1.Horticultural Therapy Combined with Intradermal Needling for Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder of Liver Depression Transforming into Fire Syndrome Under Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Psychological Therapy:Clinical Observation of 60 Cases
Wanyun ZHANG ; Jiayi YAN ; Qingyi QIU ; Yumei PENG ; Xiaoling ZHONG ; Jinwen ZHANG ; Rundong TANG ; Miao WU ; Dan HU ; Guang SU
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;66(1):50-58
ObjectiveTo observe the clinical effectiveness of horticultural therapy involving the planting of Chinese medicinal herbs (mint and lily potted plants) combined with intradermal needling therapy for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) of liver depression transforming into fire syndrome under transcranial magnetic stimulation and basic psychological therapy, and to explore the possible mechanisms of action. MethodsA total of 180 patients with GAD of liver depression transforming into fire syndrome were randomly divided into three groups, horticultural therapy group, intradermal needling group, and horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group, with 60 patients in each. All groups received basic treatment including basic psychological therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation. The horticultural therapy group received horticultural therapy in addition to the basic treatment; the intradermal needling group received intradermal needling therapy once a week for 8 weeks in addition to the basic treatment; the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group received both horticultural therapy and intradermal needling therapy, following the same procedures and duration. Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores were assessed at baseline and after 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of treatment. Serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) were measured before treatment and after 8 weeks of treatment. Motor-evoked potential (MEP) baseline levels were recorded before treatment, and MEP amplitude ratios were compared after 1 week and 8 weeks of treatment. Clinical effectiveness and safety were evaluated after 8 weeks of treatment. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine the relationships between serum ACTH and CORT levels, MEP amplitude, and anxiety. ResultsIn the horticultural therapy group and intradermal needling group, HAMA, SAS and PSQI scores after 4, 6, and 8 weeks treatment were lower than baseline scores (P<0.05). In the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group, these scores showed a significant decline starting after 2 weeks treatment and continuing through 8 weeks after treatment (P<0.05). The HAMA, SAS, and PSQI scores in the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group were significantly lower than those in the other two groups after 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks treatment (P<0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, serum CORT and ACTH levels in the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group were significantly lower than baseline levels (P<0.05) and were also lower than those in the horticultural therapy group and intradermal needling group at the same time point (P<0.01). When comparing the level after 8 weeks treatment to that after 1 week treatment, under PAS10 stimulation, the MEP amplitude ratio in the intradermal needling group decreased at 30 minutes, while in the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group, the MEP amplitude ratio decreased at all time points (P<0.05 or P<0.001); under PAS25 stimulation, the MEP amplitude ratio in the horticultural therapy group increased at 20 minutes, and in the intradermal needle group at 10 minutes (P<0.05). In the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group, the MEP amplitude ratio increased significantly at all time points after treatment (P<0.001). The cure rate in the horticultural therapy+intradermal needling group (74.14%, 43/58) was significantly higher than that in the horticultural therapy group (30.00%, 18/60) and the intradermal needling group (48.28%, 28/58, P<0.05). Correlation analysis revealed that serum ACTH and CORT levels were positively correlated with HAMA scores (r = 0.488, P<0.01; r = 0.428, P<0.01). Following PAS10 intervention, the MEP amplitude ratio was positively correlated with HAMA scores (r = 0.458, P<0.01), whereas after PAS25 intervention, the MEP amplitude ratio was negatively correlated with HAMA scores (r = -0.562, P<0.01). ConclusionHorticultural therapy combined with intradermal needling treatment, under transcranial magnetic stimulation and basic psychological therapy, demonstrates significant clinical effectiveness in patients with GAD of liver depression transforming into fire syndrome. Its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the reduction of cortical excitability.
