BACKGROUND:Acupotomy is an effective method for the treatment of cervical spondylosis with definite clinical efficacy,but its key molecular mechanism is still unclear.OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of acupotomy intervention on the expression of fibroblast growth factor family and kinase insert domain protein receptor in the splenius capitis muscles of rats with cervical spondylosis,and to study the therapeutic mechanism of acupotomy in cervical spondylosis.METHODS:The Genomics Expression Omnibus Database was searched to obtain the microarray dataset GSE153761,which was compatible with the study,and a bioinformatics approach was used for the initial screening of targets,followed by animal experiments.Twenty-four 6-month-old SPF grade Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups.The model of cervical spondylosis was established by unbalanced dynamic and static forces in the model and acupotomy groups.The muscles and ligaments were not cut in the sham operation group.After successful modeling,acupotomy intervention was performed in the acupotomy group,once a week,3 times in total.Normal rats were selected as controls.The posteroanterior and lateral X-rays of the cervical spine were taken for modeling verification;the open-field tests were performed in all rats to observe behavioral changes;the pathological structure of the splenius capitis muscles was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining;the mRNA and protein expression of fibroblast growth factor family and kinase insert domain protein receptor in the splenius capitis muscles was detected by fluorescent quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical method,respectively.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Bioinformatics results indicated that fibroblast growth factor family/kinase insert domain protein receptor is an important signal axis for activating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway.After modeling,the intervertebral space of the rats was narrowed,and the anterior and posterior borders of the vertebral body and the articular process were hyperosteogenous.In the open-field tests,the total distance and average speed in the model group were decreased after modeling(P<0.05),while the total rest time in the model group was increased(P<0.05).After treatment,the total distance and average speed in the acupotomy group were greater than those in the model group(P<0.05),while the total rest time in the acupotomy group was shorter than that in the model group(P<0.05).The pathological changes of the splenius capitis muscles indicated damage to the cervical muscle,and acupotomy improved cervical muscle strain.Compared with the normal group,The mRNA and protein expressions of fibroblast growth factor 7,fibroblast growth factor 9,fibroblast growth factor 10,fibroblast growth factor 18,and kinase insert domain protein receptor in the splenius capitis muscles were increased in the model group compared with the normal group(P<0.05).In contrast,acupotomy treatment could downregulate the above indicators(P<0.05).Thus,acupotomy may repair cervical muscle strain by regulating the expression of fibroblast growth factor 7,fibroblast growth factor 9,fibroblast growth factor 10,fibroblast growth factor 18,and kinase insert domain protein receptor,thereby improving intervertebral disc degeneration,which may be the key target for acupotomy treatment of cervical spondylosis.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of simultaneous multi-slice(SMS)acquisition combined with single-shot echo-planar imaging(SSEPI)multi-model diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)for breast lesions.Methods Totally 108 cases of breast lesions were retrospectively enrolled and divided into malignant group(n=66)and benign group(n=42)based on pathology.3.0T MR scanner was used to acquire SSEPI and SMS-SSEPI multi-b values DWI,7 derived parameters were obtained through post-processing with mono-exponential,fractional-order calculus(FROC)and continuous-time random walk(CTRW)models.Then the imaging quality and derived parameters of SMS-SSEPI and SSEPI DWI were compared between groups.Spearman correlation analysis was performed to explore the relationships of corresponding parameters between SMS-SSEPI DWI and SSEPI DWI.Diagnostic performance of each parameter for distinguishing malignant and benign lesions was evaluated according to the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC).Results Background noise score of SMS-SSEPI DWI was lower than that of SSEPI DWI(P＜0.05),whereas no significant difference of overall imaging quality,normal anatomical structure depiction,lesion conspicuity,geometric distortion,signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)nor contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)was found between SMS-SSEPI DWI and SSEPI DWI(all P＞0.05).Parameters derived from SMS-SSEPI DWI were all moderately to highly positively correlated with those from SSEPI DWI(rs=0.66-0.98).Malignant lesions exhibited significantly lower apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC),diffusion coefficient based on FROC(DFROC),fractional order derivative in space(βFROC),diffusion coefficient based on CTRW(DCTRW),temporal diffusion heterogeneity index(αCTRW)and spatial diffusion heterogeneity index(βCTRW)values,but higher spatial parameter(μFROC)value than benign lesions(all P＜0.05).AUC of SMS-SSEPI DWI derived parameters for differentiating malignant from benign lesions were 0.699-0.900,of those from SSEPI DWI were 0.654-0.887,while in both SMS-SSEPI DWI and SSEPI DWI,DFROC had the highest diagnostic efficacy(AUC=0.900,0.887).Conclusion SMS-SSEPI DWI could be used to effectively differentiate malignant and benign breast lesions.

