AIM:To observe the therapeutic efficacy of 0.05% cyclosporine combined with olopatadine hydrochlorideeye drops in the treatment of moderate-to-severe pediatric vernal keratoconjunctivitis.METHODS:A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted. Patients with moderate-to-severe pediatric vernal keratoconjunctivitis admitted to the hospital from January to December 2023 were collected and divided into two groups according to the random number table method: the observation group was treated with olopatadine combined with 0.05% cyclosporine hydrochloride eye drops [1 drop per time of 0.05% cyclosporine eye drops(II), four times a day; 1 drop per time of olopatadine hydrochloric eye drops, twice a day]; the control group was treated with sodium hyaluronate combined with olopatadine hydrochloride eye drops(1 drop per time of sodium hyaluronate eye drops, four times a day; 1 drop per time of olopatadine hydrochloric eye drops, twice a day; ). The treatment lasted for 12 wk. The changes in symptom and sign scores of the two groups before treatment, and at 4, 8, and 12 wk after treatment were compared.RESULTS:Totally 42 children(84 eyes)with moderate-to-severe vernal keratoconjunctivitis were enrolled. All patients returned for follow-up visits on time, with no lossto follow-up. The observation group consisted of 21 patients(42 eyes), with 15 males and 6 females, and the average age was 9.00±3.02 y. The control group consisted of 21 patients(42 eyes), with 18 males and 3 females, and the average age was 9.38±3.28 y(all P>0.05). At 4, 8, and 12 wk after treatment, the ocular symptom and sign scores of both groups decreased compared to those before treatment(all P<0.05), and the decrease in the observation group was more significant than that in the control group(P<0.05). During the treatment period, one patient in the observation group experienced a transient mild ocular irritation at the beginning of medication, which was not treated specially and relieved spontaneously after 3 d. No severe adverse reactions such as elevated intraocular pressure or corneal infection occurred in either group during the treatment period.CONCLUSION:The combination of 0.05% cyclosporine and olopatadine hydrochlorideeye drops significantly alleviates the clinical symptoms and signs of moderate-to-severe vernal keratoconjunctivitis, showing favorable safety and efficacy in the treatment of moderate-to-severe pediatric vernal keratoconjunctivitis.

Kynurenine pathway (KP) is a major catabolic route of tryptophan, generating a series of bioactive metabolites including kynurenine, kynurenic acid (KA), quinolinic acid, and 3-hydroxykynurenine. Beyond its fundamental role in amino acid metabolism, KP exerts critical regulatory functions in neurodevelopment, synaptic plasticity, and immune modulation. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition with onset in early childhood, characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors. Despite extensive research, the etiological mechanisms underlying ASD remain highly complex and incompletely understood, involving genetic, environmental, and immunological factors. Emerging clinical evidence has consistently revealed a significant imbalance in KP metabolites in individuals with ASD, often accompanied by altered ratios of neuroprotective versus neurotoxic byproducts. However, the primary drivers of this metabolic dysregulation and its causative contribution to ASD pathogenesis are not yet fully elucidated. In this review, we systematically review the enzymatic steps of KP and the principal physiological functions of its major metabolites, with particular emphasis on their dual roles in neuroprotection and neurotoxicity. We then analyze the potential pathogenic mechanisms through which KP dysfunction may contribute to ASD, focusing on two interconnected etiological dimensions. First, KP imbalance can promote oxidative stress, which in turn triggers chronic inflammatory responses via microglial activation and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, thereby disrupting neuronal homeostasis. Second, aberrant KP metabolism affects neurotransmitter systems, particularly glutamatergic and dopaminergic signaling, leading to impaired neural circuit development and synaptic pruning. By integrating current findings on the KP-ASD association, this review offers a comprehensive etiological framework and a clinically relevant paradigm. Furthermore, we highlight that specific KP metabolites, such as the KA/quinolinic acid ratio, hold promise as peripheral biomarkers for early diagnosis and disease stratification. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting KP enzymes or receptors for personalized intervention strategies, while acknowledging the challenges in translating these findings into clinical practice.

