Objective:To investigate intraoperative pathological findings and the interventional effects of "deep cervical lymphaticovenous anastomosis+" (dcLVA+) on deep cervical lymphatic drainage as well as the blood flow of carotid artery and jugular vein in elderly patients with cognitive impairment, and to put forward the thoughts based on the findings from the surgery.Methods:Between May 2024 and December 2024, retrospective analysis of Microsurgery Hospital, Fengcheng Hospital, Xi'an Medical College performed dcLVA+ between the deep cervical lymphatics or lymph nodes and jugular veins in 50 elderly patients with cognitive impairment (19 males and 31 females, aged 55-88 years with 69.94 years in average). Nine patients were found with Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) score at 1 (mild), 7 with CDR score at 2 (moderate) and 34 with CDR score at 3 (severe). Intraoperative observations based on literature reviews had identified anatomical relationships between the lymphatic sacs containing cervical lymphatic chain and the carotid sheath. The lymph node count, size, distribution, thickness of fat tissue and conditions of lymphatic vessels were documented. Ultrasound was used to compare the blood flow of carotid artery and jugular vein as well as the cross-sectional areas at the planes of hyoid and cricoid cartilage before and after the closure of incisions under anaesthesia in 39 patients. Correlation analyses for Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCa), Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Agitation behavior score before and 1 week after surgery were performed using Spearman's correlation and Wilcoxon paired tests. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Postoperative follow-ups were conducted via the visit of outpatient clinic and WeChat and telephone interviews. Results:In surgery, the cervical lymphatic chain was found running within an almost enclosed sac surrounding the carotid sheath. There were enlarged lymph nodes, increased fat deposition, lymphatic dilation or fibrosis in the sac. The preoperative blood flow in the carotid artery at the planes of hyoid and cricoid cartilage in the 39 patients was recorded at 150.52 ml/min±40.33 ml/min and 358.29 ml/min±129.30 ml/min, while that in the jugular vein was at 172.50 ml/min±63.94 ml/min and 317.00 ml/min±105.21 ml/min, respectively, both were far lower than the normal blood flow. There were statistically significant differences in the blood flow of carotid artery and jugular vein before and after surgery ( P<0.01). It was found that the preoperative blood flow of the internal carotid artery at the plane of hyoid was positively correlated with the preoperative scores of MMSE ( P<0.01), MoCa ( P<0.05) and ADL ( P<0.01). The blood flow of the common carotid artery at the plane of cricoid cartilage was found significantly and positively correlated with the preoperative scores of MMSE ( P<0.05). It was also noted that the blood flow of the internal carotid artery at the plane of hyoid was significantly and positively correlated with the postoperative ADL ( P<0.01) but negatively correlated with the Agitation behavior score ( P<0.05). The blood flow of the common carotid artery at the plane of cricoid cartilage was significantly and positively correlated with the postoperative scores of MMSE and MoCa ( P<0.05). The blood flow of the internal jugular vein at the plane of hyoid was negatively correlated with the Agitation behavior score ( P<0.01). The cross-sectional area of carotid artery at the plane of left hyoid was significantly and positively correlated with the MMSE score ( P<0.05). Statistically significant differences were observed in MMSE, MoCa, ADL and Agitation behavior score before and after surgery ( P<0.01). Conclusion:dcLVA+ shows a certain therapeutic benefit to the elderly patients with cognitive impairment. The intraoperatively observed pathological changes in cervical lymphatic sacs affect deep cervical lymphatic drainage and the blood flow of carotid artery and jugular vein. Further studies are necessary to find out whether the findings from this study would be the specific pathological changes and the morbidity mechanisms among the elderly patients with cognitive impairment.

