Objective To analyze the difference of psoas major muscle morphology and pain degree in patients with different types of lumbar disc herniation ( LDH ) by quantitative CT, and to further explore the relationship between psoas major muscle morphology and pain degree. Methods A total of 120 patients with LDH admitted to our hospital from January to December 2025 were enrolled as study subjects. Based on clinical symptoms and lesion location, they were divided into a simple lower extremity pain group and a lumbar and leg pain group. All patients underwent lumbar CT examination. The psoas major muscle index was used as a CT quantitative parameter, which was calculated as the mean of the maximum cross-sectional areas of both psoas major muscles divided by the cross-sectional area of the L5 vertebral body. This index was measured to reflect psoas major muscle morphology. Pain severity was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Differences in psoas major muscle morphology and pain severity between the two groups were compared. A Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between the psoas major muscle index and pain severity. A linear regression model was used to analyze the independent risk factors affecting pain severity. Results There were no statistically significant differences in sex, age, or body mass index between the two groups (P>0.05). The disease duration was longer and the incidence of anxiety and depression was higher in the lumbar and leg pain group than those in the simple lower extremity pain group (P<0.05). Compared with the simple lower extremity pain group, the lumbar and leg pain group showed lower psoas major muscle index [(0.53 ± 0.05) vs. (0.61 ± 0.07)] and higher VAS score [(4.67 ± 1.10) vs. (3.02 ± 0.89)], and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between the psoas major muscle index and the VAS score (r=−0.288, P<0.05). Linear regression model analysis indicated that the independent risk factors affecting the VAS score were age, disease duration, LDH type, and the psoas major muscle index. Conclusion Compared with LDH patients with simple lower extremity pain, those with lumbar and leg pain demonstrate a longer disease duration, a higher incidence of anxiety and depression, and a higher severity of psoas major muscle atrophy and pain. The severity of pain is associated with not only advanced age and prolonged disease duration but also the LDH type and psoas major muscle atrophy.

Objective To analyze the difference of psoas major muscle morphology and pain degree in patients with different types of lumbar disc herniation ( LDH ) by quantitative CT, and to further explore the relationship between psoas major muscle morphology and pain degree. Methods A total of 120 patients with LDH admitted to our hospital from January to December 2025 were enrolled as study subjects. Based on clinical symptoms and lesion location, they were divided into a simple lower extremity pain group and a lumbar and leg pain group. All patients underwent lumbar CT examination. The psoas major muscle index was used as a CT quantitative parameter, which was calculated as the mean of the maximum cross-sectional areas of both psoas major muscles divided by the cross-sectional area of the L5 vertebral body. This index was measured to reflect psoas major muscle morphology. Pain severity was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Differences in psoas major muscle morphology and pain severity between the two groups were compared. A Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between the psoas major muscle index and pain severity. A linear regression model was used to analyze the independent risk factors affecting pain severity. Results There were no statistically significant differences in sex, age, or body mass index between the two groups (P>0.05). The disease duration was longer and the incidence of anxiety and depression was higher in the lumbar and leg pain group than those in the simple lower extremity pain group (P<0.05). Compared with the simple lower extremity pain group, the lumbar and leg pain group showed lower psoas major muscle index [(0.53 ± 0.05) vs. (0.61 ± 0.07)] and higher VAS score [(4.67 ± 1.10) vs. (3.02 ± 0.89)], and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between the psoas major muscle index and the VAS score (r=−0.288, P<0.05). Linear regression model analysis indicated that the independent risk factors affecting the VAS score were age, disease duration, LDH type, and the psoas major muscle index. Conclusion Compared with LDH patients with simple lower extremity pain, those with lumbar and leg pain demonstrate a longer disease duration, a higher incidence of anxiety and depression, and a higher severity of psoas major muscle atrophy and pain. The severity of pain is associated with not only advanced age and prolonged disease duration but also the LDH type and psoas major muscle atrophy.

Objective To analyze the difference of psoas major muscle morphology and pain degree in patients with different types of lumbar disc herniation ( LDH ) by quantitative CT, and to further explore the relationship between psoas major muscle morphology and pain degree. Methods A total of 120 patients with LDH admitted to our hospital from January to December 2025 were enrolled as study subjects. Based on clinical symptoms and lesion location, they were divided into a simple lower extremity pain group and a lumbar and leg pain group. All patients underwent lumbar CT examination. The psoas major muscle index was used as a CT quantitative parameter, which was calculated as the mean of the maximum cross-sectional areas of both psoas major muscles divided by the cross-sectional area of the L5 vertebral body. This index was measured to reflect psoas major muscle morphology. Pain severity was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS). Differences in psoas major muscle morphology and pain severity between the two groups were compared. A Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between the psoas major muscle index and pain severity. A linear regression model was used to analyze the independent risk factors affecting pain severity. Results There were no statistically significant differences in sex, age, or body mass index between the two groups (P>0.05). The disease duration was longer and the incidence of anxiety and depression was higher in the lumbar and leg pain group than those in the simple lower extremity pain group (P<0.05). Compared with the simple lower extremity pain group, the lumbar and leg pain group showed lower psoas major muscle index [(0.53 ± 0.05) vs. (0.61 ± 0.07)] and higher VAS score [(4.67 ± 1.10) vs. (3.02 ± 0.89)], and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a negative correlation between the psoas major muscle index and the VAS score (r=−0.288, P<0.05). Linear regression model analysis indicated that the independent risk factors affecting the VAS score were age, disease duration, LDH type, and the psoas major muscle index. Conclusion Compared with LDH patients with simple lower extremity pain, those with lumbar and leg pain demonstrate a longer disease duration, a higher incidence of anxiety and depression, and a higher severity of psoas major muscle atrophy and pain. The severity of pain is associated with not only advanced age and prolonged disease duration but also the LDH type and psoas major muscle atrophy.

Acute liver failure (ALF) is lack of broadly approved therapeutic strategy except liver transplantation. As a glycogen metabolic intermediate, UDP-glucose (UDP-G) has been considered to accelerate liver repairment. Nevertheless, the role of UDP-G and its receptor P2Y purinoceptor 14 (P2Y₁₄R) in ALF remains unknown. The present study aims to investigate the role and underlying mechanisms of UDP-G/P2Y₁₄R axis in ALF. In this study, hepatic P2Y₁₄R is significantly increased in TAA-induced and partial hepatectomy-induced ALF, while knockout of whole-body P2Y₁₄R aggravates liver failure, manifested by inhibiting β-Catenin-mediated liver regeneration. Consistently, P2Y₁₄R deficiency exhibits impaired liver regeneration in mice suffer partial hepatectomy. Importantly, only hepatocellular specific deletion of P2Y₁₄R (P2Y₁₄R ^flox/flox Alb ^cre/+ ) mice shows a similar phenomenon, rather than stellate cell specific deletion of P2Y₁₄R (P2Y₁₄R ^flox/flox Lrat ^cre/+ ) mice. Mechanistically, P2Y₁₄R induction regulates methylation of Dact-2 through CREB/DNMT3b signals in hepatocytes, subsequently inhibiting the expression of Dact-2 which is a stabilizer of β-Catenin degradation complex, leading to the activation of β-Catenin -mediated liver regeneration. Interestingly, the administration of exogenous UDP-G can accelerate liver regeneration and liver function recovery after partial hepatectomy in hepatocellular carcinoma mice. Together, the findings propose an unrecognized role of P2Y₁₄R in ALF and provide an effective adjuvant strategy for treatment of ALF.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the pathogens distribution in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and their association with anti-β-glucan receptor-1 (Dectin-1)/spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) signaling pathway, and to provide scientific basis for formulating more effective treatment strategies and preventive measures. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted. 160 patients with VAP admitted to the department of critical care medicine of Xingtai People's Hospital from January 2021 to March 2023 were enrolled. The respiratory secretions of patients were collected for Candida colonization analysis, and then the bacteria in the respiratory secretions were identified by automatic microbial identification instrument. The expression levels of Dectin-1 and Syk in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were detected by fluorescent immunopolymerase chain reaction. Clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) was performed based on imaging, clinical and microbiological criteria. The basic data, pathogen distribution, Dectin-1 and Syk expression levels and CPIS score of the two groups were compared. Spearman test was used to analyze the correlation between the expression levels of Dectin-1 and Syk and respiratory Candida colonization and CPIS score. RESULTS: 160 VAP patients, 97 were Candida colonized (colonized group) and 63 were not (non-colonized group). There were significantly differences in gender (males: 57.73% vs. 41.27%, P = 0.042) and age (years: 57.98±12.46 vs. 62.09±10.61, P = 0.029) between the colonized group and the non-colonized group, while there were no significantly differences in the data of duration of mechanical ventilation, underlying diseases and primary diseases. The distribution of pathogenic bacteria showed that the infection rate of Staphylococcus aureus in the colonized group was significantly higher than that in the non-colonized group (24.74% vs. 7.94%, P < 0.05), and there was no significantly difference in the infection rate of other G-positive and G-negative bacteria between the two groups. The CPIS score in the colonized group was significantly higher than that in the non-colonized group (8.73±0.43 vs. 7.31±0.39, P < 0.01), and the expression levels of Dectin-1 and Syk in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were significantly higher than those in the non-colonized group (Dectin-1/U6: 0.86±0.22 vs. 0.47±0.16, Syk/U6: 0.77±0.18 vs. 0.42±0.11, both P < 0.01). The expression levels of Dectin-1 and Syk in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of VAP patients were significantly positively correlated with the colonization of respiratory Candida (r values were 0.754 and 0.631, respectively, both P < 0.05), and were significantly positively correlated with CPIS score (r values were 0.594 and 0.618, respectively, both P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The proportion of Staphylococcus aureus in VAP patients with respiratory Candida colonization is higher, and Dectin-1/Syk signaling pathway is significantly positively correlated with respiratory Candida colonization and CPIS score.
