Objective:To explore the clinical features of Brucellar myelitis and diagnosis and treatment of secondary neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and enhance the awareness of clinicians about this disease.Methods:A retrospective study was performed; 13 patients with Brucellar myelitis admitted to Department of Neurology, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2024 were chosen. Clinical data were collected, and MRI images and serological changes during the infection period were observed. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid demyelinating antibody markers and cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands (OCBs) in the suspected secondary inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system patients were detected. All patients received standard antibiotic treatment and/or individualized immunotherapy depending on disease severity. The patients were followed up for 24 (12, 42) months. At the last follow-up, the neurological outcomes were evaluated using modified Rankin scale (mRS, scores of 0-2: good prognosis; scores of 3-6: poor prognosis).Results:(1) Among the 13 patients, 12 had motor disorder, 9 had bladder/bowel dysfunction, 7 had sensory abnormality, and 4 had other symptoms such as dizziness, behavioral changes, or unsteady gait. (2) MRI results showed that 8 patients had spinal cord abnormalities, including 2 with long-segment intramedullary high signal at T2-weighted image and 6 with short-segment local intramedullary high signal at T2-weighted image. Enhanced MRI was performed in 11 patients, with 2 showing lesion enhancement, 3 showing meningeal enhancement, and 6 showing no enhancement. (3) Four patients had elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure (>180 mmH 2O); 9 patients had elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein level (>0.45 g/L). Brucella-specific DNA was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of 6 patients. One patient was positive for OCB type II. One patient was positive for aquaporin 4 antibody (AQP4-IgG) in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid, and one patient was double positive for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG-IgG) and AQP4-IgG in serum. (4) All 13 patients received standard antibiotic treatment; 12 patients received immunotherapy. (5) Among the 4 patients with poor prognosis, 3 died and the remaining 9 had a good prognosis. The mRS score decreasing from 4 (3, 4) at admission to 2 (2, 3) at the last follow-up, showing an overall improvement in neurological function. (6) Among the 13 patients, 2 were diagnosed as having Brucellar myelitis secondary NMOSD. On the basis of antibiotic treatment, one AQP4-IgG positive patient was treated with high-dose glucocorticoids only and later died; one MOG-IgG and AQP4-IgG double positive patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin combined with high-dose glucocorticoids and sequential rituximab, with mRS score decreasing from 5 at admission to 2 at the last follow-up and good neurological function recovery. Conclusions:The clinical manifestations of Brucellar myelitis are diverse and overlap with the clinical features of NMOSD. For patients with suspected Brucellar myelitis secondary NMOSD, combination of immunosuppressant (such as rituximab) with antibiotics may be an effective individualized treatment.

The aim of this study was to identify the Salmonella strains isolated from an outbreak of foodborne illness in a seafood buffet restaurant and analyze their pathogenic characteristics.Epidemiological data,fecal samples from patients and chefs,and food/environmental samples from the restaurant were analyzed.Research methods included bacterial culture,serotyping,quadruple fluo-rescence PCR identification,whole-genome sequencing and antibiotic susceptibility testing.The results showed that 4 S.Java strains(serotype 1,4,12∶b∶1,2;ST42)were isolated from two outbreak cases and two sporadic cases.All isolates exhibited similar genomic features,harboring 9 virulence islands and 98 virulence genes.Antimicrobial resistance profiling revealed streptomycin monoresis-tance,mediated by aac(6′)-Iy and aac(6′)-Iaa genes.In conclusion,this event was the first reported outbreak of foodborne illness caused by S.Java in China,indicating that S.Java may be prevalent in the surveyed district.The catering industry should optimize food handling and processing procedures and enhance the surveillance of high risk pathogens.Meanwhile,further studies should ad-dress differential diagnosis and pathogenic mechanism differences between S.Java and S.paratyphi B,which will facilitate evidence-based monitoring in China.

The aim of this study was to identify the Salmonella strains isolated from an outbreak of foodborne illness in a seafood buffet restaurant and analyze their pathogenic characteristics.Epidemiological data,fecal samples from patients and chefs,and food/environmental samples from the restaurant were analyzed.Research methods included bacterial culture,serotyping,quadruple fluo-rescence PCR identification,whole-genome sequencing and antibiotic susceptibility testing.The results showed that 4 S.Java strains(serotype 1,4,12∶b∶1,2;ST42)were isolated from two outbreak cases and two sporadic cases.All isolates exhibited similar genomic features,harboring 9 virulence islands and 98 virulence genes.Antimicrobial resistance profiling revealed streptomycin monoresis-tance,mediated by aac(6′)-Iy and aac(6′)-Iaa genes.In conclusion,this event was the first reported outbreak of foodborne illness caused by S.Java in China,indicating that S.Java may be prevalent in the surveyed district.The catering industry should optimize food handling and processing procedures and enhance the surveillance of high risk pathogens.Meanwhile,further studies should ad-dress differential diagnosis and pathogenic mechanism differences between S.Java and S.paratyphi B,which will facilitate evidence-based monitoring in China.

Objective:To explore the clinical features of Brucellar myelitis and diagnosis and treatment of secondary neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and enhance the awareness of clinicians about this disease.Methods:A retrospective study was performed; 13 patients with Brucellar myelitis admitted to Department of Neurology, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region People's Hospital from January 2020 to December 2024 were chosen. Clinical data were collected, and MRI images and serological changes during the infection period were observed. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid demyelinating antibody markers and cerebrospinal fluid oligoclonal bands (OCBs) in the suspected secondary inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system patients were detected. All patients received standard antibiotic treatment and/or individualized immunotherapy depending on disease severity. The patients were followed up for 24 (12, 42) months. At the last follow-up, the neurological outcomes were evaluated using modified Rankin scale (mRS, scores of 0-2: good prognosis; scores of 3-6: poor prognosis).Results:(1) Among the 13 patients, 12 had motor disorder, 9 had bladder/bowel dysfunction, 7 had sensory abnormality, and 4 had other symptoms such as dizziness, behavioral changes, or unsteady gait. (2) MRI results showed that 8 patients had spinal cord abnormalities, including 2 with long-segment intramedullary high signal at T2-weighted image and 6 with short-segment local intramedullary high signal at T2-weighted image. Enhanced MRI was performed in 11 patients, with 2 showing lesion enhancement, 3 showing meningeal enhancement, and 6 showing no enhancement. (3) Four patients had elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure (>180 mmH 2O); 9 patients had elevated cerebrospinal fluid protein level (>0.45 g/L). Brucella-specific DNA was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of 6 patients. One patient was positive for OCB type II. One patient was positive for aquaporin 4 antibody (AQP4-IgG) in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid, and one patient was double positive for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG-IgG) and AQP4-IgG in serum. (4) All 13 patients received standard antibiotic treatment; 12 patients received immunotherapy. (5) Among the 4 patients with poor prognosis, 3 died and the remaining 9 had a good prognosis. The mRS score decreasing from 4 (3, 4) at admission to 2 (2, 3) at the last follow-up, showing an overall improvement in neurological function. (6) Among the 13 patients, 2 were diagnosed as having Brucellar myelitis secondary NMOSD. On the basis of antibiotic treatment, one AQP4-IgG positive patient was treated with high-dose glucocorticoids only and later died; one MOG-IgG and AQP4-IgG double positive patient was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin combined with high-dose glucocorticoids and sequential rituximab, with mRS score decreasing from 5 at admission to 2 at the last follow-up and good neurological function recovery. Conclusions:The clinical manifestations of Brucellar myelitis are diverse and overlap with the clinical features of NMOSD. For patients with suspected Brucellar myelitis secondary NMOSD, combination of immunosuppressant (such as rituximab) with antibiotics may be an effective individualized treatment.

