Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of transurethral incision for the treatment of ureterocele in infants.Methods:A retrospective analysis of 28 cases of ureterocele admitted from March 2012 to May 2023 were reviewed, all of which were less than 1 year old, 16 male and 12 female, with an average age of(5.7±3.5)months. The ureterocele was located on the left side in 8 cases, on the right side in 15 cases, and bilaterally in 5 cases. There were 12 cases of single system ureterocele, of which 7 cases were unilateral and 5 cases were bilateral. Duplex system ureterocele was observed in 16 cases, all of which were unilateral. Clinical manifestations: urinary tract infection in 13 cases, 11 cases of ureterocele or hydronephrosis and ureteral dilation were found during antenatal examination, and 4 cases of ureterocele were found after birth. Urological ultrasound, intravenous pyelography(IVP) and voiding cystourethrography(VCUG) were performed in all children, and 17 cases underwent magnetic resonance urolography (MRU), and confirm the diagnosis of ureterocele preoperatively. All of the cases were performed the transurethral incision.The ureterocele was punctured and incised 1-2 mm at the base of the bulge, and 2-4 points were punctured according to the bulge atrophy. Bilateral ureteroceles were punctured and incised simultaneously. Postoperative urine routine test, urinary tract color ultrasound and VCUG were performed to determine if there is urinary tract infection, hydronephrosis, ureteral dilation and bulging, and whether a second surgery is needed.Results:All operations were conducted successfully. The intraoperative bleeding was less than 3 ml and no intraoperative complications. The operative time was (28.4±10.3) min. The median postoperative follow-up was 34 (32, 36) months. Six cases underwent postoperative VCUG examination. Eleven children were recovered well with single systemic ureterocele. One child developed grade Ⅳ vesicoureteral reflux(VUR)and combined with bladder diverticulum, and ureterocele underwent open diverticulotomy and ureteral reimplantation six months after surgery. Nine children were recovered well with duplex systemic ureterocele. Six cases of children developed infection, of which 2 cases had an infection once within one month after TUI, and the other four cases still had intermittent infections after six months and VCUG was performed, and one case showed grade Ⅲ VUR of the lower ureter, which was observed conservatively, while the other three cases had enlarged cysts but no VUR, and upper heminephrectomy was performed, and the patients recovered well after surgery. Except for these 6 exceptions, in another case, after ten years of follow-up, the ureterocele became larger but no VUR, and the results were good after a second transurethral incision. There was no significant difference in the postoperative infections, new VUR cases, and secondary surgeries between the two groups.Conclusions:Transurethral incision has good surgical effect on children with single system ureterocele and duplex system ureterocele, and has advantages of easy operation, less trauma, safety and effectiveness, and few complications. It deserves to be recommended as the treatment of choice, especially for infants and young children.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of cannulated screw internal fixation combined with quadratus femoris bone flap with preservation of the posterior superior retinaculum and cannulated screw internal fixation alone in the treatment of femoral neck fracture in young and middle-aged patients.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 83 young and middle-aged patients with femoral neck fracture admitted to the 920th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force of PLA from January 2018 to January 2023, including 56 males and 27 females, aged 28-55 years [(42.7±3.2)years]. According to Garden classification, the fractures were classified as type III in 22 patients and type IV in 61. Based on Pauwels classification, the fractures were classified as type I in 15 patients, type II in 38 and type III in 30. Forty patients were treated with cannulated screw internal fixation combined with modified quadratus femoris bone flap (cannulated screw combined with bone flap group) and 43 with cannulated screw internal fixation alone (cannulated screw group). The two groups were compared in terms of the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, time to weight-bearing, length of hospital stay, and wound healing. The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and Harris hip function scores at 1, 3, 6, 12 months after surgery and at the last follow-up. The postoperative complication rate was detected.Results:All the patients were followed up for 20-70 months [(40.0±1.2)months]. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss were (105.2±2.7)minutes and (100.6±16.3)ml in the cannulated screw combined with bone flap group, which were longer or more than (92.4±4.7)minutes and (92.5±14.6)ml in the cannulated screw group ( P<0.01). The time to weight-bearing was (12.1±1.4)weeks in the cannulated screw combined with bone flap group, shorter than (23.6±1.2)weeks in the cannulated screw group ( P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the length of hospital stay between the two groups (P>0.05). The incisions in both groups were healed by first intention. At 1 month after surgery, no statistically significant difference was observed in VAS scores between the two groups ( P>0.05); at 3, 6, 12 months after surgery and at the last follow-up, the VAS scores were (6.6±0.2)points, (4.5±0.3)points, (3.2±0.5)points, and (2.6±0.4)points in the cannulated screw combined with bone flap group, lower than (7.0±0.1)points, (5.2±0.2)points, (3.9±0.4)points, and (3.3±0.1)points in the cannulated screw group ( P<0.05 or 0.01). At 1 and 3 months after surgery, no statistically significant difference was observed in the Harris hip function scores between the two groups ( P>0.05); at 6, 12 months after surgery and at the last follow-up, the Harris hip function scores were (82.2±1.7)points, (90.0±1.4)points, and (91.6±1.0)points in the cannulated screw combined with bone flap group, higher than (75.2±1.7)points, (83.4±1.9)points, and (85.2±0.7)points in the cannulated screw group ( P<0.01). At the last follow-up, in the cannulated screw combined with bone flap group, the Harris hip function was rated excellent in 32 patients, good in 5, and fair in 3, with an excellent and good rate of 92.5%, while in the cannulated screw group, the Harris hip function was rated excellent in 20 patients, good in 13, and fair in 10, with an excellent and good rate of 76.7% ( P<0.05). The postoperative complication rate was 5.0% (2/40) in the cannulated screw combined with bone flap group, significantly lower than 23.2% (10/43) in the cannulated screw group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with cannulated screw internal fixation alone, cannulated screw internal fixation combined with quadratus femoris bone flap with preservation of the posterior superior retinaculum has the advantages of earlier weight-bearing, less pain, better recovery of hip joint function, and lower incidence of postoperative complications in the treatment of femoral neck fracture in young and middle-aged patients, despite longer operation time and more intraoperative blood loss.

Objective To explore the clinical value of three-dimensional(3D)fracture mapping in improving the consistency of Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen(AO)/the Orthopaedic Trauma Association(OTA)classification and optimizing preoperative surgical planning for Pilon fractures.Methods This single-center retrospective cohort study included 60 Pilon fracture patients admitted to the Trauma Emergency Center of the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University between January 2022 and December 2024.All patients underwent preoperative computed tomography(CT)scans.Image standardization and expert manual segmentation/annotation of fracture lines and fragments were performed with 3D Slicer software.3D fracture lines extracted from gold-standard models were registered to a unified standard tibial model.A 3D probability heatmap was constructed by counting spatial fracture frequency,with high-incidence zones analyzed via spatial clustering algorithms.Three orthopedic surgeons independently completed AO/OTA classification and preoperative planning with the assistance of conventional CT only and CT with 3D fracture mapping.Accuracy,time consumption,inter-observer consistency(Cohen's κ),planning time,plan modification frequency,and subjective scores were evaluated.Results The 3D fracture heatmap revealed that fracture lines predominantly concentrated in the anterolateral and posteromedial regions of the distal tibia,with an average of(4.2±1.1)hotspots,a coverage rate of(78.3±5.6)%,and(3.5±1.0)clustering areas.With 3D fracture mapping assistance,classification accuracy was improved to(88.0±5.0)%compared to(75.0±8.0)%with conventional CT(P=0.001);classification time reduced to(10.4±2.5)min from(15.2±3.1)min(P<0.001);and Cohen's κ increased from 0.68±0.05 to 0.82±0.03(P=0.002).For preoperative planning,the average planning time was(15.8±3.2)min in the 3D mapping-assisted group,which was significantly shorter than that of conventional CT group(22.5±4.3)min(P<0.001);the number of plan modifications was(1.5±0.7)times,lower than that of conventional CT group(3.2±1.1)times(P<0.001),and the subjective score was 8.9±0.9,higher than that of conventional CT group(6.8±1.2)(P<0.001).Conclusion The 3D fracture mapping accurately characterizes spatial distribution patterns of Pilon fractures,significantly improves classification accuracy,inter-observer consistency,and preoperative planning efficiency,and thus holds substantial clinical value.

Objective:To explore feasible surgical options for management of persistent Müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS) in children.Methods:A retrospective case summary was made.The clinical data of 8 patients who were diagnosed with PMDS and treated at Shanxi Children′s Hospital from September 2011 to November 2020 were retrospectively reviewed.Of the 8 PMDS patients, 6 were sporadic cases, 2 were twins (monochorionic), with an age range from 1 year to 12 years.All cases had normal male external genital organs and a chromosomal karyotype of 46, XY.During the operation, the surgical plan was selected according to clinical classification, vas structure and the development of the initial uterus.After the operation, the Müllerian structure in the abdominal cavity and the testicular development of the children were followed up through color ultrasound at the outpatient department.Results:Four patients had oblique inguinal hernia, 3 had bilateral cryptorchidism, and 1 had transverse testicular ectopia.Müllerian inhibitory hormone (MIH) levels were significantly decreased in 5 cases and normal in 1 case.The other 2 cases were not tested for MIH.All bilateral gonadal biopsies were testicular tissue, but undifferentiated gonadal tissue was detected in 3 cases.Four cases underwent radical surgery after gonadal biopsy.Among these 4 children, 3 received one-stage radical operation, and 1 received repair of oblique hernia before the radical surgery.Three patients had a well-defined vas structure and underwent hysterectomy and bilateral orchidopexy; three patients had a vague vas structure and received orchidopexy with the uterus preserved; one case underwent hysterectomy, orchidopexy on one side and orchiectomy on the other side; one case had bilateral orchidectomy in Fowler-Stephens stage.All the 8 children were followed up for 2 to 12 years.Ultrasound showed that the descending testis was well developed, with no cryptorchidism retraction or hernia recurrence.No tumor was observed in the preserved uterus in the abdominal cavity.Conclusions:The plan for PMDS management in children should be determined based on its clinical classification.Gonadal biopsy is essential, and whether to remove the Müllerian structure depends on the vas structure and the development of the uterus.

Objective To explore the clinical value of three-dimensional(3D)fracture mapping in improving the consistency of Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen(AO)/the Orthopaedic Trauma Association(OTA)classification and optimizing preoperative surgical planning for Pilon fractures.Methods This single-center retrospective cohort study included 60 Pilon fracture patients admitted to the Trauma Emergency Center of the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University between January 2022 and December 2024.All patients underwent preoperative computed tomography(CT)scans.Image standardization and expert manual segmentation/annotation of fracture lines and fragments were performed with 3D Slicer software.3D fracture lines extracted from gold-standard models were registered to a unified standard tibial model.A 3D probability heatmap was constructed by counting spatial fracture frequency,with high-incidence zones analyzed via spatial clustering algorithms.Three orthopedic surgeons independently completed AO/OTA classification and preoperative planning with the assistance of conventional CT only and CT with 3D fracture mapping.Accuracy,time consumption,inter-observer consistency(Cohen's κ),planning time,plan modification frequency,and subjective scores were evaluated.Results The 3D fracture heatmap revealed that fracture lines predominantly concentrated in the anterolateral and posteromedial regions of the distal tibia,with an average of(4.2±1.1)hotspots,a coverage rate of(78.3±5.6)%,and(3.5±1.0)clustering areas.With 3D fracture mapping assistance,classification accuracy was improved to(88.0±5.0)%compared to(75.0±8.0)%with conventional CT(P=0.001);classification time reduced to(10.4±2.5)min from(15.2±3.1)min(P<0.001);and Cohen's κ increased from 0.68±0.05 to 0.82±0.03(P=0.002).For preoperative planning,the average planning time was(15.8±3.2)min in the 3D mapping-assisted group,which was significantly shorter than that of conventional CT group(22.5±4.3)min(P<0.001);the number of plan modifications was(1.5±0.7)times,lower than that of conventional CT group(3.2±1.1)times(P<0.001),and the subjective score was 8.9±0.9,higher than that of conventional CT group(6.8±1.2)(P<0.001).Conclusion The 3D fracture mapping accurately characterizes spatial distribution patterns of Pilon fractures,significantly improves classification accuracy,inter-observer consistency,and preoperative planning efficiency,and thus holds substantial clinical value.

Objective:To explore feasible surgical options for management of persistent Müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS) in children.Methods:A retrospective case summary was made.The clinical data of 8 patients who were diagnosed with PMDS and treated at Shanxi Children′s Hospital from September 2011 to November 2020 were retrospectively reviewed.Of the 8 PMDS patients, 6 were sporadic cases, 2 were twins (monochorionic), with an age range from 1 year to 12 years.All cases had normal male external genital organs and a chromosomal karyotype of 46, XY.During the operation, the surgical plan was selected according to clinical classification, vas structure and the development of the initial uterus.After the operation, the Müllerian structure in the abdominal cavity and the testicular development of the children were followed up through color ultrasound at the outpatient department.Results:Four patients had oblique inguinal hernia, 3 had bilateral cryptorchidism, and 1 had transverse testicular ectopia.Müllerian inhibitory hormone (MIH) levels were significantly decreased in 5 cases and normal in 1 case.The other 2 cases were not tested for MIH.All bilateral gonadal biopsies were testicular tissue, but undifferentiated gonadal tissue was detected in 3 cases.Four cases underwent radical surgery after gonadal biopsy.Among these 4 children, 3 received one-stage radical operation, and 1 received repair of oblique hernia before the radical surgery.Three patients had a well-defined vas structure and underwent hysterectomy and bilateral orchidopexy; three patients had a vague vas structure and received orchidopexy with the uterus preserved; one case underwent hysterectomy, orchidopexy on one side and orchiectomy on the other side; one case had bilateral orchidectomy in Fowler-Stephens stage.All the 8 children were followed up for 2 to 12 years.Ultrasound showed that the descending testis was well developed, with no cryptorchidism retraction or hernia recurrence.No tumor was observed in the preserved uterus in the abdominal cavity.Conclusions:The plan for PMDS management in children should be determined based on its clinical classification.Gonadal biopsy is essential, and whether to remove the Müllerian structure depends on the vas structure and the development of the uterus.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of cannulated screw internal fixation combined with quadratus femoris bone flap with preservation of the posterior superior retinaculum and cannulated screw internal fixation alone in the treatment of femoral neck fracture in young and middle-aged patients.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 83 young and middle-aged patients with femoral neck fracture admitted to the 920th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force of PLA from January 2018 to January 2023, including 56 males and 27 females, aged 28-55 years [(42.7±3.2)years]. According to Garden classification, the fractures were classified as type III in 22 patients and type IV in 61. Based on Pauwels classification, the fractures were classified as type I in 15 patients, type II in 38 and type III in 30. Forty patients were treated with cannulated screw internal fixation combined with modified quadratus femoris bone flap (cannulated screw combined with bone flap group) and 43 with cannulated screw internal fixation alone (cannulated screw group). The two groups were compared in terms of the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, time to weight-bearing, length of hospital stay, and wound healing. The visual analogue scale (VAS) scores and Harris hip function scores at 1, 3, 6, 12 months after surgery and at the last follow-up. The postoperative complication rate was detected.Results:All the patients were followed up for 20-70 months [(40.0±1.2)months]. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss were (105.2±2.7)minutes and (100.6±16.3)ml in the cannulated screw combined with bone flap group, which were longer or more than (92.4±4.7)minutes and (92.5±14.6)ml in the cannulated screw group ( P<0.01). The time to weight-bearing was (12.1±1.4)weeks in the cannulated screw combined with bone flap group, shorter than (23.6±1.2)weeks in the cannulated screw group ( P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the length of hospital stay between the two groups (P>0.05). The incisions in both groups were healed by first intention. At 1 month after surgery, no statistically significant difference was observed in VAS scores between the two groups ( P>0.05); at 3, 6, 12 months after surgery and at the last follow-up, the VAS scores were (6.6±0.2)points, (4.5±0.3)points, (3.2±0.5)points, and (2.6±0.4)points in the cannulated screw combined with bone flap group, lower than (7.0±0.1)points, (5.2±0.2)points, (3.9±0.4)points, and (3.3±0.1)points in the cannulated screw group ( P<0.05 or 0.01). At 1 and 3 months after surgery, no statistically significant difference was observed in the Harris hip function scores between the two groups ( P>0.05); at 6, 12 months after surgery and at the last follow-up, the Harris hip function scores were (82.2±1.7)points, (90.0±1.4)points, and (91.6±1.0)points in the cannulated screw combined with bone flap group, higher than (75.2±1.7)points, (83.4±1.9)points, and (85.2±0.7)points in the cannulated screw group ( P<0.01). At the last follow-up, in the cannulated screw combined with bone flap group, the Harris hip function was rated excellent in 32 patients, good in 5, and fair in 3, with an excellent and good rate of 92.5%, while in the cannulated screw group, the Harris hip function was rated excellent in 20 patients, good in 13, and fair in 10, with an excellent and good rate of 76.7% ( P<0.05). The postoperative complication rate was 5.0% (2/40) in the cannulated screw combined with bone flap group, significantly lower than 23.2% (10/43) in the cannulated screw group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with cannulated screw internal fixation alone, cannulated screw internal fixation combined with quadratus femoris bone flap with preservation of the posterior superior retinaculum has the advantages of earlier weight-bearing, less pain, better recovery of hip joint function, and lower incidence of postoperative complications in the treatment of femoral neck fracture in young and middle-aged patients, despite longer operation time and more intraoperative blood loss.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of transurethral incision for the treatment of ureterocele in infants.Methods:A retrospective analysis of 28 cases of ureterocele admitted from March 2012 to May 2023 were reviewed, all of which were less than 1 year old, 16 male and 12 female, with an average age of(5.7±3.5)months. The ureterocele was located on the left side in 8 cases, on the right side in 15 cases, and bilaterally in 5 cases. There were 12 cases of single system ureterocele, of which 7 cases were unilateral and 5 cases were bilateral. Duplex system ureterocele was observed in 16 cases, all of which were unilateral. Clinical manifestations: urinary tract infection in 13 cases, 11 cases of ureterocele or hydronephrosis and ureteral dilation were found during antenatal examination, and 4 cases of ureterocele were found after birth. Urological ultrasound, intravenous pyelography(IVP) and voiding cystourethrography(VCUG) were performed in all children, and 17 cases underwent magnetic resonance urolography (MRU), and confirm the diagnosis of ureterocele preoperatively. All of the cases were performed the transurethral incision.The ureterocele was punctured and incised 1-2 mm at the base of the bulge, and 2-4 points were punctured according to the bulge atrophy. Bilateral ureteroceles were punctured and incised simultaneously. Postoperative urine routine test, urinary tract color ultrasound and VCUG were performed to determine if there is urinary tract infection, hydronephrosis, ureteral dilation and bulging, and whether a second surgery is needed.Results:All operations were conducted successfully. The intraoperative bleeding was less than 3 ml and no intraoperative complications. The operative time was (28.4±10.3) min. The median postoperative follow-up was 34 (32, 36) months. Six cases underwent postoperative VCUG examination. Eleven children were recovered well with single systemic ureterocele. One child developed grade Ⅳ vesicoureteral reflux(VUR)and combined with bladder diverticulum, and ureterocele underwent open diverticulotomy and ureteral reimplantation six months after surgery. Nine children were recovered well with duplex systemic ureterocele. Six cases of children developed infection, of which 2 cases had an infection once within one month after TUI, and the other four cases still had intermittent infections after six months and VCUG was performed, and one case showed grade Ⅲ VUR of the lower ureter, which was observed conservatively, while the other three cases had enlarged cysts but no VUR, and upper heminephrectomy was performed, and the patients recovered well after surgery. Except for these 6 exceptions, in another case, after ten years of follow-up, the ureterocele became larger but no VUR, and the results were good after a second transurethral incision. There was no significant difference in the postoperative infections, new VUR cases, and secondary surgeries between the two groups.Conclusions:Transurethral incision has good surgical effect on children with single system ureterocele and duplex system ureterocele, and has advantages of easy operation, less trauma, safety and effectiveness, and few complications. It deserves to be recommended as the treatment of choice, especially for infants and young children.

Objective:To investigate the clinical application effect of enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS) in the perioperative period of primary repair for children with hypospadias.Methods:Non-randomized controlled study.Retrospective analysis was made on clinical data of 206 children with hypospadias admitted to the Department of Urology, Shanxi Children′s Hospital from March 2018 to March 2022.According to whether the concept of ERAS was adopted for perioperative management of children, they were divided into the ERAS group(109 cases) and the non-ERAS group(97 cases). t-test and Chi-square test were used to analyze the differences between the two groups of patients in hospitalization days, hospitalization costs, pain scores on the first day after surgery, average number of bowel movements within 5 days after surgery, first out-of-bed activity time, hospital satisfaction score, and complication rate. Results:Pediatric patients in the ERAS group showed better outcomes compared to the non-ERAS group: shorter hospital stays[(7.71±1.12) d vs.(21.00±1.07) d], lower hospitalization costs[(10 043.21±1 341.00) yuan vs.(12 993.44±1 081.00) yuan], lower postoperative pain scores on the first day[(5.21±1.32) points vs.(6.09±1.07) points], more frequent bowel movements within 5 days[(5.16±0.65) times vs.(2.91±0.48) times], earlier time to first out-of-bed activity[(5.03±0.61) d vs.(7.12±0.57) d], and higher hospital satisfaction scores[(4.71±0.21) points vs.(4.14±0.15) points], and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05).Additionally, the ERAS group had lower rates of fever(6.42%, 7/109) and constipation(3.67%, 4/109) before urinary catheter removal compared to the non-ERAS group[21.64%(21/97) and 28.87%(28/97), respectively](all P<0.05).There were no significant differences in the incidences of complications such as urethral prolapse, infection, delayed wound healing, and bleeding, as well as urethral stricture, urethral fistula, and urethral diverticulum after urinary catheter removal between the two groups(all P>0.05). Conclusions:ERAS protocol applied in the perioperative period of primary repair for children with hypospadias can shorten the hospitalization time, lower the hospitalization costs, and accelerate the rehabilitation of children.It is worth further promotion.

RNA therapeutics inhibit the expression of specific proteins/RNAs by targeting complementary sequences of corresponding genes, or synthesize proteins encoded by the desired genes to treat genetic diseases. RNA-based therapeutics are categorized as oligonucleotide drugs (antisense oligonucleotides, small interfering RNA, RNA aptamers), and mRNA drugs. The antisense oligonucleotides and small interfering RNA for treatment of genetic diseases have been approved by the FDA in the United State, while RNA aptamers and mRNA drugs are still in clinical trials. Chemical modifications are applied to RNA drugs, such as pseudouridine modification of mRNA, to reduce immunogenicity and improve the efficacy. The secure and effective delivery systems like lipid-based nanoparticles, extracellular vesicles, and virus-like particles are under development to address stability, specificity, and safety issues of RNA drugs. This article provides an overview of the specific molecular mechanisms of 11 RNA drugs currently used for treating genetic diseases, and discusses the research progress of chemical modifications and delivery systems of RNA drugs.