AIM: To investigate the influence of pterygium thickness and area on corneal refractive status.METHODS: Prospective longitudinal study. A total of 60 cases(60 eyes)of pterygium patients admitted to our hospital from January 2024 to September 2024 were randomly selected. All patients underwent pterygium excision combined with pedicle conjunctival flap transplantation for treatment. Optical coherence tomography(OCT)was used to measure the preoperative thickness of patient's pterygium, and a digital slit lamp microscope was used to measure the area of pterygium. The corneal refractive status(degree of corneal astigmatism and average curvature)and changes in uncorrected visual acuity of patients before surgery, 1 d, 1, and 3 mo after surgery were compared. The relationship between preoperative thickness and area of pterygium in patients and corneal refractive status indicators at different postoperative time points were analyzed, and Logistic regression was used to analyze the impact of pterygium thickness and area on postoperative visual improvement in patients.RESULTS: All patients completed follow-up after surgery for 3 mo. At 3 mo after surgery, visual acuity improved in 21 eyes(35%). The results of bivariate Pearson correlation analysis showed that the thickness and area of pterygium positively correlated with the degree of corneal astigmatism and uncorrected visual acuity before surgery and 1 d, 1, and 3 mo after surgery(all P<0.05), and negatively correlated with the average corneal curvature before surgery and 1 d, 1, and 3 mo after surgery(all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the thickness and area of pterygium before surgery, high degree of corneal astigmatism, and low uncorrected visual acuity(large LogMAR value)were all risk factors for poor postoperative visual improvement in patients(OR>1, P<0.05). The large average corneal curvature before surgery was a protective factor for poor postoperative visual improvement in patients(OR<1, P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The increase in thickness and area of pterygium can, to some extent, improve corneal astigmatism, reduce the average curvature of the cornea, and affect postoperative visual recovery.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for postoperative recurrence and metastasis in patients with T1 stageⅢ/Ⅳ clear cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC), and to analyze the influence of surgical methods on prognosis, so as to provide prognostic evaluation and treatment guidance for clinical practice. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 398 patients diagnosed with T1 stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ ccRCC who underwent either partial nephrectomy(PN)or radical nephrectomy(RN)at Jiangsu Province Hospital during Jan. 2008 and Sep. 2022. The patients were divided into recurrence group(n=49)and non-recurrence group(n=349)according to whether the tumor recurred during the follow-up period. The general, clinical data and prognosis were compared between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to explore the factors influencing disease-free survival(DFS)and overall survival(OS)after surgery. Subgroup analysis using Kaplan-Meier curves was performed for T1a and T1b patients. Results During the median follow-up of 67(42, 98)months, the recurrence group was characterized by older age, larger tumor diameter, higher proportion of T1b stage, and more complex tumor anatomy. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that age ≥55 years and R.E.N.A.L. score ≥7 were independent risk factors for poorer DFS and OS(P＜0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed that PN or RN did not significantly affect DFS or OS in T1a patients and OS in T1b patients, while RN significantly improved DFS in T1b patients(P＜0.05). Conclusion Age ≥55 years and R.E.N.A.L. score ≥7 are independent risk factors for poor DFS and OS in highgrade T1 ccRCC patients. For T1b patients, RN may improve DFS.

