OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association of NUF2 expression with tumor prognosis and its regulatory role in tumor microenvironment. METHODS: We analyzed NUF2 expression, its prognostic value, and is immune-related functions across different cancer types using datasets from the Human Protein Atlas (HPA), TCGA, GTEx, CCLE, and TIMER. RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were used to detect NUF2 expression in liver cancer cell lines and tissue and blood samples from patients with liver cancer. GO, KEGG, and GSEA analyses were conducted to explore the molecular mechanisms of NUF2 and its related genes, and a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network for NUF2 in liver cancer was constructed. RESULTS: NUF2 expression was upregulated in the tumor tissues of 27 cancers and was associated with clinical stages in several cancers. High NUF2 expressions were correlated with poor overall survival, disease-specific survival, progression-free survival, and disease-free survival of cancer patients. NUF2 expression levels were positively correlated with tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability, infiltrating immune cells, immune cell marker genes and immune checkpoint genes in different cancers. RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry confirmed that NUF2 expression was upregulated in liver cancer cell lines and tumor tissues and blood samples of liver cancer patients, and was decreased significantly after operation. GO, KEGG and GSEA analyses indicated that NUF2 was involved in chromosome segregation and cell cycle and was associated with glycine, serine and threonine metabolism. CONCLUSIONS NUF2 expression is upregulated in 27 cancers and is associated with clinical stage and poor prognosis in some malignancies. NUF2 expression is closely correlated with immune cell infiltration in different cancers, suggesting its potential value for predicting immunotherapy response in these cancers.
Humans ; Prognosis ; Immunotherapy ; Tumor Microenvironment ; Liver Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Neoplasms/genetics* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics*

Objectives:To observe the possibility of enlarging the greater sciatic notch by illium osteotomy through the posterior gluteal approach for reaching the intrapelvic upper sacral plexus as well as the covergence level of sacral plexus,and performing the nerve graft for surgical repairing the sacral plexus ruptured injuries or sacral plexus nerve tumor resection.Methods:The clinical data of 10 patients with sacral plexus injury or sacral plexus nerve tumor underwent the surgical operation via the expanded greater sciatic notch at Department of Hand Surgery,Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from July 2016 to November 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.There were 4 male and 6 female patients,with an age of (38.0±9.3)years (range:26 to 56 years).There were 8 cases with sacral plexus injury at the intrapelvic or covergence level (deep to the piriformis). Out of this 8 cases,4 cases with intrapelvic pan-sacral plexus injury,1 case with upper sacral plexus injury and 3 cases with convergence level pan sacral plexus injury.Another 2 cases were sacral plexus neoplasm.The average time from injury or onset to operation was 10.4 months (range:1.5 to 60.0 months). All cases were performed surgery for reaching the intrapelvic upper sacral plexus as well as the covergence level of sacral plexus with enlarging the greater sciatic notch by illium osteotomy through the posterior gluteal approach.Intraoperation the sacral plexus ruptured injurie was repaired and the sacral plexus nerve tumor was resected.Intraoperative findings,postoperative complications and healing of incision and osteotomy of patients were recorded.Results:All the 10 patients underwent the sacral plexus surgical exploration and cutaneous nerve graft for sacral plexus nerve repairing or neurolysis or neoplasm resection through the posterior gluteal approach successfully.The length and width of illium osteotomy mass were (2.9±0.4)cm (range:2.5 to 3.8 cm) and (2.5±0.5)cm (range:1.5 to 3.4 cm) respectively.The median intraoperative bleeding volume was ( M( Q R))800(800)ml (range:400 to 2 000 ml).There were no complication with major vascular injury and hematoma formation,and all incisions healed.The postoperative follow-up was 29.8 months (range:1.5 to 54.0 months).Nine cases of iliac osteotomy were healed,and 1 case was not healed because the follow-up was only 1.5 months. Conclusions:The intrapelvic upper sacral plexus and the convergence level of sacral plexus deep to the piriformis can be exposed clearly through this posterior gluteal approach via illium osteotomy for enlarging the greater sciatic notch,and there was enough operative space that surgical exploration and nerve graft or nerve transfer or neoplasm resection can be performed.

Objectives:To observe the possibility of enlarging the greater sciatic notch by illium osteotomy through the posterior gluteal approach for reaching the intrapelvic upper sacral plexus as well as the covergence level of sacral plexus,and performing the nerve graft for surgical repairing the sacral plexus ruptured injuries or sacral plexus nerve tumor resection.Methods:The clinical data of 10 patients with sacral plexus injury or sacral plexus nerve tumor underwent the surgical operation via the expanded greater sciatic notch at Department of Hand Surgery,Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from July 2016 to November 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.There were 4 male and 6 female patients,with an age of (38.0±9.3)years (range:26 to 56 years).There were 8 cases with sacral plexus injury at the intrapelvic or covergence level (deep to the piriformis). Out of this 8 cases,4 cases with intrapelvic pan-sacral plexus injury,1 case with upper sacral plexus injury and 3 cases with convergence level pan sacral plexus injury.Another 2 cases were sacral plexus neoplasm.The average time from injury or onset to operation was 10.4 months (range:1.5 to 60.0 months). All cases were performed surgery for reaching the intrapelvic upper sacral plexus as well as the covergence level of sacral plexus with enlarging the greater sciatic notch by illium osteotomy through the posterior gluteal approach.Intraoperation the sacral plexus ruptured injurie was repaired and the sacral plexus nerve tumor was resected.Intraoperative findings,postoperative complications and healing of incision and osteotomy of patients were recorded.Results:All the 10 patients underwent the sacral plexus surgical exploration and cutaneous nerve graft for sacral plexus nerve repairing or neurolysis or neoplasm resection through the posterior gluteal approach successfully.The length and width of illium osteotomy mass were (2.9±0.4)cm (range:2.5 to 3.8 cm) and (2.5±0.5)cm (range:1.5 to 3.4 cm) respectively.The median intraoperative bleeding volume was ( M( Q R))800(800)ml (range:400 to 2 000 ml).There were no complication with major vascular injury and hematoma formation,and all incisions healed.The postoperative follow-up was 29.8 months (range:1.5 to 54.0 months).Nine cases of iliac osteotomy were healed,and 1 case was not healed because the follow-up was only 1.5 months. Conclusions:The intrapelvic upper sacral plexus and the convergence level of sacral plexus deep to the piriformis can be exposed clearly through this posterior gluteal approach via illium osteotomy for enlarging the greater sciatic notch,and there was enough operative space that surgical exploration and nerve graft or nerve transfer or neoplasm resection can be performed.

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous fixation assisted by O-arm-based navigation for thoracolumbar fractures without neurologic deficits. Methods: A retrospective case control study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 35 thoracolumbar fracture patients without neurologic deficits admitted to Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2018 to December 2018. There were 26 males and 9 females, aged 17-51 years, with an average age of 30.4 years. The injured segments were distributed at T₁₁ in 10 patients, T₁₂ in 15, L₁ in 11, and L₂ in 4 patients. A total of 19 patients (22 vertebrae, 98 pedicle screws) were treated with O-arm guided navigation assisted percutaneous internal fixation (Group A), and 16 patients (18 vertebrae, 82 pedicle screws) were treated with C-arm guided percutaneous internal fixation (Group B). The operation time, accuracy rate of nail placement, complications, Cobb angle of fracture vertebral body, visual analogue score (VAS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score were recorded and compared before operation, 7 days after operation and at the last follow-up. Results: The patients were followed up for 2-12 months [(7.2±2.9)months] in Group A and 3-13 months [(7.1±3.3)months] in Group B. The operation time was (70.5±11.2)minutes in Group A and (81.3±10.9)minutes in Group B (P<0.01). A total of 93 screws were completely placed in the pedicle in Group A (accuracy rate of 95%), and 74 screws in Group B (accuracy rate of 90%) (P<0.01). There were no complications such as infection, pulmonary embolism, spinal cord, nerve injury or lower extremity deep vein thrombosis in either group. The Cobb angle of the fractured vertebral body at day 7 after operation in Group A and Group B was (9.4±2.1)° and (10.4±2.5)° respectively, while the Cobb angle of the fractured vertebral body at the final follow-up in Group A and Group B was (9.7±2.3)° and (11.4±2.9)° respectively. The postoperative Cobb angle was significantly increased compared with the preoperative Cobb angle (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The VAS at day 7 after operation was (2.3±1.1)points and (2.8±1.0)points in Group A and Group B, respectively, while the VAS at the final follow-up was (0.7±0.7)points and (0.8±0.7)points in Group A and Group B respectively. The postoperative VAS was significantly decreased compared with the preoperative VAS (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The JOA at day 7 after operation was (21.1±2.2)points and (21.8±2.5)points in Group A and Group B respectively, while the JOA at the final follow-up was (24.9±2.2)points and (23.8±1.9)points in Group A and Group B respectively. The postoperative JOA was significantly increased compared with the preoperative JOA (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion For thoracolumbar fractures without neurologic deficits, percutaneous fixation assisted by O-arm-based navigation can shorten the operation time and deliver a higher accuracy rate in the placement of pedicle screws, in addition to the similar effects with percutaneous fixation assisted by C-arm in pain relief, function improvement and correction of fracture vertebral kyphosis.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of modified posterior unilateral subtotal corpectomy osteotomy correction for old thoracolumbar vertebral fractures combined with kyphosis. Methods A retrospective case series study was conducted to analyze 18 patients with old thoracolumbar vertebral fractures combined with kyphosis admitted to the Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2012 to October 2016. There were 10 males and eight females, aged 25-70 years, with an average age of 38. 2 years. The injured segments and osteotomy segments included T11 in one patient, T12 in four, L1 in six, and L2 in seven. Five patients had neurological impairment symptoms classified as grade D according to Frankel's classification. All patients underwent the modified posterior unilateral subtotal corpectomy osteotomy correction. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss were recorded. The visual analogue score (VAS), Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) and kyphosis Cobb angle were compared before operation, half a year after operation and at the last follow-up. The osteotomy fusion was evaluated by Suk criterion and Frankel grading was used to evaluate the recovery of nerve function. The complications were also recorded. Results All patients were followed up for 12-24 months, with an average of 17. 6 months. The operation time was 160-285 minutes [(190. 0 ± 42. 6) minutes, and the intraoperative blood loss was 500-800 ml [(610. 0 ± 134. 3) ml]. The difference of kyphosis Cobb angle between preoperative [(40.5±9.8)°] and [(5.5 ±1.6)°] at 6 months postoperatively had statistical significance (P <0. 05). Compared with the kyphosis Cobb angle of 6 months postoperatively [(5. 5 ± 1. 6)°], the Cobb angle at the final follow-up [(6. 2 ± 1. 5)°] did not change significantly (P>0. 05). The VAS score and ODI at 6 months after operation and at the final follow-up [(3. 1 ± 1. 3)points,(2. 7 ± 0. 7)points and 7. 5 ± 5. 1, 6. 4 ± 2. 5] were significantly different compared with those before operation [(7. 6 ± 2. 4)points, 68. 7 ± 10. 4] (P<0. 05). Bone cutting surface was healed osseously in all patients. The five patients with preoperative neurological impairment of grade D were assigned with grade E at the last follow up. There were two patients with dural rupture and one with pleural effusion during the operation. No complications such as nerve damage, infection or thrombosis occurred. No loosening, fracture or heterotopic ossification occurred during follow-up. Conclusion For old thoracolumbar vertebral fracture combined with kyphosis, the modified posterior unilateral vertebral column resection through unilateral approach can not only achieve the bone fusion between the injured vertebra and the adjacent vertebral body, but also avoid the shortening of the spine, correcting kyphosis and relieving pain, with low incidence of complications.

Objective To evaluate the pathological stage,the presence of detrusor muscle and the clinical significance for standardized examination of specimens for en bloc transurethral resection technique with Hybrid Knife to treat NMIBC (ERBT) compared with conventional TURBT.Methods This was prospective randomized controlled study.This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tongji Hospital,Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (TJ-IRB20180604),and patients all signed informed consent.The clinical study registration number of this study:NCT03221062.The margin of the tumor was recognized and marked by with Hybrid Knife (0.5 cm away from the normal mucosa).Then water was injected into the submucosa and form a water pad,with a circular cutting layer by layer (0.5 cm away from the marked position),reaching the detrusor muscle in depth.After complete resection,the tumor was removed by specimen bag.Specimens for ERBT cohort were given standard handling.Resected specimen of ERBT stretched with pins on foam and its margin was stained.The basement of specimen was also stained.Total specimen sectioned into appropriate pieces for histological assessment in the department of pathology.TURBT cohort performed traditional surgical methods and pathological examination.All patients received postoperative intravesical instillation according to their pathology.Imaging and cystoscopy were performed every 3 months.The primary study end-point was the quality of resection,including the pathological stage and the presence of DM.Secondary outcomes were:short-term tumour recurrence rate (18 month),feasibility,and safety.Results From January 2017 to October 2017,109 patients were enrolled.51 patients underwent ERBT,and 58 patients underwent TURBT.The clinical characteristics of the patients in each cohort,such as average age,gender,average BMI,smoking history,the mean number of lesions and tumour size had no significant differences (P ＞ 0.05).The operation of 109 cases was completed successfully.There was no statistical difference between the operative time and the postoperative bladder irrigation time.Major intraoperative or postoperative complications (Clavien ≥ Ⅱ) did not occur in all of the patients.The percentage of T1 staging was higher in the ERBT cohort vs.TURBT cohort [21/51 (41.2％) vs.13/58 (22.4％),P =0.035],of which ERBT cohort accurately detected 9 cases (42.8％) of T1b patients,significantly higher than TURBT cohort (2 cases,15.4％) (P =0.096).All the ERBT samples showed the presence of DM (100.0％),while there was only 77.4％ in TURBT cohort (P ＜ 0.05).Mean follow-up (20.3 ± 3.1) months (ranged from 18 to 24 months).Recurrence rate were 8.9％ (4/45) in ERBT cohort vs.22.2％ (12/54) in TURBT cohort (P=0.059).Conclusions ERBT with Hybrid Knife for treatment NMIBC is a safe,effective,and provides high-quality specimens compared to TURBT.More high-risk NMIBC patients,especially T1 b patients,can be detected obviously by pathologist with the standardized treatment of specimens.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) with bone filling container (BFC) and percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) by unilateral puncture approach in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.Methods A retrospective case control study was conducted on 65 patients (65 vertebral bodies) with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) who received PVP from March 2015 to March 2017 in Henan Provincial People's Hospital.There were 21 males and 44 females,aged 60-91 years,with an average of 76.2 years.The patients were divided into PVP with BFC group (BFC group) and PKP group treated by unilateral puncture approach.There were 10 males and 23 females in BFC group,with an average age of 75.8 years (range,60-91 years).The injured segments were distributed at T10 in seven patients,T11 in nine,T12 in eight,L1 in five,and L2 in four patients.There were 11 males and 21 females in PKP group,with an average age of 76.7 years (range,60-88 years).The injured segments were distributed at T10 in five patients,T11 in seven,T12 in ten,L1 in eight,and L2 in two patients.The operation time,cement leakage,as well as pain visual analogue score (VAS),modified Oswestry dysfunction index (ODI) and the Cobb angle of the fractured vertebral body at 3 days after operation and 12 months after operation were recorded and compared.Results All operations were completed successfully,without serious complications.The patients were followed up for 16-29 months [(21.2 ± 4.5) months] in BFC group and 15-32 months [(23.8 ± 6.2) months] in PKP group.The operation time was (27.8 ± 3.6) minutes in BFC group and (31.0 ± 5.2) minutes in PKP group (P ＜ 0.05).Postoperative X-ray and CT showed that bone cements leakage occurred in three patients of BFC group (9％) and in ten patients of PKP group (31％) (P ＜0.05).The VAS at 3 days after operation in BFC group and PKP group was (2.3 ± 1.0) points and (2.1 ±0.8)points respectively.The VAS at 12 months after operation in BFC group and PKP group was (0.7 ± 0.7) points and (O.8 ± 0.7) points respectively.The postoperative VAS was significantly decreased compared with the preoperative VAS (P ＜0.05),but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).The modified ODI at 3 days after operation in BFC group and PKP group were (31.5 ± 4.7) ％ and (30.4 ± 5.7) ％,respectively.The modified ODI at 12 months after operation in BFC group and PKP group was (16.7 ±4.9)％ and (15.1 ±5.6)％,respectively.The postoperative ODI were significantly decreased compared with the preoperative ODI(P ＜0.05),but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).The Cobb angle of the fractured vertebral body at 3 days after operation in BFC group and PKP group was (9.2 ± 3.0) ° and (10.0 ±2.9)°,respectively.The Cobb angle of the fractured vertebral body at 12 months after operation was (9.6 ± 2.8)° and (10.3 ± 3.0)°respectively.The postoperative Cobb angle was significantly decreased compared with the preoperative Cobb angle (P ＜ 0.05),but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions For OVCF,PVP with BFC by unilateral puncture approach can shorten the operation time and reduce the leakage rate of bone cement.It has similar effects with PKP in pain relief,function improvement of daily life and the correction of fracture vertebral kyphosis.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of 3D printing assisted percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) in treating severe osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) in elder patients.Methods A retrospective case series study was conducted on the clinical data of 58 elderly patients (58 vertebrae) with severe OVCF who underwent PVP treatment in spinal surgery department of Henan Provincial People's Hospital from June 2014 to June 2016.According to the treatment method,the patients were divided into Group A which adopted 3D printing of injured vertebrae before PVP and Group B which adopted routine PVP operation.Group A consisted of 28 cases (28 vertebrae),including eight males and 20 females,aged 64-91 years [(78.1 ±8.5) years].In terms of the distribution of injured vertebrae,there were four cases of T10,six cases of Tu,eight cases of T12,four cases of L1,and six cases of L2 in Group A.Group B consisted of 30 cases (30 vertebrae),including 10 males and 20 females,aged 65-90 years [(77.8 ± 8.2) years].In terms of the distribution of injured vertebrae,there were three cases of T10,seven T11,nine T12,six L1,and five L2.The operation time,visual analogue scale (VAS) before operation,1 day after operation and at the last follow up,Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score,anterior compression ratio of injured vertebrae,and cement leakage rate were compared between the two groups.Results All the operations were completed successfully.The patients were followed up for 14-26 months [(18.7 ± 3.4)months] in Group A and for 12-28 months [(20.0 ± 5.4) months] in Group B.The operation time was (28.0 ± 3.4) min in Group A and (30.9 ±5.3) min in Group B (P ＜ 0.05).Both the VAS 1 d after operation of Group A [(2.3 ± 1.0) points] and Group B [(2.0 ± 0.8) points] and the VAS at the last follow up of Group A [(0.7 ± 0.7) points] and Group B [(0.8 ± 0.7) points] were significantly lower than those before operation (P ＜ 0.05),but there was no significant difference between thetwo groups (P ＞ 0.05).Both the JOA at day 1 after operation of Group A [(21.3 ± 2.2) points] and Group B [(20.7 ± 2.1) points] and the JOA at the last follow up of Group A [(24.7 ± 2.3) points] and Group B [(24.1 ± 2.0) points] were significantly higher than those before operation (P ＜ 0.05),but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).The anterior compression ratio of injured vertebrae 1 d after operation of Group A (59.4 ± 7.9) ％ and Group B (59.1 ± 6.8) ％ and that at the last follow up of Group A (59.1 ± 7.8) ％ and Group B (58.7 ± 5.4) ％ were significantly improved than those before operation (P ＜ 0.05),but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).There were three cases of bone cement leakage in Group A (11％) and 11 cases of bone cement leakage in Group B (37％) after PVP,and the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Compared with conventional PVP,3D printingassisted PVP has lower leakage rate,shorter operation time,and better clinical effect in treating severe OVCF in the elderly.

Objective:To research the effect of lumbar spinal nerve block combined with ultrashort wave on the pain and biomechanics of lumbar back muscle of patients biomechanics with lumbar disc.Methods:98 patients with lumbar disc herniation in our hospital from February 2014 to August 2016,according to the lottery method divided into control group and research group.The control group was treated with Lumbar spinal nerve block.The research group was based on the control group treated with ultrashort wave,clinical curative effect,changes of the visual analogue scale (VAS),60 ° /s angular velocity,120° /s average apical power (AP),peak torque (PT),lumbar dorsiflexion / dorsal flexion (F/E),serum levels of substance P (SP),β-endorphin (β-EP),interleukin-6 (IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) before and after treatment,and adverse reactions were compared between two groups.Results:The total effective rate of research group was95.91％,which was significant higher than that of the control group,the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).After treatment,The VAS,F/E,serum levels of SP,IL-6 and TNF-α of two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment,the above indicators of research group were significantly lower than those of the control group.The AP,PT and serum levels of β-EP between two groups were significantly higher than those before treatment,the above indicators of research group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P＜0.05).No statistical difference was found in the incidence of adverse effects between the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion:Umbar spinal nerve block combined with ultrashort wave was more effective than lumbar paravertebral nerve block treatment alone in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation,it could effectively relieve the pain and improve the low back muscle biological mechanics performance and reduce the inflammatory response.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the changes of fat and microcirculation in vertebral marrow and the intervertebral disc degeneration. Methods This was a cross-sectional cohort study. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, all 82 patients were recruited, while 246 lumbar intervertebral disc (L2/3-L4/5) were studied. Each disc was assessed by using Pfirrmann grades. The chemical shift imaging (CSI) was performed to calculate the signal intensity ratio (SIR) of the corresponding upper and under vertebral marrow. And intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) imaging was performed to obtain the IVIM parameters of slow apparent diffusion coefficient (Dslow), fast apparent diffusion coefficient (Dfast) and perfusion fraction (f). At the same time, b values of 0, 600 s/mm2 were used to obtain the ADC value of each disc. The ADC values of disc, the SIR values and IVIM parameters of the upper and under vertebral marrow between the different segments and different Pfirrmann grading groups were compared using one-way ANOVA or non-parametric test. The correlation of the Pfirrmann grading and ADC value of disc with the parameters of the vertebral marrow were analyzed, respectively. Results Only the f value of the upper and under vertebral marrow showed significant difference between the different segments groups of L2/3 to L4/5 discs (F=5.351 and 8.482, both P<0.05). The ADC values of discs, the SIR value of the upper vertebral marrow and the Dslow value of the under vertebral marrow had significant difference between the different Pfirrmann grading groups (all P<0.05). The Pfirrmann grading was negatively correlated with the disc ADC values (r=-0.651, P<0.01), and was mildly and positively correlated with the SIR values of the upper and under vertebral marrow (r=0.238 and 0.266, both P<0.01). The disc ADC values had a slightly negative correlation with the SIR value of the upper and under vertebral marrow(r=-0.230 and-0.247, both P<0.01). Conclusions The changes of the SIR value and all IVIM parameters of the vertebral bone marrow were not very obvious with the increasing of the grading of the intervertebral disc degeneration, which may be not an effective supplement for the grading of intervertebral disc degeneration.