Methods: Sixty-two patients (2014–2019) were divided into the SC (n=32) and PC (n=30) groups. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) score, and Neck Disability Index (NDI). Radiological parameters, including cervical lordosis (CL), fused segment angle (FSA), and disc height (DH), were assessed. Cage subsidence, adjacent segment degeneration (ASD), and other complications were also documented. The relationship between postoperative radiological changes and symptoms was also analyzed. Results: Both groups showed significant improvement in symptoms, with fusion achieved in all surgical segments. The SC group had a shorter operative time and reduced intraoperative blood loss. However, the SC group had a higher subsidence rate (16.7% vs. 5.6%, p=0.017). The PC group maintained better cervical alignment in terms of CL, FSA, and DH (p<0.05), with an increased incidence of dysphagia and ASD (p<0.05). Spearman correlation analyses showed that neither CL nor FSA loss at the 5-year follow-up was significantly associated with improvements in the mJOA, VAS, and NDI scores (p>0.05) in either group. Regression analyses indicated that subsidence or loss of lordosis did not correlate with the degree of postoperative symptoms (p<0.05). Conclusions Both SC and PC achieved sustained pain relief, neurological improvement, and solid fusion in three-level ACDF at the 5-year follow-up. SC demonstrated significant advantages in reducing dysphagia and ASD, while PC better maintained cervical alignment and segmental stability. Patient-specific factors should be used to guide implant selection. Further multicenter studies are required to validate these findings.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the anti-Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) activity of luteolin and elucidate its underlying mechanisms. MethodsLuteolin was identified as the primary active compound from the polyphenol extract ofF. diotrys using network pharmacology. Its efficacy was evaluated against two MP strains: the standard strain M129 and the multidrug-resistant strain M19. A modified culture medium with visual characteristics was employed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of luteolin. The expression of key proteins involved in MP growth and pathogenicity was assessed by qRT-PCR following luteolin treatment. Additionally, the viability of A549 cells infected with MP was compared between luteolin-treated and untreated groups. In vivo anti-MP activity was evaluated using a mouse model, and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in lung tissues was analyzed. ResultsLuteolin effectively inhibited both MP strains, with MIC₉₀ values of 100 mg/L for M19 and M129. Treatment with luteolin significantly downregulated the expression of adhesion proteins P1 and P30 in both strains. However, the expression of P65, HMW3, TrmB, and CARDS TX was reduced only in the M19 strain following luteolin intervention. Luteolin also enhanced the growth and viability of A549 cells infected with MP. In the mouse model, luteolin treatment resulted in steady weight gain and was well tolerated. The bacteriostatic rate of luteolin in lung tissues was 50.7%, significantly higher than the 25.2% observed in the roxithromycin group. Furthermore, luteolin reduced the expression of inflammatory factors, including IL-6, TNF-α, and HMGB1, in MP-infected mice. ConclusionLuteolin effectively and safely inhibits the proliferation and pathogenicity of MP, particularly the drug-resistant M19 strain, by downregulating the expression of toxicity-associated proteins (P1, P30, P65, HMW3, TrmB, CARDS TX) and modulating host inflammatory responses. These findings suggest that luteolin may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for treating MP infections, especially those caused by drug-resistant strains.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the anti-Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) activity of luteolin and elucidate its underlying mechanisms. MethodsLuteolin was identified as the primary active compound from the polyphenol extract ofF. diotrys using network pharmacology. Its efficacy was evaluated against two MP strains: the standard strain M129 and the multidrug-resistant strain M19. A modified culture medium with visual characteristics was employed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of luteolin. The expression of key proteins involved in MP growth and pathogenicity was assessed by qRT-PCR following luteolin treatment. Additionally, the viability of A549 cells infected with MP was compared between luteolin-treated and untreated groups. In vivo anti-MP activity was evaluated using a mouse model, and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in lung tissues was analyzed. ResultsLuteolin effectively inhibited both MP strains, with MIC₉₀ values of 100 mg/L for M19 and M129. Treatment with luteolin significantly downregulated the expression of adhesion proteins P1 and P30 in both strains. However, the expression of P65, HMW3, TrmB, and CARDS TX was reduced only in the M19 strain following luteolin intervention. Luteolin also enhanced the growth and viability of A549 cells infected with MP. In the mouse model, luteolin treatment resulted in steady weight gain and was well tolerated. The bacteriostatic rate of luteolin in lung tissues was 50.7%, significantly higher than the 25.2% observed in the roxithromycin group. Furthermore, luteolin reduced the expression of inflammatory factors, including IL-6, TNF-α, and HMGB1, in MP-infected mice. ConclusionLuteolin effectively and safely inhibits the proliferation and pathogenicity of MP, particularly the drug-resistant M19 strain, by downregulating the expression of toxicity-associated proteins (P1, P30, P65, HMW3, TrmB, CARDS TX) and modulating host inflammatory responses. These findings suggest that luteolin may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for treating MP infections, especially those caused by drug-resistant strains.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the expression of parathyroid hormone-like hormone (PTHLH) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and analyze its correlation with clinical prognosis, its regulatory effects on HCC cell behaviors, and the signaling pathways mediating its effects. METHODS: We analyzed the differential expression of PTHLH in HCC and adjacent tissues and its association with patient prognosis based on data from TCGA and GEO databases and from 70 HCC patients treated in our hospital. The effects of PTHLH knockdown and overexpression on proliferation, migration, and invasion of cultured HCC cells were investigated using CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, Transwell migration and invasion assays, and the signaling pathways activated by PTHLH were detected using Western blotting. RESULTS: TCGA and GEO database analysis showed significant overexpression of PTHLH mRNA in HCC tissues, which was associated with poor prognosis of the patients (P<0.05). High PTHLH mRNA expression was a probable independent prognostic risk factor for HCC (P<0.05). In the clinical samples, PTHLH mRNA and protein expressions were significantly higher in HCC tissues than in the adjacent tissues (P<0.001 or 0.01). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses suggested that high PTHLH mRNA expression was an independent risk factor to affect postoperative disease-free survival of HCC patients (P<0.05). The prognostic prediction model based on PTHLH mRNA expression showed an improved accuracy for predicting the risk of postoperative recurrence in HCC patients. In cultured HCC cells, PTHLH overexpression significantly promoted cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion, and caused activation of the ERK/JNK signaling pathway in Huh7 and Hep3B cells. CONCLUSIONS High PTHLH expression promotes HCC progression and is associated with poor patient prognosis. Its pro-tumor effects may be mediated by activation of the ERK/JNK signaling pathway.
Humans ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism* ; Liver Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Prognosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein/genetics* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Disease Progression ; Signal Transduction ; Male ; RNA, Messenger/genetics* ; Female

BACKGROUND: China is seeing a growing demand for rehabilitation treatments for post-stroke upper limb spastic paresis (PSSP-UL). Although acupuncture is known to be effective for PSSP-UL, there is room to enhance its efficacy. OBJECTIVE: This study explored a semi-personalized acupuncture approach for PSSP-UL that used three-dimensional kinematic analysis (3DKA) results to select additional acupoints, and investigated the feasibility, efficacy and safety of this approach. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: This single-blind, single-center, randomized, controlled trial involved 74 participants who experienced a first-ever ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke with spastic upper limb paresis. The participants were then randomly assigned to the intervention group or the control group in a 1:1 ratio. Both groups received conventional treatments and acupuncture treatment 5 days a week for 4 weeks. The main acupoints in both groups were the same, while participants in the intervention group received additional acupoints selected on the basis of 3DKA results. Follow-up assessments were conducted for 8 weeks after the treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) response rate (≥ 6-point change) at week 4. Secondary outcomes included changes in motor function (FMA-UE), Brunnstrom recovery stage (BRS), manual muscle test (MMT), spasticity (Modified Ashworth Scale, MAS), and activities of daily life (Modified Barthel Index, MBI) at week 4 and week 12. RESULTS: Sixty-four participants completed the trial and underwent analyses. Compared with control group, the intervention group exhibited a significantly higher FMA-UE response rate at week 4 (χ² = 5.479, P = 0.019) and greater improvements in FMA-UE at both week 4 and week 12 (both P < 0.001). The intervention group also showed bigger improvements from baseline in the MMT grades for shoulder adduction and elbow flexion at weeks 4 and 12 as well as thumb adduction at week 4 (P = 0.007, P = 0.049, P = 0.019, P = 0.008, P = 0.029, respectively). The intervention group showed a better change in the MBI at both week 4 and week 12 (P = 0.004 and P = 0.010, respectively). Although the intervention group had a higher BRS for the hand at week 12 (P = 0.041), no intergroup differences were observed at week 4 (all P > 0.05). The two groups showed no differences in MAS grades as well as in BRS for the arm at weeks 4 and 12 (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Semi-personalized acupuncture prescription based on 3DKA results significantly improved motor function, muscle strength, and activities of daily living in patients with PSSP-UL. TRIAL REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200056216. Please cite this article as: Huang XY, Liao OP, Jiang SY, Tao JM, Li Y, Lu XY, Li YY, Wang C, Li J, Ma XP. Three-dimensional kinematic analysis can improve the efficacy of acupoint selection for post-stroke patients with upper limb spastic paresis: A randomized controlled trial. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(1): 15-24.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Acupuncture Points ; Upper Extremity/physiopathology* ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Single-Blind Method ; Aged ; Stroke/therapy* ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Stroke Rehabilitation/methods* ; Adult ; Muscle Spasticity/therapy* ; Paresis/physiopathology* ; Treatment Outcome

Objective:To investigate the clinical application of ultrasound-guided cervical plexus block combined with superior laryngeal nerve block in tracheotomy for burn patients.Methods:A total of 88 burn patients who underwent tracheotomy from January 2022 to December 2022 were divided into observation group(44 cases)and matched group(44 cases).The matched group received conventional general anesthesia,while the observation group underwent ultrasound-guided cervical plexus block combined with superior laryngeal nerve block.The operation time,anesthetic effect,intraoperative hemodynamic parameters,postoperative complications,and patient satisfaction were compared.Results:The surgery time in the observation group was shorter than that in the matched group(P＜0.05).The anesthetic effect in the observation group was superior to that in the matched group,with more stable intraoperative hemodynamics,and smaller fluctuations in heart rate and mean arterial pressure(P＜0.05).The incidence of postoperative cough reflex,hoarseness,postoperative pain score,and respiratory complications in the observation group were lower than those in the matched group(P＜0.05).Patient satisfaction in the observation group was higher than that in the matched group(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Ultrasound-guided cervical plexus block combined with superior laryngeal nerve block for tracheotomy in burn patients can effectively improve anesthetic effect,reduce operation time,stabilize intraoperative hemodynamics,reduce postoperative complications,and improve patient satisfaction,which is worthy of clinical application.

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) remains a major challenge in psychiatric clinical practice. However, there is still substantial controversy in the academic community regarding how to define and assess it, and treat and manage these patients effectively. This paper reviews the evolution of the concept of "treatment resistance"in depression with a particular focus on comparing the conventional concept of TRD with the recently proposed concept of "Difficult-to-Treat Depression (DTD)". It explores the underlying rationale and logic behind this conceptual shift, and discusses the practical challenges associated with implementing the "DTD" framework in clinical practice. Finally, the paper provides targeted recommendations to address these challenges, aiming to serve as a reference for psychiatric clinicians and researchers in China.

Anticipatory anxiety is a negative emotion that arises when individuals encounter potential threats or uncertainties in the future. It is the core symptom of a variety of anxiety disorders, and is closely associated with the occurrence, severity, treatment outcome, and prognosis of anxiety disorders, which has garnered a growing amount of focus in clinical practice. Nevertheless, scientific research on anticipatory anxiety continues to face obstacles such as unclear pathological mechanisms, the absence of simple and consistent self-assessment tools, and effective interventions. To improve understanding of the role of anticipatory anxiety in the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders, this study reviews pertinent domestic and international literature, and briefly introduces the concept, assessment and measurement, activation paradigm, pathological mechanisms, and interventions of anticipatory anxiety.

Objective:To explore the diagnostic key points, treatment strategies, and prognosis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after liver transplantation.Methods:The clinical data of 5 recipients diagnosed with GVHD after liver transplantation at the Liver Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from May 1999 to October 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. The causes, onset, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of GVHD after liver transplantation were summarized and analyzed. Literature was searched in CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Chinese Medical Journal Full-text Database, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using the Chinese keywords "移植物抗宿主病+肝移植", and the English keywords "graft versus host disease + liver transplantation". The search time ranged from January 1988 to January 2025. Inclusion criteria for the literature: (1) meeting the clinical or pathological diagnostic criteria of GVHD after liver transplantation; (2) recipient age >18 years; (3) case number ≥2. Exclusion criteria: incomplete clinical data such as incidence, mortality, and clinical manifestations of GVHD after liver transplantation. The retrieved literature was reviewed.Results:All 5 recipients were male. Among them, 4 cases underwent liver transplantation at this center. The incidence of GVHD after liver transplantation in this center was 0.46% (4/872). All 5 cases developed symptoms such as fever, rash, diarrhea, oral ulcers, and pancytopenia on the 19th (5-21) day after liver transplantation. One case had gastrointestinal bleeding. Two cases were diagnosed by skin pathological biopsy, and three cases were diagnosed based on clinical manifestations such as fever, rash, diarrhea, and bone marrow suppression. One case discontinued immunosuppressants, and four cases reduced the dosage of immunosuppressants. Four cases were treated with high-dose glucocorticoids, four with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), three with ruxolitinib, and three with hematopoietic factors. All five cases received protective isolation, anti-infection, and symptomatic supportive treatment. Among the three recipients treated with ruxolitinib, body temperature returned to normal, rash gradually faded, oral ulcers gradually healed, blood cells returned to normal, and they were eventually discharged after recovery. The remaining two cases showed no symptom improvement and died of severe lung infection and multiple organ failure. Literature review A total of 34 articles were included. The incidence of GVHD after liver transplantation was 1.03% (279/27 018), and the onset time ranged from 7 to 1,865 days post-transplantation; 272 cases (97.49%) occurred within 1-8 weeks. The main clinical manifestations included fever (195 cases, 69.89%), rash (267 cases, 95.70%), diarrhea (173 cases, 62.01%), and bone marrow suppression (214 cases, 76.70%). Treatment mainly involved adjustment of immunosuppressants (201 cases, 72.04%), high-dose corticosteroids (215 cases, 77.06%), and IVIG pulse therapy (146 cases, 52.33%). In the end, 83 cases (29.75%) recovered and were discharged, while the mortality rate was 70.25% (196/279), with causes of death including infection, gastrointestinal bleeding, and multiple organ failure.Conclusions:GVHD after liver transplantation has a low incidence, high mortality, and poor prognosis. Diagnosis mainly relies on typical clinical manifestations and pathological results of tissue biopsy. Early administration of high-dose corticosteroids combined with IVIG pulse therapy, timely reduction or discontinuation of immunosuppressants, use of ruxolitinib, active infection management, and enhanced symptomatic and supportive care are effective strategies for treating GVHD after liver transplantation.