Background and aims:Promoting gastrointestinal function recovery is one of the key aspects of enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)for colorectal cancer(CRC).Many ancient Chinese medical texts suggest that acupuncture at four acupoints—Zusanli,Shangjuxu,Sanyinjiao,and Neiguan—helps promote gastrointestinal peristalsis.However,there is currently no systematic study on multi-point acupuncture to promote postoperative gastrointestinal function recovery in CRC patients.Therefore,this study was conducted to evaluate the clinical efficacy of multi-point acupuncture in promoting gastrointestinal function recovery in CRC patients through a prospective study to provide new options for implementing ERAS in CRC patients in clinical practice. Methods:Using a prospective,randomized,controlled design,a total of 100 eligible patients who underwent laparoscopic CRC radical surgery at the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery,Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University,between January 2021 and February 2022,were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group,with 50 patients in each group.Both groups underwent the same ERAS protocols and radical surgery during the perioperative period.The observation group received acupuncture treatment from the day of surgery to the third postoperative day,once per day,while the control group did not receive acupuncture.Primary outcomes included the time to bowel sound recovery,time to first flatus,and time to first defecation.Secondary outcomes included abdominal pain scores,incidence of bloating,nausea,vomiting,white blood cell count,neutrophil percentage,C-reactive protein,hemoglobin,serum albumin,blood potassium levels,postoperative hospital stay,and incidence of postoperative complications. Results:A total of 96 patients completed the study,with 48 in each group.There were no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics such as age,gender,or surgery time between the two groups(all P＞0.05).Compared with the control group,the observation group had a significantly shorter time for bowel sound recovery,first flatus,first defecation,and postoperative hospital stay(all P＜0.05).Additionally,the observation group showed reduced abdominal pain scores on postoperative day(POD)2 and 3,a lower incidence of bloating on POD 1 and 2,and a reduced incidence of nausea and vomiting on POD 3(all P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in the remaining comparisons between the two groups(all P＞0.05). Conclusion:Multi-point acupuncture treatment can promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function in patients undergoing minimally invasive CRC surgery without increasing postoperative complications,and it is recommended for integration into routine ERAS protocols.

Objective:To explore the correlation between transcranial sonography (TCS) combined with serum homocysteine (Hcy), blood glucose, blood lipids, the cognitive status of Parkinson′s disease (PD) patients, and to analyze the clinical application value of these parameters in assessing the cognitive status of PD patients.Methods:A total of 152 PD patients admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2020 to June 2023 were retrospectively collected as the PD group, and 101 healthy examinees matched for age and gender during the same period were selected as control group. Clinical data [age, gender, duration of illness, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, Unified Parkinson′s Disease Rating Scale Part Ⅲ (UPDRS-Ⅲ) score, Hoehn-Yahr (H-Y) stage, etc.], serum tests (Hcy, blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein concentration), and TCS examination results (third ventricular width, midbrain area, peak systolic velocity of bilateral middle cerebral arteries, bilateral middle cerebral artery resistance index, bilateral substantia nigra hyperechoic area) were collected. The two groups were divided into pure PD group and PD group with elevated Hcy, pure control group and control group with elevated Hcy, based on an Hcy concentration threshold of ≥15 μmol/L. The differences in the above parameters among the four groups were compared. The correlation between Hcy and cognitive status (MoCA score, MMSE score) of PD patients and the above parameters were analyzed.Results:The MoCA score and MMSE score of the PD group with elevated Hcy were lower than those of the pure PD group, and the UPDRS-Ⅲ score and H-Y stage were higher than those of the pure PD group (all P<0.001). The order of Hcy concentration from high to low was PD group with elevated Hcy, pure Hcy elevation group, pure PD group, and pure control group. The differences in serum data and TCS data among the four groups were statistically significant (all P<0.001). Spearman correlation analysis showed: ①In the PD group, the concentration of Hcy was positively correlated with glucose concentration, H-Y stage, low-density lipoprotein concentration, right middle cerebral artery resistance index, UPDRS-Ⅲ score, total cholesterol concentration, triglyceride concentration, left middle cerebral artery resistance index, third ventricular width, and age ( rs=0.422, 0.350, 0.348, 0.334, 0.325, 0.300, 0.293, 0.283, 0.221, 0.164, all P<0.05); Hcy concentration was negatively correlated with midbrain area, MMSE score, MoCA score, peak systolic velocity of right middle cerebral artery, peak systolic velocity of left middle cerebral artery, and high-density lipoprotein concentration ( rs=-0.328, -0.282, -0.245, -0.229, -0.224, -0.192, all P<0.05). ②Clinical data, serum data, and TCS data of PD patients were all correlated with MoCA score and MMSE score, with midbrain area showing the largest positive correlation ( rs=0.524, 0.516; both P<0.05) and H-Y stage showing the largest negative correlation( rs=-0.490, -0.468; both P<0.05). Conclusions:PD patients with elevated Hcy have lower cognitive scores than pure PD patients. The correlation between Hcy concentration and blood glucose concentration is the highest in PD patients, followed by H-Y stage. The cognitive scores of PD patients are most correlated with midbrain area and unrelated to substantia nigra hyperechoic area. Lowering serum Hcy concentration in PD patients may be one of the ways to delay cognitive impairment.

Objective:To explore the pathological mechanism of SN hyperechogenicity by investigating the characteristics of substantia nigra (SN) hyperechogenicity on transcranial sonography (TCS) and serum iron metabolism parameters in the postural instability gait difficulty and tremor dominant subtypes of Parkinson′s disease (PD), and the correlation between them.Methods:A total of 155 PD patients recruited in Parkinson′s Disease Specialty in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2019 to December 2021 were divided into postural instability gait difficulty group( n=95) and tremor dominant group( n=60). Meanwhile, 49 healthy gender- and age-matched healthy individuals who sought for physical examination during the same period were included as the control group. All subjects underwent TCS and blood test, and the echo of SN between the postural instability gait difficulty group and tremor dominant group, serum iron metabolism parameters among the three groups were compared. The postural instability gait difficulty group and tremor dominant group were subdivided into with SN hyperechogenicity (SN+ )subgroup and without SN hyperechogenicity (SN-) subgroup respectively according to TCS results, and the differences in serum iron metabolism parameters between the subgroups were further compared. The association between SN hyperechogenicity and serum iron metabolism parameters of the postural instability gait difficulty group and tremor dominant group were further analyzed. Results:The total area of bilateral SN+ , the area of SN+ on the larger side, and the ratio of the total area of SN+ to the midbrain area (S/M) in postural instability gait difficulty group were larger than those in tremor dominant group (all P<0.001). The value of serum ceruloplasmin and transferrin in both postural instability gait difficulty group and tremor dominant group were lower than those in control group (all P<0.001), and compared with tremor dominant group and control group, the postural instability gait difficulty group had lower serum ferritin(all P<0.01). In both postural instability gait difficulty group and tremor dominant group, serum ceruloplasmin in SN+ subgroup was lower than that in SN-subgroup ( P=0.001, 0.032). Moreover, there was a negative correlation between serum transferrin and the area of SN hyperechogenicity in two subgroups(postural instability gait difficulty group: rs=-0.454, P<0.001; tremor dominant group: rs=-0.494, P<0.001). Conclusions:Compared with the tremor dominant patients, the postural instability gait difficulty patients have larger area of SN hyperechogenicity and lower serum ferritin level. The area of SN hyperechogenicity is significantly negatively correlated with serum transferrin level, indicating that the production of this imaging characteristics is related to iron metabolism.

AIM: To observe the clinical efficacy of Fuzheng Xiaoliu Granules in the treatment of stage II primary liver cancer and to explore its mechanism of action from the perspective of metabolomics. METHODS: Sixty patients with stage II primary liver cancer who achieved complete remission (CR) after comprehensive interventional therapy were randomly divided into treatment group and placebo group, with 30 patients in each group. They were treated for one year and observed for one year. The one-year recurrence rate, traditional chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score, alpha-fetoprotein and child-pugh grade were compared between the two groups. The serum metabolites of the two groups before and after treatment were screened by ultra-high liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry technology, and the metabolic pathways and related biological pathways were analyzed. RESULTS: The one-year recurrence rate of the treatment group was significantly lower than that of the placebo group, and the overall improvement rate of TCM syndrome score was significantly better than that of the placebo group (P<0.05). There was no statistical significance in the comparison of alpha-fetoprotein and child-pugh grade between the two groups after treatment (P>0.05). Metabolomics results showed that there were 39 and 33 different metabolites in the treatment group before and after treatment and in the two groups after treatment, respectively. After enrichment analysis and topological analysis of the different metabolites, it was found that Fuzheng Xiaoliu Granules could affect amino acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism and purine metabolism and other metabolic pathways. Before and after treatment in the treatment group and after treatment in the two groups, there were the same differential metabolites and metabolic pathways in the two comparison results. The same differential metabolites with FOLD CHANGE>1 include Stearic acid, Hypoxanthine, Kynurenic acid, Arachidonic acid, and N-Arachidonoyl Dopamine. The same metabolic pathways with Impact>0.1 include Arachidonic acid metabolism and Histidine metabolism. CONCLUSION: Fuzheng xiaoliu granules can effectively reduce the recurrence rate of stage II liver cancer patients after comprehensive intervention and improve the TCM syndrome. It may inhibit the activation of PI3K/Akt and ERK signaling pathways by regulating the content of metabolites involved in metabolic pathways such as amino acids and fatty acids, thereby delaying tumor recurrence.

