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Abstract Background Rusted root rot is one of the most common root diseases in Panax ginseng, and Cylindrocarpon destructans is one of the main pathogenic fungus. The objective of this study was to screen and explore the extracts of biocontrol bacteria isolated from ginseng rhizosphere soil against Cylindrocarpon destructans. Results Bacterial strains Bacillus amyloliquefaciens YY8 and Enterobacteriacea YY115 were isolated and found to exhibit in vitro antifungal activity against C. destructans. A combination of crude protein extract from B. amyloliquefaciens YY8 and ethyl acetate extract from Enterobacteriacea YY115 in a 6:4 ratio exhibited the strongest antifungal activity against C. destructans. Measurements of electrical conductivity, protein content, and nucleic acid content in suspension cultures of C. destructans treated with a mixture extracts indicated that the extracts disrupted the cell membranes of rusted root rot mycelia, resulting in the leakage of electrolytes, proteins, and nucleic acids from the cells, and ultimately inhibiting the growth of C. destructans. The combined extracts suppressed the infection of ginseng roots discs by C. destructans effectively. Conclusion The extracts obtained from the two bacterial strains effectively inhibited C. destructans in P. ginseng. It can provide scientific basis for the development of new biological control pesticides, reduce the use of chemical pesticides, and promote the sustainable development of agriculture.

In this study, Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S and ITS2 rRNA genes were used to determine the dynamic changes in bacterial and fungal communities and soil properties and enzyme activities in rhizosphere soil of ginseng under forest after 5, 10 and 15 years of cultivation and different growth stages. Results showed that the changes were particularly prominent in 10-year-old ginseng under forest, and the trends of organic carbon, alkaline hydrolysed nitrogen, and available potassium were extremely similar in different duration of the crop, especially in the middle stage of rapid root growth, when soil nutrient consumption was severe, and soil enzyme activities of rhizosphere were significantly reduced. The observed changes in soil properties and enzyme activities caused by the cultivation duration of the crop and growth stage could be explained by the variations in the microbiome. The microbial composition of 10-year-old ginseng under forest has undergone significant changes, at the genus level, both Acinetobacter bacteria and Kazachstania fungi exhibited a higher abundance; the abundance of Bacillota (Firmicutes), and Candidatus udaeobacter with significantly lower abundance. This study initially revealed the changes in nutrient utilisation of ginseng under forest at different cultivation duration of the crop and different growth stages, as well as the regulatory role played by microbes in this process preliminarily. We consider 10 years to be a critical stage for the long-term cultivation of ginseng in the forest, during which it is more sensitive to environmental factors and may exhibit special dynamic changes affecting its growth and quality. This provides a reference for further precision planting and harvesting of ginseng under the forest.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disease that is characterized by inflammation and cartilage degradation. Death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) is a multi-domain serine/threonine kinase and has been reported to be involved in the progression of OA. However, its role and mechanism in OA remain unclear. Here, we found the expression of DAPK1 in OA cartilage tissues was higher than that in normal cartilage tissues. The expression of DAPK1 in chondrocytes was up-regulated by IL-1β. Knockdown of DAPK1 promoted cell viability and anti-apoptotic protein expression, while it inhibited the apoptosis rate and pro-apoptotic protein expressions in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes. In addition, DAPK1 inhibition reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines and expressions of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and increased the expressions of collagen II and aggrecan. The data of mechanistic investigation indicated that the expression of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) was positively regulated by DAPK1. Overexpression of PEDF attenuated the effects of DAPK1 knockdown on IL-1β-induced cell viability, apoptosis, inflammation, and cartilage degradation. Furthermore, PEDF overexpression restored the activity of the NF-κB pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome after DAPK1 knockdown. Collectively, down-regulation of DAPK1 inhibited IL-1β-induced inflammation and cartilage degradation via the PEDF-mediated NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome pathways.

Abstract Objective To compare the breakage risk of lengthened sacroiliac screws and ordinary sacroiliac screws to treat unilateral vertical sacral fractures and provide a reference for clinical application. Methods A finite element model of Tile C pelvic ring injury (unilateral type Denis II fracture of the sacrum) was produced. The sacral fractures were fixed with a lengthened sacroiliac screw and ordinary sacroiliac screw in 6 types of models. The maximal von Mises stresses and stress distributions of the two kinds of screws when standing on both feet were measured and compared. Results The maximal von Mises stress of the lengthened screw was less than that of the ordinary screw. Compared with ordinary screw, the stress distribution in the lengthened screw was more homogeneous. Conclusions The breakage risk of screws fixed in double segments is lower than that of screws fixed in single segments, the breakage risk of lengthened screws is lower than that of ordinary screws, and the breakage risk of screws fixed in S2 segments is lower than that of screws fixed in S1 segments.

Abstract Background To compare the mechanical characteristics of a percutaneous superior pubic intramedullary screw, percutaneous bridging plate and percutaneous screw-rod system of the anterior ring for the treatment of unilateral vertical pubic fractures to provide a reference for clinical application. Methods A finite element model of pelvic anterior ring injury (unilateral vertical pubic fracture) was produced. The fractures were fixed with a percutaneous superior pubic intramedullary screw, percutaneous bridging plate and percutaneous screw-rod system of the anterior ring and their combinations in 5 types of models. The fracture stabilities under vertical, bilateral and anterior-posterior load were quantified and compared based on the displacement of the hip joints’ midpoint as quantificational index of fracture stability. Results In the condition of bilateral and anterior-posterior load, the vertical, bilateral and anterior-posterior displacements of the hip joints’ midpoint of different models were significantly different respectively. In general, the displacements of the 5 pelvic anterior ring fixations were ranked from maximum to minimum as follows: bridging plate, pelvic anterior screw-rod system, combination of bridging plate and pelvic anterior screw-rod system, superior pubic intramedullary screw and combination of superior pubic intramedullary screw and pelvic anterior screw-rod system. Conclusion For the fixation in unilateral pubic fractures of pelvic ring injury, the percutaneous superior pubic intramedullary screw is optimal, the percutaneous pelvic anterior screw-rod system is the second choice, and percutaneous bridging plate ranks the third. The percutaneous pelvic anterior screw-rod system can significantly increase fixation stability of the percutaneous superior pubic intramedullary screw and the percutaneous bridging plate.

Abstract Background The aim of the current paper is to evaluate the effects of robot-navigation-assisted core decompression compared with conventional core decompression surgery for early-stage osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Methods Twenty patients with a total of 36 hips who were diagnosed with Association Research Circulation Osseous stage 2 avascular necrosis of the femoral head and who received core decompression with or without robotic assistance were reviewed. The Harris hip score and visual analog scale score were used to assess clinical function. Intraoperative radiation exposure and operation time were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the robot-assisted system. Results At a mean follow-up of 26.4 months (24–36 months), the Harris hip score, visual analog scale score, and survival rate of the patients were similar between the conventional and robot-assisted groups. The guidewire insertion time, number of guidewire attempts, and radiation exposure during guidewire insertion were all significantly lower in the robot-assisted group than in the conventional group. Conclusions Robot-assisted core decompression of the femoral head is as safe and effective as a conventional core decompression surgery. It can reduce operation time and decrease intraoperative radiation exposure.

Herein we present a facile synthesis of the graphene oxide-decorated binary transition metal oxides of Bi2O3 and MnO2 nanocomposites (Bi2O3/MnO2/GO) and their applications in the voltammetric detection of lead ions (Pb2+) in water samples. The surface morphologies, crystal structures, electroactive surface area, and charge transferred resistance of the Bi2O3/MnO2/GO nanocomposites were investigated through the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), power X-ray diffraction (XRD), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques, respectively. The Bi2O3/MnO2/GO nanocomposites were further decorated onto the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), and Pb2+ was quantitatively analyzed by using square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). We explored the effect of the analytical parameters, including deposition potential, deposition time, and solution pH, on the stripping peak current of Pb2+. The Bi2O3/MnO2/GO nanocomposites enlarged the electroactive surface area and reduced the charge transferred resistance by significant amounts. Moreover, the synergistic enhancement effect of MnO2, Bi2O3 and GO endowed Bi2O3/MnO2/GO/GCE with extraordinary electrocatalytic activity toward Pb2+ stripping. Under optimal conditions, the Bi2O3/MnO2/GO/GCE showed a broad linear detection range (0.01–10 μM) toward Pb2+ detection, with a low limit of detection (LOD, 2.0 nM). The proposed Bi2O3/MnO2/GO/GCE electrode achieved an accurate detection of Pb2+ in water with good recoveries (95.5–105%).

Abstract Background To conduct radiologic anatomical study on the relation between S1 sacroiliac screws’ entry points and the route of the pelvic outer superior gluteal artery branches with the aim to provide the anatomical basis and technical reference for the avoidance of damage to the superior gluteal artery during the horizontal sacroiliac screw placement. Methods Superior gluteal artery CTA (CT angiography) vascular imaging of 74 healthy adults (37 women and 37 men) was done with 128-slice spiral CT (computed tomography). The CT attendant-measuring software was used to portray the “safe bony entrance area” (hereinafter referred to as “Safe Area”) of the S1 segment in the standard lateral pelvic view of three-dimensional reconstruction. The anatomical relation between S1 sacroiliac screws’ Safe Area and the pelvic outer superior gluteal artery branches was observed and recorded. The number of cases in which artery branches intersected the Safe Area was counted. The cases in which superior gluteal artery branches disjointed from the Safe Area were identified, and the shortest distance between the Safe Area and the superior gluteal artery branch closest to the Safe Area was measured. Results Three cases out of the 74 sample cases were excluded from this study as they were found to have no bony space for horizontal screw placement in S1 segment. Among the remaining 71 sample cases, there are 32 cases (45.1%) where the deep superior branch of superior gluteal artery passes through the Safe Area of S1 entrance point. There was no distinguishing feature and rule on how the deep superior branches and the Safe Area overlapped. In the 39 cases in which superior gluteal artery branches disjointed from the Safe Area, the deep superior branches of superior gluteal artery were the branches closest to the Safe Area and the part of the branch closest to the Safe Area was located in front of the widest part of the Safe Area. The shortest distance between the deep superior branch and the Safe Area is 0.86 ± 0.84 cm. Conclusion There is a high risk of accidental injury of the deep superior branches of superior gluteal artery in the process of S1 sacroiliac screw placement. Even if the entry points are located in the safe bony entrance area, the absolute secure placement cannot be assured. We suggest that great attention should be paid to make thorough preoperative plans.

Thirty years have passed since China began its reform and opening up, to formally accept multilateral educational aid from international organizations, and multilateral educational assistance has made contributions that cannot be overlooked to the reform and development of China's education. This article reviews the history of China's acceptance of multilateral educational aid and analyzes the characteristics of its development and effects. (Contains 2 notes.)

Study design: This is a retrospective study comparing polyethylene wear between ceramic ball heads and metal ball heads in total hip arthroplasty. Background: The ceramic-on-polyethylene bearing option has been introduced as an alternative to metal-on-polyethylene to minimize polyethylene wear debris and reduce subsequent osteolysis and aseptic loosening. However, the reported data were debatable. We designed this retrospective study to compare polyethylene wear between alumina ceramic ball heads and cobalt-chrome ball heads. Methods: Bilateral simultaneous primary total hip arthroplasty was performed in 22 patients between January 2002 and December 2002, with one side using metal-on-polyethylene bearing surface and the other side using alumina ceramic-on-polyethylene bearing surface. After 10 years of follow-up, the wear rate of polyethylene liner on both sides was measured using the Dorr method and compared. Results: The annual wear rate of the polyethylene liner was 0.133 mm with a standard deviation of 0.045 in the metal-on-polyethylene group and 0.056 mm with a standard deviation of 0.032 in the ceramic-on-polyethylene group. The wear rate per year was significantly lower in the ceramic-on-polyethylene group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Although the implication is still controversial, our study showed that the use of ceramic head lowered the liner wear rate. Clinical relevance: Ceramic is harder and more resistant to scratching than cobalt-chrome. By increasing polyethylene liner survivorship and decreasing potential osteolytic response and aseptic loosening, ceramic head is a better alternative than cobalt-chrome head. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]