Objective To explore the characteristics of TCM syndromes in patients with obesity with metabolic associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD).Methods TCM Symptom Collection Form was developed to collect the clinical symptoms of obesity patients who attended the Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion of Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Capital Medical University,from July to December of 2024.Factor analysis and clustering analysis were used to explore the distribution law of different syndrome elements and TCM syndromes.Results A total of 309 obese patients(221 with MAFLD)were included,with 20 symptoms with a frequency of≥5%.Factor analysis suggested that there was a significant difference between the two groups in the pathogenic syndrome elements of qi stagnation,yin deficiency,qi deficiency,hyperactivity of yang,yang deficiency,dampness,dynamic wind,and the locus of disease syndrome elements of the spleen and the heart spirit(P<0.05).Clustering analysis showed that the syndrome types of patients with MAFLD were mainly the syndrome of liver and stomach stagnation and heat,the syndrome of spleen deficiency and stomach heat,and the syndrome of spleen and kidney deficiency;the syndrome types of patients without MAFLD were mainly spleen-stomach qi stagnation,gastrointestinal excess-heat,spleen-deficiency-dampness obstruction,and spleen-kidney deficiency.Conclusion Patients of obesity with MAFLD are more likely to have the co-existence of the pathogenesis of damp-heat obstruction and spleen-kidney deficiency.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological features, genetic characteristics, and differential diagnosis of glomangiomatosis with uncertain malignant potential.Methods:Two cases of glomangiomatosis with uncertain malignant potential were collected at Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from 2013 and 2023. Immunohistochemistry and next generation sequencing (DNA-seq) were used to detect the related protein and gene variation. Patients were followed up.Results:Case 1 was male, 34 years old; and case 2 was female, 28 years old. Both had tumor recurrence in the original site. There were multiple nodules at right calf and ankle, involving superficial subcutaneous tissue and deep interfascicular muscles; some nodules were borderless and painful. Microscopically, the tumor was nodular with fibrous pseudocapsule, some had indistinct borders and diffuse infiltration to the surrounding adipose tissue. The tumor cells were round to ovoid with inconspicuous nucleoli, partly surrounding small irregularly dilated thin-walled blood vessels. The recurrent tumors showed epithelioid morphology in some of the tumor cells, with eosinophilic cytoplasm, some apparent nucleoli, mild to moderate nuclear atypia, and brisk mitotic figures. Focally, perimuscular cell differentiation was noted. The small lesion showed intravascular tumor thrombus. NGS revealed BRAF V600E mutation in case 1, and BRAF V600E mutation combined with PDGFRB gene amplification in case 2.Conclusions:Glomangiomatosis with uncertain malignant potential is a rare variant of glomus tumor. It has a unique growth pattern morphologically, BRAF V600E mutation, and invasive biological behavior.

Objective:To investigate the impact of preoperative sarcopenia on chronic postsurgical pain(CPSP)after cardiac surgery in elderly patients.Methods:Elderly patients undergoing elective open-chest cardiac surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from September 2022 to May 2024 were collected.According to the updated diagnostic criteria and revised by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia(AWGS2019)in 2019, patients were classified into sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups Elderly patients were divided into two groups based on the occurrence of chronic pain at 3 months postoperatively: CPSP group and non-CPSP group.Indicators with statistically significant differences in univariate regression analysis were included in multifactorial regression to analyze the influencing factors of chronic pain after cardiac surgery in elderly patients.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was plotted and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to compare the predictive efficacy of sarcopenia, commonly used clinical pain assessment tools(gender+ acute postoperative pain), and(gender+ acute postoperative pain+ sarcopenia)in predicting CPSP after cardiac surgery in elderly patients.Results:The study ultimately included 379 patients, consisting of 238 males(62.8%), with an average age of(66.6 ± 5.3)years.Among them, 83 patients had sarcopenia, and 119 patients developed CPSP.Univariate regression analysis showed that gender, history of atrial fibrillation, acute postoperative pain, American Society of Anesthesiologists(ASA)Physical Status Classification System, New York Heart Association(NYHA)Classification of Cardia Function, sarcopenia, and duration of extracorporeal circulation were associated with the occurrence of CPSP after cardiac surgery in elderly patients.However, after adjusting for all possible confounders, multifactorial regression analysis showed that gender, acute postoperative pain, and sarcopenia were independent risk factors for CPSP after cardiac surgery in elderly patients(all P<0.05), with sarcopenia patients having a 2.913-fold risk of developing CPSP compared with non-sarcopenia patients.The AUCs of the ROC curves for commonly used clinical perioperative pain assessment tools and those with the addition of sarcopenia determination were 0.731 and 0.802, respectively. Conclusions:Preoperative sarcopenia is an independent risk factor for the development of chronic pain after cardiac surgery in elderly patients, and the inclusion of sarcopenia determination in commonly used clinical pain assessment tools can significantly improve the predictive efficacy for chronic pain.

Myxedema coma is a rare condition, typically arising from long-standing, untreated hypothyroidism and triggered by factors such as infection, hypothermia, or severe illness. This report details a successfully treated case of myxedema coma with cardiac attest, accompanied by a literature review, to enhance clinical awareness and improve the diagnosis and management of this critical condition.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture combined with low-frequency electrical pulse in the treatment of neurogenic bladder (NB) caused by spinal cord injury (SCI); To explore its effects on urodynamics.Methods:A randomized controlled trial study was conducted. A total of 116 patients with NB caused by SCI in the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine from January 2022 to June 2024 were selected as the observation objects and divided into 2 groups with random number table method, with 58 cases in each group. On the basis of conventional bladder function training, the control group was given low-frequency electronic pulse therapy, while the observation group was treated with the Tongdu Tiaoshen method on the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated continuously for 3 months. The urination conditions of the patients were observed before and after the treatment respectively, and the residual urine volume, single urine volume within 24 hours, the number of urine leaks within 24 hours, and the number of urinations within 24 hours were recorded; urodynamic parameters such as bladder volume, urine flow rate, detrusor pressure, bladder compliance, and detrusor contractility were measured using a urodynamic analyzer; the severity of NB symptoms was evaluated using the Chinese version of the Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Scale (NBSS), and the quality of life was evaluated using the Chinese version of the Short Form Health Assessment Scale (SF-Qualiveen). The levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were detected by ELISA. Adverse reactions were recorded during the treatment period and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.Results:The total effective rate was 91.38% (53/58) in the observation group and 75.86% (44/58) in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=5.10, P=0.024). After treatment, the residual urine volume, single urine volume within 24 hours, frequency of urine leakage within 24 hours, and frequency of urination within 24 hours in the observation group were lower than those in the control group ( t values were -15.68, 3.75, -3.81, and -7.54 respectively, P<0.01). The bladder capacity, urine flow rate, detrusor pressure, bladder compliance and detrusor contractility were higher than those of the control group ( t values were 11.04, 7.49, 9.76, 5.65 and 4.36 respectively, P<0.01), while the NBSS score and SF-Qualiveen score were lower than those of the control group ( t values were -10.82 and -9.83 respectively, P<0.01). No obvious adverse reactions occurred in either group during the treatment period. Conclusion:Tongdu Tiaoshen acupuncture combined with low-frequency electrical pulses can improve the bladder function of NB caused by SCI, restore urodynamics, and improve the quality of life. Its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of inflammatory responses.

Objective To explore the effects of nail-tail transverse connection in the treatment of atlantoaxial dislocation(AAD)and its impacts on bone metabolism,serum vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),and fibroblast growth factor-2(FGF-2)levels.Methods A total of 150 pa-tients with AAD were selected as the research subjects and divided into two groups using the random number table method,with 75 cases in each group.The observation group was treated with nail-tail transverse connection combined with posterior atlantoaxial pedicle screw internal fixation(C1-C2 PSR),while the control group was treated with C1-C2 PSR alone.Serum bone metabolism indicators[osteocalcin(BGP),type Ⅰ collagen N-terminal peptide(NTX),bone alkaline phosphatase(BALP),tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase(TRAP),type Ⅰ collagen carboxy-terminal peptide(CTX)],VEGF and FGF-2 levels were compared between the two groups at different time points.The Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)score was used to evaluate the patients' neurological function before surgery and 3 years after surgery.Bone graft fusion was evaluated at 6 months,1 year,2 years,and 3 years after surgery.Results At 1,3 and 6 months after surgery,the serum VEGF and FGF-2 levels in the observation group were higher than those in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).After treatment,the BALP,BGP,NTX,TRAP and CTX levels in both groups were lower than those before treatment,and their levels in the observation group were lower than those in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).Before surgery,there was no statistically significant difference in the JOA scores be-tween the two groups(P＞0.05).At 3 years after surgery,the JOA scores in both groups were higher than those before surgery,and the JOA score and the score improvement rate in the observa-tion group were higher than those in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).At 6 months,1 year,2 years and 3 years after surgery,the success rate of bone graft fusion in the observation group was higher than that in the control group,with statistically significant differ-ences(P＜0.05).Conclusion Nail-tail transverse connection has significant effects in the treat-ment of AAD,which can effectively improve patients' bone metabolism and increase the serum VEGF and FGF-2 levels.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics of lung transplantation and post-transplantation changes in patients with pneumoconiosis.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical and pathological data of 28 patients with pulmonary silicosis who underwent lung transplantation and were managed at the Department of Internal Medicine, Henan Provincial People′s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China from January 2015 to December 2024. Among them, 8 patients underwent lung biopsy 6-20 months after transplantation to evaluate the histopathological changes of the recipient and the donor lungs post-transplantation. The expression of relevant indicators was examined using immunohistochemical EnVision staining, while presence of microorganisms was assessed using histochemical special staining. The patients were all followed up.Results:Among the 28 patients with pneumoconiosis who underwent lung transplantation, 26 were male and 2 were female, with a male-to-female ratio of 13∶1. Their ages ranged from 23 to 68 years, median 50.0 (46.0, 53.5) years. They were diagnosed with pneumoconiosis at local occupational disease prevention and control centers for 3 to 15 years (mean, 9.65 years), including 13 left single lung transplants and 15 right single lung transplants. Gross examination showed fleshy nodules with irregular cystic cavities at the periphery. The cut surfaces exhibited gray-brown color and firm texture. Microscopically, most alveolar structures of the lung were obliterated, with nodular or diffuse proliferation of collagen fibers accompanied by hyaline degeneration. Focal massive carbon dust deposition and massive silicotic fibrosis were observed, surrounded by lung parenchyma with emphysematous changes and localized bullae formation. Seven patients underwent re-biopsy after transplantation that showed extensive infiltration of inflammatory cells. In 4 cases, microscopy revealed complete coagulative necrosis, with negative acid-fast staining and TB-DNA results. Of the 4 cases, 3 cases exhibited Aspergillus infection confirmed by Grocott′s methenamine silver and PAS stains, while 2 cases showed chronic bronchitis with squamous metaplasia. Follow-up revealed that 8 patients died of acute respiratory failure due to severe infection, while the remaining 20 demonstrated significant postoperative improvement in lung function.Conclusions:For patients with advanced pulmonary dust deposition disease who undergo lung transplantation, it is necessary to conduct standardized sampling and pathological assessment of the recipient lungs. In the early post-transplant period, the complications of re-biopsy tissues are mainly fungal infections. The combination of morphological manifestations and immunohistochemical detection is helpful to distinguish infection from rejection reactions. At the same time, it is essential to integrate clinical information and laboratory results to provide post-transplantation pathological assessment for individualized treatment.

Objective Prepubertal mice are administered subcutaneously with letrozole sustained-release pellets behind the neck and treated with a high-fat diet to establish a mouse model of polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).The liver transcriptomes of the model mice are compared with those of the placebo control mice to investigate the underlying mechanisms of liver involvement in the pathogenesis of PCOS.Methods A customized 2 mg dose of letrozole sustained-release pellets with a 40-day release period was used.The control placebo and letrozole pellets were implanted subcutaneously in the dorsal cervical region of 3-4-week-old C57BL/6J mice(8 mice per group)to establish the control group and letrozole-induced PCOS model group.Both groups were treated with a high-fat diet starting the day after administration.The modeling period lasted for 5 weeks,during which body weight and 24-hour food intake were monitored in each group every week.When samples were collected,liver weight was recorded.Pathological changes in ovarian and hepatic tissues were examined by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining,while hepatic lipid deposition was observed by Oil Red O staining.The extent of macrophage infiltration in the liver was evaluated via F4/80 immunohistochemical staining,and hepatic fibrosis levels were observed by Masson's trichrome staining.Transcriptomic sequencing was performed to analyze differentially expressed genes(DEGs)in liver tissues between the control and model groups,followed by enrichment analysis of significant DEGs.Quantitative real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR(qPCR)was subsequently used to validate the expression of significant DEGs in liver tissues of both groups.Results Compared with the control group,the model group which received subcutaneous letrozole sustained-release pellets combined with a high-fat diet exhibited significantly increased body weight(P＜0.001),prominent polycystic ovarian morphology,and significantly decreased liver-to-body weight ratio(P＜0.05).However,no significant changes were observed in absolute liver weight(P＞0.05),hepatic histomorphology,or lipid deposition.Transcriptome sequencing identified 119 upregulated and 217 downregulated DEGs in the liver tissues of letrozole-treated mice,which were predominantly enriched in pathways related to cholesterol and steroid biosynthesis,steroid hormone metabolism,and inflammatory responses.qPCR validation demonstrated that mRNA expression of HSD3B2 and HMGCR was significantly upregulated in liver(P＜0.01),while mRNA expression of IL4,CCL2 and COL1A1 was downregulated(P＜0.05)in the model group compared with the control group.However,Masson's trichrome staining and F4/80 immunohistochemical analysis showed no significant changes in hepatic fibrosis or macrophage infiltration.Conclusion Subcutaneous administration of letrozole sustained-release pellets combined with a high-fat diet successfully establishes a mouse model of PCOS.The model mice exhibited significant changes in hepatic gene expression.Liver may contribute to PCOS pathogenesis through regulating cholesterol and steroid metabolism.

