OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of arthroscopic release of elbow joint assisted by medial small incision ulnar nerve release in the treatment of non-traumatic elbow stiffness. METHODS: The clinical data of 15 patients with non-traumatic elbow stiffness treated with arthroscopic release of elbow joint assisted by medial small incision ulnar nerve release between April 2019 and September 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 6 males and 9 females with an average age of 46 years ranging from 34 to 56 years. The causes included rheumatoid arthritis in 3 cases, gouty arthritis in 2 cases, loose bodies in 3 cases, and elbow osteoarthritis in 7 cases. There were 4 cases with ulnar neuritis and 3 cases with synovial osteochondromatosis. The duration of elbow stiffness ranged from 6 to 18 months, with an average of 10 months. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss were recorded. The effectiveness was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) score, range of elbow motion (maximum flexion, maximum extension, and total flexion and extension), Mayo score, and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) elbow score. RESULTS: The operation time was 60-90 minutes, with an average of 65 minutes, and the intraoperative blood loss was 40-100 mL, with an average of 62 mL. All patients were followed up 13-18 months, with an average of 14 months. There was no complication such as vascular and nerve injury, poor wound healing, collateral ligament injury, elbow joint space narrowing, osteophyte proliferation, or loose body formation around the joint. At last follow-up, the elbow range of motion (maximum flexion, maximum extension, and total flexion and extension), VAS score, and Mayo score significantly improved when compared with those before operation ( P<0.05). The HSS elbow score was 85-95, with an average of 92; 12 cases were excellent, 3 cases were good, and the excellent and good rate was 100%. CONCLUSION Arthroscopic release of elbow joint assisted by medial small incision ulnar nerve release is an effective way to treat non-traumatic elbow stiffness, which has the advantages of small trauma, short operation time, and good effectiveness. It can carry out early elbow rehabilitation training and significantly improve elbow function.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Arthroscopy/methods* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Elbow Joint/physiopathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Treatment Outcome ; Ulnar Nerve/surgery* ; Operative Time

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of monotropein on motor function recovery of mice with spinal cord injury (SCI) and explore the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Forty-five adult female C57BL/6 mice were randomized equally into sham operation group, SCI group, and SCI group with daily intraperitoneal monotropein injection. The mice in the former two groups received daily saline injections. Motor function of the mice was evaluated using BMS scores, slant plate test, and footprint analyses. Pathological changes and neuronal counts in the spinal cord were observed using HE, LFB, and Nissl staining. The biological functions of monotropein were explored using GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. NeuN/cleaved caspase-3 immunofluorescence assay and Western blotting were used to detect neuronal apoptosis in the spinal cord of the mice. In cultured HT22 cells, the effect of monotropein on TNF-α-induced cell apoptosis was evaluated using TUNEL staining and Western blotting. In monotropein-treated HT22 cells and SCI mice, the changes in the PI3K/AKT pathway were examined, and the effect of a PI3K/AKT pathway activator (IGF-1) on HT22 cell apoptosis and motor function recovery of SCI mice were observed. RESULTS: SCI mice with monotropein treatment showed significantly improved motor functions with reduced SCI areas and increased myelin retention and neuron counts in the spinal cord. Bioinformatics analysis suggested a role of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in mediating the anti-apoptotic effects of monotropein. In SCI mice, monotropein obviously reduced apoptotic neurons, decreased expressions of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax and increased Bcl-2 expression in the spinal cord. In HT22 cells, monotropein significantly inhibited TNF-α-induced apoptosis and PI3K/AKT pathway activation. Treatment with IGF-1 obviously increased apoptosis of HT22 cells and exacerbated locomotor dysfunction in SCI mice. CONCLUSIONS Monotropein promotes motor function recovery in SCI mice by reducing neuronal apoptosis possibly by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Animals ; Spinal Cord Injuries/metabolism* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Female ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Neurons/pathology* ; Recovery of Function

Objective To compare the long-term prognosis differences between surgical radical resection and endoscopic resection for early gastric cancer patients based on the SEER database. Methods A total of 1 437 patients with stage Tis to T_1b gastric adenocarcinoma were selected from the SEER database from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2013. They were divided into a surgery group (n=1 257) and an endoscope group (n=180) according to the treatment method. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and Cox regression model were used to analyze survival outcomes. Results The patients in the surgery group were younger than those in the endoscope group ([67.63±12.97] years old vs [71.29±10.82] years old), with higher rates of T₁ stage (97.45% vs 87.78%) and lymph node metastasis (19.73% vs 5.00%, all P＜0.001). The median follow-up time for all patients was 37 (15, 66) months, and the mortality rate of gastric cancer in the endoscope group was lower than that in the surgery group (23.33% vs 27.13%, P＜0.001). Univariate Cox analysis showed that treatment modality, age, sex, T stage, lymph node metastasis were all associated with early gastric cancer mortality (all P＜0.05), and the risk of death in the endoscope group was 43% of that in the surgery group (HR=0.43, P=0.015). After adjusting for multiple factors, there was no statistically significant difference in mortality risk between the two groups (P=0.067), but after excluding lymph node positive patients, the mortality risk in the endoscope group was 46% of that in the surgery group (HR=0.46, P=0.048). Conclusions For early gastric cancer patients with negative lymph nodes, endoscopic resection may provide better survival benefits than surgical procedures, suggesting that it can be the preferred treatment strategy for patients with low risk of lymph node metastasis.

Objective To examine the impact of arid climates on distribution of Oncomelania hupensis snails in the Poyang Lake area, so as to provide insights into precision control of O. hupensis snails in the Poyang Lake area. Methods O. hupensis snails-infested grass islands in Hukou County, Lianxi District and Lushan City in the northern Poyang Lake area, and Jinxian County, Nanchang County and Poyang County in the southern Poyang Lake area were selected as the study areas, and the occurrence of frames with living snails and the mean density of living snails were captured from snail surveys in the study areas in spring and autumn each year from 2006 to 2023. Five years 2007, 2011, 2013, 2019 and 2022 were selected as drought years, and the mean daily water levels were collected at the Xingzi hydrological station in the drought years, normal flow year (2012) and flood year (2020). The numbers of days with water levels ranging from the lower elevation (11 m) to the upper elevation (16 m) for snail survival and the numbers of days with water levels of 11 m and below were collected in the Poyang Lake area, and the changes of snail indicators were compared in different grass islands in the Poyang Lake area before and after drought. Results The numbers of days with water levels ranging from 11 to 16 m were 110, 88, 136 d and 125 d at the Xingzi hydrological station in four drought years 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2019, which were less than in the flow year and flood year, and the days with water levels of 11 m and below were 242, 277, 220 d and 198 d in four drought years 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2019, which were longer than in the flow year and flood year. A total of 416 snails-infested marshlands were surveyed in the Poyang Lake area from 2006 to 2021, and the survey marshlands accounted for 43.12% (307/712) and 46.98% (109/232) of total marshlands in the southern and northern Poyang Lake areas, respectively. The median occurrence of frames with living snails and mean density of living snails were 0.60% (interquartile range, 4.04%) and 0.010 1 snail/0.1 m² (interquartile range, 0.076 1 snail/0.1 m²) in drought years, which were both lower than those [1.33% (5.19%) and 0.022 8 (0.098 9) snail/0.1 m²] in non-drought years (χ²= 42.170 and 44.911, both P values < 0.01). The proportion of grass islands with a continuous decline in snail indicators was higher in the southern Poyang Lake area than in the northern Poyang Lake area after the next year of drought (24.24% vs. 2.33%; χ² = 10.633, P < 0.01), and the proportion of grass islands with rebounding snail indicators was higher in the northern Poyang Lake area than in the southern Poyang Lake area (53.49% vs. 15.76%; χ² = 26.966, P < 0.01). A longitudinal analysis of snail indicators in marshlands with rebounding snail indicators after drought showed 1 to 5 years for return to pre-drought snail status, with a median of 2 (interquartile range, 1) years, and snail status was more likely to rebound if the occurrence of frames with living snails and the mean density of living snails were 2.11% and 0.025 5 snail/0.1 m² and greater in snails-infested grass islands. Conclusions Drought causes a remarkable decline in O. hupensis snail indicators in the Poyang Lake area, with a more remarkable impact in the southern Poyang Lake area, and 1 to 5 years are required for return to pre-drought snail status.

Objective To evaluate the molluscicidal effects and costs of spraying 20% suspension concentrate of pyricloben-zuron sulphate (SCPS) with drones against Pomacea canaliculata in paddy environments, so as to provide insights into the extensive applications of pyriclobenzuron against P. canaliculata. Methods On July 2022, a paddy field was selected from Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province as the study area, and 72 independent rectangular plots measuring 2 m × 1 m were allocated in the study area, with 1 m interval between each plot, and 20 P. canaliculata snails gently placed in each plot. The activity of 25% wettable powder of pyriclobenzuron sulphate (WPPS) by manual spraying at doses of 0.50, 1.00, 2.00 g/m² and 4.00 g/m² against P. canaliculata was tested in 54 plots, and manual spraying of 50% wettable powder of niclosamide ethanolamine salt (WPNES) at a dose of 0.10 g/m² served as a chemical control, while manual spraying of the same volume of clean water served as a blank control, with 9 plots in each group. The activity of SCPS against P. canaliculata was tested in the remaining 18 plots. Based on the molluscicidal tests of WPPS, the molluscicidal effect of SCPS by manual spraying at doses of 0.20, 0.30, 0.40 g/m² and 0.50 g/m² against P. canaliculata was evaluated, and manual spraying of WPNES at a dose of 0.10 g/m² served as a chemical control, while manual spraying of the same volume of clean water served as a blank control, with three plots in each group. On July 2023, 14 paddy fields with a mean living P. canaliculata density of > 5 snails/m² were selected from Yujiang District, Yingtan City, Jiangxi Province for molluscicidal tests. Based on the molluscicidal effect of pyriclobenzuron against P. canaliculata in plots, the molluscicidal effects of WPPS by manual spraying at doses of 0.25, 0.50 g/m² and 1.00 g/m² and manual applications of WPPS at dose of 0.25, 0.50, 1.00 g/m² and 2.00 g/m² mixed with soil were tested, and manual spraying of 0.10 g/m² WPNES served as a chemical control group, while manual spraying of the same volume of clean water served as a blank control, with one paddy field in each group. Based on the effect of pyriclobenzuron against P. canaliculata in plots, the activity of SCPS sprayed with drones at doses of 0.25 g/m² and 0.50 g/m² mixed in water at 2 kg/667 m² and 4 kg/667 m² was tested against P. canaliculata, and spraying of the same volume of clean water with drones served as a blank control. All P. canaliculata snails were captured 3 days and 7 days following chemical treatment in plots and paddy fields and identified for survival, and the mortality and corrected mortality of P. canaliculata snails were estimated. In addition, the areas of chemical treatment, amount of molluscicide use and labor costs of chemical treatment were estimated in molluscicidal tests in paddy fields, and the costs of chemical treatment for an area covering 667 m² by drones and manual applications were calculated. Results The mortality of P. canaliculata snails was all 100% in plots 3 days and 7 days following spraying WPPS at doses of 0.50, 1.00, 2.00 g/m² and 4.00 g/m², and the mortality rates of P. canaliculata snails were 66.67% to 100.00% 3 days post-treatment with SCPS at various doses (χ² = 277.897, P < 0.05) and 76.67% to 100.00% 7 days post-treatment (χ² = 274.206, P < 0.05). The mortality rates of P. canaliculata snails were 98.19% to 100.00% 3 days post-treatment with WPPS at various doses in paddy fields. There was a significant difference in the mortality of P. canaliculata snails among WPPS treatment groups and controls (χ² = 270.778, P < 0.05), and there were no significant differences between WPPS treatment groups and the chemical control group (all P values > 0.05), while there were significant differences in the mortality of P. canaliculata snails between WPPS treatment groups and the blank control group (all P values < 0.05). The mortality rates of P. canaliculata snails were 89.83% to 95.31% 3 days post-treatment with SCPS at various doses sprayed with drones, and there was a significant difference in the mortality of P. canaliculata snails among SCPS treatment groups and the blank control group (χ² = 1 132.892, P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the mortality of P. canaliculata snails among SCPS treatment groups or water mixture groups (all P values > 0.05), and there were significant differences in the mortality of P. canaliculata snails between SCPS treatment groups and the blank control group (all P values < 0.05). The mortality rates of P. canaliculata snails were 94.62% to 100.00% 7 days post-treatment with SCPS at various doses sprayed with drones, and there was a significant difference in the mortality of P. canaliculata snails among SCPS treatment groups and the blank control group (χ² = 1 266.932, P < 0.05), with the highest mortality found following spraying 0.50 g/m² SCPS mixed in 2 kg/667 m² water with drones (P < 0.05). The costs of P. canaliculata snail control by drones and manually were 35.85 Yuan/667 m² and 43.33 Yuan/667 m²; however, the snail control efficiency was 6.67 times higher by drones than by manual applications. Conclusions SCPS sprayed with drones is highly active against P. canaliculata snails in paddy fields. SCPS sprayed with drones is highly efficient and low in cost for P. canaliculata snail control in paddy fields, beaches and river courses.

AIM:To investigate the effects of adipose-derived stem cells(ADSCs)with overexpression or si-lencing of long noncoding RNA(lncRNA)SNHG8 on the viability,migration,angiogenesis,and the expression of vasoac-tive factors in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs).METHODS:Identification of ADSCs derived from morbidly obese patients(O-ADSCs)was conducted using flow cytometry and induction of lipogenesis and osteogenesis.The expression of lncRNA SNHG8 in healthy human ADSCs(H-ADSCs)and O-ADSCs was detected by RT-qPCR.Tran-swell method was used to establish the indirect co-culture system of ADSCs and HUVECs for 48 h,and the cells were di-vided into O-ADSCs+HUVECs group,H-ADSCs+HUVECs group,and HUVECs alone group.The mRNA and protein ex-pression levels of angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ),endothelin-1(ET-1)and endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS)in HUVECs were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot.The lncRNA SNHG8 overexpression and silencing lentiviruses were con-structed and used to infect O-ADSCs.The indirect co-cultured ADSCs and HUVECs were divided into O-ADSCs-OE-SNHG8+ HUVECs group,O-ADSCs-OE-NC+HUVECs group,O-ADSCs-sh-SNHG8+HUVECs group,and O-ADSCs-sh-NC+HUVECs group.After co-culture for 48 h,the viability,migration and tubule formation of HUVECs were detected by CCK-8,scratch and angiogenesis assays,respectively.The mRNA and protein expression levels of Ang Ⅱ,ET-1 and eNOS in HU-VECs were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot,respectively.The nitrate reductase method was used to detect the con-tent of NO in HUVECs.RESULTS:(1)The cultured cells were identified as ADSCs.(2)Compared with H-ADSCs,ln-cRNA SNHG8 expression was significantly up-regulated in O-ADSCs(P<0.01).(3)Compared with H-ADSCs+HUVECs group and HUVECs group,the mRNA and protein expression levels of Ang Ⅱ and ET-1 in HUVECs in O-ADSCs+HU-VECs group were up-regulated(P<0.01).(4)Overexpression of lncRNA SNHG8 in O-ADSCs enhanced the viability,mi-gration and tube formation ability of HUVECs,up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of Ang Ⅱ and ET-1,down-regulated the mRNA and protein expression levels of eNOS,and decreased the content of NO in HUVECs(P<0.05).However,silencing of lncRNA SNHG8 in O-ADSCs exerted opposite results(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:(1)The O-ADSCs can promote endothelial cell viability,migration and tubule formation through paracrine effects.(2)The O-ADSCs with overexpression of lncRNA SNHG8 promote the imbalance of diastolic and contractile factors secreted by endo-thelial cells,and induce the dysfunction of vascular endothelial cells.

Objective To investigate the expression of serum Elabela and leucine-rich-alpha-2-glycoprotein-1(LRG1)in ulcerative colitis(UC)patients and their correlation with disease activity index(DAI).Methods A total of 98 patients with UC admitted to Yuncheng Central Hospital from January to December 2022 were selected as the UC group,including 62 patients in active stage and 36 patients in remission stage.According to the severity of the disease,these patients were divided into mild group(n=26),moderate group(n=43)and severe group(n=29).In addition,these patients were grouped into gradeⅠ group(n=25),grade Ⅱ group(n=40)and grade Ⅲ group(n=33)based on the endoscopic activity index(EAI).According to the mucosal healing condition under endoscopy,these patients were divided into the healed group(n=65)and the unhealed group(n=33).Another 51 patients with colonic polyps were selected as control group 1,and 50 healthy individuals were selected as control group 2.Serum Elabela and LRG1 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Pearson method was used to analyze the correlation between serum Elabela,LRG1 levels and DAI in UC patients.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to analyze the predictive value of serum Elabela and LRG1 for endoscopic mucosal healing.Results The levels of Elabela(4.77±1.36 ng/ml)and LRG1(352.12±39.45 ng/ml)in UC group were higher than those in control group 1(2.51±0.53 ng/ml,121.02±21.06 ng/ml)and control group 2(2.35±0.42 ng/ml,120.35±23.49 ng/ml),and the differences were statistically significant(t= 11.410～39.000,all P＜0.05).The levels of Elabela(5.26±0.54 ng/ml)and LRG1(370.42±12.49 ng/ml)in the active group were higher than those in the remission group(3.93±0.42 ng/ml,320.60±8.47 ng/ml),and the differences were statistically significant(t=12.705,21.242,all P＜0.05).The levels of Elabela(5.89±0.20 ng/ml)and LRG1(369.92±16.59 ng/ml)in the severe group were higher than those in the moderate groups(4.51±0.67 ng/ml,356.12±18.75 ng/ml)and mild groups(3.95±0.21 ng/ml,325.65±10.14 ng/ml),and the differences were statistically significant(t=3.205～35.077,all P＜0.05).The levels of Elabela(5.80±0.18 ng/ml)and LRG1(369.16±13.47 ng/ml)in grade Ⅲ group were higher than those in grade Ⅱ group(4.49±0.35 ng/ml,355.46±16.34 ng/ml)and grade Ⅰgroup(3.86±0.16 ng/ml,324.15±8.71 ng/ml),and the differences were statistically significant(t= 3.854～48.725,all P＜0.05).The levels of Elabela(5.12±0.42 ng/ml)and LRG1(367.12±14.27 ng/ml)in unhealed group were higher than those in healed group(4.08±0.37 ng/ml,322.57±10.35 ng/ml),and the differences were statistically significant(t=12.043,15.917,all P＜0.05).The serum levels of Elabela and LRG1 in UC patients were positively correlated with EAI and ESR(r=0.602,0.298;0.576,0.302,all P＜0.05),but negatively correlated with hemoglobin level(r=-0.351,-0.334,all P＜0.05).The area under the curve predicted by the combination of serum Elabela and LRG1 for endoscopic mucosal healing was 0.926(95%CI:0.880～0.958),was higher than the 0.803(95%CI:0.741～0.856)and 0.783(95%CI:0.720～0.838)predicted by Elabela and LRG1 alone,and the difference was statistically significant(Z=4.101,4.228,all P＜0.05).Conclusion The serum levels of Elabela and LRG1 in UC patients increased,and they were related to the increase of DAI and worsening of the condition.Testing serum Elabela and LRG1 can provide a reference for evaluating mucosal healing under UC endoscopy.

Objective·To explore the association between gene-gene interaction of glutamate pathway and anhedonia.Methods·A total of 279 patients with schizophrenia(SZ)and 236 patients with major depression disorder(MDD)recruited in the outpatient department and ward of Shanghai Mental Health Center,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine,and 236 healthy controls(HC)recruited in the community from January 2017 to August 2020 were included in the study.General demographic data and clinical characteristics of the three groups were collected and compared.The Chinese version of Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale(TEPS)was used to evaluate the pleasure experience ability of the three groups.Generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction(GMDR)method was used to establish the interaction model of the single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)in glutamate pathway genes(NOS1AP,GSK3β,DAOA,DISC1 and GRIN2A).According to the interaction model,SZ and MDD patients were divided into high-risk group and low-risk group,and the differences in pleasure experience ability were compared between the two groups,so as to analyze the effect of gene-gene interaction on anhedonia.Results·There were significant differences in age and years of education among the three groups,and in age of onset and duration of illness between SZ and MDD groups(all P=0.000).There were significant differences among the three groups of participants in terms of overall pleasure experience,anticipatory pleasure experience and consummatory pleasure experience(all P=0.000);the overall pleasure experience,anticipatory pleasure experience and consummatory pleasure experience in the SZ and MDD group were lower than those in the HC group(all Pcorr=0.000),and there was marginal statistical difference in anticipatory pleasure experience between the SZ and MDD groups(Pcorr=0.051).Through GMDR modeling,it was found that the 2-loci interaction model composed of DAOA-rs3916965 and DISC1-rs821577 had a predictive effect on the overall pleasure experience ability of SZ patients(P=0.003),and the 2-loci interaction model composed of NOS1AP-rs1858232 and GRIN2A-rs1014531 had a predictive effect on the anticipatory pleasure experience ability of MDD patients(P=0.037);moreover,the overall pleasure experience ability of patients in the SZ high-risk group and anticipatory pleasure experience ability of patients in MDD high-risk groups were lower than those in their low-risk groups(t=3.443,P=0.000;t=3.471,P=0.001).Conclusion·The interaction of glutamate pathway gene polymorphisms may be involved in the occurrence of anhedonia.

Background:Gastric cancer is a malignant tumor originating from the gastric mucosal epithelium.OLGA/OLGIM staging systems are scoring systems for gastric mucosal atrophy and intestinal metaplasia based on gastroscopic pathology.Serum pepsinogen(PG)and PG Ⅰ/PG Ⅱ ratio(PGR)can reflect the gastric mucosal function and status.Studying the relationship between PG and OLGA/OLGIM stages and the changing trends is of great value for early screening of gastric cancer.Aims:To explore the relationship between serum PG and OLGA/OLGIM stages,and its application value in screening of early gastric cancer.Methods:A total of 188 healthy individuals underwent gastroscopy from June 2021 to June 2023 at Shanghai Health and Medical Center were selected.The serum PG level was measured,and the status of Helicobacter pylori(Hp)infection was evaluated.OLGA/OLGIM stages were assessed according to the findings of gastroscopic pathology,and correlated with the serum PG level.After two years of follow-up,changes of PG and PGR in subjects with different baseline OLGA/OLGIM stages were analyzed.Results:There were significant differences in PG Ⅰand PGR among subjects with various baseline OLGA/OLGIM stages(P＜0.05).OLGA/OLGIM stages were correlated with Hp infection,family history of malignant gastrointestinal tumors and spicy diet(P＜0.05).The incidences of gastric mucosal atrophy in PG Ⅰ ≤70 μg/L group and PGR≤3.0 group were significantly higher than those in PG Ⅰ＞70 μg/L group and PGR＞3.0 group,respectively(P＜0.05).The follow-up results showed that for baseline OLGA/OLGIM stage 0,PG Ⅰ showed a decreasing trend over time,while no significant change of PG Ⅰ was found in other OLGA/OLGIM stages;PG Ⅱ showed a decreasing trend while PGR showed an increasing trend over time in all stages.But all these trends were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Conclusions:The combined detection of PG and Hp infection has important value in evaluating the severity of chronic atrophic gastritis and the risk of gastric cancer.It can be applied as an early screening project for gastric cancer in individuals undergoing physical examination.

Objective To minimize variations in treatment outcomes of L5/S1 percutaneous intervertebral radiofrequency thermocoagulation(PIRFT)arising from physician proficiency and achieve precise quantitative risk assessment of the puncture paths.Methods We used a self-developed deep neural network DWT-UNet for automatic segmentation of the magnetic resonance(MR)images of the L5/S1 segments into 7 key structures:L5,S1,Ilium,Disc,N5,Dura mater,and Skin,based on which a needle insertion path planning environment was modeled.Six hard constraints and 6 soft constraints were proposed based on clinical criteria for needle insertion,and the physician's experience was quantified into weights using the analytic hierarchy process and incorporated into the risk function for needle insertion paths to enhance individual case adaptability.By leveraging the proposed skin entry point sampling sub-algorithm and Kambin's triangle projection area sub-algorithm in conjunction with the analytic hierarchy process,and employing various technologies such as ray tracing,CPU multi-threading,and GPU parallel computing,a puncture path was calculated that not only met clinical hard constraints but also optimized the overall soft constraints.Results A surgical team conducted a subjective evaluation of the 21 needle puncture paths planned by the algorithm,and all the paths met the clinical requirements,with 95.24%of them rated excellent or good.Compared with the physician's planning results,the plans generated by the algorithm showed inferior DIlium,DS1,and Depth(P<0.05)but much better DDura,DL5,DN5,and AKambin(P<0.05).In the 21 cases,the planning time of the algorithm averaged 7.97±3.73 s,much shorter than that by the physicians(typically beyond 10 min).Conclusion The multi-constraint optimal puncture path planning algorithm offers an efficient automated solution for PIRFT of the L5/S1 segments with great potentials for clinical application.