OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of percutaneous pedicle screw combined with unilateral nail placement combined with bone cement strengthening and bilateral nail placement in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracic and lumbar fractures. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was used to analyze the clinical data of 78 patients with osteoporotic thoracic and lumbar fractures admitted from October 2017 to May 2019. According to the surgical method, it was divided into percutaneous pedicle screw combined with unilateral nail placement combined with unilateral bone cement strengthening group(bone cement group) and percutaneous pedicle screw combined with bilateral nail placement(screw group). In the bone cement group, 40 patients included 16 males and 24 females, with a mean age of (62.1±8.1) years old. In the screw group, 38 patients included 18 males and 20 females with a mean age of (65.1±9.3) years old. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay and postoperative complications were compared between two groups. The kyphosis Cobb angle, anterior edge height ratio, central height ratio and pain visual analogue score(VAS) were compared. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 25 to 36 months. The operation time (70.1±17.3) min of the cement group was shorter than that of the screw group (78.6±18.2) min(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss and length of hospital stay(P>0.05). The VAS in the cement group 1 year 1.5±0.5 and the latest follow-up 0.5±0.3 after operation were lower than 1 year 1.8±0.3 and the latest follow-up 0.8±0.4 in the screw group(P<0.05). The kyphosis Cobb angle, anterior edge height ratio, central height ratio in bone cement group, 1 year (6.2±1.2)°, (86.6±3.5)%, (91.1±2.5)%, the last follow-up (6.4±0.7)°, (85.5±3.3)%, (90.5±6.3)% were better than that of the screw group 1 year (6.8±1.4)°, (83.1±2.4)%, (89.9±3.4)% and the latest follow-up (7.1±1.1)°, (82.6±4.1)%, (87.6±5.9)%(P<0.05). There were 3 cases of bone cement leakage in the cement group, all of which had no clinical symptoms;and 2 cases of pedicle screws were extracted in the screw group, and the screws were removed at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION Percutaneous pedicle screw combined with unilateral nail placement combined with bone cement strengthening and bilateral nail placement in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracic and lumbar compression fractures in the elderly can achieve satisfactory efficacy and effectively relieve the pain of patients, but the former internal fixation system is more stable, and the long-term follow-up can effectively maintain the height of the anterior middle column and the correction of kyphosis deformity, and the incidence of chronic low back pain is lower.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Bone Cements ; Middle Aged ; Thoracic Vertebrae/surgery* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures/surgery* ; Osteoporotic Fractures/surgery* ; Case-Control Studies ; Bone Nails ; Pedicle Screws

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the sequence of intermediate instrumentation and distraction-reduction of the injured vertebra on the surgical efficacy of short-segment percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for thoracolumbar burst fractures with high rate of spinal canal encroachment. METHODS: From January 2016 to January 2022, 38 patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures with high rate of spinal canal encroachment (spinal canal encroachment rate >40%, complete posterior longitudinal ligament, no flipping bone block in the posterior marginal of the vertebra) without spinal cord injury who were were treated with short-segment percutaneous pedicle screw fixation were retrospectively analyzed. During the operation, 18 cases were used distraction-reduction first and then intermediate instrumentation on injured vertebral and sequential distraction-reduction again(the distraction-reduction first group) including 8 females and 10 males with a mean age of 46.5 (38.5, 50.0) years old, and the other 20 cases were used intermediate instrumentation on injured vertebral first and then direct distraction-reduction(the intermediate instrumentation first group) including 10 males and 10 females with a mean age of 46.0 (35.8, 50.8) years. The anterior height ratio of the injured vertebra, local Cobb's angle of the injured vertebrae, the spinal canal encroachment rate, and the improvement rate of spinal canal encroachment were compared and evaluated. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for more than 1 year, and no complications such as spinal cord and root injury, screw loosening and screw rod fracture were found. The anterior height ratio of the injured vertebra, local Cobb' angle of the injured vertebra in the two groups were significantly improved compared with preoperative data(P<0.05), and those at 3 months and 1 year after operation was lost compared with that at the previous time point(P<0.05). Although the spinal canal encroachment rate of the two groups 1 day and 1 year after operation was improved compared with that before operation(P<0.05), the improvement of spinal canal volume in the distraction-reduction first group was significantly better than that in the intermediate instrumentation first group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION In the treatment of patients with thoracolumbar fractures with high rate of spinal canal encroachment, short-segment percutaneous pedicle screw internal fixation with distraction-reduction first and then intermediate instrumentation and sequential distraction-reduction again can more effectively reduce the bony encroachment in the spinal canal and achieve indirect decompression effect better.