AIM: To assess the impact of optimized pulsed technology(OPT)on the morphological and functional changes of meibomian glands in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction(MGD).METHODS: This prospective case-control study enrolled 60 MGD patients(60 right eyes)treated at Weifang Eye Hospital from September 2023 to February 2024. Patients were categorized into mild, moderate, and severe groups based on the extent of meibomian gland loss, with 20 cases(20 eyes)per group. Treatments consisted of bilateral OPT combined with meibomian gland massages, administered biweekly over four sessions. Ocular surface function indicators including the ocular surface disease index(OSDI), corneal fluorescein staining(CFS), non-invasive average tear break-up time(NIBUTav), and non-invasive tear meniscus height(NITMH), as well as meibomian gland function parameters such as meibomian gland expressibility score(MGES)and meibomian gland secretion score(MGYSS)were observed and recorded before treatment and at 3 mo after final treatment. Cellular-level assessments using in vivo confocal microscopy(IVCM)examined meibomian gland acinar unit density(MGAUD), inflammatory cell density(ICD), meibomian gland acinar longest diameter(MGALD)and meibomian gland acinar shortest diameter(MGASD).RESULTS: At baseline, no significant differences were found in NITMH across groups(P>0.05). Statistical significance were observed in NIBUTav, MGES, MGYSS, MGAUD, MGALD, and MGASD(all P<0.05). Compared to the mild group, the moderate and severe groups showed significant differences in OSDI, CFS, and ICD(all P<0.05), though no significant differences existed between moderate and severe groups(all P>0.05). At 3 mo after treatment, all groups showed no significant differences in NITMH(all P>0.05). All parameters improved significantly in the mild group(all P<0.05); all indicators improved in the moderate group(P>0.05), except for MGASD before and after treatment(all P<0.05); significant improvements were noted in OSDI, CFS, and NIBUTav in the severe group(all P<0.05), while MGES and MGYSS did not differ significantly(all P>0.05). IVCM parameters(MGAUD, ICD, MGALD, and MGASD)showed no significant change in the severe group(all P>0.05).CONCLUSION:OPT effectively enhances various ocular surface functions and improves gland expressibility and secretion quality in mild to moderate MGD cases, while also positively impacting certain cellular parameters. In severe cases, where most acinar functions are lost and structural reversibility is limited, OPT can still mitigate MGD symptoms and decelerate disease progression.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 532-nm picosecond laser in the treatment of early-stage facial seborrheic keratosis.Methods:A total of 95 patients with early-stage facial seborrheic keratosis were prospectively enrolled from the Department of Dermatology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University between December 2020 and September 2022. All the patients received a session of 532-nm picosecond laser treatment, and were followed up for 6 months. A 4-point scale was used to evaluate the overall improvement of skin lesions for assessing the clinical efficacy. A VISIA skin detector was used to quantitatively determine the characteristic counts, absolute scores, and percentiles of brown spots before and after treatment, and the paired sample t-test was used to compare the quantitative indicators of brown spots before and after treatment. The patients′ pain grades were evaluated, and adverse reactions were recorded. Results:All the 95 patients with early-stage facial seborrheic keratosis received a session of 532-nm picosecond laser treatment, and completed a 6-month follow-up. All the patients achieved over 25% regression of skin lesions in the treatment area, of whom 10 received mild improvement, 17 received favorable improvement, and 68 received marked improvement, with the response rate being 89.47% (85/95). The examination with the VISIA skin detector showed that the characteristic counts (195.19 ± 51.06) and absolute scores (28.80 ± 6.20 points) of brown spots significantly decreased, while the percentiles of brown spots (38.48% ± 10.80%) significantly increased at 6 months after treatment compared with the corresponding baseline indicators (211.48 ± 50.94, 35.16 ± 6.84 points, 30.61% ± 10.27%, t = 12.73, 16.90, -15.73, respectively, all P < 0.001). All the patients experienced varying degrees of pain during the treatment, with the pain scores being 2 - 6 (3.64 ± 1.67) points, but all of them could tolerate the pain and completed the treatment. Temporary postinflammatory hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation occurred in 9 (9.47%) and 4 (4.21%) patients respectively, and the skin color restored to normal during the 6-month follow-up. Conclusion:The 532-nm picosecond laser was safe and effective for the treatment of early-stage facial seborrheic keratosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting both upper and lower motor neurons (MNs) with large unmet medical needs. Multiple pathological mechanisms are considered to contribute to the progression of ALS, including neuronal oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Honokiol (HNK) has been reported to exert therapeutic effects in several neurologic disease models including ischemia stroke, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Here we found that honokiol also exhibited protective effects in ALS disease models both in vitro and in vivo. Honokiol improved the viability of NSC-34 motor neuron-like cells that expressed the mutant G93A SOD1 proteins (SOD1-G93A cells for short). Mechanistical studies revealed that honokiol alleviated cellular oxidative stress by enhancing glutathione (GSH) synthesis and activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway. Also, honokiol improved both mitochondrial function and morphology via fine-tuning mitochondrial dynamics in SOD1-G93A cells. Importantly, honokiol extended the lifespan of the SOD1-G93A transgenic mice and improved the motor function. The improvement of antioxidant capacity and mitochondrial function was further confirmed in the spinal cord and gastrocnemius muscle in mice. Overall, honokiol showed promising preclinical potential as a multiple target drug for ALS treatment.

