ObjectiveTo investigate the whole genomic characteristics and phylogenetic relationships of clinical isolates of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) in diarrhea outpatients in Pudong New Area, Shanghai. MethodsBased on the diarrheal disease surveillance network in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, whole-genome sequencing was performed on a total of 55 EAEC strains isolated from fecal samples of the diarrhea outpatients from January 2015 to December 2019. The genome analyses based on raw sequencing data encompassed genome size, coding genes, dispersed repeat sequences, genomic islands, and protein coding regions, and pan-genome analyses were conducted simultaneously. Contigs sequences assays were performed to analyze molecular characteristics including serotypes, antibiotic resistance genes, and virulence factors. The phylogenetic clusters and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were identified, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. ResultsEAEC exhibited an open pan-genome. The predominant serotype of EAEC in diarrhea outpatients in Pudong New Area was O130:H27, and the carriage rate of β-lactam resistance genes was the highest (67.27%, 37/55). A total of 29 virulence factors and 106 virulence genes were identified, phylogenic group B1 was the predominant group, and clonal group CC31 was the dominant clonal group. The strain distribution was highly heterogeneous. ConclusionThe genomic characteristics of EAEC displayed significant strain polymorphism. It is necessary to develop effective strategies for differential diagnosis and improve detection capabilities for infection with EAEC of different serotypes and genotypes.

Objective:To investigate the potential mechanism of electroacupuncture(EA)at bilateral Fengchi(GB20)in treating cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury and to provide a scientific basis for future experimental research and clinical applications. Methods:Forty male specific-pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups:a normal group,a normal with EA group,a model group,and a model with EA group,with 10 rats in each group.The normal group received no intervention.The normal with EA group received EA at bilateral Fengchi(GB20).The model group underwent middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)using the suture.The model with EA group underwent MCAO and received EA at bilateral Fengchi(GB20).Cerebral blood flow was monitored using a laser Doppler cerebral blood flow meter.Neurologic damage was assessed using the neurologic deficit score,and motor ability was observed using the CatWalk gait system.The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)and neuronal nuclei(NeuN)protein,the neuron markers,was detected by Western blotting.The protein expression levels of GFAP and NeuN,as well as the number of positive cells in the motor cortex,were detected using immunofluorescence. Results:Compared to the normal group,the cerebral blood flow values in the model group and the model with EA group decreased by more than 50%during the modeling process(P<0.01)and returned to pre-modeling levels after reperfusion(P>0.05).The neurologic deficit score increased(P<0.05),the average motor velocity decreased(P<0.05),GFAP protein expression and the number of positive cells in the motor cortex increased(P<0.05),and the NeuN protein expression and the number of positive cells decreased(P<0.05)in the model group.Compared to the model group,the neurologic deficit score decreased(P<0.05),the average motor velocity accelerated(P<0.05),GFAP and NeuN protein expression and the number of positive cells in the motor cortex increased(P<0.01)in the model with EA group. Conclusion:EA at bilateral Fengchi(GB20)can reduce neuronal loss and increase GFAP and NeuN protein expression in the motor cortex of rats after ischemia-reperfusion,improve the motor function after ischemic stroke,and accelerate the recovery of balance and stability of the affected limbs.

Purpose: This study identified risk factors for neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) through multidimensional analysis of the medical records of patients, aiming to reduce the incidence of NLUTD, improve prognosis, and facilitate rehabilitation. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, patients with AIS were recruited from two tertiary general hospitals in Shenzhen, China, from March 2021 to October 2023. Patients were divided into NLUTD and non-NLUTD groups based on the presence and absence of NLUTD, respectively. Comparative analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U and chi-square tests, with significant variables being included in logistic regression analysis. Results: Of the 652 participants enrolled in this study, 119 participants (18.3%) developed NLUTD. Bivariate analysis showed that 39 of 54 screened factors exhibited a significant correlation (p<0.05) with the incidence of NLUTD after AIS. Significant variables identified through logistic regression analysis included Glasgow coma scale (GCS) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, anemia, aphasia, pneumonia, brainstem involvement, multiple lesions, urine clarity (CLA), random venous blood glucose (GLU) and hemoglobin (HGB) levels, and white blood cell (WBC) count. Conclusions A total of 11 risk factors for NLUTD were identified in this study. This finding provides valuable guidance for reducing the incidence of NLUTD after AIS and improving the quality of life of patients.

AIM:To investigate the effects of exercise preconditioning(EP)combined with electroacupunc-ture(EA)on learning and memory ability of rats with vascular dementia(VD),and to explore role of hippocampal ferrop-tosis in this process.METHODS:Seventy-two male SD rats were randomly divided into non-EP group and EP group,with 36 rats in each group.The rats were subjected to EP,and subsequently to establish the VD model.The rats from non-EP group were randomly divided into sham group,model group(VD group)and VD-EA group,each with 12 rats,while those in EP group were randomly divided into EP-sham group,EP-VD group and EP-VD-EA group,each with 12 rats.All rats in EP group underwent 4 weeks of swimming exercise training,5 d per week,30 min per day.At the end of the 4th week,the rats in VD,EP-VD,EP-VD-EA and VD-EA groups were used to induce the VD model,and the rats in sham and EP-sham groups received a sham surgery to simulate the VD model.On the 7th day after successful modeling,the rats in EP-VD-EA and VD-EA groups were treated with EA for 4 weeks,6 d per week,30 min per day.At the end of the inter-vention,the learning and memory ability of the rats was evaluated using Morris water maze.Neuron morphology in the CA1 area of rat hippocampus was observed through Nissl staining.Ferrous ion(Fe2+),malondialdehyde(MDA)and re-duced glutathione(GSH)contents in the rat hippocampal tissues were quantified using the colorimetric assay.The expres-sion levels of ferroptosis-related proteins,nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4),in the hippocampal tissues were quantified by Western blot method.RESULTS:Compared with sham group,the rats in VD group exhibited longer mean evasion latency and decreased number of traversals across the plateau(P<0.01).The neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus were loose and disorganized,exhibiting an irregular cellular morphology.The hippocampal Fe2+and MDA content was elevated,and the GSH content was reduced(P<0.01).The protein levels of hippocampal Nrf2 and GPX4 were decreased(P<0.01).Compared with VD group,the rats in EP-VD,EP-VD-EA and VD-EA groups showed a shorter average escape latency and an increased number of traversals across the plateau(P<0.05).Neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area were more neatly arranged,showing regular cellular morphology.The hip-pocampal Fe2+and MDA contents of the rats in EP-VD group were significantly reduced(P<0.01),while the GSH content was elevated(P<0.05).Hippocampal Fe2+and MDA contents were significantly reduced and GSH contents were signifi-cantly increased in EP-EA and EA groups(P<0.01).The protein levels of hippocampal Nrf2 and GPX4 in EP-VD,EP-VD-EA and VD-EA groups were significantly increased(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Exercise preconditioning combined with EA improves learning and memory ability in VD rats by reducing hippocampal intra-neuronal iron overload,maintain-ing organismal redox homeostasis,and inhibiting ferroptosis.

