Efficacy and safety of intrathecal morphine for pain control after spinal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of intrathecal (IT) morphine for postoperative pain control in adults undergoing spinal surgeries. We searched the electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL up to 1st January 2021 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or controlled clinical trials (CCTs) comparing IT morphine with placebo or other analgesics. Twelve studies were included. Eleven were RCTs and one was a CCT. Our meta-analysis indicated a statistically significant reduction of pain scores with IT morphine at 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours; but no significant difference at 48 hours. Meta-analysis indicated a statistically significant reduction in analgesic consumption with IT morphine as compared to control. Pooled analysis indicated that IT morphine had no statistically significant effect on length of hospital stay. Our analysis indicated no statistically significant difference in the risk of nausea, vomiting, sedation, respiratory depression, headache, and urinary retention between IT morphine and control groups. The incidence of pruritis was significantly increased in the IT morphine group. The certainty of the evidence was judged to be "moderate" for pain scores at 12 hours, 24 hours, and analgesic consumption. To conclude, our review indicates that IT morphine results in significantly better pain control in the first 24 hours after spinal surgery. The risk of pruritis is significantly increased with the use of IT morphine but not for other opioid-related adverse events. Future RCTs should focus on finding the most optimal dose of IT morphine for spinal surgeries.

The comparative safety of biological treatment in patients with axial spondylarthritis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with placebo.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the comparative safety of biological treatment in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) enrolled in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with placebo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Studies were systematically retrieved from the Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases. The last search was performed on 8 June 2020. The primary outcome measures were adverse events (AEs), serious AEs, infection, serious infection, and discontinuation due to AEs. This study was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. RESULTS: A total of twenty-two trials, including 2599 participants treated with biologics and 1547 participants treated with placebo, met the inclusion criteria. There was a significantly higher risk of infection, AEs, and discontinuation due to AEs in the biologics groups compared to the placebo groups [risk ratio (RR) = 1.38, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 1.22-1.57, p < 0.01; RR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.10-1.25, p < 0.01; and RR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.03-2.87, p = 0.04, respectively], and low heterogeneity was found among the included studies (I2 = 0%, p = 0. 49; I2 = 29%, p = 0.10; and I2 = 0%, p = 0.79, respectively). The risk of serious infection and serious AEs was not significantly different between axSpA patients treated with biologics and those treated with placebo [RR = 1.62, 95% CI = 0.54-4.90, p = 0.39 and RR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.79-1.73, p = 0.44]. Low heterogeneity was found among the included studies (I2 = 0%, p = 0.94 and I2 = 0%, p = 0.69). The subgroup analyses based on tumour necrosis factor inhibitors and interleukin antagonists did not yield significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis is the first comprehensive assessment of the safety of various biological agents in axSpA patients. The use of biological agents in axSpA is generally safe and tolerable.

[An analysis of electrocochleography in patients with OSAHS].

Objective:To investigate the values of electrocochleograph（ECochG）in patients with OSAHS. Method:ECochG was performed in 31 (62 ears) OSAHS patients (moderately 5 cases, severely 26 cases) and 28 healthy adults (56 ears). AP latency ，AP amplitude and SP/AP were measured and analyzed. Result:There was no difference between the two groups in SP/AP amplitude ratio（P>0.05） while both AP latency（P<0.05） and AP amplitude（P<0.05） were significantly different. Conclusion:ECochG can confirm the damage of cochlear and auditory nerve near the cochlear segment in patients with moderate to severe OSAHS.

Result and pedigree analysis of spontaneously abortion villus chromosome detecting by FISH.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between fetal karyotype and parental chromosomal abnormalities, and to provide a basis for clinical diagnosis and therapy in Northeast China. A total of 144 spontaneously aborted fetuses were analyzed by FISH to test for chromosome number and to recall couples for peripheral blood karyotype analysis. The rate of abnormal chorionic villus chromosomes was 35.42%. Villus chromosome abnormality rate of the first spontaneous abortion and repeated abortions were 40.54 and 33.64%, respectively (P < 0.05). The rate of chromosome abnormality in women with advanced maternal age and women younger than 35 years old were 46.43 and 32.76%, respectively (P < 0.05). In a recall of 112 couples for peripheral blood karyotype analysis, just 3 cases of 7 patients with peripheral blood chromosome abnormality showed abnormal FISH results in their abortion villi. Fetal chromosome number abnormality is a major cause of early abortion, and parental chromosomal abnormality is not the main factor in abnormal fetal karyotype. A complete evaluation and special treatment should be provided to couples with a history of recurrent miscarriage.

Male carriers of balanced reciprocal translocations in Northeast China: sperm count, reproductive performance, and genetic counseling.

