AIM: To investigate differences in ocular biological parameters and refractive status among children with unilateral congenital ptosis.METHODS:This was a retrospective cohort study enrolling patients with unilateral congenital ptosis in the Department of Ophthalmology, Xi'an Children's Hospital between August 2018 and March 2025, with the contralateral healthy eyes serving as the control group. All patients underwent a detailed ophthalmic examination to assess the degree of ptosis and evaluate refractive errors. Biometric measurements were performed using the IOL Master 700 biometer, including axial length(AL), central corneal thickness(CCT), anterior chamber depth(ACD), lens thickness(LT), and astigmatism(AST).RESULTS:A total of 100 eyes from 100 children(affected eye group)with unilateral congenital ptosis were enrolled, and their 100 contralateral normal eyes without ptosis were set as the control group(healthy eyes group). Among the subjects, there were 67 males(67%)and 33 females(33%), with a mean age of 6.43±2.47 y; 45 affected eyes were the right eye and 55 were the left eye. Among the 100 patients, mild, moderate, and severe ptosis accounted for 7%, 21%, and 72%, respectively. The incidence of amblyopia in patients with unilateral congenital ptosis was 32%, all of which occurred in the affected eye. Compared with the healthy eye group, K2(total)and K2(severe ptosis)in eyes with severe ptosis were significantly lower(P<0.05), indicating that the cornea in the ptotic eye was flatter. In patients with moderate ptosis, the affected eye had a significantly greater corneal thickness(CCT)compared to the healthy eye(P<0.05), indicating that the corneas of eyes with moderate ptosis were thicker. The incidence of against-the-rule and oblique astigmatism in the affected eye group(39%)was significantly higher than that in the healthy eye group(14%); there was a significant difference in the corneal astigmatism axis between the affected and healthy eye groups(P<0.01). There were no differences in refractive status or biological parameters such as AL, K1, AST, ACD, and LT between the affected and healthy eyes.CONCLUSION:Congenital ptosis can affect refractive errors, lead to oblique and against-the-rule astigmatism, increase the prevalence of amblyopia, and also result in corneal thickening and flattening. However, it has minimal effects on AL, LT, and ACD.

BACKGROUND:Electromyographic biofeedback therapy has demonstrated unique advantages of non-invasive,real-time feedback,personalized treatment and promotion of neuroplasticity,and can promote the recovery of motor function in patients with spinal cord injury.OBJECTIVE:To review the current application status and therapeutic effects of electromyographic biofeedback combined with exercise therapy,robotic exoskeletons,and virtual reality technology in the recovery of motor function after spinal cord injury.METHODS:Relevant literature was retrieved from CNKI and PubMed databases up to May 2024.The search terms included"spinal cord injury,EMG biofeedback,physical therapy,robotic exoskeleton,VR,motor function,exercise"in both English and Chinese.Finally,71 articles were included for review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Mechanisms by which electromyographic biofeedback therapy promotes spinal cord injury rehabilitation include promoting neural plasticity changes,strengthening neuromuscular connections and improving movement patterns.Electromyographic biofeedback,as an emerging tool for treating spinal cord injury,is often used in conjunction with other therapeutic methods,including exercise therapy,robotic exoskeletons,and VR,to promote the recovery of motor function after spinal cord injury.The effectiveness of combination therapy has been significantly improved.However,there are still some problems and challenges,such as the lack of detailed analysis of the mechanism,the lack of large-scale trials that provide strong evidence for combined efficacy,and the limited adaptability of the technology.Future research can focus on these aspects:to improve the personalization and accuracy of electromyographic biofeedback;to develop new rehabilitation equipment and expand the application areas of electromyographic biofeedback combined with more advanced technologies or engineering equipment;to apply electromyographic biofeedback to gait training systems,respiratory training systems,and limb-linkage rehabilitation systems,so as to improve the accuracy of the feedback and the effect of personalized treatment plans.At the same time,the ease of use and comfort of the equipment will be improved.

