AIM: To analyze the clinical outcomes of cyclosporine combined with lacrimal plug in the treatment of dry eye in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.METHODS: The clinical data of 60 patients(120 eyes)who were admitted to the ophthalmology department and rheumatology and immunology department of Baoding No.1 Central Hospital and were diagonosed with siogren's syndrome dry eye after multidisciplinary consultation from June 2022 to September 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients received regular treatment of primary Sjögren's syndrome, and they were divided into three groups according to treatment methods: A, B and C, with 20 cases(40 eyes)in each group. The group A received 0.3% sodium hyaluronate eyedrops, the group B received 0.3% sodium hyaluronate eyedrops plus 0.05% cyclosporine eyedrops, and the group C received 0.3% sodium hyaluronate eyedrops plus 0.05% cyclosporine eyedrops combined with binocular lacrimal plugs. The ocular surface disease index(OSDI)score, conjunctival hyperemia score, tear film breakup time(BUT), tear meniscus height(TMH), corneal fluorescein staining(FL)score and tear secretion of the three groups of patients were compared before and at 4, 8 and 12 wk after treatment. The contents of inflammatory factors such as interleukin-6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-1β(IL-1β)in tears were detected before and at 12 wk after treatment.RESULTS: At 4, 8 and 12 wk after treatment, the scores of OSDI, conjunctival hyperemia score and FL in the three groups of patients were lower than those before treatment, and the BUT, TMH and tear secretion were higher than those before treatment(all P<0.001). The OSDI score of the group C was lower than that of the group A and B, and the group B was lower than the group A(all P<0.001). The BUT, TMH and tear secretion of the group C were higher than those of the group A and B, with the group B higher than the group A(all P<0.001). At 12 wk after treatment, the levels of IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β in the tears of the three groups of patients were lower than those before treatment, with the group C lower than the group A and B, and the group B lower than the group A(all P<0.001). There was no statistical significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions among the three groups of patients(P>0.05).CONCLUSION: The combined use of cyclosporine and lacrimal plug is safe and effective in improving the clinical symptoms of patients with moderate and severe dry eye, promoting the function of tear film and cornea, increasing tears secretion, and reducing the level of tear inflammatory factors.

Based on the viewpoint of "sweat pore-qi and liquid-kidney collaterals"， it is believed that children's nephrotic syndrome is caused by the core mechanism of sweat pore constraint and closure， qi and liquid imbalance， and kidney collaterals impairment， and it is proposed that the treatment principle is to nourish the sweat pore， regulate qi and fluid， and supplement the kidney and unblock the collaterals. In clinic， guided by sequential therapy and according to the different disease mechanism characteristics of the four stages， including early stage of the disease， hormone induction stage， hormone reduction stage， hormone maintenance stage， the staged dynamic identification and treatment was applied. For early stage of the disease with edema due to yang deficiency， modified Zhenwu Decoction （真武汤） was applied to warm yang and drain water； for hormone induction stage with yin deficiency resulting in effulgent fire， modified Zhibai Dihuang Pill （知柏地黄丸） plus Erzhi Pill （二至丸） was used to enrich yin and reduce fire； for hormone reduction stage with qi and yin deficiency， modified Shenqi Dihuang Decoction （参芪地黄汤） was used to boost qi and nourish yin； for hormone maintenance stage， modified Shenqi Pill （肾气丸） was used to supplement yin and yang. Meanwhile， the treatment also attaches importance to the combination of vine-based or worm medicinals to dredge collaterals， so as to providing ideas for clinical treatment.

