OBJECTIVES: To analyze the disease burden and inequalities of lower extremity peripheral artery disease (LEPAD) among people aged 40 and above in the Belt and Road partner countries from 1990 to 2021. METHODS: Data were retrieved from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database. The age-standardized prevalence rates, mortality rates, and the annual rate of years lived with disability (YLDs) of LEPAD were analyzed. Trends were measured using the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC), and the slope index of inequality (SII) and concentration index were used to quantify the absolute and relative inequalities. RESULTS: In 2021, the age-standardized prevalence and mortality rates of LEPAD were 3168.26/10⁵ and 3.09/10⁵, increasing by 4.30% and 19.31% compared to 1990, while YLDs rates decreased by 4.00%. Females had higher age-standardized prevalence and YLDs rates, while males had higher mortality rates. The EAPC for prevalence rates was slightly higher in males (0.22%) than in females (0.17%); while the EAPC of age-standardized mortality rate was 2.02% for females, compared to 1.45% for males. From 1990 to 2021, the age-standardized YLDs rates decreased from 16.23/10⁵ to 15.58/10⁵, with a faster decline in females (－0.12%) than in males (－0.06%). LEPAD prevalence varied across countries, with higher burden in Europe and faster growth in Gulf states. Higher socio-demographic index countries had higher prevalence. Inequity improved, with the SII at 52.90/10⁵ and concentration index at 0.038 in 2021. Gender disparities persisted, with concentration index increased to 0.058 in females and reduced to －0.026 in males. CONCLUSIONS LEPAD prevalence and mortality among people aged 40 and above in the Belt and Road partner countries increased, while YLDs rates decreased from 1990 to 2021. Significant differences among people exist depending on gender and country, highlighting the need for enhanced screening, health education, and shared public health strategies across the Belt and Road partner countries.
Humans ; Peripheral Arterial Disease/mortality* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Aged ; Prevalence ; Lower Extremity/blood supply* ; Global Burden of Disease ; Cost of Illness

Objective:To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of mild visual impairment in type 2 diabetic patients aged ≥50 years living in Funing County, Jiangsu Province.Methods:A population-based cross-sectional study was adopted.Cluster sampling was conducted among diabetic patients aged ≥50 years registered in the Chronic Disease Information Center of Funing County Center for Disease Prevention and Control from March 7th to April 20th, 2019.General information of selected patients was collected.Visual and ocular examinations on site were performed by ophthalmologists and technicians.The International Council of Ophthalmology standard for mild visual impairment, 0.3≤best corrected visual acuity<0.8 was adopted.The influencing factors of mild visual impairment were analyzed by logistic regression.This study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University (No.2014-071).Results:Among the included 2 067 patients, 1 909 cases completed the investigation, with a response rate of 92.4%.There were 1 146 patients with mild visual impairment in at least one eye, and the prevalence of mild visual impairment was 60.00%.Among the eyes examined, 1 832 eyes were with mild visual impairment, accounting for 47.98%.Cataract (896/1 632), refractive error (515/1 632) and diabetic retinopathy (166/1 632) were the main causes of mild visual impairment in diabetic patients, accounting for 54.90%, 31.61% and 10.19%, respectively.Aging, female gender, low educational attainment, oral hypoglycemic drugs or subcutaneous insulin injection were risk factors for mild visual impairment in both eyes.Higher educational attainment, more sunshine exposure and exercise were protective factors for mild visual impairment in both eyes.Conclusions:The prevalence of mild visual impairment is relatively high in type 2 diabetic patients.Cataract surgery, correction of refractive error may help to improve mild visual impairment.Strengthening blood glucose control, more physical exercise and outdoor activities may slow the progression of mild visual impairment and prevent it from moderate and severe visual impairment.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a common and serious complication in long-term dialysis patients, who often experience multiple symptoms and a poor quality of life. Parathyroidectomy (PTX) is the best choice for severe SHPT patients with poor drug treatment. At present, the follow-up after PTX has not received sufficient attention, and the assessment of patients' clinical symptoms and quality of life is not yet adequate. In view of this, we systematically combed the changes and influencing factors of patients' quality of life and related symptoms after surgery, in order to provide reference for the practice and research of symptom management of such patients in the future.

Lateral epicondylitis is a common clinical disease with characteristics of lateral elbow pain, insidious onset and easy recurrence, which can cause forearm pain and decreased wrist strength, seriously affecting patients′ daily life and work. Although there are various treatment methods for lateral epicondylitis with different effects, standard treatments are still lacking nowadays. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has good effects on bone and tendon repair, and is now widely used in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis. However, there is a lack of a unified understanding of the technology and specifications of PRP in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis. Therefore, the Sports Medicine Branch of the Chinese Medical Association and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Branch of the Chinese Medical Association organized experts in the fields of sports medicine and rehabilitation medicine in China to formulate the "clinical expert consensus on platelet-rich plasma treatment for lateral epicondylitis (2022 version)", and proposed suggestions based on evidence-based medicine mainly from the concept, epidemiology and pathophysiology of lateral epicondylitis, symptoms, signs and imaging manifestations of lateral epicondylitis, PRP concept and application component requirements, quality control of PRP preparation technology, indications and contraindications of PRP in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis, PRP injection in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis, application of PRP in the operation of lateral epicondylitis, related problems after PRP treatment of lateral epicondylitis, evaluation of the results after PRP treatment of lateral epicondylitis, and health and economic evaluation of PRP treatment of lateral epicondylitis, so as to provide guidance for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

AIM: To observe the effects of rapamycin pregnancy intervention on cognitive function of autism model in rat offspring. METHODS: Fourteen pregnant rats were randomly divided into normal group (n = 3), model group (n = 4), rapamycin (RAPA) control group (n =3) and intervention group (n = 4). The model group and intervention group were i.p. injected with sodium valproate 600 mg/kg at embryonic day (E) 12.5 to establish autism model in rat offspring. RAPA control group and intervention group were i.g. given RAPA 4 mg/kg every day from the 13th day of gestation until the offspring rats were weaned at 23 days. After the birth of the above four groups of pregnant rats, 15, 27, 21 and 26 offspring male rats were selected to conduct behavioral tests to identify the model. Then, paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT), tail flick latency (TFL) evoked under different light intensity and learning and memory function of offspring rats were further detected. RESULTS: Rat offspring in the model group had lower growth and development indexes and exploratory behavior ability, but stronger repetitive stereotyped behavior compared with the normal group (P < 0.05), while the indexes between the intervention group and model group were reversed (P < 0.05). The model group had higher PWMT than normal group (P < 0.01) and the PWMT of intervention group was lower than that of model group (P < 0.01). The TFLs of rats in 4 groups showed a timed dose-response relationship (TDRR, P < 0.01), that is, TFLs were shortened with the increase of light intensity. The TDRR curve of model group shifted to right compared with normal group (P < 0.01) and intervention group shifted to left compared with model group (P < 0.01). At the light intensity of Focus 34, 51 and 76, the TFLs of model group were longer than those of normal group (P < 0.01) and intervention group had shorter TFLs compared with model group (P<0.01). In spatial probing trial of Morris water maze test, the platform crossover number in model group was less than that in normal group (P<0.01) and that in intervention group was more than model group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: RAPA intervention during pregnancy may alleviate behavior disorder, pain tolerance and memory function of autism model in rat offspring to some extent.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility of two-stage crestal approach sinus elevation in severe atrophic maxilla.Methods:A total of 25 patients (male: 13 cases,female: 12 cases) who attended Department of Implant Center, Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University from May 2016 to May 2018 were included in this study. The age of the patients was 32-49 years old. The inclusion criteria were: single or multiple tooth loss in posterior maxilla with residual bone height ranged from 1.5 to 3.0 mm and vertical bone width≥6 mm, no pathological changes or septum were detected in the sinus. The elevated sides were divided into three groups according to different buccal-palatal sinus width (SW): wide (16 case, SW＞15 mm), normal (12 case, 12 mm≤SW≤15 mm), narrow (5 case, SW<12 mm). Finally, 23 patients with 33 implants were placed by the two-stage crestal approach for sinus elevation. Six months after implant placement, final restorations were delivered. Implant survival rate, implant stability quotient (ISQ), immediate vertical bone height (VBH) after surgeries, changes of sinus elevation height (cSEH), marginal bone loss (MBL) at 1 year follow-up were examined.Results:Twenty-three patients were finally included in the study, including 12 males and 11 females, aged (41.2±7.6) years old. All implants healed uneventfully. ISQ (wide: 50.81±2.69; normal: 60.58±2.54; narrow: 63.12±3.58), immediate VBH after 1st surgery [wide: (7.99±1.13) mm; normal: (8.95±0.81) mm; narrow: (9.18±0.90) mm] and 2nd surgery [wide: (11.46±0.88) mm; normal: (12.77±0.49) mm; narrow: (12.57±0.55) mm], cSEH six months after 1st [wide: (3.87±0.43) mm; normal: (2.01±0.65) mm; narrow: (1.49±0.33) mm] and 2nd [wide: (1.16±0.29) mm; normal: (1.04±0.33) mm ; narrow: (0.97±0.41) mm] surgery, MBL [wide: (0.91±0.05) mm; normal: (0.79±0.10) mm; narrow: (0.74±0.07) mm] were significantly different among three groups ( P<0.05). In all the three groups, cSEH was barely detected at 1-year follow-up ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Two-stage crestal approach for sinus elevation might be an alternative protocol in severe atrophic posterior maxilla, especially in cases with narrow and normal buccal-palatal width. There is an urgent need for long time follow-up and more clinical cases.

Clinically,arteriovenous malformations (AVM) is a common intracranial vascular disease.Traditional treatments for cerebral AVM include microsurgical resection,endovascular embolization and radiotherapy.However,there are some unusual AVM lesions that are difficult to be cured by traditional methods.Multiple case reports that have been published recently indicate that embolization therapy via transvenous approach is very effective for these unusual AVM lesions,especially for small hemorrhagic AVMs.These lesions often have single vein drainage and are located at deep cerebral function area.with their blood supply being from fine arteries.This paper aims to review the existing literature and to make a summary about the indications,method of operation,risks and prevention,etc.of embolization therapy via transvenous approach for cerebral AVM.

Objective To explore the efficacy of excision of pterygium combined with fresh amniotic membrane transplantation for treatment of recurrent pterygium.Methods Pteryga of 27 patients(32 eyes) were excised and transplanted with fresh amniotic membrane.Patients were followed up for 6～36 months.Results Pterygium recurred in only 2 eyes during the period of follow-up.The curative rate of the operation for recurrent pterygium was 93.75%,and the recurrence rate was 6.25%.Conclusion Excision of pterygium combined with fresh amniotic membrane transplantation is an effective therapeutic method for recurrent pterygium.