Objective:To compare suture-button, absorbable screws (AS), and metal screws (MS) in the fixation of ankle fracture complicated with distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 71 patients with ankle fracture and distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury who had been treated at Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Guangzhou Orthopedics Hospital from February 2020 to February 2023. There were 27 males and 44 females with an age of (49.6±10.3) years. The patients were assigned into 3 groups according to different treatment methods: a suture-button group in which 32 cases were treated with suture-button, an AS group in which 24 cases were treated with AS, and a MS group in which 15 cases were treated with MS to be removed at 8 to 12 weeks after operation. The 3 groups were compared in terms of intraoperative blood loss, operation time, and ankle range of motion, tibiofibular clear space (TFCS), and tibio-fibular overlap (TFOL) at the last follow-up, as well as American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scores and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores at 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up.Results:There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 3 groups, indicating comparability ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss, operation time, ankle range of motion, TFCS or TFOL between the 3 groups ( P>0.05). TFCS and TFOL at the last follow-up in all patients were significantly improved compared with those before operation ( P<0.05). The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores and VAS pain scores in the suture-button group and the AS group at 3 months after operation were significantly better than those in the MS group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score or VAS pain score between the 3 groups at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). In all patients, the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score and VAS pain score at the last follow-up were significantly better than those at 3 months after operation which were significantly better than those before operation ( P<0.05). Conclusions:In the fixation of ankle fracture complicated with distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury, suture-button, AS and MS can all achieve definite clinical efficacy. As fixation with MS requires secondary surgical removal, its early functional score and pain score may be relatively poorer.

Objective:To analyze the clinical efficacy of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration and stone removal via the cystic duct with a flexible ureteroscope.Methods:The clinical data of 96 patients with cholecystolithiasis and choledocholithiasis who were admitted to the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Third Hospital of Nanchang from September 2021 to November 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 49 male and 47 female patients, aged (59.2±13.9) years. The 96 patients were randomly divided into two groups according to the surgical methods: the flexible ureteroscope group ( n=48) and the choledochotomy group ( n=48), patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy plus flexible ureteroscope for common bile duct exploration and stone removal via the cystic duct were included in the flexible ureteroscope group; patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy plus choledocholithotomy and T-tube drainage placement were included in the choledochotomy group. Clinical data including operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative intestinal function recovery time, abdominal drainage tube removal time, postoperative hospital stay and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Results:Compared with the choledochotomy group, the operation time [150 (120, 176) min vs. 197 (165, 240) min], intraoperative blood loss [20 (10, 30) ml vs. 30 (20, 50) ml], postoperative intestinal function recovery time [2 (1, 2) d vs. 3 (2, 4) d], abdominal drainage tube removal time [6 (4, 7) d vs. 7 (6, 8) d], and postoperative hospital stay [8 (6, 9) d vs. 16 (13, 17) d] in the flexible ureteroscope group were all reduced, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the choledochotomy group was 10.4% (5/48), compared with 2.1% (1/48) in the flexible ureteroscope group. There was no statistically significant difference ( χ2=1.60, P=0.206). Conclusion:Compared with laparoscopic choledocholithotomy plus T-tube drainage, laparoscopic common bile duct exploration and stone removal via the cystic duct with a flexible ureteroscope can shorten the hospital stay of patients with choledocholithiasis, offering a minimally invasive, safe and effective treatment method.

