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.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic variants and phenotypic characteristics of patients with Neurofibromatosis type I (NF1). METHODS: Twenty two NF1 patients who presented at Enze Medical (Center) Group in Taizhou between 2018 and 2024 were selected as the study subjects. Clinical phenotype and family history were collected for the patients. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was carried out for the 22 probands to screen the variants of NF1 gene. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing of their family members. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Hospital (Ethics No.: K20230902). RESULTS: The 22 probands were diagnosed between the age of 5 months to 47 years old, and have all shown cafe au lait spots on their skin. Seventeen patients exhibited the phenotype at birth, and 11 had various degrees of neurofibromatosis. Among them, probands 1 and 13 underwent surgical resection of the tumor but had recurred, while proband 12 had amputation due to the huge size and serious impact of the neurofibroma and had no recurrence. Five patients had various degrees of scoliosis. In total 22 germline mutations and one somatic mutation were identified among the 22 families, with 5 variants unreported previously, including 1 nonsense mutation c.1603C>T (Q535*), 3 frameshift mutations [c.7268_7269delCA (Thr2423fs), c.2293del (Arg765Alafs*26), and c.5433_5438delinsGC (Phe1812ArgfsTer50)], and 1 deletion involving exons 41-44 of the NF1 gene and adjacent introns. Proband 13 was found to harbor germline mutation c.6796C>T (Gln2266Ter) and somatic mutation c.1019_1020del (Ser340Cysfs Ter12) in the peripheral blood and tumor tissue, respectively. Among the 22 NF1 probands, 6 had received treatment due to severe illness. Proband 1 had tumor resection in the right upper limb, but was found to have malignant lung tumor and died during follow-up. Proband 12 had multiple recurrence of neurofibroma in the left ring finger. Proband 4 underwent spinal correction surgery due to severe scoliosis. Proband 11 had died due to a central nervous system disease. Among the 22 germline mutations, 6 had led to the occurrence of truncated proteins, which may have a more severe impact on the phenotype. CONCLUSION This study investigated the genetic variants and clinical phenotypes of 22 NF1 families and identified 5 novel variants of the NF1 gene, which has expanded the genotypic and phenotypic spectra of the NF1. Preliminary studies have identified an association between truncated mutations, young age, and severe phenotypes, which may provide important clues for prognosis evaluation. For the clinical diagnosis and treatment of NF1, it is necessary to consider the phenotypic characteristics and genetic testing in combination with genetic counseling and long-term follow-up.
Humans ; Neurofibromatosis 1/pathology* ; Male ; Female ; Pedigree ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Middle Aged ; Adolescent ; Infant ; Young Adult ; Neurofibromin 1/genetics* ; Phenotype ; Asian People/genetics* ; Mutation ; Exome Sequencing ; East Asian People

Objective: To investigate the emotional and behavioral problems among preschool children and the correlations with maternal parenting competence and family rearing environment, so as to provide a scientific basis and practical guidance for the physical and mental health development of preschool children. Methods: In June 2025, 660 preschool children aged 3-6 years old were selected from 10 kindergartens in Hefei, Anqing, and Tongling in Anhui Province by using a stratified cluster random sampling method. A questionnaire survey was conducted among all parents of preschool children using the Parent version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Child Family Rearing Environment Scale, and the Chinese version of the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale. Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the related factors of emotional and behavioral problems among preschool children. SPSS macro program Process 4.1 and Bootstrap method were used to test the mediating effect of family parenting environment between emotional and behavioral problems among preschool children and maternal parenting competence. Results: The detection rate of emotional and behavioral problems among preschool children was 20.15%. The total scores of family rearing environment and maternal parenting competence were negatively correlated with emotional and behavioral problems among preschool children ( r =-0.45,-0.79), and the total score of family rearing environment was positively correlated with the total score of maternal parenting competence ( r =0.43) (all P <0.01). Multiple linear regression showed that, after controlling whether being only child, parents educational level, registered residence location and other variables, family rearing environment, self efficacy and satisfaction were all negative predictors of emotional and behavioral problems among preschool children ( B =-0.07, -0.42, -0.42, all P <0.01). The mediation effect results showed that maternal parenting competence could positively predict the family rearing environment ( B =0.75), while maternal parenting competence and family rearing environment could both negatively predict emotional and behavioral problems among preschool children ( B =-0.49, -0.06 ) (all P <0.05). The Bootstrap sampling method test results showed that the effect value of the indirect effect of maternal parenting competence on emotional and behavioral problems through the family rearing environment was -0.04, and the effect proportion was 8.21 %. Conclusion Preschool children with a better family rearing environment and stronger maternal parenting competence are less likely to have emotional and behavioral problems, among which the family rearing environment has a mediating effect.

