BACKGROUND:The addition of traditional rod-rod fixation for atlantoaxial joint disease to C1-C2 pedicle screw-rod fixation(C1-C2 PSR)can provide stronger anti-rotation stability for screw/rod fixation,but there is a risk of installation difficulties,impact on bone graft bed,and spinal cord injury.The new horizontal screw-screw crosslink(hS-S CL)designed by the authors can effectively overcome the above shortcomings,but its biomechanical properties are unclear. OBJECTIVE:To analyze biomechanical properties of new horizontal screw-screw crosslink in C1-C2 PSR by three-dimensional finite element analysis. METHODS:CT thin layer scanning data were collected from the occipital base to the axis(C0-2)of one adult healthy male volunteer.The atlantoaxial finite element models were established respectively:the normal group,the unstable group,the non-crosslink group(unstable+C1-C2 PSR),and the crosslink group(C1-C2 PSR+hS-S CL).Range of motion and Von Miss Stresses in flexion and extension,lateral flexion and rotation of the four groups were calculated by applying 1.5 Nm torque to each finite element model,and the stress cloud was extracted. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Range of motion of the unstable group was increased by 43.8%-78.7%compared with the normal group,and the range of motion of the internal fixation groups was 90.2%-98.7%lower than that of the unstable group under six conditions.The range of motion of the crosslink group and the non-crosslink group was basically the same in flexion and extension states,but in lateral flexion and rotation states,the range of motion of the crosslink group decreased 34.3%-43.8%and 78.6%-79.1%,respectively,compared with the non-crosslink group,and range of motion decreased most obviously in rotation state.(2)The stress peak of the internal plant model:The maximum stress of the crosslink group was generally smaller than that of the non-crosslink group,and the stress peak value of all the internal fixation groups was the lowest when the extension was carried out.(3)The stress cloud of internal plants showed that there was no obvious stress concentration phenomenon in the internal fixation,and the main stress distribution areas were the screw root and bone joint,and the crosslink ends were the screw tail groove or the joint rod joint.(4)The new horizontal screw-screw crosslink can obviously improve the anti-rotation stability of internal fixation and it can share part of the pressure in the three-dimensional motion direction of the internal fixation system and reduce the maximum stress of the internal plants.However,the stress distribution is obvious at both ends of the crosslink,and this part may be prone to fracture of the crosslink.

BACKGROUND:Posterior atlantoaxial pedicle screw rod internal fixation is the main method for treating atlantoaxial dislocation,and the horizontal crosslink plays an important role in the antirotation ability of the internal fixation system.The new horizontal screw-screw crosslink can effectively overcome the disadvantages of traditional horizontal crosslink,such as inconvenient installation,impact on bone grafting bed,and potential spinal cord injury.However,the biomechanical properties of the new horizontal screw-screw crosslink with different installation modes are still unclear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the biomechanical characteristics of new different installation modes of horizontal screw-screw crosslink in the C1-C2 pedicle screw-rod fixation and to provide a theoretical basis for optimal installation mode. METHODS:Six fresh human occipitocervical specimens were divided into the intact state group(group A),and the atlantoaxial instability model of type Ⅱ odontoid fracture was established based on the intact state group as the instability group(group B).The C1-C2 pedicle screw-rod fixation was performed on each specimen based on the instability group(group C).In group C,different installation modes of horizontal screw-screw crosslink were successively installed in each specimen,including upper transverse connection(two atlas screw tails)as group D,lower transverse connection(two axis screw tails)as group E,diagonal transverse connection(upper left and lower right for group F,lower left and upper right for group G),and cross transverse connection as group H.The specimen models were tested in order of flexion,extension,lateral flexion and lateral rotation on a three-dimensional motion machine,and the atlantoaxial range of motion of each group of specimens was obtained.Repeated measure analysis of variance was used to evaluate the biomechanical properties of each group. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Under six states,the range of motion of groups A,C,D,E,F,G and H was smaller than that of group B,and there were statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).(2)In the flexion and extension states,there was no significant difference among the five types of horizontal screw-screw crosslink groups(P＞0.05).(3)In the left and right rotation directions,there were significant differences in D and E groups compared with F,G and H groups(P＜0.05);there were no significant differences between D and E groups,and F and G groups(P＞0.05),and there were no significant differences in F and G groups compared with H group(P＞0.05).(4)In conclusion,under flexion-extension states,the biomechanical stability of five types of horizontal screw-screw crosslink groups was similar,but under the rotation state,the stability of diagonal horizontal screw-screw crosslink group and cross horizontal screw-screw crosslink group was obviously better than that of transverse horizontal screw-screw crosslink group;however,the stability of diagonal horizontal screw-screw crosslink group is similar to the cross horizontal screw-screw crosslink group,so the former is more worthy of clinical recommendation.

Objective To analyze the core functional component groups(CFCG)in Yinchenhao Decoction(YCHD)and their possible pathways for treating hepatic fibrosis based on network pharmacology.Methods PPI data were extracted from DisGeNET,Genecards,CMGRN and PTHGRN to construct a weighted network using Cytoscape 3.9.1.The data of the chemical components in YCHD were obtained from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP),and the potential active components and targets were selected using PreADMET Web server and SwissTargetPrediction.A fusion model was constructed to obtain the functional effect space and evaluate the effective proteins to identify the CFCG followed by GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses for all the targets.In cultured human hepatic stellate cells(LX-2 cells),the cytotoxicity of different compounds in YCHD was tested using CCK-8 assay;the effects of these compounds on collagen α1(Col1a1)mRNA expression and the pathways in 20 ng/mL TGF-β1-stimulated cells were analyzed using RT-qPCR and Western blotting.Results A total of 1005 pathogenic genes,226 potential active components and 1529 potential targets in YCHD and 52 potential targets of CFCG were obtained.Benzyl acetate,vanillic acid,clorius,polydatin,lauric acid and ferulic acid were selected for CCK-8 verification,and they all showed minimal cytotoxicity below the concentration of 200 μmol/L.Clorius,polydatin,lauric acid and ferulic acid all effectively inhibited TGF-β1-induced LX-2 cell activation.At the concentration of 200 μmol/L,all these 4 components inhibited PI3K,p-PI3K,AKT,p-AKT,ERK,p-ERK,P38 MAPK and p-P38 MAPK expressions in TGF-β1-induced LX-2 cells.Conclusion The therapeutic effect of YCHD on hepatic fibrosis is probably mediated by its core functional components including benzyl acetate,vanillic acid,clorius,polydatin,lauric acid and ferulic acid,which inhibit the PI3K-AKT and MAPK pathways in hepatic stellate cells.

Objective To analyze the core functional component groups(CFCG)in Yinchenhao Decoction(YCHD)and their possible pathways for treating hepatic fibrosis based on network pharmacology.Methods PPI data were extracted from DisGeNET,Genecards,CMGRN and PTHGRN to construct a weighted network using Cytoscape 3.9.1.The data of the chemical components in YCHD were obtained from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP),and the potential active components and targets were selected using PreADMET Web server and SwissTargetPrediction.A fusion model was constructed to obtain the functional effect space and evaluate the effective proteins to identify the CFCG followed by GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses for all the targets.In cultured human hepatic stellate cells(LX-2 cells),the cytotoxicity of different compounds in YCHD was tested using CCK-8 assay;the effects of these compounds on collagen α1(Col1a1)mRNA expression and the pathways in 20 ng/mL TGF-β1-stimulated cells were analyzed using RT-qPCR and Western blotting.Results A total of 1005 pathogenic genes,226 potential active components and 1529 potential targets in YCHD and 52 potential targets of CFCG were obtained.Benzyl acetate,vanillic acid,clorius,polydatin,lauric acid and ferulic acid were selected for CCK-8 verification,and they all showed minimal cytotoxicity below the concentration of 200 μmol/L.Clorius,polydatin,lauric acid and ferulic acid all effectively inhibited TGF-β1-induced LX-2 cell activation.At the concentration of 200 μmol/L,all these 4 components inhibited PI3K,p-PI3K,AKT,p-AKT,ERK,p-ERK,P38 MAPK and p-P38 MAPK expressions in TGF-β1-induced LX-2 cells.Conclusion The therapeutic effect of YCHD on hepatic fibrosis is probably mediated by its core functional components including benzyl acetate,vanillic acid,clorius,polydatin,lauric acid and ferulic acid,which inhibit the PI3K-AKT and MAPK pathways in hepatic stellate cells.

Objective: Traditional uterine manipulator is considered as the main reason for short survival of patients with early-stage cervical cancer during minimally invasive surgery. This study aims to assess the sealing effect of magnetic-sealing uterine manipulators (MUMs) in isolated uteruses. Methods: The study was performed on isolated uterus from patients with early-stage cervical cancer who underwent open abdominal radical hysterectomy between November 2019 to April 2021. Right-angle forceps closure tests (groups 1 and 3) were defined as control tests. One experimental MUM closure test (group 2) and 2 control tests were respectively carried out in each of the isolated uterus. DNA ploidy analysis system was used to observe exfoliated cells. Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test to assess the sealing effect of MUM. Results: We identified 36 patients. No regional node metastasis was discovered and only one tumor was larger than 4.0 cm in diameter. The mean of exfoliated tumor cells in groups 1, 2, and 3 were 1, 1, and 2, respectively. There was no significant difference in the quantity of exfoliated cells between groups 1 and 3 (p=0.476), so the results of the 2 groups were merged. Subsequently, a significant difference was observed between combined right-angle forceps closure tests and MUM closure tests (p=0.022). Conclusion The sealing effect of MUM was better than that of right-angle forceps. MUM can effectively seal cervical cancer cells in the cup cover, avoiding the dissemination of tumor cells.

Objective:To understand the identification and medical observation of close contacts of COVID-19 cases in a city and provide scientific basis for the adjustment of the epidemic prevention and control strategies.Methods:Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the general characteristics of all the close contacts of COVID-19 cases in a city. Throat swabs were collected from the close contacts for real-time fluorescent RT-PCR. The confirmed cases were diagnosed according to diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 (trial version 5).Results:Among the 1 665 close contacts of COVID-19 cases in a city, 10 were diagnosed as COVID-19 cases during the medical observation period, accounting for 30.30% of all the confirmed cases in a city, most of them were close relatives of the confirmed cases. The longest contact time with the confirmed cases was 8 days and the shortest was 0 days. Ten COVID-19 cases in close contacts constituted to six family clusters.Conclusions:In COVID-19 prevention and control in a city, the active tracking of the transmission chains of the confirmed cases and timely identification of the close contacts were conducted. The people who had close contacts with the confirmed COVID-19 cases within 14 days before onset were all placed under medical observation, which played a key role in the effective prevention and control of COVID-19 epidemic in a city. Nearly one third of COVID-19 cases occurred during the medical observation period, so the infection sources were effectively controlled and transmission routes were effectively blocked, which greatly facilitated the prevention of the clusters of COVID-19 cases.

Objective To explore the effect of ginsenoside Rd on regulatory T cells (Tregs) /helper T cell 17 (Th17) imbalance in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice models.Methods Fifty-four female C57BL/6 mice,aged 6-8 weeks,were randomly divided into ginsenoside Rd group,phosphate buffered saline (PBS) group and blank-control group (n=18).The EAE mice models in the first two groups were induced by classical Mog35-55 peptide immunoinduction method;ginsenoside Rd of 40 mg/ (kg·d) was dissolved in PBS and intraperitoneally injected into the mice daily in the ginsenoside Rd group on 13th d of immunization;the mice in the PBS group and control group were intraperitoneally injected with same dose of PBS.Daily clinical symptom scale scores were obtained from the first d to the 20th d of immunization,and the lumbar spinal cords of the mice were taken for histological evaluation (inflammation scale and demyelinating scale) after the last symptom scale.On the 20th d of immunization,the spleens of each group were taken for cultivation;splenocytes were cultured in vitro for 48 h,and the culture supematant was taken for detecting interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-17 levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA);the proportions of Tregs and Thl7 in spleen tissues were detected by flow cytometry;real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the mRNA expressions of Janus kinase 1 (JAK1),Janus kinase 2 (JAK2),signal transduction and activator of transcription 3 (STA T3),retinoic acid-related orphan nuclear receptors γt (ROR-γt) and forkhead gene p3 (Foxp3) in the lumbar spinal cords of mice in each group.Results (1) The clinical symptom scale scores and inflammation scale scores of ginsenoside Rd group were significantly lower than those of PBS group (P＜0.05);there were a large number of inflammatory cells infiltration and loss of myelin in the lumbar spinal cord of PBS group,while the loss of myelin sheath in ginsenoside Rd group was obviously decreased as compared with that in PBS group;the demyelination scale scores between the two groups showed statistical differences (P＜0.05).(2) As compared with those in the PBS group,the IL-10 level was significantly increased and the IL-17 level was significantly decreased in the splenocyte culture supernatant of ginsenoside Rd group (P＜0.05).(3) As compared with the PBS group,the ginsenoside Rd group had significantly decreased proportion of CD4+IL-17+ cells and significantly increased proportion of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ cells in the spleen (P＜0.05).(4) As compared with those in the PBS group,the mRNA expression levels of JAK1,JAK2,STA T3 and ROR-γt were significantly decreased,and Foxp3 mRNA expression level was significantly increased in the lumbar spinal cords of the ginsenoside Rd group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Ginsenoside Rd can improve the condition of EAE mice models by altering the expressions of Foxp3/RORγt/STAT3 signaling pathway molecules related to differentiation of Tregs/Th 17,increasing the IL-10 level and Tregs ratio,and decreasing the IL-17 level and Th 17 ratio.

To evaluate the global left and right ventricular function and establish the CT reference data of global ventricular function parameters in normal people, 56 normal subjects (male, 28 cases; female, 28 case) were scanned with retrospective ECG gated 64-detector row CT. Ten time-phases in the cardiac cycle were reconstructed and short-axis images were acquired. On the cardiac analysis software, endo-cardium and epi-cardium of left and right ventricle were delineated and global function parameters were calculated. Left and right ventricular end-diastolic volume (LV/RVEDV), end-systolic volume (LV/RVESV), stroke volume (LV/RVSV), and wall mass (LV/RVWM) were significantly greater (P < 0.05) in men than in women, but cardiac output (LV/RVCO) and ejection fraction (LV/RVEF) exhibited no difference in women and men. In man group and woman group, LVWM was greater than RVWM (P < 0.01). LVESV, RVESV and body mass Index (BMI) were shown to have significant negative-correlation; the correlation coefficient = -0.54 and r = -0.53. LV/RVSV, LV/RVEF and BMI were noted to have significant positive-correlation; the correlation coefficients were 0.87/0.97 and 0.69/0.62, respectively. The normal global left and right ventricular functions differ significantly according to gender and body size.
Adult ; Aged ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke Volume ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods ; Ventricular Function, Left ; physiology ; Ventricular Function, Right ; physiology

Objective To explore the mechanisms and effects of adoptive immunotherapy with ovarian cancer vaccine modified by GM-CSF gene which was used after immunologic reconstitution during lymphopenia induced by chemotherapy.Methods Lymphopenia was induced by chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide.The immune reconstituted model was built in rats.The tumor vaccine draining lymph nodes were harvested after the ovarian cancer cells NUTU-19 modified by GM-CSF gene were injected.The effector T cells (T_E) were got after being stimulated and amplified.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the level of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 secreted by T_E.Intracellular cytokine staining was used to determine frequency of tumor-specific T_E.Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) was used to detect the special cytotoxicity ofT_E killing target cells.The survival period of rats bearing pre-established abdominal ovariam carcinoma after being adoptively transferred byT_E.was observed.Results Compared with those in control group,the significant higher levels IL-2[(65.7±4.0) pg/ml]and lower levels IL-4 [(277±49) pg/ml]were observed in chemotherapy-immune recunstitution-vaccine immunization group.The amount of CD_4~+ T cells secreting interferon-γ (13.0±2.1)% were also significantly increased.The rate of the special cytotoxicity of killing T cells (86.5±1.1) % was markedly improved.The survival period of rats (110±16) days was increased in chemotherapy-immune reconstitution-vaccine immunization group.Conclusions The combined immunotherapy of chemotherapy-immune reconstitution-tumor vaccine immunotherapy may increase the frequency and function of specific tumor T_E.The specific cytotoxicity is increased and the weak reaction of T_E to tumor is improved,which showed that this therapy can enhance immune reaction.

To determine the clinical value of 64-slice computed tomography angiography (CTA) in the evaluation of vessel before and after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, we retrospectively collected the coronary artery imaging data of 46 patients undergoing 64 slice CT before CABG surgery in the period from July 2006 to May 2007, and we evaluated 14 patients with 39 coronary grafts in the same period to determine the diagnostic accuracy of CTA before and after CABG surgery. In 46 patients, 64-slice CT enabled the visualization of the entire coronary tree with diagnostic image quality. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the detection of stenosis > or = 50% were 92.11%, 95.64%, 94.97%, respectively. In 14 patients with 39 coronary grafts, 35 (35/39, 89.74%) bypass grafts were found to be of no stenosis; low degree of restenosis was found in 4 (4/39, 10.26%) bypass grafts, and no graft was found to have high degree of restenosis. So we concluded that, with the use of 64-slice CTA, we can accurately evaluate the degree of stenosis of vessel before and after CABG surgery.
Aged ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perioperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods