Inhibition of CXCR4 inhibits the proliferation and osteogenic potential of fibroblasts from ankylosing spondylitis via the Wnt/β‑catenin pathway.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an autoimmune condition characterized by chronic inflammation and abnormal ossification as the primary features of the disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of C‑X‑C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) in ossification from patients with AS. CXCR4 expression was assessed by western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry analysis of tissues obtained from patients with AS and controls.

Quantitative factors of unenhanced CT for predicting fragmenting efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy on pancreatic duct stones.

Aim: To find potential predictors at unenhanced computed tomography (CT) to evaluate the stone clearance rate (SCR) of pancreatic duct stones (PDS) by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL).

Materials And Methods: A total of 106 consecutive patients with multiple stones of maximal transverse length (MTL) 0.3-3.

Exosomes from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells enhance fracture healing through HIF-1α-mediated promotion of angiogenesis in a rat model of stabilized fracture.

Objectives: Exosomes, as important players in intercellular communication due to their ability to transfer certain molecules to target cells, are believed to take similar effects in promoting bone regeneration with their derived stem cells. Studies have suggested that umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (uMSCs) could promote angiogenesis. This study investigated whether exosomes derived from uMSCs (uMSC-Exos) could enhance fracture healing as primary factors by promoting angiogenesis.

The gait deviations of ankylosing spondylitis with hip involvement.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the gait deviations of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients with hip involvement.

Methods: Thirty-six subjects, including 18 AS patients with hip involvement (AS group) and 18 healthy people (control subjects, CS group), were enrolled in the study. Three-dimensional gait analysis of the AS group and CS group was performed.

Decreased pretherapy serum apolipoprotein A-I is associated with extent of metastasis and poor prognosis of non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), which recently attracted great attention as an important protein related to the increasing risk of various cancers, is a factor closely related to metabolic diseases such as ardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis. However, the diagnostic and prognostic value of pretherapy serum ApoA-I levels in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients is still not very clear.

Methods: In 325 NSCLC patients and 312 healthy controls, pretherapy serum ApoA-I was measured by turbidimetric immunoassay.

Predictive nomogram for postoperative delirium in elderly patients with a hip fracture.

To evaluate the risk factors for the development of postoperative delirium and design a predictive nomogram for the prevention of delirium in elderly patients with a hip fracture, we retrospectively studied 825 patients who sustained a femoral neck fracture from January 2005 to December 2015. Independent risk factors for developing delirium within 6 months of surgery were identified using multivariable logistic regression analyses. A predictive nomogram model was built based on the results, and the discrimination and calibration were determined by C-index and calibration plot.

Retraction Note: Pre-treatment DWI as a predictor of overall survival in locally advanced pancreatic cancer treated with Cyberknife radiotherapy and sequential S-1 therapy.

The authors have retracted this article because Figs. 2, 3 and 4, as well as parts of the text have been previously published [1]. This article is therefore redundant.

BMP7-overexpressing bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are more effective than wild-type BMSCs in healing fractures.

Bone fractures are a worldwide public health concern. Previous studies have demonstrated that bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP7) gene transfer or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation may be a promising novel therapeutic approach. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to observe the effect of bone BMP7 transfer to MSCs on fracture healing.

New method for establishing a 3D subject-specific numerical electromagnetic model using hybrid imaging modalities.

Numerical electromagnetic models that can mimic the dielectric properties of human tissues have been widely used for dosimetry-related studies in bio-electromagnetics, particularly for the calculation of electromagnetic field distribution inside the human body, which is subject specific. Reports indicated that considerable electromagnetic field variations may occur inside different human subjects even when existing differences in the geometrical dimensions of these subjects are minimal. Therefore, a subject-specific three-dimensional (3D) electromagnetic model is crucially required to calculate the electromagnetic field distribution accurately.

Gamma knife surgery with and without embolization for cerebral arteriovenous malformations: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The benefit and risk of gamma knife surgery (GKS) in the treatment of residual cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) after endovascular embolization remain controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess current evidence regarding the efficiency and safety of GKS for AVMs with and without prior embolization. To compare GKS in patients with and without embolization, the authors conducted a meta-analysis of studies by searching the literature via PubMed and EMBASE databases for the period between January 2006 and December 2017.

Noncontrast computed tomography factors predictive of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy outcomes in patients with pancreatic duct stones.

Purpose: To assess the usefulness of factors unique to NCCT for the prediction of ESWL outcomes in patients with pancreatic duct stones.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 148 patients with multiple PDS who had undergone ESWL therapy. All patients received an examination for NCCT both before and after ESWL.

Inhalation of Hydrogen of Different Concentrations Ameliorates Spinal Cord Injury in Mice by Protecting Spinal Cord Neurons from Apoptosis, Oxidative Injury and Mitochondrial Structure Damages.

Background/aims: Hydrogen selectively neutralizes reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ameliorates various ROS-induced injuries. Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious injury to the central nervous system, and secondary SCI is closely related to excessive ROS generation. We hypothesized that hydrogen inhalation ameliorates SCI, and the mechanism of action may be related to the protective effects of hydrogen against oxidative stress, apoptosis, and mitochondrial damage.

Assessment of radiation exposure in balloon kyphoplasty using a new navigation system.

Randomized controlled trials of conventional and laser-navigated technology techniques for balloon kyphoplasty were carried out. To evaluate the effectiveness of a new laser navigation system in reducing the radiation dose in balloon kyphoplasty procedures. Sixty-seven randomized controlled trials involving a total of 75 lumbar vertebrae were treated.

[Current status of diagnosis and treatment of community-acquired pneumonia in Shanghai revealed by a questionnaire analysis].

To understand the current status of diagnosis and treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) among doctors in various hospitals across Shanghai, for the purpose of promoting the 2016 clinical practice guidelines for adult CAP of China. A questionnaire was designed to address the common questions in CAP management. The responses were collected via WeChat and the data were analyzed.

Downregulation of microRNA-370 in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma is associated with cancer progression and promotes cancer cell proliferation via upregulating PIN1.

PIN1 is a peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase (PPIase) that controls cell fate by regulating multiple signal transduction pathways and is found to be overexpressed in a variety of malignant tumors. Herein, we found the expression of PIN1 is up-regulated while miRNA-370 (miR-370) down-regulated in both esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues and cells. Transfection of miR-370 can significantly decrease PIN1 expression in targeting ESCC cells.

Non-obese type 2 diabetes patients present intestinal B cell dysregulations associated with hyperactive intestinal Tfh cells.

Most current studies of type 2 diabetes (T2D) focus on obesity in the pathogenesis of the disease. However, many individuals develop T2D at non-obese body mass index (BMI) level. It is yet unclear whether certain etiological mechanisms discovered in these obese models can apply to non-obese T2D patients.

Reactivation of denervated Schwann cells by neurons induced from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

The use of neurons induced from stem cells has been introduced as an effective strategy for promoting peripheral nerve regeneration (PNR). The evolution and role of native denervated Schwann cells (SCs) were often ignored when exploring the mechanisms underlying neural transplantation therapy for PNR. The aim of this study was to understand if following injury, native denervated SCs could be reactivated by transplanting of neurons induced from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (NI-BMSCs) to promote PNR.

Pre-treatment DWI as a predictor of overall survival in locally advanced pancreatic cancer treated with Cyberknife radiotherapy and sequential S-1 therapy.

Background: To identify the value of the pre-treatment apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) derived from diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in predicting the overall survival (OS) for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) treated with Cyberknife followed by sequential S-1 chemotherapy.

Methods: Patients with UICC-T4 LAPC who underwent DWI scan (3.0 Tesla) using two b-values (0, 600 s/mm) in our center between 2015 and 2017 were enrolled.

Combination of Pre-Treatment DWI-Signal Intensity and S-1 Treatment: A Predictor of Survival in Patients with Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Receiving Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and Sequential S-1.

Objective: To identify whether the combination of pre-treatment radiological and clinical factors can predict the overall survival (OS) in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) treated with stereotactic body radiation and sequential S-1 (a prodrug of 5-FU combined with two modulators) therapy with improved accuracy compared with that of established clinical and radiologic risk models.

Methods: Patients admitted with LAPC underwent diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) scan at 3.0-T (b = 600 s/mm).

Interleukin-17A-promoted MSC2 polarization related with new bone formation of ankylosing spondylitis.

It's still unknown how over-hyperplasia of tissue such like new bone formation (NBF) developed in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). We found low level of IL-17A promoted TLR4+MSC1 polarization with suppressed osteogenic differentiation through JAK2/STAT3 pathway, while high level of IL-17A promoted TLR3+MSC2 polarization with enhanced osteogenic differentiation through WNT10b/RUNX2 pathway. Furthermore, both proteoglycan-induced spondylitis (PGISp) mouse model and AS patients without NBF showed MSC1 polarization, up-regulated JAK2/STAT3 pathway and high level of IL-17A (peripherally, but not locally), but those with NBF showed MSC2 polarization, up-regulated WNT10b/RUNX2 pathway and high expression of IL-17A at local site.

Translation and validation of the Chinese Social Role Participation Questionnaire in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Social Role Participation Questionnaire (SRPQ) is used to evaluate the social participation with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Although the SRPQ has English and Dutch versions, there is no Chinese version even though China has the largest population of patients with AS. The objective of our study was to translate the SRPQ into Chinese version and assess its reliability and validity in Chinese patients with AS.