Finite element analysis of cervical intervertebral discs after removing different ranges of uncinate processes / 解剖学报

Objective To study the stress change characteristics of the cervical disc after removing different ranges of the uncinate process by establishing a three⁃dimensional finite element model of the C

Lumbar Core Muscle Stability Training Combined with Kinesiology Taping Technique in Rehabilitation Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical efficacy of lumbar core muscle stability training combined with kinesiology taping technique in the rehabilitation treatment of lumbar disc herniation （LDH）. MethodsA total of 99 LDH patients treated in Ningbo Yinzhou No. 2 Hospital from January 2018 to January 2020 were selected and divided into control group （n=49） and observation group （n=50）. Kinesiology taping technique was applied to patients in the control group and patients in the observation group were treated with lumbar core muscle stability training combined with kinesiology taping technique， then we compared the therapeutic effect， lumbar function and pain degree， surface electromyography of lumbar extensor muscles， lumbar range of motion， LDH recurrence and skin allergies before and after the treatment between the two groups. ResultsAfter 4 weeks of treatment， compared with those in the control group， in the observation group， the visual analogue scale （VAS） and Oswestry disability index （ODI） scores were significantly lower （P<0.05）； the Japanese Orthopaedic Association （JOA） score， mean power frequency of lumbar extensor muscles， integral electromyography value and lumbar function score were significantly higher （P<0.05）. During the treatment， there was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between two groups （P>0.05）. After 4 weeks of treatment， the observation group had a significantly lower LDH recurrence rate than the control group （P<0.05）. ConclusionLumbar core muscle stability training combined with kinesiology taping technique achieves a significantly better therapeutic effect than kinesiology taping technique in the rehabilitation treatment of LDH and can effectively relieve muscle fatigue， help alleviate lumbar spine pain and improve the function of lumbar spine.

Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervening in Pyroptosis to Prevent and Treat Bone and Joint Related Diseases： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Osteoarthritis （OA）， rheumatoid arthritis （RA）， gouty arthritis （GA）， and intervertebral disc degeneration （IVDD） are the most common bone and joint-related diseases in clinical practice. They can all affect related joints， leading to joint pain， swelling， dysfunction， and other symptoms. The difference is that OA is mainly caused by joint wear and age-related degradation and is manifested as joint pain， stiffness， and limited movement. RA is an autoimmune disease， manifested as joint pain， swelling， morning stiffness， and systemic symptoms. GA is caused by abnormal uric acid metabolism， manifested as acute arthritis， and IVDD is caused by intervertebral disc degeneration. Studies have shown that the mechanism of the occurrence and development of these bone and joint diseases is extremely complex. Pyroptosis is closely related to these bone and joint-related diseases by participating in bone and joint inflammation， cartilage metabolism imbalance， extracellular matrix degradation， and pathological damage of bone and joint. Inhibition of bone and joint-related pyroptosis will effectively prevent and treat bone and joint-related diseases. At the same time， many studies have confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has a prominent curative effect and obvious advantages in the prevention and treatment of bone and joint-related diseases. TCM can reduce the inflammatory reaction of bone and joints， improve the pathological damage of bone and joint diseases， and relieve bone and joint pain by inhibiting pyroptosis. Therefore， this article aims to briefly explain the relationship between pyroptosis and the occurrence and development of bone and joint-related diseases and summarize the latest research reports on the intervention of pyroptosis in the treatment of bone and joint-related diseases by TCM monomers， TCM extracts， and TCM compounds. It offers new ideas for the in-depth study of the pathogenesis and drug treatment of bone and joint diseases and provides a basis for the clinical use of TCM to prevent and treat bone and joint diseases.

Acidic Environment Induces Pyroptosis of NLRP3 Inflammatory Vesicle-Mediated Nucleus Pulposus Cells Through Up-Regulation of POSTN Expression