2.Acute Inflammatory Pain Induces Sex-different Brain Alpha Activity in Anesthetized Rats Through Optically Pumped Magnetometer Magnetoencephalography
Meng-Meng MIAO ; Yu-Xuan REN ; Wen-Wei WU ; Yu ZHANG ; Chen PAN ; Xiang-Hong LIN ; Hui-Dan LIN ; Xiao-Wei CHEN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):244-257
ObjectiveMagnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive neuroimaging technique, meticulously captures the magnetic fields emanating from brain electrical activity. Compared with MEG based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID), MEG based on optically pump magnetometer (OPM) has the advantages of higher sensitivity, better spatial resolution and lower cost. However, most of the current studies are clinical studies, and there is a lack of animal studies on MEG based on OPM technology. Pain, a multifaceted sensory and emotional phenomenon, induces intricate alterations in brain activity, exhibiting notable sex differences. Despite clinical revelations of pain-related neuronal activity through MEG, specific properties remain elusive, and comprehensive laboratory studies on pain-associated brain activity alterations are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of inflammatory pain (induced by Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA)) on brain activity in a rat model using the MEG technique, to analysis changes in brain activity during pain perception, and to explore sex differences in pain-related MEG signaling. MethodsThis study utilized adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Inflammatory pain was induced via intraplantar injection of CFA (100 μl, 50% in saline) in the left hind paw, with control groups receiving saline. Pain behavior was assessed using von Frey filaments at baseline and 1 h post-injection. For MEG recording, anesthetized rats had an OPM positioned on their head within a magnetic shield, undergoing two 15-minute sessions: a 5-minute baseline followed by a 10-minute mechanical stimulation phase. Data analysis included artifact removal and time-frequency analysis of spontaneous brain activity using accumulated spectrograms, generating spectrograms focused on the 4-30 Hz frequency range. ResultsMEG recordings in anesthetized rats during resting states and hind paw mechanical stimulation were compared, before and after saline/CFA injections. Mechanical stimulation elevated alpha activity in both male and female rats pre- and post-saline/CFA injections. Saline/CFA injections augmented average power in both sexes compared to pre-injection states. Remarkably, female rats exhibited higher average spectral power 1 h after CFA injection than after saline injection during resting states. Furthermore, despite comparable pain thresholds measured by classical pain behavioral tests post-CFA treatment, female rats displayed higher average power than males in the resting state after CFA injection. ConclusionThese results imply an enhanced perception of inflammatory pain in female rats compared to their male counterparts. Our study exhibits sex differences in alpha activities following CFA injection, highlighting heightened brain alpha activity in female rats during acute inflammatory pain in the resting state. Our study provides a method for OPM-based MEG recordings to be used to study brain activity in anaesthetized animals. In addition, the findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of pain-related neural activity and pain sex differences.
3.Effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation combined with sertraline on cognitive function in patients with depressive disorder
Dan LI ; Zhong XIA ; Wenli ZHU ; Dandan LIANG ; Wenwen MIAO ; Chuanfu SONG
Sichuan Mental Health 2025;38(3):204-210
BackgroundCognitive function is closely related to an individual's quality of life and social functioning, with approximately 20%~35% of patients with depressive disorder experiencing some degree of cognitive impairment even after clinical symptom remission. Existing evidence suggests that tACS can improve specific cognitive domains, such as memory function, while its effects on other cognitive dimensions, such as executive functioning, attention, and information processing speed, remain unclear. ObjectiveTo explore the effects of tACS on the multidimensional cognitive functions and emotional problems of patients with depressive disorder, thus to provide references for the treatment of depressive disorder. MethodsForty-nine patients with depressive disorder who were hospitalized in the Fourth People's Hospital of Wuhu from November 2022 to October 2024 and met the diagnostic criteria for depressive disorder outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5), were selected as study participants. Subjects were randomly divided into study group (n=23) and control group (n=26) based on Microsoft Excel. Both groups received sertraline treatment. The initial dose was 50 mg/day, which gradually titrated upward based on individual variability, drug tolerance, and therapeutic response, with a maintenance dose ranging from 100 to 200 mg/day. In addition, the study group underwent tACS therapy for 4 weeks, with 5 sessions per week, each lasting 20 minutes. The control group received sham stimulation, in which the stimulus was interrupted after the first 30 seconds. At baseline, the 4th week, and the 12th week of treatment, patients were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Scale-17 item (HAMD-17), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). ResultsRepeated measures analysis of variance indicated that both the time effect and the time×group interaction effect for HAMD-17 scores were statistically significant between the two groups (F=260.437, 25.309, P<0.01). At week 12 of treatment, the HAMD-17 score in the study group was lower than that in the control group (t=4.236, P<0.01). For HAMA scores, the time effect, group effect, and time×group interaction effect were all statistically significant between the two groups (F=248.082, 4.506, 9.500, P<0.05 or 0.01). At weeks 4 and 12, study group reported lower HAMA scores compared with control group (t=4.580, 2.608, P<0.05 or 0.01). Regarding the MCCB scores for attention/vigilance, verbal learning, and overall composite, the time effect, group effect, and time×group interaction effect were all statistically significant between the two groups (F=70.331, 27.882, 51.679, 5.560, 10.948, 7.860, 8.490, 3.874, 5.025, P<0.05 or 0.01). After intervention, the study group showed significantly higher MCCB scores for attention/vigilance, verbal learning, and overall composite at both week 4 (t=-2.149, -3.530, -2.740, P<0.05) and week 12 (t=-3.534, -3.576, -3.838, P<0.01) when compared to the control group. ConclusionThe combined tACS and sertraline therapy may demonstrate superior efficacy to pharmacotherapy alone in the short term for improving attention/vigilance, verbal learning, overall cognitive function, and anxiety symptoms in patients with depressive disorders. Based on the 12-week outcomes, the combined tACS and sertraline therapy not only sustaine its previously observed advantages in improving cognitive domains and anxiety symptoms, but also demonstrate potentially superior efficacy over monotherapy in alleviating depressive symptoms. [Fund by Clinical Medical Research Transformation Special Project of Anhui Province (number, 202204295107020065)]
4.Mechanism of Osteosarcopenia and Its Control by Exercise
Dan JIN ; Xin-Yu DAI ; Miao LIU ; Xue-Jie YI ; Hai-Ning GAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(5):1105-1118
Osteosarcopenia (OS) is a multifactorial, multiaetiologic degenerative metabolic syndrome in which sarcopenia coexists with osteoporosis, and its influences are related to aging-induced mechanics, genetics, inflammatory factors, endocrine disorders, and irregular lifestyles. With the accelerated aging process in our country, osteosarcopenia has become a public health problem that cannot be ignored, with a higher risk of falls, fractures, impaired mobility and death. In recent years, scholars at home and abroad have conducted a lot of research on osteosarcopenia, but their pathogenesis is still unclear. Understanding the signaling pathways associated with osteosarcopenia is of great significance for further research on the pathogenesis of these disorders and for finding new targets for treatment. Studies have shown that activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway promotes osteoblast differentiation as well as skeletal muscle regeneration, indicating that inhibition of thePI3K/Akt signaling pathway is closely related to the development of osteosarcopenia. Muscle factor-mechanical stress interactions can maintain osteoblast viability by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, suggesting that Wnt signaling is important in muscle and bone crosstalk. The Notch signaling pathway also plays an important role in improving bone and muscle mass and function, but different researchers hold different views, which need to be further validated and refined in subsequent studies. Exercise, as an existing non-pharmacological treatment with strong and sustained effects on physical function and muscle strength, also significantly increases bone density in osteoporosis patients, which may be mainly due to the fact that exercise induces changes in the form and function of bones, in the form of muscular pulling and indirectly improves the bone mass, and changes in the bone strength can also change the number, shape as well as the function of the muscles. At the same time, the mechanism of different exercise modalities focuses on different aspects, and there are differences in exercise time, exercise intensity, and therapeutic effects in the implementation of interventions. Aerobic exercise can improve the quality of skeletal muscle and increase the expression of osteogenesis-related genes by stimulating mitochondrial biosynthesis, as well as improve the quality and strength of bones and muscles through the Wnt/β- catenin and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways, effectively preventing and controlling the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders. High-intensity resistance exercise has a significant effect on improving the quality of muscles and bone mineral density, but older people with osteosarcopenia suffer from a decline in muscle quality and strength, and a decline in bone mineral density, which makes them very susceptible to fracture, so they should select the intensity of the training in a gradual and orderly manner, from small to large. What kind of exercise intensity and exercise modalities are most effective in improving the occurrence and development of osteosarcopenia needs to be further investigated. Therefore, this paper mainly reviews the epidemiology of osteosarcopenia, diagnostic criteria, the related signaling pathways (PI3K/Akt pathway, Wnt/β-catenin pathway, Notch pathway, NF-κB pathway) that jointly regulate the metabolic process of myocytes and skeletal cells, as well as the interventional effects of different exercise modes on osteosarcopenia, with the aim of providing theoretical bases for the clinical treatment of osteosarcopenia, as well as enhancing the preventive capacity of the disease in old age.
5.The Pharmaceutical Properties of Sulforaphane and Its Role in Tumor and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Jian-Le WU ; Xi-Jian LIU ; Ru-Hua LIU ; Feng JIANG ; Dan MIAO
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2024;51(1):59-69
Sulforaphane is a naturally occurring active substance derived from cruciferous vegetables with potent antioxidant and anticancer properties. Researches have shown that sulforaphane has good bioavailability and can be absorbed by the small intestine through passive transport, followed by excretion in the form of urine via the hydrophobic acid pathway. In addition, since sulforaphane is easy to be absorbed and metabolized, wrapping sulforaphane with nanomaterials can improve its bioavailability and stability, prolong its action time in human body, and better utilize its therapeutic effect. In terms of mechanism of action, sulforaphane can activate Nrf2 and HSF1 signaling pathways, induce the expression of phase II detoxification enzymes HO-1, NADPH, GST and HSP, thus regulating the concentration of oxidative stress ROS in vivo; inhibit NF-κB signaling pathway, thus suppressing the expression of inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6; regulate epigenetic modifications, thus inhibiting HDAC and DNMT, and increasing the concentration of histone H3 and H4. By regulating the expression levels of the above factors, sulforaphane can affect the occurrence and development of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and other diseases. In recent years, several phase I/II clinical trials have shown that sulforaphane has good drug-generating properties. For example, researchers have found that patients with skin cancer have not shown any health problems and their corresponding functional problems have improved greatly after long-term use of sulforaphane. This suggests that in the future sulforaphane has a very high medicinal potential for the treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. In this paper, we review the pharmacokinetics, target of action and safety of sulforaphane and its research progress in tumor and neurodegenerative diseases to provide a reference for the future application of sulforaphane in the treatment of tumor and neurodegenerative diseases.
6.The value of three-dimensional MRI reconstruction in cranial neurovascular compression syndrome
Dan LI ; Yang LIU ; Miao LEI ; Chuankun LI ; Ming ZHANG ; Yuan WANG
Journal of Xi'an Jiaotong University(Medical Sciences) 2024;45(5):844-850
Objective To investigate the application value of MRI three-dimensional reconstruction techniques in the identification of offending vessels and affected nerves in cranial neurovascular compression syndrome.Methods A total of 91 patients with trigeminal neuralgia and 72 patients with hemifacial spasm underwent FIESTA and TOF-MRA scanning before microvascular decompression.Two-dimensional and three-dimensional reconstruction techniques(curved planar reconstruction and MR virtual endoscopy)were respectively performed using the original MRI data so as to evaluate the number and category of offending vessels and the degree of compression on cranial nerves.The results of imaging diagnosis were compared with the observations during neurosurgery.Results The correct identification rate of the offending vessels in trigeminal neuralgia was 95.6%by 3D reconstruction technique,with 94.5%diagnostic accuracy of neurovascular compression.In addition,the accurate identification rate was 91.7%on the detection of the offending vessels in hemifacial spasm,with 89.5%accuracy of the judgment on neurovascular compression.It should be noted that the diagnostic accuracy for the simple contact between the offending blood vessels and the cranial nerves using 3D reconstruction was significantly higher than that of the evaluation through 2D observation(P<0.05).Conclusion 3D reconstruction technique can improve the accuracy of offending blood vessels identification and provide more reliable information on the degree of cranial nerve distortion or atrophy.Therefore,3D MRI images are more suitable for investigating the complex neurovascular compression.
7.Bioequivalence study of pitavastatin calcium dispersible tablets in healthy Chinese volunteers
Wei ZHANG ; Chun-Miao PAN ; Xiao-Dan WANG ; Yin HU ; Rong SHAO ; Bo JIANG
The Chinese Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 2024;40(10):1497-1501
Objective To compare the bioavailability and bioequivalence of pivastatin calcium dispersive tablets in healthy Chinese subjects.Methods A single dose of pitavastatin calcium(2 mg)was orally administered to the test preparation or reference preparation under fasting and postprandial conditions,respectively.The plasma concentrations of pitavastatin calcium were measured at different time points before and after administration by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(HPLC-MS/MS).The bioequivalence of the two formulations was evaluated.Results Subjects received pitavastatin calcium test preparation and reference preparation in fasting condition,the Cmax were(47.79±23.99)and(46.03±21.82)ng·L-1;AUC0_,were(96.56±42.64)and(97.96±35.40)ng·h·L-1;AUC0_∞ were(102.09±43.01)and(103.46±35.62)ng·h·L-1,respectively.The 90%confidence intervals of the geometric mean ratios of Cmax,AUC0_t and AUC0-∞ of pitavastin-calcium test formulation and reference formulation were 96.28%-111.16%,94.46%-101.19%and 94.77%-101.31%,respectively.Subjects received pitavastatin calcium test preparation and reference preparation in fasting condition,the Cmax were(27.32±10.68)and(28.58±11.39)ng·L-1;AUC0_t were(82.76±27.58)and(84.06±29.12)ng·h·L-1;AUC0_∞ were(87.88±26.93)and(89.29±29.18)ng·h·L-1,respectively.The 90%confidence intervals of the geometric mean ratios of Cmax,AUC0_t and AUC0_∞ of the test formulation and the reference formulation of pitavastatin calcium were 87.39%-102.10%,94.62%-101.34%and 94.88%-101.47%,respectively.All of them were within the bioequivalence range of 80.00%to 125.00%.Conclusion Two pivastatin calcium dispersion tablets were bioequivalent and safe in healthy Chinese adult subjects.