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures/surgery* ; Thoracic Vertebrae/surgery* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Pedicle Screws ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and safety of human epidermal growth factor gel in the treatment of pin tract infections after surgery in patients with severe spinal deformity. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 26 patients with pin tract infections after skull-pelvic ring traction for severe spinal deformity admitted from February 2019 to May 2022. Among them, 11 were male and 15 were female;the age ranged from 18 to 31 years, with an average of (24.1±4.3) years;the Cobb angle ranged 80.3° to 120.7°, with an average of (88.6±10.2)°;there were 52 iliac traction pins, 104 pin tract openings, and 38 pin tract infections. According to the Checketts-Otterbum classification, there were 11 infections of gradeⅠ, 13 infections of gradeⅡ, 10 infections of grade Ⅲ, and 4 infections of grade Ⅳ. The patients were divided into the conventional dressing change group (13 cases) and the growth factor group (13 cases) by coin flipping. Clinical efficacy was evaluated by recording the visual analogue scale(VAS) score during dressing change, duration of dressing change, cost of dressing change, positive rate of bacterial culture, wound improvement rate, and wound improvement time. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in VAS or duration of dressing change between the two groups (P>0.05). The cost of dressing change was (800.0±59.5) yuan in the conventional dressing change group and (1 179.5±80.9) yuan in the growth factor group, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the positive rate of bacterial culture between the two groups (P>0.05). In the conventional dressing change group, within 20 pin tract infections, 2 infections achieved wound healing, 7 infections showed improvement, and 11 infections were ineffective;in the growth factor group, within 18 pin tract infections 5 infections achieved wound healing, 8 infections showed improvement, and 5 infections were ineffective, with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). The wound healing time was (22.8±4.9) days in the conventional dressing change group and (14.2±2.5) days in the growth factor group, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). No complications occurred in either group. CONCLUSION The application of human epidermal growth factor gel in the treatment of pin tract infections after skull-pelvic ring surgery in patients with severe spinal deformity is easy to operate, does not increase patient pain, and has significant efficacy. It shortens wound healing time, effectively promotes wound healing, and has good safety and high cost-effectiveness.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Adolescent ; Retrospective Studies ; Case-Control Studies ; Young Adult ; Epidermal Growth Factor/therapeutic use* ; Traction/adverse effects* ; Gels ; Bone Nails/adverse effects* ; Surgical Wound Infection/drug therapy*

OBJECTIVE: To explore and verify the effect and potential mechanism of Brucea javanica Seed Oil Emulsion Injection (YDZI) and Shengmai Injection (SMI) on peripheral microcirculation dysfunction in treatment of gastric cancer (GC). METHODS: The potential mechanisms of YDZI and SMI were explored through network pharmacology and verified by cellular and clinical experiments. Human microvascular endothelial cells (HMECs) were cultured for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured for tube formation assay. Twenty healthy volunteers and 97 patients with GC were enrolled. Patients were divided into surgical resection, surgical resection with chemotherapy, and surgical resection with chemotherapy combining YDZI and SMI groups. Forearm skin blood perfusion was measured and recorded by laser speckle contrast imaging coupled with post-occlusive reactive hyperemia. Cutaneous vascular conductance and microvascular reactivity parameters were calculated and compared across the groups. RESULTS: After network pharmacology analysis, 4 ingredients, 82 active compounds, and 92 related genes in YDZI and SMI were screened out. β-Sitosterol, an active ingredient and intersection compound of YDZI and SMI, upregulated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2, P<0.01), downregulated the expression of caspase 9 (CASP9) and estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1, P<0.01) in HMECs under oxaliplatin stimulation, and promoted tube formation through VEGFA. Chemotherapy significantly impaired the microvascular reactivity in GC patients, whereas YDZI and SMI ameliorated this injury (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS YDZI and SMI ameliorated peripheral microvascular reactivity in GC patients. β-Sitosterol may improve peripheral microcirculation by regulating VEGFA, PTGS2, ESR1, and CASP9.
