Objective:To analyze the efficacies of unilateral biportal endoscopy(UBE)and percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy(PETD)in treatment of lumbar disc herniation(LDH),and to explore the optimal selection of minimally invasive surgical approaches for the The LDH patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 64 LDH patients who underwent surgery at Liwan Central Hospital of Guangzhou City in Guangdong Province,between January 2020 and June 2024.The surgical approaches were determined through physician-patient communication,and the patients were divided into UBE group(n=30)and PETD group(n=34).The materials of patients were recorded including gender,age,body mass index(BMI),percentages of affected segments,course of disease,duration of hospitalization,operation duration,intraoperative blood loss,numbers of intraoperative fluoroscopy,total incision length,and time to full weight-bearing(WB).The therapeutic outcomes were evaluated using Oswestry disability index(ODI),Visual Analog Scale(VAS)scores for low back pain and leg pain,MacNab criteria,and spinal canal areas at the affected segment.the postoperative complications of the patients in two groups were analyzed.Results:There were no statistically significant differences in age,gender composition ratio,BMI,course of disease,and percentages of affected segments of the patients between UBE group and PETD group(P＞0.05).Compared with PETD group,the intraoperative blood loss,total incision length,and time to full WB of the patients in UBE group were significantly increase(P＜0.01),while the number of intraoperative fluoroscopy time was decreased(P＜0.01).Compared with pre-operation,the ODI scores and VAS scores for low back and leg pain of the patients at final follow-up in both groups were decreased(P＜0.01),and the spinal canal areas at the affected segments of the patients were increased(P＜0.01).At final follow-up,compared with PETD group,the ODI score and VAS scores for low back and leg pain of patients in UBE group were decreased(P＜0.01),while the spinal canal areas at the affected segments of the patients was increased(P＜0.01).According to MacNab criteria,the percentages of excellent and good had no significant difference between two groups(P＞0.05).The incidence of complication showed no statistical difference between two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion:Both UBE and PETD yield satisfactory outcomes in the treatment of single-segment LDH.PETD is less invasive and permits earlier time to full WB,whereas UBE provides more extensive decompression and superior long-term efficacy.The surgical approach selection should be individualized based on specific factors in the clinic.

Developing and identifying effective medications and targets for treating hepatic fibrosis is an urgent priority. Our previous research demonstrated the efficacy of artesunate (ART) in alleviating liver fibrosis by eliminating activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear despite these findings. Notably, endocytic adaptor protein (NUMB) has significant implications for treating hepatic diseases, but current research primarily focuses on liver regeneration and hepatocellular carcinoma. The precise function of NUMB in liver fibrosis, particularly its ability to regulate HSCs, requires further investigation. This study aims to elucidate the role of NUMB in the anti-hepatic fibrosis action of ART in HSCs. We observed that the expression level of NUMB significantly decreased in activated HSCs compared to quiescent HSCs, exhibiting a negative correlation with the progression of liver fibrosis. Additionally, ART induced senescence in activated HSCs through the NUMB/P53 tumor suppressor (P53) axis. We identified NUMB as a crucial regulator of senescence in activated HSCs and as a mediator of ART in determining cell fate. This research examines the specific target of ART in eliminating activated HSCs, providing both theoretical and experimental evidence for the treatment of liver fibrosis.
Hepatic Stellate Cells/cytology* ; Liver Cirrhosis/genetics* ; Artesunate/pharmacology* ; Cellular Senescence/drug effects* ; Membrane Proteins/genetics* ; Animals ; Humans ; Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics* ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics* ; Male ; Mice

OBJECTIVE: To compare the aesthetic effects of anterior maxilla clockwise rotation combined with segmental Le Fort Ⅰ osteotomy and whole maxilla clockwise rotation on improving paranasal concavity in patients with Class Ⅲ maxillofacial deformity. METHODS: A non-randomized controlled trial was designed, and 21 patients diagnosed with skeletal Class Ⅲ maxillofacial deformity were included. In the study, 11 patients in the test group were treated by segmental Le Fort Ⅰ osteotomy combined with anterior maxilla clockwise rotation, and 10 patients in the control group were treated by whole maxilla clockwise rotation. The CBCT and 3D photography of preoperative (T0), 2 weeks postoperative (T1), and 6 months postoperative (T2) were collected respectively, and the three-dimensional cephalometry was carried out. The differences of specific parameters between the two groups were compared by independent sample t-test, including saggital displacement of the cheek mass point (CK) and subalare point (SA), nasolabial angle, occlusal plane angle and labial inclination angle of the upper incisor. RESULTS: There were no significant differences of the parameters on T0 between the two groups. The average sagittal displacement of the upper incisors of the test group was (-0.71±1.67) mm and smaller than that of control group [(2.26±1.68) mm], t=-4.052, P < 0.05. The average angle of the occlusal plane clockwise rotation of the test group was 1.46°±2.38° and smaller than that of the control group (4.31°±1.83°), t=-3.047, P < 0.05. The angle of anterior maxilla clockwise rotation was 11.73°±2.81° during the surgery. The average saggital displacement of the paranasal soft tissue landmarks of the test group from T0 to T2 was larger than that of the control group [CK point, (4.96±1.18) mm vs. (2.01± 1.50) mm, P < 0.05;SA point, (5.19±1.17) mm vs. (2.69±1.45) mm, P < 0.05]. The labial inclination angle of the upper incisor of the test group was 112.15°±5.40° in T2 and significantly smaller than that of the control group (122.38°±8.83°), t=-3.237, P < 0.05. The nasolabial angle of the test group was 106.54°±12.82° in T2 and significantly larger than that of the control group (93.90°±12.46°), t=2.288, P < 0.05. CONCLUSION Compared with whole maxilla clockwise rotation, anterior maxilla clockwise rotation combined with segmental Le Fort Ⅰ osteotomy can increase the saggital displacement of the paranasal soft tissue, correct labial inclination of the upper incisors and the acute naso-labial angle and better improve the paranasal aesthetic defects in patients with Class Ⅲ maxillofacial deformity with less changing on the saggital orientation of the upper incisors and the occlusal plane angle.
Humans ; Maxilla/surgery* ; Female ; Male ; Osteotomy, Le Fort/methods* ; Malocclusion, Angle Class III/surgery* ; Adult ; Cephalometry ; Young Adult ; Rotation ; Adolescent

OBJECTIVE To explore the active components of Curcumae Rhizome as well as its potential value for the treatment of chronic pancreatitis(CP)using a combination of network pharmacology and bioinformatic approaches.METHODS Network pharma-cology methods were used to screen the active ingredients of Curcumae Rhizome and potential therapeutic targets for CP,and their ex-pression abundance and distribution in different cell types of CP were further analyzed in combination with CP tissue RNA sequencing data from publicly available databases.Molecular docking was performed to analyze the binding of the active components of Curcumae Rhizome to CP-related targets.Finally,the role of these core targets in pancreatic stellate cell(PSC)activation and related pathways was analyzed by single-cell RNA-sequencing to assess the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic potential of the active ingredients of Curcumae Rhizome in CP treatment.RESULTS The most effective component of Curcumae Rhizome,Hederagenin,was identified by network pharmacological analysis,and its two therapeutic targets associated with CP were identified:LYZ and Rxra.Molecular doc-king results demonstrated that Hederagenin had an extremely strong binding capacity to the Rxra protein(affinity score=-7.392 kcal·mol-1),a core target of CP.Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis further demonstrated that the hub target Rxra gene was closely associated with PSC activation and played an important role in PTN and TGF-β signaling pathways,the activation of which played a crucial role in the progression of chronic inflammation and fibrosis.CONCLUSION Curcumae Rhizome may provide new clues for the treatment of CP by inhibiting PSC activation.

Objective:To explore the effect of different swallowing tasks on cortex activation and functional connectivity in stroke survivors with dysphagia using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).Methods:Thirty stroke survivors with dysphagia performed three different swallowing tasks: swallowing action observation (SO), swallowing action execution (SE), and swallowing action imagination (SI). During each task, fNIRS was used to document the brain concentrations of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin. Cortex activation (β value) and brain functional connectivity were assessed.Results:Compared with the resting state, the areas activated during the SO task included the left primary sensory cortex and the right prefrontal cortex. During the SE and SI tasks the left prefrontal cortex and the left motor cortex were activated as well. Compared with hemorrhagic stroke survivors, ischemic stroke survivors showed significantly greater activation of the right primary sensory cortex, the right motor cortex, and the left primary sensory cortex during the SE task. Functional connectivity during the SO, SE and SI tasks was significantly greater than in the resting state, with the average connectivity values during the SE task significantly higher than during the SI task.Conclusions:Stroke survivors with dysphagia exhibit increased activation in the prefrontal cortex and primary sensory cortex during different swallowing tasks. Such tasks can improve their brain functional connectivity.

Objective:To explore the effect of different swallowing tasks on cortex activation and functional connectivity in stroke survivors with dysphagia using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).Methods:Thirty stroke survivors with dysphagia performed three different swallowing tasks: swallowing action observation (SO), swallowing action execution (SE), and swallowing action imagination (SI). During each task, fNIRS was used to document the brain concentrations of oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin. Cortex activation (β value) and brain functional connectivity were assessed.Results:Compared with the resting state, the areas activated during the SO task included the left primary sensory cortex and the right prefrontal cortex. During the SE and SI tasks the left prefrontal cortex and the left motor cortex were activated as well. Compared with hemorrhagic stroke survivors, ischemic stroke survivors showed significantly greater activation of the right primary sensory cortex, the right motor cortex, and the left primary sensory cortex during the SE task. Functional connectivity during the SO, SE and SI tasks was significantly greater than in the resting state, with the average connectivity values during the SE task significantly higher than during the SI task.Conclusions:Stroke survivors with dysphagia exhibit increased activation in the prefrontal cortex and primary sensory cortex during different swallowing tasks. Such tasks can improve their brain functional connectivity.

OBJECTIVE To explore the active components of Curcumae Rhizome as well as its potential value for the treatment of chronic pancreatitis(CP)using a combination of network pharmacology and bioinformatic approaches.METHODS Network pharma-cology methods were used to screen the active ingredients of Curcumae Rhizome and potential therapeutic targets for CP,and their ex-pression abundance and distribution in different cell types of CP were further analyzed in combination with CP tissue RNA sequencing data from publicly available databases.Molecular docking was performed to analyze the binding of the active components of Curcumae Rhizome to CP-related targets.Finally,the role of these core targets in pancreatic stellate cell(PSC)activation and related pathways was analyzed by single-cell RNA-sequencing to assess the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic potential of the active ingredients of Curcumae Rhizome in CP treatment.RESULTS The most effective component of Curcumae Rhizome,Hederagenin,was identified by network pharmacological analysis,and its two therapeutic targets associated with CP were identified:LYZ and Rxra.Molecular doc-king results demonstrated that Hederagenin had an extremely strong binding capacity to the Rxra protein(affinity score=-7.392 kcal·mol-1),a core target of CP.Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis further demonstrated that the hub target Rxra gene was closely associated with PSC activation and played an important role in PTN and TGF-β signaling pathways,the activation of which played a crucial role in the progression of chronic inflammation and fibrosis.CONCLUSION Curcumae Rhizome may provide new clues for the treatment of CP by inhibiting PSC activation.

Objective:To establish and assess the precision of pre-surgical condyle position planning using mandibular movement trajectory data for orthognathic surgery.Methods:Skull data from large-field cone beam computed tomography(CBCT)and dental oral scan data were imported into IVSPlan 1.0.25 software for 3D reconstruction and fusion,creating 3D models of the maxilla and mandible.Trajectory da-ta of mandibular movement were collected using a mandibular motion recorder,and the data were inte-grated with the jaw models within the software.Subsequently,three-dimensional trajectories of the con-dyle were obtained through matrix transformations,rendering them visually accessible.A senior oral and maxillofacial surgeon with experience in both diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular joint disease and orthognathic surgery selected the appropriate condyle position using the condyle movement trajectory interface.During surgical design,the mobile mandibular proximal segment was positioned accordingly.Routine orthognathic surgical planning was completed by determining the location of the mandibular distal segment,which was based on occlusal relationships with maxilla and facial aesthetics.A virtual mandible model was created by integrating data from the proximal and distal segment bone.Subsequently,a solid model was generated through rapid prototyping.The titanium plate was pre-shaped on the mandibular model,and the screw hole positions were determined to design a condylar positioning guide device.In accordance with the surgical plan,orthognathic surgery was performed,involving mandibular bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy(SSRO).The distal segment of the mandible was correctly aligned inter-maxillary,while the proximal bone segment was positioned using the condylar positioning guide device and the pre-shaped titanium plate.The accuracy of this procedure was assessed in a study involving 10 patients with skeletal class Ⅱ malocclusion.Preoperative condyle location planning and intraoperative po-sitioning were executed using the aforementioned techniques.CBCT data were collected both before the surgery and 2 weeks after the procedure,and the root mean square(RMS)distance between the preope-rative design position and the actual postoperative condyle position was analyzed.Results:The RMS of the condyle surface distance measured was(1.59±0.36)mm(95％CI:1.35-1.70 mm).This value was found to be significantly less than 2 mm threshold recommended by the expert consensus(P＜0.05).Conclusion:The mandibular trajectory may play a guiding role in determining the position of the mandibular proximal segment including the condyle in the orthognathic surgery.Through the use of a con-dylar positioning guide device and pre-shaped titanium plates,the condyle positioning can be personalized and customized with clinically acceptable accuracy.

BACKGROUND:Studies have found that activation of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxidase-1(Nrf2/HO-1)pathway can alleviate oxidative stress caused by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury,but whether human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(hBMSC)can activate Nrf2/HO-1 pathway to alleviate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury is still lacking relevant studies. OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether intracranial transplantation of hBMSC alleviates oxidative stress injury in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion animal models by activating Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. METHODS:Totally 40 male SPF SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group,hBMSC transplantation group,hBMSC+solvent group and hBMSC+Nrf2 inhibitor group.Each group consisted of eight animals.In the model group and the hBMSC transplantation group,middle cerebral artery occlusion model was prepared by thread embolization method.The thread embolization was removed 1 hour later,and 30 μL PBS or hBMSC cultured to at least passage 5 was injected into the right cortex and striatum of rats.In the hBMSC+Nrf2 inhibitor group and hBMSC+solvent group,the left ventricle was injected with Nrf2 inhibitor Brusatol and its solvent dimethyl sulfoxide respectively 24 hours before model establishment,then the middle cerebral artery occlusion model was prepared,and hBMSC was injected.Relevant indexes were detected 3 days after transplantation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)CT and TTC staining showed the same area and volume of cerebral infarction:model group>hBMSC+Nrf2 inhibitor group>hBMSC+solvent group>hBMSC transplantation group>sham operation group.(2)Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl's staining showed that the ischemic brain tissue was intact and the neurons were normal in the sham operation group.Compared with the model group,the pathological morphology and neuronal injury of the hBMSC transplantation group and the hBMSC+solvent group were significantly improved.Compared with the hBMSC+solvent group,the hBMSC+Nrf2 inhibitor group had more serious pathological morphology and neuronal damage.(3)Western blot assay and oxidative stress index detection results showed that compared with the sham operation group,Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins were decreased(all P<0.05),malondialdehyde was increased and superoxide dismutase was decreased(all P<0.05)in the model group.Compared with the model group,the expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins were increased(all P<0.05),malondialdehyde was decreased and superoxide dismutase was increased(all P<0.05)in the hBMSC transplantation group and the hBMSC+solvent group.Compared with the hBMSC+solvent group,the expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins were simultaneously decreased(all P<0.05),and malondialdehyde was increased and superoxide dismutase was decreased(all P<0.05)in the hBMSC+Nrf2 inhibitor group.(4)These results indicate that hBMSC can alleviate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury possibly by activating Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

Objective:To observe the effect of metformin on intestinal metabolites and its protective effect on lung injury in an elderly sepsis rat.Methods:SD rats were fed at the Animal Laboratory Center of Zhengzhou University, fourteen elderly SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham surgery (age-Sham, AgS group, n=4), cecal ligation and perforation induced sepsis (age-Cecal ligation and puncture, AgCLP group, n=5), and oral administration of metformin (100 mg/kg) after 1 h of CLP treatment (age-Metformin, AgMET group, n=5). Collected rat feces 24 h after modeling, and analyzed the composition and inter group differences of metabolites in the feces using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry non targeted metabolomics. Collected rat lung tissues and detected the expression levels of inflammation related genes and pathological changes in the tissue. The visualization of metabolic changes between groups were presented using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis, heatmaps, and unsupervised principal component analysis, respectively. MetaboAnalyst 3.0 was used to evaluate the Pathway analysis of metabolites, and this software was based on the KEGG database and the human metabolome database. Results:The expressions of CCL4 ( F=203.00, P<0.001), CXCL1( F=65.69, P<0.001), IL-6 ( F=38.94, P<0.002), TNF-α ( F=14.85, P=0.005) between two groups of rats were significantly different (all P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in CCL2 expression between AgCLP group and AgMET group. Furthermore, compared with the AgS group, the relative intensities of 17 metabolites such as 7-methylxanthine, N-Arachidonylglycine and Manolide in AgCLP group were significantly increased, whereas the 9 metabolites such as Phenazone, Gly-Phe and Valyproline were significantly decreased, and metformin treatment could reverse these changes of the above metabolites. Correlation analysis showed that the IL-6 and TNF-α levels were positively correlated with the relative strength of 7-Methylxanthine, N-Arachidonylglycine and other metabolites, but negatively correlated with the Phenazone and Gly-Phe. CCL4 and CXCL1 were positively correlated with Manolide, but negatively correlated with Valyproline. Conclusion:The results of this study showed that metformin improved sepsis induced acute lung injury and regulates the host intestinal metabolites, which might provide a potential and effective treatment for elderly sepsis induced acute lung injury.