Objective To explore the causal relationship between immune cells and heart failure (HF), and the mediating role of serum metabolites, in order to identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Methods We employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis method based on genome-wide association study (GWAS) data, analyzing the direct and indirect effects of 731 types of immune cells and 1 400 metabolites on HF. We selected valid instrumental variables and conducted statistical analyses using R software. The primary analysis was performed using the inverse variance weighted method, supplemented by MR-Egger analysis and weighted median method. The stability of the results was assessed through tests such as Cochran’s Q test. Results Our research found a negative causal relationship between PD-L1 on CD14−CD16+ and HF. Sensitivity analysis supported this result. The reverse MR analysis did not find an effect of HF on PD-L1 on CD14−CD16+, indicating that PD-L1 on CD14−CD16+ might play a unidirectional role in reducing the risk of HF. Further mediation MR analysis showed that PD-L1 on CD14−CD16+ might influence the risk of HF onset by regulating the levels of sphingomyelin (d17:1/14:0, d16:1/15:0), with a mediation effect ratio of 6.7%. Conclusion PD-L1 on CD14−CD16+ may reduce the risk of HF by elevating the levels of sphingomyelin (d17:1/14:0, d16:1/15:0), which provides a new perspective for understanding the pathogenesis of HF.

Objective:To investigate the safety and feasibility of one-stage flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy without ureteral access sheath or ureteral stent in the treatment of upper ureteral calculi and renal calculi with a long diameter of≤10 mm.Methods:A total of 70 patients with upper ureteral calculi or renal calculi with a long diameter of≤10 mm who were admitted to Guang'an Hospital,West China Hospital of Sichuan University,from January 2023 to June 2024 were enrolled and randomly divided into experimental group(without ureteral access sheath or ureteral stent)and control group(with ureteral access sheath and ureteral stent),with 35 patients in each group.The patients in the experimental group did not use a ureteral access sheath or a ureteral stent,while those in the control group used the ureteral access sheath and the ureteral stent.The two groups were compared in terms of preoperative data,intraoperative complications,stone clearance rate,length of hospital stay,hospital costs,and postoperative complications.Results:There were no sig-nificant differences between the two groups in preoperative data such as age,body mass index,sex,previous history of stone surgery,af-fected side,maximum stone diameter,C-reactive protein,aggregation system separation,preoperative CT value of stones,and stone lo-cation.The experimental group had a significantly shorter time of operation than the control group[(44.94±52.60)minutes vs.(52.60±14.22)minutes,t=2.240,P=0.030].There were no significant differences between the two groups in intraoperative data such as ureteral injury,intraoperative leukocyte changes,and intraopera-tive blood loss.The experimental group had significantly lower hos-pital costs than the control group[(8041.89±1287.57)yuan vs.(13 011.63±1 780.21)yuan,t=13.450,P=0.000].There were no significant differences between the experimental group and the con-trol group in the postoperative data such as the length of hospital stay,the recurrence of calculi on CT at 1 and 3 months after sur-gery,stone clearance rate,postoperative urinary tract irritation,post-operative ureteral injury,postoperative hematuria,and postoperative hydronephrosis(P>0.05).Conclusion:One-stage flexible uretero-scopic lithotripsy without ureteral access sheath or ureteral stent is safe and feasible in the treatment of upper ureteral calculi and renal calculi with a long diameter of≤10 mm and can effectively reduce hospital costs and time of operation.

Objective:This meta-analysis compares the postoperative outcomes of the double-flap technique (DFT) versus esophagogastrostomy (EG), jejunal interposition (JI), double-tract reconstruction (DTR), and gastric tube anastomosis (GTA) following proximal gastrectomy for gastric cancer.Methods:Prospective and retrospective studies published from database inception until June 2025 were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, CNKI, and Wanfang databases. Studies reporting at least one predefined outcome with extractable data were included. Outcomes of interest consisted of incidence of gastroesophageal reflux, overall postoperative complications, anastomotic leakage, anastomotic stenosis, and digestive reconstruction time. Two investigators independently performed literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were evaluated with the Cochrane ROB 2.0 tool, retrospective cohort studies with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), and single-arm studies with the JBI critical appraisal tool. Dichotomous outcomes were pooled using risk ratios (RRs), and continuous variables were summarized with standardized mean differences (SMDs), using fixed- or random-effects models based on I2 statistics. Publication bias was assessed via funnel plots and Egger's test.Results:A total of 55 studies published between 2007 and 2025 were included, comprising 5 RCTs and 50 retrospective studies. Among 4,380 patients, 732 underwent EG, 454 GTA, 1,480 DTR, 468 JI, and 1,246 DFT. Quality assessment indicated that all except six retrospective cohort studies (rated as moderate quality) were of high quality or had low risk of bias. Among the five reconstruction methods, DFT showed the lowest incidence of gastroesophageal reflux (6.6%, 82/1,246) and overall postoperative complications (11.6%, 144/1,246). JI had the lowest rate of anastomotic leakage (1.3%, 6/468), followed by DFT (1.4%, 18/1,246), and DTR had the lowest rate of anastomotic stenosis (2.4%, 36/1,480), followed by DFT (7.5%, 94/1,246). DFT required the longest operative time for reconstruction ([141.2 ± 597.6] minutes), and DTR required the shortest ([50.1 ± 39.0] minutes). Compared to EG, DFT was associated with a significantly lower risk of gastroesophageal reflux (RR=0.13 ,95%CI: 0.03-0.55, P = 0.01), and no significant differences were observed in overall complications (RR=0.98, 95%CI: 0.55-1.74, P = 0.93), anastomotic leakage (RR = 0.81, 95%CI: 0.04-18.43, P = 0.90), or anastomotic stenosis (RR = 0.75, 95%CI: 0.09-6.39, P = 0.79). Compared to JI, DFT showed no significant differences in gastroesophageal reflux (RR = 0.36, 95%CI: 0.10-1.25, P=0.11), overall complications (RR=2.06, 95%CI: 0.30-14.11, P=0.46), anastomotic leakage (RR=2.05, 95%CI: 0.26-16.18, P=0.49), or anastomotic stenosis (RR=0.83, 95%CI: 0.10-7.17, P=0.87). Similarly, compared to DTR, DFT had a lower risk of overall complications (RR=0.70, 95%CI: 0.50-0.98, P=0.04) but a longer reconstruction time (SMD: 2.55, 95%CI: 0.31-4.79, P=0.03). No significant differences were found in gastroesophageal reflux (RR = 0.68, 95%CI: 0.35-1.30, P=0.24), anastomotic leakage (RR=0.59, 95%CI: 0.16-2.17, P=0.43), or anastomotic stenosis (RR=2.44 , 95%CI: 0.44-13.64, P=0.31). Compared to GTA, DFT was associated with a significantly lower risk of gastroesophageal reflux (RR = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.33-0.88, P=0.01), but again there were no significant differences in overall complications (RR = 0.69, 95%CI: 0.41-1.16, P=0.16), anastomotic leakage (RR = 0.25, 95%CI: 0.03-2.14, P=0.21), or anastomotic stenosis (RR=0.65, 95%CI: 0.24-1.76, P=0.40). No significant publication bias was detected in the analysis (Egger's test P>0.05). Conclusions:Among the five common anastomotic methods after proximal gastrectomy, DFT demonstrates superior anti-reflux efficacy, outperforming EG and GTA in particular in preventing gastroesophageal reflux. DFT also exhibits a lower overall complication risk compared with DTR but maintains anastomotic safety comparable with that of the other techniques.

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of digital 3D technology assisted and traditional one-hole split endoscopic surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis with degenerative scoliosis(LSS-DS).Methods Clinical data of 42 patients with LSS-DS who underwent one-hole split endoscopic surgery from January 2022 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.Among them,20 cases were treated with digital 3D technology assisted one-hole split endoscopic surgery(3D group),and 22 cases were treated with traditional one-hole split endoscopic surgery(traditional group).The operation time,intraoperative blood loss,lateral articular surface preservation rate,Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)of lower extremity pain,Oswestry Disability Index(ODI)and modified MacNab criteria at the last follow-up were compared between the two groups.Results Both groups of patients were operated successfully.The operation time of the 3D group and the traditional group was(73.3±24.0)min and(65.7±23.8)min,respectively,with no significant difference(t=1.020,P=0.314).The intraoperative blood loss was(65.3±14.7)ml and(66.7±17.1)ml,respectively,with no significant difference(t=-0.298,P=0.767).The retention rate of lateral articular surface in the 3D group[(88.2±6.3)%]was significantly higher than that in the traditional group[(82.7±4.6)%,t=3.201,P=0.003].One patient in the traditional group had dural tear and was cured after conservative treatment.There were 3 cases of calf muscle venous thrombosis in the 3D group and 4 cases in the traditional group.All the 7 patients were given anticoagulant therapy and appropriately delayed time of ambulation.In the3D group,20 cases were followed up for6-13 months,with a mean of(8.2±2.0)months;in the traditional group,22 cases were followed up for 6-12 months,with a mean of(7.7±1.7)months.According to the modified MacNab criteria,the excellent and good rate was 95.0%(19/20)in the 3D group and 90.1%(20/22)in the traditional group at the last follow-up,and there was no significant difference between the two groups(Z=-0.311,P=0.756).The VAS score and ODI of the two groups were significantly improved at 3 months and 6 months after operation(all P=0.000),but there was no significant difference between the two groups at each time point(P>0.05).Conclusion The short-term efficacy of digital 3D technology assisted one-hole split endoscopic surgery in the treatment of LSS-DS is definite,and the symptoms of patients are significantly improved.

Objective To explore the mechanism of GS-9620 in improving imiquimod(IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like inflammation by regulating the Th1/Th17-related immune response,and to investigate its regulatory effect on the gut microbiota in mice.Methods An IMQ-induced psoriasis-like inflammation model was established in BALB/c mice.The severity of the skin lesions was evaluated by psoriasis area and severity index(PASI)score.The proportions of CD4+interleukin(IL)-17+and CD4+interferon(IFN)-γ+cells in spleen tissue were detected by flow cytometry.Levels of the inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 in skin tissues were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and pathological analysis was performed by hematoxylin/eosin staining.The effects of GS-9620 on the structure of the gut microbiota in control,IMQ model,and GS-9620-treated mice were detected by 16S rRNA sequencing.Results GS-9620 significantly reduced the PASI score in IMQ-induced mice and effectively reduced the proportions of CD4+IL-17+and CD4+IFN-γ+cells in the spleen.GS-9620 also significantly down-regulated the expression levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 in skin tissues.16S rRNA sequencing showed that GS-9620 significantly regulated the abundance of gut microbiota related to inflammation,including the relative abundances of bacteria such as Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group,Lachnospiraceae_UCG-008,Alloprevotella,Desulfovibrio,Prevotellaceae_UCG-001,and Alistipes.Conclusions GS-9620 effectively alleviates IMQ-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation in mice by regulating the expression of Th1/Th17-related inflammatory factors.It may also improve IMQ-induced clinical symptoms by regulating the structure of the gut microbiota,thus providing a new theoretical basis for the treatment of psoriasis.The result of this study provide important experimental evidence to support further investigations into the application of GS-9620 for the treatment of psoriasis.

Objective:To investigate the role of mRNA expression in the pathogenesis of gout by analyzing the difference of gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)among acute gouty(AG),intermittent gouty(IG)and health con-trols(HC).Methods:AG patients,IG patients and HC were enrolled in this study.RNA-seq and bioinformatics techniques were used to observe the differences of mRNA expression in PBMCs of different groups,and to explore the genes and signaling pathways as-sociated with gout attack.GO and KEGG databases were used to investigate the biological functions of differentially expressed genes and the relationship between genes and signaling pathways.Genes involved in the KEGG enriched PPAR signaling pathway(CYP27A1,ACSL1,CD36,PPARG,ANGPTL4,PLIN2)were validated in PBMCs from 35 patients with AG,35 patients with IG,and 35 normal healthy subjects using real-time PCR.Results:Compared with HC group,there were 222 significant differential genes in AG group,including 193 up-regulated genes and 29 down-regulated genes.GO analysis showed that the genes differentially ex-pressed in AG group were mainly enriched in the regulation of multicellular biological processes such as inflammation,trauma,and stress response and immune response regulation compared with HC group.However,KEGG analysis showed that the up-regulated genes in AG group were enriched in"Toll-like receptor signaling pathway""complement and coagulation cascades""PPAR signaling pathway""lipid and atherosclerosis""osteoclast differentiation""cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction""chemokine signaling path-way""IL-17 signaling pathway",and"cholesterol metabolism"compared with HC group.The results of PCR validation of related genes in the PPAR signaling pathway showed that the expression levels of ACSL1,CD36,PPARG,and PLIN2 in the AG group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05),and the expression levels of CYP27A1 and ANGPTL4 in the AG group were not dif-ferent from those in the HC group(P>0.05).Conclusion:PPAR signaling pathway may be involved in the pathogenesis of AG,of which ACSL1,CD36,PPARG,and PLIN2 may be used as potential therapeutic targets for acute gouty arthritis;CYP27A1 and ANG-PTL4 may not be associated with the pathogenesis of AG.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of two thrombus thrombectomy devices,AcoStream and AngioJet,in the treatment of acute iliofemoral vein thrombosis(AIFVT).Methods A total of 97 AIFVT patients were treated with different thrombus clearing devices according to their states of illness,and patients were divided into the AcoStream group(41 cases)and the AngioJet group(56 cases).The thrombus clearing status,degree of swelling reduction in affected limb,surgical time and intraoperative blood loss were compared between the two groups,and the need for assisted catheter contact thrombolysis(CDT)treatment,urokinase dosage,iliac vein stent placement,incidence of complications,length of hospital stay and hospitalization costs were also compared between the two groups.Regular follow-up was conducted to record for recurrence of thrombosis,the patency of the stent,deep vein thrombosis syndrome(PTS)and PTS degree were evaluated in lower limbs.Results There were no significant differences in age,gender,affected limb,time of illness,site of illness and causes of illness between the two groups(P＞0.05).The operation was successful in both groups and the thrombus removal effect was satisfactory.There were no significant differences in terms of thrombus clearance rate,the degree of swelling reduction in the limb 48 hours after surgery and assisted CDT rate between the two groups(P＞0.05).Compared with the AcoStream group,the AngioJet group had a longer surgical time,reduced intraoperative blood loss,increased hospitalization costs and higher rates of complications(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the recurrence rate of thrombosis between the two groups(P＞0.05),and there was no occurrence of iliac vein stent occlusion or PTS in either patients.Conclusion Two mechanical thrombus clearing devices of AcoStream and AngioJet are safe and effective for treating AIFVT.

This study systematically collated and textual researched realgar from aspects such as name,origin,and quality by consulting ancient herbal texts,classic medical books,and modern literature.The textual research shows that current herbal works all take"realgar"as the official name,with aliases including"Huangshi shi","Shihuang","Tianyang shi","Jiguan shi","Xunhuang","Chouhuang",and"Mingxiong",etc.Ancient herbal records indicate that Xunhuang,Chouhuang,and Shuiku Realgar are all Realgar,while Orpiment is its associated mineral.In ancient times,the main production areas of Realgar were in Gansu,with outputs also seen in Shandong and Hunan.Nowadays,it is mainly produced in Hunan,Guizhou,Hubei,Gansu,Yunnan,Sichuan and other regions.Ancient herbal works mentioned characteristics like"cockscomb color","non-stinky","solid","red and bright"in their quality evaluation,while modern herbal works mostly evaluate its quality by color and texture,such as"red color","large blocks","brittle texture","glossy".The traditional efficacy of Realgar is to dry dampness,kill insects,detoxify various poisons,treat sores and activate blood.Modern studies have shown it also has anti-tumor,antibacterial and antiviral effects.Processing methods in past dynasties included water grinding,vinegar processing,refining,etc.,and currently,water grinding and acid water grinding are commonly used.This paper observed the properties of Realgar,detected the content of As?S?,and analyzed the microscopic characteristics and far-infrared spectral characteristics of qualified batches of Realgar.It was finally found that the As?S? content of qualified batches of Realgar was all more than 90%;under the scanning electron microscope,it showed massive shape,uniform distribution,obvious particles,and no agglomeration;a small amount of associated mineral Orpiment crystals were observed under the polarizing microscope;the characteristic peaks of Realgar(343-344 cm?1,224-225 cm?1,372-374 cm?1,367-369 cm?1,359 cm?1,207-208 cm?1,193-194 cm?1,168-170 cm?1)and Orpiment(390 cm?1,380 cm?1,347 cm?1,311 cm?1,300 cm?1,201 cm?1,182 cm?1,158 cm?1 and 139 cm?1)were determined."Red color and glossy"can be used as property references,"Realgar is a sulfide mineral of the Realgar family,with the main chemical component As?S?,associated with Orpiment"can be used as origin references,and"Shimen in Hunan,Wanshan in Guizhou,Yunnan,Gansu,Sichuan"can be used as production area references,which are consistent with the results of herbal textual research.This study provides a basis for the identification and analysis of Realgar,with a view to better guiding clinical medication and resource utilization.

Objective To quantify the mean fat fraction(FF)values of hip abductor muscles using the MR least squares estimation method of iterative water-fat separation(IDEAL-IQ)technique and to analyze the correlation between muscle fat infiltration and cartilage damage in hip osteoarthritis(HOA),age and gender.Methods Ninety-five patients with clinical symptoms of hip joint(HOA group)and volunteers(control group)underwent MRI conventional sequence and IDEAL-IQ sequence scans of the hip joint were selected.Hip cartilage damage was graded based on conventional MRI sequences(mild HOA group and severe HOA group),and the FF values of hip abductor muscles were measured for each group.ANOVA analysis and Pearson correlation tests were used to compare the differences between the groups and correlation analyses were performed.Results The FF values of hip abductor muscles in the mild HOA group and severe HOA group were significantly higher than those in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).There were correlations between the FF values of hip abductor muscles and the degree of HOA cartilage damage,age and gender(r=0.677,0.566,0.311).Conclusion The IDEAL-IQ technique can be used for quantitative research on muscle fat infiltration,and fat infiltration in hip abductor muscles is an important risk factor for HOA cartilage damage.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) assisted bilateral decompression in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation with imaging herniation on one side and clinical symptoms on the contralateral side.Methods:A total of 20 patients with lumbar disc herniation with imaging herniation on one side and clinical symptoms on the contralateral side treated with UBE from January 2022 to January 2024 in the Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. There were 9 males and 11 females, aged 50.4±14.0 years (range, 23-72 years). The intervertebral disc herniation level included L 3-4 in 1 case, L 4-5 in 15 cases, and L 5S 1 in 4 cases. There were 10 cases on the left side and 10 cases on the right side. The duration of symptoms was 24.1±33.7 months (range, 1-120 months). Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used to evaluate postoperative pain relief and functional recovery. The clinical efficacy was evaluated by modified MacNab criteria at 6 months after operation. Results:All patients successfully completed the operation. The operation time was 90.3±24.6 min (range, 55-134 mins). The VAS scores of patients at 3 days, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after operation were 3.6±0.9, 2.2±0.7, 1.2±0.5 and 1.0±0.6, respectively, which were lower than those before operation (6.4±0.8), and the differences were statistically significant ( F=668.728, P<0.001). The ODI at 3 days, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after operation were 34.2%±4.7%, 28.7%±2.8%, 24.3%±2.1% and 20.5%±2.0%, respectively, which were lower than 69.4%±5.2% before operation, and the differences were statistically significant ( F=515.578, P<0.001). The clinical efficacy was evaluated by modified MacNab criteria at 6 months after operation. Among 20 patients, 18 cases were excellent, 1 case was good, and 1 case was fair. All patients were followed up for 9.1±2.1 months (range, 6-14 months). One patient had a dural tear during the operation, but the range was small and there was no defect, and no further treatment was performed. Numbness of the lower limbs occurred 1 day after operation, and the symptoms disappeared after symptomatic treatment. There was no recurrence of lower limb symptoms, lumbar instability, intervertebral space infection or other complications at the last follow-up. Conclusion:Bilateral decompression with UBE is effective in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation with imaging herniation on one side and clinical symptoms on the contralateral side, which can improve the lumbar pain and function of patients.