Effects of combined sintilimab and chemotherapy on progression-free survival and overall survival in osteosarcoma patients with metastasis.

Objective: To explore the safety and efficacy of metastatic osteosarcoma treatment with combined sintilimab injection and chemotherapy. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 32 patients with metastatic osteosarcoma admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University between January 2019 and June 2020. The sample was divided into an observation group, treated with sintilimab injection combined with chemotherapy (n= 16) and a control group, treated with chemotherapy (n = 16). Clinical efficacy and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results: The overall response rates were 68.75% in the observation group and 31.25% in the control group (p < 0.05). The incidences of adverse reactions were 56.25% in the observation group and 81.25% in the control group. This was not a significant difference. In the observation group, the progression-free survival time was 8.13 ± 2.50 months, and the overall survival time was 22.75 ± 4.95 months. These were both significantly longer than the respective 6.44 ± 1.93 months and 19.69 ± 2.68 months in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The treatment of metastatic osteosarcoma with combined sintilimab injection and chemotherapy was found to prolong progression-free survival and overall survival time without increasing the incidence of adverse reactions.

Research Advances in the Application of AI for Preoperative Measurements in Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is widely used in clinical practice as an effective treatment for end-stage knee joint lesions. It can effectively correct joint deformities, relieve painful symptoms, and improve joint function. The reconstruction of lower extremity joint lines and soft tissue balance are important factors related to the durability of the implant; therefore, it is especially important to measure the joint lines and associated angles before TKA. In this article, we review the technological progress in the preoperative measurement of TKA.

A preliminary study of proximal realignment combination surgery in the treatment of adolescent habitual patellar dislocation.

OBJECTIVE: A combination of lateral soft tissue release, medial soft tissue contraction, vastus medialis anterior placement, medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction, and rectus femoris insertion reconstruction are introduced in the treatment of habitual patellar dislocation in adolescents. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 12 patients (17 knees) with habitual patellar dislocation and unclosed epiphyses who underwent surgical treatment at the First Hospital of Jilin University from May 2017 to November 2021. The Lysholm scores and Q angle were collected preoperatively and at final follow-up and were compared. RESULTS: Twelve patients (4 boys and 8 girls) aged 10-15 years were retrospectively analysed, who followed up for an average of 21 months (5-48 months). The range of motion of the knee joint returned to normal in all patients, and no cases of complications including surgical site infection, joint stiffness, or patellar re-dislocation occurred. The mean Lysholm scores and Q angles improved from 73.9, and 19.6° preoperatively to 91.7, and 13.9° at the final follow-up, respectively. CONCLUSION: The preliminary effect of the combination surgery for habitual patellar dislocation in adolescents was satisfactory.

Modified treatment of knee osteoarthritis complicated with femoral varus deformity: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) complicated by extra-articular deformity has always been controversial regardless of whether it is simultaneous or staged. Simultaneous total knee arthroplasty (TKA) combined with supracondylar osteotomy without plate for treatment of KOA complicated by femoral varus deformity has not been reported in the literature. CASE SUMMARY: A 53-year-old Chinese woman complained of left knee pain for 6 years that worsened for 4 mo during her visit on April 3, 2020, accompanied by instability in walking, which seriously affected quality of life. According to her medical history and preoperative imaging, the patient was diagnosed with left KOA with varus deformity. We used the angular center of rotation principle for osteotomy of the femur deformity and placed a poststabilized femur prosthesis into the knee joint. At the same time, a 13 mm × 130 mm femur extension rod was used instead of a steel plate to fix the end of the femur osteotomy, reducing the possible complications caused by steel plate implantation and reducing the economic burden on patients. The operation successfully solved two major problems of KOA and varus deformity, and the clinical and imaging evaluation of postoperative follow-up were satisfactory. CONCLUSION: TKA and supracondylar femoral osteotomy can be used for simultaneous KOA treatment and deformity correction.

Protrusion of a ceramic femoral head through the acetabular metallic cup in total-hip arthroplasty: A case report.

RATIONALE: Dislocation, wear, metallosis, and implant loosening are well-known complications of a failed total-hip arthroplasty (THA), and acetabular liner dissociation is an uncommon but catastrophic complication. To our knowledge, this is the first description of metallosis due to acetabular liner dissociation, but not presenting as a result of wear of a metal-on-metal articulation and a polyethylene liner of other articulation. PATIENT CONCERNS: We described a 61-year-old man who had a 2-year history of pain in the right groin region after THA. Postoperative period of primary THA was uneventful. However, he did not undergo postoperative follow-up, and often participated in strenuous sports activities including mountain climbing and long-distance running. DIAGNOSIS: Radiographs demonstrated superior subluxation of the femoral head and direct articulation and abrasion wear of the ceramic femoral head on the cup. Preoperative laboratory data revealed no signs of infection. INTERVENTIONS: We performed revision THA using a direct lateral approach with ceramic-on-ceramic hip prosthesis. OUTCOMES: Postoperatively, the patient wore a hip orthosis for 6 weeks to prevent dislocation but was allowed full weight bearing. At 1-year follow-up, there was no recurrence of hip pain. LESSONS: Wear of THA components can result in catastrophic failure of the implants and significant soft-tissue metallosis. Therefore, regular postoperative follow-up is necessary for early intervention, even in those with asymptomatic hips.