SUMMARY: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is induced by nucleus pulposus (NP) dysfunction as a result of massive loss of NP cells. It has been reported that the acidic microenvironment of the intervertebral disc (IVD) can induce NP cell pyroptosis, and that up-regulation of periostin (POSTN) expression has a negative effect on NP cell survival. However, the relationship between the acidic environment, POSTN expression level and NP cell pyroptosis is unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the relationship between acidic environment and POSTN expression level in NP cells, as well as the effect of POSTN in acidic environment on NP cell pyroptosis. NP cells were obtained from the lumbar vertebrae of Sprague Dawley (SD) male rats. These cells were divided into normal and acidic groups according to whether they were exposed to 6 mM lactic acid solution. And NP cells in the acidic group were additionally divided into three groups: (1) Blank group: no transfection; (2) NC group: cells transfected with empty vector plasmid; (3) sh-POSTN group: cells transfected with sh-POSTN plasmid to knock down the expression level of POSTN. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot was performed to assess the expression of POSTN at the mRNAand protein levels. CCK8 was used to evaluate cell survival. Western blot, in addition, was performed to examine acid-sensing ion channels (ASIC)-related proteins. And pyroptosis was detected by ELISA and western blot. The expression level of POSTN was significantly increased in NP cells in acidic environment. Knockdown of POSTN expression promoted the survival of NP cells in acidic environment and reduced the protein levels of ASIC3 and ASIC1a in NP cells. Moreover, knockdown of POSTN expression decreased the pyroptosis proportion of NP cells and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. The levels of pyroptosis-related proteins NLRP3, ASC, cleaved-Caspase-1, and cleaved-GSDMD were also affected by the decreased POSTN expression. The extracellular acidic environment created by lactic acid solution activated NLRP3 inflammatory vesicle-induced caspase-1 to get involved in NP cell pyroptosis by up-regulating POSTN expression.

La degeneración del disco intervertebral (DDIV) es inducida por una disfunción del núcleo pulposo (NP) como resultado de una pérdida masiva de células NP. Se ha informado que el microambiente ácido del disco intervertebral (DIV) puede inducir la piroptosis de las células NP y que la regulación positiva de la expresión de periostina (POSTN) tiene un efecto negativo en la supervivencia de las células NP. Sin embargo, la relación entre el ambiente ácido, el nivel de expresión de POSTN y la piroptosis de las células NP es poco clara. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue explorar la relación entre el ambiente ácido y el nivel de expresión de POSTN en células NP, así como el efecto de POSTN en ambiente ácido sobre la piroptosis de las células NP. Las células NP se obtuvieron de las vertebras lumbares de ratas macho Sprague Dawley (SD). Estas células se dividieron en grupos normales y ácidos según se expusieron a una solución de ácido láctico 6 mM. Las células NP en el grupo ácido se dividieron adicionalmente en tres grupos: (1) Grupo en blanco: sin transfección; (2) grupo NC: células transfectadas con plásmido vector vacío; (3) grupo sh-POSTN: células transfectadas con plásmido sh-POSTN para reducir el nivel de expresión de POSTN. Se realizó una PCR cuantitativa en tiempo real (qRT-PCR) y una transferencia Western para evaluar la expresión de POSTN en los niveles de ARNm y proteína. Se utilizó CCK8 para evaluar la supervivencia celular. Además, se realizó una transferencia Western para examinar las proteínas relacionadas con los canales iónicos sensibles al ácido (ASIC). La piroptosis se detectó mediante ELISA y Western blot. El nivel de expresión de POSTN aumentó significativamente en células NP en ambiente ácido. La eliminación de la expresión de POSTN promovió la supervivencia de las células NP en un ambiente ácido y redujo los niveles de proteína de ASIC3 y ASIC1a en las células NP. Además, la eliminación de la expresión de POSTN disminuyó la proporción de piroptosis de las células NP y los niveles de citocinas proinflamatorias interleucina (IL) - 1β e IL-18. Los niveles de proteínas relacionadas con la piroptosis NLRP3, ASC, Caspasa-1 escindida y GSDMD escindida también se vieron afectados por la disminución de la expresión de POSTN. El ambiente ácido extracelular creado por la solución de ácido láctico activó la caspasa-1 inducida por vesículas inflamatorias NLRP3 para involucrarse en la piroptosis de las células NP mediante la regulación positiva de la expresión de POSTN.

Impact of catheter ablation procedure on optical coherence tomography angiography findings in patients with ventricular arrhythmia

