Objective: To summarize the long-term efficacy and safety of sacral neuromodulation (SNM) in treating refractory interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS)，so as to provide clinical evidence for this therapeutic approach. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the data of 27 patients with refractory IC/BPS treated at our hospital during Jan.2015 and Dec.2021.All patients underwent SNM Ⅱ.The therapeutic effects were evaluated with Global Response Assessment (GRA).The preoperative and postoperative daily urinary frequency，nocturia frequency，functional bladder capacity，O'Leary-Sant score，pelvic pain，urgency and frequency (PUF) score，quality of life (QoL) score，and visual analogue scale (VAS) score were compared. Results: During the follow-up of (55.55±16.33) months，12 patients showed no symptom relief (GRA≤4)，while 15 experienced symptom relief (GRA>4)，resulting in an efficacy rate of 55.56% (15/27).The average daily urination frequency decreased from (28.74±13.84) to (24.74±16.33) times,the O'Leary-Sant score decreased from (30.19±5.35) to (25.63±9.34)，PUF score decreased from (25.63±5.34) to (22.04±8.29)，QoL score decreased from (5.67±0.55) to (4.33±1.57)，and VAS score decreased from (8.04±1.91) to (5.33±3.09)，the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). No complications such as incision infections or pain at the implant site were observed. Conclusion: SNM is safe and effective for refractory IC/BPS，but there is a risk of long-term failure.Therefore，patients should be discreetly selected.

The oral glucose growth hormone suppression test is commonly used in the clinical diagnosis of acromegaly, but its results can be influenced by a variety of factors. This case report discusses a patient with a pituitary tumor and concurrent liver cirrhosis, highlighting the complexities in interpreting test results under such conditions. The patient, a 54-year-old male, presented with blurred vision as his primary complaint. Notably, the physical examination revealed no changes in facial features, no enlargement of hands or feet, and no other symptoms typically associated with acromegaly, which might otherwise suggest excessive growth hormone activity. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the pituitary gland indicated that the gland was within normal size parameters, but a small low-intensity lesion mea-suring approximately 3 mm×2 mm identified. This finding was consistent with a pituitary microadenoma. The patient's fasting growth hormone levels were significantly elevated at 8.470 μg/L, compared with the normal range of less than 2.47 μg/L. Conversely, fasting insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels were notably low, recorded at 41 and 52 μg/L, whereas the normal range for a person of his age was between 87 and 234 μg/L. Other pituitary hormones, including those regulating the thyroid, adrenal cortex, and sex hormones, were found to be within normal ranges. Despite this, during the glucose growth hormone suppression test, an abnormal elevation of growth hormone was observed. To investigate further, the patient was administered branched-chain amino acids, and the suppression test was repeated. However, the abnormal elevation of growth hormone persisted, indicating a failure to normalize the response. Given the patient's lack of clinical signs typically associated with elevated growth hormone secretion, the history of liver cirrhosis became a significant consideration. The disparity between elevated growth hormone levels and reduced IGF-1 levels suggested that the pituitary lesion was a non-functional adenoma rather than a source of excess hormone production. Consequently, it was concluded that the abnormal response of growth hormone to the glucose suppression test was likely related to the patient's liver cirrhosis. In addition to chronic liver disease, various other conditions could influence the results of the oral glucose tolerance growth hormone suppression test. According to the literature, factors such as puberty, diabetes, anorexia nervosa, and protein malnutrition could also affect test outcomes. These conditions could cause similar abnormalities in growth hormone dynamics, complicating the diagnosis. Therefore, clinicians must be vigilant and consider these potential influences when interpreting test results.For an accurate diagnosis of acromegaly, it is essential to combine clinical symptoms, detailed medical history, and imaging studies. The presence of conditions like liver cirrhosis should prompt careful interpretation of the test results, ensuring that other contributing factors are not overlooked. This comprehensive approach is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis and to ensure that appropriate treatment strategies are implemented based on a thorough understanding of the patient's overall health status.
Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms/blood* ; Liver Cirrhosis/blood* ; Adenoma/blood* ; Human Growth Hormone/blood* ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I/metabolism* ; Acromegaly/etiology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in regulating energy metabolism and obesity progression through mechanisms involving short-chain fatty acid and bile acid metabolism pathways. Obese individuals often exhibit gut microbiota dysbiosis, which can influence lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity through microbial metabolites and signaling mechanisms. Dietary, pharmaceutical, and bariatric metabolism surgery can modulate the gut microbial, strongly correlating with weight reduction and metabolic benefits. Emerging microbiome-modulating strategies, such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, can restore microbial homeostasis and improve bile acid processing, but results differ among people. Moreover, the structural specificity of dietary fibers enables targeted microbial modulation, which provide new perspectives for developing anti-obesity therapies. This review summarizes the mechanisms of interaction between gut microbiota and the host and the clinical research progress in obesity intervention.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MASLD)is a chronic liver condition intricately linked to metabolic abnormalities such as obesity,type 2 diabetes,dyslipidemia,and hypertension.The global prevalence of MASLD continues to rise,posing a significant public health challenge.The pathogenesis of MASLD is multifactorial,with the"multiple-hit"hypothesis suggesting that hepatic lipid accumulation,insulin resistance,oxidative stress,gut microbiota dysbiosis,and genetic factors collectively drive disease progression.Currently,clinical management primarily relies on lifestyle interventions;however,there is a lack of targeted pharmacological interventions,and there is an urgent need to investigate novel adjunctive therapeutic strategies.In recent years,probiotics have demonstrated potential value in MASLD treatment due to their capacity to modulate gut microbiota,enhance insulin sensitivity,and reduce liver inflammation.This review systematically examines the pathogenesis of MASLD and the limitations of existing therapeutic approaches,synthesizing the latest evidence of probiotics-assisted therapy for MASLD from the perspectives of animal studies and clinical trials.By analyzing the target mechanisms and molecular pathways of different strains(e.g.,Bifidobacterium,Lactobacillus),this review explores the translational potential of probiotics in MASLD treatment,aiming to provide a theoretical foundation and future research directions.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effectiveness of three internal fixation methods, namely hollow screw combined with Kirschner wire tension band, hollow screw combined with anchor nail, and modified 1/3 tubular steel plate, in the treatment of avulsion fracture of tibial tubercle (AFTT) in adolescents. METHODS: Between January 2018 and September 2023, 19 adolescent AFTT patients who met the selection criteria were admitted. According to different internal fixation methods, patients were divided into group A (8 cases, hollow screw combined with Kirschner wire tension band), group B (6 cases, hollow screw combined with anchor nail), and group C (5 cases, modified 1/3 tubular steel plate). There was no significant difference in the baseline data of age, gender, side, cause of injury, Ogden classification, and time from injury to operation among the three groups ( P>0.05). The range of motion (ROM), weight-bearing time, normal activity time of knee joint, and the hospital for special surgery (HSS) score at last follow-up were recorded and compared among the three groups. Recorded whether the fracture was displaced, whether the fracture line was blurred at 1 month after operation, whether there was epiphyseal dysplasia, and whether there was incision infection and other complications. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in hospital stay between the groups ( P>0.05). All patients were followed up 10-24 months, with an average of 14.3 months; there was no significant difference between the groups ( P>0.05). All the incisions healed well without soft tissue irritation or fracture nonunion, and no limb shortening deformity or epiphyseal dysplasia was found during follow-up. At 1 month after operation, the knee joint ROM and hospitalization expenses in group A were better than those in groups B and C, the fracture healing time, knee joint weight-bearing time, and normal activity time of knee joint were better than those in group C, and the hospitalization expenses in group C were better than those in group B, with significant differences ( P<0.05); there was no significant difference in the other indicators between the groups ( P>0.05). In group A, the fracture line was blurred 1 month postoperatively, the fracture ends were in close contact, and there was no fracture displacement; in groups B and C, the fracture line was clear in 2 cases, and 1 case in group C had slight fracture displacement; except for 1 case in group B, there was no fracture split in the other two groups. There was no significant difference in the incidences of blur of fracture line, fracture displacement, and intraoperative bone split between the groups at 1 month after operation ( P>0.05). At last follow-up, the HSS scores of knee joints in the three groups were excellent and good, and there was no significant difference between the groups ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION Hollow screw combined with Kirschner wire tension band technique is effective in treating adolescent AFTT, which has the advantages of stabilizing fracture, accelerating fracture healing and rehabilitation, early feasible knee joint functional exercise, and reducing hospitalization expenses.
Humans ; Tibial Fractures/surgery* ; Adolescent ; Male ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Female ; Fractures, Avulsion/surgery* ; Bone Wires ; Bone Screws ; Bone Plates ; Treatment Outcome ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Bone Nails ; Weight-Bearing ; Fracture Healing

OBJECTIVE: To explore effectiveness of intermediate screw assisted reduction and fixation technique in the treatment of Schatzker type Ⅴ and Ⅵ tibial plateau fractures. METHODS: A clinical data of 22 patients with Schatzker type Ⅴ and Ⅵ tibial plateau fractures, who were admitted between June 2022 and December 2023 and met the selection criteria, was retrospectively analyzed. During operation, the intermediate screw assisted reduction and fixation technique was used. There were 14 males and 8 females with an average age of 46.3 years (range, 17-65 years). The fractures were caused by traffic accident in 13 cases, by falls in 5 cases, and by falling from height in 4 cases. According to Schatzker classification criteria, 9 cases were type Ⅴ and 13 cases were type Ⅵ. The interval between injury and operation was 5-12 days (mean, 7.9 days). The operation time, intraoperative fluoroscopy times, and length of hospital stay were recorded. The range of motion of knee joint and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score were recorded at last follow-up. X-ray films were taken to review the fracture healing. Rasmussen score, tibial plateau varus angle (TPVA), and posterior tibial slope (PTS) were estimated before operation, at immediate after operation, and at last follow-up in order to evaluate the fracture reduction effect and postoperative outcome. RESULTS: The operation time was 85-140 minutes (mean, 103.9 minutes). Intraoperative fluoroscopy was performed 7-15 times (mean, 10.1 times). All incisions healed by first intention after operation, and no complication such as nerve or blood vessel injury occurred. The length of hospital stay ranged from 8 to 17 days (mean, 12.4 days). All patients were followed up 10-22 months (mean, 14.8 months). At last follow-up, the range of motion of knee joint was 110°-140° (mean, 125°). HSS score was rated as excellent in 16 cases, good in 5 cases, and fair in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate of 95.5%. X-ray films reexamination showed that all fractures healed with the healing time of 12-17 weeks (mean, 14.8 weeks). No internal fixation failure occurred. Rasmussen score, TPVA, and PTS at immediate after operation and at last follow-up were significantly superior to those before operation ( P<0.05). And there was no significant difference between immediately after operation and last follow-up ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION The treatment of Schatzker type Ⅴ and Ⅵ tibial plateau fractures with intermediate screw assisted reduction and fixation technique is reliable, which can reduce the difficulty of reduction and fixation, improve the efficiency of reduction and fixation, reduce the operation time, achieve satisfactory reduction and fixation effect and postoperative prognosis, and achieve good recovery of knee joint function.
Humans ; Tibial Fractures/diagnostic imaging* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Bone Screws ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/instrumentation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Adolescent ; Aged ; Young Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Operative Time ; Length of Stay ; Tibial Plateau Fractures

OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical characteristics of patients with traumatic spinopelvic dissociation (SPD) and explore the diagnostic and therapeutic methods. METHODS: A clinical data of 22 patients with SPD who underwent surgical treatment between March 2019 and August 2024 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 13 males and 9 females, with an average age of 35.5 years (range, 14-61 years). The causes of injury included falling from height in 16 cases, traffic accidents in 5 cases, and compression injury in 1 case. Sacral fractures were classified based on morphology into "U" type (9 cases), "H" type (7 cases), "T" type (4 cases), and "λ" type (2 cases). According to the Roy-Camille classification, there were 4 cases of type Ⅰ, 12 cases of type Ⅱ, 2 cases of type Ⅲ, and 4 cases of type Ⅳ. The Cobb angle was (35.7± 22.0)°. Sixteen patients were accompanied by lumbosacral trunk and cauda equina nerve injury, which was classified as grade Ⅱ in 5 cases, grade Ⅲ in 5 cases, and grade Ⅳ in 6 cases according to the Gibbons grading. The time from injury to operation was 2-17 days (mean, 5.7 days). Based on the type of sacral fracture and sacral nerve injury, 6 cases were treated with closed reduction and minimally invasive percutaneous sacroiliac screw fixation, 16 cases were treated with open reduction and lumbar iliac fixation (8 cases)/triangular fixation (8 cases). Among them, 11 patients with severe fracture displacement and kyphotic deformity leading to sacral canal stenosis or bony impingement within the sacral foramen underwent laminectomy and sacral nerve decompression. X-ray films and CT were reviewed during followed-up. The Matta score was used to evaluate the quality of fracture reduction. At last follow-up, the Majeed score was used to assess the functional recovery, and the Gibbons grading was used to evaluate the nerve function. RESULTS: All operations were successfully completed. All patients were followed up 8-64 months (mean, 20.4 months). Two patients developed deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs, 2 had incision infections, and 1 developed a sacral pressure ulcer; no other complications occurred. Radiological examination showed that the Cobb angle was (12.0±6.8)°, which was significantly different from the preoperative one ( t=6.000, P<0.001). The Cobb angle in 16 patients who underwent open reduction was (14.9±5.5)°, which was significantly different from the preoperative one [(46.8±13.9)° ] ( t=8.684, P<0.001). According to the Matta scoring criteria, the quality of fracture reduction was rated as excellent in 8 cases, good in 7 cases, fair in 5 cases, and poor in 2 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 68.2%. Bone callus formation was observed at the fracture site in all patients at 12 weeks after operation, and bony union achieved in all cases at last follow-up, with a healing time ranging from 12 to 36 weeks (mean, 17.6 weeks). At last follow-up, the Majeed score was rated as excellent in 7 cases, good in 10 cases, fair in 4 cases, and poor in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate of 77.3%. One patient experienced a unilateral iliac screw breakage at 12 months after operation, but the fracture had already healed, and there was no loss of reduction. Among the 16 patients with preoperative sacral nerve injury, 11 cases showed improvement in nerve function (6 cases) or recovery (5 cases). CONCLUSION SPD with low incidence, multiple associated injuries, and high incidence of sacral nerve injury, requires timely decompression of the sacral canal for symptomatic sacral nerve compression, fractures reduction, deformities correction, and stable fixation.
Humans ; Adult ; Female ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures/diagnostic imaging* ; Adolescent ; Sacrum/diagnostic imaging* ; Fracture Fixation, Internal/methods* ; Young Adult ; Pelvic Bones/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Bone Screws

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of V-shaped stealth decompression technique using ultrasonic bone scalpel in anterior surgery for adjacent two-level cervical spondylosis. METHODS: A clinical data of 41 patients with adjacent two-level cervical spondylosis, who admitted between January 2020 and December 2023 and met the selection criteria, was analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 22 cases were treated with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) assisted by V-shaped stealth decompression technique using ultrasonic bone scalpel (group A) and 19 cases with anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) (group B). There was no significant difference between the two groups in age, gender, disease duration, surgical segment, preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, neck dysfunction index (NDI), pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and the anteroposterior diameter of the spinal canal in the responsibility space of axial CT ( P>0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, hospital stay, complications during follow-up, JOA score, NDI, and VAS score at last follow-up, and the incidences of intervertebral fusion at 3 months after operation, and cage subsidence at last follow-up were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The operations in the two groups were successfully completed. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, and hospital stay in group A were significantly less than those in group B ( P<0.05). Two cases (9.1%) in group A and 4 cases (21.1%) in group B developed complications, with no significant difference in the incidence between the two groups ( P>0.05). All patients in the two groups were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 9.3 months). There was no significant difference in follow-up time between the two groups ( P>0.05). At last follow-up, the JOA score and VAS score in both groups significantly improved when compared with those before operation ( P<0.05). The change values of VAS score and the improvement rate of JOA score in group A were significantly superior to group B ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the change values of NDI and JOA score between the two group ( P>0.05). Imaging reexamination showed that the rate of intervertebral fusion at 3 months after operation was significantly higher in group A (81.8%) than in group B (52.6%) ( P<0.05), and all patients obtained bony intervertebral fusion at last follow-up. At last follow-up, 2 cases (9.1%) in group A and 11 cases (57.9%) in group B had cage sinking, and the difference in the incidence was significant ( P<0.05). No loosening or fracture of internal fixators occurred in all patients. CONCLUSION Using ultrasonic bone scalpel can transform single vertebral ACCF into two-segment ACDF in anterior cervical spondylosis surgery. The V-shaped stealth decompression technique is safe and efficient, with the advantages of minimal trauma, fewer postoperative complications, and rapid recovery of patients.
Humans ; Spondylosis/surgery* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Decompression, Surgical/instrumentation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Cervical Vertebrae/surgery* ; Spinal Fusion/instrumentation* ; Diskectomy/instrumentation* ; Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Aged ; Ultrasonic Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Operative Time

As a chronic and complex disease,obesity can cause many other diseases.Obesity is influenced by many factors.At present,the main treatment methods for obesity are behavioral intervention,medication,endoscopic therapy,and sleeve gastrectomy.New break-throughs and progress have achieved in medication.This article mainly introduces the latest clinical situation and adverse reactions of several representative drugs in glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists,such as liraglutide,semaglutide,and tirzepatide.This article mainly aims to analyze the safety and efficacy of these anti-obesity drugs and provide guidance for future clinical medication.

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis(AIS)is a complex three-dimensional deformity involving coronal,sagittal,and axial planes,with a prevalence that should not be overlooked.With advancements in technology and in-depth research,an increasing number of hospitals and physicians are exploring standardized diagnostic and treatment approaches for AIS.Comprehensive and in-depth understanding is required for AIS,including its etiology,screening and diagnosis,classification,assessment and examination,treatment options,exploration of current focus,and evaluation of quality of life.Such understanding ensures that the diagnostic and treatment are scientific,standardized,and timely.Based on the principles of evidence-based medicine,a consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of AIS is reached after multiple discussions among spinal surgery experts,aiming to provide reference and guidance for clinical practice.