BACKGROUND:Acupotomy is an effective method for the treatment of cervical spondylosis with definite clinical efficacy,but its key molecular mechanism is still unclear.OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of acupotomy intervention on the expression of fibroblast growth factor family and kinase insert domain protein receptor in the splenius capitis muscles of rats with cervical spondylosis,and to study the therapeutic mechanism of acupotomy in cervical spondylosis.METHODS:The Genomics Expression Omnibus Database was searched to obtain the microarray dataset GSE153761,which was compatible with the study,and a bioinformatics approach was used for the initial screening of targets,followed by animal experiments.Twenty-four 6-month-old SPF grade Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups.The model of cervical spondylosis was established by unbalanced dynamic and static forces in the model and acupotomy groups.The muscles and ligaments were not cut in the sham operation group.After successful modeling,acupotomy intervention was performed in the acupotomy group,once a week,3 times in total.Normal rats were selected as controls.The posteroanterior and lateral X-rays of the cervical spine were taken for modeling verification;the open-field tests were performed in all rats to observe behavioral changes;the pathological structure of the splenius capitis muscles was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining;the mRNA and protein expression of fibroblast growth factor family and kinase insert domain protein receptor in the splenius capitis muscles was detected by fluorescent quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical method,respectively.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Bioinformatics results indicated that fibroblast growth factor family/kinase insert domain protein receptor is an important signal axis for activating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway.After modeling,the intervertebral space of the rats was narrowed,and the anterior and posterior borders of the vertebral body and the articular process were hyperosteogenous.In the open-field tests,the total distance and average speed in the model group were decreased after modeling(P<0.05),while the total rest time in the model group was increased(P<0.05).After treatment,the total distance and average speed in the acupotomy group were greater than those in the model group(P<0.05),while the total rest time in the acupotomy group was shorter than that in the model group(P<0.05).The pathological changes of the splenius capitis muscles indicated damage to the cervical muscle,and acupotomy improved cervical muscle strain.Compared with the normal group,The mRNA and protein expressions of fibroblast growth factor 7,fibroblast growth factor 9,fibroblast growth factor 10,fibroblast growth factor 18,and kinase insert domain protein receptor in the splenius capitis muscles were increased in the model group compared with the normal group(P<0.05).In contrast,acupotomy treatment could downregulate the above indicators(P<0.05).Thus,acupotomy may repair cervical muscle strain by regulating the expression of fibroblast growth factor 7,fibroblast growth factor 9,fibroblast growth factor 10,fibroblast growth factor 18,and kinase insert domain protein receptor,thereby improving intervertebral disc degeneration,which may be the key target for acupotomy treatment of cervical spondylosis.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of simultaneous multi-slice(SMS)acquisition combined with single-shot echo-planar imaging(SSEPI)multi-model diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)for breast lesions.Methods Totally 108 cases of breast lesions were retrospectively enrolled and divided into malignant group(n=66)and benign group(n=42)based on pathology.3.0T MR scanner was used to acquire SSEPI and SMS-SSEPI multi-b values DWI,7 derived parameters were obtained through post-processing with mono-exponential,fractional-order calculus(FROC)and continuous-time random walk(CTRW)models.Then the imaging quality and derived parameters of SMS-SSEPI and SSEPI DWI were compared between groups.Spearman correlation analysis was performed to explore the relationships of corresponding parameters between SMS-SSEPI DWI and SSEPI DWI.Diagnostic performance of each parameter for distinguishing malignant and benign lesions was evaluated according to the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC).Results Background noise score of SMS-SSEPI DWI was lower than that of SSEPI DWI(P＜0.05),whereas no significant difference of overall imaging quality,normal anatomical structure depiction,lesion conspicuity,geometric distortion,signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)nor contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)was found between SMS-SSEPI DWI and SSEPI DWI(all P＞0.05).Parameters derived from SMS-SSEPI DWI were all moderately to highly positively correlated with those from SSEPI DWI(rs=0.66-0.98).Malignant lesions exhibited significantly lower apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC),diffusion coefficient based on FROC(DFROC),fractional order derivative in space(βFROC),diffusion coefficient based on CTRW(DCTRW),temporal diffusion heterogeneity index(αCTRW)and spatial diffusion heterogeneity index(βCTRW)values,but higher spatial parameter(μFROC)value than benign lesions(all P＜0.05).AUC of SMS-SSEPI DWI derived parameters for differentiating malignant from benign lesions were 0.699-0.900,of those from SSEPI DWI were 0.654-0.887,while in both SMS-SSEPI DWI and SSEPI DWI,DFROC had the highest diagnostic efficacy(AUC=0.900,0.887).Conclusion SMS-SSEPI DWI could be used to effectively differentiate malignant and benign breast lesions.

