OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the short-term clinical efficacy of external fixation and internal fixation with steel plate in the treatment of unstable distal radius fractures (AO-23C type), based on the principles of Chinese osteosynthesis (CO). METHODS: Forty-eight patients with unstable distal radius fractures between January 2022 and February 2023 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into the CO external fixation group and internal fixation group. CO external fixation group consisted of 25 patients, including 7 males and 18 females, aged from 37 to 56 years old with an average of ( 52.6±11.3) years old. Among them, there were 7 patients of traffic accidents and 18 patients of falls, resulting in a total of 25 patients of closed fractures and no open fractures, the treatment was conducted using closed reduction and CO external fixation. The internal fixation group consisted of 23 patients, comprising 8 males and 15 females, age ranged from 41 to 59 years old, with an average age of(53.3±13.7) years old. Among them, 8 patients resulted from car accidents while the remaining 15 patients were caused by falls. All 23 patients were closed fractures without any open fractures observed. The technique of open reduction and internal fixation with steel plate was employed. The perioperative data, including injury-operation time, operation duration, blood loss, and length of hospital stay, were assessed in both groups. Additionally, the QuickDASH score and visual analogue scale (VAS) were evaluated. Range of motion and grip strength assessment, imaging findings such as palmar inclination angle, ulnar declination angle, radius length, articular surface step, intra-articular space measurements were also examined along with any complications. RESULTS: The follow-up duration ranged from 0 to 24 months, with an average duration of (16.0±3.8) months. The CO external fixation exhibited significantly shorter time from injury to operation (2.4±3.3) d vs (7.4±3.7) d, shorter operation duration (56.27±15.23) min vs (74.10±5.26) min, lower blood loss (14.52±6.54) ml vs (32.32±10.03) ml, and reduced hospitalization days (14.04±3.24 )d vs (16.45±3.05) d compared to the internal fixation group (P<0.05). The QuickDASH score at 12 months post-operation was (8.21±1.64) in the CO external fixation group, while no significant difference was observed in the internal fixation group (7.04±3.64), P>0.05. There were no statistically significant differences in VAS between two groups at 6 weeks, as well as 1 and 3 months post-surgery (P>0.05). Additionally, there were no significant disparities observed in terms of range of motion and grip strength between two groups at the 2-year follow-up after the operation (P>0.05). After 12 months of surgery, the CO external fixation group exhibited a significantly smaller palmar inclination angle (17.90±2.18) ° vs (19.87±3.21) °, reduced articular surface step (0.11±0.03) mm vs (0.17±0.02) mm, and shorter radius length (8.16±1.11) mm compared to the internal fixation group (9.59±1.02) mm, P<0.05. The ulnar deviation angle and intra-articular space did not show any significant difference between two groups (P>0.05). The reduced fell within the allowable range between the CO external fixation group (23 out of 25 cases) and the internal fixation group (21 out of 23 cases) was not statistically significant (P=0.29). There was no significant difference in complications between the two groups(P>0.05). CONCLUSION Both the CO external fixation and open reduction with plate internal fixation demonstrate clinical efficacy in managing unstable distal radius fractures. The CO external fixation offers advantages in shorter injury-to-operation times, reduced intraoperative blood loss, and decreased surgical durations, while radial shortening is more effectively controlled by internal fixation.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Radius Fractures/physiopathology* ; Adult ; Bone Plates ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods* ; External Fixators ; Retrospective Studies ; Fracture Fixation/methods* ; Wrist Fractures

