Numerous techniques for C2 screw fixation have been recently reported. However, concerns remain regarding the risk of spinal cord or vertebral artery injury and inadequate biomechanical stability. To our knowledge, the specific transforaminal “in-out-in” screw fixation technique has not been previously reported. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and preliminary clinical outcomes of a transforaminal “in-out-in” multi-cortical purchase screw for posterior C2 screw fixation. Between October 2022 and March 2023, 10 patients underwent posterior atlantoaxial internal fixation. All patients had severe hypoplasia of the C2 pedicle on at least one side, precluding the use of standard C2 pedicle screws. A transforaminal “in-out-in” screw was used as an alternative. No spinal cord injury, vascular injury, or other major complications were observed. No implant failure was noted at the final follow-up. In conclusion, the transforaminal “in-out-in” screw may achieve rigid three-column fixation with multiple cortical purchases. It represents a safe and effective alternative for posterior C2 fixation in patients with severely narrow C2 pedicles where traditional pedicle screw placement is not feasible.

Objective To investigate the potential mechanism of action of polygonatum odoratum in treating Alzheimer's disease through the utilization of network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques.Methods The methods employed include target screening,Gene Ontology(GO)function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis,and molecular docking simulations to assess the binding interactions between the active compounds in polygonatum odoratum(POD)and the key target proteins associated with Alzheimer's disease.Subsequently,lipopolysaccharide(LPS)was used to induce an inflammatory cell model in BV2 microglial cells.After treating the cell model with POD extract for 24 hours,the cells were collected,and the expression of the target genes were detected by Real-time PCR.Results Eight active ingredients and 172 targets of POD were screened.The biological processes such as protein phosphorylation and signal transduction,protein binding and ATP binding were obtained by GO functional analysis.KEGG enrichment yielded PI3K/Akt,cAMP and other signaling pathways.The molecular docking result showed that the active ingredient of POD had well binding activity with epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase Src(SRC),tumor necrosis factor(TNF),STAT3.Through Real-time PCR experiments,the gene expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),prostaglandin G/H synthase 2(PTGS2),interleukin(IL)-6,and IL-1β in the LPS-induced inflammatory cell model were significantly upregulated.After treating the inflammatory model with POD extract for 24 hours,the expression of TNF-α was significantly reduced,the expression of STAT3 was upregulated,there were no significant changes in the expressions of SRC and EGFR.Conclusion Network pharmacology suggests polygonatum odoratum's potential anti-Alzheimer's effects may be mediated through its interaction with targets such as EGFR,TNF,SRC,and STAT3.The experimental results suggest that polygonatum odoratum exerts an anti-inflammatory effect by acting on TNF-α,which may further alleviate the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

Facing of mounting resource constraints and rising demands for personalization in medical education,regional anatomy teaching urgently requires transformation.In this paper,we focus on the regional anatomy of the thoracic wall,in order to explore a novel AI-driven teaching paradigm.Anchored in the core principle of"virtual-real integration with cadaveric dissection as the cornerstone,"the paradigm redefines educational objective and constructs an intelligent,closed-loop teaching model integrating students,computers,and instructors.Leveraging the robust support of digital intelligence(e.g.,DeepSeek),this paradigm incorporates interactive method including group collaboration,branching instruction,and gamified assessments.It achieves a comprehensive intelligent transformation of the entire teaching process-from goal setting and plan customization to activity implementation,task completion,outcome exchange,multidimensional evaluation,and reflective iteration.This new paradigm centers on medical students and leverages digital intelligence to activate deep personalized learning potential.It seamlessly integrates fundamental anatomical knowledge with clinical scenarios(e.g.,key anatomy in breast cancer surgery,flap design in breast reconstruction),and significantly enhances clinical decision-making abilities,scientific research and innovative thinking,as well as medical humanistic literacy,paving a new path for intelligent medical education.

Objective To investigate the effect of programmed death-1(PD-1)on cell infiltration in muscle tissue and immune response types in mice infected with Trichinella spiralis.Methods C57BL/6J wild-type(WT)and PD-1 deficient(PD-1-/-)mice were infected with T.spiralis(400 muscle larvae per mouse),and samples were collected on day 35 after infection.The proportions of infiltrating inflammatory cells and fibroblasts around encapsulated larvae were assessed by immunohistochemistry.The expression levels of interferon-γ(IFN-γ),interleukin(IL)-4,IL-5,IL-13,and eotaxin in muscle tissue were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Peripheral blood and spleen were collected at different time points after infection.The percentages of CD4+IFN-γ+Th1 and CD4+IL-4+Th2 within CD4+T cells population in peripheral blood and spleen of mice were analyzed using flow cytometry.Results The proportions of eosinophils and fibroblasts among total infiltrating cells around the encapsulated larvae in the muscle of PD-1-/-mice were significantly lower than those in WT mice after T.spiralis infection(P＜0.01).The infected PD-1-/-mice exhibited higher proportions of macrophages,T cells and B cells in total infiltrating cells than the infected WT mice(P＜0.01).The levels of IL-4,IL-5,IL-13,and eotaxin in the muscle tissue of infected PD-1-/-mice were significantly lower than those in infected WT mice(P＜0.05).However,IFN-γ levels were not significantly different between the infected WT and PD-1-/-mice.The proportions of Th2 cells in CD4+T cells from peripheral blood and spleen of infected PD-1-/-mice were significantly lower than those in infected WT mice,whereas the proportion of Th1 cells showed no difference among the infected groups.Conclusions PD-1 deletion results in decreased expression of key chemokines of eosinophils and key cytokines of fibroblast formation,and a corresponding decrease in inflammatory cells in muscle in T.spiralis-infected mice.This effect may be associated with a diminished Th2 immune response caused by PD-1 deletion.

Polygonati Rhizoma demonstrates significant potential for addressing both chronic and hidden hunger. The supply of high-quality seedlings is a primary factor influencing the development of the Polygonati Rhizoma industry. Warm water soaking is often used in agriculture to promote the rapid germination of seeds, while its application and molecular mechanism in Polygonati Rhizoma have not been reported. To rapidly obtain high-quality seedlings, this study treated Polygonatum kingianum var. grandifolium seeds with sand storage at low temperatures, warm water soaking, and cultivation temperature gradients. The results showed that the culture at 25 ℃ or sand storage at 4 ℃ for 2 months rapidly broke the seed dormancy of P. kingianum var. grandifolium, while the culture at 20 ℃ or sand storage at 4 ℃ for 1 month failed to break the seed dormancy. Soaking seeds in 60 ℃ warm water further increased the germination rate, germination potential, and germination index. Specifically, the seeds soaked at 60 ℃ and cultured at 25 ℃ without sand storage treatment(Aa25) achieved a germination rate of 78. 67%±1. 53% on day 42 and 83. 40%±4. 63% on day 77. The seeds pretreated with sand storage at 4 ℃ for 2 months, soaked in 60 ℃ water, and then cultured at 25 ℃ achieved a germination rate comparable to that of Aa25 on day 77. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that warm water soaking might promote germination by triggering reactive oxygen species( ROS), inducing the expression of heat shock factors( HSFs) and heat shock proteins( HSPs), which accelerated DNA replication, transcript maturation, translation, and processing, thereby facilitating the accumulation and turnover of genetic materials. According to the results of indoor controlled experiments and field practices, maintaining a germination and seedling cultivation environment at approximately 25 ℃ was crucial for the one-year seedling cultivation of P. kingianum var. grandifolium.
Germination ; Seedlings/genetics* ; Water/metabolism* ; Seeds/metabolism* ; Polygonatum/genetics* ; Temperature ; Plant Proteins/genetics* ; Plant Dormancy

To determine the optimal cultivation duration and harvest period for cultivated Notopterygium incisum and promote its industrial development, this study established a characteristic chromatographic profile of cultivated N. incisum and employed chemometrics combined with entropy-weighted grey correlation analysis to assess differences in agronomic traits and quality indicators across different cultivation years and harvest periods. By comparing with reference substances, ten common peaks were identified, including chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, marmesinin, nodakenin, isochlorogenic acid B, notopterol, phenethyl ferulate, isoimperatorin, and falcarindiol. The similarity between the characteristic chromatographic profiles of N. incisum at different cultivation years and the reference profile was all above 0.932. Principal component analysis(PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) revealed that the quality of 1-to 3-year-old cultivated N. incisum was highly dispersed and unstable, whereas the quality of 4-year-old cultivated N. incisum remained relatively stable across different harvest periods. This suggests that the accumulation of relevant compounds in the medicinal material had reached a plateau, confirming that the optimal cultivation period for N. incisum is four years. Entropy-weighted grey correlation analysis indicated that the quality of 4-year-old cultivated N. incisum across different harvest periods ranked from highest to lowest as follows: November, December, October, August, July, and September, demonstrating that November is the optimal harvest time. The findings of this study establish the suitable cultivation duration and optimal harvest period for N. incisum, providing a scientific basis for cultivation guidance and quality standardization.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Apiaceae/chemistry* ; Entropy ; Chemometrics/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Principal Component Analysis ; Quality Control

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) manual, sperm concentration should be measured using an improved Neubauer hemocytometer, while sperm motility should be measured by manual assessment. However, in China, thousands of laboratories do not use the improved Neubauer hemocytometer or method; instead, the Makler counting chamber is one of the most widely used chambers. To study sources of error that could impact the measurement of the apparent concentration and motility of sperm using the Makler counting chamber and to verify its accuracy for clinical application, 67 semen samples from patients attending the Department of Andrology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University (Chengdu, China) between 13 September 2023 and 27 September 2023, were included. Compared with applying the cover glass immediately, delaying the application of the cover glass for 5 s, 10 s, and 30 s resulted in average increases in the sperm concentration of 30.3%, 74.1%, and 107.5%, respectively (all P < 0.0001) and in the progressive motility (PR) of 17.7%, 30.8%, and 39.6%, respectively (all P < 0.0001). However, when the semen specimens were fixed with formaldehyde, a delay in the application of the cover glass for 5 s, 10 s, and 30 s resulted in an average increase in the sperm concentration of 6.7%, 10.8%, and 14.6%, respectively, compared with immediate application of the cover glass. The accumulation of motile sperm due to delays in the application of the cover glass is a significant source of error with the Makler counting chamber and should be avoided.
Humans ; Male ; Sperm Motility/physiology* ; Sperm Count ; Semen Analysis/methods* ; Spermatozoa/physiology* ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical and genetic characteristics of osteopetrosis (OPT) in children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 14 children with OPT. Whole-exome sequencing was used to detect pathogenic genes, and clinical phenotypes and genotypic features were summarized. RESULTS: Among the 14 children (10 males and 4 females), the median age at diagnosis was 8 months. Clinical manifestations included systemic osteosclerosis (14 cases, 100%), anemia (12 cases, 86%), infections (10 cases, 71%), thrombocytopenia (9 cases, 64%), hepatosplenomegaly (8 cases, 57%), and developmental delay (5 cases, 36%). Malignant osteopetrosis (MOP) cases had lower platelet counts, creatine kinase isoenzyme, and serum calcium levels, but higher white blood cell counts, lactate dehydrogenase, and alkaline phosphatase levels compared to non-MOP cases (P<0.05). Genetic testing identified 15 variants in 12 patients, including 8 variants in the CLCN7 gene (53%), 6 in the TCIRG1 gene (40%), and 1 in the TNFRSF11A gene (7%). Three novel CLCN7 variants were identified: c.2351G>C, c.1215-43C>T, and c.1534G>A. All four patients with TCIRG1 variants exhibited MOP clinical phenotypes. Of the seven patients with CLCN7 variants, 4 presented with intermediate OPT, 2 with benign OPT, and 1 with MOP. CONCLUSIONS Clinical phenotypes of OPT in children are heterogeneous, predominantly involving CLCN7 and TCIRG1 gene variants, with a correlation between clinical phenotypes and genotypes.
Humans ; Osteopetrosis/genetics* ; Male ; Female ; Infant ; Child, Preschool ; Retrospective Studies ; Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases/genetics* ; Child ; Chloride Channels/genetics* ; Mutation ; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B

OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of one patient with primary cutaneous CD8⁺ aggressive epidermotropic cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma (CD8⁺ PCAECTL), and to strengthen the understanding of this extremely rare type of lymphoma. METHODS: The clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment course, and prognosis of one patient with CD8⁺ PCAECTL admitted to our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The patient is a 42-year-old female, with infiltrative skin rash on naso-facial and back as the main clinical manifestations. After pathological examination of the affected skin tissue, immunohistochemistry, molecular biology, and imaging, the diagnosis was confirmed as CD8⁺ PCAECTL, T3aN₀M₀ stage. Alternating chemotherapy with CHOP/HD-MTX (methotrexate, 6 g/m²) regimen was administered, and achieved complete remission (CR) after 4 cycles. After undergoing chemotherapy with DHAP regimen (cisplatin 100 mg/m², d 1 + cytarabine 2 g/m², q 12h, d 2 + dexamethasone 40 mg/d, d 1-4), the patient was mobilized for peripheral blood stem cells using recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and a sufficient number of CD34⁺ cells were successfully collected. Preconditioning was conducted with the BEAM regimen, followed by consolidation therapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT). The patient remained in a disease-free survival state after 20 months of follow-up post-AHSCT. CONCLUSION CD8⁺ PCAECTL is extremely rare in clinical practice, with insidious onset and difficult early diagnosis. It is mainly characterized by the proliferation of epidermotropic CD8⁺ cytotoxic T cells and aggressive clinical course. At present, there is still no unified standard for the optimal treatment regimen, and the prognosis is very poor. Consolidation therapy with AHSCT after achieving remission through induction chemotherapy can improve the survival and prognosis of the CD8⁺ PCAECTL patients.
Humans ; Female ; Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous/diagnosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Prognosis ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; Skin Neoplasms/diagnosis* ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic