BACKGROUND: Valvular heart disease (VHD) has become increasingly common with the aging in China. This study aimed to evaluate regional differences in the clinical features, management strategies, and outcomes of patients with VHD across different regions in China. METHODS: Data were collected from the China-VHD Study. From April 2018 to June 2018, 12,347 patients who presented with moderate or severe native VHD with a median of 2 years of follow-up from 46 centers at certified tertiary hospitals across 31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in Chinese mainland were included in this study. According to the locations of the research centers, patients were divided into five regional groups: eastern, southern, western, northern, and central China. The clinical features of VHD patients were compared among the five geographical regions. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality or rehospitalization for heart failure. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to compare the cumulative incidence rate. RESULTS: Among the enrolled patients (mean age, 61.96 years; 6877 [55.70%] male), multiple VHD was the most frequent type (4042, 32.74%), which was mainly found in eastern China, followed by isolated mitral regurgitation (3044, 24.65%), which was mainly found in northern China. The etiology of VHD varied significantly across different regions of China. The overall rate of valve interventions was 32.67% (4008/12,268), with the highest rate in southern China at 48.46% (205/423). In terms of procedure, the proportion of transcatheter valve intervention was relatively low compared to that of surgical treatment. Patients with VHD in western China had the highest incidence of all-cause mortality or rehospitalization for heart failure. Valve intervention significantly improved the outcome of patients with VHD in all five regions (all P  <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that patients with VHD in China are characterized by significant geographic disparities in clinical features, treatment, and clinical outcomes. Targeted efforts are needed to improve the management and prognosis of patients with VHD in China according to differences in geographical characteristics. REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03484806.
Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Heart Valve Diseases/therapy* ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Treatment Outcome

Tumors are complex, highly heterogeneous diseases that place an enormous burden on the world's healthcare systems. Updating understanding of tumor initiation and progression is critical and the current breakthrough lies in cancer neuroscience, which focuses on the crosstalk between neural components and tumors. Neuropeptides are a class of highly potent peptides, that perform the physiological functions of neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and endocrine hormones. Currently, many studies have shown that many cellular components of the tumor microenvironment express neuropeptides and their receptors and that neuropeptides may play an important role in their cellular communication. In addition, neuropeptides and their receptors affect cancer hallmarks such as proliferation, invasion and metastasis, angiogenesis, immune escape, metabolic reprogramming, and others. More importantly, neuropeptides may also affect some tumor comorbidities such as insomnia, depression, anorexia, cancer pain, and others. Targeting neuropeptides in combination with new therapeutic strategies may significantly advance anti-tumor therapy, not only for treating the tumor itself but also for improving the patient's quality of life.

Gallstones are highly prevalent worldwide, with a complex pathogenesis. Symptomatic patients often undergo cholecystectomy, and effective preventive measures are lacking. In recent years, with the deepening of research on digestive tract microbiota, growing evidence has shown that gallstone patients exhibit an imbalance in the digestive tract microbiota, which is involved in bile acid and cholesterol metabolism as well as stone formation through multiple mechanisms. Certain probiotic strains have demonstrated potential in preventing and treating cholesterol gallstones. This article focuses on the current research status of digestive tract microbiota in gallstone disease, including their microbiota composition, potential microbial mechanisms, microecological interventions, and future research directions.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of a modified injection technique for improving temporal concavity deformities.Methods:A prospective study was conducted on 157 female patients who underwent temporal concavity augmentation at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from June 2019 to June 2022. The patients were aged from 32 to 48 (38.2±3.1) years. Granular fat was obtained through liposuction and purification. Using the midpoint of the frontotemporal line as the entry point, the granular fat tissue was injected evenly at multiple points under the skin and superficial temporal fascia. Additional granular fat was injected in the temporal edge area to ensure a smooth appearance. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the patients' intraoperative pain levels. Follow-up visits were conducted for one year postoperatively to assess patient satisfaction with the improvement in temporal concavity, local pigmentation, and fine lines in the lateral orbital area based on preoperative and postoperative photographs. Complications, including swelling, ecchymosis, hematoma, fat embolism, infection, fat liquefaction, and subcutaneous induration, were recorded immediately after surgery and at the one-year follow-up.Results:All the 157 patients experienced mild swelling in the injection area postoperatively, which resolved within 3 to 6 days. Ecchymosis occurred in 15 patients and spontaneously resolved within 10 days. Eleven patients had asymmetry in the filled area, with 3 recovering after local massage and observation, and the remaining 8 undergoing a second fat grafting procedure. A total of 25 patients underwent more than two fat grafting procedures, including 4 who underwent three procedures. Mild local hematoma occurred in 3 patients postoperatively. The intraoperative pain VAS was (1.8±0.5) score. After treatment, the improvement scores for temporal concavity, local pigmentation, and fine lines in the lateral orbital area were (7.4±0.7), (6.8±0.7), and (7.9±0.7) scores, respectively. After one year of follow-up, no complications such as fat embolism, infection, fat liquefaction, or subcutaneous induration were observed in the 157 patients.Conclusion:The modified injection technique for improving temporal concavity deformities is safe and effective, with high patient satisfaction.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injection into the external urethral sphincter in combination with sacral neuromodulation (SNM) for the treatment of idiopathic non-obstructive urinary retention (INOUR). Methods A total of 57 INOUR patients treated in our hospital during May 2022 and May 2024 were enrolled. Patients were divided into the BTX (n=30) and combined groups (n=27) according to whether they chose SNM after BTX-A injection. The baseline, postoperative 1-month and 6-month consecutive 3-day voiding diaries, quality of life score (QoL), and post-void residual (PVR), preoperative and postoperative 1-month urodynamic results, and postoperative complications were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results One month after surgery, the average number of voiding frequency per day and PVR were lower in both groups than those before surgery (P<0.05), while the average daily urine volume and maximum flow rate (MFR) were higher (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the maximum detrusor pressure during micturition in both groups before and after surgery (P>0.05). One month after surgery, the average number of voiding frequency per day, average daily urine volume, PVR, QoL, MFR, bladder compliance (BC), and maximum cystometric capacity (MCC) were better in the combined group than in the BTX group (P<0.05), and the efficiency was higher in the combined group (88.9% vs.63.3%, P<0.05). Six months after surgery, the efficacy of the BTX group returned to the baseline level with no statistically significant difference, whereas the efficacy of the combined group was stable (not different from the postoperative 1-month indicators, but better than the baseline level). During the follow-up, there was no difference in the incidence of complications between the BTX group and combined group [43.3% (13/30) vs. 48.1% (13/27), P>0.05]. Conclusion BTX-A injection into the external urethral sphincter combined with SNM improves the short-term outcomes of INOUR patients and maintains the efficacy 6 months postoperatively, which is a safe and reliable treatment option.

Gallstones are highly prevalent worldwide, with a complex pathogenesis. Symptomatic patients often undergo cholecystectomy, and effective preventive measures are lacking. In recent years, with the deepening of research on digestive tract microbiota, growing evidence has shown that gallstone patients exhibit an imbalance in the digestive tract microbiota, which is involved in bile acid and cholesterol metabolism as well as stone formation through multiple mechanisms. Certain probiotic strains have demonstrated potential in preventing and treating cholesterol gallstones. This article focuses on the current research status of digestive tract microbiota in gallstone disease, including their microbiota composition, potential microbial mechanisms, microecological interventions, and future research directions.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of a modified injection technique for improving temporal concavity deformities.Methods:A prospective study was conducted on 157 female patients who underwent temporal concavity augmentation at the Department of Plastic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from June 2019 to June 2022. The patients were aged from 32 to 48 (38.2±3.1) years. Granular fat was obtained through liposuction and purification. Using the midpoint of the frontotemporal line as the entry point, the granular fat tissue was injected evenly at multiple points under the skin and superficial temporal fascia. Additional granular fat was injected in the temporal edge area to ensure a smooth appearance. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to assess the patients' intraoperative pain levels. Follow-up visits were conducted for one year postoperatively to assess patient satisfaction with the improvement in temporal concavity, local pigmentation, and fine lines in the lateral orbital area based on preoperative and postoperative photographs. Complications, including swelling, ecchymosis, hematoma, fat embolism, infection, fat liquefaction, and subcutaneous induration, were recorded immediately after surgery and at the one-year follow-up.Results:All the 157 patients experienced mild swelling in the injection area postoperatively, which resolved within 3 to 6 days. Ecchymosis occurred in 15 patients and spontaneously resolved within 10 days. Eleven patients had asymmetry in the filled area, with 3 recovering after local massage and observation, and the remaining 8 undergoing a second fat grafting procedure. A total of 25 patients underwent more than two fat grafting procedures, including 4 who underwent three procedures. Mild local hematoma occurred in 3 patients postoperatively. The intraoperative pain VAS was (1.8±0.5) score. After treatment, the improvement scores for temporal concavity, local pigmentation, and fine lines in the lateral orbital area were (7.4±0.7), (6.8±0.7), and (7.9±0.7) scores, respectively. After one year of follow-up, no complications such as fat embolism, infection, fat liquefaction, or subcutaneous induration were observed in the 157 patients.Conclusion:The modified injection technique for improving temporal concavity deformities is safe and effective, with high patient satisfaction.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of multimodal ultrasound (MMU) for upper urinary tract damage (UUTD) in children with neurogenic bladder (NB).Methods:This was a case-series study.From January 2022 to December 2023, 87 children with NB admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were examined by MMU.During the filling of bladder, vesical volume (VV), bladder wall thickness (BWT), shear wave velocity (SWV) of the anterior wall, resistance index (RI), and vascularization index (VI) were measured.After the emptying of bladder, VV and anterior wall SWV were measured, and ultrasound bladder compliance (△C) was calculated.The anterior posterior diameter (APD) of the renal pelvis and ureteral diameter (UD) were also measured.According to the upper/lower urinary tract dysfunction classification criteria, NB children were divided into a UUTD group and a non-UUTD (NUUTD) group.The differences in clinical data and related examinations between the 2 groups were analyzed to screen out independent risk factors, and an early warning model was established based on these factors.The prediction efficiency of the model and the urodynamic study (UDS) for UUTD was compared.Results:(1) There were 47 children in the UUTD group and 40 children in the NUUTD group.There was no significant difference in gender, age and body mass index between the 2 groups (all P>0.05).(2) In the UUTD group, the total glomerular filtration rate (tGFR) was (70.45±16.17) mL/min, the incidence of hydronephrosis was 38.30%, and the incidence of ureteral dilatation was 23.40%.No morphological changes were found in the imaging examination of the urinary system in the NUUTD group, and its tGFR was (100.55±16.27) mL/min.There was a significant difference in tGFR between the 2 groups ( P<0.05).(3) The filling VV, emptying VV, mean BWT, filling SWV, emptying SWV, VI, mean RI, △C, maximum cystometric capacity (MCC), maximum detrusor pressure during filling (Pdet.max), bladder compliance (BC), and detrusor leak point pressure (DLPP) in the NUUTD group were (218.43±87.53) mL, (14.62±6.14) mL, (3.08±0.65) mm, (2.64±0.54) m/s, (1.88±0.41) m/s, (6.20±1.04)%, 0.68±0.04, (147.58±49.18) mm 2·s, (309.50±66.54) mL, (59.83±19.79) cmH 2O(1 cmH 2O=0.098 kPa), (25.80±10.34) mL/cmH 2O, and (34.00±6.16) cmH 2O, respectively.Compared with the NUUTD group, the UUTD group showed decreased filling VV [(167.21±85.63) mL], △C [(78.49±31.86) mm 2·s], VI [(5.01±0.81) %], MCC [(255.32±75.10) mL], and BC [(12.57±6.44) mL/cmH 2O], and increased emptying VV [(19.50±7.65) mL], mean BWT [(4.02±0.82) mm], filling SWV [(3.99±1.07) m/s], emptying SWV [(2.15±0.35) m/s], mean RI (0.70±0.08), Pdet.max [(75.94±26.23) cmH 2O], and DLPP [(48.13±12.61) cmH 2O] (all P<0.05).(4) The decreased BC ( OR=0.841, 95% CI: 0.562-1.256, P=0.045), △C ( OR=0.427, 95% CI: 0.202-0.904, P=0.026) and VI ( OR=0.461, 95% CI: 0.091-2.325, P=0.010) and the increased DLPP ( OR=1.139, 95% CI: 0.894-1.451, P=0.040), filling SWV ( OR=1.895, 95% CI: 1.082-3.321, P=0.007) and mean BWT ( OR=1.191, 95% CI: 0.850-1.669, P=0.025) were independent risk factors for UUTD.Among MMU parameters, filling SWV had the highest prediction efficiency for UUTD, with a threshold of 3.33 m/s, sensitivity of 72.34% and specificity of 92.50%. Conclusions:MMU can well predict the occurrence of UUTD in children with NB, and filling SWV has the highest prediction efficiency.

