Dry eye disease is a multifactorial chronic ocular surface disorder that is challenging to manage because its pathogenesis is not well understood. The gut-eye axis theory provides insights into its pathogenesis to guide prevention and treatment. Intestinal flora dysbiosis induces dry eye disease through complex mechanisms involving inflammation, ocular surface microbiota, nerve damage, and microbial metabolites. This article reviews the immunometabolic regulation of the gut-eye axis and summarizes gut flora-targeted interventions(fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotic supplementation, and dietary modification)to provide a theoretical basis for dry eye disease prevention and treatment.

Olfactory disorders are a common symptom in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, and their diagnosis and treatment have garnered extensive attention from both patients and doctors. Currently, there are various evaluation and treatment methods for olfactory dysfunction; however, choosing a simpler and more accurate assessment, as well as an effective treatment, remains a clinical challenge. In this article, we review the assessment and treatment methods commonly used in clinical practice in recent years to provide better support for the diagnosis and treatment of olfactory disorders.
Humans ; Olfaction Disorders/etiology* ; Sinusitis/complications* ; Chronic Disease ; Rhinitis/complications* ; Rhinosinusitis

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on corneal Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)-mediated inflammatory signaling pathway in diabetic dry eye rats and to explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture in the treat-ment of diabetic dry eye.Methods A type 2 diabetic rat model was established in 32 healthy male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(30 mg·kg-1)for 12 weeks after feeding with high-sugar and high-fat di-et for 4 weeks.Twenty-five successfully modeled diabetic dry eye rats were randomly divided into the model group(non-in-tervention),electroacupuncture group(the"Jingming","Cuanzhu","Sizhukong","Taiyang"and"Tongziliao"acupoints were treated with acupuncture,and then"Cuanzhu"and"Tongzilao"acupoints were treated with electroacupuncture,15 min for each time,once a day),sham acupuncture group(blunt-tip needle pricking was performed at the same acupoints as the electroacupuncture group),and fluorometholone group(1 g·L-1fluorometholone eye drops were used in both eyes at 8 o'clock,13 o'clock,and 18 o'clock,1 drop each time),with 6 rats in each group,lasting for 2 weeks.Another 6 healthy male SD rats were selected as a blank group.Random blood glucose,tear film breakup time(BUT),tear secre-tion,corneal fluorescein staining(FL)score,and corneal touch threshold(CTT)of rats in each group were detected be-fore modeling,after modeling,and after the intervention.Hematoxylin and Eosin(HE)staining was performed to observe the corneal morphologic changes in each group.Immunofluorescence histochemical staining was adopted to detect the cor-neal TLR4-positive expression in each group.The TLR4,phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappa P65(P-NF-KB P65),inter-leukin(IL)-1β,and IL-18 expression levels in the cornea were detected by Western blot.Results After modeling,com-pared with the blank group,BUT,tear secretion and CTT decreased and FL increased in all experimental groups,and the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.01).After the intervention,compared with the model group,FL de-creased,and BUT,tear secretion and CTT increased in the electroacupuncture group,and the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Corneal HE staining showed that after the intervention,the corneal surface of rats in the model group and sham acupuncture group was not smooth,and the corneal epithelial cells were thickened and disorganized;the corneal surface of rats in the electroacupuncture group and fluorometholone group was smooth,and the corneal epithelial cells were arranged neatly.After the intervention,compared with the blank group,the corneal TLR4 expression of rats in all other groups was elevated,and the differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05);compared with the model group,the corneal TLR4 expression of rats in the electroacupuncture group and fluorometholone group was reduced(both P＜0.01).Compared with the blank group,corneal TLR4,P-NF-κBP65,IL-1β and IL-18 protein expressions increased in the model group and sham acupuncture group(all P＜0.05);compared with the model group,these expressions decreased in the electroacupuncture group and the fluorometholone group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture can im-prove the ocular surface signs and inhibit the expressions of TLR4,P-NF-κB P65,IL-1 β,and IL-18 in the cornea of type 2 diabetic dry eye rats,and its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of TLR4-mediated inflammatory signaling pathway,which inhibits ocular surface inflammation in diabetic dry eye rats.

