OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of minimally invasive technique in the treatment of moderate and severe gluteal muscle contracture. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 85 patients (170 sides) with bilateral gluteal muscle contracture admitted from January 2016 to December 2019. All patients were treated with minimally invasive release of tendon knife. There were 32 males and 53 females, ranging in age from 15 to 37 years old, with an average age of (22.3±6.3) years old. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, incision length, first postoperative ambulation time, complication rate, recurrence rate, and Harris hip score (HHS) were analyzed and evaluated. RESULTS: The average follow-up time was (16.2±4.6) months, ranging from 12 to 30 months. The operation time ranged from 7 to 15 min, with an average of (10.2±3.1) min. Intraoperative blood loss ranged from 2 to 20 ml, with an average of (8.4±2.2) ml. The incision length ranged from 0.6 to 2.0 cm, with an average of (0.8±0.3) cm. The time to postoperative ambulation ranged from 12 to 28 h, with an average of (20.0±3.2) h. All patients achieved primary wound healing without sciatic nerve injury or recurrence. HHS hip function scores ranged from 90 to 98, with an average score of (96.2±1.4). Complications included intraoperative tendon blade tip fracture in two cases (removed under fluoroscopic guidance) and subcutaneous hematoma in three cases-two resolved with compression and one with open evacuation.. Twenty-nine patients exhibited transient swaying gait postoperatively, of which 24 patients returned to normal after 4 weeks and 5 patients returned to normal after 6 weeks. CONCLUSION Minimally invasive tendon blade release is a safe and effective technique for treating gluteal muscle contracture, offering minimal trauma, rapid recovery, and excellent cosmetic and functional outcomes. However, it exhibits a low risk of blade tip fracture and sciatic nerve injury, warranting experienced surgical handling.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Adolescent ; Retrospective Studies ; Buttocks/surgery* ; Young Adult ; Contracture/surgery* ; Tendons/surgery* ; Muscle, Skeletal/surgery*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features, treatment and prognosis of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL) with skin lesions as initial symptom. METHODS: The clinical data of 11 ENKTL patients with skin lesions as initial symptom were retrospectively analyzed from August 2016 to January 2023 in Wuhan First Hospital and Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. RESULTS: Among the 11 patients, there were 6 males and 5 females, with a median age of 50(32-80) years. All patients had different forms of skin lesions as initial clinical symptom, including rash, ulcerative mass, painful skin nodules, infiltrating macula, etc. Most of the skin lesions were involved in the limbs and trunk but also appeared in the lower limbs alone. Five patients had hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) at initial diagnosis, and 8 patients had B symptoms. All patients were diagnosed with advanced clinical staging (Lugano staging IV), and classified as high risk (PINK-E score ≥3). Immunohistochemical examination revealed that the positive rates of CD56 and EBER were both 100%, and the median Ki-67 index was 75%(50%-80%). Plasma EBV-DNA tests were all positive (≥5×10² copies/ml). Most of the induction chemotherapy regimens were combination chemotherapy (MESA, p-Gemox, SMILE) containing pegaspargase or L-asparaginase, or combined with PD-1 monoclonal immunotherapy, or HLH regimens (HLH-04 regimen, L-DEP). The median follow-up time and overall survival (OS) time were both 4.5(0.5-27) months. During the follow-up period, all 8 patients who did not receive autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) died, most of whom died of rapid disease progression. Three patients received ASCT, one died of central nervous system recurrence after transplantation, and two survived. The OS of three patients who underwent ASCT was 21, 27, and 19 months, and PFS was 11, 20, and 13 months, respectively. The plasma EBV-DNA copy number was monitored irregularly after transplantation, and the load of EBV was consistent with the changes of the disease. CONCLUSIONS Early clinical symptoms of ENKTL patients with skin lesions as initial symptom are more atypical, and early diagnosis is particularly difficult. The disease progresses rapidly and the prognosis is poor. There is still no uniform standard for the best treatment strategy. The survival of patients can be significantly prolonged by applying ASCT as soon as possible after complete remission obtained by high-dose induction chemotherapy.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell/diagnosis* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Aged ; Prognosis ; Aged, 80 and over

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To explore the therapeutic effect and safety of dexamethasone combined with ulinastatin in pa-tients with acute severe viral myocarditis(ASVMC).Methods:Clinical data of 92 ASVMC patients treated in our hospital from August 2018 to November 2020 were retrospectively collected,and divided into dexamethasone group(n=46)and combined treatment group(n=46,dexamethasone combined with ulinastatin)according to different treatment program.Each group received corresponding medication based on routine therapy for four weeks.Thera-peutic effect,levels of myocardial enzyme spectrum indexes[cardiac troponin Ⅰ(cTnⅠ),creatine kinase isoenzyme MB(CK-MB),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)]and related indexes of cardiomyocyte apoptosis[soluble factor-related apoptosis(sFas),soluble factor-related apoptosis ligand(sFasL)]before and after treatment,and inci-dence of adverse reactions were compared between two groups.Results:The total effective rate(91.30％vs.73.91％)of combined treatment group was significantly higher than that of dexamethasone group(P=0.028).Compared with dexamethasone group,there were significant reductions in serum levels of cTnⅠ[(4.38±1.02)ng/ml vs.(1.76±0.24)ng/ml],CK-MB[(29.85±5.30)U/L vs.(20.26±4.18)U/L],LDH[(202.84±16.70)U/L vs.(184.21±12.63)U/L],sFas[(2.82±0.37)ng/L vs.(2.39±0.24)ng/L]and sFasL[(0.16±0.04)ng/L vs.(0.08±0.02)ng/L]in combined treatment group after 4-week treatment(P＜0.001 all).There was no sig-nificant difference in incidence rate of adverse reactions during treatment between two groups(P=0.711).Conclusion:Ulinastatin combined with dexamethasone can further inhibit myocardial cell apoptosis,and promote the improvement of myocardial function with significant therapeutic effect in patients with acute severe viral myocarditis and it's safe.

Objective To analyse the clinical efficacy of low-frequency of midnight-noon ebb-flow acupuncture-opening method(also called Ziwu Liuzhu Acupuncture,referring to the needling method based on acupoints selection according to qi and blood movement following heavenly-stems and earthly-branches cycle)in treating low myopia in children.Methods A retrospective study was conducted to collect the clinical data of 84 cases(168 eyes)of children with low myopia who received treatment at the Outpatient Department of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine from January 2021 to December 2022.The children were divided into two groups according to the different treatment protocols:42 cases(84 eyes)treated with acupuncture combined with conventional optometry as the control group,and 42 cases(84 eyes)treated with low-frequency of midnight-noon ebb-flow acupuncture-opening method combined with conventional optometry as the observation group,and the treatment course of both groups was 24 weeks.The changes of refractive error and axial length before and after treatment were observed,and the clinical efficacy in the two groups of children were evaluated.Results(1)After treatment,there being statistically significant differences in the refractive error between the two groups of the children(P＜0.05),and the differential value of the refractive error of the children between the two groups before and after treatment was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(2)After treatment,there being statistically significant differences in the axial length of the children in both groups(P＜0.05).The differential value of axial lengths of the children between the two groups before and after treatment was statistically significant(P＜0.05).(3)The total effective rate of the observation group was 84.52%(71/84),and which of the control group was 63.10%(53/84),the efficacy of the observation group was significantly superior to that of the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion The low-frequency of midnight-noon ebb-flow acupuncture-opening method in treating low myopia in children can effectively postpone the degree of myopia,and decrease the growth of the axis,with exact therapeutic effect.

COVID-19 has been prevalent for three years. The virulence of SARS-CoV-2 is weaken as it mutates continuously. However, elderly patients, especially those with underlying diseases, are still at high risk of developing severe infections. With the continuous study of the molecular structure and pathogenic mechanism of SARS-CoV-2, antiviral drugs for COVID-19 have been successively marketed, and these anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs can effectively reduce the severe rate and mortality of elderly patients. This article reviews the mechanism, clinical medication regimens, drug interactions and adverse reactions of five small molecule antiviral drugs currently approved for marketing in China, so as to provide advice for the clinical rational use of anti-SARS-CoV-2 in the elderly.

In the outbreak of COVID-19,triage procedures based on epidemiology were implemented in a local hospital in Changsha to control the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and avoid healthcare-associated infection.This re-trospective study analyzed the data collected during the triage period and found that COVID-19 patients were en-riched 7 folds into the Section A designated for patients with obvious epidemiological history.On the other side,nearly triple amounts of visits were received at the Section B for patients without obvious epidemiological history.8 COVID-19 cases were spotted out of 247 suspected patients.More than 50％of the suspected patients were submi-tted to multiple rounds of nucleic acid analysis for SARS-CoV-2 infection.Of the 239 patients who were diagnosed as negative of the virus infection,188 were successfully revisited and none was reported as COVID-19 case.Of the 8 COVID-19 patients,3 were confirmed only after multiple rounds of nucleic acid analysis.Besides comorbidities,delayed sharing of epidemiological history added complexity to the diagnosis in practice.The triaging experience and strategy will be helpful for the control of infectious diseases in the future.

Gouty arthritis is a type of metabolic rheumatic disease caused by autoimmune abnormalities. Currently, the use of Western medicine in the clinical treatment of gouty arthritis has been associated with a high risk of adverse reactions. Therefore, there is a growing interest in exploring therapeutic drugs from traditional Chinese medicine as a potential alternative. According to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, gouty arthritis has been classified as damp-heat arthralgia syndrome. Shirebi granules has been found to have good clinical efficacy in treating gouty arthritis. However, its underlying pharmacological mechanisms remain unclear. To address this problem, the study first established the interaction network of candidate targets for Shirebi granules, which is used to treat damp-heat syndrome of gouty arthritis. Then, the key candidate targets of Shirebi granules for treating gouty arthritis with damp-heat syndrome were screened by calculating the topological features of the network nodes. Then, the functional mining of the key candidate targets revealed that the candidate targets of Shirebi granules may intervene in the biological process of inflammatory response and lipid metabolism through the crosstalk of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. To verify the effectiveness of Shirebi granules in treating gouty arthritis with damp-heat syndrome, a rat model was established. The results demonstrated that the granules significantly improved the severity of arthritis in rats with this condition, reduced joint inflammation, gait score, swelling index, increased mechanical pain threshold (P < 0.05), and reduced the content of serum inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in gouty arthritis rats with damp-heat syndrome (P < 0.01) gouty. It was also found that Shirebi granules effectively alleviated the symptoms of dampness heat syndrome such as local joint fever and dry mouth by reducing the temperature of the joints in acute gouty arthritis with damp-heat syndrome (AD) rats, increasing the threshold of heat pain, increasing water intake (P < 0.01), and inhibiting abnormal changes in the content of fatty acid oxidation related enzymes (P < 0.01). Western blot analysis showed that Shirebi granules increased the protein expression levels of Wnt and β-catenin (P < 0.01) while decreasing the protein expression of p65, p-p65 and PPARγ (P < 0.01) in rats with gouty arthritis and damp-heat syndrome. The results showed that Shirebi granules may reverse the "inflammation-immune" imbalance and lipid metabolism disorder by regulating the crosstalk of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and play a role in alleviating the severity of the disease. This study provides a methodological reference for elucidating the pharmacological mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine formulas. It also presents research ideas for the appropriate clinical use of Chinese patent medicines and the development of new clinical drugs for gouty arthritis therapy. The animal welfare and experiment procedures of this study were performed in accordance with the regulations of the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Experimental Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (grant No. ERCCACMS11-2302-08).

Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/drug therapy* ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; Disease Progression ; T-Lymphocytes ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic