BACKGROUND:Degenerative scoliosis is defined as a condition that occurs in adulthood with a coronal cobb angle of the spine>10° accompanied by sagittal deformity and rotational subluxation,which often produces symptoms of spinal cord and nerve compression,such as lumbar pain,lower limb pain,numbness,weakness,and neurogenic claudication.The finite element method is a mechanical analysis technique for computer modelling,which can be used for spinal mechanics research by building digital models that can realistically restore the human spine model and design modifications. OBJECTIVE:To review the application of finite element method in the etiology and treatment of degenerative scoliosis. METHODS:The literature databases CNKI,PubMed,and Web of Science were searched for articles on the application of finite element method in degenerative scoliosis published before October 2023.Search terms were"finite element analysis,biomechanics,stress analysis,degenerative scoliosis,adult spinal deformity"in Chinese and English.Fifty-four papers were finally included. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The biomechanical findings from the degenerative scoliosis model constructed using the finite element method were identical to those from the in vivo experimental studies,which proves that the finite element method has a high practical value in degenerative scoliosis.(2)The study of the etiology and treatment of degenerative scoliosis by the finite element method is conducive to the prevention of the occurrence of the scoliosis,slowing down the progress of the scoliosis,the development of a more appropriate treatment plan,the reduction of complications,and the promotion of the patients'surgical operation.(3)The finite element method has gradually evolved from a single bony structure to the inclusion of soft tissues such as muscle ligaments,and the small sample content is increasingly unable to meet the research needs.(4)The finite element method has much room for exploration in degenerative scoliosis.

Objective:To investigate the effect of biological long stem hemiarthroplasty on postoperative hip joint function, serum bone markers, angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ) and cortisol (Cor) levels in elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures.Methods:A total of 120 elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures in General Hospital of Northern Anhui Coal and Power Group from June 2017 to June 2019 were selected. According to the principle of non-randomized clinical concurrent controlled study and patient′s voluntariness, they were divided into arthroplasty group and internal fixation group, with 60 cases in each group. Proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) was used in the internal fixation group, and the biological long stem hemiarthroplasty was performed in the arthroplasty group. The related indexes of perioperative operation and complications, the levels of serum AngⅡ and Cor before and after operation, the levels of serum bone markers osteocalcin (OC), calcitonin (CT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) before and after operation were compared between the two groups. After followed up for 6 months after the operation, Harris hip function score and Barthel index (BI) score, quality of life score (GQOL-74) before and after operation, and the excellent and good rate of hip joint function at 6 months after operation were compared between the two groups.Results:The time of getting out of bed in the arthroplasty group was shorter than that in the internal fixation group, the operation time was longer than that in the internal fixation group, and the amount of blood loss and postoperative drainage were higher than those in the internal fixation group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The postoperative complication rate in the arthroplasty group was lower than that in the internal fixation group: 8.33%(5/60) vs. 25.00%(15/60), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 6.000, P<0.05). The levels of serum AngⅡ and Cor in the two groups were higher than those before the operation at the 1st and 3rd day after the operation, but the levels of serum AngⅡ and Cor in the arthroplasty group were also higher than those in the internal fixation group: at the 1st day after the operation: (218.68 ± 42.04) mmol/L vs. (158.19 ± 34.36) mmol/L, (327.15 ± 39.08) μg/L vs. (285.42 ± 34.06) μg/L; at the 3rd day after the operation: (169.46 ± 32.73) mmol/L vs. (138.02 ± 25.97) mmol/L, (294.83 ± 33.95) μg/L vs. (262.64 ± 30.57) μg/L, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The levels of serum OC, CT, and ALP in the two groups at 1 month and 3 months after operation were higher than those before the operation, the levels of serum OC, CT, and ALP in the arthroplasty group were higher than those in the internal fixation group: at 1 month after operation: (17.40 ± 4.25) μg/L vs. (14.96 ± 3.79) μg/L, (1.34 ± 0.49) ng/L vs. (1.15 ± 0.43) ng/L, (159.49 ± 19.75) U/L vs. (137.24 ± 17.28) U/L; at 3 months after operation: (19.18 ± 5.79) μg/L vs. (16.24 ± 4.36) μg/L, (1.46 ± 0.57) ng/L vs. (1.24 ± 0.50) ng/L, (180.94 ± 22.42) U/L vs. (163.72 ± 19.36) U/L, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). TheHarris hip function scores at 1, 3 and 6 months after the operation in the two groups were higher than those before the operation, the Harris hip function scoresin the arthroplasty group were higher than those in the internal fixation group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The excellent and good rate of hip joint function at 6 months after operation in the arthroplasty group was higher than that in the internal fixation group: 90.00%(54/60) vs. 75.00%(45/60), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 4.675, P<0.05). The scores of BI, GQOL-74 at 1, 3, 6 months after operation in the two groups were higher than those before operation, the scores of BI, GQOL-74 at 1, 3, 6 months after operation in the arthroplasty group were higher than those in the internal fixation group, the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Compared with PFNA internal fixation, the treatment of elderly patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture with biological long stem hemiarthroplasty can promote the recovery of patients, reduce complications, reduce the impact on bone markers, and more effectively improve the patient′s hip joint function, ability of daily living and quality of life, but it is more traumatic to the body and has a strong stress response.

With the requirements of early diagnosis, biomarker development and functional definition, the challenge of sensitivity of immunoassay has become increasingly prominent. How to improve it to break the bottleneck has become a major challenge in the field of bioassays. Amplifying the immunosignal is the most direct method to improve detection sensitivity. Biotin-avidin system (BAS), tyramide signal amplification (TSA) and immuno-polymerase chain reaction (Im-PCR) are the most classic signal amplification techniques which significantly improved the sensitivity of immunoassays. In recent years, studies have confirmed that the sensitivity of immunoassays can be further increased by approximately three orders of magnitude with the invention of techniques including catalyzed reporter deposition-based signal amplification, nanotechnologies-based signal amplification and hybridization chain reaction-based signal amplification. Herein, we will summarize the techniques that have been developed in recent years for amplifying the signals of immunodetection and comparatively analyze their advantages and disadvantages in order to provide reference for the developed techniques transformed to clinical application and further research on ultrasensitive immunoassays.

Objective To explore the mechanism of azithromycin (AZM) for inhibiting the proliferation of rat airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs).Methods Thirty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into the control group,asthma model group and AZM group.The rat model of asthma was established by ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and stimulation in vitro.The airway related parameters of rat lung tissue were determined by using the medical image analysis system.Primary passage ASMCs were isolated and cultured using the tissue-sticking method,and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) overexpression vector or tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) overexpression vector was transfected into ASMCs in the AZM group.The protein levels of VEGF,NF-κB p65 and TRAF6 were detected by Western blotting,and the proliferation of ASMCs was evaluated by CCK-8 kit.Results AZM significantly inhibited the increase of thickness of total airway wall,thickness of inner airway wall and thickness of airway smooth muscle layer in asthma rats (P<0.05),also significantly inhibited the proliferation of ASMCs in the asthma model group (P<0.05).AZM significantly inhibited the protein expression of VEGF and NF-κB p65 induced by asthma (P<0.05),and the overexpression of VEGF significantly reduced the inhibiting effects of AZM on proliferation of ASMCs (P<0.05).AZM significantly inhibited the high expression of TRAF6 induced by asthma (P<0.05),and the overexpression of TRAF6 significantly reduced the inhibiting effects of AZM on expression of VEGF and NF-κB p65 as well as proliferation of ASMCs (P<0.05).Conclusion AZM can suppress the proliferation of ASMCs,its partial mechanism may be realized through inhibiting TRAF6/NF-κB/VEGF signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the relationship between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) activity and choroidal thickness,and evaluate the utility of a choroidal thickness measurement in assessing IBD activity.Methods A total of 100 eyes of 50 patients of IBD with different disease activity,including 23 patients of ulcerative colitis,27 patients of Crohn's disease (CD).Ninety-six eyes of 48 healthy volunteers were recruited as control group.Choroidal thickness was measured using enhanced depth imaging(EDI)optical coherence tomography.Results Compared with the subfoveal choroidal thickness (294.37 ± 35.04) μm in healthy volunteers,the subfoveal choroidal thickness (349.28 ± 76.57) μm in UC patients with severe disease activity,the subfoveal choroidal thickness (326.71 ± 59.71) μm and (354.24 ± 66.34) μm,respectively,in CD patients with moderate and severe disease activity were found to be increased significantly (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Choroidal thickness should be considered as a potential marker to assess the disease activity in patients with IBD,especially in patients with CD.

Objective To express the recombinant caspid of genotype 4 hepatitis E virus(HEV) ORF2. Methods HEV recombinant capsid protein D66 was expressed in E. coli, using the ORF2 fragment (aa368-606, obtained from swine bile) of genotype 4 HEV. Results The recombinant capsid proteins D66 self-assemble to be particle with a radius of 13 nm through dimeric form in neutral solution. Coated particles reacted well with sera obtained from patients during acute or recovered phase of HEV infection. Immunofluorescence and immnoblot assay suggested that D66 bound and penetrated HepG2 cell lines, and the process of attachment was blocked by sera collected from patients during acute or recovered phase of HEV infection.Conclusion Recombinant D66 particles simulate the structure at the surface of genotype 4 HEV well and specifically adhere and penetrate the host cells, which lays the foundation for the investigation of the molecular mechanism of genotype 4 HEV infection.

Background and purpose: Paclitaxel is believed to be efficient in treating malignant ascites in gastric cancer. However, researches are still needed to get more evidence. The aim of this study was to discuss the efficacy and safety of the treatment of malignant ascites in gastric cancer with paclitaxel. Methods: Six cases of late phase gastric cancer patients were enrolled into the study, paclitaxel 60 mg/m~2 and 1 500-2 000 mL natural solution were administered via intraperitoneal injection, qw, for a of total 2-4 weeks. Efficacy and toxicity were determined according to WHO criteria. Results: Five (5/6) had complete response, and one (1/6) with partial response. The malignant ascites recession time was 0.5-10 months, overall survival time 2-10 months, 4 cases suffered grade Ⅰ-Ⅲabdominal pain, 4 cases grade Ⅰ leucopenia, 3 cases grade Ⅰ hair loss, 1 case grade Ⅰ liver injury (with past history of hepatitis). Conclusion: Paclitaxel is effective and relatively safe to treat malignant ascites of gastric cancer.

Background and purpose:Paclitaxel is believed to be efficient in treating malignant ascites in gastric cancer. However, researches are still needed to get more evidence. The aim of this study was to discuss the efficacy and safety of the treatment of malignant ascites in gastric cancer with paclitaxel. Methods:Six cases of late phase gastric cancer patients were enrolled into the study, paclitaxel 60 mg/m2 and 1 500-2 000 mL natural solution were administered via intraperitoneal injection, qw, for a of total 2-4 weeks. Efficacy and toxicity were determined according to WHO criteria. Results:Five (5/6) had complete response, and one (1/6) with partial response. The malignant ascites recession time was 0.5-10 months, overall survival time 2-10 months, 4 cases suffered grade Ⅰ-Ⅲ abdominal pain, 4 cases grade Ⅰ leucopenia, 3 cases grade Ⅰ hair loss, 1 case gradeⅠ liver injury (with past history of hepatitis). Conclusion:Paclitaxel is effective and relatively safe to treat malignant ascites of gastric cancer.

AIM: To investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO)in the development of chronically hypoxic pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) and the hemodynamic effects of inhaled NO on pulmonary circulation. METHODS: 67 male adult SD rats were randomly divided into 7 groups: (1) control ( n= 9);(2) chronically intermitent hypoxia (CIH, 6 h/d, 7 d/w) 1 week( n= 7); (3) CIH 2 weeks ( n= 11); (4) CIH 3 weeks ( n= 11); (5) CIH 1 week+L-NAME (NO synthase inhibitor, 30 mg/kg, by gavage, n= 10); (6)CIH 3 weeks+L-Arg (NO precursor, 10 mg/kg, by gavage, n= 9); (7) CIH 3 weeks+inhaled NO (0.0004% for 20 min, n= 10) to determine the mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP), weigh the right ventricle (R) and ventricular segment plus left ventricle (S+L), and calculate R/(S+L) (g/g) and R/Wt (Wt: body weight, g/kg). RESULTS: 1.MPAP increased compared with control [(3 2?0.3 ) kPa vs (1.8?0.3) kPa, P

The roles of leukocytes and prostaglandins in mediating alterations of pulmonary hemodynainics and lung fluid exchange after intravenous autologous zymo-san-activated plasma (ZAP) challenge is investigated in 14 conscious goats with chronic lung-lymph-fistula. In the control group, ZAP infusion causes the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) markedly elevate, lung lymph flow (QI) and the lymph-to-plasma protein concentration ratio (L/P) increase. There is a significant correlation between Ppa and the content of plasma TXB2. In antiPMNs serum-induced leukopenia group, the extent of increment in Pp a is not as obvious as the normal goats, and no marked change is observed in QI, L/P and content of TXB2. These results indicate: l.TXA2 releases from leukocytes may affect lung fluid exchange during ZAP infusion; 2. leukocytes may play an important role in ZAP-induced lung injury.