Objective:To investigate the risk factors for the formation of eggshell vertebral body after open reduction and internal fixation with posterior screw-rod system for thoracolumbar spine fractures. Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 118 patients with thoracolumbar single-segment fracture who had been treated at Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University between January 2020 and January 2023. The patients were divided into a case group (47 cases) and a control group (71 cases) according to whether an eggshell vertebral body developed in the injured vertebra after internal fixation with posterior screw-rod system. The 2 groups were compared in terms of gender, age, follow-up time, body mass index, history of primary hypertension, history of diabetes mellitus, vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score, local Cobb angle correction, presence or absence of screwing at the injured vertebra, fracture site, fracture type, presence or absence of injury to the posterior ligamentous complex, presence or absence of injury to the upper and lower discs/endplate complex in the injured vertebrae, recovery rates of the anterior, middle, and posterior heights of the injured vertebra, and preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) for pain. After positive indicators were screened by univariate analysis ( P<0.05), they were included in a multivariate logistic regression model and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) to analyze the risk factors for the formation of eggshell vertebral body after posterior screw-rod internal fixation of thoracolumbar spine fractures. Results:Of the 118 patients, 47 developed an eggshell vertebral body after surgery. Univariate analysis showed that VBQ score, presence or absence of screwing at the injured vertebra, burst fracture type, injury to the posterior ligamentous complex, injury to the upper and lower discs/endplate complex in the injured vertebrae, recovery rate of the anterior height of the injured vertebra, recovery rate of the middle height of the injured vertebra were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis and ROC curve analysis showed that a VBQ score ≥ 2.95 points( OR=6.216, 95% CI: 1.890 to 20.441, P=0.003), a recovery rate of the anterior height of the injured vertebra ≥ 25.26% ( OR=1.097, 95% CI: 1.046 to 1.149, P<0.001), a burst fracture type ( OR=6.397, 95% CI: 1.733 to 23.617, P=0.005), and injury to the upper and lower discs/endplate complex in the injured vertebrae ( OR=7.581, 95% CI: 1.827 to 31.461, P=0.005) were significantly associated with the formation of eggshell vertebral body after open reduction and internal fixation with posterior screw-rod system for thoracolumbar spine fractures ( P<0.05). Conclusion:A VBQ score ≥ 2.95 points, a recovery rate of the anterior height of the injured vertebra ≥ 25.26%, a burst fracture type, and injury to the disc/endplate complex in the injured vertebrae are the independent risk factors for the formation of eggshell vertebral body after open reduction and internal fixation with posterior screw-rod system for thoracolumbar spine fractures.

Objective To investigate the effects of TEK receptor tyrosine kinase(Tie2)L914F mutation on the biological behavior of vascular endothelial cells and the changes of related signaling pathways in patients with venous malformations.Methods Gene sequen-cing was used to detect Tie2-L914F mutations in venous malformations.HE staining and immunohistochemical staining were used to de-tect the expression of platelet derived growth factor subunit B gene(PDGFB)and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)in venous malfor-mations caused by the mutation.Lentivirus overexpressing Tie2-wild type(Tie2-WT),Tie2-L914F and Tie2-GFP(green fluorescent protein,GFP)infected human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs).Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression level of Tie2 in endothelial cells expressing exogenous Tie2 and Flag-tagged protein Tie2 protein was detected by western blotting to verify transfection efficiency.The proliferation,apoptosis,migration and tube-forming ability of the cells were determined by CCK-8,flow cytometry,Transwell migration assay and Matrigel matrix gel tube-forming assay.Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of Protein Kinase B(PKB/AKT),FOXO1 and their phosphorylation,and the expression level of PDGFB was detec-ted by ELISA.Results The number of patients with venous malformations with L914F mutations was about 33.3％.HE and immuno-histochemical staining showed that the expressions of PDGFB and α-SMA were significantly down-regulated in venous malformation tis-sues with Tie2-L914F mutation,and were positively correlated with the decrease in cell coverage of the tube wall.Compared with Tie2-WT endothelial cells,the apoptosis number of Tie2-L914F endothelial cells was significantly reduced,while the proliferation and mi-gration ability was significantly increased,and the tube-forming ability was significantly decreased.Western blotting and ELISA showed that the phosphorylation levels of AKT and FOXO1 downstream of Tie2 signaling pathway in endothelial cells expressing Tie2-L914F were significantly increased,and the expression level of PDGFB was significantly decreased.Conclusion In venous malformations,Tie2-L914F mutation may downregulate the expression of PDGFB through AKT signaling pathway,which affects the biological behavior of vascular endothelial cells.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for the formation of eggshell vertebral body after open reduction and internal fixation with posterior screw-rod system for thoracolumbar spine fractures. Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 118 patients with thoracolumbar single-segment fracture who had been treated at Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University between January 2020 and January 2023. The patients were divided into a case group (47 cases) and a control group (71 cases) according to whether an eggshell vertebral body developed in the injured vertebra after internal fixation with posterior screw-rod system. The 2 groups were compared in terms of gender, age, follow-up time, body mass index, history of primary hypertension, history of diabetes mellitus, vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score, local Cobb angle correction, presence or absence of screwing at the injured vertebra, fracture site, fracture type, presence or absence of injury to the posterior ligamentous complex, presence or absence of injury to the upper and lower discs/endplate complex in the injured vertebrae, recovery rates of the anterior, middle, and posterior heights of the injured vertebra, and preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS) for pain. After positive indicators were screened by univariate analysis ( P<0.05), they were included in a multivariate logistic regression model and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) to analyze the risk factors for the formation of eggshell vertebral body after posterior screw-rod internal fixation of thoracolumbar spine fractures. Results:Of the 118 patients, 47 developed an eggshell vertebral body after surgery. Univariate analysis showed that VBQ score, presence or absence of screwing at the injured vertebra, burst fracture type, injury to the posterior ligamentous complex, injury to the upper and lower discs/endplate complex in the injured vertebrae, recovery rate of the anterior height of the injured vertebra, recovery rate of the middle height of the injured vertebra were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis and ROC curve analysis showed that a VBQ score ≥ 2.95 points( OR=6.216, 95% CI: 1.890 to 20.441, P=0.003), a recovery rate of the anterior height of the injured vertebra ≥ 25.26% ( OR=1.097, 95% CI: 1.046 to 1.149, P<0.001), a burst fracture type ( OR=6.397, 95% CI: 1.733 to 23.617, P=0.005), and injury to the upper and lower discs/endplate complex in the injured vertebrae ( OR=7.581, 95% CI: 1.827 to 31.461, P=0.005) were significantly associated with the formation of eggshell vertebral body after open reduction and internal fixation with posterior screw-rod system for thoracolumbar spine fractures ( P<0.05). Conclusion:A VBQ score ≥ 2.95 points, a recovery rate of the anterior height of the injured vertebra ≥ 25.26%, a burst fracture type, and injury to the disc/endplate complex in the injured vertebrae are the independent risk factors for the formation of eggshell vertebral body after open reduction and internal fixation with posterior screw-rod system for thoracolumbar spine fractures.

