Objective:To compare the infection status of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) between the non-endemic area (Yixian county, Huangshan city) and the endemic area (Qianshan city, Anqing city) in Anhui province, and to explore the possibility of Yixian county being a natural focus of SFTS, thereby providing a scientific basis for the formulation of prevention and control strategies.Methods:In Xidi town, Yixian county, and Shuihou town, Qianshan city, one administrative village with the highest number of reported cases in the past three years was selected as the study village in each area, along with one control village with no reported cases. The study investigated the total antibody positivity rates of SFTS virus (SFTSV) in natural populations and host animals, as well as the density and virus-carrying rate of the vector ticks. Differences in total antibody positivity rates between the two regions were compared.Results:The total SFTSV antibody positivity rates in the natural population and host animals in the surveyed villages (control villages) of Qianshan city and Yi county were 8.7% and 8.0% (3.3%, 4.1%) and 0.0%, 9.1% (50.0%, 66.7%), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the infection rates of the natural population and host animals between the surveyed villages (control villages) in different endemic regions (all P>0.05). In the surveyed villages of Qianshan city and Yi county, the free-living tick densities were 1.4 ticks/hour per flag and 1.7 ticks/hour per flag, respectively; the parasitic tick densities were 0.4 ticks/host and 2.5 ticks/host, respectively; the tick infestation rates were 33.3% and 35.3%, respectively; and the tick density indices were 1.3 ticks/host and 7.2 ticks/host, respectively. Conclusions:The natural populations and host animals in some areas of Yixian county exhibit high SFTSV infection rates, and the tick density is also high, suggesting that the region may have become a natural focus of SFTS. Therefore, it is necessary to further strengthen capabilities in surveillance, diagnosis, and clinical treatment to address the potential risk of SFTS outbreaks.

Cervical spinal cord injury without fracture-dislocation (CSCIWFD) is referred to as a special type of cervical spinal cord injury characterized by traumatic spinal cord dysfunction and no significant bony structural abnormalities on imagines. Duo to the high risk of missed diagnosis during the initial consultation, CSCIWFD may lead to progressive neurological deterioration or even complete paralysis, severely impacting patients′ prognosis. Currently, there are no established consensuses over the diagnosis and treatment of CSCIWFD, such as the lack of evidence-based standards for indications of non-surgical treatment and risk of secondary neurological injury, as well as debates over the optimal timing for surgical intervention and indications for different surgical approaches. To address these issues, the Spine Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the relevant fields to formulate Diagnosis and treatment guideline for acute cervical spinal cord injury without fracture- dislocation in adults ( version 2025) . Based on evidence-based medicine and the principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability, the guidelines proposed 11 recommendations covering terminology, diagnosis, evaluation treatment, and rehabilitation, etc., aiming to standardize the management of CSCIWFD.

Vertebral refracture following percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) is commonly seen in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures (OTLCF). It can lead to recurrent pain, loss of vertebral height, progression of kyphosis, and even neurological dysfunction, significantly impairing patients′ quality of life. Current diagnosis and treatment face multiple challenges, including high misdiagnosis rate, difficulty in choosing between surgical and non-surgical treatment options, lack of standardized surgical protocols, interference from intralesional bone cement during procedures, inadequate stability of internal fixation in osteoporotic bone, and suboptimal compliance of anti-osteoporotic therapy. Establishing a standardized diagnostic and therapeutic framework is urgently needed. To standardize the management process and improve outcomes for vertebral refractures after PVA in elderly OTLCF patients, Spinal Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the field to develop Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of vertebral refracture after percutaneous vertebral augmentation in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures ( version 2025), based on current literature and clinical experience, and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability. A total of 11 recommendations were proposed, encompassing diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of vertebral refracture after PVA in elderly patients with OTLCF, aiming to provide a foundation for a standardized management.

Objective:To collect registered clinical research plans on TCM characteristic therapies for treating cervical spondylosis; To explore their research registration status; To provide references for future clinical trial registration and implementation.Methods:Clinical research on TCM characteristic therapies for treating cervical spondylosis was retrieved from ChiCTR, ITMCTR and Clinical Trials. gov from the establishment of the databases to July 1, 2024. Excel 2019 was used to conduct descriptive statistics on registration time, registration area and institution, funding source, research type and design scheme, research participation center and sample size, cervical spondylosis type, intervention measures, outcome indicators, reporting quality, research openness and methodological application.Results:A total of 138 clinical trials for the TCM treatment of cervical spondylosis were included, of which 136 were registered by domestic researchers in 22 provincial-level administrative regions. The top three in terms of registration numbers were Shanghai, Guangdong Province, and Beijing. Additionally, 2 were registered by foreign researchers in Egypt and Malaysia. The main sources of funding were 50 local finances, followed by 26 hospital subsidies and 18 national finances. The intervention research accounted for the largest proportion of research types, with 123 items (89.13%). The research center mainly focused on single center studies (98 projects). Most randomized controlled trials (115 trials) described randomization methods, while a small number of randomized controlled trials (50 trials) indicated blinding. The intervention measures were mostly combined with TCM therapy, and the outcome indicators were mainly efficacy indicators, with fewer safety indicators.Conclusions:At present, clinical trial registrations for TCM treatment of cervical spondylosis are increasing, but issues remain, such as poor study design, uneven distribution, and incomplete information. It is recommended to refine registration details, optimize study protocols, and promote high-quality clinical research.

Cervical spinal cord injury without fracture-dislocation (CSCIWFD) is referred to as a special type of cervical spinal cord injury characterized by traumatic spinal cord dysfunction and no significant bony structural abnormalities on imagines. Duo to the high risk of missed diagnosis during the initial consultation, CSCIWFD may lead to progressive neurological deterioration or even complete paralysis, severely impacting patients′ prognosis. Currently, there are no established consensuses over the diagnosis and treatment of CSCIWFD, such as the lack of evidence-based standards for indications of non-surgical treatment and risk of secondary neurological injury, as well as debates over the optimal timing for surgical intervention and indications for different surgical approaches. To address these issues, the Spine Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the relevant fields to formulate Diagnosis and treatment guideline for acute cervical spinal cord injury without fracture- dislocation in adults ( version 2025) . Based on evidence-based medicine and the principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability, the guidelines proposed 11 recommendations covering terminology, diagnosis, evaluation treatment, and rehabilitation, etc., aiming to standardize the management of CSCIWFD.

Vertebral refracture following percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) is commonly seen in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures (OTLCF). It can lead to recurrent pain, loss of vertebral height, progression of kyphosis, and even neurological dysfunction, significantly impairing patients′ quality of life. Current diagnosis and treatment face multiple challenges, including high misdiagnosis rate, difficulty in choosing between surgical and non-surgical treatment options, lack of standardized surgical protocols, interference from intralesional bone cement during procedures, inadequate stability of internal fixation in osteoporotic bone, and suboptimal compliance of anti-osteoporotic therapy. Establishing a standardized diagnostic and therapeutic framework is urgently needed. To standardize the management process and improve outcomes for vertebral refractures after PVA in elderly OTLCF patients, Spinal Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the field to develop Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of vertebral refracture after percutaneous vertebral augmentation in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures ( version 2025), based on current literature and clinical experience, and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability. A total of 11 recommendations were proposed, encompassing diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of vertebral refracture after PVA in elderly patients with OTLCF, aiming to provide a foundation for a standardized management.

BACKGROUND:Research has shown that vanillic acid has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects,but it is unclear whether it has a protective effect on endplate chondrocytes.OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect and mechanism of vanillic acid on endplate chondrocytes under inflammatory microenvironment.METHODS:(1)Primary endplate chondrocytes were isolated from the intervertebral disc of SD rats and identified by toluidine blue staining and collagenⅡ immunofluorescence.(2)The CCK-8 assay was employed to detect the effects of interleukin-1β and vanillic acid on the proliferation activity of endplate chondrocytes,in order to determine the concentration of vanillic acid for subsequent cell treatment.(3)An inflammatory microenvironment was simulated by adding 10 ng/mL interleukin-1β to the culture medium,and the endplate chondrocytes were treated with low,medium,and high mass concentrations of vanillic acid.The expression levels of inflammatory markers and extracellular matrix proteins were detected by western blot assay and immunofluorescence.(4)The expression of nuclear factor κB signaling pathway-related proteins was detected by western blot assay.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The morphology of endplate chondrocytes in adherent culture was pike or triangular in shape,positive for toluidine blue staining and immunofluorescence for collagen Ⅱ,indicating that the experimentally extracted cells were endplate chondrocytes.(2)The CCK-8 assay results showed that treatment with 2.5,5,10,and 20 μg/mL vanillic acid for 24 hours did not significantly inhibit the proliferation of endplate chondrocytes.Compared with the interleukin-1β group,the viability of endplate chondrocytes treated with 5,10,and 20 μg/mL vanillic acid for 24 hours was significantly increased(P＜0.05).Therefore,5,10,and 20 μg/mL vanillic acid was selected as the low,medium,and high dose groups for subsequent treatment of endplate chondrocytes.(3)Compared with the model group(complete medium containing 10 ng/mL interleukin-1β),the expression of NOD-like receptor thermal domain associated protein 3(NLRP3),matrix metalloproteinase 13,matrix metalloproteinase 3,and tumor necrosis factor alpha protein in the endplate chondrocytes of the low,medium,and high doses of vanillic acid groups were significantly reduced(P＜0.05).(4)Compared with the model group,the protein expression of aggrecan and collagen Ⅱ in the endplate chondrocytes of the low,medium,and high dose groups of vanillic acid significantly increased(P＜0.05).(5)Compared with the model group,the protein expression of phospho-nuclear factor κB and phospho-inhibitor of nuclear factor κB in the endplate chondrocytes of the low,medium,and high dose groups of vanillic acid was significantly reduced(P＜0.05).(6)The above results indicate that vanillic acid may alleviate the inflammatory response and extracellular matrix degradation induced by interleukin-1β in rat endplate chondrocytes by inhibiting the activation of the nuclear factor κB signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND:Research has shown that vanillic acid has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects,but it is unclear whether it has a protective effect on endplate chondrocytes.OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect and mechanism of vanillic acid on endplate chondrocytes under inflammatory microenvironment.METHODS:(1)Primary endplate chondrocytes were isolated from the intervertebral disc of SD rats and identified by toluidine blue staining and collagenⅡ immunofluorescence.(2)The CCK-8 assay was employed to detect the effects of interleukin-1β and vanillic acid on the proliferation activity of endplate chondrocytes,in order to determine the concentration of vanillic acid for subsequent cell treatment.(3)An inflammatory microenvironment was simulated by adding 10 ng/mL interleukin-1β to the culture medium,and the endplate chondrocytes were treated with low,medium,and high mass concentrations of vanillic acid.The expression levels of inflammatory markers and extracellular matrix proteins were detected by western blot assay and immunofluorescence.(4)The expression of nuclear factor κB signaling pathway-related proteins was detected by western blot assay.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The morphology of endplate chondrocytes in adherent culture was pike or triangular in shape,positive for toluidine blue staining and immunofluorescence for collagen Ⅱ,indicating that the experimentally extracted cells were endplate chondrocytes.(2)The CCK-8 assay results showed that treatment with 2.5,5,10,and 20 μg/mL vanillic acid for 24 hours did not significantly inhibit the proliferation of endplate chondrocytes.Compared with the interleukin-1β group,the viability of endplate chondrocytes treated with 5,10,and 20 μg/mL vanillic acid for 24 hours was significantly increased(P＜0.05).Therefore,5,10,and 20 μg/mL vanillic acid was selected as the low,medium,and high dose groups for subsequent treatment of endplate chondrocytes.(3)Compared with the model group(complete medium containing 10 ng/mL interleukin-1β),the expression of NOD-like receptor thermal domain associated protein 3(NLRP3),matrix metalloproteinase 13,matrix metalloproteinase 3,and tumor necrosis factor alpha protein in the endplate chondrocytes of the low,medium,and high doses of vanillic acid groups were significantly reduced(P＜0.05).(4)Compared with the model group,the protein expression of aggrecan and collagen Ⅱ in the endplate chondrocytes of the low,medium,and high dose groups of vanillic acid significantly increased(P＜0.05).(5)Compared with the model group,the protein expression of phospho-nuclear factor κB and phospho-inhibitor of nuclear factor κB in the endplate chondrocytes of the low,medium,and high dose groups of vanillic acid was significantly reduced(P＜0.05).(6)The above results indicate that vanillic acid may alleviate the inflammatory response and extracellular matrix degradation induced by interleukin-1β in rat endplate chondrocytes by inhibiting the activation of the nuclear factor κB signaling pathway.

