OBJECTIVE: To explore effectiveness of intermediate screw assisted reduction and fixation technique in the treatment of Schatzker type Ⅴ and Ⅵ tibial plateau fractures. METHODS: A clinical data of 22 patients with Schatzker type Ⅴ and Ⅵ tibial plateau fractures, who were admitted between June 2022 and December 2023 and met the selection criteria, was retrospectively analyzed. During operation, the intermediate screw assisted reduction and fixation technique was used. There were 14 males and 8 females with an average age of 46.3 years (range, 17-65 years). The fractures were caused by traffic accident in 13 cases, by falls in 5 cases, and by falling from height in 4 cases. According to Schatzker classification criteria, 9 cases were type Ⅴ and 13 cases were type Ⅵ. The interval between injury and operation was 5-12 days (mean, 7.9 days). The operation time, intraoperative fluoroscopy times, and length of hospital stay were recorded. The range of motion of knee joint and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score were recorded at last follow-up. X-ray films were taken to review the fracture healing. Rasmussen score, tibial plateau varus angle (TPVA), and posterior tibial slope (PTS) were estimated before operation, at immediate after operation, and at last follow-up in order to evaluate the fracture reduction effect and postoperative outcome. RESULTS: The operation time was 85-140 minutes (mean, 103.9 minutes). Intraoperative fluoroscopy was performed 7-15 times (mean, 10.1 times). All incisions healed by first intention after operation, and no complication such as nerve or blood vessel injury occurred. The length of hospital stay ranged from 8 to 17 days (mean, 12.4 days). All patients were followed up 10-22 months (mean, 14.8 months). At last follow-up, the range of motion of knee joint was 110°-140° (mean, 125°). HSS score was rated as excellent in 16 cases, good in 5 cases, and fair in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate of 95.5%. X-ray films reexamination showed that all fractures healed with the healing time of 12-17 weeks (mean, 14.8 weeks). No internal fixation failure occurred. Rasmussen score, TPVA, and PTS at immediate after operation and at last follow-up were significantly superior to those before operation ( P<0.05). And there was no significant difference between immediately after operation and last follow-up ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION The treatment of Schatzker type Ⅴ and Ⅵ tibial plateau fractures with intermediate screw assisted reduction and fixation technique is reliable, which can reduce the difficulty of reduction and fixation, improve the efficiency of reduction and fixation, reduce the operation time, achieve satisfactory reduction and fixation effect and postoperative prognosis, and achieve good recovery of knee joint function.
Humans ; Tibial Fractures/diagnostic imaging* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Bone Screws ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Adolescent ; Aged ; Young Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Operative Time ; Length of Stay ; Tibial Plateau Fractures

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of V-shaped stealth decompression technique using ultrasonic bone scalpel in anterior surgery for adjacent two-level cervical spondylosis. METHODS: A clinical data of 41 patients with adjacent two-level cervical spondylosis, who admitted between January 2020 and December 2023 and met the selection criteria, was analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 22 cases were treated with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) assisted by V-shaped stealth decompression technique using ultrasonic bone scalpel (group A) and 19 cases with anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) (group B). There was no significant difference between the two groups in age, gender, disease duration, surgical segment, preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, neck dysfunction index (NDI), pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and the anteroposterior diameter of the spinal canal in the responsibility space of axial CT ( P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, hospital stay, complications during follow-up, JOA score, NDI, and VAS score at last follow-up, and the incidences of intervertebral fusion at 3 months after operation, and cage subsidence at last follow-up were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The operations in the two groups were successfully completed. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, and hospital stay in group A were significantly less than those in group B ( P<0.05). Two cases (9.1%) in group A and 4 cases (21.1%) in group B developed complications, with no significant difference in the incidence between the two groups ( P>0.05). All patients in the two groups were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 9.3 months). There was no significant difference in follow-up time between the two groups ( P>0.05). At last follow-up, the JOA score and VAS score in both groups significantly improved when compared with those before operation ( P<0.05). The change values of VAS score and the improvement rate of JOA score in group A were significantly superior to group B ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the change values of NDI and JOA score between the two group ( P>0.05). Imaging reexamination showed that the rate of intervertebral fusion at 3 months after operation was significantly higher in group A (81.8%) than in group B (52.6%) ( P<0.05), and all patients obtained bony intervertebral fusion at last follow-up. At last follow-up, 2 cases (9.1%) in group A and 11 cases (57.9%) in group B had cage sinking, and the difference in the incidence was significant ( P<0.05). No loosening or fracture of internal fixators occurred in all patients. CONCLUSION Using ultrasonic bone scalpel can transform single vertebral ACCF into two-segment ACDF in anterior cervical spondylosis surgery. The V-shaped stealth decompression technique is safe and efficient, with the advantages of minimal trauma, fewer postoperative complications, and rapid recovery of patients.
Humans ; Spondylosis/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Decompression, Surgical/instrumentation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Cervical Vertebrae/surgery* ; Spinal Fusion/instrumentation* ; Diskectomy/instrumentation* ; Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Aged ; Ultrasonic Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Operative Time

Objective:To investigate the relationship of plasma residual cholesterol (RC), atherogenic index (AI), triglyceride (TG) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (THR) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to HDL-C ratio (LHR) with mild cognitive impairment(MCI) in middle-aged and elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 318 T2DM patients aged 50-80 years admitted to the general practice ward of Tiantan Hospital from October 2023 to May 2024 were enrolled. The relevant clinical data were collected, including patient basic information, glycated hemoglobin, lipid test results, and cognitive level was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) form. According to MMSE scores, the patients were divided into the MCI group ( n=102) and the normal cognitive (NC) group ( n=216). Results:Compared with the NC group, patients in MCI group had a older age, longer diabetes duration, lower education level, higher HbA1c, and higher plasma TG levels ( P<0.05). The levels of RC, AI, LHR, and THR in the MCI group were significantly higher than those in the NC group ( P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that RC ( OR=1.981, P=0.045), AI ( OR=1.657, P=0.043), LHR ( OR=4.360, P=0.001), and THR ( OR=2.908, P=0.002) were independently associated with mild cognitive impairment in T2DM patients. Age-stratified analysis revealed that among T2DM patients aged 60 to 69 years, all four plasma lipid parameters were associated with the risk of MCI in T2DM patients ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Plasma levels of RC, AI, LHR and THR are significantly associated with MCI in middle-aged and elderly T2DM patients, while LHR and THR have a closer association with MCI.

Objective:To investigate the relationship of plasma residual cholesterol (RC), atherogenic index (AI), triglyceride (TG) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (THR) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to HDL-C ratio (LHR) with mild cognitive impairment(MCI) in middle-aged and elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 318 T2DM patients aged 50-80 years admitted to the general practice ward of Tiantan Hospital from October 2023 to May 2024 were enrolled. The relevant clinical data were collected, including patient basic information, glycated hemoglobin, lipid test results, and cognitive level was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) form. According to MMSE scores, the patients were divided into the MCI group ( n=102) and the normal cognitive (NC) group ( n=216). Results:Compared with the NC group, patients in MCI group had a older age, longer diabetes duration, lower education level, higher HbA1c, and higher plasma TG levels ( P<0.05). The levels of RC, AI, LHR, and THR in the MCI group were significantly higher than those in the NC group ( P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that RC ( OR=1.981, P=0.045), AI ( OR=1.657, P=0.043), LHR ( OR=4.360, P=0.001), and THR ( OR=2.908, P=0.002) were independently associated with mild cognitive impairment in T2DM patients. Age-stratified analysis revealed that among T2DM patients aged 60 to 69 years, all four plasma lipid parameters were associated with the risk of MCI in T2DM patients ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Plasma levels of RC, AI, LHR and THR are significantly associated with MCI in middle-aged and elderly T2DM patients, while LHR and THR have a closer association with MCI.

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that insulin-like growth factor 1/platelet-derived growth factor has an inhibitory effect on fibroblast apoptosis.miR-141-3p in bone marrow stromal cells increases with age and has a relationship with the activation of inflammatory signaling pathways,suggesting that it may be a therapeutic target for lumbar disc herniation. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of miR-141-3p on dorsal root ganglion inflammation and lower limb pain in rats with lumbar disc herniation by regulating insulin-like growth factor 1/platelet-derived growth factor. METHODS:Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats,SPF level,were randomly divided into normal group,model group,miR-NC group,miR-141-3p inhibitor group and miR-141-3p mimics group,with 10 rats in each group.Except for the normal group,animal models of lumbar disc herniation were established in rats by autologous nucleus pulposus transplantation.After successful modeling,rats in the miR-NC,miR-141-3p inhibitor and miR-141-3p mimics groups were injected intrathecally with 10 μL of 20 μmol/L miR-NC,miR-141-3p inhibitor,miR-141-3p mimics,once a day for 28 days,respectively,while those in the normal and model groups were injected with the same volume of saline at the same location at the same time.Paw withdrawal thermal latency threshold was used to evaluate lower limb pain in rats.The mRNA expression of miR-141-3p in dorsal root ganglion tissue was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR,the levels of inflammatory factors in dorsal root ganglion tissue were detected by ELISA,and the expression of insulin-like growth factor 1/platelet-derived growth factor in dorsal root ganglion tissue was detected by western blot.The correlation between miR-141-3p and insulin-like growth factor 1/platelet-derived growth factor was analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There were no significant differences in all indexes between the miR-NC group and the model group.Paw withdrawal thermal latency threshold was significantly lower in the model group than in the normal group(P＜0.05),significantly lower in the miR-141-3p inhibitor group than the miR-NC group(P＜0.05),and significantly higher in the miR-141-3p mimics group than in the miR-141-3p inhibitor group(P＜0.05).The mRNA expression of miR-141-3p in dorsal root ganglion tissue was significantly lower in the model group than in the normal group(P＜0.05),significantly lower in the miR-141-3p inhibitor group than in the miR-NC group(P＜0.05),and significantly higher in the miR-141-3p mimics group than in the miR-141-3p inhibitor group(P＜0.05).The levels of tumor necrosis factor α,interleukin 1β,and interleukin 1 in dorsal root ganglion tissue were significantly higher in the model group than in the normal group(P＜0.05),significantly higher in the miR-141-3p inhibitor group than in the miR-NC group(P＜0.05),and significantly lower in the miR-141-3p mimics group than in the miR-141-3p inhibitor group(P＜0.05).The protein expressions of insulin-like growth factor 1 and platelet-derived growth factor in dorsal root ganglion tissue were significantly lower in the model group than in the normal group(P＜0.05),significantly lower in the miR-141-3p inhibitor group than in the miR-NC group(P＜0.05),and significantly higher in the miR-141-3p mimics group than in the miR-141-3p inhibitor group(P＜0.05).The expressions of insulin-like growth factor 1 and platelet-derived growth factor showed a positive correlation with miR-141-3p(r=0.904,P＜0.001;r=0.879,P＜0.001).To conclude,miR-141-3p can significantly improve lower limb pain and inhibit inflammation in dorsal root ganglia in rats with lumbar disc herniation,and its mechanism may be related to the promotion of insulin-like growth factor 1/platelet-derived growth factor expression.

