Objective:To investigate the efficacy of the Scarf osteotomy in treating adolescents with metatarsus adductus-type hallux valgus.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 20 patients (30 feet) treated with the Scarf osteotomy for metatarsus adductus-type hallux valgus at the Department of Hand and Foot Surgery, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Third Affiliated Hospital, from July 2022 to August 2023. This group included 10 patients with bilateral conditions and 10 with unilateral, comprising 4 males and 16 females, with an average of 16.2±2.4 years (range, 14-19 years). The procedure involved the release of the lateral capsule, sesamoid ligaments, and adductor hallucis before osteotomy. After osteotomy, shortening and wedge resection were performed, along with translation and rotation of the distal osteotomy to reposition the first metatarsal beside the second and thereby reduce metatarsus adductus. The outcomes included preoperative, immediate postoperative, and final follow-up angles: hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), metatarsal adduction angle (MAA), and the angle between the second to fifth metatarsals.Results:All 20 patients successfully underwent surgery with good wound healing and no infections; the average clinical healing time of osteotomy site was 5.1±0.7 weeks (range, 4.1-6.6 weeks). Follow-up lasted for 12.0±5.4 months (range, 2-18 months). Significant differences were observed in HVA, which was from 35.40°±5.45° preoperatively to 6.93°±3.60° immediately postoperatively, and 9.83°±2.65° at final follow-up; IMA, which was from 11.50°(9.75°, 14.00°) preoperatively to 1.50°(0.00°, 2.00°) immediately postoperatively, and at final follow-up; MAA, which was from 22.80°±2.60° preoperatively to 20.63°±2.27° immediately postoperatively, and 20.67°±2.20° at final follow-up; the angle between the second to fifth metatarsals,which was from 19.03°±1.85° preoperatively to 15.37°±1.33° immediately postoperatively, and 16.03°±1.73° at final follow-up. Visual analogue scale (VAS) also significantly decreased from 2.60±1.64 preoperatively to 1.30±0.92 at 6-8 weeks postoperatively. No cases of transfer metatarsalgia or recurrence of hallux valgus were reported.Conclusion:The Scarf osteotomy for metatarsus adductus-type hallux valgus effectively corrects the first metatarsal adduction and improves the adduction state of the remaining metatarsals to various degrees.

Objective:Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common cause of adult blindness in China. Screening of DR is important for early detection, prevention, and treatment. However, there is still controversy in the research on the prevalence and risk factors of DR in China. This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of DR and related risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Beijing City.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted in in Dongcheng District and Tongzhou District, Beijing City. Patients with type 2 diabetes aged 18-80 years were selected from four communities, and all subjects underwent questionnaires, physical examinations, laboratory examinations and fundus photography. The logistic regression model was used to analyze the associated factors of DR.Results:A total of 1 531 subjects were included, with the median age of 66 years old and the average age of (65.6±7.4) years old, and the glycosylated hemoglobin level in the subjects was 7.2%±1.3%, and the glycosylated hemoglobin compliance rate was 56.0%(857/1 531). A total of 254 patients with diabetic retinopathy were detected, and the prevalence of DR was 16.6%(254/1 531). Among them, there were 218 cases of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and 36 cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Compared with the non-DR group, there were statistically significant differences in fasting blood glucose ( Z=-3.74, P<0.001), glycosylated hemoglobin( Z=-10.664, P<0.001), urinary microalbumin excretion rate( Z=-7.767, P<0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol( Z=-2.589, P=0.01), and duration of diabetes( Z=-10.189, P<0.001) between the DR group and the non-DR group. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the duration of diabetes ( OR=1.08, 95% CI: 1.06-1.10, P<0.001), glycosylated hemoglobin ( OR=1.38, 95% CI: 1.23-1.55, P<0.001), and FPG ( OR=1.11, 95% CI: 1.03-1.19, P=0.008) were associated factors for DR. Conclusion:In this study, the prevalence of DR in 4 communities of type 2 diabetes in Beijing City was 16.6%. Besides, this study further confirmed that the duration of diabetes, fasting blood glucose levels, and glycosylated hemoglobin are associated factors for DR in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective To compare the effect of rubber ring versus dental floss combined with hemoclipping assisted en-doscopic submucosal dissection(ESD)in the treatment of early gastrointestinal tumor.Methods A total of 103 patients with early gastrointestinal cancer were divided into the rubber band traction group(rubber band group,n=51)and the dental floss traction assist group(dental floss group,n=52)according to different assisted traction techniques during ESD.The basic con-ditions of the two groups were compared before operation,as well as the amount of submucosal injection,installation time of the traction device,the amount of bleeding during operation,the time of operation,the delayed bleeding after operation,one-time complete resection rate of tumor,days in hospital after operation and complication rate at 72 hours after operation.The degree of postoperative pain(VAS pain Score),follow-up quality of life(SF-36 Score)and complications 12 months after op-eration were also recorded.Results The intraoperative submucosal injection volume,intraoperative bleeding volume,num-ber of hemostatic clamp detachment,surgical time,complication rate 72 hour after operation and postoperative hospital stay were lower in the rubber band group than those in the dental floss group(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the number of delayed postoperative bleeding between the two groups(P＞0.05).After 12 months of follow-up,patients in the rubber band group had mild postoperative pain and good quality of life.The incidence of complications decreased within 12 months after surgery in the rubber band group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Compared with floss traction aid,rubber ring traction aid ESD can shorten the operation time and reduce postoperative complications,which is worth popularizing.

