BACKGROUND:MicroRNA(miRNA)levels are closely related to cell apoptosis and proliferation,extracellular matrix metabolism and inflammatory response in intervertebral disc cells.However,the specific role of miR-142-3p in lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration remains unclear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the correlation between the expression of miRNA-142-3p,mixed lineage kinase 3 and interleukin-1β in nucleus pulposus tissue and degree of human lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration. METHODS:A total of 82 patients with lumbar intervertebral disc degenerative diseases in Suzhou Ninth People's Hospital from January 2020 to March 2022 were collected as the study subjects,all of whom underwent MRI examination before operation.According to the Videman classification,the patients were divided into mild degeneration group(n=36),moderate degeneration group(n=26)and severe degeneration group(n=20).Eighty-two specimens of the nucleus pulposus were obtained.The mRNA expression of miRNA-142-3p as well as the mRNA and protein expression of mixed lineage kinase 3,interleukin-1β,type I collagen,type II collagen in nucleus pulposus tissue were detected by qPCR and western blot assay.The correlation between the degree of human lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration and the expression levels of miRNA-142-3p,mixed lineage kinase 3,and interleukin-1β was also assessed using the Spearman correlation coefficient method.Thirty adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham-operated group(executed after puncturing skin and muscle only),mild degeneration group(executed 1 week after puncturing Co7/8 segments)and severe degeneration group(executed 2 weeks after puncturing Co7/8 segments),with 10 rats in each group.After that,we detected the protein expression of mixed lineage kinase 3 and interleukin-1β as well as the gene expression of miRNA-142-3p,mixed lineage kinase 3 and interleukin-1β in the nucleus pulposus tissue. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In human nucleus pulposus tissue,the miRNA-142-3p expression ranked from high to low as follows:mild degeneration group>moderate degeneration group>severe degeneration group(P<0.05);the gene and protein expression of mixed lineage kinase 3 and interleukin-1β from low to high was as follows:mild degeneration groupmoderate degeneration group>severe degeneration group(P<0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that the degree of disc degeneration was negatively correlated with miRNA-142-3p expression(P<0.05)and positively correlated with mixed lineage kinase 3 and interleukin-1β expression(P<0.05).In rat nucleus pulposus tissue,compared with the sham-operated group,the expression of mixed lineage kinase 3 and interleukin-1β gene and protein was elevated in the mild degeneration group(P<0.05)while miRNA-142-3p expression was decreased(P<0.05);compared with the mild degeneration group,the expression of mixed lineage kinase 3 and interleukin-1β gene and protein was increased in the severe degeneration group(P<0.05)while miRNA-142-3p expression was decreased(P<0.05).To conclude,the degree of human lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration is negatively correlated with miRNA-142-3p expression and positively correlated with mixed lineage kinase 3 and interleukin-1β expression in nucleus pulposus tissue.

Objective:To assess the combination of conventional ultrasound with contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)in the diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma(UC)of the renal pelvis in elderly patients.Methods:Sixty-seven elderly patients with a histopathologic diagnosis of UC of the renal pelvis and surgically treated at our hospital between April 2015 and March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Characteristics of regular preoperative 2D ultrasound, color Doppler flow imaging(CDFI)and CEUS were examined.Results:Of 67 patients, 49(73.13%)were found to have localized lesions in the renal pelvis and renal calyces.Lesions in 53 patients(79.10%)could be clearly identified by conventional ultrasound, with 46(86.79%)being isoechoic or hypoechoic, and 7(13.21%)being hyperechoic.Analysis of tumor blood flow by CDFI found 22 cases(41.51%)with avascular lesions, 21(39.62%)with hypovascular lesions and 10(18.87%)with hypervascular lesions.The average value of the resistance index(RI)was 0.64.Enhancement was seen in 62 lesions(92.54%)by CEUS after injection of SonoVue.Compared with the cortex of the ipsilateral kidney, a slow enhancement pattern was observed in 46(74.19%), 14(22.58%)showed simultaneous enhancement, and 2(3.23%)showed fast enhancement.At peak enhancement, 43 lesions(69.35%)had hypo-enhancement, 10(16.13%)had iso-enhancement, and 9(14.52%)had hyper-enhancement, compared with the cortex.Concerning the homogeneity of enhancement, 16(25.81%)displayed heterogeneous enhancement, with tumor necrosis or hemorrhage, and 46(74.19%)had homogeneous enhancement.When the contrast agent washout rate was assessed, a fast washout pattern was observed in 53(85.48%), synchronous washout in 6(9.68%), and slow washout in 3(4.84%).Conclusions:UC of the renal pelvis mostly shows isoechoic and hypoechoic lesions on conventional ultrasound, avascular or hypo-vascular lesions on CDFI, and slow-in, fast-out and hypo-enhancement on CEUS, compared with the cortex.Conventional ultrasound combined with CEUS can help improve the diagnostic accuracy of UC of the renal pelvis.

