[Expert consensus on the biobank development of oral genetic diseases and rare diseases and storage codes of related biological samples from craniofacial and oral region]

The biological samples of oral genetic diseases and rare diseases are extremely precious. Collecting and preserving these biological samples are helpful to elucidate the mechanisms and improve the level of diagnose and treatment of oral genetic diseases and rare diseases. The standardized construction of biobanks for oral genetic diseases and rare diseases is important for achieving these goals. At present, there is very little information on the construction of these biobanks, and the standards or suggestions for the classification and coding of biological samples from oral and maxillofacial sources, and this is not conducive to the standardization and information construction of biobanks for special oral diseases. This consensus summarizes the background, necessity, principles, and key points of constructing the biobank for oral genetic diseases and rare diseases. On the base of the group standard "Classification and Coding for Human Biomaterial" (GB/T 39768-2021) issued by the National Technical Committee for Standardization of Biological Samples, we suggest 76 new coding numbers for different of biological samples from oral and maxillofacial sources. We hope the consensus may promote the standardization, and smartization on the biobank construction as well as the overall research level of oral genetic diseases and rare diseases in China.

[Single-center study of different treatment for advanced or unresectable angiosarcoma patients]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of different medical treatment in advanced or unresectable angiosarcoma. Methods: This study was a single-center retrospective clinical study. Fifty-five advanced or unresectable angiosarcoma patients treated in Sun-Yat Sen University Cancer Center from January 2005 to August 2020 were enrolled. There were 34 patients who received first-line doxorubicin-based chemotherapy (doxorubicin group), 12 patients received first-line doxorubicin or liposome doxorubicin plus paclitaxel or albumin bound paclitaxel chemotherapy (combination therapy group), and 4 patients received first-line paclitaxel-based treatment (paclitaxel group). There were 6 patients who received anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy, another 2 patients received anti-PD-1 antibody plus anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy plus targeted therapy included 5 cases of first-line therapy and 3 cases of second-line therapy. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by RECIST 1.1 standard. The adverse reactions were evaluated by CTCAE4.0 standard. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was evaluated with Log rank test. Cox proportional hazard model was used to analyze the influencing factors. Results: There were 18 patients achieved partial response (PR) in 34 patients in the doxorubicin group, median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 4.5 months, and median overall survival (mOS) was 15 months. Four patients achieved PR in 12 patients in the combination therapy group, mPFS and mOS were 4 months and 19 months. Two patients achieved PR in 4 patients in the paclitaxel group, mPFS and mOS were 3 months and 9 months. However, only 1 in 6 patients achieved PR for anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy, mPFS and mOS were 3 months and 16 months. Two patients who received anti-PD-1 immunotherapy combined with anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy acquired PR for 17 months and more than 16 months. Median PFS (7.5 months) were longer in those with primary liver, lung and spleen angiosarcoma than in those with other primary site (3.0 months, P=0.028). The mOS (20 months) was longer in females than that in males (12 months, P=0.045). Primary tumor site, sex, age and treatment were not independent prognostic factors for angiosarcoma patients (P>0.05). Grade 3-4 cardiac toxicity was found in 2 patients in the combination therapy group. Conclusions: Doxorubicin-based and paclitaxel-based chemotherapy are the most important treatment for advanced angiosarcoma. Potential efficacy for targeted therapy combined with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy are showed in some patients with long duration of response and moderate adverse event.

[Comparative study of unilateral biportal endoscopy and coaxial large channel endoscopy for lumbar spinal stenosis]

Objective: To compare the efficacy of unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) and coaxial large channel endoscopy for lumbar spinal stenosis. Methods: A total of 176 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis treated in Tianjin Hospital from March 2015 to October 2021 were included in this study. Of the patients, 110 cases were treated with UBE, including 52 males and 58 females, with a mean age of (75.1±10.4) years; while 66 cases were treated with coaxial large channel endoscopy, including 31 males and 35 females, with an average age of (77.2±13.1) years. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score of pain and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were compared before and after surgery between the two groups, with the improvement rate calculated. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, perioperative conditions and complications were compared. The operation efficacy was evaluated according to MacNab scale and was compared between the two groups. Results: There was no significant differences in age, gender, disease course, VAS of pain, ODI and index levels between the two groups before operation (all P>0.05). The operation time and postoperative drainage in UBE group and coaxial large channel endoscopy group were comparable [(60.1±12.4)min, (62.5±13.2)min and (103.8±20.7)ml, (98.5±22.1)ml, respectively, both P>0.05]. After the operation, the VAS score of low back pain, VAS score of leg pain and ODI of the two groups were all lower than those before operation, and decreased continuously during follow-up; and under the repeated measures analysis of variance, significant differences were found between different time points (all P<0.05), no significant difference was found between the two groups (all P>0.05), nor interaction between groups and time points was detected (all P>0.05). The patients were followed-up for (18.0±4.2) months (6 to 30 months). There was no significant difference in VAS and ODI improvement rates and excellent rate of efficacy between the two groups at the last follow-up (all P>0.05). Conclusions: Both UBE and coaxial large channel endoscopy can provide excellent results for lumbar spinal stenosis. UBE has sufficient decompression and is convenient to explore and remove the herniated disc.

The changing landscape of phase II/III metastatic sarcoma clinical trials-analysis of ClinicalTrials.gov

Background

Well-designed clinical trials are of great importance in validating novel treatments and ensuring an evidence-based approach for sarcoma. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive landscape of the characteristics of metastatic or advanced sarcoma clinical trials using the substantial resource of the ClincialTrials.gov database.

Methods

We identified 260,755 trials registered with ClinicalTrials.gov in the last 20 years, and 277 of them were eligible for inclusion. The baseline characteristics were ascertained for each trial. The trials were systematically reviewed to validate their classification into 96 trials registered before 2008 and 181 trials registered between 2008 and 2017.

Results

We found that in the last decade, metastatic and advanced sarcoma trials were predominantly phase II-III studies (p = 0.048), were more likely to be ≥2 arms (17.7% vs 35.3%, respectively; p = 0.007), and were more likely to use randomized (13.5% vs 30.4%; p = 0.002) and double-blinded (2.1% vs 9.4%; p = 0.024) assignment than trials registered before 2008. Furthermore, in the last 10-year period, metastatic sarcoma trials were more likely to be conducted in Asia. Treatment involving target therapy and immunotherapy were more common (71.8% vs 37.5%; p < 0.001) than in previous years.

Conclusions

Our data showed provocative changes in the sarcoma landscape and demonstrated that the incidence of clinical trials with target therapy and immunotherapy is increasing. These findings emphasize the desperate need for novel strategies, including target therapy and immunotherapy, to improve the outcomes for patients with advanced sarcoma.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-5163-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Study on the corrosion behavior of steel Q315NS heat-affected zone in a HCl solution using electrochemical noise

Uniform corrosion occurred on CGHAZ of Q315NS owing to coarse GB while pitting occurs on BM after metastable pitting.

[Anatomy research of cervical laminoplasty with preservation of the posterior ligament complex.]

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of cervical laminoplasty with preservation of the posterior ligament complex for enlarging the spinal canal. Methods: Six up-to-standard human corpse specimens were divided into two groups by simple randomization (start from C4 group, S4; start from C5 group, S5; 3 corpses in each group). Decompression operation of C3-C6 level was performed in a predetermined sequence by using the new procedure with preservation of the posterior ligament complex.The basic depth of spinal canal was measured with a depth gauge at fixed point after the right bone groove of single level was completed.The operation of the contralateral bone groove was continued, and then the spinal canal was measured again when the spinous process was pulled backward by using a tissue forceps until the ligament complex was just tight.Retreat value (RV) of vertebral lamina was obtained by calculating the difference between the two measurements.The earlier measured levels needed to be remeasured when the operation area increased by one level. Two independent sample and one-sample t test were used to analyze the measurement results. Results: RV of vertebral lamina was small after finishing the first level of the decompression operation [S4: (0.87±0.72) mm; S5: (1.83±0.29) mm], and the value reached its maximum after the completion of C3-C6 level.The overall average RVmaxs from C3 to C6 level were (2.37±0.52) mm, (4.27±0.78) mm, (3.73±0.93) mm and (2.16±0.77) mm, respectively.The overall average retreat rates (RR) were 17%±7%, 32%±9%, 29%±10% and 16%±6%, respectively. The overall average RVmax of C4 and C5 level reached or exceeded the decompression threshold value of 4 mm (t=0.839, -0.703, both P>0.05). The average RVmax of C4/C5 level was similar in the two groups (t=-1.204, 1.189, both P>0.05); however, the difference of average RVmax between C3 and C6 level was significant (t=-4.429, 4.196, both P<0.05). Conclusions: Cervical laminoplasty with preservation of the posterior ligament complex can enlarge the sagittal diameter of spinal canal and relieve the compression of spinal cord.In addition, RV of each level increases as the number of the operation level increases, and the ability of vertebral lamina to retreat is quite different from C3 to C6 level.The decompression effect in the middle of the operation area is better than that on the cranial and tail side.

[Study on feasibility of enhanced recovery after surgery combined with mobile microendoscopic discectomy-transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in the treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis]

Objective: To explore the feasibility of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) combined with mobile microendoscopic discectomy-transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MMED-TLIF) in the treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis and its influence on postoperative rehabilitation. Methods: From October 1 2014 to July 1 2016 , a cohort of 52 patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis who received the program of ERAS-MMED-TLIF were retrospectively reviewed in Department of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery, Tianjin Hospital.The primary outcomes include the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay, VAS score (low back pain and leg pain) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at different follow-up time and complication.The height of intervertebral space and fusion rate were also recorded as radiographic indicators. Results: All cases had an average follow-up of 12 months. The mean operative time was (115±30) min with a mean blood loss of (100±35) ml.Compared with preoperative condition, VAS score of low back pain (6.3±3.3 vs 3.5±2.3, P<0.05), VAS score of leg pain (7.1 ± 4.2 vs 3.1 ± 2.6, P<0.05) and the ODI disability index score (43.5±9.6 vs 20.9±7.3, P<0.05) at the postoperative 24 h were decreased and the difference was statistically significant.The mean hospitalized time were (4.9±1.3) days with mean postoperative hospital stay (2.1±1.2) days.Fusion rate was 92.31% (48/52) at the last follow-up time. Conclusion: ERAS combined with MMED-TLIF is feasible in the treatment of lumbar spondylolisthesis, which can significantly reduce intraoperative bleeding, shorten the total length of stay and postoperative hospital stay, improve postoperative pain and promote rapid rehabilitation of patients after operation without increasing the operation time and influencing the long-term effect, it can be applied in clinical practice.

[Analysis of tumor necrosis factor-α and zinc finger protein 36 gene polymorphism for patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome]

Objective:To investigate the association between obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and tumor necrosis factor(TNF) -α and zinc finger protein 36 (ZFP36) gene polymorphisms.Method:Two hundred and four patients with OSAHS were enrolled as study group. Meanwhile, 97 healthy subjects were selected as control group. Three sites of ZFP36 gene (rs17879933, rs3746083 and rs251864) were detected by TaqMan-PCR method. The levels of TNF-α and other biochemical markers were detected by radioimmunoassay, and relevant indicators of breathing during sleep at night of all the subjects were recorded by Monet32 system. Result:The levels of TNF-α, total cholesterol, uric acid, diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, abdominal circumference and neck circumference were significantly higher in the study group than those in the control group (all P< 0.05). The genotype and allele frequencies of rs251864 and rs17879933 were significantly different between the study group and the control group (all P< 0.05). The levels of abdominal circumference, BMI, TNF-α and TG in patients with rs251864 GG and rs17879933 Ⅱ genotypes were significantly higher than those with the other two genotypes (all P< 0.05). There was no significant difference in all the sleep respiration indexes between the three genotypes of ZFP36 (all P< 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that there was no correlation between three polymorphisms of ZFP36 and OSAHS after controlling a series of factors such as gender and age.Conclusion:ZFP36 may be involved in the pathogenesis of OSAHS by modulating inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and interfering with metabolism. ZFP36 mutation at three sites is not an independent risk factor for OSAHS.

Syntheses and luminescent properties of a copolymer of terbium-p-aminobenzoic acid-methacrylic acid and styrene

A reactive Tb(III) complex with p-aminobenzoic acid (p-ABA) and methacrylic acid (MAA) as ligands was synthesized. A novel copolymer was synthesized by free radical copolymerization of styrene and the reactive Tb(III) complex in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) with 2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionitrile) (AIBN) as the initiator. IR and UV/Vis spectra indicate that the copolymer exhibited absorption from polystyrene and the complex. Thermogravimetric analysis indicates that the copolymer remained stable up to 357°C and the thermal stability was significantly improved in comparison with polymer matrix and the Tb(III) complex. The luminescent intensity of the synthetic terbium macromolecular complexes increased with increasing complex monomer content. Moreover, concentration quenching was not observed.

A tensile deformation model for in-situ dendrite/metallic glass matrix composites

In-situ dendrite/metallic glass matrix composites (MGMCs) with a composition of Ti₄₆Zr₂₀V₁₂Cu₅Be₁₇ exhibit ultimate tensile strength of 1510 MPa and fracture strain of about 7.6%. A tensile deformation model is established, based on the five-stage classification: (1) elastic-elastic, (2) elastic-plastic, (3) plastic-plastic (yield platform), (4) plastic-plastic (work hardening), and (5) plastic-plastic (softening) stages, analogous to the tensile behavior of common carbon steels. The constitutive relations strongly elucidate the tensile deformation mechanism. In parallel, the simulation results by a finite-element method (FEM) are in good agreement with the experimental findings and theoretical calculations. The present study gives a mathematical model to clarify the work-hardening behavior of dendrites and softening of the amorphous matrix. Furthermore, the model can be employed to simulate the tensile behavior of in-situ dendrite/MGMCs.

[Anterior retroperitoneal L5-S1 arthrodesis and fixation with cage and plate. Prospective study in 40 cases with a follow-up of one to 2.2 year (mean 1.5 year)]

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The aim of this prospective clinical study was to assess outcome after anterior retroperitoneal interbody arthrodesis for L5-S1 discopathy. We used a cage filled with an autologous corticocancellous graft and plate fixation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty patients with low back pain unresponsive to medical treatment for more than six months were included in this series. We noted the clinical signs and radiculalgia. Patients were assessed preoperatively, postoperatively, at one year and at last follow-up using the Oswestry score and a visual analog scale (VAS). The plain X-rays disclosed 30 cases of discopathy (16 primary and 14 postdiscectomy) and 10 cases of spondylolisthesis by L5 isthmic lysis (three Meyerding grade 0 and seven grade 1). MRI revealed signs of disc degeneration in all cases with a black disc or modification of the endplate signals (Modic type 1 in 23 and type 2 in 13). The anterior retroperitoneal approach was used in all cases for complete discectomy, arthrodesis with cage insertion and an autologous corticocancellous graft harvested from the iliac bone and fixation using a triangular plate (Pyramid, Medtronic, Memphis TN). Clinical and radiographic follow-up data were available at six weeks and three, six and 12 months in addition to last follow-up. A follow-up using MRI was performed in the event of complications.

RESULTS

The population was composed of 25 women and 15 men, mean age 44 years and eight months (range 29-693 years). Thirteen patients presented radiculalgia. There were no vascular or gastrointestinal complications with the anterior approach. Bone healing was achieved at one year in 38 patients (95%). The mean Oswestry score improved from 52 to 16% and the mean VAS from 7.8 to 1.83 at 18 months follow-up. All occupationally-active patients but one resumed their former activity at mean 4.7 months. There were no sexual complications in this series. Low back pain persisted in three patients and five developed transient facet joint symptoms. Two patients developed secondary radiculalgia. We noted two cases of nonunion, in one grade 1 spondylolisthesis and in one grade 1 spondlylolisthesis (with revision for complementary posterior arthrodesis and a good outcome at latest follow-up).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Anterior L5-S1 interbody fusion with a cage filled with a corticocancellous autograft fixed with a plate provides good clinical and radiographic results for the stabilization of painful discopathy. The results have been good for isolated L5-S1 discopathy and for grade 0 spondylolisthesis. The limit for this technique would appear to be grade 1 spondylolisthesis with a degraded disc. Performed via an anterior retroperitoneal approach, this method is a good alternative to the classical posterior approach, enabling very low morbidity.

Purification, characterization and enzymatic degradation of YCP, a polysaccharide from marine filamentous fungus YS4108

YCP, a mitogenic polysaccharide with its molecular weight (MW) of 2.4 x 10(3) kDa, was isolated from the mycelium of the marine filamentous fungus Phoma herbarum YS4108 by a combination of ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-32 and gel permeation over Sephacryl S-400. The detailed compositional, spectroscopic and methylation analyses of the polysaccharide demonstrated that its backbone possessed most likely a linear alpha-(1 --> 4) bonded glucopyranoside main chain co-bearing through side alpha-(1 --> 6)-linkage. The alpha-(1 --> 4) bondage of the glucopyranoside building blocks in YCP was confirmed by the observation that it could be hydrolyzed by the alpha-amylase produced by Bacillus licheniformis. A reliable concentration monitoring experimentation highlighted that the reducing sugars released continuously from YCP during its incubation with the enzyme, and the MW of the main resulting fragment weighed 0.8 x 10(4) Da with approximately 10% of YCP converted to maltose, maltotriose and glucose after a 120-min enzymatic degradation. Finally, YCP was found to be able to increase phagocytic activity of mice in vitro and in vivo, indicating that it may be looked up as a potent immunomodulator that could activate macrophages.