AIM:To assess the influence of preoperative lacrimal passage probing and dilation on the therapeutic effectiveness of nasolacrimal silicone intubation in cases of incomplete primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction(PANDO).METHODS: A retrospective case-control clinical study was conducted. The study included patients with incomplete PANDO who underwent nasolacrimal silicone intubation at the hospital between October 2022 and October 2024. Participants were categorized into two groups based on their receipt of nasolacrimal duct probing and dilation prior to intubation. Group A consisted of patients who had undergone one or more sessions of nasolacrimal duct probing and dilation before nasolacrimal silicone intubation, while Group B included patients who did not receive nasolacrimal duct probing and dilation before intubation. All patients had their nasolacrimal silicone tubes removed 3 mo postoperatively and were monitored for 6 mo following tube removal to evaluate surgical success rates.RESULTS: A total of 136 patients(152 eyes)completed the six-month follow-up period. The overall surgical success rate for both groups was 72.4%(110/152 eyes).Group A included 22 males and 36 females, mean age 58.09±11.07 y, and achieved a success rate of 82.8%(53/64 eyes), while Group B included 27 males and 51 females, mean age 59.35±8.84 y and attained a success rate of 64.8%(57/88 eyes). The difference in surgical success rates between the two groups was statistically significant(P=0.014). Furthermore, Group A achieved a complete success rate of 67.2%(43/64 eyes), compared to 47.7%(42/88 eyes)in Group B, with this difference also reaching statistical significance(P=0.017). No serious postoperative complications were observed in either group.CONCLUSION: Nasolacrimal silicone intubation is a safe and effective intervention for incomplete PANDO, with preoperative nasolacrimal duct probing and dilation potentially enhancing therapeutic outcomes.

AIM: To compare the control effect of spherical and toric orthokeratology on low-to-moderate myopia with astigmatism(-1.00--1.50 DC)in adolescents.METHODS: The clinical data of 119 cases(119 eyes)of low-to-moderate myopia with astigmatism(-1.00--1.50 DC)adolescents who were treated and fitted with orthokeratology in the ophthalmology department of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from June 2021 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into spherical group, with 65 cases(65 eyes), and toric group, with 54 cases(54 eyes)according to the type of orthokeratology. The changes of uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA), axial length and corneal astigmatism before and after wearing lenses were recorded to evaluate the therapeutic effect.RESULTS: The UCVA of both the groups significantly improved at 1 and 2 a after wearing lenses(all P<0.01); corneal astigmatism decreased, but there was no significant difference(all P>0.05); the axial length was longer than that before wearing lenses(P<0.01). There were no statistical significant differences in the UCVA and corneal astigmatism between the spherical group and the toric group(Fintergroup=0.829,Pintergroup=0.364; Fintergroup=0.997,Pintergroup=0.320); and there were no statistical significant differences in the axial length growth between the spherical group and the toric group after wearing lenses for 1 a(0.18±0.11 mm vs 0.17±0.14 mm), and 2 a(0.17±0.10 mm vs 0.16±0.10 mm; all P>0.05).CONCLUSION: Both orthokeratology lenses can improve the UCVA, reduce corneal astigmatism, and delay axial length growth of adolescents with low-to-moderate myopia with astigmatism(-1.00--1.50 DC), and there are no significant differences in the control effect of spherical design orthokeratology and the toric design orthokeratology on myopia.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of modified Huanglian Wendan Decoction in improving insulin resistance(IR)HepG2 cells by regulating JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.Methods HepG2 cells were incubated with 0.25 mmol/L palmitic acid for 24 h to induce IR model.The cells were divided into model group,drug containing serum group and metformin hydrochloride group.Blank serum,modified Huanglian Wendan Decoction drug containing serum and 2 mmol/L metformin hydrochloride intervention were administered,respectively.Normal cultured HepG2 cells were used as control group.The glucose assay kit was used to detect the glucose content in the cell supernatant,the liver glycogen assay kit was used to detect the glycogen content in the cells,the triglycerides(TG)assay kit was used to detect the TG content in the cells,PAS staining was used to observe the glycogen status of the cells,oil red O staining was used to observe the lipid droplet status of the cells,ELISA assay kit was used to detect the contents of interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α in cell supernatant,Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of Janus kinase 2(JAK2),signal transduction and transcription activator 3(STAT3),LC3 and Beclin-1 in the cells.Results Compared with the control group,the glucose content in the supernatant of HepG2 cells in the model group increased(P<0.01),the intracellular glycogen content decreased(P<0.01),the TG content increased(P<0.01),the glycogen staining area decreased(P<0.01),the lipid droplet staining area increased(P<0.01),the contents of IL-6 and TNF-α in the supernatant increased(P<0.01),the expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 proteins increased(P<0.01),and the protein expression of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ and Beclin-1 decreased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the glucose content decreased in the drug containing serum group and metformin hydrochloride group(P<0.01),the intracellular glycogen content increased(P<0.01),the TG content decreased(P<0.01),the glycogen staining area increased(P<0.01),the lipid droplet staining area decreased(P<0.01),the contents of IL-6 and TNF-α in cell supernatant decreased(P<0.01),the expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 proteins decreased(P<0.01),and the expressions of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ and Beclin-1 proteins increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).The effect of modified Huanglian Wendan Decoction was better than that of metformin hydrochloride(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Modified Huanglian Wendan Decoction can possibly improve glucose and lipid metabolism and reduce inflammation in IR-HepG2 cells through intervening JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and mediating autophagy.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of modified Huanglian Wendan Decoction in improving insulin resistance(IR)HepG2 cells by regulating JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.Methods HepG2 cells were incubated with 0.25 mmol/L palmitic acid for 24 h to induce IR model.The cells were divided into model group,drug containing serum group and metformin hydrochloride group.Blank serum,modified Huanglian Wendan Decoction drug containing serum and 2 mmol/L metformin hydrochloride intervention were administered,respectively.Normal cultured HepG2 cells were used as control group.The glucose assay kit was used to detect the glucose content in the cell supernatant,the liver glycogen assay kit was used to detect the glycogen content in the cells,the triglycerides(TG)assay kit was used to detect the TG content in the cells,PAS staining was used to observe the glycogen status of the cells,oil red O staining was used to observe the lipid droplet status of the cells,ELISA assay kit was used to detect the contents of interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α in cell supernatant,Western blot was used to detect the protein expressions of Janus kinase 2(JAK2),signal transduction and transcription activator 3(STAT3),LC3 and Beclin-1 in the cells.Results Compared with the control group,the glucose content in the supernatant of HepG2 cells in the model group increased(P<0.01),the intracellular glycogen content decreased(P<0.01),the TG content increased(P<0.01),the glycogen staining area decreased(P<0.01),the lipid droplet staining area increased(P<0.01),the contents of IL-6 and TNF-α in the supernatant increased(P<0.01),the expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 proteins increased(P<0.01),and the protein expression of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ and Beclin-1 decreased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the glucose content decreased in the drug containing serum group and metformin hydrochloride group(P<0.01),the intracellular glycogen content increased(P<0.01),the TG content decreased(P<0.01),the glycogen staining area increased(P<0.01),the lipid droplet staining area decreased(P<0.01),the contents of IL-6 and TNF-α in cell supernatant decreased(P<0.01),the expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 proteins decreased(P<0.01),and the expressions of LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ and Beclin-1 proteins increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).The effect of modified Huanglian Wendan Decoction was better than that of metformin hydrochloride(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Modified Huanglian Wendan Decoction can possibly improve glucose and lipid metabolism and reduce inflammation in IR-HepG2 cells through intervening JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and mediating autophagy.

The comparison between traditional Chinese medicine Jinzhen oral liquid (JZOL) and Western medicine in treating children with acute bronchitis (AB) showed encouraging outcomes. This trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of the JZOL for improving cough and expectoration in children with AB. 480 children were randomly assigned to take JZOL or ambroxol hydrochloride and clenbuterol hydrochloride oral solution for 7 days. The primary outcome was time-to-cough resolution. The median time-to-cough resolution in both groups was 5.0 days and the antitussive onset median time was only 1 day. This randomized controlled trial showed that JZOL was not inferior to cough suppressant and phlegm resolving western medicine in treating cough and sputum and could comprehensively treat respiratory and systemic discomfort symptoms. Combined with clinical trials, the mechanism of JZOL against AB was uncovered by network target analysis, it was found that the pathways in TRP channels like IL-1β/IL1R/TRPV1/TRPA1, NGF/TrkA/TRPV1/TRPA1, and PGE2/EP/PKA/TRPV1/TRPA1 might play important roles. Animal experiments further confirmed that inflammation and the immune regulatory effect of JZOL in the treatment of AB were of vital importance and TRP channels were the key mechanism of action.

