Objectives:To investigate the clinical efficacy of bilateral mini-open Wiltse approach transforami-nal lumbar interbody fusion(MO-TLIF)in the treatment of degenerative lumbar diseases in the elderly.Meth-ods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 62 elderly patients with single-segment degenerative lumbar diseases who underwent MO-TLIF or minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(MIS-TLIF)inthe First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University between September 2017 and August 2020.Among them,37 were male and 25 were female,aged 68.0±5.5 years.The patients were divided into the MO-TLIF group(32 cases)and the MIS-TLIF group(30 cases).There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of gender ratio,age,body mass index(BMI),surgical segment,disease duration,or follow-up time(P＞0.05).The differences between the two groups were compared in terms of operative time,in-traoperative blood loss,intraoperative fluoroscopy,postoperative wound drainage,time to ambulation,hospital stay,complications,and fusion rate.The visual analogue scale(VAS),lumbar Japanese Orthopedic Association(JOA)scores,and Oswestry disability index(ODI)before surgery,at 3 months postoperatively,and at the final follow-up were recorded and compared.Results:The two groups of patients all successfully completed the surgery without significant surgery-related complications.There were no statistically significant differences be-tween the MO-TLIF and MIS-TLIF groups in terms of intraoperative blood loss(80.3±25.1mL vs.72.3±21.8mL),postoperative wound drainage volume(30.7±10.2mL vs.29.3±9.0mL),or hospital stay(5.4±0.9d vs.5.4±0.8d)(P＞0.05).Compared with the MIS-TLIF group,the MO-TLIF group had shorter operative time(90.8±8.8min vs.98.3±8.0min,P=0.001)and fewer number of intraoperative fluoroscopy(4.7±0.7 times vs.7.2±1.4 times,P＜0.001).Both groups showed significant improvement in low back pain VAS score,lumbar JOA score,and ODI at postoperative 3 months and final follow-up compared with preoperative values(P＜0.001),but there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups at the same time points(P＞0.05).At the fi-nal follow-up,no internal fixation-related complications such as screw or rod breakage were observed in both groups,and all the cases achieved bone fusion.Conclusions:Bilateral MO-TLIF can achieve good therapeutic outcomes in treating single-segment degenerative lumbar diseases,which can reduce intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency and shorten operative time comparing with MIS-TLIF.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy as conversion therapy for initially unresectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.Methods:This retrospective case series study analyzed clinical and pathological data of 32 patients with initially unresectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, from June 2020 to December 2024. The cohort included 27 males and 5 females, with an age ( M(IQR)) of 61(9)years (range:46 to 73 years). Five patients were diagnosed with stage Ⅲ, 27 with stage ⅣA. All patients received PD-1 inhibitor sintilimab combined with nedaplatin and albumin-bound paclitaxel. Radiological evaluations were performed every two cycles, the multidisciplinary team evaluation was conducted to determine conversion to resectable status, and patients with successful conversion underwent radical esophagectomy. Follow-up was conducted via telephone or outpatient visits every 3 to 6 months after the last treatment. The primary endpoint was R0 resection rate, secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), pathological complete response (pCR) rate, major pathological response (MPR) rate, event-free survival (EFS), disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with R0 resection, overall survival (OS) and safety. Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves and estimate median EFS, DFS, OS rates and their 95% CI. The 95% CI for ORR, pCR rate, MPR rate, and downstaging rate were calculated using the Clopper-Pearson method. Results:The median treatment cycle of 2(1) (range:2 to 8). As of June 2025, the median follow-up was 32.5(13.5)months (range:6.4 to 59.1 months). Among the 32 patients, 9 experienced progression or recurrence, including 2 with liver and lymph node metastases, 2 with lung metastases, 2 with thoracic vertebral metastases, and 3 with mediastinal lymph node metastases. After conversion therapy, 29 patients underwent surgery, achieving an R0 resection rate of 84.4% (95% CI:67.2% to 94.7%), a pCR rate of 27.6% (95% CI:12.7% to 47.2%), and an MPR rate of 55.2% (95% CI:35.7% to 73.6%). Grade 3 or higher surgical complications occurred in 6.9%(2/29) of patients, and grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events were observed in 15.6%(5/29). Among the 32 patients, the ORR was 56.3% (95% CI:37.7% to 73.6%),the 3-year EFS rate and OS rate was 59.4% (95% CI:40.8% to 86.4%) and 59.7% (95% CI:40.0% to 89.0%) respectively. Conclusion:Immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy demonstrates high conversion rates and favorable safety in the conversion therapy of initially unresectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, representing a promising treatment strategy.

