Worldwide productivity and research trend of publications concerning extracellular vesicles role in fibrosis: A bibliometric study from 2013 to 2022.

Background: Fibrosis is a heavy burden on the global healthcare system. Recently, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated that Extracellular vesicles play an important role in intercellular communication under both physiological and pathological conditions. This study aimed to explore the role of extracellular vesicles' in fibrosis using bibliometric methods. Methods: Original articles and reviews related to extracellular vesicles and fibrosis were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection database on November 9, 2022. VOSviewer was used to obtain general information, including co-institution, co-authorship, and co-occurrence visualization maps. The CiteSpace software was used to analyze citation bursts of keywords and references, a timeline view of the top clusters of keywords and cited articles, and the dual map. R package "bibliometrix" was used to analyze annual production, citation per year, collaboration network between countries/regions, thematic evolution map, and historiography network. Results: In total, 3376 articles related to extracellular vesicles and fibrosis published from 2013 to 2022 were included in this study, with China and the United States being the top contributors. Shanghai Jiao Tong University has the highest number of publications. The main collaborators were Giovanni Camussi, Stefania Bruno, Marta Tepparo, and Cristina Grange. Journals related to molecular, biology, genetics, health, immunology, and medicine tended to publish literature on extracellular vesicles and fibrosis. "Recovery," "heterogeneity," "degradation," "inflammation," and "mesenchymal stem cells" are the keywords in this research field. Literature on extracellular vesicles and fibrosis associated with several diseases, including "kidney disease," "rheumatoid arthritis," and "skin regeneration" may be the latest hot research field. Conclusions: This study provides a comprehensive perspective on extracellular vesicles and fibrosis through a bibliometric analysis of articles published between 2013 and 2022. We identified the most influential countries, institutions, authors, and journals. We provide information on recent research frontiers and trends for scholars interested in the field of extracellular vesicles and fibrosis. Their role in biological processes has great potential to initiate a new upsurge in future research.

METFORMIN MITIGATES SEPSIS-ASSOCIATED PULMONARY FIBROSIS BY PROMOTING AMPK ACTIVATION AND INHIBITING HIF-1α-INDUCED AEROBIC GLYCOLYSIS.

ABSTRACT: Recent research has revealed that aerobic glycolysis has a strong correlation with sepsis-associated pulmonary fibrosis (PF). However, at present, the mechanism and pathogenesis remain unclear. We aimed to test the hypothesis that the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation and suppression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α)-induced aerobic glycolysis play a central role in septic pulmonary fibrogenesis. Cellular experiments demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide increased fibroblast activation through AMPK inactivation, HIF-1α induction, alongside an augmentation of aerobic glycolysis. By contrast, the effects were reversed by AMPK activation or HIF-1α inhibition. In addition, pretreatment with metformin, which is an AMPK activator, suppresses HIF-1α expression and alleviates PF associated with sepsis, which is caused by aerobic glycolysis, in mice. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α knockdown demonstrated similar protective effects in vivo . Our research implies that targeting AMPK activation and HIF-1α-induced aerobic glycolysis with metformin might be a practical and useful therapeutic alternative for sepsis-associated PF.

Jumbo cup in hip joint renovation may cause the center of rotation to increase.

BACKGROUND: Utilizing the large jumbo cup in revision total hip arthroplasty is an effective approach to cure many lacunar and segmental peripheral bone defects. However, with the use of the jumbo cup, the center of the hip joint may become elevated relative to the primary acetabulum, and the diameter of the large cup is greater. AIM: To study the height and the significance of the elevation of the hip joint center. METHODS: Eighty-eight patients matched the criteria for this condition and were included in the study. The center height of the hip joint was measured relative to the opposite normal hip joint. The diameter of the jumbo cup was measured and checked according to operation notes, and the diameter of the jumbo cup was measured with a prosthesis label. Then, the horizontal and vertical centers of rotation were measured on the surgical side and opposite side. The average center height of the hip joint on the renovated side and the opposite side and the position of the hip cup relative to the teardrop were compared using a paired t-test. RESULTS: Radiometric analysis showed that the average hip joint center was elevated by 7.6 mm. The rotational center height delta of the renovated hip was 7.6 ± 5.6 mm, and there was an obvious difference between the two groups (P = 0.00). The difference in horizontal distance was 0.5 ± 5.1 mm (-11.5 -14.0 mm), and there was no obvious difference between the two groups (P = 0.38). According to the foreign standard, the rotational center height delta of the renovated hip was 7.5 ± 6.2 mm, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.00). There was no obvious difference between the domestic and foreign standards (P > 0.05) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The application of the jumbo cup elevates the rotational center of the hip joint, but it is feasible and effective to use the jumbo cup.

Dietary education with customised dishware and food supplements can reduce frailty and improve mental well-being in elderly people: A single-blind randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The elderly population is increasing rapidly worldwide, and frailty is a common geriatric syndrome. Comprehensive dietary management strategies may have beneficial effects on frailty prevention and reversal. This 3-month single-blind, paralleled, randomized controlled trial compared the effects of micronutrients and/or protein supplements, and a personalised diet on frailty status in elderly individuals. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Between 2014 and 2015, 40 prefrail or frail subjects aged >=65 years were recruited at Miaoli General Hospital, Taiwan. Of these, 37 completed the study, and 36 were included in the analysis. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: (1) the control (2) multiple micronutrient supplements, (3) multiple micronutrients plus isolated soy protein supplement, and (4) individualised nutrition education with customised dishware and food supplements (mixed nuts and skimmed milk powder). Dietary intake, protein biomarkers, frailty score, and geriatric depression score were assessed. RESULTS: Individualised nutrition education with customised dishware and food supplements significantly increased the participants' intake of vegetables, dairy, and nuts, in addition to increasing the concentration of urinary urea nitrogen. It yielded a significant reduction in frailty score (p<0.05) and a borderline reduction (p=0.063) in geriatric depression score. No significant beneficial changes were observed for the other two intervention groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicated that a dietary approach with easy-to-comprehend dishware and food supplements to optimize the distribution of the consumption of six food groups improved frailty status and, potentially, psychological well-being in elderly people.

[Clinical observation on the treatment of periprosthetic infection of coagulase-negative staphylococci by two-stage revision].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors for the failure in treating periprosthetic infection of coagulase-negative staphylococci by two-stage revision. METHODS: From January 2005 to June 2015, 57 patients with periprosthetic hip and knee joint infection of coagulase-negative staphylococcus by two-stage revision were retrospectively reviewed with an average age of (61.3±11.9) years old. According to the drug resistance of methicillin, the patients were divided into methicillin sensitive group(MSCoN) and methicillin resistance(MRCoN) group, 25 cases in MSCoN group(9 knees and 16 hips) included 12 males and 13 females, 32 cases in MRCoN group(11 knees and 21 hips) included 14 males and 18 females. Follow-up for at least 2 years, the inflammatory markers, incidence rate of sinus and the duration of the symptoms, reinfection or persistent infection rate after two-stage revision were compared between two groups. RESULTS: MSCoN group and MRCoN group were followed up(81.7±38.3) months and(65.9±33.8) months, respectively;23 cases and 27 cases were successfully treated;there was no significant difference between two groups(P=0.643). The patients who had surgery history were 4.04 times higher of failure than the patients without a history of surgery[OR=4.04, 95%CI(0.62, 26.5)]. Patients who had sinus were 4.26 times higher of failure than the patients without sinus[OR=4.26, 95%CI(0.7, 25.9)]. CONCLUSIONS: Two-stage revision is an effective procedure in treating patients infected by MSCoN and MRCoN. There is no significant difference of treatment failure rate between MSCoN and MRCoN group by two-stage revision. Surgery history and sinus maybe the risk factors of treatment failure, while methicillin-resistance is not.

