Objective: To analyze the mediating effects of loneliness and depressive symptoms on family functioning and life satisfaction among rural elderly patients with chronic diseases, so as to provide the basis for improving the life satisfaction of this population. Methods: Rural elderly patients with chronic diseases aged ≥60 years in Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province were selected using a multi-stage stratified random cluster sampling method from June to September 2022. Basic information such as gender, age, and chronic diseases were collected. Family function, life satisfaction, loneliness and depressive symptoms were evaluated using Family Care Index Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the b-item Revised VCLA Loneliness Sale and the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, respectively. The structural equation model was constructed using Amos software to analyze the mediating effects of loneliness and depressive symptoms on the relationship between family function and life satisfaction. The Bootstrap method was employed to test the mediating effects. Results: A total of 1 145 rural elderly patients with chronic diseases were recruited, including 517 males (45.15%) and 628 females (54.85%). Among the participants, 657 individuals (57.38%) were aged 60-<71 years, and 540 individuals (47.16%) had three or more chronic diseases. The scores for family function, life satisfaction, loneliness, and depressive symptoms were (3.90±1.18), (18.88±5.25), (12.88±2.99), and (6.65±2.26), respectively. Mediating effect analysis showed that family function had a direct positive effect on life satisfaction (β=0.179, 95%CI: 0.126-0.231). It also indirectly positively influenced the life satisfaction of rural elderly patients with chronic diseases through the independent mediating effect of depressive symptoms (β=0.035, 95%CI: 0.021-0.054) and the chained mediating effect of loneliness and depressive symptoms (β=0.021, 95%CI: 0.013-0.030). The mediating effect of depressive symptoms accounted for 14.89% of the total effect, while the chained mediating effect of loneliness and depressive symptoms accounted for 8.94% of the total effect. Conclusion Good family function can directly enhance the life satisfaction of rural elderly patients with chronic diseases and can also indirectly improve their life satisfaction by reducing loneliness and depressive symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effectiveness of three internal fixation methods, namely hollow screw combined with Kirschner wire tension band, hollow screw combined with anchor nail, and modified 1/3 tubular steel plate, in the treatment of avulsion fracture of tibial tubercle (AFTT) in adolescents. METHODS: Between January 2018 and September 2023, 19 adolescent AFTT patients who met the selection criteria were admitted. According to different internal fixation methods, patients were divided into group A (8 cases, hollow screw combined with Kirschner wire tension band), group B (6 cases, hollow screw combined with anchor nail), and group C (5 cases, modified 1/3 tubular steel plate). There was no significant difference in the baseline data of age, gender, side, cause of injury, Ogden classification, and time from injury to operation among the three groups ( P>0.05). The range of motion (ROM), weight-bearing time, normal activity time of knee joint, and the hospital for special surgery (HSS) score at last follow-up were recorded and compared among the three groups. Recorded whether the fracture was displaced, whether the fracture line was blurred at 1 month after operation, whether there was epiphyseal dysplasia, and whether there was incision infection and other complications. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in hospital stay between the groups ( P>0.05). All patients were followed up 10-24 months, with an average of 14.3 months; there was no significant difference between the groups ( P>0.05). All the incisions healed well without soft tissue irritation or fracture nonunion, and no limb shortening deformity or epiphyseal dysplasia was found during follow-up. At 1 month after operation, the knee joint ROM and hospitalization expenses in group A were better than those in groups B and C, the fracture healing time, knee joint weight-bearing time, and normal activity time of knee joint were better than those in group C, and the hospitalization expenses in group C were better than those in group B, with significant differences ( P<0.05); there was no significant difference in the other indicators between the groups ( P>0.05). In group A, the fracture line was blurred 1 month postoperatively, the fracture ends were in close contact, and there was no fracture displacement; in groups B and C, the fracture line was clear in 2 cases, and 1 case in group C had slight fracture displacement; except for 1 case in group B, there was no fracture split in the other two groups. There was no significant difference in the incidences of blur of fracture line, fracture displacement, and intraoperative bone split between the groups at 1 month after operation ( P>0.05). At last follow-up, the HSS scores of knee joints in the three groups were excellent and good, and there was no significant difference between the groups ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION Hollow screw combined with Kirschner wire tension band technique is effective in treating adolescent AFTT, which has the advantages of stabilizing fracture, accelerating fracture healing and rehabilitation, early feasible knee joint functional exercise, and reducing hospitalization expenses.
Humans ; Tibial Fractures/surgery* ; Adolescent ; Male ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Female ; Fractures, Avulsion/surgery* ; Bone Wires ; Bone Screws ; Bone Plates ; Treatment Outcome ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Bone Nails ; Weight-Bearing ; Fracture Healing

OBJECTIVE: To explore effectiveness of intermediate screw assisted reduction and fixation technique in the treatment of Schatzker type Ⅴ and Ⅵ tibial plateau fractures. METHODS: A clinical data of 22 patients with Schatzker type Ⅴ and Ⅵ tibial plateau fractures, who were admitted between June 2022 and December 2023 and met the selection criteria, was retrospectively analyzed. During operation, the intermediate screw assisted reduction and fixation technique was used. There were 14 males and 8 females with an average age of 46.3 years (range, 17-65 years). The fractures were caused by traffic accident in 13 cases, by falls in 5 cases, and by falling from height in 4 cases. According to Schatzker classification criteria, 9 cases were type Ⅴ and 13 cases were type Ⅵ. The interval between injury and operation was 5-12 days (mean, 7.9 days). The operation time, intraoperative fluoroscopy times, and length of hospital stay were recorded. The range of motion of knee joint and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score were recorded at last follow-up. X-ray films were taken to review the fracture healing. Rasmussen score, tibial plateau varus angle (TPVA), and posterior tibial slope (PTS) were estimated before operation, at immediate after operation, and at last follow-up in order to evaluate the fracture reduction effect and postoperative outcome. RESULTS: The operation time was 85-140 minutes (mean, 103.9 minutes). Intraoperative fluoroscopy was performed 7-15 times (mean, 10.1 times). All incisions healed by first intention after operation, and no complication such as nerve or blood vessel injury occurred. The length of hospital stay ranged from 8 to 17 days (mean, 12.4 days). All patients were followed up 10-22 months (mean, 14.8 months). At last follow-up, the range of motion of knee joint was 110°-140° (mean, 125°). HSS score was rated as excellent in 16 cases, good in 5 cases, and fair in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate of 95.5%. X-ray films reexamination showed that all fractures healed with the healing time of 12-17 weeks (mean, 14.8 weeks). No internal fixation failure occurred. Rasmussen score, TPVA, and PTS at immediate after operation and at last follow-up were significantly superior to those before operation ( P<0.05). And there was no significant difference between immediately after operation and last follow-up ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION The treatment of Schatzker type Ⅴ and Ⅵ tibial plateau fractures with intermediate screw assisted reduction and fixation technique is reliable, which can reduce the difficulty of reduction and fixation, improve the efficiency of reduction and fixation, reduce the operation time, achieve satisfactory reduction and fixation effect and postoperative prognosis, and achieve good recovery of knee joint function.