8.Metabolomic Analysis in Saliva and Different Brain Regions of Older Mice with Postoperative Delirium Behaviors
Xiao LIU ; Ying CAO ; Wan Xiao LIN ; Yang Dan GAO ; Hui Hui MIAO ; Zuo Tian LI
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2024;37(2):133-145
Objective Postoperative delirium(POD)has become a critical challenge with severe consequences and increased incidences as the global population ages.However,the underlying mechanism is yet unknown.Our study aimed to explore the changes in metabolites in three specific brain regions and saliva of older mice with postoperative delirium behavior and to identify potential non-invasive biomarkers. Methods Eighteen-month-old male C57/BL6 mice were randomly assigned to the anesthesia/surgery or control group.Behavioral tests were conducted 24 h before surgery and 6,9,and 24 h after surgery.Complement C3(C3)and S100 calcium-binding protein B protein(S100beta)levels were measured in the hippocampus,and a metabolomics analysis was performed on saliva,hippocampus,cortex,and amygdala samples. Results In total,43,33,38,and 14 differential metabolites were detected in the saliva,hippocampus,cortex,and amygdala,respectively."Pyruvate""alpha-linolenic acid"and"2-oleoyl-1-palmitoy-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine"are enriched in one common pathway and may be potential non-invasive biomarkers for POD.Common changes were observed in the three brain regions,with the upregulation of 1-methylhistidine and downregulation of D-glutamine. Conclusion Dysfunctions in energy metabolism,oxidative stress,and neurotransmitter dysregulation are implicated in the development of POD.The identification of changes in the level of salivary metabolite biomarkers could aid in the development of noninvasive diagnostic methods for POD.
9.Comparison of the efficacy and safety between the drug winning the bidding for centralized procurement and the original drug of ticagrelor in acute coronary syndrome patients after percutaneous coronary intervention
Yang MIAO ; Zhongru MENG ; Wang QI ; Dan ZHANG ; Kangshi XU ; Hongxia WANG
China Pharmacy 2024;35(20):2522-2526
OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy and safety between the drug winning the bidding for centralized procurement and the original drug of ticagrelor in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients one year after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS Overall 420 ACS patients treated with PCI in our hospital from July 2021 to June 2023 were divided into centralized procurement group (156 cases) and original drug group (264 cases) according to the different varieties of ticagrelor. All patients were given Aspirin enteric-coated tablets 100 mg regularly, once a day; on this basis, patients in the centralized procurement group were given Ticagrelor tablets winning the bidding, while patients in the original drug group were given the original drug of Ticagrelor tablets. The dosage of Ticagrelor tablets taken by both groups of patients was 90 mg, twice a day, and the course of treatment was 12 months. The blood routine indicators were compared before treatment and one week after treatment, while the incidence of net adverse clinical events (NACE), major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and bleeding events, and the survival rate without MACCE and bleeding events during a one-year follow-up after PCI were also compared between two groups. RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences in blood routine indicators before treatment and one week after treatment, as well as the incidence of NACE, MACCE and bleeding events, survival rate without MACCE and bleeding events during a one-year follow-up after PCI between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS During a one-year follow-up after PCI, the efficacy and safety of the drug winning the bidding for centralized procurement of ticagrelor are comparable to the original drug.
