Objective:To compare the efficacy of unilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) and unilateral PKP combined with posterior medial branch block of the contralateral spinal nerve in the treatment of lumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) in the elderly.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 161 aged patients with newly developed lumbar OVCF, admitted to Xi′an Central Hospital Affiliated to Xi′an Jiaotong University School of Medicine from January 2019 to January 2023, including 58 males and 103 females, aged 61-88 [(72.9±6.3)years]. All the patients were diagnosed with type II compression fracture based on acute symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture classification (ASOTLF). Seventy-eight patients underwent unilateral PKP (PKP group), while the other 83 patients underwent unilateral PKP combined with posterior medial branch block of the contralateral spinal nerve (PKP+contralateral block group). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and length of hospital stay were recorded. Beck index of the injured vertebra, Cobb angle of lumbar lordosis, Roland-Morris disability (RMD) score, visual analogue scale (VAS), and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were evaluated before operation, at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months after operation, and at the last follow-up. The incidence of complications such as cement leakage was recorded as well.Results:All the patients were followed up for 6-8 months [(6.7±0.6)months]. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, or length of hospital stay ( P>0.05). The Beck index of the injured vertebra and Cobb angle of lumbar lordosis were not significantly different between the two groups before operation, at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months after operation, and at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). The RMD score of the injured vertebra, VAS score, and ODI were not significantly different between the two groups before operation ( P>0.05). At 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months after operation, and at the last follow-up, the RMD scores in the PKP+contralateral block group were (11.23±1.05)points, (10.90±1.11)points, (10.10±1.06)points, (9.94±1.06)points, and (9.60±0.83)points respectively, which were all lower than (17.55±0.71)points, (15.78±0.86)points, (13.42±0.92)points, (10.67±0.78)points, and (9.78±0.72)points in the PKP group ( P<0.05 or 0.01); the VAS scores in the PKP+contralateral block group were (3.02±0.60)points, (2.96±0.55)points, (2.92±0.57)points, (2.88±0.61)points, and (2.70±0.51)points respectively, which were all lower than (3.60±0.57)points, (3.47±0.55)points, (3.32±0.46)points, (2.99±0.47)points, and (2.77±0.42)points in the PKP group ( P<0.05 or 0.01); the ODI values in the PKP+contralateral block group were 14.43±1.29, 14.54±1.24, 14.63±1.32, 14.37±1.31, and 13.42±1.45 respectively, which were all lower than 16.72±1.64, 16.09±1.49, 14.82±1.53, 14.74±1.46, and 13.69±1.75 in the PKP group ( P<0.05 or 0.01). The bone cement leakage rate was 12.0% (10/83) in the PKP+contralateral block group, similar to 11.5% (9/78) in the PKP group ( P>0.05). No other complications such as neurovascular injury, pulmonary embolism or adjacent vertebral fracture were found in either groups. Conclusion:In the treatment of lumbar OVCF in the elderly, unilateral PKP combined with posterior medial branch block of the contralateral spinal nerve is similar to unilateral PKP in terms of the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay, effectiveness of reduction, and incidence of complications, but it can achieve better pain relief and more satisfactory functional recovery.

Drastic surges in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce cell apoptosis, while most chemotherapy drugs lead to the accumulation of ROS. Here, we constructed an organic compound, arsenical N-‍(4-(1,3,2-dithiarsinan-2-yl)phenyl)acrylamide (AAZ2), which could prompt the ROS to trigger mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis in gastric cancer (GC). Mechanistically, by targeting pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1), AAZ2 caused metabolism alteration and the imbalance of redox homeostasis, followed by the inhibition of phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and leading to the activation of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2)/Bcl2-associated X (Bax)/caspase-9 (Cas9)/Cas3 cascades. Importantly, our in vivo data demonstrated that AAZ2 could inhibit the growth of GC xenograft. Overall, our data suggested that AAZ2 could contribute to metabolic abnormalities, leading to mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis by targeting PDK1 in GC.
Humans ; Signal Transduction ; Stomach Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Apoptosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; Cell Line, Tumor

