Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder primarily caused by pathogenic variants in the TSC1 or TSC2 genes. It is characterized by multisystem hamartomatous lesions and neuropsychiatric manifestations. Here we report a young male patient with TSC involving multiple organs, caused by a heterozygous frameshift mutation in TSC2 (c.2071delC, p.Arg691Alafs^*7). The patient initially presented with classic facial angiofibromas and hypomelanotic macules, and subsequently developed psychiatric and behavioral disturbances with auditory hallucinations. Neuroimaging revealed an intracranial mass lesion, which was confirmed as a subependymal giant cell astrocytoma on postoperative histopathology following surgery performed at an outside institution. After admission, the patient underwent a comprehensive diagnostic workup, and multidisciplinary treatment evaluation revealed extensive multisystem involve-ment, including the nervous system, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, eyes, pancreas, liver and bones. Combined with relevant literature, this article discusses the molecular mechanisms, clinical phenotypes, and comprehensive management of TSC, in order to provide a reference for the standardized and individualized management of this disease.

AIM: To compare the visual quality in patients with low-to-moderate myopia after 0.05 D interval spherical lens optometry-guided small-incision lenticule extraction(SMILE)and conventional 0.25 D interval spherical lens optometry-guided SMILE.METHODS: Retrospective study. A total of 400 cases(400 eyes)with low-to-moderate myopia that underwent SMILE in the ophthalmology department of 989th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force from August 2021 to August 2023 were enrolled and the data from the right eyes were collected for analysis. According to the method of optometry test modality, they were divided into 0.05 D group and 0.25 D group, with 200 eyes in each group. The differences were compared between the two groups of patients in intraoperative corneal ablation thickness, uncorrected distance visual acuity(UDVA), high-order corneal aberrations(HOA), spherical aberrations, vertical coma, horizontal coma and trefoil aberrations before and at 1, 3 and 6 mo after surgery. Additionally, the percentage of eyes with residual spherical equivalent(SE)≤±0.25 D, postoperative visual symptoms and scores on the quality of visual(Qov)were compared between the two groups at 6 mo after surgery.RESULTS: The corneal ablation thickness in the 0.05 D group was 92.78±16.56 μm, which was slightly higher than that in the 0.25 D group(83.24±17.33 μm; P<0.001). The UDVA at each postoperative time point in the 0.05 D group was superior to that in the 0.25 D group(all P<0.001). The HOA, spherical aberration, horizontal coma and vertical coma in the two groups at 1, 3 and 6 mo after operation were higher than those before operation(all P<0.05). The spherical aberration in the 0.05 D group at each time point after surgery were higher than those in the 0.25 D group, and vertical coma were lower than those in the 0.25 D group(all P<0.05). At 6 mo postoperatively, the percentage of eyes with residual SE ≤±0.25 D in the 0.05 D group was 97.5%(195 eyes), which was higher than 87.5%(175 eyes)in the 0.25 D group(P<0.05). The most common adverse visual symptoms after SMILE in both groups were hazy vision and glare. The total Qov score in the 0.05 D group was 0.35(0.24, 0.55), which was lower than [0.62(0.32, 0.89)] in the 0.25 D group(P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Compared with conventional 0.25 D interval spherical lens optometry-guided SMILE, the 0.05 D interval spherical lens optometry-guided SMILE for the correction of low-to-moderate myopia has better predictability and can achieve better vision and visual quality.

BACKGROUND: Electroacupuncture (EA) treatment is efficacious in patients with respiratory disorders, although the mechanisms of its action in lung-function protection are poorly understood. This study aimed to explore the neuroanatomical mechanisms of EA stimulation at the BL13 acupoint (Feishu, EA-BL13) improvement in asthma. METHODS: Allergic asthma was induced by intranasal 2.0% ovalbumin (OVA) instillation combined with intraperitoneal injection of the 10.0% OVA. The levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid-schiff stain were used to evaluate inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus secretion. Cellular oncogene fos induction in neurons after EA stimulation was detected by immunofluorescent staining. The messenger RNA expression levels of adrenergic receptors were quantified with real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: EA improved airway inflammation and mucus secretion mainly by activating somatosensory-sympathetic pathways ( P <0.001). Briefly, the intermediolateral (IML) nuclei of the spinal cord received signals from somatic EA stimulation and then delivered the information via the sympathetic trunk to the lung. Excited sympathetic nerve endings in lung tissue released large amounts of catecholamines that specifically activated the β2 adrenergic receptor (β2AR) on T cells ( P <0.01) and further decreased the levels of IL-4 and IL-5 ( P <0.001) through the cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A signaling pathway. CONCLUSION This study provided a new explanation and clinical basis for the use of EA-BL13 as a treatment for allergic asthma in both the attack and remission stages and other respiratory disorders related to airway inflammation.
Electroacupuncture/methods* ; Animals ; Asthma/immunology* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Inflammation/therapy* ; Interleukin-4/metabolism* ; Interleukin-5/metabolism*