Objective To investigate the effects of TEK receptor tyrosine kinase(Tie2)L914F mutation on the biological behavior of vascular endothelial cells and the changes of related signaling pathways in patients with venous malformations.Methods Gene sequen-cing was used to detect Tie2-L914F mutations in venous malformations.HE staining and immunohistochemical staining were used to de-tect the expression of platelet derived growth factor subunit B gene(PDGFB)and α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)in venous malfor-mations caused by the mutation.Lentivirus overexpressing Tie2-wild type(Tie2-WT),Tie2-L914F and Tie2-GFP(green fluorescent protein,GFP)infected human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs).Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression level of Tie2 in endothelial cells expressing exogenous Tie2 and Flag-tagged protein Tie2 protein was detected by western blotting to verify transfection efficiency.The proliferation,apoptosis,migration and tube-forming ability of the cells were determined by CCK-8,flow cytometry,Transwell migration assay and Matrigel matrix gel tube-forming assay.Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of Protein Kinase B(PKB/AKT),FOXO1 and their phosphorylation,and the expression level of PDGFB was detec-ted by ELISA.Results The number of patients with venous malformations with L914F mutations was about 33.3％.HE and immuno-histochemical staining showed that the expressions of PDGFB and α-SMA were significantly down-regulated in venous malformation tis-sues with Tie2-L914F mutation,and were positively correlated with the decrease in cell coverage of the tube wall.Compared with Tie2-WT endothelial cells,the apoptosis number of Tie2-L914F endothelial cells was significantly reduced,while the proliferation and mi-gration ability was significantly increased,and the tube-forming ability was significantly decreased.Western blotting and ELISA showed that the phosphorylation levels of AKT and FOXO1 downstream of Tie2 signaling pathway in endothelial cells expressing Tie2-L914F were significantly increased,and the expression level of PDGFB was significantly decreased.Conclusion In venous malformations,Tie2-L914F mutation may downregulate the expression of PDGFB through AKT signaling pathway,which affects the biological behavior of vascular endothelial cells.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between blood uric acid level and body composition, exercise capacity, and cardiopulmonary function in medical examination population.Methods:In this cross-sectional study, 83 individuals who underwent physical examinations at Peking University Third Hospital from June 1, 2023, to October 1, 2023, and met the inclusion criteria were included. According to whether they had hyperuricemia (HUA), the participants were divided into HUA group (53 cases) and non-HUA group (30 cases). Body composition parameters, such as body mass index and visceral fat area, were measured with a body composition analyzer. Exercise capacity indicators, including grip strength, vertical jump, back strength, and sit-and-reach test, were measured using specific monitoring devices. Cardiopulmonary function was assessed using the stair index test. The clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared with t-tests or chi-square tests, and the correlation between uric acid levels and body composition, exercise capacity, and cardiopulmonary function was analyzed. Results:The HUA group had significantly higher skeletal muscle mass, body fat mass, body mass index, and visceral fat area when compared with the non-HUA group [(31.92±5.60) vs (26.11±6.19) kg, (23.66±9.33) vs (17.19±5.00) kg, (26.53±3.68) vs (23.27±3.59) kg/m2, 91.20 (74.25, 123.90) vs 68.25 (56.25, 90.48) cm 2, respectively] (all P<0.05). The grip strength, vertical jump, and back pull strength were all lower in the HUA group [32.70 (25.25, 40.30) vs 42.35 (35.95, 48.10) kg, 30.30 (24.10, 36.48) vs 40.55 (33.06, 45.10) kg, 24.20(20.60, 32.23) vs 29.90 (25.20, 35.50) cm, 65.60 (51.75, 78.00) vs 91.00 (67.25, 111.50) kg, respectivley] (all P<0.05). The increased step index was positively correlated with reduced risk of hyperuricemia ( OR=0.875, 95% CI: 0.793-0.966) ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Blood uric acid level is correlated with cardiopulmonary function in medical examination population. Individuals with better cardiopulmonary function have a lower risk of developing HUA. However, the relationship between blood uric acid level and body composition and exercise capacity is not clear.

Objective:To evaluate the impact of preemptive analgesia with ibuprofen on postoperative pain following the extraction of impacted mandibular third molars in a Chinese population, aiming to provide a clinical reference for its application.Methods:This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group trial was conducted from April 2022 to October 2023 at the Capital Medical University School of Stomatology (40 cases), Beijing TianTan Hospital, Capital Medical University (22 cases), and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University (20 cases). It included 82 patients with impacted mandibular third molars, with 41 in the ibuprofen group and 41 in the control group. Participants in the ibuprofen group received 300 mg of sustained-release ibuprofen capsules orally 15 min before surgery, while the control group received a placebo. Both groups were instructed to take sustained-release ibuprofen capsules as planned for 3 days post-surgery. Pain intensity was measured using the numerical rating scale at 30 min, 4 h, 6 h, 8 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after surgery, and the use of additional analgesic medication was recorded during days 4 to 6 postoperatively.Results:All 82 patients completed the study according to the protocol. No adverse events such as nausea, vomiting, or allergies were reported in either group during the trial. The ibuprofen group exhibited significantly lower pain scores at 4 h [2.0 (1.0, 4.0) vs. 4.0 (3.0, 5.0)] ( Z=-3.73, P<0.001), 6 h [2.0 (1.0, 4.0) vs. 5.0(2.5, 6.0)] ( Z=-3.38, P<0.001), and 8 h [2.0 (1.0, 4.0) vs. 5.0 (2.0, 6.0)] ( Z=-2.11, P=0.035) postoperatively compared to the control group. There were no statistically significant differences in pain scores between the groups at 30 min, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h postoperatively ( P>0.05). Additionally, 11 out of 41 patients (26.8%) in the ibuprofen group and 23 out of 41 patients (56.1%) in the control group required extra analgesic medication between days 4 and 6 post-surgery, with the ibuprofen group taking significantly fewer additional pills [0.0 (0.0, 1.0) vs. 1.0 (0.0, 3.0)] ( Z=-2.81, P=0.005). Conclusions:A pain management regimen involving 300 mg of oral sustained-release ibuprofen capsules administered 15 minutes before surgery and continued for 3 d postoperatively effectively reduces pain levels and the total amount of analgesic medication used after the extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. Considering its efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness, ibuprofen is recommended as a first-line drug for perioperative pain management, enhancing patient comfort during diagnosis and treatment in a feasible manner.

Objective:To clarify the clinicopathological, especially molecular, features of early-onset gastric cancer with the aim of informing analysis of treatment strategies.Methods:In this retrospective case-control study, we examined data from a dedicated gastric cancer database in Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University. The original cohort comprised 2506 patients with gastric cancer who had undergone gastrectomy in Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University from July 2020 to October 2021, including 198 with early-onset gastric cancer (aged ≤45 years) and 2,308 with non-early gastric cancer. We used a simple random sampling method to select 396 of the 2,308 patients aged >45 years (ratio of 1:2) as the control group and then compared molecular diagnostic data and clinicopathological features of the two groups.Results:The median age was 39 years in the early-onset gastric cancer group, while 66 years in the control group. The clinicopathological features of early-onset gastric cancer included female predominance (59.1% [117/198] vs. 27.8% [110/396], χ 2=54.816, P<0.001), less comorbidity (32.3% [64/198] vs. 57.1% [226/396], χ 2=32.355, P<0.001), poorer differentiation (93.9% [186/198] vs. 74.5% [295/396], χ 2=30.777, P<0.001) and higher proportion of diffuse type (40.4% [80/198] vs. 15.9% [63/396], χ 2=69.639, P<0.001), distant metastasis (7.1% [14/198] vs. 2.8% [11/396], χ 2=6.034, P=0.014). Regarding treatment, distal gastrectomy was more commonly performed than proximal gastrectomy (55.1% [109/198] vs. 47.0% [186/396], 1.5% [3/198] vs. 8.3% [33/396], χ 2=11.644, P=0.003). Family history of gastric cancer, TNM stage, tumor size, lymph node dissection, nerve invasion, nodes harboring metastases, range of lymph node dissection, digestive tract reconstruction procedure, implementation of laparoscopic surgery, combined resection, and preoperative treatment did not differ significantly between the two groups (all P>0.05). Molecular diagnosis showed there was a smaller percentage of mismatch repair deficiency in the early-onset gastric cancer than in the control group (1.0% [2/198] vs. 10.1% [40/396], χ 2=16.301, P<0.001), and a higher rate of positivity for Claudin 18.2 (77.8% [154/198] vs. 53.0% [210/396], χ 2=5.442, P<0.001). HER-2 and Epstein–Barr virus positivity rates did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusion:Early-onset gastric cancer is a distinct type of gastric cancer with a high degree of malignancy, and treatment targeting Claudin 18.2 may be effective.