Gene regulation relies on the precise binding of transcription factors (TFs) at regulatory elements, but simultaneously detecting hundreds of TFs on chromatin is challenging. We developed cFOOT-seq, a cytosine deaminase-based TF footprinting assay, for high-resolution, quantitative genome-wide assessment of TF binding in both open and closed chromatin regions, even with small cell numbers. By utilizing the dsDNA deaminase SsdAtox, cFOOT-seq converts accessible cytosines to uracil while preserving genomic integrity, making it compatible with techniques like ATAC-seq for sensitive and cost-effective detection of TF occupancy at the single-molecule and single-cell level. Our approach enables the delineation of TF footprints, quantification of occupancy, and examination of chromatin influences on TF binding. Notably, cFOOT-seq, combined with FootTrack analysis, enables de novo prediction of TF binding sites and tracking of TF occupancy dynamics. We demonstrate its application in capturing cell type-specific TFs, analyzing TF dynamics during reprogramming, and revealing TF dependencies on chromatin remodelers. Overall, cFOOT-seq represents a robust approach for investigating the genome-wide dynamics of TF occupancy and elucidating the cis-regulatory architecture underlying gene regulation.
Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Humans ; Chromatin/genetics* ; Animals ; Binding Sites ; Mice ; DNA Footprinting/methods*

Infectious keratitis (IK) is a leading cause of blindness worldwide, primarily resulting from improper contact lens use, trauma, and a compromised immune response. The pathogenic microorganisms responsible for IK include bacteria, fungi, viruses, and Acanthamoeba. This review examines standard therapeutic agents for treating IK, including broad-spectrum empiric antibiotics for bacterial keratitis (BK), antifungals such as voriconazole and natamycin for fungal infections, and antiviral nucleoside analogues for viral keratitis (VK). Additionally, this review discusses therapeutic agents, such as polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), for the treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). The review also addresses emerging drugs and the challenges associated with their clinical application, including anti-biofilm agents that combat drug resistance and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) pathway-targeted therapies to mitigate inflammation. Furthermore, methods of Photodynamic Antimicrobial Therapy (PDAT) are explored. This review underscores the importance of integrating novel and traditional therapies to tackle drug resistance and enhance drug delivery, with the goal of advancing treatment strategies for IK.

Objective:To investigate the association of urinary cadmium level with body mass index (BMI) and body circumferences among the older adults over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China.Methods:Subjects were older adults over 65 years old from the Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study (HABCS) between 2017 and 2018 conducted in 9 longevity areas in China. A total of 1 968 older adults were included in this study. Information including socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyles, diet intake, and health status was collected by using questionnaires and physical examinations. Urine samples were collected to detect urinary cadmium and creatinine levels. Body circumferences included waist circumference, hip circumference and calf circumference. Subjects were divided into three groups (low:<0.77 μg/g·creatinine, middle:0.77-1.69 μg/g·creatinine, high:≥1.69 μg/g·creatinine) by tertiles of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium concentration. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the association of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium level with BMI and body circumferences. The dose-response relationship of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium concentration with BMI and body circumferences was analyzed by using restrictive cubic splines fitting multiple linear regression model.Results:The mean age of subjects was (83.34±11.14) years old. The median (Q1, Q3) concentration of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium was 1.13 (0.63, 2.09) μg/g·creatinine, and the BMI was (22.70±3.82) kg/m 2. The mean values of waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference were (85.42±10.68) cm, (92.67±8.90) cm, and (31.08±4.76) cm, respectively. After controlling confounding factors, the results of the multiple linear regression model showed that for each increment of 1 μg/g·creatinine in creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium, the change of BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference in the high-level group was -0.28 (-0.37, -0.19) kg/m 2, -0.74 (-0.96, -0.52) cm, -0.78 (-0.96, -0.61) cm, and -0.20 (-0.30, -0.11) cm, respectively. The restrictive cubic splines curve showed a negative nonlinear association of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium with BMI ( Pnonlinear<0.001) and negative linear associations of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium with waist circumference ( Plinear<0.001), hip circumference ( Plinear<0.001), and calf circumference ( Plinear<0.001). Conclusion:Urinary cadmium level is significantly associated with decreased BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference and calf circumference among older adults over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China.

