BACKGROUND: Endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) is widely used to treat common bile duct stones (CBDS); however, long-term studies have revealed the increasing incidence of recurrent CBDS after EST. Loss of sphincter of Oddi function after EST was the main cause of recurrent CBDS. Reparation of the sphincter of Oddi is therefore crucial. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness and safety of endoclip papilloplasty (ECPP) for repairing the sphincter of Oddi and elucidate its mechanism. METHODS: Eight healthy Bama minipigs were randomly divided into the EST group and the ECPP group at a 1:1 ratio, and bile samples were collected before endoscopy and 6 months later. All minipigs underwent transabdominal biliary ultrasonography for the diagnosis of cholelithiasis 6 months after endoscopy. The biliary microbiota composition and alpha and beta diversity were analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Differential metabolites were analyzed by bile acid metabolomics to explore the predictive indicators of cholelithiasis. RESULTS: Three minipigs were diagnosed with cholelithiasis in the EST group, while none in the ECPP group showed cholelithiasis. The biliary Firmicutes/Bacteroidota (F/B) ratio was increased after EST and decreased after ECPP. The Chao1 and observed species index significantly decreased 6 months after EST ( P  = 0.017 and 0.018, respectively); however, the biliary α-diversity was similar before and 6 months after ECPP. The β-diversity significantly differed in the EST group before and 6 months after EST, as well as in the ECPP group before and 6 months after ECPP (analysis of similarities [ANOSIM]: R  = 0.917, P  = 0.040; R  = 0.740, P  = 0.035; respectively). Glycolithocholic acid (GLCA) and taurolithocholic acid (TLCA) accumulated in bile 6 months after EST. CONCLUSIONS ECPP has less impact on the biliary microenvironment than EST and prevents duodenobiliary reflux by repairing the sphincter of Oddi. The bile levels of GLCA and TLCA may be used to predict the risk of cholelithiasis.
Animals ; Swine, Miniature ; Swine ; Cholelithiasis/prevention & control* ; Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic/methods* ; Sphincter of Oddi/surgery* ; Female ; Male

OBJECTIVE To investigate the management status of small pressure steam sterilizers in dental institu-tions across seven major regions of China and provide references for establishing standardized monitoring and eval-uation protocols for sterilization efficacy.METHODS From Aug.to Nov.2023,a convenience sampling method was employed to select 885 dental institutions of various levels from seven geographical regions.An online survey using a self-designed questionnaire was conducted to assess the management status of small pressure steam steri-lizers in dental institutions.RESULTS A total of 885 questionnaires were distributed,with 770 valid responses col-lected,covering 770 dental institutions at all levels.The survey involved 2 056 small pressure steam sterilizers,of which 43.14％were pre-vacuum type and 89.40％were benchtop models.Tertiary dental institutions had the high-est proportion of imported small pressure steam sterilizers(60.15％),with most devices in use for 5-10 years(36.88％).Secondary and low er-level institutions predominantly used domestically produced small pressure steam sterilizers(74.60％),which used for 3-5 years accounting for the highest proportion(34.29％).While 85.58％of dental institutions employed dedicated sterilization personnel,only 45.84％performed proper maintenance for small pressure steam sterilizers.Training rates were 80.00％for department of stomatology in ungraded general hospitals and primary medical institutions,76.19％in prejob and 71.43％during the work for department of sto-matology in primary clinics,respectively.CONCLUSIONS Although most dental institutions demonstrate sound policy formulation,challenges persist in equipment maintenance,policy implementation and grassroots training.Future efforts should be made on strengthening maintenance and inspection of equipment,enhancing sys-tem supervisory mechanisms,and optimizing training systems to ensure dental treatment safety.