Objective: To determine the association between physical health fitness with Chinese reading ability of schoolaged children, so as to provide evidence for improving children s reading ability. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 1 923 school aged children in grades 2-6 in a primary school in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The questionnaire included basic demographic information and Dyslexia Checklist for Chinese Children and the Pupil Rating Scale Revised Screening. At the same time, participants underwent physical fitness tests which included an assessment of height, weight, and lung capacity, as well as a 50 meter run, sit forward bend, one minute skipping rope task, sit ups, and a 50 × 8 round trip. Results: A total of 59 children were identified with dyslexia. Normal children achieved higher scores than children with dyslexia in the total physical health score, as well as the one minute skipping rope score, one minute sit up score, and sitting forward score ( P <0.05). Multiple linear regression analyses showed that the reading ability of girls was higher than that of boys ( β =-3.04, P <0.01), and the children who regularly participated in more intense physical activity and who had higher fitness scores had a higher reading ability ( β =-1.68, -0.08, P <0.01). Children s reading ability increased significantly with parental educational level( P <0.05). Conclusion Gender, parents education level, physical exercise intensity, and children s physical fitness were identified as influencing factors of school age children s reading ability. A positive correlation was found between children s physical health level and reading ability.

Objective To investigate the role of vestibular organs on stress analgesia induced by rotation in mice. Methods Female mice were randomly divided into morphine group and rotation group. After 15 minutes of intraperitoneal injection of naloxone or normal saline, the hot plate latency of mice in each group was observed following morphine injection or rotation (250 r/min, 15 s on with 5 s off). After subcutaneous injecting morphine for 7 consecutive days, tolerance was formed and the hot plate latency in morphine-tolerant mice after rotation was observed. P-aminophenylarsonic acid was injected into the inner ear to damage the vestibular organs of the mice and the hot plate latency was observed in chemically labyrinthectomy mice. Results Compared with the normal saline group, the hot plate latency of mice in the naloxone group did not change significantly after rotation (P>0.05), and the hot plate latency decreased significantly after subcutaneous injection of morphine (P<0.05). The morphine-tolerant mice had no significant change in the hot plate latency after rotation compared with the normal saline group (P>0.05). After injection of p-aminophenylarsonic acid into the inner ear, the recovery time of the righting reflex in mice was significantly increased, and the swimming ability was significantly reduced (P<0.05), and the hot plate latency of mice with chemical labyrinthectomy was significantly shortened after rotation (P<0.05). Conclusion Chemical labyrinthectomy completely blocked the rotation-induced stress analgesia in mice. Vestibular organs play an important role in rotation-induced stress analgesia, and this stress analgesia may be mediated by a non-opioid system.

