POEMS syndrome is a rare condition associated with plasma cell disorders， and it often involves multiple systems and has diverse clinical manifestations. This article reports two cases of POEMS syndrome with hepatosplenomegaly as the initial manifestation. During the course of the disease， the patients presented with lower limb weakness， hepatosplenomegaly， lymph node enlargement， ascites， hypothyroidism， positive M protein， and skin hyperpigmentation， and ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT imaging revealed bone lesions mainly characterized by osteolytic changes and plasma cell tumors. There was an increase in the serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor. The patients were finally diagnosed with POEMS syndrome， and the symptoms were relieved after immunomodulatory treatment.

Objective To understand the equity and influencing factors of maternal health service utilization in Changning District, Shanghai. Methods A convenience sampling method was used to conduct a questionnaire survey among mothers of children aged 1 to 1.5 years old who received health services from the child health care clinics and EPI clinics of 10 community health service centers in Changning District, Shanghai from March to April 2022. Count data was expressed by frequency and percentage. Chi-square analysis, binomial logistic regression analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze fairness-related factors. Rate difference, rate ratio and concentration index were used to represent fairness. Results A total of 696 subjects were investigated, with an average age of (33.35±4.76) years. There were statistically significant differences in service utilization among women with different household registrations only in early pregnancy registration (χ²=11.026, P=0.001) and postpartum visits (χ²=4.989, P=0.026). Women with a career showed differently in folic acid supplement (χ²=6.247, P=0.012), early pregnancy registration (χ²=12.989, P=0.002), physical examination in 42 days postpartum (χ²=4.446, P=0.035) and postpartum contraception (χ²=4.061, P=0.044), and the differences were statistically significant. Women with different monthly family income had a statistically significant difference in pre-pregnancy examination (χ²=8.977, P=0.030) and postpartum visit (χ²=16.114, P=0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between women with maternity insurance or not in the early pregnancy registration (χ²=10.576, P=0.001) and physical examination in 42 days postpartum (χ²=8.166, P=0.004). The results of the multivariate analysis showed that occupation (OR=2.616, 95% CI: 1.142-5.990) and maternity insurance (OR=4.490, 95% CI: 1.992~10.120) affected the utilization of service in early pregnancy registration. The monthly household income (OR=0.278, 95% CI: 0.124-0.625) affected the utilization of services in postpartum visit. At the same time, the monthly household income (10,000-19,999: OR=0.286, 95% CI: 0.090-0.907; ≥30,000: OR=0.180, 95% CI: 0.041-0.801) also affected the utilization of service in physical examination in 42 days postpartum. Conclusion The equity of maternal health care service utilization overall is good in central area in Shanghai, but there is still room for improvement. It is necessary to strengthen community mobilization, propagandize maternal health services, and expand the coverage of maternity insurance to improve the equity of maternal health service utilization and provide equal access to maternity health services.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of acupuncture on the neurotransmitter levels and gut microbiota in a mouse model of Tourette syndrome (TS). METHODS: Thirty-six male C57/BL6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups using a random number table method: 3,3'-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) group, control group, acupuncture group, and tiapride group, with 9 mice in each group. In the IDPN group, acupuncture group, and tiapride group, mice received daily intraperitoneal injections of IDPN (300 mg/kg body weight) for 7 consecutive days to induce stereotyped behaviors. Subsequently, in the acupuncture intervention group, standardized acupuncture treatment was administered for 14 consecutive days to IDPN-induced TS model mice. The selected acupoints included Baihui (DU 20), Yintang (DU 29), Waiguan (SJ 5), and Zulinqi (GB 41). In the tiapride group, mice were administered tiapride (50 mg/kg body weight) via oral gavage daily for 14 consecutive days. The control group, IDPN group, and acupuncture group received the same volume of saline orally for 14 consecutive days. Stereotypic behaviors were quantified through behavioral assessments. Neurotransmitter levels, including dopamine (DA), glutamate (Glu), and aspartate (ASP) in striatal tissue were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Dopamine transporter (DAT) expression levels were additionally quantified through quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Gut microbial composition was analyzed through 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, while metabolic profiling was conducted using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). RESULTS: Acupuncture administration significantly attenuated stereotypic behaviors, concurrently reducing striatal levels of DA, Glu and ASP concentrations while upregulating DAT expression compared with untreated TS controls (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Comparative analysis identified significant differences in Muribaculaceae (P=0.001), Oscillospiraceae (P=0.049), Desulfovibrionaceae (P=0.001), and Marinifilaceae (P=0.014) following acupuncture intervention. Metabolomic profiling revealed alterations in 7 metabolites and 18 metabolic pathways when compared to the TS mice, which involved various amino acid metabolisms associated with DA, Glu, and ASP. CONCLUSIONS Acupuncture demonstrates significant modulatory effects on both central neurotransmitter systems and gut microbial ecology, thereby highlighting its dual therapeutic potential for TS management through gut-brain axis regulation.
Animals ; Tourette Syndrome/metabolism* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Neurotransmitter Agents/metabolism* ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice

Addressing the enduring challenge of evaluating traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), the integrated evidence chain-based effectiveness evaluation of TCMs (Eff-iEC) has emerged. This paper explored its capacity through a demonstration study that evaluated the effectiveness evidence of six commonly used anti-hepatic fibrosis Chinese patent medicines (CPMs), including Biejiajian Pill (BP), Dahuang Zhechong Pill (DZP), Biejia Ruangan Compound (BRC), Fuzheng Huayu Capsule (FHC), Anluo Huaxian Pill (AHP), and Heluo Shugan Capsule (HSC), using both Eff-iEC and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. The recognition of these CPMs within the TCM academic community was also assessed through their inclusion in relevant medical documents. Results showed that the evidence of BRC and FHC received higher assessments in both Eff-iEC and GRADE system, while the assessments for others varied. Analysis of community recognition revealed that Eff-iEC more accurately reflects the clinical value of these CPMs, exhibiting superior evaluative capabilities. By breaking through the conventional pattern of TCMs effectiveness evaluation, Eff-iEC offers a novel epistemology that better aligns with the clinical realities and reasoning of TCMs, providing a coherent methodology for clinical decision-making, new drug evaluations, and health policy formulation.

An ideal dermal filler should integrate filling, repair, and anti-aging effects, with immediate tissue augmentation, slow degradation, and progressive stimulation of collagen regeneration. However, commonly used hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels, while effective for rapid filling, suffer from limited duration of support, weak cell adhesion, and an inability to promote collagen regeneration. Silk fibroin (SF), a natural protein from silkworm cocoons, is known for its excellent cell adhesion and collagen-stimulating abilities. However, its limited gelation capability restricts its potential application as a standalone injectable hydrogel. Based on a complementary strategy, this study combines the rapid gelling properties of HA with the collagen regenerative properties of SF to create a co-crosslinked HA-SF hydrogel. The composite hydrogel merges HA's rapid filling effect with SF's strong tissue adhesion and collagen-stimulating abilities. The formulation, physicochemical properties, degradation, biocompatibility, and filling effects of the HA-SF hydrogel were systematically investigated. HA-SF hydrogel exhibits excellent mechanical properties and ensures long-term support while maintaining injectability. Interestingly, after intradermal injection in the UVB-induced photoaging model, HA-SF hydrogel not only enhances hydrogel-cell interaction but also continues to stimulate collagen regeneration, especially type III collagen. This dual action achieves the biological effects of repair and anti-aging while maintaining the filling effect. Proteomic analysis confirms that repair and anti-aging effects are enhanced by the regulation of skin fibroblasts and modulation of amino acid and lipid metabolism. This composite hydrogel holds strong promise for clinical applications, offering a safer, long-lasting, and more natural injectable filler that combines filling, repair, and anti-aging into one system.

With the development of population aging, the incidence of lower limb artery ischemic diseases is gradually increasing. Although various treatments such as medication and endovascular surgery are currently available, patients with compromised microcirculation in the distal limbs and poor outflow pathways often do not achieve satisfactory results. Additionally, these treatments can be costly, and long-term patency rates are not ideal. The amendment in situ autologous great saphenous vein arterialization surgery utilizes the patient′s great saphenous vein to provide arterial blood in a retrograde manner and re-establishes blood supply to the tissues through the venous microcirculation system in the distal foot. This approach can achieve good limb salvage results and long-term patency. Therefore, this article aims to elaborate on the methods and value of amendment in situ autologous great saphenous vein arterialization surgery.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of CT-guided 125I seeds implantation for the treatment of abdominal wall incision metastasis of gastrointestinal malignancies.Methods The clinical data of 17 patients with abdominal wall incision metastasis of gastrointestinal malignancies(17 lesions in total),who received CT guided 125I seeds implantation at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University of China between January 2011 and December 2021,were collected.The treatment planning system was used to make preoperative planning for CT-guided 125I seeds implantation.Follow-up visit was performed once every 3 months to assess the local control rate,treatment-related adverse effects,and degree of pain relief.Results Successful CT-guided 125I seeds implantation was accomplished for the 17 lesions of gastrointestinal malignant tumor incision metastasis.A total of 372 125I seeds were implanted with an average of 21.9 seeds per lesion.The average prescription dose was 100 Gy per lesion.The average survival time was 9.8 months.CT scan performed at 3 months after first-time implantation showed that among the 17 lesions complete remission was obtained in 3,partial remission in 6,stable disease in 7 and progression in one,with a local control rate of 94.1％.The postoperative 6-month and 12-month local objective remission rates were 63.6％and 33.3％respectively,disease control rates were 100％and 50％respectively.Before treatment 8 patients had local pain,and 3 months after treatment pain relief was observed in 6 patients,and in 2 patients the NRS pain score was decreased by ≥ 2 points.No serious postoperative complications occurred.Conclusion For the treatment of abdominal wall incision metastasis of gastrointestinal metastasis,CT-guided 125I seeds implantation is clinically safe and effective.(J Intervent Radiol,2024,33:655-658)

In order to realize the diagnosis of slit lamp in cross-regional patients and improve the real-time and convenience of diagnosis,a remote slit lamp diagnosis platform based on Internet of Things(IoT)technology is designed.Firstly,the feasibility of remote slit lamp is analyzed.Secondly,the IoT platform architecture of doctor/server/facility(D/S/F)is proposed and a remote slit lamp is designed.Finally,the performance of the remote slit lamp diagnostic platform is tested.The platform solves the communication problem of distributed slit lamps and realizes respectively numerical control of multi-area slit lamp by multi-eye experts.The test results show that the remote control delay of the platform is less than 20 ms,which supports multiple experts to diagnose multiple patients separately.

Uncovering the risk factors of pulmonary hypertension and its mechanisms is crucial for the prevention and treatment of the disease.In the current study,we showed that experimental periodontitis,which was established by ligation of molars followed by orally smearing subgingival plaques from patients with periodontitis,exacerbated hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in mice.Mechanistically,periodontitis dysregulated the pulmonary microbiota by promoting ectopic colonization and enrichment of oral bacteria in the lungs,contributing to pulmonary infiltration of interferon gamma positive(IFNγ+)T cells and aggravating the progression of pulmonary hypertension.In addition,we identified Prevotella zoogleoformans as the critical periodontitis-associated bacterium driving the exacerbation of pulmonary hypertension by periodontitis,and the exacerbation was potently ameliorated by both cervical lymph node excision and IFNγ neutralizing antibodies.Our study suggests a proof of concept that the combined prevention and treatment of periodontitis and pulmonary hypertension are necessary.

Objective:To analyze the mutant spectrum of clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential(CHIP)related mutations and clinical characteristics and to explore the correlation and the possible mechanism between CHIP-related mutations and cardio-cerebrovasculars events(CCEs)in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms(MPNs).Methods:The clinical data and next-generation sequencing results of 73 MPN patients in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from August 2019 to July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Statistical analyses were conducted by multivariate logistic regression for the effects of CHIP-related mutations and inflammatory cytokines on CCEs for MPNs patients.Results:Fifty-five cases of MPN(75.3％)showed positive in CHIP-related genes.There was no significant difference in variant allele frequency of CHIP-related gene between essential thrombocythemia(ET)and polycythemia vera(PV).CHIP-related gene mutations were mainly single gene mutations,with mutation rate from high to low as JAK2V617F(63.0％,46/73),ASXL1(16.4％,12/73),TET2(11.0％,8/73),DNMT3A(9.6％,7/73),SRSF2(6.9％,5/73),SF3B1(4.1％,3/73),TP53(1.4％,1/73)and PPM1D(1.4％,1/73).The mutation rate of CHIP-related genes in MPN patients＞60 years old was significantly higher than that in the patients ≤ 60 years old[91.7％(33/36)vs 59.5％(22/37)].CCEs occurred in 27 MPNs patients(37.0％,MPNs/CCEs),and 5 had recurrent CCEs,all of which were arterial events.Age(62.8±12.8 years vs 53.9±15.8 years,P=0.015),IL-1β level(17.7±26.0 vs 4.3±8.6,P=0.012),IL-8 level(360.7±598.6 vs 108.3±317.0,P=0.045),the proportion of the patients with thrombosis history(29.6％vs 2.2％,P=0.020),and the detection rate of CHIP-related mutations(88.9％vs 67.4％,P=0.040)in the group with CCEs were higher than those in the group without CCEs.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age(OR=0.917,95％CI:0.843-0.999,P=0.047),thrombosis history(OR=34.148,95％CI·2.392-487.535,P=0.009),any CHIP-related mutations(OR=16.065,95％CI·1.217-212.024,P=0.035),and elevated levelofIL-1β(OR=0.929,95％CI:0.870-0.992,P=0.027)were independent risk factors for MPNs/CCEs.CHIP-related gene mutations were not associated with CCEs in MPN patients,but DNMT3A(OR=88.717,95％CI:2.690-292.482,P=0.012)and ASXL1(OR=7.941,95％CI:1.045-60.353,P=0.045)were independent risk factors for CCEs in PV.Conclusion:There is a higher mutation rate of CHIP-related genes in MPN patients,especially those over 60 years old.Older age,thrombosis history,CHIP-related mutations and IL-1βelevated levels are independent risk factors for CCEs in MPN.DNMT3A and ASXL1 mutations are independent risk factors for CCEs in PV patients.CHIP-related gene mutations and inflammatory cytokine IL-1 β elevated levels may be the novel risk factors for CCEs in MPN.