Humans ; Syk Kinase ; Lectins, C-Type/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated/metabolism* ; Prospective Studies ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Candida ; Aged

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and its prognosis in patients with severe craniocerebral injury. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted. Patients with severe craniocerebral injury admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xingtai Medical College from January 2020 to December 2022 were enrolled as the study subjects. Patients were divided into VAP group and non-VAP group based on the occurrence of VAP. VAP patients were further stratified into low-risk group [sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score 0-5], moderate-risk group (SOFA score 6-8), and high-risk group (SOFA score ≥ 9). General data, serological indicators [interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)], and 28-day prognosis (with mortality as the endpoint event) were compared. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for VAP and 28-day mortality. Linear regression was applied to analyze the correlations between risk factors and outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 140 patients with severe craniocerebral injury were enrolled, including 49 in the VAP group and 91 in the non-VAP group. The primary cause of injury was traffic accidents, followed by falls and heavy object impacts. Among VAP patients, 38 survived and 11 died within 28 days; 112 were classified as low-risk, 25 as moderate-risk, and 12 as high-risk. Significant differences were observed in age, body mass index (BMI), smoking history, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, length of hospital stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, serum albumin levels, and frequency of sputum suction among different subgroups. Serologically, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and STAT3 mRNA expression levels in the VAP group were significantly higher than those in the non-VAP group. Deceased VAP patients exhibited higher IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and STAT3 mRNA levels compared to survivors. These biomarkers progressively increased from low-risk to high-risk subgroups. Multivariate Logistic regression identified age [odds ratio (OR) were 0.328 and 0.318], BMI (OR were 0.340 and 0.268), hypertension (OR were 0.275 and 0.245), diabetes (OR were 0.319 and 0.307), hyperlipidemia (OR were 0.228 and 0.235), smoking history (OR were 0.255 and 0.240), length of hospital stay (OR were 0.306 and 0.230), duration of mechanical ventilation (OR were 0.247 and 0.219), frequency of sputum suction (OR were 0.325 and 0.228), IL-1β (OR were 0.231 and 0.259), TNF-α (OR were 0.308 and 0.235), IL-6 (OR were 0.298 and 0.277), and STAT3 (OR were 0.259 and 0.265) as independent risk factors for both VAP occurrence and 28-day mortality (all P < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that serum albumin levels were negatively correlated with VAP occurrence and mortality (all P < 0.01), while other factors showed positive correlations (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Age, BMI, length of hospital stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, frequency of sputum suction, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, smoking history, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway activation are significantly associated with VAP development and poor prognosis in patients with severe craniocerebral injury, providing a scientific basis for targeted clinical interventions.
