AIM: To investigate the features of retinal peripheral defocus and its associated variables in unilateral myopia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included consecutive anisometropic myopic patients who visited Center for Optometry and Visual Science from August 2023 to March 2025 in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Eyes were classified based on spherical equivalent(SE)and uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA): myopic eyes(SE ≤-0.50 D, UCVA <0.2 LogMAR)and contralateral normal eyes(SE ≥-0.25, UCVA ≥0 LogMAR). Total relative defocus value(TRDV)across the visual field, RDV at 15°, 30°, and 45°(RDV-15, RDV-30, RDV-45), and quadrant-specific RDV(superior/RDV-S, inferior/RDV-I, temporal/RDV-T, nasal/RDV-N)were compared between groups.RESULTS: This study enrolled 81 anisometropic patients(81 myopic eyes, 81 contralateral normal eyes). The cohort comprised 42 males and 39 females, 47 patients aged 8-12 y and 34 patients aged 13-17 y(mean age: 11.8±2.4 y). Myopic eyes demonstrated significantly higher values in TRDV, RDV-30, RDV-45, RDV-I, RDV-S, RDV-N, and RDV-T versus contralateral normal eyes(all P<0.001). RDV-15 showed no significant difference between groups in either 8-12-year-olds or 13-17-year-olds(both P>0.05). Among 13-17-year-olds, RDV-S also exhibited no intergroup difference(P>0.05). All other parameters differed significantly across both age strata(all P<0.05). In myopic eyes, age positively correlated with TRDV(r=0.31, P=0.005), RDV-30(r=0.33, P=0.002), RDV-45(r=0.32, P=0.004), and RDV-N(r=0.37, P<0.001). In contralateral eyes, scotopic pupil diameter negatively correlated with TRDV(r=-0.25, P=0.03), RDV-45(r=-0.25, P=0.02), RDV-S(r=-0.29, P=0.008), and RDV-N(r=-0.27, P=0.014). And age positively correlated with RDV-N(r=0.30, P= 0.006), axial length positively correlated with RDV-T(r=0.30, P=0.006). CONCLUSION: The peripheral defocus of unilateral myopic eyes varies from that of their contralateral normal counterparts. The former presents hyperopic defocus, which augments with age, while the latter displays myopic defocus, which accentuates with the increase of the scotopic pupil size.

Esophageal cancer is a prevalent malignant tumor of the digestive tract in China, and radical surgery remains the cornerstone of its comprehensive treatment. However, multifactorial challenges such as postoperative gastrointestinal tract reconstruction, traumatic stress, and tumor-related metabolic disturbances render esophageal cancer patients highly susceptible to malnutrition. Perioperative nutritional support therapy plays a crucial role in enhancing surgical safety, improving clinical outcomes, and elevating patients' quality of life by regulating metabolic homeostasis, preserving organ function, and optimizing the immune microenvironment. This article reviews the mechanisms underlying malnutrition in esophageal cancer, methods for nutritional status assessment, and precision intervention pathways based on multi-omics evaluations. The aim is to strengthen clinicians' awareness of standardized perioperative nutritional management for esophageal cancer patients and promote its clinical implementation, thereby facilitating postoperative recovery and improving long-term quality of life.

Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease（NIID）is a rare hereditary neurodegenerative disorder that can affect multiple systems. However，it is uncommon for urinary dysfunction to be the initial symptom. This article reports five cases. The five patients began to experience voiding dysfunction such as frequent urination，weak urination，and incomplete urination at the mean ages of 55.4（47 - 65）years old. Four months to twelve years after urinary onset，neurological symptoms such as headache，memory decline，transient loss of consciousness，and unsteady gait began to appear. Four of the five cases had a family history. Brain MRI revealed the “ribbon sign” or “crest sign” in all cases. Skin biopsy revealed eosinophilic inclusions in the cell nuclei，and NOTCH2NLC gene testing identified abnormal GGC mutations. Three of the five patients underwent cystostomy due to secondary hydronephrosis，while the other two received no special treatment. After a follow-up of 18 to 35 months since diagnosis，the patients who underwent cystostomy had normal renal function. Neurological symptoms in all five patients worsened to varying degrees.

Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease（NIID）is a rare hereditary neurodegenerative disorder that can affect multiple systems. However，it is uncommon for urinary dysfunction to be the initial symptom. This article reports five cases. The five patients began to experience voiding dysfunction such as frequent urination，weak urination，and incomplete urination at the mean ages of 55.4（47 - 65）years old. Four months to twelve years after urinary onset，neurological symptoms such as headache，memory decline，transient loss of consciousness，and unsteady gait began to appear. Four of the five cases had a family history. Brain MRI revealed the “ribbon sign” or “crest sign” in all cases. Skin biopsy revealed eosinophilic inclusions in the cell nuclei，and NOTCH2NLC gene testing identified abnormal GGC mutations. Three of the five patients underwent cystostomy due to secondary hydronephrosis，while the other two received no special treatment. After a follow-up of 18 to 35 months since diagnosis，the patients who underwent cystostomy had normal renal function. Neurological symptoms in all five patients worsened to varying degrees.

Objective To observe the effectiveness and safety of DiaSphere embolized microsphere TACE for treating primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods Totally 188 patients with HCC were prospectively enrolled and randomly assigned to research group(n=93)and control group(n=95),who underwent TACE with DiaSphere embolized microspheres and Embosphere embolized microspheres,respectively.The incidence of TACE-related adverse events were recorded.The therapeutic efficacy 1 month after the first TACE,also 1 and 3 months after the last TACE,and liver functions 1 month after the first and last TACE were compared between groups.Results In research group,there were 69 cases underwent 1 time TACE,22 cases underwent 2 times and 2 cases underwent 3 times TACE,while in control group,there were 82 cases underwent 1 time and 13 cases underwent 2 times TACE,respectively.No statistical difference of the incidence of adverse events was found between groups(77.42%[72/93]vs.76.84%[73/95],P=1.000).One month after the first TACE,7 cases in research group and 11 cases in control group were lost to follow-up,respectively.One month after the last TACE,12 cases were lost to follow-up in both groups,and 3 months after the last TACE,28 cases were lost to follow-up in both groups.No significant difference of objective response rate nor disease control rate was found between groups at the above time points(all P＞0.05).One month after the first and last TACE,liver function indicators were not different between groups(all P＞0.05).Conclusion Both the short-term efficacy and safety of TACE with DiaSphere embolized microspheres for treating HCC were good.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of phantom-less quantitative computer tomography (PL-QCT) for the diagnosis of osteoporosis in patients with lumbar degenerative diseases.Methods:From October 2021 to October 2023, a total of 1 248 patients with lumbar degenerative disease who did not receive anti-osteoporosis treatment in the Department of Spine Surgery, Tianjin Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. There were 520 males and 728 females, aged 62.31±9.37 years (range, 40-87 years), height 1.66±0.08 m (range, 1.43-1.89 m), weight 69.04±8.27 kg (range, 49-93 kg). The mean body mass index was 26.11±3.67 kg/m 2 (range, 14.40-37.11 kg/m 2). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and PL-QCT were used to diagnose osteoporosis, and the detection rates of the two diagnostic methods were compared. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of PL-QCT for the diagnosis of osteoporosis was drawn, the area under the curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval (CI), sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Results:Among 1 248 patients with lumbar degenerative diseases, 626 (50.2%) were diagnosed as osteoporosis by PL-QCT, 423(33.9%) were diagnosed by spine DXA, 488(39.1%) were diagnosed by hip DXA and 539 patients(43.2%) were diagnosed by dual-site DXA. The detection rate of osteoporosis of PL-QCT was higher than that of spine DXA (χ 2=193.557, P<0.001), hip DXA (χ 2=322.201, P<0.001) and dual-site DXA (χ 2=94.683, P<0.001), and the difference was statistically significant. Taking the diagnostic results of spinal DXA for osteoporosis as a reference, the ROC curve of PL-QCT for the diagnosis of osteoporosis showed a sensitivity of 79%, a specificity of 81%, and an AUC and 95% CI of 0.82(0.79, 0.85). Taking the diagnostic results of hip DXA for osteoporosis as a reference, the ROC curve of PL-QCT for the diagnosis of osteoporosis showed a sensitivity of 85%, a specificity of 55%, and an AUC and 95% CI of 0.75(0.71, 0.78). Taking the diagnostic results of two-site DXA for osteoporosis as a reference, the ROC curve of PL-QCT for the diagnosis of osteoporosis showed a sensitivity of 72%, a specificity of 75%, and an AUC and 95% CI of 0.81(0.78, 0.83). Conclusion:Compared with DXA, PL-QCT has a higher detection rate of osteoporosis in patients with degenerative lumbar spine disease and good diagnostic efficacy.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of lumbar lateral interbody fusion (LLIF) versus posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in the treatment of severe lumbar spinal stenosis.Methods:The data of patients with severe lumbar spinal stenosis who underwent LLIF or PLIF from February 2019 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 30 patients in the LLIF group, 10 males and 20 females, aged 62.7±5.6 years (range, 53-74 years), including 21 cases of single segment and 9 cases of double segment. There were 46 patients in the PLIF group, including 20 males and 26 females, aged 63.2±8.4 years (range, 43-75 years), 40 cases of single segment and 6 cases of double segment. The visual analogue scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), intervertebral space height, intervertebral foramen height and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.Results:All patients were followed up for an average of 21.3±6.4 months (range, 12-32 months). The intraoperative blood loss in the LLIF group was 112.2±76.9 ml, which was significantly lower than 193.9±88.2 ml in the PLIF group ( P<0.05). The VAS scores of back pain and leg pain after operation were significantly lower than those before operation in the two groups ( P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between groups in back pain VAS scores at preoperative, 6 months postoperative, and final follow-up ( P>0.05); the back pain VAS score at 1 month postoperatively in the LLIF group was 1.6±1.2, which was less than 2.8±0.7 in the PLIF group ( P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between groups in leg pain VAS scores at preoperative, 1 month postoperative, and 6 months postoperative ( P>0.05); the leg pain VAS score at the final follow-up in the LLIF group was 1.2±1.5, which was smaller than 1.8±1.0 in the PLIF group ( P<0.05). The postoperative ODI was smaller than the preoperative one in both groups, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05); the preoperative, 1-month postoperative, 6-month postoperative, and final follow-up ODIs in the LLIF group were 45.7%±16.0%, 17.9%±12.0%, 16.2%±11.6%, and 15.7%±11.7%, and those in the PLIF group were 47.9%±15.4%, 20.1%±9.3%, 16.9%±10.6%, and 14.6%±11.0% in the PLIF group, and the difference between the groups was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). The preoperative intervertebral space height in the LLIF group was 10.6±2.0 mm, which was smaller than that in the PLIF group 11.8±2.2 mm ( P<0.05). The intervertebral space heights in the immediate postoperative period and at the final follow-up were 13.3±2.3 mm and 12.3±2.2 mm in the LLIF group and 13.7±1.7 mm and 13.0±1.9 mm in the PLIF group ( P>0.05). The preoperative intervertebral foraminal height in the LLIF group was 18.0±3.2 mm, which was smaller than that of 19.7±2.4 mm in the PLIF group ( P<0.05); the intervertebral foraminal heights in the immediate postoperative period and at the final follow-up were 21.4±2.5 mm and 20.2±2.4 mm in the LLIF group, and in the PLIF group were 20.7±2.4 mm and 19.7±2.6 mm in the PLIF group ( P>0.05). In the LLIF group, 2 cases had femoral nerve injury and 2 cases had transient back pain after operation. There were 2 cases of cerebrospinal fluid leakage, 1 case of screw loosening, and 2 cases of deep vein thrombosis in the PLIF group. In the PLIF group, 2 patients underwent revision, including 1 case due to cage displacement and 1 case due to screw malposition. The fusion settling rate was 21% (8/39) in the LLIF group and 12% (6/52) in the PLIF group ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Both LLIF and PLIF can effectively restore the intervertebral height, improve the lumbar function and the symptoms of back and leg pain in the treatment of severe lumbar spinal stenosis.

