ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Simiaowan on intestinal barrier function and adenosine triphosphate （ATP） binding cassette transporter G2 （ABCG2） expression in hyperuricemic （HUA） rats， and elucidate its therapeutic mechanisms. MethodsForty male Sprague Dawley （SD） rats were randomized into a normal group， a model group， low-dose （282.6 mg·kg^-1） and high-dose （565.2 mg·kg^-1） Simiaowan groups， and a Benzbromarone （4.7 mg·kg^-1） group. The HUA model was established via intraperitoneal injection of potassium oxonate （ip） combined with oral gavage of hypoxanthine （ig） for 14 days. Following modeling， treatments were administered for 14 days. Samples were collected and weighed 4 h after final dosing. Blood uric acid and hepatic function were analyzed. Histopathological changes were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， and Chiu's scoring was conducted. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） quantified tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， lipopolysaccharide （LPS）， diamine oxidase （DAO）， and D-lactic acid （D-LA） levels. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， Western blot， and immunohistochemistry assessed the expression of Claudin-1， Occludin， occludens-1 （ZO-1）， and ABCG2 mRNAs and proteins. 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing characterized ileal microbiota. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group exhibited epithelial shedding in the ileal villus， structural disruption， infiltration of extensive inflammatory cells， and significantly elevated Chiu's scores （P<0.01）. The DAO， TNF-α， IL-6， IL-1β， LPS， and D-LA levels in the ileum were markedly increased （P<0.01）， while mRNA and protein expressions of Claudin 1， Occludin， ZO-1， and ABCG2， as well as positive staining area and proportion， were significantly reduced （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the Simiaowan groups at all doses showed improved epithelial damage in the ileal villus， significantly lowered Chiu's scores （P<0.01）， significantly reduced DAO， TNF-α， IL-6， IL-1β， LPS， and D-LA levels in the ileum （P<0.01）， and upregulated mRNA and protein expressions of Claudin 1， Occludin， ZO-1， and ABCG2， as well as positive staining area and proportion （P<0.01）. The 16S rDNA results showed that in the model group， the α-diversity index of the ileal microbiota was increased， and species diversity and richness were enhanced， with microbiota dysfunction observed. The community structure of the gut microbiota was significantly different from that of the normal microbiota. The abundance of probiotics was decreased， and the abundance of pathogenic bacteria was increased， with butyrate-producing bacteria showing a low abundance. In contrast， Simiaowan at all doses reduced species diversity and richness， regulated microbiota dysfunction， and promoted the shift of the structure of the gut microbiota community towards a normal one. This increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria， decreased the abundance of harmful bacteria， and restored the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria. ConclusionSimiaowan enhances ileal uric acid excretion and further alleviates HUA by modulating the gut microbiota composition to improve the intestinal barrier and upregulate the expression of the urate transporter ABCG2 in HUA rats.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the value of serum cystatin C (CysC) levels in evaluating renal prognosis in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the clinical data of IgAN patients diagnosed by renal biopsy at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from January, 2014 to December, 2018. Based on baseline serum CysC levels, the patients were divided into high serum CysC (>1.03 mg/L) group and normal serum CysC (≤1.03 mg/L) group. The composite endpoint for poor renal prognosis was defined as ≥50% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and/or progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Lasso regression, multivariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were used to identify the risk factors and compare renal survival rates between the two groups. Smooth curves fitting and threshold effect analysis were used to explore the relationship between serum CysC levels and the outcomes. A nomogram model was constructed and its predictive performance was evaluated using concordance index, calibration curve, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under curve (AUC). RESULTS: A total of 356 IgAN patients were enrolled, who were followed up for 4.65±0.93 years. The composite endpoint occurred in 74 patients. High serum CysC was identified as an independent risk factor for poor renal prognosis in IgAN (HR=2.142, 95% CI 1.222 to 3.755), and the patients with high serum CysC levels had a lower renal survival rate (Log-rank χ²=47.970, P<0.001). In patients with serum CysC below 2.12 mg/L, a higher CysC level was associated with an increased risk of poor renal prognosis (β=3.487, 95% CI: 2.561-4.413, P<0.001), while above this level, the increase of the risk was not significant (β=0.676, 95% CI: -0.642-1.995, P=0.315). The nomogram model based on serum CysC and 3 other independent risk factors demonstrated good internal validity with a concordance index of 0.873 (95% CI: 0.839-0.907) and an AUC of 0.909 (95% CI: 0.873-0.945). CONCLUSIONS Serum CysC levels are associated with renal prognosis in IgAN patients, and high serum CysC an independent risk factor for poor renal prognosis.
Humans ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/diagnosis* ; Cystatin C/blood* ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Retrospective Studies ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Nomograms ; Middle Aged