Objective To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of proximal gastrectomy (PG) versus total gastrectomy (TG) for the treatment of Siewert type Ⅱ/Ⅲ adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG). Methods PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, EMbase, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases were searched for literature comparing the efficacy and safety of PG and TG for the treatment of Siewert type Ⅱ/Ⅲ AEG. The search period was from database inception to March 2023. Meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4 software. Results A total of 23 articles were included, including 16 retrospective cohort studies, 5 prospective cohort studies, and 2 randomized controlled trials. The total sample size was 2 826 patients, with 1 389 patients undergoing PG and 1 437 patients undergoing TG. Meta-analysis results showed that compared with TG, PG had less intraoperative blood loss [MD=−19.85, 95%CI (−37.20, −2.51), P=0.02] and shorter postoperative hospital stay [MD=−1.23, 95%CI (−2.38, −0.08), P=0.04]. TG had a greater number of lymph nodes dissected [MD=−6.20, 95%CI (−7.68, −4.71), P<0.001] and a lower incidence of reflux esophagitis [MD=3.02, 95%CI (1.24, 7.34), P=0.01]. There were no statistically significant differences between the two surgical approaches in terms of operative time, postoperative survival rate (1-year, 3-year, 5-year), and postoperative overall complications (P>0.05). Conclusion PG has advantages in terms of intraoperative blood loss and postoperative hospital stay, while TG has advantages in terms of the number of lymph nodes dissected and the incidence of reflux esophagitis. There is no significant difference in long-term survival between the two surgical approaches.

Chemotherapy is an important treatment for tumors， but most patients experience varying degrees of chemotherapy- induced myelosuppression. Four properties theory of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has unique advantages in improving chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression. The monomers from TCM with different properties and flavors， such as cold-natured （e.g. Scutellaria baicalensis， Rhus chinensis）， cool-natured （e.g. Ligustrum lucidum， Ophiopogon japonicus）， warm-natured （e.g. Panax ginseng， Epimedium brevicornu， Curcuma longa， Angelica sinensis）， hot-natured （e.g. Cinnamomum cassia， Aconitum carmichaeli）， and neutral-natured （e. g. donkey-hide gelatin， Lycium barbarum， Rhodiola rosea， fungi）， can exert anti- myelosuppressive effects by reducing damage to hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells， improving the bone marrow hematopoietic microenvironment， inhibiting the oxidative stress response， regulating signaling pathways， so as to ultimately repaire inflammatory damage and improve hematopoietic function， thereby playing an anti-myelosuppressive role.

Iron,a vital trace element and redox-active metal in the human body,is pivotal in cellular processes and en-gages in a multitude of biological reactions.Ferroptosis,an emerging form of regulated cell death,is predominantly instiga-ted by the excessive free iron that catalyzes reactive oxygen species(ROS)production via the Fenton reaction.This process results in the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids within the cellular lipid membrane,compromising the membrane's integrity and thereby inducing ferroptosis.In the context of diabetic retinopathy(DR),ferroptosis plays a sig-nificant role.The disruption of iron metabolism,the excessive accumulation of ROS,and the imbalance of the antioxidant system are key mechanisms contributing to ferroptosis in retinal tissues and the exacerbation of DR's pathological progres-sion.This review provides a systematic summary and in-depth discussion of the advancements in understanding the role of ferroptosis in DR pathogenesis,intending to offer valuable insights for future research endeavors in this field.

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the inhibitory effect and mechanism of mammary-derived extracellular vesicles(MmEVs)from mastitis dairy cows on the biofilm for-mation of Staphylococcus aureus SA1.The biofilm-forming ability of Staphylococcus aureus SA1 was confirmed using Congo red staining,and the biofilm growth curve of S.aureus SA1 was plot-ted using the crystal violet staining method.The minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC)and minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration(MBIC)of MmEVs against S.aureus SA1 were deter-mined.After treating S.aureus SA1 with different concentrations of MmEVs,the cell morphology of S.aureus SA1 was observed using transmission electron microscopy.The effects of MmEVs on S.aureus SA1 under low pH(pH value=5)or heat stress(58℃)were investigated.The hydro-phobicity index was explored using the microbial adhesion to hydrocarbons(MATH)assay.Bacte-rial conductivity was measured.The expression levels of biofilm-related genes(SarA,icaB,FnbA,ClfB,CidA,and gyrB)were detected using quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR).The results showed that MIC of MmEVs against the biofilm of S.aureus SA1 was 1 000 mg/L,and the MBIC was 500 mg/L.Under the influence of MmEVs,the internal substances of S.aureus SA1 leaked,the biofilm boundary became blurred,and the cell wall separated.At the MBIC concentration,MmEVs significantly reduced the tolerance of S.aureus SA1 to low pH(P＜0.001)and high tem-perature(P＜0.001),decreased hydrophobicity(P＜0.001),and increased bacterial conductivity(P＜0.001).At the MBIC concentration,MmEVs significantly downregulated the gene expression of Sa rA(P＜0.001),icaB(P＜0.001),FnbA(P＜0.001),ClfB(P＜0.001),and CidA(P＜0.001)in S.aureus SA1,while no significant effect was observed on the expression of the gyrB gene.In summary,MmEVs inhibit the formation of Staphylococcus aureus SA1 biofilms by sup-pressing the gene expression of SarA,icaB,FnbA,ClfB,and CidA within the biofilm.This dis-ruption damages the biofilm's morphological structure,reduces its tolerance to low pH and high temperature,decreases hydrophobicity,and increases bacterial conductivity,thereby ultimately in-hibiting the formation of S.aureus SA1 biofilms.

Objectives:To investigate the clinical efficacy of bilateral mini-open Wiltse approach transforami-nal lumbar interbody fusion(MO-TLIF)in the treatment of degenerative lumbar diseases in the elderly.Meth-ods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 62 elderly patients with single-segment degenerative lumbar diseases who underwent MO-TLIF or minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(MIS-TLIF)inthe First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University between September 2017 and August 2020.Among them,37 were male and 25 were female,aged 68.0±5.5 years.The patients were divided into the MO-TLIF group(32 cases)and the MIS-TLIF group(30 cases).There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of gender ratio,age,body mass index(BMI),surgical segment,disease duration,or follow-up time(P＞0.05).The differences between the two groups were compared in terms of operative time,in-traoperative blood loss,intraoperative fluoroscopy,postoperative wound drainage,time to ambulation,hospital stay,complications,and fusion rate.The visual analogue scale(VAS),lumbar Japanese Orthopedic Association(JOA)scores,and Oswestry disability index(ODI)before surgery,at 3 months postoperatively,and at the final follow-up were recorded and compared.Results:The two groups of patients all successfully completed the surgery without significant surgery-related complications.There were no statistically significant differences be-tween the MO-TLIF and MIS-TLIF groups in terms of intraoperative blood loss(80.3±25.1mL vs.72.3±21.8mL),postoperative wound drainage volume(30.7±10.2mL vs.29.3±9.0mL),or hospital stay(5.4±0.9d vs.5.4±0.8d)(P＞0.05).Compared with the MIS-TLIF group,the MO-TLIF group had shorter operative time(90.8±8.8min vs.98.3±8.0min,P=0.001)and fewer number of intraoperative fluoroscopy(4.7±0.7 times vs.7.2±1.4 times,P＜0.001).Both groups showed significant improvement in low back pain VAS score,lumbar JOA score,and ODI at postoperative 3 months and final follow-up compared with preoperative values(P＜0.001),but there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups at the same time points(P＞0.05).At the fi-nal follow-up,no internal fixation-related complications such as screw or rod breakage were observed in both groups,and all the cases achieved bone fusion.Conclusions:Bilateral MO-TLIF can achieve good therapeutic outcomes in treating single-segment degenerative lumbar diseases,which can reduce intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency and shorten operative time comparing with MIS-TLIF.

