ObjectiveTo explore the effect of brain-computer interface (BCI) based on visual, auditory and motor feedback combined with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on upper limb function in stroke patients. MethodsFrom March to October, 2023, 45 stroke inpatients in Xuzhou Rehabilitation Hospital and Xuzhou Central Hospital were divided into BCI group (n = 15), tDCS group (n = 15) and combined group (n = 15) randomly. All the groups received routine rehabilitation, while BCI group received BCI training, tDCS group received tDCS, while the combined group received tDCS and followed by BCI training immediately, for four weeks. They were assessed with Fugl-Meyer Assessment-Upper Extremities (FMA-UE), Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), modified Barthel Index (MBI) and delta-alpha ratio (DAR) and power ratio index (PRI) of electroencephalogram before and after treatment. ResultsThe scores of FMA-UE, ARAT and MBI increased in all the groups after treatment (|t| > 5.350, P < 0.001), and all these indexes were the best in the combined group (F > 3.366, P < 0.05); while DAR and PRI decreased in all the groups (|t| > 2.208 , P < 0.05), they were the best in the combined group (F > 5.224, P < 0.01). ConclusionBCI based on visual, auditory and motor feedback combined with tDCS can further improve the motor function of upper limbs and the activities of daily living of stroke patients.

Objective:To investigate the application of endothelial glycocalyx degradation products in assessing the severity of pulmonary edema in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Methods:A prospective study was conducted to select patients diagnosed with ARDS at Wuxi People's Hospital from July 1, 2018 to December 31, 2019. The extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) was recorded within 2 h after admission by continuous cardiac output with pulse indicator. The indexes of glycocalyx degradation products syndecan-1 (SDC-1), heparan sulfate (HS), hyaluronic acid (HA) and the concentrations of inflammatory factors [blood tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10] were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pearson correlation method was adopted to analyze the correlation of glycocalyx degradation products with EVLWI and inflammatory factors in ARDS patients. The patients were divided into the mild pulmonary edema group and severe pulmonary edema group according to EVLWI at the cut-off value of 10 mL/kg, and the differences of glycocalyx degradation products and inflammatory factors between the two groups were compared. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the subjects were plotted to analyze the value of glycocalyx degradation products in determining the severity of pulmonary edema.Results:A total of 85 ARDS patients were enrolled. Pearson correlation analysis showed that SDC-1, HS, and HA were all positively correlated with IL-6, TNF-α, EVLWI (all P<0.05), but did not correlate with IL-10 (all P>0.05). Comparison of indicators between the mild pulmonary edema group (39 cases) and the severe pulmonary edema group (46 cases) showed that: IL-6[(33.63±3.43) ng/L vs. (39.99±4.64) ng/L], TNF-α[(43.38±6.05) ng/L vs. (50.79±7.35) ng/L], SDC-1[(494.13±47.23) ng/L vs. (563.50±56.36) ng/L], HS[(114.02±18.39) ng/mL vs. (138.93±17.02) ng/mL], and HA[(441.44±62.52) ng/mL vs. (546.23±85.24) ng/mL] were statistically different between the two groups(all P<0.05). Whereas, IL-10 [(24.37±10.11) ng/L vs. (28.75±11.98) ng/L] was not statistically different between the two groups ( P>0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that the combined prediction of SDC-1, HA and HS indicators was superior to the single indicator. The area under the ROC curve combining the three indicators was 0.928 (95% CI: 0.872-1.000), with a sensitivity and specificity of 87.5% and 86.7%, respectively. Conclusions:There is a positive correlation between glycocalyx degradation products SDC-1, HS, HA and EVLWI in ARDS patients. The application of these three glycocalyx degradation products can be used as a reliable indicators for judging the severity of pulmonary edema in ARDS patients.

Objective:To analyze clinical and histopathological features of malignant transformation of congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) .Methods:From January 2010 to September 2020, 98 patients with clinically and pathologically confirmed malignant transformation of CMN were enrolled from Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, and their clinical and histopathological features as well as immunohistochemical staining and genetic testing results were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among the 98 patients with malignant transformation of CMN, 45 (45.9%) were males and 53 (54.1%) were females. Their ages ranged from 4 months to 86 years, with a median age of 47 years. The lesions were located on the trunk (34 cases, 34.7%), limbs (25 cases, 25.5%), acra (24 cases, 24.5%), head, face and neck (13 cases, 13.3%), and mucosa (2 cases, 2.0%). Among the 98 patients, 95 (96.9%) had a history of obvious changes in lesions (sudden enlargement, newly developed papules, ulceration, itching, or pain), and the interval time from obvious changes in lesions to diagnosis varied from 2 weeks to 5 years; among the 95 cases, the average age at the onset of obvious changes in lesions was 46 years, and the changes of lesions occurred before the age of 18 years in 4 cases (4.1%), occurred between the age of 18 and 40 years in 35 (35.7%), and occurred after the age of 40 years in 56 (57.1%). In addition, 55 (57.9%) patients experienced a sudden enlargement of primary lesions, 52 (54.7%) developed ulcers in the primary lesions, 21 (22.1%) developed red or black papules or nodules on the surface of primary lesions, 4 (4.2%) developed subcutaneous masses, 2 (2.1%) had itching, and 1 (1.1%) only had pain. The remaining 3 (3.1%) patients experienced slow enlargement of primary lesions. Among the 98 cases of melanoma originating from CMN, 85 (86.7%) arose from small CMN, 11 (11.2%) from medium CMN, and 2 (2.0%) from large CMN. Histopathological examination showed no residual nevus cells in 86 (87.8%) cases, which only had characteristics of typical melanoma; residual nevus cells were only seen in 12 (12.2%) cases, and melanoma cells in the 12 cases all expressed HMB45, while residual nevus cells did not express HMB45 in 11 of 12 cases. Immunohistochemical staining for 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) was conducted in 7 cases, and 6 showed negative staining in tumor cells and positive staining in residual nevus cells. BRAF gene detection was conducted in lesional tissue specimens from 22 patients, and it was negative in 1 case of melanoma originating from large CMN and 10 (47.6%) cases of melanoma from small CMN, and positive in 11 (52.4%) cases of melanoma from small CMN.Conclusion:The malignant transformation of CMN mostly occurred on the trunk, and was commonly observed in patients aged over 40 years; most patients had a history of obvious changes (sudden enlargement, newly developed papules, ulceration, etc.) in lesions before diagnosis, and a few patients only felt itching or pain in lesions; immunohistochemical staining of HMB45 and 5hmC could help to distinguish melanoma cells from dermal nevus cells; confirmation of the diagnosis of malignant transformation in CMN should be closely combined with clinical and histopathological results.

Objective:To investigate clinical and histopathological features of Meyerson nevus.Methods:Clinical and histopathological data were collected from 6 patients with confirmed Meyerson nevi in Department of Dermatology, the Fourth Military Medical University from January 2015 to January 2019, and retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among the 6 patients, 3 were males and 3 were females, with a median age of 10.5 years (range, 7 months to 28 years). Skin lesions were located on the extremities of 3 cases, as well as on the trunk of 3 cases. Meyerson nevi arose from congenital pigmented nevi in 4 cases, as well as from acquired pigmented nevi in 2 cases. The duration of pigmented nevi varied from 7 months to 18 years. Four patients felt itching in the past 2 months, and 2 had no concomitant symptoms such as itching. Central pigmented nevi manifested as papules in 5 cases and a plaque in 1 case, which were brown or black in color, with regular shapes, uniform pigmentation and clear borders. Pigmented nevi were surrounded by a halo of erythema in 6 cases, and skin lesions were covered with scales or crusts in 4 cases. Histopathological examination of Meyerson nevi revealed characteristics of both pigmented nevus and eczema. Histopathologically, pigmented nevi manifested as junctional nevi or compound nevi, and eczema manifested as serous exudation, irregular epidermal hyperplasia, spongiosis and perivascular infiltration of lymphocytes in the superficial dermis.Conclusions:Meyerson nevus is rare, and mostly occurs on the trunk and extremities. When itching occurs or erythema appears around the pigmented nevus, the diagnosis of Meyerson nevus should be considered.

Objective:To analyze clinical manifestations, pathological features and prognosis of patients with stage Ⅰ cutaneous melanoma.Methods:Clinical data were collected from 163 patients with stage Ⅰ cutaneous melanoma in Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital from January 2010 to January 2020, and clinical manifestations, pathological features, treatment methods and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among the 163 patients with stage Ⅰ cutaneous melanoma, 56 (34.36%) were males, and 107 (65.64%) were females, with a median age of 53 years at the clinic visit. Primary skin lesions were most frequently located on the extremities in 104 cases (63.80%) , of which 39 presented with lesions on the finger or toe nails and 65 with lesions on the other parts of the extremities; skin lesions were located at sun-exposed sites such as the head and face in 29 (17.79%) cases, and at non-sun-exposed sites such as the trunk and extremities except the hands and feet in 30 (18.40%) . Of the 163 patients, 56 (34.36%) were pathologically diagnosed with stage ⅠA cutaneous melanoma, and 107 (65.64%) with stage ⅠB cutaneous melanoma. According to a pathological staging system, 104 (63.80%) patients suffered from acral lentiginous melanoma, 23 (14.11%) superficial spreading melanoma, 15 (9.20%) nodular melanoma, 14 (8.59%) malignant lentigo-maligna melanoma, and 7 (4.29%) other rare or difficult-to-determine types. All the 163 patients received surgical treatment at least once, of whom 15 underwent finger or toe amputation, 94 extended resections, and 54 unextended resections; 35 received secondary surgeries, of whom 33 underwent extended resections and 2 finger amputation. Seven patients developed postoperative lymph node and/or distant organ metastases, 2 of whom died after distant organ metastases. The 5-year survival rate of the 163 patients was 98.00%.Conclusion:Stage Ⅰ cutaneous melanoma commonly has favorable prognosis, and 7 patients developed postoperative lymph node and/or distant organ metastases in this study, suggesting that long-term follow-up of patients with acral melanoma and early intervention of those with metastatic melanoma should be strengthened.

Objective:To analyze clinical and histopathological characteristics of infantile congenital melanocytic nevi (ICMN) .Methods:Clinical and pathological data were collected from 126 infants with confirmedly diagnosed congenital melanocytic nevi in Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital from January 2015 to January 2020, and were retrospectively analyzed. Chi-square test was used for comparisons of enumeration data.Results:Among the 126 patients with ICMN, 68 were males and 58 were females; 109 (86.5%) presented with skin lesions at birth; 73 (57.9%) were 2 - 3 years old at the first clinic visit. The skin lesions occurred on the head and face (76 cases, 60.3%) , trunk (24 cases, 19.1%) or extremities (26 cases, 20.6%) . There were 36 (28.6%) patients with small congenital nevi, 68 (54.0%) with M1-type medium-sized nevi, 13 (10.3%) with M2-type medium-sized nevi and 9 (7.1%) with giant nevi. Of 126 cases of ICMN, 121 (96.0%) had solitary lesions, 5 (4.0%) had multiple lesions, 44 (34.9%) had nevi with coarse hairs, 15 (11.9%) had nevi complicated by papules or hyperplastic nodules, and 6 (4.8%) had satellite lesions. Pathological subtypes included compound nevus (120 cases, 95.2%) , intradermal nevus (4 cases, 3.2%) , and junctional nevus (2 cases, 1.6%) . Under the microscope, the depth of the skin lesions was < 1 mm in 38 (30.1%) cases, 1 - 2 mm in 61 (48.4%) and > 2 mm in 25 (19.8%) , and 45 (35.7%) cases showed nevus cells infiltrating the subcutaneous fat layer or deeper tissues. Among the 126 ICMN lesions, common pathological features included nevus tissue maturation (100%, 2 cases of junctional nevi were excluded) , pigment granules in the stratum corneum (53 cases, 42.1%) , disordered/asymmetric distribution of nevus cells (80 cases, 63.5%) , scattered epidermal nevus cells (91 cases, 72.2%) , pagetoid spread of epidermal nevus cells (67 cases, 53.2%) , melanophages in the dermis (71 cases, 56.4%) , and nevus cells distributed along hair follicles/sebaceous glands (82 cases, 65.1%) . Special pathological features included nevus cells embedded in the vascular/lymphatic vessels (42 cases, 33.3%) , nevus cell lysis (45 cases, 35.7%) , fibromatous changes (25 cases, 19.8%) , involvement of the arrector pilli muscles (31 cases, 24.6%) , and mast cell infiltration (30 cases, 23.8%) . Pathological patterns of ICMN with different clinical features: the incidences of infiltration depth > 2 mm, pigment granules and columnar pigment granules in the stratum corneum were significantly higher in the giant nevi than in the small and medium-sized nevi ( χ2 = 7.93, 10.76, 5.89 respectively, all P < 0.05) ; the incidences of infiltration depth > 2 mm, epidermal spongiosis with scattered nevus cells, nevus cell nests distributed along the hair follicles/sebaceous glands, fibromatous changes and mast cell infiltration were significantly higher in the skin lesions with coarse hairs than in those without ( χ2 = 28.29, 8.11, 6.22, 7.92, 8.19 respectively, all P < 0.01) ; the incidences of pagetoid spread of epidermal nevus cells and atypical nevus cells were significantly higher in the skin lesions with papules/hyperplastic nodules than in those without papules/hyperplastic nodules ( χ2 = 4.92, 6.30 respectively, both P < 0.05) . Conclusions:The clinical and histopathological characteristics of ICMN are unique, and atypical nevus cells are common in ICMN. The diagnosis and treatment of ICMN need to be based on the combination of clinical and pathological characteristics.

Nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs), which are widely used as the first-line anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) drugs in clinical practice, can effectively inhibit the replication of HBV DNA, significantly slow down disease progression in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, and reduce the development of end-stage liver diseases such as liver failure and liver cancer. However, for some CHB patients receiving first-line NAs for 48 weeks or longer, serum HBV DNA is still persistently or intermittently higher than the lower detection of limit of sensitive nucleic acid detection reagents. After discussion by the authors, low-level viremia (LLV) is defined as follows: persistent LLV refers to the condition in which CHB patients, who receive entecavir, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, or tenofovir alafenamide fumarate for ≥48 weeks, test positive for HBV DNA by two consecutive detections with sensitive quantitative PCR, with an interval of 3-6 months, but have an HBV DNA level of ＜2000 IU/ml; intermittent LLV refers to the condition in which patients test positive for HBV DNA intermittently by at least three consecutive detections with sensitive quantitative PCR, with an interval of 3-6 months, but have an HBV DNA level of ＜2000 IU/ml. For the diagnosis of LLV, the issues of poor compliance and drug-resistant mutations should be excluded. LLV might be associated with the increased risk of progression to liver fibrosis or hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with liver cirrhosis under NA treatment, but there are still controversies over whether the original treatment regimen with NAs should be changed after the onset of LLV. This article summarizes the incidence rate of LLV under NA treatment and the influence of LLV on prognosis and analyzes the possible mechanisms of the osnet of LLV, so as to provide a reference for the management of LLV in patients treated with NAs.

Objective:To investigate the value of plasma syndecan-1 (SDC-1) combined with lung ultrasonography in evaluating the degree of extravascular lung water in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Methods:From July 2018 to July 2019, 50 patients with ARDS admitted to the department of intensive care unit of Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University were enrolled. After admission, pulse indicator continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) catheter was established for all patients. PiCCO indexes, including extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) and pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) were monitored by one doctor. Another doctor performed lung ultrasound examination, and calculated the sum of the number of B-lines under 10 ultrasound sections of upper blue point, lower blue point, diaphragm point, Plaps point and rear blue point of both lungs. Then the level of plasma SDC-1 was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pearson correlation method was used to analyze the correlation between the number of ultrasonic B-lines, plasma SDC-1 level and EVLWI and PVPI. Taking 10 mL/kg EVLWI as the boundary value, the degree of pulmonary edema in patients with ARDS was divided into mild pulmonary edema and severe pulmonary edema. The receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was drawn, and the number of B-lines, SDC-1 and the predictive value of the combination of the above two indicators on the severity of pulmonary edema in patients with ARDS were analyzed.Results:The cardiac index (CI) and central venous pressure (CVP) of 50 patients with ARDS were (46.84±6.00) mL·s -1·m -2 and (8.12±1.80) mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa), cardiogenic pulmonary edema was excluded. In 50 patients with ARDS, EVLWI was (10.82±2.92) mL/kg, PVPI was 3.02±0.69, the number of ultrasound B-lines was 40.90±13.05, and plasma SDC-1 was (568.25±118.14) μg/L. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the number of ultrasound B-lines in patients with ARDS was significantly positively correlated with EVLWI and PVPI ( r1 = 0.802, r2 = 0.799, both P < 0.01). Plasma SDC-1 was also positively correlated with EVLWI and PVPI ( r1 = 0.732, r2 = 0.576, both P < 0.01). ROC curve analysis showed that the number of B-lines and SDC-1 had good predictive value for the severity of pulmonary edema in patients with ARDS. The area under ROC curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were 0.891 (0.803-0.979) and 0.875 (0.772-0.978), respectively. When the cut-off of B-lines was 40.50, the sensitivity and specificity were 82.1% and 86.4%, respectively. When the cut-off of SDC-1 was 559.37 μg/L, the sensitivity and specificity were 85.7% and 81.8%, respectively. Combining the number of B-lines with SDC-1 could further improve the predictive value of pulmonary water in patients with ARDS. The AUC (95% CI) was 0.958 (0.890-1.000), and the sensitivity and specificity were 92.9% and 91.8%, respectively. Conclusions:The level of plasma SDC-1 and the number of pulmonary ultrasonic B-lines have a good correlation with the degree of extravascular lung water in patients with ARDS. The combined application of the two noninvasive indexes can be used to evaluate the degree of extravascular lung water in patients with ARDS.

Objective:To explore the clinical value of peripheral blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) combined with neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in predicting liver injury in patients with sepsis.Methods:A prospective observational study was conducted. The patients who met the diagnostic criteria for sepsis 3.0 admitted to the Department of Intensive Care Unit in Wuxi People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from March 2019 to June 2020 were selected as the research objects. The basic informations of the patients were recorded. NLR based on blood routine at admission was calculated. PicoGreen fluorescence quantitative detection kit was used to detect the quantitative level of free DNA (cf-DNA/NETs) in the peripheral plasma of patients at admission. According to whether liver injury occurred, the patients were divided into the sepsis without liver injury group and sepsis with liver injury group. Binary Logistics regression analysis was used to predict the risk factors of sepsis with liver injury. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn. The value of NLR, NETs, NLR combined with NETs in predicting liver injury in patients with sepsis was analyzed.Results:A total of 122 patients with sepsis were enrolled, of which 45 patients suffered from septic liver injury, with an incidence rate of 36.89%. The NLR of the sepsis wth liver injury group was (21.63 ± 4.71), the NLR of the sepsis without injury injury group was (15.03 ± 4.71), and the NETs level of the sepsis with liver injury group was (505.86 ± 250.05) μg/L, the level of NETs in the sepsis without liver injury group was (179.27 ± 67.20) μg/L, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis found that NLR ( OR=1.470, 95% CI: 1.121-1.926, P<0.05) and NETs ( OR=1.018, 95% CI: 1.005-1.030, P<0.05) at admission were the independent risk factors for liver injury in patients with sepsis. The best cut-off value of NLR was 16.68, and the best cut-off value of NETs was 317 μg/L. The sensitivity of combined application of NLR and NETs to predict liver injury in patients with sepsis was 77.78%, specificity was 98.70%, the area under the curve was 0.930, and the Youden Index was 0.765. Conclusions:The peripheral blood NLR and NETs levels are independent risk factors for liver injury in patients with sepsis. The combined application of NLR and NETs has a certain predictive value for liver injury in patients with sepsis. Taking NLR of 16.68 and NETs of 317 μg/L as the cut-off values, they can be used as early warning indicators to predict liver injury in patients with sepsis.

Objective:To investigate clinical and histopathological features of congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) complicated by proliferative nodules (PN) .Methods:Ten patients with clinically and pathologically confirmed CMN complicated by PN were collected from Department of Dermatology, the Fourth Military Medical University from 2015 to 2019, and their clinical and pathological data were analyzed retrospectively.Results:The 10 patients were aged from 2 to 45 years, with an average age of 15 years. Nine patients developed PN in infancy, and 1 in adulthood. The skin lesions were located on the extremities in 4 cases, on the head and face in 3 cases, and on the trunk in 2 cases, and the trunk and extremities were both involved in 1 case. Skin lesions clinically manifested as 1 or more nodules arising in black patches or plaques. Six patients presented with multiple PN, 4 with solitary PN, with the diameter of a single nodule being 0.2-1.5 cm, and only 1 case presented with ulcers. Histopathological examination showed mature melanocytes in the PN, with few mitotic figures, no obvious cytological atypia, and no necrosis. Immunohistochemical study showed that nevus cells diffusely expressed Melan-A, but did not express or partially expressed HMB45, and the Ki67 proliferation index was below 5%.Conclusion:CMN complicated by PN can occur on the extremities, head, face, and trunk, clinically manifesting as solitary or multiple nodules on pre-existing CMN; histopathologically, mature melanocytes can be observed in PN, immunohistochemical staining for HMB45 and Ki67 can facilitate the diagnosis, and its prognosis needs long-term follow-up.