BACKGROUND:The risk factors for patellofemoral pain syndrome are still unclear and research on risk factors is gradually becoming a hot topic in order to improve the therapeutic outcome of this disease. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the relationship between lower limb alignment and patellofemoral pain syndrome in young male runners. METHODS:In the same running population,21 patients with bilateral knee pain,29 patients with single knee pain and 20 normal runners were collected from January 2021 to July 2022.Full-length X-ray examination of both lower limbs in standing position was performed in all subjects.The lateral distal femoral angle,medial tibial proximal angle,joint line congruence angle,hip-knee-ankle angle,and knee physical valgus angle were measured and statistically analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There was no significant difference in the parameters between the left and right knees in each group(P>0.05).Compared with the normal group,no significant changes in lateral distal femoral angle,medial tibial proximal angle,joint line congruence angle,and hip-knee-ankle angle were observed in the single knee pain group and double knee pain group,while the knee physical valgus angle was significantly increased in these two groups(P<0.05).To conclude,increased knee physical valgus angle may be a risk factor for patellofemoral pain syndrome.

Objective To perform a bibliometric analysis of researches on the Plasmodium falciparum repetitive interspersed families of polypeptides (RIFIN) protein from 1993 to 2022 and identify the hot topics in the RIFIN protein research, so as to provide insights into future researches on RIFIN protein. Methods RIFIN protein-associated publications were retrieved in the Web of Science Core Collection from 1993 to 2022 and all bibliometric analyses were performed using the software CiteSpace 6.2.4.0. The annual number of RIFIN protein-associated publications was analyzed from 1993 to 2022, and country, author and institution collaboration networks were created. Keywords were extracted from RIFIN protein-associated publications for plotting keyword co-occurrence, clustering, burst and timeline maps to identify the hot topics in the RIFIN protein research. Results A total of 745 English RIFIN protein-associated publications were included in the final bibliometric analysis, and there were 18 to 36 publications each year from 1993 to 2022. The top three countries with the highest activity in the RIFIN protein research included the United States, the United Kingdom and France, universities and research institutes were highly active in the RIFIN protein research; however, no authors were identified with a high activity in the RIFIN protein research. There were three keyword clusters in the RIFIN protein-associated publications, including repetitive DNA sequence, molecular epidemiology and antigenic variation. Keyword co-occurrence, burst and timeline analyses showed that previous RIFIN protein-associated publications mainly focused on gene properties and functions, involving keywords of repetitive DNA sequence and evolution, and recent hot topics for the RIFIN protein research shifted to genetic diversity and immune response, involving keywords of genetic diversity, antigenic variation and binding. Conclusions The annual number of RIFIN protein-associated publications was relatively stable from 1993 to 2022. This bibliometric analysis may provide insights into future researches on the RIFIN protein.

Objective: To develop an assessment tool for risky road behavior tendencies among middle school students in western China, as well as to determine the relevant indices and their weights, so as to provide the reference for road safety prevention and control for middle school students in western China. Methods: A Delphi study was employed to construct the assessment tool for risky road behavior tendencies among middle school students in western China. In August 2023, eighteen experts in related fields such as traffic safety, education, and healthcare were invited to achieve Delphi consensus. The final indices were initially selected based on the consulting results,followed by the determination of their individual and combined weights using the analytic hierarchy process. Results: The finalized assessment tool comprised 3 primary indicators, 13 secondary indicators, and 100 tertiary indicators. The positivity coefficient of experts was 100%, accompanied by the authority coefficient 0.90. The mean importance scores for the three primary indicators varied from 4.67 to 4.78, while those for the 13 secondary indicators ranged from 4.22 to 4.89. The Kendall coefficient W was statistically significant at 0.32 ( χ 2=96.83, P <0.05). The weights assigned to the three primary indicators were:ability (0.329 4), opportunity (0.337 3), and motivation (0.333 3). The secondary indicators with the top three highest combined weights were social influence (0.027 4), knowledge (0.027 3), and skills (0.026 7). Conclusions The assessment tool for risky road behavior tendencies among middle school students in western China demonstrates high expert consensus, with balanced weighting of primary and secondary indicators. Expanded use of the assessment tool would provide the data support for intervention work.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the bleeding site,clinical features,treatment methods and curative effect of difficult-to-control epistaxis. METHODS The clinical data of 127 patients with difficult-to-control epistaxis admitted for treatment were retrospectively analyzed to investigate the common bleeding sites,clinical features,and curative effect. RESULTS There were statistically significant differences in the bleeding sites among patients of different age groups(P=0.000),whether they were combined with hypertension 2,3 grades(P=0.030),and whether patients taking long-term anticoagulants(P=0.000). Among the enrolled patients,14 patients were successful in the secondary hemostasis. Among the patients with two successful bleeding stops,the one-time cure rate of patients with hypertension 2,3 grades was significantly different from that of patients with hypertension 1 grade and non-hypertension(P=0.000). CONCLUSION Male patients with difficult-to-control epistaxis are more than female patients. The common bleeding sites are related to age,hypertension 2,3 grades,and long-term use of anticoagulants. Nasal endoscopic electrocoagulation is the preferred treatment method. The cure rate of electrocoagulation is related to blood pressure,and blood pressure control is necessary for patients with poor blood pressure control.

Objective:To investigate the effects of sclerostin (SOST) and WNT/CTNNB1 signaling pathway on the cell cycle, migration and invasion of human uveal melanoma (UM) cells and its related mechanism.Methods:UM tissues from 20 cases of epithelioid UM and 16 cases of spindle cell type UM were collected.The contents of SOST, Wnt-1 and Catenin beta-1 proteins in the collected tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining.Three human UM tissue derived cell lines OCM-1 (primary spindle cell type), Mum-2B (metastatic epithelioid) and Mum-2C (metastatic spindle cell type) were selected and divided into three groups, blank control group not transfected, empty vector group transfected with SOST negative control vector and SOST siRNA group transfected with SOST siRNA.After 24-hour transfection, the mRNA and protein expression levels of SOST, CTNNB1, WNT protein family 1 (WNT1), CCND1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2 and MMP9 were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot, respectively.The invasion and migration ability of the transfected cells were measured by transwell method, and the cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry.Another 9 female BALB/c nude mice were selected and randomized into OCM-1 group, OCM-1 empty vector group and SOST shRNA group, inoculated with OCM-1 without lentivirus infection, OCM-1 with blank lentivirus infection and OCM-1 with SOST shRNA lentivirus infection, respectively.Six weeks after inoculation, the in situ formation of tumor was observed.The interaction between SOST and low density lipoprotein receptor related protein(LRP)-5/6 in OCM-1 cells was explored by co-immunoprecipitation assay.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital (2018KY[L]-20).Results:Immunohistochemical staining results showed that the SOST expression level was higher and the expression levels of Wnt-1 and Catenin beta-1 were lower in spindle cell type UM tissues than in epithelioid UM tissues, and the differences were all statistically significant (all at P<0.01). The real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR results showed that the relative expression of SOST mRNA was significantly lower and the relative expressions of CCND1, WNT1 and MMP9 mRNA were significantly higher in SOST siRNA groups than in corresponding empty vector groups in the three cell lines (all at P<0.05). In OCM-1 and Mum-2C cell lines, the relative expressions of CTNNB1 mRNA were significantly higher in SOST siRNA groups than in empty vector groups (all at P<0.01). Western blot results showed that the relative expression of SOST protein was significantly lower and the relative expressions of Wnt-1, Catenin beta-1, cyclin-D1, MMP2 and MMP9 proteins were significantly higher in SOST siRNA groups than in empty vector groups (all at P<0.01). Transwell assay showed that the cell invasion and migration ability of SOST siRNA group was significantly higher than that of blank control group and empty vector group in the three cell lines (all at P<0.01). Flow cytometry showed that the proportion of G1-phase cells and the G1/S-phase ratio were significantly lower in SOST siRNA group than in blank control groups and empty vector groups (all at P<0.01). The eyeball volume of OCM-1 group, OCM-1 empty vector group and SOST shRNA group was (42.7±4.6), (49.0±22.9) and (135.2±32.7)mm 3, respectively, showing a significant overall difference ( F=19.963, P<0.01). The eyeball volume of SOST shRNA group was larger than that of OCM-1 group and OCM-1 empty vector group, and the differences were statistically significant (both at P<0.05). Co-immunoprecipitation results showed that SOST could interact with LRP-5 and LRP-6 by binding to them, respectively. Conclusions:Silencing SOST can promote the invasion and migration of UM cells, and increase the proportion of UM cells in the division phase.Silencing SOST can promote tumor growth in eyes of nude mice.SOST may play this function by interacting with the membrane receptor LRP-5/LRP-6 and then regulating the WNT/CTNNB1 signal pathway.

ObjectiveTo reveal the effects of different microbial agents on quality of Lycii Fructus by comparing the differences in the contents of multiple types of chemical components in Lycii Fructus after the application of different microbial agents. MethodTaking Ningqi No. 7 as experimental material， four microbial agents， namely Peiyuan combined with Xinterui（TP group）， Trichoderma harzianum combined with Bacillus subtilis（BW group）， Genwuyou（MT group） and Junyiduo（JYD group）， were applied， and no microbial agents was used as the blank group（CK group）. Then the contents of total phenolics， total flavonoids， saccharides， amino acids， nucleosides and bases， betaine and other components in Lycii Fructus were determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry（UV）， high performance liquid chromatography（HPLC） and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry（UHPLC-MS/MS）， and the methods such as multiple comparisons， principal component analysis（PCA） and partial least squares-discriminant analysis（PLS-DA） were used to analyze the effect of different microbial agents on the quality of Lycii Fructus. ResultMicrobial agents had different effects on chemical components of Lycii Fructus. The content of total phenolics was the highest in the TP group， and it varied significantly from the CK group（P<0.05）. The total flavonoid content was the highest in the BW group， followed by the TP group. Both polysaccharide and alduronic acid contents were the highest in the JYD group. Betaine content in the TP and BW groups were significantly higher than that in the CK group（P<0.05）. For the determined 23 kinds of amino acids， most of them were the lowest in the JYD group， and the highest in the MT group， while the nucleoside bases were higher in the MT and BW groups. It indicated that Lycii Fructus from different treatment groups could be distinguished clearly based on the determined 45 chemical components. The result of PLS-DA showed that the major differential components in each group were polysaccharides， glucose， fructose， betaine， alduronic acid， asparagine， sucrose， threonine， total flavonoids， alanine and total phenolics. The results of PCA composite scores based on the main differential components showed that composite scores of chemical components in each group were BW group>TP group>MT group>CK group>JYD group. ConclusionThe application of microbial agents of BW， TP and MT can promote the quality improvement of Lycii Fructus， and the application of JYD can promote the accumulation of polysaccharides and alduronic acid to a certain extent， but the overall effect on the quality of Lycii Fructus is not clear. This study lays the foundation for the green and healthy development of Lycii Fructus industry.

Objective:To construct a classification and regression tree which can be used to guide the tracheostomy for traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (TCSCI) based on the identification of the risk factors for TCSCI.Methods:The 498 patients with TCSCI were retrospectively analyzed who had been treated at Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital Affiliated to Army Medical University from January 2009 to December 2018. There were 403 males and 86 females, with an age of (50.2±13.6) years. Of the patients, 69 received tracheostomy and 420 did not. The gender, age, smoking history, injury cause, neurological level of injury (NLI), American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) grade, injury severity score (ISS), thoracic injuries, prior pulmonary diseases, prior basic diseases, and operative approaches of the patients were statistically analyzed by single factor analysis. After the independent risk factors for tracheostomy were analyzed by binary logistic regression, the classification and regression tree was developed which could be used to guide the tracheostomy.Results:The logistic regression analysis showed age>50 years ( OR=4.744, 95% CI: 1.802 to 12.493, P=0.002), NLI at C 4 and above ( OR=23.662, 95% CI: 8.449 to 66.268, P<0.001), ASIA grade A ( OR=40.007, 95% CI: 12.992 to 123.193, P<0.001), and ISS score>16 ( OR=10.502, 95% CI: 3.909 to 28.211, P<0.001) were the independent risk factors for the tracheotomy. The classification and regression tree revealed that ASIA grade A and NLI at C 4 and above were the first and second decision nodes, which had a strong predictive effect on tracheostomy. 86.84% of the patients with ASIA grade A and NLI at C 4 and above underwent tracheostomy. Conclusion:Our classification and regression tree shows that NLI at C 4 and above and ASIA grade A have a strong guiding effect on tracheotomy for TCSCI.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an acute, severe, and highly contagious infectious disease caused by foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), which seriously endangers the development of animal husbandry. The inactivated FMD vaccine is the main product for the prevention and control of FMD, which has been successfully applied to control the pandemic and outbreak of FMD. However, the inactivated FMD vaccine also has problems, such as the instability of antigen, the risk of spread of the virus due to incomplete inactivation during vaccine production, and the high cost of production. Compared with traditional microbial and animal bioreactors, production of antigens in plants through transgenic technology has some advantages including low cost, safety, convenience, and easy storage and transportation. Moreover, since antigens produced from plants can be directly used as edible vaccines, no complex processes of protein extraction and purification are required. But, there are some problems for the production of antigens in plants, which include low expression level and poor controllability. Thus, expressing the antigens of FMDV in plants may be an alternative mean for production of FMD vaccine, which has certain advantages but still need to be continuously optimized. Here we review the main strategies for expressing active proteins in plants, as well as the research progress on the expression of FMDV antigens in plants. We also discuss the current problems and challenges encountered, with the aim to facilitate related research.
Animals ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus/genetics* ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease/prevention & control* ; Antigens, Viral/genetics* ; Viral Vaccines

Purpose: This study was performed to analyze the rule of confluence of the caudate lobe bile duct (CLD) into the left hepatic duct (LHD) and to discuss the protective strategy during left hemihepatectomy. Methods: MRI of 400 patients and T-tube angiography images of 100 patients were collected, and the imaging rules of the confluence of the CLD into the LHD were summarized. The clinical data of 33 patients who underwent left hemihepatectomy using the protective strategy were analyzed. Results: MRI and T-tube angiography images showed that the length from the confluence point of the CLD into the LHD to the confluence of the left and right hepatic ducts was 1.19 ± 0.40 cm and 1.26 ± 0.39 cm, respectively. The average angle between the longitudinal axis of the 2 bile ducts was 68.27° ± 22.59° and 66.58 ± 22.88°, respectively. Coronal and cross-sectional images showed that inflow from the foot side to the cranial side was noted in 79.8% and 82.0% of patients, respectively, and inflow from the dorsal to the ventral side was observed in 84.5% and 88.0%, respectively. Based on these imaging rules, the safe transection length and plane were summarized, and the CLD was effectively protected in 33 cases of left hemihepatectomy. Conclusion In left hemihepatectomy, the LHD should be transected at least 1.5 cm away from the confluence of the left and right hepatic ducts, and the plane of transection should be oblique to the dorsal side at an angle of 45° with the LHD, these parameters represent an effective strategy to protect the CLD.

Objective:To explore the influencing factors of hospitalization in patients with mild active Crohn′s disease or in clinical remission during long-term follow-up.Methods:This was a prospective cohort study. From August 5, 2013 to January 5, 2015, 123 patients with mild active Crohn′s disease or in clinical remission visited the Department of Gastroenterology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital were selected. The baseline information of all the patients were collected, including the general data such as age and gender, clinical data such as extra-intestinal manifestations, complications, efficacy of glucocorticoid usage, serum hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), serum albumin, and the total score and the subscore in systemic symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ). All the patients were followed up for a long time till May 31, 2022 or the date of hospitalization due to the disease. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to define the optimal cut-off values of hsCRP and serum albumin for hospitalization prediction. Multivariate Cox regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of hospitalization.Results:The median age of 123 patients was 32.0 years old (25.0 years old, 49.0 years old), 32.5% (40/123) were female, and 71 cases (57.7%) were hospitalized because of disease, and the median follow-up time was 29.2 months (9.0 months, 57.9 months). ROC analysis showed that the optimal cut-off value of hsCRP and serum albumin in predicting hospitalization because of disease in patients with Crohn′s disease was 1.5 mg/L and 40 g/L (both P<0.001), respectively.Multivariate Cox regression model showed that the extra-intestinal manifestations ( HR=1.869, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.014 to 3.443), complications ( HR=2.511, 95% CI 1.368 to 4.608), glucocorticoid dependence or refractory ( HR=1.958, 95% CI 1.128 to 3.396), serum hsCRP≥1.5 mg/L ( HR=2.116, 95% CI 1.111 to 4.029) and serum albumin≤40 g/L ( HR=3.040, 95% CI 1.716 to 5.386) were independent risk factors of hospitalization because of disease in patients with Crohn′s disease ( P=0.045, 0.003, 0.017, 0.023, and <0.001). However, IBDQ subscore in systemic symptoms ( HR=0.873, 95% CI 0.805 to 0.948) was an independent protective factor of hospitalization because of disease ( P=0.001). Conclusions:Patients with Crohn′s disease at remission stage or mild activity stage who have extra-intestinal manifestations, complications, glucocorticoid dependence or refractory, serum hsCRP≥1.5 mg/L or serum albumin≤40 g/L are at high risk of hospitalization because of disease, and should be given more active treatments and more frequent follow-up. Patients with higher IBDQ subscore in systemic symptoms are more likely to gain a long-term stable condition.