Cancer cachexia is a multi-organ syndrome and closely related to changes in signal communication between organs, which is mediated by cancer cachexia factors. Cancer cachexia factors, being the general name of inflammatory factors, circulating proteins, metabolites, and microRNA secreted by tumor or host cells, play a role in secretory or other organs and mediate complex signal communication between organs during cancer cachexia. Cancer cachexia factors are also a potential target for the diagnosis and treatment. The pathogenesis of cachexia is unclear and no clear effective treatment is available. Thus, the treatment of cancer cachexia from the perspective of the tumor ecosystem rather than from the perspective of a single molecule and a single organ is urgently needed. From the point of signal communication between organs mediated by cancer cachexia factors, finding a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer cachexia is of great significance to improve the level of diagnosis and treatment. This review begins with cancer cachexia factors released during the interaction between tumor and host cells, and provides a comprehensive summary of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment for cancer cachexia, along with a particular sight on multi-organ signal communication mediated by cancer cachexia factors. This summary aims to deepen medical community’s understanding of cancer cachexia and may conduce to the discovery of new diagnostic and therapeutic targets for cancer cachexia.

Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is the most common disabling complication of diabetes. Emerging evidence has linked the pathogenesis of DNP to the aberrant sprouting of sensory axons into the epidermal area; however, the underlying molecular events remain poorly understood. Here we found that an axon guidance molecule, Netrin-3 (Ntn-3), was expressed in the sensory neurons of mouse dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), and downregulation of Ntn-3 expression was highly correlated with the severity of DNP in a diabetic mouse model. Genetic ablation of Ntn-3 increased the intra-epidermal sprouting of sensory axons and worsened the DNP in diabetic mice. In contrast, the elevation of Ntn-3 levels in DRGs significantly inhibited the intra-epidermal axon sprouting and alleviated DNP in diabetic mice. In conclusion, our studies identified Ntn-3 as an important regulator of DNP pathogenesis by gating the aberrant sprouting of sensory axons, indicating that Ntn-3 is a potential druggable target for DNP treatment.
Mice ; Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/metabolism* ; Axons/physiology* ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; Sensory Receptor Cells/metabolism* ; Neuralgia/metabolism*