Acute-on-chronic liver failure （ACLF） is a syndrome of multiple organ failure on the basis of underlying chronic liver disease and has an extremely high short-term mortality rate， while there is still a lack of unified diagnostic criteria around the world. Radiology plays an important role in the evaluation and prognostic prediction of ACLF， constituting a multi-dimensional assessment system covering morphology， function， and hemodynamics. Computed tomography can be used for the measurement of liver volume and the diagnosis of sarcopenia by providing key morphological and nutritional parameters. Magnetic resonance imaging （MRI）， especially gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced MRI， enables quantitative assessment of liver function and has critical significance for predicting short-term survival rate. Ultrasonography and elastography techniques facilitate the early warning of ACLF onset and the dynamic monitoring of its progression through noninvasive measurement of liver stiffness and hemodynamic parameters. This article systematically reviews the pivotal role of these three imaging modalities in the diagnosis and monitoring of ACLF， and integrating the strengths of multiple imaging techniques with clinical indicators to construct diagnostic and prognostic models may become a key future direction for achieving early intervention and improving clinical outcomes in ACLF.

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare with its adult onset progressive neurodegenerative disease, which is clinically classified into parkinsonian (MSA-P) and cerebellar (MSA-C) subtypes based on the presenting motor phenotype. MSA has an insidious onset, with its early manifestation of autonomic dysfunction so is easily misdiagnosed. Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH) is a key manifestation of chronic autonomic failure in primary neurodegenerative diseases, and is the most common autonomic dysfunction in patients with MSA. Currently, the treatments for nOH in patients with MSA are limited. In this case report, the rehabilitation method is shared for nOH in patients with MSA, which provides ideas for clinical treatment and rehabilitation of nOH in these patients.

Given the increasing concern regarding antibacterial resistance, the antimicrobial properties of naphthoquinones have recently attracted significant attention. While 1,4-naphthoquinone and its derivatives have been extensively studied, the antibacterial properties of 5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives remain relatively unexplored. This study presents a comprehensive in vitro and in vivo analysis of the antibacterial activity of 35 naturally sourced and chemically synthesized derivatives of 5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone. Kirby-Bauer antibiotic testing identified three compounds with activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with one compound (PNP-02) demonstrating activity comparable to vancomycin in minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and time-kill assays. Microscopic and biochemical analyses revealed that PNP-02 adversely affects the cell wall and cell membrane of MRSA. Mechanistic investigations, including proteomic sequencing analyses, Western blotting, and RT-qPCR assays, indicated that PNP-02 compromises cell membrane integrity by inhibiting arginine biosynthesis and pyrimidine metabolism pathways, thereby increasing membrane permeability and inducing bacterial death. In an in vivo mouse model of skin wound healing, PNP-02 exhibited antibacterial efficacy similar to vancomycin. The compound demonstrated low toxicity to cultured human cells and in hemolysis assays and remained stable during serum incubation. These findings suggest that PNP-02 possesses promising bioactivity against MRSA and represents a potential novel antibacterial agent.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/genetics* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/chemistry* ; Naphthoquinones/administration & dosage* ; Animals ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mice ; Humans ; Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology* ; Molecular Structure

Alopecia areata （AA） is a common hair loss disorder， and the core pathogenesis is the internal gene-ration of turbid toxin caused by qi movement disorder in the liver， spleen， and kidney. Turbid toxin serves as both a pivotal etiological trigger and a pathological driver of disease exacerbation. Clinically， AA can be classified into four principal patterns， including liver constraint with spleen deficiency， internal accumulation of damp-heat， liver-kidney depletion， and qi-blood depletion. Therapeutic strategies prioritize clearing and resolving turbid toxin while regulating the qi movement of the liver， spleen， and kidney. Accordingly， different formulas were applied. Self-formulated Shugan Jianpi Huazhuo Formula （疏肝健脾化浊方） is suggested to drain dampness， resolve turbidity， and unblock qi movement. Self-formulated Sanjiao Fenxiao Jiedu Formula （三焦分消解毒方） can be used to clear heat， drain dampness and resolve toxin. Self-formulated Zishen Yanggan Toudu Decoction （滋肾养肝透毒汤） can clear and vent latent toxins， while Self-formulated Guiqi Shengfa Didu Formula （归芪生发涤毒方） is employed to tonify qi and blood， purge toxins， and regenerate vitality. By differentiating and treating AA based on the functional patterns of the liver， spleen， and kidney， this approach expands the application scope of the turbid toxin theory and provides valuable insights for treatment of AA.

Objective To compare the short-term clinical effects of Da Vinci robot-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the treatment of posterior mediastinal tumors, and to explore the advantages of RATS posterior mediastinal tumor resection. Methods The clinical data of patients who underwent posterior mediastinal tumors resection through the lateral chest approach admitted to the same medical group in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the First Hospital of Lanzhou University between January 2019 to January 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the different surgical methods, the patients were divided into a RATS group and a VATS group. The clinical data were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 85 patients were included in this study. There were 39 patients in the RATS group, including 25 females and 14 males, with an average age of 47.6±13.0 years, and 46 patients in the VATS group, including 14 males and 32 females, with an average age of 45.3±14.7 years. All patients completed the operation successfully. The hospitalization cost in the RATS group was significantly higher than that in the VATS group (P<0.001), and the white blood cell count and neutrophilic granulocyte percentage on the first day after operation in the RATS group were lower than those in the VATS group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The operative time, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative hospital stay, white blood cell count and neutrophil percentage on the third postoperative day, visual analogue scale score on the first and third postoperative days, duration of analgesic pump use, postoperative 12 h oxygen saturation (no oxygen inhalation), postoperative down bed time, total thoracic drainage volume, duration of drainage tube retention, and postoperative complication rates were not statistically different between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no perioperative death, conversion to thoracotomy or serious perioperative complications in both groups. Conclusion RATS resection of posterior mediastinal tumor via lateral thoracic approach is safe and feasible, and its short-term effect is similar to that of VATS via lateral thoracic single-hole approach. It is worth further comparative study to explore its benefit and cost performance.

Neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) is a type of heterogeneous tumor that originates from peptidergic neurons and neuroendocrine cells. The presence of over-expressed somatostatin receptors (SSTR) on the surface of NEN tumor cells has led to the administration of radiolabeled somatostatin analogs (SSA) in combination with over-expressed SSTR, which is called peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). The 1, 4, 7, 10-tetraazacyclododecane-1, 4, 7, 10-tetraacceticacid- D-Phe1-Tyr3-Thr8-octreotide (DOTATATE)-based α/β radionuclide therapy is one of the representative therapeutic methods of PRRT. This article reviews the progress of research on α/β radionuclide therapy based on DOTATATE and its related combination therapy, drug toxicity and safety, as well as expectation for modalities with clinical value for NEN treatment.

Objective:To compare the clinical efficacy of two-dimensional (2D) fluoroscopic guided robot-assisted and conventional TESSYS surgery in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation, the feasibility and precautions of 2D fluoroscopic guided robot-assisted TESSYS surgery were discussed.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 34 male and 36 female patients aged 44.57±6.10 years (range 27 to 60 years) who received 2D guided robot-assisted TESSYS surgery and conventional TESSYS surgery from July 2019 to April 2020. 2D guided robot assisted TESSYS surgery group (the robot group) 32 cases, conventional TESSYS surgery (the conventional group) 38 cases. The number of puncture, number of fluoroscopy, puncture-channel time, operation time, visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) before and after surgery and at the last follow-up were compared between the two groups to verify the clinical efficacy, and the complications were analyzed.Results:There were no significant differences in age, gender, body mass index, surgical level, Michigan State University (MSU) grading and average follow-up time between the robot group and the conventional group (all P>0.05). All patients completed surgery. The number of puncture times was 1.22±0.79 in the robot group and 4.66±1.86 in the conventional group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=10.320, P<0.001). The number of fluoroscopy in the robot group was 10.97±1.96 times, and that in the conventional group was 17.45±4.30 times, the difference was statistically significant ( t=8.313, P<0.001). The puncture-channel time of the robot group was 10.66±3.62 min and that of the conventional group was 20.21±5.47 min, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=8.446, P<0.001). The operation time of the robot group was 62.25±6.68 min, and that of the conventional group was 72.89±10.48 min, the difference was statistically significant ( t=4.956, P<0.001). VAS scores of the robot group were 6.91±0.93 points before surgery, 2.97±0.65 points 1 d after surgery, and 1.53±0.51 points at the last follow-up, while those of the conventional group were 7.29±1.14 points before surgery, 2.89±0.56 points 1 d after surgery, and 1.42±0.50 points at the last follow-up. The ODI index of the robot group was 40.13%±1.54% before surgery, 17.28%±1.69% 1 day after surgery, and 10.84%±1.25% at the last follow-up, while that of the conventional group was 40.03%±1.46% before surgery, 17.42%±2.45% 1 day after surgery, and 10.92%±1.17% at the last follow-up. There were no statistically significant differences (all P>0.05). Two patients (6.3%) in the robot group and four (10.5%) in the conventional group had residual disc, there was no significant difference ( P>0.05). Conclusion:2D guided robot assisted TESSYS surgical treatment of lumbar disc herniation, which can plan puncture path in the stage of percutaneous target puncture, rigid guidance and accurate puncture target, and has obvious advantages in reducing puncture times and fluoroscopy times.

Objective To study urodynamic changes of urine at different degrees of hydronephrosis based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method, so as evaluate the influence of hydronephrosis degree on kidneys’ ability to discharge stones. Methods Twelve models, including the branched pelvis Model A (normal hydronephrosis A1, mild hydronephrosis A2, medium hydronephrosis A3, severe hydronephrosis A4 models), mature ampullary pelvis Model B (normal hydronephrosis B1, mild hydronephrosis B2, medium hydronephrosis B3, severe hydronephrosis B4 models), and embryo pot abdominal pelvis Model C (normal hydronephrosis C1, mild hydronephrosis C2, medium hydronephrosis C3, severe hydronephrosis C4 models) were established. The urine flow velocity and velocity vector at the neck of the kidney, the outlet of the renal pelvis were calculated by CFD method. Results As the degree of hydronephrosis increased, the flow velocity of urine at the neck of the kidney and the outlet of the renal pelvis decreased. The urinary shearing force of the stones and the kidney’s ability to discharge stones gradually decreased, whereas the circulatory stagnation zone and the velocity boundary layer in kidney aggregate system gradually increased. Conclusions Hydronephrosis can cause changes in urodynamics of the urine. Therefore, the effect of hydronephrosis with different degrees on the patient’s ability to discharge stones after surgery should be fully considered， so as to choose an appropriate treatment method for kidney stones in clinic.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of herb-separated moxibustion on dysmenorrhea in ovarian endometriosis. METHODS: A total of 54 patients with ovarian endometriosis dysmenorrhea were randomized into a herb-separated moxibustion group and a waiting-list group, 27 cases in each one (3 cases dropped off in the herb-separated moxibustion group, 4 cases dropped off in the waiting-list group). Herb-separated moxibustion was applied at hypogastrium and lumbosacral area for 30 min in the herb-separated moxibustion group, once a week for 3 months, and oral ibuprofen sustained-release capsule was given to relieve pain when necessary. Excepting giving ibuprofen sustained-release capsule when necessary, no more intervention was adopted in the waiting-list group. Before and after treatment and in 3 months follow-up, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, days of dysmenorrhea, total dose of oral painkiller were observed. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the VAS scores after tratment and in follow-up were decreased in the herb-separated moxibustion group (<0.05), and were less than those in the waiting-list group (<0.05); the days of dysmenorrhea and the total doses of oral painkiller after tratment and in follow-up were decreased in the herb-separated moxibustion group (<0.05), and were less than those in the waiting-list group (<0.05). CONCLUSION Herb-separated moxibustion can effectively improve dysmenorrhea symptom and shorten dysmenorrhea days in patients with ovarian endometriosis.
Acupuncture Points ; Dysmenorrhea ; therapy ; Endometriosis ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Ibuprofen ; therapeutic use ; Moxibustion ; Ovary ; physiopathology

Compound homozygous or heterozygous mutations in WFS1 can lead to autosomal recessive Wolfram syndrome (WS),and heterozygous mutations in WFS1 can lead to autosomal dominant non-syndromic low frequency sensorineural hearing loss (LFSNHL).In addition,mutations in the WFS region has relationship with diabetes and psychiatric diseases.In this paper,we provide an overview of genetic research with different phenotypes,including WS and LFSNHL.