Objective To explore the value of fractional order calculus(FROC)model diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)for evaluating pathological classification and differentiation degree of cervical cancer(CCA).Methods Totally 74 CCA patients were enrolled and divided into squamous cell carcinoma(SCC)group(n=54)and adenocarcinoma(ACA)group(n=20)based on pathological classification,also low differentiation group(n=33)and medium-high differentiation group(n=41)based on differentiation degree.Conventional MR examination and DWI with 12 b-values were performed,FROC model parameters(D,β,and p value)and the apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)of mono-exponential model were obtained via software analysis.The parameters were compared between groups,and receiver operating characteristic curve of those being significantly different between groups were drawn,the area under the curves(AUC)were calculated to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy.Results Significant differences of ADC,D,and β values were found between SCC group and ACA group(all P＜0.05),and D value had the highest AUC(0.726)for distinguishing pathological classification CCA.Meanwhile,significant differences of D,β,p values and ADC were observed between low differentiation group and medium-high differentiation group(all P＜0.05),D value also had the highest AUC(0.865).AUC of the combined model constructed based on significant variables β and p values in logistic regression was 0.926,higher than that of each parameter alone(all P＜0.05).Conclusion FROC model DWI could be used to evaluate pathological classification and differentiation degree of CCA.

Objective:To report single-center clinical experience with endovascular recanalization for non-acute symptomatic intracranial vertebral artery occlusion, to assess the feasibility and safety of endovascular recanalization and to propose the benefit group for selected patients.Methods:From January 2019 to December 2021, 92 patients with non-acute symptomatic intracranial vertebral artery occlusion who underwent endovascular recanalization were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into three groups (low, medium and high-risk group) according to occlusion length, occlusion duration, occlusion nature, calcification of the occlusion segment, and occlusion angulation, and the indicators of patients in each group were analyzed, including the general baseline data of the patients, surgical status and follow-up results. The technical success and perioperative complication rates of low, medium and high-risk groups were calculated. Meanwhile, the differences between three groups were evaluated using the χ2 test for trend or ANOVA analysis. Results:The overall technical success rate of endovascular recanalization was 83.7% (77/92), and the perioperative complication rate was 10.9% (10/92). Among the 3 classification groups, the recanalization success rate from the low-risk group to the high-risk group was 100%, 93.3%, 27.8%( P=0.047), and gradually decreased; while the overall perioperative complication rate was 0, 10.0%, 38.9% ( P=0.001), and gradually increased; the proportion of 90-day mRS score 0-2 was 100%, 83.3%, 22.2% ( P=0.026), and progressively decreased; 77 patients with successful recanalization were followed up, the rate of restenosis/reocclusion was 0, 17.9%, 80.0%( P=0.001), and progressively increased. Patients in the low-and intermediate-risk groups performed well with endovascular recanalization. In 88 patients (4 patients lost to follow-up), a median clinical follow-up of 13 (7, 16) months, stroke or death beyond 30 days was 17.4% (16/92). Conclusions:Endovascular recanalization is safe and feasible for reasonably selected patients with non-acute symptomatic intracranial vertebral artery occlusion, especially in low-and medium-risk groups, and it also provides an alternative to conservative therapy for patients with non-acute symptomatic intracranial vertebral artery occlusion.

Objective:To investigate the application effect of the compound flap transfer in tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty.Methods:Children with hypospadias who received TIP in the Department of Pediatric Urology, the Affiliated Xuzhou Children’s Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2018 to March 2022 were prospectively divided into compound flap transfer group (group A) and traditional TIP group (group B) by random number method. Group A was treated with TIP modified by compound flap transfer, and group B was treated with traditional TIP covered with fascia.The improvement of the compound flap transfer for TIP operation is mainly reflected in the multi-layer cover of the new urethra and the free skin embedded in the incision of the penile head. According to the intention-to-treat (ITT) principle, the final full analysis set (FAS) includes both group A and group B. Some patients were excluded from the analysis of the primary endpoint events due to reasons such as loss to follow-up or treatment group switch. Additionally, the final per-protocol set (PPS) consisting of group A and group B, which adheres to the study protocol, is subjected to statistical analysis.Independent sample t-test or Wilcoxon rank sum test was used for average age, the width of the penile head, degree of chordee, length of neourethra, and operative time. The classification of hypospadias, proportion of dorsal tunica albuginea plication, and incidence of postoperative complications were compared using the Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:According to ITT principles, 50 children were included in FAS group A, ranging in age from 8 months to 15 years and 2 months, with an average age of 4 years. Group B included 50 children, ranging in age from 10 months to 14 years and 9 months, with an average age of 4 years and 1 month. Thirty-seven children in PPS group A were included, ranging in age from 1 year 2 months to 12 years 1 month, with an average age of 4 years. Group B consisted of 41 children, ranging in age from 1 year 2 months to 11 years 9 months, with an average age of 4 years 2 months. Statistical analysis showed that no matter FAS set or PPS, there were no statistically significant differences in the mean age, hypospadias type, average penile head width, average penile subcurvature number, number of dorsal tunica albuginea plication, and the average length of plastic neourethra between group A and group B ( P > 0.05). The average operative time of group A was higher than that of group B. The difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.05). The postoperative follow-up was 3 to 48 months, with an average follow-up of 2 years and 3 months. The complication rate of group A was lower than that of group B [10.81% (4/37) vs 29.27% (12/41)], and the difference was statistically significant ( P< 0.05). Urethral fistula occurred in 3 cases (8.11%), respectively and 6 cases (14.63%) in the two groups, the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05); urethral stricture occurred in 1 case (2.70%) and 5 cases (12.20%) respectively, the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05), There were 0 case and 1 case (2.44%) of urethral orifice descending or urethral dehiscence respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant ( P> 0.05). Conclusion:TIP with an improved compound flap transfer can reduce the overall postoperative complication rate and is worthy of promotion.

Objective:To investigate the application effect of the compound flap transfer in tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty.Methods:Children with hypospadias who received TIP in the Department of Pediatric Urology, the Affiliated Xuzhou Children’s Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from January 2018 to March 2022 were prospectively divided into compound flap transfer group (group A) and traditional TIP group (group B) by random number method. Group A was treated with TIP modified by compound flap transfer, and group B was treated with traditional TIP covered with fascia.The improvement of the compound flap transfer for TIP operation is mainly reflected in the multi-layer cover of the new urethra and the free skin embedded in the incision of the penile head. According to the intention-to-treat (ITT) principle, the final full analysis set (FAS) includes both group A and group B. Some patients were excluded from the analysis of the primary endpoint events due to reasons such as loss to follow-up or treatment group switch. Additionally, the final per-protocol set (PPS) consisting of group A and group B, which adheres to the study protocol, is subjected to statistical analysis.Independent sample t-test or Wilcoxon rank sum test was used for average age, the width of the penile head, degree of chordee, length of neourethra, and operative time. The classification of hypospadias, proportion of dorsal tunica albuginea plication, and incidence of postoperative complications were compared using the Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:According to ITT principles, 50 children were included in FAS group A, ranging in age from 8 months to 15 years and 2 months, with an average age of 4 years. Group B included 50 children, ranging in age from 10 months to 14 years and 9 months, with an average age of 4 years and 1 month. Thirty-seven children in PPS group A were included, ranging in age from 1 year 2 months to 12 years 1 month, with an average age of 4 years. Group B consisted of 41 children, ranging in age from 1 year 2 months to 11 years 9 months, with an average age of 4 years 2 months. Statistical analysis showed that no matter FAS set or PPS, there were no statistically significant differences in the mean age, hypospadias type, average penile head width, average penile subcurvature number, number of dorsal tunica albuginea plication, and the average length of plastic neourethra between group A and group B ( P > 0.05). The average operative time of group A was higher than that of group B. The difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.05). The postoperative follow-up was 3 to 48 months, with an average follow-up of 2 years and 3 months. The complication rate of group A was lower than that of group B [10.81% (4/37) vs 29.27% (12/41)], and the difference was statistically significant ( P< 0.05). Urethral fistula occurred in 3 cases (8.11%), respectively and 6 cases (14.63%) in the two groups, the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05); urethral stricture occurred in 1 case (2.70%) and 5 cases (12.20%) respectively, the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05), There were 0 case and 1 case (2.44%) of urethral orifice descending or urethral dehiscence respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant ( P> 0.05). Conclusion:TIP with an improved compound flap transfer can reduce the overall postoperative complication rate and is worthy of promotion.

Objective:To compare the effectiveness of modified Sugita and modified Shiraki in the treatment of severely concealed penis in children.Methods:A retrospective study was carried out on 72 children with congenital severely concealed penis, who were treated in the Department of Urology, Xuzhou Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University from September 2016 to June 2021.Among them, 32 cases were treated with modified Sugita (modified Sugita group) and 40 cases were treated with modified Shiraki (modified Shiraki group). There was no significant difference in the age, body mass and body mass index between the 2 groups (all P>0.05). The operation time, increased length of the exposed part of the penis after operation, score of parental satisfaction half a year after operation (obtained by using the Likert scale) and postoperative complications (classified according to the modified Clavien-Dindo classification) were compared between the 2 groups.Measurement data comparison between groups were performed by t test, counting data were analyzed by Chi- square test. Results:The operative time of the modified Sugita group and the modified Shiraki group were (50.00±8.03) min and (40.30±9.27) min, respectively.The operative time was significantly different between 2 groups ( t=4.107, P<0.05). The increased length of the exposed part of the penis after operation was (1.80±0.30) cm in the modified Sugita group and (1.90±0.33) cm in the modified Shiraki group, and no significant difference was found between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). Six months after operation, the parental satisfaction score was (4.60±0.56) points in the modified Sugita group and (4.60±0.59) points in the modified Shiraki group.There was no significant difference in the parental satisfaction score between 2 groups ( P>0.05). In 72 cases, only 5 cases had grade Ⅰ complications.Postoperative complications were also not significantly different between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:After treating severely concealed penis in children with modified Sugita and modified Shiraki, the penis has a good appearance.These two surgeries have high parental satisfaction and low complications.They are easy to implement in clinical practice.The operation time of modified Shiraki is shorter than that of modified Sugita.

Objective:To investigate the safety and effectiveness of Willis covered stent in patients having carotid artery rupture during transnasal endoscopic pituitary tumor resection.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed. Six patients having carotid artery rupture during transnasal endoscopic pituitary tumor resection admitted to the 3 hospitals from May 2016 to December 2019 were chosen; their clinical data were collected. The surgical processes and complications were concluded, and the prognoses were evaluated by modified Rankin scale (mRS).Results:One patient was treated with intraoperative simple tamponade compression for hemostasis, and died for massive intracranial hemorrhage 2 weeks after surgery. Five patients were occluded by Willis covered stents; the occluded success rate was 100% but ophthalmic arteries were blocked in all. During the perioperative period, diabetes insipidus occurred in one patient and incomplete oculomotor paralysis occurred in one patient; 5 patients were followed up for 3-12 months: MRI indicated subtotal resection of tumor in 4 patients and total resection in one patient, no new bleeding or ischemic stroke events occurred in these 5 patients, and the prognosis was good.Conclusion:Willis covered stent is safe and effective in patients having carotid artery rupture during transnasal endoscopic pituitary tumor resection.