Objective To evaluate the impact of an integrated management mode of prenatal diagnosis-postnatal treatment for congenital heart disease (CHD) on perioperative and long-term outcomes of the arterial switch operation (ASO), and to analyze the efficacy of ASO in a single center. Methods This retrospective study analyzed the clinical data of 183 children who underwent ASO at Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital from 2018 to 2024. The cohort included 106 (57.9%) patients of transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum (TGA/IVS), 61 (33.3%) patients of transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect (TGA/VSD), and 16 (8.7%) patients of Taussig-bing anomaly (TBA). Perioperative indicators were compared between 91 patients in the prenatal-postnatal integrated management group (an integrated group) and 92 patients in the traditional management group (a non-integrated group). Long-term survival and reoperation rates were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves. Results The overall perioperative mortality rate was 4.9% (9/183), showing a downward trend year by year. The primary cause of perioperative mortality was low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS), which occurred in 12 patients (6.6% incidence) with a mortality rate of 75.0%. The integrated group had a higher proportion of males (89.0% vs. 72.8%, P<0.05) and lower body weight [3.1 (2.7, 3.3) kg vs. 3.3 (3.0, 3.7) kg, P<0.05] compared to the non-integrated group. The age at surgery was significantly earlier in the integrated group [7 (3, 10) d vs. 14 (9, 48) d, P<0.05], and all children in the integrated group underwent ASO within the optimal surgical window (100.0% vs. 82.6%, P<0.05). Intraoperatively, cardiopulmonary bypass time [173 (150, 207) min vs. 186 (159, 237) min, P<0.05] and aortic cross-clamp time [100 (90, 117) min vs. 116 (97, 142) min, P<0.05] were significantly shorter in the integrated group. Although the integrated group had longer postoperative mechanical ventilation time [145 (98, 214) h vs. 116 (77, 147) h, P<0.05] and higher 48-hour maximum vasoactive inotropic score [15 (10, 21) points vs. 12 (8, 16) points, P<0.05], there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of severe complications (LCOS, necrotizing enterocolitis, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) or mortality rate (3.3% vs. 6.5%, P=0.51) between the two groups, despite earlier surgical intervention and a higher proportion of critically ill cases in the integrated group. The length of hospital stay in the emergency surgery group was significantly shorter than that in the elective surgery group [20 (15, 28) d vs. 25 (21, 30) d, P<0.05], suggesting that early surgery may be of potential benefit. A total of 163 patients were successfully followed up for a median of 4.7 years, with a 5-year survival rate of 95.1% and a freedom from reintervention survival rate of 95.1%. There were no late deaths, and the most common postoperative complication was pulmonary artery stenosis. Conclusion The integrated management model allowed critically ill children with lower body weights to safely undergo surgery, significantly optimizing the timing of surgery and shortening intraoperative times. The long-term risk of reoperation after ASO is primarily concentrated on pulmonary artery stenosis, necessitating long-term follow-up and monitoring.

By tracing back to the classical literature of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， this paper proposes a TCM philosophy integrating "dao （道）-shen（神）-formula" as a unified whole. It systematically elaborates the formula-constructing thought that "the monarch drug follows dao， and the formula carries dao"， analyzes shen （spirit/ life vitality） from the perspectives of its substance， manifestation and function， and explains the pivotal role of shen in connecting dao and formula. Taking Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases （《伤寒杂病论》） as an example， the paper explores how the "dao-shen-formula" union is implemented in classics. Based on the Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor （《黄帝内经》）， the paper articulates a practical pathway for the "dao-shen-formula" union， namely "observing shen to differentiate the mechanism → restoring dao to regulate shen → achieving harmony of shen and restoration of dao"， thereby transforming abstract concepts into operable and verifiable practical approaches. It is hoped that this study will provide theoretical foundation and practical guidance for the shift from treating diseases to treating the person， and from correcting deviations to restoring dao in TCM.

By tracing back to the classical literature of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM）， this paper proposes a TCM philosophy integrating "dao （道）-shen（神）-formula" as a unified whole. It systematically elaborates the formula-constructing thought that "the monarch drug follows dao， and the formula carries dao"， analyzes shen （spirit/ life vitality） from the perspectives of its substance， manifestation and function， and explains the pivotal role of shen in connecting dao and formula. Taking Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases （《伤寒杂病论》） as an example， the paper explores how the "dao-shen-formula" union is implemented in classics. Based on the Inner Canon of Yellow Emperor （《黄帝内经》）， the paper articulates a practical pathway for the "dao-shen-formula" union， namely "observing shen to differentiate the mechanism → restoring dao to regulate shen → achieving harmony of shen and restoration of dao"， thereby transforming abstract concepts into operable and verifiable practical approaches. It is hoped that this study will provide theoretical foundation and practical guidance for the shift from treating diseases to treating the person， and from correcting deviations to restoring dao in TCM.