Pulmonary electrical impedance tomography (EIT), a noninvasive, continuous, dynamic, and radiation-free bedside imaging technique for monitoring pulmonary ventilation, is now widely utilized in the diagnosis and management of critically ill patients. Beyond ventilation monitoring, hypertonic saline contrast-enhanced EIT for bedside pulmonary perfusion assessment has recently garnered significant attention. This article describes the application of hypertonic saline contrast-enhanced EIT to evaluate pulmonary perfusion in two patients following pulmonary endarterectomy, providing a reference for its perioperative application in such patients.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of 0.05% cyclosporine eye drops in promoting ocular surface recovery following pterygium excision combined with autologous corneal limbal stem cell transplantation.METHODS:This study is a prospective randomized controlled trial, selecting 104 cases(104 eyes)of primary pterygium with monocular onset admitted to Baoding First Central Hospital from September 2023 to September 2024 as the initial sample. The patients were divided into an experimental group and a control group using a random number table method, with 52 eyes in each group. Both groups underwent pterygium excision and autologous corneal limbal stem cell transplantation performed by the same surgeon. The control group received tobramycin dexamethasone eye drops combined with 0.3% sodium hyaluronate eye drops, while the experimental group was additionally treated with 0.05% cyclosporine eye drops. The corneal epithelial repair status, ocular surface function [corneal fluorescein staining(FL)score, Schirmer I test(SIt), break-up time of tear film(BUT)] at preoperative and postoperative time points(1 and 3 mo), and dry eye symptoms [ocular surface disease index(OSDI), standard patient evaluation of eye dryness(SPEED)scores]. Additionally, the recurrence rate and postoperative complications were recorded.RESULTS: During the follow-up period, there was 1 case of loss to follow-up in both the experimental group and the control group, with lost to follow-up rate of 1.9%. Finally, 51 cases in each group completed all followed-up. No statistically significant difference was observed in preoperative general characteristics of patients between the two groups(P>0.05), and there was no statistically significant difference in corneal epithelial repair time or suture removal time(all P>0.05). At 1 mo postoperatively, the SIt and BUT decreased in both groups compared to preoperative levels, with the experimental group showing higher values than the control group(all P<0.05). FL scores increased compared to preoperative levels but were lower in the experimental group(all P<0.05). By 3 mo, the SIt, BUT and FL score of the control group were not statistically different from preoperative levels(all P>0.05), whereas the experimental group showed increased SIt and BUT, which were higher than the control group, and reduced FL scores, and decreased FL scores, which was lower than the control group(all P<0.05). At 3 mo postoperatively, both groups showed increased SIt and BUT compared to 1-month values, with the experimental group outperforming the control group(all P<0.05). FL scores decreased in both groups compared to 1-month values, with the experimental group maintaining lower scores(P<0.05). At 1 mo postoperatively, OSDI and SPEED scores were higher than preoperative levels, with the experimental group higher than the control group(all P<0.05); at 3 mo postoperatively, the scores returned to preoperative level(all P>0.05), and the OSDI and SPEED scores of the control group increased and higher than those of the experiment group(all P<0.05); at 3 mo postoperatively, the OSDI and SPEED scores decreased when compared with 1-month preoperative level, and the experiment group was lower than the control group(all P<0.05). There was no difference in the total incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups(P>0.05). According to the statistics of 6 mo follow-up after operation, there was no recurrence in the experimental group, and the recurrence rate was 11.8% in the control group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Adjunctive use of 0.05% cyclosporine eye drops after pterygium excision with limbal stem cell transplantation enhances ocular surface recovery, reduces dry eye symptoms, and lowers recurrence rates without compromising corneal epithelial healing or safety.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of age-friendly social and family care environment on the long-term care (LTC) services for the disabled elderly people. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted among disabled elderly people in three cities of Zhejiang province from June to August 2022, involving 311 subjects from Ningbo city (LTC service insurance pilot site, insured group) and 542 subjects from Hangzhou and Quzhou cities (uninsured group). The service provisions, including ensuring daily activities, preventive healthcare, and satisfying spiritual comfort, were compared among the groups. The family friendly care environment was evaluated with the Family Function Scale and assistance of daily activities, financial support and emotional comfort. The social friendly care environment was measured with the revised WHO recommended age-friendly city environmental framework, including accessibility guarantee environment, information dissemination environment, social participant environment, and life security environment. After controlling for covariates such as sociodemographic, elderly care status, and health risk characteristics, the impact of environment on the effectiveness of service provision of LTC insurance was explored by multiple logistic regression analysis. The mediating and moderating effects were tested to explore the role of age-friendly care environment. A fixed effects model was used to test the service provision effects of LTC insurance policy. RESULTS: Disabled elderly with LTC insurance had a higher proportion of their preventive health care and spiritual comfort needs met. Additionally, a multifactorial analysis found a significant positive association between LTC insurance and meeting the spiritual comfort needs. Compared with insured group (Ningbo city), disabled elderly people in Hangzhou urban area (OR=0.45, 95%CI:0.27-0.74, P<0.01) and Quzhou rural area (OR=0.21, 95%CI:0.12-0.37, P<0.01) were more likely to feel unsatisfied with spiritual comfort. The results of mediation analysis showed that the scores of accessibility guarantee environment (OR=1.22, 95%CI:1.02-1.45, P<0.05), information dissemination environment (OR=1.19, 95%CI:1.02-1.39, P<0.05), and social participation environment (OR=1.40, 95%CI:1.17-1.67, P<0.01) in a socially friendly care environment were positively correlated with the satisfaction rate of mental comfort services. The results of the moderation effect analysis indicated that a socially friendly care environment (OR=1.46, 95%CI:1.16-1.84, P<0.01) could compensate for the difference in effectiveness between insured (Ningbo) and uninsured (Hangzhou and Quzhou) areas of LTC insurance. A fixed effect model confirmed the policy chain of LTC insurance policy-social friendly care environment-mental health service satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS The implementation of LTC insurance has improved service accessibility, making disabled elderly people feel "seen and valued", and generating psychological and spiritual satisfaction. Accelerating the establishment and improvement of the LTC insurance system requires systematic design, especially emphasizing the supportive role of a socially friendly care environment, and promoting it in urban and rural areas according to the local conditions.
Humans ; Aged ; Persons with Disabilities ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Long-Term Care ; Female ; Male ; China ; Social Environment ; Middle Aged ; Aged, 80 and over

This study aims to investigate the potential of oncolytic nanoparticles encapsulating Coxsackievirus A21 (CVA21) full-genome mRNA (CVA21@ONP) to resurrect CVA21 and induce apoptosis in host cells, as well as the antitumor immune effects of CVA21@ONP in immunocompetent tumor-bearing BALB/c mice. We used lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to encapsulate CVA21 full-genome mRNA, thus preparing CVA21@ONP. The killing efficacy of CVA21@ONP was determined by the plaque assay and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), and the apoptosis in HT29 and CT26-iRFP cells was evaluated by flow cytometry. Mice were administrated with CVA21@ONP at high and low doses intratumorally, and the growth of tumors expressing infra-red fluorescent protein (iRFP) was monitored. Additionally, the types and changes of immune cells in the spleen were analyzed by flow cytometry. The results demonstrated that CVA21@ONP successfully resurrected CVA21 in both HT29 and U87MG cells. The plaque assay revealed robust killing effects of CVA21@ONP against both human and murine cell lines, and flow cytometry results showed increased early and late apoptotic cells. Notably, intratumoral detection revealed significantly down-regulated expression of iRFP in both high- and low-dose CVA21@ONP groups. Flow cytometry results further indicated that CVA21@ONP treatment effectively reduced the levels of immunosuppressive cells, including myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs), in the spleen, while enhancing T cell-dependent antitumor immune responses. These findings suggest that CVA21@ONP can replicate and survive extensively both in vitro and in vivo, activating the immune system of mice administrated with CVA21@ONP to target cells at the tumor site, thereby remodeling the tumor immune microenvironment and accelerating the suppression or even complete regression of tumors. The oncolytic performance of CVA21@ONP has been verified through intratumoral injection administration in this study, aimed at further exploring its therapeutic potential and promoting the development of the field of tumor treatment.
Animals ; Nanoparticles/chemistry* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Humans ; Apoptosis ; Oncolytic Viruses/genetics* ; Oncolytic Virotherapy/methods* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; RNA, Messenger/genetics* ; HT29 Cells

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Tai Chi and Qigong on patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Methods: Relevant data were retrieved from nine English and Chinese databases, including Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Wanfang Data, etc. from inception to June 2024. All published randomized controlled trials assessing the effect of Tai Chi and Qigong on visual analog scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, and other health indicators in participants with LDH compared to usual medical care or other treatments were included. Grey literature, trials involving the pushing of hands (Tui Shou) or Tai Chi with weapons, and trials with co-interventions (Tai Chi/Qigong plus another treatment) were excluded. Methodological quality was analyzed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, and evidence quality was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) tool. Results: Fourteen trials (954 patients) were included in this study. Tai Chi and Qigong were associated with lower VAS pain scores (standardized mean difference −0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.95 to −0.15, P = .01), higher JOA scores (mean difference [MD] 4.40, 95% CI 2.62 to 6.18, P < .001) and straight leg raise test results (MD 9.40°, 95% CI 7.64 to 11.15, P < .001) in patients with LDH. Furthermore, compared with usual care, Tai Chi and Qigong showed enhanced effects on pain and JOA scores. When compared to other exercises or massage, the effect on pain scores was similar but that on JOA scores was significant. Conclusions Tai Chi and Qigong may have favorable effects on VAS pain and JOA scores compared with usual care, and on JOA scores compared with other exercises or massage in patients with LDH. Given the overall poor quality of the evidence, the results of current study should be interpreted cautiously.

Objective To observe the influence of different energy windows of the medium-energy general-purpose(MEGP)collimator on image quality,so as to optimize the energy window of yttrium-90(90Y)bremsstrahlung SPECT imaging.Methods 90Y bremsstrahlung spectrum was acquired,and the sensitivity,percentage of the source counts in useful field of view(S/FOV%)and signal-to-background ratio(S/B)of 90Y bremsstrahlung SPECT imaging at MEGP under different energy windows were compared.Results The energy spectrum of 90Y bremsstrahlung was a continuous curve,with the peak of 76.2 keV with MEGP collimator.The images obtained with MEGP collimator were clear,and no significant differences of S/FOV%nor S/B was found between 10%and 20%window width groups(both P＞0.05),but the sensitivities of the latter was higher than the former(P＜0.05).The sensitivity of 70-90 keV images was relatively high,while the S/FOV%and S/B had decreased.The S/FOV%and S/B of images ranging from 40-60 keV were high,but the sensitivity was low.Images acquired with 100 keV±20%showed fairly high sensitivity,S/FOV%and S/B,which was 69.73%,0.62 and 1.64,respectively.Conclusion When performing 90Y bremsstrahlung SPECT with MEGP collimator,the image quality at 20%window width was better than at 10%window width,and 100 keV±20%showed fairly high sensitivity and not significantly decreased S/FOV%and S/B.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of online and offline blended teaching in microendodontics, attempting to promote the widespread application of blended teaching mode in Operative Dentistry and Endodontics.Methods:A questionnaire survey was carried out among 865 trainees who attended the blended teaching in microendodontics combined the online theory curriculum and offline practice training from April 6 to 28 in 2022, organized by Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Hospital of Stomatotogy, Sun Yat-sen University. The content of questionnaire included trainees′ basic information as well as their perspectives and expectations on the teaching mode. Data was analyzed by SPSS 24.0 and Chi-square test was used for enumeration data.Results:A total of 855 trainees participated in the valid survey with the effective recall rate of 98.8% (855/865), 50.3% (430/855) of which were young people in 18-30 years old. Their working period ranged from 0.5 to 40 years. Physicians and physician assistants occupied 40.9% (350/855) and 32.9% (281/855), respectively. And the intermediate and senior titles accounted for 26.2% (224/855). The proportion of trainees who had used and never used dental operative microscope (DOM) were 70.5% (603/855) and 29.5% (252/855), respectively. The blended teaching in microendodontics was universally approved by the trainees, which showed more superiority in the improvement of learning efficiency and interest, comprehension of knowledge as well as practical ability, etc., compared to the traditional offline teaching. For the current stomatology education, trainees were inclined to choose the blended teaching mode combining online theory curriculum and offline practice training, whereas 41.3% (353/855) and 39.6% (339/855) of trainees agreed that the teaching effectiveness was likely influenced by the condition and frequency of the offline training, respectively. Besides, significant differences were detected in the question about the factors affecting the blended teaching effectiveness of microendodontics between the trainees who had used and not used DOM (χ2=13.37, P=0.004). Conclusions:The application of online and offline blended teaching in microendodontics was affirmed to have some advantages, and it should be considered that the discrepancy in the level of expertise among trainees probably influenced the teaching effectiveness, which may promote the quality and effect of teaching, the spread and sharing of microendodontics, and provide experience and reference for the practice teaching of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between the levels of CC chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) and periostin (POSTN) in serum and alveolar lavage fluid of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) complicated with respiratory virus infection and lung function.Methods:From March 2020 to March 2023, 96 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD admitted to our hospital were collected. Among them, 34 patients with concurrent respiratory virus infection were included in the infected group, and 62 patients without respiratory virus infection were included in the uninfected group. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to detect the expression levels of CCL2 and POSTN in serum and alveolar lavage fluid. Pearson method was applied to analyze the correlation between CCL2 and POSTN levels in serum and alveolar lavage fluid of infected patients and lung function indicators.Results:The levels of CCL 2 ( t=12.633, 9.253 2, 2) and POSTN ( t=12.370, 7.383) were significantly increased in the infected group compared with the uninfected group ( P<0.05). Compared with the uninfected group, the 6-minute walking test (6 MWT), peak expiratory flow rate (peak expiratory flow, PEF), forced expiratory volume at the first second (forced expiratory volume in one second, FEV 1), and the forced lung capacity (forced vital capacity, FVC), FEV 1/FVC, and maximum middle breath mean flow rate (maximal mid-expiratory flow curve, MMEF) were significantly lower ( t=14.141, 24.165, 22.421, 21.223, 5.278, 29.456, P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the levels of CCL2 and POSTN in the serum and alveolar lavage fluid of the infected group were negatively correlated with the levels of 6MWT, PEF, FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and MMEF ( P<0.05). Conclusions:CCL2 and POSTN levels were highly expressed in serum and alveolar lavage fluid of patients with respiratory virus infection during acute exacerbation of COPD, which were closely related to lung function.