OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture at the pterygopalatine region on nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)-mediated pyroptosis and inflammatory factors in rats with allergic rhinitis (AR). METHODS: Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, an acupuncture group and an electroacupuncture group, 6 rats in each group. Except for the blank group, OVA-induced AR model was established in the remaining groups. In the electroacupuncture group, the rats were treated with electroacupuncture at the bilateral pterygopalatine region, with disperse-dense wave, in frequency of 2 Hz/100 Hz and current of 0.5-1 mA, 15 min each time, once every other day, for 3 times. In the acupuncture group, the rats were treated with acupuncture at bilateral pterygopalatine region simply, without electrical stimulation. The rhinitis symptom score was observed, the pathomorphology of the nasal mucosa was observed by HE staining; the serum levels of OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (OVA-sIgE), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6 and IL-1β were detected by ELISA; the mRNA expression of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1) and IL-18 in the nasal mucosa was detected by real-time PCR; the protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-18 in the nasal mucosa was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the blank group, in the model group, the rhinitis symptom score was increased (P<0.01), the serum levels of OVA-sIgE, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-1β were increased (P<0.05), the nasal mucosa showed pathomorphology of inflammatory infiltration; the mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-18 in the nasal mucosa was increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, in the electroacupuncture group, the rhinitis symptom score was reduced (P<0.01), the pathology of the nasal mucosa was improved; the serum levels of OVA-sIgE, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-1β were decreased (P<0.05); the mRNA and protein expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 and IL-18 in the nasal mucosa was decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Electroacupuncture at the pterygopalatine region can exerting the anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis and inflammatory factor imbalance, thus alleviate rhinitis symptoms in AR rats.
Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/immunology* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhinitis, Allergic/physiopathology* ; Pyroptosis ; Male ; Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Female ; Interleukin-1beta/genetics* ; Interleukin-18/immunology* ; Interleukin-6/genetics* ; Caspase 1/immunology*

Objective:To compare the efficacy of radial forearm flap and anterolateral thigh flap in repairing soft tissue defects after oral cancer surgery and to explore their indications.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of patients with oral cancer treated at the Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, from May 2019 to February 2023. Patients were divided into two groups based on the repair method: the radial forearm flap group and the anterolateral thigh flap group. The groups were compared in the following aspects. (1) Surgical parameters including defect area after oral cancer resection, flap area, flap preparation time, operation time, and length of hospital stay. (2) Inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein levels) measured 1 day before surgery and 1 day after surgery. (3) Flap survival rate was calculated. (4) Complication rates was calculated in the flap donor area and infection rates in the oral recipient area within 6 months postoperatively. (5) Six months postoperatively, the patient’s oral function was assessed by a physician using the University of Washington quality of life scale (UW-QOL). The evaluation included assessments of oral opening, speech, and eating functions. Each parameter was scored on a scale of 0 to 10 (higher scores indicated better recovery). (6) Quality of life was assessed using the 36-item short form health survey scale(SF-36) at 2, 4 and 6 months postoperatively, with scores ranging from 0 to 100 (higher scores indicated better quality of life). (7) Patient satisfaction was assessed at 6 months postoperatively, with satisfaction levels categorized as satisfied, basically satisfied, and dissatisfied. The satisfaction rate was calculated as (satisfied + basically satisfied ) cases / total cases in each group × 100%. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0. Measurement data were expressed as Mean±SD, and comparisons between groups were conducted using t-tests. Count data were expressed as cases and (or) percentages, and comparisons were made using chi-square test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:The radial forearm flap group included 48 cases (32 males, 16 females), aged (49.3±5.0) years, with a body mass index (BMI) of (23.0±1.1) kg/m 2 and a disease course of (6.5±2.1) months. The group had 21 cases of tongue cancer, 12 of floor of mouth cancer, and 15 of buccal cancer, including 40 squamous cell carcinomas and 8 basal cell carcinomas. The anterolateral thigh flap group included 32 cases (20 males, 12 females), aged (50.1±5.0) years, with a BMI of (23.0±1.0) kg/m 2 and a disease course of (7.0±2.2) months. The group had 16 cases of tongue cancer, 7 cases of floor of mouth cancer, and 9 cases of buccal cancer, including 27 squamous cell carcinomas and 5 basal cell carcinomas. There were no significant differences in gender, age, BMI, disease course, tumor location, or pathological type between the two groups ( P>0.05). The defect area after oral cancer resection was smaller in the radial forearm