ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) for muscle atrophy in patients with immobilization after surgical fixation of foot and ankle fractures.MethodsThis was a two-arm randomized controlled trial wherein 80 patients were recruited and divided into control (n = 40) and intervention (n = 40) groups. The control group received conventional orthopedic treatment, whereas the intervention group received TEAS and conventional treatment. The intervention group received TEAS 3 times a week for 30 min each time for 8 weeks. The primary outcomes were muscle thickness (MT) and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the rectus femoris and gastrocnemius muscles, whereas the secondary outcome measure was echo intensity (EI). Data were collected before the fixation operations (baseline assessment) and 4 and 8 weeks after intervention.ResultsCompared with baseline, the MT and CSA were reduced in both groups by the end of treatment, whereas EI increased in both groups. At week 4, the reduction in the rectus femoris CSA in the intervention group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P = .02); however, the between-group differences in the MT and EI (all P .05) were not significant. No serious adverse events were observed in either group.ConclusionOur study showed that TEAS can improve muscle atrophy by attenuating the decline in the muscle CSA. Because this was only a pilot trial, subsequent studies will need longer follow-ups and larger sample sizes.

Objective:To analyze plaque characteristics of non-culprit coronary lesions with cholesterol crystals in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI) by using optical coherence tomography(OCT). We also investigated the potential association between cholesterol crystals with plaque rupture and healed plaque at non-culprit segment.Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. Between January 2017 and December 2017, patients with AMI who underwent 3-vessel OCT imaging were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of cholesterol crystals at the non-culprit lesions. All patients underwent coronary angiography and OCT examination, and non-culprit plaque characteristics were compared between the two groups. The generalized estimating equation log-binomial multirariate regression model was used to assess the relationship between non-culprit lesions with cholesterol crystals and plaque rupture and plaque healing. The follow-up data collection ended in October 2023. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted, and log-rank tests were used to compare the cumulative incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events between the two groups.Results:A total of 173 AMI patients were included (aged (56.8±11.6) years; 124 men (71.7%)). Among 710 non-culprit lesions identified by OCT, there were 102 (14.4%) in cholesterol crystals group and 608 (85.6%) in non-cholesterol crystals group. Compared with non-culprit lesions without cholesterol crystals, those with cholesterol crystals had smaller minimum lumen diameter, severer diameter stenosis, and longer lesion length (all P<0.01). The prevalence of plaque rupture (17.6% (18/102) vs. 4.9% (30/608), P=0.001) and thin-cap fibroatheroma (31.4% (32/102) vs. 11.5% (70/608), P<0.01) was higher in the cholesterol crystals groups than in the non-cholesterol crystals group. In addition, vulnerable plaque characteristics such as (44.1% (45/102) vs. 25.8% (157/608), P<0.01), macrophages were more frequently observed in non-culprit lesions with cholesterol crystals. The generalized estimating equation log-binomial multivariate regression analyses showed that non-culprit cholesterol crystals were positively correlated with healed plaque ( OR=1.583, 95% CI: 1.004-2.495, P=0.048). Conversely, cholesterol crystals were not associated with plaque rupture ( OR=1.632, 95% CI: 0.745-3.576, P=0.221). The follow-up time was 2 142 (1 880, 2 198) days. Non-culprit cholesterol crystals were not related to the major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with AMI (log-rank P=0.558). Conclusions:Among AMI patients, non-culprit lesions with cholesterol crystals presented with severer luminal stenosis and increased plaque vulnerability. The presence of non-culprit cholesterol crystals was associated with rather than plaque rupture.