Balanced chromosomal translocations in men can cause failure of spermatogenesis owing to meiotic impairment. Male carriers may exhibit normozoospermia, although clinical manifestations can include oligozoospermia or azoospermia, oligozoospermia or normozoospermia. Here, we reported the characteristics of balanced reciprocal translocations in men from northeastern China, and explored the relationship between sperm count and reproductive performance, to enable informed genetic counseling. The frequency of balanced reciprocal translocations was found to be 1.62%. Semen analysis showed that 5.9% of male carriers had azoospermia, 43.1% had oligozoospermia, and 51.0% had normozoospermia. Of the 25 men with a balanced reciprocal translocation and azoospermia or oligozoospermia, chromosome 1 was the most commonly often involved in the translocation. However, in the 26 normozoospermic men with a balanced reciprocal translocation and normozoospermia, chromosome 3 was most commonly implicated. Fifty percent of men with a balanced reciprocal translocation conceived a pregnancy that went to term. Our data suggest that of all chromosomes, chromosomes 1 and 3 are the most commonly involved chromosomes in balanced reciprocal such translocations in northeastern Chinese men. Karyotype analysis should be performed for men with azoospermia, oligozoospermia, and those in couples having suffered recurrent miscarriages. Natural conception should be discussed during genetic counseling for male carriers of balanced chromosomal translocations with normozoospermia.

Novel mutation breeding method for Streptomyces avermitilis using an atmospheric pressure glow discharge plasma.

AIMS: Avermectins are major antiparasitic agents used commercially in animal health, agriculture and human infections. To improve the fermentation efficiency of avermectins, for the first time a plasma jet generated by a novel atmospheric pressure glow discharge (APGD) was employed to generate mutations in Streptomyces avermitilis. METHODS AND RESULTS: The APGD plasma jet, driven by a radio frequency (RF) power supply with water-cooled and bare-metallic electrodes, was used as a new mutation method to treat the spores of S. avermitilis. The plasma jet yielded high total (over 30%) and positive (about 21%) mutation rates on S. avermitilis, and a mutated strain, designated as G1-1 with high productivity of avermectin B1a and genetic stability, was obtained. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the low jet temperature, the high concentrations of the chemically reactive species and the flexibility of its operation, the RF APGD plasma jet has a strong mutagenic effect on S. avermitilis. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is a proof-of-concept study for the use of an RF APGD plasma jet for inducing mutations in microbes. We have shown that the RF APGD plasma jet could be developed as a promising and convenient mutation tool for the fermentation industry and for use in biotechnology research.

p53 downstream target DDA3 is a novel microtubule-associated protein that interacts with end-binding protein EB3 and activates beta-catenin pathway.

We have previously identified mouse DDA3 as a p53-inducible gene. To explore the functional role of DDA3, we screened a mouse brain cDNA library by the yeast two-hybrid assay, and identified the microtubule plus-end binding protein EB3 as a DDA3-interacting protein. Binding of DDA3 to EB3 was verified by glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down assay and subcellular colocalization; co-immunoprecipitation further indicated that interaction of these two proteins within cells required intact microtubules. Domains of DDA3-EB3 interaction were mapped by GST pull-down assay to amino acids 118-241 and 242-329 of DDA3 and the N- and C-termini of EB3. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed colocalization of DDA3 with microtubules in various cell phases, and regions encompassing aa 118-241 and 242-329 contained microtubule-interacting and bundling activities. In vitro microtubule-binding assay showed that DDA3 and EB3 associated directly with microtubules, and cooperated with each other for microtubule binding. In addition, DDA3 bound to the EB3 interacting partner adenomatous polyposis coli 2 (APC2), a homolog of the tumor suppressor APC, which is a component of the beta-catenin destruction complex. Ectopic expression of DDA3 and EB3 enhanced beta-catenin-dependent transactivation and cyclin D1 production, whereas knockdown of endogenous DDA3 or EB3 inhibited beta-catenin-mediated transactivation and the ability of cells to form colonies. Together, our results identify DDA3 as a novel microtubule-associated protein that binds to EB3, and implicate DDA3 and EB3 in the beta-catenin-mediated growth signaling.

Positive and negative intronic regulatory elements control muscle-specific alternative exon splicing of Drosophila myosin heavy chain transcripts.

Alternative splicing of Drosophila muscle myosin heavy chain (MHC) transcripts is precisely regulated to ensure the expression of specific MHC isoforms required for the distinctive contractile activities of physiologically specialized muscles. We have used transgenic expression analysis in combination with mutagenesis to identify cis-regulatory sequences that are required for muscle-specific splicing of exon 11, which is encoded by five alternative exons that produce alternative "converter" domains in the MHC head. Here, we report the identification of three conserved intronic elements (CIE1, -2, and -3) that control splicing of exon 11e in the indirect flight muscle (IFM). Each of these CIE elements has a distinct function: CIE1 acts as a splice repressor, while CIE2 and CIE3 behave as splice enhancers. These CIE elements function in combination with a nonconsensus splice donor to direct IFM-specific splicing of exon 11e. An additional cis-regulatory element that is essential in coordinating the muscle-specific splicing of other alternative exon 11s is identified. Therefore, multiple interacting intronic and splice donor elements establish the muscle-specific splicing of alternative exon 11s.