BACKGROUND:The development of calcium phosphate bone cement is limited due to its poor mechanical properties and weak osteogenic ability.Silicate bioactive glass is highly favored due to its excellent biological activity and osteogenic ability.Simultaneously,fiber structures can enhance the mechanical strength of materials.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the mechanical properties,biocompatibility,and osteogenic effect of silicate bioactive glass fiber composite calcium phosphate bone cement.METHODS:Different mass percentages(0％,10％,and 20％)of silicate bioactive glass fiber were added to the solid phase of calcium phosphate bone cement,mixed with the liquid phase and cured for 48 hours to obtain silicate bioactive glass fiber composite calcium phosphate bone cement.The mechanical properties,setting time,and ion precipitation of the cement were characterized.The three groups of bone cement extracts were co-cultured with MC3T3-E1 cells.The cell compatibility of the materials was evaluated by CCK-8 assay,live/dead staining,and phalloidin staining.After osteogenic induction,the osteogenic induction ability of the materials was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase staining,alizarin red staining,RUNX2 immunofluorescence staining,and RT-PCR.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)With the increase of silicate bioactive glass fiber content,the compressive strength and flexural strength of bone cement increased,and the setting time was prolonged.When bone cement was immersed in simulated body fluid,the precipitation of silicon ions,calcium ions,and phosphorus ions could be detected.Moreover,with the increase of silicate bioactive glass fiber content,the mass concentration of silicon ions and phosphorus ions released by bone cement increased,and the mass concentration of calcium ions decreased.(2)Live/dead staining and phalloidin staining results exhibited that silicate bioactive glass fiber composite calcium phosphate bone cement had no toxic effect on MC3T3-E1 cells.CCK-8 assay results showed that silicate bioactive glass fiber composite calcium phosphate bone cement could promote the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells.(3)With the increase of silicate bioactive glass fiber content in bone cement,the alkaline phosphatase activity and extracellular calcium deposition of MC3T3-E1 cells increased,the expression of RUNX2 protein increased,and the expression of alkaline phosphatase,osteocalcin,osteopontin,and RUNX2 mRNA expression increased.(4)The results indicate that silicate bioactive glass fibers can enhance the mechanical properties and osteogenic induction ability of calcium phosphate bone cement,among which 20％silicate bioactive glass fibers have a more obvious effect.

Objective:To observe macular vascular density and structural characteristics in children with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT).Methods:A retrospective clinical study. From October 2022 to December 2023, 29 TDT children (58 eyes) diagnosed and examined at the Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University were included in the TDT group, along with 29 age- and gender-matched healthy children (58 eyes) as the control group. All participants underwent optical coherence tomography and angiography. Measurements included central macular thickness (CMT), subretinal choroidal thickness (SFCT), choroidal thickness (ChT), choroidal vascularity index, blood flow density in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), choriocapillaris layer (CC), and choroidal layer of the macular region, as well as the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area of the SCP and DCP. A generalized estimating equation was used to compare differences in the above parameters between the two groups. Pearson correlation analysis was employed to examine the relationships between fundus structural parameters, blood flow density, and blood indices.Results:Compared with the control group, the TDT group showed significantly thinner CMT ( χ2=6.044) and ChT at 3.0 mm nasal ( χ2=4.451) and temporal ( χ2=4.767) to the fovea ( P<0.05). The TDT group also demonstrated reduced blood flow density in the inferior DCP ( χ2=5.254), whole CC ( χ2=3.996), and superior CC ( χ2=5.094), as well as enlarged FAZ area in DCP ( χ2=4.286) ( P<0.05). Correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between SFCT and disease duration ( r=?0.357, P=0.006). Conclusions:In children with TDT, CMT and ChT become thinner and the area of FAZ expands. The blood flow densities of DCP and CC in the macular area decreased.

Objective:To analyze the clinical efficacy and learning curve for robot-assisted cortical bone trajectory (CBT) screw fixation performed by surgeons with different seniority in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease.Methods:The clinical data of 91 lumbar degenerative disease patients underwent robot-assisted CBT screw fixation from August 2020 to December 2022 in Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 48 patients underwent surgery performed by the same senior surgeon (senior group), with a total of 234 CBT screws were placed; while 43 patients underwent surgery performed by the same junior surgeon (junior group), with a total of 206 CBT screws were placed. The surgical related indexes, functional improvement score, lower back pain and lower limb radiation pain scores, acceptable nail insertion rate, non invasion rate of facet joints and incidence of postoperative complications were compared between two groups. The functional improvement score was evaluated using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, the pain score was evaluated using visual analog score (VAS). The cumulative sum (CUSUM) method was used to depict the learning curve with "single screw placement time" as the observation index.Results:There were no statistical difference in incision length, operation time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative hospital stay between two groups ( P>0.05). The least squares means of JOA scores 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery in both groups increased significantly compared to baseline, while the least squares means of lower back pain VAS and lower limb radiation pain VAS decreased significantly compared to baseline; there were no statistical differences between two groups ( P>0.05). There were no statistical difference in acceptable nail insertion rate, non invasion rate of facet joints and incidence of postoperative complications between two group ( P>0.05). The CUSUM learning curves were fitting well and the inflection point for senior surgeon corresponded to 18 cases, while it was reached after performing surgery on 21 cases for junior surgeon. Conclusions:Robot-assisted CBT screw fixation performed by surgeons with different seniority could achieve similar clinical outcomes for treating lumbar degenerative disease. The senior surgeons are able to complete the initial learning stage faster than the junior surgeons, but there is not much difference in the number of surgeries performed the learning curve.

Objective:To compare the effectiveness and safety between robot-assisted percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) and traditional fluoroscopy-assisted PKP in the treatment of dual-segment recurrent osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) including in situ vertebral fracture.Methods:The clinical data of 33 patients with dual-segment recurrent OVCF including in situ vertebral fracture from January 2016 to January 2023 in Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were treated with PKP. Among them, 14 patients were treated with robot-assisted surgery (robot-assisted group), and 19 patients were treated with fluoroscopy-assisted surgery (fluoroscopy-assisted group). The total surgical time, preparation time and number of fluoroscopy were recorded. The in situ and other fracture vertebral operation time, number of punctures, amount of bone cement injection, bone cement filling effect, bone cement leakage, pedicle wall breakthrough and other special intraoperative situations were separately recorded. The visual analogue score (VAS) before surgery and 1 d, 3 months after surgery was recorded.Results:The preparation time in robot-assisted group was significantly longer than that in fluoroscopy-assisted group: (30.8 ± 6.9) min vs. (19.1 ± 4.5) min, the number of fluoroscopy was significantly lower than that in fluoroscopy-assisted group: (17.1 ± 4.1) times vs. (41.0 ± 6.3) times, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01 and <0.05); there were no statistical differences in total surgical time and VAS at any time point between the two groups ( P>0.05). For the in situ fracture segment, the operation time and number of punctures in robot-assisted group were significantly lower than those in fluoroscopy-assisted group: (15.4 ± 2.8) min vs. (22.0 ± 5.5) min and (1.1 ± 0.4) times vs. (2.4 ± 1.2) times, the amount of bone cement injection was significantly higher than those in fluoroscopy-assisted group: (2.36 ± 0.75) ml vs. (1.79 ± 0.69) ml, the filling effect of bone cement was significantly better than that in fluoroscopy-assisted group, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01 and <0.05); there were no statistical difference in bone cement leakage and pedicle wall breakthrough between the two groups ( P>0.05). For the other fracture segment, the operation time in robot-assisted group was significantly shorter than that in fluoroscopy-assisted group: (13.8 ± 3.8) min vs. (19.2 ± 6.4) min, and there was statistical difference ( P<0.01); there were no statistical difference in number of punctures, amount of bone cement injection, filling effect of bone cement, bone cement leakage and pedicle wall breakthrough between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Robot-assisted PKP in the treatment of dual-segment OVCF including in situ vertebral fracture, could reduce operation time, minimize punctures and fluoroscopy numbers, and provide superior bone cement filling results.

