BACKGROUND:Spinal canal decompression using uniportal endoscopic surgery is a new minimally invasive surgery in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis.However,this technique needs a steep learning curve and high requirements for surgical equipment and instruments,which limits its clinical application.We previously use the spinal endoscopy as a monitoring endoscopy and combined with unilateral biportal endoscopy to propose a hybrid technique of spinal endoscopy to achieve coaxial endoscopic operation and hands-separate operation. OBJECTIVE:To compare the clinical outcome of hybrid technique and uniportal endoscopic surgery in treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis with bilateral lower limb pain symptoms. METHODS:Ninety patients diagnosed of lumbar spinal stenosis with bilateral symptoms were included and retrospectively analyzed at First People's Hospital,Shanghai Jiao Tong University from August 2020 to August 2022.44 cases were included in group A(hybrid technique group),while 46 cases were included in group B(uniportal endoscopic surgery).The nerve decompression was observed during the surgery.Operation time,hospital stay time,and expenses were recorded in both groups.The visual analog scale scores of lower back pain and both lower extremities pain,Oswestry disability index scores of quality of life and excellent and good rate of modified Macnab criteria were recorded and compared at preoperative,postoperative 3 days,and postoperative 3 and 6 months. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The operation time of group A was significantly shorter than that of group B(P<0.05).(2)The lower back pain and lower extremity pain of the severe side at postoperative 3 days,and 3 and 6 months were significantly relieved in both groups(P<0.05).The visual analog scale score of lower extremity pain on the mild side was significantly decreased at postoperative 3 days,3 and 6 months than preoperative score in the group A(P<0.05).The visual analog scale score of lower extremity pain on the mild side was significantly decreased at postoperative 3 days than preoperative score in the group B(P<0.05).The visual analog scale scores of lower extremity pain on the mild side at postoperative 3 and 6 months did not show significant difference than preoperative score in the group B.The comparison between the two groups showed that there was no significant difference in the visual analog scale scores of postoperative lower back pain and lower extremity pain of the severe side(P>0.05).The visual analog scale scores of lower extremity pain on the mild side in the group A were significantly lower than those of group B at postoperative 3 and 6 months(P<0.05).(3)The Oswestry disability index scores of both groups at postoperative 3 day were significantly lower than preoperative score(P<0.05),and there was no significant difference between the two groups 3 days after operation.Oswestry disability index scores of group A at postoperative 3 and 6 months were significantly decreased than preoperative score(P<0.05).The Oswestry disability index scores of group B at postoperative 3 and 6 months did not show significant differences than preoperative score(P>0.05).The comparison between the two groups showed the Oswestry disability index scores of group A were significantly lower than group B at postoperative 3 and 6 months(P<0.05).(4)The results of modified Macnab showed that the excellent and good rate of group A was significantly higher than that of group B(95%,78%,P<0.05).(5)It is indicated that the hybrid technique is a new spinal endoscopy technique,which has the advantages of less trauma and faster recovery as a minimally invasive surgery.The clinical outcome of hybrid technique is superior to that of uniportal endoscopic surgery in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis with bilateral symptoms.Additionally,it also has the advantages of good operational flexibility and high decompression efficiency as an open surgery.

Objective To investigate the screening results and factors affecting abnormal detection rates among high-risk groups of esophageal cancer and to explore effective intervention measures. Methods We investigated and collected the information on gender, education level, age, marital status, symptoms of reflux esophagitis (heartburn, acid reflux, belching, hiccup, foreign body sensation in the pharynx, and difficulty swallowing), consumption of pickled vegetables, salt use, and esophageal cancer incidence of villagers in a natural village in Wenfeng District, Anyang City, Henan Province. Changes in reflux esophagitis symptoms in the high-incidence area of esophageal cancer before and after 16 years were observed, and the relationship of such changes with esophageal cancer was analyzed. Results In 2008, 711 cases were epidemiologically investigated, including 213 cases with one of the symptoms of reflux esophagitis such as heartburn, acid reflux, belching, hiccups, foreign body sensation in the pharynx, and difficulty swallowing (sorted in accordance with the abovementioned symptoms; if there are multiple symptoms, then the former is taken); 55 cases with at least two related symptoms, among which the most symptom was heartburn in 108 cases (15.1%); followed by acid reflux, belching, etc. In 2024, the same group of people was investigated, and eight people were missing because of relocation. A total of 703 people were successfully investigated, of which 189 cases (26.8%) had one of the symptoms of reflux esophagitis, such as heartburn (sorted in accordance with relevant symptoms, if there are multiple symptoms, then the former will be selected); 167 cases (23.7%) had at least two related symptoms, among which the most symptom was heartburn in 139 cases (19.7%); followed by acid reflux. Over 16 years, among the 703 people investigated, 45 cases had esophageal cancer and they had one or more of the abovementioned symptoms. No significant differences in the reflux esophagitis-like symptoms were found between 2008 and 2024 (P=0.26); no significant differences in the composition of reflux esophagitis-like symptoms were found between 2008 and 2024 (P=0.299). Conclusion The detection rate of reflux esophagitis-related symptoms in the population in a high-risk area of esophageal cancer has not decreased in the past 16 years, and the high-risk factors still exist. Esophageal cancer is closely related to reflux esophagitis, and clinical practice can provide early diagnosis and treatment for high-risk population.

Objective To investigate the relationship between tooth loss and the occurrence of esophageal cancer in a natural village in Wenfeng District, Anyang City, Henan Province. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted to observe the occurrence of tooth loss and esophageal cancer among the asymptomatic residents of the natural village for 16 years from January 2008 to July 2024. Data were analyzed by chi-square test, binary logistic regression, and restricted cubic spline. Results Among the total population of 711 cases, 136 cases were lost to follow-up and 575 cases were included in the final statistics, including 45 cases with esophageal cancer. Significant statistical difference was found between esophageal cancer patients with and without tooth loss (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that tooth loss was associated with the occurrence of esophageal cancer (OR=3.977, 95%CI: 1.543-10.255). After the adjustment for confounders, tooth loss remained significantly associated with the occurrence of esophageal cancer (OR=3.038, 95%CI: 1.035-8.914). A nonlinear dose-response relationship was observed between the number of teeth lost and the incidence of esophageal cancer. When the number of teeth lost was less than 12, the risk of esophageal cancer increased with the number of teeth lost. When more than 12 teeth were lost, the risk of esophageal cancer decreased as the number of teeth lost increased. Conclusion Tooth loss is a risk factor for the occurrence of esophageal cancer in this natural village. When the number of teeth lost is less than 12, the risk of esophageal cancer increases with the number of teeth lost.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate lymph node metastasis (LNM) in the prostatic anterior fat pad (PAFP) of PCa patients after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), and analyze the clinicopathological features and prognosis of LNM in the PAFP. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological data on 1 003 cases of PCa treated by RARP in the Department of Urology of PLA General Hospital from January 2017 to December 2022. All the patients underwent routine removal of the PAFP during RARP and pathological examination, with the results of all the specimens examined and reported by pathologists. Based on the presence and locations of LNM, we grouped the patients for statistical analysis, compared the clinicopathological features between different groups using the Student's t, Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square tests, and conducted survival analyses using the Kaplan-Meier and Log-rank methods and survival curves generated by Rstudio. RESULTS: Lymph nodes were detected in 77 (7.7%) of the 1 003 PAFP samples, and LNM in 11 (14.3%) of the 77 cases, with a positive rate of 1.1% (11/1 003). Of the 11 positive cases, 9 were found in the upgraded pathological N stage, and the other 2 complicated by pelvic LNM. The patients with postoperative pathological stage≥T3 constituted a significantly higher proportion in the PAFP LNM than in the non-PAFP LNM group (81.8% ［9/11］ vs 36.2% ［359/992］, P = 0.005), and so did the cases with Gleason score ≥8 (87.5% ［7/8］ vs 35.5% ［279/786］, P = 0.009). No statistically significant differences were observed in the clinicopathological features and biochemical recurrence-free survival between the patients with PAFP LNM only and those with pelvic LNM only. CONCLUSION The PAFP is a potential route to LNM, and patients with LNM in the PAFP are characterized by poor pathological features. There is no statistically significant difference in biochemical recurrence-free survival between the patients with PAFP LNM only and those with pelvic LNM only. Routine removal of the PAFP and independent pathological examination of the specimen during RARP is of great clinical significance.
Humans ; Male ; Prostatectomy/methods* ; Robotic Surgical Procedures ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology* ; Adipose Tissue/pathology* ; Prostate/pathology* ; Lymph Nodes/pathology* ; Middle Aged ; Aged

OBJECTIVE: To explore and quantify the association of hot night exposure during the sperm development period (0-90 lag days) with semen quality. METHODS: A total of 6,640 male sperm donors from 6 human sperm banks in China during 2014-2020 were recruited in this multicenter study. Two indices (i.e., hot night excess [HNE] and hot night duration [HND]) were used to estimate the heat intensity and duration during nighttime. Linear mixed models were used to examine the association between hot nights and semen quality parameters. RESULTS: The exposure-response relationship revealed that HNE and HND during 0-90 days before semen collection had a significantly inverse association with sperm motility. Specifically, a 1 °C increase in HNE was associated with decreased sperm progressive motility of 0.0090 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: -0.0147, -0.0033) and decreased total motility of 0.0094 (95% CI: -0.0160, -0.0029). HND was significantly associated with reduced sperm progressive motility and total motility of 0.0021 (95% CI: -0.0040, -0.0003) and 0.0023 (95% CI: -0.0043, -0.0002), respectively. Consistent results were observed at different temperature thresholds on hot nights. CONCLUSION Our findings highlight the need to mitigate nocturnal heat exposure during spermatogenesis to maintain optimal semen quality.
Humans ; Male ; Semen Analysis ; Adult ; Sperm Motility ; Hot Temperature/adverse effects* ; China ; Middle Aged ; Spermatozoa/physiology* ; Young Adult

Diabetic ulcer (DU), one of the common and serious complications in patients with diabetes mellitus, often leads to infection, necrosis and amputation, and has a long and costly treatment period. Because of DU's unclear healing mechanism and the difficulty of delayed healing, its treatment and management have been a major challenge in clinical medicine. In recent years, the potential role of mitochondrial autophagy in DU has become a research hotspot with the in-depth study of mitochondrial autophagy mechanism. Previous studies have shown that mitochondrial autophagy is an important intracellular self-repair mechanism that plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular health and functional stability. During the development of DU, mitochondrial autophagy plays multiple roles in attenuating oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, maintaining mitochondrial functional homeostasis, influencing cell proliferation and repair capacity during DU healing, promoting DU healing, and enhancing antimicrobial capacity. In this paper, we illustrate the multiple roles played by mitochondrial autophagy in DU prevention and treatment, as well as the potential applications of mitochondrial autophagy in DU therapy. It is expected to provide a basis for the clinical application of mitochondrial autophagy in DU treatment, and provide more effective strategies and solutions for the treatment of DU.

Diabetic ulcer (DU), one of the common and serious complications in patients with diabetes mellitus, often leads to infection, necrosis and amputation, and has a long and costly treatment period. Because of DU's unclear healing mechanism and the difficulty of delayed healing, its treatment and management have been a major challenge in clinical medicine. In recent years, the potential role of mitochondrial autophagy in DU has become a research hotspot with the in-depth study of mitochondrial autophagy mechanism. Previous studies have shown that mitochondrial autophagy is an important intracellular self-repair mechanism that plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular health and functional stability. During the development of DU, mitochondrial autophagy plays multiple roles in attenuating oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, maintaining mitochondrial functional homeostasis, influencing cell proliferation and repair capacity during DU healing, promoting DU healing, and enhancing antimicrobial capacity. In this paper, we illustrate the multiple roles played by mitochondrial autophagy in DU prevention and treatment, as well as the potential applications of mitochondrial autophagy in DU therapy. It is expected to provide a basis for the clinical application of mitochondrial autophagy in DU treatment, and provide more effective strategies and solutions for the treatment of DU.

BACKGROUND:Electrical stimulation is a physical method that can be used to induce various cellular activities such as cell proliferation,differentiation,and apoptosis.The induction of osteogenic differentiation of stem cells will be beneficial in the field of bone regeneration. OBJECTIVE:To observe whether micro-current field can promote the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells. METHODS:The fresh human umbilical cord tissue was cut to obtain umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells,which were inoculated into a 6-well plate after cell culture and passage to the third generation.After 24 hours,the cells were cultured under a stimulation of 0,50,and 100 mV/mm micro-electric field,at a frequency of 1 hour per day for 3 continuous days.The growth and morphological changes of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells were observed by a microscope.The cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay and EdU staining.Alizarin red staining was used to detect the osteogenic differentiation ability of cells.Western blot assay was used to determine the expression of ERK signal pathway proteins. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The optical density value and the number of proliferating cells in 50 and 100 mV/mm groups were significantly higher than those of the unstimulated group(P<0.05).(2)Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells could be induced to differentiate into osteocytes before and after micro-electric field stimulation,but the differentiation rate of 50 and 100 mV/mm groups was faster than that of unstimulated groups.(3)The protein expression of p-ERK1/2 in the 50 and 100 mV/mm groups was higher than that in the unstimulated group,and significant difference was detected between the 100 mV/mm group and the unstimulated group(P<0.05).(4)Micro-electric field can promote the proliferation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells,and the mechanism may be achieved by promoting the phosphorylation of ERK.

Objective:To investigate the distribution rules of artemisia pollen and the clinical sensitization characteristics of allergic rhinitis (AR) induced by artemisia pollen in three urban and rural areas of Inner Mongolia.Methods:From March to October 2019, in 3 central cities (Chifeng, Hohhot, Ordos) and rural areas of Inner Mongolia, an epidemiological investigation method combining multi-stage stratified random sampling and face-to-face questionnaire survey was adopted to screen suspected AR patients, and skin prick test (SPT) was applied for diagnosis. At the same time, pollen monitoring was carried out in 3 areas to analyze the distribution and clinical sensitization characteristics of artemisia pollen.SPSS26.0 statistical software was used to process all the data. Chi-square test was used to compare rates among different age, sex, region and nationality, Spearman test was used to describe correlation analysis, and pairwise comparison of positive rates among multiple samples was used Bonferroni method.Results:Among the 6 393 subjects, 1 093 cases were diagnosed with AR, and the prevalence of AR was 17.10% (1 093/6 393). Among them, pollen-induced allergic rhinitis, the prevalence of PiAR was 10.97% (701/6 393), accounting for 64.14%(701/1 093).The highest incidence was in the youth group (20-39 years old), accounting for 46.94% (329/701).The diagnosed prevalence was higher in females than in males (11.35% vs. 10.64%, χ2 value 12.304, P<0.001).The prevalence rate of ethnic minority was higher than that of Han nationality (13.01% vs. 10.65%, χ2 value 6.296, P=0.008).The prevalence in urban areas was also significantly higher than that in rural areas (18.40% vs. 5.50%, χ2 value 10.497, P<0.001).There was significant difference in prevalence rate among the three regions in Inner Mongolia (6.06% in Chifeng, 13.46% in Hohhot, 16.39% in Ordos, χ2 value 70.054, P<0.001).The main clinical symptoms of artemisia PiAR were sneezing (95.58%), nasal congestion (91.73%) and nasal itching (89.30%).Allergic conjunctivitis accounted for 79.60% (558/701), chronic sinusitis for 55.63% (390/701), asthma for 23.25% (163/701).The pattern of artemisia pollen sensitization was mainly multiple sensitization, and the frequency of clinical symptoms and clinical diseases induced by hypersensitization with other allergens accounted for more than that caused by single artemisia pollen. The spread period of Artemisia pollen in the three regions was from June to October, and the peak state was in August in summer. The peak time of clinical symptoms in artemisia PiAR patients was about 2 weeks earlier than the peak time of pollen concentration, and the two were significantly positively correlated ( R=0.7671, P<0.001). Conclusion:Artemisia pollens are the dominant pollens in late summer and early autumn in Inner Mongolia, and the prevalence of artemisia PiAR is high. Controlling the spread of Artemisia pollens is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of AR.

【Objective】 To explore the learning curve of single-surgeon robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP), which provides a reference for physicians who intend to carry out RARP. 【Methods】 The clinical data of 65 prostate cancer patients who underwent RARP in our hospital during Sep.2022 and Dec.2023 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients’ median age was 67.5(58.1-82.4) years, median total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was 15.6 (6.7-98.4) ng/mL, median body mass index (BMI) was 20.8(17.4-27.3) and preoperative clinical stage of tumor was T2aN0M0-T3bN1M0.The cumulative sum (CUSUM) method was used to fit the learning curves of machine installation time and operation time.According to the inflection points, the learning curves were divided into different learning stages, and the clinical data of patients at different learning stages were compared. 【Results】 The learning curve of RARP was 12 cases.The 65 cases were divided into three stages: 1st-12th cases in the learning stage, 13rd-43rd cases in the mastery stage, and 44th-65th cases in the proficiency stage.With the increase of the number of surgical cases, the median operation time [191(100-360) min vs. 116(83-165) min vs. 90(75-105) min] and median intraoperative blood loss [403(180-900) mL vs. 236(180-305) mL vs. 94(30-200) mL] in the three stages showed a gradual downward trend (P<0.05).The median machines installation time of the learning stage was significantly longer than that in the mastery stage and the proficiency stage [25(21-28) min vs. 12(11-15) min vs. 12(11-14) min] (P<0.05).The positive surgical marginrate (PSM) in the learning stage was significantly higher than that in the mastery stage and proficiency stage (41.7% vs.22.6% vs.22.7%) (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 For surgeons with rich experience in traditional laparoscopic surgery, the learning curve of RARP is about 12 cases, and after 43 cases, the operation time and intraoperative blood loss can be further reduced.