Objective To analyze the clinical, imaging, pathological characteristics and prognosis of renal mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma (MTSCC), so as to provide preference for the differential diagnosis and clinical management of this disease.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and follow-up data of 14 patients diagnosed with renal MTSCC at the Eastern Theater Command General Hospital during June 2021 and Aug.2025.Relevant literature was reviewed.Results Of the 14 patients, 10 were female (71.4%) and 4 were male (28.6%), with a mean age of 56.9 years. Pathological staging included pT1a in 6 cases, pT1b in 7 cases, and pT2b in 1 case.The median tumor diameter was 4.5 (range 2.0-11.0) cm.Twelve cases (85.7%) were asymptomatic and detected incidentally.On ultrasonography, most tumors exhibited well-defined margins and regular morphology (9/10, 90%) and appeared as homogeneous hypoechoic masses (7/10, 70%).All lesions demonstrated hypovascular features on imaging studies.Ten patients (71.4%) underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy, and 4(28.6%) received partial nephrectomy.Histologically, a distinctive architecture composed of tubular structures, spindle-shaped cells, and mucinous stroma was exhibited.Immunohistochemically, the positive rates of PAX-8, VIMENTIN and CK7 in tumor cells were 100% (13/13), 91.7% (11/12) and 84.6% (11/13), respectively.The Ki-67 proliferation index ranged from 2.0% to 40.0%.During a median follow-up of 25.0 (range4.9-0.0) months, no local recurrence or distant metastasis was observed.Conclusion Renal MTSCC is a rare subtype of renal cell carcinoma, typically lacking specific clinical symptoms and characterized by hypovascular imaging features.The tumor generally follows an indolent course with a favorable prognosis.For localized tumors, partial nephrectomy should be the primary consideration.For cases with high-risk pathological features such as sarcomatoid changes, due attention should be paid to the potential invasiveness and follow-up should be closely conducted.

Objective The aim of this study is to discuss the causal relationship between periodontal disease(PD)and prostate cancer(PCa).Methods A two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization(MR)analysis based on publicly statistical data from genome-wide association studies(GWAS)was conducted.MR Egger,weighted medium,simple mode and weighted mode were supplemented,while inverse variance weighted analysis(IVW)was the main method of analysis.Heterogeneity testing,pleiotropy testing and leave-one-out testing were used to assess the sensitivity and stabili-ty.Results The results of MR analysis showed that PD had no significant impact on the occurrence of PCa:East Asian(IVW,PD:OR=1.07,P=0.48);European(IVW,PD:OR=1.00,P=0.37,periodontitis:OR=1.03,P=0.14,chronic gingivitis:OR=0.99,P=0.37,chronic periodontitis:OR=1.03,P=0.22).The reverse MR analysis also did not show a causal relationship between PCa and PD:East Asian(IVW,PD:OR=0.97,P=0.22);European(IVW,PD:OR=0.84,P=0.44,periodontitis:OR=1.01,P=0.75,chronic gingivitis:OR=0.93,P=0.23,chronic periodontitis:OR=0.99,P=0.80).The results of other analysis were consistent with those of IVW analysis.Conclusions The results of our two-sample bidirectional MR analysis do not support a causal relationship between PD and PCa.

Objective:To explore clinical characteristics of multiple sclerosis(MS)patients in Suzhou,and to analyze main factors affecting their prognosis.Methods:General data,clinical symptoms,cerebrospinal fluid and imaging examinations of 51 MS patients admitted to Department of Neurology of the Second Hospital of Soochow University from July 31,2009 to July 31,2021 were retrospectively analyzed,and main factors affecting their prognosis were discussed.Results:Average age of onset of 51 MS patients was(43.3±15.6)years old,female accounted for 56.9%,male/female=1/1.3.Adult onset MS(AOMS)accounted for 62.8%,male/female=1/1.7;late onset MS(LOMS)accounted for 37.2%,male/female=1/0.9.Relapsing remitting MS(RRMS)accounted for 76.5%,and chronic onset accounted for 60.8%.Average annual recurrence rate was 8.8%.The first symptoms were numbness and weakness of limbs.Dizziness and numbness were more common in patients without recurrence after diagnosis of MS,and limb weak-ness and numbness were more common in patients with recurrence.Among lesions of MRI,62.7%(32/51)of periventricular involve-ment,52.9%(27/51)of spinal cord involvement,51.0%(26/51)of infratentorial involvement.Proportion of subtentorial and spinal cord(cervical,thoracic)involved were significantly higher in patients with recurrent MS than without recurrence.Values of albumin,IgG,IgA and IgM in cerebrospinal fluid increased with increase of recurrence times.EDSS score of male was higher than female,and LOMS score was higher than AOMS.MS patients without relapse had a low EDSS score,and median EDSS score at current follow-up was 0(0,1.00)score.MS score with relapse was relatively high,and median EDSS score at current follow-up was 2.75(0.25,7.25)score.Conclusion:MS patients with chronic onset are more common,with a high proportion of LOMS,and proportion of males increases with increasing age of onset.High EDSS score at first onset,cervical,thoracic and subtentorial lesions,increased values of cerebrospinal fluid albumin,IgG,IgA,IgM,age at first onset(50+years old),male associate with poor MS prognosis.

Objective:To investigate role of miR-4738-3p in targeting tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase 2(TDO2)to regulate energy metabolism and inhibit immune escape in thyroid cancer cells.Methods:A total of 68 cases of thyroid cancer tissues and their corresponding adjacent non-cancerous tissues were collected,expressions of miR-4738-3p and TDO2 in tissues and cell lines were de-tected by qRT-PCR,relationship between miR-4738-3p expression and clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed.Effects of miR-4738-3p and TDO2 on proliferation,migration,invasion,energy metabolism and immune escape of TPC-1 and BCPAP cells were examined through CCK-8,clone formation,wound healing,Transwell experiments,biochemical analyses,ELISA and NK cell co-culture experiments,targeting relationship between miR-4738-3p and TDO2 was validated by dual luciferase reporter gene assay.In vivo xenograft experiments and immunohistochemical detections were conducted to observe effects of miR-4738-3p on tumorigenesis and expression of immune escape-related proteins in TPC-1 and BCPAP cells.Results:miR-4738-3p was lowly expressed(P<0.05),while TDO2 was highly expressed in thyroid cancer(P<0.05).Tumor size,lymph node metastasis and TNM staging were correlated with expression of miR-4738-3p(P<0.05).Compared with miR-NC group,miR-4738-3p mimics group exhibited decreased prolifera-tion,clone formation,migration,invasion ability,glucose uptake,lactate production,ATP/ADP ratio,TDO2 mRNA and protein expressions,tumor volume,mass,Ki-67,TDO2 and PD-L1 expressions(P<0.05),NAD+/NADH ratio,IFN-γ,TNF-α levels and NK cell killing rate were increased(P<0.05).miR-4738-3p inhibitor group showed increased proliferation,clone formation,migration,invasion ability,glucose uptake,lactate production,ATP/ADP ratio,TDO2 mRNA and protein expressions(P<0.05),NAD+/NADH ratio,IFN-γ,TNF-α levels and NK cell killing rate were decreased(P<0.05).Binding sites were identified between miR-4738-3p and TDO2,and their expression were negatively correlated(r=-0.485 3,P<0.001).Compared with sh-NC group,proliferation,clone formation,migration,invasion ability,glucose uptake,lactate production and ATP/ADP ratio were decreased in sh-TDO2 group(P<0.05),NAD+/NADH ratio,IFN-γ,TNF-α levels and NK cell killing rate were increased(P<0.05).Compared with Scrambled group,proliferation,clone formation,migration,invasion ability,glucose uptake,lactate production and ATP/ADP ratio were increased in TDO2 group(P<0.05),NAD+/NADH ratio,IFN-γ,TNF-α levels and NK cell killing rate were decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion:miR-4738-3p targets TDO2 to regulate energy metabolism,inhibiting thyroid cancer cell proliferation,metastasis and immune escape.