Objective To investigate the effect of rhynchophylline on mRNA expression of excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2 ) and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor 2B (NR2B) after astrocyte oxygen-glucose deprivation. Methods The subcultured third generation astrocytes from the hippocampus were inoculated into 6-well plates, and they were divided into blank control group, hypoxia-ischemia group,low-dose rhynchophylline group (0. 02 mg/ml) and high-dose rhynchophylline group (0. 2 mg/ml) after the cells were attached to the wall and grew out protrusion. The total RNAs in each group were extracted.Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression levels of EAAT2 and NR2B mRNA in astrocytes of each group. Results Compared with the blank control group, the expression levels of NR2B and EAAT2 mRNA in astrocytes of the ischemia-hypoxia group were significantly higher (all P < 0. 05 ). The expression levels of NR2B and EAAT2 mRNA in the low-dose rhynchophylline group were lower than those in ischemia-hypoxia group, but there was no significant difference. The expression levels of NR2B and EAAT2 mRNA in the high-dose rhynchophylline group were significantly lower than the ischemia-hypoxia group and the low-dose rhynchophylline group (all P < 0. 05).Conclusion The expression of EAAT2 and NR2B mRNA in astrocytes of hippocampus cultured in vitro was significantly increased after ischemia and hypoxia, and rhynchophylline intervention could significantly reduce its expression in a concentration dependent manner.

Objective: To explore the clinical features, the serotype distribution and drug resistance of the isolates in patient with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Methods: By retrieving the laboratory information system in 18 children′s hospitals from 2012 to 2017, the children with IPD were enrolled. Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) must be isolated from the sterile sites (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, hydrothorax and joint effusion etc.). The clinical characteristics, serotype, drug resistance, treatment and prognosis were reviewed and analyzed. According to the telephone follow up results, the patients were divided into death group and recovered group. The index as an independent risk factor of mortality was demonstrated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: There were 1 138 children with IPD, including 684 male and 454 female. The proportion of male to female was 1.5∶1. The age ranged from one day to 16 years. The median age was 1 year 3 month. The majority was under 5 years of age (89.3%, n= 1 016), especially under 2 years of age (61.9%, n=704). In all cases, 88.2% (n=1 004) were community acquired infection. The infections included meningitis (n=446, 39.2%), pneumonia with bacteremia (n=339, 29.8%), and bacteremia without focus (n=232, 20.4%). Underlying diseases were found in 242 cases (21.3%). Co-infections were determined in 62 cases (5.4%) with mycoplasma, 27 cases (2.4%) with adenovirus and 34 cases with influenza virus (3.0%). The penicillin insensitivity (PNSP) rates in meningitis and non-meningitis isolates were 69.5% (276/397) and 35.9% (221/615), respectively. There were 81 strains serotyped, in which 93.8% (76/81) were covered by 13-valent protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccine (PCV13). In the 965 patients who were followed up by phone call, 156 cases (16.2%) were confirmed dead. The independent risk factors for the death were under 2 years of age (OR=2.143, 95%CI 1.284-3.577, P=0.004), meningitis (OR=3.066, 95%CI 1.852-5.074, P<0.01), underlying disease (OR=4.801, 95%CI 2.953-7.804, P<0.01), septic shock(OR=3.542, 95%CI 1.829-6.859, P<0.01), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) (OR=4.150, 95%CI 1.468-11.733, P=0.007), multiple organ failure (OR=12.693, 95%CI 6.623-24.325, P<0.01) and complications of central nervous system (OR=1.975, 95%CI 1.144-3.410, P=0.015). Conclusions Most children with IPD were under 5 years of age, having underlying diseases and acquired the infection in community. The independent risk factors for death were under two years old, meningitis, underlying diseases and multiple organ failure. The problem of drug resistance was severe. The universal immunization of PCV13 would be effective to prevent IPD in Chinese children.