Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of against-lateral correction Tuina(Chinese therapeutic massage)in treating atlanto-axial joint disorder(AAJD)and imaging changes.Methods:A total of 142 patients with AAJD were recruited.They were randomly allocated to a trial group and a control group using the random number table method,with 71 participants in each group.The trial group was treated with against-lateral correction Tuina 3 times weekly.The control group was offered conventional physical traction therapy once daily.The interventions lasted 2 weeks in both groups.The two groups of participants were observed before and after treatment for their changes in the global pain scale(GPS)score,visual analog scale(VAS)score for dizziness assessment,cervical range of motion(ROM)in rotation,and the extent of atlanto-dental displacement.Results:The GPS and VAS scores dropped after treatment in both groups(P<0.05)and were lower in the trial group than in the control group after treatment and at the follow-up(P<0.05).Participants in the trial group achieved a significant increase in the cervical ROM in rotation after treatment and at the follow-up compared to the pre-treatment value(P<0.05)and surpassed the control group(P<0.05);the control group only showed an increase in the left-side rotation(P<0.05).After the intervention,neither the intra-group nor the between-group comparison revealed significant differences in the extent of atlanto-dental displacement(P>0.05),though the trial group presented an improving tendency.Conclusion:Compared to physical traction,the against-lateral correction Tuina method works more significantly in improving pain,dizziness,and ROM in AAJD patients.

Depression is primarily characterized by persistent low mood,emotional disorders,and loss of interest.Somatization disorder is a type of neurotic disorder,primarily featuring recurrent,varied,and non-organic physical discomfort symptoms.In traditional Chinese medicine,depression with somatization disorder can be classified under the category of"depression"and"hysteria"according to its clinical symptoms.This article focuses on the dynamic evolution of the functions of the kidney,spleen,and liver,and explains the core pathogenesis of depression with somatization disorder based on the theory of"cold water,damp earth,and stagnant wood"proposed by HUANG Yuanyu.It explores the causes and related manifestations.Symptoms mainly characterized by cramps and convulsions can be attributed to the liver;symptoms primarily characterized by heaviness,distension,and dull pain accompanied by weakness can be attributed to the spleen;symptoms primarily characterized by stiffness,reluctance to move or inability to move,and reluctance to extend outward can be attributed to the kidney.Liver depression and spleen dampness,as well as wood depression and earth congestion,are treated by strengthening the spleen and soothing the liver,drying dampness and calming wind,and the modified Xiaoyao Powder combined with Yueju Pill is recommended.Spleen dampness and kidney coldness,earth failure and water overflow,are treated by tonifying the spleen and kidney,warming water and transforming dampness,and the modified Jingui Shenqi Pill combined with Linggui Zhugan Decoction is recommended.Kidney coldness and liver hyperactivity,water not nourishing wood,are treated by warming the kidney and enriching essence,replenishing water and nourishing wood,and the modified Dihuang Yinzi is recommended.This article explores the corresponding etiology,pathogenesis,treatment methods,and prescriptions for depression with somatization disorder,with the aim of providing new insights for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Objective To establish a stable,reliable,and clinically relevant porcine model of endotoxin-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).Methods Ten 8-month-old male Bama minipigs were deeply sedated,followed by invasive mechanical ventilation and electrocardiographic monitoring.Lipopolysaccharide(LPS)was intravenously pumped at 600 μg/(kg·h)for 3 hours,then maintained at 15 μg/(kg·h)thereafter.Dynamic monitoring was performed at five time points after LPS injection(LPS 0,1,3,5,and 8 h),including arterial blood gas analysis and chest computed tomography(CT)scans.Pathological examination of lung tissues obtained via bronchoscopic biopsy(HE staining and transmission electron microscopy)was conducted.These indicators were comprehensively used to evaluate the success of the animal model.Results At 5 hours after LPS administration,8 minipigs developed symptoms such as skin cyanosis,elevated body temperature,and respiratory distress.The oxygenation index decreased to<300 mmHg.Chest CT scans showed diffuse pulmonary infiltrates.Histopathology revealed alveolar edema and hyaline membrane formation.Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated disruption of pulmonary blood-air barrier,depletion of lamellar bodies in type Ⅱ pneumocytes,inflammatory cell infiltration,and exudation of plasma proteins and fibrin.Compared with LPS 0 h,at LPS 8 h,the oxygenation index and arterial blood pH were significantly decreased(P<0.001),while blood lactic acid and serum potassium were significantly increased(P<0.05);serum calcium and base excess were significantly decreased(P<0.05),and the lung injury score based on HE-stained lung sections was significantly increased(P<0.01).Conclusion The porcine ARDS model established by continuous LPS injection can dynamically simulate the pathophysiological characteristics and typical pathological manifestations of clinical septic ARDS,making it an effective tool to study the pathogenesis,prevention,and treatment strategies of septic ARDS.

Objective To explore the perioperative therapeutic effects and follow-up manage-ment in 16 patients with left ventricular assist device(LVAD)implantation.Methods A retrospec-tive analysis was conducted in data of 16 patients who underwent LVAD implantation in the depart-ment of cardiovascular surgery.Data of 6-minute walk test(6MWT),European Quality of Life-5 Di-mension-5 Levels(EQ-5D-5L),New York Heart Association(NYHA)classification,echocardio-graphy,chest radiography,cardiothoracic ratio,and occurrence of complications(infection,bleed-ing,thrombosis,right heart failure,neurological issues)were collected via the electronic medical re-cord system before surgery and at 30,60,and 90 days postoperatively.Results All patients sur-vived with the pump at 90 days postoperatively.One patient with preoperative renal insufficiency un-derwent dialysis and received a heart transplant after 8 months.One patient developed a sterile granu-loma at the percutaneous lead site on the abdominal wall,which improved after treatment,no complica-tions occurred in other patients.At 90 days postoperatively,there was no statistically significant differ-ence in the right ventricular area change fraction and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion com-pared with preoperative values(P＞0.05).The left ventricular ejection fraction,left ventricular end-diastolic diameter,and cardiothoracic ratio showed significant improvement compared with preoperative levels(P＜0.05).At 30 days postoperatively,30％of patients recovered to NYHA class Ⅰ and 70％to class Ⅱ;at 60 days,80％of patients to class Ⅰ and 20％to class Ⅱ;at 90 days,90％to classⅠ and 10％to class Ⅱ.The 6MWT and EQ-5D-5L scores of patients significantly increased within 90 days postoperatively(P＜0.01).Conclusion Through rigorous preoperative assessment by a multidisciplinary LVAD team,refinement of surgical techniques,and comprehensive management during hospitalization,self-management before discharge,daily follow-up after discharge,and fol-low-up management upon returning to the hospital for patients with LVAD implantation,the cardiac function and quality of life of patients are significantly improved at 90 days postoperatively.

Depression is primarily characterized by persistent low mood,emotional disorders,and loss of interest.Somatization disorder is a type of neurotic disorder,primarily featuring recurrent,varied,and non-organic physical discomfort symptoms.In traditional Chinese medicine,depression with somatization disorder can be classified under the category of"depression"and"hysteria"according to its clinical symptoms.This article focuses on the dynamic evolution of the functions of the kidney,spleen,and liver,and explains the core pathogenesis of depression with somatization disorder based on the theory of"cold water,damp earth,and stagnant wood"proposed by HUANG Yuanyu.It explores the causes and related manifestations.Symptoms mainly characterized by cramps and convulsions can be attributed to the liver;symptoms primarily characterized by heaviness,distension,and dull pain accompanied by weakness can be attributed to the spleen;symptoms primarily characterized by stiffness,reluctance to move or inability to move,and reluctance to extend outward can be attributed to the kidney.Liver depression and spleen dampness,as well as wood depression and earth congestion,are treated by strengthening the spleen and soothing the liver,drying dampness and calming wind,and the modified Xiaoyao Powder combined with Yueju Pill is recommended.Spleen dampness and kidney coldness,earth failure and water overflow,are treated by tonifying the spleen and kidney,warming water and transforming dampness,and the modified Jingui Shenqi Pill combined with Linggui Zhugan Decoction is recommended.Kidney coldness and liver hyperactivity,water not nourishing wood,are treated by warming the kidney and enriching essence,replenishing water and nourishing wood,and the modified Dihuang Yinzi is recommended.This article explores the corresponding etiology,pathogenesis,treatment methods,and prescriptions for depression with somatization disorder,with the aim of providing new insights for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Objective:To investigate the current status of the implementation of home-based phototherapy (HBPT) in patients with vitiligo, and to analyze management needs among patients receiving HBPT.Methods:A questionnaire survey was conducted on the application of HBPT among patients with vitiligo who visited the outpatient clinic of the Hospital for Skin Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from December 2021 to November 2022. Additionally, the popularization and usage of HBPT as well as needs of patient management were investigated and analyzed in these vitiligo patients.Results:A total of 496 valid questionnaires were collected from 496 patients with vitiligo (241 males [48.5%] and 255 females [51.5%]) . Their ages at visit ranged from 2 to 67 (30.87 ± 12.36) years. The most commonly affected sites were the head and face (52.2%) , followed by hair (32.1%) , hands and feet (31.4%) , trunk (30.2%) , limbs (24.3%) , neck (19.5%) , and perineum (9.9%) . Among the participants, 320 (64.5%) were currently using or had used HBPT, and 352 (70.8%) expressed a willingness to learn more about HBPT usage guidelines and health education. Regarding the repigmentation outcomes after HBPT: among 312 patients, 54 (17.3%) reported complete recovery, 64 (20.5%) were markedly improved, 142 (45.5%) experienced improvement, and 52 (16.7%) showed no response. Adverse reactions occurred in 223 patients (71.5%) , of whom 28 (9.0%) experienced severe adverse reactions. The most desired guiding information was the adjustment method for phototherapy dosage and treatment duration (184/352, 52.3%) ; the most effective way to receive health education information was through verbal education by medical staff (177/352, 50.3%) .Conclusion:For vitiligo patients who were willing to accept and use HBPT, the most desired guiding information was the adjustment method for phototherapy dosage and treatment duration, and verbal health education by medical staff appeared to be the main way to obtain health education information.

BACKGROUND:Formononetin is an isoflavonoid compound widely found in red clover,astragalus,and chickweed,which has the ability to inhibit oxidative stress,inflammatory factor release,and apoptosis. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of formononetin on interleukin-1β-induced chondrocyte injury and its mechanism. METHODS:(1) Cartilage tissues from patients with osteoarthritis and patients with simple meniscus injury were collected,and real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect miR-135b-5p expression. (2) Human chondrocytes were cultured in vitro,and then divided them into nine groups:cells in normal control group were cultured for 48 hours with no treatment;cells in interleukin-1β group were treated with interleukin-1β for 48 hours;cells in interleukin-1β+low-dose formononetin group were treated with 25 μmol/L formononetin for 24 hours followed by treatment with interleukin-1β for 48 hours;cells in interleukin-1β+middle-dose formononetin group were treated with 50 μmol/L formononetin for 24 hours followed by treatment with interleukin-1β for 48 hours;cells in interleukin-1β+high-dose formononetin group were treated with 100 μmol/L formononetin for 24 hours followed by treatment with interleukin-1β for 48 hours;cells in interleukin-1β+miR NC group were treated with miR NC for 6 hours followed by treatment with interleukin-1β for 48 hours;cells in interleukin-1β+miR-135b-5p group were treated with miR-135b-5p mimics for 6 hours followed by treatment with interleukin-1β for 48 hours;cells in interleukin-1β+high dose formononetin+anti-miR-NC group were treated with anti-miR-NC for 6 hours,then treated with 100 μmol/L formononetin for 24 hours,and finally treate with interleukin-1β for 48 hours;cells in interleukin-1β+high-dose formononetin+anti-miR-135b-5p group were treated with anti-miR-135b-5p for 6 hours,the treated with 100 μmol/L formononetin for 24 hours,and finally treated with interleukin-1β for 48 hours. Relevant tests are performed after treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The expression level of miR-135b-5p in cartilage tissue of patients with osteoarthritis was significantly lower than that of patients with simple meniscus injury (P<0.05). Compared with the normal control group,the expression level of miR-135b-5p,proliferative ability,activity of superoxid dismutase,and expression levels of collagenase Ⅱ protein and Bcl-2 protein in chondrocytes were lower in the interleukin-1β group (P<0.05),while apoptotic rate,lactate dehydrogenase activity,malondialdehyde level,levels of proinflammatory factors,and expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-13 protein and Bax protein were higher in the interleukin-1β group (P<0.05). Formononetin inhibited chondrocyte damage caused by interleukin-1β in a concentration-dependent manner. Transfection of miR-135b-5p mimics elevated miR-135b-5p expression in the interleukin-1β group and inhibited chondrocyte damage induced by interleukin-1β;transfection of anti-miR-135b-5p decreased miR-135b-5p expression in the interleukin-1β+high-dose formononetin group and inhibited the effect of formononetin on chondrocytes. To conclude,the protective effect of formononetin on chondrocyte injury induced by interleukin-1β may be related to the regulation of miR-135b-5p expression.

