BACKGROUND:There are many treatment methods for knee osteoarthritis,among which electroacupuncture,as an important non-drug treatment,is effective in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis,but its exact mechanism is not clear. OBJECTIVE:Effect of electroacupuncture on the expression of p53 and P21 in articular cartilage and subchondral bone of aged rats with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS:Eight 6-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were included in the young group and sixteen 24-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into old group(n=8)and electroacupuncture group(n=8).The rats in the electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture stimulation once a day,5 days a week,for 8 continuous weeks,and the other two groups did not do any treatment.Eight weeks later,the level of type Ⅱ collagen C-terminal peptide in peripheral blood was detected by ELISA,the morphology of left knee cartilage and subchondral bone was observed by safranin O-fast green staining,the degree of knee cartilage degeneration was evaluated by modified Mankin's score,the microstructure of left knee cartilage and subchondral bone was detected by micro-CT,and the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 13,P53,P21 Mrna and protein were detected by RT-PCR and western blot respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the young group,the level of C-terminal peptide of type Ⅱ collagen in the peripheral blood was increased in the old group(P<0.05).The micro-CT results showed that the bone volume fraction,bone mineral density and the number of bone trabeculae were decreased in the old group compared with the young group(P<0.05),while the trabecular separation increased(P<0.05).Safranin O-fast green staining showed that in the old group,the surface layer of cartilage was uneven with fissures,the morphology of chondrocytes was irregular and stained unevenly,the boundary between the cartilage and subchondral bone was blurred,and the matrix loss was serious.The Mankin's score was higher in the old group than the young group(P<0.05).The expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13,P53,P21 at Mrna and protein levels increased in the old group compared with the young group(P<0.05).Compared with the old group,electroacupuncture decreased the level of C-terminal peptide of type Ⅱ collagen(P<0.05),increased the bone volume fraction,bone mineral density and the number of bone trabeculae(P<0.05),and decreased the trabecular separation(P<0.05).Safranin O-fast green staining showed that in the electroacupuncture group,the surface of cartilage was smooth and red staining was uniform,and the cell morphology and structure were between the young group and the old group.Following electroacupuncture treatment,the Mankin's score(P<0.05),matrix metalloproteinase 13 and P21 Mrna expression(P<0.05),and matrix metalloproteinase 13 and P53 protein expression decreased(P<0.05),while there was a decreasing trend of P53 Mrna and P21 protein expression,but with no statistical significance(P>0.05).To conclude,electroacupuncture may delay articular cartilage degeneration and subchondral osteoporosis in aged rats by inhibiting the expression of P53 and P21,so as to protect joints and delay joint aging.

BACKGROUND:Pulsed electromagnetic fields,as an important physical therapy,are exactly effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis,but the mechanism has not been fully clarified. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of pulsed electromagnetic field on the degeneration of knee joint cartilage in aged rats. METHODS:Eight 6-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were selected as the young group and were subjected to normal diet with no treatment.Sixteen 22-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into old group(n=8)and pulsed electromagnetic field group(n=8).The rats in the pulsed electromagnetic field group were subjected to a pulsed electromagnetic field intervention,once a day,5 days per week for continuous 8 weeks.The rats in the old group were given no treatment.All rats were anesthetized and executed after 8 weeks for the detection of relevant indexes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the young group,serum type Ⅱ collagen C-terminal peptide level was increased in the old group(P<0.05);compared with the old group,serum type Ⅱ collagen C-terminal peptide level was decreased in the pulsed electromagnetic field group(P<0.05).Micro-CT showed that the bone volume fraction,bone mineral density,and number of bone trabeculae decreased(P<0.05)and the trabecular separation increased(P<0.05)in the tibia of rats in the aged group compared with the young group;and the bone volume fraction,bone density,and number of trabeculae increased(P<0.05)and the trabecular separation decreased(P<0.05)in the tibia of rats in the pulsed electromagnetic field group compared with the aged group.The tibial plateau Safranin O-fast green staining showed that the articular cartilage structure of rats in the aged group was disorganized,and the number of chondrocytes was obviously reduced,and the tidal line could not be distinguished.The above results were improved in the pulsed electromagnetic field group.RT-qPCR and western blot assay showed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 1,matrix metalloproteinase 13,P53 and P21 in the articular cartilage and subchondral bone of rats were elevated in the aged group compared with the young group(P<0.05)and decreased in the pulsed electromagnetic field group compared with the old group(P<0.05).To conclude,pulsed electromagnetic fields may improve osteoarthritis in aged rats by inhibiting chondrocyte senescence,alleviating articular cartilage degradation and inhibiting subchondral bone osteoporosis through suppressing the expression of P53/P21.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of Naples prognostic score (NPS) in assessing the overall survival of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) patients after receiving hepatectomy treatment.Methods:Clinicopathological characteristics and follow-up data of 164 ICC patients who underwent curative hepatectomy at Zhejiang Cancer Hospital from Jan 2010 to Aug 2022 were retrospectively collected. NPS was calculated basing on preoperative serum albumin concentration, total cholesterol concentration, the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio. The relationship between NPS and overall survival was analyzed, and the efficacy of NPS in predicting long-term survival was compared to TNM staging system and other independent risk factors.Results:Multivariate analysis identified the NPS [Score 1 versus 0: 1.864 (1.011-3.437), P=0.046; Score 2 versus 0: 3.013 (1.465-6.199), P=0.003] as an independent risk factor for overall survival. The area under curve (AUC) of the rece中iver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for predicting 5-year OS based on NPS is 0.75, which is higher than TNM staging (0.59) and other independent risk factors (CA19-9:0.71, lymph node metastasis: 0.66, tumor size: 0.62, microvascular invasion: 0.56). Conclusion:NPS as an independent predictor of overall survival for ICC patients, is more accurate than TNM staging system and other clinicopathological factors.

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness and safety of fully-covered self-expandable metal stent (FCSEMS) with plastic stent over the treatment of post liver transplantation anastomotic biliary stricture (AS).Methods:The clinical data of AS patients after liver transplantation admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2014 to April 2018 was collected for the retrospective study. According to different implanted stents, patients were divided into FCSEMS group and plastic stent group. The general information of the two groups of patients, surgical success rate, postoperative complications, the number of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), the number of indwelling stents and other indicators were compared and analyzed.Results:A total of 54 patients were enrolled, including 41 males and 13 females, with a median age of 48 (34-65) years. A total of 23 cases were included in the FCSEMS group and 31 cases were included in the plastic stent group. The overall technical success rate of the operation was 98.3% (176/179). In the FCSEMS group, there were 21 patients recovered and 2 patients were relieved; in the plastic stent group, 29 patients were recovered, 1 case was relieved, and 1 case failed. There were no statistically significant differences in the efficacy and complication rate between the two groups (all P>0.05). The median stent indwelling time, ERCP times, and the number of indwelling stents in the FCSEMS group were 5.9 months, 2 times, and 1, respectively, and in the plastic stent group were 9.5 months, 4 times, and 8 respectively. There were statistical differences between the two groups (all P<0.05). Conclusions:FCSEMS for treatment of AS showed less duration of stenting, numbers of stents and endoscopic treatment sessions with the similar efficacy as plastic stents. It’s indicated that it’s necessary to pay attention to the probability of stent migration and pancreatitis.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the elastographic characteristics of liver and postoperative function of liver allografts.Methods Forty-eight cases of liver transplantation from The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were analyzed,Shear wave elastography (SWE) was performed before operation or at one week or one month post-operation.Liver function was evaluated by measuring alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate transaminase (AST),total bilirubin (TBIL),γ-glutamine transferase (GGT),albumin (ALB),alkaline phosphatase (ALP),prothrombin time (PT),activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT),and international normalized ratio (INR).Early allograft dysfunction (EAD) was also analyzed with reference to SWE among liver transplant recipients.Results SWE at one week after transplantation was significantly correlated with TBIL (r=0.525 6,P<0.01),APTT (r=0.668 3,P<0.000 1),PT (r=0.593 7,P=0.000 1),INR (r=0.609 6,P<0.000 1) and prealbumin (r=-0.464 1,P<0.01).However,no significant correlation was observed between pre-operative SWE and parameters of post-operative liver function.SWE in EAD patients was higher than that of patients without EAD (17.60±1.09 kPa vs.13.38±0.99 kPa,P<0.01).The optimal cut-off value of SWE at one week post-operation was 14.85 kPa.Conclusion Postoperative SWE is significantly correlated with postoperative liver function tests and EAD,suggesting SWE is a potential test for evaluating the quality of liver allografts.

Objective To investigate the value of serum receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegrin (OPG) ratio in osteoporotic fracture (OPF) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods Three hundred and eighty four RA patients with mean age of (49 ± 14) y (16-82) admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from 2010 to 2013 and 158 sex-and age-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in the study.OPF was diagnosed by X-ray examination and BMDs of femur and lumbar spine 2-4 (L2-4) were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.Levels of RANKL and OPG in the peripheral blood of 220 RA patients and 100 normal subjects were detected by ELISA method.Results Eighty-two cases of OPF was diagnosed in 384 RA patients (21.35％),the rate was higher than that in controls (3.80％,6/158,x2 =25.371,P ＜0.01).The peripheral blood levels of RANKL (0.150 ± 0.143 vs.0.101 ± 0.066,t =4.178,P ＜ 0.01),OPG (0.457 ± 0.293 vs.0.359 ±0.216,t=3.347,P=0.001) and ratio of RANKL/OPG (0.41 ±0.35 vs.0.34±0.20,t =2.111,P=0.036) in RA patients were significantly higher than those in control group.In comparison with normal controls,BMDs of all detected regions in RA were decreased significantly (P ＜0.01).The incidence of osteoporosis in RA (121/327,37％) was higher than that in normal controls (22/158,13.92％) (x2 =27.291,P ＜ 0.01).RA patients with OPF had higher age (t =4.377,P ＜ 0.01),longer duration of disease (t =2.612,P =0.009),higher RANKL level (t =3.554,P =0.001),higher RANKL/OPG ratio (t =2.651,P =0.010),higher health assessment questionnaires (HAQ) score (t =2.418,P =0.016),lower serum calcium level (t =2.183,P =0.030),lower hemoglobin level (t =2.125,P =0.036),higher Sharp score in hands X-ray examination (t =2.747,P =0.007),worse X-ray stage (x2 =7.856,P =0.049),higher glucocorticoid utilization rate (x2 =9.066,P =0.003) and higher incidence of osteoporosis (x2 =38.186,P ＜ 0.01),compared with patients without OPF.RA patients taking corticosteroids had higher incidence of osteoporosis (x2 =7.489,P =0.006) and higher incidence of OPF (x2 =9.066,P =0.003).Logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR =1.029,P =0.039,95％ CI:1.001-1.057)and the occurrence of osteoporosis (OR =3.159,P =0.001,95％ CI:1.562-6.385),RANKL/OPG ratio (OR =3.516,P =0.013,95 ％ CI:1.305-9.647) were risk factors for RA patients with OPF.Conclusion A higher incidence of OPF is prevalent in RA patients,and age,osteoporosis,taking glucocorticoids and RANKL/OPG ratio are risk factors for OPF in RA patients.

Objective To explore the prevalence of osteoporosis (OP) and vertebral osteoporotic fracture (OPF) and related risk factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Method A total of 644 patients with RA from Jan.2010 to Oct.2013 were recruited,anteroposterior and lateral X-rays examination of vertebral column (T5-L5) were conducted,and semi-quantity method were used as the standard for judging vertebral OPF.Meanwhile,patients' clinical and laboratory data including daily dosage of glucocorticoid,duration of glucocorticoid usage,cumulative amount dosage of glucocorticoid were recorded in details.158 normal subjects were selected as control group.Results (1)The prevalence of vertebral OPF in patients with RA was 16.6％.Bone mineral density (BMD) of all measured lumbar vertebra in RA group were markedly decreased[(0.97 ±0.22) g/cm2].The total prevalence of OP at lumbar vertebra in RA was 17.9％ (81/452),which was significantly higher than that of control group (4.4％,7/158) (P ＜ 0.001).(2) The percentage of OP in RA patients with vertebral OPF was significantly higher than that in patientswithout OPF [40.6％ (41/101) vs 11.4％ (40/351) ;P ＜ O.001].Patients with OPF were of older age,longer use of glucocorticoid,more cumulative amount dosage of glucocorticoid,longer disease duration,higher scores of health assessment questionnaires (HAQ) and increased ESR (P ＜ 0.05).(3) Logistic regression analysis revealed that age (OR =1.094,95％ CI 1.065-1.125,P ＜0.001) and gender(1 =male,2 =female) (OR=5.600,95％ CI 2.097-15.087,P =0.001) were the risk factors for the development of OP in RA,while body mass index (BMI) was the protective factor (OR =0.770,95％ CI 0.696-0.853,P ＜ 0.001).Age (OR =1.031,95％ CI 1.009-1.053,P =0.005) and occurrence of OP at lumbar vertebra (OR =3.765,95％ CI 2.092-6.776,P ＜ 0.001) were risk factors of the development of OPF in RA patients.Logistic regression analysis also showed that RA was the risk factor of OPF (OR =4.716,95％ CI 1.987-11.192,P ＜ 0.001),even after the adjustment of age,gender and BMI.(4) Receiver operator characteristic(ROC) curve in RA patients with OPF has found that age-OPF and daily dosage of glucocorticoid-OPF AUCRoC were 0.689 and 0.636 respectively.The cut-off value in ROC curve of age and daily dose or treatment course of glucocorticoid-OPF were 54.5 years and 6.25 mg(P ＜0.001),while duration of glucocorticoid usage-OPF AUCROC was 0.685,with cut-off value in ROC of age-OPF 135 days(P ＜ 0.001).Conclusion Prevalence of OPF in patients with RA increases remarkably.Old age and OP at spine are risk factors related to the development of OPF in patients with RA.

Objective To examine the plasma β-catenin and DKK1 levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to explore their relationship with bone and joint damage in RA.Methods One hundred and thirteen patients with RA and 120 healthy individuals were recruited into this research.Bone mineral density (BMD) in the femur and lumbar spine were measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).Radiographs for two hands were evaluated according to the Sharp's method.Serum levels of β-catenin and DKK1 in all patients with RA and healthy controls were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The 2-tailed independent samples t test was used for measurement data.Chi-square test was used for the enumeration data.Correlation analysis,linear regression and Logistic regression analysis were used as appropriate statistical analysis.Results ① Significantly higher serum levels of DKK1 were observed in RA patients than that in healthy controls [(8±7) vs(6±4) μg/ml,t=2.552,P=0.012],while there was no sinnificant difference with regard to the levels of β-catenin between the two groups.② Compared to control groups,patients with RA had lower BMDs at femur and lumbar spine (P＜0.01).Furthermore,incidence of osteoporosis (OP) in RA (31.9％,36/113) was remarkablely higher than that in healthy subjects (15.0％,18/120) (x2=9.290,P=0.002).③ There were obvious discrepancies in age,swollen joint count (SJC),swollen joint count index (SJI),alkaline phosphatase (AKP),joint narrowing space score,joint erosion score,Sharp score between patients with osteoporosis and without osteoporosis (P＜0.05).④ In RA group,DKK1 level was posi-tively related with plasma erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR),28-jonit disease activity score (DAS28),AKP,joint narrowing space score (P＜0.05).Serum β-catenin level was associated with ESR,AKP in RA (P＜0.05).⑤ Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that in the RA group,disease duration (b=0.709,t=9.560,P＜0.01,95％CI:2.154-3.286),HAQ (b=0.151,t=2.052,P=0.043,95％CI:0.234-15.243),DKK1(b=0.286,t=2.057,P=0.043,95％CI:0.034-2.028)were the contributors for joint space narrow score(R2=0.580,F=24.745,P＜0.01).⑥ Multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that the Sharp score (OR=1.018,P＜0.01,95％CI:1.008-1.028) was the risk factor for the occurrence of osteoporosis at femur in RA,while age (OR=1.087,P=0.012,95％CI 1.019-1.159) was the risk factor for osteoporosis at lumbar spine.Conclusion Serum DKK1 levels in RA increase significantly,while there is no apparent alteration in plasma β-catenin.Serum DKK1 is correlated with disease activity and joint space narrow score.

ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical experience of simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation (SPK) after liver transplantation for patients with diabetes and uremia.MethodsThe clinical data of two patients who received SPK after liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed.The two male patients had type 2 diabetes mellitus before liver transplantation,and suffered from endstage uremia due to diabetic nephropathy and immunosuppressant-induced toxicity.Rapid technique for combined abdominal multiple viscera procurement was performed.Kidneys,pancreas,duodenum segment and spleen were procured.Renal allograft was placed in the left iliac fossa,whereas pancreas allograft in the right iliac fossa. The pancreatic allograft exocrine secretion was drained into the proximal jejunum via a side-to-side duodenojujunostomy. Quadruple immunosuppressive regime including IL2 receptor monoclonal antibody induction,tacrolimus (Tac),mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and steroid were used in case 1,and ATG and methylprednisolone were used in case 2.ResultsSPK was successfully applied to these two patients without serious surgical complications such as pancreatitis,graft and pancreatic fistula. The immunosuppressive regimen was based on tacrolimus with ATG induction,MMF and steroids.In the second case,serum creatinine level was decreased to the normal range within 1 week after the operation and then elevated continuously even he received empirical anti rejection treatment,Tac was tampered and rapamycin was used when the renal graft biopsy indicated drug toxicity,and creatinine level was decreased 3 weeks after the operation and recovered to the normal range at 5th week post-transplant. Both of the two patients achieved euglycemia with insulin independence about 10 days after the operation.And now these two patients have been followed up for 36 and 9 months,and the grafts function of the liver,kidney and pancreas was normal. Conclusion Immunologic reaction in patients undergoing simultaneous pancreas and kidneytransplantationafterlivertransplantationseemsmorecomplex, andareasonable immunosuppressive regimen is important to improVe the outcome.

ObjectiveTo observe the postoperational curative effect and complicational occuring status by using soft palate landscape orientation two fusiform cuts and enlarge two amygdales resection to treat(obstructive sleep apnea hyponea syndrome,OSAHS).Methods59 cases with type Ⅰ OSAHS were divided into experimental group(39 cases)using soft palate landscape orientation two fusiform cuts and enlarge two amygdales resection,control group( 20 cases)carrying out UPPP or keeping uvula UPPP.ResultsTow groups postoperational total effective rate 84.75％ (50/59),PSG survey's analysis( x2 =6.348,P ＜0.05 ) with preoperation,postoperation,without obvious discrepancy,the degree of postoperational pharyngeal ache,after follow-up visit 6-12 months,comparing the changes of snore,nasopharynx's backflow or missing deglutition and appearing cavum pharyngis coarctation( U =3.426,P ＜ 0.05 ),having outstanding discrepancy.ConclusionIt was not only to completely keeping uvula by using soft palate landscape orientation two fusiform cuts and enlarge two amygdales resection to treat OSAHS,but to enlarge soft palate shaping confines,not only effectively enlarging the ventilate's sectional area of cavum oropharyngeum,but preferably keeping the normal physiological morphology and function of cavum pharynges,avoiding the happening such as palatepharynx insufficiency complication etc.