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the inhibitory effect and mechanism of mammary-derived extracellular vesicles(MmEVs)from mastitis dairy cows on the biofilm for-mation of Staphylococcus aureus SA1.The biofilm-forming ability of Staphylococcus aureus SA1 was confirmed using Congo red staining,and the biofilm growth curve of S.aureus SA1 was plot-ted using the crystal violet staining method.The minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC)and minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration(MBIC)of MmEVs against S.aureus SA1 were deter-mined.After treating S.aureus SA1 with different concentrations of MmEVs,the cell morphology of S.aureus SA1 was observed using transmission electron microscopy.The effects of MmEVs on S.aureus SA1 under low pH(pH value=5)or heat stress(58℃)were investigated.The hydro-phobicity index was explored using the microbial adhesion to hydrocarbons(MATH)assay.Bacte-rial conductivity was measured.The expression levels of biofilm-related genes(SarA,icaB,FnbA,ClfB,CidA,and gyrB)were detected using quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR).The results showed that MIC of MmEVs against the biofilm of S.aureus SA1 was 1 000 mg/L,and the MBIC was 500 mg/L.Under the influence of MmEVs,the internal substances of S.aureus SA1 leaked,the biofilm boundary became blurred,and the cell wall separated.At the MBIC concentration,MmEVs significantly reduced the tolerance of S.aureus SA1 to low pH(P＜0.001)and high tem-perature(P＜0.001),decreased hydrophobicity(P＜0.001),and increased bacterial conductivity(P＜0.001).At the MBIC concentration,MmEVs significantly downregulated the gene expression of Sa rA(P＜0.001),icaB(P＜0.001),FnbA(P＜0.001),ClfB(P＜0.001),and CidA(P＜0.001)in S.aureus SA1,while no significant effect was observed on the expression of the gyrB gene.In summary,MmEVs inhibit the formation of Staphylococcus aureus SA1 biofilms by sup-pressing the gene expression of SarA,icaB,FnbA,ClfB,and CidA within the biofilm.This dis-ruption damages the biofilm's morphological structure,reduces its tolerance to low pH and high temperature,decreases hydrophobicity,and increases bacterial conductivity,thereby ultimately in-hibiting the formation of S.aureus SA1 biofilms.

Iron,a vital trace element and redox-active metal in the human body,is pivotal in cellular processes and en-gages in a multitude of biological reactions.Ferroptosis,an emerging form of regulated cell death,is predominantly instiga-ted by the excessive free iron that catalyzes reactive oxygen species(ROS)production via the Fenton reaction.This process results in the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids within the cellular lipid membrane,compromising the membrane's integrity and thereby inducing ferroptosis.In the context of diabetic retinopathy(DR),ferroptosis plays a sig-nificant role.The disruption of iron metabolism,the excessive accumulation of ROS,and the imbalance of the antioxidant system are key mechanisms contributing to ferroptosis in retinal tissues and the exacerbation of DR's pathological progres-sion.This review provides a systematic summary and in-depth discussion of the advancements in understanding the role of ferroptosis in DR pathogenesis,intending to offer valuable insights for future research endeavors in this field.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy as conversion therapy for initially unresectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.Methods:This retrospective case series study analyzed clinical and pathological data of 32 patients with initially unresectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, from June 2020 to December 2024. The cohort included 27 males and 5 females, with an age ( M(IQR)) of 61(9)years (range:46 to 73 years). Five patients were diagnosed with stage Ⅲ, 27 with stage ⅣA. All patients received PD-1 inhibitor sintilimab combined with nedaplatin and albumin-bound paclitaxel. Radiological evaluations were performed every two cycles, the multidisciplinary team evaluation was conducted to determine conversion to resectable status, and patients with successful conversion underwent radical esophagectomy. Follow-up was conducted via telephone or outpatient visits every 3 to 6 months after the last treatment. The primary endpoint was R0 resection rate, secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR), pathological complete response (pCR) rate, major pathological response (MPR) rate, event-free survival (EFS), disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with R0 resection, overall survival (OS) and safety. Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves and estimate median EFS, DFS, OS rates and their 95% CI. The 95% CI for ORR, pCR rate, MPR rate, and downstaging rate were calculated using the Clopper-Pearson method. Results:The median treatment cycle of 2(1) (range:2 to 8). As of June 2025, the median follow-up was 32.5(13.5)months (range:6.4 to 59.1 months). Among the 32 patients, 9 experienced progression or recurrence, including 2 with liver and lymph node metastases, 2 with lung metastases, 2 with thoracic vertebral metastases, and 3 with mediastinal lymph node metastases. After conversion therapy, 29 patients underwent surgery, achieving an R0 resection rate of 84.4% (95% CI:67.2% to 94.7%), a pCR rate of 27.6% (95% CI:12.7% to 47.2%), and an MPR rate of 55.2% (95% CI:35.7% to 73.6%). Grade 3 or higher surgical complications occurred in 6.9%(2/29) of patients, and grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events were observed in 15.6%(5/29). Among the 32 patients, the ORR was 56.3% (95% CI:37.7% to 73.6%),the 3-year EFS rate and OS rate was 59.4% (95% CI:40.8% to 86.4%) and 59.7% (95% CI:40.0% to 89.0%) respectively. Conclusion:Immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy demonstrates high conversion rates and favorable safety in the conversion therapy of initially unresectable locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, representing a promising treatment strategy.