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Catheter ablation procedure may cause retinal complications associated with the risk of thromboembolism. We aimed to evaluate retina and optic disc microvascularity with optical coherence tomography angiography before and after the catheter ablation process in patients with ventricular arrhythmia. METHODS: A total of 40 eyes of 21 ventricular arrhythmia patients were included in this cross-sectional study. Demographic characteristics and ophthalmic examination findings of patients were recorded. optical coherence tomography angiography measurements were evaluated before (group 1) and after (group 2) catheter ablation. Optical coherence tomography angiography was applied to all eyes with 6×6 mm sections for the macula and 4.5×4.5 mm sections for the optic nerve head. Foveal retinal thickness, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, vessel density in different parts of the retina, and optic disc were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of ventricular arrhythmia patients was 53.48±13.02 years. In all, 13 (61.9%) of the patients were males and 8 (38.1%) were females. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of average, inferior, superior, and temporal retinal nerve fiber layer thicknesses, foveal avascular area, flow areas, superficial and deep vessel densities, and optic disc capillary densities of the optic disc. However, when compared with group 1, significantly lower values in foveal retinal thickness and higher values in nasal retinal nerve fiber layer thickness were observed in group 2 (248.42±20.50 vs. 247.20±20.44, p<0.001 and 94.22±18.43 vs. 96.12±20.18, p=0.044, respectively). CONCLUSION: Although foveal retinal thickness and nasal retinal nerve fiber layer thickness are affected in patients undergoing catheter ablation for ventricular arrhythmia, the stable retinal and optic disc vessel densities can be explained by the administration of effective anticoagulants during the procedure.

Topographic distribution of retinal neovascularization in proliferative diabetic retinopathy using ultra-wide field angiography

Purpose: To analyze the topographic distribution of neovascularization (NV) and capillary nonperfusion (CNP) using ultra?wide field fluorescein angiography (UWFFA) in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Methods: This was a prospective, single?center, observational study in which all patients who presented between March 2019 and December 2020 and satisfied the inclusion criteria were recruited. In our study, patients with treatment?naïve PDR without any fibrovascular proliferation underwent UWFFA. The images were analyzed qualitatively for the topographic distribution of NV and the CNP area was quantified. The number of lesions picked by UWFFA was compared with 7 standard field (7SF) image using overlay of 7SF. The main outcome measure was characteristics of neovascularization, such as the number, location, and area of CNP, measured using UWFFA, which was considered with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Two hundred and fifty?three eyes of 187 patients with a mean age of 56.03 ± 8 years were included. Mean neovascularization elsewhere (NVE) was 2.91 ± 3.43. Maximum NVEs were seen in the superotemporal (ST; 0.9 ± 1.13) quadrant, followed by the inferotemporal (IT; 0.7 ± 1.08), inferonasal (IN; 0.66 ± 1.02) and superonasal (SN; 0.66 ± 1.01) quadrants. Maximum CNP area was seen in the SN (13.75 ± 8.83 disc diameter square [DD2]) quadrant, followed by the IN (13.48 ± 8.59 DD2), IT (11.34 ± 8.37 DD2), and ST (11.3 ± 8.34 DD2) quadrants. Mean CNP area was maximum in patients with only neovascularization of disc (NVD; 64.99 ± 41.47 DD2), followed by both NVD and NVE (61.37 ± 35.61 DD2), and was minimum in patients with only NVE (36.44 ± 22.03 DD2). Eighty?one (32%) eyes out of 253 had NVE and 189 (75%) out of 253 had CNP area outside 7SF (overlay) of Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS). Conclusion: Diabetic NV lesions and CNP areas are distributed asymmetrically throughout the retina and are not restricted to the posterior pole. Compared to conventional 7SF imaging, UWFFA reveals significantly more retinal vascular pathology in patients with PDR.

Radial peripapillary capillary network in optic disc anomalies with abnormal tissues on disc surface

Background: Optic disc anomalies with abnormal tissue on the disc surface includes, myelinated nerve fiber, optic disc drusen, and Bergmeister papillae. Imaging the radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) network in optic disc anomalies with optical coherence tomography–angiography (OCTA) can give information on the RPC network in these conditions. Purpose: This video describes the OCTA of optic nerve head and RPC network using the angio disc mode in cases of optic disc anomalies with abnormal tissue on the disc surface. Synopsis: This video presents characteristic features of RPC network in one eye each of myelinated nerve fiber, optic disc drusen, and Bergmeister papillae. Highlights: OCTA in optic disc anomalies with abnormal tissue on the disc surface show a dense RPC microvascular network. OCTA is an effective imaging modality to study vascular plexus/RPC and their alteration in these disc anomalies

A surgical management of articular disc injury in temporomandibular Joint: A compiled case series of two cases with articular disc tear managed with surgical intervention

Articular disc injury in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can lead to significant pain and limited jaw movement. We present two cases in this case series of articular disc injuries in the TMJ and elaborate on their etiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic modalities, and treatment provided with follow-up reviews. Case 1 involved a 50-year-old female with a history of pain and clicking in the left TMJ for 10 years, wherein imaging studies revealed a discal tear. Case 2 involved a patient who presented with trauma and was diagnosed with a displaced disc with a disc tear when the patient was screened for mandibular fractures. The patients underwent surgical intervention, and the disc tear was repaired, following which both showed marked improvement. Our cases highlight the importance of early diagnosis and necessary surgical management of articular disc injury in the TMJ for better clinical outcomes.

Antibacterial Activity of Lawsonia inermis Leaf Extracts against Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Infected Wounds

Background: Wound infection comprises numerous different organisms that have the ability to surface colonization of wounds. Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the pathogenic bacteria associated with wound infections. Aim: This study isolated and identified multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa from infected wounds and determine the antibacterial activity of Lawsonia inermis leaf extracts against it. Design: This is a Clinical and laboratory-based study involving patients with defined cases of wound infections. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in the Microbiology (Bacteriology) laboratory of Specialist Hospital, Bauchi, Nigeria, from February to November 2021. Methods: Twenty-eight (28) Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were recovered from 179 wound swabs using standard laboratory procedures and were screened for multidrug-resistant patterns according to the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Antibacterial efficacy of the aqueous, ethanolic, and methanolic leaf extracts of Lawsonia inermis was tested against the multidrug-resistant isolates using agar well diffusion techniques. The zone of inhibition was measured and the differences between means were statistically analyzed (p<0.05). Results: A total of twenty-eight (28) multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa were confirmed, showing resistance to Amoxicillin (64.3%), Ceftazidime (85.71%), and Cefotaxime (78.57%) but sensitivity to Imipenem (95.5%). The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, steroids, and tannins among others. MDR P. aeruginosa was inhibited at varied concentrations of the extracts with the diameter mean zone of inhibition increasing as the concentration increased. The Methanol extracts showed the highest antibacterial activity against MDR P. aeruginosa with a mean zone of inhibition of 9.500±0.288mm at 400mg/ml. Conclusion: These results indicated that Lawsonia inermis leaf extracts possess antibacterial activities on Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa which could be a good source for the production of plant-based antibacterial drugs., although somewhat less than the synthetic standard drugs (Imipenem) having a mean of 13.83±0.288mm.

Articulación temporomandibular ¿disco o menisco articular? / Temporomandibular joint, disc or articular meniscus

Los términos disco y menisco se encuentran en Terminologia Anatomica. Sin embargo, ambos términos son utilizados como sinónimos para referirse al cartílago intraarticular presente en la articulación temporomandibular (ATM). Por este motivo, el objetivo de este estudio es exponer las raíces griegas de los términos disco y menisco para evaluar la coherencia entre su relación léxica y su relación morfológica. Ambos términos fueron consultados en el Programa Federativo Internacional de Terminología Anatómica y en diccionarios de idiomas griego, español e inglés. La búsqueda reportó que el término "disco" deriva del latín discus, y este a su vez del griego δίσκος [dískos] que significa "cuerpo cilíndrico cuya base es muy grande respecto a su altura". Por su parte "menisco" proviene del griego mēnískos μηνίσκος [mḗn μήν gr. μείς 'meis', 'luna creciente' + -iskos gr. Sufijo diminutivo 'pequeño'] que significa "luna creciente pequeña" y se define como "cartílago de forma semilunar y de espesor menguante de la periferia al centro; forma parte de la articulación de la rodilla". Por lo tanto, la definición anatómica de disco articular y menisco está determinada por su morfología según la etimología de la palabra. En la ATM se encuentra un disco articular entre los huesos articulares, según su morfología.

SUMMARY: The terms disc and meniscus are found in Terminologia Anatomica. However, both terms are used synonymously to refer to the intra-articular cartilage present in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). For this reason, this study aims to expose the greek roots of the terms disc and meniscus to evaluate the coherence between their lexical and morphological relationships. Both terms were consulted in the International Federative Program of Anatomical Terminology and in Greek, Spanish and, English dictionaries. The search reported that the term "disc" derives from the Latin discus, and this in turn from the Greek δίσκος [dískos], which means "cylindrical body whose base is very large compared to its height". For its part, "meniscus" comes from the Greek mēnískos μηνίσκος [mḗn μήν gr. μείς 'meis', 'crescent moon' + -iskos Gr. Diminutive suffix 'small'] which means "small crescent moon" and, is defined as "cartilage with a semilunar shape and decreasing thickness from the periphery to the center; It is part of the knee joint. Therefore, the anatomical definition of articular disc and meniscus is determined by its morphology according to the etymology of the word. In the TMJ, an articular disc is found between the articular bones, depending on their morphology.

