1.Effect of sacroiliac joint ankylosis on outcomes of L5/S1 transforminal lumbar interbody fusion and lumbar sagittal parameters
Yalei WANG ; Xuezhi WANG ; Tao ZHOU ; Xinxin SHEN ; Ding FANG ; Hongliang CHEN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(3):634-641
BACKGROUND:The correlation between sacroiliac joint degeneration and lumbar degenerative disease has been analyzed in the literature in the past,but the clinical efficacy and imaging changes after interbody fusion with sacroiliac joint ankylosis in patients with lumbar degenerative disease have not been reported in the literature.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of sacroiliac joint ankylosis on the clinical efficacy and lumbar sagittal regression after L5/S1 single-segment transforminal lumbar interbody fusion in patients with lumbar degenerative disease.METHODS:Thirty-seven patients who underwent L5/S1 segmental transforminal lumbar interbody fusion for lumbar degenerative disease with sacroiliac joint ankylosis between June 2020 and September 2023 in Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were retrospectively analyzed as group A.Thirty-seven patients with lumbar degenerative disease without sacroiliac joint ankylosis who were matched for general information during the same period were selected as controls in group B.Clinical efficacy was assessed using the Oswestry disability index and visual analog scale for lumbar and lower limb pain.The lumbar sagittal parameters included lumbar anterior convexity angle,lumbar partial anterior convexity angle,and lower lumbar anterior convexity angle.Pfirrmann grading was used to assess the degree of preoperative disc degeneration,postoperative endplate damage and screw loosening,and to record the fusion of the operated segments at the final postoperative follow-up visit.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There was no statistically significant difference in age,body mass index,bone mineral density,operation time,intraoperative bleeding,preoperative primary diagnosis and postoperative follow-up time between the two groups(P>0.05).(2)The preoperative Pfirrmann grading of lumbar disc degeneration in group A patients(3.4±0.9)was significantly higher than that of group B(3.1±0.6),and the difference was statistically significant(t=2.059,P=0.044).(3)All patients showed significant improvement in postoperative lumbar sagittal parameters compared with preoperative ones(all P<0.05).During the follow-up period,there was a loss of correction in patients in group A.There was no statistical difference in the lumbar anterior convexity angle,lower lumbar anterior convexity angle,and local anterior convexity angle at the last follow-up compared with the preoperative period(P>0.05).The lumbar anterior convexity angle,lower lumbar anterior convexity angle,and local anterior convexity angle in group A were significantly lower than those of group B patients at both preoperative and final follow-up,and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05).(4)There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative endplate injury between the two groups(x2=0.181,P=0.670),and screw loosening was significantly higher in group A than in group B,with a statistically significant difference(x2=4.163,P=0.041).(5)At the last follow-up,the incidence of grade 3 fusion and grade 4 fusion was significantly higher in group A than in group B.The difference in the distribution of fusion grades between the two groups was statistically significant(x2=7.848,P=0.031).(6)The Oswestry disability index and lower limb visual analog scale scores at the last follow-up of both groups were significantly improved compared with the preoperative period(P<0.05).The visual analog scale scores for low back pain at 3 months after surgery and at the last follow-up of group A were significantly higher than those of group B(t=2.010,P=0.048;t=2.133,P=0.036).(7)It is concluded that regardless of whether it is accompanied by sacroiliac joint ankylosis or not,lumbar degenerative disease patients who undergo interbody fusion with foramen magnum can achieve good therapeutic effects,but lumbar degenerative disease patients with sacroiliac joint ankylosis who undergo interbody fusion with foramen magnum at the L5/S1 segments have a poorer improvement of low back pain than patients without sacroiliac joint ankylosis after the operation.Furthermore,patients with preoperative sacroiliac ankylosis who underwent L5/S1 segmental transforminal lumbar interbody fusion had a low fusion rate and were prone to loss of correction of the lumbar sagittal position.
2.Effect of sacroiliac joint ankylosis on outcomes of L5/S1 transforminal lumbar interbody fusion and lumbar sagittal parameters
Yalei WANG ; Xuezhi WANG ; Tao ZHOU ; Xinxin SHEN ; Ding FANG ; Hongliang CHEN
Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research 2026;30(3):634-641
BACKGROUND:The correlation between sacroiliac joint degeneration and lumbar degenerative disease has been analyzed in the literature in the past,but the clinical efficacy and imaging changes after interbody fusion with sacroiliac joint ankylosis in patients with lumbar degenerative disease have not been reported in the literature.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of sacroiliac joint ankylosis on the clinical efficacy and lumbar sagittal regression after L5/S1 single-segment transforminal lumbar interbody fusion in patients with lumbar degenerative disease.METHODS:Thirty-seven patients who underwent L5/S1 segmental transforminal lumbar interbody fusion for lumbar degenerative disease with sacroiliac joint ankylosis between June 2020 and September 2023 in Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University were retrospectively analyzed as group A.Thirty-seven patients with lumbar degenerative disease without sacroiliac joint ankylosis who were matched for general information during the same period were selected as controls in group B.Clinical efficacy was assessed using the Oswestry disability index and visual analog scale for lumbar and lower limb pain.The lumbar sagittal parameters included lumbar anterior convexity angle,lumbar partial anterior convexity angle,and lower lumbar anterior convexity angle.Pfirrmann grading was used to assess the degree of preoperative disc degeneration,postoperative endplate damage and screw loosening,and to record the fusion of the operated segments at the final postoperative follow-up visit.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)There was no statistically significant difference in age,body mass index,bone mineral density,operation time,intraoperative bleeding,preoperative primary diagnosis and postoperative follow-up time between the two groups(P>0.05).(2)The preoperative Pfirrmann grading of lumbar disc degeneration in group A patients(3.4±0.9)was significantly higher than that of group B(3.1±0.6),and the difference was statistically significant(t=2.059,P=0.044).(3)All patients showed significant improvement in postoperative lumbar sagittal parameters compared with preoperative ones(all P<0.05).During the follow-up period,there was a loss of correction in patients in group A.There was no statistical difference in the lumbar anterior convexity angle,lower lumbar anterior convexity angle,and local anterior convexity angle at the last follow-up compared with the preoperative period(P>0.05).The lumbar anterior convexity angle,lower lumbar anterior convexity angle,and local anterior convexity angle in group A were significantly lower than those of group B patients at both preoperative and final follow-up,and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05).(4)There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative endplate injury between the two groups(x2=0.181,P=0.670),and screw loosening was significantly higher in group A than in group B,with a statistically significant difference(x2=4.163,P=0.041).(5)At the last follow-up,the incidence of grade 3 fusion and grade 4 fusion was significantly higher in group A than in group B.The difference in the distribution of fusion grades between the two groups was statistically significant(x2=7.848,P=0.031).(6)The Oswestry disability index and lower limb visual analog scale scores at the last follow-up of both groups were significantly improved compared with the preoperative period(P<0.05).The visual analog scale scores for low back pain at 3 months after surgery and at the last follow-up of group A were significantly higher than those of group B(t=2.010,P=0.048;t=2.133,P=0.036).(7)It is concluded that regardless of whether it is accompanied by sacroiliac joint ankylosis or not,lumbar degenerative disease patients who undergo interbody fusion with foramen magnum can achieve good therapeutic effects,but lumbar degenerative disease patients with sacroiliac joint ankylosis who undergo interbody fusion with foramen magnum at the L5/S1 segments have a poorer improvement of low back pain than patients without sacroiliac joint ankylosis after the operation.Furthermore,patients with preoperative sacroiliac ankylosis who underwent L5/S1 segmental transforminal lumbar interbody fusion had a low fusion rate and were prone to loss of correction of the lumbar sagittal position.
3.Mechanism of Wenyang jieyu granules regulating NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 pathway on antidepressant effect in rats
Shuang MENG ; Jie ZHAO ; Xinxin WANG ; Dandan TAN ; Xiaorong ZHOU ; Huimin SUN ; Xiaojuan MA ; Zhenyu FENG
China Pharmacy 2026;37(11):1440-1446
OBJECTIVE To explore the antidepressant mechanism of Wenyang jieyu granules (WYJYG) via the NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3)/apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC)/Caspase-1 pathway. METHODS A rat model of depression was established by chronic unpredictable mild stress combined with single-housing for 42 consecutive days.The experiment set up blank group, model group, MCC950 (NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor) group (10 mg/kg), fluoxetine group (positive control,2.08 mg/kg),low-dose WYJYG(3.78 g/kg) and high-dose WYJYG group (7.56 g/kg),with 10 rats in each group. From the 22nd day of the experiment, rats in the fluoxetine group, low-dose and high-dose WYJYG groups were intragastrically administered with the corresponding drugs and intraperitoneally injected with an equal volume of normal saline. Rats in the MCC950 group were intraperitoneally injected with MCC950 at the corresponding concentration and intragastrically administered with an equal volume of distilled water. Rats in the blank group and model group were given an equal volume of distilled water by gavage and an equal volume of normal saline by intraperitoneal injection. All interventions were performed once a day for 21 consecutive days. Behavioral tests were conducted once a week. After the last administration, the contents of ASC, ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-18 in hippocampal tissues were detected. The protein expressions of NLRP3, cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68), Caspase-1, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and Bcl-2-associated X protein were determined, and neuronal apoptosis was observed. RESULTS After the last administration, compared with the model group, the open-field activity time was significantly prolonged ( P <0.05), and the latency to feed in a novel environment was significantly shortened ( P <0.05) in rats of the high-dose WYJYG group. In hippocampal tissue, the contents of ASC, Iba1, IL-1β, and IL-18, as well as the protein expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and CD68, and the positive rate of neuronal apoptosis were all significantly decreased/downregulated ( P <0.05). Bcl-2 protein expression was significantly upregulated ( P <0.05), and the density of neuronal apoptosis-positive cells was significantly reduced ( P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS WYJYG play on antidepressant role by inhibiting the NLRP3/ASC/Caspase-1 pathway, reducing microglia-mediated neuroinflammation, and inhibiting hippocampal neurons apoptosis.
4.Screening the advantageous population for liver cancer undergoing yttrium-90 microsphere selective internal radiation therapy
Licong Liang ; Yuchan Liang ; Wensou Huang ; Yongjian Guo ; Jingjun Huang ; Jingwen Zhou ; Liteng Lin ; Xinxin Nie ; Mingyue Cai ; Kangshun Zhu
Liver Research 2026;10(1):61-70
Yttrium-90 microsphere selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT), also known as transarterial radioembolization, has become one of the pivotal treatments for liver cancer, particularly for selected advantageous patient groups. This review summarizes the characteristics of different patients with liver cancer that could obtain maximum benefit from SIRT and discusses key factors affecting efficacy and safety, including tumor characteristics, liver function, patient performance status, and treatment intent. In evaluating appropriate candidates, mapping serves as a crucial simulation procedure to assess tumor vascular anatomy, predict lung shunting, and guide catheter positioning and dose planning. This procedure substantially enhances therapeutic precision while minimizing the risk of nontarget radiation-related adverse events, such as radiation-induced pneumonitis and gastrointestinal toxicity. Several studies have suggested that SIRT is not only suitable for patients with early or limited hepatocellular carcinoma but can also be used as a bridging therapy for liver transplantation and conversion therapy for unresectable liver cancers. In combination with systemic treatments, SIRT has demonstrated survival benefits in patients with unresectable liver cancer. This review also highlights the importance of further optimizing patient screening through personalized dosimetry and mapping to ensure the precision and safety of treatment. A thorough review of relevant literature and clinical practice offers clinicians comprehensive suggestions on patient screening and clarifies the promise of SIRT in the liver cancer population.
5.Construction of a COPD risk prediction model based on machine learning and the COPD-SQ questionnaire
Lin CHEN ; Luna ZHAO ; Yue ZHOU ; Panpan WANG ; Jingkun LI ; Wenwen ZHANG ; Xinxin ZHANG ; Chao WU ; Dong LIU
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2026;61(7):1261-1268
ObjectiveTo construct and evaluate various machine learning models for predicting the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in individuals, thereby providing data support for early screening and intervention. MethodsA total of 823 subjects were selected for this study, comprising 142 individuals in the high-risk group for COPD and 681 individuals in the low-risk group. Data collected included demographic characteristics, smoking history, symptoms (such as cough and shortness of breath), and scores from the Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease screening questionnaire. Four machine learning algorithms—Logistic regression, random forest, support vector machine, and XGBoost—were utilized to construct risk prediction models. The performance of these models was assessed using 5-fold cross-validation, with evaluation metrics including accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and average precision (AP). Furthermore, a feature importance analysis was performed. ResultsThe Logistic Regression model exhibited superior performance, achieving an AUC of 0.982 and an AP of 0.939. This was closely followed by the Random Forest model, which recorded an AUC of 0.975 and an AP of 0.890. Feature importance analysis revealed that smoking history, symptoms of shortness of breath, and body weight were significant predictors. All models demonstrated robust performance in identifying low-risk populations; however, variations were observed in their efficacy in identifying high-risk populations. ConclusionMachine learning models have proven effective in identifying individuals at high risk for COPD. Among these, the Logistic regression model exhibits the best overall performance, efficiently identifying high-risk populations and serving as a valuable clinical auxiliary screening tool. Various models, each with distinct performance characteristics, are suited to different clinical screening scenarios, thereby offering targeted decision-making support for the establishment of a hierarchical and intelligent COPD screening pathway.
6.Abnormalities of cerebellar-cerebral circuits and social impairment in ASD
Wenjing HU ; Tingli HE ; Zhe ZHANG ; Hongyan XU ; Zhangying ZHOU ; Xinxin CUI ; Danmeng CHENG ; Yanan HAN ; Xianwen DONG ; Anqin DONG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(4):328-333
Autism spectrum disorder(ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, and social impairment was one of the core symptoms of ASD, which can seriously affects the social life of patients.The pathogenesis of social impairment in ASD is unclear and it may involves many brain abnormalities.The related theories and hypotheses are numerous and there is no unified conclusion. Studies have shown that the cerebellum has extensive connections with brain networks and is involved in the regulation of social cognition, but its role in ASD has not been fully emphasized.The structural and functional abnormalities of the cerebellar-cortex (CC) loop in ASD patients can lead to language communication disorders, empathy disorders, difficulties in interpreting social cues, abnormal social reward processing and emotional regulation disorders, which are closely related to ASD social impairment. Noninvasive brain stimulation of the superficial cerebellum can improve the abnormal CC circuit in ASD patients, and the cerebellum can be considered as a target for the treatment of social disorders in ASD in the future.Based on the clinical and basic researches on social impairment in ASD in recent years, this article reviews the relevant manifestations of disorders which cerebellar and CC circuit involved, aiming to promote the development of related research in the future.
7.Effect of health knowledge and social support on health behaviors in patients with ischemic stroke: the dual mediating effects of health belief and depression
Yuying GUO ; Mengyu ZHANG ; Xinxin ZHOU ; Yuying XIE ; Peng ZHAO ; Juanjuan WANG ; Caixia YANG ; Yuanli GUO ; Ao YUAN ; Qinyang LI ; Shuo DU ; Yanjin LIU ; Lina GUO
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(11):1018-1024
Objective:To explore the dual mediating effects of health belief and depression among health knowledge, social support, and health behaviors based on the capacity, opportunity, motivation-behavior (COM-B) model, and analyze the influencing factors of health behaviors in patients with ischemic stroke.Methods:This multi-center cluster sampling research recruited ischemic stroke patients ( n=1 696) who were hospitalized in neurology departments of five tertiary hospitals in Henan Province from October 2023 to October 2024. A cross-sectional investigation was conducted using the general information questionnaire, social support rating scale (SSRS), stroke prevention knowledge questionnaire(SPKQ), short form health belief model scale(SF-HBMS), health promoting lifestyle profile-Ⅱ (HPLP-Ⅱ), and patient health questionnaire-9(PHQ-9) to ultimately reveal the pathways and effect sizes among variables. Partial correlation analysis and multiple linear stepwise regression analysis were conducted to examine the relationships among social support, health knowledge, health belief, health behaviors, and depression in stroke patients by SPSS 26.0 software. Structural equation modeling was constructed using AMOS 28.0 software, and the mediating effect was tested using the Bootstrap method. Results:The scores of social support, health knowledge, health belief, and health behaviors among ischemic stroke patients were (37.46±9.94), (26.56±6.84), (75.62±12.62) and (130.79±26.27), respectively. The score of depression was 5.00 (2.00, 8.00). Health behaviors were positively correlated with health knowledge, social support, and health belief( r=0.333, 0.246, 0.267, all P<0.05), while negatively correlated with depression ( r=-0.146, P<0.05). Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis showed that health knowledge, social support, health belief, and depression were all influencing factors of health behaviors in ischemic stroke patients (all P<0.05). Health belief (effect value=0.068, 95% CI=0.048-0.093) and depression (effect value=0.009, 95% CI=0.003-0.018) both played partial mediating roles between health knowledge and health behaviors, accounting for 17.3%(0.077/0.446) of the total effect. Meanwhile, health belief (effect value=0.045, 95% CI=0.029-0.063) and depression (effect value=0.016, 95% CI=0.008-0.027) both played partial mediating roles between social support and health behaviors, accounting for 26.5%(0.061/0.230) of the total effect. Conclusion:Health knowledge and social support can not only directly influence health behaviors but also indirectly affect them through health belief and depression in patients with ischemic stroke.
