OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of the direct stimulation of acupuncture at extraocular muscle attachment point on acquired extraocular muscle palsy. METHODS: Thirteen patients with acquired extraocular muscle palsy were treated with acupuncture directly at extraocular muscle (paralytic muscle) attachment point. Firstly, the intraocular conjunctival sac drops of topical anesthetic (procaine hydrochloride eye drops) were administered, 0.2 mL each time, once every 10 minutes, for a total of 3 times. Acupuncture was delivered immediately after the third drop. The sterile acupuncture needle for single use, 0.25 mm×25 mm, was inserted at the anatomical location of the corneal limbal attachment of paralytic extraocular muscle, with an angle of 10° to 15° formed between the needle tip and extraocular muscle, and a depth of 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm. Pivoted by the needle tip, the eyeball was moved passively towards the direction of normal action of orbital muscle, 30 to 50 times until the patient felt soreness of the eyeball; afterwards, the needle was removed. After acupuncture, levofloxacin eye drops were administered once (0.2 mL) at the affected eye. The treatment was given twice a week, and completed when diplopia disappeared. Before and after treatment, the diplopia and the synoptophore circumference were observed respectively. RESULTS: After 7 to 24 (15.46±5.56) times of direct stimulation with acupuncture at extraocular muscle attachment point, the symptoms of diplopia disappeared in 13 patients, the eye position restored to orthophoria, and the circumference of synoptophore was reduced to be (4.04±0.82)° from (19.38±3.98)° detected before treatment (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture directly at extraocular muscle attachment can attenuate diplopia and improve ocular muscle function in patients with acquired extraocular muscle palsy.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Oculomotor Muscles/physiopathology* ; Aged ; Acupuncture Points ; Ophthalmoplegia/physiopathology*

Objective:To summarize the surgical strategies and to evaluate the clinical outcomes of up-per urinary tract reconstruction in patients with stone-related ureteral strictures.Methods:This retro-spective study included 71 patients diagnosed with ureteral strictures secondary to urinary stones who un-derwent upper urinary tract reconstructive surgery at Peking University First Hospital between March 2014 and November 2023.Patient data were collected,including demographic characteristics,clinical presen-tation,laboratory results,imaging findings,surgical procedures,and follow-up outcomes.Ureteral stric-tures were classified according to anatomical location into upper,middle,lower,or multiple segments.Surgical procedures were carried out depending on the stricture characteristics.Surgical success was de-fined as resolution or improvement of clinical symptoms,radiographic improvement or stabilization of hy-dronephrosis,and maintenance of normal and stable renal function.Results:Among the 71 patients,36(50.7％)had strictures in the upper ureter,9(12.7％)in the middle ureter,15(21.1％)in the lower ureter,and 11(15.5％)had multifocal ureteral strictures.The median stricture length was 5.0 cm(interquartile range:3.0-15.0 cm).Surgical approach selection was individualized based on the location and extent of the stricture.For upper ureteral strictures,the most frequently employed techniques were oral mucosal graft ureteroplasty(13/36,36.1％)and appendiceal flap ureteroplasty(8/36,22.2％).Other options included ureteroureterostomy and ileal ureter replacement for longer or more complex strictures.In middle ureteral strictures,treatment was stratified by length:balloon dilation(1/9,11.1％)and ureteroureterostomy(1/9,11.1％)were applied in shorter strictures,while oral mucosal graft ureteroplasty(3/9,33.3％)and ileal ureter replacement(4/9,44.4％)were reserved for longer segments.For lower ureteral strictures,ureteral reimplantation into the bladder was the most common approach(10/15,66.7％),often combined with a psoas hitch or Boari flap when necessary.All the patients with multiple segmental strictures underwent ileal ureter replacement due to the extensive nature of the disease.The median follow-up period was 14.2 months(range:6.1-107.1 months).During follow-up,69 of 71 patients(97.2％)achieved surgical success.Conclusion:Stone-related ure-teral strictures present with considerable heterogeneity in terms of anatomical location,length,and com-plexity.Careful preoperative evaluation and individualized surgical planning are critical to successful re-construction.With appropriate selection of surgical methods,favorable long-term clinical outcomes can be achieved in the majority of patients.

Objective:To compare the clinical characteristics of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) patients with or without secondary subretinal fibrosis (SF).Methods:A retrospective case-control study. A total of 88 patients (92 eyes) diagnosed with nAMD at Department of Ophthalmology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from January 2020 to January 2024 were enrolled in this study. All eyes underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), color fundus photography, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) examinations. BCVA was measured using the international standard visual acuity chart and converted to logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution for statistical analysis. SF area was measured on color fundus images. OCT was used to assess the presence of shallow irregular retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) elevation, RPE detachment, ellipsoid zone/external limiting membrane disruption, subretinal fluid and/or intraretinal fluid, thinning of the inner nuclear layer or inner plexiform layer, complete RPE and outer retinal atrophy (cRORA), epiretinal membrane, and suprachoroidal fluid. Device-integrated software measured central retinal thickness (CRT), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), and the height and width of subfoveal fibrosis in SF eyes. Based on the presence of SF, patients were divided into the SF group (47 eyes) and the non-SF (NSF) group (45 eyes). Baseline characteristics, OCT, and color fundus photography imaging features were compared between groups. Independent samples t tests were used for intergroup comparisons, and multiple linear regression was performed to analyze potential factors influencing SF height. Results:Compared with the NSF group, the SF group had a longer disease duration, longer symptom onset to initial treatment interval to receiving anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drug treatment, a lower proportion of patients receiving 3 anti-VEGF drug injections within 6 months, worse BCVA, thicker SFCT, higher rates of pigment epithelial detachment and inner nuclear layer or inner plexiform layer thinning, and a lower rate of subretinal fluid ( P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in CRT or the proportions of irregular retinal pigment epithelia, ellipsoid zone/external limiting membrane disruption, cRORA, suprachoroidal fluid, or epiretinal membrane between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:nAMD eyes with secondary SF exhibit distinct OCT imaging features compared to NSF eyes.

Objective:To summarize the surgical strategies and to evaluate the clinical outcomes of up-per urinary tract reconstruction in patients with stone-related ureteral strictures.Methods:This retro-spective study included 71 patients diagnosed with ureteral strictures secondary to urinary stones who un-derwent upper urinary tract reconstructive surgery at Peking University First Hospital between March 2014 and November 2023.Patient data were collected,including demographic characteristics,clinical presen-tation,laboratory results,imaging findings,surgical procedures,and follow-up outcomes.Ureteral stric-tures were classified according to anatomical location into upper,middle,lower,or multiple segments.Surgical procedures were carried out depending on the stricture characteristics.Surgical success was de-fined as resolution or improvement of clinical symptoms,radiographic improvement or stabilization of hy-dronephrosis,and maintenance of normal and stable renal function.Results:Among the 71 patients,36(50.7％)had strictures in the upper ureter,9(12.7％)in the middle ureter,15(21.1％)in the lower ureter,and 11(15.5％)had multifocal ureteral strictures.The median stricture length was 5.0 cm(interquartile range:3.0-15.0 cm).Surgical approach selection was individualized based on the location and extent of the stricture.For upper ureteral strictures,the most frequently employed techniques were oral mucosal graft ureteroplasty(13/36,36.1％)and appendiceal flap ureteroplasty(8/36,22.2％).Other options included ureteroureterostomy and ileal ureter replacement for longer or more complex strictures.In middle ureteral strictures,treatment was stratified by length:balloon dilation(1/9,11.1％)and ureteroureterostomy(1/9,11.1％)were applied in shorter strictures,while oral mucosal graft ureteroplasty(3/9,33.3％)and ileal ureter replacement(4/9,44.4％)were reserved for longer segments.For lower ureteral strictures,ureteral reimplantation into the bladder was the most common approach(10/15,66.7％),often combined with a psoas hitch or Boari flap when necessary.All the patients with multiple segmental strictures underwent ileal ureter replacement due to the extensive nature of the disease.The median follow-up period was 14.2 months(range:6.1-107.1 months).During follow-up,69 of 71 patients(97.2％)achieved surgical success.Conclusion:Stone-related ure-teral strictures present with considerable heterogeneity in terms of anatomical location,length,and com-plexity.Careful preoperative evaluation and individualized surgical planning are critical to successful re-construction.With appropriate selection of surgical methods,favorable long-term clinical outcomes can be achieved in the majority of patients.