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the management status of small pressure steam sterilizers in dental institu-tions across seven major regions of China and provide references for establishing standardized monitoring and eval-uation protocols for sterilization efficacy.METHODS From Aug.to Nov.2023,a convenience sampling method was employed to select 885 dental institutions of various levels from seven geographical regions.An online survey using a self-designed questionnaire was conducted to assess the management status of small pressure steam steri-lizers in dental institutions.RESULTS A total of 885 questionnaires were distributed,with 770 valid responses col-lected,covering 770 dental institutions at all levels.The survey involved 2 056 small pressure steam sterilizers,of which 43.14％were pre-vacuum type and 89.40％were benchtop models.Tertiary dental institutions had the high-est proportion of imported small pressure steam sterilizers(60.15％),with most devices in use for 5-10 years(36.88％).Secondary and low er-level institutions predominantly used domestically produced small pressure steam sterilizers(74.60％),which used for 3-5 years accounting for the highest proportion(34.29％).While 85.58％of dental institutions employed dedicated sterilization personnel,only 45.84％performed proper maintenance for small pressure steam sterilizers.Training rates were 80.00％for department of stomatology in ungraded general hospitals and primary medical institutions,76.19％in prejob and 71.43％during the work for department of sto-matology in primary clinics,respectively.CONCLUSIONS Although most dental institutions demonstrate sound policy formulation,challenges persist in equipment maintenance,policy implementation and grassroots training.Future efforts should be made on strengthening maintenance and inspection of equipment,enhancing sys-tem supervisory mechanisms,and optimizing training systems to ensure dental treatment safety.

Objective:To investigate the differences in resting-state functional connectivity (FC) between patients with vestibular migraine (VM) and migraine without aura (MwoA) in order to infer the possible neuroimaging mechanisms of VM.Methods:Thirty VM patients admitted to the Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from December 2019 to December 2022 were selected as the experimental group (EG) (6 males and 24 females, with mean age of 38.3 years) and 26 MwoA patients as the control group (7 males and 19 females, mean age 35.5 years). General demographic and clinical data such as gender, age, year of education, course of disease and frequency of attacks were collected for all the patients, as well as data of Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), headache Visual Arialogue Scale (VAS), Headache Impact Test 6 (HIT-6) and Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire (MIDAS). VM patients were also assessed by Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), dizziness VAS and Vestibular Disorders Activities of Daily Living (VADL) scales. All patients underwent resting-sate functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) scans. Bilateral parietal opercular cortex 2 (OP2) and primary visual cortex (V1) were used as regions of interests (ROIs). Differences in FC between ROIs and other brain regions were calculated between the two groups. In view of the brain regions with significant differences, z-values of FC were extracted for each subject in the EG, and Pearson partial correlation analysis was conducted between z-values of FC and clinical characteristics of patients, P<0.05 was considered to have significant correlation. SPSS 22.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results:There was no significant difference in gender, age, years of education, course of disease, frequency of attack and scores of MoCA, HAMA and HAMD between the two groups ( P>0.05). Headache VAS, HIT-6 and MIDAS scores in VM patients were significantly lower than those in MwoA patients ( P<0.05). Compared with MwoA patients, the FC between left OP2 and bilateral precuneus and left thalamus was significantly increased in VM patients, and the FC between right OP2 and left thalamus and right anterior cingulate gyrus were significantly increased ( P<0.05, False Discovery Rate correction). Correlation analysis showed that the FC between left OP2 and left precuneus was positively correlated with DHI score in VM patients ( P=0.007, r=0.480), and the FC between right OP2 and left thalamus was positively correlated with the disease course in VM patients ( P=0.015, r=0.439). Conclusions:The pathogenesis of VM may be related to the altered FC of vestibular, pain and visual-motor networks, abnormalities of these neural pathways may be important imaging biomarkers of VM pathogenesis.