Humans ; Risk Factors ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Craniocerebral Trauma/complications* ; Interleukin-6/blood* ; Male ; Female ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/blood* ; Interleukin-1beta/blood* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Logistic Models

Objectives:To investigate the relationship between QRS duration and its changes during hospitalization and long-term all-cause mortality in patients with chronic heart failure.Methods:A total of 3 580 patients who attended three tertiary hospitals in Shanxi Province(First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University,Shanxi Cardiovascular Hospital,Shanxi Bethune Hospital)and were diagnosed with chronic heart failure from March 2014 to November 2021,were enrolled in this study.QRS duration at admission and discharge were collected,and the changes in QRS duration during hospitalization(ΔQRS)and the ΔQRS ratio(ΔQRS/admission QRS duration×100% )were calculated.Patients were divided into three group according to tertiles of ΔQRS:the group with decreasing QRS duration(n=1 364),the group with stable QRS duration(n=1 248),and the group with progressing QRS duration(n=968).Telephone follow-up was conducted at months 1,3,6,12,and every 6 months thereafter after discharge till May 1,2023,long-term all-cause mortality was the primary endpoint.Survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method,and comparisons between groups were made using the log-rank method.Cox proportional risk regression model was used for prognostic analysis,and restricted cubic spline curves were calculated to evaluate QRS duration-related variables during hospitalization and the risk of long-term all-cause mortality in patients with chronic heart failure.Results:The median follow-up was 71(56,92)months,and all-cause mortality occurred in 502(14.0% )patients.Long-term all-cause mortality was lower in the group with decreasing QRS duration and the group with stable QRS duration compared with the progressing QRS duration group(13.9% vs.10.7% vs.18.6%,χ2=28.607,P<0.001).Multifactorial Cox regression analysis showed that admission QRS duration(HR=1.005,95% CI:1.002-1.009,P=0.003)and higher ΔQRS ratio during hospitalization(HR=2.071,95% CI:1.247-3.440,P=0.005)were independent influencing factors of long-term all-cause mortality in chronic heart failure patients.Restricted cubic spline curves showed that when the admission QRS duration was>96.36 ms,the longer the QRS duration,the higher the risk of all-cause mortality;when the admission QRS duration fluctuated from 89.32-96.36 ms,the QRS duration was a protective factor for long-term all-cause mortality in patients with chronic heart failure;and when the ΔQRS ratio during hospitalization was≥3.40%,higher ΔQRS ratio was linked with increased risk of all-cause mortality.Conclusions:QRS duration and ΔQRS ratio during hospitalization are independent predictors of long-term all-cause mortality in patients with chronic heart failure.Admission QRS duration>96.36 ms and ΔQRS ratio during hospitalization≥3.40% are associated with increased risk of long-term all-cause mortality in patients with chronic heart failure.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss(SSNHL)is an idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss of at least 30 dB over three consecutive frequencies in less than 3 days.However,its pathogenesis is still unknown.Recent re-searches suggest that inflammation plays a very important role in its development and prognosis.For this reason,we reviewed the relationship between inflammation and SSNHL from the perspective of development and prognosis,and further discussed the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of SSNHL.

Objective: To investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of acellular nerve allografts (ANA) on motor neurons in the spinal cord anterior horn of sciatic nerve injury ( SNI) rats . Methods: SPF grade male SD rats were randomly divided into normal , model , ANA-bridged (bridge group) , and autologous nerve transplantation groups (autograft group) , with 6 rats in each group . The SNI rat model was established using the right sciatic nerve clamp method for 10 mm . In the bridge group , the ANA was bridged to the two severed ends of the injured sciatic nerve , and in the autograft group , the autologous nerves were flipped head to tail and then bridged to the two se- vered ends . A spectrophotometer was applied to determine the DNA content in normal nerves and ANA . The foot- print test was used to determine the sciatic nerve function index (SFI) of the rats in each group , the wet weight ra- tio of the anterior tibialis muscle was calculated . The morphology and structure of the anterior horn motor neurons of the spinal cord of each group were observed by HE staining. The immunofluorescence and Western blot were used to detect Apaf-1 , Caspase-3 , Bcl-2 , Bax , and Cyt-C proteins expression in the L4-6 segment of the spinal cord . Results: The DNA content in the ANA prepared in this study was significantly lower than that in normal nerves (P < 0. 05) . Compared with the normal group , the SFI and wet weight ratio of the anterior tibialis muscle were re- duced in the model group (P < 0. 001) ; compared with the model group , both SFI and wet weight ratio of the ante- rior tibialis muscle significantly increased in the bridge group and the autografts group ( P < 0. 