Purpose To investigate the sex differences of white matter damage in Alzheimer's disease(AD)and their association with cognitive impairment.Materials and Methods This retrospective study included 88 AD patients(48 females),71 amnestic mild cognitive impairment(aMCI)patients(39 females),and 95 healthy controls(63 females)recruited from the Memory Disorder Clinic at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from September 2017 to July 2024.High-resolution three-dimensional T1 structure images and diffusion tensor imaging images were all obtained from each participant.The mean diffusivity(MD)and fractional anisotropy(FA)values of each white matter region were obtained,and the two-way ANOVA analysis was conducted to investigate brain regions with interaction effects between groups and sexes,those brain regions were then chosen as regions of interest for further correlation analysis with a series of cognitive scale scores.Results In terms of FA values,the right posterior corona radiata,right anterior limb of the internal capsule and left corticospinal tract showed interaction between sexes and cognitive groups(F=4.764,3.812,5.937,all P<0.05).The FA value of AD group was significantly lower than that of healthy control and aMCI group(all P<0.05),but there was no significant difference between healthy control and aMCI group(except the right anterior limb of the internal capsule,P=0.018).In AD group,FA values were significantly higher in women than in men in the previously described brain regions(all P<0.05),while there was no significant difference in FA values between male and female in healthy control and aMCI groups(except the left corticospinal tract,P<0.001).In terms of MD values,the right anterior limb of the internal capsule,right superior corona radiata and left external capsule showed interaction effect between sexes and cognitive groups(F=8.581,3.680,7.218,all P<0.05).The MD value of AD group was significantly higher than that of aMCI group(P<0.001),and aMCI group was higher than that of healthy control group(all P<0.05).In AD group,the MD values in the above brain regions were significantly higher in males than those in females(all P<0.01),while no significant difference was found between males and females in healthy control and aMCI groups(except for the left external capsule,P<0.05).For correlation analysis,the AD group was dimidiated into two groups by sex,the scores of the Montreal cognitive assessment,the Mini Mental state examination and the verbal fluency test of the female patient group were positively correlated with the FA values of the right posterior corona radiate(r=0.372,P=0.009;r=0.345,P=0.016;r=0.383,P=0.007),while the Mini Mental state examination and the verbal fluency test scores of female AD patient group were negatively correlated with the MD values of the right superior corona radiata(r=-0.360,P=0.012;r=-0.360,P=0.003).Conclusion Compared to the healthy control and MCI groups,white matter damage in AD patients shows sex differences and is associated with general cognitive and language functions impairment in female AD patients.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment modality used as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules, recurrent thyroid cancers (RTCs), and primary thyroid microcarcinomas. The Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) initially developed recommendations for the optimal use of RFA for thyroid tumors in 2009 and revised them in 2012 and 2017. As new meaningful evidence has accumulated since 2017 and in response to a growing global interest in the use of RFA for treating malignant thyroid lesions, the task force committee members of the KSThR decided to update the guidelines on the use of RFA for the management of RTCs based on a comprehensive analysis of current literature and expert consensus.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment modality used as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules, recurrent thyroid cancers (RTCs), and primary thyroid microcarcinomas. The Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) initially developed recommendations for the optimal use of RFA for thyroid tumors in 2009 and revised them in 2012 and 2017. As new meaningful evidence has accumulated since 2017 and in response to a growing global interest in the use of RFA for treating malignant thyroid lesions, the task force committee members of the KSThR decided to update the guidelines on the use of RFA for the management of RTCs based on a comprehensive analysis of current literature and expert consensus.