Objective:To investigate the association of urinary cadmium level with body mass index (BMI) and body circumferences among the older adults over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China.Methods:Subjects were older adults over 65 years old from the Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study (HABCS) between 2017 and 2018 conducted in 9 longevity areas in China. A total of 1 968 older adults were included in this study. Information including socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyles, diet intake, and health status was collected by using questionnaires and physical examinations. Urine samples were collected to detect urinary cadmium and creatinine levels. Body circumferences included waist circumference, hip circumference and calf circumference. Subjects were divided into three groups (low:<0.77 μg/g·creatinine, middle:0.77-1.69 μg/g·creatinine, high:≥1.69 μg/g·creatinine) by tertiles of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium concentration. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the association of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium level with BMI and body circumferences. The dose-response relationship of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium concentration with BMI and body circumferences was analyzed by using restrictive cubic splines fitting multiple linear regression model.Results:The mean age of subjects was (83.34±11.14) years old. The median (Q1, Q3) concentration of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium was 1.13 (0.63, 2.09) μg/g·creatinine, and the BMI was (22.70±3.82) kg/m 2. The mean values of waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference were (85.42±10.68) cm, (92.67±8.90) cm, and (31.08±4.76) cm, respectively. After controlling confounding factors, the results of the multiple linear regression model showed that for each increment of 1 μg/g·creatinine in creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium, the change of BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference in the high-level group was -0.28 (-0.37, -0.19) kg/m 2, -0.74 (-0.96, -0.52) cm, -0.78 (-0.96, -0.61) cm, and -0.20 (-0.30, -0.11) cm, respectively. The restrictive cubic splines curve showed a negative nonlinear association of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium with BMI ( Pnonlinear<0.001) and negative linear associations of creatinine-adjusted urinary cadmium with waist circumference ( Plinear<0.001), hip circumference ( Plinear<0.001), and calf circumference ( Plinear<0.001). Conclusion:Urinary cadmium level is significantly associated with decreased BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference and calf circumference among older adults over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China.