Surgical intervention for malignant bone tumors frequently results in bone defects located at the metaphysis of the long bones in the lower extremities.The morphological heterogeneity of the metaphysis poses significant challenges for conventional treatment methods to adequately conform to the defect area.The utilization of three-dimensional(3D)-printed titanium bone repair scaffolds has emerged as an effective reconstructive approach for metaphyseal bone defects,as these scaffolds offer precise shape conformity and provide adequate mechanical support.However,the current commonly used scaffolds do not adequately replicate the biomechanical environment of bone defects,resulting in suboptimal bone ingrowth within the scaffolds and subsequent prosthesis loosening and failure post-operation.Bone is a highly force-responsive organ,and its fate is regulated by biomechanical signals.Consequently,designing scaffolds with consideration of biomechanical principles to ensure mechanical compatibility between the scaffolds and the bone defect sites is a critical factor influencing the success of bone defects reconstruction.This review primarily introduces the biomechanical factors influencing bone defect repair and the advancements in designing 3D-printed titanium bone repair scaffolds biomechanically matched with bones,offering theoretical guidance for scaffold design and preparation.

Surgical intervention for malignant bone tumors frequently results in bone defects located at the metaphysis of the long bones in the lower extremities.The morphological heterogeneity of the metaphysis poses significant challenges for conventional treatment methods to adequately conform to the defect area.The utilization of three-dimensional(3D)-printed titanium bone repair scaffolds has emerged as an effective reconstructive approach for metaphyseal bone defects,as these scaffolds offer precise shape conformity and provide adequate mechanical support.However,the current commonly used scaffolds do not adequately replicate the biomechanical environment of bone defects,resulting in suboptimal bone ingrowth within the scaffolds and subsequent prosthesis loosening and failure post-operation.Bone is a highly force-responsive organ,and its fate is regulated by biomechanical signals.Consequently,designing scaffolds with consideration of biomechanical principles to ensure mechanical compatibility between the scaffolds and the bone defect sites is a critical factor influencing the success of bone defects reconstruction.This review primarily introduces the biomechanical factors influencing bone defect repair and the advancements in designing 3D-printed titanium bone repair scaffolds biomechanically matched with bones,offering theoretical guidance for scaffold design and preparation.

Objective:To compare suture-button, absorbable screws (AS), and metal screws (MS) in the fixation of ankle fracture complicated with distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 71 patients with ankle fracture and distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury who had been treated at Department of Foot and Ankle Surgery, Guangzhou Orthopedics Hospital from February 2020 to February 2023. There were 27 males and 44 females with an age of (49.6±10.3) years. The patients were assigned into 3 groups according to different treatment methods: a suture-button group in which 32 cases were treated with suture-button, an AS group in which 24 cases were treated with AS, and a MS group in which 15 cases were treated with MS to be removed at 8 to 12 weeks after operation. The 3 groups were compared in terms of intraoperative blood loss, operation time, and ankle range of motion, tibiofibular clear space (TFCS), and tibio-fibular overlap (TFOL) at the last follow-up, as well as American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scores and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores at 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up.Results:There was no significant difference in the preoperative general data between the 3 groups, indicating comparability ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences in intraoperative blood loss, operation time, ankle range of motion, TFCS or TFOL between the 3 groups ( P>0.05). TFCS and TFOL at the last follow-up in all patients were significantly improved compared with those before operation ( P<0.05). The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores and VAS pain scores in the suture-button group and the AS group at 3 months after operation were significantly better than those in the MS group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score or VAS pain score between the 3 groups at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). In all patients, the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score and VAS pain score at the last follow-up were significantly better than those at 3 months after operation which were significantly better than those before operation ( P<0.05). Conclusions:In the fixation of ankle fracture complicated with distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injury, suture-button, AS and MS can all achieve definite clinical efficacy. As fixation with MS requires secondary surgical removal, its early functional score and pain score may be relatively poorer.

Objective:To analyze the clinical efficacy of laparoscopic common bile duct exploration and stone removal via the cystic duct with a flexible ureteroscope.Methods:The clinical data of 96 patients with cholecystolithiasis and choledocholithiasis who were admitted to the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Third Hospital of Nanchang from September 2021 to November 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 49 male and 47 female patients, aged (59.2±13.9) years. The 96 patients were randomly divided into two groups according to the surgical methods: the flexible ureteroscope group ( n=48) and the choledochotomy group ( n=48), patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy plus flexible ureteroscope for common bile duct exploration and stone removal via the cystic duct were included in the flexible ureteroscope group; patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy plus choledocholithotomy and T-tube drainage placement were included in the choledochotomy group. Clinical data including operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative intestinal function recovery time, abdominal drainage tube removal time, postoperative hospital stay and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Results:Compared with the choledochotomy group, the operation time [150 (120, 176) min vs. 197 (165, 240) min], intraoperative blood loss [20 (10, 30) ml vs. 30 (20, 50) ml], postoperative intestinal function recovery time [2 (1, 2) d vs. 3 (2, 4) d], abdominal drainage tube removal time [6 (4, 7) d vs. 7 (6, 8) d], and postoperative hospital stay [8 (6, 9) d vs. 16 (13, 17) d] in the flexible ureteroscope group were all reduced, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in the choledochotomy group was 10.4% (5/48), compared with 2.1% (1/48) in the flexible ureteroscope group. There was no statistically significant difference ( χ2=1.60, P=0.206). Conclusion:Compared with laparoscopic choledocholithotomy plus T-tube drainage, laparoscopic common bile duct exploration and stone removal via the cystic duct with a flexible ureteroscope can shorten the hospital stay of patients with choledocholithiasis, offering a minimally invasive, safe and effective treatment method.

Objective:To evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of 3D printing patient-matched artificial vertebral body in clinical research and application.Methods:A total of 12 patients with spinal tumors were enrolled 7 males (58.33%) and 5 females (41.67%), aged from 18 to 65 years old in The First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force military Medical University (hereinafter referred to as Xijing Hospital) and Peking University people's Hospital from September 2021 to July 2022. The spinal vertebra defect were restored by using 3D printing patient-matched artificial vertebral body after tumor resection. All patients who accepted TES and 3D printing patient-matched artificial vertebral body implantation were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The bone interface fusion was evaluated by the imaging fusion criteria of Brantigan and Steffee at 3 and 6 months after operation, the curative effect was evaluated by comparing Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score at 3 and 6 months after operation, visual analogue scale (VAS) 3 months after operation and intervertebral height at 3 and 6 months after operation with those before operation, and the safety was evaluated by adverse event recording.Results:All 12 patients completed the operation successfully, and the operation sites were thoracic vertebrae in 6 cases (50%), thoracolumbar in 3 cases (25%) and lumbar vertebrae in 3 cases (25%). All patients were followed up. The mean follow-up time was 23.92±3.23 months (range, 19-29 months). No tumor recurrence or metastasis was observed during this period. All patients were followed up at 15 days, 3 months and 6 months after operation. During the 6-month follow-up, X ray results showed that interface of bone and the vertebral body were fused in all of the 12 patients, and the effective rate of fusion was 100%. The 95% confidence interval is calculated to be (75.6%-100%). Six months after operation, the improvement rate of JOA score was excellent in 10 cases, good in 1 case, poor in 1 case, and the excellent and good rate was 91.66%. The preoperative VAS score was 4.08 ±2.47, and during the 3-month follow-up, the VAS score was improved to 1.83 ±1.59. Compared with the preoperative VAS score, the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.635, P=0.023). The intervertebral height before operation, 15 days after operation, 3 months after operation and 6 months after operation were 32.75 (25.94, 68.20), 41.09 (30.55, 70.20), 40.70 (30.23, 67.83) and 40.74 (30.23, 67.08), respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference (χ 2=0.768, P=0.857). No implant-related adverse events occurred after operation. Conclusion:The 3D printing patient-matched artificial vertebral body used in this study has satisfactory short-term efficacy and safety in the reconstruction of spinal stability after spinal tumor resection.