Radial peripapillary capillary network in congenital cavitary optic disk anomalies

Background and Purpose: "Congenital cavitary optic disk anomalies" is a term used to include optic disk pit (ODP), optic disk coloboma, and morning glory disk anomaly (MGDA). Imaging the radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) network in congenital optic disk anomalies with optical coherence tomography?angiography (OCTA) can shed light on its pathogenesis. This video describes the OCTA findings of optic nerve head and RPC network using the angio?disk mode in five cases of congenital cavitary optic disk anomalies. Synopsis: The video presents characteristic RPC network alterations in two eyes of ODP, one eye of optic disk coloboma, and two eyes of noncontractile MGDA. Highlights: OCTA in ODP and coloboma shows absence of RPC microvascular network and a region of capillary dropout. This finding is in contrast to MGDA, where the microvascular network is dense. OCTA is an effective imaging modality to study vascular plexus and RPC and their alteration in congenital disk anomalies, which could provide information about the structural differences among them.

Percutaneous lumbar discectomy: a systematic review / Discectomia percutânea lombar: uma revisão sistemática

Introduction: Low back pain is a clinical condition with a multifactorial etiopathogenesis, which has a high socioeconomic impact, especially in the economically active population, as it is associated with frequent absenteeism and reduced quality of life. Through intervertebral disc degeneration, a progressive instability of the compromised region is observed, triggering a harmful positive feedback mechanism that further promotes intervertebral disc disease. Built by the interaction between the predisposing biopsychosocial components, a multidisciplinary therapeutic proposition is suggested. In persistent low back pain, treatment involves surgical procedures such as Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy. Objectives: to evaluate the scientific evidence regarding the clinical outcomes and safety of this surgery. Method: systematic review duly registered in Prospero (CRD42022370811), based on the PICOD question, elaborated from a Boolean search in different databases for scientific articles, evaluated and selected in a paired way based on the eligibility criteria. In addition to extracting data related to the proposed objectives, the articles included were evaluated in relation to their level of evidence and strength of recommendation. Results: among the 12 articles included, it was observed that it is a clinically effective and safe procedure. In the set of evidences gathered, they are of high and moderate level of evidence with respective strength of recommendation strong/good and weak/moderate. Conclusion: Percutaneous Lumbar Discectomy promotes significant reduction of pain and increase in body functionality, in addition to preserving local musculoskeletal structures and preventing post-surgical joint instability. It is, therefore, a safe and clinically effective minimally invasive procedure for patients with herniated discs.

Introdução: a lombalgia é uma condição clínica de etiopatogenia multifatorial, que desencadeia um elevado impacto socioeconômico especialmente na população economicamente ativa, por associar-se ao absenteísmo frequente e à redução da qualidade de vida. Observa-se mediante a degeneração do disco intervertebral, uma instabilidade progressiva da região comprometida desencadeando um mecanismo de feedback positivo prejudicial que promove ainda mais a doença do disco intervertebral. Edificada pela interação entre os componentes biopsicossocial predisponentes, sugere-se uma proposição terapêutica multidisciplinar. Na dor lombar persistente o tratamento envolve procedimentos cirúrgicos como a Discectomia Percutânea Lombar. Objetivo: avaliar as evidencias científicas relativas aos desfechos clínicos e à segurança desta cirurgia. Método: revisão sistemática devidamente registrada no Prospero (CRD42022370811), fundamentada na pergunta PICOD acrônimo para Paciente, Intervenção, Comparação, Desfechos (outcomes) e Design, elaborada a partir de busca booleana em diferentes bases de dados por artigos científicos, avaliados e selecionados de forma pareado com base nos critérios de elegibilidade. Além da extração de dados relativos aos objetivos propostos, os artigos incluídos foram avaliados em relação ao respectivo nível de evidencia e força de recomendação. Resultados: dentre os 12 artigos incluídos, observou-se que se trata de um procedimento clinicamente efetivo e seguro. No conjunto de evidencias reunidas são de alto e moderado nível de evidencia com respectiva força de recomendação forte/boa e, fraca/moderada. Conclusão: a Discectomia Percutânea Lombar promove relevante redução da dor e aumento da funcionalidade corporal, além de preservar as estruturas musculoesqueléticas locais e prevenir a instabilidade articular pós-cirúrgica. Trata-se, portanto, de um procedimento minimamente invasivo seguro e clinicamente efetivo para os pacientes portadores de hérnia discal.

Management of recurrent optic disc pit–associated maculopathy with human amniotic membrane graft in a pediatric case

Background: Optic disc pit–associated maculopathy (ODP-M) is a rare presentation in children. Therefore, only a few pediatric cases successfully managed have been reported in the literature. This video shows successful management of ODP-M with human amniotic membrane graft in a pediatric case presenting with recurrence with intraoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT). Purpose: To demonstrate a successful management of ODP-M with human amniotic membrane graft in a pediatric case presenting with recurrence. Synopsis: A 13-year-old patient who had been previously operated with 25-G pars plana vitrectomy with double internal limiting membrane peel and juxtapapillary endolaser with SF 6 gas tamponade for optic disc pit–associated maculopathy (ODP-M) presented with recurrence 9 months after primary surgery. Three 25-G sclerotomies were made and human amniotic membrane graft was tucked into the ODP; the position of the graft was confirmed with intraoperative ocular coherence tomography. Subretinal fluid rapidly resolved within 48 h and best-corrected visual acuity improved to 0.5 logMAR after one week. Later follow-ups showed no complications or recurrence. Highlights: This video shows successful management of ODP-M with human amniotic membrane graft in a pediatric case presenting with recurrence with intraoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT), without any additional tamponade.

Epidemiology of Orthopaedic Fractures and Other Traumatic Injuries among Patients Admitted in a Tertiary Care Hospital: An Observational Study

Background: Orthopaedic fractures and traumatic injuries are a growing concern for healthcare systems worldwide. Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) are among the top five causes of illness and mortality in South East Asian nations. Trauma caused by other factors, such as accidents at work or home, falls, and assaults, significantly contribute to overall mortality and morbidity. This study aims to investigate the occurrence of traumatic injuries with associated factors and find significant orthopaedic fracture patterns. Material & Methods: This study was a retrospective observational study that was conducted on 208 patients who were admitted to the department of orthopaedics at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital during the study period between April 2004 and June 2007 those who fulfilled the selection criteria were enrolled in this study. All data were processed and analyzed with the help of SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 25. The data were expressed as frequency and percentage in tables and graphs. Results: During the study period total number of study patients were 208 where 131 (62.98%) patients were male, and 77(37.02%) were female. The majority, 53 (25.48%) of the patients, were aged between 31-40 years. RTAs were responsible for 92 cases (44.23%) of all traumatic orthopaedic injuries and followed by falls accounting for 42 patients (20.19%) of injuries. Majority 46(22.12%) of the patients had fractures in femur, second majority 38(18.27%) patients had fracture in tibia/fibula. The most common fracture site being the lower limbs (58 cases, 27.88 %). Conclusion: The study concluded that the incidence of traumatic orthopaedic injuries was higher in young male adults compared to all other study groups. The three most frequent causes of injuries were falls, RTAs, and assaults were the most prevalent form of injury. The most frequently damaged bones are the femur and tibia/fibula.

Research Progressin the Relationship between Interleukin-6 and Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / 中国医学科学院学报

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is one of the main diseases causing low back pain,which seriously affects the quality of life of patients.Recent studies have discovered that interleukin-6 (IL-6) is highly expressed in the tissues and cells of degenerative intervertebral disc and is closely related to the occurrence and development of IDD.However,the signaling pathway and role of IL-6 in IDD remain to be understood.Therefore,this article reviews the recent studies about the signaling pathway and role of IL-6 in IDD,aiming to facilitate the clinical work and subsequent research progress.