Objective:To investigate the underlying neuroimaging mechanism of migraine without aura (MwoA) by using methods of voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and resting-state functional connectivity (FC).Methods:Twenty-five MwoA patients admitted to Department of Neurology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from September 2020 to June 2023 were recruited as MwoA group, and 22 volunteers were recruited as healthy control (HC) group. Demographic, clinical characteristics, scores of Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) of all subjects were collected; MwoA patients also received Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire, Headache Impact Test-6 and headache Visual Analogue Scale assessments. All subjects underwent high-resolution 3D-T 1 and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning. The SPM12 software was used to compare the difference in gray matter volume (GMV) between the 2 groups by VBM method. The GRETNA software was adopted to calculate the whole brain FC with anatomical automatic labeling 90 as the regions of interest, and the difference in FC between the 2 groups was statistically analyzed by two-sample t-test. Pearson partial correlation was used to analyze the correlation between brain GMV and FC changes and clinical features and scale scores of MwoA patients. Results:There existed no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in age, gender, education, scores of HAMA, HAMD and MoCA (all P>0.05). Migraine Disability Assessment Questionnaire, Headache Impact Test-6 and headache Visua Analogue Scale scores of MwoA patients were (8.86±4.55), (50.27±6.35) and (6.68±1.73). Compared with the HC group, GMV was significantly decreased in the right superior frontal gyrus (SFG), right cingulate gyrus (CG) and left thalamus in the MwoA group ( P<0.05, false discovery rate corrected). In addition, the MwoA group showed decreased FC between left thalamus and right cuneus, left lingual gyrus (LG) and bilateral precuneus; decreased FC between right thalamus and right cuneus, right LG and right precuneus; decreased FC between right cuneus and left precuneus and right SFG; decreased FC between left LG and bilateral precuneus, decreased FC between right LG and right precuneus and left SFG; decreased FC between left precuneus and bilateral SFG, and between right precuneus and right SFG (edge P<0.001, component P<0.05, network-based statistics correction, interation=2 000). In MwoA patients, the FC (z-value) between left thalamus and right cuneus was negatively correlated with the duration of disease ( r=-0.530, P=0.011). Conclusions:MwoA patients showed decreased GMV in right SFG, CG and left thalamus. In MwoA patients, FC between thalamus and visual network (VN) and default mode network (DMN) was significantly decreased, and FC among VN, DMN and executive control network was significantly decreased. These changes in brain structure and function may be an adaptive change in the central sensitivity and responsiveness to pain stimuli, and may be an important neuroimaging mechanism of MwoA.

Stroke has become the leading cause of disability and death in China. At present, intravenous thrombolysis is one of the most effective treatment for acute ischemic stroke, but not all patients can benefit from intravenous thrombolysis. In recent years, the exploration of predictive models for the outcomes after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke has attracted increasing attention. This article systematically reviews the scoring models for predicting the functional outcome, death and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke, with the aim of screening the scoring system suitable for clinical application and providing reference for the clinical diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of acute ischemic stroke.

Objective:To explore the effect of ICX ? tablets on controlling the pollution of dental unit waterlines. Methods:From September 30, 2018 to February 23, 2019, convenience sampling was used to select dental chair unit (DCU) with the dental pulp professional brand of A-dec which was newly put into use in a stomatology hospital for numbering. Using the method of random number table, four DCUs were selected and included in this study, including two in experimental group and two incontrol group. In control group, distilled water was added into two DCUs in dependent water storage tanks. In experimental group, two DCUs independent water storage tanks were added with distilled water and ICX ? tablets. From the first day of clinical use, water samples were collected continuously for 7 days, and the ICX ? tablets group was continuously sampled for 12 weeks for bacterial culture, and the number and qualified rate of colonies were counted. Results:A total of 280 water samples were collected.The number of colonies at the water outlet of the new DCU that used distilled water added with ICX ? tablets as dental unit waterlines was lower than that of distilled water group from the first day, and the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.007) . The qualified rate of colony number at the water outlet of the new DCU that used distilled water added with ICX ? tablets as dental unit waterlines was higher than that of distilled water group from the second day, and the difference was also statistically significant ( P=0.007) . Conclusions:ICX ? tablets can effectively control the pollution of dental unit waterlines and can keep the number of colonies in dental unit waterlines at a low level for a long time, but it still needs to be combined with regular monitoring and enhanced disinfection.

Objective To investigate the correlation between post-stroke depression(PSD) and cerebral microbleeds(CMBs)in elderly patients with ischemic stroke.Methods In the prospective study,220 elderly patients with ischemic stroke were enrolled and followed up to one month after onset.Finally a total of 214 elderly patients performed a follow-up.According to DSM-Ⅳ Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,patients were divided into the PSD group and non-PSD group.The degree of depression was evaluated by17-item Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD-17)score,and patients were divided into mild depression,moderate depression and severe depression group.The loci number,distribution and location of CMBs lesions were assessed by SWI.Patients were divided into brain lobe type,deep lobe type and mixed type according to the CMBs lesion location.The influence of CMBs or not,loci number and location of CMBs lesions on PSD were compared.Results A total of 214 elderly patients with ischemic stroke were enrolled,in whom 84(84/214,39.3％)had PSD with 29(34.5％)males and 55(65.5％)females.According to the HAMD scale,there were 51 patients (60.7 ％) with mild depression,25 (29.8 ％) with moderate depression,and 8 (9.5 ％) with severe depression.The prevalence rate of CMBs was 62.5 ％ (32/51) in mild depression group,71.0 ％ (22/25) in moderate depression group,81.8 ％ (6/8)in severe depression group and 45.4 ％ (49/108)in non PSD group(all P=0.008).The number of CMBs lesions were(4.5±1.2)in mild depression group,(7.8± 2.0)in moderate depression group,(12.6±2.7)in severe depression group and(1.8±0.5)in non-PSD group,with the statistically significant differences between groups (F =2.79,P =0.041).The proportions of CMBs lesions location(brain lobe type,deep lobe type and mixed type)were 40.6 ％ (13/32),34.4％(11/32) and 25.0％ (8/32) in mild depression group,36.4％(8/22),40.9％(9/22) and 22.7％(5/22) in moderate depression group,33.3％ (2/6),50.0％ (3/6) and 16.7％ (1/6) in severe depression group,40.8％ (20/49),12.2％ (6/49) and 46.9％ (23/49) in non-PSD group,respectively (Fisher exact test,P =0.043).The proportions of CMBs lesions distribution(left side,right side and double side)were 37.5％(12/32),43.8％(14/32) and 18.8％(6/32) in mild depression group,36.4％ (8/22),40.9％ (9/22) and 22.7％ (5/22) in moderate depression group,50.0％ (3/6),33.3％ (2/6)and 16.7％(1/6) in severe depression group,36.7％(18/49),40.8％(20/49) and 22.5％(11/49) in non-PSD group,and the difference was not statistically significant (Fisher exact test,P =0.998).Conclusions The prevalence rate of CMBs,number of CMBs lesions and deep lobe type of CMBs are closely related to the degree of post-stroke depression in the elderly.The distribution of CMBs lesions has no relevance with the degree of post stroke depression in the elderly.Elderly patients with ischemic stroke at high risk of post-stroke depression can be identified by evaluating CMBs for early intervention,which is worthy of promotion in clinical work.