Methods: From March 2020 to March 2023, 100 inpatients with DS were classified into groups A, B, C, and D based on the CARDS classification system. Preoperative radiological data were analyzed to measure the severity of central canal stenosis, facet joint arthropathy, intervertebral disc herniation, and spinal epidural lipomatosis, osteophyte formation, range of motion (ROM), and computed tomography value of the vertebral bodies. The radiological characteristics and clinical contraindications for OLIF were compared among the groups. Results: Of the 100 patients, 51% had clinical contraindications for OLIF, which included 85%, 25%, 62.5%, and 20% of patients in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. Compared with group B, group A demonstrated greater severity of central canal stenosis, whereas group C showed a higher degree of facet joint arthropathy. More patients in groups A and C had severe central canal stenosis. Regarding the ROM results, group A had segmental stiffness, whereas group D presented relatively unstable slip segments. Conclusions Patients with different DS subtypes have varied radiological characteristics. Groups B and D are suitable candidates for OLIF. Most patients in group A are unsuitable for OLIF because of bony hyperplasia, severe spinal stenosis, and segmental stiffness.

Nonunion of osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF), predominantly affecting the elderly, can lead to intractable pain, vertebral collapse, progressive kyphotic deformity, and neurological impairment, significantly compromising patients′ quality of life. There exists considerable debate on diagnosis and management of OVF, encompassing key issues such as clinical diagnosis and staging criteria for nonunion, surgical indications and procedure selection, and postoperative rehabilitation planning. Currently, there lacks standardized clinical guideline and expert consensus on the diagnosis and management of OVF nonunion in China. To address this gap, Minimally Invasive Surgery Group of Chinese Orthopedic Association, Osteoporosis Committee of Chinese Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee for Osteoporosis of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine and Minimally Invasive Orthopedic Surgery Branch of China Association for Geriatric Care jointly organized domestic experts in spinal surgery, endocrinology, and rehabilitation to formulate the Clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment for nonunion of osteoporotic vertebral fractures ( version 2025), based on existing literature and clinical experience and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and practicality. The guideline provided 13 evidence-based recommendations encompassing diagnosis and treatment of OVF nonunion, aiming to standardize its clinical management.

Objective:To investigate the overall drug resistance, drug resistance trend and distribution of drug resistance mutation sites in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients with antiviral therapy failure in Yunnan Province.Methods:The demographic data and genotype drug resistance of HIV/AIDS population with antiviral therapy failure in Yunnan Province from January 2021 to December 2023 were collected and analyzed by cross-sectional investigation. Statistical analyses were performed using chi-square test.Results:Among 15 159 HIV/AIDS patients, 12 215 cases tested positive by amplification. The circulating recombinant form (CRF) 08_BC was the predominant genetic subtype, accounting for 54.97%(6 714/12 215), followed by CRF01_AE (16.14%(1 972/12 215)) and CRF07_BC (14.48% (1 769/12 215)). When the viral load was ≥200 to <1 000 copies/mL, the incidence of drug resistance was 21.48%(99/461). When it was ≥1 000 to <10 000 copies/mL, the incidence was 51.29%(2 867/5 590). When it was ≥10 000 to <100 000 copies/mL, the incidence was 69.39% (3 979/5 734). When it was ≥100 000 copies/mL, the incidence was 81.86%(352/430). A total of 7 297 drug resistant cases were detected, with a drug resistance rate of 59.74% (7 297/12 215), thus the estimated drug resistance incidence rate among the antiviral treated population in Yunnan Province was 2.00% (7 297/364 238). From 2021 to 2023, the annual drug resistance rates among patients were 60.71%(2 554/4 207), 60.28%(1 671/2 772), and 58.67% (3 072/5 236), respectively, with no statistically significant difference ( χ2=4.47, P=0.107). Among the population with antiviral therapy failure, the drug resistance rates of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI), nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), and protease inhibitor (PI) were 93.70%(6 837/7 297), 44.10%(3 218/7 297) and 5.15%(376/7 297), respectively. The mutation sites with the highest frequencies among the three classes of drugs including NRTI, NNRTI and PI were M184V/I (46.13%(2 123/4 602)), K103N/S (37.14%(2 648/7 129)), L33F (15.50%(82/529)) and M46I/L (15.50%(82/529)), respectively. Analysis of the degree of drug resistance showed that among NNRTI drugs, nevirapine (49.01%(5 987/12 215)) and efavirenz (48.00%(5 863/12 215)) had the highest drug resistance rates, followed by emtricitabine (23.59%(2 882/12 215)) and lamivudine (23.58%(2 881/12 215)) among NRTI drugs. Conclusions:Among HIV/AIDS patients with antiviral therapy failure in Yunnan Province from 2021 to 2023, CRF08_BC is the main genetic subtype. The drug resistance rate of patients increases with the increase of HIV-1 viral load. There is no significant change in the drug resistance rate from 2021 to 2023. NNRTI has the highest drug resistance rate, followed by NRTI, and PI has the lowest. The main mutation sites are M184V/I for NRTI, K103N/S for NNRTI, and M46I/L and L33F for PI. The drug resistance rates of nevirapine, efavirenz, emtricitabine and lamivudine are relatively high.