Objective To investigate the relationship between biological aging and the rate of cognitive decline in middle-aged and elderly populations.Methods Longitudinal tracking data of cognitive function were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study(CHARLS).We employed the Klemera and Doubal method(KDM)to estimate biological age(BA),and calculate the biological aging index(BAI)and biological aging type(BAT).A multivariate linear regression model was employed to analyze the relationships between baseline BAI,BAT,and cognitive function scores.Based on the baseline analysis,a mixed-effects model was used to examine the longitudinal associations between baseline BAI,BAT,and cognitive function during follow-up.Results A total of 5 897 participants were included in the study.BAI was found to be negatively associated with baseline cognitive function scores,with the partial regression coefficient(β)(95％CI)being-0.185(—0.231,—0.139)(P＜0.001).Compared with the lagged aging group,the premature aging group had lower cognitive function scores(β[95％CI]:—0.741[—0.966,—0.516]).For age and sex,for each additional year of baseline BAI,cognitive function scores declined by an average of 0.012(95％CI:—0.019,—0.005)points per year after adjusting for age and sex,and declined by 0.011(95％CI:—0.018,—0.004)points per year after adjusting for other covariates.Compared with participants with lagged aging,those with premature aging experienced,on average,an additional decline of 0.042(95％CI:—0.075,0.009)points per year in cognitive function scores after adjusting for age and sex alone,and by 0.039(95％CI:—0.072,—0.007)points per year after adjusting for other covariates.Conclusion Biological aging affects the rate of cognitive decline in middle-aged and elderly populations.A higher BAI is associated with a faster decline in cognitive function.Compared with those with lagged aging,individuals with premature aging exhibit a more rapid rate of cognitive decline.

Objective:To compare the cost-effectiveness of minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) versus percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (PTED) for the treatment of single-segment lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Methods:This study is a retrospective analysis that included patients diagnosed and treated with either MIS-TLIF or PTED for single-segment LDH at Hefei First People's Hospital from January to December 2022. The study comprised 35 patients in the MIS-TLIF group and 35 patients in the PTED group. Total medical costs, surgery duration, blood loss, time to catheter removal, Visual Analog Scale scores before surgery, and at 3 and 12 months post-surgery, along with the Oswestry Disability Index, were recorded for each group. The cost-effectiveness ratio was compared between the two groups.Results:A total of 70 patients were included, including 35 patients in the MIS-TLIF group and 35 patients in the PTED group. There was no significant difference in general data between the two groups (all P >0.05). The differences in Visual Analog Scale and Oswestry Disability Index scores between the two groups, as well as within each group before surgery, and at 3 and 12 months post-surgery, were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). The surgery duration for the PTED group [(112.94 ± 53.17) minutes] was significantly shorter than that of the MIS-TLIF group [(210.14 ± 25.68) minutes, Z = 2.21, P < 0.05]. However, the success rate for the PTED group [94.29% (33/35)] was not significantly different from that of the MIS-TLIF group [91.43% (32/35), Z = 0.46, P > 0.05]. The cost-effectiveness ratio for the PTED group was 239.56, while the cost-effectiveness ratio for the MIS-TLIF group was 377.69. Conclusions:PTED offers greater economic advantages in the treatment of single-segment LDH, particularly in terms of reduced blood loss and shorter surgery duration compared with MIS-TLIF. The choice of surgical approach should be made according to clinical requirements.

This study systematically summarizes and analyses the current situation and the generation mechanism of overmedication in China based on the uncertainty and information asymmetry of medical services,and then puts forward targeted governance strategies.The study finds that overmedicalization in China is mainly manifested in the overuse of hospitalization,examinations,and surgical procedures,with the problem being particularly severe in primary healthcare institutions.The study concludes that the formation of overmedicalization in China is the product of the combined effect of multiple factors including the interest-driven mechanism,the supply of medical resources,the cognitive bias of patients,the payment method of medical insurance and the regulatory mechanism of medical behaviour.Based on these analyses,we propose five governance measures:deepening the reform of public hospital compensation systems,strengthening the planning of medical and health insurance resources,optimizing the health insurance benefit system and payment methods,establishing a disease-based medical behavior regulation system,and enhancing public health education.The coordinated implementation of these measures could suppress the overmedicalization effectively,improve the efficiency of healthcare services and achieve the high-quality development of China's healthcare system.

OBJECTIVE: Several epidemiological observational studies have related particulate matter (PM) exposure to Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but many confounding factors make it difficult to draw causal links from observational studies. The objective of this study was to explore the causal association between PM _2.5 exposure, its absorbance, and IBD. METHODS: We assessed the association of PM _2.5 and PM _2.5 absorbance with the two primary forms of IBD (Crohn's disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC]) using Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore the causal relationship. We conducted two-sample MR analyses with aggregated data from the UK Biobank genome-wide association study. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms linked with PM _2.5 concentrations or their absorbance were used as instrumental variables (IVs). We used inverse variance weighting (IVW) as the primary analytical approach and four other standard methods as supplementary analyses for quality control. RESULTS: The results of MR demonstrated that PM _2.5 had an adverse influence on UC risk (odds ratio [ OR] = 1.010; 95% confidence interval [ CI] = 1.001-1.019, P = 0.020). Meanwhile, the results of IVW showed that PM _2.5 absorbance was also causally associated with UC ( OR = 1.012; 95% CI = 1.004-1.019, P = 0.002). We observed no causal relationship between PM _2.5, PM _2.5 absorbance, and CD. The results of sensitivity analysis indicated the absence of heterogeneity or pleiotropy, ensuring the reliability of MR results. CONCLUSION Based on two-sample MR analyses, there are potential positive causal relationships between PM _2.5, PM _2.5 absorbance, and UC.
Humans ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Particulate Matter/analysis* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases/genetics* ; Air Pollutants/analysis* ; Crohn Disease/genetics* ; Colitis, Ulcerative/genetics* ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Risk Factors ; Environmental Exposure

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the interplay between the life-course body mass index (BMI) trajectories and insulin resistance (IR) on incident diabetes. METHODS: This longitudinal cohort included 2,336 participants who had BMI repeatedly measured 3-8 times between 1989 and 2009, as well as glucose and insulin measured in 2009. BMI trajectories were identified using a latent class growth mixed model. The interplay between BMI trajectories and IR on diabetes was explored using the four-way effect decomposition method. Logistic regression and mediation models were used to estimate the interaction and mediation effects, respectively. RESULTS: Three distinct BMI trajectory groups were identified: low-stable ( n = 1,625), medium-increasing ( n = 613), and high-increasing ( n = 98). Both interaction and mediation effects of BMI trajectories and IR on incident diabetes were significant ( P < 0.05). The proportion of incident diabetes was higher in the IR-obesity than in the insulin-sensitivity (IS) obesity group (18.9% vs. 5.8%, P < 0.001). After adjusting for covariates, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of the IR, IS-obesity, and IR-obesity groups vs. the normal group were 3.22 (2.05, 5.16), 2.05 (1.00, 3.97), and 7.98 (5.19, 12.62), respectively. IR mediated 10.7% of the total effect of BMI trajectories on incident diabetes ( P < 0.001). CONCLUSION We found strong interactions and weak mediation effects of IR on the relationship between life-course BMI trajectories and incident diabetes. IS-obesity is associated with a lower risk of incident diabetes than IR-obesity.
Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Body Mass Index ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Longitudinal Studies ; Incidence ; Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology* ; Aged ; Obesity/epidemiology* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/epidemiology* ; East Asian People

Spine fracture and dislocation are common traumatic spinal conditions that often require surgical intervention due to compromised spinal stability. Surgical approaches include anterior, posterior, and combined anterior-posterior spinal procedures. According to the specific surgical requirements, patients may be placed in the prone position or repositioned between prone and supine positions during surgery. Intraoperative repositioning has become an essential step in patient positioning. However, during repositioning, patients with spinal fracture and dislocation are at increased risk for complications such as hemodynamic instability, nerve injury, and pressure injuries to the skin and soft tissue. Notably, due to the instability of the spinal cord, even minor manipulations can further exacerbate the damage, potentially leading to severe outcomes like paraplegia. Although the current clinical guidelines provide instructive recommendations for standard position, there remains no specific protocols for intraoperative repositioning in patients with spine fracture and dislocation. With a concern for the lack of clinical studies on positioning techniques, risk prevention, and operational norms for special patients, no applicable guidelines or standards are available. A consensus was required to provide clinical reference, meet the requirements of surgical treatment, and minimize the safety risks of patients caused by improper placement of positions. Professional Committee of Operating Room Nursing of Shaanxi Nursing Association organized experts in nursing management and operating room nursing from major hospitals across China to formulate Expert consensus on intraoperative repositioning for patients with spinal fracture and dislocation ( version 2025). The consensus provides 11 recommendations covering pre-repositioning preparation, intraoperative maneuvers, and post-repositioning observation, aiming to provide references for clinical standardization of the intraoperative repositioning process and protection of patients′ safety.

OBJECTIVE T o explore the action mechanisms of Ganghuo Qingwen granules(GHQWG)in treatment of influenza based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technique.METHODS The TCMSP database was logged in to search for active compounds,targets of GHQWG and targets of influenza so as to screen out the intersected targets between HGQWG and influenza and establish a drug-ingredient-target network.The poten-tial mechanisms were analyzed by means of protein-protein interaction analysis,Gene Ontology(GO)function an-notation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment,and the activity of binding the key targets with ingredients was validated by molecular docking.RESULTS GHQWG contained 90 types of po-tential active ingredients,312 active ingredient targets,1996 influenza targets and 134 intersection targets.The core ingredients included quercetin,kaempferol and luteolin;the key targets involved V-Rel reticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homolog A(RELA),tumor protein 53(TP53),mitogen-activated protein kinase 3(MAPK3),tumor necrosis factor(TNF),serine/threonine kinase proteins 1(AKT1)and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1(MAPK1).The function enrichment showed that GHQWG could regulate the processes of gene expression,in-flammatory reaction and apoptosis.The result of KEGG indicated that GHQWG played therapeutic effect on influ-enza mainly through C type agglutinin receptor,TNF and in terleukin-17(IL-17)signaling pathway.The molecu-lar docking analysis showed that RELA,TP53,M APK3,TNF,AKT1 and M APK1 had strong activities of bind-ing with quercetin,kaempferol,luteolin,β-sitosterol,wogonin,stigmasterol,caffeic acid and isorhamnetin.CONCLUSION GHQWG may regulate the key targets of signaling pathways of C type agglutinin receptor,TNF and IL-17 through multiple ingredients-multiple targes-multiple pathway mechanisms so as to play the therapeutic effect on influenza.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels and intracranial or extracranial atherosclerosis in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD).Methods:A total of 407 patients with CSVD admitted to Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between July 2021 and September 2023 were enrolled in the study. Carotid duplex ultrasound was used to measure the internal diameter, intima-media thickness (IMT), vascular wall thickness, plaque property score, stenosis index, and stenosis ratio of the bilateral common carotid arteries, internal carotid arteries, external carotid arteries, and vertebral arteries. Magnetic resonance angiography was used to assess the degree of stenosis in intracranial arteries. Patients were divided into 4 groups based on the serum IGF-1 levels (low level group:≤5.21 ng/ml, medium level group:>5.21 ng/ml and ≤10.73 ng/ml, high level group:>10.73 ng/ml and ≤24.26 ng/ml, extremely high level group:>24.26 ng/ml). The IMT of the common carotid artery, carotid plaques, diameters of various cervical vascular lumens, carotid artery diameter stenosis, and intracranial artery stenosis in 4 groups of the patients were compared. The relationship between IGF-1 and intracranial and extracranial atherosclerosis was analyzed by univariate Logistic regression analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis.Results:There were inter group differences among the 4 groups in internal carotid artery diameter [low level group 5.45 (0.50) mm vs medium level group 5.32 (0.55) mm vs high level group 5.30 (0.55) mm vs extremely high level group 5.30 (0.50) mm; H=8.210, P=0.042]. The carotid IMT [low level group 0.80 (0.05) mm vs medium level group 0.80 (0.05) mm vs high level group 0.83 (0.03) mm vs extremely high level group 0.83 (0.09) mm; H=8.107, P=0.044], the proportion of carotid artery vascular wall thickening [low level group 52.9%(54/102) vs medium level group 48.0%(49/102) vs high level group 68.3%(69/101) vs extremely high level group 60.8%(62/102); χ2=9.889, P=0.020], the carotid artery plaque property score [low level group 1 (2) vs medium level group 2 (2) vs high level group 2 (2) vs extremely high level group 2 (2); H=8.913, P=0.030] and the proportion of anterior cerebral artery stenosis [low level group 2.9%(3/102) vs medium level group 2.0%(2/102) vs high level group 4.0%(4/101) vs extremely high level group 10.8%(11/102); χ2=10.473, P=0.014] had inter group differences among the 4 groups, and the differences were statistically significant. Univariate Logistic regression analysis indicated that carotid artery vascular wall thickening ( OR=1.197, 95% CI 1.003-1.429, P=0.046), anterior cerebral artery stenosis ( OR=1.814, 95% CI 1.148-2.867, P=0.011), and basilar artery stenosis ( OR=1.530, 95% CI 1.084-2.159, P=0.015) were correlated with IGF-1 levels. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that after adjusting for age, gender, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and C-reactive protein, IGF-1 was positively correlated with the carotid artery vascular wall thickening ( OR=1.311, 95% CI 1.014-1.696, P=0.039); after adjusting for age, IGF-1 was positively correlated with the anterior cerebral artery stenosis ( OR=2.130, 95% CI 1.201-3.776, P=0.010); after adjusting for gender, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and cholesterol levels, IGF-1 was positively correlated with basilar artery stenosis ( OR=1.688, 95% CI 1.063-2.681, P=0.027). Conclusions:There is an association between IGF-1 levels and intracranial and extracranial atherosclerosis in patients with CSVD. IGF-1 may play a role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis in CSVD.