity(FC)of brain regions being significantly different among groups within attention network and the scores of trail making test A/B(TMT-A/B).Results Compared with control group and mild TBI group,spatial distribution of DAN(especially bilateral frontal eye field[FEF])in moderate and severe TBI groups were significantly smaller,the clusters tended to be discrete,and the intensity were significantly weakened.The right temporal parietal junction(TPJ)and right ventral frontal cortex(VFC)of VAN in control group,mild and moderate TBI groups were significantly affected,and VFC connection strength was the highest in severe TBI group.FC intensity in right VFC of TBI patients was positively correlated with TMT-A score(r=0.654,P＜0.001),which in left FEF was negatively correlated with TMT-B score(r=—0.383,P＜0.001).Conclusion FC of frontoparietal attention network was abnormal in TBI patients,which might be neural mechanism for its attention behavior disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of Holosight robotic navigation-assisted percutaneous cannulated screw fixation for femoral neck fractures. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 65 patients with femoral neck fractures treated with cannulated screw fixation between January 2022 and February 2024. Among them, 31 patients underwent robotic navigation-assisted screw placement (navigation group), while 34 underwent conventional freehand percutaneous screw fixation (freehand group). Baseline characteristics, including age, gender, fracture side, injury mechanism, Garden classification, Pauwels classification, and time from injury to operation, showed no significant differences between the two groups ( P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fluoroscopy frequency, fracture healing time, and complications were recorded and compared, and hip function was evaluated by Harris score at last follow-up. Postoperative anteroposterior and lateral hip X-ray films were taken to assess screw distribution accuracy, including deviation from the femoral neck axis, inter-screw parallelism, and distance from screws to the femoral neck cortex. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in operation time between the two groups ( P>0.05). However, the navigation group demonstrated superior outcomes in intraoperative blood loss, fluoroscopy frequency, deviation from the femoral neck axis, inter-screw parallelism, and distance from screws to the femoral neck cortex ( P<0.05). No incision infections or deep vein thrombosis occurred. All patients were followed up 12-18 months (mean, 16 months). In the freehand group, 1 case suffered from cannulated screw dislodgement and nonunion secondary to osteonecrosis of femoral head at 1 year after operation, 1 case suffered from screw penetration secondary to osteonecrosis of femoral head at 5 months after operation; and 1 case suffered from nonunion secondary to osteonecrosis of femoral head at 6 months after operation in the navigation group. All the 3 patients underwent internal fixators removal and total hip arthroplasty. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups ( P>0.05). The fracture healing time and hip Harris score at last follow-up in the navigation group were significantly better than those in the freehand group ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION Compared to freehand percutaneous screw fixation, Holosight robotic navigation-assisted cannulated screw fixation for femoral neck fractures achieves higher precision, reduced intraoperative radiation exposure, smaller incisions, and superior postoperative hip function recovery.
Humans ; Femoral Neck Fractures/diagnostic imaging* ; Bone Screws ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Male ; Female ; Retrospective Studies ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Operative Time ; Fracture Healing ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Fluoroscopy

OBJECTIVES: To explore the synthesis of high-quality CT (sCT) from cone-beam CT (CBCT) using PE-CycleGAN for adaptive radiotherapy (ART) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS: A perception-enhanced CycleGAN model "PE-CycleGAN" was proposed, introducing dual-contrast discriminator loss, multi-perceptual generator loss, and improved U-Net structure. CBCT and CT data from 80 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients were used as the training set, with 7 cases as the test set. By quantifying the mean absolute error (MAE), peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity index (SSIM), as well as the dose gamma pass rate and the relative dose deviations of the target area and organs at risk (OAR) between sCT and reference CT, the image quality and dose calculation accuracy of sCT were evaluated. RESULTS: The MAE of sCT generated by PE-CycleGAN compared to the reference CT was (56.89±13.84) HU, approximately 30% lower than CBCT's (81.06±15.86) HU (P<0.001). PE-CycleGAN's PSNR and SSIM were 26.69±2.41dB and 0.92±0.02 respectively, significantly higher than CBCT's 21.54±2.37dB and 0.86±0.05 (P<0.001), indicating substantial improvements in image quality and structural similarity. In gamma analysis, under the 2 mm/2% criterion, PE-CycleGAN's sCT achieved a pass rate of (90.13±3.75)%, significantly higher than CBCT's (81.65±3.92)% (P<0.001) and CycleGAN's (87.69±3.50)% (P<0.05). Under the 3 mm/3% criterion, PE-CycleGAN's sCT pass rate of (90.13±3.75)% was also significantly superior to CBCT's (86.92±3.51)% (P<0.001) and CycleGAN's (94.58±2.23)% (P<0.01). The mean relative dose deviation of the target area and OAR between sCT and planned CT was within ±3% for all regions, except for the Lens Dmax (Gy), which had a deviation of 3.38% (P=0.09). The mean relative dose deviations for PTVnx HI, PTVnd HI, PTVnd CI, PTV1 HI, PRV_SC, PRV_BS, Parotid, Larynx, Oral, Mandible, and PRV_ON were all less than ±1% (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS PE-CycleGAN demonstrates the ability to rapidly synthesize high-quality sCT from CBCT, offering a promising approach for CBCT-guided adaptive radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Humans ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography/methods* ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma/radiotherapy* ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated