Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Dulongneedling in the treatment of vertigo in cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery(CSA).Methods A total of 46 cases of patients with definitive diagnosis of vertigo in CSA admitted to the outpatient clinic of the Acupuncture,Muxibustion and Rehabilitation Department of Guangdong Second Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital from June to October 2024 were selected for the study.The patients were randomly divided into observation group and control group according to the random number table method,with 23 cases in each group.The observation group was treated with Dulongten-needling in shoulder and neck,and the control group was given conventional acupuncture treatment,the course of treatment for the two groups covered two weeks.After two weeks of treatment,the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated,and the changes in the scores of Evaluation Scale For Cervical Vertigo(ESCV)before and after treatment were observed in the patients of the two groups.Three dimensional pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling(3D-pCASL)technique was applied to determin the changes in cerebral blood flow(CBF)values in the region of region of interest(ROI),and the changes in CBF values in the patients of the two groups were compared.Results(1)The total effective rate of the observation group was 91.30%(21/23),and that of the control group was 78.26%(18/23),and the efficacy of the observation group was superior to that of the control group,the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05).(2)After treatment,the ESCV scores of patients in the two groups were significantly improved(P<0.05),and the improvement in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group,the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05).(3)After treatment,the CBF change values of each ROI in the two groups showed elevated(positive),and the CBF change values of the right middle cerebral artery(R-MCA)in the control group showed decreased(negative).After treatment,the CBF change values of the observation group in the blood supply areas of the right posterior inferior cerebellar artery(R-PICA),right anterior inferior cerebellar artery(R-AICA),right anterior cerebral artery(R-ACA),branches from vertebral arteries(VA)and basilar arteries(BA),bilateral superior cerebellar arteries(SCA),and bilateral posterior cerebral arteries(PCA)were significantly elevated,and the observation group was significantly superior in improving the above ROIs in the CBF change value to that of the control group,the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Dulongneedling in the treatment of vertigo in CSA can significantly improve the CBF of patients,reduce the clinical symptoms such as vertigo,neck and shoulder pain,headache.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) for pyogenic spinal infections.Methods:A total of 255 patients diagnosed with pyogenic spinal infections were enrolled between September 2022 and September 2024 at Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital, Fuzhou Second General Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Shandong University Affiliated Public Health Clinical Center, and the Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Among them, 155 were male and 100 were female, with an average age of 62.5±14.2 years (ranging from 13 to 90 years). All patients had samples of infected tissue and/or pus collected for microbial culture and mNGS testing. The number, types, and positive rates of pathogens detected by microbial culture and mNGS were compared. Using culture results as the gold standard, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed for mNGS testing and the combined method of mNGS and microbial culture, calculating the area under the curve (AUC) and 95% CI. Results:All 255 cases were clinically diagnosed as pyogenic spinal infections, with 194 cases providing microbiological evidence. The most common Gram-positive bacterium was Staphylococcus aureus, while the most common Gram-negative bacterium was Escherichia coli. A total of 33 pathogenic microorganisms were detected by mNGS, while microbial culture detected 18 pathogenic microorganisms. The positive rate of mNGS was 72.2% (184 out of 255), which was significantly higher than that of 30.2% (77 out of 255) for microbial culture, showing a significant difference (χ 2=90.150, P<0.001); the positive rate of mNGS combined with microbial culture was 76.1% (194 out of 255) with significant difference compared to mNGS alone (χ 2=8.100, P<0.001). Among 178 culture-negative samples, the detection rate of mNGS was 65.7% (117 out of 178); among 77 culture-positive samples, the detection rate of mNGS was 87.0% (67 out of 77), and 97.0% (65 out of 67) of the detected pathogens matched the culture results at the species level. The AUCs of the ROC curves for mNGS testing and the combination of mNGS with microbial culture were 0.606 [95% CI (0.534, 0.678)] and 0.671 [95% CI (0.606, 0.736)], respectively, with significant differences compared to microbial culture ( P=0.007; P=0.007). Conclusions:mNGS demonstrates superior performance over conventional culture in identifying pathogens in pyogenic spinal infections. Moreover, combining mNGS with culture further improves diagnostic yield, supporting its integration into clinical practice.

Objective To organize a nationwide interlaboratory comparison for measurement of gross α and gross β radioactivity in water, and improve the laboratory analysis of gross α and gross β radioactivity in water. Methods A unified comparison protocol was developed by the organizers. The groundwater with high natural radioactivity was used as water sample and distributed randomly to the participating laboratories. The participating laboratories used routine analytical methods to measure the samples and provided information such as analytical results, original records, and test reports. The results were evaluated using z-score. Results A total of 76 laboratories participated in the comparison, all employing the evaporation concentration-α/β counting method. Among them, 69 laboratories achieved |z| ≤ 2 for both gross α and gross β radioactivity measurements, and 32 laboratories achieved |z| ≤ 0.50 for both gross α and gross β radioactivity measurements. There were 69 laboratories with qualified results and 30 laboratories with excellent results, yielding a qualified rate of 90.8% and an excellent rate of 39.5%. Seven laboratories showed unqualified results and the unqualified rate was 9.2%. Conclusion Most laboratories have the ability to analyze gross α and gross β radioactivity in water. The main reasons for the deviation in comparison results are calibration efficiency, errors in the total residue mass caused by improper water sample processing operations. By analyzing the main technical problems existed in unqualified laboratories, their ability for measurement of gross α and gross β radioactivity in water has been improved.

Background The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is a vast area with a wide array of ecological environments, resulting in considerable regional variations in air pollution characteristics. Current research is limited by a scarcity of systematic, region-wide studies and risk assessments. Objective To assess the health risks associated with inhalation exposure to nine heavy metal and metalloid elements in atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) for the population of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Methods From the 10th to the 16th of each month throughout 2023, atmospheric PM_2.5 samples were collected at designated monitoring sites in 12 leagues (cities) across the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to analyze the characteristics and trends in concentration. The health risk assessment model developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency was employed to evaluate both the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with the heavy metal elements beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), hydrargyrum (Hg), plumbum (Pb), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni) and the metalloid elements stibium (Sb) and arsenic (As). Results In 2023, a total of 1206 valid PM_2.5 samples were analyzed from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The annual average PM_2.5 concentrations in Inner Mongolia, as well as in the cities of Ordos, Wuhai, and the Alxa League, all exceeded the national limit of 35 μg·m⁻³. The PM_2.5 concentrations across the leagues (cities) exhibited a clear seasonal variation, peaking in winter, followed by spring, and reaching a minimum in summer and autumn. The median PM_2.5 concentration in Ordos throughout the year was higher than that in the other leagues (cities) of the region. Concerning health risks, the non-carcinogenic risks associated with the 9 elements detected in each league (city) were all below 1, indicating acceptable levels. However, the non-carcinogenic risk values for Mn, Cr, and As were relatively high; specifically, Ordos City displayed the highest non-carcinogenic risk values for Mn (7.74×10⁻¹) and Cr (2.97×10⁻²), while Chifeng City recorded the highest value for As (2.34×10⁻³). The carcinogenic risk values for As, Cd, Cr, and Ni fell within the range of 1×10⁻⁹ to 1×10⁻⁵, representing an acceptable level. The health risks varied with age, and the elderly residents faced the highest non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks. Conclusion While the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks from heavy metals and metalloids within atmospheric PM_2.5 in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region are generally within acceptable limits, the potential risks that Mn, As, and Cr pose to the health of elderly people warrants particular attention, and Ordos and Chifeng cities exhibit notably higher health risks among other areas. It is recommended that regular, long-term monitoring be conducted, taking into account the specific conditions at monitoring sites across each league (city), and that targeted air quality management strategies be implemented to protect public health.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) for pyogenic spinal infections.Methods:A total of 255 patients diagnosed with pyogenic spinal infections were enrolled between September 2022 and September 2024 at Qingdao University Affiliated Hospital, Fuzhou Second General Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Shandong University Affiliated Public Health Clinical Center, and the Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Among them, 155 were male and 100 were female, with an average age of 62.5±14.2 years (ranging from 13 to 90 years). All patients had samples of infected tissue and/or pus collected for microbial culture and mNGS testing. The number, types, and positive rates of pathogens detected by microbial culture and mNGS were compared. Using culture results as the gold standard, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed for mNGS testing and the combined method of mNGS and microbial culture, calculating the area under the curve (AUC) and 95% CI. Results:All 255 cases were clinically diagnosed as pyogenic spinal infections, with 194 cases providing microbiological evidence. The most common Gram-positive bacterium was Staphylococcus aureus, while the most common Gram-negative bacterium was Escherichia coli. A total of 33 pathogenic microorganisms were detected by mNGS, while microbial culture detected 18 pathogenic microorganisms. The positive rate of mNGS was 72.2% (184 out of 255), which was significantly higher than that of 30.2% (77 out of 255) for microbial culture, showing a significant difference (χ 2=90.150, P<0.001); the positive rate of mNGS combined with microbial culture was 76.1% (194 out of 255) with significant difference compared to mNGS alone (χ 2=8.100, P<0.001). Among 178 culture-negative samples, the detection rate of mNGS was 65.7% (117 out of 178); among 77 culture-positive samples, the detection rate of mNGS was 87.0% (67 out of 77), and 97.0% (65 out of 67) of the detected pathogens matched the culture results at the species level. The AUCs of the ROC curves for mNGS testing and the combination of mNGS with microbial culture were 0.606 [95% CI (0.534, 0.678)] and 0.671 [95% CI (0.606, 0.736)], respectively, with significant differences compared to microbial culture ( P=0.007; P=0.007). Conclusions:mNGS demonstrates superior performance over conventional culture in identifying pathogens in pyogenic spinal infections. Moreover, combining mNGS with culture further improves diagnostic yield, supporting its integration into clinical practice.

Objective To compare the application effects of C-shaped forceps external fixation emergency technique and pelvic belt suspension traction technique in unstable pelvic posterior ring fractures.Methods A total of 80 patients with unstable pelvic posterior ring fractures were selected and randomly divided into the observation group and the control group,with 40 cases in each group.The control group was given pelvic belt suspension traction technique to fix pelvic fractures,while the observation group was given C-shaped forceps external fixation emergency technique to fix pelvic fractures.After fixation,pelvic X-ray examination was performed to evaluate the reduction quality of pelvic fractures in two groups.The emergency operation/surgery time,total blood transfusion volume and 2-hour shock index after surgery were recorded.The emergency effects(rebleeding rate,secondary injury rate,secondary surgery rate,rescue success rate and internal fixation surgery rate)were evaluated.The facial expression pain scale(FPS-R)was used to assess the degree of pain before fixation and 30 minutes after fixation.After 6 months of treatment,pelvic function was evaluated using the Pelvic Fracture Function Rating System(Majeed).Results The excellent rate of pelvic fracture reduction quality was higher in the observation group than that in the control group(75.0%vs.55.0%,P＜0.05).The secondary injury rate,internal fixation surgery rate and secondary surgery rate were lower in the observation group than those of the control group,and the success rate of rescue was higher than that of the control group(P＜0.05).The emergency operation/surgery time,total blood transfusion volume and shock index were lower in the observation group than those in the control group(P＜0.05).After 30 minutes of fixation,the FPS-R scores of both groups decreased compared to before fixation,and FPS-R scores of the observation group was lower than those of the control group(P＜0.05).After 6 months of treatment,Majeed scores in both groups were increased compared to those before fixation,and there were no significant differences in Majeed scores between the two groups.Conclusion The emergency treatment of unstable pelvic posterior ring fractures using C-shaped forceps external fixation technique has shown good results and is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Objective To compare the application effects of C-shaped forceps external fixation emergency technique and pelvic belt suspension traction technique in unstable pelvic posterior ring fractures.Methods A total of 80 patients with unstable pelvic posterior ring fractures were selected and randomly divided into the observation group and the control group,with 40 cases in each group.The control group was given pelvic belt suspension traction technique to fix pelvic fractures,while the observation group was given C-shaped forceps external fixation emergency technique to fix pelvic fractures.After fixation,pelvic X-ray examination was performed to evaluate the reduction quality of pelvic fractures in two groups.The emergency operation/surgery time,total blood transfusion volume and 2-hour shock index after surgery were recorded.The emergency effects(rebleeding rate,secondary injury rate,secondary surgery rate,rescue success rate and internal fixation surgery rate)were evaluated.The facial expression pain scale(FPS-R)was used to assess the degree of pain before fixation and 30 minutes after fixation.After 6 months of treatment,pelvic function was evaluated using the Pelvic Fracture Function Rating System(Majeed).Results The excellent rate of pelvic fracture reduction quality was higher in the observation group than that in the control group(75.0%vs.55.0%,P＜0.05).The secondary injury rate,internal fixation surgery rate and secondary surgery rate were lower in the observation group than those of the control group,and the success rate of rescue was higher than that of the control group(P＜0.05).The emergency operation/surgery time,total blood transfusion volume and shock index were lower in the observation group than those in the control group(P＜0.05).After 30 minutes of fixation,the FPS-R scores of both groups decreased compared to before fixation,and FPS-R scores of the observation group was lower than those of the control group(P＜0.05).After 6 months of treatment,Majeed scores in both groups were increased compared to those before fixation,and there were no significant differences in Majeed scores between the two groups.Conclusion The emergency treatment of unstable pelvic posterior ring fractures using C-shaped forceps external fixation technique has shown good results and is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Objective:To explore the effects of lateral finger flap and micro free venous flap on the replantation repair of skin defect type severed fingers and their impact on finger function recovery.Methods:A retrospective selection was conducted on the clinical data of 94 patients (94 fingers) with skin defect type finger amputation admitted to Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University from January 2020 to September 2022. According to the different design methods of the skin flap, there were 48 cases in the observation group (micro free venous flap) and 46 cases in the control group (finger side flap). We compared the repair effects, blood circulation, finger function recovery, and complications between two groups.Results:Two months after surgery, there was no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05) in the total effective rate of repair between the observation group [79.17%(38/48)] and the control group [76.09%(35/46)]. The blood flow velocity, skin temperature, and skin redness ratio of the observation group were higher than those of the control group, and the capillary filling time was shorter than that of the control group, with statistical significance (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference (all P>0.05) in the scores of joint autonomy, daily living activities, and recovery between the two groups. The subjective sensation and appearance scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The incidence of complications in the observation group was 10.42%(5/48), and there was no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05) compared to the incidence of complications in the control group [13.04%(6/46)]. Conclusions:For patients with severed fingers with skin defects, the lateral finger flap and mini free vein flap are effective methods for replantation. In clinical practice, reasonable skin flap repair methods can be flexibly selected based on the patient′s actual situation.

Abstract Digital eye strain can affect not only adolescents visual health, but also sleep quality. In order to provide a reference for safeguarding adolescents visual health and physical health, the paper reviews the direct correlation, feedback correlation, mediating role and the mechanisms between their digital eye strain and sleep quality, as well as proposes some strategies to reduce digital eye strain and improve sleep quality, such as screen time limits, adjusting the brightness and contrast of electronic screen devices, maintaining correct posture and viewing distance, increasing eye nutrition and protection, establishing a regular sleep routine, avoiding the use of electronic screen devices before bedtime, creating a comfortable and quiet sleep environment, and paying attention to the effects of diet and exercise.

The occurrence of benign prostate hyperplasia(BPH)was related to disrupted sex steroid hormones,and metformin(Met)had a clinical response to sex steroid hormone-related gynaecological disease.How-ever,whether Met exerts an antiproliferative effect on BPH via sex steroid hormones remains unclear.Here,our clinical study showed that along with prostatic epithelial cell(PEC)proliferation,sex steroid hormones were dysregulated in the serum and prostate of BPH patients.As the major contributor to dysregulated sex steroid hormones,elevated dihydrotestosterone(DHT)had a significant positive rela-tionship with the clinical characteristics of BPH patients.Activation of adenosine 5'-monophosphate(AMP)-activated protein kinase(AMPK)by Met restored dysregulated sex steroid hormone homeostasis and exerted antiproliferative effects against DHT-induced proliferation by inhibiting the formation of androgen receptor(AR)-mediated Yes-associated protein(YAP1)-TEA domain transcription factor(TEAD4)heterodimers.Met's anti-proliferative effects were blocked by AMPK inhibitor or YAP1 over-expression in DHT-cultured BPH-1 cells.Our findings indicated that Met would be a promising clinical therapeutic approach for BPH by inhibiting dysregulated steroid hormone-induced PEC proliferation.