Background/Aims: The pathophysiology of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (RGERD), which differs from proton pump inhibitor dependent gastroesophageal reflux disease (DGERD), remains incompletely elucidated. This study aims to compare esophageal motility patterns, transdiaphragmatic pressure gradients (TPG), and reflux profiles between RGERD and DGERD patients, and to delineate dynamic pressure gradient-esophagogastric junction (EGJ) interactions in these patients. Methods: In this retrospective study, 274 patients who underwent 24-hour impedance-pH monitoring and high-resolution manometry, along with an assessment of proton pump inhibitor responsiveness, were classified as RGERD (32.5%), DGERD (54.4%), or non-GERD (13.1%). Clinical characteristics, TPG, esophageal motility, and reflux metrics were compared between RGERD and DGERD patients. Subgroup analysis excluding hiatal hernia (HH) was conducted to investigate the pathophysiology of RGERD. Results: The RGERD group exhibited a significantly higher proportion of chest pain compared to the DGERD group. Regarding reflux profiles, RGERD patients without HH (RGERDHH- group) experienced increased weakly acidic reflux (P < 0.001) and prolonged bolus exposure (P = 0.006) compared to their counterparts (DGERDHH- group). Mechanistically, the RGERDHH- group showed reduced lower esophageal sphincter basal pressure (P = 0.010) and EGJ contractile integral (P = 0.005). Notably, following a wet-swallow, the RGERDHH- group experienced the significant elevation in gastric pressure and TPG. Correlation analyses revealed weakly acidic reflux and bolus exposure were positively correlated with gastric pressure variation, and inversely correlated with lower esophageal sphincter basal pressure. Conclusions Transient gastric pressure elevation and compromised EGJ barrier function drive weakly acidic reflux and esophageal bolus exposure. This pressure gradient-barrier mismatch underpins the refractoriness of RGERD.

Background: and Purpose Live cell-based assays (LCBA) are increasingly used for serological antibody detection due to their ability to preserve antigen conformation, offering moderately higher sensitivity than fixed cell-based assays. However, the clinical necessity of prioritizing LCBA for the detection of aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG) in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) remains unclear, especially when compared to its established role in diagnosing myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease. Methods: We compared the performance of live cell-based assays using immunofluorescence (LCBA-IF) and fixed cell-based assays using immunofluorescence (FCBA-IF) in detecting AQP4-IgG in 90 cases of NMOSD meeting 2015 International Panel for Neuromyelitis Optica Diagnosis criteria, alongside 40 controls. Additionally, we further investigated the relationship between AQP4-IgG titers as measured by LCBA-IF and FCBA-IF and clinical parameters in NMOSD patients. Results: Results showed 96.9% agreement between LCBA-IF and FCBA-IF (Cohen’s κ=0.935), with a strong Spearman correlation (0.977, p<0.001). Both methods demonstrated 100% specificity, with LCBA-IF showing slightly higher sensitivity compared to FCBA-IF. Within LCBAIF-tested groups, statistically significant differences in annualized relapse rates were observed across all pairwise comparisons (low-titer vs. moderate-titer, low-titer vs. high-titer, and moderate-titer vs. high-titer; all p<0.050). However, this association reached statistical significance in some FCBA-IF-tested groups. Conclusions Overall, there is a strong concordance between LCBA-IF and FCBA-IF in detecting AQP4-IgG, where LCBA-IF shows slightly higher sensitivity. Furthermore, there is a potential link between elevated AQP4-IgG titers and an increased risk of relapse, and this correlation may appear more pronounced when using LCBA-IF.

Objective To conduct bibliometrics and visual analysis of local benign paroxysmal positional verti-go(BPPV)research in the past 20 years for further basic and clinical research in the future.Methods We collected the journal articles on BPPV published between January 1,2004 and December 31,2023 from the databases of CNKI,Wanfang,VIP and Web of Science Core Collection.Multidimensional measurement and visual analysis were carried out using bibliometrics software to identify the research hotspots and new trends in this field,and to deter-mine the cooperation and influence among authors,institutions and journals.Results A total of 717 Chinese papers and 212 SCI papers were utilized for the analysis.The literature in this field gradually increased at an average annual growth rate of 12.8％,among which the Journal of Clinical Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery published the most articles(n=167),followed by the Chinese Journal of Otology(n=94)and the Journal of Audiology and Speech Pathology(n=76).The journal with the largest number of SCI publications is Frontiers in Neurology(n=44).In terms of authors and institutions,Zhuang Jianhua published the most Chinese papers,Yang Xu published the most SCI papers,and Shanghai Jiaotong University published the earliest and most SCI papers in this field(n=21).The main research keywords in this realm in recent years involve video head pulse test,vestibular migraine,re-sidual symptoms,residual dizziness and anxiety.The keywords retaining burst intensity to 2023 include video head pulse test,residual dizziness,children,anxiety,and residual symptoms.Conclusion Video head impulse test,re-sidual dizziness,children,anxiety and other aspects are critical areas of ongoing research in BPPV.

Objective To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture for the restoration of muscle regeneration and the secretion of exosomes around acupoints in a model of erector spinae muscle injury.Methods Forty SPF-grade male SD rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,electroacupuncture group,and electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group,with 10 rats per group.Except for the blank group,the erector spinae muscle injury models were established in other groups by intramuscular injection of 0.5%bupivacaine.The blank control group received no treatment,whereas the rats in the electroacupuncture and electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor groups were treated with electroacupuncture at"Weizhong"(BL40)and"Shenshu"(BL23)acupoints,respectively,stimulation was applied daily for 7 consecutive days,with each session lasting 20 minutes.The parameters used were a sparse-dense wave waveform,a frequency of 2/10 Hz,and a current intensity of 1 mA.The exosome inhibitor GW4869(3 g/L,50 μL per acupoint)was injected 1 h before each electroacupuncture in the electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group.After intervention,the erector spinae muscles were collected and observed by HE and Masson staining for morphological changes.The expression of paired box gene 7(Pax7)and recombinant myogenic differentiation(MyoD)was detected by immunohistochemistry,while the expression of myogenin(MyoG)and myosin heavy chain(MyHC)proteins was detected by western blotting.The serum exosomes of rats in each group were extracted and identified by transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis,and the expression of Alix,differentiation cluster 63(CD63),and tumor susceptibility gene 101(TSG101)proteins were detected by Western blotting.Results Compared with the blank group,the model group,the electroacupuncture group,and the electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group exhibited spinae muscle fiber fragmentation,degeneration,necrosis,and inflammatory cell infiltration in HE staining.The result of Masson staining showed that collagen fiber hyperplasia was increased.The model group showed increased expression of MyoD,Pax7,MyoG,MyHC,and CD63,while TSG101 expression was downregulated(P<0.05).In the electroacupuncture group,the expression of MyoD,Pax7,Alix,and TSG101 was elevated(P<0.05),and the expression of MyHC and CD63 was decreased(P<0.05).The electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group displayed increased expression of MyHC,Alix,and TSG101(P<0.05),and the expression of CD63 was decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the electroacupuncture group and the electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group showed reduced muscle fiber degeneration,necrotic areas,and inflammatory cell infiltration as observed in HE staining,along with decreased collagen fiber hyperplasia in Masson staining.Specifically,the electroacupuncture group demonstrated increased expression of MyoD,Pax7,MyoG,Alix,and TSG101(P<0.05),and the expression of CD63 was decreased(P<0.05).The electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group displayed downregulated expression of Pax7,MyoG,MyHC,and CD63(P<0.05),and the expression of Alix and TSG101 was regulated(P<0.05).Compared with the electroacupuncture+exosome inhibitor group,the electroacupuncture group exhibited less muscle fiber degeneration and necrosis,reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in HE staining,and decreased stained collagen fibers in Masson staining.The electroacupuncture group showed increased expression of MyoD,Pax7,MyoG,MyHC,Alix,and CD63(P<0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture can up-regulate the expression of Pax7 and MyoD,and promote the regeneration of erector spinae muscles,which may be related to stimulating the secretion of exosomes around the acupoint.Exosomes may be an important mediator for the efficacy of acupuncture.

Objective:To explore the mechanism of long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)HOXA transcript at the distal tip(HOT-TIP)in promoting the proliferation,migration and invasion of oral cancer cells via the mitogen activated protein kinase/extracellu-lar regulated protein kinase(MAPK/ERK)pathway.Methods:Human oral cancer KB cells were cultured in vitro and divided into control(without any treatment),pcDNA(transfected with pcDNA-NC,A group),pcDNA-HOTTIP(transfected with pcDNA-HOT-TIP,B group),MAPK/ERK pathway inhibitor PD98059(PD98059 group,50 μmol/L PD98059,C group)and pcDNA-HOTTIP+PD98059 groups(transfected with pcDNA-HOTTIP+50 μmol/L PD98059,D group).qRT-PCR was applied to detect HOTTIP mRNA expression,scratch test was applied to detect KB cell migration,Transwell assay was applied to detect cell invasion,flow cytometry was applied to detect cell apoptosis,CCK-8 was used to detect cell proliferation,Western blot was applied to detect the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway and epithelial mesenchymal transition(EMT)related protein expression levels in KB cells.Results:Compared with the control group,the KB cell scratch healing rate,cell invasion number,A450 value,p-MEK1/2,p-ERK1/2,and N-cadherin expression in pcDNA-HOTTIP group increased,the apoptosis rate and E-cadherin expression reduced(P＜0.05);scratch healing rate,cell invasion number,A450 value,p-MEK1/2,p-ERK1/2,and N-cadherin expression in PD98059 group reduced,the apoptosis rate and E-cadherin expression increased(P＜0.05).PD98059 weakened the role of HOT-TIP in promoting proliferation,migration and invasion of KB cells.Conclusion:LncRNA HOTTIP promotes proliferation,migra-tion,and invasion of KB cells by activating the MAPK/ERK pathway.

Objective:To explore the effect of preoperative gamma-glutamyl transferase to albumin ratio (GAR) on prognosis of patients with Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC)stage 0-A hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after microwave ablation (MWA).Methods:The clinical data of 201 patients with BCLC stage 0 to A who underwent MWA at two centers of Jiaxing Second Hospital and Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from January 2011 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, including 152 males and 49 females, aged (57.5±9.6) years. X-tile software was used to divide patients into a low GAR group ( n=84, GAR<0.9) and a high GAR group ( n=117, GAR≥0.9). Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis, and log-rank test was used for survival comparison. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between GAR and prognosis. Results:The cumulative survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years postoperatively were 98.7%, 93.8%, 78.5% for the low GAR group, which were superior to that 97.2%, 87.1%, 70.2% for the high GAR group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=11.89, P=0.001). The recurrence-free survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years after surgery between the two groups was no significant difference ( χ2=1.70, P=0.192). Multivariate analysis revealed that high GAR ( HR=2.723, 95% CI: 1.508-4.914, P=0.001) was independent risk factors for overall survival after MWA in patients with BCLC stages 0 to A HCC. Male gender ( HR=1.959, 95% CI: 1.127-3.305, P=0.017) and tumor diameter ≥2 cm ( HR=1.547, 95% CI: 1.008-2.373, P=0.046) were independent risk factors for recurrence after MWA in patients with BCLC stages 0 to A HCC. Univariate analysis, GAR≥0.9 was not associated with postoperative recurrence ( HR=1.315, 95% CI: 0.869-1.989, P=0.195). Conclusion:Preoperative GAR (≥0.9) is an independent risk factor affecting overall survival in patients with BCLC stages 0 to A HCC after MWA.

This study analyzes the disease burden of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents in China and globally from 1990 to 2021, providing data support and strategic recommendations for public health policy and disease intervention.

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has recently been proposed as a key player in the representation of itch stimuli. However, to date, little is known about the contribution of specific ACC interneuron populations to itch processing. Using c-Fos immunolabeling and in vivo Ca²⁺ imaging, we reported that both histamine and chloroquine stimuli-induced acute itch caused a marked enhancement of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-expressing interneuron activity in the ACC. Behavioral data indicated that optogenetic and chemogenetic activation of these neurons reduced scratching responses related to histaminergic and non-histaminergic acute itch. Similar neural activity and modulatory role of these neurons were seen in mice with chronic itch induced by contact dermatitis. Together, this study highlights the importance of ACC VIP⁺ neurons in modulating itch-related affect and behavior, which may help us to develop novel mechanism-based strategies to treat refractory chronic itch in the clinic.
Animals ; Pruritus/physiopathology* ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide/metabolism* ; Interneurons/metabolism* ; Gyrus Cinguli/metabolism* ; Mice ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Histamine ; Chloroquine ; Optogenetics ; Mice, Transgenic

Objective To explore the risk factors for premature delivery after transvaginal cervical cerclage,construct and validate a predictive model.Methods A total of 209 single-tonsus cervicitis patients who underwent McDonald cervical ring ligation at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2022 to December 2024 were selected as subjects,and they were divided into preterm group(n=86)and full-term group(n=123)according to the postoperative pregnancy outcomes.LASSO regression analysis was used to screen variables,and the prediction model was constructed by multivariate Logistic regression.The performance of the model was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve,calibration curve and decision curve.Results Body mass index,amniotic sac protrusion,preoperative white blood cell,and cervical length before cerclage＜25mm were identified as independent risk factors for preterm birth(P＜0.05).The prediction model demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.823(95％CI:0.765-0.881),with sensitivity of 77.91％and specificity of 77.24％.Both the calibration curve and decision analysis confirmed the model's strong consistency and clinical net benefit.Conclusion The predictive model constructed in this study has a good predictive effect and can be used as a reference for the stratification of preterm risk after cervical cerclage.

Objective:To explore the association between uric acid and new-onset chronic kidney disease (CKD) in middle-aged and elderly hypertensive patients.Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study. Middle-aged and elderly hypertensive patients who had attended at least two annual health examinations at Yongshun Community Health Service Center in Tongzhou District, Beijing, from June 2016 to December 2020 were enrolled. The time interval between the two physical examinations was three years. The first physical examination time served as the baseline, and the second as the end of follow-up. Based on the uric acid level at baseline, the participants were divided into the normal uric acid group and the hyperuricemia group. The relevant clinical data of the participants were collected. The endpoint of the study was new-onset CKD. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between uric acid and new-onset CKD in hypertensive patients.Results:A total of 2 472 middle-aged and elderly hypertensive patients with an average age of (62.43±7.02) years were included. Of these, 733(29.7%) were male. There were 710 patients with hyperuricemia (hyperuricemia group) and 1 762 patients with normal uric acid levels (normal uric acid group).After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and uric acid-lowering treatment, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that combined with hyperuricemia was an independent risk factor for new-onset CKD in middle-aged and elderly hypertensive patients ( OR=3.00, 95% CI: 1.87-4.80, P<0.001). The results of multivariate logistic analysis showed that elevated uric acid level was an independent risk factor for new-onset CKD in both male and female middle-aged and elderly hypertensive patients (both P<0.05), and there was no sex interaction ( P for interactio n>0.05). The results of multivariate logistic analysis showed that the combination of asymptomatic hyperuricemia was an independent risk factor for new-onset CKD in middle-aged and elderly hypertensive patients ( OR=3.00, 95% CI: 1.87-4.80, P<0.001), and there was no gender interaction ( P for interactio n>0.05). Conclusions:Hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for new-onset CKD in middle-aged and elderly hypertensive patients, and elevated uric acid levels increase the risk of new-onset CKD in both male and female patients. Moreover, asymptomatic hyperuricemia may increase the risk of new-onset CKD.