BACKGROUND:For thoracolumbar spine fractures with developmental stenosis of the vertebral arch,accurate nail placement is difficult using traditional fluoroscopy-assisted techniques.O-arm navigation assistance systems offer higher precision in general vertebral arch nail placement,but there is scarce literature on the application of O-arm navigation-assisted nail placement in thoracolumbar spine fractures with developmental stenosis of the vertebral arch both domestically and abroad. OBJECTIVE:To explore the accuracy of percutaneous vertebral arch nail placement assisted by O-arm navigation in patients with thoracolumbar spine fractures complicated by developmental stenosis of the vertebral arch. METHODS:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 53 patients who underwent percutaneous vertebral arch screw fixation surgery at Department of Orthopedics,General Hospital of Central Theater Command of PLA for thoracolumbar spine fractures complicated by developmental stenosis of the vertebral arch from January 2021 to March 2023.Totally 208 cases of vertebral arch developmental stenosis were found(cases with multiple vertebral arch developmental stenosis were counted separately).Based on the surgical approach,the patients were divided into two groups:O-arm navigation group(n=98)and C-arm fluoroscopy group(n=110).Postoperative imaging data were compared between the two groups,including anatomical perforation score,functional perforation score,actual vs.expected nail trajectory in the horizontal plane,and sagittal plane angle differences. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There was no significant difference in the narrowest width of the pedicle isthmus(pow)between the two groups of patients(P>0.05).The proportions of different degrees of narrowing(mild:6 mm≤pow<7 mm,moderate:5 mm≤pow<6 mm,severe:pow<5 mm)were also not significantly different between the two groups(P>0.05).(2)The overall grade and scores of anatomical perforation and functional perforation were lower in the O-arm group compared to the C-arm group,and these differences were statistically significant(P<0.001).In terms of the angular deviation between the actual and planned screw trajectories,the O-arm group had smaller deviations,and these differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).(3)In the mild and moderate narrowing groups,the O-arm group showed significant advantages in anatomical perforation,functional perforation,and angular deviation between actual and planned screw trajectories,and these differences were statistically significant(P<0.001).(4)The O-arm group demonstrated better performance in anatomical perforation and functional perforation,especially in the T12-L2 segment,with more significant advantages.Additionally,the O-arm group had better angular deviations in actual and planned screw trajectories in all segments compared to the C-arm group.(5)Therefore,the use of O-arm navigation-assisted percutaneous screw placement for the treatment of thoracolumbar fractures with developmental pedicle isthmal narrowing provides higher accuracy and safer surgery.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2023.08.006.].

Osteoporosis is a prevalent skeletal condition characterized by reduced bone mass and strength, leading to increased fragility. Buqi-Tongluo (BQTL) decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, has yet to be fully evaluated for its potential in treating bone diseases such as osteoporosis. To investigate the mechanism by which BQTL decoction inhibits osteoclast differentiation in vitro and validate these findings through in vivo experiments. We employed MTS assays to assess the potential proliferative or toxic effects of BQTL on bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) at various concentrations. TRAcP experiments were conducted to examine BQTL's impact on osteoclast differentiation. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses were utilized to evaluate the relative expression levels of osteoclast-specific genes and proteins under BQTL stimulation. Finally, in vivo experiments were performed using an osteoporosis model to further validate the in vitro findings. This study revealed that BQTL suppressed receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast resorption activity in vitro in a dose-dependent manner without observable cytotoxicity. The inhibitory effects of BQTL on osteoclast formation and function were attributed to the downregulation of NFATc1 and c-fos activity, primarily through attenuation of the MAPK, NF-κB, and Calcineurin signaling pathways. BQTL's inhibitory capacity was further examined in vivo using an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model, demonstrating a strong protective effect against bone loss. BQTL may serve as an effective therapeutic TCM for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and the alleviation of bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency and related conditions.
Animals ; NFATC Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Ovariectomy ; Osteoclasts/metabolism* ; Female ; Osteogenesis/drug effects* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats ; NF-kappa B/genetics* ; Osteoporosis/genetics* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Bone Resorption/genetics* ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Humans ; RANK Ligand/metabolism* ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Transcription Factors

Objectives:To observe the mitochondrial morphology of normal and triple-negative breast cancer cells, extract mitochondria from normal cells, and investigate the effects of mitochondrial transplantation on proliferation, apoptosis, and stemness of triple-negative breast cancer cells.Methods:The morphology of mitochondria was observed by transmission electron microscope. Mitochondria were extracted by mitochondrial extraction kit, mitochondrial protein was identified by western blot, and mitochondrial activity was detected by mitochondrial membrane potential detection kit. MitoTracker Green or MitoTracker Deep Red fluorescent probes were used to label the mitochondria of living cells, and the degree of mitochondria entering LTT cells was observed by confocal laser microscopy at 12, 24, and 96 hours. The effects of mitochondrial transplantation on proliferation, apoptosis, and stemness of breast cancer cells were examined by CCK8, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, and sphere formation assay after 24 hours of mitochondrial transplantation.Results:The mitochondria of normal cells were rod-shaped or elongated, while the mitochondria of triple-negative breast cancer cells were swollen and vacuolated. Western blot results showed that cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (MT-CO1) protein encoded by mitochondria was present in the isolated mitochondria. The content of heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) was higher in mitochondria than that in cytoplasm. The result of the multi-mode microplate reader showed that the content of mitochondrial J-aggregates/monomer was 1.67±0.06, which was significantly higher than 0.35±0.04 of the control group ( P＜0.001). Exogenous mitochondria were observed in LTT cells at 12, 24, and 96 hours after mitochondrial transplantation. The results of the CCK8 experiment showed that OD450 of LTT cells was 0.27±0.13 after 48 hours transplantation, which was lower than 0.62±0.36 of the control group ( P=0.023). The OD450 of MDA-MB-468 cells was 0.30±0.03, which was lower than 0.65±0.10 of the control group ( P=0.004). After 120 hours of mitochondrial transplantation, OD450 in both groups was still significantly lower than that in the control group (P＜0.01). The number of clones formed by mitochondrial transplantation of LTT cells was 21.33±7.31, which was lower than 35.22±13.59 of the control group ( P=0.016). Flow cytometry showed that the early apoptosis rate of LTT cells was (30.07±2.15)% after 24 hours of mitochondrial transplantation, which was higher than 2.07±1.58 of the control group ( P＜0.001). The proportion of early apoptosis in MDA-MB-468 cells was 24.47%±5.22%, which was higher than (7.83±2.06)% in the control group ( P=0.007). In addition, the number of mitochondria transplanted LTT cells into the cell sphere was 46.25±5.40, which was significantly lower than 62.58±6.43 of the control group ( P＜0.001). Conclusion:Normal mitochondria can enter triple-negative breast cancer cells by co-culture, inhibit the proliferation and stemness of triple-negative breast cancer cells, and promote the apoptosis of triple-negative breast cancer cells.

