Objective To elucidate the changes in the gut microbiota and molecular mechanism of huaier in enhancing the efficacy of oxaliplatin (OXA) chemotherapy in gastric cancer (GC). Methods The effects of huaier on the gut microbiota structure and intestinal barrier function in MKN45-bearing mice were analyzed by using 16S rRNA sequencing, RT-qPCR, and IHC. UPLC-MS and network pharmacology, as well as in vivo experimental approaches, were employed to investigate the key bioactive constituents of huaier systematically and elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which huaier exerts therapeutic effects against GC. The expression of the PI3K/AKT/SREBP pathway was detected in cancer cells and tissues via Western blot analysis. The safety profile of huaier combined with OXA was verified through serum biochemistry and HE-stained tissue section analyses. Results Huaier inhibited the PI3K/AKT/SREBP pathway by increasing the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, reduced lipid droplet deposition, and ultimately enhanced the sensitivity to OXA in the treatment of GC. Conclusion This study demonstrates the value of huaier in gastric cancer treatment by enhancing chemosensitivity and provides novel insights into its systemic therapeutic effects through molecular mechanisms and gut microbiota modulation.

Objective:To study the genetic variation and distribution characteristics of thalassemia in people of childbearing age in Hubei Province, and to provide clinical basis for the local government decision-making departments to formulate and promote appropriate policies for prevention and control of thalassemia.Methods:Venous blood samples were collected from 44 849 people of childbearing age in hospitals in Hubei Province from May 13, 2019 to August 17, 2021. PCR-flow fluorescence hybridization and PCR+diversion hybridization were used to screen thalassemia genes. Spouses of those who tested positive were also tested for thalassemia genes. When both spouses carried the same type of thalassemia gene, the amniotic fluid of pregnant women was extracted for prenatal diagnosis and followed up.Results:Among the 44 849 people of childbearing age, 2 286 cases were diagnosed as thalassemia gene carriers through genetic testing, and the total detection rate was 5.10% (2 286/44 849). Among them, 1 488 cases were diagnosed as α-thalassemia, and the detection rate was 3.32% (1 488/44 849); 767 cases were diagnosed as β-thalassemia, and the detection rate was 1.71% (767/44 849); 31 cases were diagnosed as α-thalassemia combined with β-thalassemia, and the detection rate was 0.07% (31/44 849). The top three genotypes of α-thalassemia were -α 3.7/αα, -- SEA/αα, and -α 4.2/αα, accounting for 58.06% (864/1 488), 26.14% (389/1 488), and8.74% (130/1 488), respectively. The top three genotypes of β-thalassemia were β IVS-Ⅱ-654/β N, β CD41-42/β N, and β CD17/β N, accounting for 41.72% (320/767), 21.25% (163/767), and 16.04% (123/767), respectively. The main genotypes of α-thalassemia combined with β-thalassemia were -α 3.7/αα complex β IVS-Ⅱ-654/β N and -α 3.7/αα complex β CD41-42/β N, accounting for 29.03% (9/31) and 16.13% (5/31), respectively. A total of 59 people of childbearing age were conducted prenatal diagnosis, among fetus, there were 4 cases of severe thalassemia (2 cases of severe α-thalassemia, 2 cases of severe β-thalassemia), 5 cases of intermediate α-thalassemia, 5 cases of intermediate or severe β-thalassemia, 19 cases of mild thalassemia (8 cases of mild α-thalassemia, 11 cases of mild β-thalassemia), 13 cases of stationary α-thalassemia, and 1 case of stationary α-thalassemia combined with mild β-thalassemia, there were 12 cases without α-thalassemia or β-thalassemia genes. After follow-up, 4 cases of severe thalassemia, 2 cases of intermediate α-thalassemia, and 5 cases of intermediate or severe β-thalassemia were terminated pregnancy by the joint decision of both parents. Conclusions:In Hubei Province, the detection rate of thalassemia is high, and α-thalassemia is the main mutation type. The combination of thalassemia gene screening and prenatal diagnosis is of great significance in reducing the birth rate of children with thalassemia.

Objective:To evaluate a novel distraction reductor in the surgical treatment of unstable distal radius fractures with metaphyseal volar comminution.Methods:From January 2019 to December 2020, 27 patients with unstable distal radius fracture complicated with metaphyseal volar comminution were treated at Department of Orthopaedics, Zhoupu Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences. They were 6 males and 21 females, with an age of (69.4±9.4) years. All fractures were unilateral and closed, involving the right side in 17 cases and the left side in 10 cases. All patients were treated by internal fixation with an anatomical locking plate through the volar approach and the novel distraction reductor was used to reduce the fracture ends. Regular imaging examinations were performed to evaluate the reduction, maintenance and union of fractures after surgery. One year after operation, the curative efficacy was assessed by evaluation of the range of wrist motion, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, Gartland-Werley score and Bartra radiology score.Results:All the operations went on successfully with a duration of (92.3±8.9) min. All the incisions healed primarily. The follow-up time was (15.9±2.9) months. The radial height, palmar tilt, ulnar inclination and articular surface step-off immediately after operation [(11.23±1.51) mm, 12.10°±3.44°, 20.54°±3.44°, and (0.95±0.42) mm] were not significantly lost compared with those one year after operation [(11.22±1.55) mm, 12.07°±3.44°, 20.51°±3.33°, and (0.93±0.40) mm] (all P>0.05). One year after operation, the range of wrist motion was good with dorsiflexion of 59.7°±5.5°, palm flexion of 63.0°±9.1°, pronation of 66.5°±5.5°, supination of 61.2°±5.6°, radial deviation of 22.7°±4.8°, and ulnar deviation of 30.3°±6.1°; DASH score was 13.5±5.5; Bartra radiology score was 88.6±6.5, giving an excellent and good rate of 88.9% (24/27);Gartland-Werley score was 2.7±2.1, giving an excellent and good rate of 92.6% (25/27). Follow-ups observed no poor fracture healing, internal fixation failure, tendon or nerve injury or traumatic arthritis. Conclusion:In the surgical treatment of unstable distal radius fractures with metaphyseal volar comminution, the novel distraction reductor can lead to ideal reduction of displaced fractures and effectively correct the shortening caused by volar cortex comminution to achieve satisfactory functional effects in clinic.

Femoral head fracture is commonly seen in high-energy injury. However, compression fracture of femoral head is more rare. In most classifications of femoral head fracture, the compression is unusually involved. A case about acute traumatic dislocation of hip joint with compression fracture of femoral head is reported, involving a patient who hurt himself by riding electric bike and hitting the flower bed. He came to our hospital complaining of pain and limited motion of his right leg. The diagnosis of right hip anterior dislocation with the compression fracture of femoral head was confirmed by medical history, physical examination and imaging. Closed reduction of hip dislocation was performed in an emergency. Then we transplanted the bone cartilage from the non-weight-bearing area under the femoral head to the collapsed weight-bearing area, fixing it with countersunk hollow screws, and then the non-weight-bearing donor area was reconstructed with autogenous iliac bone, using surgical hip dislocation. The anatomical structure of the femoral head was therefore restored successfully during the operation. Three months after surgery, the X-ray showed that the femoral head was smooth and the cartilage graft was well fixed. Eight months after surgery, the patient gradually increased the bearing weight from partial to full according to his own condition, and there was no obvious pain in hip. After 24-month follow-up, we found the X-rays showed good reduction and fixation of the femoral head fracture. The CT scan showed no necrosis or cystic degeneration. He got well-active and passive movement in hip joint, and got no pain when walking with burden. For the patient with hip dislocation and compression fracture of femoral head, early joint reduction and non-weight-bearing osteocartilage transplantation can restore the anatomical structure of the weight-bearing area of the femoral head, to avoid traumatic osteoarthritis, and to improve the long-term quality of life of patients.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of a retrograde pubic ramus intramedullary nail (RPRIN) in the treatment of anterior pelvic ring fractures.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 14 patients with anterior pelvic ring fracture who had been treated and followed up at Department of Traumatic Surgery, Tongji Hospital From June 2020 to February 2021. There were 10 males and 4 females with an age of (44.8±12.5) years. By the AO/OTA classification for pelvic fractures, 5 cases were type 61-A, 4 cases 61-B, and 5 cases type 61-C; by the Nakatani classification, 1 case belonged to unilateral zone Ⅰ fracture, 5 cases to unilateral zone Ⅱ fracture, 2 cases to unilateral zone Ⅲ fracture, 3 cases to right zone Ⅱ and left zone Ⅲ fracture, 2 cases to zone Ⅲ fracture on both left and right sides, and 1 case to zone Ⅱ fracture on both sides. The time from injury to operation was (7.8±1.8) days. All the anterior pelvic ring fractures were fixated with a RPRIN. The time and fluoroscopic frequency for placement of every single RPRIN, quality of fracture reduction, and pelvic function and incidence of postoperative complications at the last follow-up were recorded.Results:A total of 18 RPRINs were placed in the 14 patients. For placement of each RPRIN, the time was (35.9±8.6) min, and the fluoroscopic frequency (22.8±1.9) times. No complications such as infection occurred at any surgical incision after RPRIN placement. According to the Matta scoring, the quality of postoperative fracture reduction was assessed as excellent in 7 cases, as good in 5 cases and as fair in 2 cases. The 14 patients were followed up for (18.1+1.5) months. Their X-ray and CT images of the pelvis at the last follow-up showed that the fractures healed well and the intramedullary nails were placed in the cortical bone of the anterior ring of the pelvis. According to the Majeed scoring at the last follow-up, the pelvic function was assessed as excellent in 10 cases, as good in 3 cases and as fair in 1 case. One patient reported discomfort during squatting 2 months after operation but the symptom improved 3 months later without any special treatment. No patient experienced such complications as displacement or slippage of RPRIN, or pain at the insertion site.Conclusion:RPRIN is effective in the treatment of anterior pelvic ring fractures, showing advantages of small surgical incision, limited intraoperative fluoroscopy and short operation time.

Objective:To investigate the clinical therapy of sacral osteotomy combined with lumbopelvic distraction triangular osteosynthesis for malunion and nonunion of type C longitudinally displaced sacral fracture.Methods:A retrospective study of 9 patients with malunion and nonunion of type C pelvic fractures who had been treated with sacral osteotomy combined with triangular osteosynthesis from April 2015 to January 2020 were analyzed. They were 5 men and 4 women, with an average age of 30.67±10.06 (range 14-45 years). AO/OTA classification at initial pelvic fracture, 8 cases were type C1.3 and one was type C3.3. The period from injury to surgery was 12.8±18.92 months (range 3-60 months). The cranial displacement of one side of the pelvis was 3.8±0.57 cm (range 2.5-4.1 cm). Sacral osteotomy and triangular osteosynthesis were used in all nine patients, combined with osteotomy or no osteotomy of the superior and inferior branches of the anterior ring pubis. The degree of longitudinal displacement of one side of the pelvis was assessed by making a vertical line gap between the acetabular apex on both sides and the central axis of the sacrum on the X-ray of the pelvis. The Majeed scoring and visual analogue scale (VAS) were evaluated preoperatively and at the last follow-up to assess the therapeutic effect of the patients.Results:In all 9 patients, except for 1 case of postoperative pelvic residual displacement 1.5 cm (preoperative 3.2 cm difference compared with the healthy side), the other 8 patients had a postoperative bilateral difference of 0.1-0.7 cm. All the patients were followed up for 12.00±9.95 months. At the last follow-up, the Majeed score of pelvic fracture increased from 44.0(33.5, 76.0) points preoperatively to 91.0(80.5, 92.5) points. The difference before and after operation was statistically significant ( Z=2.67, P<0.001), and the gait was significantly improved. And the VAS score for pain decreased from 6.00±1.41 points preoperatively to 1.22±0.97 points. The difference before and after operation was statistically significant ( t=8.73, P<0.001). None had complications like infection, plate broken, screw loosening, iatrogenic nerve or blood vessel injury, etc. Conclusion:Sacral osteotomy combined with lumbopelvic distraction triangular osteosynthesis for the treatment of pelvic malunion and nonunion caused by sacral fracture can correct pelvic deformity, prolong limb length, and reconstruct the stability of pelvic ring with good clinical results.

Objective:To investigate clinical effects of lumbopelvic fixation and triangular osteosynthesis using sacral ala-iliac screws for the treatment of sacral fractures.Methods:The data of 12 patients with sacral fractures treated with lumbopelvic fixation and triangular osteosynthesis using sacral ala-iliac screws from December 2019 to June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 3 males and 9 females with an average age of 32.6±15.0 years (range, 13-52 years); causes of injury: 11 fall injuries and 1 traffic injury. The Denis classification of sacrum fracture: 4 cases of type II and 8 cases of type III. AO (Tile-Muller) classification: 4 cases of type C1.3, 8 cases of type C3.3; of the 8 cases of C3.3 fractures, Roy-Camille and Strange-Vognsen classification: 2 cases of type II, 6 cases of type III. According to the scoring system of Gibbons sacral nerve injury, there were 6 cases of scored 3 and 2 cases of scored 4; 4 cases of C1.3 fractures had no nerve injury. The time from injury to operation was 6 to 32 days, with an average of 19.3±9.2 days. After the vital signs were stabilized, laminectomy and decompression of sacral nerve roots, fracture reduction, lumbopelvic fixation and triangular osteosynthesis using sacral ala-ilac screws were performed. The fixation method of the anterior ring was determined according to the injury. The postoperative fracture reduction quality was evaluated according to Matta criteria. The clinical function and neurological function were evaluated according to the Majeed scoring system and Gibbons sacral nerve injury scoring system at the last follow-up.Results:Twelve patients were operated smoothly. 8 cases of C3.3 fractures were fixed by lumbopelvic fixation, of which 6 cases of U-shaped fractures were fixed by transverse rods due tolongitudinal separation displacement; Four cases of C1.3 used triangular osteosynthesis and transverse fixation in 3 cases with sacroiliac screws, and 1 case with sacral local plate. Six patients with anterior ring injury were fixed with steel plate in 4 cases, INFIX in 1 case and pubic branch screw in 1 case. All patients were followed up for 6 to 12 months, with an average of 7.3±1.7 months. Postoperative Matta standard evaluation: excellent in 7 cases; good in 4 cases; fair in 1 case. Majeed score at the last follow-up: excellent in 6 cases, good in 5 cases, and fair in 1 case. One of 2 cases of rectal and bladder dysfunction patients completely recovered, the other was found partial rupture of the nerve roots of sacrum 1 and 2 during operation, whose muscle strength below the calf was still reduced; 6 cases of preoperative muscle strength loss below the calf were significantly improved, among which 4 patients recovered completely, and 2 patients had lower limb sensory impairment; the Gibbons score improved by an average of 1.8±0.7 points (preoperative average 3.2 points, postoperative average 1.4 points). X-ray examinations were performed 3 to 6 months after the operation showed that the fractures were all healed. During the follow-up period, no complications such as fat liquefaction, infection, wound healing, and screw protrusion discomfort were found.1 case of S 2AI screw penetrated the outer plate of the ilium, and there was no pelvic tilt and unequal length deformity of the lower limbs. One patient took out the internal fixation 6 months after the operation due to lower back discomfort. At the last follow-up, all patients had no internal fractures or loss of fracture reduction. Conclusion:Lumbopelvic fixation and triangular osteosynthesis using sacral ala-iliac screws for the treatment of sacral fractures are reliable, with less trauma and lower incidence of complications; and the clinical results are satisfactory.

This study was aimed to observe the effects on glucolipid metabolism of aqueous extract of traditional South African herb Sutherlandia. Intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) combined with high fat feed method was used in the establishment of type 2 diabetes rat model. Then, rats were randomly divided into the normal group, model group, pioglitazone group, and the Sutherlandia group. Observation was made on changes of body weight, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), blood triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein (HDL-C). Western blot method was used to detect IRS-1 expression of skeletal muscle in rats of each group. The results showed that compared with the normal group, body weight in the model group was decreased, and indicators of OGTT, TG, TC, LDL-C were significantly increased (P< 0.05). Symptoms such as increased drink-ing, eating and urine were obvious; and the IRS-1 expression was obviously decreased (P< 0.05). After treatment, compared with the model group, there was no significant body weight increase in the Sutherlandia group or the pi-oglitazone group. Indicators of blood glucose, TG, TC in the Sutherlandia group and the pioglitazone group were ob-viously decreased with no statistical difference (P< 0.05 or P< 0.01). In the Sutherlandia group and the pioglitazone group, IRS-1 expression of skeletal muscle in rats was obviously increased with no statistical difference (P< 0.05). It was concluded that type 2 diabetes rats induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ combined with high fat feed method can induce glucolipid metabolism disorders. Traditional South African herb Sutherlandia can obviously reduce the blood sugar level, improve blood lipid metabolism, and improve the level of insulin. Sutherlandia can improve the IRS-1 expression of skeletal muscle in rats, relief the insulin resistance, and lower blood sugar. However, the effect of its exact ways required further in-depth study.