ObjectiveTo analyze the characteristics of 150 patients with spinal cord injury complicated with spasticity. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted on 150 patients with spinal cord injury accompanied by spasticity from September, 2019 to December, 2024. Their age, gender, cause of injury, injury site, severity of injury, spasticity severity and other indicators were recorded. The relationships between different characteristics were analyzed, and a correlation analysis of disease duration, spasticity grade, injury level, injury severity and age were conducted. ResultsThere was no significant difference in age distribution between patients with tetraplegia and paraplegia (Z = 0.806, P = 0.420). The proportions of trauma (χ² = 3.982, P = 0.046) and tetraplegia (χ² = 10.559, P = 0.010) were higher in males than in females. Trauma was the main cause of injury in both tetraplegia and paraplegia patients; the proportion of tetraplegia was higher than paraplegia in trauma patients, while paraplegia was higher than tetraplegia in non-trauma patients (χ² = 11.885, P < 0.001). Patients with tetraplegia was dominated by incomplete injury, whereas patients with paraplegia was dominated by complete injury (χ² = 10.885, P = 0.012). Grade A injury was predominant in trauma patients (P = 0.003). Spasticity grade showed a very weak positive correlation with disease duration (r = 0.175, P = 0.032) and age (r = 0.168, P = 0.040). Injury severity showed a very weak positive correlation with age (r = 0.183, P = 0.025). ConclusionCharacteristics of patients with spinal cord injury complicated with spasticity is different with gender, cause of injury, injury level, injury severity.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intraoperative pleural irrigation with Nocardia rubra cell-wall skeleton (N-CWS) for reducing pleural effusion drainage after radical surgery for lung cancer. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of lung cancer patients who underwent lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University between December 2024 and May 2025. Patients were divided into a control group and an irrigation group based on the intraoperative use of N-CWS. Patients in the irrigation group received pleural irrigation with 800 μg of N-CWS diluted in 10 mL of normal saline. The following outcomes were compared between the two groups: pleural effusion drainage volume at 0-24 h, 24-48 h, and 48-72 h postoperatively, degree of air leak, chest tube duration, postoperative length of stay, and the incidence of adverse events (fever, chest pain, and nausea and vomiting). Results A total of 245 patients were included (97 males, 148 females) with a mean age of (61.28±6.26) years, with 205 in the control group and 40 in the irrigation group. Compared to the control group, the irrigation group showed significantly lower pleural effusion drainage volumes at 0-24 h, 24-48 h, and 48-72 h, as well as shorter chest tube duration and postoperative length of stay (all P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the degree of postoperative air leak (P=0.661). No significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding the highest body temperature within 72 h post-surgery (P=0.130), fever grade (P=0.196), severity of chest pain (P=0.105), or the incidence of nausea and vomiting (P=0.376). Conclusion Intraoperative pleural irrigation with N-CWS in patients undergoing lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection for lung cancer can significantly reduce postoperative pleural effusion drainage volume, shorten chest tube duration and length of hospital stay. The procedure is safe and feasible.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism by which Tangbikang granules improve diabetic peripheral neuropathy based on ferroptosis mediated by the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （AMPK/Nrf2） signaling pathway. MethodsA diabetes model was established using spontaneous male Zucker diabetic fatty （ZDF） rats. After successful modeling， the rats were divided into a normal group， a model group， high-， medium-， and low-dose Tangbikang granules groups， and a metformin hydrochloride group. The high-， medium-， and low-dose Tangbikang granules groups were administered by gavage at doses of 2.5， 1.25， 0.625 g·kg^-1， respectively. The metformin hydrochloride group received 0.135 g·kg^-1 by gavage， while the remaining groups received an equal volume of deionized water. Administration continued for 12 weeks. Blood glucose levels were measured after administration， and at 4， 8， 12 weeks. Following the 12-week intervention， the thermal pain threshold and the sciatic nerve conduction velocity （SNCV） were measured. The levels of malondialdehyde （MDA）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， and adenosine triphosphate （ATP） in the sciatic nerve were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Morphological changes in the sciatic nerve were observed using hematoxylin and eosin （HE） staining， and the ultrastructural changes were examined using transmission electron microscopy. The levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 （GPx4） were detected using immunofluorescence （IF） assay. The protein expression levels of p-AMPK， Nrf2， GPx4， and acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 （ACSL4） were detected using Western blot. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group had significantly higher blood glucose levels after administration and at weeks 4， 8 and 12 （P<0.01）. The thermal pain threshold was significantly prolonged （P<0.01）， and the SNCV was significantly slowed down （P<0.01）. The SOD and ATP levels significantly decreased （P<0.01）， while the MDA levels significantly increased （P<0.01）. Pathologically， the sciatic nerve fibers in the model group showed a dispersed structure， disordered and sparse arrangement， axonal atrophy， irregular myelin sheath halo， increased and swollen Schwann cell nuclei， obvious endoneurial fibrosis， and collagen hyperplasia. Immunofluorescence assay revealed fragmented red fluorescence and significantly reduced expression of GPx4 （P<0.01）. Western blot analysis showed significantly decreased protein expression levels of p-AMPK， Nrf2， and GPx4 （P<0.01）， and significantly increased expression of ACSL4 （P<0.01） in the model group. Compared with the model group， fasting blood glucose level decreased significantly in the high-dose Tangbikang granules group at weeks 4 and 12 （P<0.05）. The thermal pain threshold was significantly shortened in the high- and medium-dose Tangbikang granules groups （P<0.01）. The SNCV was significantly accelerated in the high- and medium-dose Tangbikang granules groups （P<0.01）. The SOD levels were significantly elevated in the high-dose Tangbikang granules group （P<0.01）. The MDA levels significantly decreased in all Tangbikang granules groups （P<0.01）. Both the metformin hydrochloride group and the high-dose Tangbikang granules group exhibited relatively orderly and densely arranged sciatic nerve fibers with more regular myelin sheath halos. The GPx4 expression significantly increased in both the metformin hydrochloride group and all Tangbikang granules groups （P<0.01）. The protein expression levels of p-AMPK， Nrf2， and GPx4 were significantly increased （P<0.01）， while ACSL4 protein expression significantly decreased （P<0.01）. ConclusionTangbikang granules may improve peripheral neuropathy by suppressing ferroptosis through the regulation of the AMPK/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Retinal microcirculatory disorder is a key factor in the occurrence and development of diabetic retinopathy （DR）， and also an important link in the prevention and treatment of DR. The theory of "Gaozhuo" holds that the microcirculatory disorder in DR is based on the deficiency of spleen Qi and is characterized by the obstruction caused by "Gaozhuo" and blood stasis. The deficiency of spleen Qi is an essential precondition for the endogenous formation and accumulation of Gaozhuo， while Gaozhuo invasion is the direct cause of microcirculatory disorders in DR. The deficiency of spleen Qi and the endogenous formation of Gaozhuo mean the process in which glucose metabolism dysfunction induces an excessive production of inflammatory factors and lipid metabolites. The obstruction caused by "Gaozhuo" and blood stasis is the direct pathogenesis of microcirculatory disorders in DR， encompassing two stages： Gaozhuo obstruction and turbidity and stasis stagnation. Gaozhuo obstruction and turbidity and stasis stagnation represent the process in which inflammatory factors and lipid metabolites damage the retinal microcirculation and induce thrombosis， thus mediating microcirculatory disorders. Turbidity and stasis stagnation and blood extravasation outside the vessels reveal the progression to microvascular rupture and hemorrhage resulting from the microcirculatory disorders. According to the pathogenesis evolution of the theory of "Gaozhuo"， microcirculatory disorders in DR can be divided into deficiency of spleen Qi with Gaozhuo obstruction， deficiency of spleen Qi with turbidity and stasis stagnation， and turbidity and stasis stagnation with blood extravasation outside the vessels. Clinically， treatment principles should focus on strengthening the spleen and benefiting Qi， resolving turbidity， and dispersing stasis. Different syndrome patterns should be addressed with tailored therapies， such as enhancing the spleen and benefiting Qi while regulating Qi and reducing turbidity， strengthening the spleen and benefiting Qi while resolving turbidity and dispelling stasis， and strengthening the spleen and resolving turbidity while removing stasis and stopping bleeding. Representative prescriptions include modified Wendantang， modified Buyang Huanwutang， modified Danggui Buxuetang， Zhuixue Mingmu decoction， Tangmuqing， Shengqing Jiangzhuo Tongluo Mingmu prescription， Danhong Huayu decoction， and Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue Lishui formula.

ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Qi-reinforcing and blood-activating/stasis-expelling Chinese patent medicines in the treatment of coronary microvascular disease （CMD）. MethodsPubMed， Cochrane Library， CNKI， Wanfang Data， and VIP were searched for the randomized controlled trials （RCTs） on the treatment of CMD with Chinese patent medicines for reinforcing Qi and activating blood/expelling stasis with the time interval from inception to December 31， 2023. The primary outcome indicators included the index of microcirculatory resistance （IMR）， coronary flow reserve （CFR）， and corrected TIMI flow frame count （cTFC）. The secondary outcome indicators included symptomatic efficacy， left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）， hypersensitive C-reactive protein （hs-CRP）， nitric oxide （NO）， and adverse events. Cochrane risk-of-bias assessment tool 2.0 （RoB 2.0） and Stata 17.0 were used for literature quality evaluation and meta-analysis of the included RCTs. The Grading of Recommendations， Assessment， Development and Evaluation （GRADE） was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. ResultsA total of 36 RCTs were included in this study， involving 3 029 patients. Compared with conventional Western medicine alone， the combined use of Chinese patent medicines for reinforcing Qi and activating blood/expelling stasis and Western medicine reduced the IMR ［mean difference （MD）=-5.93， 95% confidence interval （95%CI） ［-8.73，-3.14］， n=382， P<0.01］， cTFC （MD=-9.35， 95%CI ［-13.94，-4.76］， n=618， P<0.01）， and hs-CRP ［standard mean difference （SMD）=-1.50， 95%CI ［-1.90，-1.11］， n=1 483， P<0.01］， improved the CFR （SMD=1.14， 95%CI ［0.08，2.19］， n=304， P=0.03）， symptomatic efficacy ［relative risk （RR）=1.36， 95%CI ［1.21，1.53］， n=756， P<0.01］， LVEF （MD=4.39， 95%CI ［2.31，6.47］， n=533， P<0.01）， and NO （SMD=3.16， 95%CI ［2.07，4.25］， n=946， P<0.01） of CMD patients. In terms of safety， the combined therapy reduced the occurrence of adverse events in CMD patients （RR=0.49， 95%CI ［0.29，0.82］， n=591， P=0.01）. GRADE showed moderate quality evidence for adverse events， low quality evidence for cTFC， symptomatic efficacy， LVEF， and NO， and very low quality evidence for IMR， CFR， and hs-CRP. ConclusionBased on microcirculatory function indicators， the combined use of Qi-reinforcing and blood-activating/stasis-expelling Chinese patent medicines and Western medicine may further improve the coronary microvascular function in CMD patients with good safety. The above conclusions remain to be verified with high-quality clinical trials.

BACKGROUND:Exercise as a form of active rehabilitation can improve the dysfunction caused by peripheral nerve injury,and different exercise modalities target different lesion sites and recovery mechanisms. OBJECTIVE:To comprehensively analyze the application and mechanisms of different exercise modalities in functional recovery from peripheral nerve injury. METHODS:A computerized search was conducted in PubMed and CNKI databases for relevant literature published before January 2024.The search terms used were"peripheral nerve injury,spinal cord,exercise,cerebral cortex,muscle atrophy,mirror therapy,blood flow restriction training"in both English and Chinese.Finally,77 articles were included for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Peripheral nerve injury can cause systemic pathological changes such as skeletal muscle atrophy,corresponding spinal cord segmental lesions,and sensorimotor cortex remodeling.Aerobic exercise can improve dysfunction by enhancing the immune response,promoting glial cell polarization,and promoting the release of nerve growth factor.Blood flow restriction exercise can regulate the secretion of muscle growth factor,promote muscle growth and enhance muscle strength.Mirror movement has a good effect in activating the cerebral cortex and reducing cortical remodeling.Different exercise modalities have potential benefits in functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury;however,there are still some problems and challenges,such as the choice of exercise modalities,the control of exercise intensity and frequency,and the detailed analysis of mechanisms.

The incidence of falls is high among the elderly population,particularly in patients with dementia.It was associated with their quality of life,accelerated disease progression,and reducing life expectancy.However,there is still a lack of relevant guidelines and recommendations for the occurrence,prediction,and intervention of falls in people with dementia.By reviewing the epidemiology,pathogenesis,risk factors,prediction models,and intervention measures related to falls in patients with dementia to provide a reference for clinicians to manage the whole process management of senile dementia patients.It was shown a higher risk of falling in elderly with dementia,which may be associated with visuospatial impairment,executive dysfunction,motor dysfunction,poor nutritional status,and a decline in daily living ability.Falling directly affects the prognosis of patients and increases the social and medical burden,which needs to be paid attention to.

Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. A prospective cohort study enrolled 42 patients with clinically suspected acute cerebrovascular disease and those undergoing follow-up examinations after intracranial vascular stenting at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from June 2024 to May 2025. All patients underwent UHR PCD-CT examinations of the head and neck. Reconstructions were performed based on raw data, yielding conventional standard resolution (SR group) reconstructions and UHR images reconstructed using four distinct convolution kernels (Hv40, Hv48, Hv56, Hv64) in separate groups (Hv40 UHR group, Hv48 UHR group, Hv56 UHR group, Hv64 UHR group). Regions of interest were selected in the anterior cerebral artery, middle cerebral artery, posterior cerebral artery, posterior communicating artery, and anterior communicating artery. CT values and standard deviation (SD) values were measured for each artery, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. Additionally, the sharpness of the vessel edges and the full-width-half-maximum (FWHM) of each artery were measured. One-way analysis of variance or the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the subjective and objective image quality metrics across the five groups. Pairwise comparisons were performed using the LSD test or Dunn method.Results:Statistically significant differences were observed in the overall comparison of vascular imaging SD, SNR, CNR, vascular edge sharpness, and FWHM among the SR group, Hv40 UHR group, Hv48 UHR group, Hv56 UHR group, and Hv64 UHR group ( P<0.05). No statistically significant differences in CT values were found ( P>0.05). Pairwise comparisons revealed statistically significant differences between all groups ( P<0.05), except that no significant differences were observed in image SD, SNR, CNR, vascular edge sharpness, or FWHM between the Hv56 UHR and Hv64 UHR groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:UHR PCD-CT provides better image quality for neurovascular imaging. For the display of small intracranial vessels, the Hv64 provides sharper vessel walls and better subjective image quality compared to the less sharp convolutional cores.Objective:To explore the value of ultra-high resolution (UHR) photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) to improve the quality of neurovascular images.