Objective:To explore the differences in clinical and injured vertebra radiological parameters between patients with non-traumatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) and those with traumatic OVCF after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP).Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 369 OVCF patients (with 458 vertebrae injured) who had been treated by PVP at Department of Orthopaedics, Beijing Luhe Hospital between October 2015 and March 2017. There were 292 females and 77 males with a mean age of 73 (60, 79) years. Based on the absence or presence of a trauma history, the patients were stratified into a non-traumatic group (127 patients with 160 vertebrae injured) and a traumatic group (242 patients with 298 vertebrae injured). Clinical parameters [age, gender, body mass index, symptomatic duration, and number of injured vertebrae, visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), duration of follow-up, and rate of new OVCFs] and injured vertebra radiological parameters (position of injured vertebra, fracture type, compression severity, fracture range, cortical defect, intravertebral cleft, spinal canal compromise, basivertebral foramen, morphology of bone cement, range of bone cement, cement leakage, cement volume, rate of vertebral height restoration, recollapse of cemented vertebrae) were recorded perioperatively. All the clinical and radiological parameters were compared between the 2 groups.Results:Compared with the traumatic group, the non-traumatic group had an older age [75 (71, 83) years versus 71 (65, 76) years], more females (85.0% versus 76.0%), a longer symptomatic duration [10.0 (7.0, 15.0) d versus 6.5 (2.0, 12.0) d], a lower preoperative VAS pain score [7 (6, 8) points versus 7 (7, 8) points], a lower VAS pain score at postoperative day 1 [2 (2, 3) points versus 2 (2, 3) points], a lower preoperative ODI [66% (63%, 72%) versus 70% (65%, 73 %)], a lower ODI at postoperative day 1 [32% (30%, 34%) versus 32% (31%, 34%)], a higher rate of new OVCFs during follow-up (34.6% versus 12.8%), a lower rate of thoracolumbar lesions (51.9% versus 70.1%), more deformed fractures (mostly amphicoelous type), a lower rate of cortical defects in the anterior wall (20.0% versus 31.5%), a higher rate of trabecular pattern of cement (83.1% versus 71.8%), a higher rate of type-B cement leakage (50.6% versus 31.9%), a lower rate of type-C cement leakage (5.6% versus 12.8%), a lower rate of recollapse of cemented vertebrae (43.8% versus 55.4%). All the comparisons above were statistically significant ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in the other clinical or radiological parameters ( P>0.05). Conclusions:There are statistically significant differences in a significant number of clinical and injured vertebra radiological parameters between patients with non-traumatic OVCF and those with traumatic OVCF after PVP. It is noteworthy that non-traumatic OVCFs are one specific subgroup of OVCFs.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Rotarex percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy(PMT) for treatment of lower extremity arterial graft occlusion.Methods:The clinical data of 19 patients with lower extremity arterial bypass occlusion admitted to our hospital from January 2016 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were treated with Rotarex-based endovascular therapy. After 12 months follow-up, the clinical features, surgical outcomes and follow-up data were analyzed to identify effectiveness and safety of the therapy. Independent sample t test was used to analyze the measurement data of continuous normal distribution which were expressed as mean±standard deviation( ± s), enumeration data were expressed as number and percentage, and the comparison between groups were analyzed by chi-square test. Results:A technical success rate of 100% was demonstrated. Rotarex combined with catheter directed thrombolysis was performed in 2 cases, Rotarex combined with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was performed in 9 cases. Rotarex combined with stent implantation was performed in 8 patients. The Ankle brachial index significantly increased (0.82±0.14 vs 0.47±0.11, P<0.05). Critical limb ischemia (Rutherford class 4 or higher) improved significantly (0 case vs 9 cases, P<0.05). Distal embolism occurred in 1 patient and acute myocardial infarction occurred in 1 patient. There was no vascular rupture, haemorrhage, infection, pseudoaneurysm, death and amputation. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed 12-month primary patency rate and freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization was 78.9% and 89.5% respectively. Conclusion:Rotarex-based endovascular therapy is a safe and effective treatment for graft occlusion after lower extremity arterial prosthesis bypass with high patency rate and few complications.

Since its establishment 30 years ago, the discipline of metabolic engineering has developed rapidly based on its deep integration with molecular biology, systems biology and synthetic biology successively, which has greatly contributed to advancing and upgrading biotechnology industry. This review firstly analyzes the current status of academic research and China's competence in the area of metabolic engineering according to the data of papers published in SCI-indexed journals in the past 30 years. Subsequently, the article summarizes the development of systems biology methods and enabling technologies of synthetic biology and their applications in metabolic engineering in the past 10 years. Finally, the major challenges and future perspectives for the development of metabolic engineering are briefly discussed.
Biotechnology ; Industry ; Metabolic Engineering ; Synthetic Biology ; Systems Biology

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of psychotherapy combined with early comprehensive rehabilitation therapy in the treatment of acute cerebral infarction and the possible mechanism of action.Methods:Eighty-four patients with acute cerebral infarction who received treatment in Yuhang Fifth People's Hospital, China between June 2018 and February 2020 were included in this study. They were randomly divided into an observation group ( n = 44) and a control group ( n = 40). The control group was treated with conventional therapy. The observation group was subjected to early comprehensive rehabilitation therapy combined with psychotherapy based on conventional therapy. All patients were treated for 1 month. Clinical efficacy, the percentage of highly glycosylated type I transmembrane glycoprotein-positive cells and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2-positive cells (CD 34+KDR +) in monocytes, and serum level of stromal cell-derived factor-1α were compared between the observation and control groups. Results:After treatment, the scores of Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) were (16.4 ± 3.8) points, (17.9 ± 5.2) points, (3.56 ± 0.46) points, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group [(23.4 ± 5.6) points, (23.7 ± 6.4) points, (5.39 ± 0.87) points, t = 7.896, 7.258, 6.935, all P < 0.05]. Barthel Index, Fugl-Meyer score, and Functional Independence Score in the observation group were (79.7 ± 20.8) points, (54.6 ± 17.2) points, (96.8 ± 8.5) points, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control group [(60.4 ± 17.6) points, (39.6 ± 14.8) points, (83.1 ± 9.7) points, t = 8.123, 7.251, 8.009, all P < 0.05]. After treatment, the percentage of CD34 +KDR + in monocytes and serum level of stromal cell-derived factor-1α in the observation group were (1.58 ± 0.19)% and (1.84 ± 0.11) μg/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control group [(0.73 ± 0.20)% and (1.34 ± 0.09) μg/L, t = 7.125, 6.983, both P < 0.05). Conclusion:Based on conventional treatment, psychotherapy combined with early rehabilitation treatment can improve the clinical efficacy in the treatment of acute cerebral infarction possibly through increasing the percentage of CD 34+KDR + in monocytes and the serum level of stromal cell-derived factor-1α.

