Objective To explore the effects of Rhodiola rosea injection on pulmonary shunt and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels during single lung ventilation in patients undergoing radical resection of esophageal cancer. Methods Forty-six patients undergoing radical operation for esophageal cancer were randomized equally into control group and Rhodiola rosea injection group. In the Rhodiola group, 10 mL of Rhodiola rosea injection was added into 250 mL of normal saline or 5％ glucose solution for slow intravenous infusion, and normal saline of the same volume was used in the control group after the patients entered the operation room. At T0, T1 and T3, PaO2 of the patient was recorded and 2 mL of deep venous blood was collected for determination of serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels. The incidence of postoperative atelectasis of the patients was recorded. Results Compared with those in the control group, the patients receiving Rhodiola rosea injection had significantly higher PaO2 and Qs/Qt at T1 and T2 (P<0.05) and lower serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels at T3 (P<0.05). No significant difference in the incidence of postoperative atelectasis was observed between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Rhodiola rosea injection before anesthesia induction can reduce intrapulmonary shunt during single lung ventilation, improve oxygenation, reduce serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels, and alleviate intraoperative lung injury in patients undergoing radical resection of esophageal cancer.

Objective To explore the effects of Rhodiola rosea injection on pulmonary shunt and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels during single lung ventilation in patients undergoing radical resection of esophageal cancer. Methods Forty-six patients undergoing radical operation for esophageal cancer were randomized equally into control group and Rhodiola rosea injection group. In the Rhodiola group, 10 mL of Rhodiola rosea injection was added into 250 mL of normal saline or 5％ glucose solution for slow intravenous infusion, and normal saline of the same volume was used in the control group after the patients entered the operation room. At T0, T1 and T3, PaO2 of the patient was recorded and 2 mL of deep venous blood was collected for determination of serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels. The incidence of postoperative atelectasis of the patients was recorded. Results Compared with those in the control group, the patients receiving Rhodiola rosea injection had significantly higher PaO2 and Qs/Qt at T1 and T2 (P<0.05) and lower serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels at T3 (P<0.05). No significant difference in the incidence of postoperative atelectasis was observed between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Rhodiola rosea injection before anesthesia induction can reduce intrapulmonary shunt during single lung ventilation, improve oxygenation, reduce serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels, and alleviate intraoperative lung injury in patients undergoing radical resection of esophageal cancer.

Objective:To explore the influencing factors for low back pain after decompression and fusion in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis and to construct a Nomogram prediction model.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 132 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis who had been treated at Department of Orthopedics, Nanyang Central Hospital from May 2021 to March 2022. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to their visual analog scale (VAS) pain score: a back pain-free group (104 cases with VAS ≤ 2) and a back pain group (28 cases with VAS > 2). Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were employed to identify the influencing factors for occurrence of lower back pain and a Nomogram prediction model for the risk of lower back pain was constructed in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis after decompression and fusion. The accuracy of the model was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Furthermore, the model accuracy was pre-tested using an external validation model which included 66 illegible patients with lumbar spinal stenosis treated at Department of Orthopedics, Nanyang Central Hospital from May 2022 to March 2023. A comparison was made between the outcomes predicted by the model and the actual outcomes observed. The fit of the model was evaluated through the Hosmer-Lemeshow test.Results:The results of the multifactorial analysis indicated that interleukin (IL-1 β), postoperative aseptic inflammation in the vertebral canal, and intraoperative blood loss were independent influencing factors for the occurrence of lower back pain (all P < 0.05). A risk Nomogram prediction model was thus established based on these factors. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.975, the sensitivity 92.90%, the specificity 91.30%, and the Youden index 0.842. External validation of the model showed an overall accuracy of 99.80%. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test demonstrated good model fit ( χ2=3.512, P=0.898). Conclusions:IL-1 β, postoperative aseptic inflammation in the vertebral canal, and intraoperative blood loss may be the primary influencing factors for the occurrence of lower back pain in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis after decompression fusion surgery. The Nomogram prediction model based on these influencing factors demonstrates excellent predictive efficacy for lower back pain.

We conducted a prospective study to assess the non-inferiority of adjuvant chemotherapy alone versus adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) as an alternative strategy for patients with early-stage (FIGO 2009 stage IB-IIA) cervical cancer having risk factors after surgery. The condition was assessed in terms of prognosis, adverse effects, and quality of life. This randomized trial involved nine centers across China. Eligible patients were randomized to receive adjuvant chemotherapy or CCRT after surgery. The primary end-point was progression-free survival (PFS). From December 2012 to December 2014, 337 patients were subjected to randomization. Final analysis included 329 patients, including 165 in the adjuvant chemotherapy group and 164 in the adjuvant CCRT group. The median follow-up was 72.1 months. The three-year PFS rates were both 91.9%, and the five-year OS was 90.6% versus 90.0% in adjuvant chemotherapy and CCRT groups, respectively. No significant differences were observed in the PFS or OS between groups. The adjusted HR for PFS was 0.854 (95% confidence interval 0.415-1.757; P = 0.667) favoring adjuvant chemotherapy, excluding the predefined non-inferiority boundary of 1.9. The chemotherapy group showed a tendency toward good quality of life. In comparison with post-operative adjuvant CCRT, adjuvant chemotherapy treatment showed non-inferior efficacy in patients with early-stage cervical cancer having pathological risk factors. Adjuvant chemotherapy alone is a favorable alternative post-operative treatment.
Female ; Humans ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Neoplasm Staging ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant/adverse effects* ; Adjuvants, Immunologic ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To investigate the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis(CAS)and subclinical left ventricular(LV)dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with preserved LV ejection fraction(LVEF).Methods:A total of 120 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who had LVEF≥50% were selected in the Department of Endocrinology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from June 2021 to October 2021. The global longitudinal strain(GLS)was obtained by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography(STE)to assess subclinical LV systolic function. The mitral ratio of peak early to late diastolic filling velocity(E/A), and mitral velocity to early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus(E/E′)ratio were obtained by pulsed tissue Doppler echocardiography to assess LV diastolic function. Acrroding to bilateral carotid ultrasound examination, the subjects were divided into normal carotid arteries group( n=46) and CAS group( n=74). Demographics and biochemical parameters were compared between two groups. Binary logistic regression and Pearson correlation analysis were used to evaluate the relationship between CAS and subclinical LV dysfunction. Results:The CAS group had a higher proportion of men, older age, and a longer duration of diabetes than the normal carotid arteries group(all P<0.05). There was no difference in LVEF and GLS between the two groups [normal carotid arteries group vs CAS group, LVEF: (60.72±4.73)% vs(60.07±4.28)%; GLS: (18.24±3.72)% vs(17.81±3.47)%, respectively; both P>0.05]. However, compared with normal carotid arteries group, E/A ratio was decreased and E/E′ ratio was significantly increased in CAS group(both P<0.01). Pearson correlation analysis showed that GLS was not correlated with carotid plaque thickness and carotid intima-media thickness(CIMT; both P>0.05). By contrast, E/E′ ratio was positively correlated with carotid plaque thickness and CIMT(both P<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that GLS and E/E′ ratio were not associated with CAS( both P>0.05). However, decreased E/A ratio was significantly associated with the existence of CAS( OR=0.09, 95% CI 0.01-0.67, P=0.018). Conclusions:In type 2 diabetes mellitus patients without overt heart failure and with preserved LVEF, the occurrence of CAS is not associated with subclinical LV systolic impairment assessed by GLS, but is significantly associated with LV diastolic dysfunction, and is independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.

Objective:To observe the curative effects and complications of open reduction and fixation with cannulated screws and an augmented plate for Pauwels type Ⅲ femoral neck fractures.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the data of 8 patients with fresh Pauwels Ⅲ femoral neck fracture who had been treated from January 2015 to October 2018 at Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. There were 7 males and 1 female with an age of (47.7±14.0) years. The Pauwels angle ranged from 50° to 70° in 6 cases and was >70° in 2 cases. As the original closed reduction was not ideal in all the patients, open reduction via the modified Smith-Petersen approach and fixation with cannulated screws and an augmented plate were performed. Fracture healing, Harris hip score, and complications were followed up at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years postoperatively.Results:At 1 month after operation: 8 patients were followed up, their Harris hip score was (38.4±3.6) points, and there were 7 cases of femoral neck shortening and 1 case of incision fat liquefaction. At 6 months after operation: 7 patients were followed up, their Harris hip score was (70.6±2.8) points, and 1 patient healed anatomically, 4 patients healed with shortening, and 2 patients healed with delay and shortening. Femoral neck shortening, withdrawal of cannulated screws, and screw loosening within the augmented plate were all increased compared with 1 month after operation. At 1 year after operation: 7 patients were followed up, their Harris hip score was (85.5±4.4) points, there were no significant changes in fracture healing or complications compared with 6 months after operation. At 3 years after operation: the patient lost to prior follow-up died of heart disease 34 months after operation, 1 patient had to undergo total hip arthroplasty due to fracture nonunion and cutout of cannulated screws at 16 months after operation, and the other 6 patients had a Harris hip score of (93.6±2.5) points. Of the 6 patients, femoral neck fracture healed in 5 (shortening healing in 4, including 1 case complicated with femoral head necrosis, and anatomical healing in 1) but did not in one.Conclusions:In the treatment of Pauwels type Ⅲ femoral neck fractures, open reduction and fixation with cannulated screws and an augmented plate does not lead to ideal curative effects. The main complication is shortening of the femoral neck. The auxiliary role of augmented plate fixation is not obvious.

Objective : To study the preparation method of silane and bone morphogenetic protein⁃2 (BMP⁃2) on the nano⁃porous titanium surface and evaluate the osteogenic ability of the prepared surface. Methods : Silane and BMP⁃2 modified nano⁃porous titanium surfaces were constructed by alkali⁃heat treatment , silanization modification and BMP⁃2 grafting. Scanning electron microscopy , X ⁃ray photoelectron spectroscopy , infrared spectroscopy and water contact angle tests were used to characterize the changes of surface morphology , elements , functional groups and hydrophilicity during the preparation process. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the BMP⁃2 grafted on the surface. Cell activity test and cell fluorescence staining were used to analyze the ability to promote osteoblast adhesion and proliferation , and alkaline phosphatase activity was used to evaluate the ability to promote cell osteogenesis. Results : Material characterization results confirmed that silane and BMP⁃2 were successfully immobilized on the nano⁃porous titanium surface. Cell evaluation confirmed that the prepared surface not only significantly enhanced the adhesion and proliferation of osteoblasts , but also greatly enhanced the osteogenic ability of osteoblasts. Conclusion The constructed surface has better compatibility with osteoblasts and is expected to improve the osseointegration ability of titanium⁃based implants.

Accumulating epidemiological evidence shows that handgrip strength provides predictive potential in physical, mental, and reproductive health status. However, the associations between handgrip strength and semen characteristics have not been explored. We recruited 1382 eligible men at the Hubei Province Human Sperm Bank (Wuhan, China) who had their handgrip strength measured at recruitment and provided 6458 repeated semen specimens within a 6-month period. Semen characteristics, including semen volume, sperm motility parameters (immotility, nonprogressive motility, and progressive motility), and sperm concentration, were assessed. Mixed-effect models and restricted cubic spline functions were applied to investigate the relationship of handgrip strength with repeated measurements of semen characteristics. After adjusting for confounding factors, the mixed-effect models revealed that handgrip strength was positively associated with semen volume, sperm concentration, progressive motility, total motility, and total count (all P for trend < 0.05). Compared to men in the lowest quartile, those in the highest quartile of handgrip strength had higher semen volume, sperm concentration, progressive motility, total motility, and total count, with measurements of 14.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.9%-23.2%), 19.5% (95% CI: 7.3%‒33.1%), 9.5% (95% CI: 3.4%‒15.9%), 8.8% (95% CI: 3.2%‒14.6%), and 36.4% (95% CI: 18.9%‒56.5%), respectively. These positive dose-response relationships were further confirmed in restricted cubic splines, where handgrip strength was modeled as a continuous variable. Handgrip strength, as an indicator of muscular function and strength, was positively associated with semen characteristics in a dose-dependent manner.
Male ; Humans ; Semen ; Sperm Motility ; Hand Strength ; Sperm Count ; Semen Analysis ; Spermatozoa ; China/epidemiology*

In order to develop a simple and efficient site-directed mutagenesis solution, the Gibson assembly technique was used to clone the cyclin dependent kinase 4 gene with single or double site mutations, with the aim to simplify the overlap extension PCR. The gene fragments containing site mutations were amplified using a strategy similar to overlap extension PCR. Meanwhile, an empty plasmid was digested by double restriction endonucleases to generate a linearized vector with a short adaptor overlapping with the targeted gene fragments. The gene fragments were directly spliced with the linearized vector by Gibson assembly in an isothermal, single-reaction, creating a recombinant plasmid. After the recombinant plasmids were transformed into competent Escherichia coli DH5α, several clones were screened from each group. Through restriction analysis and DNA sequencing, it was found that the randomly selected clones were 100% target mutants. Since there was neither tedious multiple-round PCR amplification nor frequent DNA extraction operation, and there was no need to digest the original plasmid, this protocol circumvents many factors that may interfere with the conventional site-directed mutagenesis. Hence, genes with single or multiple mutations could be cloned easily and efficiently. In summary, the major defects associated with overlap extension PCR and rolling circle amplification were circumvented in this protocol, making it a good solution for site-directed mutagenesis.
Clone Cells ; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed ; Mutation ; Plasmids/genetics* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods*

Objective    To summarize the characteristics of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) aortopathy and analyze the association between aortopathy and BAV phenotype and patterns of valvular dysfunction. Methods    Clinical data of 191 patients who underwent the first aortic valve replacement in Fuwai Hospital from June 2017 to March 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, including 143 males and 48 females with an average age of 53.91±12.52 years. All patients underwent multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and echocardiography before the operation, excluding patients with aortic coarctation. The BAV aortopathy phenotype was classified during operation. The characteristics of BAV aortopathy were analyzed by cluster and artificial analysis. BAV anatomic phenotype was divided into two types according to the direction of valve opening: BAV-AP and BAV-LR. Results    Four distinct BAV aortopathy phenotypes were identified: a common type (n=70, 36.6%), with no dilation or mild dilation of aorta; a root type (n=24, 12.6%), with predominant dilatation of aortic sinus; an ascending aorta type (n=72, 37.7%), with predominant dilatation of ascending aorta; an arch type (n=25, 13.1%), with predominant dilatation of aortic arch dilatation. The root type was mainly in young patients, while the arch type was mainly in elderly patients (P<0.05). BAV-AP and aortic insufficiency were most prevalent in root type, while BAV-LR and aortic stenosis were most prevalent in arch type (P<0.05). There were 111 (58.1%) patients  undergoing aortic surgery, and the coincidence rate of BAV aortopathy phenotype and aortic surgery was 80.6%. Conclusion    According to the location of aortic dilation, BAV aortopathy can be divided into four types. There is an association between BAV aortopathy and valvular phenotype and dysfunction.