Objective To compare the efficacy between slanted bilateral lateral rectus recession(S-BLR)and conventional bilateral lateral recession(C-BLR)procedure in the treatment of convergence insuffi-ciency-type intermittent exotropia.Methods Relevant studies published before November 2023 were systematically searched in PubMed,Cochrane Library,EmBase,Web of Science,CNKI,Wanfang and VIP databases to compare the surgical effects of S-BLR and C-BLR,expressed by OR value and 95%CI.The success rate,recurrence rate,overcor-rection rate and stereoscopic improvement rate were analyzed by random effects model.Results A total of 5 studies involving 296 patients were included in the analysis.The success rate of the S-BLR procedure was significantly higher than that of C-BLR(OR=4.06,95%CI:2.47-6.67,P＜0.001),patients subjected to the C-BLR pro-cedure were more likely to be recurrent(OR=0.21,95%CI:0.08-0.52,P＜0.001).No statistically signifi-cant differences in the combined results for overcorrection rates(OR=0.43,95%CI:0.07-2.52,P=0.35)and stereoscopic improvement rates(OR=0.82,95%CI:0.36-1.83,P=0.62)were present between the S-BLR and C-BLR procedures(P＞0.05).Conclusion S-BLR procedure has a higher success rate and a lower recurrence rate in patients with aggregation-deficient intermittent exotropia.

AIM:To investigate the modulatory role of E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase ITCH in Alzheimer disease(AD)-like pathology through the thioredoxin-interacting protein(TXNIP)-nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)signaling pathway using both in vivo and in vitro experimental models.METHODS:(1)Ten 5×FAD(AD model)mice and 10 wild-type(WT)mice at 2-,4-and 6-month-old were randomly allocated into AD and WT groups.Amyloid β-protein(Aβ)plaque burden in the brain was detected by thioflavin-S and immunofluorescence staining,with the latter method additionally applied to assess TXNIP protein expression.The protein levels of ITCH and TXNIP were determined by Western blot,while their interaction was verified by co-immunoprecipitation.(2)Mouse mi-croglia BV2 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide(LPS)were used to construct neuroinflammation model,and were di-vided into control(CON)group and LPS+ATP treatment group.The BV2 cells stimulated by Aβ were used to construct AD inflammation model.According to the different treatment time,they were divided into CON,and 12,24 and 48 h treatment groups.Western blot was used to evaluate the expression of ITCH,TXNIP,and NLRP3 inflammasome compo-nents(NLRP3 and caspase-1)as well as the downstream IL-1β.Adenovirus-mediated ITCH overexpression(OE-ITCH)in Aβ-stimulated BV2 cells comprised three experimental groups:negative control group,Aβ oligomer stimulation group,and OE-ITCH group,with subsequent immunoblotting of inflammatory mediators.RESULTS:The deposition of Aβ plaques in the cortex and hippocampus of 5×FAD transgenic mice exhibited an age-dependent progression(P<0.01).Compared with WT mice,the levels of TXNIP protein increased synchronously,and the levels of ubiquitin ligase ITCH was significantly down-regulated(P<0.05).Co-immunoprecipitation confirmed the interaction between ITCH and TXNIP proteins in the brain of 2-and 4-month-old 5×FAD mice,which exhibited marked attenuation by 4 months of age.In BV2 microglial models,Aβ/LPS stimulation provoked significant ITCH suppression,concurrently up-regulating TXNIP,core NLRP3 inflammasome components(NLRP3 and caspase-1),and downstream IL-1β(P<0.05).Overexpression of ITCH significantly inhibited Aβ-induced activation of TXNIP and NLRP3 and therelated inflammatory factors in BV2 cells.CONCLUSION:The results of in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that ITCH protein exerts effects against AD-like pathology by inhibiting the expression of TXNIP-NLRP3 signaling pathway.