Objective    To investigate the clinical effect of 3D computed tomography bronchial bronchography and angiography (3D-CTBA) and guidance of thoracoscopic anatomic pulmonary segmentectomy by Mimics software system. Methods    A retrospective analysis was performed on patients who underwent thoracoscopic segmentectomy in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University from June 2020 to December 2022. The patients who underwent preoperative 3D-CTBA using Materiaise's interactive medical image control system (Mimics) were selected as an observation group, and the patients who did not receive 3D-CTBA were selected as a control group. The relevant clinical indicators were compared between the two groups. Results    A total of 59 patients were included, including 29 males and 30 females, aged 25-79 years. There were 37 patients in the observation group, and 22 patients in the control group. The operation time (163.0±48.7 min vs. 188.8±43.0 min, P=0.044), intraoperative blood loss [10.0 (10.0, 20.0) mL vs. 20.0 (20.0, 35.0) mL, P<0.001], and preoperative puncture localization rate (5.4% vs. 31.8%, P=0.019) in the observation group were better than those in the control group. There was no statistically significant difference in the thoracic tube placement time, thoracic fluid drainage volume, number of intraoperative closure nail bin, postoperative hospital stay, or postoperative air leakage incidence (P>0.05) between the two groups. Conclusion    For patients who need to undergo anatomical pulmonary segmentectomy, using Mimics software to produce 3D-CTBA before surgery can help accurately identify pulmonary arteriovenous anatomy, reduce surgical time and intraoperative blood loss, help to determine the location of nodules and reduce invasive localization before surgery, and alleviate patients' pain, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Objective To explore the medication rules of Professor ZHONG Guang-Ling's prescriptions for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation(LDH)based on data mining method,so as to provide reference for the treatment of LDH with Chinese medicine.Methods The prescriptions for the effective cases of outpatients of LDH treated by Professor ZHONG Guang-Ling in the recent 5 years were collected.The medication frequency of Chinese medicines in the included prescriptions and the distribution of their properties,flavors and meridian tropism were investigated.Moreover,the association rule analysis and cluster analysis of the high-frequency drugs were carried out.Results A total of 164 prescriptions were included and 168 Chinese medicines were used.The top 10 high-frequency drugs in descending order were Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix,Chuanxiong Rhizoma,Pheretima,Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle,Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix,Angelicae Sinensis Radix,Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata,Persicae Semen,Cyperi Rhizoma,and Carthami Flos.The properties of the prescribed drug were mainly warm and mild in nature,and bitter and pungent in flavor,and mainly had the meridian tropism of the liver,kidney and spleen meridians.According to the therapeutic actions,the drugs were mainly categorized as deficiency-supplementing drugs,dampness-removing and collateral-unblocking drugs,and blood-activating and stasis-removing drugs.The results of association rule analysis yielded 10 drug pairs,and cluster analysis yielded 6 core drug combinations.Conclusion For the treatment of LDH,Professor ZHONG Guang-Ling usually adopts the Chinese medicine for supplementing the deficiency and supporting healthy-qi,together with the medicines for nourishing the liver and kidney and regulating the spleen and stomach from the perspective of liver,kidney and spleen.Moreover,therapy of activating blood and removing stasis is also stressed,pathogen-eliminating medicines for removing dampness,unblocking collaterals and clearing heat are used based on syndrome differentiation,and then simultaneous application of purging and nourishing therapeutics is achieved through the utilization of purging method after supplementing method.

Objective:To compare the differences of clinical characteristics of temporal lobe epilepsy with bilateral hippocampal sclerosis (TLE-bHS) with those of temporal lobe epilepsy with unilateral hippocampal sclerosis (TLE-uHS).Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed. Forty-eight patients with confirmed TLE-bHS enrolled in Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical School of Zhejiang University from January 2013 to January 2022 were chosen, and 101 patients with confirmed TLE-uHS admitted to our hospital at the same time period were selected as controls. Clinical data such as onset age, disease course, past medical history, seizure frequency, anti-seizure medications, video EEG and neuropsychological test results, and outcomes were analyzed.Results:Compared with the TLE-uHS group, the TLE-bHS group had higher male proportion, elder onset age, shorter disease course, higher seizure frequency, more types of past and currently used anti-seizure medications, lower proportion of autonomic nerve with aura, higher proportion of no aura at onset, higher proportion of slow head background movement in video EEG, and lower memory quotient, verbal memory scores and non-verbal memory scores, with significant differences ( P<0.05); the differences in ratio of past medical history and ratio of distributions of regions with interictal epileptiform abnormalities between the 2 groups were statistically significant ( P<0.05): the TLE-bHS group had significantly higher proportion of previous intracranial infection/encephalitis and higher ratio of bilateral temporal epileptiform abnormalities than the TLE-uHS group, while the TLE-uHS group had significantly higher proportion of patients with febrile convulsion history and higher ratio of unilateral temporal epileptiform abnormalities ( P<0.05). Only 10 patients (20.8%) in the TLE-bHS group received non-drug therapy, including anterior temporal lobectomy in 3 patients (Engel grading I in postoperative follow-up for 2 years), neuroregulatory therapy in 4, and ketogenic diet in 4; of the 55 patients (54.5%) in the TLE-uHS group who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy, 48 patients (87.3%) had Engel grading I, 1 patient (1.8%) had grading II, 4 (7.3%) had grading III, and 2 (3.6%) had grading IV after 2 years of follow-up. Conclusion:Differences in onset age, disease course, past medical history, seizure frequency, anti-seizure medications, and video EEG and neuropsychological test results can help to discriminate patients with TLE-bHS or with TLE-uHS.