BACKGROUND: Degeneration of the annulus fibrosus (AF), an important structure of the intervertebral disc, is one of the main causes of degenerative disc disease. Fabrication of scaffolds replicating the stratified microstructure of the AF is critical for the successful regeneration of AF. METHODS: In this study, we cultured rabbit AF-derived stem cells (AFSCs) using fabricated electrospun fibrous poly-Llactic acid scaffolds with different diameters. We applied cyclic tensile strain (CTS) on the scaffolds to regulate the differentiation of AFSCs into specific cell types that resided at the inner, middle, and outer zones of the AF. RESULTS: We found that the morphologies of AFSCs on the smaller-fiber-diameter scaffolds were nearly round, whereas spindle-like cells morphologies were observed on large-diameter scaffolds. CTS enhanced these phenomena and made the cells slender. The expression levels of collagen-I in cells increased as a function of the fiber diameter, whereas collagen-II and aggrecan exhibited opposite trends. Moreover, the application of CTS upregulated the gene expressions of collagen-I, collagen-II, and aggrecan. CONCLUSION Overlaying the scaffolds with different CTS-stimulated cells could eventually lead to engineered AF tissues with hierarchical structures that approximated the native AF tissue. Thus, the proposed methodologies could be potentially applied for AF regeneration.

BACKGROUND: Degeneration of the annulus fibrosus (AF), an important structure of the intervertebral disc, is one of the main causes of degenerative disc disease. Fabrication of scaffolds replicating the stratified microstructure of the AF is critical for the successful regeneration of AF. METHODS: In this study, we cultured rabbit AF-derived stem cells (AFSCs) using fabricated electrospun fibrous poly-Llactic acid scaffolds with different diameters. We applied cyclic tensile strain (CTS) on the scaffolds to regulate the differentiation of AFSCs into specific cell types that resided at the inner, middle, and outer zones of the AF. RESULTS: We found that the morphologies of AFSCs on the smaller-fiber-diameter scaffolds were nearly round, whereas spindle-like cells morphologies were observed on large-diameter scaffolds. CTS enhanced these phenomena and made the cells slender. The expression levels of collagen-I in cells increased as a function of the fiber diameter, whereas collagen-II and aggrecan exhibited opposite trends. Moreover, the application of CTS upregulated the gene expressions of collagen-I, collagen-II, and aggrecan. CONCLUSION Overlaying the scaffolds with different CTS-stimulated cells could eventually lead to engineered AF tissues with hierarchical structures that approximated the native AF tissue. Thus, the proposed methodologies could be potentially applied for AF regeneration.

Gene mutation of Candida albicans is one of the main causes for azole drug resistance. Different types of variation play different roles in promoting the process of drug resistance. ERG series of gene mutations primarily affect the ergosterol synthesis pathway. When the regulatory factors TAC1 for CDR1 gene and Mrr1 for MDR1 gene generate mutations, the expression level of drug efflux pump protein in Candida albicans may be changed. In addition, gene copy number variation is also gaining attention. Therefore, the research of mutation resistance-associated genes has a positive meaning to explore the mechanism of drug resistance in Candida albicans.