AIM:To investigate the effects of glutathione-S-transferase(GST)gene polymorphism on the concentration of 6-thioguanine nucleotides(6-TGN),an active metabolite of azathioprine(AZA),in patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),in order to provide reference for the optimization of AZA treatment in patients.METHODS:The clini-cal data of patients with IBD treated by AZA were collected prospectively,the genotypes of GST-A1,GST-M1,GST-P1 and GST-T1 were detected by tar-geted sequencing of multiplex PCR combined with high-throughput sequencing technology before ad-ministration,and the steady-state trough concen-trations of 6-TGN in patients' red blood cells were determined by HPLC.Statistical analysis was carried out by SPSS 26.0 software.RESULTS:A total of 90 patients were included in this study.The alleles fre-quencies of GST-A1,GST-M1,GST-P1 and GST-T1 were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium law.Logistic regression analysis showed that carry-ing GST-A1 mutant gene was an independent risk factor for the increase of trough concentration of 6-TGN(low concentration OR=17.50,P=0.030;high concentration OR=3.60,P=0.033),while the gene polymorphism of GST-M1,GST-P1,GST-T1 had no significant correlation with the concentration of 6-TGN(P＞0.05).CONCLUSION:The gene polymor-phism of GST-A1 may affect the concentration of 6-TGN,an active metabolite of AZA,and detection of GST-A1 genotype before AZA treatment will contrib-ute to clinical individualized medication.

AIM:To investigate the effects of glutathione-S-transferase(GST)gene polymorphism on the concentration of 6-thioguanine nucleotides(6-TGN),an active metabolite of azathioprine(AZA),in patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),in order to provide reference for the optimization of AZA treatment in patients.METHODS:The clini-cal data of patients with IBD treated by AZA were collected prospectively,the genotypes of GST-A1,GST-M1,GST-P1 and GST-T1 were detected by tar-geted sequencing of multiplex PCR combined with high-throughput sequencing technology before ad-ministration,and the steady-state trough concen-trations of 6-TGN in patients' red blood cells were determined by HPLC.Statistical analysis was carried out by SPSS 26.0 software.RESULTS:A total of 90 patients were included in this study.The alleles fre-quencies of GST-A1,GST-M1,GST-P1 and GST-T1 were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium law.Logistic regression analysis showed that carry-ing GST-A1 mutant gene was an independent risk factor for the increase of trough concentration of 6-TGN(low concentration OR=17.50,P=0.030;high concentration OR=3.60,P=0.033),while the gene polymorphism of GST-M1,GST-P1,GST-T1 had no significant correlation with the concentration of 6-TGN(P＞0.05).CONCLUSION:The gene polymor-phism of GST-A1 may affect the concentration of 6-TGN,an active metabolite of AZA,and detection of GST-A1 genotype before AZA treatment will contrib-ute to clinical individualized medication.

AIM: To assess the clinical efficacy of visual therapy in children with abnormal visual functions and asthenopia.METHODS: Retrospective case study. The data of 57 patients(114 eyes), aged 8.25±1.94 years, who underwent visual training at the optometry center of Xi'an Children's Hospital between January 2022 and April 2023, were collected. Patient assessments before and after training included refractive errors, a visual fatigue scale questionnaire, and visual function tests. These tests included the Worth 4 Dot for binocular vision, the Von Graefe method for measuring latent strabismus at distance and near, the gradient method for assessing the accommodative convergence/accommodation(AC/A)ratio, the push-up test for convergence near point, the negative lens method for amplitude of accommodation, the cross-cylinder test for accommodative response, and the flipper test for accommodative flexibility. Training programs were tailored based on the initial assessments of visual function and asthenopia. Comparisons were made between pre-training, 1 and 3 mo post-training evaluations.RESULTS: At baseline and 1 mo post-training, the visual fatigue scores were 26.00±6.77 and 19.57±8.90, respectively(P<0.05). Significant enhancements were observed in near phoria, convergence near point, and accommodative amplitude in both eyes, both negative relative accommodation(NRA)and positive relative accommodation(PRA), as well as accommodative flexibility in both eyes at 1 mo after therapy(all P<0.05), while no significant changes were found in distance phoria or accommodative response(all P>0.05). Furthermore, no significant differences were noted in the binocular amplitude of accommodation, NRA, PRA, and near phoria between 1 and 3 mo after training(all P>0.05). The visual function parameters of 30 patients with low myopia(SE: -1.99±1.22 D), 3 patients with low hyperopia(SE: +1.01±0.13 D)and 24 patients with emmetropia(SE: +0.25±0.11 D)were not statistically significant before training and at 1 mo after training(all P>0.05). Certain visual functions significantly improved at 1 mo after training, and most had returned normal by 3 mo.CONCLUSION: Vision therapy significantly enhances binocular visual function and alleviates symptoms of asthenopia in children with visual dysfunction. It is an effective, straightforward, and easily applicable method for relieving children's visual fatigue.

Systemic capillary leak syndrome (SCLS) is a rare clinical disease characterized by fluid and protein leakage from capillaries into the tissue space. This article reports a case of male Crohn′s disease complicated with SCLS, explores the possible relationship between the two diseases, so as to improve the clinician′s understanding, which is conducive to better individualized treatment and improvement of the prognosis.

Systemic capillary leak syndrome (SCLS) is a rare clinical disease characterized by fluid and protein leakage from capillaries into the tissue space. This article reports a case of male Crohn′s disease complicated with SCLS, explores the possible relationship between the two diseases, so as to improve the clinician′s understanding, which is conducive to better individualized treatment and improvement of the prognosis.

Incidence of acute closed Achilles tendon rupture is high in clinic. Accurate diagnosis of this injury depends on a combination of physical signs and imaging examinations. Although conservative and surgical interventions are common for acute closed Achilles tendon rupture, its optimal treatment remains controversial. This literature review focuses on the research progress concerning this injury so as to analyze its risk factors, diagnostic methods, treatments, early functional rehabilitation, postoperative complications and prognosis evaluation.

Objective:To investigate the correlations between perfused lung volumes, visual scores (using perfusion SPECT/CT) and right-heart catheter (RHC) hemodynamic parameters in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).Methods:A total of 51 consecutive CTEPH patients (17 males, 34 females, age (59±12) years) in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between March 2015 and July 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients underwent lung perfusion SPECT/CT imaging and RHC examinations. Perfused lung volumes were determined using threshold-based (15%-85%) segmentation. Visual semiquantitative scoring in each lung segment was performed using Begic method. RHC hemodynamic parameters including pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), pulmonary arterial diastolic pressure (PADP), mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), pulmonary arteriolar wedge pressure (PAWP), pulmonary vessel resistance (PVR), cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI) were recorded. Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlations between perfused lung volumes, visual scores and hemodynamic parameters.Results:There were significant correlations between perfused lung volumes (30%-70% threshold) and mPAP ( rs values: from -0.414 to -0.302, all P<0.05). Among them, perfused lung volumes under the threshold of 40% and 45% were moderately correlated with mPAP ( rs values: -0.414, -0.412, both P<0.05). Perfused lung volume (40% threshold) was moderately negatively correlated with PASP, PADP ( rs values: -0.402, -0.440, both P<0.05), and slightly negatively correlated with PVR ( rs=-0.352, P<0.05). Visual scores were slightly positively correlated with the PADP ( rs=0.311, P<0.05), while there was no correlation between visual scores and other RHC hemodynamic parameters ( rs values: from -0.201 to 0.275, all P>0.05). Conclusion:Perfused lung volumes based on threshold-based segmentation in lung perfusion SPECT/CT imaging can accurately reflect hemodynamic status and may provide useful information for severity assessment of CTEPH.

