Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of micro-percutaneous nephrolithotomy (microPCNL) using Needle-perc in the oblique supine-lithotomy position for treating 1—2 cm lower-pole stones (LPSs)，by comparing it with flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy (FURL)，so as to identify an effective surgical method for LPSs. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 56 patients with isolated LPSs of 1—2 cm treated in our hospital during Jan.and Dec.2023.Patients were divided into two groups based on the treatment method：FURL (n=31) and microPCNL (n=25).General information and perioperative data were compared between the two groups. Results: All operations were successfully completed.The operation time was shorter in the microPCNL group than in the FURL group \[(46.5±10.1) min vs.(73.5±18.9) min，P<0.001\].Stone-free rate (SFR) was 92.0% in the microPCNL group and 71.0% in the FURL group (P=0.026).There were no significant differences in the average fall of hemoglobin level，serumc creatinine change level，hospitalization time and postoperative fever between the two groups. Conclusion: MicroPCNL in oblique supine-lithotomy position is a safe and effective treatment for 1-2 cm LPSs，with a higher SFR compared to FURL.

This study explores the diagnosis and treatment of needle knife therapy for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) at middle and advanced stage based on the theory of meridian tendons, from a holistic perspective and syndrome differentiation. The treatment strategy includes "harmonizing yin and yang" to address root causes and "tendons-based release" to harmonize qi and blood, with the "tendons nodule points" as the core acupoint selection criterion. Based on this approach, the study systematically elaborates on two needle knife methods for AS: "governor vessel bone-piercing technique" and "below-the-umbilicus release technique", covering indications, acupoint location, and procedures. Clinical case examples are provided to enrich needle knife therapy guided by the theory of meridian tendons, offering insights for clinical and research work on AS.
Humans ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Meridians ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing/physiopathology* ; Tendons/physiopathology*

Disruption of the intestinal mucosal barrier caused by gut dysbiosis and metabolic imbalance is the underlying pathology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Traditional Chinese medicine Wuji Wan (WJW) is commonly used to treat digestive system disorders and showed therapeutic potential for IBD. In this interdisciplinary study, we aim to investigate the pharmacological effects of WJW against experimental colitis by combining functional metabolomics and gut-microbiota sequencing techniques. Treatment with WJW altered the profile of the intestinal microbiota and notably increased the abundance of Lactobacillus, thereby facilitating the conversion of tryptophan into indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indoleacrylic acid (IA). These indole derivatives activated the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway, which reduced colonic inflammation and restored the expression of intestinal barrier proteins. Interestingly, the beneficial effects of WJW on gut barrier function improvement and tryptophan metabolism were disappeared in the absence of gut microbiota. Finally, pre-treatment with the AhR antagonist CH-223191 confirmed the essential role of IAA-mediated AhR activation in the therapeutic effects of WJW. Overall, WJW enhanced intestinal barrier function and reduced colonic inflammation in a murine colitis model by modulating Lactobacillus-IAA-AhR signaling pathway. This study provides novel insights into colitis pathogenesis and presents an effective therapeutic and preventive approach against IBD.

[Objective]People infected with Hepatitis B are often divided into hepatitis B carriers and hepatitis B patients based on whether ALT is normal or not,and ALT ≥ 2UNL is one of the indications for clinical antiviral treatment,but no sufficient evidence to justify this. In order to explore the theoretical basis,the paper investigated the effects of hepatitis B virus(HBV) on hepatic stellate cells(HSCs).[Methods]A total of 132 chronic hepatitis B patients with different viral loads and ALT levels were randomly selected as the study subjects. Of these patients,those with ALT≥2UNL were treated with antiviral therapy and followed up for 24 weeks. The effects of HBV on HSCs before and after the treatment were compared and analyzed. HSCs proliferation was detected by MTT method,HSCs cell cycle by flow cytometry,and expression of TGF-β1,Smad3,Smad7,α-SMA,collagen Ⅰ,collgen Ⅲ mRNAs and corresponding proteins by RT-PCR and Western blotting,respectively.[Results]At the normal ALT level,HBV with different viral loads had no significant effect on the proliferation,cell cycle and cell secretion of the HSCs. At the abnormal ALT level,especially when ALT ≥ 2UNL,with the increase of virus loads,HSCs proliferation accelerated;cells in the G0/G1 phase decreased significantly and cells in the S and G2/M phases increased significantly;the expression of TGF-β1,Smad3,α-SMA,collagen Ⅰ,collgen Ⅲ mRNAs and corresponding proteins increased significantly,but Smad7 mRNA and protein expression decreased significantly,the differences were statistically significant. HBV showed a significantly lower effect on HSCs after the antiviral therapy than before.[Conclusions]This paper reveals the differential effects of HBV on HSCs at different ALT levels and presents a comparative analysis of the effects before and after the antiviral therapy,which provides a theroretical basis for identifying the ALT level as an indication for HBV antiviral therapy.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) diseases are common clinical conditions. The number of patients with TMJ diseases is large, and the etiology, epidemiology, disease spectrum, and treatment of the disease remain controversial and unknown. To understand and master the current situation of the occurrence, development and prevention of TMJ diseases, as well as to identify the patterns in etiology, incidence, drug sensitivity, and prognosis is crucial for alleviating patients′suffering.This will facilitate in-depth medical research, effective disease prevention measures, and the formulation of corresponding health policies. Cohort construction and research has an irreplaceable role in precise disease prevention and significant improvement in diagnosis and treatment levels. Large-scale cohort studies are needed to explore the relationship between potential risk factors and outcomes of TMJ diseases, and to observe disease prognoses through long-term follw-ups. The consensus aims to establish a standard conceptual frame work for a cohort study on patients with TMJ disease while providing ideas for cohort data standards to this condition. TMJ disease cohort data consists of both common data standards applicable to all specific disease cohorts as well as disease-specific data standards. Common data were available for each specific disease cohort. By integrating different cohort research resources, standard problems or study variables can be unified. Long-term follow-up can be performed using consistent definitions and criteria across different projects for better core data collection. It is hoped that this consensus will be facilitate the development cohort studies of TMJ diseases.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological factors and clinical significance of (micro)metastasis in No.12b lymph node in patients with gastric antrum cancer.Methods:This was a retrospective cohort study of data of 242 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma without distant metastasis, complete follow-up data, and no preoperative anti-tumor therapy or history of other malignancies. All study patients had undergone radical gastrectomy (at least D2 radical range) + No.12b lymph node dissection in the Department of Gastric Surgery of Liaoning Cancer Hospital from January 2007 to December 2012. Immunohistochemical staining with antibody CK8/18 was used to detect micrometastasis to lymph nodes. Patients with positive findings on hematoxylin and eosin stained specimens and/or CK8/18 positivity in No.12b lymph node were diagnosed as having No.12b (micro)metastasis and included in the No.12b positive group. All other patients were classified as 12b negative. We investigated the impact of No.12b (micro)metastasis by comparing the clinicopathological characteristics and recurrence free survival (RFS) of these two groups of patients and subjecting possible risk factors to statistical analysis.Results:Traditional hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that 15/242 patients were positive for No.12b lymph nodes and 227 were negative. A total of 241 negative No. 12b lymph nodes were detected. Immunohistochemical testing revealed that seven of these 241 No.12b lymph nodes (2.9%) were positive for micrometastasis. A further seven positive nodes were identified among the 227 nodes (3.1%) that had been evaluated as negative on hematoxylin–eosin-stained sections. Thus, 22 /242 patients' (9.1%) No.12b nodes were positive for micrometastases, the remaining 220 (90.9%) being negative. Factor analysis showed that No.12b lymph node (micro) metastasis is associated with more severe invasion of the gastric serosa (HR=3.873, 95%CI: 1.676-21.643, P=0.006), T3 stage (HR=1.615, 95%CI: 1.113-1.867, P=0.045), higher N stage (HR=1.768, 95%CI: 1.187-5.654, P=0.019), phase III of TNM stage (HR=2.129, 95%CI: 1.102-3.475, P=0.046), and lymph node metastasis in the No.1/No.8a/No.12a groups (HR=0.451, 95%CI: 0.121-0.552, P=0.035; HR=0.645, 95%CI:0.071-0.886, P=0.032; HR=1.512, 95%CI: 1.381-2.100, P=0.029, respectively). Survival analysis showed that the 5-year RFS of patients in the No.12b positive group was worse than that of those in the No.12b negative group (18.2% vs. 34.5%, P<0.001). Independent predictors of RFS were poorer differentiation of the primary tumor (HR=0.528, 95%CI:0.288-0.969, P=0.039), more severe serous invasion (HR=1.262, 95%CI:1.039-1.534, P=0.019), higher T/N/TNM stage (HR=4.880, 95%CI: 1.909-12.476, P<0.001; HR=2.332, 95%CI: 1.640-3.317, P<0.001; HR=0.139, 95%CI: 0.027-0.713, P=0.018, respectively), and lymph node metastasis in the No.12a/No.12b group(HR=0.698, 95%CI:0.518-0.941, P=0.018; HR=0.341, 95%CI:0.154-0.758, P=0.008, respectively). Conclusion:Detection of micrometastasis can improve the rate of positive lymph nodes. In patients with gastric antrum cancer, dissection of group No.12b lymph nodes may improve the prognosis of those with intraoperative evidence of tumor invasion into the serosa, more than two lymph node metastases, and suspicious lymph nodes in groups No.1 / No.8a / 12a.

Objective:To compare the clinical outcomes of anterolateral femoral interregional flap with turbocharge technique and traditional anterolateral femoral flap in repair of large limb wounds.Methods:Clinical data of 38 patients with large limb surface wound(11 cm×39 cm-16 cm×65 cm)admitted to the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital,Zhejiang University School of Medicine from May 2018 to May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.Eighteen patients were treated by anterolateral thigh perforator flap combined with superficial circumflex iliac artery flap(ALTP-SCIAP)with turbocharge technique(interregional flap group);while 20 patients were treated with unilateral or bilateral anterolateral femoral flaps,combined with skin grafting if necessary(traditional anterolateral femoral flap group).The survival of skin flap,repair of donor area,complications and patient satisfaction were compared between the two groups.Results:In interregional flap group,18 flaps were harvested and transplanted,the flap width,length and the viable area were(9.9±2.0)cm,(44.2±3.5)cm and(343.2±79.9)cm2,respectively.In traditional anterolateral femoral flap group,29 flaps were harvested and transplanted,the flap width,length and the viable area were(11.0±2.8)cm,(21.7±3.2)cm and(186.4±49.2)cm2,respectively.There were significant differences in the flap length and the viable area between the two groups(t=22.365 and 8.345,both P<0.05).In the interregional flap group,the donor site of flap was closed by direct suture in 11 flaps,by skin retractor assisted suture in 6 flaps,and by skin grafting in one flap.In traditional anterolateral femoral flap group,the donor site of flap was closed by direct suture in 12 flaps,by skin retractor assisted suture in 11 flaps,and by skin grafting in 6 flaps.The skin graft rates of the two groups were 5.6%(1/18)and 20.7%(6/29),respectively(χ2=2.007,P>0.05).The interregional flap group had lower postoperative complications rate(5.6%vs.35.0%,χ2=4.942,P<0.05)and higher patient satisfaction rate(94.4%vs.70.0%,χ2=4.448,P<0.05)than traditional anterolateral femoral flap group.Conclusion:Compared with the traditional anterolateral femoral flap,the anterolateral femoral interregional flap with turbocharge technique has a larger flap area,most of the donor areas of the flap can be sutured directly without skin grafting and with less complications and a higher patient satisfaction rate.

