AIM: To compare the control effect of spherical and toric orthokeratology on low-to-moderate myopia with astigmatism(-1.00--1.50 DC)in adolescents.METHODS: The clinical data of 119 cases(119 eyes)of low-to-moderate myopia with astigmatism(-1.00--1.50 DC)adolescents who were treated and fitted with orthokeratology in the ophthalmology department of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from June 2021 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into spherical group, with 65 cases(65 eyes), and toric group, with 54 cases(54 eyes)according to the type of orthokeratology. The changes of uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), axial length and corneal astigmatism before and after wearing lenses were recorded to evaluate the therapeutic effect.RESULTS: The UCVA of both the groups significantly improved at 1 and 2 a after wearing lenses(all P<0.01); corneal astigmatism decreased, but there was no significant difference(all P>0.05); the axial length was longer than that before wearing lenses(P<0.01). There were no statistical significant differences in the UCVA and corneal astigmatism between the spherical group and the toric group(Fintergroup=0.829,Pintergroup=0.364; Fintergroup=0.997,Pintergroup=0.320); and there were no statistical significant differences in the axial length growth between the spherical group and the toric group after wearing lenses for 1 a(0.18±0.11 mm vs 0.17±0.14 mm), and 2 a(0.17±0.10 mm vs 0.16±0.10 mm; all P>0.05).CONCLUSION: Both orthokeratology lenses can improve the UCVA, reduce corneal astigmatism, and delay axial length growth of adolescents with low-to-moderate myopia with astigmatism(-1.00--1.50 DC), and there are no significant differences in the control effect of spherical design orthokeratology and the toric design orthokeratology on myopia.

With the advancement in big data and artificial intelligence technologies, the extensive application of omics technologies in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) research has generated large experimental datasets, enabling the exploration of cross-scale correlations among massive data and thereby resulting in the shift toward a data-intensive research paradigm. The emerging approach of multi-omics data fusion analysis, emphasizing technical and computational tools, presents a potential breakthrough in this field. The holistic perspective of TCM aligns with the concept of multi-omics data fusion, yet the data types encountered exhibit high dimensionality with small sample sizes, necessitating data processing techniques such as dimensionality reduction. The current challenge lies in selecting suitable analytical methods for these data to enhance the systematic understanding of physiological functions and disease diagnosis/treatment processes. This paper explores the theories and frameworks of multi-omics data fusion, analyzes methods for fusing high-dimensional, small-sample multi-omics data in TCM, and aims to provide insights for advancing TCM research.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Humans ; Computational Biology/methods* ; Genomics/methods* ; Sample Size ; Artificial Intelligence ; Multiomics

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of autologous osteochondral tissue and periosteum transplantation on tendon-bone healing of rotator cuff in rabbits. METHODS: Twenty-four male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into autologous osteochondral tissue and periosteum transplantation group (experimental group, n=12) and simple suture group (control group, n=12). Both groups were subjected to acute supraspinatus tendon injury and repaired with corresponding techniques. At 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation, 4 specimens from each group were taken from the right shoulder joint for histological examination (HE staining, Masson staining, and Safranin O-fast green staining), and the left shoulder was subjected to biomechanical tests (maximum tensile load and stiffness). RESULTS: Both groups of animals survived until the completion of the experiment after operation. At 4 weeks after operation, both groups showed less collagen fibers and disorder at the tendon-bone junction. At 8 weeks, both groups showed reduced inflammation at the tendon-bone junction, with more organized and denser collagen fibers and chondrocytes. The experimental group showed better results than the control group. At 12 weeks, the experimental group showed typical tendon-bone transition structure, with increased generation of collagen fibers and chondrocytes, and the larger cartilage staining area. Both groups showed an increase in maximum tensile load and stiffness over time ( P<0.05). The stiffness at 4 weeks and the maximum tensile load at 4, 8, and 12 weeks in the experimental group were superior to control group, and the differences were significant ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in stiffness at 8, 12 weeks between the two groups ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION Autologous osteochondral tissue and periosteum transplantation can effectively promote the fiber and cartilage regeneration at the tendon-bone junction of rotator cuff and improve the biomechanical effect of shoulder joint in rabbits.
Animals ; Rabbits ; Male ; Wound Healing ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Periosteum/transplantation* ; Rotator Cuff Injuries ; Rotator Cuff/surgery* ; Tendons/surgery* ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Chondrocytes/transplantation* ; Tendon Injuries/surgery* ; Tensile Strength

A previous study showed that the length of the foreskin plays a role in the risk of sexually transmitted infections and chronic prostatitis, which can lead to poor quality of sexual life. Here, the association between foreskin length and sexual dysfunction was evaluated. A total of 5700 participants were recruited from the andrology clinic at The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (Hefei, China). Clinical characteristics, including foreskin length, were collected, and sexual function was assessed by the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT) questionnaires. Men with sexual dysfunction were more likely to have redundant foreskin than men without sexual dysfunction. Among the 2721 erectile dysfunction (ED) patients and 1064 premature ejaculation (PE) patients, 301 (11.1%) ED patients and 135 (12.7%) PE patients had redundant foreskin, respectively. Men in the PE group were more likely to have redundant foreskin than men in the non-PE group ( P = 0.004). Logistic regression analyses revealed that the presence of redundant foreskin was associated with increased odds of moderate/severe ED (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.31, adjusted P = 0.04), moderate PE (aOR = 1.38, adjusted P = 0.02), and probable PE (aOR = 1.37, adjusted P = 0.03) after adjusting for confounding variables. Our study revealed a positive correlation between the presence of redundant foreskin and the risk of sexual dysfunction, especially in PE patients. Assessment of the length of the foreskin during routine clinical diagnosis may provide information for patients with sexual dysfunction.
Humans ; Male ; Foreskin ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Adult ; Erectile Dysfunction/epidemiology* ; Premature Ejaculation/epidemiology* ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological/epidemiology* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of multiple myeloma (MM) patients infected with Listeria monocytogenes (LM) in novel agent era, so as to improve clinicians' understanding. METHODS: Clinical data of 4 MM patients infected with LM in Beijing Chao-yang Hospital from October 2018 to October 2022 was analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The average age of the 4 patients was (57.5±4.1) years old. All the patients did not reach deep remission from induction therapy or experienced multiple recurrences of MM, with significant decreased immunoglobulin levels and lymphocyte counts. The initial clinical manifestation was all fever. Three patients developed nervous system symptoms 2-3 days after onset and cerebrospinal fluid examination indicated meningitis. The sensitive anti-infection agents were given according to pathogenic test results 4-5 days after onset. After treatment, two patients recovered, one patient gave up treatment and died after discharged from hospital, and one critical patient died despite exposure to sensitive antibiotics. CONCLUSION MM patients, with the application of novel agents, may have increased risk of LM infection, even critical cases. LM prevention and prompt therapy in early stage for suspected patients is key to reducing the risk of severe infection and mortality.
Humans ; Multiple Myeloma/drug therapy* ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Listeriosis/complications* ; Listeria monocytogenes ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Female ; Aged

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has recently been proposed as a key player in the representation of itch stimuli. However, to date, little is known about the contribution of specific ACC interneuron populations to itch processing. Using c-Fos immunolabeling and in vivo Ca²⁺ imaging, we reported that both histamine and chloroquine stimuli-induced acute itch caused a marked enhancement of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-expressing interneuron activity in the ACC. Behavioral data indicated that optogenetic and chemogenetic activation of these neurons reduced scratching responses related to histaminergic and non-histaminergic acute itch. Similar neural activity and modulatory role of these neurons were seen in mice with chronic itch induced by contact dermatitis. Together, this study highlights the importance of ACC VIP⁺ neurons in modulating itch-related affect and behavior, which may help us to develop novel mechanism-based strategies to treat refractory chronic itch in the clinic.
Animals ; Pruritus/physiopathology* ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide/metabolism* ; Interneurons/metabolism* ; Gyrus Cinguli/metabolism* ; Mice ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Histamine ; Chloroquine ; Optogenetics ; Mice, Transgenic

In recent years， the incidence of pulmonary nodules has kept rising. To give full play to the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） in the treatment of pulmonary nodules and identify the breakthrough points of integrating TCM with Western medicine， the China Association of Chinese Medicine organized medical experts in TCM and western medicine to carry out in-depth discussion regarding this disease. The discussion encompassed the modern medical advances， TCM theories of etiology and pathogenesis， the role and advantages of TCM in the whole course management of pulmonary nodules， contents and methods of research on pulmonary nodules， and science popularization work， aiming to provide a reference for clinical practice and scientific research. After discussion， the experts concluded that the occurrence of pulmonary nodules was rooted in the deficiency of the lung and spleen and triggered by phlegm dampness， blood stasis， and Qi stagnation. TCM can treat pulmonary nodules by controlling and reducing nodules， improving physical constitution， ameliorating multi-system nodular diseases， reducing anxiety and avoiding excessive diagnosis and treatment， and serving as an alternative for patients who are unwilling or unfit for surgical treatment. At present， the optimal diagnosis and treatment strategy for pulmonary nodules has not been formed， which needs to be further studied from multiple perspectives such as clinical epidemiology， biology， and evidence-based medicine. The primary task of current research is to find out the advantages， effective prescriptions， and target populations and determine the effective outcomes of TCM in the treatment of pulmonary nodules. At the same time， basic research should be carried out to explore the etiology and biological behaviors of pulmonary nodules. The expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary nodules with integrated TCM and Western medicine needs to be continuously revised to guide clinicians to conduct standardized， scientific， and accurate effective diagnosis and treatment.

Objective To explore the protective effect of a traditional chinese medicine composition on ANIT induced cholestasis liver injury in mice. Methods 8-week old SPF Kunming mice were randomly divided into 6 groups, 10 mice in each group which were the blank control group （normal saline gavage）, the model control group （normal saline gavage）, the low （gavage dose: 5.25 g/kg） group, the medium （gavage dose: 11.25 g/kg） group and the high （gavage dose: 20.25 g/kg） group of traditional chinese medicine composition, the positive control （Ursodeoxycholic acid, UDCA, 0.1 g/kg）. Mice were administered with continuous gavage once a day, for 7 consecutive days. On the 5th day, the blank normal control group was given an equal amount of olive oil by gavage, all other groups were given ANIT （65 mg/kg） by gavage for modeling. After 48 hours of modeling, 30 minutes after the last administration of each group of mice, blood and liver tissue samples were collected for testing of various indicators. The corresponding kits were used to detect the content of alanine transaminase （ALT）, aspartate transaminase （AST）, alkaline phosphatase （ALP）, total bile acid （TBA）, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase （γ-GT）, total bilirubin （TBIL）, superoxide dismutase （SOD）, glutathione peroxidase （GSH-PX） and malondialdehyde （MDA） in peripheral blood of mice, respectively. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes in the liver of mice. Results Compared with the model group, each dose group of traditional chinese medicine composition reduced the levels of ALT, AST, ALP, TBA, TBIL, γ-GT and MDA （P<0.05） significantly, markedly increased the levels of SOD and GSH-PX （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group, the low-dose and high-dose groups of traditional chinese medicine composition showed a decrease in hepatic steatosis and a reduction in inflammatory. The moderate dose group showed a significant reduction in hepatic cell steatosis and a significant improvement in inflammatory infiltration, the liver cells were arranged in cords, and the structure of lobules of liver was intact. Conclusion Traditional chinese medicine composition could improve serum biochemical indicators of liver injury, reduce jaundice and eliminate oxidative free radicals, thereby exerting a protective effect against ANIT-induced cholestatic liver injury in mice.

Objective To investigate the effects of dimethyl itaconate(DMI)on the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors in dendritic cells(DCs)and on the interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein(IRBP)1-20-specific T helper 17(Th17)cells in mice with experimental autoimmune uveitis(EAU).Methods Bilateral femur and tibia of C57BL/6J mice were isolated to obtain bone marrow cells,and these bone marrow cells were directionally induced with granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor(GM-CSF)and interleukin(IL)-4 to differentiate DCs.After 6 days,DCs were ran-domly divided into the DMI group and the phosphate-buffered saline(PBS)group.Cells in the DMI group were pretreated with 250 μmol·L-1 DMI,and cells in the PBS group were pretreated with the same volume of PBS for 3 hours.After-wards,100 μg·L-1 lipopolysaccharide was added in the every group to stimulate cells for 24 hours.The relative mRNA ex-pression levels of IL-6,IL-1 β,and IL-23 in DCs were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).The EAU model was constructed by actively immunizing mice with IRBP1-20,Freund's incomplete adjuvant,and my-cobacterium tuberculosis H37RA.Thirteen days after immunization,T cells in the spleen and lymph node isolated from EAU mice were cocultured with DMI-treatedor PBS-treated DCs in the medium containing IRBP1-20.They polarized toward Th17 cells.The percentage of Th17 cells in the cocultured cells was detected by flow cytometry.The IL-17 level in the coculture supernatant was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).qRT-PCR was performed to detect the relative mRNA expression levels of retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma t(RORγt),IL-17,IL-23R,and GM-CSF in the cocultured cells.Results qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the relative mRNA expression levels of IL-6,IL-1β,and IL-23 in the DMI group were significantly lower thanthose in the PBS group(all P＜0.05).Flow cytometry analysis showed that the proportion of Th17 cells in the cocultured cells in the DMI group was significantly lower than that in the PBS group(P＜0.05).ELISA analysis exhibited that the IL-17 level in the coculture supernatant in the DMI group was significantly lower than that in the PBS group(P＜0.05).The relative mRNA expression levels of IL-17,ROR-γt,IL-23R and GM-CSF in cocultured cells in the DMI group significantly decreased compared with the PBS group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion DMI can reduce the expression of IL-6,IL-1β and IL-23 in DCs,thus negatively modulating the responses of IRBP1-20-specific Th17 cells.