Objective To analyse the expression of alpha-fetoprotein variant-L3(AFP-L3)and glypican-3(GPC-3)in primary he-patic carcinoma(PHC)with different concentration of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP),so as to provide references for the diagnosis of PHC.Methods 240 cases of outpatients,inpatients and individuals on physical examination were selected as subjects and serum levels of AFP-L3 and GPC-3 were detected.All of the subjects were divided into negative group(0≤AFP<20 ng/mL),low concen-tration group(20≤AFP<400 ng/mL)and high concentration group(AFP≥400 ng/mL)according to the serum levels of AFP.Ser-um levels of AFP-L3 and GPC-3 were compared among the three groups.And the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of single de-tection of AFP-L3 or GPC-3 and those of combined detection of AFP-L3 and GPC-3 were compared as well.Results The serum levels of AFP-L3 and GPC-3 in the low concentration group and high concentration group were both higher than those in the nega-tive group,and those in the high concentration group were also higher than those in the low concentration group,had statistically significant differences(P < 0.05 ).The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of combined detection of AFP-L3 and GPC-3 were 84.4%,95.9% and 93.8% respectively,which were higher than those of single detection of AFP-L3 or GPC-3.Conclusion Com-bined detection of AFP-L3 and GPC-3 could improve the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy for diagnosis of PHC,which has clinical significance for the diagnosis of PHC.

Objective To investigate the change characteristics of serum ferritin(SF)and parathormone (PTH)levels in differ-ent stages of chronic kidney disease(CKD)and their correlation with serum beta 2-microglobulin(β2-MG).Methods The levels of serum PTH,SF andβ2-MG in different stages of CKD were detected and the detection results were compared with those in the con-trol group.The correlation between serum SF and PTH withβ2-MG in each stage of CKD was analyzed.Results The level of ser-um PTH,SF andβ2-MG in the compensation group had no statistical difference compared with the control group (P >0.05),while which had statistical differences among the decompensation group,renal failure group and uremia group (P <0.05)The correlation analysis showed that serum PTH was positively correlated with serumβ2-MG in 145 cases(r=0.92,P <0.05),and the serum SF level was also positively correlated with serumβ2-MG level(r=0.92,P <0.05).Conclusion Detecting serum PTH,SF andβ2-MG levels possesses the important clinical significance for understanding CKD condition and prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: To diagnose the mycotic otitis media correctly and to explore the most adequate treatment for the disease. METHOD: Thirty-six inpatients (39 ears) with mycotic otitis media in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from Jan. 2003 to Dec. 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. Morphous of the fungi, the methods and efficacies of the treatment were analyzed respectively. RESULT: According to the fungal cultures, 27 ears were induced by mold fungus and 12 ears were induced by budding fungus. Among these 36 patients (39 ears), myringoplasty accompanied local antifungal cream were applied in one ear, mastoidectomy with canal wall down and/or tympanoplasty accompanied with oral antifungal medication were administrated in 35 ears, only oral antifungal drugs were used in 3 ears (the control ears of the bilateral mycotic otitis media, which was not treated by surgery). All of the patients were followed up for 3 to 36 months, otorrhea occurred in the patients who refused to oral antifungal medication for 3 weeks after the myringoplasty, then dry again by local antifungal cream, but otorrhea recurred 3 times within 2 years. Thirty-five patients (38 ears) acquired dry ear after surgery and/or oral antifungal drugs, but 2 of the 38 ears recurred separately at the fourth and sixth month after their surgeries, then dry again by irrigation with hydrogen peroxide and by administrating local antifungal cream for 3 weeks. CONCLUSION Otologists should elevate suspicion of mycotic otitis media when they meet patients with continuous otorrhea and patients who did not respond to the antibacterial treatment. The diagnosis based on microbiological findings, such as direct microscopy or fungal cultures should be done as soon as possible. If the otomycosis is decided, we suggest that topical treatment should be selected firstly, although most patients in present study were treated by surgery accompanied with oral antifungal medications. If there is obvious bone erosion, surgery is necessary to excise the pathological tissues, minificate the mastoid cavity and close the middle cavity in order to improve the hearing and prevent the infection from the outer ear.
Adult ; Aged ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Otitis Media ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult