Risk Factors of Unsatisfactory Robot-Assisted Pedicle Screw Placement: A Case-Control Study

Qi Zhang,Ming-Xing Fan,Xiao-Guang Han,Ya-Jun Liu,Da He,Bo Liu,Wei Tian 대한척추신경외과학회 2021 Neurospine Vol.18 No.4

Objective: To identify potential risk factors of unsatisfactory screw position during robot-assisted pedicle screw fixation. Methods: A retrospective analysis of robot-assisted pedicle screw fixation performed in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from March 2018 to March 2019 was conducted. Research data was collected from the medical record and imaging systems. Univariate tests were performed on the potential risk factors (patient’s characteristics and surgical factors) of unsatisfactory screw position during robot-assisted pedicle screw fixation. For statistically significant variables in univariate tests, a logistic regression test was used to identify independent risk factors for unsatisfactory screw position. Results: A total of 780 pedicle screws placed in 163 robot-assisted surgeries were analyzed. The rate of perfect screw positions was 93.08%, and the unsatisfactory rate was 6.92%. In patients with severe obesity (body mass index≥30 kg/m2) (odds ratio [OR], 2.459; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.199–5.044; p=0.014), osteoporosis (T≤-2.5) (OR, 1.857; 95% CI, 1.046–3.295; p=0.034), and the segments 3 levels away from the tracker (OR, 2.216; 95% CI, 1.119–4.387; p=0.022), robot-assisted pedicle screw placement has a higher risk of screw malposition. Conclusion: During robot-assisted pedicle screw placement for patients with severe obesity, osteoporosis, and segments 3 levels away from the tracker, vigilance should be maintained during surgery to avoid postoperative complications due to unsatisfactory screw position.

Expression and Prognostic Role of MEKK3 and pERK in Patients with Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma

Chen, Qi,Lu, Hong-sheng,Gan, Mei-fu,Chen, Lan-xi,He, Kai,Fan, Guang-min,Cao, Xue-quan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.6

Mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase kinase 3 (MEKK3) is an important serine/threonine protein kinase and a member of the MAPK family. MEKK3 can effectively activate the MEK/ERK signaling pathway and promote an autocrine growth loop critical for tumor genesis, cell proliferation, terminal differentiation, apoptosis and survival. To explore the relationship between MEKK3 and cell apoptosis, clinicopathology and prognosis, we characterize the expression of MEKK3, pERK and FoxP3 in the renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC). Protein expression was detected by tissue microarray and immunochemistry in 46 cases of RCCC and 28 control cases. Expression levels of CD3+,CD3+CD4+,CD3+CD8+,CD4+CD25+, CD4+CD25+ FoxP3+ were assessed by flow cytometry and analyzed for their association with pathological factors, correlation and prognosis in RCCC. Expression of MEKK3, pERK and FoxP3 was significantly up-regulated in RCCC as compared to control levels (p<0.01), associated with pathological grade (p<0.05)and clinical stage (p<0.05). CD4+CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cells were also significantly increased in RCCC patients (p<0.05). Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that MEKK3, pERK expression and patholigical stage were independent prognostic factors in patients with RCCC (p<0.05). MEKK3 can be used as an important marker of early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation in RCCC. It may be associated with imbalance of anti-tumor immunity and overexpression of pERK. Expression of MEKK3 and pERK are significantly increased in RCCC, with protein expression and clinical stage acting as independent prognostic factors.

Preparation of magnetic steel-slag particle electrode and its performance in a novel electrochemical reactor for oilfield wastewater advanced treatment

Zhaoyang Wang,Xinlin He,Junfeng Li,Jingyao Qi,Chun Zhao,Guang Yang 한국공업화학회 2018 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.58 No.-

A novel continuous-flow electrochemical reactor was designed for oilfield wastewater advancedtreatment. Magnetic steel slag particles were prepared as particle electrodes in the reactor. The bestpreparation condition of steel slag particle electrodes is obtained via orthogonal and single factorexperiments. The resulting samples were characterized by scanning electron microscope and vibratingsample magnetometer. It was demonstrated that saturation magnetic intensity of the particle was1.6389 emu/g. The process parameters and the total organic carbon (TOC) removal kinetics wereinvestigated. Result showed that the reactor could remove over 85% TOC in 2 h, which was considered tobe effective.

Disruption of endothelial barrier function is linked with hyposecretion and lymphocytic infiltration in salivary glands of Sjögren's syndrome

Cong, Xin,Zhang, Xue-Ming,Zhang, Yan,Wei, Tai,He, Qi-Hua,Zhang, Li-Wei,Hua, Hong,Lee, Sang-Woo,Park, Kyungpyo,Yu, Guang-Yan,Wu, Li-Ling Elsevier 2018 Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular basis of Vol.1864 No.10

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that causes hyposecretion in salivary glands. Endothelial tight junctions (TJs) play crucial roles in salivation and barrier function of blood vessels. However, whether the alteration of endothelial TJs were involved in pathogenesis of SS was still unknown. Here, the ultrastructure and function of endothelial TJs in submandibular glands (SMGs) were detected by transmission electron microscopy and in vivo paracellular permeability assay in different aged NOD mouse model for SS. CFSE-labeled lymphocytes were injected into tail vein to trace the infiltration, while claudin-5 expression and distribution were detected by immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and western blot. Results showed that the stimulated salivary flow rate was gradually decreased and lymphocytic infiltration was found as age increased in 12- and 21-week-old NOD mice, but not 7-week-old NOD mice. Blood vessels were dilated, while endothelial TJ width and paracellular tracer transport were increased in 12-week-old NOD mice. Moreover, the injected CFSE-labeled lymphocytes were observed in SMGs of 12-week-old NOD mice. Claudin-5 level was increased and relocalized from the apical portion of neighboring endothelial cells to lateral membranes and cytoplasm in 12-week-old NOD mice. Additionally, the alteration of claudin-5 expression and distribution was further confirmed in labial salivary glands and bilateral parotid glands from SS patients. In cultured human microvessel endothelial cell line (HMEC-1), IFN-γ stimulation significantly increased claudin-5 expression. Taken together, we identified that the endothelial TJ barrier was disrupted and contributed to the development of salivary hyposecretion and lymphocytic infiltration in SS.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Endothelial tight junction barrier is disrupted in hyposecretory submandibular glands from Sjögren's syndrome mouse model </LI> <LI> The disrupted salivary endothelial barrier is linked with lymphocytic infiltration in Sjögren's syndrome mouse model </LI> <LI> The redistribution of claudin-5 is responsible for disrupted endothelial barrier in salivary glands from Sjögren's syndrome </LI> </UL> </P>

Identification and expression analysis of grape LRK10L-2 genes during grape fruit development

Ma Jin-Ping,Yin Xue-Ren,Wei Tong-Lu,Liu Hai-Nan,Pei Mao-Song,Yang Sheng-Di,Jin Hui-Ying,He Guang-Qi,Guo Da-Long 한국식물생명공학회 2022 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.16 No.1

LRK10L-2 is known to be related to the plant disease response, little information is available about the relationship of LRK10L-2 and fruit ripening. The protein physicochemical properties, conserved domains, gene structures, subcellular locali- zation, expression patterns during grape fruit development and promoter activity of the members of grape LRK10L-2 gene family were explored in this study. A total of 109 LRK10L-2 family gene members were identified, and mainly distributed on chromosome 16. Almost all of them were located in the plasma membrane. Most of the LRK10L-2 genes contain four or five motifs, ranging from 0 to 5 introns and have the cis-acting elements related to hormones in their promoter regions. There were 20 pairs of tandem duplicates and 293 pairs of segmental duplication in LRK10L-2 family genes. It was proved that the expression of LRK10L-2 gene varied at the different fruit development stages of 'Kyoho' and its early-ripening bud mutant, ‘Fengzao’. The subcellular localization of VIT_16s0098g00160 and VIT_16s0098g00400 were in the plasma membrane, and had a significant enrichment of the GUS signal in N.benthamiana leaves for the promoter. The results lay a solid basis for the further functional researches of the LRK10L-2 genes for grape fruit ripening.