ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of stone needle thermocompression and massage compared to flurbiprofen gel patch in relieving chronic musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder and back， and to explore the potential mediating mechanism through muscle elasticity. MethodsA total of 120 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder and back were randomly assigned to either stone needle group or flurbiprofen group， with 60 patients in each. The stone needle group received stone needle thermocompression and massage for 30 minutes， three times per week； the flurbiprofen group received flurbiprofen gel patch twice daily. Both groups were treated for 2 weeks. Pain improvement， as the primary outcome， was assessed using the Global Pain Scale （GPS） at baseline， after 2 weeks of treatment， and again 2 weeks post-treatment. To explore potential mechanisms， a mediator analysis was conducted by measuring changes in superficial and deep muscle elasticity using musculoskeletal ultrasound at baseline and after the 2-week treatment period. ResultsThe stone needle group showed significantly greater pain relief than the flurbiprofen group 2 weeks post-treatment. After adjusting for confounders related to pain duration， the between-group mean difference was -8.8 ［95% CI （-18.2， -0.7）， P＜0.05］. Part of the therapeutic effect was mediated by changes in deep muscle elasticity， with a mediation effect size of -1.5 ［95% CI （-2.0， -0.9）， P = 0.024］， accounting for 17.9% of the total effect. ConclusionStone needle thermocompression and massage can effectively relieve chronic musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder and back， partly through a mediating effect of improved deep muscle elasticity.

Objective:To observe the effects of warming needle therapy combined with the modified Hua Tan Tong Luo Tang(decoction for dissipating phlegm and unblocking collaterals)on post-stroke cognitive impairment due to obstruction of wind-phlegm. Methods:A total of 78 patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group,with 39 patients in each group.Both groups received conventional treatment.The control group was additionally treated with the modified Hua Tan Tong Luo Tang,while the observation group received warming needle therapy in addition to the treatment given to the control group.Scores on the mini-mental state examination(MMSE),Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA),and activities of daily living(ADL)were assessed before and after treatment.Adverse reactions and clinical efficacy were analyzed and compared between the two groups after treatment. Results:The total effective rate was 82.1%in the observation group and 61.5%in the control group,showing statistical significance between the two groups(P<0.05).After treatment,the MMSE,MoCA,and ADL scores of both groups were significantly higher than those before treatment within each group(P<0.05).Notably,the scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).No adverse reactions occurred in either group during the treatment period. Conclusion:Based on the conventional treatment,compared to modified Hua Tan Tong Luo Tang alone,warming needle therapy combined with the modified Hua Tan Tong Luo Tang showed superior clinical efficacy in treating post-stroke cognitive impairment due to obstruction of wind-phlegm,and this combined therapy also showed high safety.

Objective:To explore the correlation between transcranial sonography (TCS) combined with serum homocysteine (Hcy), blood glucose, blood lipids, the cognitive status of Parkinson′s disease (PD) patients, and to analyze the clinical application value of these parameters in assessing the cognitive status of PD patients.Methods:A total of 152 PD patients admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2020 to June 2023 were retrospectively collected as the PD group, and 101 healthy examinees matched for age and gender during the same period were selected as control group. Clinical data [age, gender, duration of illness, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, Unified Parkinson′s Disease Rating Scale Part Ⅲ (UPDRS-Ⅲ) score, Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) stage, etc.], serum tests (Hcy, blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein concentration), and TCS examination results (third ventricular width, midbrain area, peak systolic velocity of bilateral middle cerebral arteries, bilateral middle cerebral artery resistance index, bilateral substantia nigra hyperechoic area) were collected. The two groups were divided into pure PD group and PD group with elevated Hcy, pure control group and control group with elevated Hcy, based on an Hcy concentration threshold of ≥15 μmol/L. The differences in the above parameters among the four groups were compared. The correlation between Hcy and cognitive status (MoCA score, MMSE score) of PD patients and the above parameters were analyzed.Results:The MoCA score and MMSE score of the PD group with elevated Hcy were lower than those of the pure PD group, and the UPDRS-Ⅲ score and H-Y stage were higher than those of the pure PD group (all P<0.001). The order of Hcy concentration from high to low was PD group with elevated Hcy, pure Hcy elevation group, pure PD group, and pure control group. The differences in serum data and TCS data among the four groups were statistically significant (all P<0.001). Spearman correlation analysis showed: ①In the PD group, the concentration of Hcy was positively correlated with glucose concentration, H-Y stage, low-density lipoprotein concentration, right middle cerebral artery resistance index, UPDRS-Ⅲ score, total cholesterol concentration, triglyceride concentration, left middle cerebral artery resistance index, third ventricular width, and age ( rs=0.422, 0.350, 0.348, 0.334, 0.325, 0.300, 0.293, 0.283, 0.221, 0.164, all P<0.05); Hcy concentration was negatively correlated with midbrain area, MMSE score, MoCA score, peak systolic velocity of right middle cerebral artery, peak systolic velocity of left middle cerebral artery, and high-density lipoprotein concentration ( rs=-0.328, -0.282, -0.245, -0.229, -0.224, -0.192, all P<0.05). ②Clinical data, serum data, and TCS data of PD patients were all correlated with MoCA score and MMSE score, with midbrain area showing the largest positive correlation ( rs=0.524, 0.516; both P<0.05) and H-Y stage showing the largest negative correlation( rs=-0.490, -0.468; both P<0.05). Conclusions:PD patients with elevated Hcy have lower cognitive scores than pure PD patients. The correlation between Hcy concentration and blood glucose concentration is the highest in PD patients, followed by H-Y stage. The cognitive scores of PD patients are most correlated with midbrain area and unrelated to substantia nigra hyperechoic area. Lowering serum Hcy concentration in PD patients may be one of the ways to delay cognitive impairment.

Objective:To study the clinical application and complications of umbilical arterial catheterization (UAC) in premature infants.Methods:From January 2021 to December 2022, premature infants with UAC successfully inserted in NICU of our hospital were enrolled. According to birth weight (BW), the infants were assigned into three groups: <1 000 g, 1 000~1 499 g and ≥1 500 g. The perinatal data, UAC usage, UAC-related complications and risk factors of UAC-related complications were retrospectively analyzed.Results:A total of 39 premature infants received UAC, with gestational age 29.3(27.3, 30.4) weeks and BW 1 100 (900, 1 310) g. The insertion length (IL) of UAC was calculated using the average value of two formulas: a, IL (cm) =4×BW (kg) +7; and b, IL(cm) =3×BW (kg)+9. The accuracy of tube end position was determined using chest/abdomen radiography. 30(76.9%) cases had accurate position, 6(15.4%) had higher position and 3(7.7%) had lower position. The proportion of appropriately positioned tube end in <1 000 g, 1 000~1 499 g and ≥1 500 g groups were 80.0%, 76.5% and 71.4%, respectively, without statistically significant differences ( P>0.05) .No significant differences existed among the three groups in UAC duration and UAC routinely removal rate ( P>0.05). 9 cases (23.1%) of UAC were removed for specific reasons, including 4 cases of arterial spasm, 2 cases of withdrawal of treatment, 1 case of tube end displacement, 1 case of abdominal distension and 1 case of death. 21 cases received 1 U/ml heparin (0.9%NaCl solution) 0.5~1 ml/h arterial infusion. 23.8% (5/21) had hypernatremia and the level of sodium became normal after reducing the concentration of NaCl solution. Arterial vasospasm occurred in 4 patients with skin color changes of one side of the lower extremities. After UAC removal, the skin color returned to normal. Conclusions:UAC is helpful and safe for preterm infants, however, its complications should be alerted to.

Objective:To study the current status of longitudinal extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) in extremely preterm infants (EPIs) and to develop a prediction model based on clinical data from multiple NICUs.Methods:From January 2017 to December 2018, EPIs admitted to 32 NICUs in North China were retrospectively studied. Their general conditions, nutritional support, complications during hospitalization and weight changes were reviewed. Weight loss between birth and discharge > 1SD was defined as longitudinal EUGR. The EPIs were assigned into longitudinal EUGR group and non-EUGR group and their nutritional support and weight changes were compared. The EPIs were randomly assigned into the training dataset and the validation dataset with a ratio of 7∶3. Univariate Cox regression analysis and multiple regression analysis were used in the training dataset to select the independent predictive factors. The best-fitting Nomogram model predicting longitudinal EUGR was established based on Akaike Information Criterion. The model was evaluated for discrimination efficacy, calibration and clinical decision curve analysis.Results:A total of 436 EPIs were included in this study, with a mean gestational age of (26.9±0.9) weeks and a birth weight of (989±171) g. The incidence of longitudinal EUGR was 82.3%(359/436). Seven variables (birth weight Z-score, weight loss, weight growth velocity, the proportion of breast milk ≥75% within 3 d before discharge, invasive mechanical ventilation ≥7 d, maternal antenatal corticosteroids use and bronchopulmonary dysplasia) were selected to establish the prediction model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the training dataset and the validation dataset were 0.870 (95% CI 0.820-0.920) and 0.879 (95% CI 0.815-0.942), suggesting good discrimination efficacy. The calibration curve indicated a good fit of the model ( P>0.05). The decision curve analysis showed positive net benefits at all thresholds. Conclusions:Currently, EPIs have a high incidence of longitudinal EUGR. The prediction model is helpful for early identification and intervention for EPIs with higher risks of longitudinal EUGR. It is necessary to expand the sample size and conduct prospective studies to optimize and validate the prediction model in the future.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by abdominal pain associated with changes in defecation frequency and blood folate level. FODMAP stands for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols. High-FODMAP diet could elicit or exacerbate IBS-associated bowel symptoms, which is inadequately recognized among gastroenterologists in China. Here we report an IBS case, focusing on the association between high-FODMAP diet and bowel symptoms and the intervention of low-FODMAP diet.

Objective:To explore the pathological mechanism of SN hyperechogenicity by investigating the characteristics of substantia nigra (SN) hyperechogenicity on transcranial sonography (TCS) and serum iron metabolism parameters in the postural instability gait difficulty and tremor dominant subtypes of Parkinson′s disease (PD), and the correlation between them.Methods:A total of 155 PD patients recruited in Parkinson′s Disease Specialty in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2019 to December 2021 were divided into postural instability gait difficulty group( n=95) and tremor dominant group( n=60). Meanwhile, 49 healthy gender- and age-matched healthy individuals who sought for physical examination during the same period were included as the control group. All subjects underwent TCS and blood test, and the echo of SN between the postural instability gait difficulty group and tremor dominant group, serum iron metabolism parameters among the three groups were compared. The postural instability gait difficulty group and tremor dominant group were subdivided into with SN hyperechogenicity (SN+ )subgroup and without SN hyperechogenicity (SN-) subgroup respectively according to TCS results, and the differences in serum iron metabolism parameters between the subgroups were further compared. The association between SN hyperechogenicity and serum iron metabolism parameters of the postural instability gait difficulty group and tremor dominant group were further analyzed. Results:The total area of bilateral SN+ , the area of SN+ on the larger side, and the ratio of the total area of SN+ to the midbrain area (S/M) in postural instability gait difficulty group were larger than those in tremor dominant group (all P<0.001). The value of serum ceruloplasmin and transferrin in both postural instability gait difficulty group and tremor dominant group were lower than those in control group (all P<0.001), and compared with tremor dominant group and control group, the postural instability gait difficulty group had lower serum ferritin(all P<0.01). In both postural instability gait difficulty group and tremor dominant group, serum ceruloplasmin in SN+ subgroup was lower than that in SN-subgroup ( P=0.001, 0.032). Moreover, there was a negative correlation between serum transferrin and the area of SN hyperechogenicity in two subgroups(postural instability gait difficulty group: rs=-0.454, P<0.001; tremor dominant group: rs=-0.494, P<0.001). Conclusions:Compared with the tremor dominant patients, the postural instability gait difficulty patients have larger area of SN hyperechogenicity and lower serum ferritin level. The area of SN hyperechogenicity is significantly negatively correlated with serum transferrin level, indicating that the production of this imaging characteristics is related to iron metabolism.

Objective:To explore the adjunctive diagnostic value of transcranial sonography (TCS) combined with olfactory test in early Parkinson′s disease (PD) and the clinical value of both in the cognitive function of PD patients.Methods:TCS and olfactory test were performed in 157 early PD patients(PD group) and 157 healthy controls(control group) in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2018 to January 2022. The differences in clinical characteristics, TCS, and olfactory test results between the two groups were analyzed. The values of TCS, olfactory test, and their combination in diagnosing early PD were evaluated using clinical diagnosis as the gold standard. The correlations of the midbrain area, the midbrain substantia nigra hyperechoic area, and the third ventricle width in TCS examination with the cognitive score were analyzed in the PD group. According to the olfactory test scores, 157 patients with early PD were divided into two groups: 110 cases of PD with olfactory dysfunction (PD-OD) and 47 cases of PD without olfactory dysfunction (PD-NOD). The differences in clinical scores and TCS results between the two groups were compared.Results:The midbrain substantia nigra hyperechoic area, substantia nigra hyperechoic positivity rate, third ventricle width, and olfactory dysfunction rate were higher in the PD group compared to the control group, while the midbrain area and olfactory test scores were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.001). The sensitivity and the coincidence rate of TCS combined with the olfactory test for early PD diagnosis (90.0%, 77.1%) were higher than those of TCS alone (60.0%, 71.3%) and olfactory test alone (70.1%, 72.3%), but the specificity (63.7%) was lower than that of both alone (82.8% for TCS and 75.2% for olfactory test), (all P<0.001). MoCA score, visual space and executive ability, memory, attention, and language were positively correlated with the area of the midbrain ( rs=0.38, 0.32, 0.27, 0.25, 0.23; all P<0.05) and negatively correlated with the width of the third ventricle ( rs=-0.39, -0.22, -0.39, -0.22, -0.32; all P<0.05), and orientation was negatively correlated only with the width of the third ventricle ( rs=-0.24, P<0.05). The MoCA score of PD-OD group[22(18, 25)] was lower than that of PD-NOD group[24(20, 26)]( P=0.040). Conclusions:The combination of TCS and olfactory test can enhance the sensitivity and diagnostic agreement rate for early PD diagnosis, providing some auxiliary value. The cognitive function of PD patients is positively correlated with the midbrain area and negatively correlated with the width of the third ventricle. The cognitive function of PD patients with olfactory dysfunction is lower than that of PD patients without olfactory dysfunction. TCS and olfactory test may help assess cognitive function in PD patients.

Objective:To investigate the level of serum Omentin-1 in subjects with abdominal obesity, and to analyze the influencing factors of Omentin-1 and its relationship with body fat distribution, insulin resistance and metabolic parameters.Methods:A retrospective case-control study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of one hundred and fifty adults with abdominal obesity (BMI≥28 kg/m 2) who were randomly selected from Obesity Multidisciplinary Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Subei People's Hospital from Januray 2018 to December 2021. Meanwhile, 150 healthy adults were enrolled as a normal control group. Fasting serum Omentin-1 and glucose metabolism were measured, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Body fat composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. The relationship between Omentin-1 and other variables were presented by the Pearson correlation coefficients. Stepwise regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of Omentin-1. Results:The serum omentin-1 level of patients with abdominal obesity was (36.97±6.99) μg/L, that of normal control group was (72.35±6.09) μg/L. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=46.69, P<0.001). The body fat level of patients with abdominal obesity was (43.40±14.59) kg, that of normal control group was (13.78±4.13) kg. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( t=23.93, P<0.001). The fasting insulin of patients with abdominal obesity was 29.05 (22.01,34.60) pmol/L, that of normal control group was 127.90 (84.08,201.45) pmol/L. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant( Z=14.75, P<0.001). The HOMA-IR of patients with abdominal obesity was 0.87 (0.68,1.05), that of normal control group was 4.19 (2.77,7.31). The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( Z=14.75, P<0.001). Pearson linear correlation analysis showed that serum omentin-1 levels were negatively correlated with BMI, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio (WHR), body fat, visceral Fat area (VFA), HOMA-IR, triglyceride, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol ( r=-0.825, -0.843, -0.756, -0.777, -0.835, -0.583, -0.429, -0.353, -0.503, -0.938, all P<0.001). Whereas, a significantly positive correlation was found between serum Omentin-1 levels and high density lipoprotein cholesterol ( r=0.528, P<0.001). Omentin-1 concentrations were not related to age or gender ( r=-0.093, -0.040; P=0.669, 0.489). In multiple linear stepwise regression analysis, only VFA remained significantly associated with Omentin-1 ( β=-0.026, t=-2.250, P=0.026). Conclusion:The level of serum omentin-1 in patients with abdominal obesity was significantly lower than that in normal subjects, and it was closely related to body fat distribution and insulin resistance. VFA is an independent influencing factor of serum omentin-1, which can be used as a biomarker of abdominal obesity related metabolic disorders.

Objective:To study the expression characteristics of myocardial strain index after the abnormal origin of the left coronary artery of the pulmonary artery in children was repaired.Methods:The data of 30 children (study group) with abnormal origin of pulmonary artery left coronary artery repair from August 2017 to August 2021 were analyzed. In addition, healthy children during the same period were selected as the control group, and the study group was compared before and after treatment and the control group. Circumferential and radial peak myocardial strain index, post-contraction strain index.Results:The longitudinal, circumferential, and radial overall peak strain indexes of the study group before and after treatment were significantly lower than those of the control group, and the longitudinal, circumferential, and radial overall peak strain indexes of the study group after treatment were significantly higher than those before treatment ( P<0.05); The longitudinal, circumferential, and radial peak strain indexes of the study group before treatment were significantly lower than those of the control group. After treatment in the study group, the middle section of the longitudinal inferior wall, the middle section of the anterior wall, the basal section of the anterior wall, the apex, and the circumferential direction were significantly lower The peak strain index of the basal segment of the inferior wall and the middle segment of the inferior wall was significantly lower than that of the control group; and the longitudinal, circumferential, and radial peak strain indexes of the study group after treatment were significantly higher than those before treatment ( P<0.05); the study group children before treatment Longitudinal, circumferential, and radial PSI indexes were significantly lower than those of the control group. After treatment, the study group was treated in the longitudinal inferior wall, septal apical segment, circumferential inferior wall basal segment, inferior wall middle segment, and radial PSI anterior wall basal segment, apex. The part was significantly higher than that of the control group; and the longitudinal, circumferential, and radial PSI of the study group after treatment were significantly lower than before treatment ( P<0.05). Conclusion:After ALCAPA repair, the overall and regional strain and overall synchronization are improved, indicating that the resting myocardium has recovered, but the strain of certain segments supplied by the abnormal left coronary artery fails to normalize after ALCAPA repair. Persistent myocardial injury is consistent, which can provide some guidance for the prognosis assessment of children with ALCAPA.