OBJECTIVES: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a highly heterogeneous hematologic malignancy, with disease progression driven by cytogenetic abnormalities and a complex bone marrow microenvironment. This study aims to construct a prognostic model for MM based on transcriptomic data and lipid metabolism related genes (LRGs), and to identify potential drug targets for high-risk patients to support clinical decision-making. METHODS: In this study, 2 transcriptomic datasets covering 985 newly diagnosed MM patients were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Univariate Cox regression and 101 machine learning algorithms were used for gene selection. An LRG-based prognostic model was constructed using Stepwise Cox (both directions) and random survival forest (RSF) algorithms. The association between the prognostic score and clinical events was evaluated, and model performance was assessed using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the C-index. The added predictive value of combining prognostic scores with clinical variables and staging systems was also analyzed. Differentially expressed genes between high- and low-risk groups were identified using limma and clusterProfiler and subjected to pathway enrichment analysis. Drug sensitivity analysis was conducted using the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) database and oncoPredict to identify potential therapeutic targets for high-risk patients. The functional role of key LRGs in the model was validated via in vitro cell experiments. RESULTS: An LRG-based prognostic model (LRG17) was successfully developed using transcriptomic data and machine learning. The model demonstrated robust predictive performance, with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.962, 0.912, and 0.842 for 3-, 5-, and 7-year survival, respectively. Patients were stratified into high- and low-risk groups, with high-risk patients showing significantly shorter overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) (both P<0.001) and worse clinical profiles (e.g., lower albumin, higher β2-microglobulin and lactate dehydrogenase levels). Enrichment analysis revealed that high-risk patients were significantly enriched for pathways related to chromosome segregation and mitosis, whereas low-risk patients were enriched for immune response and immune cell activation pathways. Drug screening suggested that AURKA inhibitor BMS-754807 and FGFR3 inhibitor I-BET-762 may be more effective in high-risk patients. Functional assays demonstrated that silencing of key LRG PLA2G4A significantly inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS LRGs serve as promising biomarkers for prognosis prediction and risk stratification in MM. The overexpression of chromosomal instability-related and high-risk genetic event-associated genes in high-risk patients may explain their poorer outcomes. Given the observed resistance to bortezomib and lenalidomide in high-risk patients, combination therapies involving BMS-754807 or I-BET-762 may represent effective alternatives.
Humans ; Multiple Myeloma/mortality* ; Prognosis ; Lipid Metabolism/genetics* ; Transcriptome ; Machine Learning ; Male ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Algorithms

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of navigation system and orthopedic robot-assisted nail placement in the treatment of lower cervical fracture and dislocation.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 49 patients with fracture and dislocation of the lower cervical spine who were admitted to Honghui Hospital, Xi′an Jiaotong University School of Medicine from May 2021 to October 2022, including 38 males and 11 females, aged 29-61 years [(39.3±7.3)years]. Injury segments involved C 3 in 12 patients, C 4 in 11, C 5 in 8, C 6 in 9 and C 7 in 9. Twenty-one patients were treated with S8 navigation system (navigation group, 84 screws), and 28 with TINAVI orthopedic robot (robot group, 112 screws). The two groups were compared in terms of the total surgical duration, single screw placement time, total screw placement time, distance between the screw and the anterior cortex, incision length, intraoperative radiation dose, intraoperative blood loss and length of hospital stay. The height of intervertebral space, Cobb angle, sliding distance between vertebral bodies and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade were assessed before surgery and at 3 days after surgery. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score and neck dysfunction index (NDI) before surgery, at 3 days, 3 months after surgery and at the last follow-up were compared. The accuracy of screw placement, intraoperative invasion rate of adjacent facet joints and rate of postoperative complications (infection, screw loosening, etc.) were evaluated. Results:All the patients were followed up for 12-16 months [(13.6±1.9)months]. In the navigation group, the total surgical duration, distance from the screw to the anterior cortex and the intraoperative radiation dose were (236.2±30.6)minutes, (2.0±0.2)mm and (374.3±90.3)mGy respectively, which were significantly shorter or less than those in the robot group [(278.4±20.7)minutes, (10.6±2.9)mm and (448.4±77.9)mGy] ( P<0.01). The single screw placement time, total screw placement time, incision length and intraoperative blood loss were (3.5±0.4)minutes, (23.9±0.5)minutes, (9.1±2.4)cm and (422.2±30.4)ml respectively, which were significantly longer or more than those in the robot group [(2.6±0.2)minutes, (17.9±0.7)minutes, (6.6±2.6)cm and (360.3±56.3)ml] ( P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the length of hospital stay between the two groups ( P>0.05). No significant differences were observed in the height of the intervertebral space, Cobb angle, sliding distance between the vertebral bodies and ASIA grade between the two groups ( P>0.05). At 3 days after surgery, the height of intervertebral space, Cobb angle, sliding distance between vertebral bodies and ASIA grade in both groups were significantly improved when compared with those before surgery ( P<0.05 or 0.01). There were no significant differences in VAS, JOA scores or NDI between the two groups before surgery, at 3 days, 3 months after surgery and at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). The VAS, JOA scores and NDI in both groups were gradually improved at 3 days, 3 months and at the last follow-up after surgery when compared with those before surgery ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the accuracy of screw placement of levels 0 and 0+1 between the two groups ( P>0.05). No significant difference in the intraoperative invasion rate of adjacent facet joints between the two groups was found ( P>0.05). There were no serious complications such as infection or screw loosening after surgery in both groups. Conclusions:For lower cervical fracture and dislocation, although there are more advantages in total surgical duration, screw holding force and radiation control regarding the navigation system, and more outstanding performance in screw placement efficiency, incision length and intraoperative blood loss regarding the orthopedic robot, both of them can effectively rebuild the cervical structure, improve neurological function, relieve postoperative pain, improve screw placement accuracy and reduce facet joint injury and serious complications. Selection of the best auxiliary screw placement system should comprehensively consider patients′ conditions and the experience of the surgical team.