Objective To develop an innovative recognition algorithm that aids physicians in the identification of pulmonary nodules. Methods Patients with pulmonary nodules who underwent thoracoscopic surgery at the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School in December 2023, were enrolled in the study. Chest surface exploration data were collected at a rate of 60 frames per second and a resolution of 1 920×1 080. Frame images were saved at regular intervals for subsequent block processing. An algorithm database for lung nodule recognition was developed using the collected data. Results A total of 16 patients were enrolled, including 9 males and 7 females, with an average age of (54.9±14.9) years. In the optimized multi-topology convolutional network model, the test results demonstrated an accuracy rate of 94.39% for recognition tasks. Furthermore, the integration of micro-variation amplification technology into the convolutional network model enhanced the accuracy of lung nodule identification to 96.90%. A comprehensive evaluation of the performance of these two models yielded an overall recognition accuracy of 95.59%. Based on these findings, we conclude that the proposed network model is well-suited for the task of lung nodule recognition, with the convolutional network incorporating micro-variation amplification technology exhibiting superior accuracy. Conclusion Compared to traditional methods, our proposed technique significantly enhances the accuracy of lung nodule identification and localization, aiding surgeons in locating lung nodules during thoracoscopic surgery.

Objective: To investigate the comorbidity of abnormal spinal curvature and screening myopia among primary and middle school students in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, so as to provide the reference for the prevention and control of abnormal spinal curvature and myopia among children and adolescents. Methods: Students from nine counties (cities, districts) in Taizhou City were selected using a stratified cluster random sampling method. Basic information, sleep, physical activity, diet, electronic device usage, frequency of seat changes, after class study, reading and writing posture, and eye-use habits were collected through questionnaire surveys. Abnormal spinal curvature was screened according to the Technical Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Abnormal Spinal Curvature in Children and Adolescents. Myopia was screened based on Specification for Screening of Refractive Error in Primary and Middle School Students (WS/T 663—2020). The influencing factors for the comorbidity of abnormal spinal curvature and screening myopia were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 13 596 students were surveyed, including 7 423 males (54.60%) and 6 173 females (45.40%). The average age was (13.45±2.59) years. The prevanlece of the comorbidity of abnormal spinal curvature and screening myopia, was 2.90% (394 cases). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that students who used computers for <1 hour in the past 7 days (not use as the reference, OR=1.312, 95%CI: 1.023-1.684), after class study for ≥3 hours in the past 7 days (OR=1.513, 95%CI: 1.068-2.143), and frequently/always read books or watched screens under direct sunlight (OR=1.604, 95%CI: 1.018-2.526) had a higher risk of the comorbidity of abnormal spinal curvature and screening myopia. In contrast, the students who slept for >9 h/d (OR=0.638, 95%CI: 0.411-0.991), engaged in outdoor activities for ≥3 h/d in the past 7 days (OR=0.645, 95%CI: 0.427-0.975), and changed seats once per month or more (OR=0.740, 95%CI: 0.573-0.955) had a lower risk of the comorbidity of abnormal spinal curvature and screening myopia. Conclusion The comorbidity of abnormal spinal curvature and screening myopia among primary and middle school students is mainly influenced by sleep, physical activity, electronic device use, frequency of seat changes, after class study and eye-use habits.

Objective To investigate the expression of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) in thymic T follicular helper cells (TFH) and its significance in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). Methods Fifteen MG patients who underwent surgical treatment at the Myasthenia Gravis Comprehensive Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Henan Provincial People’s Hospital from June 2022 to June 2023 were selected as a MG group, including 7 males and 8 females, aged 12-30 years. Twelve patients who underwent partial thymectomy to optimize surgical field exposure during cardiac surgery at Fuwai Central China Cardiovascular Hospital from June 2022 to June 2023 were selected as a control group, including 5 males and 7 females aged 20-35 years. Thymus single cell suspension was obtained by grinding the thymus tissue, and flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of α7nAChR in TFH cells. The thymus cell suspension was purified using density gradient centrifugation, followed by immunomagnetic bead separation to obtain CD4+T cells. CXCR5 antibody and coupled magnetic beads were added to isolate TFH cells. Real-time fluorescent polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were performed to further investigate the expression of α7nAChR in TFH cells. Results Compared with the control group, the proportion of thymic TFH cells in the MG group was significantly increased (P<0.05), along with significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression levels of α7nAChR within these cells (P<0.01). Conclusion The findings suggest that there is a reduced expression of α7nAChR within thymic TFH cells in MG patients, leading to weakened immunosuppressive function which may indirectly contribute to disease onset and progression.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics, postoperative complications, and risk factors for pouchitis in surgical patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).Methods:This was a retrospective observational study. The clinical data of 336 UC patients who had undergone surgical treatment at the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center of the Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University Medical School from February 2014 to February 2024 were enrolled. The study patients were stratified into 2014-2019 ( n = 158) and 2020–2024 groups ( n = 178), these being the periods before and after biologics were covered for treatment of UC by national insurance in China in 2020. Clinical characteristics and surgical complications were analyzed and compared between the 2014-2019 and 2020-2024 groups. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify the risk factors associated with pouchitis in UC patients undergoing total proctocolectomy with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (TPC-IPAA). Results:The study cohort comprised 336 UC patients, 193 (57.4%) of whom were men. The median preoperative disease course was 48.0 months and the mean age at colectomy was 46.4±15.4 years. TPC-IPAA had been performed on 275 patients (81.8%), 129 in the 2014-2019 group and 146 in the 2020-2024 group. Sixty-one patients had undergone total or subtotal colectomy, 29 in the 2014-2019 group and 32 in the 2020-2024 group. 262 (78.0%) UC patients underwent surgery due to medical refractory. Ninety-nine (29.5%) had used biopharmaceuticals within 2 months prior to surgery, 63 (18.8%) of them having received infliximab. A smaller proportion of patients had undergone surgery for UC that was refractory to medications in the 2020–2024 group than in the 2014–2019 group (73.0% [130/178] vs. 83.5% [132/158], χ 2=5.384, P=0.020), the patients were older at colectomy (48.0±15.4 years vs. 44.6±15.2 years, t=-2.008, P=0.045), the body mass index was higher (20.2±3.1 kg/m 2 vs. 19.4±3.2 kg/m 2, t=-2.201, P=0.028), the Mayo score prior to surgery was lower ( M[ Q1, Q3]: 11.0 [9.2, 12.0 points] vs. 12.0 [11.0, 12.0) points, Z=-4.242, P=0.001), the rate of Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥ 3 scores was higher (27.0% [48/178] vs. 17.1% [27/158], χ 2=5.384, P=0.020), a greater percentage of patients had received biologics prior to surgery (41.0% [73/178) vs. 16.5% [26/158], χ 2=24.285, P<0.001), and intraoperative blood loss was greater ( M[ Q1, Q3]: 100.0 [100.0, 150.0] ml vs. 50.0 [30.0, 100.0] ml, Z=-7.054, P<0.001) despite the operation time being shorter (253.8±74.6 minutes vs. 315.2±96.8 minutes, t=6.265, P<0.001). Among the 275 patients undergoing TPC-IPAA, 95 (34.6%) had early complications (within 30 days after surgery), 20 (7.3%) of which were Clavien-Dindo Grade III–IV complications. Among these patients, 50 (18.2%) had ileus or small bowel obstruction, 11 in the 2014-2019 group and 39 in the 2020-2024 group; this difference is statistically significant (χ 2=15.225, P<0.001). Ninety-one patients (33.1%) had late complications (more than 30 days after surgery), 75 (27.3%) being pouchitis (36 in the 2014-2019 group and 39 in the 2020-2024 group); this difference is not statistically significant (χ 2=0.049, P=0.824). Five patients (1.8%) had undergone pouch excision with permanent ileostomy. Among the 61 patients who had undergone total or subtotal colectomy, 26 (42.6%) developed early postoperative complications, including 10 (16.4%) Clavien-Dindo Grade III-IV complications and one death (1.6%), the last being attributable to multiorgan dysfunction. Three patients (4.9%) had late complications; the difference in incidence of postoperative complications between the 2014-2019 and 2020-2024 groups is not statistically significant (both P>0.05). Multivariable analysis identified intraoperative blood transfusion (OR: 2.12, 95% CI: 1.19–3.75, P=0.010) and interval to stoma closure > 120 days (OR: 2.05, 95%CI: 1.16-3.62, P = 0.013) as independent risk factors for development of pouchitis in UC patients undergoing TPC-IPAA. Conclusion:Surgical treatment of UC remains safe in the biologics era. Proactive strategies to reduce intraoperative blood transfusion and achieve timely stoma closure may reduce the risk of pouchitis in UC patients undergoing TPC-IPAA.

Background and purpose:The microphthalmia-associated transcription factor(MITF)plays a complex role in melanoma pathogenesis and progression.It is known to regulate multiple processes both in melanocytes and melanoma cells.While numerous studies have explored MITF in cutaneous melanoma(CM),research in acral melanoma(AM)is still limited.This study retrospectively analyzed the correlation between MITF expression and clinical,pathological characteristics and prognosis in AM patients,providing a basis for prognosis evaluation and personalized treatment plan formulation for patients.Methods:Patients who underwent primary resection of AM at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center from March 2008 to February 2022 were included.All surgical samples were diagnosed by clinical histopathology and used to construct the tissue microarray(TMA).This study was approved by the medical ethics committee of Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center(approval number:2203-ZZK-69-3).Cutting complete tissue microarray and evaluating MITF expression levels by immunohistochemistry(IHC)staining were carried out.The results were independently assessed and scored by three pathologists.Clinical and pathological data were collected from the hospital's electronic medical record system,and each patient's data was matched to their corresponding tissue sample on the chip.Patients were stratified into two groups based on MITF expression levels.Statistical analyses were performed to assess differences in clinical,pathological characteristics and survival outcomes between these two groups.Results:A total of 137 AM patients were included.MITF expression was significantly associated with T stage,N stage,American Joint Committee on Cancer(AJCC)stage,clark level,sentinel lymph node status,and presence of ulceration.Among these,N stage and ulceration were independent risk factors for high expression of MITF after adjusting for confounding factors.Survival analysis showed that AM patients with high MITF expression or higher T stage were associated with shorter disease-free survival(DFS).Patients with high MITF expression showed no significant difference in overall survival(OS)between observation or cytokine therapy and adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitor(ICI)therapy,whereas those with low MITF expression derived significant survival benefits from ICI treatment.Conclusion:A higher N stage or the presence of ulceration indicates high MITF expression in tumor cells,with high MITF levels serving as a warning signal for early recurrence,metastasis,and even death.Patients with low MITF expression could receive improved OS with early adjuvant ICI therapy.MITF could not only serve as an auxiliary diagnostic marker for melanoma but also provide a basis for clinical prognosis assessment and the formulation of personalized treatment plans.

OBJECTIVE: To review the research progress on the lower limb biomechanical characteristics of patients with discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) injury after surgery. METHODS: By searching relevant domestic and international research literature on DLM, the postoperative characteristics of knee joint movement biomechanics, tibiofemoral joint stress distribution, lower extremity force line, and patellofemoral joint changes in patients with DLM injury were summarized. RESULTS: Surgical treatment can lead to varying degrees of changes in the lower limb biomechanical characteristics of patients with DLM injury. Specifically, the kinematic biomechanics of the knee joint can significantly improve, but there are still problems such as extension deficits in the affected knee joint. The peak stress of the tibiofemoral joint decreases with the increase of the residual meniscus volume, and the degree of change is closely related to the residual meniscus volume. Preserving a larger volume of the meniscus, especially the anterior horn volume, helps to reduce stress concentration. The lower extremity force line will deviate outward after surgery, and the more meniscus is removed during surgery, the greater the change in the lower extremity force line after surgery. There are conditions such as cartilage degeneration, position and angle changes in the patellofemoral joint after surgery. CONCLUSION The changes in the lower limb biomechanical characteristics after DLM injury are closely related to the choice of surgical methods and rehabilitation programs. However, the mechanisms of biomechanical changes in multiple lower limb joints and individual differences still need to be further studied and clarified.
Humans ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Tibial Meniscus Injuries/physiopathology* ; Menisci, Tibial/physiopathology* ; Knee Joint/surgery* ; Lower Extremity/physiopathology* ; Patellofemoral Joint/physiopathology* ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Knee Injuries/physiopathology*

Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear mainly caused by bacteria, and current treatments rely heavily on antibiotics. However, the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains seriously affects their efficacy. In our study, we found that extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from human natural killer cells (NKs) inhibit the proliferation of both standard and levofloxacin (LVX)-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, compared to LVX, EVs were more effective at reducing effusion and rescuing hearing thresholds in animal models. For LVX-sensitive strains, EVs were significantly more effective in terms of curative time but not curative rate. For LVX-resistant strains, EVs were significantly more effective in terms of both curative rate and curative time when applied alone or applied jointly with LVX. In summary, we found that NK EVs are highly effective in treating otitis media, providing an alternative approach for treating this common disease.
Killer Cells, Natural/metabolism* ; Exosomes/metabolism* ; Animals ; Humans ; Otitis Media/therapy* ; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; Levofloxacin/pharmacology*