Humans ; Tibial Fractures/diagnostic imaging* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Bone Screws ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Adolescent ; Aged ; Young Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Operative Time ; Length of Stay ; Tibial Plateau Fractures

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of V-shaped stealth decompression technique using ultrasonic bone scalpel in anterior surgery for adjacent two-level cervical spondylosis. METHODS: A clinical data of 41 patients with adjacent two-level cervical spondylosis, who admitted between January 2020 and December 2023 and met the selection criteria, was analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 22 cases were treated with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) assisted by V-shaped stealth decompression technique using ultrasonic bone scalpel (group A) and 19 cases with anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) (group B). There was no significant difference between the two groups in age, gender, disease duration, surgical segment, preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, neck dysfunction index (NDI), pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and the anteroposterior diameter of the spinal canal in the responsibility space of axial CT ( P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, hospital stay, complications during follow-up, JOA score, NDI, and VAS score at last follow-up, and the incidences of intervertebral fusion at 3 months after operation, and cage subsidence at last follow-up were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The operations in the two groups were successfully completed. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, and hospital stay in group A were significantly less than those in group B ( P<0.05). Two cases (9.1%) in group A and 4 cases (21.1%) in group B developed complications, with no significant difference in the incidence between the two groups ( P>0.05). All patients in the two groups were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 9.3 months). There was no significant difference in follow-up time between the two groups ( P>0.05). At last follow-up, the JOA score and VAS score in both groups significantly improved when compared with those before operation ( P<0.05). The change values of VAS score and the improvement rate of JOA score in group A were significantly superior to group B ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the change values of NDI and JOA score between the two group ( P>0.05). Imaging reexamination showed that the rate of intervertebral fusion at 3 months after operation was significantly higher in group A (81.8%) than in group B (52.6%) ( P<0.05), and all patients obtained bony intervertebral fusion at last follow-up. At last follow-up, 2 cases (9.1%) in group A and 11 cases (57.9%) in group B had cage sinking, and the difference in the incidence was significant ( P<0.05). No loosening or fracture of internal fixators occurred in all patients. CONCLUSION Using ultrasonic bone scalpel can transform single vertebral ACCF into two-segment ACDF in anterior cervical spondylosis surgery. The V-shaped stealth decompression technique is safe and efficient, with the advantages of minimal trauma, fewer postoperative complications, and rapid recovery of patients.
Humans ; Spondylosis/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Decompression, Surgical/instrumentation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Cervical Vertebrae/surgery* ; Spinal Fusion/instrumentation* ; Diskectomy/instrumentation* ; Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Aged ; Ultrasonic Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Operative Time

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of combined platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and arterial supercharging technique on the survival rate and functional restoration of cross-body region skin flaps in rabbits. METHODS: Twelve healthy 6-month-old New Zealand White rabbits were randomly assigned to 4 groups ( n=3): sham group, PRP group, anastomosis group, and combined treatment group. An axial skin flap with an area of 12 cm×6 cm on the inner side of the hind limbs of all animals were prepared, with the saphenous artery as the main blood supply. Following the ligation of both the proximal and distal ends of the saphenous artery across all groups, the sham group received no further intervention, the PRP group was subjected to PRP injection, the anastomosis group underwent in situ end-to-end anastomosis of the distal saphenous artery, and the combined treatment group received both in situ distal saphenous artery anastomosis and PRP administration. Flap survival was evaluated and recorded on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7, with survival rates calculated accordingly. On day 7, flap tissue samples were harvested for HE staining to assess basal tissue morphology. Additionally, immunohistochemical staining was conducted to detect the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and CD31 in the flap tissues. RESULTS: At postoperative day 1, no significant difference in flap survival rates were observed among the 4 groups ( P>0.05). At day 3, the PRP group showed no significant difference compared to the sham group ( P>0.05); however, both the anastomosis and combined treatment groups exhibited significantly higher survival rates than the sham group ( P<0.05), the combined treatment group further demonstrated superior survival rates compared to both the PRP and anastomosis groups ( P<0.05). At day 7, the combined treatment group maintained significantly higher survival rates than all other groups ( P<0.05), while both the PRP and anastomosis groups exceeded the sham group ( P<0.05). HE staining at day 7 revealed persistent inflammatory cell infiltration, sheet-like erythrocyte deposition, and disordered collagen fibers in the sham group. The PRP group showed nascent microvessel formation and early collagen reorganization, whereas the anastomosis group displayed mature microvasculature with resolved interstitial edema. The combined treatment group exhibited differentiated microvessels with densely packed collagen bundles. Immunohistochemical analysis at day 7 demonstrated significantly larger relative area percentages of α-SMA, VEGF, and CD31 positive cells in the combined treatment group compared to all other groups ( P<0.05). Both the PRP and anastomosis groups also showed significantly higher values than the sham group ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION The combination of PRP and arterial supercharging techniques significantly enhances flap healing, potentially through mechanisms involving augmented angiogenesis and improved blood supply.