Inflammation, abnormal cholesterol metabolism, and macrophage infiltration are involved in the destruction of the extracellular matrix of the nucleus pulposus (NP), culminating in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Whether nimbolide (Nim), a natural extract, can alleviate IDD is unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that Nim promotes cholesterol efflux and inhibits the activation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways by activating sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) during inflammation. Thus, Nim balanced matrix anabolism and catabolism of NPCs. However, the inhibition of SIRT1 significantly attenuated the effects of Nim. We also found that Nim promoted the expression of SIRT1 in RAW 264.7, which enhanced the proportion of M2 macrophages by facilitating cholesterol homeostasis reprogramming and impeded M1-like macrophages polarization by blocking the activation of inflammatory signaling. Based on these results, Nim can improve the microenvironment and facilitate matrix metabolism equilibrium in NPCs. Furthermore, in vivo treatment with Nim delayed IDD progression by boosting SIRT1 expression, modulating macrophage polarization and preserving the extracellular matrix. In conclusion, Nim may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for treating IDD.

Objective:To clarify the clinicopathological, especially molecular, features of early-onset gastric cancer with the aim of informing analysis of treatment strategies.Methods:In this retrospective case-control study, we examined data from a dedicated gastric cancer database in Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University. The original cohort comprised 2506 patients with gastric cancer who had undergone gastrectomy in Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University from July 2020 to October 2021, including 198 with early-onset gastric cancer (aged ≤45 years) and 2,308 with non-early gastric cancer. We used a simple random sampling method to select 396 of the 2,308 patients aged >45 years (ratio of 1:2) as the control group and then compared molecular diagnostic data and clinicopathological features of the two groups.Results:The median age was 39 years in the early-onset gastric cancer group, while 66 years in the control group. The clinicopathological features of early-onset gastric cancer included female predominance (59.1% [117/198] vs. 27.8% [110/396], χ 2=54.816, P<0.001), less comorbidity (32.3% [64/198] vs. 57.1% [226/396], χ 2=32.355, P<0.001), poorer differentiation (93.9% [186/198] vs. 74.5% [295/396], χ 2=30.777, P<0.001) and higher proportion of diffuse type (40.4% [80/198] vs. 15.9% [63/396], χ 2=69.639, P<0.001), distant metastasis (7.1% [14/198] vs. 2.8% [11/396], χ 2=6.034, P=0.014). Regarding treatment, distal gastrectomy was more commonly performed than proximal gastrectomy (55.1% [109/198] vs. 47.0% [186/396], 1.5% [3/198] vs. 8.3% [33/396], χ 2=11.644, P=0.003). Family history of gastric cancer, TNM stage, tumor size, lymph node dissection, nerve invasion, nodes harboring metastases, range of lymph node dissection, digestive tract reconstruction procedure, implementation of laparoscopic surgery, combined resection, and preoperative treatment did not differ significantly between the two groups (all P>0.05). Molecular diagnosis showed there was a smaller percentage of mismatch repair deficiency in the early-onset gastric cancer than in the control group (1.0% [2/198] vs. 10.1% [40/396], χ 2=16.301, P<0.001), and a higher rate of positivity for Claudin 18.2 (77.8% [154/198] vs. 53.0% [210/396], χ 2=5.442, P<0.001). HER-2 and Epstein–Barr virus positivity rates did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusion:Early-onset gastric cancer is a distinct type of gastric cancer with a high degree of malignancy, and treatment targeting Claudin 18.2 may be effective.