[Clinical results in early and mid term of using the S-ROM femoral stem in revision].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and the clinical effect of S-ROM modular stem in femur reconstruction in hip revision arthroplasty. METHODS: From January 2008 to January 2016, 21 patients received revision hip arthroplasties using S-ROM stems. There were 5 males and 16 females with an average of 48.33 years old(range, 29 to 73 years old). There were 13 cases caused by aseptic loosening, 4 cases by infection, 2 cases by nonunion of sub-tuberosity osteotomy, 1 case for repeated dislocation, 1 case for traumatic great trochanter fracture. Primary THA reasons:12 cases for DDH(9 cases for Crowe IV), 5 cases for femoral neck fracture, 2 cases for necrosis of femoral head, 2 cases for proximal femoral deformity caused by early infection. The femur bone defects included Paprosky II in 11 cases, IIIa in 9, and IIIb in 1. Harris hip score , pain score and hip flexion were recorded before and after operation. The subjective satisfaction was recorded at the last follow-up. RESULTS: The operation time and blood loss were 189 min(125 to 290 min) and 867 ml (200 to 2 000 ml). At the final followup, the pain score improved from (17.14±9.56) points preoperatively to (41.71±2.03) points (t=11.42, P=0.00). The function score improved from (24.01±11.02) points preoperatively to (49.95±5.38) points (t=9.73, P=0.00). Harris hip score improved from (41.15±14.81) points preoperatively to(91.67±5.83) points(t=15.33, P=0.00). The degree of hip flexion increased from (93.10±27.27) points preoperatively to (121.90±16.62) points at the last follow-up (t=4.59, P=0.00). The mean subjective satisfaction was 9.48(10 points system), 14 of which were completely satisfactory. The last follow-up hip X-ray showed 21 cases of bone ingrowth, and other femoral stem without loosening or sinking sign significantly. There were 5 cases with bone anchor syndrome around proximal femoral cuff. There were 5 cases of proximal femur fracture, 3 cases of lesser trochanter fracture, 2 cases of greater trochanter fracture intra-operatively. Due to femoral canal stenosis, there were 4 cases of pre-tied wire at lesser trochanter to prevent fractures. There was 1 case of traumatic femoral fracture around stems with a distal oblique fracture, open reduction and locking plate fixation was performed. Other patients had no nerve stretch injury, dislocation, infection and lower limb deep vein thrombosis and other complications at the final follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: S-ROM prosthesis has satisfactory results in hip revision arthroplasty with Paprosky II and III femoral defects. Especially for patients with Crowe IV DDH and other proximal femoral deformities, it is possible to adapt to the medullary cavity morphology. Excellent initial stability, less complications and long-term biological fixation can be achieved with S-ROM in femur revision.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes can induce pulmonary injury in mouse model.

Carbon nanotubes are a nanomaterial that is extensively used in industry. The potential health risk of chronic carbon nanotubes exposure has been raised as of great public concern. In the present study, we have demonstrated that intratracheal instillation of 0.5 mg of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) into male ICR mice (8 weeks old) induced alveolar macrophage activation, various chronic inflammatory responses, and severe pulmonary granuloma formation. We then used Affymetrix microarrays to investigate the molecular effects on the macrophages when exposed to SWCNT. A biological pathway analysis, a literature survey, and experimental validation suggest that the uptake of SWCNT into the macrophages is able to activate various transcription factors such as nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) and activator protein 1 (AP-1), and this leads to oxidative stress, the release of proinflammatory cytokines, the recruitment of leukocytes, the induction of protective and antiapoptotic gene expression, and the activation of T cells. The resulting innate and adaptive immune responses may explain the chronic pulmonary inflammation and granuloma formation in vivo caused by SWCNT.

An association between human papillomavirus 16/18 deoxyribonucleic acid in peripheral blood with p16 protein expression in neoplastic cervical lesions.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection plays a crucial role in cervical carcinogenesis. Apart from the detection of p16 protein in cervical tissues, the feasibility of the presence of HPV DNA in peripheral blood being an auxiliary marker of cervical lesions was examined. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples and cervical tissues, from 36 cervical tissues from high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and 31 early invasive cervical cancers (EICC), were analyzed for HPV 16/18 DNA and HPV 16/18 E7 mRNA expression, as well as the in situ expressions of p16 and pRb to investigate the in-between associations. RESULTS: The prevalence of HPV 16/18 DNA in patients with EICC was relatively higher than those of HSIL, in both of cervical tissues and peripheral blood. The presence of HPV 16/18 DNA in peripheral blood was positively correlated with that in cervical tissue, as well as with p16 overexpression in cervical tissues together with a significant correlation between E7 mRNA and pRb and p16 protein expressions. DISCUSSION: A positive correlation between the presence of HPV 16 or 18 DNA in peripheral blood and p16 overexpression in tissues of patients with cervical lesions was confirmed. Together with p16 immunostaining in cervical tissues, the detection of high-risk HPV 16 or 18 DNA in peripheral blood may act as an auxiliary biomarker for HPV-associated neoplastic cervical lesions.