Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Long's spinal manipulation therapy combined with four postures of rotational tendon-releasing maneuver in treating lumbar disc herniation(LDH).Methods Sixty-eight patients diagnosed with LDH were enrolled from the Department of Acupuncture and Rehabilitation at Guangdong Second Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital between July 2024 and December 2024.Patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group using a random number table,with 34 cases in each group.The control group received Long's spinal manipulation therapy,while the observation group received additional training in four postures of rotational tendon-releasing maneuver.Both groups were treated for 2 weeks,with a 1-month follow-up.Clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment by comparing Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)scores,Oswestry Disability Index(ODI)scores,and Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)scores before and after intervention.Spinal parameters including maximum lumbar curvature angle,pelvic tilt angle,and maximum vertebral rotation angle were assessed using the DIERS formetric 3D evaluation system.Results(1)The total effective rate was 94.12%(32/34)in the observation group and 91.18%(31/34)in the control group,and both groups achieved ideal therapeutic efficacy,but the difference was not statistically significant(P＞0.05).(2)After treatment,the VAS scores of patients in the two groups significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group in improving VAS scores,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).At the 1-month follow-up after treatment,the VAS score of the observation group significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(3)After treatment,the JOA and ODI scores of the patients in the two groups significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group in improving the JOA and ODI scores,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).At 1-month follow-up after treatment,JOA and ODI scores of the observation group significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).(4)After treatment,the maximum angle of lumbar flexion,pelvic torsion angle,and maximum rotation angle of the vertebral body of the two groups of patients were significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly better than the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).At the 1-month follow-up after treatment,the maximum angle of lumbar flexion,pelvic torsion angle,and maximum vertebral rotation angle of the observation group were significantly improved(P＜0.05),and the observation group was significantly superior to the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion The combination of Long's spinal manipulation therapy and four postures of rotational tendon-releasing maneuve significantly improves spinal alignment,reduces pain and disability,and enhances quality of life in patients with LDH,demonstrating notable clinical efficacy.

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is a prevalent malignancy that afflicts the head and neck area and presents a high incidence of metastasis and invasion. Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment are essential for enhancing the quality of life and the survival rates of TSCC patients. The current treatment modalities for TSCC frequently suffer from a lack of specificity and efficacy. Nanoparticles with diagnostic and photothermal therapeutic properties may offer a new approach for the targeted therapy of TSCC. However, inadequate accumulation of photosensitizers at the tumor site diminishes the efficacy of photothermal therapy (PTT). This study modified gold nanodots (AuNDs) with the TSCC-targeting peptide HN-1 to improve the selectivity and therapeutic effects of PTT. The Au-HN-1 nanosystem effectively targeted the TSCC cells and was rapidly delivered to the tumor tissues compared to the AuNDs. The enhanced accumulation of photosensitizing agents at tumor sites achieved significant PTT effects in a mouse model of TSCC. Moreover, owing to its stable long-term fluorescence and high X-ray attenuation coefficient, the Au-HN-1 nanosystem can be used for fluorescence and computed tomography imaging of TSCC, rendering it useful for early tumor detection and accurate delineation of surgical margins. In conclusion, Au-HN-1 represents a promising nanomedicine for imaging-based diagnosis and targeted PTT of TSCC.
Tongue Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/diagnostic imaging* ; Animals ; Gold/chemistry* ; Mice ; Photothermal Therapy/methods* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Photosensitizing Agents ; Metal Nanoparticles ; Humans ; Cell Line, Tumor

Image 1.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the application value of infrared thermography in the design and harvesting of ultrathin anterolateral thigh perforator flaps. METHODS: Between June 2024 and December 2024, 9 cases of ultrathin anterolateral thigh perforator flaps were designed and harvested with the assistance of infrared thermography. There were 7 males and 2 females, aged 21-61 years (mean, 39.8 years). The body mass index ranged from 19.49 to 26.45 kg/m² (mean, 23.85 kg/m²). Causes of injury included 5 cases of traffic accident injuries and 4 cases of machine crush injuries. There were 3 cases of leg wounds, 2 cases of foot wounds, and 4 cases of hand wounds. After debridement, the size of wound ranged from 7 cm×4 cm to 13 cm×11 cm. The time from admission to flap repair surgery was 5-12 days (mean, 7 days). Preoperatively, perforator localization was performed using a traditional Doppler flow detector and infrared thermography, respectively. The results were compared with the actual intraoperative locations; a discrepancy ≤10 mm was considered as consistent localization (positive), and the positive predictive value was calculated. All 9 cases were repaired with ultrathin anterolateral thigh perforator flaps designed and harvested based on thermographic images. The size of flap ranged from 8 cm×5 cm to 14 cm×8 cm, with a thickness of 3-6 mm (mean, 5.2 mm). One donor site was repaired with a full-thickness skin graft, and the others were sutured directly. Postoperatively, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and anti-vascular spasm treatments were administered, and follow-up was conducted. RESULTS: The Doppler flow detector identified 22 perforating vessels within the set range, among which 16 were confirmed as superficial fascia layer perforators intraoperatively, with a positive predictive value of 72.7%. The infrared thermograph detected 23 superficial fascia layer perforating vessels, and 21 were verified intraoperatively, with a positive predictive value of 91.3%. There was no significant difference between the two methods [OR (95%CI)=3.93 (0.70, 22.15), P=0.100]. The perforator localization time of the infrared thermograph was (5.1±1.3) minutes, which was significantly shorter than that of the Doppler flow detector [(10.1±2.6) minutes; MD (95%CI)=-5.00 (-7.08, -2.91), P<0.001]. Postoperatively, 1 case of distal flap necrosis healed after dressing change; all other flaps survived successfully. The skin grafts at donor site survived, and all incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 3-6 months (mean, 4.7 months). No pain or other discomfort occurred at the donor or recipient sites. All patients with foot wounds could walk with shoes, and no secondary flap revision was required. Flaps in 3 hand wound cases, 2 foot wound cases, and 3 leg wound cases recovered light touch and pressure sensation, but not pain or temperature sensation; the remaining 2 cases had no sensory recovery. CONCLUSION Preoperative localization using infrared thermography for repairing ultrathin anterolateral thigh perforator flaps can help evaluate the blood supply status of perforators, reduce complications, and improve surgical safety and flap survival rate.
Humans ; Perforator Flap/blood supply* ; Adult ; Male ; Thermography/methods* ; Female ; Thigh/blood supply* ; Middle Aged ; Plastic Surgery Procedures/methods* ; Tissue and Organ Harvesting/methods* ; Infrared Rays ; Skin Transplantation/methods* ; Soft Tissue Injuries/surgery* ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the association and diagnostic performance of liver imaging reporting and data system(LI-RADS)CT signs with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)both in the LI-RADS target population and patients without LI-RADS-defined HCC risk factors.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 435 patients with 482 hepatic lesions confirmed by pathology.Of these,306 cases were assigned to the HCC group(327 HCC lesions),and other 129 cases were assigned to the non-HCC group(77 malignancies and 78 benign lesions).Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis assessed the diagnostic performance of LI-RADS v2018 CT signs for HCC,and logistic regression analyses determined the association of CT signs with HCC.Results The asso-ciation of CT signs with all HCC lesions was statistically significant for non-peripheral washout[odds ratio(OR)15.1;95％ confi-dence interval(CI)5.6-40.4;P＜0.01]and non-rim arterial phase hyperenhancement(APHE)(OR 12.4;95％ CI 7.5-20.5;P＜0.01)higher than enhanced capsule(OR 9.9;95％ CI 2.8-34.8;P＜0.01;OR 2.4;95％ CI 1.4-3.8;P=0.01).The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value(PPV),and area under the curve(AUC)for diagnosing HCC were 85％,83％,91％,and 0.84,respectively for non-peripheral washout;82％,77％,88％ and 0.79,respectively for non-rim APHE;and 31％,98％,97％ and 0.65,respectively for enhanced capsule.Sensitivity(88％ vs 87％),specificity(83％ vs 82％),PPV(92％ vs 91％)and AUC(0.90 vs 0.87)were all slightly higher when non-peripheral washout,non-rim APHE,enhanced capsule,and ancillary features were combined for the diagnosis of HCC compared to combining the three major features.Enhanced capsule(OR 13.3;95％ CI 3.6-48.9;P＜0.01),blood products in mass(OR 20.3;95％ CI 2.4-171.4;P＜0.01),and mosaic appearance(OR 37.7;95％ CI 4.2-340.0;P＜0.01)were associations with HCC presenting with atypical imaging features and provided high specificity from 98％ to 99％.Conclusion In theLI-RADS target population and patients without LI-RADS-defined HCC risk factors,LI-RADS v2018 CT signs show excellent diag-nostic performance for HCC.Two ancillary features,blood products in mass and mosaic appearance,show good specificity for HCC with atypical imaging features.

Objective This study aims to investigate the effects of acupuncture on the spatial learning and memory capacities,the morphological characteristics of hippocampal neurons,the components of extracellular matrix,as well as the structure of the blood-brain barrier in SAMP8 mice.Moreover,it endeavors to explore the underlying mechanism through which the"Tongdu Qishen"(activating governor vessel and awakening spirit)acupuncture method ameliorates the cognitive function and modulates cerebral blood flow in SAMP8 mice.Methods Twenty 6-month-old male SAMP8 mice were randomly allocated into a model group and an electroacupuncture group,with ten mice in each group.Additionally,ten homologous 6-month-old male SAMR1 mice were designated as the normal control group.In the electroacupuncture group,the acupoint"Renzhong"(GV 26)was punctured using a quick insertion technique,while"Baihui"(GV 20)and"Yintang"(EX-HN 3)were punctured via a transverse insertion method.Subsequently,the needle handles were connected to an electroacupuncture apparatus,which was set to operate with a dense-sparse wave at a frequency of 100 Hz/2 Hz and an electric current of 2 mA.Each session of acupuncture lasted for 20 minutes and was conducted once a day for a consecutive period of 28 days.The normal group,the model group,and the electroacupuncture group all underwent identical fixation and restraint procedures to ensure consistent experimental conditions.The Morris water maze was employed to evaluate the spatial learning and memory abilities of the mice.The Nissl staining technique was utilized to assess the alterations in hippocampal neurons of SAMP8 mice.The laser speckle imaging system was adopted to measure the cerebral blood flow of the mice in each group.Transmission electron microscopy was applied to observe the ultrastructure of the blood-brain barrier within the frontal cortex tissue of the SAMP8 mice's brains.The Western blotting method was used to detect the expressions of Collagen-Ⅳ and Fibronectin in the brain tissues of SAMP8 mice.Results In comparison with the model group,the"Tongdu Qishen"acupuncture method demonstrated a significant efficacy in improving the spatial learning and memory abilities of SAMP8 mice(P<0.05).It also effectively alleviated the degeneration of hippocampal neurons,remarkably increased the cerebral blood flow perfusion volume of SAMP8 mice(P<0.05),ameliorated the damage to the blood-brain barrier structure,significantly upregulated the content of Collagen-Ⅳ(P<0.05),and significantly downregulated the content of Fibronectin(P<0.0001).Conclusion The"Tongdu Qishen"acupuncture method is capable of favorably regulating the extracellular matrix of SAMP8 mice,thereby improving cerebral blood flow and ultimately enhancing their learning and memory abilities.

Objective:To explore the value of deep learning (DL) models based on conventional MRI in differentiating orbital solitary fibrous tumors (SFT) from schwannomas.Methods:This was a case-control study. A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with pathologically confirmed orbital SFT and schwannoma admitted to Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University (institution 1) from December 2014 to January 2022 and Ninth People′s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (institution 2) from July 2015 to May 2022. A total of 140 patients were included, with 104 patients from institution 1 comprising the training cohort for building DL models and 36 patients from institution 2 comprising the external validation cohort for assessing model performance. Based on the preoperative cross-sectional fat-suppressed T 2WI and contrast-enhanced T 1WI (ceT 1WI), tumor contours were outlined on all tumor-containing slices. Six diagnostic models were constructed using residual networks (ResNet) and split-attention residual networks (ResNeSt) with 18 layers (ResNet-18 and ResNeSt-18), based solely on individual T 2WI and ceT 1WI, as well as a combination of both. A radiology resident and an attending radiologist independently reviewed conventional MRI images to determine the tumor type. The performance of the DL models and radiologists in differentiating orbital SFT from schwannoma in the external validation cohort was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves, and the areas under the curves (AUC) were compared using the DeLong test. Results:In the external validation cohort, the AUC (95% CI) of the ResNet-18 models based on T 2WI, ceT 1WI, and their combination were 0.861 (0.719-1), 0.896 (0.774-1), and 0.885 (0.755-1), respectively, while the AUC (95% CI) of the ResNeSt-18 models were 0.889 (0.748-1), 0.872 (0.726-1), and 0.910 (0.801-1), respectively. Among these, the ResNeSt-18 model based on the combined sequences achieved the best performance in differentiating the two tumors. The AUC (95% CI) for the individual interpretation of the radiology resident and attending radiologist were 0.729 (0.571-0.887) and 0.771 (0.618-0.923), respectively. The AUC of the ResNeSt-18 model based on the combined sequences was statistically significantly higher than those of the resident and attending radiologist ( Z=1.96, P=0.049; Z=2.00, P=0.045). Conclusion:The ResNeSt-18 model based on conventional MRI can effectively differentiate orbital SFT from schwannoma, demonstrating better performance than those of the radiology resident and the attending radiologist.

Objective Tetanus is a serious infectious diseases with high mortality,which is an important global public health issue.This study aims to analyze the epidemiological burden and changing trends of tetanus in China from 1990 to 2021,providing a basis for disease prevention and control.Methods Epidemiological indicators and global socio-demographic index(SDI)related to tetanus in China were retrieved and collected from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease database(GBD 2021).The trend analysis of the incidence rate,mortality rate and disability-ad-justed life years(DALYs)rate of tetanus in China from 1990 to 2021 was conducted by Joinpoint 5.3 software.Results From 1990 to 2021,the age-standardized incidence rate(ASIR),age-standardized mortality rate(ASMR),and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years(DALYs)rate of tetanus in China decreased significantly(average annual percent change[AAPC]＜0,P＜0.001),with males being significantly higher than females.The crude incidence rate,crude mortality rate,and crude DALYs rate for all age groups showed overall declining trends,with the lar-gest decline in the 0-14 years age group.In 2021,the crude incidence rate,crude mortality rate,and crude DALYs rate of tetanus in the population aged 70-years were higher than those in the population aged 0-14,15-49,and 50-69 years groups.The ASIR,ASMR,and age-standardized DALYs rate of tetanus in China in 2021 were lower than the global level,only higher than those in the high SDI regions.Conclusion From 1990 to 2021,the disease burden of tetanus in China varied with gender and age,with an overall declining trend over time.It is necessary to strengthen tetanus health education for males and the ≥70 years population,and to improve the overall level of pri-mary prevention measures for tetanus.

AIM:To investigate the effects of total flavonoids of Pterocarya hupehensis Skan(PHSTF)on dex-tran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis(UC)mouse model and lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages.METHODS:Thirty-six male C57BL/6J mice(6 to 8 weeks old,SPF grade)were randomly di-vided into 6 groups:negative control(NC)group,3%DSS-induced model group,mesalazine(300 mg·kg-1·d-1)group,and low-dose(62.5 mg·kg-1·d-1),medium-dose(125 mg·kg-1·d-1)and high-dose(250 mg·kg-1·d-1)PHSTF treatment groups,with 6 mice in each group.The mice in NC group received distilled water,while those in other groups were treated with a 3%DSS solution for 7 d to induce the UC model.On the 1st day of DSS administration,the mice in treatment groups received the corresponding agents via oral gavage for 10 d,while those in NC and model groups were gavaged with distilled water.Throughout the study,the effects of PHSTF on body weight,fecal blood,and colon length were measured and recorded daily.Histopathological changes in colon tissues were assessed using hematoxylin-eosin staining.The levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in colon tissues were quantified using ELISA.The LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophage model was employed to evaluate the cellular effects of PHSTF.Cell viability was assessed by CCK-8 assay,and cell morphology was observed under a microscope.The mRNA expression of inflammatory markers[IL-1β,inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS),IL-10 and arginase-1(Arg-1)]was measured by RT-qPCR.Western blot and immunofluorescence double labeling were used to detect the protein expression of macrophage polarization markers(iNOS,CD206 and Arg-1).Finally,immunohistochemistry(IHC)was utilized to as-sess protein expression of iNOS in colon tissues.RESULTS:Compared to the DSS-induced UC model group,PHSTF sig-nificantly improved several parameters,including weight loss(P<0.05),rectal bleeding,and colon shortening in DSS-treated mice.PHSTF also reduced histopathological damage and inflammatory cell infiltration in the colon.It decreased IL-1β levels(P<0.05)and increased IL-10 levels(P<0.05)in colon tissues.In LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells,PHSTF reduced the mRNA expression of IL-1β and iNOS(P<0.01),while upregulating the mRNA expression of IL-10 and Arg-1(P<0.01).Additionally,PHSTF decreased iNOS protein expression(P<0.01)and elevated the expression of Arg-1 and CD206 proteins(P<0.01).IHC analysis further confirmed that PHSTF downregulated iNOS protein expression in colon tissues.CONCLUSION:Treatment with PHSTF promotes the polarization of macrophages from the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype to the anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype,thereby alleviating inflammation in colon tissue and ameliorating ulcer-ative colitis in mice.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of lamb′s tripe extract and vitamin B 12 capsule (LTEVB 12C) on chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) at different locations (antrum lesser curvature, antrum greater curvature, gastric angle, corpus lesser curvature, and corpus greater curvature). Methods:From August 2011 to January 2013, 715 patients with CAG in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial were enrolled from 16 tertiary first-class hospitals across the country, including the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, the First Hospital of Jilin University, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, etc., there were 476 cases in the LTEVB 12C group and 239 cases in the placebo group. The patients of the LTEVB 12C group received LTEVB 12C, and the patients of placebo group received LTEVB 12C mimetic, all the medications were taken 3 capsules each time and 3 times a day after meals, and the treatment course of 2 groups were both 6 months. The efficacy evaluation criteria included the effective rate (a decrease of ≥1 in histopathological score compared with baseline after 6 months of treatment) and the reversal rate (a decrease of ≥ 2 in histopathological score compared with baseline after 6 months of treatment in the patients with moderate to severe CAG). The impact of lesion sites on the therapeutic effects of LTEVB 12C was analyzed by logistic regression analysis. The two-way unordered Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test considering the center effect and Pearson chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results:The effective rates of chronic inflammation at the antrum greater curvature and corpus greater curvature (23.3%, 110/473 vs. 13.0%, 31/239; 20.3%, 96/472 vs. 12.6%, 30/239), the effective rates of atrophy at the antrum lesser curvature, antrum greater curvature, gastric angle, corpus lesser curvature, and the corpus greater curvature (27.0%, 118/437 vs. 15.7%, 34/216; 29.2%, 126/432 vs. 18.5%, 38/205; 27.8%, 121/435 vs. 16.7%, 36/216; 32.5%, 127/391 vs. 19.8%, 37/187; 33.0%, 119/361 vs. 21.8%, 39/179), and the effective rates of intestinal metaplasia at the antrum lesser curvature, antrum greater curvature, gastric angle, and the corpus lesser curvature (45.0%, 112/249 vs. 29.8%, 31/104; 53.8%, 86/160 vs. 33.9%, 21/62; 45.8%, 103/225 vs. 24.0%, 25/104; 51.9%, 83/160 vs. 28.3%, 17/60) of the LTEVB 12C group were all higher than those of the placebo group, and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=10.76, 6.39, 9.69, 7.91, 11.05, 9.62, 8.57, 5.20, 7.11, 12.45, and 6.73; all P<0.05). The reversal rates of chronic inflammation at the corpus lesser curvature and corpus greater curvature (5.2%, 12/231 vs. 0, 0/123; 4.7%, 8/170 vs. 0, 0/88), the reversal rates of atrophy at the antrum lesser curvature, antrum greater curvature, corpus lesser curvature, and the corpus greater curvature (6.8%, 22/323 vs. 1.3%, 2/151; 9.2%, 29/315 vs. 1.4%, 2/144; 14.2%, 38/267 vs. 2.5%, 3/121; 20.8%, 35/168 vs. 5.8%, 4/69), and the reversal rates of intestinal metaplasia at the antrum lesser curvature, antrum greater curvature, gastric angle, and the corpus lesser curvature (29.8%, 39/131 vs. 9.1%, 4/44; 41.0%, 32/78 vs. 12.5%, 3/24; 33.3%, 44/132 vs. 4.8%, 3/63; 50.0%, 37/74 vs. 8.7%, 2/23) of the LTEVB 12C group were all higher than those of the placebo group, and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=6.58, 5.12, 5.60, 8.61, 11.43, 6.59, 7.30, 4.95, 15.92, 7.62; all P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the effective rates and reversal rates of active inflammation at different locations between the LTEVB 12C group and the placebo group (all P>0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis (taking the antrum lesser curvature as the reference) further confirmed that the reversal rates of chronic inflammation ( OR=0.22, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.07 to 0.67; OR=0.24, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.80), atrophy ( OR=0.28, 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.49; OR=0.28, 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.49), and intestinal metaplasia ( OR=0.42, 95% CI: 0.24 to 0.77; OR=0.20, 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.52) at the corpus lesser curvature and corpus greater curvature were all higher than those at the antrum lesser curvature, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). There were no statistically siginificant differences in the reversal rates of the aforementioned pathological features between the antrum greater curvature, gastric angle, and the antrum lesser curvature (all P>0.05). Conclusion:LTEVB 12C can achieve good efficacy in the treatment of CAG, and the chronic inflammation, atrophy, and intestinal metaplasia at multiple locations are improved, especially at the corpus lesser curvature and the corpus greater curvature.