Prognostic impact and reasons for variability by tumor location in gastric cancer.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is a highly prevalent gastrointestinal tract tumor. Several trials have demonstrated that the location of GC can affect patient prognosis. However, the factors determining tumor location remain unclear.

Reducing penumbral blur in computed tomography by learning the inverse finite focal spot model.

Penumbral blur is one of the major limitations of the high spatial resolution micro-CT, due to a nonideal large focal spot. Penumbral blur hinders the ability to resolve small features that may only be a few pixels in size. Reducing the focal spot size by decreasing the x-ray tube power is a straightforward solution, but it leads to prolonged scan durations.

Fibroblast growth factor 9 reduces TBHP-induced oxidative stress in chondrocytes and diminishes mouse osteoarthritis by activating ERK/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative and progressive disease that affects joints. Pathologically, it is characterized by oxidative stress-mediated excessive chondrocyte apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction. Fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) has been shown to exert antioxidant effects and prevent degenerative diseases by activating ERK-related signaling pathways.

To Explore the Molecular Mechanism of Acupuncture Alleviating Inflammation and Treating Obesity Based on Text Mining.

Objective: To explore the related mechanism of acupuncture affecting obesity by regulating inflammation using bioinformatics methods.

Methods: The genes related to obesity, inflammation, and acupuncture and inflammation were mined using GenCLiP 3, and the intersecting genes were extracted using Venn diagram. The DAVID database was employed for pathway enrichment analysis and functional annotation of coexpressed genes.

Study on the Mechanism of Acori Graminei Rhizoma in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking.

Alzheimer's disease is a common neurodegenerative disease in the elderly. This study explored the curative effect and possible mechanism of Acori graminei rhizoma on Alzheimer's disease. In this paper, 8 active components of Acori graminei rhizoma were collected by consulting literature and using the TCMSP database, and 272 targets were screened using the PubChem and Swiss Target Prediction databases.

Targeting Therapy of Neuropilin-1 Receptors Overexpressed Breast Cancer by Paclitaxel-Loaded CK3-Conjugated Polymeric Micelles.

Chemotherapy for breast cancer is significantly restricted by the tumor's physio-pathological complexity. Here we have constructed a targeted nano-system based on PEGylated poly (D, L-lactide) (PEG-PDLLA) using a novel ligand, CLKADKAKC (CK3) peptide, for active targeting to Neuropilin-1-rich breast cancer cells. CK3 increased the cellular uptake of micelles 4.

Injectable Alginate Hydrogel Cross-Linked by Calcium Gluconate-Loaded Porous Microspheres for Cartilage Tissue Engineering.

A great interest has been shown in the injectable scaffolds for cartilage tissue regeneration because it can fill irregularly shaped defects easily through minimally invasive surgical treatments. Herein, we developed a new injectable three-dimensional (3D) alginate hydrogel loaded with biodegradable porous poly(ε-caprolactone)--poly(ethylene glycol)--poly(ε-caprolactone) microspheres (MPs/Alg) as the calcium gluconate container to cross-link alginate. Suspensions of chondrocytes/alginate and porous microspheres turned into a gel because of the release of calcium gluconate; thus, the injectable composite hydrogels give a 3D scaffold to fit the defects perfectly and integrate the extracellular-matrix-mimicking architecture to efficiently accommodate cartilage cells in situ.

Synthesis, characterization and drug loading property of Monomethoxy-Poly(ethylene glycol)-Poly(ε-caprolactone)-Poly(D,L-lactide) (MPEG-PCLA) copolymers.

Amphiphilic block copolymers have attracted a great deal of attention in drug delivery systems. In this work, a series of monomethoxy-poly (ethylene glycol)-poly (ε-caprolactone-co-D,L-lactide) (MPEG-PCLA) copolymers with variable composition of poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly (D,L-lactide) (PDLLA) were prepared via ring-opening copolymerization of ε-CL and D,L-LA in the presence of MPEG and stannous octoate. The structure and molecular weight were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC).

Metformin Improves Functional Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury via Autophagy Flux Stimulation.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe neurological disease with few efficacious drugs. Autophagy is a cellular process to confront with stress after SCI and considered to be a therapeutic target of SCI. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of metformin on functional recovery after SCI and its underlying mechanism of autophagy regulation.

The feasibility and radiological features of sacral alar iliac fixation in an adult population: a 3D imaging study.

Background: Surgical treatments for adult spinal deformities often include pelvic fixation, and the feasibility of sacral-2 alar iliac (S2AI) screw fixation has been shown previously. However, sometimes S2AI screw fixation cannot be applied due to the presence of an osteolytic lesion or trauma or because the biomechanical properties of only an S2AI screw is insufficient. Therefore, we questioned the feasibility of using sacral AI screws in other segments and determined whether S3AI and S4AI screws have the potential to be used for sacral fractures.

Percutaneous posterior transdiscal oblique screw fixation with lateral interbody fusion: a radiological and cadaveric study.

Purpose: To design and investigate a novel technique of percutaneous posterior transdiscal oblique screw fixation with lateral interbody fusion.

