The vitrectomy, one of the most popular procedures in ophthalmology, is regarded as a significant advancement in the field. Its functions include restoring transparent refractive media, encouraging retinal reattachment, cutting the patient's turbid vitreous, or removing the traction of the vitreous retina. The goal of treating vitreoretinal illnesses is to enhance the patient's visual function. Nowadays, absorbable sutures, which can be absorbed for around 1 mo, are used frequently to close scleral incisions during vitreous surgery. It can easily lead to infection, idiopathic scleritis, foreign body sensation, and other side effects. The benefits and drawbacks of several novel techniques for closing scleral incisions during vitrectomy are discussed in this research. Through an examination of the aforementioned novel techniques in visual acuity, intraocular pressure, subconjunctival hemorrhage, and complications(endophthalmitis, choroidal effusion/hemorrhage, etc.), the goal is to bolster the efficacy and safety of the recently developed scleral incision closure technique and enhance its application in clinical settings, enabling physicians to optimize surgical outcomes while minimizing collateral damage.

The vitrectomy, one of the most popular procedures in ophthalmology, is regarded as a significant advancement in the field. Its functions include restoring transparent refractive media, encouraging retinal reattachment, cutting the patient's turbid vitreous, or removing the traction of the vitreous retina. The goal of treating vitreoretinal illnesses is to enhance the patient's visual function. Nowadays, absorbable sutures, which can be absorbed for around 1 mo, are used frequently to close scleral incisions during vitreous surgery. It can easily lead to infection, idiopathic scleritis, foreign body sensation, and other side effects. The benefits and drawbacks of several novel techniques for closing scleral incisions during vitrectomy are discussed in this research. Through an examination of the aforementioned novel techniques in visual acuity, intraocular pressure, subconjunctival hemorrhage, and complications(endophthalmitis, choroidal effusion/hemorrhage, etc.), the goal is to bolster the efficacy and safety of the recently developed scleral incision closure technique and enhance its application in clinical settings, enabling physicians to optimize surgical outcomes while minimizing collateral damage.

ObjectiveTo explore the central neuroregulation mechanism of heat-sensitive moxibustion for knee osteoarthritis on pain relief. MethodsThirty patients who did not have experience of Deqi （得气） during heat-sensitive moxibustion treatment were assigned to the "non-Deqi group"， while another 30 patients who had experience of Deqi were assigned to the "Deqi group". Both groups received moxibustion at the left Heding （EX-LE2） acupoint. In the Deqi group， after the patients experienced sensation of Deqi at the acupoint， moxibustion was applied at approximately 3 cm from the skin for 10 minutes； in the non-Deqi group， moxibustion was also applied at approximately 3 cm from the skin for 10 minutes. Both groups received treatment once daily for 10 consecutive days. Knee joint pain was assessed before and after treatment using the visual analog scale （VAS）. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging （rs-fMRI） scans were performed on all participants before the first treatment session and after the final session on the 10th day. The fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations （fALFF） maps before and after treatment were processed using the SPM12 module by MATLAB. ResultsAfter treatment， VAS scores in both groups were significantly lower than before treatment （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）， with the Deqi group showing significantly lower VAS scores than the non-Deqi group （P＜0.01）. Compared to before treatment， the Deqi group exhibited significant activation in the prefrontal cortex （t = 6.28）， white matter （t = 6.36）， and left temporal lobe （t = 9.33）， while significant inhibition was observed in the occipital lobe （t = -9.86） and right cerebrum （t = -4.54， P＜0.01）； in the non-Deqi group， significant changes after treatment were observed in the left occipital lobe （t = -6.42）， left medial frontal gyrus （t = -4.35）， left middle frontal gyrus （t = -4.74）， right superior frontal gyrus （t = -4.82）， right superior temporal gyrus （t = -6.61）， and right cerebellar posterior lobe （t = -8.64）， all of which were in inhibited states （P＜0.01）. Compared to the non-Deqi group， the Deqi group exhibited significant activation after treatment in the external nucleus （t = 5.77）， white matter （t = 3.58）， right cerebrum （t = 5.84）， left cerebellum （t = 5.35）， and left cerebrum （t = 4.32）， while significant inhibition was observed in the prefrontal cortex （t = -4.16）， occipital lobe （t = -4.87）， and precentral gyrus （t = -4.46， P＜0.01）. ConclusionsHeat-sensitive moxibustion provides better analgesic effects for knee osteoarthritis under state of Deqi. Its central neuroregulation mechanism may be related to the involvement of the frontal lobe， temporal lobe， occipital lobe， external nucleus， white matter， right cerebrum， left cerebellum， left cerebrum， and precentral gyrus in modulating pain signals.

Diabetic retinopathy(DR)is a late-stage peripheral micro-neurovascular complication of chronic hyperglycemia, leading to blood-retinal barrier impairment and retinal dysfunction. Recent studies have found that diabetic neuroretinopathy(DN)may be one of the earliest events in diabetic retinal alterations. The main features include defective electroretinographic responses in newly diagnosed patients, early self-activation of microglia and Müller cells, reduced activity of neurotransmitters(e.g., DOPA/GABA), and early mitochondrial dysfunction, such as persistent Drp1-Fis1 fission and mtDNA methylation mismatches. Understanding the molecular basis of DN is essential for elucidating its pathogenesis and developing early treatments. This review summarizes pathological changes and mechanisms of retinal function, glial cells, neurotransmitters, mitochondria, and other factors in early diabetes mellitus, in order to provide a theoretical foundation for investigating early DN mechanisms and developing targeted therapies.

Silicone oil is a stable intraocular tamponade widely used in various vitreoretinal surgeries. However, it can migrate into the anterior chamber for various reasons, leading to complications such as pupillary block glaucoma, corneal endothelial decompensation, and keratopathy. The inferior peripheral iridectomy (later referred to as the Ando iridectomy) can allow the aqueous humor from the posterior segment to drain into the anterior chamber, and this drainage exerts pressure on the silicone oil, pushing it back into the vitreous cavity, thereby effectively addressing the complications. The application of the Ando iridectomy has expanded from aphakic eyes to phakic eyes and pseudophakic eyes in recent years, each with specific indications. The diameter of the Ando iridectomy should be ≥ 2 mm. The incision for the Ando iridectomy should be made at the 6 o'clock position at the iris root, at the lower edge of the silicone oil droplet in the anterior chamber, or in the inferior aqueous humor zone. Postoperatively, the Ando iridectomy may close due to inflammation or blood cell blockage. In such cases, it can be reopened using laser photocoagulation, surgical peripheral iridectomy, or needle puncture to restore its functionality. Currently, there is no standardized protocol for the application of the Ando iridectomy in vitreoretinal surgeries, and this warrants further research.

OBJECTIVE To explore the improvement mechanism of proanthocyanidins on acute kidney injury （AKI） induced by gentamicin in rats. METHODS Gentamicin sulfate was injected intraperitoneally to construct the AKI rat model； the model rats were randomly divided into model control group， benazepril hydrochloride 5 mg/kg group （positive control）， proanthocyanidins 50 mg/kg group， proanthocyanidins 100 mg/kg group， and proanthocyanidins 200 mg/kg group， with 10 rats in each group； in addition， 10 normal rats were selected to be treated as the normal control group. The rats in each administration group were given corresponding liquid intragastrically， and the normal control group and model control group were given equal volumes of normal saline intragastrically， once a day， for 28 consecutive days. After the last administration， the levels of serum creatinine （SCr）， blood urea nitrogen （BUN）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px） and 24 h urinary protein （UP） were detected； the renal index was calculated； the pathological changes of renal tissue were observed and the pathological score was calculated； the apoptotic rate of cells in renal tissue and the expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bcl-2 associated X protein （Bax）， as well as the phosphorylation levels of silent information regulator of transcription 1 （SIRT1） and AMP-activated protein kinase （AMPK） were detected. RESULTS Compared with the model control group， the levels of SCr， BUN， UP and MDA， the renal index， the pathological score of renal tissue， the apoptotic rate of cells in renal tissue， the protein expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax in renal tissue of rats in each administration group were decreased significantly； SOD and GSH-Px levels， phosphorylation levels of SIRT1 and AMPK protein were increased significantly （P＜0.05）， and the effect of proanthocyanidins was in a dose-dependent manner （P＜0.05）. There were no significant differences in the above indexes between proanthocyanidins 200 mg/kg group and benazepril hydrochloride 5 mg/kg group （P＞0.05）. CONCLUSIONS The improvement effect of proanthocyanidins on AKI rats may be related to the activation of SIRT1/AMPK signaling pathway to inhibit oxidative stress.

Objective To investigate the capillarization of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) and its association with hepatic fibrosis during the development of alveolar echinococcosis, so as to provide the basis for unraveling the mechanisms underlying the role of LSEC in the development and prognosis of hepatic injuries and hepatic fibrosis caused by alveolar echinococcosis. Methods Forty C57BL/6 mice at ages of 6 to 8 weeks were randomly divided into a control group and 1-, 2- and 4-week infection groups, of 10 mice in each group. Each mouse in the infection groups was intraperitoneally injected with 2 000 Echinococcus multilocularis protoscoleces, while each mouse in the control group was given an equal volume of phosphate-buffered saline using the same method. All mice were sacrificed 1, 2 and 4 weeks post-infection and mouse livers were collected. The pathological changes of livers were observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and hepatic fibrosis was evaluated through semi-quantitative analysis of Masson’s trichrome staining-positive areas. The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition were examined using immunohistochemical staining of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1), and the fenestrations on the surface of LSECs were observed using scanning electron microscopy. Primary LSECs were isolated from mouse livers, and the mRNA expression of LSEC marker genes Stabilin-1, Stabilin-2, Ehd3, CD209b, GATA4 and Maf was quantified using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay. Results Destruction of local liver lobular structure was observed in mice 2 weeks post-infection with E. multilocularis protoscoleces, and hydatid cysts, which were surrounded by granulomatous tissues, were found in mouse livers 4 weeks post-infection. Semi-quantitative analysis of Masson’s trichrome staining showed a significant difference in the proportion of collagen fiber contents in mouse livers among the four groups (F = 26.060, P < 0.001), and a higher proportion of collagen fiber contents was detected in mouse livers in the 4-week infection group [(11.29 ± 2.58)%] than in the control group (P < 0.001). Immunohistochemical staining revealed activation of a few HSCs and ECM deposition in mouse livers 1 and 2 weeks post-infection, and abundant brown-yellow stained α-SMA and COL1A1 were deposited in the lesion areas in mouse livers 4 weeks post-infection, which spread to surrounding tissues. Semi-quantitative analysis revealed significant differences in α-SMA (F = 7.667, P < 0.05) and COL1A1 expression (F = 6.530, P < 0.05) in mouse levers among the four groups, with higher α-SMA [(7.13 ± 3.68)%] and COL1A1 expression [(13.18 ± 7.20)%] quantified in mouse livers in the 4-week infection group than in the control group (both P values < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy revealed significant differences in the fenestration frequency (F = 37.730, P < 0.001) and porosity (F = 16.010, P < 0.001) on the surface of mouse LSECs among the four groups, and reduced fenestration frequency and porosity were observed in the 1-[(1.22 ± 0.48)/μm² and [(3.05 ± 0.91)%] and 2-week infection groups [(3.47 ± 0.10)/μm² and (7.57 ± 0.23)%] groups than in the control group (all P values < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the average fenestration diameter on the surface of mouse LSECs among the four groups (F = 15.330, P < 0.001), and larger average fenestration diameters were measured in the 1-[(180.80 ± 16.42) nm] and 2-week infection groups [(161.70 ± 3.85) nm] than in the control group (both P values < 0.05). In addition, there were significant differences among the four groups in terms of Stabilin-1 (F = 153.100, P < 0.001), Stabilin-2 (F = 57.010, P < 0.001), Ehd3 (F = 31.700, P < 0.001), CD209b (F = 177.400, P < 0.001), GATA4 (F = 17.740, P < 0.001), and Maf mRNA expression (F = 72.710, P < 0.001), and reduced mRNA expression of Stabilin-1, Stabilin-2, Ehd3, CD209b, GATA4 and Maf genes was quantified in three infection groups than in the control group (all P values < 0.001). Conclusions E. multilocularis infections may induce capillarization of LSECs in mice, and result in a reduction in the expression of functional and phenotypic marker genes of LSECs, and capillarization of LSECs occurs earlier than activation of HSC and development of hepatic fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE To provide reference for the adjustment of antibiotic treatment regimens， identification of adverse reactions， and individualized pharmaceutical care for melioidosis sepsis （MS）. METHODS Clinical pharmacists participated in the intensive and eradicating therapeutic processes for an MS patient by using blood concentration and gene detection. Based on the literature， antibiotic treatment regimens of MS were adjusted by determining the blood concentrations of β-lactam and trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole （TMP/SMZ） and calculating PK/PD parameters. The causes of adverse drug reactions were analyzed and addressed by detecting drug-related gene polymorphisms through high-throughput sequencing. RESULTS Clinical pharmacists used blood concentration and genetic testing methods to propose adjustments to imipenem-cilastatin sodium dosage and analyze the causes of various adverse drug reactions. PK/PD targets were calculated by measuring the blood concentrations of β-lactam and TMP/SMZ. Clinical pharmacists explained to clinical doctors the compliance status of patients with melioidosis in sepsis and non- sepsis stages through reviewing guidelines and literature； the results of blood concentration and genetic test were used to analyze the correlation of neurotoxicity of MS patients with B14） IMP cmin， and it was found that nephrotoxicity was not related to the cmax of TMP/SMZ， but to the patient’s water intake. After whole-process antibiotic treatment， the patient’s condition improved and was discharged， and the adverse reactions were effectively treated. CONCLUSIONS Clinical pharmacists use blood concentration and genetic tests to assist clinicians in formulating MS treatment regimens， and provide whole-course pharmaceutical care for a MS patient. This method has improved the safety and effectiveness of clinical drug therapy.