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of exercise-based acupuncture in treating ischemic stroke and its effects in improving the patient's motor function and daily living ability. Methods:A total of 106 patients with motor dysfunction due to cerebral infarction were randomized into a trial group and a control group,each consisting of 53 cases.Both groups received conventional rehabilitation;in addition,the control group was given point-toward-point acupuncture at scalp points,and the trial group was offered exercise-based acupuncture,3 times weekly for 4 consecutive weeks.Before treatment,after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment,and at the 2-month follow-up,the Fugl-Meyer assessment(FMA)scale,Lovett scale for muscle strength,modified Ashworth scale(MAS),and activities of daily living(ADL)scale were used to assess the patient's motor function,muscle strength,muscle tension,and daily living ability. Results:After treatment,both groups gained improvements in motor function and daily living ability;after 4-week treatment and at the 2-month follow-up,the trial group had higher FMA and ADL scores than the control group(P<0.05).The MAS score decreased after treatment in both groups;after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment and at the 2-month follow-up,the MAS score was lower in the trial group than in the control group(P<0.05).After the intervention,the Lovett score increased in both groups;after 4 weeks of treatment,the Lovett score was higher in the trial group than in the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion:Based on routine rehabilitation,exercise-based acupuncture and scalp point-toward-point acupuncture both can improve the motor function and daily living ability in ischemic stroke patients;exercise-based acupuncture performs better than scalp point-toward-point acupuncture.

Objective:To investigate the distribution of iron deposition in the substantia nigral (SN) subregions on quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) and the change of swallow tail sign (STS) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) of different disease stages.Methods:The clinical and imaging data of 53 patients with RRMS (case group) diagnosed at the First Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from November 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The case group was divided into 0-5 years subgroup, 6-10 years subgroup, and >10 years subgroup according to the disease duration; another 37 age-and gender-matched healthy volunteers were recruited as the control group during the same period. All subjects underwent MRI and QSM reconstruction. First, the SN was divided into four subregions: rostral anterior-SN (aSNr), rostral posterior-SN (pSNr), caudal anterior-SN (aSNc), and caudal posterior-SN (pSNc) on the QSM, and the quantitative susceptibility value (QSV) of each subregion was measured, and then the STS of the SN was observed and scored on the susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) generated by post-processing. ANOVA was used to compare the differences in the QSV of each subregion of SN among the groups, and the probability of abnormal STS was compared using the χ 2 test. Spearman′s test was used to analyze the correlation between the QSV of each subregion of SN and the STS score. Results:The differences in QSV of aSNr, pSNr, aSNc, and pSNc were statistically significant among the 0-5 years subgroup, 6-10 years subgroup,>10 years subgroup of RRMS patients and the control group ( P<0.05). The QSV of aSNr, pSNr, and aSNc in 0-5 years subgroup was higher than those in the control group ( P was 0.039, 0.008, 0.039, respectively). The QSV of aSNr, aSNc, and pSNc in the 6-10 years subgroup were higher than those in the 0-5 years subgroup ( P was <0.001, 0.020, 0.015, respectively). The QSV of the aSNc, pSNc in >10 years subgroup were lower than those in the 6-10 years subgroup ( P=0.037, 0.006). The QSV of aSNr, pSNr in >10 years subgroup were higher than those in the control group ( P was <0.001, 0.001). There were 7 cases of abnormal STS in the 0-5 years subgroup, 11 cases in the 6-10 years subgroup, 12 cases in >10 years subgroup, and 9 cases in the control subgroup, and there was a statistically significant difference in the probability of abnormal STS among the subgroups of the RRMS patients and the control subgroup (χ 2=16.20, P=0.011). Both the scores of STS in the 6-10 years subgroup and >10 years group were positively correlated with the QSV in pSNc ( r s=0.65, P=0.006; r s=0.48, P=0.045). Conclusions:In RRMS patients, SN iron deposition is concentrated on aSNr, pSNr, and aSNc in the 0-5 years subgroup and on aSNr, aSNc and pSNc in the 6-10 years subgroup. The QSVs of all SN subregions have a downward trend in >10 years subgroup compared with that in the 6-10 years subgroup. Both the QSVs of the pSNc in the 6-10 years group and >10 years group are positively related to STS scores. These help explore the potential progression pattern of SN iron deposition in RRMS patients and the cause of abnormal STS in RRMS patients.