Objective:To explore the utility of a robotic trunk support brace (a RoboBDsys) in evaluating seated trunk control after a spinal cord injury (SCI).Methods:Twenty wheelchair-dependent SCI patients were tested for trunk resistance while seated and wearing the RoboBDsys. In the test they were required to maintain an upright seated position for 1 minute while external forces were applied from the left, right, anterior and posterior directions. The system generated eight observations of swings of the center of pressure (COP), their mean velocity and their standard deviations. Sway area, sway path (SP), mean sway frequency (MF) and mean sway amplitude (MA) were also recorded along with the maximum voluntary contraction torque (MVC). The trunk control test (TCT), the Tinetti Balance Scale (Tinetti), the modified Functional Reach Test (mFRT) and Spinal Cord Independence Measure III (SCIM-III) were also administerd and their results were correlated with the RoboBDsys resistance test results.Results:All twenty of the patients completed the resistance test in the left and right directions, but only 11 did it in the anterior and posterior directions. In the left and right-direction resistance tests the average center of pressure deviation, sway area and MVC showed some significant correlation with the TCT, Tinetti, mFRT and SCIM-III results (| r| ranging from 0.46 to 0.74). The average MVC in the anterior-direction correlated moderately with the TCT, mFRT and SCIM-III results (| r|=0.63 to 0.67), while that in the posterior-direction had moderate correlation with the TCT and mFRT results only (| r|=0.63 to 0.67). Conclusion:The Robotic Brace for Dynamic Trunk Support system can be effective in assessing reactive postural control and functional independence after a spinal cord injury.

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical efficacy and safety of Fuzheng Huaji Longbi decoction in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia （BPH） in the patients with the syndrome of healthy Qi deficiency and blood stasis. MethodA total of 94 BPH patients were randomized into control and observation groups， with 47 patients in each group. The control group was treated with doxazosin mesylate sustained-release tablets， and the observation group with Fuzheng Huaji Longbi decoction on the basis of the therapy in the control group. After eight weeks， the international prostate symptom score （IPSS）， quality of life （QOL） score， residual urine volume （RUV）， maximum urinary flow rate （Q_max）， TCM syndrome score， TCM symptom score， electrocardiogram， and liver and kidney function were determined to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the two groups. ResultAfter 8 weeks of treatment， the total response rate in the control group was 63.64% （28/44）， which was lower than that （84.44%， 38/45） in the observation group （χ²=5.026， P<0.05）. The clinical efficacy in the observation group was higher than that in the control group （Z=-2.17， P=0.030）. The treatment in both groups decreased the IPSS， QOL score， RUV， and TCM syndrome scores and increased the Q_max （P<0.05）. Moreover， the observation group had lower IPSS， QOL score， RUV， and TCM syndrome score （P<0.05） and higher Q_max than the control group after treatment （P<0.05）. The treatment in the observation group decreased all the TCM symptom scores （P<0.05）， while that in the control group only decreased the frequency of urination at night and the scores of dysuria， weak urine stream， and post-urinary drainage （P<0.05）. After treatment， the observation group had lower frequency of urination at night and lower scores of mental fatigue， cold limbs， lower abdominal discomfort， and loose stool than the control group （P<0.05）. No adverse events associated with the administration of Fuzheng Huaji Longbi decoction were observed during the treatment period. ConclusionFuzheng Huaji Longbi decoction is effective in treating BPH in the patients with the syndrome of healthy qi deficiency and blood stasis. It can relieve the clinical symptoms and improve the quality of life， being a safe and reliable choice for clinical application.

Objective:To preliminary evaluate the validity and reliability of the Comprehensive International Classification of Functioning,Disability and Health(ICF)Core Set for Knee Arthroplasty Perioperative Period.Methods:Patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis and undergoing knee arthroplasty(n=41)were recrui-ted for study of criterion validity,internal consistency,interclass reliability and intraclass reliability.The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index(WOMAC),Mos 36-item Short Form Health Survey(SF-36),Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS)and Self-rating Depression Scale(SDS)were used to test criterion validity.Results:The scores of body structure and function and activity and participation components were positive-ly correlated with the WOMAC pain,physical function and total scores(ICC=0.59-0.92),as well as scores of SF-36(ICC=0.46-0.89).The scores of b130,b134,b152,d230 and d240 categories were positively correlated with the SAS scores(ICC=0.41-0.73),and the score of b530 category was positively correlated with the SDS scores(ICC=0.47),Ps＜0.05.The Cronbach α of the body structure and function,activity and participation,and environmental factors components were 0.93,0.93 and 0.53 respectively.The ICCs of interclass reliability ranged from 0.44 to 0.99,the ICCs of intraclass reliability ranged from 0.66 to 0.97.Conclusion:The Comprehensive ICF Core Set for Knee Arthroplasty Perioperative Period has a relatively good validity and reliability.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an important factor for the occurrence and development of CKD. The protective effect of dihydroartemisinin on AKI and and reported mechanism have not been reported. In this study, we used two animal models including ischemia-reperfusion and UUO, as well as a high-glucose-stimulated HK-2 cell model, to evaluate the protective effect of dihydroartemisinin on premature senescence of renal tubular epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated that dihydroartemisinin improved renal aging and renal injury by activating autophagy. In addition, we found that co-treatment with chloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor, abolished the anti-renal aging effect of dihydroartemisinin in vitro. These findings suggested that activation of autophagy/elimination of senescent cell might be a useful strategy to prevent AKI/UUO induced renal tubular senescence and fibrosis.
Animals ; Kidney ; Acute Kidney Injury/chemically induced* ; Ischemia ; Reperfusion Injury/drug therapy* ; Autophagy ; Reperfusion

Objective:To investigate the test-retest reliability and criterion validity of the Robotic Brace for Dynamic Trunk Support System(RoboBDsys)in evaluating seated trunk control function in patients with spinal cord in-jury(SCI). Method:From October to December,2022,20 patients with spinal cord injury who were unable to walk were recruited.All participants completed RoboBDsys trunk control test including static control test and dynam-ic control test on the seated platform.The evaluation indexes were the supporting torque regression slope exert-ed by the robot platform on the direction of x,y,α,and θ,recorded as Kx,Ky,Kθ,Kα;the average sup-porting torque recorded as Fx,Fy,Mθ,Mα in the static control test;and the the Range of Motion(ROM)of trunk in four directions in the dynamic control test.All the participants completed Trunk Control Test(TCT)as criterion assessment.The test interval was one week,intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC)values were calculated between two RoboBDsys trunk control test. Result:There were 13 participants completed two tests.In the static control test,the ICCs of four indexes were 0.418-0.742 between 2 tests;the ICCs of all indexes in dynamic control test were 0.633-0.848,which all showed moderate to high test-retest reliability.In regards of criterion validity,there was low to mod-erate correlation between Ky,Mθ,Mα in static control test and TCT(|r|=0.467-0.561,P＜0.05);all indexes except right lateral flection ROM in dynamic control test showed moderate to high correlation with TCT(r=0.559-0.758,P＜0.05). Conclusion:RoboBDsys is a reliable and valid tool for evaluating seated trunk control function in patients with SCI.

ObjectiveTo conduct a systematic review of the susceptibility gene polymorphism sites of primary knee osteoarthritis (PKO). MethodsThe literature on genetic susceptibility and gene polymorphisms of PKO were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data, and China Biomedical Literature Database from establishment of the library to December, 2020, and systematically reviewed. ResultsA total of 42 papers on the polymorphism sites of human PKO susceptibility genes were included, involving cellular signaling pathways related to PKO pathogenesis, including inflammatory response, receptor signaling pathway, transcription factor signaling pathway, bone-related signaling pathway, etc. Multiple gene polymorphism sites located in inflammatory factor genes, chemokine genes, Toll-like receptor genes, transcription factor genes, obesity-related genes, and bone-related genes. ConclusionInflammatory factor genes and bone-associated allele polymorphisms are likely to be related to PKO susceptibility.

Human challenge trial (HCT) is a test in which human volunteers are intentionally infected with pathogens in order to evaluate the efficacy of candidate preventive or therapeutic drugs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the HCT of vaccines has aroused people's attention due to its significant advantages over clinical trial. This paper introduces the concept, development and application of HCT, the advantages and limitations of HCT for vaccine evaluation, and the consideration of future HCT of COVID-19 vaccine in China.