Objective:To compare the clinical characteristics of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) patients with or without secondary subretinal fibrosis (SF).Methods:A retrospective case-control study. A total of 88 patients (92 eyes) diagnosed with nAMD at Department of Ophthalmology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from January 2020 to January 2024 were enrolled in this study. All eyes underwent best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), color fundus photography, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) examinations. BCVA was measured using the international standard visual acuity chart and converted to logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution for statistical analysis. SF area was measured on color fundus images. OCT was used to assess the presence of shallow irregular retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) elevation, RPE detachment, ellipsoid zone/external limiting membrane disruption, subretinal fluid and/or intraretinal fluid, thinning of the inner nuclear layer or inner plexiform layer, complete RPE and outer retinal atrophy (cRORA), epiretinal membrane, and suprachoroidal fluid. Device-integrated software measured central retinal thickness (CRT), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), and the height and width of subfoveal fibrosis in SF eyes. Based on the presence of SF, patients were divided into the SF group (47 eyes) and the non-SF (NSF) group (45 eyes). Baseline characteristics, OCT, and color fundus photography imaging features were compared between groups. Independent samples t tests were used for intergroup comparisons, and multiple linear regression was performed to analyze potential factors influencing SF height. Results:Compared with the NSF group, the SF group had a longer disease duration, longer symptom onset to initial treatment interval to receiving anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drug treatment, a lower proportion of patients receiving 3 anti-VEGF drug injections within 6 months, worse BCVA, thicker SFCT, higher rates of pigment epithelial detachment and inner nuclear layer or inner plexiform layer thinning, and a lower rate of subretinal fluid ( P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in CRT or the proportions of irregular retinal pigment epithelia, ellipsoid zone/external limiting membrane disruption, cRORA, suprachoroidal fluid, or epiretinal membrane between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:nAMD eyes with secondary SF exhibit distinct OCT imaging features compared to NSF eyes.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of hybrid surgery for the recanalization of carotid artery occlusion after stenting.Methods Clinical data and results of 17 patients with occlusion after carotid artery stenting and treated with hybrid surgery from June 2016 to April 2023 at the Department of Neurosurgery Cerebral Blood Flow Reconstruction Center of Xuanwu Hospital,Capital Medical University were retrospectively analyzed.According to whether the recanalization was successful,17 patients were divided into the the successful recanalization group and the failed recanalization group.Successful recanalization was defined as achieving modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction(mTICI)grade ≥2b and residual stenosis＜50％.Baseline data(age,sex,body mass index,smoking history,alcohol consumption history,hypertension history,diabetes history,hyperlipidemia history,coronary heart disease history),clinical data(National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale[NIHSS]score at admission,fasting blood glucose,low density lipoprotein,high density lipoprotein,total cholesterol,triglyceride,occlusion side and segment,combination with severe stenosis or occlusion of the contralateral carotid artery,opening of the anterior communicating artery,opening of the posterior communicating artery,compensation of the external and internal carotid artery,compensation of the pia artery,stump morphology,and time from imaging diagnosis of occlusion to recanalization)were documented and compared between groups.The recanalization of occlusive vessels and perioperative complications were recorded.Imaging and clinical follow-up were performed 3,6 months and≥1 year after surgery.Results Among the 17 patients,the ratio of successful recanalization was 13/17.One patient had re-occlusion after operation,which was re-opened after thrombolysis,but neck hematoma with dyspnea occurred,and recovered after emergency operation.There was no postoperative stroke or death.The incidence of perioperative complications was 1/17.Compared with the successful recanalization group,the levels of high density lipoprotein and total cholesterol in the failed recanalization group were higher,and the differences between the groups were statistically significant(high density lipoprotein[1.3±0.3]mmol/L vs.[0.9±0.3]mmol/L,t=-2.139;total cholesterol:[4.2±0.8]mmol/L vs.[3.1±0.7]mmol/L,t=-2.649;both P＜0.05);There were no significant differences in other baseline data and clinical data(all P＞0.05).Imaging follow-up was completed in 9 of the 13 patients in the successful recanalization group,and the follow-up time was 3.8-36.9 months,with a median follow-up time of 22.8(12.8,34.7)months.Among them,1 patient(1/9)developed restenosis of recanalization vessels at 33.0 months after surgery and underwent stent implantation again.Conclusions The preliminary analysis showed that the occlusion after carotid artery stenting had better recanalization success and lower perioperative complications.In patients with chronic occlusion after carotid stenting,the application of a hybrid surgery for opening may be attempted under multimodal imaging assessment.