Objective:To examine the surgical outcome, completeness and safety of robotic thyroidectomy by bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA).Methods:From February 2014 to May 2019, 1 000 cases of robotic thyroidectomy via BABA at the Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, the 960 th Hospital of People′s Liberation Army were performed. The clinicopathologic characteristics, operation times, perioperative complications, and oncologic outcomes of patients underwent robotic thyroidectomy were collected and reviewed retrospectively. There were 216 males and 784 females, aging (42.3±11.5) years (range: 7 to 75 years). There were 270 cases with benign tumors, and 730 cases with malignant cancers (the tumor diameter was (7.9±6.7) mm (range: 0.1 to 60.0 mm)). Results:There were 999 patients received robotic thyroidectomy using BABA approach successfully, while only 1 case conversed to open operation. The postoperative hospital stay was (7.5±2.5) days (range: 2 to 30 days). Among the 730 patients with thyroid cancers, 725 cases (99.3%) were papillary thyroid carcinoma, 579(79.3%) cases were with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. Lymph node metastasis was observed in 371(50.8%) cases. The retrieved central lymph node number was 11.2±6.1 (range: 1 to 44),and the retrieved lateral lymph node number was 14.0±8.8 (range: 1 to 52). Postoperative transient hypoparathyroidism and vocal cord palsy occurred in 247(24.70%) and 56(5.60%) cases. Both of permanent hypoparathyroidism and vocal cord palsy occurred in 2 (0.20%) cases. Other surgical complications included chyle leakage (6.1%, 28/460), trachea injury (0.40%, 4/1 000), carotid artery injury (0.10%, 1/1 000). Local regional lymph node recurrence was developed in 4 patients. All patients were satisfied with the postoperative cosmetic outcomes.Conclusions:Robotic thyroidectomy by BABA is safe and effective, suitable for large benign tumors and early thyroid cancers with central or lateral lymph node metastasis. It could obtain superior cosmetic results.

Objective:To examine the surgical outcome, completeness and safety of robotic thyroidectomy by bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA).Methods:From February 2014 to May 2019, 1 000 cases of robotic thyroidectomy via BABA at the Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, the 960 th Hospital of People′s Liberation Army were performed. The clinicopathologic characteristics, operation times, perioperative complications, and oncologic outcomes of patients underwent robotic thyroidectomy were collected and reviewed retrospectively. There were 216 males and 784 females, aging (42.3±11.5) years (range: 7 to 75 years). There were 270 cases with benign tumors, and 730 cases with malignant cancers (the tumor diameter was (7.9±6.7) mm (range: 0.1 to 60.0 mm)). Results:There were 999 patients received robotic thyroidectomy using BABA approach successfully, while only 1 case conversed to open operation. The postoperative hospital stay was (7.5±2.5) days (range: 2 to 30 days). Among the 730 patients with thyroid cancers, 725 cases (99.3%) were papillary thyroid carcinoma, 579(79.3%) cases were with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. Lymph node metastasis was observed in 371(50.8%) cases. The retrieved central lymph node number was 11.2±6.1 (range: 1 to 44),and the retrieved lateral lymph node number was 14.0±8.8 (range: 1 to 52). Postoperative transient hypoparathyroidism and vocal cord palsy occurred in 247(24.70%) and 56(5.60%) cases. Both of permanent hypoparathyroidism and vocal cord palsy occurred in 2 (0.20%) cases. Other surgical complications included chyle leakage (6.1%, 28/460), trachea injury (0.40%, 4/1 000), carotid artery injury (0.10%, 1/1 000). Local regional lymph node recurrence was developed in 4 patients. All patients were satisfied with the postoperative cosmetic outcomes.Conclusions:Robotic thyroidectomy by BABA is safe and effective, suitable for large benign tumors and early thyroid cancers with central or lateral lymph node metastasis. It could obtain superior cosmetic results.

A 65-year-old male patient was treated with pyridostigmine bromide tablets (30 mg thrice daily), azathioprine tablets (75 mg twice daily), and prednisone acetate tablets (15 mg once daily) for myasthenia gravis. Two months later, the patient developed abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. The laboratory tests showed the blood lipase (LPS) 909 U/L and the urine amylase (AMS) 3 838 U/L. The results of abdominal ultrasonography and imaging examination were consistent with the manifestations of pancreatitis. Above-mentioned drugs were not stopped and the patient was treated according to the conventional treatment regimen of acute pancreatitis. However, the symptoms did not improved significantly. On the 11th day after the onset of the disease, he received subcutaneous infusion of octreotide injection, intravenous infusion of pantoprazole sodium for injection, oral metronidazole, and supportive treatments such as fluid supplement and correction of water electrolyte disorders. The laboratoty tests the next day showed that the patient′s blood LPS was 3 332 U/L and AMS was 139 U/L. The acute pancreatitis was considered to be related to azathioprine tablets. Then the drug was stopped and other treatments were continued. The patient′s symptoms improved quickly. Four days later, LPS was 546 U/L and AMS was 49 U/L.