Objective: To explore the effect of deep dermal tissue dislocation injury on skin fibrosis in pig, in order to provide some theoretical basis for burn scar treatment. Methods: The experimental research method was applied. Six 2-month-old female Duroc pigs were taken. Fifteen operative areas on the right dorsum of pigs on which medium-thick skin grafts and deep dermal tissue slices were cut and re-implanted were included into dermal in situ reimplantation group, and fifteen operative areas on the left dorsum of pigs on which medium-thick skin grafts and deep dermal tissue slices were cut and the deep dermal tissue slice was placed under the fat layer were included into the dermal dislocation group. The hair growth in the operative areas on post-injury day (PID) 7, 14, and 21 and the cross-sectional structure on PID 14 were observed in the two groups. On PID 7, 14, and 21, the skin thickness (the distance from the epidermis to the upper edge of the fat), the dermal thickness (the distance from the lower edge of the epidermis to the upper edge of the fat, excluding the fibrotic tissue thickness between the dermis and the fat), and the fibrosis tissue thickness of the dermis-fat interface (from the lower edge of the deep dermis to the upper edge of the fat in dermal in situ reimplantation group and from the lower edge of the superficial dermis to the upper edge of the fat in dermal dislocation group) in the operative areas were measured and compared between the two groups; the fibrotic tissue thickness at the dermal cutting interface (from the lower edge of the superficial dermis to the upper edge of the deep dermis) in the operative areas in dermal in situ reimplantation group was measured and compared with the fibrotic tissue thickness at the dermal-fat interface. Sirius red staining was performed to observe and compare the type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen content in the dermal-fat interface in the operative areas between the 2 groups and between the dermal cutting interface and dermal-fat interface in the operative areas in dermal in situ reimplantation group. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to observe the positive expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), transforming growth factor β₁ (TGF-β₁), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in the operative areas in the two groups. The sample number was 6. Data were statistically analyzed with independent sample t test. Results: On PID 7, 14, and 21, the hairs in the operative areas in dermal in situ reimplantation group were denser than those in dermal dislocation group. On PID 14, the skin cross section in the operative areas in dermal dislocation group showed a "sandwich"-like structure, while the skin cross section in the operative areas in dermal in situ reimplantation group had normal structure. On PID 7, 14, and 21, the skin thickness in the operative areas in dermal dislocation group was (4 234±186), (4 688±360), and (4 548±360) μm, respectively, which was close to (4 425±156), (4 714±141), and (4 310±473) μm in dermal in situ reimplantation group (P>0.05); the dermal thickness in the operative areas in dermal dislocation group was significantly thinner than that in dermal in situ reimplantation group (with t values of -9.73, -15.85, and -15.41, respectively, P<0.01); the fibrotic tissue thickness at the dermal-fat interface in the operative areas in dermal dislocation group was significantly thicker than that in dermal in situ reimplantation group (with t values of 14.48, 20.58, and 15.67, respectively, P<0.01); there was no statistically significant difference between the fibrotic tissue thickness at the dermal-fat interface and the dermal cutting interface in the operative areas in dermal in situ reimplantation group (P>0.05). On PID 7, 14, 21, the type Ⅲ collagen content in the dermal-fat interface in the operative areas in dermal dislocation group was increased significantly compared with that in dermal in situ replantation group (with t values of 2.65, 0.61, and 7.39, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01), whereas there were no statistically significant differences in the type Ⅰ collagen content at the dermal-fat interface in the operative areas between the 2 groups (P>0.05) and the type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen content between the dermal-fat interface and the dermal cutting interface in the operative areas in dermal in situ reimplantation group (P>0.05). On PID 7, 14, and 21, PCNA, TGF-β₁, FGF-2, and HGF were positively expressed in the superficial dermis and adipose tissue in the operative areas in dermal dislocation group, while PCNA, TGF-β₁, FGF-2, and HGF were positively expressed in the superficial dermis, deep dermis, and adipose tissue in the operative areas in dermal in situ reimplantation group. Conclusions: Inadequate intrinsic thickness of dermal tissue is the key factor causing fibrosis, and the biological purpose of fibrosis is to "compensate" the intrinsic thickness of the skin. Besides, adipose tissue may also be an important component of fibrotic skin repair.
Swine ; Female ; Animals ; Dermis/pathology* ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/metabolism* ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Fibrosis ; Skin Diseases/pathology* ; Collagen/metabolism*

Objective:To analyze the distribution and drug resistance of wound pathogenic microorganisms in outpatients of wound healing center so as to provide a basis for the standardized construction of wound healing centers.Methods:A retrospective case series study was used to analyzed the data of 365 outpatients treated at Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from December 2017 to October 2019. There were 220 males and 145 females, aged (58.8±18.9)years (range, 18-98 years). The patients included 92 first-visit patients and 273 re-visit patients. The culture results (positive rate of pathogenic microorganisms, bacterial species, bacterial distribution) and drug sensitivity results of the wound secretions were compared and analyzed.Results:(1) Among 365 samples of wound secretions, 198 patients were positive for pathogenic microorganisms with a positive rate of 54.3%. A total of 107 strains (51.0%) of Gram-positive bacteria were detected, mainly Staphylococcus aureus (70 strains, 33.3%); 95 strains (45.2%) of Gram-negative bacteria were detected, mainly Escherichia coli (20 strains, 9.5%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (17 strains, 8.1%); 8 strains (3.8%) of fungi were detected. (2) A total of 26 (28.3%) first-visit patients were positive for pathogenic microorganisms, and 172 (63.0%) re-visit patients were positive for pathogenic microorganisms. The rate of positive microorganism detection had significant differences between first-visit and re-visit patients ( P<0.05). (3) A total of 29 strains were detected in first-visit patients, including 16 strains (55.2%) of Gram-positive bacteria, 11 strains (37.9%) of Gram-negative bacteria and 2 strains (6.9%) of fungi. A total of 181 strains were detected in re-visit patients, including 91 strains (50.3%) of Gram-positive bacteria, 84 strains (46.4%) of Gram-negative bacteria and 6 strains (3.3%) of fungi. The microbial distribution was significantly different between first-visit and re-visit patients ( P<0.05). (4) Compared with first-visit patients, the resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from the re-visit patients to spenicillin, oxacillin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, clindamycin, moxifloxacin, erythromycin, and levofloxacin were increased variably. No vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was detected, indicating that the staphylococcus aureus presented in the wound was highly sensitive to vancomycin. Conclusions:Staphylococcus aureus is the most common microorganism in wound secretions in outpatients of wound healing center. The rate of positive pathogenic microorganisms in wound secretions of re-visit patients is significantly higher than that of first-visit patients, and the distribution of pathogenic microorganisms of first-visited and revisited patients differs significantly. The Staphylococcus aureus detected in re-visit patients has a higher resistance to common antibiotics compared with first-visit patients. It is suggested that timely detection of pathogenic microorganisms in outpatients and effective control and supervision of outpatient infections are important contents that cannot be ignored in the construction of wound healing center.

Objective:To explore the application value of flexible endoscopy and rigid endoscopy in the clinical examination of chronic sinus tract wounds with different shapes.Methods:A retrospective observational study was conducted. From January 1 to December 23, 2019, a total of 46 patients with chronic sinus tract wounds, who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Wound Healing Center of Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, including 23 males and 23 females, aged 18-81 (48±21) years. On admission, computer tomography (CT) imaging and three-dimensional reconstruction were performed to examine the shapes of wound sinus tract and classify the wounds, with the lengths of wound sinus tract by CT imaging examination (hereinafter referred to as reference lengths) recorded. The lengths of wound sinus tract were examined and measured by rigid endoscopy and flexible endoscopy. The wounds with and without obviously curved sinus tract were classified into curve group and linear group respectively, and the deviation rates between the lengths of wound sinus tract measured by flexible endoscopy or rigid endoscopy and the reference lengths (hereinafter referred to as deviation rates of lengths) in each group were calculated. The difference between the deviation rates of lengths examined by flexible endoscopy and rigid endoscopy and the differences between the above two and the deviation rate of reference lengths (0) in each group were compared. Data were statistically analyzed with paired sample t test and Wilcoxon signed rank sum test. Results:CT imaging and three-dimensional reconstruction showed that there were 4 types of wound sinus tract, including tubular (36/46), lamellar (4/46), club-mallet (4/46), and irregular (2/46) shape. Tubular wounds were further divided into type I (23/36), type L (4/36), and type Y (9/36). Wounds with type I tubular, lamellar, and club-mallet sinus tract were classified into linear group (31/46), while those with type Y tubular, type L tubular, and irregular sinus tract were classified into curve group (15/46). In linear group, the deviation rates of lengths examined and measured by rigid endoscopy and flexible endoscopy were 0. In curve group, the deviation rate of lengths examined and measured by flexible endoscopy was 0 (0, 0.58%), which was significantly lower than 41.18% (31.68%, 48.41%) examined and measured by rigid endoscopy, Z=-3.408, P<0.01; the deviation rate of lengths examined and measured by rigid endoscopy (40±19)% was significantly higher than the deviation rate of reference lengths ( t=8.343, P<0.01), while the deviation rate of the lengths examined and measured by flexible endoscopy was similar to the deviation rate of reference lengths ( Z=-1.342, P>0.05). Conclusions:Compared with rigid endoscopy, flexible endoscopy can observe the internal characteristics of chronic sinus tract wounds in a wider range in the clinical examination of this kind of wound, especially for the exploration of curved chronic sinus tract wounds. The promotion of this method will be conducive to the diagnosis and treatment of chronic sinus tract wounds.

Statistics show that 76.74% (4 688) of 6 109 patients with chronic wounds are those over 50 years of age; the proportion of patients with underlying diseases in all age groups above 50 years ranges from 78.25% to 100.00%; among the underlying diseases of chronic wound patients, the top four diseases are diabetes mellitus , cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, hypertension, and respiratory diseases. The above underlying diseases and ages of patients are the susceptibility factors of corona virus disease 2019 released by National Health Commission of China. It is an unavoidable fact that patients with chronic wounds have to go to the hospital for treatment prescribed by the physician. At the same time, we found that there were not a few patients who go far afield because of various reasons when go to the hospital for treatment. During the period of epidemic prevention and control, this kind of "go far afield" style of seeking medical treatment may increase the exposure risk during transportation. Accordingly, we convened 36 wound care clinics in different regions in Shanghai to implement the "Five Measures" to encourage patients with chronic wounds to seek medical treatment proximately. The principle of this operation is that when seeking medical treatment, trying our best to reduce as much as possible the transportation distance for patients with chronic wounds to minimize the exposure risk during the epidemic period and eventually support the epidemic prevention and control campaign.

The " exploration of treatment technology of chronic wound with sinus tract supported by endoscope and related auxiliary methods" study had been conducted by Wound Healing Center of Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. The feasibility and effectiveness of this technique have been confirmed, and good clinic results have been achieved. In order to further promote the new technology and its related research, the theoretical knowledge and technical experience accumulated in the early stage are summarized as diagnosis and treatment standard for treatment with endoscopy technique in chronic wounds with sinus tract, including four parts: the applicable subjects, the diagnosis and treatment procedures and classification criteria, the healing criteria, and the risk assessment and prevention measures. The purpose of this standard is to facilitate the application of standardized endoscopy technique, to make the most of its technological advantages, prevent risks, and provide a reference for the official version of the diagnosis and treatment standard.

OBJECTIVE： To study the effects of Tiaopi huxin prescription （TPHXP） on the atherosclerosis （AS） of ApoE－/－ mice， and to investigate its mechanism. METHODS： Forty male ApoE－/－ mice were divided into blank group， model group， simvastatin group （positive control， 5 mg/kg） and TPHXP low-dose and high-dose groups （50， 150 mg/kg）， with 8 mice in each group. Except that blank group was given common diet， other groups were given high-lipid diet to induce AS model. After modeling， administration groups were given relevant medicine intragastrically， and blank group and model group were given constant volume of normal saline intragastrically， once a day， for consecutive 12 weeks. After last medication， the serum levels of TC， TG， LDL-C and HDL-C were determined by spectrophotometry. The serum level of NO was detected by nitrate reduction method. The serum levels of IL-6 and VCAM-1 were determined by ELISA. After separating thoracic aorta， HE staining was used to observe the formation of plaque in the thoracic aorta of mice in each group， and the corrected plaque area was calculated. Western blotting was conducted to determine the expression of NF-κB p65， Cav-1 and eNOS. RESULTS： Compared with blank group， the serum levels of TC， TG， LDL-C， IL-6 and VCAM-1 were increased significantly in model group， while the levels of HDL-C and NO were decreased significantly （P＜0.01）. The plaque of thoracic aorta was obvious and the corrected plaque area were increased significantly （P＜0.01）. The relative expression of NF-κB p65 and Cav-1 were increased significantly， while the relative expression of eNOS was decreased significantly （P＜0.01）. Compared with model group， the serum levels of TC， TG and LDL-C in administration groups， the serum levels of IL-6 and VCAM-1 in simvastatin group and TPHXP high-dose group were decreased significantly， while the serum levels of HDL-C and NO were increased significantly in administration groups （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. In administration groups， the plaques of thoracic aorta were reduced and the corrected plaque area was decreased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； the relative expression of NF-κB p65 and Cav-1 were decreased significantly， while the relative expression of eNOS was increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS： TPHXP can regulate the level of blood lipid， decrease the level of inflammatory factors and inhibit the formation of AS plaque， the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting Cav-1/NF-κB pathway.

OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects and its mechanism of calcium phosphate bone cement （CPC） loading total flavonoids of Davallia mariesii on osteogenic differentiation of induced membrane in rats. METHODS： Drug-loading CPC and drug-loading polymethyl methacrylate （PMMA） cement were prepared with the contents of Qianggu capsules （total flavonoids of D. mariesii as active ingredient） using CPC and PMMA cement as carrier. Totally 64 male SD rats were randomly divided into drug-loading CPC group， drug-loading PMMA cement group， no-drug CPC group， no-drug PMMA cement group， with 16 rats in each group. The femur of rats was separated and osteotomized to prepare bone defect model， and then the corresponding bone cement was implanted. Four weeks after modeling， the induced membranes of rats were cut and protected. Bone cement was taken out and autogenous cancellous bone was implanted. At the 4th week after modeling， X-ray photographs were taken on the hind limb bones of rats. At the 4th week after modeling and 6th week after bone grafting， induced membranes and new bone were taken from the bone defect area of rats respectively. HE staining was used to observe the morphology of induced membrane， and the width of bone rabecular and the number of osteoblasts of new bone tissue were measured. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression of BMP-2 and VEGF in induced membrane. Western blotting assay was used to detect the protein expression of Smad1， Smad4 and Smad7 in new bone. RESULTS： Compared with other 3 groups， the degradation of bone cement in drug-loading CPC group was more obvious in the bone defect areas， which showed that the formation of induced membrane was observed and the bone defect areas were smaller； capillary endothelial cells were abundant and orderly arranged in the induced membranes， and the width of bone trabeculae and the number of osteoblasts in the new bone tissue increased significantly （P＜0.05）； the protein expression of BMP-2 and VEGF in the induced membrane， the protein expression of Smad1， Smad4 and Smad7 in new bone were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS： CPC loading total flavonoids of D. mariesii promotes the formation of induced membrane osteoblast in bone defect model rats， which may be associated with regulating osteoblast differentiation by activating BMP-2/Smad pathway； at the same time， it can promote bone healing by promoting the differentiation of vascular endothelial cells， accelerating the formation of capillary network and increasing the expression of vascular endothelial cells.

Orthodontic treatment is more complicated when both soft and hard tissues must be considered because an impacted maxillary canine has important effects on function and esthetics. Compared with extraction of impacted maxillary canines, exposure followed by orthodontic traction can improve esthetics and better protect the patient's teeth and alveolar bone. Therefore, in order to achieve desirable tooth movement with minimal unexpected complications, a precise diagnosis is indispensable to establish an effective and efficient force system. In this report, we describe the case of a 31-year-old patient who had a labio-palatal horizontally impacted maxillary left canine with a severe occlusal alveolar bone defect and a missing maxillary left first premolar. Herein, with the aid of three-dimensional imaging, sequential traction was performed with a three-directional force device that finally achieved acceptable occlusion by bringing the horizontally impacted maxillary left canine into alignment. The maxillary left canine had normal gingival contours and was surrounded by a substantial amount of regenerated alveolar bone. The 1-year follow-up stability assessment demonstrated that the esthetic and functional outcomes were successful.