BACKGROUND:Cervical disc degeneration is a common degenerative disease,and inflammatory proteins play an important role in cervical disc degeneration,but the specific mechanisms involved remain to be thoroughly investigated.OBJECTIVE:Using the Mendelian randomization method to assess the potential causal relationship between 91 inflammatory proteins and cervical disc degeneration.METHODS:Genome-wide association analysis statistics for 91 inflammatory proteins(from GCST90274758 to GCST90274848)were obtained from the Genome-Wide Association Analysis Catalog of publicly available genome-wide association analysis data and genome-wide association analysis data for cervical disc degeneration from the Finngen database(finngen_R10_M13_CERVICDISCV).Inverse variance weighting,MR-Egger regression,weighted median,weighted modeling,and simple modeling were used to investigate the causal relationship between inflammatory proteins and cervical disc degeneration.Sensitivity analyses were performed to test whether the results of the Mendelian randomization analysis were reliable,and then the inverse Mendelian randomization analysis was performed in the same way.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The results of the forward analysis showed that a total of six inflammatory proteins were significantly and causally associated with cervical disc degeneration,of which glial cell lineage-derived neurotrophic factor(odds ratio(OR)=1.095,95%confidence interval(CI):1.012-1.184,P=0.023),interleukin 4(OR=1.094,95%CI:1.002-1.194,P=0.045)and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 levels(OR=1.062,95%CI:1.001-1.127,P=0.048)showed a direct positive causal association with the risk of cervical disc degeneration;interleukin 17C(OR=0.906,95%CI:0.839-0.979,P=0.013),interleukin 18(OR=0.924,95%CI:0.866-0.986,P=0.017)and interleukin 2 levels(OR=0.894,95%CI:0.821-0.973,P=0.010)showed a direct negative causal association with the risk of cervical disc degeneration.The results of the inverse analysis showed that when cervical disc degeneration was used as exposure data,there was no significant causal relationship with any of the 91 inflammatory proteins.The results of the sensitivity analysis showed that the Cochran's Q test for the two-way Mendelian randomization,the MR-Egger regression method,and the MR-PRESSO results had P values greater than 0.05,indicating that there was no significant heterogeneity or multiplicity in the analysis of the causal effect between inflammatory proteins and cervical disc degeneration.To conclude,there may be a relatively significant potential causal relationship between glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor,interleukin 4,monocyte chemotactic protein-1,interleukin 17C levels,interleukin 18,and interleukin 2 levels and cervical disc degeneration,which provides valuable clues for research on the potential mechanisms of cervical disc degeneration as well as early prevention and drug treatment of cervical disc degeneration.

BACKGROUND:Electrical stimulation is an effective treatment plan for peripheral nerve injuries,but different frequencies of electrical stimulation have different mechanisms and applications for promoting peripheral nerve recovery.OBJECTIVE:To systematically sort out and summarize the roles and applications of different frequencies of electrical stimulation in the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries,and to deeply analyze the advantages and disadvantages of various methods in order to find the most beneficial treatment strategy for patients'nerve recovery.METHODS:Computer-based searches were conducted in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI)and PubMed databases from the inception of the databases to May 2024.The search terms included"peripheral nerve injury,electrical stimulation,low frequency electrical stimulation,medium frequency electrical stimulation,high frequency electrical stimulation,TENS,interfering electricity,short wave,ultrashort wave,frequency"in both English and Chinese.Ultimately,74 relevant documents were included for analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Peripheral nerve injury,a common clinical disease,can cause sensory and motor dysfunction in patients.Low-frequency electrical stimulation can promote cell proliferation and accelerate the expression of nerve growth factor within the cell after electrical stimulation,promote macrophage recruitment and infiltration,accelerate the clearance of myelin debris,and promote myelin regeneration of damaged axons.Medium-frequency electrical stimulation can act on deeper tissues and is better for relieving neuropathic pain.High-frequency electrical stimulation can promote the proliferation of Schwann cells and macrophages,inhibit inflammatory factors,and rapidly recruit cells to the site of nerve injury,accelerating the speed of nerve repair.Different frequencies of electrical stimulation have their own advantages in promoting the recovery of peripheral nerve injuries,but there are still some issues,such as differences in the site of electrical stimulation and the treatment plans for various disease types.