Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of coiling dragon needling plus chin tuck against resistance(CTAR)training for post-stroke deglutition disorders and its impact on surface electromyography.Methods:A total of 100 patients with post-stroke deglutition disorders were randomly divided into two groups,with 50 cases in each group.Both groups received the same CTAR training,and the observation group was treated with additional coiling dragon needling.Both groups were treated for 2 weeks.The clinical efficacy,swallowing function,average value of the maximum amplitude of surface electromyography,quality of life,and the difference in adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results:The total effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the standardized swallowing assessment(SSA),aspiration score,and deglutition disorders score of the videofluoroscopic swallowing study(VFSS)in both groups were significantly lower than those before treatment(P<0.05).The average value of the maximum amplitude of surface electromyography in the relaxed state,dry swallowing state,and the state of swallowing water,and the swallowing quality of life questionnaire(SWAL-QOL)score were all significantly higher than those before treatment in the two groups(P<0.05).After treatment,the SSA score,VFSS aspiration score,and VFSS deglutition disorders score in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05),and the average value of the maximum amplitude of surface electromyography in the relaxed state,dry swallowing state,and the state of swallowing water,and the SWAL-QOL score in the observation group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:Compared to CTAR treatment alone,coiling dragon needling plus CTAR treatment can enhance the clinical efficacy in treating patients with post-stroke deglutition disorders,enhancing the contraction ability of swallowing muscles and improving their swallowing function and quality of life.

Ferroptosis is a form of programmed cell death,which plays a crucial driving role in the onset and progression of diabetic nephropathy(DN).Ferroptosis is closely related to the damage of renal intrinsic cells in patients with diabetes.Chinese materia medica can improve DN by regulating the ferroptosis of renal intrinsic cells,with a good research and application prospect.This article reviewed the key regulatory factors and regulatory pathways of ferroptosis in DN,explained the"imbalance between yin and yang"of ferroptosis in DN based on TCM theories,and combed the research status of targeted inhibition of ferroptosis by active components of Chinese materia medica.The regulation of active components of Chinese materia medica on ferroptosis in DN has the characteristics of multiple targets,multiple links and integrity,which can provide a reference for the mechanism research and drug development of Chinese materia medica in treating DN.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy of endovascular treatment for venous outflow tract obstruction after liver transplantation.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 7 patients with venous outflow tract obstruction after liver transplantation admitted to Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from November 2020 to December 2024. Among them, there were 5 males and 2 females, with the age of (22.3±8.1) years. The primary diseases included 2 cases of Budd-Chiari syndrome, 1 case of hepatic veno-occlusive disease, 1 case of portal veno-hepatic sinus vascular disease, 1 case of ornithine carbamoyltransferase deficiency, 1 case of primary biliary cirrhosis, and 1 case of autoimmune cirrhosis. Analyze the patient's clinical manifestations, obstruction of venous outflow tract, hemoglobin levels within one week before and one week after the operation, endovascular treatment conditions, and intraoperative complications such as abdominal hemorrhage and vascular injury. Ultrasound was used to measure the depth of ascites and pleural effusion. All patients were followed up immediately after the operation through phone calls or follow-up visits. The clinical symptoms, abdominal vascular ultrasound, enhanced CT and survival status of the patients were followed up.Results:All 7 patients were diagnosed with venous outflow tract obstruction by intraoperative angiography, including 1 cases of inferior vena cava obstruction, 2 cases of hepatic vein obstruction, and 4 cases of vena cava combined with hepatic vein obstruction. A total of 12 endovascular treatments were performed on 7 patients. Among them, 4 patients received balloon dilation and angioplasty once, 1 patient received balloon dilation and angioplasty twice, 1 patient underwent hepatic vein stent implantation after 2 hepatic vein balloon dilation and angioplasty, and 1 patient underwent intrahepatic portosystemic shunt via jugular vein after 2 hepatic vein balloon dilation and angioplasty. The abdominal distensionof the patients were all relieved after the operation, the ascites and pleural effusion decreased, and the edema symptoms of the lower extremities disappeared. There were no intraoperative complications. The preoperative hemoglobin of 7 patients was (113.4±34.0) g/L, and the postoperative hemoglobin was (126.6±34.8) g/L, which increased significantly compared with that before the operation, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-0.71, P=0.038). Seven patients were followed up for 6 to 24 months, with a median of 12 months. None of them had obvious symptoms including abdominal distension. Abdominal ultrasound and CT indicated that the blood flow of the transplanted liver was unobstructed, and no patient died. Conclusion:Venous outflow tract obstruction after liver transplantation can cause severe symptoms. Endovascular treatment is an effective treatment for venous outflow tract obstruction after liver transplantation.

Objective:To explore the molecular mechanism by which interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) affects hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) by regulating the polarization of Kupffer cells.Methods:Twelve male healthy C57BL/6 wild-type mice weighing 20-25 g and aged 6-8 weeks were divided into a sham operation group ( n=6) and a HIRI group ( n=6); Twelve male healthy C57BL/6 IRF1 gene knockout (IRF1 -/-) mice weighing 20-25 g and aged 6-8 weeks were divided into a sham operation IRF1 -/- group ( n=6) and a HIRI IRF1 -/- group ( n=6). The levels of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in mice were measured, and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining of liver tissues was performed for Suzuki scoring to evaluate liver injury. Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to evaluate the mRNA levels of IRF1 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) in liver tissues. Flow cytometry and qRT-PCR were used to detect the proportion and functional changes of M1/M2-type Kupffer cells in liver tissues. IRF1 was overexpressed or knocked down in the mononuclear macrophage cell line ANA1, and a co-culture and hypoxia-reoxygenation system with the hepatocyte cell line AML12 was established. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis of AML12 cells. Results:At 12 hours after hepatic ischemia-reperfusion in wild-type mice, the liver tissue injury was the most severe. Compared with the sham operation group, the levels of serum ALT [(8 073±83) U/L vs. (81±19) U/L, q=13.59] and AST [(11 170±2 890) U/L vs. (412±210) U/L, q=13.77] in the HIRI group were significantly higher, and the differences were statistically significant (both P<0.001). The Suzuki score reached 5-6 points. At 12 hours after hepatic ischemia-reperfusion in IRF1 gene knockout mice, the liver tissue injury was not obvious. There were no significant differences in the levels of serum ALT [668 (514, 2 344) U/L vs. 254 (147, 285) U/L, q=2.52, P=0.348] and AST [1 936 (1 262, 2 003) U/L vs. 628 (423, 759) U/L, q=1.22, P=0.824] between the HIRI IRF1 -/- group and the sham operation IRF1 -/- group. Compared with the HIRI group, the ratio of M1/M2-type Kupffer cells in the liver of the HIRI IRF1 -/- group decreased [(0.958±0.090) vs. (2.788±0.258), q=2.06, P<0.0001], and the mRNA expression of TNFα decreased [(4.363±0.393) vs. (12.900±5.504), q=5.59, P=0.018], and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant. In the co-culture and hypoxia-reoxygenation experiment using ANA1 cells overexpressing IRF1 and AML12 cells, the proportion of AML12 hepatocytes in late apoptosis was higher than that in the control group [(14.05±4.25) vs. (3.15±1.16), t=2.85, P=0.047], and the difference was statistically significant. In contrast, when the expression of IRF1 was knocked down, the proportion of apoptotic AML12 cells decreased [(9.26±3.04) vs. (13.36±4.64), t=2.15, P=0.098], but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion:The IRF1 protein can regulate the polarization of Kupffer cells into M1-type macrophages, promote the inflammatory injury of the liver tissue after ischemia-reperfusion, and increase the apoptosis of hepatocytes.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy of high-dose daptomycin as salvage therapy for staphylococcal left-sided infective endocarditis（IE）.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 14 patients with staphylococcal left-sided IE who received high-dose daptomycin（≥8 mg·kg?1·d?1）as salvage therapy at Nanjing First Hospital between November 2016 and February 2022. Data on clinical characteristics，laboratory and imaging findings，treatment regimens，and outcomes were analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results:Among the 14 patients，9 had prosthetic valve endocarditis. Echocardiographic findings included vegetations（ n=9），paravalvular leakage（ n=6），and paravalvular abscesses（ n=2）；4 patients had ≥2 valvular lesions. Pathogens were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus（MRSA， n=3），methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus（MSSA， n=2），and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus（MRCNS， n=9）. Clinical treatment success was achieved in 8 patients. Treatment failure occurred in 6 patients，including 2 deaths，one discontinued medication due to hypersensitivity reaction and one discontinued medication due to elevated creatine phosphokinase（CK）levels. Conclusion:High-dose daptomycin demonstrates moderate efficacy as salvage therapy for staphylococcal left-sided IE. However，adverse reactions，including hypersensitivity and elevated CK levels，necessitate vigilant clinical monitoring.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) viral load for the cervical cancer screening and triage of high-risk HPV positive populations without additional tests.Methods:(1) This study conducted a retrospective analysis of 29 720 women aged 35-64 years who received cervical cancer screening in Quanzhou, China, in 2021. Fourteen high-risk HPV types (including HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, and 68) were detected for cervical cancer primary screening using hybrid capture-chemiluminescence method. High-risk HPV positive samples were further subjected to HPV 16/18 genotyping using hybrid capture-chemiluminescence method. Among them, HPV 16/18 positive women were directly referred to colposcopy, while the other 12 high-risk HPV positive samples were further subjected to liquid based cytology test. Those with abnormal or suspicious cytology were referred to colposcopy. Biopsies were taken for histopathological examination of suspicious or abnormal individuals under colposcopy. (2) Ten cases of colposcopy loss or refusal to undergo examination were excluded, and the data from the 29 710 cases were analyzed. The HPV viral loads of the other 12 high-risk HPV positive populations were focused and evaluated their HPV viral loads for further cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) Ⅱ and above lesions (CINⅡ +) triage in cervical cancer screening. Results:(1) Among 29 720 women, 2 487 women (8.37%, 2 487/29 720) were positive for high-risk HPV, including 807 women (2.72%, 807/29 720) were positive for HPV 16/18 and 1 680 patients (5.65%, 1 680/29 720) were positive for the other 12 high-risk HPV types. Among 1 680 women who tested positive for the other 12 high-risk HPV types, 573 patients were atypical squamous cell carcinoma of unclear significance or above, 346 patients were CIN Ⅰ, 122 patients were CIN Ⅱ-Ⅲ, 9 patients were squamous cell carcinoma patients, and 4 patients were adenocarcinoma in situ. The immediate risk of CIN Ⅱ + in HPV 16/18 positive women (11.13%) was approximately four times higher than that of other 12 high-risk HPV positive women (2.74%). (2) Through the viral load analysis of the other 12 high-risk HPV types, we found that the viral load of the other 12 high-risk HPV provide a good value for the pathological results, with a clinical cutoff (CO) value of 11.21 relative light unit/CO (RLU/CO) for the CINⅡ + detection. Except for HPV 16/18 positive patients, when the viral load values of the other 12 high-risk HPV types were greater than 10 RLU/CO, these patients had a higher risk of CINⅡ +, with a positive predictive value of 31.29%. CINⅡ + was not found in any of the other 12 high-risk HPV positive with viral load values less than or equal to 10 RLU/CO. Conclusions:Using hybrid capture-chemiluminescence HPV tests for HPV 16/18 genotyping, combined with the viral loads (>10 RLU/CO) of the other 12 high-risk HPV analysis, one could triage HPV positive population without additional tests. Such triage strategy could promote the coverage of cervical cancer screening, particularly where cytology pathologists or economic resources are limited.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of primary autoimmune cerebellar ataxia (PACA) patients with autoantibodies.Methods:Patients from the Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (from March 2013 to December 2023) who met the modified diagnostic criteria of PACA were collected. Cell based assay and tissue based assay were used to detect anti-cerebellar antibodies. The clinical features, results of neuroimaging, cerebrospinal fluid examinations and the prognosis of the patients were analyzed. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score≤2 at the last follow-up was defined as a favorable prognosis. Exacerbation of cerebellar ataxia after clinical improvement or stabilization for at least 2 months was defined as relapse.Results:A total of 20 patients were included, including 7 males. The onset age was 48.4 (22.8, 59.3) years. Gait ataxia was the most common cerebellar symptom. Extracerebellar neurological abnormalities included pyramidal sign, peripheral neuropathy/radiculopathy and diplopia. Elevated cerebrospinal fluid white blood cells and positive specific oligoclonal bands were observed in 4/16 and 7/15 of patients, respectively. The brain magnetic resonance imaging examination of the patients showed that 8 patients had no obvious abnormalities, 9 patients showed cerebellar atrophy, and 3 patients showed abnormal signals in the brain or cerebellum. A total of 9 different anti-cerebellar antibodies were detected in the patient′s serum and (or) cerebrospinal fluid, with the most common being anti-Homer-3 antibodies ( n=7). After immunotherapy, 13/17 of patients improved. After 37.5 (21.0, 93.0) months of follow-up, the median mRS score of the patients was 3, and 8 patients (8/20) achieved good prognosis and 6 patients experienced disease recurrence. Conclusions:The clinical manifestations of PACA patients have certain heterogeneity, and positive anti-neuroantibodies and meeting PACA diagnostic criteria are the main basis for diagnosing the disease. Immunotherapy is effective for most patients, but there is still a considerable proportion of patients who have not achieved a good long-term functional prognosis.

The mortality rates are significantly elevated with the rapid progression of acute liver failure in the absence of timely diagnosis and treatment. Liver transplantation is an effective therapeutic approach that can halt disease progression, but transplantation timing is a crucial factor affecting prognosis. Patients with acute liver failure should be promptly transferred to hospitals equipped for liver transplantation while simultaneously preparing for the procedure during the course of treatment to avoid missing the opportunity to save lives when the condition suddenly worsens. Auxiliary liver transplantation preserves the patient's native liver while transplanting a new liver. Therefore, patients are expected to gradually reduce immunosuppressants following the regeneration of the autologous liver, so avoiding the problem of lifelong use of immunosuppressants. This is also a unique advantage, offering benefits to patients undergoing auxiliary liver transplantation therapy for acute liver failure, while simultaneously presenting challenges for clinicians in terms of technical skill and comprehensive management.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of using small and ultra-small sized grafts for in situ auxiliary liver transplantation in the treatment of portal hypertension.Methods:A prospective single-arm cohort study was conducted. Patients who underwent liver transplantation at Beijing Friendship Hospital from December 2014 to July 2025 were included. Intraoperative portal vein pressure was routinely monitored, with the target regulation for portal vein blood flow set at<15 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and follow-up continued until September 2025. The primary endpoints were the patient's status and graft survival. The secondary endpoints were small-for-size syndrome and perioperative complications. The small-for-size syndrome was graded according to the 2023 International Liver Transplantation Society consensus statement.Results:A total of 33 cases were enrolled. Among them, 22 had ultra-small size grafts, 11 had small-size grafts, 28 had living donor grafts, and five had split grafts. The graft-to-recipient weight ratio in living donor liver transplantation was 0.31%～0.79%, while in split liver transplantation it was 0.45%～1.02%. Intraoperative portal vein pressure of ≥15 mmHg was observed in 11 cases, who underwent portal vein blood flow adjustment via splenic artery ligation (2 cases), partial splenectomy (8 cases), and/or restrictive portocaval shunting (1 case), after which all patients achieved the target portal vein pressure. All cases completed at least one month of follow-up, with 28 cases following for more than one year, and the median follow-up period was 36.5 months. Early-stage postoperative small-for-size syndrome occurred in eight cases (24.2%, 8/33), all classified as grade A, with improvements following supportive treatment. Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo≥Ⅲ) occurred in three cases (9.1%, 3/33). The one-year survival rate was 92.9% (26/28). The overall survival rate at the end of follow-up was 90.9% (30/33). No patients experienced graft loss or death due to small-for-size syndrome. Graft tissue tested negative for hepatitis B core antibody and covalently closed circular DNA, and hepatitis B surface antigen seroconversion was achieved following second-stage residual liver resection and under a combined strategy of potent nucleos(t)ide analogs and hepatitis B immunoglobulin in ten cases of hepatitis B-related disease.Conclusions:With standardized portal vein blood flow monitoring and individualized portal vein blood flow adjustment, in situ auxiliary liver transplantation can safely and effectively use small and even ultra-small sized grafts, thereby significantly expanding graft sources and ensuring donor and recipient safety. These findings warrant further validation and promotion in multicenter controlled studies.

Objective:To explore the potential role of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and components of metabolic syndrome (MS) in the early progression of carotid arteriosclerosis.Methods:The study was a cross-sectional study. Urban participants undergoing routine health check-ups were enrolled from all 11 prefecture-level cities in Zhejiang Province between January and December 2022. General clinical information was obtained through interviews, and data on MS was collected from the clinical health examinations. Serum Lp-PLA? levels were measured in all participants. All participants were divided into 3 groups according to the results of the carotid ultrasound: the normal group, the intima thickening group with carotid intima thickening change and the plaque group. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations of Lp-PLA2, MS, and the components of MS with early carotid atherosclerosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the diagnostic performance of combining Lp-PLA2 with MS and the cumulative number of MS components for early carotid atherosclerosis.Results:A total of 4 009 urban adults undergoing routine health check-ups were enrolled (mean age (48.9±8.46) years, 2 665(66.5 %)male). Of these, 1 398 were in the normal group, 1 650 in the intima thickening group, and 961 in the plaque group. Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that Lp-PLA2 was independently associated with early carotid atherosclerosis ( OR=1.34, 95% CI: 1.11-1.63, P=0.003). Lp-PLA2 also showed independent positive associations with both carotid intima thickening and carotid plaque formation, with the latter being more pronounced (both P<0.05). MS was independently and positively associated with early carotid atherosclerosis ( OR=1.48, 95 % CI: 1.20-1.84, P<0.001), as well as with intima thickening and carotid plaque formation, with the association being stronger for the latter (both P<0.05). Furthermore, the strength of the association increased progressively with the number of MS components ( P<0.001), especially for carotid plaques formation (both P<0.001). Multivariable logistic regression revealed that, compared with individuals without MS and low Lp-PLA2 levels, the risk of early carotid atherosclerosis was increased in those with high Lp-PLA2 alone, MS alone, or both conditions concurrently, with the highest risk observed when both were present (all P<0.05). ROC analyses demonstrated that the combination of elevated Lp-PLA2 with 3, 4, or 5 MS components yielded good diagnostic performance for early carotid atherosclerosis ( AUC=0.869, 0.888, and 0.889, respectively), intima thickening ( AUC=0.844, 0.860, and 0.845, respectively), and carotid plaque formation ( AUC=0.899, 0.924, and 0.968, respectively) in urban health-screening participants. Conclusions:Lp-PLA2, MS, and the number of MS components were independently and positively associated with early carotid atherosclerosis in urban health chek-up populations. The combination of MS components and Lp-PLA2 provided favorable diagnostic performance for the detection of early carotid atherosclerosis.