OBJECTIVE:At present,there are many reports on the related factors associated with the incidence of cervical spine instability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis,but there are problems such as small sample size and many confounding factors,and the research results of various studies on the same related factors are also different.This article analyzed the factors related to cervical spine instability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis by means of a systematic review. METHODS:Articles related to cervical spine instability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis were collected by searching both Chinese and English databases until March 2023.The outcome of cervical spine instability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was used as the grouping criterion to abstract basic information,baseline patient characteristics,laboratory-related tests,medication use,and other relevant risk factors.Meta-analysis was done using Stata 14.0 software. RESULTS:(1)Sixteen relevant studies,all of moderate or above quality,were included,including seven studies with case-control studies and nine with cross-sectional studies.The overall incidence of cervical spine instability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was 43.08%.(2)Meta-analysis showed:Related risk factors included female(OR=0.60,95%CI:0.44-0.82,P=0.002);age at disease onset(SMD=-0.52,95%CI:-0.86 to-0.18,P=0.003);duration of disease(SMD=0.58,95%CI:0.14-1.02,P=0.01);body mass index(OR=0.74,95%CI:0.63-0.88,P=0.001);rheumatoid factors positive univariate analysis subgroup(OR=1.33,95%CI:1.02 to 1.72,P=0.04),C-reactive protein(SMD=0.26,95%CI:0.16-0.35,P=0.00),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(SMD=0.15,95%CI:0.002-0.29,P=0.047),anti-cyclic-citrullinated peptide antibodies(OR=1.73,95%CI:1.19-2.51,P=0.004),28-joint Disease Activity Score(SMD=0.20,95%CI:0.04-0.37,P=0.02),destruction of peripheral joints(OR=2.48,95%CI:1.60-3.85,P=0.00),and corticosteroids(OR=1.91,95%CI:1.54-2.37,P=0.00)were strongly associated with the development of rheumatoid arthritis-cervical spine instability.Female and corticosteroid use were independently associated with the occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis-cervical spine instability. CONCLUSION:Based on clinical evidence from 16 observational studies,the overall incidence of rheumatoid arthritis-cervical spine instability was 43.08%.However,the incidence of cervical spine instability in rheumatoid arthritis patients varied greatly among different studies.Gender(female)and the use of corticosteroids were confirmed as independent correlation factors for the onset of cervical spine instability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.The results of this study still provide some guidance for early clinical recognition,diagnosis,and prevention of rheumatoid arthritis-cervical spine instability.

As an emerging discipline that combines traditional diagnostic methods with modern scientific technology,micro syndrome differentiation has good prospects for development,but there are some controversies in the research process.Based on ancient and modern literature,this article reviewed the origin and flow of research on micro syndrome differentiation,and summarized the problems to be improved in the process of research on micro syndrome differentiation from three aspects:application of disease type,guiding ideology and micro indicators.Based on this,the article further expounded the new thinking on"near-micro"syndrome differentiation from three aspects:connotation,scope of application,and links to traditional identification and micro-identification,and pointed out that the modern medical detection basis should be incorporated into the field of TCM syndrome differentiation,and at the same time,it should be based on the overall thinking mode of TCM,which would provide a new idea for the development of modern TCM diagnosis technology.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) combined with lower cervical fracture is often categorized into unstable fracture, with a high incidence of neurological injury and a high rate of disability and morbidity. As factors such as shoulder occlusion may affect the accuracy of X-ray imaging diagnosis, it is often easily misdiagnosed at the primary diagnosis. Non-operative treatment has complications such as bone nonunion and the possibility of secondary neurological damage, while the timing, access and choice of surgical treatment are still controversial. Currently, there are no clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of AS combined with lower cervical fracture with or without dislocation. To this end, the Spinal Trauma Group of Orthopedics Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts to formulate Clinical guidelines for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis combined with lower cervical fracture in adults ( version 2024) in accordance with the principles of evidence-based medicine, scientificity and practicality, in which 11 recommendations were put forward in terms of the diagnosis, imaging evaluation, typing and treatment, etc, to provide guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of AS combined with lower cervical fracture.

Objective To investigate the role of Taraxasterol(TAR)on ferroptosis in chondrocytes induced by Erastin.Methods The C28/I2 chondrocyte line was treated with Erastin to construct the ferroptosis model of chon-drocytes in vitro and the experiments were divided into Control,Erastin,TAR,and TAR+Erastin groups.Cell via-bility was detected by the CCK-8 assay.Cytotoxicity was detected by the lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)kit and the Calcein/PI cytokinesis kit.Flow cytometry was used to detect lipid reactive oxygen species(ROS).The intracellular glutathione(GSH)content was detected by GSH kit.Mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1 stai-ning and RH123 staining.ACSL4 and GPX4 protein expression and the key indicators of ferroptosis were detected by Western blot.Results TAR restored the decreased cell viability of C28/I2 chondrocytes induced by Erastin treatment as well as reduced Erastin-induced cytotoxicity(P＜0.01).Compared with the control group,the level of intracellular lipid ROS increased(P＜0.01)and the content of GSH decreased(P＜0.01)after treatment with Erastin,while TAR could reduce the production of lipid ROS(P＜0.01)and increase the content of GSH(P＜0.01).TAR restored mitochondrial membrane potential in C28/I2 chondrocytes ferroptosis,decreased ACSL4 pro-tein expression(P＜0.01)and increased GPX4 protein expression(P＜0.01).In addition,TAR restored the re-duced cell viability caused by IL-1 β treatment.Conclusion TAR can inhibit Erastin induced ferroptosis in C28/I2 chondrocytes,which may be related to the regulation of ACSL4 and GPX4 protein expression.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of the rotational arch method of revealing the spinal canal and implanting back in resection of benign intravertebral tumours.Methods:A total of 17 patients with benign intravertebral tumors of the thoracolumbar spine who underwent a rotational arch method of revealing the spinal canal and implantation back in combination with tumor resection in Luoyang Orthopaedic-Traumatological Hospital of Henan Province from April 2017 to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 9 males and 8 females, aged 58.59±13.57 years (range, 29-75 years). There were 7 cases of thoracic intravertebral tumors, 2 cases of thoracolumbar intravertebral tumors, and 8 cases of lumbar intravertebral tumors. The operated segments were 6 cases of single-segment, 8 cases of double-segment, and 3 cases of triple-segment. The disease duration was 20.35±16.58 months (range, 3-60 months). Histopathology showed 9 cases of schwannoma, 5 cases of meningioma, 2 cases of teratoma, and 1 case of dermoid cyst. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative spinal canal volume, stability of internal fixation, and lamina healing were recorded. The Cobb angle, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) classification and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were compared before and after operation.Results:All patients were successfully operated and followed up for an average of 10.5±2.4 months (range, 6-20 months). The operation time was 156.76±26.81 min (range, 120-210 min) and intraoperative bleeding was 338.24±97.68 ml (range, 200-600 ml). There was no neurovascular injury during the operation. Incomplete spinous process fracture occurred in 1 case due to excessive exertion, which healed well without special treatment. Postoperative drainage volume was 147.06±31.58 ml (range, 100-210 ml). The patient's local Cobb angle was 14.15°±6.58° preoperatively and 14.73°±6.34° postoperatively, with no statistically significant difference ( t=1.810, P=0.089). The patient's ODI was 63.65%±6.57% preoperatively and decreased to 23.88%±4.21% at the final follow-up, with statistically significant difference ( t=53.359, P<0.001). In 17 patients, there were 2 cases of ASIA grade B, 9 cases of grade C, and 6 cases of grade D before operation, and 1 case of ASIA grade B, 4 cases of grade C, 8 cases of grade D, and 4 cases of grade E at the final follow-up, which was a significant improvement compared with the preoperative period, and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=2.587, P=0.010). All patients' incisions healed at stage I, and none of them had complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leakage and epidural haematoma. Three-dimensional CT of the spine at 6 months after operation showed that none of the patients had displacement of the vertebral plate, loosening of the internal fixation, infection or fracture. Conclusion:The rotational arch method of revealing the spinal canal and implantation back in combination with tumor resection for the treatment of benign intravertebral canal tumors has good postoperative neurological function recovery and a low complication rate, which is a safe and effective surgical procedure for the treatment of benign intravertebral canal tumours.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with constraint-induced weight training (CIWT) on Pusher syndrome after stroke. MethodsA total of 60 stroke inpatients with Pusher syndrome in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January to December, 2021 were randomly divided into tDCS group, CIWT group and combination group, with 20 cases in each group. The three groups accepted routine rehabilitation training, the tDCS group received anode tDCS, the CIWT group received CIWT of the affected lower limb, and the combination group received CIWT of the affected lower limb and tDCS, for eight weeks. They were assessed with Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Lower Extremities (FMA-LE), Burke Lateropulsion Scale (BLS) and Holden Walking Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) before and after treatment. ResultsAfter treatment, the scores of BBS, FMA-LE, BLS and FAC improved (|t| > 1.452, P < 0.05) in all the groups, and improved the most in the combination group (|F| > 1.827, P < 0.05). ConclusiontDCS combined with CIWT of the affected lower extremity can effectively improve the function of stroke patients with Pusher syndrome.