Objective:To investigate the value of nomogram model based on CT features in differentiating ectopic pancreas (EP) from gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) with a long diameter less than 3 cm.Methods:This study was a case-control study. The clinical and imaging data of 43 patients with EP and 90 patients with GIST confirmed by pathology in the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from August 2013 to March 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative CT images were analyzed to obtain qualitative features (number of lesions, location, morphology, growth pattern, borders, cystic degeneration, calcification, ulceration, catheter sign, central umbilication) and quantitative features (lesion long diameter, short diameter, long/short diameter, lesion and normal pancreas arterial-phase and venous-phase CT values, and enhancement ratio). Statistical analyses, including independent sample t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, χ2 tests, and Fisher exact tests, were performed to compare CT characteristics between the two groups. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to obtain independent predictors to identify the two groups, to establish a joint model, and to draw a nomogram. The discriminative performance of the independent predictors and the combined model was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, while calibration curves were used to evaluate model fit. Results:The differences in age, location, morphology, border, catheter sign, central umbilication, short diameter, long/short diameter, arteriovenous phase enhancement CT value and arteriovenous phase enhancement ratio were statistically significant between the EP group and the GIST group (all P<0.05). The logistic analysis showed that the differences in age ( OR=0.920, 95% CI 0.885-0.956, P<0.001), border ( OR=5.994, 95% CI 2.111-17.022, P=0.001), long/short diameter ( OR=7.820, 95% CI 1.841-33.224, P=0.005), and venous phase enhancement ratio ( OR=8.847, 95% CI 1.103-70.972, P=0.040) were the independent predictors for distinguishing EP from GIST, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) were 0.782 (95% CI 0.698-0.866), 0.684 (95% CI 0.600-0.767), 0.705 (95% CI 0.607-0.803), and 0.693 (95% CI 0.605-0.781), respectively. Combined age, border, long diameter/short diameter and venous phase enhancement ratio were plotted in a nomogram with an AUC of 0.881 (95% CI 0.817-0.945), sensitivity and specificity of 74.4% and 93.3%, respectively. The calibration curve demonstrated a strong agreement between predicted and actual probabilities (Hosmer-Lemeschow test, P=0.267). Conclusions:CT imaging reveals significant differences between EP and small GISTs (<3 cm). EP is more likely when patients are younger and lesions exhibit indistinct borders, a higher long-to-short diameter ratio, and greater venous-phase enhancement. The nomogram derived from CT features provides a valuable tool for differentiating EP from GIST.

Vertebral refracture following percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) is commonly seen in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures (OTLCF). It can lead to recurrent pain, loss of vertebral height, progression of kyphosis, and even neurological dysfunction, significantly impairing patients′ quality of life. Current diagnosis and treatment face multiple challenges, including high misdiagnosis rate, difficulty in choosing between surgical and non-surgical treatment options, lack of standardized surgical protocols, interference from intralesional bone cement during procedures, inadequate stability of internal fixation in osteoporotic bone, and suboptimal compliance of anti-osteoporotic therapy. Establishing a standardized diagnostic and therapeutic framework is urgently needed. To standardize the management process and improve outcomes for vertebral refractures after PVA in elderly OTLCF patients, Spinal Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the field to develop Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of vertebral refracture after percutaneous vertebral augmentation in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures ( version 2025), based on current literature and clinical experience, and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability. A total of 11 recommendations were proposed, encompassing diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of vertebral refracture after PVA in elderly patients with OTLCF, aiming to provide a foundation for a standardized management.

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.

Acute symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fracture (ASOTLF) can lead to chronic low back pain, kyphosis deformity, pulmonary dysfunction, loss of mobility, and even life-threatening complications. Vertebral augmentation is currently the mainstream treatment method for this condition. In 2019, the Editorial Board of Chinese Journal of Trauma and the Spinal Trauma Group of Orthopedic Surgeons Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association collaboratively led the development of Clinical guideline for vertebral augmentation for acute symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures. Six years later, with advances in clinical diagnosis and treatment techniques as well as accumulating evidence in related fields, the 2019 guideline requires updating. To this end, the Spinal Trauma Group of Orthopedic Surgeons Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association, the Spinal Health Professional Committee of China Human Health Science and Technology Promotion Association, and the Minimally Invasive Orthopedics Professional Committee of Shaanxi Medical Doctor Association have organized experts in the field to develop the Clinical guideline for vertebral augmentation of acute symptomatic osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures ( version 2025) , based on the latest evidence-based medical researches. This guideline incorporates 3 recommendations retained from the 2019 version with updated strength of evidence, along with 12 new recommendations. It provides recommendations from six aspects of diagnosis, pain management, treatment option selection, prevention of postoperative complications, anti-osteoporosis therapy, and postoperative rehabilitation, aiming to provide a reference for standard treatment of vertebral augmentation for ASOTLF in hospitals at all levels.

BACKGROUND:At present,research has only shown that the cervical lordosis ratio can be an important factor in predicting the loss of lordosis curvature after laminoplasty,and no one has studied whether the cervical lordosis ratio,a dynamic level indicator,can be one of the decision-making factors for the selection of posterior cervical surgical procedures. OBJECTIVE:To investigate whether the cervical lordosis ratio,an index of cervical hyperextension and hyperflexion,can be used as a selective index for laminoplasty and laminectomy fusion. METHODS:A retrospective review of 141 patients who had undergone posterior cervical surgery more than one year of follow-up due to multi-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy from December 2015 to March 2020 was performed.Among them,63 patients received laminectomy and fusion(laminectomy and fusion group)and 78 patients received laminoplasty(laminoplasty group).The demographic statistics(gender,age,body mass index,follow-up time),imaging indexes such as C2-7 Cobb angle,C2-7 range of motion,flexion Cobb angle,extension Cobb angle,flexion range of motion and extension range of motion,clinical effect indexes such as Japanese Orthopaedic Association score and visual analog scale score were compared between the two groups.The evaluation index of cervical lordosis alignment change was C2-7 Cobb angle difference before and after operation(ΔCL).Cervical lordosis ratio was equal to 100%×flexion range of motion/C2-7 range of motion.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the role of cervical lordosis ratio in predicting postoperative severe cervical lordosis loss(ΔCL≤-10°).According to the critical value of cervical lordosis ratio(68.5%),all patients were divided into low cervical lordosis ratio group and high cervical lordosis ratio group.In these two ratio groups,the cervical lordosis alignment index and clinical effect index between the two operation groups were discussed again. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Cervical lordosis alignment decreased after laminectomy and fusion and laminoplasty(P=0.039,P=0.002),and cervical lordosis alignment change in laminoplasty group(ΔCL)was greater than that of laminectomy and fusion group,and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant.(2)Based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis,cervical lordosis ratio in predicting severe cervical lordosis alignment change(ΔCL≤-10°)had good identification ability(area under the curve=0.792).(3)In low cervical lordosis ratio group,there was no significant difference in cervical lordosis alignment change(ΔCL)between laminectomy and fusion group and laminoplasty group(P=0.141).(4)In high cervical lordosis ratio group,the ΔCL of laminoplasty group was greater than that in laminectomy and fusion group(P=0.001),which had a higher probability of postoperative severe cervical lordosis alignment change(ΔCL≤-10°)(43%,29%).(5)It is indicated that cervical lordosis ratio can be used as a decision-making index for the choice of posterior surgery for multi-level cervical spondylotic myelopathy.Laminoplasty can be considered in the low cervical lordosis ratio group,while laminectomy and fusion can be considered in the high cervical lordosis ratio group.

Objective To analyze the medication rules of Chinese herbal concentrated-granule for the treatment of hypertension nationwide using data mining and knowledge graph methods,thus to provide evidence for expanding its application in treating hypertension.Methods From January 2022 to March 2023,Chinese herbal concentrated-granule prescriptions for hypertension prescribed by traditional Chinese medicine experts nationwide were collected.Microsoft Excel was used to analyze the frequency,properties and flavors,meridian tropism,and efficacy categories of the medicinals.Hierarchical clustering was applied for cluster analysis,and the Neo4j graph database was utilized to construct an information knowledge graph illustrating the relationships between regions and medicinals.Results A total of 2 600 Chinese herbal concentrated-granule prescriptions were included,involving 370 medicinals.The top six frequently-used medicinals were Poria(Fuling),Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma(Gancao),Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma(Baizhu),Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium(Chenpi),Paeoniae Radix Alba(Baishao),and Angelicae Sinensis Radix(Danggui).The properties of the medicinals were mainly warm and mild,and their flavors were usually sweet,pungent,and bitter.The medicinals frequently have the meridian tropism of the spleen,lung,and liver meridians.Hierarchical clustering yielded seven clusters.The information knowledge graph of region-medicinals relationships revealed that medicinals used in five or more regions were Baishao,Baizhu,Chenpi,Pinelliae Rhizoma(Banxia),Fuling,Gastrodiae Rhizoma(Tianma),Bupleuri Radix(Chaihu),Chuanxiong Rhizoma(Chuanxiong),Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma(Danshen),Danggui,Gancao,and Astragali Radix(Huangqi).Conclusion Chinese herbal concentrated-granule for hypertension usually consist of tonifying medicinals,with sweet and warm properties,and having the meridian tropism of the spleen meridian.And the medicinals composed of the prescriptions often have the actions of calming the liver and suppressing yang,strengthening the spleen and removing dampness,and nourishing the liver and kidney.

Objective:To investigate the value of nomogram model based on CT features in differentiating ectopic pancreas (EP) from gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) with a long diameter less than 3 cm.Methods:This study was a case-control study. The clinical and imaging data of 43 patients with EP and 90 patients with GIST confirmed by pathology in the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from August 2013 to March 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative CT images were analyzed to obtain qualitative features (number of lesions, location, morphology, growth pattern, borders, cystic degeneration, calcification, ulceration, catheter sign, central umbilication) and quantitative features (lesion long diameter, short diameter, long/short diameter, lesion and normal pancreas arterial-phase and venous-phase CT values, and enhancement ratio). Statistical analyses, including independent sample t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, χ2 tests, and Fisher exact tests, were performed to compare CT characteristics between the two groups. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to obtain independent predictors to identify the two groups, to establish a joint model, and to draw a nomogram. The discriminative performance of the independent predictors and the combined model was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, while calibration curves were used to evaluate model fit. Results:The differences in age, location, morphology, border, catheter sign, central umbilication, short diameter, long/short diameter, arteriovenous phase enhancement CT value and arteriovenous phase enhancement ratio were statistically significant between the EP group and the GIST group (all P<0.05). The logistic analysis showed that the differences in age ( OR=0.920, 95% CI 0.885-0.956, P<0.001), border ( OR=5.994, 95% CI 2.111-17.022, P=0.001), long/short diameter ( OR=7.820, 95% CI 1.841-33.224, P=0.005), and venous phase enhancement ratio ( OR=8.847, 95% CI 1.103-70.972, P=0.040) were the independent predictors for distinguishing EP from GIST, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) were 0.782 (95% CI 0.698-0.866), 0.684 (95% CI 0.600-0.767), 0.705 (95% CI 0.607-0.803), and 0.693 (95% CI 0.605-0.781), respectively. Combined age, border, long diameter/short diameter and venous phase enhancement ratio were plotted in a nomogram with an AUC of 0.881 (95% CI 0.817-0.945), sensitivity and specificity of 74.4% and 93.3%, respectively. The calibration curve demonstrated a strong agreement between predicted and actual probabilities (Hosmer-Lemeschow test, P=0.267). Conclusions:CT imaging reveals significant differences between EP and small GISTs (<3 cm). EP is more likely when patients are younger and lesions exhibit indistinct borders, a higher long-to-short diameter ratio, and greater venous-phase enhancement. The nomogram derived from CT features provides a valuable tool for differentiating EP from GIST.

Vertebral refracture following percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) is commonly seen in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures (OTLCF). It can lead to recurrent pain, loss of vertebral height, progression of kyphosis, and even neurological dysfunction, significantly impairing patients′ quality of life. Current diagnosis and treatment face multiple challenges, including high misdiagnosis rate, difficulty in choosing between surgical and non-surgical treatment options, lack of standardized surgical protocols, interference from intralesional bone cement during procedures, inadequate stability of internal fixation in osteoporotic bone, and suboptimal compliance of anti-osteoporotic therapy. Establishing a standardized diagnostic and therapeutic framework is urgently needed. To standardize the management process and improve outcomes for vertebral refractures after PVA in elderly OTLCF patients, Spinal Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the field to develop Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of vertebral refracture after percutaneous vertebral augmentation in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures ( version 2025), based on current literature and clinical experience, and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability. A total of 11 recommendations were proposed, encompassing diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of vertebral refracture after PVA in elderly patients with OTLCF, aiming to provide a foundation for a standardized management.