Objective:To investigate the effect of apatinib on radiosensitivity of glioma cells U87MG and its potential mechanism.Methods:U87MG cells were divided into control group, apatinib group, radiation group and combination group treated with apatinib and radiation. The effect of different concentrations of apatinib (5, 10, 20, 40, 80 μmol/L) on cell proliferation was detected by CCK8 assay. The effect of apatinib on cell migration and invasion was detected by wound-healing assay and transwell assay, respectively. The effect of apatinib on cell radiosensitivity was detected by plate cloning assay, the cell apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry, and the protein expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 were detected by Western blot.Results:Apatinib significantly inhibited the proliferation of U87MG cells in a manner depended on the drug treatment time and radiation. Compared with the radiation group, the cell proliferation, migration and invasion in the combination group were inhibited much significantly ( t=9.857, 18.704, 4.197, P<0.05), so that the value of D0, Dq and SF2 of the combination group was lower, resulting in a radiosensitivity enhancement ratio (SER D0 ) of 1.3. Moreover, compared with the radiation group, the apoptosis rate of the combination group was increased, the expression of Bcl-2 protein was decreased, and the expression of Bax protein was increased ( t=16.187, 8.890, 5.222, P< 0.05). Conclusions:Apatinib inhibits cell proliferation, invasion and migration, induces apoptosis and increases radiosensitivity of glioma cells.

Objective: To evaluate percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy and angioplasty in patients with femoropopliteal artery stent restenosis. Methods: The clinical data of 41 cases with critical limb ischemia caused by femoropopliteal artery stent restenosis were analyzed retrospectively from Jun 2015 to May 2017, who were treated by percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy(PMT)+ percutaneous angioplasty (PTA) simultaneously. Clinical status assessment, ankle brachial index (ABI) test and color duplex ultrasonography (CDU) were administered at 3rd, 6th and 12th month during follow-up; and computed tomography angiography (CTA) or digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed at 6th and 12th month after discharged. Results: Procedures were successful in all patients. 27 cases were under PTA after PMT, other 14 cases were under PTA+ stenting after PMT. The average ABI increased from 0.34±0.28 to 0.84±0.32(P=0.00)immediately. There was no perioperative death and major limb amputation.36 cases (36/41, 87.8%) were followed-up from 169 to 698 days (mean 426 days). During follow-up of 12 months, there were 18 cases with in-stent restenosis and/or thrombosis. PMT+ PTA were performed again in 14 cases and 4 cases accepted medication; no case encountered major amputation. The primary patency and second patency were 82.9%and 97.6% respectively at 6th month; Which were 49.8% and 88.8% respectively at 12th month, and the ABI was 0.65±0.10 (P=0.01). Conclusion Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy and angioplasty is safe, miniinvasive and effective for femoropopliteal artery stent restenosis.

Cerebrospinal fluid and level of blood S100B protein are significantly higher in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage,which are associated the differentiation of stroke,damage of blood-brain barrier,hematoma volume,brain edema,degree of nerve function defect,and outcomes.Therefore,S100B is expected to be used in the diagnosis of intracerebral hemorrhage,assessment of injury and outcomes,and even as a biomarker of therapeutic targets.

Construction of artificial cell factory to produce specific compounds of interest needs wild strain to be genetically engineered. In recent years, with the reconstruction of many genome-scale metabolic networks, a number of methods have been proposed based on metabolic network analysis for predicting genetic modification targets that lead to overproduction of compounds of interest. These approaches use constraints of stoichiometry and reaction reversibility in genome-scale models of metabolism and adopt different mathematical algorithms to predict modification targets, and thus can discover new targets that are difficult to find through traditional intuitive methods. In this review, we introduce the principle, merit, demerit and application of various strain optimization methods in detail. The main problems in existing methods and perspectives on this emerging research field are also discussed, aiming to provide guidance to choose the appropriate methods according to different types of products and the reliability of the predicted results.
Algorithms ; Biotechnology ; methods ; Computer Simulation ; Genome ; Industrial Microbiology ; Metabolic Engineering ; methods ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Models, Theoretical ; Reproducibility of Results