Objective:Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common cause of adult blindness in China. Screening of DR is important for early detection, prevention, and treatment. However, there is still controversy in the research on the prevalence and risk factors of DR in China. This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of DR and related risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Beijing City.Methods:A cross-sectional survey was conducted in in Dongcheng District and Tongzhou District, Beijing City. Patients with type 2 diabetes aged 18-80 years were selected from four communities, and all subjects underwent questionnaires, physical examinations, laboratory examinations and fundus photography. The logistic regression model was used to analyze the associated factors of DR.Results:A total of 1 531 subjects were included, with the median age of 66 years old and the average age of (65.6±7.4) years old, and the glycosylated hemoglobin level in the subjects was 7.2%±1.3%, and the glycosylated hemoglobin compliance rate was 56.0%(857/1 531). A total of 254 patients with diabetic retinopathy were detected, and the prevalence of DR was 16.6%(254/1 531). Among them, there were 218 cases of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and 36 cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Compared with the non-DR group, there were statistically significant differences in fasting blood glucose ( Z=-3.74, P<0.001), glycosylated hemoglobin( Z=-10.664, P<0.001), urinary microalbumin excretion rate( Z=-7.767, P<0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol( Z=-2.589, P=0.01), and duration of diabetes( Z=-10.189, P<0.001) between the DR group and the non-DR group. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the duration of diabetes ( OR=1.08, 95% CI: 1.06-1.10, P<0.001), glycosylated hemoglobin ( OR=1.38, 95% CI: 1.23-1.55, P<0.001), and FPG ( OR=1.11, 95% CI: 1.03-1.19, P=0.008) were associated factors for DR. Conclusion:In this study, the prevalence of DR in 4 communities of type 2 diabetes in Beijing City was 16.6%. Besides, this study further confirmed that the duration of diabetes, fasting blood glucose levels, and glycosylated hemoglobin are associated factors for DR in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective:To report a case of Kufor-Rakeb syndrome caused by novel ATP13A2 mutation, collect the cases related to ATP13A2 gene mutation published in recent years, summarize the clinical manifestations of the disease, and broaden the clinical diagnostic thinking. Methods:The clinical manifestations of a newly diagnosed patient with Kufor-Rakeb syndrome caused by ATP13A2 gene mutation admitted to Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University on November 26, 2021, were summarized. The related cases of ATP13A2 mutation published from January 2000 to December 2021 were searched through the PubMed and CNKI databases using the keywords "ATP13A2" and "Parkinson′s disease". The onset age, clinical symptoms, family history, genetic testing, and levodopa responsiveness results of the patients were collected. Results:The patient is a 52-year-old female with the main clinical symptoms of static tremor and bradykinesia. Physical examination showed a gear like increase in muscle tension in the right upper limb, involuntary shaking of the right hand and slow movement. She had good responsiveness to levodopa, and the magnetic resonance imaging and susceptibility weighted imaging of the head showed a lack of clear observation of bilateral black matter swallowtail sign. Whole exome sequencing showed that mutations c.3010A>G (p.S1004G) and c.1195+5G>A (splice) were found in the ATP13A2 gene, both of which were not reported. The c.3010A>G (p.S1004G) mutation originated from the mother, and the c.1195+5G>A (splice) mutation originated from the father. In the retrospective literature review, a total of 10 cases were collected, with onset ages ranging from 18 months to 24 years. Among them, 4/10 patients′ parents married close relatives, and the clinical manifestations were mainly motor symptoms of Parkinson′s disease. In addition, 5/10 patients had cognitive dysfunction, and 3/10 patients had mental symptoms. And demonstrations of most patients′ magnetic resonance imaging were normal in the early stage of the disease, and as the disease progressed, some patients′ imaging results showed specific changes, such as whole brain atrophy and changes in the corpus callosum. Meanwhile, 8/10 patients showed good responsiveness to levodopa. Conclusions:Kufor-Rakeb syndrome is a special type of adolescent levodopa responsive Parkinson′s disease caused by ATP13A2 mutation, which is an autosomal recessive disorder. In addition to motor symptoms such as static tremor and bradykinesia, its clinical manifestations may also be accompanied by non motor symptoms such as cognitive and psychiatric disorders. The disease responds well to treatment with levodopa.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the biomarkers of tinnitus in vestibular schwannoma patients using electroencephalographic (EEG) microstate technology. METHODS: The EEG and clinical data of 41 patients with vestibular schwannoma were collected. All the patients were evaluated by SAS, SDS, THI and VAS scales. The EEG acquisition time was 10-15 min, and the EEG data were preprocessed and analyzed using MATLAB and EEGLAB software package. RESULTS: Of the 41 patients with vestibular schwannoma, 29 patients had tinnitus and 12 did not have tinnitus, and their clinical parameters were comparable. The average global explanation variances of the non-tinnitus and tinnitus groups were 78.8% and 80.1%, respectively. The results of EEG microstate analysis showed that compared with those without tinnitus, the patients with tinnitus had an increased frequency (P=0.033) and contribution (P=0.028) of microstate C. Correlation analysis showed that THI scale scores of the patients were negatively correlated with the duration of microstate A (R=-0.435, P=0.018) and positively with the frequencies of microstate B (R=0.456, P=0.013) and microstate C (R=0.412, P=0.026). Syntax analysis showed that the probability of transition from microstate C to microstate B increased significantly in vestibular schwannoma patients with tinnitus (P=0.031). CONCLUSION EEG microstate features differ significantly between vestibular schwannoma patients with and without tinnitus. This abnormality in patients with tinnitus may reflect the potential abnormality in the allocation of neural resources and the transition of brain functional activity.
Humans ; Neuroma, Acoustic/complications* ; Electroencephalography ; Patients ; Probability

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Previous research has shown maternal betaine supplementation alleviates fetal-derived hepatic steatosis. Therefore, this study examined the anti-inflammatory effect of maternal betaine intake in offspring mice and its mechanism.MATERIALS/METHODS: Female C57BL/6J mice and their offspring were randomly divided into 3 groups according to the treatment received during gestation and lactation: control diet (CD), fatty liver disease (FLD), and fatty liver disease + 1% betaine (FLD-BET). The FLD group was given a high-fat diet and streptozotocin (HFD + STZ), and the FLD-BET group was treated with HFD + STZ + 1% betaine. After weaning, the offspring mice were given a normal diet for 5 weeks and then dissected to measure the relevant indexes. RESULTS: Compared to the CD group, the offspring mice in the FLD group revealed obvious hepatic steatosis and increased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α; maternal betaine supplementation reversed these changes. The hepatic mRNA expression levels of IL-6, IL-18, and Caspase-1 were significantly higher in the FLD group than in the CD group. Maternal betaine supplementation reduced the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing C-terminal caspase recruitment domain (ASC). Maternal betaine supplementation also reversed the increasing protein expressions of nitric oxide dioxygenase-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), ASC, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 in offspring mice exposed to HFD + STZ. Maternal betaine supplementation decreased the homocysteine (Hcy) and s-adenosine homocysteine (SAH) levels significantly in the livers. Furthermore, the hepatic Hcy concentrations showed significant inverse relationships with the mRNA expression of TNF-α, NLRP3, ASC, and IL-18. The hepatic SAH concentration was inversely associated with the IL-1β mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS The lipotropic and anti-inflammatory effect of maternal betaine supplementation may be associated with the inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome in the livers of the offspring mice.

Objective : To explore the "clinical normal reference range" of pulpal blood flow (PBF) in the physiological state in an effort to provide a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods: According to the working principle and operational considerations of laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), the PBF blood flow value of the first molars of the upper and lower mandibles of normal adults was detected by LDF, and the clinical reference value range under physiological conditions was analyzed and calculated. The differences in PBF values by sex, dental position and location (left and right side, upper and lower jaw) were analyzed. Results : A total of 200 normal adult participants with an average age of (22.76 ± 3.26) years were included. The cohort included 95 males and 105 females, with a total of 800 first molars. Neither the PBF values of the left and right first molars nor the PBF values of the upper and lower first molars in males or females significantly differed (P>0.05). The PBF value for females was higher than that of males. Specifically, the clinical reference PBF values for males and females were (8.56 ± 3.25) PU and (9.51 ± 3.47) PU, respectively. Conclusion The PBF values of normal adult first molars in healthy subjects were higher in females than in males, and in the PBF values of first molars of the same sex did not significantly differ between the left side and right side or upper and lower jaw; these values could be used as a reference for the selection of control teeth.

Artemisia annua is the main natural source of artemisinin production. In A. annua, extended drought stress severely reduces its biomass and artemisinin production while short-term water-withholding or abscisic acid (ABA) treatment can increase artemisinin biosynthesis. ABA-responsive transcription factor AabZIP1 and JA signaling AaMYC2 have been shown in separate studies to promote artemisinin production by targeting several artemisinin biosynthesis genes. Here, we found AabZIP1 promote the expression of multiple artemisinin biosynthesis genes including AaDBR2 and AaALDH1, which AabZIP1 does not directly activate. Subsequently, it was found that AabZIP1 up-regulates AaMYC2 expression through direct binding to its promoter, and that AaMYC2 binds to the promoter of AaALDH1 to activate its transcription. In addition, AabZIP1 directly transactivates wax biosynthesis genes AaCER1 and AaCYP86A1. The biosynthesis of artemisinin and cuticular wax and the tolerance of drought stress were significantly increased by AabZIP1 overexpression, whereas they were significantly decreased in RNAi-AabZIP1 plants. Collectively, we have uncovered the AabZIP1-AaMYC2 transcriptional module as a point of cross-talk between ABA and JA signaling in artemisinin biosynthesis, which may have general implications. We have also identified AabZIP1 as a promising candidate gene for the development of A. annua plants with high artemisinin content and drought tolerance in metabolic engineering breeding.

Objective:To understand the current management status of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in county-level hospitals in China from 2020 to 2021.Methods:This survey was led by the China Association of County Hospital President. In 2021, a questionnaire survey was conducted on 633 secondary and tertiary hospitals from 24 provinces, and the questionnaire was filled out according to the actual situation of the hospital in 2020, including diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and comprehensive management of COPD. The nature of the hospital was divided into public or private. The type of hospital was divided into general or specialist. The economic zones was divided into eastern, central or western. Through the content of the questionnaire, the influencing factors of the diagnosis, treatment and management capabilities of COPD in county-level hospitals were explored.Results:A total of 633 questionnaires were collected in this survey, and 26 were removed due to the incorrect information or information loss. Thus, a total of 607 questionnaires were finally included in this survey, including 425 secondary hospitals and 182 tertiary hospitals; 591 public hospitals and 16 private hospitals. For the capabilities of diagnosis and treatment, the tertiary hospital was significantly better than the secondary hospital on the availability of respiratory outpatient clinics, COPD outpatient clinics, outpatient comprehensive clinics, respiratory ward and intensive care unit (ICU) (94.5% and 78.4%, 51.1% and 32.7%, 79.7% and 67.3 %, 84.6% and 59.8%, 78.6% and 61.9%, respectively) (all P<0.01). In terms of lung function test and bronchodilation test, tertiary hospitals performed significantly better than secondary hospitals ( P<0.05). There was no difference in availability of inhaled bronchodilators and expectorant drugs among different hospital levels, nature, type, and economic zones ( P>0.05). However, the proportion of hospitals with available triple inhalation drugs was lower in secondary hospitals than tertiary hospitals. For the non-drug treatment, the proportion of general hospitals carrying out vaccination was significantly higher than that of specialized hospitals (52.7% and 28.1%, P=0.010). The tertiary hospitals performed significantly better than secondary hospitals in smoking cessation guidance (98.4% and 94.4%, P=0.031). In terms of rehabilitation, tertiary hospitals also performed significantly better than secondary hospitals (79.7% and 61.9%, P<0.001). The proportion of hospitals carrying out long-term management of COPD in tertiary hospitals was significantly higher than secondary hospitals, and the proportion in public hospitals was significantly higher than private hospitals (80.2% and 61.2%, 68.2% and 18.8%, both P<0.001). Conclusions:County hospitals in China have a good overall performance in the diagnosis and drug treatment of COPD, but need to be further improved in non-drug treatment, rehabilitation, and comprehensive management. The hospital level is the main factor affecting the management ability of COPD. The nature and type of hospital mainly affect the construction of departments and comprehensive management of COPD.