[Particle impaction bone graft and plate internal fixation for the treatment of proximal femoral bone tumor or tumor lesion].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical feasibility of particle impaction bone graft and plate internal fixation for the treatment of proximal femoral bone tumors or tumor disease. METHODS: From January 2013 to January 2016 a total of 26 cases of the proximal femur bone tumors or tumor lesions, neither pathological fracture, were retrospectively analyzed, including 12 males and 14 females with an average age of 34.2 years old ranging from 8 to 62 years old. The pathologic result involved fibrous dysplasia in 11 cases, bone isolation bone cyst in 7 cases, giant cell tumors of bone in 3 cases, aneurysm sample bone cyst in 3 cases, non ossifying fibroma in 1 case, benign fibrous histiocytoma in 1 case. No biopsy of the lesion was performed before the operation. Postoperative lesions were sent to pathology. The operation was treated by particle impaction bone graft and plate internal fixation. RESULTS: All patients were followed up to resume normal life for 8 to 42 months with an average of 25 months. The function assessment referenced to the bone and soft tissue tumor association (MSTS). At the end of the last examination, the positive and lateral X-ray films of the femur showed no low density shadow in the margin of bone graft and bone graft, and the bone healing in the bone graft area was good. No recurrence or metastasis was found in all patients, and no loosening or deformation of the internal fixator occurred. The hip function was well restored and no fracture or deformity progressed in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The tumor recurrence in the proximal femur is related to curettage and bone grafting. After the curettage, the residual tumor cells were treated by chemical and physical methods. By this method, the disease can be cured for a long time, and it can reduce the recurrence and resume the function of the hip joint.

A genome-wide identification of basic helix-loop-helix motifs in Pediculus humanus corporis (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae).

Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins comprise a large superfamily of transcription factors, which are involved in the regulation of various developmental processes. bHLH family members are widely distributed in various eukaryotes including yeast, fruit fly, zebrafish, mouse, and human. In this study, we identified 55 bHLH motifs encoded in genome sequence of the human body louse, Pediculus humanus corporis (Phthiraptera: Pediculidae). Phylogenetic analyses of the identified P. humanus corporis bHLH (PhcbHLH) motifs revealed that there are 23, 11, 9, 1, 10, and 1 member(s) in groups A, B, C, D, E, and F, respectively. Examination to GenBank annotations of the 55 PhcbHLH members indicated that 29 PhcbHLH proteins were annotated in consistence with our analytical result, 8 were annotated different with our analytical result, 12 were merely annotated as hypothetical protein, and the rest 6 were not deposited in GenBank. A comparison on insect bHLH gene composition revealed that human body louse possibly has more hairy and E(spl) genes than other insect species. Because hairy and E(spl) genes have been found to negatively regulate the differentiation of insect preneural cells, it is suggested that the existence of additional hairy and E(spl) genes in human body louse is probably the consequence of its long period adaptation to the relatively dark and stable environment. These data provide good references for further studies on regulatory functions of bHLH proteins in the growth and development of human body louse.

An anthropometry study of the shoulder region in a chinese population and its correlation with shoulder disease / Estudio antropométrico de la región del hombro en una población china y su relación con enfermedad del hombro

Purpose: There is a paucity of data which reflected the relationship between morphology and incidence of shoulder disorders with respect to the ethnic Chinese population. We used anteroposterior radiographs to measure the Acromion Index (AI) and Acromioglenoid Angle (AA) of Chinese patients. The baseline was defined as the line that connected the superior and inferior osseous margins of the glenoid cavity. In order to calculate the AI, the distance from the baseline to the lateral margin of the acromion was measured and then divided by the distance from the baseline to the lateral aspect of the humeral head. The AA was defined as the angle formed by the intersecting line drawn tangent to the sclerotic line of the acromion undersurface and the baseline point. The AI and AA were determined in three groups: 165 patients (average age, 60.2 years) with chronic shoulder symptoms; in an age and gender-matched acute injury group of 61 patients (average age, 44.3 years); and in an age and gender-matched control group of 63 volunteers (average age, 37.3 years).The average AI and standard deviation was 0.72 +/- 0.06 in shoulders with subacromial impingement syndrome, 0.59 +/- 0.06 in those with acute injury, and 0.66 ± 0.06 in normal shoulders. The average AA and standard deviation was 76.8°+/-7.02 in shoulders with subacromial impingement syndrome, 84.2°+/-7.81 in those with acute injury, and 80.0°+/- 7.33 in normal shoulders. The AI and AA varied between patients with acute and chronic shoulder problems.

Hay escasez de datos que reflejen la relación entre la morfología y la incidencia de los trastornos de hombro con respecto a la población de origen chino. Se utilizó radiografías anteroposteriores para medir el índice acromial (IA) y ángulo acromioglenoido (AA) de los pacientes chinos. La línea de base se define como la que conecta los márgenes óseos superior e inferior de la cavidad glenoidea. Con el fin de calcular el IA, se midió la distancia desde la línea base hasta el margen lateral del acromion y luego se dividió por la distancia desde la línea base hasta la cara lateral de la cabeza humeral. El AA se define como el ángulo formado por la línea de intersección dibujada tangente a la línea esclerótica de la superficie inferior del acromion y el punto de línea base. El AI y AA se determinaron en tres grupos: 165 pacientes (edad media, 60,2 años) con síntomas crónicos en el hombro; en un grupo de 61 pacientes (edad media, 44,3 años) con herida aguda, y en un grupo control de 63 voluntarios (edad media, 37,3 años). La IA promedio fue de 0,72 +/- 0,06 en los hombros con el síndrome de pinzamiento subacromial, 0,59 +/- 0,06 en los pacientes con lesión aguda, y 0,66 +/- 0,06 en los hombros normales. El AA promedio fue de 76,8 ° +/- 7,02 en los hombros con el síndrome de pinzamiento subacromial, 84,2 ° +/- 7,81 en los pacientes con lesión aguda, y 80,0 ° +/- 7,33 en los hombros normales. La IA y AA variaron entre los pacientes con problemas en el hombro agudos y crónicos.

The basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor family in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum.

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins play essential roles in a wide range of developmental processes in higher organisms. bHLH family members have been identified in over 20 organisms, including fruit fly, zebrafish, and human. This study identified 54 bHLH family members in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), genome. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that they belong to 37 bHLH families with 21, 13, 9, 1, 9, and 1 members in group A, B, C, D, E, and F, respectively. Through in-group phylogenetic analyses, all of the identified A. pisum bHLH members were assigned into their correspondent bHLH families with confidence, among which 51 were defined according to phylogenetic analyses with orthologs from Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae), and 3 of them were defined according to phylogenetic analyses with orthologs from Bombyx mori L. (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Analyses on genomic coding regions revealed that the number and average length of introns in A. pisum bHLH motifs are higher than those in other insects. The present study provides useful background information for future studies on structure and function of bHLH proteins in the regulation of A. pisum development.

The role of Coulomb interaction in thermoelectric effects of an Aharonov-Bohm interferometer.

We investigate the thermoelectric effects of an Aharonov-Bohm (AB) interferometer with a quantum dot (QD) embedded in each of its arms, where the intra-dot Coulomb interaction between electrons in each QD is taken into account. Using Green's function methods and the equation of motion (EOM) technique, we find that the Seebeck coefficient and Lorenz number can be strongly enhanced when the chemical potential sweeps the molecular states associated with the Fano line-shapes in the transmission spectra, due to quantum interference effects between the bonding and antibonding molecular states. It is found that enhancement of the thermoelectric effects occurs between the two groups of conductance peaks in the presence of strong intra-dot Coulomb interaction-the reason being that a transmission node is developed in the Coulomb blockade regime. In this case, the maximum value of the Lorenz number approaches 10π(2)k(B)(2)/(3e(2)). Its thermoelectric conversion efficiency in the absence of phonon thermal conductance, described by the figure of merit ZT, approaches 2 at room temperature. Therefore, it may be used as a high-efficiency solid-state thermoelectric conversion device under certain circumstances.

Evaluation of P-POSSUM scoring system in predicting mortality in patients with hip joint arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the applicability of Porthsmouth modified physiological and operative severity score for the enumeration of mortality and morbidity (P-POSSUM) in predicting the mortality of the patients undergoing hip joint arthroplasty. METHODS: A total of 141 patients (75 males and 66 females, aged 63.22 years+/-14.45 years on an average) undergoing hip joint arthroplasty during January 2002 and March 2005 were studied retrospectively with P-POSSUM. Their average physiological score and operative severity score were 17.48+/-5.16 and 12.43+/-3.05, respectively. The predicted postoperative mortality with P-POSSUM was compared with the observed value. Subgroup analysis was performed to investigate the predictive capability of P-POSSUM. POSSUM scoring system was used as the control. RESULTS: Three patients died after operation in this study actually. The average physiological scores were 32.33+/-9.87 in the death group and 17.16+/-4.56 in the survival group. The former was obviously higher than the latter, which showed statistical difference between the two groups (Wilcoxon rank sum test, P<0.05). Perfect agreement was found between the observed death number and the predicted death number calculated by P-POSSUM (Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel chi(2) test, P>0.05), though POSSUM overestimated the overall mortality. CONCLUSIONS: P-POSSUM can predict the mortality accurately in the patients undergoing hip joint arthroplasty, which is superior to POSSUM.