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of IA regimen which contains idarubicin (IDA) 8 mg/m², 10 mg/m² or 12 mg/m² as induction chemotherapy for adult patients with de-novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) . Methods: A total of 1 215 newly diagnosed adult AML patients, ranging from May 2011 to March 2015 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and other 36 clinical blood centers in China were enrolled in the multicenter, single-blind, non-randomized, clinical controlled study. To compare the response rate of complete remission (CR) , adverse events between different dose idarubicin combined with cytarabine (100 mg/m²) as induction chemotherapy in newly diagnosed patients of adult AML. Results: Of 1 207 evaluable AML patients were assigned to this analysis of CR rate. The CR rates of IDA 8 mg/m² group, IDA 10 mg/m² group and IDA 12 mg/m² group were 73.6% (215/292) , 84.1% (662/787) and 86.7% (111/128) , respectively (P<0.001) . After adjusted for age, blast ratio of bone marrow, FAB classification and risk stratification, the odds ratios (95% CI) of IDA 10 mg/m² group and IDA 12 mg/m² group were 0.49 (0.34-0.70) and 0.36 (0.18-0.71) , as compared with the IDA 8 mg/m² group (P<0.001, P=0.003) . In the intermediate and favorable groups, CR rates was 76.5% (163/213) , 86.9% (506/582) and 86.1% (68/79) in different doses of IDA (P=0.007) . Interestingly, IA regimen with IDA 10 mg/m² was the only beneficial factor affecting CR in this group after adjusted for age, blast ratio of bone marrow and FAB classification[OR=0.47 (95% CI 0.31-0.71) , P<0.001]. CR rates in adverse group was 50.0% (18/36) , 60.6% (43/71) and 81.8% (18/22) respectively (P=0.089) . However, the odds ratios (95% CI) of IDA 12 mg/m² when compared with the IDA 8 mg/m² was 0.22 (0.06-0.80) , after adjusted for age, blast ratio of bone marrow and FAB classification. The median time (days) of neutrophil count less than 0.5×10⁹/L in IDA 8 mg/m² group, IDA 10 mg/m² group and IDA 12 mg/m² group were 14 (11-18) , 15 (11-20) and 18 (14-22) , respectively (P=0.012) and of platelet count lower than 20×10⁹/L were 14 (7-17) , 15 (11-20) and 17 (15-21) , respectively (P=0.001) . The incidences of lung infection in the three groups were 9.8%, 13.5% and 25.2%, respectively (P<0.001) . Conclusions For young adult patients (aged 18-60 years) with AML in China, intensifying induction therapy with idarubicin 10 mg/m² is clinically superior to IDA 8 mg/m² and IDA 12 mg/m² in favorable intermediate AML subgroup. However, idarubicin 12 mg/m² is more suitable to adverse AML subgroup.

Objective To evaluate the physical dependence of total Ervatamia yunnansis alkaloid .Methods The physi-cal dependence of total Ervatamia yunnansis alkaloid was observed by jump test in mice and spontaneous withdrawal test in rats .Results In the jump test ,after injecting total Ervatamia yunnansis alkaloid (total dosage of 140 and 430 mg/kg) for 7 days continuously ,the mice didn't show any withdrawal symptom and the loss of body weight .In the spontaneous withdrawal test ,two dosages of total Ervatamia yunnansis alkaloid (total dosage of 210 and 775 mg/kg) were continuously given for 30 days .The withdrawal response and the loss of body weight were not found in rats after drug withdrawal .Conclusion Total Ervatamia yunnansis alkaloid showed no obvious withdrawal symptoms in mice and rats ,which suggests that it has no physical dependence .

Objective To investigate the risk factors of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).Methods The clinical data of 186 patients who received PD at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical College from May 2000 to May 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were divided into pancreatic fistula group (39 patients) and non-pancreatic fistula group ( 147 patients).Risk factors of pancreatic fistula after PD were screened out from 20 factors by univariate and multivariate analysis.The univariate analysis was carried out by chi-square test or Fisher exact test,and the muhivariate analysis was done by Logistic regression.Results Thirty-nine patients were complicated with pancreatic fistula,including 26 in grade A,10 in grade B and 3 in grade C.The results of univariate analysis showed that duration of preoperative jaundicc,loss of body weight at 6 months before operation,preoperative total bilirubin level,preoperative albumin level,postoperative albumin level,length of pancreas dissected,pancreatic tube diameter,pancreatic texture and time of abdominal drainage tube pull out were high risk factors of pancreatic fistula ( x2 =34.990,20.480,8.212,10.890,13.561,11.505,13.820,4.539,36.590,P ＜ 0.05).The results of multivariate analysis showed that duration of preoperative jaundice ＞ 8 weeks,loss of body weight at 6 months before operation ≥ 10％,pancreatic tube diameter ＜ 3 mm,soft pancreatic texture and time of abdominal drainage tube pull out ＞ 5 days were the independent risk factors of pancreatic fistula ( OR =2.229,3.383,1.437,1.273,11.939,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Duration of preoperative jaundice ＞ 8 weeks,unconscious loss of body weight ≥ 10％ within 6 months before operation,pancreatic tube diameter ＜ 3 mm,soft pancreatic texture,time of abdominal drainage tube pull out ＞ 5 days would increase the risk of pancreatic fistula after PD.