10.Comparative efficacy of double Z-shaped suture and modified Kessler suture in repair of acute closed Achilles tendon rupture
Han XUE ; Dan LIU ; Fengxu XIAO ; Chen ZHANG ; Miao LI
Chinese Journal of Trauma 2024;40(9):817-825
Objective:To compare the efficacy of double Z-shaped suture and modified Kessler suture in the repair of acute closed Achilles tendon rupture.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 27 patients with acute closed Achilles tendon rupture admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University from July 2018 to July 2022, including 24 males and 3 females, aged 14-53 years [(35.7±8.2)years]. All the patients underwent primary open surgical repair of the Achilles tendon, among whom 16 patients were treated with the double Z-shaped suture technique (double Z-shaped suture group) and 11 with the modified Kessler suture technique (modified Kessler suture group). Visual analogue scale (VAS) scores preoperatively and at 2, 4, and 6 weeks postoperatively as well as at the last follow-up were compared between the two groups. American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scores, Achilles tendon total rupture scores (ATRS), ankle range of motion (dorsiflexion and plantarflexion angles), and shear wave elastography (SWE) [with its results recorded as shear wave velocity (SWV)] were applied to evaluate the recovery of tendon function and quality. High-frequency ultrasonography was also used to evaluate the recovery of morphological structure of the Achilles tendon and soft tissue adhesion. Tolerance to early rehabilitation at 2 weeks postoperatively and the incidence of postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.Results:All the patients were followed up for 6-12 months [(9.6±1.3)months]. There was no statistically significant difference in preoperative VAS scores between the two groups ( P>0.05). At 2, 4, and 6 weeks postoperatively, the VAS scores in the double Z-shaped suture group were 4.6(4.0, 5.0)points, 1.6(1.0, 2.0)points, and 0.5(0.0, 1.0)points respectively, significantly lower than those in the modified Kessler suture group [6.9(6.0, 8.0)points, 2.5(2.0, 3.0)points, and 1.4(1.0, 2.0)points] ( P<0.05 or 0.01). At the last follow-up, the VAS decreased to 0.0(0.0, 0.0)points in both groups. VAS score in the double Z-shaped suture group significantly decreased at 2 weeks postoperatively compared to that preoperatively, with a consistent downward trend observed at all the postoperative time points ( P<0.05). In the modified Kessler suture group, there was no significant difference in VAS scores preoperatively and at 2 weeks postoperatively ( P>0.05), but a downward trend was noted at 4 and 6 weeks postoperatively and at the last follow-up ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences in AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores, ATRS or SWV at 2, 4, and 6 weeks postoperatively and at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). At 2, 4, and 6 weeks postoperatively, dorsiflexion angles in the double Z-shaped suture group were (-18.2±3.9)°, (-13.7±2.8)°, and (-6.6±2.4)° respectively, significantly better than those in the modified Kessler suture group [(-24.1±2.7)°, (-18.3±3.0)°, and (-12.0±2.8)°] ( P<0.01). No significant difference in dorsiflexion angles was observed between the groups at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). No significant differences in plantarflexion angles were noted at 2 weeks postoperatively and at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). At 4 and 6 weeks postoperatively, plantarflexion angles in the double Z-shaped suture group were (37.5±3.8)° and (42.1±3.3)°respectively, significantly better than those in the modified Kessler suture group [(34.6±2.0)° and (38.0±1.4)°] ( P<0.05 or 0.01). Both groups showed increasing trends in AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores, dorsiflexion and plantarflexion angles, and SWV at 4 and 6 weeks postoperatively, as well as at the last follow-up ( P<0.05 or 0.01). No significant differences were noted in ATRS at 2 and 4 weeks postoperatively in the double Z-shaped suture group ( P>0.05), but significant improvements were observed at 6 weeks postoperatively and at the last follow-up ( P<0.05 or 0.01). In the modified Kessler suture group, no significant changes in ATRS scores were observed at 2, 4 and 6 weeks postoperatively ( P>0.05), except a significant increase at the last follow-up ( P<0.05). High-frequency ultrasonography at 2, 4, and 6 weeks postoperatively as well as at the last follow-up indicated good morphological recovery of the Achilles tendon in both groups, while soft tissue adhesion was significantly less in the double Z-shaped suture group compared with that of the modified Kessler suture group. Thirteen patients (81.3%) in the double Z-shaped suture group and 3 patients (27.3%) in the modified Kessler suture group were observed to tolerate the early rehabilitation at 2 weeks postoperatively as scheduled in the rehabilitation plan ( P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Compared with the modified Kessler suture technique, the double Z-shaped suture technique can reduce postoperative pain at an early stage, enhance the restoration of ankle joint mobility, lower the risk of postoperative soft tissue adhesion, and improve tolerance to rehabilitation in the repair of acute closed Achilles tendon rupture.

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