OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical effect of acupuncture for glaucoma-induced optic atrophy. METHODS: A total of 70 patients (89 affected eyes) with glaucoma-induced optic atrophy were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 35 cases in each group. The control group was given basic western medicine treatment. In the observation group, on the basis of the treatment in the control group, acupuncture was applied at main acupoints i.e. Baihui (GV 20), Shangjingming (Extra), Chengqi (ST 1), Fengchi (GB 20), Zusanli (ST 36), combined with supplementary acupoints based on syndrome differentiation, once every three days, twice a week. The treatment for 3 months was required in both groups. Before treatment, after treatment and in follow-up of 6 months after treatment, the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), indexes of visual field (visual field index [VFI], mean deviation [MD], pattern standard deviation [PSD]) and mean thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, BCVA was decreased after treatment and in follow-up in the control group (P<0.05); in the follow-up, BCVA in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). On each time point before and after treatment, there was no significant difference within or between the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment and in the follow-up, the mean thickness of RNFL was larger than the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION On the basis of the basic western medicine treatment, acupuncture can delay the decline of vision and the thinning of retinal nerve fiber layer in patients with glaucoma-induced optic atrophy.
Humans ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; Glaucoma/therapy* ; Optic Atrophy/therapy* ; Intraocular Pressure ; Acupuncture Therapy

Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.
Female ; Humans ; Adolescent ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Smell ; COVID-19/complications* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; COVID-19 Vaccines ; Incidence ; Olfaction Disorders/etiology* ; Taste Disorders/etiology* ; Prognosis

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the leading cause of death among urban and rural residents in China, and elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a risk factor for ASCVD. Considering the increasing burden of ASCVD, lipid management is of the utmost importance. In recent years, research on blood lipids has made breakthroughs around the world, hence a revision of China guidelines for lipid management is imperative, especially since the target lipid levels in the general population vary in respect to the risk of ASCVD. The level of LDL-C, which can be regarded as appropriate in a population without frisk factors, can be considered abnormal in people at high risk of developing ASCVD. As a result, the "Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of dyslipidemia" were adapted into the "China Guidelines for Lipid Management" (henceforth referred to as the new guidelines) by an Experts' committee after careful deliberation. The new guidelines still recommend LDL-C as the primary target for lipid control, with CVD risk stratification to determine its target value. These guidelines recommend that moderate intensity statin therapy in adjunct with a heart-healthy lifestyle, be used as an initial line of treatment, followed by cholesterol absorption inhibitors or/and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, as necessary. The new guidelines provide guidance for lipid management across various age groups, from children to the elderly. The aim of these guidelines is to comprehensively improve the management of lipids and promote the prevention and treatment of ASCVD by guiding clinical practice.

Investigate the biofilm-forming ability and drug resistance of Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (HvKP) to provide scientific basis for the treatment of HvKP-infection. A total of 96 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from clinical infection specimens in Changsha Central Hospital from January to December in 2021 were retrospectively collected, and the clinical data of patients were collected. The string test preliminarily distinguished between HvKP and classic Klebsiella pneumoniae (CKP). The biofilm-forming ability of clinical strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) was determined by microplate method. The Vitek 2 Compact automatic microbial identification/drug sensitivity analysis system was used for bacterial identification and drug sensitivity test. The clinical data of patients, biofilm forming ability and drug resistance in the HvKP group and those in the CKP group were compared and analyzed. The results showed that a total of 20 strains of HvKP were isolated from 96 non-repetitive KP, and the detection rate was 20.8%. HvKP mainly come from respiratory specimens, up to 75.0%.The prevalence of hepatobiliary diseases and the infection rate of multiple sites in patients with HvKP infection were higher than those in patients with CKP infection, and the difference was statistically significant(χ²=5.184,7.488;P=0.023,0.006).There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of gender, age, ICU admission, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, lung disease, urinary system disease, central nervous system disease and laboratory test indexes (all P>0.05).17 (85.0%) strains of HvKP can form biofilm, including 2 strains with weak biofilm-forming ability (10.0%), 10 strains with moderate biofilm-forming ability (50.0%) and 5 strains with strong biofilm-forming ability (25.0%). Among the 76 CKP, 71 (93.4%) could form biofilm, including 13 (17.1%) with weak biofilm-forming ability, 30(39.5%) with moderate biofilm-forming ability and 28 (36.8%) with strong biofilm-forming ability. There was no significant difference in biofilm-forming ability between HvKP and CKP (χ²=1.470,P=0.225).The overall resistance rate of HvKP was not high, but a multi-resistant HvKP resistant to carbapenems was found. The detection rate of multi-resistant HvKP (5.0%) was lower than that of multi-resistant CKP (28.9%), and the difference was statistically significant (χ²=4.984, P=0.026).The resistance rate of HvKP to piperacillin/tazobactam, aztreonam, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, ceftazidime, cefepime, tobramycin, minocycline, doxycycline, and compound sulfamethoxazole was lower than that of CKP, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). In conclusion, most of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae can form biofilm in this study, but the difference of biofilm-forming ability is not obvious compared with classic Klebsiella pneumoniae. HvKP maintains high sensitivity to commonly used antibacterial drugs, but the drug resistance monitoring of the bacteria cannot be ignored.

Investigate the biofilm-forming ability and drug resistance of Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (HvKP) to provide scientific basis for the treatment of HvKP-infection. A total of 96 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from clinical infection specimens in Changsha Central Hospital from January to December in 2021 were retrospectively collected, and the clinical data of patients were collected. The string test preliminarily distinguished between HvKP and classic Klebsiella pneumoniae (CKP). The biofilm-forming ability of clinical strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) was determined by microplate method. The Vitek 2 Compact automatic microbial identification/drug sensitivity analysis system was used for bacterial identification and drug sensitivity test. The clinical data of patients, biofilm forming ability and drug resistance in the HvKP group and those in the CKP group were compared and analyzed. The results showed that a total of 20 strains of HvKP were isolated from 96 non-repetitive KP, and the detection rate was 20.8%. HvKP mainly come from respiratory specimens, up to 75.0%.The prevalence of hepatobiliary diseases and the infection rate of multiple sites in patients with HvKP infection were higher than those in patients with CKP infection, and the difference was statistically significant(χ²=5.184,7.488;P=0.023,0.006).There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of gender, age, ICU admission, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, lung disease, urinary system disease, central nervous system disease and laboratory test indexes (all P>0.05).17 (85.0%) strains of HvKP can form biofilm, including 2 strains with weak biofilm-forming ability (10.0%), 10 strains with moderate biofilm-forming ability (50.0%) and 5 strains with strong biofilm-forming ability (25.0%). Among the 76 CKP, 71 (93.4%) could form biofilm, including 13 (17.1%) with weak biofilm-forming ability, 30(39.5%) with moderate biofilm-forming ability and 28 (36.8%) with strong biofilm-forming ability. There was no significant difference in biofilm-forming ability between HvKP and CKP (χ²=1.470,P=0.225).The overall resistance rate of HvKP was not high, but a multi-resistant HvKP resistant to carbapenems was found. The detection rate of multi-resistant HvKP (5.0%) was lower than that of multi-resistant CKP (28.9%), and the difference was statistically significant (χ²=4.984, P=0.026).The resistance rate of HvKP to piperacillin/tazobactam, aztreonam, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, ceftazidime, cefepime, tobramycin, minocycline, doxycycline, and compound sulfamethoxazole was lower than that of CKP, and the difference was statistically significant (all P<0.05). In conclusion, most of hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae can form biofilm in this study, but the difference of biofilm-forming ability is not obvious compared with classic Klebsiella pneumoniae. HvKP maintains high sensitivity to commonly used antibacterial drugs, but the drug resistance monitoring of the bacteria cannot be ignored.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the changes in bone height of the maxillary sinus floor at different sinus ridge heights after transcrestal sinus floor elevation (tSFE) with the simultaneous implantation of short implants. METHODS: A total of 74 Bicon short implants were implanted into 37 patients during the same period of maxillary sinus elevation. The residual bone height (RBH)<4 mm group has 43 sites, and the RBH≥4 mm group has 31 sites. After 5 years of follow-up observation, the implant survival rate and the change in bone height achieved in the maxillary sinus over time were measured and analyzed via clinical examination and X-ray imaging. RESULTS: In the 74 implantation sites, the elevation height of the sinus floor was (6.64±1.32) mm and the bone height of the sinus floor was (3.35±1.29) mm 5 years after loading. No statistical difference was observed in the bone resorption of the implant neck between the RBH<4 mm and RBH≥4 mm groups. Meanwhile, a statistical difference was noted in the bone height obtained in the maxillary sinus between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS When RBH in the maxillary posterior tooth area was <4 mm, the simultaneous implantation of Bicon short implants with tSFE can achieve a high implant survival rate and bone gain in the maxillary sinus, but does not increase the absorption of the alveolar ridge bone.
Dental Implantation, Endosseous ; Dental Implants ; Humans ; Maxilla ; Maxillary Sinus/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sinus Floor Augmentation ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To construct a human renal epithelial cell line HEK293T by CRISPR-Cas9-based site-directed knock-in of vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165) gene, and avoid the off-target effect caused by lentivirus infection. Methods The VEGF165 expression vector with homologous arm (pUCm-T-VEGF165 plasmid) and the sgRNA expression vector [pSpCas9(BB)-2A-Puro-sgRNA plasmid] were designed and constructed based on the DNA sequence of the EZH2 gene, and then co-transfected into HEK293T cells. The expression of VEGF165 mRNA was detected by qPCR and the expressions of VEGF165 proteins were detected by Western Blot. Results The qPCR and Western Blot results showed that, comparing with the control, the pUCm-T-VEGF165 plasmid and pSpCas9(BB)-2A-Puro-sgRNA plasmid, the expression of the co-transfection plasmid were significantly increased, i.e. 3.42±0.30 vs. 1.02±0.21, 1.13±0.16 and 0.98±0.18 for the VEGF165 mRNA level (all P<0.01), and 1.13±0.16 vs. 1.02±0.06, 0.88±0.03 and 0.80±0.05 for the VEGF165 protein level (all P<0.01), respectively. Besides, the expression of EZH2 was significantly down-regulated, i.e. 0.14±0.06 vs. 1.08±0.11, 1.02±0.12 and 1.13±0.16 for the EZH2 mRNA level (all P<0.01), and 0.23±0.03 vs. 1.05±0.13, 0.91±0.04 and 0.81±0.06 for the EZH2 protein level (all P<0.01), respectively. This result showed that the VEGF165 was successfully inserted into the EZH2 genome, interfering the EZH2 expression. Conclusions VEGF165 gene can be successfully knocked into HEK293T cells by CRISPR/Cas9 system.

Objective: To explore the relationship between plasma levels of soluble ST2 (sST2), galectin-3 (Gal-3) and clinical prognosis of ventricular septal myectomy in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Methods: A total of 200 consecutive HOCM patients received modified Morrow surgery in our hospital from 2011-03 to 2016-02 were studied. According to plasma levels of sST2, patients were divided into 3 groups: Low sST2 group (sST2<9.05 ng/ml), Middle sST2 group (sST2 9.05-16.74 ng/ml) and High sST2 group (sST2>16.74 ng/ml); based on plasma levels of Gal-3, patients were divided into another 3 groups: Low Gal-3 group (Gal-3<6.19 ng/ml), Middle group (Gal-3 6.19-8.22 ng/ml) and High Gal-3 group (Gal-3>8.22 ng/ml); in addition, Control group, n=42 volunteers without heart disease. Plasma levels of sST2 and Gal-3 were measured by ELISA, compared between Control group and HOCM group (n=42 patients with matched gender and age to Control group). The predictive value of sST2 and Gal-3 on major endpoint events including all cause death or cardiovascular hospitalization were assessed by Cox regression analysis.Results: Compared with Control group, plasma levels of sST2 and Gal-3 were increased in HOCM patients, P<0.01. The patients were followed-up for the average of 26 months, Kaplan-meier survival analysis showed that the incidences of composite endpoint event were similar at different levels of sST2 and Gal-3 (log-rank P=0.06 and P=0.68). Cox regression analysis indicated that either sST2 or Gal-3 could not independently predict the endpoint events, both P>0.05, while age was an independent risk factor for composite endpoint event occurrence (HR=1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.11, P<0.01). Conclusion: Plasma levels of sST2 and Gal-3 were not related to clinical prognosis of ventricular septal myectomy in HOCM patients even they had increased sST2 and Gal-3; while advanced age was the independent predictor for endpoint event occurrence.

Objective To investigate the effect of laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) on sexual function in young and middle-aged patients with inguinal hernia. Methods 147 male with inguinal hernia treated by TEP from January 2014 to Feberary 2016 were included in the observation group, while 133 male with inguinal hernia treated by laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) during the same time were included in the control group. The effect of surgery and changes on sexual function between the two groups were retrospective analyzed and compared. Results The operative time, length of hospital stay, time of postoperative pain and in the observation group shorter than in the control group. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The level of seminal alpha glucosidase, fructose contents and acid phosphatase in the observation group were higher than in the control group at 12 months after surgery. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). There were a small number of complications in both groups. After symptomatic treatment, all complications were cured. The ratio of complications and recurrences of the two groups have no significantly differences (P > 0.05). Conclusion Compared with laparoscopic TAPP, laparoscopic TEP can shorten the time of postoperative recovery, and will not increase the complications and recurrences. It is good for recovery of semen quality. It is worthy of attention.