Objective:To compare the infection status of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) between the non-endemic area (Yixian county, Huangshan city) and the endemic area (Qianshan city, Anqing city) in Anhui province, and to explore the possibility of Yixian county being a natural focus of SFTS, thereby providing a scientific basis for the formulation of prevention and control strategies.Methods:In Xidi town, Yixian county, and Shuihou town, Qianshan city, one administrative village with the highest number of reported cases in the past three years was selected as the study village in each area, along with one control village with no reported cases. The study investigated the total antibody positivity rates of SFTS virus (SFTSV) in natural populations and host animals, as well as the density and virus-carrying rate of the vector ticks. Differences in total antibody positivity rates between the two regions were compared.Results:The total SFTSV antibody positivity rates in the natural population and host animals in the surveyed villages (control villages) of Qianshan city and Yi county were 8.7% and 8.0% (3.3%, 4.1%) and 0.0%, 9.1% (50.0%, 66.7%), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the infection rates of the natural population and host animals between the surveyed villages (control villages) in different endemic regions (all P>0.05). In the surveyed villages of Qianshan city and Yi county, the free-living tick densities were 1.4 ticks/hour per flag and 1.7 ticks/hour per flag, respectively; the parasitic tick densities were 0.4 ticks/host and 2.5 ticks/host, respectively; the tick infestation rates were 33.3% and 35.3%, respectively; and the tick density indices were 1.3 ticks/host and 7.2 ticks/host, respectively. Conclusions:The natural populations and host animals in some areas of Yixian county exhibit high SFTSV infection rates, and the tick density is also high, suggesting that the region may have become a natural focus of SFTS. Therefore, it is necessary to further strengthen capabilities in surveillance, diagnosis, and clinical treatment to address the potential risk of SFTS outbreaks.

Objective To discuss the feasibility and safety of simultaneous bilateral adrenal vein sampling(AVS)using two 4F-MPA1 catheters via right elbow vein access.Methods A total of 51 consecutive patients with primary aldosteronism,who received simultaneous bilateral AVS using two 4F-MPA1 catheters(one of the two catheters was shaped into pig tail figure)via right elbow vein access at Xiangyang Municipal Central Hospital between October 2021 and October 2022,were enrolled in this study.The used catheter,the success rate of simultaneous bilateral AVS,and the incidence of complications rate were calculated.Results The 4F-MPA1 catheter was used for all of the right AVS,while a specially shaped 4F-MPA1 catheter was used for the main trunk vein AVS of the left adrenal gland and the central vein AVS of the left adrenal gland.The success rate of simultaneous bilateral AVS was 92.2%(47/51).Adrenal hematoma occurred in one patient(1.96%).Conclusion The technique of simultaneous bilateral AVS using two 4F-MPA1 catheters via right elbow vein access is simple to operate,less traumatic,and clinically safe and feasible.However,due to the small sample used in this study,the clinical value of this technique still needs further investigation and verification.