flap group[ (39.0±1.3) cm 2 ] compared to the anterolateral thigh flap group[ (40.3±2.2) cm 2] ( t=3.32, P=0.001). There were no significant differences in flap area, flap preparation time, or length of hospital stay between the two groups ( P>0.05). The operation time was shorter in the radial forearm flap group [(5.1±1.1) h] compared to the anterolateral thigh flap group [(6.8±2.8) h] ( t=0.26, P<0.001). There were no significant differences in interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein levels between the two groups 1 day before surgery and 1 day after surgery ( P>0.05). The flap survival rates were 97.9% (47/48) in the radial forearm flap group and 93.8% (30/32) in the anterolateral thigh flap group, with no significant difference( P>0.05). Postoperative donor site complications mainly included infection, pigmentation, itching, etc. The overall incidence of complications in the donor site of the radial forearm flap [33.3% (16/48)] was higher than that in the anterolateral thigh flap group [12.5% (4/32)], and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=4.44, P=0.035). There was no significant difference in infection rates in the oral recipient area between the two groups ( P>0.05). Six months postoperatively, the average scores for oral opening, speech, and eating functions were above 7 in both groups, with no significant differences ( P>0.05). Quality of life scores improved over time in both groups, with average scores above 90 at 6 months postoperatively, and no significant differences at any time point ( P>0.05). The patient satisfaction rate was 91.7% (44/48) in the radial forearm flap group and 90.6% (29/32) in the anterolateral thigh flap group, with no significant difference ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Both radial forearm flap and anterolateral thigh flap can effectively repair soft tissue defects after oral cancer resection, significantly improving patients’oral function. The anterolateral thigh flap provides sufficient tissue volume and is suitable for patients with larger defect areas. The radial forearm flap is suitable for patients with a smaller defect area after oral cancer resection. Its surgical procedure is relatively less complex and offers an advantage in reducing surgery time. However, the donor site complications are higher with the radial forearm flap compared to the anterolateral thigh flap.

Objective To predict the prognosis of patients after cardiac surgery by implementing hemodynamic monitoring collective strategy—CHOLKIT protocol,and to explore the practical application value of CHOLKIT protocol,such as early intervention to improve tissue circulation and microcirculation,and predict the timing of extubation.Methods A prospective cohort study was used to analyse 88 patients who underwent cardiac surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from April to October 2020,and they were divided into the survival group (84 cases) and the death group (4 cases) with patient survival or death as the study endpoint.The CHOLKIT protocol was applied to score the central venous pressure (CVP),heart rate (HR),central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2),lactic acid (Lac),potassium (K+),perfusion index (PI),and toe temperature (T) of patients at different time periods.The correlation between CHOLKIT score and prognosis was predicted based on the scores.Results Some monitoring indexes in the CHOLKIT protocol were related to the mortality,renal injury and duration of mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery.Conclusion The CHOLKIT protocol can predict the timing of extubation and the change of the condition of patients after cardiac surgery,and early intervention can improve the prognosis of patients,duration of mechanical ventilation and number of days of stay in the intensive care unit.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of radial forearm flap and anterolateral thigh flap in repairing soft tissue defects after oral cancer surgery and to explore their indications.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of patients with oral cancer treated at the Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, from May 2019 to February 2023. Patients were divided into two groups based on the repair method: the radial forearm flap group and the anterolateral thigh flap group. The groups were compared in the following aspects. (1) Surgical parameters including defect area after oral cancer resection, flap area, flap preparation time, operation time, and length of hospital stay. (2) Inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein levels) measured 1 day before surgery and 1 day after surgery. (3) Flap survival rate was calculated. (4) Complication rates was calculated in the flap donor area and infection rates in the oral recipient area within 6 months postoperatively. (5) Six months postoperatively, the patient’s oral function was assessed by a physician using the University of Washington quality of life scale (UW-QOL). The evaluation included assessments of oral opening, speech, and eating functions. Each parameter was scored on a scale of 0 to 10 (higher scores indicated better recovery). (6) Quality of life was assessed using the 36-item short form health survey scale(SF-36) at 2, 4 and 6 months postoperatively, with scores ranging from 0 to 100 (higher scores indicated better quality of life). (7) Patient satisfaction was assessed at 6 months postoperatively, with satisfaction levels categorized as satisfied, basically satisfied, and dissatisfied. The satisfaction rate was calculated as (satisfied + basically satisfied ) cases / total cases in each group × 100%. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0. Measurement data were expressed as Mean±SD, and comparisons between groups were conducted using t-tests. Count data were expressed as cases and (or) percentages, and comparisons were made using chi-square test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results:The radial forearm flap group included 48 cases (32 males, 16 females), aged (49.3±5.0) years, with a body mass index (BMI) of (23.0±1.1) kg/m 2 and a disease course of (6.5±2.1) months. The group had 21 cases of tongue cancer, 12 of floor of mouth cancer, and 15 of buccal cancer, including 40 squamous cell carcinomas and 8 basal cell carcinomas. The anterolateral thigh flap group included 32 cases (20 males, 12 females), aged (50.1±5.0) years, with a BMI of (23.0±1.0) kg/m 2 and a disease course of (7.0±2.2) months. The group had 16 cases of tongue cancer, 7 cases of floor of mouth cancer, and 9 cases of buccal cancer, including 27 squamous cell carcinomas and 5 basal cell carcinomas. There were no significant differences in gender, age, BMI, disease course, tumor location, or pathological type between the two groups ( P>0.05). The defect area after oral cancer resection was smaller in the radial forearm flap group[ (39.0±1.3) cm 2 ] compared to the anterolateral thigh flap group[ (40.3±2.2) cm 2] ( t=3.32, P=0.001). There were no significant differences in flap area, flap preparation time, or length of hospital stay between the two groups ( P>0.05). The operation time was shorter in the radial forearm flap group [(5.1±1.1) h] compared to the anterolateral thigh flap group [(6.8±2.8) h] ( t=0.26, P<0.001). There were no significant differences in interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein levels between the two groups 1 day before surgery and 1 day after surgery ( P>0.05). The flap survival rates were 97.9% (47/48) in the radial forearm flap group and 93.8% (30/32) in the anterolateral thigh flap group, with no significant difference( P>0.05). Postoperative donor site complications mainly included infection, pigmentation, itching, etc. The overall incidence of complications in the donor site of the radial forearm flap [33.3% (16/48)] was higher than that in the anterolateral thigh flap group [12.5% (4/32)], and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=4.44, P=0.035). There was no significant difference in infection rates in the oral recipient area between the two groups ( P>0.05). Six months postoperatively, the average scores for oral opening, speech, and eating functions were above 7 in both groups, with no significant differences ( P>0.05). Quality of life scores improved over time in both groups, with average scores above 90 at 6 months postoperatively, and no significant differences at any time point ( P>0.05). The patient satisfaction rate was 91.7% (44/48) in the radial forearm flap group and 90.6% (29/32) in the anterolateral thigh flap group, with no significant difference ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Both radial forearm flap and anterolateral thigh flap can effectively repair soft tissue defects after oral cancer resection, significantly improving patients’oral function. The anterolateral thigh flap provides sufficient tissue volume and is suitable for patients with larger defect areas. The radial forearm flap is suitable for patients with a smaller defect area after oral cancer resection. Its surgical procedure is relatively less complex and offers an advantage in reducing surgery time. However, the donor site complications are higher with the radial forearm flap compared to the anterolateral thigh flap.

Objective:To investigate the application value of the anatomically oriented "six steps with six windows" approach in laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy.Methods:The retros-pective cohort study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 121 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy in Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2019 to February 2022 were collected. There were 53 males and 68 females, aged (68±12)years. Of the 121 patients, 72 patients using the traditional approach in the surgery were divided into the control group, and 49 patients using the "six steps with six windows" approach in the surgery were divided into the experiment group. Observation indicators: (1) surgical situations; (2) postoperative situations. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean± SD, and comparison between groups was conducted using the t test. Count data were described as absolute numbers or percen-tages, and comparison between groups was conducted using the chi-square test. Results:(1) Surgical situations. All 121 patients underwent laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy successfully, without laparotomy conversion. The operation time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, number of lymph nodes dissected were (250±50)minutes, (150±34)mL, 41±6 in the control group, versus (180±16)minutes, (55±13)mL, 51±5 in the experiment group, showing significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups ( t=11.04, 21.47, 9.42, P<0.05). (2) Postoperative situations. The times of postoperative analgesic injection, time to postoperative ?rst ?atus, duration of postoperative hospital stay, postoperative pathological staging (stage Ⅰ, stage Ⅱ, stage Ⅲ), incidence of postoperative complication were 3.4±1.6, (4.0±1.4)days, (13.1±2.0)days, 9, 32, 31, 15.3%(11/72) in the control group, versus 3.5±1.7, (4.1±1.5)days, (13.1±1.7)days, 6, 25, 18, 16.3%(8/49), showing no significant difference in the above indicators between the two groups ( t=0.35, 0.18, 0.03, Z=0.55, χ2=0.02, P>0.05). There was no perioperative death in both groups of patients. Conclusion:Appli-cation of the anatomically oriented "six steps with six windows" approach in laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy is safe and feasible.

Objective    To compare the perioperative outcomes between robot-assisted complex segmentectomy and simple segmentectomy for stage ⅠA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods    The clinical data of 285 patients with NSCLC undergoing robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) in our hospital from January 2015 to August 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 105 males and 180 females aged 23-83 years. The patients were divided into a complex segmentectomy group (n=170) and a simple segmentectomy group (n=115) according to tumor location and surgical method. The clinical pathological baseline characteristics and perioperative outcomes between the two groups were compared, including operative time, blood loss volume, dissected lymph nodes, conversion rate, postoperative duration of drainage, postoperative hospital stay, the incidence of persistent air leakage and postoperative 30 d mortality. Results    There was no statistical difference in baseline data between the two groups (P>0.05). No postoperative 30 d death was observed. One patient in the complex segmentectomy group was transferred to thoracotomy. No statistical difference was observed between the two groups in the operative time (97.36±38.16 min vs. 94.65±31.67 min, P=0.515),  postoperative duration of drainage (3.69±1.85 d vs. 3.60±1.90 d, P=0.679), postoperative hospital stay (4.07±1.85 d vs. 4.05±1.97 d, P=0.957), dissected lymph nodes (5.15±3.53 vs. 5.13±2.93, P=0.952), incidence of blood loss volume<100 mL (98.2% vs. 99.1%, P=0.650), and incidence of postoperative persistent air leakage (6.5% vs. 5.2%, P=0.661). Conclusion    The safety and effectiveness of robot-assisted complex segmentectomy and simple segmentectomy are satisfactory in the treatment of stage ⅠA NSCLC. The perioperative results of RATS complex segmentectomy and simple segmentectomy are similar.

Objective: To investigate the mortality and life lost among patients with severe mental illness (SMI) that were registered in Ningbo City from 2016 to 2020, so as to provide the evidence for formulating the SMI control strategy. Methods: All data pertaining to dead SMI patients registered in Ningbo City from 2016 to 2020 were extracted from Ningbo Municipal Mental Health Information Management System. The demographic characteristics and causes of death were analyzed among dead SMI patients, and the life lost was analyzed among dead SMI patients using years of potential life lost (YPLL), years of potential life lost rate (YPLLR) and average years of life lost (AYLL). Results: A total of 3 350 deaths occurred among SMI patients registered in Ningbo City from 2016 to 2020, with mortality of 1 962/105, including 2 490 patients with schizophrenia (74.33%), 1 640 men (48.96%), 1 877 farmers (56.03%), and 2 622 patients with an educational level of primary school and below (78.27%). The dead SMI patients had a median age of 66.8 (interquartile range, 20.1) years at death, and median disease course of 25.8 (interquartile range, 26.7) years. The median age at death was 63.7 (interquartile range, 18.5) years among men, which was significantly lower than that (median, 70.0 years; interquartile range, 19.6 years) among women (χ2=132.633, P<0.001). The patients with mental retardation complicated by mental disorders had the longest disease course (median, 40.3 years; interquartile range, 34.1 years) and the lowest age at death (median, 61.4 years; interquartile range, 21.9 years). Physical disease was identified as the predominant cause of death (2 754 cases, 82.21%), and the YPLL, AYLL and YPLLR due to all causes of death were 44 417.32 person-years, 15.61 years and 6.21‰. The AYLL was significantly greater among men than among women (17.33 vs. 13.75 years; χ2=68.254, P<0.001). The YPLL was 30 156.80 person-years among patients with schizophrenia, and the AYLL was 20.87 years among patients with mental retardation complicated by mental disorders. Conclusions Physical disease was the main cause of death among SMI patients registered in Ningbo City from 2016 to 2020, which posed a great effect on the lifespan among men and patients with schizophrenia and mental retardation complicated by mental disorders.

Objective    To investigate the effectiveness and safety of robotic lobectomy in clinical N0 lung malignant tumor≥3 cm. Methods    We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 182 patients with lung malignant tumor≥3 cm receiving robotic or thoracoscopic lobectomy at Shanghai Chest Hospital in 2019. The patients were divided into a robotic surgery group (RATS group) and a thoracoscopic surgery group (VATS group). There were 39 males and 38 females with an average age of 60.55±8.59 years in the RATS group, and 51 males and 54 females with an average age of 61.58±9.30 years in the VATS group. A propensity score matching analysis was applied to compare the operative data between the two groups. Results    A total of 57 patients were included in each group after the propensity score matching analysis. Patients in the RATS group had more groups of N1 lymph node dissected (2.53±0.83 groups vs. 2.07±0.88 groups, P=0.005) in comparison with the VATS group. No statistical difference was found in operation time, blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, number of N1 and N2 lymph nodes dissected, groups of N2 lymph node dissected, lymph node upstage rate or postoperative complications. The hospitalization cost of RATS was higher than that of VATS (P<0.001). Conclusion    In contrast with thoracoscopic lobectomy, robotic lobectomy has similar operative safety, and a thorough N1 lymphadenectomy in patients with clinical N0 lung malignant tumor≥3 cm.

Alveolar bone is an important anatomic basis for implant-supported denture restoration, and its different degrees of defects determine the choices of bone augmentation surgeries. Therefore, the reconstruction of alveolar bone defects is an important technology in the clinical practice of implant restoration. However, the final reconstructive effect of bone quality, bone quantity and bone morphology is affected by many factors. Clinicians need to master the standardized diagnosis and treatment principles and methods to improve the treatment effect and achieve the goal of both aesthetic and functional reconstruction of both jaws. Based on the current clinical experience of domestic experts and the relevant academic guidelines of foreign counterparts, this expert consensus systematically and comprehensively summarized the augmentation strategies of alveolar bone defects from two aspects: the classification of alveolar bone defects and the appropriate selection of bone augmentation surgeries. The following consensus are reached: alveolar bone defects can be divided into five types (Ⅰ-0, Ⅰ-Ⅰ, Ⅱ-0, Ⅱ-Ⅰ and Ⅱ-Ⅱ) according to the relationship between alveolar bone defects and the expected position of dental implants. A typeⅠ-0 bone defect is a bone defect on one side of the alveolar bone that does not exceed 50% of the expected implant length, and there is no obvious defect on the other side; guided bone regeneration with simultaneous implant implantation is preferred. Type Ⅰ-Ⅰ bone defects refer to bone defects on both sides of alveolar bone those do not exceed 50% of the expected implant length; the first choice is autologous bone block onlay grafting for bone increments with staged implant placement or transcrestal sinus floor elevation with simultaneous implant implantation. Type Ⅱ-0 bone defects show that the bone defect on one side of alveolar bone exceeds 50% of the expected implant length, and there’s no obvious defect on the other side; autologous bone block onlay grafting (thickness ≤ 4 mm) or alveolar ridge splitting (thickness > 4 mm) is preferred for bone augmentation with staged implant placement. Type Ⅱ-Ⅰ bone defects indicate that the bone plate defect on one side exceeds 50% of the expected implant length and the bone defect on the other side does not exceed 50% of the expected implant length; autologous bone block onlay grafting or tenting techniques is preferred for bone increments with staged implant implantation. Type Ⅱ-Ⅱ bone defects are bone plates on both sides of alveolar bone those exceed 50% of the expected implant length; guided bone regeneration with rigid mesh or maxillary sinus floor elevation or cortical autologous bone tenting is preferred for bone increments with staged implant implantation. This consensus will provide clinical physicians with appropriate augmentation strategies for alveolar bone defects.

Objective: To investigate the mental health literacy levels among residents in Ningbo City, so as to provide the evidence for implementing the mental health service policy and targeted mental health education. Methods: Permanent residents at ages of 12 years and older were recruited in Ningbo City using the multi-stage stratified random sampling method from August to December, 2020. Subjects' mental health literacy levels were evaluated using the national mental health literacy survey of China, and the gender-, age-, region- and educational level-specific levels of mental health literacy were investigated. Results: A total of 6 654 questionnaires were allocated, and 6 392 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 96.06%. The respondents included 2 967 men ( 46.42% ) and 3 425 women ( 53.58% ). The respondents were predominantly at ages of 18 to 44 years ( 2 705 residents, 40.19%) , lived in urban areas ( 3 823 residents, 59.81% ), and had an educational level of junior high school and below ( 3 195 residents, 49.98% ). The level of mental health literacy was 19.06%, and the score of mental health knowledge was ( 64.06±18.39 ) points. In the dimension of mental health skills, the scores of interpersonal support, cognitive reappraisal and transferred attention were ( 2.58±0.51 ), ( 2.45±0.57 ) and ( 2.82±0.49 ) points, and the score of mental health awareness was ( 3.63±0.47 ) points. A higher level of mental health literacy was seen in women than in men ( 20.64% vs. 17.22%, P<0.05 ) and in urban residents than in rural residents (20.95% vs. 16.23%, P<0.05 ). In addition, there were age- and educational level-specific levels of mental health literacy among residents ( P<0.05 ), and a higher level was seen in residents at ages of 18 to 45 years ( 28.98% ) and with a bachelor degree (40.89% ). Conclusions A high level of mental health literacy is found in residents in Ningbo City. Mental health promotion campaigns are recommended among men, rural elderly residents with a low educational level.