8.Construction of entrustable professional activity indicators for non-anesthesiology residents during rotation in the department of anesthesiology
Xinxin SHAO ; Jianhong YE ; Xiaodan WU ; Lu YANG ; Qingchun LIANG ; Qin ZHOU
Chinese Journal of Medical Education Research 2025;24(9):1212-1217
Objective:To establish a framework of entrustable professional activity indicators for non-anesthesiology residents during rotation in the Department of Anesthesiology, standardize the training process, and provide an effective evaluation method.Methods:Based on literature review and discussions, a preliminary expert consultation questionnaire was developed. From July to November 2024, a modified Delphi method was adopted and relevant experts were invited to assess the importance, validity, and feasibility of each indicator using a 5-point Likert scale. The results were used to screen and refine the entrustable professional activity indicators for non-anesthesiology residents during rotation in the Department of Anesthesiology.Results:In the two rounds of expert consultation, the valid questionnaire return rate reached 100.00%, with an expert judgment basis coefficient of 0.73 and a familiarity coefficient of 0.90. Based on expert feedback, the final framework retained 3 first-level indicators and 12 second-level indicators. Modifications included renaming "Anesthesia Management" to "Anesthetic Drug Management", swapping the order of "Intraoperative Emergency Management" and "Airway Management", and removing the indicator "Resuscitation Assessment".Conclusions:This study preliminarily developed a framework of entrustable professional activity indicators for non-anesthesiology residents during rotation in the Department of Anesthesiology. The framework provides a simple and practical competency evaluation method for standardized training, which can enhance training quality and effectiveness.
9.Research progress on the involvement of abnormal temporal and spatial development of the striatum in repetitive and stereotyped behaviors in autism
Zhangying ZHOU ; Anqin DONG ; Hongyan XU ; Xinxin CUI ; Tingli HE ; Wenjing HU ; Zhe ZHANG ; Yanan HAN ; Danmeng CHENG ; Liguo LI ; Youcai TANG ; Xianwen DONG
Chinese Journal of Comparative Medicine 2025;35(6):167-176
As the incidence of autism rises annually,its unknown pathogenesis makes it challenging to treat the varied repetitive and stereotyped behaviors that characterize its core symptoms.The striatum is an important brain region for the control of locomotor behaviors,featuring a unique mosaic structure,complex neural origin,and finely regulated developmental process that is highly susceptible to genetic and environmental influences.Both clinical and basic studies have indicated that abnormal development of the striatal nuclei may contribute to the pathogenesis of these repetitive stereotyped behaviors in autism.Clinical imaging data have primarily identified gross anatomical variations in the stratum(e.g.,its general outline),but lack the resolution necessary to detect the cellular and subcellular alterations within the region.By introducing the abnormalities in the spatiotemporal development of the striatum and their links to the characteristic behaviors of autism,this review aims to advance our understanding of the role of the striatum in autism pathogenesis and to inform future animal studies and clinical research.
10.Abnormalities of cerebellar-cerebral circuits and social impairment in ASD
Wenjing HU ; Tingli HE ; Zhe ZHANG ; Hongyan XU ; Zhangying ZHOU ; Xinxin CUI ; Danmeng CHENG ; Yanan HAN ; Xianwen DONG ; Anqin DONG
Chinese Journal of Behavioral Medicine and Brain Science 2025;34(4):328-333
Autism spectrum disorder(ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder, and social impairment was one of the core symptoms of ASD, which can seriously affects the social life of patients.The pathogenesis of social impairment in ASD is unclear and it may involves many brain abnormalities.The related theories and hypotheses are numerous and there is no unified conclusion. Studies have shown that the cerebellum has extensive connections with brain networks and is involved in the regulation of social cognition, but its role in ASD has not been fully emphasized.The structural and functional abnormalities of the cerebellar-cortex (CC) loop in ASD patients can lead to language communication disorders, empathy disorders, difficulties in interpreting social cues, abnormal social reward processing and emotional regulation disorders, which are closely related to ASD social impairment. Noninvasive brain stimulation of the superficial cerebellum can improve the abnormal CC circuit in ASD patients, and the cerebellum can be considered as a target for the treatment of social disorders in ASD in the future.Based on the clinical and basic researches on social impairment in ASD in recent years, this article reviews the relevant manifestations of disorders which cerebellar and CC circuit involved, aiming to promote the development of related research in the future.


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