BACKGROUND:Needle-knife release of the ligamentum flavum can effectively improve symptoms in patients with lumbar degeneration,and ultrasound guidance can increase the precision of needle-knife release;however,the specific effects of needle-knife release of the ligamentum flavum on the degenerated intervertebral discs and the possible mechanisms remain to be clarified. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of ultrasound-guided needle-knife release of the ligamentum flavum. METHODS:Twenty-four New Zealand rabbits were randomized into control(n=6)and model(n=18)groups.A rabbit model of lumbar disc degeneration model was established in the model group by cutting the supraspinous and interspinous ligaments of the L5/6 and L6/7 segments to maintain a standing posture and apply axial load to the lumbar spine.After successful modeling,the model rabbits were subdivided into a control group,a model group,an ultrasonic needle-knife group,and a sham needle-knife group according to a random number table method,with six animals in each group.The ultrasonic needle-knife group underwent ultrasound-guided needle-knife release of the right yellow ligament of L7/S1,once every week,for a total of four times.The needle-knife approach in the sham needle-knife group was the same as that in the ultrasound needle-knife group,but the ligamentum flavum was not released.At 30 days after the intervention,MRI was used to observe the changes in the signal intensity of the nucleus pulposus within the L7/S1 segment.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the morphological changes of the L7/S1 segment.Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of type I and II collagen in the nucleus pulposus of the L7/S1 segment.RT-PCR and western blot were used to detect the expression of integrin α5 and β1,p38,and nuclear factor κB in the L7/S1 segment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:MRI findings indicated that the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc of rabbits in the model group was gray-black in color,and the gray value of the nucleus pulposus was significantly lower than that of the control group(P<0.01).The brightness of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc of the rabbits in the ultrasonic needle-knife group was elevated compared with that of the model group,and the gray value of the nucleus pulposus was higher than that of the model group(P<0.01).Results from hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that in the model group,the shape of the nucleus pulposus was irregular,the number of nucleus pulposus cells was reduced,the extracellular matrix was compressed,the fibrous ring was ruptured,the structure and boundary of the end plate were unclear,and the chondrocytes were arranged disorderly.Compared with the model group,the ultrasonic needle-knife group showed an increase in the number of the nucleus pulposus,an improvement in the rupture of the fibrous ring,and more regular arrangement of cartilage endplate cells.Results from immunohistochemical staining showed an increase in positive expression of type I collagen(P<0.01)and a decrease in positive expression of type II collagen in the nucleus pulposus of the model group compared with the control group as well as a decrease in positive expression of type I collagen and an increase in positive expression of type II collagen in the nucleus pulposus of the ultrasonic needle-knife group compared with the model group(P<0.01).RT-PCR and western blot assays showed that the mRNA and protein expression of integrin α5,integrin β1,p38,and nuclear factor κB in the intervertebral discs of rabbits in the model group were increased compared with that in the control group(P<0.01);the mRNA and protein expression of integrin α5,integrin β1,p38,and nuclear factor κB in the intervertebral discs of rabbits in the ultrasonic needle-knife group was decreased compared with that in the model group(P<0.01).To conclude,ultrasound-guided needle-knife release of the ligamentum flavum can improve the degree of lumbar disc degeneration in rabbits,which may be related to the inhibition of p38 and nuclear factor-κB expression by modulating integrin α5 and β1 expression.

Objective To externally validate a prediction model based on clinical and CT imaging features for the preoperative identification of high-grade patterns (HGP), such as micropapillary and solid subtypes, in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma, in order to guide clinical treatment decisions. Methods This study conducted an external validation of a previously developed prediction model using a cohort of patients with clinical stage ⅠA lung adenocarcinoma from the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University. The model, which incorporated factors including tumor size, density, and lobulation, was assessed for its discrimination, calibration performance, and clinical impact. Results A total of 650 patients (293 males, 357 females; age range: 30-82 years) were included. The validation showed that the model demonstrated good performance in discriminating HGP (area under the curve>0.7). After recalibration, the model's calibration performance was improved. Decision curve analysis (DCA) indicated that at a threshold probability>0.6, the number of HGP patients predicted by the model closely approximated the actual number of cases. Conclusion This study confirms the effectiveness of a clinical and imaging feature-based prediction model for identifying HGP in stage ⅠA lung adenocarcinoma in a clinical setting. Successful application of this model may be significant for determining surgical strategies and improving patients' prognosis. Despite certain limitations, these findings provide new directions for future research.

Objective:To develop a treatment-related quality of life scale for Chinese patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and to test its reliability and validity.Methods:The initial scale was constructed through a literature search, Delphi expert correspondence, and cognitive testing. This study conducted a preliminary survey of 379 patients with MM and a formal survey of 865 patients from the hematology departments of 155 hospitals nationwide from February 2024 to March 2024. The final scale was obtained after conducting item analysis and reliability and validity tests on the initial scale.Results:The constructed scale contains 36 items covering six domains: physiological, psychological, social, treatment side effects, general health, and others. In the preliminary survey, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of each item ranged from 0.597 to 0.939, and the test-retest reliability was 0.747 ( P<0.001). Exploratory factor analysis extracted eight common factors with a cumulative variance contribution of 60.058%. In the formal survey, the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of each item ranged from 0.484 to 0.930, and the test-retest reliability was 0.835 ( P<0.001). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a comparative fit index of 0.750, a root-mean-square error of approximation of 0.090, and a root-mean-square residual of 0.067. Conclusion:The treatment-related quality of life scale for Chinese patients with MM designed in this study exhibited good reliability and validity, reflecting the impact of treatment on the quality of life of patients. This scale can provide a reference to clinicians for assessing the disease status of patients.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of Dendrobium officinale (Tiepi Shihu) extract (DOE) on insomnia. METHODS: Forty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=7 per group): normal control, model control, melatonin (MT, 40 mg/kg), and 3-dose DOE (0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 g/kg) groups. Rats were raised in a strong-light (10,000 LUX) and -noise (>80 db) environment (12 h/d) for 16 weeks to induce insomnia, and from week 10 to week 16, MT and DOE were correspondingly administered to rats. The behavior tests including sodium pentobarbital-induced sleep experiment, sucrose preference test, and autonomous activity test were used to evaluate changes in sleep and emotions of rats. The metabolic-related indicators such as blood pressure, blood viscosity, blood glucose, and uric acid in rats were measured. The pathological changes in the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) region of rat brain were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining and Nissl staining. Additionally, the sleep-related factors gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate (GA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Finally, we screened potential sleep-improving receptors of DOE using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array and validated the results with quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: DOE significantly improved rats' sleep and mood, increased the sodium pentobarbital-induced sleep time and sucrose preference index, and reduced autonomic activity times (P<0.05 or P<0.01). DOE also had a good effect on metabolic abnormalities, significantly reducing triglyceride, blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood viscosity indicators (P<0.05 or P<0.01). DOE significantly increased the GABA content in hippocampus and reduced the GA/GABA ratio and IL-6 level (P<0.05 or P<0.01). In addition, DOE improved the pathological changes such as the disorder of cell arrangement in the hippocampus and the decrease of Nissel bodies. Seven differential genes were screened by PCR array, and the GABA_A receptors (Gabra5, Gabra6, Gabrq) were selected for verification. The results showed that DOE could up-regulate their expressions (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION DOE demonstrated remarkable potential for improving insomnia, which may be through regulating GABA_A receptors expressions and GA/GABA ratio.
Animals ; Dendrobium/chemistry* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/blood* ; Plant Extracts/therapeutic use* ; Receptors, GABA-A/metabolism* ; Noise/adverse effects* ; Light/adverse effects* ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/metabolism* ; Sleep/drug effects* ; Rats ; Receptors, GABA/metabolism*

Objective To analyze the prevalence status of cardiometabolic risk factor (CMRF) and its aggregation among workers engaged in new forms of employment. Methods A total of 5 429 new employment workers (including couriers, online food delivery workers, and ride hailing drivers) who underwent health medical examinations at a tertiary hospital in Beijing City were selected as the research subjects using the judgment sampling method. Data on waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood lipid levels were collected to analyze their CMRF [central obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated blood glucose, elevated triglycerides, and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)] and their aggregation (with ≥ 2 of the above 5 risk factors) status. Results The detection rates of central obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated blood glucose, elevated triglycerides, and reduced HDL-C were 61.2%, 38.2%, 29.5%, 40.9% and 22.6%, respectively. The detection rates of CMRF aggregation was 57.8%. The result of multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that male, age ≥45 years, smoking, overweight, and obesity were risk factors for CMRF aggregation (all P<0.05). Conclusion The detection rate of CMRF and its aggregation among workers with new forms of employment in Beijing City is relatively high. Targeted prevention and control efforts should be strengthened for high-risk populations, especially males, workers aged ≥45 years, smokers, and those who are overweight or obese.

Apical microsurgery is accurate and minimally invasive, produces few complications, and has a success rate of more than 90%. However, due to the lack of awareness and understanding of apical microsurgery by dental general practitioners and even endodontists, many clinical problems remain to be overcome. The consensus has gathered well-known domestic experts to hold a series of special discussions and reached the consensus. This document specifies the indications, contraindications, preoperative preparations, operational procedures, complication prevention measures, and efficacy evaluation of apical microsurgery and is applicable to dentists who perform apical microsurgery after systematic training.
Microsurgery/standards* ; Humans ; Apicoectomy ; Contraindications, Procedure ; Tooth Apex/diagnostic imaging* ; Postoperative Complications/prevention & control* ; Consensus ; Treatment Outcome

Objective Exploring the mechanism of"Wushen acupuncture"in alleviating chronic fatigue in rats from the perspective of mitophagy.Methods Forty male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into a normal group and a modeling group,where the latter employed a protocol combining exhaustive swimming with tail-clamping stimuli to induce a rat model of chronic fatigue.Post-modeling,the normal group was subdivided randomly into a blank group and a presumed control group with specifics requiring clarification.Meanwhile,the modeling group was further randomized into a model group,a"Wushen acupuncture"group that underwent acupuncture at the Baihui and Sishencong points,and a non-acupoint control group,in which acupuncture was applied to 5 mm behind houshencong which is non-meridian,non-acupoint sites on the rats' heads and necks.The modeling and treatment outcomes in rats are assessed via the tail suspension test.Protein relative expression levels of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK),mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR),and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-alpha(PGC-1α)in rat skeletal muscle were detected using Western blot.Meanwhile,the relative mRNA expression levels of PTEN induced putative kinase 1(PINK1)and Parkin were measured by Real-Time PCR.Results In contrast to the baseline cohort,rats in the induced fatigue model displayed a reduction in struggles,struggle duration,swaying frequency,and swaying duration(P<0.05).When juxtaposed against the fatigue-induced model group,the"Wushen acupuncture"intervention cohort manifested a substantial increase in these behavioral parameters(P<0.05).Furthermore,relative to the"Wushen acupuncture"intervention group,the non-acupoint control cohort showed a decrease in struggles,struggle duration,swaying frequency,and swaying duration(P<0.05).Versus the baseline group,the fatigue-induced model cohort demonstrated a marked decrease in the relative expression levels of AMPK,PGC-1α,PINK1,and Parkin mRNA in skeletal muscle tissue(P<0.05),alongside an increase in mTOR protein expression(P<0.05).Compared to the fatigue-induced model group,the"Wushen acupuncture"intervention led to an increase in the relative expression levels of AMPK,PGC-1α,PINK1,and Parkin mRNA(P<0.05),and a decrease in mTOR protein expression(P<0.05).When juxtaposed against the"Wushen acupuncture"intervention group,the non-acupoint control cohort showed decreased relative expression levels of AMPK,PGC-1α,PINK1,and Parkin mRNA(P<0.05),and increased mTOR protein expression(P<0.05).Conclusion The"Wushen acupuncture"have been shown to enhance the alleviation of chronic fatigue symptoms in rat models and modulate the functionality of mitochondrial autophagy.This therapeutic effect is believed to be mechanistically linked to the regulation of both the PINK1/Parkin pathway and the AMPK/mTOR signaling cascade.

BACKGROUND:Cartilaginous endplate stromal homeostasis is closely related to intervertebral disc degeneration.Acupotomy that releases posterior wall ligamentum flavum of the interforaminal orifice can improve the symptoms of patients with lumbar disc degeneration.Whether the mechanism of action is related to the regulation of cartilaginous endplate stromal homeostasis remains to be clarified.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of ultrasound-guided needle-knife relaxation of the internal orifice of the rabbit L7/S1 intervertebral foramina on the matrix homeostasis of the rabbit cartilage endplate.METHODS:A total of 24 male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into a control group(n=6)and a modeling group(n=18).Lumbar disc degeneration modeling was performed by intermittent standing after transection of the supraspinous interspinous ligament for 12 weeks.After modeling,the modeling group was randomly divided into model group,needle-knife group and fake needle knife group,with 6 rabbits in each group.In the needle-knife group,the ultrasound-guided needle-knife released the ligamentum flavum posterior wall of the right intervertebral foramina,while in the fake needle-knife group,the needle-knife only reached the surface of the posterior wall ligamentum flavum of the intervertebral foramina,with a total of four interventions,each time at an interval of 1 week.No intervention was performed in the control and model groups.Thirty days after the intervention,the disc degeneration was observed by MRI.The morphology of L7/S1 intervertebral disc cartilaginous endplate,nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus were observed with hematoxylin-eosin and safranin O-fast green staining and was then scored.The expressions of type II collagen,proteoglycan and matrix metalloproteinase-13 in nucleus pulposus and cartilage endplate of L7/S1 intervertebral disc were detected by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:MRI results showed that the relative gray value of L7/S1 nucleus pulposus was significantly lower in the model group than in the control group(P<0.01),and higher in the needle-knife group than in the model group and the fake needle-knife group(P<0.05).Hematoxylin-eosin and safranin O-fast green staining showed obvious degeneration of the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus,thinning of the cartilaginous endplate,and obvious calcification at the junction with bone endplate in the model group.The morphology of the cartilaginous endplate and degeneration of the nucleus pulposus were improved in the needle-knife group compared with the model group.The morphological scores of the model group,needle-knife group and fake needle-knife group were significantly higher than those of control group(P<0.01).The morphological score of the needle-knife group was significantly lower than that of the model group and fake needle-knife group(P<0.01).Immunohistochemistry results showed that compared with the control group,the expressions of type II collagen and Aggrecan in the nucleus pulposus and cartilage endplate in the model group and fake needle-knife group were significantly decreased(P<0.01),while the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-13 was significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group and fake needle-knife group,the expressions of type II collagen and Aggrecan in the nucleus pulposus and cartilage endplate were increased in the needle-knife group(P<0.05),while the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-13 was decreased significantly(P<0.01).In conclusion,the relaxation of the interforaminal orifice by needle knife can regulate the matrix homeostasis of the rabbit cartilage endplate and improve the degeneration of the intervertebral disc.

Objectives:Comparative analysis of the beagles acute-phase electrocardiographic,hemodynamic,left ventricular flow field status,and energy consumption characteristics of pacing at different sites of conduction system may help to elucidate the scientific mechanism of left bundle branch pacing(LBBP)as a option of physiological pacing therapy.Methods:Eight healthy adult beagles were used in this study.Initially,an active fixation lead was implanted in the right atrial appendage,followed by implantation of another active fixation lead at the right ventricular apex,distal His bundle,and left bundle septal branch,respectively.After connecting a dual-chamber pacemaker,electrocardiographic and acute phase hemodynamic parameters under sinus rhythm,right ventricular apex pacing(RVAP),distal His bundle pacing(DHBP),and LBBP states were collected and analyzed.Three complete cardiac cycles of standard apical three-chamber color Doppler dynamic images were acquired under vector flow mapping(VFM)mode.Offline analysis was performed on obtained parameters including isovolumic contraction period,rapid ejection period,isovolumic relaxation period,rapid filling period,atrial contraction period,and left ventricular intracavitary energy consumption.These parameters were compared under pacing at different sites and the linear correlations of major parameters were analyzed.Results:The QRS duration of baseline intrinsic sinus rhythm,RVAP,DHBP and LBBP were(45.0±4.0)ms,(98.4±6.2)ms,(50.0±4.5)ms and(62.0±4.7)ms,respectively.The LBBP-QRS duration was significantly wider than intrinsic sinus rhythm and DHBP,but significantly narrower than RVAP(all P<0.01).Compared with baseline AOO mode(the pacing rate was performed at 10 beats/min above the intrinsic heart rate),the change of acute phase maximum left ventricular pressure rise rate(LVdP/dtmax)in RVAP,DHBP and LBBP was([-7.89±5.67]% ),([0.74±2.05]% )and([-0.14±3.59]% ),respectively.There was no significant difference in LVdP/dtmax changes between DHBP and LBBP(P=0.667),but both pacing modalities were significantly better than RVAP(all P<0.01).The average energy consumption of the left ventricle under RVAP was significantly higher than that of intrinsic sinus rhythm,DHBP,and LBBP in isovolumic contraction period,rapid ejection period,isovolumic relaxation period,rapid filling period,and atrial contraction period(all P<0.01).However,there was no statistically significant difference in energy consumption among intrinsic sinus rhythm,DHBP,and LBBP during the above five phases(all P>0.05).DHBP and LBBP did not show a significant increase in the number of left ventricular vortices,vortex area,and circulation intensity compared to intrinsic sinus rhythm,and LBBP did not show a significant increase in vortex area and circulation intensity compared to DHBP.Conclusions:Although LBBP canines significantly prolonged the paced QRS duration,it showed no significant differences in acute phase left ventricular hemodynamics,left ventricular flow field status,and energy consumption compared to intrinsic sinus rhythm and DHBP.Performance of LBBP was superior to RVAP.This study may contribute to revealing the theoretical basis of LBBP as a feasible physiological pacing therapy.