Objective:To discuss the effect of concentrated growth factor(CGF)on the performance of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)sheets,and to clarify the role of CGF-containing composite cell sheets(CS)in the bone defect repairment.Methods:In in vitro experiments,the BMSCs were isolated and cultured from two 3-week-old SD rats;Alizarin Red S and Oil Red O staining were used to identify the osteogenic and adipogenic capabilities of BMSCs;CGF liquid extracts(CGFe)was prepared from three 3-week-old SD rats.The cells were divided into control group,traditional CS(BMSC-CS)group,and CGF-containing composite CS(CGF/BMSC-CS)group.The morphology of the CS in two groups was observed by HE staining.Alizarin Red and alkaline phosphatase(ALP)staining were used to detect the osteogenic differentiation of the CS in various groups;cell scratch assay was used to detect the migration abilities of the cells in various groups;real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR)method was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of ALP,collagen are type 1(COL-1),Runt-related transcription factor 2(RUNX2),and osteocalcin(OCN)in the cells in various groups.In in vivo experiments,15 SD rats were randomly divided into control group,BMSC-CS group,and CGF/BMSC-CS group;micro computed tomography(Micro-CT)was used to detect the bone formation parameters in skull defects of the rats in various groups;HE staining and Masson staining were used to observe the morphology of skull defect tissue of the rats in various groups.Results:The third-generation BMSCs were spindle-shaped,closely arranged,and grew in a vortex cluster.The Alizarin red staining results showed obvious calcium nodules,and the Oil red O staining showed red lipid droplets,confirming the cells'ability to undergo osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation.The CS were white and semi-transparent,with slightly curled edges.The peeled CS were irregularly curled and wrinkled.Compared with BMSC-CS group,the CS in CGF/BMSC-CS group were whiter,less transparent,significantly increased in thickness and extensibility,less prone to breakage,and had a certain degree of stickiness and plasticity.The HE staining results showed that compared with BMSC-CS group,the number of the cells of CS in CGF/BMSC-CS group was increased,with denser arrangement and more abundant extracellular matrix(ECM),which wrapped and connected the cells to form an integral sheet-like structure.The Alizarin red and ALP staining results showed that compared with control group,the ALP activity and mineralization uplift value of CS in BMSC-CS group were significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with control group and BMSC-CS group,the number of osteoblasts and red mineralized nodules in the CS in CGF/BMSC-CS group was significantly increased,with obvious deepening of the staining,increased positive area,and the ALP activity and mineralization uplift value were significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with BMSC-CS group,the ALP activity and mineralization uplif value of the CS in CGF/DMSC-CS group were increased(P<0.05).The cell scratch assay results showed that after 24 of culture,compared with control group,the migration rates of the cells in BMSC-CS group and CGF/BMSC-CS group were significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with BMSC-CS group,the migration rate of the cells in CGF/BMSC-CS group was significantly increased(P<0.01).After 48 h of culture,compared with control group,the migration rate of the cells in CGF/BMSC-CS group was significantly increased(P<0.05).The RT-qPCR results showed that compared with control group,the expression levels of COL-1 and OCN mRNA in the cells in BMSC-CS group were significantly increased(P<0.01),and the expression levels of ALP,COL-1,OCN,and RUNX2 mRNA in the cells in CGF/BMSC-CS group were significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with BMSC-CS group,the expression levels of ALP,COL-1,and OCN mRNA in the cells in CGF/BMSC-CS group were significantly increased(P<0.01).The Micro-CT detection results showed that in control group,the boundary of the rat skull defect area was clear,with almost no new bone formation.In BMSC-CS group,a small amount of new bone formed only at the edge of the bone defect in skull of the rats,with a significant gap in the central area of the defect.In CGF/BMSC-CS group,new bone formed along the edge of the bone defect towards the central area in skull of the rats,repairing most of the bone defect.Compared with control group,the bone volume(BV)and trabecular number(Tb.N)of the rats in BMSC-CS group were significantly increased(P<0.05);the bone volume(BV),bone volume fraction[BV/tissue volume(TV)],trabecular thickness(Tb.Th),and trabecular number(Tb.N)in skull of the rats in CGF/BMSC-CS group,were significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with BMSC-CS group,the BV,BV/TV,Tb.Th,and Tb.N in skull of the rats in CGF/BMSC-CS group were significantly increased(P<0.01).The HE and Masson staining observation showed that in control group,almost no new bone formed in the skull defect tissue of the rats,with only a large amount of collagen fibers connecting the two sides of the bone ends.In BMSC-CS group,a small amount of new bone formed only at the edge of the bone defect in skull tissue of the rats,with the central area of the defect containing dense collagen fibers connected to the newly formed bone at the defect edge.In CGF/BMSC-CS group,new bone tissue could be seen at the edge of the bone defect,and bone islands formed in the central area of the defect,surrounded by osteocytes and a large amount of collagen fibers.The Masson staining observation results showed that the cytoplasm and osteoid were red,and the collagen was blue.In CGF/BMSC-CS group,newly formed osteoid was observed in skull defect tissue of the rats,with the highest amount of new bone formation.Conclusion:CGF can promote the osteogenic differentiation and increase the richness of ECM in BMSCs sheets.CGF-containing composite CS can efficiently repair skull defects of the rats and serve as an ideal and safe material for promoting the bone regeneration.

Objective To investigate the in-hospital screening results of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in infants and young children in Ili area, and to analyze the risk factors affecting the occurrence of DDH. Methods According to the cluster sampling method 5 536 infants and young children who underwent DDH screening in the pediatric outpatient department and orthopedic outpatient department of our hospital from December 2019 to June 2022 were selected as the research objects. The children who met the diagnostic criteria of DDH were selected as the observation group (n=35), and 100 normal children were selected as the control group. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to determine the independent risk factors affecting the occurrence of DDH in infants. Results Among the 39 cases were positive in primary screening, 35 cases were positive in secondary screening, and the positive rate was 6.32‰ . The results of single factor analysis showed that the proportion of women, second birth and above, caesarean section, breech delivery, family history, high altitude area, living environment room temperature < 18^°C, and leg binding when swaddling in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05) . Logistic regression analysis showed that mode of production, region, room temperature of living environment and swaddling mode were independent risk factors for DDH in infants (P<0.05). Conclusion Caesarean section, high altitude area, living environment room temperature < 18^°C and leg binding in infants are related to the occurrence of DDH in infants, which can provide some reference for clinical screening, diagnosis and treatment.

The interaction between Mycobacterium tuberculosis and host, as well as the regulation of some signaling pathways in the host, were involved in pathogen latency in macrophages. microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the gene expression and biological functions, indicating that miRNAs played a regulatory role in bacterial infections. However, whether the host's miRNAs were also involved in the process of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection had not been thoroughly studied. This study infected macrophages with pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv and low virulence strain H37Ra to explore the functional miRNAs. By identifying the expression profile of miRNAs in host cells after infection, the expression of 17 miRNAs significantly changed (P < 0.05) in the human macrophage THP-1 infected with highly pathogenic H37Rv strain (Rv), H37Rv inactivated strain (Rv-), and non-pathogenic H37Ra (Ra) strains respectively, indicating that host miRNAs may be involved in the interaction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and host. Meanwhile, 10 types of miRNAs showed significant differences in cells infected with pathogenic and non-pathogenic Mycobacterium tuberculosis, suggesting that host miRNAs may play an important role in the pathogenicity and intracellular survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Further study had found that miR-449a, miR-502-5p, and miR-708 were downregulated in cells infected with Mycobacterium marinum. Overexpression of these three miRNAs displayed the significant inhibitory effect on the growth of Mycobacterium marinum, indicating that miRNAs played a pivotal role in the interaction between the host and Mycobacterium marinum. This study provided the new insights into the pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the treatment of tuberculosis.

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) technology has advanced rapidly and has been widely applied in various fields such as medicine and pharmacy, accelerating the drug development process. Focusing on the application of AI in the discovery and optimization of lead compounds, this review provides a detailed introduction to AI-assisted virtual screening and molecular generation methods for discovering lead compounds, while particularly highlighting the cases of AI-drived drugs into clinical trials. Additionally, we briefly outline the application of AI basic algorithm models in quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) and drug repurposing, offering insights for AI-based drug discovery.

Objective To analyze the predictive value of serum solitary G protein-coupled receptor ligand-12(Apelin-12)combined with echocardiographic parameters,wall motion score(WMS)and left ventricular global longitudinal strain(LV-GLS)for heart failure(HF)in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI)after percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods A total of 98 elderly AMI patients undergoing PCI in our hospital from January 2021 to December 2023 were enrolled,and according to the occurrence of HF or not at 3 months after PCI,they were divided into HF group(39 cases)and non-HF group(59 cases).PCI procedure was completed within 12 h after admission,and the blood samples were collected and echocardiography was per-formed at discharge.ROC curve was plotted to evaluate the predictive value of Apelin-12,WMS and LV-GLS for HF in elderly AMI patients.Kappa consistency test was conducted to assess the accuracy of combined the three indicators in predicting HF in the patients.Results The HF group had significantly lower serum Apelin-12 level,and higher WMS and LV-GLS than the non-HF group(P＜0.01).ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC value of Apelin-12,WMS and LV-GLS in predicting HF after PCI in elderly AMI patients was 0.931,0.745 and 0.749,respec-tively,and their cut-off values was 1.55 μg/L,20.50 and-12.90％,respectively.Multivariate lo-gistic regression analysis revealed that serum Apelin-12＜1.55 μ g/L,WMS＞20.50 points,and LV-GLS＞-12.90％were independent risk factors for postoperative HF in elderly AMI patients(OR=3.508,95％CI:2.002-6.147);OR=2.818,95％CI:1.479-5.371;OR=2.841,95％CI:1.505-5.363).When the three indicators combined in tandem,that is,when serum Apelin-12＜1.55 μg/L,WMS＞20.50 and LV-GLS＞-12.90％,HF was predicted to be positive,with a speci-ficity increasing to 94.92％and a Kappa value of 0.714(P＜0.01).Conclusion Detection of serum Apelin-12,WMS and LV-GLS is beneficial for elderly AMI patients after PCI in predicting the oc-currence of HF,and can open up a new direction for clinical diagnosis and treatment.