Objective To explore the application effect of ultrasound-assisted localization in spinal anesthesia for elderly patients with hip fractures.Methods A total of 114 elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery with spinal anesthesia in our hospital from September 2022 to June 2024 were enrolled.The random number table method was applied to allocate participants into two groups:surface anatomical landmark localization group and ultrasound-assisted localization group,with 57 patients in each group.Both groups of patients underwent spinal anesthesia via the paramedian approach for puncture.The first-attempt puncture success rate,success rate of the initial puncture site,number of skin punctures,number of adjusted epidural needle direction,positioning time of the puncture point,puncture time(puncture success time,anesthesia time,and total time),adverse events during the puncture process(nerve hypersensitivity and accidental puncture of the dura mater),spinal anesthesia related complications(back pain,headache,and nerve injury),patient satisfaction and hospital stay were observed and compared between the two groups.The quality of early postoperative recovery was evaluated by using the 15-Item Quality of Recovery(QOR-15)scale at 24 h after surgery.Results The first-attempt puncture success rate in the ultrasound-assisted localization group was 71.9％(41/57),which was significantly higher than that in the surface anatomical landmark localization group[28.1％(16/57),x2=21.930,P=0.000].The success rate of the initial puncture site in the ultrasound-assisted localization group was 87.7％(50/57),which was significantly higher than that in the surface anatomical landmark localization group[54.4％(31/57),x2=15.396,P=0.000].The number of skin punctures and adjusted epidural needle direction in the ultrasound-assisted localization group were 1(1,1)and 0(0,1)times,while in the surface anatomical landmark localization group were 2(1,3)and 3(0,5)times,with statistically significant differences(all P=0.000).The puncture positioning time in the ultrasound-assisted localization group was 2.2(1.7,3.2)min,which was significantly longer than that in the surface anatomical landmark localization group[0.8(0.5,1.2)min,Z=-8.418,P=0.000].The puncture success time,anesthesia time,and total time of the ultrasound-assisted localization group were 1.9(1.7,2.3),4.9(4.3,5.3),and 7.1(6.3,8.7)min,while of the surface anatomical landmark localization group were 5.1(2.3,8.0),7.9(5.7,11.0),and 8.6(6.6,12.0)min,with statistically significant differences(all P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of nerve hypersensitivity during operation(3.5％vs.7.0％,x2=0.176,P=0.675),accidental puncture of the dura mater by epidural needles(0％vs.3.5％,P=0.496),postoperative headache(0％vs.3.5％,P=0.496),and back pain(1.8％vs.10.5％,x2=2.435,P=0.119)between the two groups.Both groups of patients showed no symptoms of nerve injury after surgery.There were no statistically significant differences in QOR-15 scores at 24 h postoperatively[119(115,124)points vs.116(112,121)points,Z=-1.858,P=0.063]and length of hospital stay[10.0(9.0,12.5)dvs.10.0(8.0,13.0)d,Z=-0.043,P=0.966]between the two groups.The satisfaction of patients in the ultrasound-assisted localization group was significantly higher than that in the surface anatomical landmark localization group(P=0.004).Conclusion Application of ultrasound-guided localization in spinal anesthesia for elderly patients with hip fractures significantly improves the first-attempt puncture and initial puncture site success rates,reduces skin puncture attempts and adjustments of the epidural needle direction,shortens time of anesthetic procedure,and enhances patient satisfaction,making it highly recommendable for clinical use.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of Fuzheng Yangxin Prescription in improving cardiac function in rats with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction(HFrEF)through regulation of AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.Methods An HFrEF rat model was established via left anterior descending coronary artery ligation.Rats were randomized divided into sham-operation group,model group,Fuzheng Yangxin Prescription group and Entresto group,followed by 28 days of intervention.Echocardiography was used to measure left ventricular internal dimension at end-systole(LVIDs),left ventricular internal dimension at end-diastole(LVIDd),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricular fractional shortening(LVFS),HE staining and Masson staining were used to observe myocardial morphology and fibrosis,serum contents of NT-proBNP and inflammatory factors(TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6)were detected by ELISA,Western blot was performed to analyze p-AMPK,p-mTOR and protein expressions of autophagy markers(Beclin1,LC3,p62).Results Compared with sham-operation group,the LVIDs and LVIDd in model group significantly increased(P<0.05),while LVEF and LVFS significantly decreased(P<0.05),the structure of myocardial cells was disordered and arranged loosely,the deposition of collagen fibers in the infarct area was increased,and the contents of NT-proBNP,TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 in serum significantly increased(P<0.05),the protein expressions of p-AMPK,Beclin1 and LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ in myocardial tissue significantly decreased(P<0.05),while the protein expressions of p-mTOR and p62 significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with the model group,the LVIDs and LVIDd of rats in Fuzheng Yangxin Prescription group significantly decreased(P<0.05),the LVEF and LVFS were significantly increased(P<0.05),the disorder of myocardial cell arrangement and fibrosis were alleviated,the contents of NT-proBNP,TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 in serum significantly decreased(P<0.05),the protein expressions of p-AMPK,Beclin1 and LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ in myocardial tissue significantly increased(P<0.05),while the protein expressions of p-mTOR and p62 significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion Fuzheng Yangxin Prescription may regulate autophagy by activating AMPK/mTOR pathway and improve cardiac function in HFrEF rats.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of Fuzheng Yangxin Prescription in improving cardiac function in rats with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction(HFrEF)through regulation of AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.Methods An HFrEF rat model was established via left anterior descending coronary artery ligation.Rats were randomized divided into sham-operation group,model group,Fuzheng Yangxin Prescription group and Entresto group,followed by 28 days of intervention.Echocardiography was used to measure left ventricular internal dimension at end-systole(LVIDs),left ventricular internal dimension at end-diastole(LVIDd),left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),left ventricular fractional shortening(LVFS),HE staining and Masson staining were used to observe myocardial morphology and fibrosis,serum contents of NT-proBNP and inflammatory factors(TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6)were detected by ELISA,Western blot was performed to analyze p-AMPK,p-mTOR and protein expressions of autophagy markers(Beclin1,LC3,p62).Results Compared with sham-operation group,the LVIDs and LVIDd in model group significantly increased(P<0.05),while LVEF and LVFS significantly decreased(P<0.05),the structure of myocardial cells was disordered and arranged loosely,the deposition of collagen fibers in the infarct area was increased,and the contents of NT-proBNP,TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 in serum significantly increased(P<0.05),the protein expressions of p-AMPK,Beclin1 and LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ in myocardial tissue significantly decreased(P<0.05),while the protein expressions of p-mTOR and p62 significantly increased(P<0.05);compared with the model group,the LVIDs and LVIDd of rats in Fuzheng Yangxin Prescription group significantly decreased(P<0.05),the LVEF and LVFS were significantly increased(P<0.05),the disorder of myocardial cell arrangement and fibrosis were alleviated,the contents of NT-proBNP,TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 in serum significantly decreased(P<0.05),the protein expressions of p-AMPK,Beclin1 and LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ in myocardial tissue significantly increased(P<0.05),while the protein expressions of p-mTOR and p62 significantly decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion Fuzheng Yangxin Prescription may regulate autophagy by activating AMPK/mTOR pathway and improve cardiac function in HFrEF rats.

Objective To explore the application effect of ultrasound-assisted localization in spinal anesthesia for elderly patients with hip fractures.Methods A total of 114 elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery with spinal anesthesia in our hospital from September 2022 to June 2024 were enrolled.The random number table method was applied to allocate participants into two groups:surface anatomical landmark localization group and ultrasound-assisted localization group,with 57 patients in each group.Both groups of patients underwent spinal anesthesia via the paramedian approach for puncture.The first-attempt puncture success rate,success rate of the initial puncture site,number of skin punctures,number of adjusted epidural needle direction,positioning time of the puncture point,puncture time(puncture success time,anesthesia time,and total time),adverse events during the puncture process(nerve hypersensitivity and accidental puncture of the dura mater),spinal anesthesia related complications(back pain,headache,and nerve injury),patient satisfaction and hospital stay were observed and compared between the two groups.The quality of early postoperative recovery was evaluated by using the 15-Item Quality of Recovery(QOR-15)scale at 24 h after surgery.Results The first-attempt puncture success rate in the ultrasound-assisted localization group was 71.9％(41/57),which was significantly higher than that in the surface anatomical landmark localization group[28.1％(16/57),x2=21.930,P=0.000].The success rate of the initial puncture site in the ultrasound-assisted localization group was 87.7％(50/57),which was significantly higher than that in the surface anatomical landmark localization group[54.4％(31/57),x2=15.396,P=0.000].The number of skin punctures and adjusted epidural needle direction in the ultrasound-assisted localization group were 1(1,1)and 0(0,1)times,while in the surface anatomical landmark localization group were 2(1,3)and 3(0,5)times,with statistically significant differences(all P=0.000).The puncture positioning time in the ultrasound-assisted localization group was 2.2(1.7,3.2)min,which was significantly longer than that in the surface anatomical landmark localization group[0.8(0.5,1.2)min,Z=-8.418,P=0.000].The puncture success time,anesthesia time,and total time of the ultrasound-assisted localization group were 1.9(1.7,2.3),4.9(4.3,5.3),and 7.1(6.3,8.7)min,while of the surface anatomical landmark localization group were 5.1(2.3,8.0),7.9(5.7,11.0),and 8.6(6.6,12.0)min,with statistically significant differences(all P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of nerve hypersensitivity during operation(3.5％vs.7.0％,x2=0.176,P=0.675),accidental puncture of the dura mater by epidural needles(0％vs.3.5％,P=0.496),postoperative headache(0％vs.3.5％,P=0.496),and back pain(1.8％vs.10.5％,x2=2.435,P=0.119)between the two groups.Both groups of patients showed no symptoms of nerve injury after surgery.There were no statistically significant differences in QOR-15 scores at 24 h postoperatively[119(115,124)points vs.116(112,121)points,Z=-1.858,P=0.063]and length of hospital stay[10.0(9.0,12.5)dvs.10.0(8.0,13.0)d,Z=-0.043,P=0.966]between the two groups.The satisfaction of patients in the ultrasound-assisted localization group was significantly higher than that in the surface anatomical landmark localization group(P=0.004).Conclusion Application of ultrasound-guided localization in spinal anesthesia for elderly patients with hip fractures significantly improves the first-attempt puncture and initial puncture site success rates,reduces skin puncture attempts and adjustments of the epidural needle direction,shortens time of anesthetic procedure,and enhances patient satisfaction,making it highly recommendable for clinical use.