Potentilla anserine L. polysaccharide protects against cadmium-induced neurotoxicity

Cadmium is a toxic metal that can damage the brain and other organs. This study aimed to explore the protective effects of Potentilla anserine L. polysaccharide (PAP) against CdCl₂-induced neurotoxicity in N2a and SH-SY5Y cells and in the cerebral cortex of BALB/c mice. In addition, we aimed to identify the potential mechanisms underlying these protective effects. Relative to CdCl₂ treatment alone, pretreatment with PAP prevented the reduction in cell viability evoked by CdCl₂, decreased rates of apoptosis, promoted calcium homeostasis, decreased ROS accumulation, increased mitochondrial membrane potential, inhibited cytochrome C and AIF release, and prevented the cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP. In addition, PAP significantly decreased the CdCl₂-induced phosphorylation of CaMKII, Akt, and mTOR. In conclusion, PAP represents a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of Cd-induced neurotoxicity, functioning in part via attenuating the activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and the Ca²⁺-CaMKII-dependent Akt/mTOR pathway.     

学生视域下的医学院校大学英语课程思政教学资源库建设研究

目的 探索医学生团队对大学英语思政教学资源的发掘与整合,并建设医学院校大学英语课程思政教学资源库,为医学生英语教学与思政教育的融合提供可行性经验。方法 对某医学院校1 030名学生进行问卷调查,并采用SPSSAU统计软件对调查结果进行分析,了解学生对英语教学与思政教育融合的态度与需求、大学英语思政教学资源库的建设方式,以及资源的呈现方式和类型。基于问卷结果、教材主题、教学模块与学生专业,采用内容分析与归类法,建设符合医学生期望的大学英语思政教学资源库。数据均以占比百分率的形式呈现。结果 ①836名学生认为大学英语有必要与思政教育融合,希望通过日常生活（731人）、医学背景知识（664人）、社会实践（622人）、新闻时事（604人）等相关的视频、音频建设思政资源库,并以“教师讲授+课堂讨论”（528人）的形式引导学生学习上述资源。②根据教材主题匹配问卷结果中的思政融入点,根据单元模块内容进一步细化思政融入点为普适性与医学专属思政教学元素两类,最终建成了医学院校大学英语思政教学资源库。结论 好的课程与资源是师生共研共建的。     

Comparison of efficacy and safety of daily oral L-arginine and PDE5Is alone or combination in treating erectile dysfunction: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

The meta-analysis was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of daily oral L-arginine and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5Is) alone or combination in treating patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). We performed a search of randomised controlled trials in the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases. Four articles including 373 patients were studied. Erectile functions were significantly improved in three therapy groups compared with baseline. Patients who received the combination of L-arginine and PDE5Is showed significant improvement compared to those treated with L-arginine and PDE5Is alone, as assessed by sexual function index (p <0.00001 and p =0.005, respectively) and total testosterone (p <0.00001 and p =0.0007, respectively). Furthermore, patients who treated with PDE5Is alone exhibited the better efficacy than those treated with L-arginine alone in respects of sexual function index (p <0.00001) and total testosterone (p =0.0001). However, the combination of L-arginine and PDE5Is had no obvious difference relative to PDE5Is alone in terms of various adverse events (AEs). Conclusively, compared with monotherapy, the combination of L-arginine and PDE5Is showed a greater improvement of sexual function and total testosterone, and did not significantly increase the AEs. Besides, PDE5Is alone revealed a better effect than those treated with L-arginine alone for patients with ED.     

Editorial Commentary: Stabilize the Patella to Achieve Functional Gain but Don’t Neglect the Cartilage That May Cause Long-Term Pain! Trochlear Dysplasia Plays a Role in Both

While trochlear dysplasia is commonly discussed as a major risk factor for recurrent patellar instability, it also has a strong relationship with the development of patellofemoral cartilage lesions. Patellofemoral instability frequently occurs in teens and young adults, and the high prevalence of associated cartilage damage unfortunately sets patients up for the progression of degenerative changes of the patellofemoral joint at an early age. The judicious use of magnetic resonance imaging can help identify the presence of chondral lesions, allowing for urgent management of associated osteochondral fractures or open discussions and patient education about the possibility of performing a cartilage restoration procedure concurrently with patellar stabilization surgery. The location and presence of patellofemoral chondral lesions should be considered when contemplating the concurrent use of tibial tubercle osteotomy as part of the patellar stabilization procedure.     