Very-late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis(VLOSLP)is considered the most common mental disorder in the elderly following dementia and depression, and its clinical symptomatology is different from that of schizophrenia with onset around the average age.The diagnostic classification system and prognosis of VLOSLP are very complicated, and it is still controversial whether it should be classified as a prodromal symptom of dementia or as a type of late-onset schizophrenia.This article reviewed studies concerning the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, prognosis, and neuroimaging of VLOSLP, hoping to provide value as a reference for future clinical research and treatment.

Objective To explore the effects of the Otago Exercise Program(OEP)on activities of daily living,muscle strength,balance,and physical function in older adults with sarcopenia,to compare OEP with conventional exercise training,and to provide a basis for clinical rehabilitation programs for older adults with sarcopenia.Methods In this randomized controlled trial,120 older adults clinically diagnosed with sarcopenia were enrolled.The participants were randomly assigned to the OEP intervention group(experimental group)and the conventional exercise intervention group(control group),with 60 in each group.The experimental group underwent 12 weeks of OEP training,three times a week,with each session lasting 45 minutes.The control group underwent conventional exercise training following the same schedule.The Modified Barthel Index was used as the primary outcome measure to assess activities of daily living.Secondary outcome measures included muscle strength,gait stability,dynamic balance,and physical function status,evaluated using grip strength,6-meter walking speed,the Timed Up and Go Test(TUGT),and the Short Physical Performance Battery(SPPB).Results A total of 120 older adults with sarcopenia were included.The mean age of the participants was(80.17±8.48)years.Baseline data before treatment showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups.Both groups completed the treatment within 12 weeks without experiencing any adverse events.The baseline data for the experimental group were as follows,MBI at(67.00±22.76)points,hand grip strength at(15.29±4.94)kg,gait speed at(0.61±0.26)m/s,TUGT time at(15.05±6.74)s,and SPPB score at(6.17±1.40)points,while the corresponding post-intervention findings were as follows,(78.72±15.83)points,(17.67±5.83)kg,(0.77±0.28)m/s,(13.49±6.16)s,and(9.25±1.71)points,respectively.The experimental group showed improvements in all measures from baseline to post-intervention(P＜0.05 for all measures).As for the control group,the baseline data for the corresponding measures were as follows,(67.20±22.12)points,(15.00±5.35)kg,(0.58±0.23)m/s,(17.29±6.90)s,and(6.00±1.24)points,respectively.The post-intervention findings increased to(71.13±20.28)points,(15.47±5.72)kg,(0.64±0.28)m/s,(16.50±6.99)s,and(6.73±1.61)points,respectively,but the changes were not statistically significant(P＞0.05).Furthermore,an intergroup comparison of intervention effects(post-intervention minus preintervention)revealed significant differences in mean changes from baseline.The experimental group demonstrated improvements of(+11.72±6.32)points in modified Barthel Index,(+11.72±6.32)kg in grip strength,(+0.16±0.09)m/s in gait speed,(—1.56±1.32)s in TUGT time,and(—1.56±1.32)points in SPPB score.In contrast,the control group showed smaller changes of(+3.93±5.65)points,(+0.47±1.37)kg,(+0.06±0.07)m/s,(—0.79±1.54)s,and(+0.73±1.12)points,respectively(all P＜0.05).Intergroup comparisons revealed superior outcomes in the experimental group across all measures.Conclusion OEP significantly enhances activities of daily living,improves muscle strength,balance,and physical function in older adults,and is more effective than conventional rehabilitation exercise programs,making it suitable for extensive clinical application.

Objective To investigate the comprehensive intervention effects of transfer energy capacitive and resistive(TECAR)therapy combined with β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate(HMB)nutritional supplementation in older patients with sarcopenic obesity(SO).Methods We conducted a randomized controlled trial,enrolling 140 older patients who met the Asian diagnostic criteria for SO.Participants were randomly assigned to 4 groups,including a double-placebo group(Group A),TECAR+placebo group(Group B),sham TECAR+HMB group(Group C),and TECAR+HMB group(Group D),with 35 patients in each group.The intervention lasted 12 weeks.The primary outcome measure was the total score of the Short Physical Performance Battery(SPPB).Secondary outcome indicators included the modified Barthel Index(MBI),scores of the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form(MNA-SF),handgrip strength,body mass,and body mass index(BMI).A two-way analysis of variance(ANOVA)was used to assess the interaction effects between TECAR and HMB.Results After the intervention,Group D(TECAR+HMB)demonstrated significant improvements across all metrics.The SPPB total score increased from 6.29±1.34 to 8.06±1.51(P<0.001),with notable enhancements in walking speed(2.71±0.86 vs.1.97±0.82),chair stand(2.60±0.55 vs.2.11±0.47),and balance(2.74±0.74 vs.2.20±0.76).MBI improved from 71.74±14.41 to 79.91±10.52(P<0.001).Handgrip strength increased from(13.65±5.05)kg to(15.72±4.89)kg(P=0.001).Body mass decreased from(81.78±9.02)kg to(76.95±9.89)kg(P<0.001),and BMI reduced from(30.14±1.68)kg/m2 to(28.34±2.33)kg/m2(P<0.001).Interaction analysis revealed significant synergistic effects between TECAR and HMB in improving the SPPB total scores(F=16.374,P<0.001,η2=0.107)and reducing BMI(F=14.328,P<0.001,η2=0.095).Conclusion TECAR therapy combined with HMB supplementation significantly enhances physical function,activities of daily living,and body composition in elderly patients with sarcopenic obesity,demonstrating a synergistic effect.

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of navigation system and orthopedic robot-assisted nail placement in the treatment of lower cervical fracture and dislocation.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 49 patients with fracture and dislocation of the lower cervical spine who were admitted to Honghui Hospital, Xi′an Jiaotong University School of Medicine from May 2021 to October 2022, including 38 males and 11 females, aged 29-61 years [(39.3±7.3)years]. Injury segments involved C 3 in 12 patients, C 4 in 11, C 5 in 8, C 6 in 9 and C 7 in 9. Twenty-one patients were treated with S8 navigation system (navigation group, 84 screws), and 28 with TINAVI orthopedic robot (robot group, 112 screws). The two groups were compared in terms of the total surgical duration, single screw placement time, total screw placement time, distance between the screw and the anterior cortex, incision length, intraoperative radiation dose, intraoperative blood loss and length of hospital stay. The height of intervertebral space, Cobb angle, sliding distance between vertebral bodies and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) grade were assessed before surgery and at 3 days after surgery. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score and neck dysfunction index (NDI) before surgery, at 3 days, 3 months after surgery and at the last follow-up were compared. The accuracy of screw placement, intraoperative invasion rate of adjacent facet joints and rate of postoperative complications (infection, screw loosening, etc.) were evaluated. Results:All the patients were followed up for 12-16 months [(13.6±1.9)months]. In the navigation group, the total surgical duration, distance from the screw to the anterior cortex and the intraoperative radiation dose were (236.2±30.6)minutes, (2.0±0.2)mm and (374.3±90.3)mGy respectively, which were significantly shorter or less than those in the robot group [(278.4±20.7)minutes, (10.6±2.9)mm and (448.4±77.9)mGy] ( P<0.01). The single screw placement time, total screw placement time, incision length and intraoperative blood loss were (3.5±0.4)minutes, (23.9±0.5)minutes, (9.1±2.4)cm and (422.2±30.4)ml respectively, which were significantly longer or more than those in the robot group [(2.6±0.2)minutes, (17.9±0.7)minutes, (6.6±2.6)cm and (360.3±56.3)ml] ( P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the length of hospital stay between the two groups ( P>0.05). No significant differences were observed in the height of the intervertebral space, Cobb angle, sliding distance between the vertebral bodies and ASIA grade between the two groups ( P>0.05). At 3 days after surgery, the height of intervertebral space, Cobb angle, sliding distance between vertebral bodies and ASIA grade in both groups were significantly improved when compared with those before surgery ( P<0.05 or 0.01). There were no significant differences in VAS, JOA scores or NDI between the two groups before surgery, at 3 days, 3 months after surgery and at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). The VAS, JOA scores and NDI in both groups were gradually improved at 3 days, 3 months and at the last follow-up after surgery when compared with those before surgery ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the accuracy of screw placement of levels 0 and 0+1 between the two groups ( P>0.05). No significant difference in the intraoperative invasion rate of adjacent facet joints between the two groups was found ( P>0.05). There were no serious complications such as infection or screw loosening after surgery in both groups. Conclusions:For lower cervical fracture and dislocation, although there are more advantages in total surgical duration, screw holding force and radiation control regarding the navigation system, and more outstanding performance in screw placement efficiency, incision length and intraoperative blood loss regarding the orthopedic robot, both of them can effectively rebuild the cervical structure, improve neurological function, relieve postoperative pain, improve screw placement accuracy and reduce facet joint injury and serious complications. Selection of the best auxiliary screw placement system should comprehensively consider patients′ conditions and the experience of the surgical team.

BACKGROUND:Electromyographic biofeedback therapy has demonstrated unique advantages of non-invasive,real-time feedback,personalized treatment and promotion of neuroplasticity,and can promote the recovery of motor function in patients with spinal cord injury.OBJECTIVE:To review the current application status and therapeutic effects of electromyographic biofeedback combined with exercise therapy,robotic exoskeletons,and virtual reality technology in the recovery of motor function after spinal cord injury.METHODS:Relevant literature was retrieved from CNKI and PubMed databases up to May 2024.The search terms included"spinal cord injury,EMG biofeedback,physical therapy,robotic exoskeleton,VR,motor function,exercise"in both English and Chinese.Finally,71 articles were included for review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Mechanisms by which electromyographic biofeedback therapy promotes spinal cord injury rehabilitation include promoting neural plasticity changes,strengthening neuromuscular connections and improving movement patterns.Electromyographic biofeedback,as an emerging tool for treating spinal cord injury,is often used in conjunction with other therapeutic methods,including exercise therapy,robotic exoskeletons,and VR,to promote the recovery of motor function after spinal cord injury.The effectiveness of combination therapy has been significantly improved.However,there are still some problems and challenges,such as the lack of detailed analysis of the mechanism,the lack of large-scale trials that provide strong evidence for combined efficacy,and the limited adaptability of the technology.Future research can focus on these aspects:to improve the personalization and accuracy of electromyographic biofeedback;to develop new rehabilitation equipment and expand the application areas of electromyographic biofeedback combined with more advanced technologies or engineering equipment;to apply electromyographic biofeedback to gait training systems,respiratory training systems,and limb-linkage rehabilitation systems,so as to improve the accuracy of the feedback and the effect of personalized treatment plans.At the same time,the ease of use and comfort of the equipment will be improved.

Very-late-onset schizophrenia-like psychosis(VLOSLP)is considered the most common mental disorder in the elderly following dementia and depression, and its clinical symptomatology is different from that of schizophrenia with onset around the average age.The diagnostic classification system and prognosis of VLOSLP are very complicated, and it is still controversial whether it should be classified as a prodromal symptom of dementia or as a type of late-onset schizophrenia.This article reviewed studies concerning the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, prognosis, and neuroimaging of VLOSLP, hoping to provide value as a reference for future clinical research and treatment.