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Open Access

Article

Finite element analysis of the biomechanical effects of anterior and posterior cervical fusion surgery for bilateral cervical dislocation

Dan Li, Ke Wang, Chao Dong, Bo Zhou, Lin Gu, Haoran Yang

Lower cervical spine injuries often manifest as lower cervical vertebral fractures and dislocations, as well as lower cervical facet joint dislocations. Especially in cases of bilateral facet joint dislocations, it is important to rapidly and effectively relieve spinal cord and nerve root compression to prevent secondary spinal cord injury, while also providing reliable and long-lasting stability to the injured segment after surgery. Combined anterior and posterior approaches have the advantages of both pure anterior or posterior approaches, but the actual situation is complex and variable, making systematic theoretical analysis crucial. This study, with bilateral facet joint dislocation of the C6 segment and cervical spinal cord injury as the research background, established a three-dimensional model of the cervical spine C3-C7 after implementing four types of anterior-posterior combined surgeries. The four surgical approaches consist of four combinations: anterior parallel or inclined screw placement combined with posterior Margel or Anderson method screw insertion. Through finite element method, a systematic comparative analysis of the theoretical effects of the four combined surgeries in treating bilateral facet joint dislocation of the cervical spine was conducted. The conclusion was that the variations in the four combined fixation methods have a certain impact on the biomechanical characteristics of the intervertebral disc nucleus. There is a clear mutual influence relationship among anterior and posterior fixation instruments. Based on the model used in this study, it is recommended to use a torque greater than 2.1 nm to tighten the locking nut of the posterior rod to ensure reliable internal fixation.

Open Access

Article

WGCNA-based identification of anoikis-related subtypes, prognostic significance, and characterisation of the immune microenvironment in Philadelphia-negative acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Na Li, Yang Hong, Ling Zhang, Aining Sun

The clinical outcomes and incidence of Philadelphia chromosome-negative B cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ph-neg B-ALL) vary significantly across different age groups, influencing the prognosis. Despite recent advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques, the detailed prognosis for ph-negative B-ALL across age demographics remains to be elucidated. In this study, clinical data were obtained from 80 patients with ph-neg B-ALL who were diagnosed at our centre. Ribonucleic acid sequencing was performed using their initial bone marrow aspirate samples. By employing weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) on 408 anoikis-related genes (ARGs), four different modules were identified and subsequently analysed through bioinformatics. The WGCNA revealed distinct co-expression modules among ARGs. Specifically, the ARGs in the turquoise module might assess the risk associated with newly diagnosed ph-neg B-ALL. Additionally, the study revealed significant heterogeneity in the immune microenvironment and genome variance, highlighting the notable heterogeneity within the disease. 408 ARGs were screened out and four different co-expression modules were constructed by WGCNA algorithms from the RNA-sequencing data of 80 ph-neg B-ALL patients; The ARGs in the turquoise module were the most, and it can be used to divide the de novo ph-neg B-ALL patients to different risk groups(high-risk and low-risk); The ph-neg B-ALL patients can be divided into PS-1 and PS-2, there is heterogeneity of genomes between PS-1 and PS-2; Immune infiltration difference exists in between PS-1 and PS-2. In conclusion, our study holds significant value in exploring the molecular pathways and mechanisms associated with anoikis implicated in ph-neg B-ALL, and in facilitating the development of treatments and prognostic tools for this disease

Open Access

Article

Induced fatigue impact on plantar pressure in females with mild hallux valgus

Shunxiang Gao, Dong Sun, Yang Song, Xuanzhen Cen, Hairong Chen, Yining Xu, Shirui Shao

Fatigue has been established to change plantar pressure distribution, yet its impact on hallux valgus (HV) patients, who exhibit morphological and biomechanical changes in the foot, remains insufficiently studied. Twenty-eight female participants, comprising 16 with mild HV and 12 healthy controls, were recruited. Plantar pressures were recorded pre- and post-fatigue using the Footscan platform during self-selected-speed walking trials, fatigue protocol was performed on a treadmill. Foot was segmented into 10 anatomical regions for calculating parameters including maximal force, peak pressure, impulse, contact duration, contact area, and force time-series, alongside assessing the distribution of medial and lateral contact forces (Foot balance) across the groups. During post-fatigue, patients with mild HV demonstrated adaptive changes in plantar pressure distinct from healthy controls, with significant reductions in maximal force, peak pressure, and impulse in the M1 and M2 regions and increases in the M3–M5 regions. In contrast, the control group exhibited an opposite pattern, concentrating pressure in the M1 and M2 regions post-fatigue. The force time-series analysis revealed significant disparities between HV patients and controls, particularly in the M4 and M5 regions, where HV patients showed a less pronounced and lower passive peak in forces. Results show that women with mild HV demonstrate adaptive changes in plantar pressure post-fatigue, distinctly different from healthy individuals, aiding in preventive strategies for fatigue-induced foot injuries for HV patients.