Animals ; Rabbits ; Platelet-Rich Plasma ; Surgical Flaps/blood supply* ; Graft Survival ; Anastomosis, Surgical/methods* ; Ischemia/surgery* ; Arteries/surgery* ; Skin/blood supply* ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism* ; Male ; Skin Transplantation/methods*

Humans ; Clavicle ; Fractures, Bone/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of ultrasonic bone curette in anterior cervical spine surgery. METHODS: A clinical data of 63 patients with cervical spondylosis who were admitted between September 2019 and June 2021 and met the selection criteria was retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 32 cases were operated with conventional instruments (group A) and 31 cases with ultrasonic bone curette (group B). There was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05) in gender, age, surgical procedure, surgical segment and number of occupied cervical space, disease type and duration, comorbidities, and preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, cervical dysfunction index (NDI), and pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score. The operation time, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative drainage, postoperative hospital stay, and the occurrence of postoperative complications were recorded in both groups. Before operation and at 1, 3, and 6 months after operation, the JOA score and NDI were used to evaluate the function and the postoperative JOA improvement rate was calculated, and VAS score was used to evaluate the pain improvement. The anteroposterior and lateral cervical X-ray films were taken at 1, 3, and 6 months after operation to observe whether there was any significant loosening and displacement of internal fixators. RESULTS: Compared with group A, group B had shorter operation time and postoperative hospital stay, less intraoperative bleeding and postoperative drainage, and the differences were significant (P<0.05). All incisions healed by first intention in the two groups, and postoperative complications occurred in 5 cases (15.6%) in group A and 2 cases (6.5%) in group B, showing no significant difference (P>0.05). All patients were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 7.9 months). The JOA score and improvement rate gradually increased in groups A and B after operation, while the VAS score and NDI gradually decreased. There was no significant difference in VAS score between 3 months and 1 month in group B (P>0.05), and there were significant differences between the other time points of each indicator in the two groups (P<0.05). At 1, 3, and 6 months after operation, the JOA score and improvement rate in group B were better than those in group A (P<0.05). X-ray films examination showed that there was no screw loosening or titanium plate displacement in the two groups after operation, and the intervertebral cage or titanium mesh significantly sank. CONCLUSION Compared with traditional instruments, the use of ultrasonic bone curette assisted osteotomy in anterior cervical spine surgery has the advantages of shorter operation time, less intraoperative bleeding, less postoperative drainage, and shorter hospital stay.
Humans ; Ultrasonics ; Retrospective Studies ; Titanium ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; Bone Plates ; Cervical Vertebrae/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the early effectiveness of the Ti-Robot assisted femoral neck system (FNS) in the treatment of elderly Garden type Ⅱ and Ⅲ femoral neck fractures. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 41 elderly patients with Garden type Ⅱ and Ⅲ femoral neck fractures who were admitted between December 2019 and August 2022 and met the selection criteria. Among them, 21 cases were treated with Ti-Robot assisted FNS internal fixation (study group), and 20 cases were treated solely with FNS internal fixation (control group). There was no significant difference in baseline data, including gender, age, side, cause of injury, time from injury to surgery, fracture Garden classification, and fracture line classification, between the two groups ( P>0.05). Surgical effectiveness was evaluated based on parameters such as operation time (including incision time and total operation time), reduction level, number of dominant pin insertions, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, incision length, whether to extend the incision, need for assisted reduction, postoperative hospital stay, fracture healing time, incidence of osteonecrosis of the femoral head, postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score at 1 day, and Harris hip score at last follow-up. RESULTS: The study group showed significantly shorter incision time, fewer dominant pin insertions, fewer instances of extended incisions, fewer intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, and smaller incisions than the control group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in total operation time, reduction level, and assisted reduction frequency between the two groups ( P>0.05). Both groups achieved primary wound healing postoperatively, with no complications such as incision leakage or skin infection. All patients were followed up 12-24 months with an average of 14.6 months. Fractures healed in both groups, with no significant difference in healing time ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in postoperative hospital stay between the two groups ( P>0.05). The study group showed significantly better VAS score at 1 day after operation and Harris hip score at last follow-up when compared to the control group ( P<0.05). No complication such as internal fixation failure, fracture displacement, or hip joint varus occurred in both groups during the follow-up. Osteonecrosis of the femoral head occurred in 1 patient of the control group, while no was observed in the study group, and the difference in the incidence of osteonecrosis of the femoral head between the two groups was not significant ( P=0.488). CONCLUSION Compared to sole FNS internal fixation treatment, Ti-Robot assisted FNS internal fixation for elderly Garden typeⅡ and Ⅲ femoral neck fractures can reduce incision time, achieve minimally invasive and accurate nail implantation, and decrease intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, leading to improved postoperative hip joint function recovery.