Objective To explore the application value of three-dimensional T1-weighted multi-echo DIXON(3D-T1W-mDIXON)with three-dimensional T2-weighted driven imaging with variable excitation(3D-T2W-DRIVE)in unilateral vascular compressive hemifacial spasm(HFS),and to improve the accuracy of preoperative imaging diagnosis of microvascular decompression(MVD).Methods The clinical and imaging data of 235 patients with unilateral vascular compressive HFS treated with MVD from July 2018 to August 2024 in Xuzhou City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were analyzed retrospectively.Before MVD,3D-T1W-mDIXON and 3D-T2W-DRIVE sequence image,multiplanar reconstruction were used to analyze the spatial walking relationship between facial nerve and offending vessels.The differences between the affected side and the healthy side were compared,and then compared with the MVD;By using paired chi square test,image result of 3D-T1W-mDIXON combined with 3D-T2W-DRIVE sequence with either sequence alone were compared to evaluate the superiority of two combined sequences in the diagnosis of vascular compressive HFS.Results Among 235 cases HFS on the affected side,there were 149 cases of vascular compression and 68 cases with specific neurovascular contacts,and 15 cases with dubious contacts,with a positive rate of 92.34％;In the 235 cases HFS of the healthy side,there were 21 cases of vascular compression and 25 cases with specific neurovascular contacts,and 77 cases with dubious contacts,with a positive rate of 19.57％.By using the findings during facial nerve MVD procedure as the gold standard,the positive rate of diagnosing HFS using 3D-T1W-mDIXON combined with 3D-T2W-DRIVE sequence was 92.34％.The ability of 3D-T1W-mDIXON combined with 3D-T2W-DRIVE sequence to identify offending vessels(92.34％)is superior to using 3D-T1W-mDIXON sequence alone(83.00％,x2=9.52,P＜0.05)or using 3D-T2W-DRIVE sequence alone(86.38％,x2=4.30,P＜0.05).Conclusion 3D-T1W-mDIXON combined with 3D-T2W-DRIVE sequence image can clearly show the relationship between facial nerve and peripheral blood vessels,and the diagnostic efficacy is higher than that of any sequence alone,can provide better imaging evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment of HFS.

Objective To explore the application value of three-dimensional T1-weighted multi-echo DIXON(3D-T1W-mDIXON)with three-dimensional T2-weighted driven imaging with variable excitation(3D-T2W-DRIVE)in unilateral vascular compressive hemifacial spasm(HFS),and to improve the accuracy of preoperative imaging diagnosis of microvascular decompression(MVD).Methods The clinical and imaging data of 235 patients with unilateral vascular compressive HFS treated with MVD from July 2018 to August 2024 in Xuzhou City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were analyzed retrospectively.Before MVD,3D-T1W-mDIXON and 3D-T2W-DRIVE sequence image,multiplanar reconstruction were used to analyze the spatial walking relationship between facial nerve and offending vessels.The differences between the affected side and the healthy side were compared,and then compared with the MVD;By using paired chi square test,image result of 3D-T1W-mDIXON combined with 3D-T2W-DRIVE sequence with either sequence alone were compared to evaluate the superiority of two combined sequences in the diagnosis of vascular compressive HFS.Results Among 235 cases HFS on the affected side,there were 149 cases of vascular compression and 68 cases with specific neurovascular contacts,and 15 cases with dubious contacts,with a positive rate of 92.34％;In the 235 cases HFS of the healthy side,there were 21 cases of vascular compression and 25 cases with specific neurovascular contacts,and 77 cases with dubious contacts,with a positive rate of 19.57％.By using the findings during facial nerve MVD procedure as the gold standard,the positive rate of diagnosing HFS using 3D-T1W-mDIXON combined with 3D-T2W-DRIVE sequence was 92.34％.The ability of 3D-T1W-mDIXON combined with 3D-T2W-DRIVE sequence to identify offending vessels(92.34％)is superior to using 3D-T1W-mDIXON sequence alone(83.00％,x2=9.52,P＜0.05)or using 3D-T2W-DRIVE sequence alone(86.38％,x2=4.30,P＜0.05).Conclusion 3D-T1W-mDIXON combined with 3D-T2W-DRIVE sequence image can clearly show the relationship between facial nerve and peripheral blood vessels,and the diagnostic efficacy is higher than that of any sequence alone,can provide better imaging evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment of HFS.

