Background Microparticles (MPs) are one of the main medium of inflammatory reaction with an important role in atherosclerotic progression. Studies on association of air pollution exposure and levels of peripheral blood MPs are limited among human. Objective To evaluate the effects of short-term exposure to air pollution on levels of peripheral blood MPs. Method A panel of 73 healthy adults was followed with 4 repeated follow-ups in Beijing, China, from November 2014 to January 2016. During each visit, we collected questionnaire information, fasting venous blood, urine, and exposures to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), black carbon, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone. We used linear mixed-effect models to analyze associations of air pollution exposure with levels of total MPs (TMPs) and MPs derived from various cells. Stratified analysis was conducted by levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Results The results showed significant associations between air pollution exposure and peripheral blood TMPs at 2 h-6 d prior to the follow-ups (P<0.05), while no statistical associations were found for MPs derived from different cell types. Significant increases in TMPs of 7.8% (95%CI: 0.7%, 15.3%) and 14.3% (95%CI: 2.8%, 27.2%) were observed with each interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM_2.5 (IQR=64.9 μg·m⁻³) at prior 18 h and NO (IQR=40.5 μg·m⁻³) at prior 48 h. Among participants with low levels of CRP and MDA, significantly positive associations were observed between air pollution exposure and levels of TMPs (P<0.05). Conclusion Short-term exposure to air pollution is significantly associated with increased levels of circulating MPs in healthy adults, and in people with lower systemic inflammation, peripheral blood MPs levels are more easily affected after exposure to air pollutants.

OBJECTIVE: To explore decompression strategies for lateral lumbar spinal stenosis under unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) assistance. METHODS: A clinical data of 86 patients with lateral lumbar stenosis treated with UBE-assisted intervertebral decompression between September 2022 and December 2023 was retrospectively analyzed. There were 42 males and 44 females with an average age of 63.6 years (range, 45-79 years). The disease duration ranged from 6 to 14 months (mean, 8.5 months). Surgical levels included L _{2, 3} in 3 cases, L _{3, 4} in 26 cases, L _{4, 5} in 42 cases, and L ₅, S ₁ in 15 cases. According to Lee's grading system, there were 21 cases of grade 1, 37 cases of grade 2, and 28 cases of grade 3 for lumbar spinal stenosis. Based on the location of stenosis and clinical symptoms, the 33 cases underwent interlaminar approach, 7 cases underwent interlaminar approach with auxiliary third incision, 26 cases underwent contralateral inclinatory approach, and 20 cases underwent paraspinal approach; then, the corresponding decompression procedures were performed. Visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to evaluate lower back/leg pain before operation and at 1 and 3 months after operation, while Oswestry disability index (ODI) was used to evaluate spinal function. At 3 months after operation, the effectiveness was evaluated using the modified MacNab evaluation criteria. The spinal stenosis and decompression were evaluated based on Lee's grading system using lumbar MRI before operation and at 3 months after operation. RESULTS: All procedures were successfully completed with mean operation time of 95.1 minutes (range, 57-166 minutes). Dural tears occurred in 2 cases treated with interlaminar approach with auxiliary third incision. All incisions healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 3-10 months (mean, 5.9 months). The clinical symptoms of the patients relieved to varying degrees. The VAS scores and ODI of lower back and leg pain at 1 and 3 months after operation significantly improved compared to preoperative levels ( P<0.05), and the indicators at 3 months significantly improved than that at 1 month ( P<0.05). According to the modified MacNab evaluation criteria, the effectiveness at 3 months after operation was rated as excellent in 52 cases, good in 21 cases, and poor in 13 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 84.9%. No lumbar instability was detected on flexion-extension X-ray films during follow-up. The Lee's grading of lateral lumbar stenosis at 2 days after operation showed significant improvement compared to preoperative grading ( P<0.05). CONCLUSION For lateral lumbar spinal stenosis, UBE-assisted decompression of the spinal canal requires the selection of interlaminar approach, interlaminar approach with auxiliary third incision, contralateral inclinatory approach, and paraspinal approach based on preoperative imaging findings and clinical symptoms to achieve better effectiveness.
Humans ; Spinal Stenosis/diagnostic imaging* ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Decompression, Surgical/methods* ; Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Endoscopy/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore the effect of different post-processing methods of total spinal CT angiography(CTA)for displaying spinal dural arteriovenous fistula(SDAVF).Methods Total spinal CTA data of 55 patients with SDAVF were retrospectively analyzed.Traditional post-processing of original CTA images(modified tissue growth boneless volume rendering[VR]and full-range axial maximum intensity projection[MIP])were performed,while the axial,sagittal and coronal MIP reconstructions,axial,sagittal and coronal VR reconstructions,as well as axial,sagittal and coronal MIP+VR reconstructions of original CTA images on lesion layers were completed,respectively.Taken digital subtraction angiography(DSA)as the gold standards,a 5-point scale was used to subjectively evaluate the effect of displaying the location,the range and feeding artery of fistula shown on CTA images based on different post-processing methods.Results No significant difference of subjective score of location nor feeding artery of fistula was found among axial MIP,VR and MIP+VR images(all P＞0.05),which were all higher than that of CTA images reconstructed using other post-processing methods(all P＜0.05).Meanwhile,no significant difference of subjective scores of the range of SDAVF was detected among sagittal MIP,VR and MIP+VR images(all P＞0.05),which were all higher than that of CTA images obtained using other post-processing methods(all P＜0.05).Conclusion The location and feeding artery of SDAVF could be observed based on axial MIP,VR and MIP+VR reconstructions of the total spinal CTA,while sagittal MIP,VR and MIP+VR reconstructions were conducive to display the range of SDAVF.Combination of multiple post-processing methods was helpful for comprehensive understanding the composition and range of SDAVF.

Objective:To develop and validate clinical predictive models for identifying poor short-term response to recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH) treatment in children with short stature.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 118 children diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency or idiopathic short stature who were treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and two other hospitals between January 1, 2020, and January 1, 2024. A poor response to rhGH was defined as a height increase of less than 0.2 standard deviation score(SDS) after 6 months of rhGH treatment. LASSO regression was used to identify predictive variables from baseline and follow-up data. Two logistic regression models were conducted: Model A(incorporating baseline variables only) and model B(incorporating both baseline and follow-up variables), and nomograms were created for visualization. External data and internal resampling were used for dual validation of the models, and their performance was compared.Results:A total of 118 children with short stature were included. Six baseline predictive variables(diagnosis, initial height SDS, bone age, bone age-chronological age difference, rhGH dose, and gender) and one follow-up variable(height SDS after 3 months of rhGH treatment) were identified. Area under the curve values for Model A and Model B were 0.753(95% CI 0.696-0.811) and 0.930(95% CI 0.891-0.975), respectively. Calibration curves, decision curve analysis, and other evaluation metrics demonstrated good discrimination and clinical utility for both models. Model B, incorporating the 3-month follow-up variable, showed superior predictive performance compared to Model A. Conclusions:The clinical prediction models developed in this study(Model A and Model B) are practical and reliable tools for quantitatively, conveniently, and intuitively identifying children with short stature at risk of poor response to rhGH treatment.

OBJECTIVE To explore the synergistic effect of clorgiline and voriconazole on inhibition of bacteria and formation of biofilms in vitro so as to provide experiment bases for clinical treatment of drug-resistant Candida albicans infection.METHODS Minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs)of voriconazole and clorgiline against two strains of C.albicans were explored by broth microdilution method.The synergistic effect of the two drugs on inhibition of bacteria were evaluated by chessboard method,and the fractional inhibitory concentration index(FICI)was calculated.The potential mechanisms of clorgiline for synergistically boost the effect of voriconazole were studied by rhodamine 6G(R6G)efflux pump test;the effects of the single and combined use of the two drugs on inhibition of the biofilms were explored by crystal violet staining method.RESULTS The MICs of the sin-gle voriconazole against the 2 strains of C.albicans were 0.25 μg/ml and 8 μg/ml,respectively;the MICs were decreased to 0.0625 μg/ml and 0.5 μg/ml,respectively,after its combination with clorgiline.The FICIs of the combined use of the two drugs against the two strains were both less than 0.5,showing synergistic antibacterial effect.The result of R6G efflux pump experiment indicated that clorgiline inhibited the efflux of R6G within 2 hours.The biofilm formation experiment showed that the single use of voriconazole or clorgiline had limited effect on inhibition of biofilm formation,and the combined use of the two drugs could inhibit the biofilm formation.CONCLUSIONS Clorgiline can enhance the antibacterial activity of voriconazole by inhibiting the efflux pump func-tion of the C.albicans strains.The two drugs show remarkable synergistic effect on inhibition of the biofilm for-mation,which may provide novel strategies for combined use of drugs and theoretical bases for treatment of the drug-resistant C.albicans infection.

OBJECTIVE To explore the synergistic effect of clorgiline and voriconazole on inhibition of bacteria and formation of biofilms in vitro so as to provide experiment bases for clinical treatment of drug-resistant Candida albicans infection.METHODS Minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs)of voriconazole and clorgiline against two strains of C.albicans were explored by broth microdilution method.The synergistic effect of the two drugs on inhibition of bacteria were evaluated by chessboard method,and the fractional inhibitory concentration index(FICI)was calculated.The potential mechanisms of clorgiline for synergistically boost the effect of voriconazole were studied by rhodamine 6G(R6G)efflux pump test;the effects of the single and combined use of the two drugs on inhibition of the biofilms were explored by crystal violet staining method.RESULTS The MICs of the sin-gle voriconazole against the 2 strains of C.albicans were 0.25 μg/ml and 8 μg/ml,respectively;the MICs were decreased to 0.0625 μg/ml and 0.5 μg/ml,respectively,after its combination with clorgiline.The FICIs of the combined use of the two drugs against the two strains were both less than 0.5,showing synergistic antibacterial effect.The result of R6G efflux pump experiment indicated that clorgiline inhibited the efflux of R6G within 2 hours.The biofilm formation experiment showed that the single use of voriconazole or clorgiline had limited effect on inhibition of biofilm formation,and the combined use of the two drugs could inhibit the biofilm formation.CONCLUSIONS Clorgiline can enhance the antibacterial activity of voriconazole by inhibiting the efflux pump func-tion of the C.albicans strains.The two drugs show remarkable synergistic effect on inhibition of the biofilm for-mation,which may provide novel strategies for combined use of drugs and theoretical bases for treatment of the drug-resistant C.albicans infection.

Objective To explore the effect of different post-processing methods of total spinal CT angiography(CTA)for displaying spinal dural arteriovenous fistula(SDAVF).Methods Total spinal CTA data of 55 patients with SDAVF were retrospectively analyzed.Traditional post-processing of original CTA images(modified tissue growth boneless volume rendering[VR]and full-range axial maximum intensity projection[MIP])were performed,while the axial,sagittal and coronal MIP reconstructions,axial,sagittal and coronal VR reconstructions,as well as axial,sagittal and coronal MIP+VR reconstructions of original CTA images on lesion layers were completed,respectively.Taken digital subtraction angiography(DSA)as the gold standards,a 5-point scale was used to subjectively evaluate the effect of displaying the location,the range and feeding artery of fistula shown on CTA images based on different post-processing methods.Results No significant difference of subjective score of location nor feeding artery of fistula was found among axial MIP,VR and MIP+VR images(all P＞0.05),which were all higher than that of CTA images reconstructed using other post-processing methods(all P＜0.05).Meanwhile,no significant difference of subjective scores of the range of SDAVF was detected among sagittal MIP,VR and MIP+VR images(all P＞0.05),which were all higher than that of CTA images obtained using other post-processing methods(all P＜0.05).Conclusion The location and feeding artery of SDAVF could be observed based on axial MIP,VR and MIP+VR reconstructions of the total spinal CTA,while sagittal MIP,VR and MIP+VR reconstructions were conducive to display the range of SDAVF.Combination of multiple post-processing methods was helpful for comprehensive understanding the composition and range of SDAVF.

Objective:To develop and validate clinical predictive models for identifying poor short-term response to recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH) treatment in children with short stature.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 118 children diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency or idiopathic short stature who were treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and two other hospitals between January 1, 2020, and January 1, 2024. A poor response to rhGH was defined as a height increase of less than 0.2 standard deviation score(SDS) after 6 months of rhGH treatment. LASSO regression was used to identify predictive variables from baseline and follow-up data. Two logistic regression models were conducted: Model A(incorporating baseline variables only) and model B(incorporating both baseline and follow-up variables), and nomograms were created for visualization. External data and internal resampling were used for dual validation of the models, and their performance was compared.Results:A total of 118 children with short stature were included. Six baseline predictive variables(diagnosis, initial height SDS, bone age, bone age-chronological age difference, rhGH dose, and gender) and one follow-up variable(height SDS after 3 months of rhGH treatment) were identified. Area under the curve values for Model A and Model B were 0.753(95% CI 0.696-0.811) and 0.930(95% CI 0.891-0.975), respectively. Calibration curves, decision curve analysis, and other evaluation metrics demonstrated good discrimination and clinical utility for both models. Model B, incorporating the 3-month follow-up variable, showed superior predictive performance compared to Model A. Conclusions:The clinical prediction models developed in this study(Model A and Model B) are practical and reliable tools for quantitatively, conveniently, and intuitively identifying children with short stature at risk of poor response to rhGH treatment.

The cognitive impairment of diabetes mellitus type 2(T2DM)is closely related to neurovascular coupling(NVC)changes,but the exact mechanism remains unclear.Functional MRI(fMRI)technology were able to jointly analyze NVC changes of T2DM,providing new ideas for revealing the mechanism of cognitive dysfunction caused by T2DM.The progresses of fMRI for exploring NVC changes in T2DM were reviewed in this article.