Objective:To identify and observe disease-causing gene variants and clinical phenotypes in a Han Chinese family with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA).Methods:A retrospective study. A patient with LCA10 and his parents who had presented at Department of Ophthalmology of Henan Provincial People's Hospital on May 2022 were selected as the study subject. Detailed medical and family histories were recorded, fundus photography and flash electroretinogram (F-ERG) were performed. Peripheral venous blood samples (3 ml) of the proband and his parents were collected to extract whole genomic DNA, then whole exome sequencing (WES) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing were carried out for the proband to determine the disease-causing gene and variants. All variants were annotated by bioinformatics analysis. According to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines, the pathogenicity of all detected variants were evaluated. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing, and in vitro minigene assay were performed to evaluate the impact of the missense variant with insufficient evidence on mRNA splicing.Results:The proband, male, 7-month-old, presented with an inability to follow light or objects, eye poking, photophobia, nystagmus, partial loss of retinal pigment epithelium around the fovea of the macula. At the age of 2 years old, F-ERG revealed severe reduction, elongation, or even no waveform of a-wave and b-wave in both eyes. No obvious abnormality was found in the clinical phenotype of his parents. The result of WES revealed that the proband carried two variants in exon 40 and exon 2 of CEP290, a frameshift variant c.5515_5518del (p.Glu1839Lysfs*11) (V1) and a novel missense variant c.74C>T (p.Ala25Val) (V2), respectively. The result of mitochondrial DNA sequencing was negative. Sanger sequencing confirmed that the heterozygous frameshift variant was inherited from his father and the heterozygous novel missense variant was inherited from his mother, which constituted compound heterozygous variants. In vitro minigene splicing assay confirmed that V2 created a new splicing donor at exon 2, leading to the in-frame deletion of 30bp fragment during transcription and loss of 10 amino acid residues in the protein. The two variants were pathogenic (V1) and likely pathogenic (V2) based on ACMG guidelines, respectively. Conclusions:The c.5515_5518del and novel c.74C>T compound heterozygous variants of the CEP290 gene probably are the cause of LCA10 in this family, which lead to the production of a truncated protein and aberrant splicing of pre-mRNA, respectively. LCA is characterized by early onset, severe impairment of visual function, and a wide range of disease-causing variations.

Objective To investigate the impact of dexamethasone(DEX)on diaphragmatic atrophy caused by acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)and its correlation with diaphragmatic protein metabolism.Methods Twenty healthy male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly assigned to control,ARDS model,low-dose DEX,and high-dose DEX group,with each group consisting of five rats.ARDS was induced in the rats by intratracheal administration of lipopolysaccharide(LPS)at 4 mg/kg.Conversely,intratracheal saline was administered to the control group at 2 mL/kg.Following the induction of the model,an intraperitoneal injection of DEX at 1 mg·kg-1·d-1 was administered to the low-dose DEX group.Conversely,DEX at 5 mg·kg-1·d-1 was administered to the high-dose group for 7 consecutive days.Subsequently,on the eighth day of the experiment,the diaphragmatic weight of all rats was measured.Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR)was utilized to assess the mRNA expression of interleukins(IL-1β,IL-18)in each group.Western blotting was employed to determine the protein expression levels of nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)p65,NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),caspase-1,Gasdermin D(GSDMD),myosin heavy chain 2(Myh2),and F-box protein 32(Fbxo32).Additionally,immunohistochemistry was utilized to evaluate the ratio of fast to slow muscle fibers in the diaphragm.Results The ARDS model group showed significant reductions in body weight,diaphragm weight,fast muscle fibers,and Myh2 protein expression compared to the control group[body weight(g):266±17 vs.292±15,diaphragm weight(g):0.77±0.02 vs.0.92±0.08,fast muscle fibers:(74±1)%vs.(78±3)%,Myh2 protein expression(Avalue):0.75±0.07 vs.0.95±0.05,all P<0.05].Conversely,significant increases were observed in the expressions of IL-1β and IL-18 mRNA,slow muscle fibers,and the proteins NF-κB p65,NLRP3,caspase-1,GSDMD,Fbxo32[IL-1β mRNA(IL-1β/GAPDH):2.2±0.3 vs.1.0±0.2,IL-18 mRNA(IL-18/GAPDH):2.3±0.3 vs.1.0±0.3,slow muscle fibers:(26±1)%vs.(22±3)%,NF-κB p65 protein expression(A value):0.40±0.15 vs.0.17±0.05,NLRP3 protein expression(A value):0.51±0.05 vs.0.27±0.08,caspase-1 protein expression(A value):0.54±0.12 vs.0.30±0.19,GSDMD protein expression(A value):0.40±0.12 vs.0.20±0.05,Fbxo32 protein expression(A value):0.51±0.15 vs.0.33±0.08,all P<0.05].Compared with the ARDS group,both low and high doses of DEX were found to further reduce body weight,diaphragm weight,fast muscle fibers,and Myh2 protein expression,and further increase the expressions of IL-1β and IL-18 mRNA,slow muscle fibers,and the proteins NF-κB p65,NLRP3,caspase-1,GSDMD,Fbxo32,with the changes in the high dose DEX group being more significant than those in the low dose group[body weight(g):198±14 vs.222±16,diaphragm weight(g):0.57±0.04 vs.0.68±0.04,fast muscle fibers:(56±5)%vs.(69±2)%,Myh2 protein expression(A value):0.29±0.16 vs.0.57±0.15,IL-1βmRNA expression:5.6±1.4 vs.3.3±0.6,IL-18 mRNA expression(IL-18/GAPDH):5.8±1.2 vs.3.9±0.6,slow muscle fibers:(44±5)%vs.(31±2)%,NF-κB p65 protein expression(A value):0.87±0.04 vs.0.70±0.07,NLRP3 protein expression(A value):0.75±0.08 vs.0.63±0.04,caspase-1 protein expression(A value):0.99±0.06 vs.0.82±0.08,GSDMD protein expression(Avalue):0.85±0.11 vs.0.61±0.10,Fbxo32 protein expression(Avalue):1.00±0.10 vs.0.78±0.12,all P<0.05].Normal muscle fiber structure was revealed by microscopic observation in the control group,clear fiber separation in the ARDS model group,and disordered muscle fiber arrangement with structural distortion was noted in both low and high-dose DEX groups.Conclusion Prolonged administration of DEX may worsen diaphragmatic atrophy induced by ARDS,possibly by promoting the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and cell pyroptosis.

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of robot-assisted pedicle screw placement with visualization technology and conventional robot-assisted pedicle screw placement, and analyze the accuracy and safety of robot-assisted pedicle screw placement with visualization.Methods:This retrospective study analyzed data from 60 patients (39 males and 21 females) with an average age of 51.03±18.04 years (range 12-78 years) who underwent open spinal pedicle screw fixation surgery for thora columbar diseases at the Orthopedic Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University between August 2020 and September 2022. The cases included 25 cases of spinal stenosis, 15 cases of lumbar fractures, 7 cases of thoracic fractures, 3 cases of lumbar spondylolisthesis, and 10 cases of spinal deformities. 30 patients underwent solid pedicle screw placement using robot-assisted visualization technology (visualization group), while the remaining 30 patients received hollow pedicle screw placement using conventional robot-assisted technology (conventional group). After screw placement, "O"-arm X-ray scans were performed for verification, and screw placement accuracy was evaluated based on the Gertzbein-Robbins standard. The study recorded and compared the time required for screw placement, number of fluoroscopy sessions, and perioperative complications between the two groups to provide a comprehensive assessment of surgical outcomes.Results:There were no significant differences in age and gender between the two groups ( P>0.05). In the visualization group, a total of 178 pedicle screws were placed, with 172 screws (96.6%) achieving satisfactory placement, while the conventional group placed 254 pedicle screws, with 240 screws (94.5%) achieving satisfactory placement. The difference in accuracy rates between the two groups was not statistically significant (χ 2=1.087, P=0.297). The visualization group required a mean of 2.60±1.03 fluoroscopy sessions during surgery, significantly less than the conventional group's mean of 5.57±2.12 sessions ( t=-6.860, P=0.001). Moreover, the visualization group had a shorter mean screw placement time of 13.23±3.68 minutes compared to the conventional group's mean of 24.68±15.75 minutes ( t=-3.870, P=0.040). All patients in both groups completed the surgery without postoperative complications such as infection, hematoma, or nerve root injury. Conclusion:The technique of robot-assisted pedicle screw placement with visualization effectively preserves the high precision achieved in conventional robotic surgery. With its advantage of real-time monitoring for screw position, it reduces the intraoperative fluoroscopy times and shortens the screw placement time, thereby further enhancing surgical efficiency.