Objectives:To explore the progress in the application of cardiovascular related innovative patent technologies between China and the United States from 2014 to 2023,and to further analyze the differences in driving forces and policy orientations in the transformation of scientific and technological achievements between the two countries,providing reference data for improving the efficiency of the transformation of cardiovascular scientific and technological achievements in China.Methods:Based on the Himmpat patent database,we searched invention patent application data in the cardiovascular fields by using the Fuwai Subject Headings and adopting the method of the international patent classification(IPC)-title-claims-abstract,from January 1,2014 to December 31,2023(excluding utility model and design patents).Fourteen indicators regarding patent value evaluation were selected as independent variables and the transfer and transformation rate of invention patent family as the dependent variable.Then we construct univariate and multivariate prediction models by utilizing logistic regression to compare and analyze the differences in various predictors for the transformation rate of patent family in the cardiovascular field between the two countries,and calculate the respective population attributable fraction(PAF)for each predictor.Results:Over the past 10 years,there have been 45 413 invention patent family in the cardiovascular field in China,which exceeded the 35 582 invention patent family in the United States.The transformation rate of cardiovascular invention patent family in the United States was 49.77%,while in China it was only 9.18%.In the United States,the transformation rate of invention patent family's applicants involving medical institutions is significantly higher than that of universities,research institutions,and enterprises,with transformation rates of 63.75%,56.74%,50.00%,and 49.76%,respectively.In contrast,in China,the transformation rate of invention patent family in the cardiovascular field is 6.87%in medical institutions and 7.90%in universities,slightly higher in research institutions(10.99%),while the highest rate is in enterprises(15.83%).Moreover,the transformation rates of biomedical invention patent family is higher than that of medical devices in China(9.45%vs.7.81%),while the opposite is true in the United States(42.39%vs.59.03%).The results of PAF based on full multivariate logistic regression,the top three predictors for the transfer and transformation of invention patent family in China are applicants including enterprises(PAF=71.17%),overseas distribution country number more than one(PAF=30.76%),and invention authorized(PAF=29.95%).In the United States,citation frequency exceeding 10 times(PAF=46.92%),overseas distribution country number more than one(PAF=32.56%),and applicants including enterprises(PAF=20.54%)are the top three predictors for the transfer and transformation of invention patent family.Conclusions:Since the implementation of the 13th Five-Year Plan,the number of patent family applications for cardiovascular related inventions in China has surpassed that of the United States.However,the transfer and transformation efficiency of cardiovascular invention patents in China is significantly lower than that of the United States.In depth analysis of the reasons,this study finds it mainly lies in China's insufficient research and development potential for high-value patents,weak awareness of overseas market layout,insufficient motivation for universities and medical institutions to transfer and transform invention patents,and the underutilization of the transformation potential of medical device invention patents as well.

Objective To establish a model to predict the severity of patients with COVID-19 associated diarrhea by analyzing the differences of laboratory detection indicators in different grades of patients with COVID-19 associated diarrhea.Methods A total of 649 COVID-19 patients combined with diarrhea hospitalized in Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital from February 2020 to April 2020 were retrospectively selected,and the patients with obvious causes of diarrhea had been excluded.They were further divided into the common group(n=282),severe group(n=314),and critical group(n=53),and the differences in clinical and laboratory indicators among the three groups were compared.The XGBoost model was established,and its diagnostic efficacy in predicting the severity of patients with COVID-19 associated diarrhea was evaluated by the ROC curve.Results There were statistically significant differences in blood routine test,liver function,electrolytes,fecal occult blood and other laboratory indicators among the three groups of COVID-19 associ-ated diarrhea(P＜0.05).The white blood cell count,absolute value and percentage of neutrophils,and levels of serum lactate dehydro-genase(LDH),α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase(α-HBDH),γ-glutamyl transpeptidase(GGT),B-type natriuretic peptide,and blord glucose(Glu)in the critical group were significantly higher than those in the common group and severe group(P＜0.05),while the percentages of lymphocytes,monocytes,eosinophils,and basophils,and chloride concentration were significantly lower than those in the common group and severe group(P＜0.05).The results of the ROC curve showed that the prediction model constructed by eight indicators,including C-reactive protein(CRP),LDH,interleukin-6(IL-6),Glu,PT％activity,chloride(Cl-),D-dimer(DD),and procalcitonin(PCT),had significant predictive value for critical patients(AUCROC=0.939),but no obvious predictive value for the patients in the common group(AUCROC=0.630)and severe group(AUCROC=0.553).Conclusion The COVID-19 patients com-bined with diarrhea have a higher probability of developing severe or critical conditions compared with those without diarrhea.The indi-cators such as CRP,LDH,IL-6,Glu,PT％activity,Cl-,DD,and PCT have significant predictive value on whether the COVID-19 patients combined with diarrhea turn to critical illness.