Objective To explore pathogenesis and influencing factors of poor outcome in patients with wake-up stroke.Methods In this prospective study,patients with acute ischemic stroke who were hospitalized in the Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from October 2016 to December 2017 were continuously collected.All patients were divided into wake-up stroke group and non-wake-up stroke group according to the onset time.The clinical data of demographics,vascular risk factors,imaging examination,laboratory examination of the two groups were collected to identify the pathogenesis of wake-up stroke.Followed up to six months of onset,the patients were divided into poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ＞2) and good outcome (mRS score 0-2) subgroups according to mRS score.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the influencing factors of poor outcome in patients with wake-up stroke.Results A total of 178 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled in the study,including 42 patients (23.60％) in the wake-up stroke group and 136 patients (76.40％) in the non-wake-up stroke group.Followed up to six months of onset,11 patients lost,and 167 patients were followed up finally.There were 40 patients (23.95％) in the wake-up stroke group,including 17 patients (42.50％) with poor outcome and 23 patients (57.50％) with good outcome.There were 127 patients (45.64％) in the non-wake-up stroke group,including 32 patients (25.20％) with poor outcome and 95 patients (74.80％) with good outcome.The difference of poor outcome between the two groups was statistically significant (x2=4.393,P=0.036).Comparison of the demographic and baseline data of the wake-up stroke group and the non-wake-up stroke group showed that the differences between variables such as atrial fibrillation and double-dose hypertension were statistically significant.Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically significant differences in vascular risk factors,Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment etiology,stroke severity,number of stroke lesions,treatment patterns,and number of cerebral microbleeds between the poor and good outcome subgroups.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the moderate to severe stroke (odds ratio (OR)=3.838,95％ confidence interval (Co 2.162-5.890,P=0.018),the number of lesions in cerebral microbleeds (OR=2.113,95％CI 1.291-2.868,P=0.049) were independent risk factors for poor outcome of wake-up stroke.Intravenous thrombolysis (OR=0.427,95％CI 0.242-0.615,P=0.036) was an independent protective factor for poor outcome of wake-up stroke.Conclusions The onset of wake-up stroke is closely related to atrial fibrillation and reverse scoop hypertension with higher incidence of poor outcome.Early adequate imaging screening and stroke severity assessment have important reference to guide clinical treatment and predict outcome.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and severity of cerebral microbleeds(CMBs) in patients with different stroke classifications of cerebral infarction. Methods: From October 2016 to December 2017, the clinical data of patients with acute cerebral infarction in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were collected through the prospective study.The SWI technique was used to screen the CMBs.According to the TOAST and OCSP classifications, the prevalence and severity of CMBs in patients with different stroke classifications of cerebral infarction were analyzed. Results: A total of 254 patients with cerebral infarction were enrolled, there were 136 patients(53.54%) in CMBs group and 118 patients(46.46%) in no CMBs group.The prevalence of CMBs in patients with different TOAST classifications was large artery atherosclerosis(54.29%), small-artery occlusion(64.15%), cardioembolism(40.43%), stroke of other determined etiology(33.33%), stroke of undetermined etiology(38.46%), and the difference was statistically significant(χ²=12.206, P=0.016). The prevalence of CMBs in patients with different OCSP classifications was total anterior circulation infarcts(43.75%), partial anterior circulation infarcts(51.19%), posterior circulation infarcts(49.18%), lacunar infarcts(67.53%), and the difference was statistically significant(χ²=8.944, P=0.030). The severity of CMBs in patients with different TOAST classifications was large artery atherosclerosis[mild(55.26%), moderate(26.32%), severe(15.79%)], small-artery occlusion[mild(25.00%), moderate(33.82%), severe(41.18%)], cardioembolism[mild(57.89%), moderate(26.32%), severe(15.79%)), stroke of other determined etiology[mild(50.00%), moderate(33.33%), severe(16.67%)], stroke of undetermined etiology[mild(60.00%), moderate(20.00%), severe(20.00%)], and the difference was statistically significant(Fisher exact test, P=0.025). The severity of CMBs in patients with different OCSP classifications was total anterior circulation infarcts[mild(57.14%), moderate(28.57%), severe(14.29%)], partial anterior circulation infarcts[mild(52.50%), moderate(32.50%), severe(15.00%)], posterior circulation infarcts[mild(50.00%), moderate(33.33%), severe(16.67%)], lacunar infarcts[mild(25.00%), moderate(32.69%), severe(42.31%)], and the difference was statistically significant(Fisher exact test, P=0.023). Conclusion The prevalence and severity of CMBs in patients with different stroke classifications of cerebral infarction are variable.The prevalence of CMBs in small-artery occlusion and lacunar infarcts are the highest and give first place to severe CMBs(number of lesions≥10). We should pay attention to these two stroke classifications by early recognition and taking targeted clinical strategies.