Methods: CT scans of 45 patients were collected and imported into Mimics software for three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction. Cylinders were drawn to simulate the trajectory of the oblique screw.

Comparison of Pediatric Forearm Fracture Fixation Between Single- and Double-Elastic Stable Intramedullary Nailing.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the outcome of single- and double-elastic stable intramedullary nailing (ESIN) for the treatment of pediatric both-bone forearm fractures. We retrospectively analyzed 49 children with both-bone forearm fractures treated with ESIN. Twenty-four patients were treated with single-ESIN (S-ESIN) to fixate the radius only, and the other 25 patients were treated with double-ESIN (D-ESIN) to fixate the radius and ulna.

[Imaging measurement of anterior internal fixation for the cervicothoracic junction and its clinical significance].

Objective: To measure important parameters of anterior internal fixation for the cervicothoracic junction by us-ing imaging measurement, and provide reference for cervicothoracic junction surgery and design of steel plate screw internal fixation.

Methods: From June to November 2012, 120 health people's median sagittal plane MRI of cervical spine were ran-domly collected. Of the 120 cases, there were 58 males and 62 females with an average age of 48.

A biomechanical study on the interosseous membrane and radial head in cadaveric forearms.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the biomechanical properties of the interosseous membrane (IOM) and radial head and investigate the pathomechanics of the Essex-Lopresti injury.

Methods: Twelve adult fresh frozen upper limbs of human cadavers were chosen for test. First, the 12 intact specimens were mounted onto a materials testing machine to carry out biomechanical tests in pronation, supination and neutral positions, respectively.

Mini-open anterior approach to the cervicothoracic junction: a cadaveric study.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of mini-open anterior approach to the cervicothoracic junction (CTJ) in cadaveric specimens.

Methods: Four adult fresh-frozen cadaveric specimens were used for this study. On the cadaveric specimen, an osteotomy window was made in manubrium sterni to remove the bony obstacle.

A comparative study of axis-line-distance technique and Cobb method on assessing the curative effect on scoliosis.

Purpose: To compare the axis-line-distance technique (ALDT) and Cobb method for therapeutic evaluation of scoliosis.

Methods: Fifty-seven patients with scoliosis were treated in our hospital, 47 underwent conservative bracing therapy and 10 underwent surgery. Based on 171 full-spine X-ray images obtained from these 57 cases before treatment, during conservative treatment or surgery, and at final follow-up after removing the brace or after surgery, two radiologists independently measured and calculated the correction rate during treatment and at final follow-up and the rate of correction loss after treatment with the ALDT and Cobb methods.

Percutaneous pedicle screw fixation for neurologic intact thoracolumbar burst fractures.

Study Design: Prospective consecutive series.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous pedicle screw fixation (PPSF) for thoracolumbar AO type A3 fractures with a specially designed surgical instrument system.

Summary Of Background Data: Minimally invasive surgery including PPSF is becoming increasingly widespread in the spine surgery.

Anterior approaches to the cervicothoracic junction: a study on the surgical accessibility of three different corridors based on the CT images.

To determine the location of left brachiocephalic vein (BCV) and tracheal bifurcation (TB) relative to the vertebral levels, and to ascertain the accessibility of three different corridors (C1: between the esophagus and trachea medially and the carotid sheath laterally, C2: between the right BCV and the brachiocephalic artery, and C3: between the ascending aorta and superior vena cava) for preoperative planning. From August 2008 to April 2009, normal chest CT scans of 150 subjects ranging in age from 18 to 78 years were selected. According to our definition, of the 150 studies, 132 T2 vertebral bodies (VBs) could be accessed through C1 (88.

Three-dimensional reconstruction of the superior mediastinum from Chinese Visible Human Female.

Purpose: This research aimed to construct three-dimensional (3D) visible models of the superior mediastinum for anatomic study and surgical approaches to the superior mediastinum.

Method: Sectional images of the superior mediastinum were acquired through the Chinese Visible Human Female (VCHF) database. One hundred eighty images of the superior mediastinum were imported into Photoshop CS and the images were converted into a JPEG format.

[Study on the three-dimensional reconstruction and visualization of the anatomical structures of the anterior approach to the upper thoracic spine].

Objective: To establish the three-dimensional (3D) visible models of the anatomical structures of the anterior approach to the upper thoracic spine (UTS) for anatomic study and preoperative planning of the UTS.

Methods: Sectional images from the superior margin of the first thoracic vertebral body to the inferior margin of the fifth thoracic vertebral body were acquired through the Chinese Visible Human Female (VCHF) database which was collected by the Third Military Medical University. These images were imported into Photoshop CS, cut automatically and converted into a JPEG format.

[CT imaging study of anterior approaches to the upper thoracic spine].

Objective: There are small smount of literatures on the study of the anterior surgical approaches to the upper thoracic spine (UTS). Moreover, there are many differences among the results of these studies. This study is to investigate the exposure ranges of different anterior surgical approaches to the UTS for making the preoperative plan by means of CT images analysis.