[Associations between adverse childhood experiences and adulthood substance use among lesbians]

Objective: To investigate the associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and substance use behaviors among lesbians to provide a scientific basis for high-risk population identification and formulation of targeted intervention measures. Methods: Lesbians who participated in routine AIDS voluntary counseling, testing services, activities, and peer recommendations were recruited from July to December 2018, with the help of LesPark in Beijing. Convenient sampling method was used. Demographic characteristics, ACE, and substance use behaviors of subjects were investigated using an online platform powered by www.wjx.cn. Subsequently, the associations between ACE and adulthood substance use behaviors were evaluated using the logistic regression model. The SPSS 22.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 294 lesbians were recruited in the study, 81.3% (239/294) of them were lesbians, and 18.7% (55/294) were bisexuals. Besides, 55.8% (164/294) of subjects reported they had had ACE, with proportions of lesbians experiencing abuse, neglect, and family dysfunction as 33.3% (98/294), 24.5% (72/294), and 32.7% (96/294), respectively. 55.1% (162/294) of the lesbians reported they had smoked in the past 30 days, 11.2% (33/294) reported having drug-use behavior in the past three months, and 22.8% (67/294) claimed drinking alcohol weekly. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that lesbians with ACE were at high risks to smoke (OR=1.87, 95%CI: 1.13-3.08), drink (OR=2.13, 95%CI: 1.18-3.84), and use drugs (OR=3.33, 95%CI: 1.29-8.61) in adulthood. Moreover, lesbians with childhood family dysfunction were at higher risk of smoking cigarettes (OR=2.60, 95%CI: 1.46-4.62) and drinking alcohol (OR=2.65, 95%CI: 1.44-4.87). At the same time, those with abuse experience were at higher risk of drug use (OR=3.17, 95%CI: 1.26-7.96). Conclusions: Substance use behaviors, including cigarette smoking, drinking alcohol, and drugs use, were common among lesbians. Positive associations were found between ACE and adulthood substance use behaviors.

[High mechanical stretch stress promotes degeneration of the human nucleus pulposus cells through NF-κb signaling pathway]

Objective: To investigate the effect of high mechanical stretch stress(HMS)on human nucleus pulposus cells and its regulatory mechanism. Methods: The non-degenerated nucleus pulposus tissue (Pfirrmann<grade Ⅲ) removed from the patient's surgery was harvested and the human nucleus pulposus cells were isolated and cultured. In the presence or absence of pretreatment with the NF-κB specific blocker Bay11-7082, the cultured human nucleus pulposus cells were loaded cyclic mechanical stretch stress(CMS) with different parameters using the Flexercell system.The cell culture medium was collected and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines was detected by Elisa. The nucleus pulposus cells loaded with cyclic mechanical stretch stress(CMS) was collected, the changes of NF-κB/P65 signal pathway were detected, The mRNA and protein levels' expression changes were detected by RT-PCR and WB; after human nucleus pulposus cells were exposed to IL-1β, with or without Bay11-7082, the changes of P65 were detected by immunofluorescence. Results: Those mechanical stretch stress of high amplitude (9%, 19%), low frequency (0.01 Hz) and long duration (72 h) led to degeneration of human nucleus pulposus cells, while the mechanical stretch stress of low amplitude (3%), low frequency and long duration could not promote the degeneration process; the mechanical stretch stress of high amplitude(19%), low-frequency(0.01 Hz) could promote the release of inflammatory cytokines of human nucleus pulposus cells after 24 h duration; high-amplitude, low-frequency mechanical stretch stress could activate the NF-κB signaling pathway in human nucleus pulposus cells, Bay11-7082 could block the process; immunofluorescence showed that IL-1β could promote the phosphorylation of P65 in the cytoplasm of human nucleus pulposus cells and promote the entry of P65 into the cell nucleus process, Bay11-7082 could block those processes; Bay11-7082, the specific blocking agent of NF-κB signaling pathway, could block the degeneration process of human nucleus pulposus cells induced by high cyclic mechanical stretch stress(CMS) in a dose-dependent. Conclusions: High cyclic mechanical stretch stress promotes human nucleus pulposus cells degeneration through NF-κB signaling pathway.

