BackgroundIndividuals with chronic multimorbidity exhibit a high prevalence of sleep disturbances， which impair their physical and psychological well-being and impede chronic disease management. Although sleep quality is closely influencing with psychological functioning， empirical evidence regarding the longitudinal trajectories of sleep quality and their influencing factors in this population remains insufficient. ObjectiveTo investigate the longitudinal trajectories of sleep quality and associated factors among patients with chronic multimorbidity from hospitalization through 6 months post-discharge， aiming to facilitate the early identification of high-risk individuals and the development of personalized sleep interventions. MethodsA total of 228 inpatients with chronic multimorbidity， primarily with cardiovascular and metabolic chronic conditions， were enrolled via random sampling at The Third People's Hospital of Fuyang from January 2023 to September 2024. Baseline assessments were conducted during hospitalization using the general socio-demographic questionnaire， the Sleep Dysfunction Rating Scale （SDRS）， the Ruminative Response Scale （RRS）， and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale （HADS）. Sleep quality was further evaluated using the SDRS at 1-， 3-， and 6-month post-discharge. Latent class growth model was employed to delineate trajectories of sleep quality. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was subsequently performed to identify influencing factors of sleep quality. ResultsA total of 201 patients with chronic diseases were included.Based on four predefined assessment time points （baseline， 1 month， 3 months， 6 months post-discharge）， the latent class growth model identified three distinct trajectories of sleep quality： persistent high sleep disturbance （n=72， 35.82%）， moderate sleep disturbance-progression （n=73， 36.32%）， and low sleep disturbance （n=56， 27.86%）. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that， compared with the low sleep disturbance group， multiple factors increased the odds of membership in the persistent high sleep disturbance group： per capita monthly household income of <3 000 yuan （β=13.131， P<0.01） or 3 000–5 000 yuan （β=5.913， P<0.05）， aged 45–65 years （β=9.536， P<0.05）， presence of 3 （β=7.792， P<0.05） or >3 comorbid chronic conditions （β=6.626， P<0.05）， as well as higher RRS （β=0.334， P<0.01） and HADS score （β=1.628， P<0.01）. Additionally， patients aged 45–65 years （β=2.777， P<0.05）， with 3 （β=3.802， P<0.01） or >3 comorbid chronic conditions （β=2.463， P<0.01）， and with higher RRS （β=0.111， P<0.01） and HDAS scores （β=0.350， P<0.05） also demonstrated significantly increased odds of belonging to the moderate sleep disturbance–progression group. ConclusionThere is significant population heterogeneity in sleep quality trajectories among patients with chronic multimorbidity， with age， per capita household monthly income， number of comorbidities， rumination， and anxiety/depression symptoms being identify as the primary influencing factors.

AIM: To examine differences in etiology, risk factors, gender, and acute-phase manifestations of retinal artery occlusion(RAO)patients in different age groups, highlighting age-related heterogeneity.

METHODS:This retrospective comparative cohort study enrolled patients with RAO. Patients were divided into <50 y group and ≥50 y group. Etiological classification was based on modified TOAST criteria. Comparisons assessed the prevalence of risk factors, etiological distribution, sex ratio, and, in cases of acute central retinal artery occlusion(CRAO), fundus characteristics and visual outcomes.

RESULTS:This study included a total of 145 RAO patients,which were divided into two groups based on age: <50 y group(15 females and 13 males)with the mean age of 36.64±9.72 y, and ≥50 y group(38 females and 79 males)with the mean age of 63.50±9.54 y. Hypertension(46.4% vs 85.5%)and diabetes(3.6% vs 27.4%)were less prevalent in <50 y group(both P<0.001). The <50 y group was characterized predominantly by stroke of other determined etiology(SOE, 35.7% vs 2.6%, P<0.001), whereas the ≥50 y group was dominated by small artery occlusion(SAO, 35.9%)and large artery atherosclerosis(LAA, 31.6%), the incidence rates were significantly higher in the ≥50 y group than in the <50 y group(both P<0.001). Females were more frequently represented in <50 y group(53.6% vs 32.5%, P=0.039). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that LAA was independently linked to older age and SOE to younger age. Boxcarring occurred exclusively in ≥50 y patients\〖39.5%(17/43)vs 0, P=0.011\〗.

CONCLUSION:The RAO patients<50 y predominantly present with non-atherosclerotic causes and a higher proportion of females, whereas patients≥50 y are mainly affected by atherosclerosis driven etiologies and show signs of reduced vascular compensatory capacity. These findings indicate that age-related differences in RAO should be taken into account when determining etiologic evaluation and management strategies.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of Qihuang needle therapy for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children with sleep disorder. METHODS: A total of 60 ASD children with sleep disorder were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with structured education intervention, 60 min each time, once a day, 6 times a week. Qihuang needle therapy was applied at Yintang (GV24⁺), Baihui (GV20) and bilateral Jueyinshu (BL14), Xinshu (BL15) in the observation group, multi-direction needling was delivered and without needle retaining. The treatment was given 2 times a week, each treatment was delivered at interval of 2 days at least. Behavioral intervention was adopted in the control group. Treatment for consecutive 12 weeks was required in both groups. Before and after treatment, the scores of children's sleep habits questionnaire (CSHQ), the autism behavior checklist (ABC), the childhood autism rating scale (CARS), and the childhood autism behavior scale (CABS) were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the scores of CSHQ, ABC, CARS and CABS were decreased compared with those before treatment (P<0.01), and the above scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Qihuang needle therapy can effectively treat ASD with sleep disorder, improve the core symptoms of ASD and the sleep quality.
Humans ; Autism Spectrum Disorder/physiopathology* ; Male ; Female ; Child ; Sleep Wake Disorders/physiopathology* ; Child, Preschool ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome ; Sleep ; Needles

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic disease characterized by abnormal deposition of lipid in hepatocytes. If not intervened in time, NAFLD may develop into liver fibrosis or liver cancer, and ultimately threatening life. NAFLD has complicated etiology and pathogenesis, and there are no effective therapeutic means and specific drugs. Currently, insulin sensitizers, lipid-lowering agents and hepatoprotective agents are often used for clinical intervention, but these drugs have obvious side effects, and their effectiveness and safety need to be further confirmed. Adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a central role in maintaining energy homeostasis. Activated AMPK can enhance lipid degradation, alleviate insulin resistance (IR), suppress oxidative stress and inflammatory response, and regulate autophagy, thereby alleviating NAFLD. Natural herbal medicines have received extensive attention recently because of their regulatory effects on AMPK and low side effects. In this article, we reviewed the biologically active natural herbal medicines (such as natural herbal medicine formulas, extracts, polysaccharides, and monomers) that reported in recent years to treat NAFLD via regulating AMPK, which can serve as a foundation for subsequent development of candidate drugs for NAFLD.

Objective To analyze the correlation of preoperative collagen lectin-11(CL-11),urinary nitrite,and urinary heparin-binding protein(U-HBP)with postoperative urinary sepsis(US)in patients with kidney stones,and to explore their predictive value and warning significance for postoperative US.Methods A total of 190 patients with kidney stones who underwent minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University from September 2021 to June 2023 were selected.According to whether they developed US within 7 days after surgery,they were divided into the US group(n=30)and the non-US group(n=160).Baseline data and preoperative levels CL-11,urinary nitrite and U-HBP were compared between the two groups.The correlation between preoperative CL-11,urinary nitrite,U-HBP and postoperative US was analyzed.The predictive efficacy of preoperative CL-11,urinary nitrite,and U-HBP for postoperative US was evaluated.Results The positive rates of CL-11,urinary nitrite,and U-HBP in the US group were(313.68±38.73)ng/mL,46.67%and(157.82±41.61)ng/mL,respectively,which were higher than those in the non-US group at(234.00±41.25)ng/mL,12.50%,and(128.59±36.38)ng/mL(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis indicated that preoperative CL-11,urinary nitrite,and U-HBP were influencing factors for the occurrence of US.The area under the curve(AUC)for predicting postoperative US was 0.797 for CL-11,0.624 for urinary nitrite,and 0.826 for U-HBP,while the combined AUC for predicting postoperative US was 0.923,with a sensitivity of 90.00%and specificity of 88.75%.Conclusion Patients with postoperative US following kidney stone surgery exhibited elevated levels of urinary nitrite,CL-11,and U-HBP,which were positively correlated with the occurrence of postoperative US.These markers have certain predictive value for postoperative US,and their combined detection offers superior predictive efficacy,potentially serving as warning biomarkers for postoperative US,thereby providing a reference for clinical prevention and control measures.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is a metabolic disease characterized by abnormal deposition of lipid in hepatocytes.If not intervened in time,NAFLD may develop into liver fibrosis or liver cancer,and ultimately threatening life.NAFLD has complicated etiology and pathogenesis,and there are no effective therapeutic means and specific drugs.Currently,insulin sensitizers,lipid-lowering agents and hep-atoprotective agents are often used for clinical intervention,but these drugs have obvious side effects,and their effectiveness and safety need to be further confirmed.Adenosine monophosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPK)plays a central role in maintaining energy homeostasis.Activated AMPK can enhance lipid degradation,alleviate insulin resistance(IR),suppress oxidative stress and inflammatory response,and regulate autophagy,thereby alleviating NAFLD.Natural herbal medicines have received extensive attention recently because of their regulatory effects on AMPK and low side effects.In this article,we reviewed the biologically active natural herbal medicines(such as natural herbal medicine formulas,extracts,polysaccharides,and monomers)that reported in recent years to treat NAFLD via regulating AMPK,which can serve as a foundation for subsequent development of candidate drugs for NAFLD.