Quality Evaluation of Temporomandibular Joint Images from 3 High-resolution Dynamic Sequences / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To compare the image quality of three high-resolution dynamic MRI methods for evaluating the motion of temporomandibular joint disc and condyle. Methods Twenty-five patients with suspected temporomandibular joint disorders were examined by single-shot fast spin-echo (SSFSE),fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition (FIESTA),and spoiled gradient echo (SPGR) on the oblique sagittal position.Two radiologists performed subjective and objective evaluation on the images with double-blind method.The subjective evaluation included the signal intensity of mandibular condyle,articular disc,soft tissue around articular disc,and lateral pterygoid muscle,the contrast between articular disc and condyle,the contrast between articular disc and surrounding soft tissue,condylar motion,and disc movement.The objective evaluation indexes included image signal intensity,signal-to-noise ratio (SNR),and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR).The subjective and objective indexes of the image quality were compared between the three sequences. Results The SSFSE sequence had lower signal intensity of articular disc and higher signal intensity of condyle and surrounding soft tissue than FIESTA and SPGR sequences (all P<0.001).The SPGR sequence showed higher signal intensity of lateral pterygoid muscle than the SSFSE and FIESTA sequences (P=0.017,P<0.001).Among the three sequences,SSFSE sequence showed the clearest articular disc structure (χ2=41.952,P<0.001),the strongest contrast between articular disc and condyle (χ2=35.379,P<0.001),the strongest contrast between articular disc and surrounding soft tissue (χ2=27.324,P<0.001),and the clearest movement of articular disc (χ2=44.655,P<0.001).SSFSE and FIESTA sequences showed higher proportion of disc displacement and reduction than SPGR sequence (all P<0.001).The CNR (χ2=21.400,P<0.001),SNR (χ2=34.880,P<0.001),and condyle signal intensity (F=337.151,P<0.001) demonstrated differences among SSFSE,FIESTA,and SPGR sequences.The CNR of SSFSE sequence was higher than that of FIESTA sequence (P<0.001),while it had no significant difference between SSFSE and SPGR sequences (P=0.472).In addition,the SSFSE sequence had higher SNR and signal intensity than FIESTA and SPGR sequences (all P<0.001). Conclusion The best image quality can be observed from SSFSE sequence where both the structure and movement of temporomandibular joint are well displayed.Therefore,SSFSE is preferred for the examination of temporomandibular joint movement.

Traditinal Chinese Medicine Intervention in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration by Regulating Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Intervertebral disc degeneration is one of the common causes of chronic low back pain. As a common spinal disease， its clinical symptoms are mainly low back pain and limited function， which seriously affects physical and psychological health. Because of its complex and unclear pathogenesis， the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration has been the focus of scientific researchers and clinical workers. At present， the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration mainly includes non-surgical therapy and surgical therapy， which can alleviate the clinical symptoms of patients to a certain extent， but easily induce new complications， and it is difficult to restore the normal physiological function of the intervertebral disc. In recent years， along with the advanced research on matrix metalloproteinases （MMPs） in the tissues of intervertebral disc degeneration， it has been found that MMPs can be used as molecular therapeutic targets. The expression of MMPs in the intervertebral disc tissues can be regulated by reducing the content and composition of the extracellular matrix of the intervertebral disc， so as to slow down intervertebral disc degeneration and even reverse the occurrence of intervertebral disc degeneration. This treatment is expected to delay intervertebral disc degeneration caused by changes in extracellular matrix composition or content. In recent years， with the continuous development of network pharmacology and bioinformatics research， a large number of researchers have explored the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration by traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） and found that TCM can reduce the degradation of extracellular matrix by inhibiting the expression of MMPs， thus alleviating the symptoms of intervertebral disc degeneration and slowing down the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration. This paper reviewed the research progress of TCM intervention in MMP expression in the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration， aiming at providing references for the application of TCM in the prevention and treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Optical coherence tomography angiography quantitative analysis of the effect of modified Buyang Huanwu Decoction on blood flow to the optic disc in patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM:To observe the clinical efficacy of modified Buyang Huanwu Decoction in treating non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR)of qi and yin deficiency and stagnation of collaterals, and to quantitatively analyze the changes in peripapillary vessel density before and after treatment using optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA).METHODS:A randomized controlled trial was used to collect a total of 58 patients(99 eyes)with qi and yin deficiency and stagnation of collaterals NPDR who visited our hospital from June 2022 to November 2022, and patients were randomly divided into an observation group(n=29, 51 eyes)and a control group(n=29, 48 eyes). The control group received basic treatment according to the recommendations for DR published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology in 2019(blood glucose control, diabetes health education, and regular follow-up for patients with mild NPDR; and add local/grid-like laser photocoagulation if necessary for patients with moderate NPDR), while the observation group received modified Buyang Huanwu Decoction in addition to the basic treatment for 1mo. The best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA), traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)efficacy, peripapillary telangiectasia vessel density(ppVD), and changes in peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer(pRNFL)thickness were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.RESULTS:The BCVA(LogMAR)of the observation group was 0.20(0.10, 0.30)after 1mo of treatment, which was significantly improved compared with that of the control group of 0.30(0.20, 0.40; P&#x003C;0.05). The TCM efficacy in the observation group after 1mo of treatment was better than that in the control group(P&#x003C;0.05). The ppVD in all quadrants of the observation group showed a significant improvement at 1mo after treatment, and the ppVD in all quadrants of the observation group was higher than that of the control group(P&#x003C;0.05). The pRNFL thickness in the superior, temporal, and average peripapillary areas of the observation group increased after 1mo of treatment, and the pRNFL thickness in the superior, temporal, inferior quadrants, and average peripapillary area of the observation group was higher than that of the control group(P&#x003C;0.05).CONCLUSION:Modified Buyang Huanwu Decoction can improve visual acuity and enhance TCM efficacy in patients with NPDR of qi and yin deficiency and stagnation of collaterals. It may be related to its ability to improve ppVD and reduce damage to the pRNFL.

