Histomorphological study of the spinal growth plates from the convex side and the concave side in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Asymmetrical growth of the vertebrae has been implicated as one possible etiologic factor in the pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. The longitudinal vertebral growth derives from the endochondral ossification of the vertebral growth plate. In the present study, the growth plates from the convex and concave side of the vertebrae were characterized by the method of histology and immunohistochemistry to evaluate the growth activity, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Normal zoned architectures were observed in the convex side of the growth plate and disorganized architectures in the concave side. The histological grades were significantly different between the convex and the concave side of the growth plate in the apex vertebrae (P < 0.05). The histological difference was also found significant statistically between end vertebrae and apex vertebrae in the concave side of vertebral growth plates (P < 0.05). The proliferative potential indexes and apoptosis indexes of chondrocytes in the proliferative and hypertrophic zone in the convex side were significantly higher than that in the concave side in the apex vertebral growth plate (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference of the proliferative potential index (proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PCNA index) between convex side and concave side at the upper end vertebra (P < 0.05). The difference of the proliferative potential index and apoptosis index were found significant statistically in the concave side of the vertebral growth plate between end vertebrae and apex vertebrae (P < 0.05). The same result was also found for the apoptosis index (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate biotin nick end labeling assay, TUNEL index) in the convex side of vertebral growth plate between end vertebrae and apex vertebrae (P < 0.05). Some correlation were found between radiographic measurements and proliferation and apoptosis indexes. The difference in histological grades and cellular activity between the convex and concave side indicated that the bilateral growth plate of the vertebrae in AIS patients have different growth kinetics which may affect the curve progression

The effectiveness of intensity-modulated radiation therapy versus 2D-RT for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BackgroundAt present, the management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is mainly based on radiotherapy, but there are many radiation delivery techniques such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and 2-dimensional radiotherapy (2D-RT).Materials and methodsWe searched all the eligible studies through the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline, and Embase. The endpoint events in meta-analysis were overall survival (OS), tumor local control including local-regional free survival (LRFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and late toxicities.ResultsA total of ten publications met the criteria and were identified through searches of the databases and references. We included 13304 patients in the meta-analysis, of whom 5212 received IMRT and 8092 were allocated to 2D-RT alone group. Compared with 2D-RT treatment, the IMRT group was associated with a better 5-year OS (OR = 1.70; 95% CI = 1.36-2.12), LRFS (OR = 2.08; 95% CI = 1.82-2.37), and PFS (OR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.26-1.56). Additionally, the incidence of late toxicities such as late xerostomia (OR = 0.21; 95% CI = 0.09-0.51), trismus (OR = 0.16; 95% CI = 0.04-0.60), and temporal lobe neuropathy (TLN) (OR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.24-0.67) for NPC patients in IMRT group were significantly lower than 2D-RT.ConclusionsThe meta-analysis demonstrates that IMRT provides improved long-term tumor overall survival and local control including LRFS and PFS. Additionally, IMRT yields a lower incidence of late toxicities induced by irradiation in NPC patients. Compared to 2D-RT, IMRT may be an effective treatment for patients with NPC. Further intensive studies should be pursued to examine the association

Emotional and Cognitive Responses and Behavioral Coping of Chinese Medical Workers and General Population during the Pandemic of COVID-19

Background: The outbreak of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) might affect the psychological health of population, especially medical workers. We aimed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emotional and cognitive responses and behavioral coping among Chinese residents. Methods: An online investigation was run from 5 February to 25 February 2020, which recruited a total of 616 Chinese residents. Self-designed questionnaires were used to collect demographic information, epidemic knowledge and prevention of COVID-19 and characteristics of medical workers. The emotional and cognitive responses were assessed via the Symptom Check List-30 (SCL-30) and Yale&ndash;Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). Behavioral coping was assessed via Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ). Results: In total, 131 (21.3%) medical workers and 485 (78.7%) members of the general public completed the structured online survey. The structural equation models showed that emotional response interacted with cognitive response, and both emotional response and cognitive response affected the behavioral coping. Multivariate regression showed that positive coping enhanced emotional and cognitive responses, while negative coping reduced emotional and cognitive responses. The emotional response (depression, anxiety and photic anxiety) scores of the participants were higher than the norm (all p &lt; 0.001); in particular, the panic scores of members of the general public were higher than those of medical workers (p &lt; 0.05), as well as the cognitive response (paranoia and compulsion). Both positive and negative coping scores of the participants were lower than the norm (p &lt; 0.001), and the general public had higher negative coping than medical workers (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: During the preliminary stage of COVID-19, our study confirmed the significance of emotional and cognitive responses, which were associated with behavioral coping and significantly influenced the medical workers and the general public&rsquo;s cognition and level of public health emergency preparedness. These results emphasize the importance of psychological health at times of widespread crisis

Microphotographs of TUNEL-positive chondrocytes in the resting zone and in the proliferative & hypertrophic zone of growth plate of apex vertebrae in AIS patient(Magnification: 400×)

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Histomorphological study of the spinal growth plates from the convex side and the concave side in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis"</p><p>http://www.josr-online.com/content/2/1/19</p><p>Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research 2007;2():19-19.</p><p>Published online 11 Nov 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2186319.</p><p></p> TUNEL-positive chondrocytes (arrows) in the resting zone of convex side(A). TUNEL-positive chondrocytes (arrows) in the resting zone of concave side(B). TUNEL-positive chondrocytes (arrows) in the proliferative & hypertrophic zone of convex side(C). TUNEL-positive chondrocytes (arrows) in the proliferative & hypertrophic zone of concave side(D)

Bionic microchannels for step lifting transpiration

Those various cross-sectional vessels in trees transfer water to as high as 100 meters, but the traditional fabrication methods limit the manufacturing of those vessels, resulting in the non-availability of those bionic microchannels. Herein, we fabricate those bionic microchannels with various cross-sections by employing projection micro-stereolithography (P µ SL) based 3D printing technique. The circumradius of bionic microchannels (pentagonal, square, triangle, and five-pointed star) can be as small as 100 μ m with precisely fabricated sharp corners. What’s more, those bionic microchannels demonstrate marvelous microfluidic performance with strong precursor effects enabled by their sharp corners. Most significantly, those special properties of our bionic microchannels enable them outstanding step lifting performance to transport water to tens of millimeters, though the water can only be transported to at most 20 mm for a single bionic microchannel. The mimicked transpiration based on the step lifting of water from bionic microchannels is also achieved. Those precisely fabricated, low-cost, various cross-sectional bionic microchannels promise applications as microfluidic chips, long-distance unpowered water transportation, step lifting, mimicked transpiration, and so on

Microphotographs of PARP-positive chondrocytes in the resting zone and in the proliferative & hypertrophic zone of growth plate of apex vertebrae in AIS patient(Magnification: 400×)

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Histomorphological study of the spinal growth plates from the convex side and the concave side in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis"</p><p>http://www.josr-online.com/content/2/1/19</p><p>Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research 2007;2():19-19.</p><p>Published online 11 Nov 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2186319.</p><p></p> PARP-positive chondrocytes (arrows) in the resting zone of convex side(A). PARP-positive chondrocytes (arrows) in the resting zone of concave side(B). PARP-positive chondrocytes (arrows) in the proliferative & hypertrophic zone of convex side(C). PARP-positive chondrocytes (arrows) in the proliferative & hypertrophic zone of concave side(D)

Microphotographs of PCNA-positive chondrocytes (arrows) in the resting zone and in the proliferative & hypertrophic zone of growth plate of apex vertebrae in AIS patient under micro camera(Magnification: 400×)

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Histomorphological study of the spinal growth plates from the convex side and the concave side in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis"</p><p>http://www.josr-online.com/content/2/1/19</p><p>Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research 2007;2():19-19.</p><p>Published online 11 Nov 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC2186319.</p><p></p> PCNA-positive chondrocytes (arrows) in the resting zone of convex side(A). PCNA-positive chondrocytes (arrows) in the resting zone of concave side(B). PCNA-positive chondrocytes (arrows) in the proliferative & hypertrophic zone of convex side(C). PCNA-positive chondrocytes (arrows) in the proliferative & hypertrophic zone of concave side(D)