Objective:To investigate intraoperative pathological findings and the interventional effects of "deep cervical lymphaticovenous anastomosis+" (dcLVA+) on deep cervical lymphatic drainage as well as the blood flow of carotid artery and jugular vein in elderly patients with cognitive impairment, and to put forward the thoughts based on the findings from the surgery.Methods:Between May 2024 and December 2024, retrospective analysis of Microsurgery Hospital, Fengcheng Hospital, Xi'an Medical College performed dcLVA+ between the deep cervical lymphatics or lymph nodes and jugular veins in 50 elderly patients with cognitive impairment (19 males and 31 females, aged 55-88 years with 69.94 years in average). Nine patients were found with Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) score at 1 (mild), 7 with CDR score at 2 (moderate) and 34 with CDR score at 3 (severe). Intraoperative observations based on literature reviews had identified anatomical relationships between the lymphatic sacs containing cervical lymphatic chain and the carotid sheath. The lymph node count, size, distribution, thickness of fat tissue and conditions of lymphatic vessels were documented. Ultrasound was used to compare the blood flow of carotid artery and jugular vein as well as the cross-sectional areas at the planes of hyoid and cricoid cartilage before and after the closure of incisions under anaesthesia in 39 patients. Correlation analyses for Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCa), Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Agitation behavior score before and 1 week after surgery were performed using Spearman's correlation and Wilcoxon paired tests. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Postoperative follow-ups were conducted via the visit of outpatient clinic and WeChat and telephone interviews. Results:In surgery, the cervical lymphatic chain was found running within an almost enclosed sac surrounding the carotid sheath. There were enlarged lymph nodes, increased fat deposition, lymphatic dilation or fibrosis in the sac. The preoperative blood flow in the carotid artery at the planes of hyoid and cricoid cartilage in the 39 patients was recorded at 150.52 ml/min±40.33 ml/min and 358.29 ml/min±129.30 ml/min, while that in the jugular vein was at 172.50 ml/min±63.94 ml/min and 317.00 ml/min±105.21 ml/min, respectively, both were far lower than the normal blood flow. There were statistically significant differences in the blood flow of carotid artery and jugular vein before and after surgery ( P<0.01). It was found that the preoperative blood flow of the internal carotid artery at the plane of hyoid was positively correlated with the preoperative scores of MMSE ( P<0.01), MoCa ( P<0.05) and ADL ( P<0.01). The blood flow of the common carotid artery at the plane of cricoid cartilage was found significantly and positively correlated with the preoperative scores of MMSE ( P<0.05). It was also noted that the blood flow of the internal carotid artery at the plane of hyoid was significantly and positively correlated with the postoperative ADL ( P<0.01) but negatively correlated with the Agitation behavior score ( P<0.05). The blood flow of the common carotid artery at the plane of cricoid cartilage was significantly and positively correlated with the postoperative scores of MMSE and MoCa ( P<0.05). The blood flow of the internal jugular vein at the plane of hyoid was negatively correlated with the Agitation behavior score ( P<0.01). The cross-sectional area of carotid artery at the plane of left hyoid was significantly and positively correlated with the MMSE score ( P<0.05). Statistically significant differences were observed in MMSE, MoCa, ADL and Agitation behavior score before and after surgery ( P<0.01). Conclusion:dcLVA+ shows a certain therapeutic benefit to the elderly patients with cognitive impairment. The intraoperatively observed pathological changes in cervical lymphatic sacs affect deep cervical lymphatic drainage and the blood flow of carotid artery and jugular vein. Further studies are necessary to find out whether the findings from this study would be the specific pathological changes and the morbidity mechanisms among the elderly patients with cognitive impairment.

Objective:To investigate the effects of apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele on β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in subcortical structures and functional connectivity (FC) between brain regions in patients with Alzheimer′s disease (AD). Methods:Forty-three patients with probable mild/moderate AD were prospectively enrolled from the First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital between January 2023 and October 2023, including 23 APOE ε4+ patients (12 males and 11 females, age (74.8±8.4) years), 20 APOE ε4- patients (14 males and 6 females, age (77.6±8.9) years) and 20 normal cognitive volunteers (NC) (15 males and 5 females, age (75.3±6.2) years). All subjects underwent 11C-Pittsburgh compound B (PIB) PET/MR brain imaging. The differences of gray matter volume (GMV) in subcortical structures (hippocampus, amygdala) among the three groups were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and least significant difference (LSD) t test. Independent-sample t test and Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyze difference in Aβ deposition between APOE ε4+ patients and APOE ε4- patients, and the correlation between subcortical structure and brain FC. Results:The GMV of bilateral amygdala between NC group and APOE ε4+ gene carrier group, and between APOE ε4+ and APOE ε4- gene carrier groups were significantly different ( F=6.43, P=0.002; P values: 0.002, 0.003). Significant difference of GMV was observed in the bilateral hippocampus among three groups ( F=5.34, P=0.030). Abnormal PIB uptake was detected in both the hippocampus and amygdala of both APOE ε4+ and APOE ε4- gene carrier groups, with a more pronounced effect observed in the APOE ε4+ group ( t values: 3.14, 2.19, P values: 0.032, 0.009). Taking the hippocampus as the seed point, there was no obvious abnormality in the whole brain connectivity map among APOE ε4+, APOE ε4- carriers and NC groups. With the amygdala as the seed point, the whole brain connectivity in the APOE ε4+ gene carrier group was significantly reduced, and the connectivity between the amygdala and the cingulate gyrus, parietal lobe and temporal lobe was significantly reduced in the APOE ε4+ gene carrier group compared with NC group, while the connectivity between the amygdala and the whole brain was not significantly reduced in the APOE ε4- gene carrier group. Aβ deposition in amygdala was positively correlated with FC coefficients of frontal brain regions, gyrus rectus, right middle occipital gyrus and left temporal lobe ( r values: 0.56-0.70, all P<0.05). Conclusion:APOE influences GMV and Aβ deposition of hippocampus and amygdala, and FC of amygdala, and may be involved in the pathological mechanism of cognitive impairment.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy (ERAT) and sub-endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy (SERAT) for the treatment of acute appendicitis.Methods:The retrospective study was performed on consecutive patients who underwent SERAT (21 cases) and ERAT (30 cases) for acute appendicitis in Shandong Provincial Third Hospital from November 2021 to April 2023. Patient baseline information, clinical treatment, hospitalization costs, and hospital stay were analyzed, and complications and recurrence were followed up.Results:There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding age, gender, clinical manifestation, laboratory and imaging data, or Alvrrado score ( P>0.05). Compared with the ERAT group, the operation time was shorter in the SERAT group (23.6±10.1 min VS 44.8±18.8 min, t=4.679, P<0.001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in stent implantation rate [61.9% (13/21) VS 70.0% (21/30), χ2=0.364, P=0.546], fecalith removal rate [38.1% (8/21) VS 33.3% (10/30), χ2=0.123, P=0.726], postoperative time for temperature (19, 2, 0 and 26, 3, 1 cases after 0 to 1 day, >1 to 3 days and >3 days, respectively, χ2=0.723, P=0.697) and white blood cell count normalization (20, 1, 0 and 27, 2, 1 cases after 0 to 1 day, >1 to 3 days and >3 days, respectively, χ2=0.813, P=0.666), proportion of visual analogue scale scores<3 at 6 hours after treatment [100.0% (21/21) VS 90.0% (27/30), χ2=2.231, P=0.135], length of hospital stay (3.4±1.2 days VS 4.5±2.9 days, t=1.579, P=0.121), hospitalization cost (15 393.0±4 352.5 yuan VS 17 836.0±5 134.6 yuan, t=1.777, P=0.082), or incidence of complications [0.0% (0/21) VS 0.0% (0/30), χ2=0.000, P=1.000]. The recurrence rate in SERAT group (0.0%, 0/21) was significantly lower than that in ERAT group (23.3%, 7/30) ( P=0.017). Conclusion:SERAT is a safe and effective minimally invasive approach for managing acute appendicitis, characterized by a shorter operation duration and a lower recurrence rate compared to ERAT.

Objective:To explore the relationship between depressive symptoms and filial piety in adult-child caregivers of disabled elderly,and the mediating effect of mutuality on the relationship.Methods:Totally 383 adult-child caregivers were assessed with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale(CES-D),Dual Filial Piety Scale(DFPS)and Mutuality Scale(MS).The SPSS macro program Process was used to test the mediation model.Results:The CES-D scores were negatively correlated with the reciprocal filial piety scores and the MS scores(r=-0.49,-0.48,Ps＜0.01)and positively correlated with the authoritarian filial piety scores(r=0.37,P＜0.01).The MS scores were positively correlated with the reciprocal filial piety scores(r=0.76,P＜0.01),and negatively correlated with the authoritarian filial piety scores(r=-0.84,P＜0.01).Reciprocal filial piety scores were negatively associated with CES-D scores(β=-0.67).In addition,MS scores partly mediated the relationship between reciprocal filial piety scores and CES-D scores,the value of mediating effect was 22.89％.Conclusion:The depressive symptoms are correlated with filial piety and mutuality among adult-child caregivers of disabled eld-erly.

Objective::To explore the approach of minimally invasive transthoracic intramyocardial cellular transplantation under echocardiographic guidance to promote ischemic myocardial repair in a preclinical big-animal study.Methods::Female Guangxi Bama miniature pigs (weight: 25–30 kg) were randomly allocated into the sham group, untreated myocardial infarction (MI) group (MI group), the MI and surgical intramyocardial injection (SIM) group (MI-SIM group), and the MI and transthoracic echocardiography-guided percutaneous intramyocardial injection (TTEPIM) group (MI-TTEPIM group) ( n = 4 each) using a lottery method. A swine MI model was established in the 3 groups excluding the sham group, and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPS-CM) labeled with the herpes simplex virus type-1 thymidine kinase reporter gene (hiPS-CM TK+) were transplanted by SIM in MI-SIM group and TTEPIM in MI-TTEPIM group. The operation time, postoperative recovery time of animals and volume of blood loss were collected for comparison between MI-SIM group and MI-TTEPIM group. 9-(4-[ 18F] fluoro-3-(hydroxymethyl) butyl) guanine positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging was performed to track the hiPS-CM TK+in vivo. Cardiac function and morphology were evaluated by echocardiography. Results::The operation time and postoperative recovery time of MI-TTEPIM group were significantly shorter than those of MI-SIM group ((28.3 ± 3.6) min vs. (97.0 ± 6.7) min, P < 0.001; (1.3 ± 0.3) d vs. (7.5 ± 0.9) d, P < 0.001). MI-TTEPIM also showed significantly lesser volume of blood loss during cell transplantation than MI-SIM group ((4.3 ± 0.8) mL vs. (47.0 ± 4.1) mL, P < 0.001). The transplanted cells could be traced more accurately in vivo in MI-TTEPIM than in MI-SIM. The circumferential strain of intervention region in the MI-TTEPIM group (–25.07% ± 0.27%) was significantly higher than that of the MI-SIM (–20.39% ± 0.67%) and MI groups (–19.68% ± 0.67%), respectively ( P < 0.01). Conclusion::A minimally invasive TTEPIM protocol with stem cells for treating the ischemic myocardium was established in this study. Transplantation of hiPS-CM TK+ with this method could promote the recovery of the circumferential strain of the ischemic myocardium. The findings of this study lay a foundation for the clinical transformation of this auxiliary means of treatment in the future.

Objective::To explore the approach of minimally invasive transthoracic intramyocardial cellular transplantation under echocardiographic guidance to promote ischemic myocardial repair in a preclinical big-animal study.Methods::Female Guangxi Bama miniature pigs (weight: 25–30 kg) were randomly allocated into the sham group, untreated myocardial infarction (MI) group (MI group), the MI and surgical intramyocardial injection (SIM) group (MI-SIM group), and the MI and transthoracic echocardiography-guided percutaneous intramyocardial injection (TTEPIM) group (MI-TTEPIM group) ( n = 4 each) using a lottery method. A swine MI model was established in the 3 groups excluding the sham group, and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPS-CM) labeled with the herpes simplex virus type-1 thymidine kinase reporter gene (hiPS-CM TK+) were transplanted by SIM in MI-SIM group and TTEPIM in MI-TTEPIM group. The operation time, postoperative recovery time of animals and volume of blood loss were collected for comparison between MI-SIM group and MI-TTEPIM group. 9-(4-[ 18F] fluoro-3-(hydroxymethyl) butyl) guanine positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging was performed to track the hiPS-CM TK+in vivo. Cardiac function and morphology were evaluated by echocardiography. Results::The operation time and postoperative recovery time of MI-TTEPIM group were significantly shorter than those of MI-SIM group ((28.3 ± 3.6) min vs. (97.0 ± 6.7) min, P < 0.001; (1.3 ± 0.3) d vs. (7.5 ± 0.9) d, P < 0.001). MI-TTEPIM also showed significantly lesser volume of blood loss during cell transplantation than MI-SIM group ((4.3 ± 0.8) mL vs. (47.0 ± 4.1) mL, P < 0.001). The transplanted cells could be traced more accurately in vivo in MI-TTEPIM than in MI-SIM. The circumferential strain of intervention region in the MI-TTEPIM group (–25.07% ± 0.27%) was significantly higher than that of the MI-SIM (–20.39% ± 0.67%) and MI groups (–19.68% ± 0.67%), respectively ( P < 0.01). Conclusion::A minimally invasive TTEPIM protocol with stem cells for treating the ischemic myocardium was established in this study. Transplantation of hiPS-CM TK+ with this method could promote the recovery of the circumferential strain of the ischemic myocardium. The findings of this study lay a foundation for the clinical transformation of this auxiliary means of treatment in the future.

Objective:To explore any effect of upper limb swing training guided by rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) on the walking ability of stroke survivors.Methods:Eighty stroke survivors were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group. Both groups received conventional rehabilitation treatment, including neuromuscular facilitation, muscle strength training, balance training and gait training, but the observation group was additionally provided with RAS-guided upper limb swing training for 20min once a day, 5d per week for 6 weeks. Before and after the intervention, balance and lower limb function were quantified in both groups using Holden′s walking function classification, the Fugl-Meyer lower extremity motor function scale (FMA-LE), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the 10m walk test (10MWT). Limits of stability were also quantified.Results:After the treatment, the average Holden, FMA-LE and BBS scores, as well as the average 10MWT time were significantly better in the observation group than in the control group. The average stability limits and their maintenance were also superior.Conclusion:RAS-guided upper limb swing training can improve the gait, walking ability, walking stability, walking speed and balance of stroke survivors.