Characteristics of paravertebral muscles in patients with unilateral lumbar disc herniation / 中国康复理论与实践

ObjectiveTo explore the imbalance of paravertebral muscle group for patients with unilateral lumbar disc herniation. MethodsFrom January, 2022 to January, 2023, 30 patients with unilateral lumbar disc herniation (observation group) and 30 healthy people matching in general data (control group) were measured the tension and stiffness of multifidus and erector spinae with MyotonPRO, while the observation group was assessed with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and the time of disease was also recorded. ResultsThe mean of bilateral tension and hardness of multifidus and erector spinae was more in the observation group than in the control group (|t| > 5.407, P < 0.001), and the tension and hardness of multifidus and erector spinae of the affected side were more than those of the unaffected side in the observation group (|t| > 11.219, P < 0.001). The tension and hardness of multifidus and erector spinae of the affected side were positively correlated with VAS score (r > 0.942, P < 0.001), and negatively correlated with JOA score (|r| > 0.886, P < 0.001). ConclusionThe tension and hardness of multifidus and erector spinae of the affected side increase after unilateral lumbar disc herniation, resulting in asymmetry.

Investigation on Mechanisms of Osteoking Against Four Types of Bone Injury Diseases Based on Heterogeneous Information Network with Concept of "Treating Different Diseases with an Identical Treatment" / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo elucidate the mechanism of Osteoking against fracture， femoral head necrosis， osteoarthritis， and lumbar disc herniation by integrating heterogeneous information network mining and experimental validation. MethodOn the basis of the disease-related database and transcriptome expression profiling dataset， as well as the ETCM database， the gene sets related to four target diseases and the candidate target spectrum of Osteoking were obtained through the integration and analysis of bioinformatics data， and a "disease-syndrome-formula-target-pathway-effect" heterogeneous information network was constructed. In addition， by functional enrichment analysis， the core targets of Osteoking in interfering with the imbalance network of four kinds of bone injury diseases， the biological pathways involved， and the corresponding clinical symptoms were screened， and they were verified in animal experiments. ResultHeterogeneous information network mining indicates that Osteoking may commonly reverse the imbalance networks of fracture， femoral head necrosis， osteoarthritis， and lumbar disc herniation via regulating cell function and activity， inhibiting inflammatory response， reducing bone destruction， and improving the immune function of the body by modulating relevant core candidate targets such as RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase （Akt1）， catenin beta-1 （CTNNB1）， epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR）， heat shock protein 90-alpha （HSP90AA1）， and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha isoform （PI3KCA）， as well as related biological pathways such as phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases/protein kinase B （PI3K/Akt）， janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription （JAK/STAT）， tumor necrosis factor （TNF）， nuclear factor kappa-B （NF-κB）， and Toll-like receptors. In particular， Osteoking may improve the blood supply of the fracture end by regulating blood circulation at the target site of the disease， and it may maintain the balance of bone metabolism by regulating hormone-related pathways to promote fracture healing. In addition， Osteoking may relieve lipid metabolism disorders by targeting and regulating lipid-related pathways， accelerate bone formation and bone repair， and delay the progression of femoral head necrosis. Osteoking may relieve the symptoms of pain by acting on neurological pathways to reduce local nociceptive stimulation in patients with osteoarthritis and lumbar disc herniation. Further experimental validation demonstrates that the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is the most significantly enriched pathway for the key network targets of Osteoking for the four diseases. The candidate target of Osteoking may have the strongest association with the network of fracture-related genes. Therefore， this study chooses fracture as the target disease to verify the efficacy of Osteoking. The results show that Osteoking can accelerate bone formation and promote fracture healing by inhibiting the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling axis. ConclusionThe study shows that the main mechanism of "treating different diseases with an identical treatment" of four bone injury diseases with Osteoking involves cell function regulation and immune inflammation-related signaling pathways. Further experimental validation identifies that the PI3K/Akt signaling axis may be one of the key pathways of Osteoking to promote bone regeneration， bone reconstruction， and bone metabolism homeostasis.