Objective To assess the association of polymorphism at rs12645561 locus of Nei endonuclease Ⅷ-like 3 ( NEIL3) gene with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis in Han population of Hubei and Henan regions in central China. Methods In 947 cases undergoing coronary angiography, the severity of coronary atherosclerosis was calculated by lesion vessel number scores and Gensini scores.The genotypes of rs12645561 were analyzed by high resolution melting curve. The plasma NEIL3 levels were measured by en-zyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The minor allele T of rs12645561 was significantly associated with the risk of coronary ar-tery disease (χ2=12.165, P<0.05) including increased lesion vessel scores and Gensini scores (χ2=14.745 and 15.615,P<0.05). The variant risk genotypes ( CC+CT) of rs12645561, body mass index of more than 25 kg/m2 , hypelipidemia and smoking habit were all the independent risk factors for higher Gensini scores ( OR=1.50, 1.54, 2.01 and 1.42, respectively, P<0.05) . There were signifi-cantly inverse correlations of plasma NEIL3 levels with the distribution of rs12645561, lesion vessel number scores and Gensini scores ( P<0.05) . Conclusion rs12645561 may correlate with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis, and contribute to the development of coronary atherosclerosis of Han population of Henan and Hubei regions. rs12645561 may also affect the levels of NEIL3 protein.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of fat infiltration into the muscles of patients with Becker and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) so as to provide a guide for rehabilitation therapy.Methods Twenty-three children with Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) and 47 with DMD who had never been treated with glucocorticoids were enrolled.MRI was performed on both of their thigh muscles.T1 weighted images were used to assess the fat infiltration of their thigh muscles using a 0-5 modified version of Mercuri's scale.The progression of fatty infiltration of the thigh muscles in BMD was analyzed using descriptive statistics.The differences in fat infiltration between BMD and DMD were analyzed using rank sum tests.Results In patients with BMD the adductor magnus most often showed severe fat infiltration,followed by the biceps femoris,quadriceps,semimembranosus and semitendinosus,while the sartorius,gracilis and adductor longus had the lowest percentages of severe fat infiltration.Among the BMD patients the adductor magnus,biceps femoris and quadriceps showed moderate to severe involvement at the age of 8 to 9.The semimembranosus and semitendinosus showed moderate to severe involvement at the age of 10 to 11,and the sartorius,gracilis and adductor longus showed mild to moderate involvement after 15 years of age.Among the age groups of 8,9,10 and 11 years old,the median total fat infiltration scores were 10,22,28 and 25 respectively among the BMD patients,and 29,34,34 and 30 respectively among the DMD patients.At age 8 significant differences between the BMD and DMD patients were observed in the infiltration scores of the adductor magnus,biceps femoris,vastus lateralis,rectus femoris,vastus medialis,vastus intermedius and in the total scores.At age 9 significant differences persisted in the scores of the adductor magnus,rectus femoris,vastus medialis,vastus intermedius and the total scores.Conclusions The muscle MRIs showed significant differences in the degree of fatty infiltration between BMD and DMD patients.These findings may be useful when designing therapeutic regimens and rehabilitation programs for patients with BMD and DMD.

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of FoxM1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma ( ESCC) cell lines and tissues.Methods Western blot assay was used to detect the expression of FoxM1in human esophageal epithelial cells and esophageal squamous cell cancer cell lines TE1, TE10, TE11 and Eca109 cells.To determine whether down-regulation of FoxM1 expression could inhibit the aggressive phenotype of ESCC cells, we knocked down the expression of FoxM1 by using FoxM1-shRNA in TE1 cells.Then we detected the cell proliferation, migration and invasion of TE1 cells by MTT assay, scratch assay and transwell assay.Furthermore, the effect of FoxM1 knockdown on tumorigenicity in nude mice was evaluated.Finally, immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of FoxM1 in 99 cases of ESCC tissues and adjacent normal esophageal tissues.χ2 test was used to analyze the correlations between the expression of FoxM1 and clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of ESCC patients.Results Western blot data showed that FoxM1 expression was lower in normal esophageal epithelial cells and highly expressed in four esophageal cancer cell lines, especially in TE1 cells.Knockdown of FoxM1 inhibited the growth, invasion and migration of TE1 cells and reduced their tumorigenicity in nude mice.The positive expression rate of FoxM1 in ESCC was 61.6%(61/99), significantly higher than that in the paired adjacent normal tissues (24.2%, 24/99) (P<0.05).The positive expression rate of FoxM1 in ESCC tissues was 61.6%( 61/99 ) , significantly higher than that in the paired adjacent normal tissues ( 24.2%, 24/99) ( P<0.05) .FoxM1 expression was significantly and positively correlated with lymph node metastasis, clinical stage and invasive depth ( P<0.05).The median survival time was 42.3 months in 38 cases of patients with negative FoxM1 expression, and 33.0 months in 61 cases of positive FoxM1 expression, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.036).Conclusions FoxM1 is highly expressed in ESCC, and significantly correlated with the initiation, development and prognosis of esophageal cancer. FOXM1 might be an indicator to predict the prognosis and serve as a potential target for therapy in esophageal cancer.