Objectives:To observe the mitochondrial morphology of normal and triple-negative breast cancer cells, extract mitochondria from normal cells, and investigate the effects of mitochondrial transplantation on proliferation, apoptosis, and stemness of triple-negative breast cancer cells.Methods:The morphology of mitochondria was observed by transmission electron microscope. Mitochondria were extracted by mitochondrial extraction kit, mitochondrial protein was identified by western blot, and mitochondrial activity was detected by mitochondrial membrane potential detection kit. MitoTracker Green or MitoTracker Deep Red fluorescent probes were used to label the mitochondria of living cells, and the degree of mitochondria entering LTT cells was observed by confocal laser microscopy at 12, 24, and 96 hours. The effects of mitochondrial transplantation on proliferation, apoptosis, and stemness of breast cancer cells were examined by CCK8, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, and sphere formation assay after 24 hours of mitochondrial transplantation.Results:The mitochondria of normal cells were rod-shaped or elongated, while the mitochondria of triple-negative breast cancer cells were swollen and vacuolated. Western blot results showed that cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (MT-CO1) protein encoded by mitochondria was present in the isolated mitochondria. The content of heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) was higher in mitochondria than that in cytoplasm. The result of the multi-mode microplate reader showed that the content of mitochondrial J-aggregates/monomer was 1.67±0.06, which was significantly higher than 0.35±0.04 of the control group ( P＜0.001). Exogenous mitochondria were observed in LTT cells at 12, 24, and 96 hours after mitochondrial transplantation. The results of the CCK8 experiment showed that OD450 of LTT cells was 0.27±0.13 after 48 hours transplantation, which was lower than 0.62±0.36 of the control group ( P=0.023). The OD450 of MDA-MB-468 cells was 0.30±0.03, which was lower than 0.65±0.10 of the control group ( P=0.004). After 120 hours of mitochondrial transplantation, OD450 in both groups was still significantly lower than that in the control group (P＜0.01). The number of clones formed by mitochondrial transplantation of LTT cells was 21.33±7.31, which was lower than 35.22±13.59 of the control group ( P=0.016). Flow cytometry showed that the early apoptosis rate of LTT cells was (30.07±2.15)% after 24 hours of mitochondrial transplantation, which was higher than 2.07±1.58 of the control group ( P＜0.001). The proportion of early apoptosis in MDA-MB-468 cells was 24.47%±5.22%, which was higher than (7.83±2.06)% in the control group ( P=0.007). In addition, the number of mitochondria transplanted LTT cells into the cell sphere was 46.25±5.40, which was significantly lower than 62.58±6.43 of the control group ( P＜0.001). Conclusion:Normal mitochondria can enter triple-negative breast cancer cells by co-culture, inhibit the proliferation and stemness of triple-negative breast cancer cells, and promote the apoptosis of triple-negative breast cancer cells.

A major impedance to neuronal regeneration after peripheral nerve injury(PNI)is the activation of various programmed cell death mechanisms in the dorsal root ganglion.Ferroptosis is a form of pro-grammed cell death distinguished by imbalance in iron and thiol metabolism,leading to lethal lipid peroxidation.However,the molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis in the context of PNI and nerve regeneration remain unclear.Ferroportin(Fpn),the only known mammalian nonheme iron export protein,plays a pivotal part in inhibiting ferroptosis by maintaining intracellular iron homeostasis.Here,we explored in vitro and in vivo the involvement of Fpn in neuronal ferroptosis.We first delineated that reactive oxygen species at the injury site induces neuronal ferroptosis by increasing intracellular iron via accelerated UBA52-driven ubiquitination and degradation of Fpn,and stimulation of lipid peroxidation.Early administration of the potent arterial vasodilator,hydralazine(HYD),decreases the ubiquitination of Fpn after PNI by binding to UBA52,leading to suppression of neuronal cell death and significant ac-celeration of axon regeneration and motor function recovery.HYD targeting of ferroptosis is a promising strategy for clinical management of PNI.

Objective To investigate the effects of Shengjiyuhong ointment on coagulation system,endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs)differentiation and Rho kinase activity in rats with thromboangiitis obliterans by inhibiting autophagy.Methods The rat model of thromboangiitis obliterans was established by injecting sodium laurate solution into the left lower limb artery.40 SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group,compound sodium aescinate gel group and Shengjiyuhong ointment group,10 per group.The pathological morphology of vascular tissue was detected by HE staining.The expression of autophagy related proteins was detected by Western blot,coagulation system parameters were detected by coagulation detector,EPCs differentiation was detected by flow cytometry,and Rho kinase activity was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results The expression of autophagy marker protein LC3Ⅱ/I,Beclin1,Rho kinase protein,the positive expression rate of CD34 in fibrinogen and EPCs of Shengjiyuhong ointment group were decreased,and the positive expression rate of serum prothrombin time,international normalized ratio,von Willebrand factor in EPCs and the expression of P62 in vascular tissue were increased(P＜0.05).The in vitro experiment showed that Shengjiyuhong ointment could reduce the expression of LC3Ⅱ/I and Beclin1,and increase the expression of P62 protein in injured endothelial cells(P＜0.05).Conclusion Shengjiyuhong ointment can effectively improve the coagulation function,promote the differentiation of EPCs and reduce the activity of Rho kinase in rats with thromboangIItis obliterans.The mechanism may be related to inhibition of autophagy.

Objective:To evaluate the posterior fixation with inclined-long pedicle screws for the injured vertebra combined with two-level interbody fusion for thoracolumbar burst fractures with severe disc injury.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 22 patients who had been treated for thoracolumbar burst fractures with severe disc injury at Department of Orthopaedic, General Hospital of Central Theater Command from June 2016 to June 2021. There were 15 males and 7 females, aged 43.50 (29.75, 52.25) years. By the AO classification, there were 12 cases of type B2, 10 cases of type C3. All the patients were treated by the posterior fixation with inclined-long pedicle screws for the injured vertebra combined with two-level interbody fusion. The visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), anterior vertebral height ratio (AVHR), kyphosis Cobb angle (KCA), vertebral wedge angle (VWA) and spinal canal encroachment rate (SCER) were compared between pre-surgery, 1 week post-surgery, 3 months post-surgery and the last follow-up. Their neurological function was graded according to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale and interbody fusion evaluated according to their 3D CT at the last follow-up.Results:All the 22 patients were followed up for (26.1±1.3) months. In all patients, the VAS and ODI were significantly lower at 1 week post-surgery than the pre-surgery ones ( P<0.05), and then decreased significantly at 3 months post-surgery and at the last follow-up compared with the values at 1 week post-surgery ( P<0.05). For all patients, there were significant improvements in AVHR, KCA, VWA and SCER at 1 week post-surgery, 3 months post-surgery and the last follow-up compared with the pre-surgery values ( P<0.05), and the SCER at the last follow-up was significantly decreased compared with that at 1 week post-surgery ( P<0.05). All patients experienced improved neurological function in different degrees at the last follow-up, and all intervertebral spaces achieved solid bony fusion. Conclusion:In the treatment of thoracolumbar burst fractures with severe disc injury, the posterior fixation with inclined-long pedicle screws for the injured vertebra combined with two-level interbody fusion can lead to satisfactory long-term therapeutic efficacy, because this strategy can effectively reduce spinal canal encroachment, restore the height of the injured vertebra, reconstruct the curvature of the fracture area and ensure reliable intervertebral fusion.

Objective To analyze the correlation between anxiety symptoms and abnormal brain function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) under long-term chronic hypoxia. Methods Twenty-one patients with COPD complicated with anxiety were prospectively selected as COPD group, and 26 healthy individuals matched for gender and age were selected as control group. Both groups underwent high-resolution 3D-T1-weighted imaging (3D-T1WI), T2-fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (T2-FLAIR), and blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) sequence examination. DPARSF and SPM8 software were used to analyze the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) in the brain of the two groups. Results In the COPD group, the ALFF value in the left parahippocampal gyrus-cingulate gyrus increased, and the ALFF value in the right superior frontal gyrus decreased (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis found that there was a negative correlation between the ALFF value in the right superior frontal gyrus and the anxiety score (r=-0.485, P=0.03). Conclusion Chronic hypoxic patients with COPD have brain functional impairment in the right superior frontal gyrus, and the degree of impairment is positively correlated with anxiety symptoms. There may also be compensatory enhancement of brain function activity in the parahippocampal gyrus-cingulate gyrus.

Hypoprothrombinemia-lupus anticoagulant syndrome(HLAS)is a rare disease in which patients present with varying degrees of bleeding and positive lupus anticoagulant with reduced prothrombin on laboratory tests.This article reports a case of HLAS in a middle-aged woman with recurrent gingival bleeding and epistaxis as the first presentation.After admission,tests revealed prolonged prothrombin time(PT),activated partial thromboplastin time(APTT),and reduced coagulation factor Ⅱ activity,and positive lupus anticoagulant(LA).Meanwhile,the patient had symptoms of dry mouth and dry eyes for a long time,and the examination of autoantibodies,tear secretion test and salivary gland emission computed tomography(ECT)were consistent with the diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome.The final diagnosis was HLAS secondary to Sjogren's syndrome.After treatment with methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide,the coagulation disorder gradually improved,and no recurrent bleeding occurred.HLAS is a rare clinical case,which reminds medical staff to be alert to the possibility of HLAS when encountering patients with unexplained prolonged APTT and PT and positive lupus anticoagulant.