Objective:To explore the adjunctive diagnostic value of transcranial sonography (TCS) combined with olfactory test in early Parkinson′s disease (PD) and the clinical value of both in the cognitive function of PD patients.Methods:TCS and olfactory test were performed in 157 early PD patients(PD group) and 157 healthy controls(control group) in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2018 to January 2022. The differences in clinical characteristics, TCS, and olfactory test results between the two groups were analyzed. The values of TCS, olfactory test, and their combination in diagnosing early PD were evaluated using clinical diagnosis as the gold standard. The correlations of the midbrain area, the midbrain substantia nigra hyperechoic area, and the third ventricle width in TCS examination with the cognitive score were analyzed in the PD group. According to the olfactory test scores, 157 patients with early PD were divided into two groups: 110 cases of PD with olfactory dysfunction (PD-OD) and 47 cases of PD without olfactory dysfunction (PD-NOD). The differences in clinical scores and TCS results between the two groups were compared.Results:The midbrain substantia nigra hyperechoic area, substantia nigra hyperechoic positivity rate, third ventricle width, and olfactory dysfunction rate were higher in the PD group compared to the control group, while the midbrain area and olfactory test scores were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.001). The sensitivity and the coincidence rate of TCS combined with the olfactory test for early PD diagnosis (90.0%, 77.1%) were higher than those of TCS alone (60.0%, 71.3%) and olfactory test alone (70.1%, 72.3%), but the specificity (63.7%) was lower than that of both alone (82.8% for TCS and 75.2% for olfactory test), (all P<0.001). MoCA score, visual space and executive ability, memory, attention, and language were positively correlated with the area of the midbrain ( rs=0.38, 0.32, 0.27, 0.25, 0.23; all P<0.05) and negatively correlated with the width of the third ventricle ( rs=-0.39, -0.22, -0.39, -0.22, -0.32; all P<0.05), and orientation was negatively correlated only with the width of the third ventricle ( rs=-0.24, P<0.05). The MoCA score of PD-OD group[22(18, 25)] was lower than that of PD-NOD group[24(20, 26)]( P=0.040). Conclusions:The combination of TCS and olfactory test can enhance the sensitivity and diagnostic agreement rate for early PD diagnosis, providing some auxiliary value. The cognitive function of PD patients is positively correlated with the midbrain area and negatively correlated with the width of the third ventricle. The cognitive function of PD patients with olfactory dysfunction is lower than that of PD patients without olfactory dysfunction. TCS and olfactory test may help assess cognitive function in PD patients.

Objective:To investigate the correlations between cosmetic and radiographic parameters in patients with congenital scoliosis (CS) with vertebral segmentation failureand the clinical implication of cosmetic parameters.Methods:A total of 27 CS patients were retrospectively reviewed. Anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the entire spine was taken. Simultaneously, photos were taken from the back in natural standing position and standing forward bending position. Seven cosmetic parameters were measured on the photographs: shoulder area index 1 (SAI1), shoulder area index 2 (SAI2), lumbar area index (LAI), shoulder angle (α 1), axilla angle (α 2), right and left waist angle difference (RLWAD) and hump index. Also, seven radiographic parameterswere measured on the radiographs: radiographic shoulder height difference (RSHD), T 1 tilt, first rib angle (FRA), clavicle angle (CA), clavicle-rib cage intersection (CRCI), clavicle chest cage angle difference (CCAD) and Cobb's angle. The correlation between cosmetic parameters and radiographic parameters was analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient. Results:Of the 27 patients, 4 were males and 23 were females, with a mean of age 14.0±2.6 years (range 11-18 years). The apical vertebra ranged from T 5 to T 11. LAI was significantly correlatedwith CCAD, but correlation coefficient was only -0.44. The range of correlation coefficientsbetween SAI1 and all radiographic parameters was -0.17 to 0.53, and the range of correlation coefficients between SAI2 and all radiographic parameters was -0.16 to 0.53. However, all correlation coefficients were less than 0.56. Conclusion:Radiographic parameters cannot reflect cosmetic appearances of CS patients with vertebral segmentation failures accurately. More attention should be paid to cosmetic parameters in the evaluation of patients' appearances.

Objective:To compare the early efficacy of proximal femoral bionic nail (PFBN) and proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) in the treatment of intertrochanteric fracture in the elderly.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 45 elderly patients with intertrochanteric fracture treated at First Affiliated Hospital of Henan Polytechnic University from March 2020 to December 2021, including 13 males and 32 females; aged 70-96 years [(78.6±7.3)years]. According to the AO classification, there were 10 patients with type 31-A1, 16 type 31-A2 and 19 type 31-A3. There were 20 patients treated with PFBN (PFBN group) and 25 with PFNA (PFNA group). The operation time, intraoperaive blood loss, bone healing time, and time to full weight-bearing were compared between the two groups. The tip-apex distance, distance from tail of lag screw to lateral side of intramedllary nail, proximal femoral length and femur neck-shaft angle were compared between the two groups at day 1 postoperatively and at the last follow-up, and their amount of changes between the two time points were also measured. Harris hip score was evaluated at 3, 6 months postoperatively and at the last follow-up. Complications were observed as well.Results:All patients were followed up for 6-21 months [(14.7±3.6)months]. There were no significant differences in operation time, intraoperative blood loss and bone healing time between the two groups (all P>0.05). The time to full weight-bearing was significantly earlier in PFBN group [(7.9±1.2)weeks] than that in PFNA group [(9.1±0.9)weeks] ( P<0.05). At day 1 postoperatively and at last follow-up, the tip-apex distance was (23.4±1.7)mm and (23.3±1.6)mm in PFBN group ( P>0.05), and was (24.5±2.1)mm and (24.3±2.3)mm in PFNA group ( P>0.05); the distance from tail of lag screw to lateral side of intramedllary nail was (8.1±1.1)mm and (11.8±0.9)mm in PFBN group ( P<0.01), and was (7.7±1.0)mm and (12.6±1.6)mm in PFNA group ( P<0.01); the proximal femoral length was (91.3±1.6)mm and (88.5±2.6)mm in PFBN group ( P<0.01), and was (91.4±2.0)mm and (87.6±2.0)mm in PFNA group ( P<0.01); the femur neck-shaft angle was (127.2±2.9)°and (125.7±3.0)° in PFBN group ( P>0.05), and was (128.5±3.0)° and (127.2±3.2)° in PFNA group ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups at day 1 postoperatively and at the last follow-up (all P>0.05). The amount of changes in the tip-apex distance and femur neck-shaft angle were (-0.2±0.1)mm and (-1.6±0.7)° in PFBN group, similar with (-0.2±0.2)mm and (-1.5±1.0)° in PFNA group (all P>0.05). However, the amount of changes in the distance from tail of lag screw to lateral side of intramedllary nail and proximal femoral length were (3.6±1.4)mm and (2.7±1.2)mm in PFBN group, significantly lower than (5.2±1.1)mm and (4.0±1.1)mm in PFNA group (all P<0.01). There were no significant differences in Harris hip score between the two groups at 3, 6 months postoperatively or at the last follow-up (all P>0.05). PFBN group had 1 patient with fracture displacement, 2 with compression screw backup and 2 with thigh pain. PFNA group had 1 patient with fracture displacement and 4 with thigh pain. Conclusion:For elderly patients with intertrochanteric fracture, PFBN provides not only earlier full weight-bearing, but also stronger stability of fracture fixation than PFNA.

Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) is correlated with the development and progression of malignant tumor. Recent studies have shown the potentials of some circRNAs in the early diagnosis, screening of therapeutic targets and prognostic judgment of gastric cancer. Aims: To investigate the serum circNRIP1 expression and its clinical significance in the diagnosis, treatment and prediction of prognosis of gastric cancer. Methods: A total of 76 gastric cancer patients diagnosed by pathology from September 2016 to September 2019 at Dujiangyan People's Hospital were enrolled, and 63 healthy individuals were served as controls. Serum circNRIP1 expression was detected by real time fluorescent quantitative PCR, and its correlation with clinicopathological features was analyzed. ROC curve was used to analyze the diagnostic efficiency. Results: Serum circNRIP1 expression in gastric cancer group was significantly higher than that in healthy control group (P<0.01). The circNRIP1 expression in gastric cancer patients was significantly correlated with the differentiation of tumor cells, depth of infiltration, lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (P<0.05). Serum circNRIP1 expression in gastric cancer patients after operative treatment was significantly lower than that before treatment (P<0.05). After 2 years follow-up, serum circNRIP1 expression in survival group was significantly lower than that in death group (P<0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the sensitivity of serum circNRIP1 expression for gastric cancer was 88.9%, the specificity was 88.2%, and AUC was 0.876. Conclusions: Detecting serum circNRIP1 expression has significant value in the early diagnosis and evaluation of treatment and prediction of prognosis of gastric cancer.

Objective:To summarize the surgical treatment of malignant carotid body tumor (MCBT).Methods:A retrospective analysis of 14 MCBT patients admitted at our hospital from Mar 2005 to Nov 2019 was made, and the imaging data, surgical records, perioperative complications and follow-up data were collected.Results:There were 8 males and 6 females, with an average age of (40.8±11.3) years. 10 patients underwent surgical resection of CBT, with one case undergoing tumor enucleation only, nine cases underwent internal carotid artery reconstruction, and all patients underwent intraoperative lymph node biopsy.Tumors were completely removed in all 10 patients. No perioperative death or cerebral infarction occurred. The intraoperative blood loss was (955±658.5) ml. Four patients had permanent nerve injury after surgery. The follow-up time ranged 1-132 months. There were no cases of cerebral infarction or death, and the reconstructed graft remained patent. Apart from the 2 patients who developed tumor metastasis after surgery, other patients recovered uneventfully with no disease progression.Conclusions:Surgery is still the main treatment for MCBT, but MCBT is large and Shamblin class is more advanced. Therefore, complete tumor removal and reconstruction of the carotid arteries are difficult. Surgery should seek to completely remove the tumor and neck lymph node biopsy should be performed to determine the lymph node metastasis.

Objective     To review the experience of the surgical treatment of adult patients with anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA). Methods     A retrospective, single institution review was conducted on thirty-six adult patients with ALCAPA surgical treatment from November 1991 to November 2017 in Fuwai Hospital. Of these patients, nine were males and twenty-seven were females. The mean age was 36.6±13.3 years. The mean weight was 60.0±9.4 kg. The preoperative echocardiography showed the mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 57%±6% and the mean left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) was 52.3±6.3 mm. Severe mitral regurgitation (MR) was seen in one patient, moderate in five patients. The operative procedures included coronary artery re-implantation in seventeen patients, Takeuchi operation in sixteen patients, ligation of left coronary artery plus coronary artery bypass graft in three patients. In addition, six patients underwent mitral valve repair. Results     There was no in-hospital mortality. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 152.5±72.9 min and aortic cross clamp time was 101.9±43.6 min, respectively. The mean mechanical ventilation time and ICU time was 17.3±16.3 h and 43.1±30.7 h, respectively. The mean postoperative LVEF was 59%±6%, which did not significantly improve compared with preoperative LVEF. However, the mean postoperative LVEDD of 46.9±5.9 mm had significant reduction compared with the preoperative LVEDD. Of the six patients with mitral valve repair, one was mild and the other five were trivial. Thirty-five patients (97.2%) completed the follow-up with a mean time of 5.5 years. All the patients survived with New York Heart Association class Ⅰor Ⅱ. Two patients needed interventional occlusion or re-operation due to the fistula of internal tunnel within the pulmonary artery. At the latest echocardiography, the mean LVEF of 69%±7% improved significantly compared with the preoperative LVEF. Mild MR was detected in ten patients, moderate in two patients during the follow-up period. Conclusion     The surgical treatment of adult patients with ALCAPA has satisfactory short- and long-term results. The patients who underwent Takeuchi procedure may need re-operation due to fistula of internal tunnel within the pulmonary artery during the long-term follow-up.