Objective To reveal the potential mechanism of electroacupuncture regulating the neuroinflammatory signaling pathway mediated by triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2(TREM2)in trigeminal ganglion(TG)and caudate nucleus of spinal trigeminal nucleus(SpVc)of rats with type 2 diabetes and dry eyes and alleviating ocular surface sensory abnormalities.Methods Healthy male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were induced by intraperitoneal injection of 10 g·L-1 streptozotocin to establish a type 2 diabetes dry eye rat model after 4 weeks of high-glucose and high-fat diets.In the 12th week of the experiment,successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into the model group,electroacupunc-ture group,sham-acupuncture group and fluorometholone group,and healthy male SD rats fed with normal diets were se-lected as the blank group.Rats in all groups were intervened for 2 weeks.The corneal fluorescein sodium staining(FL),tear secretion[detected by phenol red thread(PRT)test],tear film break-up time(BUT),and corneal touch threshold(CTT)in each group were measured before,after modeling,and after the intervention.The changes in tissue morphology of TG and SpVc and TREM2 positive expression sites in each group were observed.The messenger ribonucleic acid(mR-NA)expression of TREM2,interleukin-18(IL-18)and interleukin-1β(IL-1β)of TG and Sp Vc in each group were detec-ted.Results After modeling,compared with the blank group,the FL scores of rats significantly increased and PRT,BUT and CTT significantly decreased in other groups(all P＜0.01).After the intervention,compared with the model group,the electroacupuncture group and fluorometholone group showed significant reductions in FL scores and significant increases in PRT,BUT and CTT(all P＜0.01);there was no statistically significant difference in these indicators in the sham-acupuncture group(all P＞0.05).Compared with the electroacupuncture group,the PRT and CTT of rats in the flu-orometholone group and sham-acupuncture group were significantly reduced,the FL score significantly increased and BUT significantly decreased in the sham-acupuncture group(all P＜0.01),and there was no statistically significant difference in FL score and BUT of rats in the fluorometholone group(both P＞0.05).Compared with the sham-acupuncture group,the fluorometholone group showed a decrease in FL score and an increase in PRT,BUT and CTT in rats,with statistically dif-ferent significances(all P＜0.05).The immunofluorescence double-labeling assay showed a positive expression of TREM2 in activated microglia of TG and SpVc in the model group.The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of TG and SpVc showed that compared with the blank group,the TREM2 mRNA expression in the TG and SpVc of the model group,electroacupuncture group,fluorometholone group and sham-acupuncture group decreased,the IL-18 and IL-1β mRNA in TG and SpVc of the model group,IL-18 and IL-1β mRNA in TG and IL-1β mRNA in SpVc of the sham-acupuncture group increased(all P＜0.05);compared with the model group,the TREM2 mRNA expression increased and IL-18 and IL-1β mR-NA expression decreased in the TG and SpVc of the electroacupuncture group and fluorometholone group(all P＜0.05).Compared with the electroacupuncture group,the TREM2 mRNA expression decreased and IL-18,IL-1β mRNA expression increased in TG and SpVc of the sham-acupuncture group(all P＜0.05),and no significant difference was found in TREM2,IL-18 and IL-1β mRNA expression in TG and SpVc of the fluorometholone group(all P＞0.05).Compared with the sham-acupuncture group,the TREM2 mRNA expression in TG and SpVc increased in the fluorometholone group,while the IL-18 mRNA expression in SpVc decreased(all P＜0.05);the IL-1β mRNA in TG and SpVc and the IL-18 mRNA in TG of the fluorometholone group showed no statistically significant difference(all P＞0.05).Conclusion Electroacupunc-ture can effectively alleviate the ocular surface sensory abnormalities of rats with type 2 diabetes and dry eyes by regulating the inflammatory signaling pathway mediated by TREM2 in TG and SpVc.

Non-bifurcating cervical carotid artery(NBCCA)is a very rare anatomical variation of the cervical carotid artery,which may be related to the abnormal development of internal carotid artery(ICA)and external carotid artery in embryonic period.Neither carotid bulb nor a true carotid bifurcation can be observed on the ultrasound of carotid artery while a"stump-like"change was showed at the expected bifurcation level of carotid artery on DSA.Few cases has been reported in China and abroad so far.This article reported a middle-aged male with a history of hypertension and type 2 diabetes and was admitted to the hospital due to dizziness for one month.The left NBCCA accompanied with severe stenosis of the right ICA was confirmed by cerebral angiography.The patient received the right ICA stent implantation surgery as well as antihypertensive and glucose-control treatment and was discharged as his symptoms improved.Clinical data of this case and related literatures were reviewed,in order to improve clinicians'especially imaging diagnostic physicians'understanding on NBCCA to avoid misdiagnosis and related complications.

Objective:To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of HEMO-FISS-QoL(HF-QoL) questionnaire (HF-QoL-C) in the Chinese population with hemorrhoids.Methods:From November 2021 to November 2022, a self-constructed general information questionnaire, HF-QoL-C, and the 36-item short form health survey (SF-36), Goligher classification, and Giordano severity of hemorrhoid symptom questionnaire (GSQ) were used to conduct a questionnaire survey on 760 hemorrhoid patients in the anorectal department of six hospitals. The data was analyzed for reliability and validity using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 26.0 software.Results:The Cronbach's α coefficient of HF-QoL-C and its dimension ranged from 0.831 to 0.960, and the split coefficient was 0.832-0.915. Four common factors were extracted through principal component exploratory factor analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated acceptable structural validity( χ2/ df=8.152, RSMEA=0.097, CFI=0.881, IFI=0.881, NFI=0.867). HF-QoL-C was correlated with SF36 and GSQ( r=-0.694, 0.501, both P<0.01). There were differences in the total score and dimensional scores of HF-QoL-C between surgical and drug treated patients, different grades of Goligher classification for hemorrhoidal disease, and different ranges of hemorrhoid prolapse (all P<0.001). No ceiling effect was found in the total score and the scores of each dimension(0.3%-2.0%). There was a floor effect in both psychological function and sexual activity dimensions (16.7%, 35.1%). Conclusion:HF-QoL-C has good reliability and validity, which can be used to measure the quality of life of Chinese hemorrhoid patients.