Objective:To unveil the dynamic molecular characteristics of colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, identify key molecules and signaling pathways driving disease development, and provide a theoretical basis for precision diagnosis and treatment.Methods:Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using DESeq2 based on the TCGA-CRC dataset (556 colorectal cancer samples) and three independent validation cohorts from the GEO database (GSE39582, GSE68468, GSE41258). Mfuzz time-series analysiswas applied to identify gene clusters with continuously upregulated expression during tumor progression. Functional enrichment analysis was performed using clusterProfiler, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed via the STRING online platform to pinpoint hub genes. Single-cell sequencing data (GSE132465/GSE144735) were integrated to resolve the cellular origins and intercellular communication of key genes. The prognostic value of genes was assessed using a univariate Cox proportional hazards model (likelihood ratio test), and single-cell sequencing data were analyzed using the Seurat pipeline with Wilcoxon rank-sum test to identify DEGs.Results:Time-series analysis identified Gene Cluster 4 (containing 186 genes) with a sustained upregulation trend across CRC stages from Ⅰ to Ⅳ. Functional enrichment revealed these genes were significantly involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and pathways such as PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling. PPI network analysis screened 10 hub genes ( COL10A1, THBS2, SPP1, etc.), whose high expression correlated significantly with poor patient prognosis. Single-cell sequencing demonstrated that these hub genes were predominantly expressed in fibroblast subpopulations, while SPP1 was enriched in macrophages. Cell-cell communication analysis confirmed that THBS2-CD47 and SPP1-CD44 were the primary pathways mediating fibroblast-immune/endothelial cell interactions. Conclusion:ECM-related genes are closely associated with the progression of CRC, in which the key molecules THBS2 and SPP1 may drive stromal-immune cell communication in the tumor microenvironment by mediating the THBS2-CD47 and SPP1-CD44 interaction pathways, thereby promoting the progression of CRC.

Objective To identify the risk factors and investigate etiological spectrum of pulmonary fungal infections(PFIs)in patients with end-stage liver disease(ESLD).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 211 ESLD patients.Based on pulmonary imaging,clinical manifestations,and microbiological test results,patients were categorized into three groups,including the PFI group(or the case group),the non-fungal pneumonia group(or the control group 1),and the group without pneumonia(or the control group 2).The clinical characteristics of patients in the the case group were then compared with those of patients in the two control groups.Taking patients without pneumonia as the control,univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors for PFI,and a nomogram prediction model was constructed based on these risk factors.Results Among the 211 patients,76(36.1%)had PFIs,46(21.8%)had non-fungal pneumonia,and 89(42.2%)did not have pneumonia.According to findings from the multivariate logistic regression,elevated white blood cell count upon admission(OR=1.211;95%CI,1.011-1.460),higher Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-Sodium(MELD-Na)score(OR=1.140;95%CI,1.021-1.282),concomitant hepatorenal syndrome(OR=4.150;95%CI,1.050-17.300),cumulative glucocorticoid use for more than seven days(OR=26.832;95%CI,6.361-113.221),and the administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics at the time of hospital admission(OR=6.601;95%CI,1.951-22.362)were identified as independent risk factors for PFI.A predictive nomogram model named TJLFPFI was constructed based on these risk factors.The area under the receiver operating characteristic(AUC)curve of the model was 0.899(95%CI,0.853-0.945).Etiologic analysis of the 76 PFI cases revealed that 36(47.4%)had positive results for culture,while 40(52.6%)had negative results for sputum culture but tested positive by the 1,3-β-D-glucan test and/or galactomannan test.Aspergillus was the most frequently identified pathogen,detected in 25 of the 36 cases(59.5%).Conclusion PFI in ESLD patients is closely associated with disease severity at admission,early use of broad-spectrum antibiotics,and prolonged glucocorticoid therapy.Aspergillus is the predominant pathogen.The TJLFPFI model shows potential value in identifying high-risk patients,but prospective validation is still warranted.

Objective To explore the relationship between plasma trimethylamine N-oxide(TMAO)level and atrial fibrillation(AF)by a clinical trial.Methods Totally 257 patients with AF were enrolled including 114 patients with paroxysmal AF and 143 with persistent AF.The control group had 122 non-AF patients;Plasma TMAO level,the demographic characteristics and clinical data of patients were collected.Regression analysis was performed to identify the association between TMAO and presence of AF.Results Plasma TMAO level of patients with AF was higher than that of patients without AF(3.9[2.4-5.9]vs.2.4[1.6-3.7]μmol/L,P＜0.001);Even after adjust-ment of confounding factors including age,hypertension,diabetes,heart failure and body mass index;Plasma TMAO level was still related to presence of AF(OR:1.290,95％CI:1.151-1.445;P＜0.001).The plasma TMAO level of patients with persistent AF was higher than that of patients with paroxysmal AF(4.4[2.8-6.8]vs.3.2[2.2-5.0]μmol/L,P＜0.01);Even after adjustment of confounding factors including age,hypertension,diabetes and heart failure and coronary heart disease;Plasma TMAO level was still related to persistent AF(OR:1.092,95％CI:1.009-1.182;P=0.029).Conclusions The level of plasma TMAO of patients with AF is higher than that of patients without AF.Elevated plasma TMAO level is related to an increased risk of AF.Elevated plasma TMAO level in patients with AF is related to an increased risk of persistent AF.