OBJECTIVE To study the improvement effect and possible mechanism of N-butylphthalide on inflammatory injury of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells （BMSCs） in rats. METHODS BMSCs of rats were divided into control group， model group， N-butylphthalide low-concentration， medium-concentration and high-concentration groups （10， 20， 50 μmol/L）. BMSCs were cultured in vitro and lipopolysaccharide （the final concentration of 10 mg/L） was used to establish the inflammatory injury model. After the intervention of N-butylphthalide， the survival rate， apoptotic rate， the contents of tumor necrosis factor α （TNF- α）， interleukin 1β （IL-1β） and IL-6 in cell culture medium， the mRNA expression of nuclear factor-κB（NF-κB） p65， and the protein expressions of caspase-3， B-cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2 related X protein （Bax） and NF-κB p65 in cells were detected. RESULTS Compared with control group， the survival rate and protein expression of Bcl-2 were decreased significantly in model group （P＜0.05）； the apoptotic rate， contents of TNF-α， IL-1β and IL-6， the mRNA expression of NF-κB p65， and the protein expressions of caspase-3， Bax and NF-κB p65 were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group， above indexes were significantly reversed in all concentration groups of N-butylphthalide （P＜0.05）， in concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS N-butylphthalide can ameliorate the inflammatory injury of BMSCs induced by lipopolysaccharide， and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.
Female ; Humans ; Adolescent ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Smell ; COVID-19/complications* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; COVID-19 Vaccines ; Incidence ; Olfaction Disorders/etiology* ; Taste Disorders/etiology* ; Prognosis