Objective:To explore the application of flash glucose monitoring (FGM) system in patients with type 2 diabetes and its impact on patients, and to provide reference for improving blood glucose management in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods:Qualitative research method was adopted. Purposive sampling was used to select patients with type 2 diabetes who received FGM in Nanjing Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing First Hospital from December 2023 to February 2024 as interview subjects. Semi-structured interview method was conducted for one-to-one in-depth interview, and thematic analysis was used to sort out and analyze data, identify and refine themes.Results:A total of 15 interviewees were included, including 7 males and 8 females, aged (61.27 ± 14.07) years. The interview results were summarized into five themes: behavioral changes of wearing FGM system (including changes of patients′blood glucose monitoring, diet, exercise and medication behaviors); FGM system improves the convenience and comfort of blood glucose monitoring; FGM system can effectively improve patients′sense of security; the advice of medical staff affects the willingness of patients to wear FGM system; price factors affect patients′willingness to wear FGM systems on a regular basis.Conclusions:The FGM system plays an important role in the management of patients with type 2 diabetes, improving patients′self-management behavior and blood glucose monitoring experience, and improving patients′sense of security. Medical personnel play an important role in the decision-making of patient disease management. However, price is an important factor restricting patients to wear regularly, and efforts should be made to improve the popularity of FGM system.

Objective:To explore the risk factors and treatments of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in children after pediatric living donor liver transplantation (pLDLT) .Method:From January 2014 to December 2021, the relevant clinical data were retrospectively reviewed for 975 LDLT children at Department of Pediatric Organ Transplantation of Tianjin First Central Hospital. Based upon the postoperative occurrence of PVT, they were assigned into two groups of PVT (19 cases) and non-PVT (956 cases). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for screening the risk factors of PVT post-LDLT and discussing the managements and prognoses of PVT.Result:Among them, overall incidence of PVT post-LDLT was 1.9% (19/975), and median time for an initial occurrence of PVT 8 (1-495) day. Single-factor analysis indicated that donor height ( P=0.014), operative duration ( P=0.002) and vascular interposition ( P=0.001) were correlated with the occurrence of postoperative PVT post-pLDLT. Multifactorial analysis revealed that operative duration ( P=0.008) and vascular interposition ( P<0.01) were independent risk factors for PVT post-pLDLT. For 19 cases of postoperative PVT, the measures included surgical thrombectomy (8 cases), urokinase thrombolysis plus warfarin anticoagulation (3 cases), interventional treatment (3 cases), warfarin anticoagulation (4 cases) and retransplantation (1 cases). After treatment, the outcomes were a disappearance of PVT (15 cases), symptomatic improvement (2 cases) and unrelated mortality (2 cases) . Conclusion:During pLDLT, intraoperative placement of blood vessels and operative duration are independent risk factors for the occurrence of PVT. Timely standardized treatment may achieve satisfactory therapeutic outcomes.

ObjectiveTo investigate the survival and adverse reactions of patients with unresectable cholangiocarcinoma after stereotactic body radiation therapy （SBRT）. MethodsA total of 27 patients with unresectable solitary cholangiocarcinoma without metastasis who underwent SBRT in The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from February 2012 to July 2020 were enrolled. The prescribed dose to planning target volume was 42-60 Gy in 5-8 fractions， with 5-11 Gy/fraction. Among these patients， five patients were also treated with chemotherapy and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization. The 6-， 12-， 18-， and 24-month overall survival （OS） rates， progression-free survival （PFS） rates， and local control （LC） rates were used as the assessment indices for treatment outcome； Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v.4.03 was used to evaluate adverse reactions； the Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate OS， PFS， and LC rates. ResultsThe median follow-up time was 17 months. For all 27 patients， the 6-， 12-， 18-， and 24-month OS rates were 100%， 88%， 57.5%， and 47.9%， respectively； the 6-， 12-， 18-， and 24-month PFS rates were 74.1%， 58.6%， 47.9%， and 35.9%， respectively； the 6-， 12-， 18-， and 24-month LC rates were 96.3%， 91.9%， 84.8%， and 76.4%， respectively. No grade 3 or above toxic reactions were observed. Five patients were diagnosed with radiation-induced liver injury， but there was no death due to radiation-induced liver injury. ConclusionSBRT is safe and effective in the treatment of unresectable cholangiocarcinoma， with relatively high survival rate， PFS rate， and LC rate and low toxicity， and therefore， SBRT can be used as an alternative treatment method for patients with cholangiocarcinoma who are not candidates for surgery.