Objective To analyze the clinical significance of subjective visual vertical (SVV) tests at different head deflection angles in assessing utricle function in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Methods A total of 61 BPPV patients who were treated at the Hearing Impairment and Vertigo Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from August 2022 to May 2023 were retrospectively included, and 29 healthy adults were selected as controls. SVV tests were performed on all research subjects at different head deflection angles: upright head (0°), left head 45° (L45°), right head 45° (R45°). The test results between the two groups were compared. Results SVV absolute value at R45° in BPPV group was lower than that in the control group (P＝0.003); there was no significant difference in SVV values at 0° and L45° between the two groups. There was no statistical difference in SVV values at different head deflection angles between the control group and the left BPPV group. SVV absolute value at R45° in right BPPV group was lower than that in the control group (P＜0.001); there was no statistical difference in SVV values at 0° and L45° between the two groups. Conclusions SVV test can provide subjective information about the utricle, and SVV tests at different head deflection angles can fine-tune evaluate the function of the utricle in BPPV patients.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the short-term efficacy of single-session microwave ablation for benign thyroid nodule.METHODS Patients with benign thyroid nodules treated by microwave ablation between June 2019 and December 2022 at the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery,the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University,were included for analysis.Thyroid function was tested 1 month after treatment,and ultrasound and thyroid function were performed 3 months,6 months and 1 year after treatment.Volume reduction rates(VRR)of nodules were calculated.Data of the last follow-up within 1 year were included for analysis.Variables including gender,age,whether Hashimoto's thyroiditis was present,longitudinal diameter of nodules,solid volume of nodules were included for univariate and multivariate analysis.RESULTS A total of 151 patients with 163 nodules were included.The perioperative complication rate was 1.99%(3/151).The VRR at half year after treatment was(79.58±17.70)%,and the success rate at half year after treatment was 93.43%(128/137).The VRR of at 1year after treatment was(81.24±24.29)%.The 1-year treatment success rate was 92.77%(77/83).Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that nodular solid volume and age were independent factors affecting VRR after ablation.Regression coefficient of age and solid volume was 0.34(P<0.05)and-0.47(P<0.05),respectively.For every 1 cm3 increase in solid volume,1-year VRR(%)decreased by 0.47.Regression equation:1-year VRR=68.92+0.34×age-0.47×solid volume.Serum FT4 gradually decreased and the thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH)gradually increased within 6 months after ablation,and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).After 6 months,serum FT4 gradually recovered to the normal level and TSH gradually recovered.However,TSH still did not reach the preoperative level one year after ablation.FT3 decreased gradually after treatment,but there was no significant difference between the values at each time point(P=0.40).After the ablation of thyroid nodule,the mean value of thyroid function index fluctuated,but all of them were within the normal reference range.CONCLUSION Microwave ablation is a safe and effective treatment method for benign thyroid nodules,with an overall success rate of over 90%.Solid nodule volume and age are independent factors affecting the microwave ablation effect of benign thyroid nodules.

Objective:To evaluate effect of diammonium glycyrrhizinate(DG)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory signaling pathway in BV2 microglial cells and to explore its potential regulatory mechanisms on ameliorating neu-roinflammation.Methods:BV2 microglia injury model was induced by LPS and treated with 20 and 60 μmol/L DG.MTS was used to determine vitality of cells.NO level secreted by cells was detected by Griess.Inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-1β levels in cell supernatant were measured by ELISA.TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β,TLR4 and MyD88 mRNA levels were detected by RT-qPCR.Western blot was used to determine expressions of TLR4,MyD88,NF-κB,p-NF-κB,IκB-α and p-IκB-α proteins of cells.Results:Compared with control group,LPS-treated BV2 microglia had significantly lower viability(P<0.05),significantly higher NO secretion(P<0.05),significantly up-regulation levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1β(P<0.05),and significantly higher mRNA levels of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β,TLR4 and MyD88(P<0.05),TLR4,MyD88,NF-κB,p-NF-κB,IκB-α,and p-IκB-α protein expressions were significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with LPS group,BV2 microglia intervened with different concentrations of DG had significantly higher viability(P<0.05),significantly lower NO secretion(P<0.05),significantly lower TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1β inflammatory factors levels(P<0.05),significantly lower mRNA levels of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β,TLR4 and MyD88(P<0.05),and TLR4,MyD88,p-NF-κB and p-IκB-α protein expressions were significantly reduced(P<0.05).Conclusion:DG can inhibit LPS-induced neuroinflammatory responses in microglia,whose underlying mechanism is suppression of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective:To explore the practical application and clinical significance of modified grading system for Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) scores in evaluating long-term postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction (PGID) in patients after colon cancer surgery.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the case data of 122 patients who underwent right hemicolectomy for colorectal cancer at Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from September 2021 to September 2022. Among these patients, 69 were males (56.6%), and 53 were females (43.4%). The median age was 66.5 years, and the body mass index was (24.4±3.3) kg/m 2. The main observe indiator was GSRS scores of patients. The measurement data of normal distribution were represented as mean±standard deviation( ± s), and intergroup comparisons were conducted using ANOVA. The measurement data of non-normal distribution were expressed as the median (interquartile distance) [ M( Q1, Q3)], the Kruskal-Wallis H test was employed. Unordered count data comparisons were performed using the χ2 test, while comparisons for ordered count data between groups were conducted using the Kruskal-Wallis H test. GSRS scores were represented using density plots, and the scores were categorized into five symptom groups, presented using radar charts to illustrate the distribution of each symptom group. Results:Among the 122 patients, the most common long-term PGID syndromes was dyspepsia, followed by abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation. GSRS score data in the study population exhibited a nearly trimodal trend. Based on the overall data trend, the GSRS scale was refined, with cut-off values of 20 and 30, categorizing patients with right-sided colon cancer into low-risk, moderate-risk, and high-risk groups for quantifying the severity of long-term PGID. In terms of gender distribution, the differences among the three groups was statistically significant ( P=0.031), suggesting that males may be more susceptible to long-term PGID. However, there were no significant differences among the three groups concerning age, tumor location, surgical approach, anastomotic technique, lymph node dissection, pathological staging, adjuvant chemotherapy, and other factors. Conclusions:The modified grading system for GSRS scores aligns with the distribution characteristics of postoperative gastrointestinal function in colorectal cancer patients. It can quantify the risk of long-term PGID, allowing for a graded management approach to improve the postoperative quality of life for patients.

Objective:To evaluate the preliminary clinical application of our self-designed posterior reduction forceps for atlantoaxial dislocation in the reduction and fixation of irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation with simple posterior screw-rod system.Methods:Our posterior reduction forceps was self-designed and developed to assist simple posterior screw-rod system in the treatment of irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation based on the posterior atlantoaxial screw-rod system. A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 5 patients with irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation who had been treated from January 2021 to October 2022 at Department of Spine Surgery, General Hospital of Southern Theatre Command of PLA with our self-designed posterior reduction forceps. There were 2 males and 3 females, aged 53, 62, 45, 32 and 48 years, respectively. Diagnosis: 1 case of free odontoid process combined with atlantoaxial dislocation, 2 cases of atlantoaxial dislocation, and 2 cases of old odontoid process fracture combined with atlantoaxial dislocation. Respectively, their preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores were 9, 11, 12, 13 and 10 points and their atlanto-dental intervals (ADI) 9.8, 7.4, 6.6, 6.4 and 8.5 mm. Postoperatively, atlantoaxial reduction and spinal cord compression were evaluated by X-ray, CT, and MRI examinations, and internal fixation, atlanto-axial sequence, and bone graft fusion by X-ray and CT examinations. One week after surgery, the JOA scores were used to evaluate the patients' neurological function and the ADI was measured to evaluate the atlantoaxial reduction.Results:The surgery was successfully performed in the 5 patients, with no intraoperative complications like neurovascular injuries to the spinal cord. The postoperative atlantoaxial reduction was satisfactory, the position of internal fixation was good, the compression to the spinal cord was relieved, and the clinical symptoms were significantly improved. At 1 week after surgery, respectively, the JOA score: 13, 14, 14, 15 and 13; the ADI: 2.6, 2.1, 1.8, 1.5 and 2.2 mm; the follow-up time: 3, 6, 12, 9 and 6 months; the bone fusion time: 3, 3, 6, 6 and 3 months. Follow-ups revealed no loosening or fracture of internal fixation, good atlanto-axial sequence, and no recurrence of dislocation.Conclusion:Our self-designed posterior reduction forceps for atlantoaxial dislocation can assist the simple posterior screw-rod system to treat irreducible atlantoaxial dislocation, leading to good preliminary clinical outcomes.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine-based anesthesia on cerebral oxygen saturation in the patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy.Methods:Fifty American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classificationⅠorⅡpatients, aged 20-64 yr, undergoing elective total laparoscopic hysterectomy, were divided into 2 groups ( n=25 each) using a random number table method: conventional group (C group) and dexmedetomidine group (D group). Bilateral regoinal oxygen saturation (rSO 2) was monitored using a cerebral oxygen saturation monitor. In D group, dexmedetomidine was intravenously infused as a bolus of 0.5 μg/kg before anesthesia induction, and 10 min later dexmedetomidine was then given by an infusion of 0.5 μg·kg -1·h -1 until 30 min before the end of operation. The equal volume of normal saline was given instead in C group. The remaining anesthesia regimen was the same in two groups. The maximum (LrSO 2max, RrSO 2max) and minimum (LrSO 2min, RrSO 2min) of bilateral rSO 2 were recorded from entry to 2 min after induction (D 1), from >2 min after induction to completion of tracheal intubation (D 2), from completion of tracheal intubation to the end of skin incision (D 3), from skin incision to completion of pneumoperitoneum (D 4), from pneumoperitoneum to completion of Trendelenburg position (D 5), within 20 min of Trendelenburg position (D 6), >20-40 min of Trendelenburg position (D 7), >40-60 min of Trendelenburg position (D 8), and from >60 min of Trendelenburg position to 10 min after return to supine position (D 9). The occurrence of 60% baseline value 0.05). Compared with C group, the LrSO 2min, LrSO 2max, RrSO 2min, and RrSO 2max were significantly increased in D 4-D 8 periods in D group ( P<0.05). No bilateral rSO 2 <75% baseline value was found in group D. Conclusions:Dexmetomidine-based anesthesia can elevate intraoperative rSO 2 in the patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Objective:To explore the relationship between the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer and the risk of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations. Methods:Sixty-one patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma admitted to Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2022 to March 2022 were tested by second-generation sequencing. Information such as age of onset, gender, histological grade and TNM stage were collected. According to whether the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene had systemic mutation, the patients were divided into BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene system mutation group and unmutated group. There were 8 cases in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene system mutant group and 53 cases in the non-mutant group. The main outcome measures were the relationship between pathogenic or likely pathogenic germline mutations in colorectal cancer and clinicopathological data of patients, including age of onset, gender, tumor location, TNM stage, histological differentiation, and family history. The secondary outcome was the relationship between BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene system mutations and clinicopathological data. Measurement data with normal distribution were expressed as mean±standard deviation ( ± s), and comparison between groups was analyzed using the t-test. Measurement data with non-normal distribution were represented as M ( Q1, Q3), and comparison between groups was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. Measurement data were expressed as the number of cases or percentage (%), and Chi-square test was used for comparison between groups. Results:Among 61 colorectal adenocarcinoma patients, the frequency of pathogenic or potentially pathogenic germ line mutations in colorectal cancer was 13.1% (8/61), and the frequency of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations was 3.3% (2/61). The frequency of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations was 13.1% (8/61). Women with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations (75.0% vs 37.7%, χ2=3.947, P=0.047) and right colon cancer (75.0% vs 26.4%, χ2=7.889, P=0.019) were significantly higher than those without mutation. Conclusions:The frequency of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutation is higher in colorectal cancer patients. BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations are recommended for colorectal cancer patients with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that has become a major gastroenterologic problem during recent decades. Numerous complicating factors are involved in UC development such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and microbiota disorder. These factors exacerbate damage to the intestinal mucosal barrier. Spirulina platensis is a commercial alga with various biological activity that is widely used as a functional ingredient in food and beverage products. However, there have been few studies on the treatment of UC using S. platensis aqueous extracts (SP), and the underlying mechanism of action of SP against UC has not yet been elucidated. Herein, we aimed to investigate the modulatory effect of SP on microbiota disorders in UC mice and clarify the underlying mechanisms by which SP alleviates damage to the intestinal mucosal barrier. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was used to establish a normal human colonic epithelial cell (NCM460) injury model and UC animal model. The mitochondrial membrane potential assay 3-‍‍(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,‍5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and staining with Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/propidium iodide (PI) and Hoechst 33258 were carried out to determine the effects of SP on the NCM460 cell injury model. Moreover, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), western blot, and 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing were used to explore the effects and underlying mechanisms of action of SP on UC in C57BL/6 mice. In vitro studies showed that SP alleviated DSS-induced NCM460 cell injury. SP also significantly reduced the excessive generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and prevented mitochondrial membrane potential reduction after DSS challenge. In vivo studies indicated that SP administration could alleviate the severity of DSS-induced colonic mucosal damage compared with the control group. Inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress was associated with increases in the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the expression of tight junction proteins (TJs) post-SP treatment. SP improved gut microbiota disorder mainly by increasing antioxidant enzyme activity and the expression of TJs in the colon. Our findings demonstrate that the protective effect of SP against UC is based on its inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine overproduction, inhibition of DSS-induced ROS production, and enhanced expression of antioxidant enzymes and TJs in the colonic mucosal barrier.
