AIM: To investigate the preoperative ocular symptoms and the characteristics of asymptomatic ocular surface abnormalities in hospitalized patients with primary pterygium.METHODS: Cross-sectional study. Hospitalized patients diagnosed with primary pterygium and scheduled to receive pterygium excision surgery at the Xiamen Eye Center of Xiamen University from August 2022 to October 2022 were enrolled. Ocular surface disease index questionnaire(OSDI), six examinations including non-invasive tear film break-up time, Schirmer I test, tear meniscus height, lid margin abnormality, meibomian gland dropout and tear film lipid layer thickness, and anterior segment optical coherence tomography(AS-OCT)were performed and statistically analyzed.RESULTS: A total of 178 cases(178 eyes), with a mean age of 54.39±10.75 years old, were recruited, including 75 males(42.1%)and 103 females(57.9%). The average values of ocular surface parameters in these patients included OSDI: 11.47±9.69, tear film break-up time: 7.10±3.86 s; tear meniscus height: 0.16±0.07 mm, Schirmer I test values: 14.39±7.29 mm/5 min, and pterygium thickness: 504.74±175.87 μm. Totally 161 eyes(90.4%)presented with abnormal lid margin, 44 eyes(24.7%)presented with meibomian gland dropout score ≥4, 52 eyes(29.2%)presented with low lipid layer thickness. In the 6 objective examinations, abnormalities in at least 4 of these tests were found in 85.4% of eyes. Pterygium morphology was classified into four grades: 10 eyes(5.6%)of grade Ⅰ, 93 eyes(52.2%)of grade Ⅱ, 60 eyes(33.7%)of grade Ⅲ, and 15 eyes(8.4%)of grade Ⅳ. In patients with a higher grade of pterygium, the tear film break-up time was lower, and the proportion of abnormal lid margin was also significantly higher(P<0.05). The patients were further divided into two subgroups, including 121 eyes(68.0%)with normal OSDI <13 in the normal group and 57 eyes(32.0%)with OSDI ≥13 in the abnormal group. No significant difference was found in the proportion of meibomian gland dysfunction between the two groups of patients(71.9% vs. 71.9%, P=0.872). In addition, there were differences in the number of abnormal objective examinations(4.11±0.85 vs. 4.91±0.99, P<0.001).CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic ocular surface abnormalities were present preoperatively in patients hospitalized for primary pterygium. A comparable high incidence of structural or functional meibomian gland dysfunction existed in pterygium patients with or without apparent ocular discomfort. More attention should be paid to the ocular surface abnormalities in those asymptomatic patients before primary pterygium surgery.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between the degree of hepatic fibrosis and early neurological deterioration (END) after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and its predictive value.Methods:Patients with AIS received intravenous thrombolysis at Nanjing Jiangbei Hospital from January 2018 to March 2023 were retrospectively included. Hepatic fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) was used to evaluate the degree of hepatic fibrosis in patients. FIB-4 ≥ 2.67 was defined as severe hepatic fibrosis. END was defined as an increase of ≥4 from baseline on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score within 24 h after intravenous thrombolysis. The relevant factors of END were analyzed through univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the predictive value of FIB-4 for END. Results:A total of 313 patients were included, of which 184 (58.8%) were male, aged 64.8±11.8 years old. The median baseline NIHSS score was 6 (interquartile range, 4-9), and the median FIB-4 was 1.76 (interquartile range, 1.28-2.56). Forty-five patients (14.4%) experienced END. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for other confounding factors, higher FIB-4 was significantly independently correlated with END (odds ratio 2.121, 95% confidence interval 1.422-3.162; P=0.001). ROC curve analysis shows that FIB-4 has a good predictive value for END (the area under the curve 0.689, 95% confidence interval 0.595-0.784; P=0.001). The optimal cutoff value of FIB-4 was 1.82, and its sensitivity and specificity in predicting END were 71.1% and 54.9%, respectively. Conclusion:FIB-4 has good predictive value for END in patients with AIS after intravenous thrombolysis.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between malnutrition and early neurological deterioration (END) after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods:Patients with ischemic stroke received intravenous thrombolysis in the Department of Neurology, Nanjing Jiangbei People's Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021 were retrospectively enrolled. Nutritional status was assessed by geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI). END was defined as an increase of ≥4 in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score within 24 h after intravenous thrombolysis compared with the baseline value. The demographic and baseline clinical data of the patients in the END group and the non-END group were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent correlation between malnutrition and END. Results:A total of 256 patients were enrolled, including 156 males (60.9%), aged 65.6±12.0 years. According to GNRI and PNI, there were 122 (46.7%) and 62 (24.2%) patients with malnutrition respectively. END occurred in 37 patients (14.5%) during hospitalization. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for other confounding factors, there was a significant independent correlation between malnutrition and END after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke (severe malnutrition as assessed by GNRI compared to normal nutritional status: odds ratio 5.736, 95% confidence interval 1.033-31.866, P=0.046; severe malnutrition as assessed by PNI compared to normal nutritional status: odds ratio 4.928, 95% confidence interval 1.589-15.282, P=0.006). Conclusion:Malnutrition is very common in patients with acute ischemic stroke and has a significant correlation with END after intravenous thrombolysis.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between plasma Dickkopf-1 and early neurological deterioration (END) and outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods:From January 2020 to December 2020, consecutive patients with first-ever ischemic stroke form the Department of Neurology, Nanjing Jiangbei Hospital were included. All patients were hospitalized within 24 h after onset. END was defined as the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score within 7 d after admission increased by ≥2 or motor function score increased by ≥1 compared with the baseline. Poor outcome was defined as the modified Rankin Scale score >2 at 90 d after onset. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent correlation between plasma Dickkopf-1 and END and outcome. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of plasma Dickkopf-1 for END and poor outcome. Results:A total of 176 patients were enrolled, including 92 males (52.3%), aged 66.7±9.6 years. The median Dickkopf-1 was 4.30 μg/L, 52 patients (29.5%) developed END, and 81 (46.0%) had poor outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the higher Dickkopf-1 was an independent predictor of END (odds ratio [ OR] 1.696, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.223-2.351; P=0.002) and poor outcome ( OR 1.566, 95% CI 1.156-2.121; P=0.004). ROC curve analysis showed that plasma Dickkopf-1 had good predictive value for END, and its area under the curve was 0.717 (95% CI 0.634-0.801); the optimal cut-off value was 4.40 μg/L, and the corresponding predictive sensitivity and specificity were 71.2% and 60.5%, respectively. Dickkopf-1 also had good predictive value for poor outcome, and its area under the curve was 0.701 (95% CI 0.624-0.778); the optimal cut-off value was 4.25 μg/L, and the corresponding predictive sensitivity and specificity were 65.4% and 61.1%, respectively. Conclusion:Plasma Dickkopf-1 has good predictive value for END and poor outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of thromboelastographic (TEG) parameters for early neurological deterioration (END) after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods:Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis in Nanjing Jiangbei People's Hospital between January 2017 and December 2019 were enrolled. They completed TEG examination within 24 h after admission. END was defined as an increase of 4 points or more from the baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score within 24 h after admission. Univariate analysis was used to compare the demographic characteristics, baseline data, laboratory indicators and TEG parameters between the END group and the non-END group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent risk factors for END. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of different models for END. Results:A total of 174 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled, aged (68.9±13.4) years, 111 (63.8%) were male, median baseline NIHSS score was 5.0, and 29 (16.7%) had END. Compared with the patients in the non-END group, the age, homocysteine, fasting blood glucose, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), baseline NIHSS score and the proportion of patients with diabetes mellitus and hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in the END group were significantly increased (all P<0.05), and the coagulation reaction time of TEG was significantly reduced ( P=0.005). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for confounding factors, age (odds ratio [ OR] 1.023, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.002-1.066; P=0.031), diabetes mellitus ( OR 2.627, 95% CI 1.021-7.176; P=0.041), higher hs-CRP level ( OR 1.050, 95% CI 1.018-1.083; P=0.002), HT ( OR 3.088, 95% CI 1.707-13.492; P=0.034) and TEG coagulation reaction time reduction ( OR 0.440, 95% CI 0.213-0.907; P=0.026) were the independent risk factors for END in patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving intravenous thrombolysis. ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve of the basic model composed of age, diabetes, hs-CRP level, and HT for predicting END was 0.766 (95% CI 0.665-0.871). When TEG coagulation reaction time was added to the basic model, the area under ROC curve for predicting END was increased to 0.816 (95% CI 0.733-0.899). Conclusion:The TEG coagulation reaction time reduction has a certain predictive value for END in patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving intravenous thrombolytic therapy.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of acupuncture at opposite acupoints on expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in rats with skeletal muscle contusion, and to explore the mechanism of acupuncture at opposite acupoints on skeletal muscle contusion.

METHODSFifty-four Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group (6 rats), a model group (24 rats) and an opposing needling group (24 rats). The model group and opposing needling group were further divided into 1-day subgroup, 3-day subgroup, 5-day subgroup and 7-day subgroup, 6 rats in each one. No intervention was given in the blank group, while the model of skeletal muscle contusion was established in the model group and opposing needling group by self-made contusion device. 24 hours after contusion, electroacupuncture (EA) was applied at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and the corresponding points ofpoints at health side for 15 min, once a day. The subgroups of opposing needling group were treated for 1 day, 3 days, 5 days and 7 days, respectively. No treatment was given in the model group. Samples were collected in the subgroups 1 day, 3 days, 5 days and 7 days after treatment. The morphological change of injured gastrocnemius muscle was observed by using microscope after HE staining. The positive cell rate of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of HGF protein and PCNA protein were observed by Western blot.

RESULTS① The results of HE staining showed that, 1 day after contusion, the inflammatory cells of gastrocnemius muscle in the opposing needling group were less than those in the model group; 3 days and 5 days after contusion, myoblasts and myotubes in the opposing needling group were more than those in the model group; 7 days after contusion, the neonatal muscle cells in the opposing needling group were more than those in the model group. ② The results of immunohistochemistry showed that, 1 day, 3 days and 5 days after contusion, the positive cell rate of PCNA in the opposing needling group was significantly higher than that in the model group (all<0.001); 7 days after contusion, the positive cell rate of PCNA in the opposing needling group was significantly less than that in the model group (<0.001). ③ The results of Western blot showed that, 1 day, 3 days and 5 days after contusion, the expression of HGF protein and PCNA protein in the opposing needling group was significantly higher than that in the model group (all<0.05); 7 days after contusion, the expression of HGF protein and PCNA protein in the opposing needling group was significantly lower than that in the model group (all<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture at opposite acupoints could regulate the expression of HGF and promote the activation, proliferation, migration and differentiation of muscle satellite cells in rats with skeletal muscle contusion, which could speed up the process of skeletal muscle injury repair.

Objective To explore the effects and mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) on denervation-induced atrophy in rats. Methods A total of 18 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham group (n=6), model group (n=6) and EA group (n=6). The latter two groups were clamped right sciatic nerve to establish atrophy model of skeletal muscle. On the second day after modeling, EA group accepted electroacupuncture on right Zusanli (ST36) and Huantiao (GB30) for two weeks. Their gastrocnemius muscles were obtained after intervention, and the wet weight ratio of the gastrocnemius muscles was calculated. The cross-sectional area (CSA) and diameter of muscle fibers were measured after HE staining. The protein expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR), 70-KD ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) and phosphorylated p70S6k (p-p70S6k) was tested with Western blotting. The gene expression of mTOR and p70S6K was detected with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results Compared with the sham group, the wet weight ratio of the gastrocnemius muscle, CSA and diameter of the muscle fibers decreased in the model group and EA group (P<0.001), which were more in EA group than in the model group (P<0.01); the protein expression of mTOR, p-mTOR, p70S6K and p-p70S6K increased in the model group (P<0.01), and increased more in EA group (P<0.05); the gene expression of mTOR and p70S6K increased in the model group (P<0.05) , and increased more in EA group (P<0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture delays the atrophy of denervated skeletal muscles, which may relate to activation of mTOR/p70S6K signal pathway to impact synthesis of skeletal muscle proteins.

Irrespective of physiological or pathological skeletal muscle atrophy, the endocrine and motor functions of skeletal muscle are impaired. The mechanism of acupuncture to prevent and treat skeletal muscle atrophy is not only related to classical protein synthesis and decomposition, but also involves apoptosis, autophagy, muscle satellite cell proliferation and differentiation, muscle fiber type conversion, neuromuscular junction conduction, and cell energy metabolism conversion.

Objective To investigate the correlations of P2Y12 gene polymorphisms with clopidogrel resistance and long-term outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods From June 2015 to June 2017, consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted to the Department of Neurology, Nanjing Jiangbei People's Hospital were enrolled. Thromboelastography was used to measure platelet inhibition rate and assess clopidogrel resistance. Polymerase chain reaction was used to assay C34T and G52T polymorphisms of P2Y12 gene. The patients were followed up at 12 months after discharge. The primary outcome was combined outcome of stroke recurrence, myocardial infarction, and death due to cardiocerebrovascular events. Results A total of 214 patients were enrolled, 51 (23.8%) had clopidogrel re-sistance and 29 (13.4%) had major outcome events. One hundred twenty-eight (59.8%) patients were C34T CC genotype and 86 (40.2%) were CT+TT genotype. The proportion of clopidogrel resistance in patients with CT+TT genotype was significantly higher than that with CC genotype ( 76.5% vs.28.8%;χ2=25.672, P=0.001). There were 131 patients (61.2%) with G52T GG genotype and 83 (38.8%) with GT+TT genotype. There was no significant difference in the proportion of clopidogrel resistance between the GT+TT genotype and the GG genotype (43.1% vs.37.4%; χ2=0.534, P=0.465). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that age (odds ratio [OR] 1.064, 95%confidence interval [CI] 1.009-1.115;P=0.021), diabetes ( OR 3.773, 95%CI 1.672-8.475; P=0.004), and C34T CT+TT genotype ( OR 9.087, 95%CI 4.416-22.665; P=0.002) were the independent risk factors fot clopidogrel resistance. Cox proportional hazards model analysis showed that age (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.058, 95%CI 1.001-1.121; P=0.049), hypertension ( HR 3.105, 95%CI 1.149-9.523; P=0.028), homocysteine ( HR 1.101, 95%CI 1.020-1.190; P=0.014), and C34T CT+TT genotype ( HR 2.588, 95%CI 1.121-5.967; P=0.026) were independent risk factors for the composite outcome. Conclusion C34T polymorphism of P2Y12 gene in patients with acute ischemic stroke may be a risk factor for clopidogrel resistance and is independently associated with the risk of long-term recurrence of vascular events.

Objective To investigate the epidemiology characteristics of crawfish related rhabdomyolysis (RM) in Nanjing, 2016.Methods Outpatient and inpatient electronic medical system of 21 hospitals in Nanjing during 2016 were retrospectively searched, and all the patients diagnosed with RM were selected. The patients with none crayfish-related RM was excluded. The epidemiology characteristics were depicted. The geographic information system (GIS) was used to collect, manage and analyze the spatial data, to visualize it, to analyze the spatial distribution features of the disease, and to explore the cause of disease prediction. GeoDa 1.8 software was used to analyze the global and local spatial auto-correlation.Results A total of 1183 patients with crawfish related RM were initially screened, excluding 59 patients with RM caused by trauma, severe exercise, heat stroke, myositis, poisoning, drugs, and genetic diseases, and 1124 patients were enrolled. The proportion of men was 36.48% (410/1124) with an incidence of 12.54/100 thousands; while of women was 63.52% (714/1124) with an incidence of 21.86/100 thousands. The median age at onset was 34 (28, 43) years. From July to August, the incidence of crawfish related RM was the highest, accounting for 96.53% of the total number of cases. The top four incidence areas were Pukou (41.54/100 thousands), Jianye (25.94/100 thousands), Qixia (25.73/100 thousands), Gulou (25.04/100 thousands), all of which were adjacent to the Yangtze River. Global spatial autocorrelation analysis showed: MoranI = 0.427,Z = 2.646,P = 0.003, suggesting that the crawfish related RM had positive spatial autocorrelation. The results showed that the spatial structure of crawfish related RM existed in Nanjing in 2016. Local spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that the high-high concentration areas were Pukou, Jianye and Liuhe. The incidences of above three areas which were the Nanjing section of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River flowed through the region and surrounding areas were higher than the overall incidence of Nanjing.Conclusion The prevalence of crawfish related RM in Nanjing during 2016 had an obvious region-concentrated character and global spatial autocorrelation with the high prevalent regions mainly concentrated in the urban areas adjacent to the Yangtze River.