ObjectiveTaking Aurantii Fructus Immaturus juice（AFI）-processed Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma（AMR） as an example， this study aims to systematically compare the volatile and non-volatile components of AMR and its processed products， investigate the key differential components， evaluate their anti-inflammatory activities， and elucidate the synergistic mechanism of processing. MethodsThe chemical compositions of volatile and non-volatile components in AMR and AFI-processed AMR were systematically characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry（GC-MS） and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS）， with relative mass fractions and response values determined separately. Volatile components were identified through searches in the National Institute of Standards and Technology（NIST）17 database， comparison with retention index（RI） and fragmentation pattern matching. Non-volatile components were identified by searching Waters Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM） spectral library， in conjunction with PubChem and MassBank， characteristic fragmentation patterns and response values were also used to support identification. Differential components were screened using principal component analysis（PCA）， orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA）， with variable importance in the projection（VIP） value >1. Components with high log₂fold change（FC） among major differential groups were selected as those exhibiting significant changes before and after processing. The anti-inflammatory activity of the differential compounds was evaluated by assessing their effects on nitric oxide（NO） production in a lipopolysaccharide（LPS）-induced RAW264.7 macrophage model. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） was used to detect the effects of the differential components on tumor necrosis factor（TNF）-α， interleukin（IL）-1β， IL-6， and monocyte chemotactic protein（MCP）-1 levels， and immunofluorescence（IF） was employed to assess their effects on nuclear transcription factor（NF）-κB p65 translocation， thereby elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms. ResultsA total of 36 compounds were identified in the volatile components of AMR and AFI-processed AMR， among which， sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes were significantly increased after processing. In the non-volatile components， 36 compounds were identified， and the main differential components were flavonoids， sesquiterpenoids， and triterpenoids. Flavonoids were the primary differential components distinguishing AMR from its processed products， representing compounds directly introduced during processing. Five compounds， including atractylenolide Ⅲ， tangeritin， nobiletin， hesperidin and narirutin， were selected as representatives of three classes based on their most prominent differential expression among different compound types for subsequent anti-inflammatory activity studies. The results showed that 100 μmol·L^-1 tangerine and narirutin could significantly inhibit LPS-induced NO production（P<0.01） in a concentration-dependent manner. Tangeritin was able to significantly inhibit the levels of TNF-α and MCP-1 secreted by RAW264.7（P<0.05）， while narirutin significantly inhibited the levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， MCP-1 and IL-6（P<0.01）. IF revealed that both tangeritin and narirutin significantly blocked the translocation of NF-κB p65 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. ConclusionAFI-processed AMR significantly alters the chemical composition profile of AMR， and the newly introduced flavonoid components during processing may be key to its enhanced anti-inflammatory effects.

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.

This paper summarizes the clinical experience in the syndrome differentiation and treatment of rosacea using the method of venting heat and resolving stagnation. It is considered that the key pathogenesis of rosacea is the accumulation of heat with stagnation. Accordingly， the method of venting heat and resolving stagnation is proposed， which vents and disperses constraint heat by applying approaches such as dredging defensive qi， clearing qi， venting ying （营） level， and cooling blood， while eliminating stagnation and masses through regulating qi， resolving dampness， dispelling phlegm and removing stasis. In clinical practice， a core prescription for venting heat and resolving stagnation is formulated， with flexible modifications made according to the clinical characteristics of different rosacea subtypes， including erythematotelangiectatic， papulopustular， phymatous， and ocular types， thereby providing therapeutic insights for the treatment of rosacea with traditional Chinese medicine.

Background: Surgeons face challenges in selecting cost-effective and biologically active agents for rotator cuff healing, given the numerous commercial products available, such as polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) and atelocollagen (ATC). However, the precise efficacy of PDRN and ATC in rotator cuff healing remains debatable, and there is currently a lack of studies directly comparing the effects of the 2 agents on repaired cuff tendons. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of PDRN and ATC on bone-to-tendon interface (BTI) healing using a chronic rotator cuff tear (RCT) model in rabbits. Methods: Forty-eight rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups. To create chronic RCT models, transected tendons were left untreated for 6 weeks, and then were repaired in a transosseous manner with PDRN and ATC injection into the repair site according to group allocation (group A: saline, group B: PDRN, group C: ATC; n = 16 per group). Genetic and immunofluorescence analyses were performed at 4 weeks after surgery. Furthermore, genetic, histologic, and biomechanical analyses were performed at 12 weeks after surgery. Results: At 4 weeks after surgery, ATC-injected shoulders showed the highest mRNA expression levels of collagen type I alpha 1 and aggrecan compared to the other 2 groups (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). Meanwhile, there was more preliminary fibrocartilaginous matrix formation in the ATC-injected group. At 12 weeks after surgery, ATC-injected shoulders demonstrated better collagen fiber continuity and orientation, denser collagen fibers, a more mature bone-to-tendon junction, and greater fibrocartilage layer formation compared to the other 2 groups (all p < 0.001). Furthermore, ATC-injected shoulders also demonstrated a significantly higher load-to-failure value (40.4 ± 4.5 N/kg) than the remaining groups (group A, 26.7 ± 3.0 N/kg; group B, 32.8 ± 4.2 N/kg; p < 0.001). Conclusions ATC demonstrated superior efficacy in promoting BTI healing following surgical repair in a chronic RCT model of rabbits.

Cold ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) is a major contributor to delayed graft function and long-term graft failure after kidney transplantation.Its pathogenesis involves multiple mechanisms, including energy metabolism disorders, oxidative stress and sterile inflammatory responses.Increasing evidence indicates that immune cells play a central regulatory role in the initiation and progression of CIRI.Damage-associated molecular patterns released during cold ischemia and reperfusion activate innate immunity, leading to the rapid recruitment of neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells and amplification of inflammatory cascades.Subsequently, adaptive immune cells, including T cells and B cells, are activated and further contribute to sustained inflammation, disruption of immune tolerance and graft injury.Through cytokine signaling, chemokine-mediated recruitment and antigen presentation, different immune cell subsets form a complex interactive network that ultimately determines the severity and outcome of CIRI.This review summarizes the roles and mechanisms of innate and adaptive immune cells in renal allograft CIRI, highlights their interconnections, and discusses emerging immune cell-targeted therapeutic strategies, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for improving clinical outcomes in kidney transplantation.

Direct compression is an ideal method for tablet preparation, but it requires the powder's high functional properties. The functional properties of the powder during compression directly affect the quality of the tablet. 15 parameters such as Py, FES-8KN, FES-12KN, FES-16KN, CR-8KN, CR-12KN, and CR-16KN were used as the characteristic variables in this paper. Unsupervised learning methods like principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and factor analysis were applied to analyze and classify the compression behavior data of 36 traditional Chinese medicine powders. The results showed that both different dimensionality reduction classification methods could effectively differentiate the compression behavior characteristics of 36 traditional Chinese medicine compound powders. The hierarchical cluster analysis results showed a better agreement with the actual compression phenomena of the powders, where group 1 was high elasticity and low compressibility, group 2 was easily compressed and hard to break, group 3 was excellent compressibility and compactibility. This study is expected to provide references and ideas for predicting the behavior of traditional Chinese medicine powders and the screening of tablet formulations.

AIM:This study aims to investigate the protective effect of α-lipoic acid(α-LA)against alcohol-induced damage in H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes and to explore the underlying mechanisms.METHODS:An alcohol-induced injury model of H9c2 cells was established,and the cells were divided into 4 groups:control group,alcohol group,α-LA group,and alcohol+α-LA group.Additionally,H9c2 cells overexpressing aldehyde dehydrogenase 2(ALDH2)were cre-ated and further divided into 6 groups:normal control group,normal cells treated with alcohol group,normal cells treated with alcohol+α-LA group,ALDH2 overexpression group,ALDH2-overexpressing cardiomyocytes treated with alcohol group,and ALDH2-overexpressing cardiomyocytes treated with alcohol+α-LA group.Cell proliferation was assessed using 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine(EdU)staining.Reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels in each group were measured using di-hydroethidium(DHE)staining,while the expression levels of ALDH2,silent information regulator 1(SIRT1),heme oxy-genase 1(HO1)and P53 proteins were detected by Western blot analysis.RESULTS:(1)Alcohol exposure resulted in a decrease in the proliferation of H9c2 cells and an increase in intracellular oxidative stress,evidenced by elevated ROS levels and decreased expression of related proteins(ALDH2,SIRT1 and HO1).However,α-LA treatment significantly mitigated the decline in cell proliferation and the oxidative stress induced by alcohol.(2)Alcohol may induce cellular se-nescence,as demonstrated by the up-regulation of P53 expression,which were reversed by α-LA.(3)The H9c2 cells with high ALDH2 expression markedly improved the cell proliferation in the presence of alcohol,suppressed the ROS pro-duction,prevented the down-regulation of oxidative stress-related proteins(ALDH2,SIRT1 and HO1),and reversed the enhanced expression of the senescence marker P53.CONCLUSION:Treatment with α-LA may counteract oxidative stress and attenuate cellular senescence by activating ALDH2,thereby protecting cardiomyocytes from alcohol-induced damage.