Objective:To analyze the genetic characteristics of varicella-zoster virus（VZV）in Anhui province from 2022 to 2023.Methods:Vesicle fluid and throat swab samples were collected from suspected varicella patients in Anhui province during 2022—2023. Fresh vesicle fluid samples were selected for VZV isolation，and real-time PCR was used for VZV nucleic acid detection. For positive samples，the region containing five single nucleotide polymorphism（SNP）sites in the open reading frame 22（ORF22）fragment was amplified，and PCR products were sequenced to identify viral genotypes. Reference sequences of VZV genotypes were downloaded from GenBank，sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree analysis were performed using Sequencher and MEGA5.0 software. Additionally，four SNP sites in ORF38 and ORF62 fragments were detected to distinguish vaccine strains from wild strains.Results:Among 96 samples from suspected varicella cases，55 of 61 vesicle fluid samples and 21 of 35 throat swab samples were positive for VZV nucleic acid. The virus isolation rate for vesicle fluid samples was 14.75%. Genetic sequencing was successful for 51 strains，all of which were wild strains belonging to the clade 2 genetic branch. Compared with the reference strain of clade 2，the nucleotide and amino acid homologies of the ORF22 fragment were 99.46%~100% and 98.39%~100%，respectively. One strain（2023VZVCZ45）exhibited an A→G mutation at site 37916.Conclusion:The prevalent VZV strains detected in Anhui province during 2022—2023 were all wild strains of clade 2，with no vaccine-associated cases identified.

Objective:To examine the interaction between gender and the visceral adiposity index (VAI) in relation to the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods:This retrospective cohort study utilized data from the public Dryad database derived from the NAGALA (NAFLD in the Gifu Area, Longitudinal Analysis) project (1994-2016). Participants were stratified into quartiles based on VAI levels. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model was employed to evaluate whether VAI independently predicts T2DM risk. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed for each VAI quartile. Subgroup analyses were conducted to examine associations across age and body mass index categories. Both multiplicative and additive interaction effects between gender and VAI were assessed. Additionally, gender-specific Cox models were fitted to further explore these associations.Results:A total of 15 453 participants [8 419 males and 7 034 females; mean age, (43.7±8.9) years] were included, with a median follow-up duration of 5.39 years. During follow-up, 373 participants (2.4%) developed T2DM. After adjustment for potential confounders, higher VAI levels were independently associated with increased T2DM risk ( HR=1.16; 95% CI 1.11-1.21), consistent with the results across VAI quartiles. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significant trend of increasing T2DM incidence across VAI quartiles ( P<0.001). The area under the ROC curve for VAI in predicting T2DM at 3, 5, and 10 years was 0.755, 0.735, and 0.696, respectively. Sensitivity analyses showed that elevated VAI was associated with increased T2DM risk across all age and body mass index subgroups (all P<0.05). Regarding interaction analysis, the HR (95% CI) for the multiplicative interaction between VAI and gender was 1.22 (1.19-1.26). The relative excess risk of interaction was -1.08 (95% CI -2.96 to -0.06), the attributable proportion of interaction was -0.54 (95% CI -1.35 to -0.01), and the synergy index was 0.48 (95% CI 0.26-0.91), indicating a negative additive interaction. Using low-VAI women as the reference group, the risk of T2DM in high-VAI women was higher ( HR=2.53, 95% CI 1.59-4.02) compared to high-VAI men ( HR=2.01, 95% CI 1.49-2.72). In gender-specific analyses, increasing VAI remained significantly associated with elevated T2DM risk after adjustment in both females ( HR=1.43, 95% CI 1.21-1.68) and males ( HR=1.16; 95% CI 1.11-1.22), with consistent findings across VAI quartiles. Conclusions:VAI and gender demonstrated multiplicative and additive interaction in relation to T2DM risk. The association between increasing VAI and T2DM risk was more pronounced in women than in men.