Humans ; Microcirculation/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Stomach Neoplasms/physiopathology* ; Emulsions ; Male ; Plant Oils/administration & dosage* ; Brucea/chemistry* ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Drug Combinations ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Seeds/chemistry* ; Injections ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Aged ; Network Pharmacology

The structure of intestinal tissue is complex. In vitro simulation of intestinal structure and function is important for studying intestinal development and diseases. Recently, organoids have been successfully constructed and they have come to play an important role in biomedical research. Organoids are miniaturized three-dimensional (3D) organs, derived from stem cells, which mimic the structure, cell types, and physiological functions of an organ, making them robust models for biomedical research. Intestinal organoids are 3D micro-organs derived from intestinal stem cells or pluripotent stem cells that can successfully simulate the complex structure and function of the intestine, thereby providing a valuable platform for intestinal development and disease research. In this article, we review the latest progress in the construction and application of intestinal organoids.
Organoids/cytology* ; Intestines/physiology* ; Humans ; Animals ; Pluripotent Stem Cells

Objective:To explore the correlation between serum hepcidin antimicrobial peptide (HAMP), secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), and regulator of G protein signaling 2 (RGS2) levels and the clinical pathological characteristics of gastric cancer patients, and their predictive value for postoperative recurrence or metastasis.Methods:A total of 92 gastric cancer patients treated at Handan First Hospital from March 2021 to March 2023 were selected as the gastric cancer group, and 92 healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations during the same period were selected as the control group. The serum levels of HAMP, SPP1 and RGS2 were compared between the two groups. According to the mean levels of HAMP, SPP1, and RGS2 in the serum of gastric cancer patients, they were divided into HAMP high level group and HAMP low level group, SPP1 high level group and SPP1 low level group, RGS2 high level group and RGS2 low level group. The clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer patients with different levels of HAMP, SPP1 and RGS2 were compared respectively. After a median follow-up of 18 months, gastric cancer patients were divided into a non-recurrence or metastasis group ( n=59) and a recurrence and metastasis group ( n=33) based on whether the tumor recurred or metastasized. The serum levels of HAMP, SPP1, and RGS2 were compared between the two groups of patients. The predictive value of HAMP, SPP1 and RGS2 for postoperative recurrence or metastasis in patients with gastric cancer was analyzed by using the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. Results:Compared with the control group, the gastric cancer group had higher levels of serum HAMP [ (52.28±5.44) ng/ml vs. (31.22±4.18) ng/ml] and SPP1 [ (55.96±6.43) ng/ml vs. (36.99±5.25) ng/ml] ( t=29.44, P<0.001; t=21.92, P<0.001), and lower level of RGS2 [ (3.72±0.66) mg/L vs. (5.11±0.87) mg/L) ] ( t=12.21, P<0.001). There were statistically significant differences in maximum tumor diameter ( χ2=13.07, P<0.001; χ2=6.71, P=0.010; χ2=10.56, P=0.001), TNM staging ( χ2=7.42, P=0.006; χ2=6.36, P=0.012; χ2=5.39, P=0.020), lymph node metastasis ( χ2=23.41, P<0.001; χ2=6.52, P=0.011; χ2=13.11, P<0.001), and differentiation degree ( χ2=9.01, P=0.003; χ2=7.97, P=0.005; χ2=15.29, P<0.001) between the gastric cancer patients in the HAMP high level group ( n=44) and the HAMP low level group ( n=48), the SPP1 high level group ( n=43) and the SPP1 low level group ( n=49), and the RGS2 high level group ( n=50) and the RGS2 low level group ( n=42). Compared with the non-recurrence or metastatic group, the recurrence and metastatic group had higher levels of serum HAMP [ (59.26±5.66) ng/ml vs. (48.37±4.28) ng/ml] and SPP1 [ (62.85±6.36) ng/ml vs. (52.11±5.38) ng/ml] level ( t=10.40, P<0.001; t=8.60, P<0.001), and lower level of RGS2 [ (3.01±0.48) mg/L vs. (4.12±0.69) mg/L] ( t=8.19, P<0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) values of serum HAMP, SPP1, and RGS2 levels alone for predicting postoperative recurrence or metastasis in gastric cancer patients were 0.777, 0.813, and 0.778, respectively. The AUC value of the combination of the three indicators for predicting postoperative recurrence or metastasis in gastric cancer patients was 0.871. The predictive efficacy of the combination of the three indicators for predicting postoperative recurrence or metastasis in gastric cancer patients was better than that alone ( Z=2.51, P=0.035; Z=2.61, P=0.032; Z=2.71, P=0.029) . Conclusions:The levels of HAMP and SPP1 in the serum of gastric cancer patients increase, while the level of RGS2 decreases, and the levels of the three are related to the maximum tumor diameter, TNM staging, lymph node metastasis and differentiation degree, and their combined detection has higher predictive value for postoperative recurrence or metastasis in gastric cancer patients.

Objective To explore the effects of the Otago Exercise Program(OEP)on activities of daily living,muscle strength,balance,and physical function in older adults with sarcopenia,to compare OEP with conventional exercise training,and to provide a basis for clinical rehabilitation programs for older adults with sarcopenia.Methods In this randomized controlled trial,120 older adults clinically diagnosed with sarcopenia were enrolled.The participants were randomly assigned to the OEP intervention group(experimental group)and the conventional exercise intervention group(control group),with 60 in each group.The experimental group underwent 12 weeks of OEP training,three times a week,with each session lasting 45 minutes.The control group underwent conventional exercise training following the same schedule.The Modified Barthel Index was used as the primary outcome measure to assess activities of daily living.Secondary outcome measures included muscle strength,gait stability,dynamic balance,and physical function status,evaluated using grip strength,6-meter walking speed,the Timed Up and Go Test(TUGT),and the Short Physical Performance Battery(SPPB).Results A total of 120 older adults with sarcopenia were included.The mean age of the participants was(80.17±8.48)years.Baseline data before treatment showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups.Both groups completed the treatment within 12 weeks without experiencing any adverse events.The baseline data for the experimental group were as follows,MBI at(67.00±22.76)points,hand grip strength at(15.29±4.94)kg,gait speed at(0.61±0.26)m/s,TUGT time at(15.05±6.74)s,and SPPB score at(6.17±1.40)points,while the corresponding post-intervention findings were as follows,(78.72±15.83)points,(17.67±5.83)kg,(0.77±0.28)m/s,(13.49±6.16)s,and(9.25±1.71)points,respectively.The experimental group showed improvements in all measures from baseline to post-intervention(P＜0.05 for all measures).As for the control group,the baseline data for the corresponding measures were as follows,(67.20±22.12)points,(15.00±5.35)kg,(0.58±0.23)m/s,(17.29±6.90)s,and(6.00±1.24)points,respectively.The post-intervention findings increased to(71.13±20.28)points,(15.47±5.72)kg,(0.64±0.28)m/s,(16.50±6.99)s,and(6.73±1.61)points,respectively,but the changes were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Furthermore,an intergroup comparison of intervention effects(post-intervention minus preintervention)revealed significant differences in mean changes from baseline.The experimental group demonstrated improvements of(+11.72±6.32)points in modified Barthel Index,(+11.72±6.32)kg in grip strength,(+0.16±0.09)m/s in gait speed,(—1.56±1.32)s in TUGT time,and(—1.56±1.32)points in SPPB score.In contrast,the control group showed smaller changes of(+3.93±5.65)points,(+0.47±1.37)kg,(+0.06±0.07)m/s,(—0.79±1.54)s,and(+0.73±1.12)points,respectively(all P＜0.05).Intergroup comparisons revealed superior outcomes in the experimental group across all measures.Conclusion OEP significantly enhances activities of daily living,improves muscle strength,balance,and physical function in older adults,and is more effective than conventional rehabilitation exercise programs,making it suitable for extensive clinical application.