Open Access

Article

Diagnosis and correlation analysis of lung cancer based on multi-parameter regression of respiratory volatile organic compounds

Lishan Qin, Yunzhen Wang, Fei Wang, Ziyi Zhu, Raojun Luo, Guojun Lv, Haibin Cui

Lung cancer is a prevalent and life-threatening disease worldwide. The primary diagnostic approach for lung cancer is the utilization of low-dose spiral CT scans. However, repeated scans can expose patients to harmful radiation. Consequently, there is growing interest in exploring alternative methods such as the analysis of exhaled volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for lung cancer detection. In this study, we employed a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyzer to identify and quantify a total of 108 VOCs of lung cancer patients. Our objective is to investigate the correlation between VOCs in exhaled breath and lung cancer. Through the application of orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis and correlation analysis, we identified several VOCs, including acetone, ethanol, isopropanol, and ethyl acetate, which exhibited a strong association with lung cancer. Unlike the use of a single marker, our study employed a multi-parameter regression method, resulting in superior accuracy. A diagnostic model based on the neural network algorithm was established, demonstrating an accuracy of 93.5% after screening, surpassing the accuracy before screening at 81%. Furthermore, we optimize the model by incorporating the gender factor, leading to an accuracy exceeding 96%. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the analysis of VOCs in exhaled breath holds significant potential for effectively distinguishing lung cancer patients from healthy individuals. These findings emphasize the potential of respiratory analysis as a novel diagnostic tool for early detection of lung cancer.

Open Access

Article

Research progress on the role of lycopene in promoting mammalian spermatogenesis

Yun Li, Guangzhao Ma, Enzhong Li

A carotenoid called lycopene (LYC) is one of the most potent antioxidants. Superior physiological properties of LYC include cancer prevention, cholesterol reduction, antioxidant activity, scavenging of free radicals, immunity enhancement, prostate protection, and increased sperm viability. In recent times, male sperm quality has decreased. Following studies on LYC’s function in spermatogenesis, the therapy of male infertility diseases has made extensive use of it. Here, we give an accurate theoretical foundation for the use of LYC in large animal breeding and the treatment of male infertility in humans by summarising the variables influencing spermatogenesis and the enhancing effect of LYC on mammalian spermatogenesis.

Open Access

Article

Hepatocyte growth factor and insulin-like growth factor-1 were used to repair bone-cartilage defects in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in a rabbit model of postmenopausal

Jia-Qi Guan, Chuan-Bo Zang, Jun-Cen Li, Fei-Fan Chen, Ya-Hui Wang, Guang-Dong Zhou, Yu Liu, Yi-Lin Cao

In postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP), an imbalance exists in the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), with a decrease in osteogenic differentiation and an increase in adipogenic differentiation. This imbalance leads to bone marrow adiposity, bone loss, bone fragility, and a substantial rise in fracture risk. After a patient experiences an osteochondral defect due to trauma, it struggles to heal naturally, presenting a clinical challenge for treatment. Our study delved into the abnormal differentiation of BMSCs in PMOP by conducting transcriptome sequencing on BMSCs from a PMOP model (PMOP-BMSCs) and a healthy control model (Normal-BMSCs). We identified insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) genesas significantly low-expressed protein-coding genes during the osteogenic cartilage differentiation process of PMOP-BMSCs. Due to the downregulation of its expression, it leads to the deletion of the proteins it encodes IGF-1 and HGF. In order to verify the sequencing results, the feasibility of co-culture the above two growth factors with PMOP-BMSCs to repair osteochondral defects was discussed. The findings indicated that the inclusion of elements enhanced the DNA replication activity and extracellular matrix mineralization of PMOP-BMSCs. It also promoted the construction of tissue-engineered bone in vitro and the up- regulation of Runx2, BMP4, OCN, ACAN, collagen type Ⅰ, II, and Sox9 osteochondral differentiation markers. In the rabbit model of knee osteochondral injury with PMOP, the group treated with both growth factors and PMOP-BMSCs showed superior outcomes in repairing cartilage and subchondral bone defects compared to the other groups. We suggest that the addition of HGF and IGF-1 increases the expression of osteoblast and cartilage-related genes and proteins, promoting the proliferation and differentiation of osteochondrous bone in PMOP-BMSCs. These findings could offer a novel cell therapy strategy for treating postmenopausal osteoporosis, utilizing growth factors.

Open Access

Article

Design and Optimization of Mechano transduction Sensors for effective analysis of proteins with Robotic interference

Liqing Su , Sumin Feng, Lirong Zhang

Méchano transduction sensors convert mechanical inputs into electrical signals, allowing robots to detect and interact with their environments in various bio-imaging applications. Current bio-sensor systems have some drawbacks that prevent them from being widely used in robotic applications. These include low sensitivity, short durability, and expensive manufacturing costs regarding picture prediction and categorization. To overcome these obstacles and improve robotic mechanotransduction sensors for efficient protein analysis, this work suggests Unique Sensor Fabrication Techniques (USFT). These methods enhance sensor performance in protein analysis while keeping costs low and scalability high via integrating complex micro- and nano-scale materials and architectures. In comparison to traditional sensor designs, comprehensive evaluations based on predefined parametric criteria show significant improvements in areas such as sensitivity, response time, and predictability in protein biomolecules. In addition, assessments of scalability and manufacturability point to the possibility of widespread use in robotic systems for protein categorization and prediction. In bioimaging applications, this study helps advance sensor technology for reliable and efficient robot-environment interaction.

Open Access

Article

Biomechanical perspectives on bio-molecular environmental regulation: Long-term strategies

Xuewen Du

Environmentally conscious practices can be encouraged in many organisations through this study, which has the potential to change our understanding of bio-molecular interactions in natural systems. There is an immediate need for innovative approaches to environmentally responsible bio-molecule management due to the critical nature of environmental problems such as pollution, climate change, and resource depletion. Using state-of-the-art computational biomechanics and organic sciences, this study presents an approach to environmental governance known as Integrative Biomechanical Modelling for Environmental Governance Technique (IBM-EGT). A combination of environmental parameterization, advanced biomechanical modelling, and excellent data sets allows the IBM-EGT method to describe the behaviour of biomolecules in a wide variety of natural settings. By factoring in environmental variables like temperature, pH, and pollutant concentrations, IBM-EGT provides a comprehensive picture of bio-molecular dynamics in response to environmental stimuli. Biomaterials, bioremediation, pharmaceuticals, and even agriculture are just a few of the many potential sectors that can profit from IBM-EGT. Agricultural operations can be optimised, green medicines can be introduced, sustainable biomaterials can be developed, and diseased regions can be cleaned up with its help. Because it enables the prediction of bio-molecular interactions and behaviour in complex environmental contexts, simulation analysis is a fundamental topic of IBM-EGT. In an effort to find the best ways to conduct activities while reducing negative environmental impacts and increasing positive ones, IBM-EGT does scenario analysis based on simulations. The studies mentioned here help keep the environment and people healthy by elucidating the nature of the connection between Bio-Molecules and their herbal environment. Furthermore, it enables the development of plans for the distant future.

Open Access

Article

An exoskeleton upper limb rehabilitation robot based on electroencephalography

Jianbin Wang

Today, stroke patients have varying degrees of motor impairment after surgery. An Electroencephalography (EEG) signal is a potential change recorded on the scalp of a human or animal, which can be combined with a rehabilitation robot to help patients complete rehabilitation movements. In this paper, a new exoskeleton-type 6-DOF upper limb rehabilitation robot is designed based on EEG control. The wavelet denoising method based on Gaussian mixture model (GMM) is used for signal pre-processing. The wavelet packet decomposition method is used to extract feature vectors, and the feature performance index based on Mahalanobis distance and Babanobis distance is introduced to test the accuracy of Feature Performance Index (FPI) relativity. The random forest classifier was used to classify and recognize the EEG characteristics and obtain the motion intention of patients. The experimental research shows that the EEG signal processing method proposed in this paper has significant effect, and the upper limb rehabilitation robot based on EEG signal has feasibility. The whole system can significantly improve the patient’s rehabilitation enthusiasm.

Open Access

Article

Molecular dynamics insight into drug-loading capacity of dodecylphosphocholine aggregate for doxorubicin

Qijiang Shu, Qin Lv, Zhi Dong, Wenping Wang, Zedong Lin, Pengru Huang

The therapeutic effect of doxorubicin (DOX) on various cancers is enticing, but its huge toxic side effects are equally obvious. Loading it into nanocarriers and then delivering the drug is currently the most promising solution. In this work, we investigate the assembly mechanism of dodecylphosphorylcholine (DPC) aggregates for encapsulating DOXs using molecular dynamics simulation with an all-atomic force field. The principal propellants of the drug encapsulation procedure encompass hydrophobic and van der Waals interactions. Additionally, hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions wield significant influence in the aggregation dynamics of DPCs. The radial distribution function indicates that when DPC aggregates act as stable carriers exerting strong adhesion to the drugs, intermolecular interactions predominantly manifest within the spatial interval ranging from 0.5 nm to 1.0 nm. All calculated data and visualized images of the system configuration changing with simulation time reveal that after about 30 ns, the changes in DPC aggregation sites tend to ultimately form multiple aggregates and exhibit a good morphology loaded with DOXs. Our study explored the drug-carrying potential of DPC, which provides an important theoretical basis and effective guidance for researchers to design a more suitable DDS for DOX and then break through the bottleneck of the clinical application of DOX.

Open Access

Article

Athlete muscle strength control training based on network security and multi-source information fusion

Zhongxing Zhang, Jun Cai

With the booming development of competitive sports worldwide, athletic training is receiving increasing interest in the world. Major sports organizations and universities around the world have established their own athlete training centers to support sports training and scientific research activities in recent years. Data from strength training is crucial for controlling muscle strength. However, this key factor is often attacked by the network. As NS threats escalate, artificial intelligence-driven strength training systems encounter information security risks. Therefore, this paper proposed a new strength training method based on NS and Multi-Source Information Fusion (MSIF). This method evaluates athletes’ sports skills, speed quality and strength quality through data fusion algorithm to effectively monitor the activities related to muscle strength control training. The research results showed that under the same conditions, the P value of the indexes of sports skills, speed quality and strength quality of male and female athletes in Group X before and after the experiment was greater than 0.05, and there was no significant difference; the P value of Group Y was less than 0.05, showing a significant difference, and indicating that the relationship between NS and MSIF and athletes’ muscle strength control training was positive.

Open Access

Review

Biomechanical comparison of sagittal vertebral column bend change induced by backpacks in school-aged children and adolescents: Systematic review and network meta-analysis

Mengchen Ji, Datao Xu, Ee-Chon Teo, Julien S. Baker, Jiao Li, Yaodong Gu

Background: Studies have investigated the effects of backpacks and their loadings on the physiological spinal curvature changes in school-aged children and adolescents across different anatomical planes of motion. However, the dose-response relationship between varying backpack weights and changes in spinal physiological curvature remains unclear due to the uniformity of study protocols. Objective: The purpose of this systematic review is to explore the sagittal vertebral column bend change induced by backpacks in school-aged children and adolescents. Methods: Three relevant authoritative databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched. Indicators of vertebral column bend in the sagittal plane were selected as the outcomes. In the data organization phase, the extracted data were standardized and pooled together by the Aggregate Data Drug Information System. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool and the website of Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis were used to evaluate the risk of bias and confidence ratings of results. Results: 4 trials were included within 244 potential studies. The results indicated a potential dose-effect relationship between backpack weight and sagittal vertebral column bend change. The findings suggested a possible dose-response relationship between backpack weight and sagittal vertebral column bend change, as evidenced by a sequential reduction in the likelihood of causing the most negative effect on sagittal vertebral column bend in 4 backpack scenarios: without backpack, <10%, 10–20%, and >20% of body weight, with probabilities of 0.61, 0.25, 0.13, and 0.01, respectively. The results also indicated that there were no significant differences in the effects on the sagittal vertebral column bend between the four backpack scenarios, in pairwise comparisons. Additionally, the results from the risk of bias assessment revealed that this review suffers from a lack of inclusion of high-quality studies. Moreover, the confidence rating indicated that both direct and indirect comparisons in the network meta-analysis were rated as “Very Low” in confidence rating induced by CINeMA. Conclusion: This review suggests a potential dose-effect relationship between backpack weight and sagittal vertebral column bend, with no significant differences across each head-to-head comparison.