BACKGROUND:The development of calcium phosphate bone cement is limited due to its poor mechanical properties and weak osteogenic ability.Silicate bioactive glass is highly favored due to its excellent biological activity and osteogenic ability.Simultaneously,fiber structures can enhance the mechanical strength of materials.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the mechanical properties,biocompatibility,and osteogenic effect of silicate bioactive glass fiber composite calcium phosphate bone cement.METHODS:Different mass percentages(0％,10％,and 20％)of silicate bioactive glass fiber were added to the solid phase of calcium phosphate bone cement,mixed with the liquid phase and cured for 48 hours to obtain silicate bioactive glass fiber composite calcium phosphate bone cement.The mechanical properties,setting time,and ion precipitation of the cement were characterized.The three groups of bone cement extracts were co-cultured with MC3T3-E1 cells.The cell compatibility of the materials was evaluated by CCK-8 assay,live/dead staining,and phalloidin staining.After osteogenic induction,the osteogenic induction ability of the materials was evaluated by alkaline phosphatase staining,alizarin red staining,RUNX2 immunofluorescence staining,and RT-PCR.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)With the increase of silicate bioactive glass fiber content,the compressive strength and flexural strength of bone cement increased,and the setting time was prolonged.When bone cement was immersed in simulated body fluid,the precipitation of silicon ions,calcium ions,and phosphorus ions could be detected.Moreover,with the increase of silicate bioactive glass fiber content,the mass concentration of silicon ions and phosphorus ions released by bone cement increased,and the mass concentration of calcium ions decreased.(2)Live/dead staining and phalloidin staining results exhibited that silicate bioactive glass fiber composite calcium phosphate bone cement had no toxic effect on MC3T3-E1 cells.CCK-8 assay results showed that silicate bioactive glass fiber composite calcium phosphate bone cement could promote the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells.(3)With the increase of silicate bioactive glass fiber content in bone cement,the alkaline phosphatase activity and extracellular calcium deposition of MC3T3-E1 cells increased,the expression of RUNX2 protein increased,and the expression of alkaline phosphatase,osteocalcin,osteopontin,and RUNX2 mRNA expression increased.(4)The results indicate that silicate bioactive glass fibers can enhance the mechanical properties and osteogenic induction ability of calcium phosphate bone cement,among which 20％silicate bioactive glass fibers have a more obvious effect.

Objective:To analyze the clinical efficacy and learning curve for robot-assisted cortical bone trajectory (CBT) screw fixation performed by surgeons with different seniority in the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease.Methods:The clinical data of 91 lumbar degenerative disease patients underwent robot-assisted CBT screw fixation from August 2020 to December 2022 in Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 48 patients underwent surgery performed by the same senior surgeon (senior group), with a total of 234 CBT screws were placed; while 43 patients underwent surgery performed by the same junior surgeon (junior group), with a total of 206 CBT screws were placed. The surgical related indexes, functional improvement score, lower back pain and lower limb radiation pain scores, acceptable nail insertion rate, non invasion rate of facet joints and incidence of postoperative complications were compared between two groups. The functional improvement score was evaluated using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, the pain score was evaluated using visual analog score (VAS). The cumulative sum (CUSUM) method was used to depict the learning curve with "single screw placement time" as the observation index.Results:There were no statistical difference in incision length, operation time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative hospital stay between two groups ( P>0.05). The least squares means of JOA scores 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery in both groups increased significantly compared to baseline, while the least squares means of lower back pain VAS and lower limb radiation pain VAS decreased significantly compared to baseline; there were no statistical differences between two groups ( P>0.05). There were no statistical difference in acceptable nail insertion rate, non invasion rate of facet joints and incidence of postoperative complications between two group ( P>0.05). The CUSUM learning curves were fitting well and the inflection point for senior surgeon corresponded to 18 cases, while it was reached after performing surgery on 21 cases for junior surgeon. Conclusions:Robot-assisted CBT screw fixation performed by surgeons with different seniority could achieve similar clinical outcomes for treating lumbar degenerative disease. The senior surgeons are able to complete the initial learning stage faster than the junior surgeons, but there is not much difference in the number of surgeries performed the learning curve.

Objective:To compare the effectiveness and safety between robot-assisted percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) and traditional fluoroscopy-assisted PKP in the treatment of dual-segment recurrent osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) including in situ vertebral fracture.Methods:The clinical data of 33 patients with dual-segment recurrent OVCF including in situ vertebral fracture from January 2016 to January 2023 in Beijing Shijitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were treated with PKP. Among them, 14 patients were treated with robot-assisted surgery (robot-assisted group), and 19 patients were treated with fluoroscopy-assisted surgery (fluoroscopy-assisted group). The total surgical time, preparation time and number of fluoroscopy were recorded. The in situ and other fracture vertebral operation time, number of punctures, amount of bone cement injection, bone cement filling effect, bone cement leakage, pedicle wall breakthrough and other special intraoperative situations were separately recorded. The visual analogue score (VAS) before surgery and 1 d, 3 months after surgery was recorded.Results:The preparation time in robot-assisted group was significantly longer than that in fluoroscopy-assisted group: (30.8 ± 6.9) min vs. (19.1 ± 4.5) min, the number of fluoroscopy was significantly lower than that in fluoroscopy-assisted group: (17.1 ± 4.1) times vs. (41.0 ± 6.3) times, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01 and <0.05); there were no statistical differences in total surgical time and VAS at any time point between the two groups ( P>0.05). For the in situ fracture segment, the operation time and number of punctures in robot-assisted group were significantly lower than those in fluoroscopy-assisted group: (15.4 ± 2.8) min vs. (22.0 ± 5.5) min and (1.1 ± 0.4) times vs. (2.4 ± 1.2) times, the amount of bone cement injection was significantly higher than those in fluoroscopy-assisted group: (2.36 ± 0.75) ml vs. (1.79 ± 0.69) ml, the filling effect of bone cement was significantly better than that in fluoroscopy-assisted group, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01 and <0.05); there were no statistical difference in bone cement leakage and pedicle wall breakthrough between the two groups ( P>0.05). For the other fracture segment, the operation time in robot-assisted group was significantly shorter than that in fluoroscopy-assisted group: (13.8 ± 3.8) min vs. (19.2 ± 6.4) min, and there was statistical difference ( P<0.01); there were no statistical difference in number of punctures, amount of bone cement injection, filling effect of bone cement, bone cement leakage and pedicle wall breakthrough between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Robot-assisted PKP in the treatment of dual-segment OVCF including in situ vertebral fracture, could reduce operation time, minimize punctures and fluoroscopy numbers, and provide superior bone cement filling results.

Objective:To observe macular vascular density and structural characteristics in children with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT).Methods:A retrospective clinical study. From October 2022 to December 2023, 29 TDT children (58 eyes) diagnosed and examined at the Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University were included in the TDT group, along with 29 age- and gender-matched healthy children (58 eyes) as the control group. All participants underwent optical coherence tomography and angiography. Measurements included central macular thickness (CMT), subretinal choroidal thickness (SFCT), choroidal thickness (ChT), choroidal vascularity index, blood flow density in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), choriocapillaris layer (CC), and choroidal layer of the macular region, as well as the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area of the SCP and DCP. A generalized estimating equation was used to compare differences in the above parameters between the two groups. Pearson correlation analysis was employed to examine the relationships between fundus structural parameters, blood flow density, and blood indices.Results:Compared with the control group, the TDT group showed significantly thinner CMT ( χ2=6.044) and ChT at 3.0 mm nasal ( χ2=4.451) and temporal ( χ2=4.767) to the fovea ( P<0.05). The TDT group also demonstrated reduced blood flow density in the inferior DCP ( χ2=5.254), whole CC ( χ2=3.996), and superior CC ( χ2=5.094), as well as enlarged FAZ area in DCP ( χ2=4.286) ( P<0.05). Correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between SFCT and disease duration ( r=?0.357, P=0.006). Conclusions:In children with TDT, CMT and ChT become thinner and the area of FAZ expands. The blood flow densities of DCP and CC in the macular area decreased.

Objectives:To investigate the characteristics of clinical and imaging outcomes and their differ-ences between transforaminal endoscopic decompression and limited decompression and fusion surgery in the treatment of adult degenerative scoliosis(ADS).Methods:From January 2018 to January 2021,53 patients suf-fering from ADS who underwent surgery in our department were retrospectively analyzed,and they were divid-ed into either minimally invasive surgery(MIS)group(31 patients,underwent transforaminal endoscopic decom-pression)or fusion group(22 patients,underwent limited decompression and fusion surgery).The following data were comparatively analyzed:the baseline characteristics,the preoperative Lenke-Silva level,the radiographical parameters(scoliotic Cobb angle,global spinal balance parameters,and spinopelvic parameters)that measured at preoperation,before discharge,at six months after surgery,and at the final follow-up,clinical outcomes that evaluated at preoperation,before discharge,three months after surgery,six months after surgery,and the final follow-up,the incidence of surgical complications,and the reoperation rate.Results:The mean follow-up period was 15.68±3.26 months.The mean age of the patients in the MIS group was significantly higher than that in the fusion group(78.64±5.19 years vs 64.95±4.31 years,P＜0.05).In the MIS group,the majority of the patients were classified as Lenke-Silva Ⅰ and Ⅱ,and all the patients suffered from unilateral lower limb radiculopathy;In the fusion group,more patients were of Lenke-Silva Ⅱ and Ⅲ levels,and 73％of the patients suffered from unilateral lower limb radiculopathy.The preoperative scoliotic Cobb angle in the MIS group was significantly smaller than that in the fusion group(23.92°±9.06° vs 39.58°±13.12°,P＜0.05).Postop-eratively,both groups of patients showed significantly improvement in back pain,leg pain,and functional dis-ability.At the final follow-up,the scores for back pain and functional disability showed preferably improve-ment in the MIS group than those in the fusion group(P＜0.05).During the postoperative follow-up,no coronal or sagittal imbalance was observed in both groups;At the final follow-up:the mean scoliotic Cobb angle pro-gressed 1.51° in the MIS group,while the correction of scoliosis reduced 1.82° in the fusion group.The op-erative time,intraoperative blood loss,incidence of complications,and the reoperation rate in the MIS group were significantly lower than those in the fusion group(P＜0.05).Conclusions:For ADS patients without rigid imbalance,both surgical interventions are able to significantly improve clinical symptoms.The short-term fol-low-up outcomes reveal that the endoscopic decompression superiors in less scoliosis progression after opera-tion and functional improvement than limited fusion surgery.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between the expression levels of STMN1, BubR1, bcl-2 and Bad and the chemotherapy effect of paclitaxel-containing regimen in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).Methods:The clinical data of ESCC patients who received paclitaxel-containing chemotherapy at Fenyang Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University from September 2016 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 59 cases received maintenance chemotherapy and 27 cases received surgery after 3 courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The expression levels of STMN1, BubR1, bcl-2 and Bad in tumor tissues before chemotherapy were detected by immunohistochemistry. The imaging efficacy after 3 courses of chemotherapy and pathological efficacy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were evaluated. The imaging efficacy, pathological efficacy and progression-free survival (PFS) were compared between the high expression group and the low expression group of each protein.Results:The proportion of patients with stage Ⅳ (46.3%, 19/41), the proportion of patients with low differentiation (22%, 9/41) and the incidence of lymph node metastasis (95.1%, 39/41) in STMN1 high expression group were higher than those in STMN1 low expression group (17.8%, 8/45; 4.4%, 2/45; 64.4%, 29/45), and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The proportion of patients with stage Ⅳ in Bad high expression group was lower than that in Bad low expression group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.05). In the evaluation of imaging efficacy, the chemotherapy sensitivity rates in STMN1 and BubR1 high expression groups (29.3%, 12/41; 37.9%, 22/58) were lower than those in STMN1 and BubR1 low expression groups (75.6%, 34/45; 85.7%, 24/28), and the chemotherapy sensitivity rate of patients in Bad high expression group (65.9%, 27/41) was higher than that in Bad low expression group (42.2%, 19/45), and the difference was statistically significant (all P < 0.05). There was no statistical correlation between bcl-2 expression and chemotherapy sensitivity rate ( P > 0.05). In the evaluation of pathological efficacy, the proportion of patients with tumor regression grade (TRG) score 0-1 after neoadjuvant therapy in STMN1 high expression group (27.3%, 3/11) was lower than that in STMN1 low expression group (75.0%, 12/16), and the difference was statistically significant ( P = 0.022). There were no statistical differences in the proportions of patients with TRG score 0-1 after neoadjuvant therapy between high and low expression groups of BubR1, bcl-2 and Bad (all P > 0.05). The PFS rate was 15.2% (9/59) for patients received maintenance chemotherapy, and the median PFS time was 6 months. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that PFS in STMN1 low expression group was better than that in STMN1 low expression group ( χ2 = 12.90, P < 0.001). PFS in BubR1 low expression group was better than that in BubR1 high expression ( χ2 =12.04, P < 0.001). PFS in Bad high expression group was better than that in Bad low expression group ( χ2 =9.69, P = 0.004). There was no statistical difference in PFS between high and low bcl-2 expression groups ( χ2 =1.43, P = 0.320). Conclusions:ESCC patients with low expression of STMN1, low expression of BubR1 and high expression of Bad have better chemotherapy effect after receiving paclitaxel-containing regimen, but there is no correlation between bcl-2 expression and chemotherapy efficacy.