AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of allogeneic intrastromal lenticule implantation combined with corneal collagen cross-linking(CXL)in patients with moderate to advanced keratoconus.METHODS: A retrospective case series analysis was conducted. A total of 19 patients(20 eyes)with moderate to advanced keratoconus who underwent combined allogeneic intrastromal lenticule implantation and CXL at the Jinan Mingshui Eye Hospital from June 2021 to December 2023 were included. The uncorrected distance visual acuity(UCVA), thinnest corneal thickness, central corneal epithelial thickness, anterior corneal flat keratometry(Kf), steep keratometry(Ks), and mean keratometry(Km), as well as the first applanation time(A1T), the first applanation length(A1L), the velocity during the first applanation moment(VIN), the second applanation time(A2T), the second applanation length(A2L), the velocity during the second applanation moment(VOUT), highest concavity time(HCT), highest concavity radius(HCR), peak distance(PD), deformation amplitude(DA), stiffness parameter at first applanation(SP-A1), integrated radius(IR), central corneal thickness(CCT), intraocular pressure(IOP), corneal thickness-corrected IOP, biomechanically intraocular pressure IOP(bIOP), and corneal thickness variation rate(ARTH)were compared between the two groups before surgery and at 1 wk, 1, 3 and 6 mo after surgery.RESULTS: All patients successfully completed the surgery without any intraoperative complications. No significant differences were observed between pre-operative and post-operative measurements for UCVA or the corneal biomechanical parameters, including A1L, A2L, PD, A1T, A2T, VIN, VOUT, DA, IOP, and bIOP(all P>0.05). Significant differences were found between pre-operative and post-operative values for corneal thinnest point thickness, central corneal epithelial thickness, Kf, Ks, Km, and the corneal biomechanical parameters, including HCT, HCR, SP-A1, ARTH, IR, and CCT(all P<0.05). The anterior corneal curvature demonstrated an initial increase followed by a decrease post-operatively. Furthermore, significant differences were observed between pre-operative and post-operative values for HCT, HCR, SP-A1, ARTH, IR, and CCT(all P<0.005).CONCLUSION: Allogenic intrastromal lenticule implantation combined with corneal collagen cross-linking demonstrates favorable safety and stability in treating moderate-to-advanced keratoconus. This combined procedure effectively increases corneal thickness and rigidity, resulting in corneas that are more resistant to deformation postoperatively.

Total-body PET/CT, with its long axial field of view and high sensitivity detector, has shown potential for reducing the dose of radiopharmaceuticals. However, pediatric patients are significantly more sensitive to radiation and have a higher long-term cancer risk than adults, posing fundamental challenges for dose management in PET/CT examinations for these patients. In this article, the technical characteristics of total-body PET/CT and its radiation exposure status in children were systematically analyzed. The radiation exposure could be controlled by the following optimization strategies: adjusting the CT exposure parameters, optimizing the scanning mode, adding reconstruction algorithm, and reducing the injected dose of radioactive tracer. By addressing both external and internal radiation during the PET/CT scanning process, the overall radiation dose received by pediatric patients can be reduced within a certain range. In addition, this article also discusses the technical differences between “total-body” and “whole-body” concepts, and emphasizes that the future optimization of radiation dose in pediatric PET/CT should be realized by integration of personalized scanning protocols. Through reasonable management of scanning protocols and processes, low-dose and high-quality PET/CT imaging can be achieved in clinical environments, thus maximizing protection of pediatric patient health while minimizing the risks associated with ionizing radiation exposure.

With the continuous development of refractive surgery, people's focus has gradually shifted from improving vision to improving visual quality, and personalized laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis(LASIK)surgery has gradually become people's preferred choice. Femtosecond laser-assisted keratoplasty provides better advantages for personalized LASIK surgery. This article mainly introduces the commonly used femtosecond laser-assisted personalized LASIK surgery(FS-LASIK)in recent years, such as wavefront-optimized, wavefront-guided, topography-guided, Q value-guided(aspheric cutting), personalized surgery “Wavelight Plus” and personalized surgery when correcting patients with age-related inadequate accommodation. This article focuses on analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of different personalized FS-LASIK, as well as the research progress in recent years, and also focuses on comparing the differences between different personalized surgeries.

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between hippocampal receptor-interacting protein kinase-1 (RIPK1) and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor containing pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes in postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction of aged rats with chronic knee arthritis pain.Methods:Sixty-four healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 18 months, weighing 500-550 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=16 each) using a random number table method: chronic knee arthritis pain group (group P), chronic knee arthritis pain+ operation group (group PS), RIPK1 inhibitor necrostatin-1+ chronic knee arthritis pain+ operation group (group NPS), and DMSO+ chronic knee arthritis pain+ operation group (group DPS). The knee arthritis model was prepared by intra-articular injection of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) 1 mg into the left knee joint, and 12 weeks later exploratory laparotomy was performed under sevoflurane anesthesia. Necrostatin-1 6.25 mg/kg and the equal volume of DMSO were intraperitoneally injected at 1 h before operation in NPS group and DPS group, respectively. Thermal pain threshold was measured at 1 week before MIA injection and 6 and 12 weeks after MIA injection. Morris water maze test was used to evaluate the cognitive function at 7 days after surgery. Hippocampal tissues were obtained for microscopic examination of the pathological changes (after HE staining) and for determination of the expression of RIPK1, phosphorylated RIPK1 (p-RIPK1), NLRP3, activated cysteine-aspartic protease caspase-1 (cl-caspase-1), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) (by Western blot) and contents of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and IL-18 (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Results:Thermal pain threshold was significantly decreased at 6 and 12 weeks after MIA injection as compared with that before injection ( P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in thermal pain threshold among the four groups ( P>0.05). Compared with P group, the escape latency was significantly prolonged, the time of staying at the original platform quadrant was shortened, the number of crossing the original platform was reduced, the expression of RIPK1, p-RIPK1, NLRP3, cl-caspase-1 and ASC was up-regulated, and the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 were increased ( P<0.05), and pathological changes of hippocampal neurons were marked in PS group, DPS group and NPS group. Compared with PS group and DPS group, the escape latency was significantly shortened, the time of staying at the original platform quadrant was prolonged, the number of crossing the original platform was increased, the expression of RIPK1, p-RIPK1, NLRP3, cl-caspase-1 and ASC was down-regulated, the contents of IL-1β and IL-18 were decreased ( P<0.05), and pathological changes of hippocampal neurons were significantly attenuated in NPS group. Conclusions:Postoperative hippocampal RIPK1 function is enhanced in aged rats with chronic knee arthritis pain, which then activates NLRP3 inflammasomes, triggering neuroinflammation, and this process may be involved in the mechanism of postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction.

Objective To investigate the influencing factors of unplanned rehospitalization within one year after surgery among adult renal transplant recipients. Methods The clinical data of 299 recipients who underwent renal transplant surgery in the Department of Organ Transplantation of the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from January 2020 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The recipients were divided into unplanned rehospitalization group and non-rehospitalization group based on whether they experienced unplanned rehospitalization within one year after surgery. Univariate analysis and binary Logistic regression analysis were performed to explore the influencing factors of unplanned rehospitalization within one year after renal transplantation. Results Among the 299 recipients, 102 experienced unplanned rehospitalization, with an incidence rate of 34.11%. Univariate analysis revealedstatistically significant differences were noted between the two groups in terms of gender, occupational status, preoperative underlying disease, rejection reactions, nosocomial infections, immunosuppressive medication regimens, serum creatinine, cystatin C, serum phosphorus, serum potassium, and initial hospitalization duration (P < 0.05). Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that having ≥3 kinds of preoperative underlying disease (OR=2.122, 95%CI, 1.198 to 3.759) and experiencing rejection reactions (OR=3.162, 95%CI, 1.217 to 8.218) were independent risk factors for unplanned rehospitalization within one year after renal transplantation (P < 0.05). Conclusion The rate of unplanned rehospitalization within one year after surgery is relatively high among adult renal transplant recipients. Having ≥3 preoperative underlying disease and experiencing rejection reactions are independent risk factors for unplanned rehospitalization within one year after surgery. Transplantation healthcare teams can develop corresponding strategies targeting these risk factors to reduce the rate of unplanned rehospitalization and alleviate the burden of disease.

Objective To investigate the expression of serum vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1(VEGFR-1)and macrophage inflammatory protein-3α(MIP-3α)in patients with endometriosis(EMs)patients and the predictive value of their combined detection for postoperative recurrence in EMs patients.Methods A total of 114 patients with EMs who underwent laparoscopic surgery in Maternal and Child Care Hospital of Qinhuangdao from April 2019 to June 2021 were selected as the observation group,while 114 healthy medical checkups of women of gestational age who had their medical checkups in the hospital were selected as the control group during the same period.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to determine the serum levels of VEGFR-1 and MIP-3α in the patients.According to the postoperative period of 2 years,they were divided into the recurrence group(n=78)and the non-recurrence group(n=36).Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze influencing factors of postoperative recurrence in patients with EMs.The predictive value of the combined serum VEGFR-1 and MIP-3α test for postoperative recurrence in patients with EMs was analyzed by using the receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)curve.Results Compared with the control group,the levels of VEGFR-1 in the observation group(116.25±48.57 pg/ml vs 92.43±25.37 pg/ml)and MIP-3α(19.25±5.24 pg/ml vs 13.67±4.28 pg/ml)were elevated,and the differences were significant(t=4.641,8.806,all P＜0.05).The level of VEGFR-1(104.22±5.78 pg/ml,118.60±6.56 pg/ml,138.55±7.85 pg/ml)and the level of MIP-3α(15.37±1.15 pg/ml,19.28±2.12 pg/ml,25.42±2.56 pg/ml)in mild,moderate and severe EMs patients were increased successively,and the differences were significant(F=147.757,133.654,all P＜0.001).The percentage of the presence of palpable nodules in the posterior fornix,r-AFS staging(stage Ⅲ～Ⅳ)in the recurrence group was greater than those in the non-recurrence group(x2=15.139,10.310,all P＜0.05),and the percentage of the recurrence group with postoperative medication for 6 months or more was lower than that of the non-recurrence group(x2=15.016,P＜0.001),and the differences were statistically significant,respectively.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that serum VEGFR-1,MIP-3α,the presence of palpable nodules in the posterior fornix and r-AFS staging were risk factors for postoperative recurrence of EMs(all P＜0.05),while postoperative medication for 6 months or more was a protective factor(P＜0.05).The ROC curves showed that the area under the curve(AUC)of the combination of serum VEGFR-1 and MIP-3αpredicted postoperative EMs for postoperative recurrence was the largest(0.929),and its sensitivity and specificity were 85.90％and 86.11％,respectively.Conclusion VEGFR-1 and MIP-3α expression was elevated in the serum of patients with EMs.The efficacy of their combined detection in predicting recurrence after EMs could be better.

Objective:To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture treatment on the integrity of myelin and the related molecules in the spinal dorsal horn of neuropathic pain model rat.Methods:Totally 32 SPF grade Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham group, pain model group, electroacupuncture group and sham electroacupuncture group, with 8 rats in each group. Neuropathic pain model was established by right sciatic nerve ligation. Electroacupuncture stimulation of Huantiao point and Yanglingquan point was started from 1 day after surgery, 30 min/d, and lasted for 14 days. The paw withdraw mechanical threshold (PWMT) were tested before surgery, 3 days, 7 days and 14 days after surgery. Immunofluorescence was used to detect myelin basic protein (MBP) in the ipsilateral Ⅰ-Ⅲ laminae of spinal dorsal horn and Western blot was used to measure the expression of β-secreatase 1(BACE1), neuregulin 1 type Ⅲ (NRG1 Ⅲ) and phosphorylated ErbB receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (p-ErbB2) at 14 days after surgery.SPSS 24.0 was used for statistical analysis.Repeated measurement ANOVA was used for behavioral analysis and one-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni test was used for Western blot and immunofluorescence data analysis.Results:(1) The results of pain behaviors showed that the interaction effect of time and group on PWMT was significant ( F=29.817, P<0.001), and both the time main effect ( F=240.598, P<0.001) and group main effect ( F=304.291, P<0.001) were significant. There were no significant differences among 4 groups before surgery. Compared with pain model group, the PWMT of electroacupuncture group were significantly increased at 3 days ((16.87±1.82) g, (11.31±1.36) g), 7 days ((15.09±1.75) g, (10.33±0.73) g) and 14 days ((15.07±1.49) g, (9.87±0.98) g) after surgery (all P<0.01). (2)The difference of the intensity of MBP in the ipsilateral Ⅰ-Ⅲ laminae of spinal dorsal horn staining was significant among 4 groups ( F=92.06, P<0.001). Compared with sham group, the intensity of MBP staining in the ipsilateral Ⅰ-Ⅲ laminae of spinal dorsal horn in pain model group was significantly decreased ((13.26±1.90)%, (36.37±0.68)%) ( P<0.01) ). Compared with pain model group, the intensity of MBP staining in the ipsilateral Ⅰ-Ⅲ laminae of spinal dorsal horn in electroacupuncture group ((28.21±3.15)%) was significantly increased after electroacupuncture treatment ( P<0.01). (3) The differences of the expressions of BACE1, NRG1 Ⅲ and p-ErbB2 in the ipsilateral Ⅰ-Ⅲ laminae of spinal dorsal horn were significant among the 4 groups ( F=31.04, 21.20, 11.74, all P<0.01). Compared with sham group, the expressions of BACE1, NRG1 Ⅲ and p-ErbB2 in the ipsilateral Ⅰ-Ⅲ laminae of spinal dorsal horn in pain model group were significantly downregulated (BACE1 (0.42±0.09), (1.16±0.13); NRG1 Ⅲ (0.54±0.05), (1.00±0.10); p-ErbB2 (0.73±0.06), (1.02±0.15) ) (all P<0.05). Compared with pain model group, the expression of BACE1 (0.86±0.09), NRG1 Ⅲ (0.81±0.05) and p-ErbB2 (1.12±0.04) in the ipsilateral Ⅰ-Ⅲ laminae of spinal dorsal horn in electroacupuncture group were upregulated(all P<0.05). Conclusion:Electroacupuncture treatment could relieve neuropathic pain, improve the demyelination and upregulate the expressions of myelin-related proteins in the ipsilateral Ⅰ-Ⅲ laminae of spinal dorsal horn.

Objective To explore the mechanism of Gualou Xiebai Baijiu Decoction(GXB)in improving atherosclerosis(AS)in mice by regulating the gut microbiota(GM)and its metabolites.Methods Thirty-two male ApoE-/-mice were divided randomly into a Blank group,Model group,atorvastatin(Ato)group,and GXB group(n=8 mice per group).AS was established in all mice,except the Blank group,and the respective treatments were administered by gavage.Aortic plaques were detected by Oil red O staining and pathological changes in aortic tissue were detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining.The GM was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology,and mouse GM metabolites,including trimethylamine oxide(TMAO),short-chain fatty acids(SCFA),and serum levels of triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),and nitric oxide(NO)were determined.Results Compared with the Blank group,mice in the Model and Ato groups showed an increase in AS plaque area(P＜0.05).Serum levels of TG,TC,and LDL-C were increased(P＜0.001)while levels of HDL-C and NO were decreased(P＜0.01,P＜0.001)in the Model group compared with the Blank group.The plaque area was decreased(P＜0.05),serum levels of TG,TC,and LDL-C were decreased(P＜0.001),and NO levels were increased(P＜0.01)in the Ato and GXB groups,while HDL-C levels were increased in the GXB group(P＜0.05)compared with the Model group.Plaque area was decreased(P＜0.05)and the NO level was increased(P＜0.01)in the GXB group compared with the Ato group.A total of 6345 characteristic sequences were obtained from 16S rRNA analysis.α-Diversity analysis indicated that GXB reduced the richness of the GM in AS mice(P＜0.001)and improved its uniformity(P＜0.05).β-Diversity analysis suggested that the microbial community structure in the GXB group was similar to that in the Blank group.The abundance of microbial communities differed among the groups at the phylum and genus levels.At the phylum level,the abundance of Proteobacteria was increased(P＜0.01)in AS mice,while GXB intervention reduced the abundance of Proteobacteria(P＜0.01)and increased the abundance of Verrucomimicrobiota(P＜0.05).At the genus level,GXB effectively increased the abundance of Akkermansia(P＜0.05).SCFAs were significantly increased(P＜0.01)and TMAO levels were significantly decreased(P＜0.01)in the GXB group compared with the Model group.Conclusions GXB can regulate the intestinal flora and intestinal flora metabolites SCFA and TMAO to improve AS.Akkermansia may be a key bacterial genus of the gut microbiota through which GXB may improve AS.

The emergence of high virulent mutant strains of infectious bursal disease virus(IBDV)becomes a serious threat to the poultry industry.However,the live attenuated IBDV vaccine can potentially revert to a virulent strain.Therefore,it is a necessary to develop safe and effective IB-DV-associated vaccines.The construction of a recombinant Marek's disease(MD)vaccine strain,CVI988,expressing the IBDV VP2 protein,can protect against disease induced by both IBDV and Marek's disease virus(MDV).Here,the IBDV-VP2 gene was integrated into the UL55 locus of CVI988 by bacterial artificial chromosome(BAC)technique,resulting in the recombinant virus CVI988 BAC-VP2.The recombinant virus was characterized by PCR,IFA and subsequently the bi-ological properties of the recombinant virus were investigated.The results showed that the recom-binant virus CVI988 BAC-VP2 was successfully rescued.The VP2 protein stably expressed in chick-en embryo fibroblasts(CEF).The growth kinetics and plague size assays showed that there was comparable replication ability between recombinant virus and parental virus.This study provides the basis for the development of a low-cost vaccine against both IBDV and MDV infections.

Uncovering the risk factors of pulmonary hypertension and its mechanisms is crucial for the prevention and treatment of the disease.In the current study,we showed that experimental periodontitis,which was established by ligation of molars followed by orally smearing subgingival plaques from patients with periodontitis,exacerbated hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension in mice.Mechanistically,periodontitis dysregulated the pulmonary microbiota by promoting ectopic colonization and enrichment of oral bacteria in the lungs,contributing to pulmonary infiltration of interferon gamma positive(IFNγ+)T cells and aggravating the progression of pulmonary hypertension.In addition,we identified Prevotella zoogleoformans as the critical periodontitis-associated bacterium driving the exacerbation of pulmonary hypertension by periodontitis,and the exacerbation was potently ameliorated by both cervical lymph node excision and IFNγ neutralizing antibodies.Our study suggests a proof of concept that the combined prevention and treatment of periodontitis and pulmonary hypertension are necessary.