Determination of outcomes of complex upper end tibial fractures in squatting and cross leg sitting South Asian population

IntroductionTreatment of complex upper end tibial fractures has always been a challenge to orthopaedic surgeons. Though the roentgenogram results are satisfactory, the clinical and functional outcomes especially in terms of squatting/cross-leg sitting after long term follow-up are little known. Hence, we have done this study with a primary aim to assess the clinico-radiological and functional outcomes after operative fixation (mostly by locking plates) in complex upper end tibial fractures and a secondary aim to analyze correlation between functional outcome scores/range of motion (ROM) and the ability to squat & sit cross-legged in post-operative period.Materials and methodsThis prospective study included a total of 33 patients who were mainly treated with locking plates. In the follow-up, patients were assessed clinico-radiologically and outcome measurements were determined using the Tegner-Lysholm (T-L) Knee Score. Patients were categorized according to their ability to squat/sit cross-legged and a subgroup analysis was performed by comparing mean ROM and T-L score in each group.ResultsMajority of patients were in young and adult age group with a male to female ratio of 4.5:1. The average age was 42.39 ±14.64 years. Road traffic accident was the most common mode of injury. Average time interval between injury and surgery was 5.8±4.4 days. All the fractures united by 5-9 months. Mean ROM and T-L score at last follow-up were 120.94°±13.63° and 88.12±7.24 respectively. Average shortening, varus and valgus deformity were 0.43±0.09 cm, 2.12°±0.62° and 1.06°±0.45° respectively. 14 patients (42.42%) were able to squat and 15 (45.45%) were able to sit cross-legged postoperatively. Upon subgroup analysis, difference of mean ROM in those who could squat/sit cross-legged was found statistically significant (p≤0.05), however the difference in mean functional scores was not significant (p≥0.05).ConclusionComplex upper tibial fractures are a difficult entity to deal with. Anatomical locking plates take care of the alignment, articular congruity as well as ligamentous balancing thus giving good mid-term outcomes after ORIF/MIPO. However, applicability of the present functional outcome scores in assessing squatting/cross leg sitting remains doubtful. More weightage needs to be given to these activities to evaluate the outcome in South Asian population.     

NGF和GM1联合应用对坐骨神经损伤大鼠初级传入神经元的保护作用

目的:探讨联合应用神经营养因子(NGF)和神经节苷脂（GM1）对大鼠周围神经损伤后初级传入神经元的保护作用。方法: 选用SD大鼠96只，随机分为对照组、NGF组、GM1组和NGF + GM1组。将大鼠右侧坐骨神经切断，神经两断端相距5?mm，硅胶管桥接，用不同的药物处理后，于术后不同时间取出背根神经节进行研究。结果：4周时神经元数和神经传导速度，NGF+GM1组多于或快于其它各组(P＜0.01），NGF组和GM1组均多于或快于对照组(P ＜0.01）；8周时，各实验组多于或快于对照组(P＜0.01），各实验组之间差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。结论:周围神经损伤后，联合应用NGF和GM1对初级传入神经元的保护作用优于单用NGF、GM1，且起效早。     

Hyperglycemia is associated with lower levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator and urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor in wound fluid

AimsWounds in patients with hyperglycemia show impaired healing. Plasminogen activation is crucial in several overlapping phases of wound healing process. In this study, we aimed i) to compare acute wound fluid in patients with hyperglycemia and normoglycemia, ii) to focus on the elements of plasminogen activation in the wound fluid, and iii) to determine if the acute wound fluid characteristics are associated with surgical site infections.MethodsIn a cohort of 54 patients, a closed suction drain was placed in the wound above the anterior abdominal wall fascia under the skin in order to collect postoperative acute wound fluid samples for 3 following days after colorectal surgery. Patients were classified as normoglycemic (n = 25) or hyperglycemic (n = 29; 17 with type 2 diabetes and 12 with stress induced hyperglycemia). Surgical site infection was defined according to the Centers for Disease Control criteria. The levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAr), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) were measured in the wound fluid.ResultsCompared to normoglycemic subjects, patients with hyperglycemia had significantly lower levels of uPA and uPAr in the wound fluid despite similar or even higher circulating levels. There was no significant difference in IL-1β, TNF-α, PAI-1 and FGF-1 levels. In the whole study population, the wound fluid levels of uPA and uPAr were negatively correlated with circulating glucose levels. No difference was detected in the wound fluid characteristics of patients with and without surgical site infection.ConclusionPatients with hyperglycemia exhibit decreased levels of uPA and uPAr in the wound fluid, suggesting a local failure in plasminogen activation at the wound site.