[Analysis of a three-dimensional finite element model of atlas and axis complex fracture]

Objective: To explored the clinical application of the three-dimensional finite element model of atlantoaxial complex fracture. Methods: A three-dimensional finite element model of cervical spine (FEM/intact) was established by software of Abaqus6.12.On the basis of this model, a three-dimensional finite element model of four types of atlantoaxial complex fracture was established: C(1) fracture (Jefferson)+ C(2) fracture (type Ⅱfracture), Jefferson+ C(2) fracture(type Ⅲfracture), Jefferson+ C(2) fracture(Hangman), Jefferson+ stable C(2) fracture (FEM/fracture). The range of motion under flexion, extension, lateral bending and axial rotation were measured and compared with the model of cervical spine. Results: The three-dimensional finite element model of four types of atlantoaxial complex fracture had the same similarity and profile.The range of motion (ROM) of different segments had different changes.Compared with those in the normal model, the ROM of C(0/1) and C(1/2) in C(1) combined Ⅱ odontoid fracture model in flexion/extension, lateral bending and rotation increased by 57.45%, 29.34%, 48.09% and 95.49%, 88.52%, 36.71%, respectively.The ROM of C(0/1) and C(1/2) in C(1) combined Ⅲodontoid fracture model in flexion/extension, lateral bending and rotation increased by 47.01%, 27.30%, 45.31% and 90.38%, 27.30%, 30.0%.The ROM of C(0/1) and C(1/2) in C(1) combined Hangman fracture model in flexion/extension, lateral bending and rotation increased by 32.68%, 79.34%, 77.62% and 60.53%, 81.20%, 21.48%, respectively.The ROM of C(0/1) and C(1/2) in C(1) combined axis fracture model in flexion/extension, lateral bending and rotation increased by 15.00%, 29.30%, 8.47% and 37.87%, 75.57%, 8.30%, respectively. Conclusions: The three-dimensional finite element model can be used to simulate the biomechanics of atlantoaxial complex fracture.The ROM of atlantoaxial complex fracture is larger than nomal model, which indicates that surgical treatment should be performed.

Cathepsin L-like protease can regulate the process of metamorphosis and fat body dissociation in Antheraea pernyi

Cathepsins are a group of protease, located in lysosome and play a vital role in physiological process. Here, we reported cathepsin L-like protease (Ap-cathL), which contained an open reading frame of 1155 bp and encoding 385 amino acid residues protein. The I29 inhibitor domain and peptidase C1A (clan CA of cysteine proteases, papain family C1 subfamily) putative conserved domains were detected in Ap-cathL. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that Ap-cathL highly expressed in the fat body and midgut. The high expression during the molting stage, pupal stage and following 20E (20-hydroxyecdysone) treatment indicated that it maybe involved in the process of molting and metamorphosis. In addition, depletion of Ap-cathL influenced the expression of apoptosis pathway related genes. The protease inhibitor and RNA interference experiments showed that Ap-cathL was involved in the fat body dissociation of A. pernyi. These results suggest that Ap-cathL may involve in the process of metamorphosis and fat body dissociation of A. pernyi.

[Gene expression profiles of long non-coding RNAs in human degenerated intervertebral disc tissue]

Objective: To investigate the gene expression profiles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA)in human degenerated intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Methods: An lncRNA-mRNA microarray analysis of human nucleus pulposus (NP) was employed. Bioinformatics prediction was also applied to delineate the functional roles of the differentially expressed lncRNAs. Several lncRNAs and mRNAs were chosen for quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) validation. Results: A total of 1 570 lncRNAs expressed in degenerate group compared with the nondegenerate group. Of these, the expression level of 428 lncRNAs was upregulated >2-fold compared with nondegenerate group while that of 584 was downregulated. Bioinformatics analysis (GO and pathway analyses) revealed that some classical pathways participating in extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell apoptosis were aberrantly expressed in the intervertebral disc (P<0.05). Enhancer-like lncRNAs and their nearby coding genes were analyzed. Three lncRNAs were identified as potential enhancers. Several lncRNAs were validated in the intervertebral disc using RT-qPCR. Conclusion: The lncRNAs express differentially in the intervertebral disc. LncRNAs may therefore be novel candidate biomarkers and potential targets for intervertebral disc degeneration therapy in the future.