Background The residues of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) in aquatic environments have become an increasingly prominent urban pollution issue, attracting widespread attention. The analysis of PPCPs pollution in water environments holds profound implications in Zhengzhou, a strategically important city in central China. Objective To analyze the pollution characteristics of PPCPs, such as antidepressants and antibiotics, in rivers of Zhengzhou and assess associated ecological risk. Methods Water samples were collected from three rivers of Zhengzhou, and 13 PPCPs (5 antibiotics and 8 antidepressants) were analyzed quantitatively by high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) after automatic solid phase extraction. Risk quotient (RQ) was applied to assess ecological risk of PPCPs with high concentration. Results The primary antibiotics pollutants were norfloxacin and ofloxacin, both with a detection rate of 100%. Among antidepressants, venlafaxine and citalopram showed the highest detection rates at 92.3% and 88.5%, respectively. The detected antibiotics with the highest average concentrations included ofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole with concentrations of 99.8 ng·L⁻¹and 96.2 ng·L⁻¹, respectively, while antidepressants venlafaxine and citalopram were detected with the highest average concentrations of 15.2 ng·L⁻¹and 1.35 ng·L⁻¹, respectively. The inter-river comparisons revealed statistically significant differences in contaminant loads (P<0.05). The sums of average PPCP concentrations at sampling points in the Jialu River and Suoxu River were 83.4 ng·L⁻¹ and 100.4 ng·L⁻¹, respectively. The Xiaoqing River exhibited higher pollution levels than both the Jialu and Suoxu Rivers, with a total average concentration of 478.4 ng·L⁻¹, where ofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole were identified as the predominant pollutants. The results of ecological risk assessment indicated the RQ contributed by sulfamethoxazole ranged between 0.50−0.95 in the Xiaoqing River, suggesting a controllable risk but requiring prioritized mitigation strategies. The RQ values of norfloxacin were distributed within the range of 0.10-0.30, indicating a moderate ecological risk. The RQ values for ofloxacin and venlafaxine remained below 0.10, indicating a lower risk level. Conclusion PPCPs contamination is positive in the rivers of Zhengzhou, and sulfamethoxazole and ofloxacin are the primary cantaminants. The Xiaoqing River exhibits the highest pollution levels. The initial risk assessment show that sulfamethoxazole and norfloxacin pose potential ecological risks, requiring prioritized contamination management.

Methods: From March 2020 to March 2023, 100 inpatients with DS were classified into groups A, B, C, and D based on the CARDS classification system. Preoperative radiological data were analyzed to measure the severity of central canal stenosis, facet joint arthropathy, intervertebral disc herniation, and spinal epidural lipomatosis, osteophyte formation, range of motion (ROM), and computed tomography value of the vertebral bodies. The radiological characteristics and clinical contraindications for OLIF were compared among the groups. Results: Of the 100 patients, 51% had clinical contraindications for OLIF, which included 85%, 25%, 62.5%, and 20% of patients in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. Compared with group B, group A demonstrated greater severity of central canal stenosis, whereas group C showed a higher degree of facet joint arthropathy. More patients in groups A and C had severe central canal stenosis. Regarding the ROM results, group A had segmental stiffness, whereas group D presented relatively unstable slip segments. Conclusions Patients with different DS subtypes have varied radiological characteristics. Groups B and D are suitable candidates for OLIF. Most patients in group A are unsuitable for OLIF because of bony hyperplasia, severe spinal stenosis, and segmental stiffness.

Methods: From March 2020 to March 2023, 100 inpatients with DS were classified into groups A, B, C, and D based on the CARDS classification system. Preoperative radiological data were analyzed to measure the severity of central canal stenosis, facet joint arthropathy, intervertebral disc herniation, and spinal epidural lipomatosis, osteophyte formation, range of motion (ROM), and computed tomography value of the vertebral bodies. The radiological characteristics and clinical contraindications for OLIF were compared among the groups. Results: Of the 100 patients, 51% had clinical contraindications for OLIF, which included 85%, 25%, 62.5%, and 20% of patients in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. Compared with group B, group A demonstrated greater severity of central canal stenosis, whereas group C showed a higher degree of facet joint arthropathy. More patients in groups A and C had severe central canal stenosis. Regarding the ROM results, group A had segmental stiffness, whereas group D presented relatively unstable slip segments. Conclusions Patients with different DS subtypes have varied radiological characteristics. Groups B and D are suitable candidates for OLIF. Most patients in group A are unsuitable for OLIF because of bony hyperplasia, severe spinal stenosis, and segmental stiffness.

Objective:To explore the short-term clinical effects of deep cervical lymph node-venous anastomosis in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).Methods:A prospective exploratory study was conducted on the treatment of AD patients using the cervical deep lymph node-venous anastomosis technique in Scar and Wound Treatment Department, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from September to October 2024. The patients underwent high-frequency ultrasound to locate deep cervical lymph nodes and the external jugular vein. Under general anesthesia, bilateral deep cervical lymph node-venous anastomoses were performed. Indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography was conducted via subcutaneous injection behind the ear to visualize lymph nodes in levels Ⅱ and Ⅲ. After making a skin incision along the posterior margin of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, the external jugular vein, internal jugular veins, and associated lymph nodes were exposed. Adjacent veins were selected for anastomosis of lymph node. Using microsurgical techniques, end-to-side or end-to-end anastomosis was completed for lymph nodes in levels Ⅱ and Ⅲ. Preoperative assessments included the mini-mental state examination (MMSE, a higher score indicates better cognitive function), Alzheimer’s disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog, a higher score indicates greater impairment of cognitive function), Alzheimer’s disease cooperative study scale for activities of daily living (ADCS-ADL, a higher score indicates better ability to perform daily activity), and neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI, a higher score indicates more severe behavioral and emotional symptom). Postoperative follow-up included the same scales to observe changes in cognitive function, activities of daily living, and emotional communication.Results:Four patients (1 male, 3 females, aged 58-79 years) with AD were included. All were diagnosed based on cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers. All patients successfully underwent bilateral deep cervical lymph node-venous anastomoses. On average, 4.3 (2-7 per person) anastomoses were performed per patient. Surgical procedures lasted an average of 6.5 h (5.5-8.5 h) with minimal blood loss (less than 50 ml). Patients resumed normal activity within 6 hours postoperatively and were discharged after an average of 4.1 d (3.5-5.0 d). Postoperative complications included one case each of aspiration pneumonia, lower limb venous thrombosis, and transient delirium, all of whom resolved without long-term effects. Clinical symptoms, including memory decline, mood swings, and anxiety, showed varying degrees of improvement. Patients reported enhanced quality of life, emotional stability, and social engagement, confirming the procedure’s safety and potential cognitive benefits. At one month postoperatively, the MMSE scores of the four patients increased by an average of 0.8 points compared to preoperative levels. Additionally, the two patients who completed the ADAS-Cog assessments showed a decrease in their scores (reduced by 1.0 points and 11.3 points, respectively, compared to preoperative scores), indicating a certain degree of improvement in cognitive function during this period. The ADCS-ADL and NPI scores of four patients varied significantly, without showing any clear pattern.Conclusion:Lymphovenous anastomosis of the deep cervical lymph node-venous anastomosis may provide a new surgical intervention approach for AD, but further large-scale studies and long-term follow-up are needed to validate its safety and effectiveness.