Epigenomic imbalance drives abnormal transcriptional processes,promoting the onset and progression of cancer.Although defective gene regulation generally affects carcinogenesis and tumor suppression networks,tumor immunogenicity and immune cells involved in antitumor responses may also be affected by epigenomic changes,which may have significant implications for the development and application of epigenetic therapy,cancer immunotherapy,and their combinations.Herein,we focus on the impact of epigenetic regulation on tumor immune cell function and the role of key abnormal epigenetic processes,DNA methylation,histone post-translational modification,and chromatin structure in tumor immunogenicity,and introduce these epigenetic research methods.We emphasize the value of small-molecule inhibitors of epigenetic modulators in enhancing antitumor immune responses and discuss the challenges of developing treatment plans that combine epigenetic therapy and immuno-therapy through the complex interaction between cancer epigenetics and cancer immunology.

Diabetic retinopathy(DR)is the most prevalent and severe ocular complication in people with diabetes, and it is one of the leading causes of blindness in adults. In recent years, drug therapy represented by anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)agents has become the first-line therapy in DR treatment, but it cannot reverse retinal non-perfusion areas, microaneurysms and abnormal teleangiectatic capillaries, those who cannot be treated on time are at risk of disease progression. Laser photocoagulation has been widely applied for more than 40 years, it can effectively reduce the rate of blindness by eliminating the non-perfusion areas of capillaries, and panretinal photocoagulation(PRP)has been the primary treatment for DR. With the continuing innovations in laser technology, on the basis of maintaining the curative effect, the aim of minimizing retinal damage and adverse side effects has been realized. A combination of laser photocoagulation and anti-VEGF agents can achieve complementary advantages and better efficacy. Deepening the clinical research on laser therapy and laser therapy combined with anti-VEGF agents in the treatment of DR may help to establish the personalized treatment corresponds with our national conditions. This article briefly reviews the latest application progress of laser therapy in DR treatment in the era of anti-VEGF agents.

The risk of graft loss is relatively high in early stages after pancreatic transplantation so that some patients are placed back on a waiting list for pancreatic transplantation. This review summarized the experiences of two recipients of pancreatic re-transplantation after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation. Both patients could successfully discontinue insulin dosing, blood sugar levels were maintained at a normal level and function of kidney graft improved obviously as compared to pre-transplant levels.

BACKGROUND: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and prior stroke history have a high risk of cardiovascular events despite anticoagulation therapy. It is unclear whether catheter ablation (CA) has further benefits in these patients. METHODS: AF patients with a previous history of stroke or systemic embolism (SE) from the prospective Chinese Atrial Fibrillation Registry study between August 2011 and December 2020 were included in the analysis. Patients were matched in a 1:1 ratio to CA or medical treatment (MT) based on propensity score. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death or ischemic stroke (IS)/SE. RESULTS: During a total of 4.1 ± 2.3 years of follow-up, the primary outcome occurred in 111 patients in the CA group (3.3 per 100 person-years) and in 229 patients in the MT group (5.7 per 100 person-years). The CA group had a lower risk of the primary outcome compared to the MT group [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.47-0.74, P < 0.001]. There was a significant decreasing risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.31-0.61, P < 0.001), IS/SE (HR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.54-0.97, P = 0.033), cardiovascular mortality (HR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.19-0.54, P < 0.001) and AF recurrence (HR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.30-0.37, P < 0.001) in the CA group compared to that in the MT group. Sensitivity analysis generated consistent results when adjusting for time-dependent usage of anticoagulants. CONCLUSIONS In AF patients with a prior stroke history, CA was associated with a lower combined risk of all-cause death or IS/SE. Further clinical trials are warranted to confirm the benefits of CA in these patients.

Diabetic macular edema(DME)and age-related macular degeneration(ARMD)are the leading causes of visual impairment and blindness worldwide, and their common pathological features are increased vascular permeability and abnormal neovascularization, in which cytokines such as vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and angiopoietin-2(Ang-2)play an important role. Intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF agents significantly changed the clinical management of DME and ARMD, but limitations such as the non-responsive cases, the treatment burden and risks caused by frequent injections need to be overcome. Faricimab, a novel bispecific monoclonal antibody that simultaneously targets VEGF-A and Ang-2, can effectively reduce vascular permeability, decrease the number of neovascularization and alleviate retinal edema. Registered clinical studies have shown that Faricimab is effective in improving vision and reducing retinal edema, which is non-inferior to Aflibercept and Ranibizumab, maintains a long dosing interval, and has a high safety profile. This article reviews the latest advances in the treatment of DME and ARMD with Faricimab.