[Expression of NF-κB in a degenerative human intervertebral disc model]

Objective: To investigate the changes in the expression of NF-κB signaling pathway in human degenerative intervertebral discs. Methods: From October 2014 to March 2016, 55 nucleus pulposus of surgical patients with degenerative human intervertebral disc were collected for study in Department of Orthopedic Surgey, Hospital of Zaozhuang Mining Corporation, and Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai General Hospital Affiliated Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine.The collected nucleus pulposus tissues were divided into two groups: experimental group(30) and control group(25). Cell culture observed normal and degenerative nucleus pulposus cells morphological changes; immunofluorescence observed NF-κB p65 changes in the nucleus of nucleus pulposus cells.Real-time PCR was observed changes in aggregated proteoglycans and matrix metalloproteinase gene mRNA.Finally, the use of blockers of nucleus pulposus cells were treated 24 hours, Western blot analysis the changing of p65, ADAMTS-4, MMP-13, aggregate proteoglycans and collagen Ⅱ protein expression. Results: Compared with the experimental group, the nucleus pulposus cells in the control group had larger cell volume, abundant cytoplasm and faster growth rate.Cell immunofluorescence show Nondegenerative nucleus pulposus cells p65 protein was mainly localized in the cytoplasm, degeneration of nucleus pulposus cells p65 protein was mainly concentrated in the nucleus.RT-PCR showed degenerative group of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-13), aggrecanase(ADAMTS-4, ADAMTS-5) and IL-6 mRNA expression was significantly higher than Nondegenerative group; aggrecan and type Ⅱ collagen expression than those without degeneration group was significantly lower.Expression of nucleus pulposus degeneration in nuclear protein p65 with the degenerative level increased gradually increased.BAY11-7082 blocked the activity of NF-κB signaling pathway, which could significantly down-regulate the expression of ADAMTS-4 and MMP-13 protein and significantly up-regulate the expression of Agg and COLⅡ protein.With the increase of BAY11-7082 concentration, gradually strengthened. Conclusion: The activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in a degenerative intervertebral disc is gradually increased, regulating the over-expression of matrix-degrading enzymes.It plays an important role in the degradation of extra-cellular matrix.

[Clinical effects of different methods of the proximal fusion for long segmental lumbar vertebrae fusion in treatment of degenerative lumbar scoliosis]

Objective: To explored the clinical effects of different methods of the proximal fusion for long segmental lumbar vertebrae fusion in treatment of degenerative lumbar scoliosis(DLS). Methods: From January 2007 to March 2014 fifty-five cases of DLS treated by the posterior proximal fusion of long segmental lumbar vertebrae fusion were analyzed in Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai general Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (35)HuaiAn The First Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University(20). According to various upper instrumented vertebra(UIV) the patients were divided into Group A(upper horizontal vertebra, UHV, n=17), Group B (upper natural vertebra, UNV n=18 ), and Group C(upper end vertebra, UEV, n=20). The VAS, ODI, spinal balance parameters and postoperative complications in each group were assessed. Results: Except for 1 case death of serious lung infection in early postoperative, 54 cases were received 2-4 years follow-up. No statistical differences in improvements and fusion rates were found among 3 groups (P>0.05). The improvements of the coronal Cobb's angle in the A group were significantly more than the C group (75.8%±12.8%, 69.6%±11.8%, 63.4%±15.3%, P<0.05). The incidences of early postoperative complications in A group were the highest, next in B group, and lowest C group (52.9%, 22.0%, 15.0%, P<0.05). The incidences of proximal ASD in the C group were significantly more than the A group (12.5%, 22.2%, 50.0%, P=0.045). Conclusion: UHV, UNV and UEV had similar clinical outcomes for treatment of degenerative lumbar scoliosis in short term. Correction of the coronal deformity of UHV was superior to UEV. UEV was beneficial to reduce early complications, but more likely to happen proximal adjacent segment degeneration in the long run.

[Effect of lumbar dorsal muscle injuries on lumbar vertebral bone quality of rat]

Objective: To explored the effects of lumbar dorsal muscle damage on local lumbar vertebral bone quality. Methods: Thirty SD female rats, at age of 20 weeks, were randomly divided into three groups: control group, or say pseudo surgery group, an incision in the back were performed as CNT; bilateral erector spinal muscle group in which group bilateral lumbar erector spinal muscle were removed as RESM; castration group in which bilateral ovaries were resected as OVX.After three months, bone mineral density, microscopic CT and vertebral compression test were taken in lumbar vertebral (L4-6) in turn. Results: After three months bone mineral density in RESM group was obviously lower than the control group [(0.211±0.028) g/cm² vs(0.253±0.021) g/cm², P<0.01], however, there was no significant difference between OVX and RESM[(0.197±0.015) g/cm² vs(0.211±0.028) g/cm², P>0.05]. In microscopic CT three-dimensional reconstruction and bone histomorphometry analysis, compared with control group CNT , in the experimental groups OVX and RESM, bone trabecula of vertebral bodies were more sparse, the overall number and interconnection of trabecula were less.Especially in the OVX, osteoporotic trend of trabecular network trend is more obvious.In vertebral compression test, the maximum load, energy absorption, the maximum stress and elastic modulus in both OVX and RESM were significantly reduced (P<0.01). In the RESM the above four biomechanical parameters were significantly higher than those of OVX (P<0.05). Conclusion: Integrity and vigor of paravertebral muscles would be of great significance to maintain adjacent vertebral bone quality.Resection of lumbar dorsal muscles could lead to a significant decrease of local vertebral bone quality.Damage and atrophy of lumbar dorsal muscle could cause osteoporosis of vertebral bodies.

Diagnostic value of transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound on endometrial lesions

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the diagnostic value of transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound on endometrial lesions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 126 cases diagnosed with endometrial lesions by transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound that were examined by hysteroscopy, biopsy, and curettage pathology, and compared with pathology.

RESULTS

The transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound diagnosis corresponded to 92.6% (117 of 126 cases) of the pathology diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound has important diagnostic value in the case of endometrial lesions, has a high rate of detection and diagnostic on endometrial lesions, and is the best method for diagnosis of endometrial lesions.

Two-dimensional longitudinal strains and torsion analysis to assess the protective effects of ischemic postconditioning on myocardial function: a speckle tracking echocardiography study in rabbits

The reperfusion injury that occurs in the early reperfusion often results in myocardial dysfunction. This study evaluated global and regional left ventricular (LV) function using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in a rabbit ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) model with and without ischemic postconditioning (I-PostC). The aim is to investigate the potential benefit of I-PostC for myocardial function and validate whether regional longitudinal strain is an appropriate index to indicate myocardial dysfunction. Forty rabbits were divided into an ischemia-reperfusion group (group I) and an I-PostC group (group II). After the coronary arteries were ligated, LV systolic strain and twist parameters decreased, and absolute value of strain rate of isovolumetric relaxation period (SRivr) and post-systolic strain index (PSI) increased significantly in both groups (all p<0.05). After reperfusion, regional longitudinal systolic strain rate (SRsys), systolic strain (Ssys), LV twist and untwisting rate increased, and SRivr and PSI decreased in group II. These changes were not seen in group I. All STE parameters were correlated with area of necrosis (AN)/area at risk (AR) (all p<0.05). The correlations were morerelevant between SRsys and AN/AR (r=-0.673) and between Ssys and AN/AR (r=-0.777) (both p<0.001). The intra- and inter-observer repeatability of STE parameters were good with correlation coefficients (CCs) >0.8 or 0.6. The sensitivities of GSRsys, GSsys, SRsys, Ssys, and LV twist to detect the myocardial infarction were 81.3%, 62.5%, 87.5%, 93.8% and 81.3%, respectively. And the specificities of those parameters were 75.0%, 81.2%, 75.0%, 87.5% and 68.7%. These results indicate that STE is useful for quantitative detection on myocardial function improvement induced by I-PostC in a rabbit I/R model. The regional index-Ssys is an appropriate parameter to indicate myocardial dysfunction because of its sensitivity, specificity, and repeatability.

Advanced oxidation protein products enhances soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 expression in trophoblasts: a possible link between oxidative stress and preeclampsia

Accumulation of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) is prevalent in obesity, advanced maternal age, diabetes mellitus, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Alterations in the regulation and signaling of angiogenic pathways have been recognized as a link between these conditions and pre-eclampsia. To investigate the possible impact of AOPPs on soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) expression in trophoblasts. A trophoblast cell line (HRT-8/SVneo) was treated with various concentrations of AOPPs. The mRNA expression of sFlt-1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and placental growth factor (PlGF) in trophoblasts were measured with the use of real-time polymerase chain reaction; and the secretion of sFlt-1, VEGF, and PlGF protein from trophoblasts were detected with the use of ELISA. Exposure of HRT-8/SVneo cells to AOPPs induced overexpression of sFlt-1 at mRNA and protein levels in a dose dependent manner. These effects could be inhibited by apocynin, an inhibitors of NADPH oxidase. Our data identified AOPPs as a class of important mediator in the regulation and signaling of angiogenic pathways of trophoblasts. Accumulation of AOPPs might contributes to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia by promoting sFlt-1 production in trophoblasts.

Effects of minimally invasive percutaneous and trans-spatium intermuscular short-segment pedicle instrumentation on thoracolumbar mono-segmental vertebral fractures without neurological compromise

OBJECTIVE

To compare the outcomes of minimally invasive percutaneous short-segment pedicle instrumentation (SSPI) with that of trans-spatium intermuscular SSPI on thoracolumbar mono-segmental vertebral fracture without neurological compromise.

METHODS

A total of 39 patients with thoracolumbar mono-segmental vertebral fracture without neurological deficit receiving treatment between January 2009 and July 2011 were enrolled. Percutaneous SSPI was performed for 18 patients (the percutaneous group), and trans-spatium intermuscular SSPI was performed for 21 patients (the trans-spatium intermuscular group). Peroperative indices, intraoperative radiation exposure time, postoperative and follow-up lumbodorsal pain, function scores, and radiological data were compared.

RESULTS

The percutaneous group had significantly less intraoperative blood loss and less severe postoperative pains, but suffered significantly longer fluoroscopy time and higher hospitalization costs compared with the trans-spatium intermuscular group. No significant difference was observed in operating time. All patients were followed up for 17.3 ± 9.2 months (ranging from 5 to 35 months). No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of postoperative relative vertebral height (RVH) and regional kyphotic angle (RKA), as well as last follow-up RVH, RKA, lumbodorsal pain, and Oswestry disability index.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous SSPI has the virtues of less intraoperative blood loss and less severe pains in the treatment of thoracolumbar mono-segmental vertebral fracture without neurological deficit. When compared with trans-spatium intermuscular SSPI, it results in longer intraoperative radiation exposure time and a higher surgery cost. To us, percutaneous SSPI has no advantage over trans-spatium intermuscular SSPI in therapeutic outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV. Retrospective study.

Significant pathways response to osmotic stimuli in the intervertebral disc

BACKGROUND

The intervertebral disc (IVD) is a special tissue localized in the middle of vertebrae and it often experiences osmotic environment to accommodate applied mechanical forces.

AIM

Here we aim to confirm significant pathways associated with IVD osmotic regulation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two different pathway analyses which are named component-based approach and protein-protein interaction (PPI)-based approach are used to identify the significant pathways from the related databases.

RESULTS

The results showed that neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway was specifically identified based on traditional significant pathway analysis. New significant pathway analysis indicated that ErbB signaling pathway, nucleotide excision repair, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation pathway, and alpha-Linolenic acid metabolism pathway, etc. were all associated with osmotic regulation. Importantly, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation pathway was only significant in the hyper-osmotic dataset, however, alpha-Linolenic acid metabolism pathway in the hypo-osmotic dataset.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that IVD accommodation mechanism is important in response to osmotic stimuli.

Computer aided diagnosis system for breast cancer based on color Doppler flow imaging

Color Doppler flow imaging takes a great value in diagnosing and classifying benign and malignant breast lesions. However, scanning of color Doppler sonography is operator-dependent and ineffective. In this paper, a novel breast classification system based on B-Mode ultrasound and color Doppler flow imaging is proposed. First, different feature extraction methods were used to obtain the texture and geometric features from B-Mode ultrasound images. In color Doppler feature extraction stage, several spectrum features are extracted by applying blood flow velocity analysis to Doppler signals. Moreover, a velocity coherent vector method is proposed based on color coherence vector, which is helpful for designing to the optimize detection of flow indices from different blood flow velocity fields automatically. Finally, a support vector machine classifier with selected feature vectors is used to classify breast tumors into benign and malignant. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed computer-aided diagnosis system is useful for reducing the unnecessary biopsy and death rate.

Restricted intake of dietary advanced glycation end products retards renal progression in the remnant kidney model

Diet-derived advanced glycation end products (AGEs) contribute significantly to accumulation of AGEs in renal insufficiency. To test whether modulation of dietary AGEs would impact on progression of chronic renal disease, 5/6 nephrectomy rats were randomly placed on three diets that differed only in AGEs content (low AGEs diet (LAD), high AGEs diet (HAD), and standard rodent diet (SRD)) for 5-13 weeks. Compared with SRD- or HAD-fed rats, LAD-treated animals showed decreased proteinuria and retarded decline of creatinine clearance without alteration of blood pressure. Glomerular volume was reduced by 23% compared with HAD-fed rats at week 13 (P<0.001). Renal fibrosis progressed with time in the remnant kidneys from HAD-fed rats. However, LAD-fed animals presented a better-preserved structure of the kidneys. LAD-fed rats demonstrated significantly decreased serum and renal AGEs concentration (P<0.01 and P<0.01). This was associated with marked decrease of intrarenal advanced oxidation protein products and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, as well as increase of glutathione peroxidase activity. LAD treatment also downregulated expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and transforming growth factor-1 and ameliorated macrophage infiltration in the remnant kidney. These results demonstrated that restriction of dietary AGEs intake retards progression of renal fibrosis and dysfunction in the remnant kidney model.