BACKGROUND:Currently,the main purpose of surgical treatment for lumbar compression fractures is to improve symptoms,reduce pain,improve quality of life,minimize surgical risks,and reduce surgical exposure time.OBJECTIVE:To explore the safety and clinical efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty via Kambin's triangle in the treatment of senile spinal deformity accompanied by osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.METHODS:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 31 patients with spinal deformity and osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures who were admitted to Tianjin Union Medical Center from January 2019 to December 2022.There were 21 males and 10 females,aged between 60 and 84(70.0±10.3)years old.The duration of illness ranged from 1 to 6(3.5±1.7)weeks.A total of 35 vertebral segments were affected.The distribution of vertebral compression fractures included:10 cases of L1 fracture,12 cases of L2 fracture,2 cases of L1+L2 fracture,5 cases of L3 fracture,and 2 cases of L1+L3 fracture.Based on the surgical approach,patients were divided into two groups:group A(via Kambin's triangle approach)with 15 cases,and group B(via traditional pedicle puncture)with 16 cases.Unilateral approach vertebroplasty was performed on both groups.The surgical duration,number of radiation exposures,presence of bone cement leakage,occurrence of complications such as nerve and vascular injuries were recorded in both groups.Postoperative CT scans were used to observe the dispersion and hardening of bone cement.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)In the group A,the surgical duration was 21-30 minutes per vertebra,with an average of(25.0±5.7)minutes.In the group B,the surgical duration was 25-43 minutes per vertebra,with an average of(33.0±7.2)minutes.The surgical duration for puncturing a single vertebra was significantly longer in the group B compared to the group A,with a statistically significant difference(P＜0.05).(2)The average number of radiation exposures per vertebra during surgery was(6.2±1.6)in the group A and(9.3±1.8)in the group B,with a statistically significant difference between the two groups(P＜0.05).(3)In the group A,no bone cement leakage was found.In group B,2 cases had bone cement leakage,and 1 case had bone cement entering the spinal canal,but no obvious neurological symptoms were observed.The leakage rate was 13％.Both groups had 1 case of subcutaneous hematoma.(4)Postoperative CT scans for observing the distribution of bone cement in the vertebral body showed that the rates of uniform dispersion of bone cement within the vertebrae were 71％and 33％in the groups A and B,respectively,with a statistically significant difference between the two groups(P＜0.05).(5)It is suggested that percutaneous vertebroplasty via Kambin's triangle approach offers advantages such as shorter surgical duration,better dispersion and filling of bone cement within the vertebrae,lower risk of complications,reduced radiation exposure,and satisfactory results with unilateral puncture.

Objective:To evaluate the value of ultrasound radiomics combined with machine learning for early diagnosis of seronegative Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (SN-HT) .Methods:This retrospective study included 164 patients from Liaoning Provincial People’s Hospital , Lixin County People’s Hospital, Linghai Dalinghe Hospital, Fengcheng Phoenix Hospital, who underwent thyroidectomy for solitary nodules with normal thyroid function between Nov. 2016 and Jan. 2024. Postoperative pathology confirmed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) in some cases, who were further categorized into antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups based on serum antibody status. Patients without Hashimoto’s thyroiditis served as the control group. A total of 298 ultrasound images were analyzed. Radiomics features were extracted from hypoechoic non-nodular areas within 0.5 cm surrounding the tumor. Two senior pathologists and two senior ultrasound physicians independently assessed lymphocytic infiltration, eosinophilic changes of follicular epithelium, and the proportion of hypoechoic areas in pathology and ultrasound images, respectively. A machine learning model, CCH-NET, was developed using linear regression and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) techniques. The dataset was divided into a training set (80%) and a validation set (20%) to compare the diagnostic accuracy of CCH-NET with that of senior ultrasound physicians. Results:In internal validation, CCH-NET achieved a diagnostic accuracy of 88.89% for both antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups, significantly higher than the 66.67% accuracy of senior ultrasound physicians ( P<0.01). In external validation, CCH-NET achieved 75.00% and 66.67% accuracy for the two groups, compared to 50.00% by senior ultrasound physicians. For the control group, both methods achieved 93.33% accuracy. The AUC of CCH-NET was 0.848, outperforming senior ultrasound physicians (0.681) ,demonstrating superior diagnostic performance. Conclusion:The radiomics-based CCH-NET model, using non-nodular hypoechoic areas as a specific indicator, can accurately identify early SN-HT in euthyroid patients. It significantly outperforms senior ultrasound physicians, improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing missed diagnoses.