Objective To study the effect of the transbrachial artery approach on the success rate of puncture,revascularization time,and postprocedural complications in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction(STEMI)treated by percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI).Methods The clinical data of 324 patients with STEMI who underwent PCI between September 2020 and May 2024 at our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.According to the different approaches,the patients were divided into a brachial artery group(127 cases)and a radial artery group(197 cases).Their procedural parameters(X-ray exposure time,contrast agent dosage,puncture time,puncture success rate,and revascularization time)and hospital length-of-stay,cardiac function indicators,including left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricular fractional shortening(LVFS),left ventricular end-systolic volume index(LVESVI),and left ventricular end-diastolic volume index(LVEDVI),before surgery and 3 months after PCI,and the incidence of complications were compared between the two groups of patients.Furthermore,a difference-in-differences method was adopted for the logistic model to evaluate the effects of different approaches.Results There were no statistical differences in the general data between the brachial artery group and the radial artery group.Compared with those of the radial artery group,the revascularization time and length-of-stay of the brachial artery group were shortened,and the success rate of puncture was increased(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in X-ray exposure time or contrast agent dosage between the two groups.The changes in LVEF,LVFS,LVESVI,and LVEDVI from baseline to 3 months post-PCI were(10.97±7.15)%,(3.29±5.90)%,(22.11±9.30)mL/m2,and(18.13±6.68)mL/m2,respectively,in the brachial artery group,while those in the radial artery group were(10.61±7.13)%,(4.38±6.04)%,(23.13±9.60)mL/m2,and(19.34±7.27)mL/m2,respectively,without statistical differences.Difference-in-differences analysis revealed that there were no statistical differences in the effects of different approaches on LVEF,LVFS,LVESVI,and LVEDVI between the brachial artery group and the radial artery group.During follow-up,no complications,such as coronary perforation,coronary dissection,or stent thrombosis,were observed in either group,and there were no statistical differences in the complication incidence between the two groups.Conclusion The transbrachial artery approach can shorten the revascularization time and length-of-stay of patients with STEMI treated by PCI.It has a high success rate of puncture and can promote the recovery of postoperative cardiac function without increasing postoperative complications.

BACKGROUND:Cervical disc herniation can cause pain in the neck and shoulder area,as well as radiating pain in the upper limbs.The incidence rate is increasing year by year and tends to affect younger individuals.Fully understanding the biomechanical characteristics of the cervical spine in adolescents is of great significance for preventing and delaying the onset of cervical disc herniation in this age group. OBJECTIVE:To reconstruct cervical spine models for both healthy adolescents and adolescent patients with cervical disc herniation utilizing finite element analysis techniques,to analyze the motion range of the C1-T1 cervical vertebrae as well as the biomechanical characteristics of the annulus fibrosus,nucleus pulposus,endplates,and the cartilage of the small joints. METHODS:A normal adolescent's cervical spine and an adolescent patient with cervical disc herniation were selected in this study.The continuous scan cervical spine CT raw image data were imported into Mimics 21.0 in DICOM format.The C1-T1 vertebrae were reconstructed separately.Subsequently,the established models were imported into the 3-Matic software for disc reconstruction.The perfected models were then imported into Hypermesh software for meshing of the vertebrae,nucleus pulposus,annulus fibrosus,and ligaments,creating valid geometric models.After assigning material properties,the final models were imported into ABAQUS software to observe the joint motion range of the C1-C7 cervical vertebrae segments under different conditions,and to analyze the biomechanical characteristics of the annulus fibrosus,nucleus pulposus,endplates,and small joint cartilage of each cervical spine segment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)In six different conditions,the joint motion range of the C1 vertebra in the cervical spine models of both normal adolescent and adolescent patient with cervical disc herniation was higher than that of the other vertebrae.Additionally,the joint motion range of each cervical spine segment in normal adolescent was greater than that in adolescent patient with cervical disc herniation.(2)In the cervical spine model of normal adolescent,the maximum stress values in the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus were found on the left side during C2-3 flexion conditions(0.43 MPa and 0.17 MPa,respectively).In the cervical spine model of adolescent patient with cervical disc herniation,the maximum stress values were found on the left side during C7-T1 flexion conditions(0.54 MPa and 0.18 MPa,respectively).(3)In the cervical spine model of normal adolescent,the maximum stress value on the endplate was found on the left side of the upper endplate of C3 during flexion conditions(1.46 MPa).In the model of adolescent patient with cervical disc herniation,the maximum stress value on the endplate was found on the left side of the lower endplate of C7 during flexion conditions(1.32 MPa).(4)In the cervical spine model of normal adolescent,the maximum stress value in the small joint cartilage was found in the C2-3 left rotation conditions(0.98 MPa).In adolescent patient with cervical disc herniation,the stress in the small joint cartilage significantly increased under different conditions,especially in C1-2,with the maximum stress found during left flexion(3.50 MPa).(5)It is concluded that compared to normal adolescent,adolescent patient with cervical disc herniation exhibits altered cervical curvature and a decrease in overall joint motion range in the cervical spine.In adolescent with cervical disc herniation,there is a significant increase in stress on the annulus fibrosus,nucleus pulposus,and endplates in the C7-T1 segment.The stress on the left articular cartilage of the C1-2 is notable.Abnormal cervical curvature may be the primary factor causing these stress changes.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Sufei Pingchuan Formula （肃肺平喘方） in the treatment of bronchiectasis with airflow limitation， phlegm-heat obstructing the lung， and lung-spleen qi deficiency syndrome. MethodsA randomized， double-blind， placebo-controlled trial was conducted. A total of 72 patients with stable bronchiectasis with airflow limitation of phlegm-heat obstructing the lung and lung-spleen qi deficiency syndrome were randomly divided into treatment group and control group， with 36 cases in each group. On the basis of regular inhalation of tiotropium bromide inhalation spray， the treatment group was given Sufei Pingchuan Formula granules， and the control group was given Sufei Pingchuan Formula granule simulant. The course of treatment in both groups was 12 weeks. The pulmonary function of both groups before and after treatment was observed， specifically focusing on forced expiratory volume in one second （FEV1）； the modified British Medical Research Council （mMRC） dyspnea scale， 24-hour sputum volume， COPD assessment test （CAT）， and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores were assessed before treatment and after 4， 8， and 12 weeks of treatment； acute exacerbations were recorded at weeks 4， 8， and 12； additionally， changes in routine blood tests， urinalysis， liver and kidney function， and adverse events were monitored before and after treatment. ResultsAfter treatment， 4 patients in the treatment group and 6 in the control group dropped out. After 12 weeks of treatment， FEV1 increased in both groups compared to pre-treatment levels （P＜0.05）， but the difference between groups was not statistically significant （P＞0.05）. Compared to before treatment， the treatment group showed a reduction in mMRC scores after 12 weeks （P＜0.05） and a decrease in 24-hour sputum volume， CAT scores， and TCM syndrome scores at weeks 4， 8， and 12 （P＜0.05）. In the control group， 24-hour sputum volume decreased after 12 weeks （P＜0.05）， and TCM syndrome scores decreased at weeks 8 and 12 （P＜0.05）. Compared to the control group， the treatment group showed a greater reduction in mMRC scores at week 12 （P＜0.05）， a decrease in 24-hour sputum volume and TCM syndrome scores at weeks 4， 8， and 12 （P＜0.05）， and lower CAT scores at weeks 8 and 12 （P＜0.05）. The frequency and number of acute exacerbations in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group at week 12 （P＜0.05）. No severe adverse events occurred in either group. ConclusionSufei Pingchuan Formula can improve the pulmonary function FEV1， the severity of dyspnea， reduce 24-hour sputum volume and frequent acute exacerbations， and improve the quality of life in patients with bronchiectasis and airflow limitation， with good safety.