05 , P < 0. 001) , and the SFI and wet weight ratio of the anterior tibialis muscle in the autograft group were higher than those in the bridge group (P < 0. 001 , P < 0. 01) . The results of HE staining showed that the motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord of the normal group were structurally intact and had clear cytosolic boundaries; the neurons in the model group were lysed and necrotic , with blurred cytosolic boundaries; the neurons in the bridge group were less lysed and necrotic , but the nuclear translocation phenomenon could still be seen; the neurons in the autograft group were morphologically and structurally intact with clear cytosolic boundaries . Compared with the normal group , the expression of Apaf-1 , Caspase-3 , Bax and Cyt-C proteins significantly increased in the model group (P < 0. 001 , P < 0. 01 , P < 0. 01 , P < 0. 05) . Compared with the model group , the expression of Apaf-1 , Caspase- 3 , Bax , and Cyt-C proteins significantly decreased (P < 0. 001 , P < 0. 05 , P < 0. 05 , P < 0. 05) ; but the expres- sion of Bcl-2 protein significantly increased in the bridge group and the autograft group (P < 0. 05) . The expression of Apaf-1 , Caspase-3 , Bax and Cyt-C proteins in the autografts group was lower than that in the bridge group (P < 0. 001 , P < 0. 05 , P < 0. 05 , P < 0. 05) . Conclusion ANA can exert a protective effect on motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord of SNI rats by improving the morphology and structure of neurons , increasing the ex- pression of Bcl-2 protein , but decreasing the expression of Cyt-C , Bax , Caspase-3 , and Apaf-1 proteins in the spi- nal cord . The mechanism of ANA may be related to the Bcl-2/Cyt-C/Apaf-1-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis sig- naling pathway .

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Yiqi Tongluo Decoction in the intervention of early traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes after ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD) intervention. Methods: From October 2020 to July 2023, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to include 60 patients with qi deficiency, blood stasis, and phlegm obstruction syndrome after ICVD interventional therapy. They were assigned to the Yiqi Tongluo Decoction treatment group (30 cases) and the TCM placebo routine treatment control group (30 cases) according to the randomized block design. Both groups received routine standardized treatment of Western medicine, including dual antiplatelet, lipid regulation, and control of risk factors for cerebrovascular disease. The treatment group was treated with Yiqi Tongluo Decoction based on the control group. The course of treatment was 60 days and follow-up was carried out 2 and 6 months after the operation. The improvement of qi deficiency syndrome, blood stasis syndrome, phlegm syndrome score and TCM syndrome score, modified Rankin score (mRS), Barthel index (BI) score, Fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) level, incidence of transient ischemic attack (TIA) and ischemic stroke (IS) and incidence of adverse reactions, Head and neck CT angiography (CTA) or digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examination were collected. The clinical efficacy of the patients 2 months after the operation was taken as the main outcome index to preliminarily evaluate the early and long-term efficacy of Yiqi Tongluo Decoction after the ICVD intervention. The early and long-term clinical efficacy and safety of Western medicine standardized treatment combined with TCM Yiqi Tongluo Decoction on patients with qi deficiency, blood stasis and phlegm obstruction syndrome after ICVD intervention were evaluated. The safety of Yiqi Tongluo Decoction in the treatment of patients after ICVD intervention with white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen (FIB), plasminogen time (PT), recurrence of cerebral ischaemia and restenosis in patients at 2 and 6 months after treatment were evaluated. Results: Compared to the control group, the TCM syndrome scores for qi deficiency, blood stasis and phlegm syndrome in the treatment group reduced significantly, the clinical efficacy improved significantly, the mRS score and FABP4 were reduced, and the BI score was increased. Adverse events such as cerebral ischaemia were fewer in the treatment group than in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant; levels of CRP, WBC and PT were reduced, and levels of FIB were reduced at 6 months post-treatment, all P<0.01, and images were intuitively compared. The treatment group was superior to the control group. Conclusion Yiqi Tongluo Decoction combined with Western medicine standard treatment can improve the early clinical efficacy of ICVD patients with qi deficiency, blood stasis and phlegm obstruction syndrome after interventional surgery, improve neurological impairment and daily living ability, reduce the state of qi deficiency syndrome, blood stasis syndrome and phlegm syndrome after interventional surgery, and improve the clinical efficacy of TCM. At the same time, it can reduce the level of FABP4, the target of atherosclerosis and restenosis after interventional surgery, reduce the level of inflammation after interventional surgery in patients with ICVD, regulate coagulation function, and reduce the incidence of long-term recurrence of cerebral ischemia after interventional surgery, with good safety.