Objective To investigate the effects of different doses of chronic nicotine exposure on the pathology of Alzhei-mer's disease(AD),to clarify the effects of nicotine on cognitive function and related pathology in AD model mice,and to pro-vide laboratory evidence for clinical prevention and intervention of AD.Methods Nine-month-old triple-transgenic(3 × Tg)mice(APPswe,PS1M146V,and Tau P301L transgenes)were treated with low(5％,50 μg/mL),medium(10％,100 μg/mL)and high(20％,200 μg/mL)doses of nicotine for 3 months.Western blot,immunofluorescence and qPCR were used to detect amyloid be-ta(Aβ)pathology,Tau phosphorylation,synaptic damage and neuroinflammation in different groups of mice.Microglia was co-stained with Aβ to show the phagocytosis of plaques.Behavioral test was used to detect the cognitive learning ability of experi-mental mice.Results Administration of high dosage of nicotine over the course of three consecutive months resulted in an aug-mentation in Aβ plaques,while the utilization of low dosage of nicotine for an equivalent period yields a mitigating influence on Aβ accumulation and effectively alleviated synaptic impairments within the hippocampus.Moreover,chronic exposure of high nicotine exacerbated both microglial activation and neuroinflammation,along with astrogliosis in the brains of 3 X Tg mice,whereas the administration of low dosage of nicotine exhibited no discernible impact.Chronic exposure to different doses of nico-tine had no significant effect on Tau phosphorylation and cognitive behaviors in mice.Conclusion Chronic exposure to low dose nicotine alleviates Aβ accumulation and brain synaptic damage in AD model mice.Chronic exposure to high dose nicotine aggra-vates Aβ deposition and neuroinflammation.

Objective To investigate the effects of different doses of chronic nicotine exposure on the pathology of Alzhei-mer's disease(AD),to clarify the effects of nicotine on cognitive function and related pathology in AD model mice,and to pro-vide laboratory evidence for clinical prevention and intervention of AD.Methods Nine-month-old triple-transgenic(3 × Tg)mice(APPswe,PS1M146V,and Tau P301L transgenes)were treated with low(5％,50 μg/mL),medium(10％,100 μg/mL)and high(20％,200 μg/mL)doses of nicotine for 3 months.Western blot,immunofluorescence and qPCR were used to detect amyloid be-ta(Aβ)pathology,Tau phosphorylation,synaptic damage and neuroinflammation in different groups of mice.Microglia was co-stained with Aβ to show the phagocytosis of plaques.Behavioral test was used to detect the cognitive learning ability of experi-mental mice.Results Administration of high dosage of nicotine over the course of three consecutive months resulted in an aug-mentation in Aβ plaques,while the utilization of low dosage of nicotine for an equivalent period yields a mitigating influence on Aβ accumulation and effectively alleviated synaptic impairments within the hippocampus.Moreover,chronic exposure of high nicotine exacerbated both microglial activation and neuroinflammation,along with astrogliosis in the brains of 3 X Tg mice,whereas the administration of low dosage of nicotine exhibited no discernible impact.Chronic exposure to different doses of nico-tine had no significant effect on Tau phosphorylation and cognitive behaviors in mice.Conclusion Chronic exposure to low dose nicotine alleviates Aβ accumulation and brain synaptic damage in AD model mice.Chronic exposure to high dose nicotine aggra-vates Aβ deposition and neuroinflammation.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a kind of cardiovascular diseases originated from atherosclerosis (AS), and chronic inflammation is one of the pathological characteristics. The peripheral blood leukocytes, especially mononuclear cells, play an important role in the AS processes. Recently, in a series of Epigenome-Wide Association Studies (EWAS), multiple DNA differential methylation sites in peripheral blood cells were found to be statistically associated with CHD, which suggested that these DNA differential methylation sites might serve as new risk factors for CHD. The recognition of the variant of DNA methylation as a common epigenetic nucleic acid modification in the occurrence and development of CHD, is ongoing. DNA methylation has the potential to become warning biomarkers, which might provide new ideas and evidences for mechanistic studies of CHD.