Objective To establish a method for acquisition, perfusion, preservation and transportation of the genetically modified pig kidneys. Methods An eight genetically modified pig was utilized as experimental subject. Prior to kidneys procurement, the health status of the pig was assessed through hematology examination, and the vascular structure of the kidneys was examined using imaging techniques. Following kidneys acquisition, the pig kidneys were perfused and subsequently packaged into the cryogenic storage container labeled "For Organ Transportation Only" for interprovincial transport after communicating the transportation process with transportation department. To evaluate pathological damage to the pig kidneys, a serious of methods were employed such as hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) fluorescence staining and enzyme-linked immune absorbent assay (ELISA). Results The preoperative examination of the eight genetically modified pig showed that the serum creatinine was 73.2 μmol/L, blood urea nitrogen was 2.8 mmol/L and hemoglobin was 116 g/L, all within the normal range, indicating normal renal function. CT angiography revealed no lesions in the pig kidneys, and no dilation, stenosis or premature branching of the blood vessels. The total time of obtaining the left and right kidneys from the eight genetically modified pig was (125 ± 10) min, with a blood loss of (20 ± 2) mL. The warm ischemia times were 3 min and 7 min, respectively. The perfusion and trimming times of the left and right kidneys were 36 min and 41 min, respectively. After perfusion, both kidneys were white and moist. The cold preservation and transportation time was 8 h. HE staining showed that some glomeruli were shrunk, and the lumens of the surrounding renal tubules were slightly depressed and swollen with partial inner membrane shedding and microvacuoles formed when the kidneys were preserved for 8 h. The level of cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-3 messenger RNA in the kidneys tissue gradually increased with the extension of cold preservation time after 2 h (P<0.05). TUNEL fluorescence staining showed that only a small number of cells underwent apoptosis after 8 h of cold preservation, which was not significantly different from that at 0 h (P>0.05). ELISA results showed that the contents of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatinine in the preservation solution remained relatively stable, but the content of kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) gradually increased with the extension of preservation time, suggesting that the pig kidneys had mild injury. Conclusions By establishing methods for acquisition, perfusion, preservation and transportation of the kidneys from genetically modified donor pig, it is possible to effectively and reliably use genetically modified pig kidneys for xenotransplantation.

Objective To explore the construction of α-1,3-galactosyltransferase (GGTA1) gene-knockout (GTKO) Diannan miniature pigs and the kidney xenotransplantation from pigs to rhesus macaques, and to assess the effectiveness of GTKO pigs. Methods The GTKO Diannan miniature pigs were constructed using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing system and somatic cell cloning technology. The phenotype of GTKO pigs was verified through polymerase chain reaction, Sanger sequencing and immunofluorescence staining. Flow cytometry was used to detect antigen-antibody (IgM) binding and complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Kidney xenotransplantation was performed from GTKO pigs to rhesus macaques. The humoral immunity, cellular immunity, coagulation and physiological indicators of the recipient monkeys were monitored. The function and pathological changes of the transplanted kidneys were analyzed using ultrasonography, hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence staining. Results Single-guide RNA (sgRNA) targeting exon 4 of the GGTA1 gene in Diannan miniature pigs was designed. The pGL3-GGTA1-sgRNA1-GFP vector was transfected into fetal fibroblasts of Diannan miniature pigs. After puromycin selection, two cell clones, C59# and C89#, were identified as GGTA1 gene-knockout clones. These clones were expanded to form cell lines, which were used as donor cells for somatic cell nuclear transfer. The reconstructed embryos were transferred into the oviducts of trihybrid surrogate sows, resulting in 13 fetal pigs. Among them, fetuses F04 and F11 exhibited biallelic mutations in the GGTA1 gene, and F04 had a normal karyotype. Using this GTKO fetal pig for recloning and transferring the reconstructed embryos into the oviducts of trihybrid surrogate sows, seven surviving piglets were obtained, all of which did not express α-Gal epitope. The binding of IgM from the serum of rhesus monkey 20# to GTKO pig PBMC was reduced, and the survival rate of GTKO pig PBMC in the complement-dependent cytotoxicity assay was higher than that of wild-type pig. GTKO pig kidneys were harvested and perfused until completely white. After the left kidney of the recipient monkey was removed, the pig kidney was heterotopically transplanted. Following vascular anastomosis and blood flow restoration, the pig kidney rapidly turned pink without hyperacute rejection (HAR). Urine appeared in the ureter 6 minutes later, indicating successful kidney transplantation. The right kidney of the recipient was then removed. Seven days after transplantation, the transplanted kidney had good blood flow, the recipient monkey's serum creatinine level was stable, and serum potassium and cystatin C levels were effectively controlled, although they increased 10 days after transplantation. Seven days after transplantation, the levels of white blood cells, lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils in the recipient monkey increased, while platelet count and fibrinogen levels decreased. The activated partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time and prothrombin time remained relatively stable but later showed an upward trend. The recipient monkey survived for 10 days. At autopsy, the transplanted kidney was found to be congested, swollen and necrotic, with a small amount of IgG deposition in the renal tissue, and a large amount of IgM, complement C3c and C4d deposition, as well as CD68⁺ macrophage infiltration. Conclusions The kidneys of GTKO Diannan miniature pigs may maintain normal renal function for a certain period in rhesus macaques and effectively overcome HAR, confirming the effectiveness of GTKO pigs for xenotransplantation.

Objective To develop GTKO (α-1,3-galactosyltransferase gene-knockout, GTKO)/hCD55 (human CD55) gene-edited xenotransplant donor pigs and verify their function. Methods In this study, CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 (CRISPR-associated nuclease 9), PiggyBac transposon technology and somatic cell nuclear transfer technology were used to construct GTKO/hCD55 gene-edited Diannan miniature pigs. The phenotype and function of GTKO/hCD55 pigs were analyzed by Sanger sequencing, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, bisulfite sequencing, antigen-antibody binding assays, and complement-dependent cytotoxicity assays. Results After transfection of PX458 and PiggyBac gene editing vectors into wild-type fetal pig fibroblasts, 48 single-cell colonies were obtained through puromycin drug screening. Two single-cell colonies were selected for somatic cell nuclear transfer, resulting in two fetal pigs at 33 days of gestation. The GGTA1(α-1,3-galactosyltransferase) genotypes of fetal pig F01 were -17 bp and wild type (WT), while the GGTA1 genotypes of fetal pig F02 were -26 bp/+2 bp and -3 bp. The hCD55 mRNA expression levels of both fetal pigs were significantly higher than those of WT pigs (P＜0.01). The fetal pig F02 was selected as the donor cell source for recloning, 11 surviving piglets were obtained, all identified as GTKO/hCD55 gene-edited pigs. These pigs showed absence of α-Gal antigen expression, but weak or no expression of hCD55 was observed. Methylation analysis of the hCD55 gene's CpG island showed hypermethylation in kidney tissue lacking hCD55 expression, whereas it was not methylated or partially methylated in kidney tissue expressing hCD55. Moreover, codon optimization of the CpG island of the hCD55 gene to reduce CG content could achieve stable expression of the hCD55 gene. In addition, antigen-antibody binding experiment showed that the amount of human IgM binding to GTKO/hCD55 gene-edited pig fibroblasts was significantly lower than that of WT pigs (P＜0.01). Complement-dependent cytotoxicity experiment showed that the survival rate of fibroblasts in GTKO/hCD55 pigs was significantly higher than that in WT pigs (P＜0.01). Conclusion This study demonstrates the successful generation of GTKO/hCD55 gene-edited xenotransplant donor pigs. Methylation-induced gene silencing of the hCD55 gene can be effectively avoided by reducing the CG content of the CpG island through codon optimization. This study provides a reference for the development of xenotransplant donor pigs and guides subsequent research on xenotransplantation.

Objective To study the effect of carboxyamidotriazole-orotate(CTO)on the proliferation and fatty acid anabolism regulation of human pancreatic cancer cells.Methods Human pancreatic cancer cell lines AsPC-1,AsPC-1/GEM(AR),PANC-1 and MiaPaCa-2 were used as the study subjects;cell survival rate was detected by sulfo-nylrhodamine B(SRB);the mRNA level of key genes for fatty acid synthesis was detected by qPCR;the protein level of the AMPK/ACC pathway was detected by Western blot;intracellular lipid metabolites were examined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS).Results Comparing to control group,CTO significantly de-creased the cell viability of AsPC-1,AR,PANC-1,and MiaPaCa-2(P＜0.05).CTO down-regulated the mRNA level of key fatty acid synthesis genes(P＜0.05).CTO significantly reduced the protein expression of AMPK,ACC and c-Myc(P＜0.05),while increasing the protein expression of p-AMPK and p-ACC(P＜0.05).CTO decreased lipid metabolite content in AR cells(P＜0.05).Conclusions CTO attenuates cellular fatty acid anabolism by inhibition of oncogene c-Myc expression and AMPK/ACC pathway,down-regulates the expression of fatty acid synthesis-related genes,and then inhibits proliferation of the human pancreatic cancer cell lines AsPC-1,AR,PANC-1 and MiaPaCa-2.

BACKGROUND:Bibliometrics and visual analyses based on thematic literature are particularly important for understanding the foundation and frontiers of postmenopausal osteoporosis research. OBJECTIVE:To perform bibliometric,citation,and visualization analyses of highly cited SCI papers in postmenopausal osteoporosis research over the last 20 years. METHODS:The top 100 highly cited papers on postmenopausal osteoporosis published between 2003 and 2022 included in SCI-EXPANDED catalog of the Web of Science database were obtained for bibliometric measure and visual analysis using CiteSpace software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The top 100 highly cited papers have a total of 67 377 citations in the Web of Science Core Collection,with an annual average of 49.17 citations per paper.Postmenopausal osteoporosis research primarily involves medical,engineering,biological,and multidisciplinary fields.The subcategories are dominated by endocrinology and metabolism,and medicine:internal medicine.Stable and close cooperative network relationships have been formed globally.United States,University of California System,Cummings,and Steven R are the country,research institution,and author,respectively,with the most highly-cited publications.The frontiers of postmenopausal osteoporosis research mainly include calcium and vitamin D supplementation and fracture risk,clinical studies of bisphosphonates in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis,atypical femur fracture,clinical studies of new drugs and sequential treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis,predictors of fracture risk,mid-and long-term follow-up of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures,genetic polymorphisms and hereditary factors,formulation and updating of clinical practice guidelines for postmenopausal osteoporosis.Large cohort studies,high-quality randomized controlled trials,systematic reviews,meta-analyses,and clinical practice guidelines are the great engines that drive the development of clinical research in postmenopausal osteoporosis.We should make efforts in the above areas to improve China's international influence in the field of osteoporosis.

ObjectiveXenotransplantation is an effective way to address the shortage of human organ donors, but it faces serious immune rejection reactions, including hyperacute rejection caused by blood type differences. Establishing a stable, convenient, and reliable method for pig blood type identification can quickly screen suitable donor pigs for xenograft research.MethodsBanna miniature inbred pigs, Diannan small eared pigs, and Bama Xiang pigs were selected as the research objects. DNA was extracted from the blood, oral buccal mucosa, and fetal fibroblasts of the three strains of pigs using DNA extraction kits. The target fragment of the ABO homologous gene EAA intron 7 in pigs was amplified using PCR method. Blood agglutination reaction was used to detect hemolysis in pig anterior vena cava whole blood after adding anti A and B antibodies. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression level of A antigen in pig heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney tissues. Immunofluorescence method was used to detect the expression level of A antigen in pig oral mucosa. By comparing the results of different methods for determining pig blood types, the stability and reliability of the PCR method were verified, and a convenient PCR based pigblood type identification method was established.Results Firstly, the blood PCR results of 69 inbred strains of Banna miniature pigs, 7 Diannan small eared pigs, and 34 Bama Xiang pigs showed 20 AO blood types, 66 AA blood types, and 24 O blood types. The PCR results of fetal fibroblasts from 47 Diannan small eared pigs showed that all 47 fetuses were O blood type. Among them, the oral mucosal PCR results of 8 gene edited cloned pigs were consistent with those of donor fetal fibroblasts, all of which were O blood type. The oral mucosal PCR results of 8 wild-type pigs (2 inbred lines of Banna miniature pigs, 4 Diannan small eared pigs, and 2 Bama Xiang pigs) were consistent with the blood PCR identification results. Then, 11 inbred lines of Banna miniature pigs, 4 Diannan small eared pigs, and 2 Bama Xiang pigs were randomly selected for blood agglutination reaction validation, and the results were consistent with the PCR identification results of both blood samples and oral mucosa samples. Moreover, immuno-histochemical analysis was performed on the heart, liver, lung, kidney, and spleen tissues of one Banna miniature pig inbred line and two Bama Xiang pigs, and the results were consistent with blood PCR identification and blood agglutination reaction results. Finally, oral mucosal samples were collected from 2 inbred strains of Banna miniature pigs and 1 Bama Xiang pig for immunofluorescence detection, and the results were consistent with the blood PCR identification results.ConclusionBy collecting fetal cells and oral mucosal samples from live pigs for PCR detection, the blood type of pigs can be accurately and efficiently identified, providing a convenient method for blood type screening of xenograft donor pigs.

Humans ; Clavicle ; Fractures, Bone/surgery*

Objective:To establish a model C-GALAD for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from the chronic liver disease and healthy people based on the serum markers.Methods:A clinical cohort including 229 hepatocellular carcinoma patients, 2 317 patients with chronic liver disease and 982 healthy people, was retrospectively collected from eight hospitals or physical examination institutions from April 2018 to October 2020. The data were divided into a training set and a testing set by stratified sampling with a 6∶4 ratio. A predictive model was established on the training set using a logistic backward regression method and validated on the testing set. In addition, clinical data from March to July 2021 in Beijing You′ an Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University, including 84 patients with liver cancer and 204 patients with chronic liver disease collected were used for external independent validation of the model. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) area under curve (AUC), the sensitivity and the specificity were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the model.Results:Through the logistic backward regression method, the seven signatures including age, gender, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), alpha-fetoprotein alloplasm-3 ratio (AFP-L3%), des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin(DCP), platelet (PLT) and total bilirubin (TBIL) were selected as risk factors in the detection model. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the model on the testing set was 0.954, with an 88.04% sensitivity and a 94.85% specificity, and the AUC of model on the external independent validation set was 0.943, with an 89.29% sensitivity and a 90.2% specificity, which were better than other published models.Conclusion:The C-GALAD Ⅱ model can accurately predict the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence, and thus provide a trustworthy diagnosis method of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effects and indications of tibial condylar valgus osteotomy (TCVO) in treating varus unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted in 32 patients (45 knees) who suffered from varus unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis and underwent TCVO from June 2016 to June 2018. These patients were aged 65.8±8.3 (range from 52 to 79) years, including 12 males (18 knees) and 20 females (27 knees). All enrolled individuals presented obvious expansion of the lateral joint space with joint line convergence angle (JLCA) of 7.19°±2.69°. Based on the full-length standing X-ray imaging of the lower limbs at before and 2 years after surgery, the percentage of mechanical axis (%MA), femorotibial angle (FTA), hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA), lateral distal femoral angle (LDFA) and medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA) were measured and analyzed to evaluate the improvements of lower extremity alignments. The medial tibial plateau depression (MTPD), posterior proximal tibial angle (PPTA), JLCA and joint space width (JSW) were measured and analyzed to evaluate the congruency of the knee joint and shape of the tibial plateau based on positive and lateral radiographs of knee joint. In addition, visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) score were evaluated to assess the clinical effects of TCVO pre-operatively and at 1 year or 2 years after surgery.Results:All patients were followed up for 33.4±7.4 (range from 25 to 40) months. Comparing to the preoperative radiological data, %MA at 2 years after surgery increased from 3.78%± 14.34% to 66.16%±9.90%, FTA from 185.41°±4.45° to 170.81°±2.87°, HKA from 169.69°±1.70° to 181.16°±2.39°, MPTA from 83.03°±3.20° to 90.84°±3.67° all with statistical significance ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference for PPTA between before (89.22°±1.52°) and 2 years (88.97°±1.57°) after surgery ( t=0.638, P=0.526). MTPD improved from -7.81°±3.27° to 5.78°±2.19° ( t=19.218, P<0.001). However, there was no significant difference for PPTA between before (81.63°±3.28°) and 2 years (82.25°± 2.21°) after surgery ( t=0.881, P=0.382). JLCA reduced from 7.19°±2.69° to 0.22°±2.09°. The medial and lateral JSW were corrected from 2.45±0.23 mm and 5.86±0.25 mm to 3.73±0.27 mm and 4.68±0.34 mm ( P<0.05), respectively. Additionally, VAS and WOMAC scores improved from 6.46±2.21 and 52.66±16.69 preoperatively to 2.94±1.72 and 19.31±14.87 at 1 year after surgery, and to 1.39±1.45 and 13.66±15.44 at 2 years after surgery, respectively ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Satisfactory early therapeutic outcomes could be achieved by TCVO in varus unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis with subluxated lateral joint and increased JLCA. TCVO can correct intra-articular varus deformity, adjust mechanical axis and relieve knee joint pain and dysfunction.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of an additional augmentative locking compression plate combined with bone graft for aseptic subtrochanteric fracture nonunion after intramedullary nailing.Methods:From October 2016 to October 2019, 32 patients (25 males and 7 females) were treated at Department of Orthopedics, The Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University for aseptic subtrochanteric fracture nonunion after intramedullary nailing. Their ages ranged from 27 to 68 years (average, 50.5 years) and their nonunion time from 9 to 24 months (average, 12.2 months). According to the Weber-Cech classification for nonunions, 9 cases belonged to the highly vascular type and 23 to the ischemic type. With the original intramedullary nails retained, all patients were fixated with an additional augmentative locking compression plate before simultaneous autologous iliac bone grafting. All patients were followed up regularly for fracture union, function of the affected hip and complications.Results:The 32 patients were followed up for 6 to 24 months (average, 12.9 months). All nonunions obtained clinical and imaging union. The clinical union time ranged from 3 to 8 months (average, 5.2 months), and the imaging union time from 6 to 10 months (average, 7.4 months). At the last follow-up, the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated as excellent in 28 cases and as good in 4, giving a good to excellent rate of 100%(32/32), according to the Sanders scoring for post-traumatic hip joint; the efficacy was evaluated as excellent in 21 cases, as good in 10 cases and as fair in one, giving a good to excellent rate of 96.9%(31/32), according to the Harris hip scoring. No such complications occurred as infection or loosening or breakage of internal fixation.Conclusion:An additional augmentative locking compression plate combined with bone graft is a reliable and effective treatment for aseptic subtrochanteric fracture nonunion after intramedullary nailing.