Objective: Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious condition affecting pregnant women and placing both the mother and fetus at risk. While little is known about the pathogenesis of PE, there is evidence for involvement from the maternal innate immune system, specifically, signaling arising from monocytes. The present study was to explore the role of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 on peripheral blood monocyte in the pathogenesis of PE. Methods: This study included 22 patients with established preeclampsia and 23 healthy pregnant women (HP). All participants gave informed written consent for 4 mL of fresh venous blood to be collected into a tube containing heparin. The expression of TLR4 on monocytes was evaluated by flow cytometry (FCM). Monocytes were stimulated with LPS for 18 h and cytokine secretion (IL-6, IL-12P70, IL-10, and TNF-α) in supernatants was analyzed with Luminex platform (Luminex Corporation, Austin, TX). The expression of TLR4 and cytokine secretion (IL-6, IL-12P70, IL-10, and TNF-α) was compared between women with PE and healthy pregnant women. Results: Compared with controls, the percentage of TLR4+ monocytes was significantly higher in PE patients. Collected monocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce inflammation had increased cytokine production, and monocytes from PE patients produced more IL-6 and TNF-α, and less IL-10 than cells from healthy participants. PE patients also showed a positive correlation between the percentage of TLR4+ monocytes and serum levels of IL-6 and TNFα. Conclusions: These results suggest that TLR4 signaling may play a role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Achilles tendinopathy is often attributed to overuse, but its pathophysiology remains poorly understood. Disruption to the molecular structure of collagen is fundamental for the onset and progression of tendinopathy but has mostly been investigated in vitro. Here, we interrogated the in vivo molecular structure changes of collagen in rat Achilles tendons following treadmill running. Unexpectedly, the tendons’ collagen molecules were not mechanically unfolded by running but denatured through proteolysis during physiological post-run remodeling. We further revealed that running induces inflammatory gene expressions in Achilles tendons and that long-term running causes prolonged, elevated collagen degradation, leading to the accumulation of denatured collagen and tendinopathy development. For applications, we demonstrated magnetic resonance imaging of collagenase-induced Achilles tendon injury in vivo using a denatured collagen targeting contrast agent. Our findings may help close the knowledge gaps in the mechanobiology and pathogenesis of Achilles tendinopathy and initiate new strategies for its imaging-based diagnosis.

Flatfoot is a condition resulting from complex three-dimensional (3D) morphological changes. Most Previous studies have been constrained by using two-dimensional radiographs and non-weight-bearing conditions. The deformity in flatfoot is associated with the 3D morphology of the bone. These morphological changes affect the force line conduction of the hindfoot/midfoot/forefoot, leading to further morphological alterations. Given that a two-dimensional plane axis overlooks the 3D structural information, it is essential to measure the 3D model of the entire foot in conjunction with the definition under the standing position. This study aims to analyze the morphological changes in flatfoot using 3D measurements from weight-bearing CT (WBCT). In this retrospective comparative our CT database was searched between 4–2021 and 3–2022. Following inclusion criteria were used: Patients were required to exhibit clinical symptoms suggestive of flatfoot, including painful swelling of the medial plantar area or abnormal gait, corroborated by clinical examination and confirmatory radiological findings on CT or MRI. Healthy participants were required to be free of any foot diseases or conditions affecting lower limb movement. After applying the exclusion criteria (Flatfoot with other foot diseases), CT scans (mean age = 20.9375, SD = 16.1) confirmed eligible for further analysis. The distance, angle in sagittal/transverse/coronal planes, and volume of the two groups were compared on reconstructed 3D models using the t-test. Logistic regression was used to identify flatfoot risk factors, which were then analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curves and nomogram. The flatfoot group exhibited significantly lower values for calcaneofibular distance (p = 0.001), sagittal and transverse calcaneal inclination angle (p < 0.001), medial column height (p < 0.001), sagittal talonavicular coverage angle (p < 0.001), and sagittal (p < 0.001) and transverse (p = 0.015) Hibb angle. In contrast, the sagittal lateral talocalcaneal angle (p = 0.013), sagittal (p < 0.001) and transverse (p = 0.004) talocalcaneal angle, transverse talonavicular coverage angle (p < 0.001), coronal Hibb angle (p < 0.001), and sagittal (p < 0.001) and transverse (p = 0.001) Meary’s angle were significantly higher in the flatfoot group. The sagittal Hibb angle (B = − 0.379, OR = 0.684) and medial column height (B = − 0.990, OR = 0.372) were identified as significant risk factors for acquiring a flatfoot. The findings validate the 3D spatial position alterations in flatfoot. These include the abduction of the forefoot and prolapse of the first metatarsal proximal, the arch collapsed, subluxation of the talonavicular joint in the midfoot, adduction and valgus of the calcaneus, adduction and plantar ward movement of the talus in the hindfoot, along with the first metatarsal’s abduction and dorsiflexion in the forefoot.

Background: Suture hemostasis is essential for laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN). This study aimed to develop, validate, and test the efficacy of a continuously perfused training model (CPTM) in LPN with high-level simulated bleeding. Materials and methods: The CPTM was constructed using fresh porcine kidneys with renal arteries continuously perfused with red-dyed liquid gelatin. Twenty-nine participants with expert, intermediate, or novice laparoscopic experience levels were recruited. The expert and intermediate participants evaluated the CPTM, and the novice participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups to complete training on a CPTM or dry box training model (DBTM). Messick’s framework criteria were utilized to assess the validity and training efficacy of the model. The data were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis, and Friedman tests. A value of P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Positive comments were provided by all experts and intermediates for the Content. The Relationships with other variables demonstrated significant differences among novices, intermediates, and experts in all metrics (P<0.05). The Consequences showed that the CPTM helped novices acquire LPN skills. The training efficacy was significantly better than that of the DBTM (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the final performances of the novices and the initial performances of the experts (P>0.05). Synthesizing all metrics, the LPN skills learned using CPTMs were significantly improved in the 12th round of training. Conclusion: The CPTM offered a high-level simulation of bleeding with realistic tissue texture for acquiring LPN skills. Training of no fewer than 12 rounds is recommended for a novice’s LPN training on the CPTM.

Objective: To investigate the biomechanical mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis and explore the effects of kinesiology taping (KT) on neuromuscular control in HV patients. Methods: The study population consisted of 16 young controls (YC group) and 15 patients with hallux valgus (HV group). All subjects underwent natural velocity gait assessment. Additionally, 11 patients from the HV group received KT intervention over a period of one month, consisting of 15 sessions administered every other day. After the one-month intervention, these patients underwent a gait assessment and were included in the HV-KT group. The electromyography (EMG) and joint motion were evaluated using non-negative matrix factorization (NNMF) to compare the difference in muscle and kinematic synergy among the three groups. The center of plantar pressure (COP) and ground reaction force (GRF) were measured by the force platform. Results: The number of synergies did not differ within the three groups, but the structure of muscle synergies and kinematic synergies differed in the HV group. The KT intervention (HV-KT group) altered the structure of synergies. The correlation between kinematic synergies and muscular synergies was lower in the HV group than in the YC group, whereas the correlation between the two increased after the KT intervention in the HV group. During gait, the HV group tended to activate more muscles around foot joints to maintain body stability. The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, hallux valgus angle (HVA), and COP were significantly decreased after the intervention ( P <0.05). Conclusion: HV patients exhibited altered kinematic and muscular synergies structures as well as muscle activation. Also, it weakened the balance and athletic ability of HV patients. KT intervention improved neuromuscular control to provide a better gait performance.

Gastric cancer poses a societal and economic burden, prompting an exploration into the development of materials suitable for gastric reconstruction. However, there is a dearth of studies on the mechanical properties of porcine and human stomachs. Therefore, this study was conducted to elucidate their mechanical properties, focusing on interspecies correlations. Stress relaxation and tensile tests assessed the hyperelastic and viscoelastic characteristics of porcine and human stomachs. The thickness, stress–strain curve, elastic modulus, and stress relaxation were assessed. Porcine stomachs were significantly thicker than human stomachs. The stiffness contrast between porcine and human stomachs was evident. Porcine stomachs demonstrated varying elastic modulus values, with the highest in the longitudinal mucosa layer of the corpus and the lowest in the longitudinal intact layer of the fundus. In human stomachs, the elastic modulus of the longitudinal muscular layer of the antrum was the highest, whereas that of the circumferential muscularis layer of the corpus was the lowest. The degree of stress relaxation was higher in human stomachs than in porcine stomachs. This study comprehensively elucidated the differences between porcine and human stomachs attributable to variations across different regions and tissue layers, providing essential biomechanical support for subsequent studies in this field.