Facing of mounting resource constraints and rising demands for personalization in medical education,regional anatomy teaching urgently requires transformation.In this paper,we focus on the regional anatomy of the thoracic wall,in order to explore a novel AI-driven teaching paradigm.Anchored in the core principle of"virtual-real integration with cadaveric dissection as the cornerstone,"the paradigm redefines educational objective and constructs an intelligent,closed-loop teaching model integrating students,computers,and instructors.Leveraging the robust support of digital intelligence(e.g.,DeepSeek),this paradigm incorporates interactive method including group collaboration,branching instruction,and gamified assessments.It achieves a comprehensive intelligent transformation of the entire teaching process-from goal setting and plan customization to activity implementation,task completion,outcome exchange,multidimensional evaluation,and reflective iteration.This new paradigm centers on medical students and leverages digital intelligence to activate deep personalized learning potential.It seamlessly integrates fundamental anatomical knowledge with clinical scenarios(e.g.,key anatomy in breast cancer surgery,flap design in breast reconstruction),and significantly enhances clinical decision-making abilities,scientific research and innovative thinking,as well as medical humanistic literacy,paving a new path for intelligent medical education.

Objective The efficacy of prophylactic aneurysmal sac embolization is still unclear.The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of prophylactic aneurysmal sac embolization with N-butyl cyanoacrylate(NBCA)during endovascular aortic repair(EVAR)in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms(AAA)so as to prevent the occurrence of type Ⅱ endoleak.Methods The clinical data of patients with AAA,who received EVAR from January 2019 to January 2022 at Gansu Provincial Hospital,were retrospectively analyzed.According to the strict inclusion and exclusion criteria,a total of 74 AAA patients were enrolled in this study.Of the 74 AAA patients,intraoperative prophylactic injection of NBCA into the aneurysmal sac to embolize the sac cavity during EVAR was performed in 36(study group),while standard EVAR treatment was carried out in 38(control group).The clinical data of the 74 patients,mainly including age,gender,underlying diseases,diameter of the aneurysm,hospitalization cost,time spent for surgery,type of stent,mode of anesthesia,etc.were collected.The primary endpoint was the incidence of endoleak during follow-up period,and the secondary endpoints included the rate of endoleak-related re-intervention,adverse events,and mortality during follow-up period.Results Before surgery,there were no statistically significant differences in gender,age,diameter of the aneurysm[55.46(15.60)mm vs 63.15(24.00)mm],and underlying diseases between the study group and the control group,and no intraoperative complications occurred.The technical success rate was 100％in both groups.Three months after EVAR treatment,the incidence of type Ⅱ endoleak in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group(2.86％vs 21.05％,P＜0.01);six months after EVAR treatment,the incidence of type Ⅱ endoleak in the study group and the control group was 8.82％and 28.95％respectively(P＜0.01);and 12 months after EVAR treatment,the incidence of type Ⅱ endoleak in the study group and the control group was 8.82％and 31.43％respectively(P＜0.01).In the study group a total of 4 times of re-intervention were carried out,one of which was associated with type Ⅱ endoleak.In the control group a total of 8 times of re-intervention were conducted,6 of which were associated with type Ⅱ endoleak.No statistically significant difference in the overall re-intervention rate existed between the two groups(P=0.224).The type Ⅱ endoleak-related re-intervention rate in the study group was slightly lower than that in the control group,but the difference was not statistically significant(P=0.106).Conclusion Prophylactic injection of NBCA into the aneurysmal sac cavity of AAA during EV AR procedure is a simple,safe and effective method,which can significantly reduce the occurrence of type Ⅱ endoleak in the early-middle stage and prevent the enlargement of the aneurysmal sac after EVAR,besides,it has no significant effect on the re-intervention rate and mortality,does not significantly prolong the operation time,and does not increase the dosage of contrast agent.

Allergic rhinitis(AR) is an allergic inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa in which the immune inflammatory response alters the local microenvironment of the nasal mucosa, causing mucus hypersecretion as one of the main pathological features of AR. Interleukin-13(IL-13) is the main inflammatory factor secreted by Th2 cells, it can be involved in AR mucus hypersecretion process by regulating Goblet cell proliferation and Mucin 5ac expression through various signaling pathways. Traditional Chinese medicine has obvious advantages in the treatment of AR and its mucus hypersecretion, while the IL-13-mediated signaling pathways are one of the important mechanisms in treating AR mucus hypersecretion. This article reviews the regulation of IL-13-mediated signaling pathways on AR mucus hypersecretion and the intervention effects of traditional Chinese medicine, which providing a theoretical basis for experimental research and new drug development in AR mucus hypersecretion.