In recent years,radiation therapy has become a cornerstone in the treatment of head and neck tumors,significantly improving patient survival rates.However,the issue of radiation-induced carotid artery stenosis has garnered increasing attention.Characterized by multiple,long-segment,and unstable lesions,radiation-induced carotid stenosis presents unique challenges that traditional therapeutic approaches struggle to address.This review systematically summarized the pathological features and underlying mechanisms of radiation-induced carotid stenosis,with a focus on the roles of endothelial cells,smooth muscle cells,and vasa vasorum damage.Future research directions and preventive strategies are also discussed.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of plasma exchange(PE) in the treatment of autoimmune hemolytic anemia in children.Methods:The data from 8 hospitals in China during November 2014 to April 2017 were collected, and the clinical characteristics of PE in children with AHA were analyzed retrospectively.Results:A total of 21 children with AHA were included in the study, including 17 cases from PICU and 4 cases from pediatric kidney ward, with 11 boys and 10 girls, and the median age was 3.64(0.25, 11.10)years old, and median hospital stay was 12(4, 45)days.There were 15 cases(71.4%) with infection, 2 cases(9.5%)with autoimmune diseases, 4 cases(19.0%) with unknown.Consciousness disturbance occurred in 4 patients before replacement and recovered to normal after PE.The volume of blood decreased in two cases(9.5%) and completely relieved.There were 20 cases of anemia (95.2%), 15 cases were normal after PE, and 5 cases were improved.Jaundice occurred in 18 cases (85.7%), 12 cases were normal after PE, 6 cases were improved.Hepatosplenomegaly was found in 11 cases, 10 cases were normal after PE, 1 case was improved.After PE, the hemoglobin and red blood cell count increased, while the total bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, urea nitrogen and lactate dehydrogenase decreased, there were significant differences between pre-and post-replacement ( P<0.05). Only 1 case had allergic reaction, which was improved after symptomatic treatment, and PE was continued.After PE, 2 cases (9.5%) had complete remission, 16 cases (76.2%) had partial remission and 3 cases (14.3%) had been discharged. Conclusion:PE therapy can obviously improve the clinical symptoms and laboratory indexes of children with AHA who have failed to respond to conservative treatment.It can be used as a treatment measure for children with severe AHA and has a good safety.

Objective:To evaluate the role of Notch1/hairy and enhancer of split homolog1(Hes1) signaling pathway in high glucose and hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R) injury to cardiomyocytes.Methods:H9c2 cardiomyocytes were cultured in low-glucose DMEM culture medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum.The cells were divided into 6 groups ( n=12 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), H/R group, H/R+ Jagged-1 group (group H/R+ J), high glucose group (group HG), high glucose+ H/R group (group HG+ H/R) and high glucose+ H/R+ Jagged-1 group (group HG+ H/R+ J). The cells were incubated in low-glucose culture medium for 72 h in group C. After incubated in low-glucose culture medium for 72 h, the cells were exposed to 24-h hypoxia in an incubator filled with 95% N 2-5% CO 2 at 37℃, immediately followed by 6-h reoxygenation in an incubator filled with 95% O 2-5% CO 2 at 37℃ in group H/R.In group H/R+ J, Jagged-1 (Notch1/Hes1 signaling pathway specific activator) 5μg/ml was added to low-glucose culture medium and the cells were incubated for 72h before H/R.In group HG, H9c2 cardiomyocytes were incubated in high-glucose culture medium containing 33 mmol/L glucose for 72 h. In group HG+ H/R, the cells were incubated in high-glucose medium for 72 h before H/R.In group HG+ H/R+ J, Jagged-1 5μg/ml was added to high-glucose culture medium, and the cells were incubated for 72 h before H/R.At 6 h of reoxygenation, the supernatant of the culture medium was collected for detection of the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), the cell viability (by CCK-8 assay) and the cell apoptosis rate (by flow cytometry) and for determination of expression of Notch1, Hes1 and c-caspase-3 (by Western blot). Results:Compared with group C, the cell survival rate and SOD activity were significantly decreased, and apoptosis rate and LDH activity were increased in H/R, H/R+ J and HG groups, expression of Notch1, Hes1 and c-caspase-3 was up-regulated in H/R and H/R+ J groups, and the expression of Notch1 and Hes1 was down-regulated and c-caspase-3 expression was up-regulated in group HG ( P<0.05). Compared with group H/R, the cell survival rate and SOD activity was significantly increased, apoptosis rate and LDH activity were decreased, expression of Notch1 and Hes1 was up-regulated, and c-caspase-3 expression was down-regulated in group H/R+ J, and the cell survival rate and SOD activity were significantly decreased, apoptosis rate and LDH activity were increased, expression of Notch1 and Hes1 was down-regulated, and c-caspase-3 expression was up-regulated in group HG+ H/R ( P<0.05). Compared with group HG, the cell survival rate and SOD activity were significantly decreased, and apoptosis rate and LDH activity were increased in HG+ H/R and HG+ H/R+ J groups ( P<0.05), and expression of Notch1 and Hes1 was down-regulated, and c-caspase-3 expression was up-regulated in group HG+ H/R ( P<0.05). Compared with group HG+ H/R, the cell survival rate and SOD activity were significantly increased, apoptosis rate and LDH activity were decreased, expression of Notch1 and Hes1 was up-regulated, and c-caspase-3 expression was down-regulated in group HG+ H/R+ J ( P<0.05). Compared with group H/R+ J, the cell survival rate and SOD activity were significantly decreased, apoptosis rate and LDH activity were increased, expression of Notch1 and Hes1 was down-regulated, and c-caspase-3 expression was up-regulated in group HG+ H/R+ J ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Activation of Notch1/Hes1 signaling pathway is the endogenous protective mechanism of high glucose and H/R injury to cardiomyocytes.

Objective:To evaluate the role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in the renal injury induced by myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in diabetic rats and its relationship with solute carrier family7 member11 (SLC7A11).Methods:SPF-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 4 weeks, weighing 100-130 g, were fed with high-fat and high-sucrose diet freely.The weight of the rats was measured once a week.After the weight of the animals reached 240 g, 1% streptozotocin (STZ)-citrate buffer 35 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally to induce type 2 diabetes mellitus.After injection of STZ, the animals were fed with high-fat and high-sucrose diet continuously.Blood samples were collected from the tail vein for determination of blood glucose concentrations 1 week later.When random blood glucose was ≥16.7 mmol/L for 3 times, the model of type 2 diabetes mellitus was considered to be established successfully.After the model was established successfully, the animals were fed with high-fat and high-sucrose diet continuously for 6 weeks.Eighteen rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus were selected and divided into 3 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: diabetic sham operation group (group DS), diabetic myocardial I/R group (group DIR) and diabetic myocardial I/R+ HIF-1α agonist DMOG group (DIR+ DMOG group). Twelve non-diabetic rats were divided into 2 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: non-diabetic sham operation group (NS group) and non-diabetic myocardial I/R group (NIR group). The rat myocardial I/R injury model was established by ligating the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery for 30 min followed by 120 min reperfusion in anesthetized rats.Blood samples were collected from the right internal carotid artery at 120 min of reperfusion for determination of the serum creatinine (Cr), urea nitrogen (BUN) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) concentrations (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Renal tissues were obtained for examination of the pathological changes (by HE staining method) and for determination of the expression of HIF-1α and SLC7A11 (by Western blot). The damage to the renal tubules was scored. Results:Compared with group NS, the concentrations of serum Cr, BUN and NGAL and renal tubular damage score were significantly increased in group DS and group NIR, the expression of HIF-1α and SLC7A11 was down-regulated in group DS, and the expression of HIF-1α and SLC7A11 was up-regulated in group NIR ( P<0.05). Compared with group DS, the concentrations of serum Cr, BUN and NGAL and renal tubular damage score were significantly increased, and the expression of HIF-1α and SLC7A11 was up-regulated in group DIR ( P<0.05). Compared with group NIR, the concentrations of serum Cr, BUN and NGAL and renal tubular damage score were significantly increased, and the expression of HIF-1α and SLC7A11 was down-regulated in group DIR ( P<0.05). Compared with group DIR, the concentrations of serum Cr, BUN and NGAL and renal tubular damage score were significantly decreased, and the expression of HIF-1α and SLC7A11 was up-regulated in group DIR+ DMOG ( P<0.05). Conclusion:HIF-1α is involved in the renal injury induced by myocardial I/R, which is related to regulation of the expression of SLC7A11 in rats.