Humans ; Aged ; Femur Neck ; Robotics ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Titanium ; Femoral Neck Fractures/surgery* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Osteonecrosis ; Surgical Wound

BACKGROUND: Intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration, which can cause lower back pain, is a major predisposing factor for disability and can be managed through multiple approaches. However, there is no satisfactory strategy currently available to reconstruct and recover the natural properties of IVDs after degeneration. As tissue engineering develops, scaffolds with embedded cell cultures have proved critical for the successful regeneration of IVDs. METHODS: In this study, an integrated scaffold for IVD replacement was developed. Through scanning electron microscopy and other mechanical measurements, we characterized the physical properties of different hydrogels. In addition, we simulated the physiological structure of natural IVDs. Nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and annulus fibrosusderived stem cells (AFSCs) were seeded in gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel at different concentrations to evaluate cell viability and matrix expression. RESULTS: It was found that different concentrations of GelMA hydrogel can provide a suitable environment for cell survival. However, hydrogels with different mechanical properties influence cell adhesion and extracellular matrix component type I collagen, type II collagen, and aggrecan expression. CONCLUSION This tissue-engineered IVD implant had a similar structure and function as the native IVD, with the inner area mimicking the NP tissue and the outer area mimicking the stratified annulus fibrosus tissue. The new integrated scaffold demonstrated a good simulation of disc structure. The preparation of efficient and regeneration-promoting tissueengineered scaffolds is an important issue that needs to be explored in the future. It is hoped that this work will provide new ideas and methods for the further construction of functional tissue replacement discs.

A randomized, double-blind, active parallel controlled trial will be conducted to include patients with acute upper respiratory infection and wind-warmth lung heat disease (heat in lung-wei pattern). Patients with serious bacterial infection (white blood cell count>1.2×1010, neutrophil>80%) will be excluded.so as to further identify Jinye Baidu Granule indications of Wind-warmth lung heat disease (heat in lung-wei pattern).According to the subjects of symptoms of fever and sore throats,Patients will be divided into three blocks： fever, swelling and sore throat, combined fever and swelling and sore throat. Subjects in three blocks will be divided into treatment group and control group with stratified blocked randomization. The treatment group will be treated with Jinye Baidu Granule, and the control group will be treated with Fufang Shuanghua granule. Primary outcome measure of patients with fever will be body temperature recovery time. Primary outcome measure of patients with swelling and sore throat will be throat symptom score. Primary outcome measures of patients combined with fever and swelling and sore throat will be body temperature recovery time and throat symptom score. Before and after all of the patients in the group were collected blood and urine routine, liver and renal function, electrocardiogram (ECG) data as the safety index while observing it adverse events. A total of 623 patients were included. Compared with control group,sore throat symptoms of patients with sore throat and pharyngeal symptoms total score have significantly different. so Jinny Baidu granule have a significant advantage in the treatment of sore throat. All of the experiments showed that the safety of the drug was good. Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, digestive tract symptoms may occur only occasionally. We should pay attention to the changes when using in patients with spleen deficiency cold to avoid adverse reaction.