CXC chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) is a kind of small molecular polypeptide substance that can move cells towards specific parts. It is widely distributed in heart, skeletal muscle, liver, brain and so on. Current studies believe that CXCL12 plays a role in the formation and progression of cardiovascular diseases by binding to CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and atypical chemokine receptor 3 (ACKR3), but the mechanism is not very clear, and even some contrary experimental results appear. This review mainly discusses the role of CXCL12-CXCR4/ACKR3 axis in atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and myocardial remodeling, in order to explore the inflammatory mechanism in the development of coronary heart disease and provide a basis for further research of clinical drugs.
ObjectiveTo summarize the technique and effectiveness of double metatarsal osteotomy for treating severe hallux valgus with increased distal metatarsal articular angle (DMAA).MethodsBetween June 2014 and December 2017, 64 patients (94 feet) of severe hallux valgus with an increased DMAA were treated with the double metatarsal osteotomy (distal metatarsal Reverdin osteotomy+proximal metatarsal open wedge osteotomy) combined with Akin osteotomy and soft tissue surgery to correct the deformity. There were 10 males (15 feet) and 54 females (79 feet) with an average age of 44.5 years (range, 26-66 years), including 34 of unilateral foot and 30 of bilateral feet. The Maryland metatarsophalangeal joint score of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) was 54.3±7.4 and the visual analogue scale (VAS) score was 6.0±2.0. The pre- and post-operative AOFAS score, VAS score, DMAA, hallux valgus angle (HVA), first-second intermetatarsal angle (1-2IMA), and the first metatarsal length (FML) were recorded and compared.ResultsAll incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 12-15 months, with an average of 13.2 months. The complications occurred in 4 feet, including 1 foot of hallux stiffness, 1 foot of numbness at the edge of the wound, 1 foot of metastatic metatarsalgia, and 1 foot of metatarsal bone necrosis. At 1 year after operation, the Maryland metatarsal joint score of AOFAS was 89.2±7.4, showing significant difference compared with preoperative score (t=18.427, P=0.000); and the effectiveness was rated as excellent in 78 feet, good in 12 feet, poor in 3 feet, and bad in 1 foot, with an excellent and good rate of 95.7%. The VAS score was 1.5±2.0, showing significant difference compared with the preoperative score (t=10.238, P=0.000). The X-ray films showed that the osteotomies achieved bony healing at 3 months after operation. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in HVA, 1-2IMA, and DMAA between preoperation and 6 months and 1 year after operation; but no significant difference was found in FML between preoperation and 1 year after operation (t=0.136, P=0.863).ConclusionFor the patients with severe hallux valgus with increased DMAA, the double metatarsal osteotomy can significantly relieve the clinical symptoms and improve the imaging parameters with less postoperative complications.
ObjectiveTo investigate the vaules of multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) in diagnosing metastatic lymph nodes and judging N stage of resectable gastric cancer. MethodsFifty-nine patients with gastric cancer performed preoperative MSCT plain scan and triple enhanced scans from February 2019 to March 2021 in the First People’s Hospital of Wuhu City were collected. The results of postoperative pathology were taken as the gold standard, the short diameter, long diameter, short to long diameter ratio, CT values of triple enhanced scans and lymphatic hilar blur were compared between the metastatic lymph nodes and the non-metastatic lymph nodes. ResultsThe preoperative MSCT showed that there were 50 cases of metastatic lymph nodes and 9 cases of non-metastatic lymph nodes in 59 patients with gastric cancer. A total of 1 467 lymph nodes were harvested, including 562 metastatic lymph nodes and 905 non-metastatic lymph nodes. The short diameter, long diameter, short to long diameter ratio, and the CT values of plain scan, arterial phase, portal vein phase, and delayed phase of metastatic lymph nodes were higher than those of non-metastatic lymph nodes (P<0.05), and the incidence of lymphatic hilar blur was also higher than that of non-metastatic lymph nodes (P<0.05). Referring to the results of postoperative pathological examination, the accuracies of MSCT in judging of N0, N1, N2, N3a, and N3b stages were 88.9% (8/9), 83.3% (5/6), 85.7% (12/14), 92.3% (12/13), 88.2% (15/17), respectively, and the total accuracy was 88.1% (52/59), the specificity was 96.6% (57/59), and the sensitivity was 91.2% (52/57). ConclusionAccording to this study results, preoperative MSCT has higher specificity, sensitivity, and accuracy in diagnosing metastatic lymph nodes and judging N stage of resectable gastric cancer.