Animals ; Antioxidants/pharmacology* ; Colitis/prevention & control* ; Colitis, Ulcerative/metabolism* ; Colon/metabolism* ; Dextran Sulfate/toxicity* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Inflammation/metabolism* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Spirulina

Objective:To assess the efficacy and safety of the combination therapy of camrelizumab, apatinib, nab-paclitaxel, and S-1 for patients with locally unresectable advanced gastric cancer.Methods:From September 1, 2019 to August 1, 2021, in Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, 17 patients with advanced gastric cancer were enrolled in this prospective, single-arm study. All the enrolled patients received camrelizumab, nab-paclitaxel, apatinib and S-1 combination therapy (in each 21 days cycle, camrelizumab 200 mg intravenously, D1; nab-paclitaxel 240 mg/m 2 intravenously, D2; apatinib 500 mg orally, once a day, D1-D21; S-1 40-60 mg twice a day, D1-D14). Patients who have been evaluated by multidisciplinary team to be eligible for radical surgery should stop treatment for at least 2 weeks. Patients were discontinued from the study when disease progression or unbearable toxicity, or withdrew consent. We analyzed the conversion rate, objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS) and safety.Statistical data were show by numbers and persentages(%), and comparisons between subgroups were assessed by Fisher′s exact probability method. Patients survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier curves and compared between groups using Log-rank. Results:At the data of cutoff (December 15, 2021), the median follow-up duration was 19.6 months. Eight of 17 patients underwent gastrectomy, and all of them were R0 resection (47.1%, 95% CI: 0.262-0.690). ORR was 47.1%, DCR was 82.4%, the median overall survival was 23.63 months. Grade 3 and 4 adverse events occurred in 3 patients (17.6%), including neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia and upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. There were no serious treatment-related adverse events or treatment-related deaths. Conclusion:In this trial, the combination of camrelizumab, apatinib, nab-paclitaxel and S-1 as the conversion therapy showed significant anti-tumor activity and manageable adverse events, providing a new option for locally unresectable advanced gastric cancer.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of visceral adipose for early major complications after rectal cancer surgery by CT scan.Methods:A retrospective case-control study method was used to recruit a total of 135 patients with rectal cancer who underwent radical resection at Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2017 to June 2018. There were 89 males and 46 females, aged from 30 to 88 years, with a median age of 63 years. The patients were divided into complication group ( n=16) and control group ( n=119) according to whether serious complications occurred within 30 days after operation. Measurement data with normal distribution were expressed as Mean±SD, and comparison between groups was analyzed by using independent sample t-test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M ( Q1, Q3) and analyzed by using the Mann-Whitney U test. Count data were expressed as constituent ratio, and analyzed using the chi-square test or Fisher exact test. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the factors affecting the occurrence of early severe complications after radical resection of rectal cancer. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was used to analyze the predictive ability of the model for early severe complications after radical resection of rectal cancer. Results:Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in intraoperative blood loss [100 (62, 187) mL vs 50 (40, 100) mL, Z=-2.038, P=0.042], operation time [(325 (212, 375) min vs 260 (180, 310) min, Z=-2.04, P=0.041)], preoperative blood glucose [4.67 (4.44, 5.09) mmol/L vs 5.20 (4.80, 5.72) mmol/L, Z=-3.33, P=0.001] and visceral fat area/subcutaneous fat area (V/S) (1.23±0.54 vs 0.96±0.40, t=-2.39, P=0.018) between the complication group and the control group. Multivariate Logistic regression model showed that V/S ratio ( OR=3.978, 95% CI: 1.160-13.636, P=0.028) and preoperative blood glucose level ( OR=0.168, 95% CI: 0.055-0.512, P=0.002) were independent risk factors for early major complications after radical resection of rectal cancer. Conclusions:Visceral fat and preoperative blood glucose level are independent risk factors for early major complications after radical resection of rectal cancer, V/S is expected to be a predictor of early major complications after radical resection of rectal cancer.