BackgroundInvasive vagus nerve stimulation therapy has been approved for the adjunctive treatment of treatment-resistant depression， which may contribute to the anti-inflammatory properties of vagus nerve stimulation （VNS）， whereas the efficacy of non-invasive transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation （tcVNS） in treating major depressive disorder （MDD） and its impact on plasma inflammatory factors remain unclear. ObjectiveTo observe the effect of escitaloprom combined with tcVNS on the status of depression， anxiety and sleep quality as well as the plasma levels of interleukin-6 （IL-6） and interleukin-10 （IL-10） in MDD patients， in order to provide references for the recovery and treatment of MDD patients. MethodsFrom August 21， 2019 to April 17， 2024， 45 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for MDD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fifth edition （DSM-5） were recruited from the psychosomatic outpatient clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University. Subjects were divided into study group （n=23） and control group （n=22） using random number table method. All patients were treated with escitalopram. On this basis， study group added a 30-minute tcVNS therapy once a day for 4 weeks. While control group was given corresponding sham stimulation， and the duration of each stimulation lasted 30 seconds. Before and after 4 weeks of treatment， Hamilton Depression Scale-17 item （HAMD-17） was used to assess depressive symptoms， and HAMD-17 anxiety/somatization subfactor and insomnia subfactor were used to assess patients' anxiety/somatization symptoms and sleep quality. Levels of plasma IL-6 and IL-10 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. ResultsThe generalized estimating equation model yielded a significant time effect for HAMD-17 total score， anxiety/somatization subfactor score and insomnia subfactor score in both groups （Wald χ²=315.226， 495.481， 82.420， P<0.01）. After 4 weeks of treatment， HAMD-17 total score and anxiety/somatization subfactor score of study group were lower than those of control group， with statistically significant differences （Wald χ²=4.967， 32.543， P<0.05 or 0.01）， while no statistically significant difference was found in the insomnia subfactor score between two groups （Wald χ²=0.819， P=0.366）. Significant time effects were reported on plasma IL-6 and IL-10 levels in both groups （Wald χ²=21.792， 5.242， P<0.05 or 0.01）. Compared with baseline data， a reduction in plasma IL-6 levels was detected in both groups （Wald χ²=22.015， 6.803， P<0.01）， and an increase in plasma IL-10 levels was reported in study group （Wald χ²=5.118， P=0.024） after 4 weeks of treatment. ConclusionEscitalopram combined with tcVNS therapy is effective in improving depressive symptoms， anxiety/somatization symptoms and sleep quality in patients with MDD. Additionally， it helps reduce plasma IL-6 levels and increase IL-10 levels. ［Funded by Shaanxi Provincial Key Research and Development Program-General Project （number， 2023-YBSF-185）， www.clinicaltrials.gov number， NCT04037111］

Cleft lip and palate, as one of the most common congenital deformities of the oral and maxillofacial region, not only affects the physiological functions of patients, but also has a profound impact on their psychological well-being. Traditional sequential treatment for cleft lip and palate aims to restore primary functions and typically concludes intervention after orthodontic treatment. However, this management protocol often fails to meet patients′ expectations for esthetic outcomes. In the process of dental esthetic restoration, it is essential to adhere to the principles of comprehensive planning, sequential treatment, and tooth preservation, while formulating individualized treatment strategies. This article delves into the main challenges and corresponding therapeutic measures in dental esthetic restoration following sequential treatment for cleft lip and palate patients. It systematically analyzes the causes, clinical manifestations, and treatment methods for esthetic defects in dental arch space, dental hard tissues, and periodontal soft tissues. The study proposes that dental esthetic restoration can be implemented during three critical phases of sequential treatment: the mixed dentition stage, early permanent dentition stage, and adulthood stage to reduce the complexity of subsequent treatments, thereby preserving more dental and periodontal tissues. Through multidisciplinary collaboration and the application of digital technology, not only has the efficiency and predictability of treatment been enhanced, but more economical and effective treatment options have also been provided for patients. The aim is to offer clinicians comprehensive treatment insights, promoting a shift in the treatment philosophy for cleft lip and palate patients from "function-oriented" to a multidimensional approach that equally emphasizes" function-aesthetics-psychosocial aspects", ultimately achieving a comprehensive improvement in patients′ quality of life.

Objective:To evaluate the value of ultrasound radiomics combined with machine learning for early diagnosis of seronegative Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (SN-HT) .Methods:This retrospective study included 164 patients from Liaoning Provincial People’s Hospital , Lixin County People’s Hospital, Linghai Dalinghe Hospital, Fengcheng Phoenix Hospital, who underwent thyroidectomy for solitary nodules with normal thyroid function between Nov. 2016 and Jan. 2024. Postoperative pathology confirmed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) in some cases, who were further categorized into antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups based on serum antibody status. Patients without Hashimoto’s thyroiditis served as the control group. A total of 298 ultrasound images were analyzed. Radiomics features were extracted from hypoechoic non-nodular areas within 0.5 cm surrounding the tumor. Two senior pathologists and two senior ultrasound physicians independently assessed lymphocytic infiltration, eosinophilic changes of follicular epithelium, and the proportion of hypoechoic areas in pathology and ultrasound images, respectively. A machine learning model, CCH-NET, was developed using linear regression and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) techniques. The dataset was divided into a training set (80%) and a validation set (20%) to compare the diagnostic accuracy of CCH-NET with that of senior ultrasound physicians. Results:In internal validation, CCH-NET achieved a diagnostic accuracy of 88.89% for both antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups, significantly higher than the 66.67% accuracy of senior ultrasound physicians ( P<0.01). In external validation, CCH-NET achieved 75.00% and 66.67% accuracy for the two groups, compared to 50.00% by senior ultrasound physicians. For the control group, both methods achieved 93.33% accuracy. The AUC of CCH-NET was 0.848, outperforming senior ultrasound physicians (0.681) ,demonstrating superior diagnostic performance. Conclusion:The radiomics-based CCH-NET model, using non-nodular hypoechoic areas as a specific indicator, can accurately identify early SN-HT in euthyroid patients. It significantly outperforms senior ultrasound physicians, improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing missed diagnoses.

BACKGROUND:Currently,the main purpose of surgical treatment for lumbar compression fractures is to improve symptoms,reduce pain,improve quality of life,minimize surgical risks,and reduce surgical exposure time.OBJECTIVE:To explore the safety and clinical efficacy of percutaneous vertebroplasty via Kambin's triangle in the treatment of senile spinal deformity accompanied by osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.METHODS:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 31 patients with spinal deformity and osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures who were admitted to Tianjin Union Medical Center from January 2019 to December 2022.There were 21 males and 10 females,aged between 60 and 84(70.0±10.3)years old.The duration of illness ranged from 1 to 6(3.5±1.7)weeks.A total of 35 vertebral segments were affected.The distribution of vertebral compression fractures included:10 cases of L1 fracture,12 cases of L2 fracture,2 cases of L1+L2 fracture,5 cases of L3 fracture,and 2 cases of L1+L3 fracture.Based on the surgical approach,patients were divided into two groups:group A(via Kambin's triangle approach)with 15 cases,and group B(via traditional pedicle puncture)with 16 cases.Unilateral approach vertebroplasty was performed on both groups.The surgical duration,number of radiation exposures,presence of bone cement leakage,occurrence of complications such as nerve and vascular injuries were recorded in both groups.Postoperative CT scans were used to observe the dispersion and hardening of bone cement.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)In the group A,the surgical duration was 21-30 minutes per vertebra,with an average of(25.0±5.7)minutes.In the group B,the surgical duration was 25-43 minutes per vertebra,with an average of(33.0±7.2)minutes.The surgical duration for puncturing a single vertebra was significantly longer in the group B compared to the group A,with a statistically significant difference(P＜0.05).(2)The average number of radiation exposures per vertebra during surgery was(6.2±1.6)in the group A and(9.3±1.8)in the group B,with a statistically significant difference between the two groups(P＜0.05).(3)In the group A,no bone cement leakage was found.In group B,2 cases had bone cement leakage,and 1 case had bone cement entering the spinal canal,but no obvious neurological symptoms were observed.The leakage rate was 13％.Both groups had 1 case of subcutaneous hematoma.(4)Postoperative CT scans for observing the distribution of bone cement in the vertebral body showed that the rates of uniform dispersion of bone cement within the vertebrae were 71％and 33％in the groups A and B,respectively,with a statistically significant difference between the two groups(P＜0.05).(5)It is suggested that percutaneous vertebroplasty via Kambin's triangle approach offers advantages such as shorter surgical duration,better dispersion and filling of bone cement within the vertebrae,lower risk of complications,reduced radiation exposure,and satisfactory results with unilateral puncture.

Cleft lip and palate, as one of the most common congenital deformities of the oral and maxillofacial region, not only affects the physiological functions of patients, but also has a profound impact on their psychological well-being. Traditional sequential treatment for cleft lip and palate aims to restore primary functions and typically concludes intervention after orthodontic treatment. However, this management protocol often fails to meet patients′ expectations for esthetic outcomes. In the process of dental esthetic restoration, it is essential to adhere to the principles of comprehensive planning, sequential treatment, and tooth preservation, while formulating individualized treatment strategies. This article delves into the main challenges and corresponding therapeutic measures in dental esthetic restoration following sequential treatment for cleft lip and palate patients. It systematically analyzes the causes, clinical manifestations, and treatment methods for esthetic defects in dental arch space, dental hard tissues, and periodontal soft tissues. The study proposes that dental esthetic restoration can be implemented during three critical phases of sequential treatment: the mixed dentition stage, early permanent dentition stage, and adulthood stage to reduce the complexity of subsequent treatments, thereby preserving more dental and periodontal tissues. Through multidisciplinary collaboration and the application of digital technology, not only has the efficiency and predictability of treatment been enhanced, but more economical and effective treatment options have also been provided for patients. The aim is to offer clinicians comprehensive treatment insights, promoting a shift in the treatment philosophy for cleft lip and palate patients from "function-oriented" to a multidimensional approach that equally emphasizes" function-aesthetics-psychosocial aspects", ultimately achieving a comprehensive improvement in patients′ quality of life.

Objective To investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of sodium butyrate on rats exposed to hypoxia and cold conditions.Methods Fifty-eight male SD rats (aged 7～8 weeks,weighing 240～260 g ) were randomly divided into normoxia normothermia saline control (NNC ) group (n=10),normoxia normothermia sodium butyrate(NNB)group(n=10),hypoxia cold saline control (HCC) group (n=19),and hypoxia cold sodium butyrate (HCB)group (n=19).The intragastric dose of sodium butyrate was 200 mg/kg for the NNB and HCB groups,while the NNC and HCC groups were given normal saline of 5 mL/kg.①After continuous intragastric administration for 7 d,the rats in the HCC and HCB groups were placed in a low-pressure hypoxic chamber to simulate an altitude of 5000 m and exposed to a temperature of 8 ℃ for 7 d.Subsequently,blood samples were collected from the abdominal aorta for blood gas analysis,blood routine test,and detection for serum biochemical indicators.ELISA was used to determine serum inflammatory cytokines and endocrine hormones.The rats in the NNC and NNB groups(n=10)were fed outside the chamber and underwent the same tests in 7 d later to evaluate the protective effects of sodium butyrate on the body.②Core body temperature monitoring was conducted to assess the impact of sodium butyrate on the rmoregulation in rats exposed to hypoxia and cold(n=3).③Hypoxia exercise tolerance of the HCC group and HCB group in a hypoxic chamber (11％O2 )was evaluated for their hypoxia resistance (n=6).Results Compared to the NNC group,the rats in the HCC group exhibited significant decreases in arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2 )and arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2 ),serum levels of IL-4,estradiol (E2)and cortisol (F),core temperature,and exercise duration (P<0.05),and had notably increased levels of red blood cell (RBC)count,hemoglobin (HGB),hematocrit (HCT),cardiac troponin (CRDAC-T),uric acid (UA),alanine aminotransferase (ALT),total cholesterol (TC),low-density lipoprotein (LDL),IL-6 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)(P<0.05).Compared to the HCC group,the rats in the HCB group exhibited significant increases in SaO2,PaO2,IL-4,E2,F,corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH)and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)(P<0.05),remarkably longer exercise duration under hypoxic exposure (P<0.05 ),but decreases in RBC count,serum levels of HGB,HCT,CRDAC-T,UA,ALT,TC,LDL,IL-6,GM-CSF and free thyroxine (FT4 ),and core temperature (P<0.05).Conclusion Sodium butyrate exhibits protective effects on rats exposed to hypoxia and cold conditions,and it is helpful in their adaptation to these hypoxia and cold environments.

The difference in the crystal form of the drug leads to different solubility and stability,affecting drug's the clinical efficacy and bioavailability.Therefore,in recent years,drug crystal forms have received more and more attention from researchers.By reviewing and sorting out relevant literature,this paper summarizes the research progress of drug crystallization theory in recent years from the aspects of influencing factors of drug crystal form,identification and control of drug crystal form,drug crystal form evaluation methods,and applications,aiming to provide a reference for drug crystal form control and process screening.