BACKGROUND:Intervertebral disc degeneration is caused by damage and degeneration of the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus tissues inside the intervertebral disc,resulting in structural and functional changes of the intervertebral disc.However,there is yet no effective drug treatment for intervertebral disc degeneration. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the inhibitory effect of syringin on intervertebral disc degeneration. METHODS:A total of 10 male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected,and the coccygeal intervertebral disc(Co4/Co5)of each rat was set as model group,Co5/Co6 intervertebral disc as syringin group,and Co6/Co7 intervertebral disc as control group.The control group did not receive any treatment.In the model group and syringin group,a miniature puncture needle was used to puncture the annulus fibrosus to establish an intervertebral disc degeneration model.Immediately after modeling,2.5 μL of normal saline and syringin solution(5 μmol/L)were given in the model and syringin groups,respectively.Four weeks after injection,the samples were taken.The degree of intervertebral disc degeneration in rats was observed by hematoxylin-eosin and safranine O-fast green staining.The expressions of type Ⅱ collagen,aggrecan and matrix metalloproteinases 3 and 13 in intervertebral disc tissue were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that in the model group,the height of intervertebral disc decreased,the cartilage endplate became thinner and cracked,the fibrous ring structure was disordered and cracked,and the nucleus pulposus disappeared;in the syringin group,the height of intervertebral disc was normal or slightly lower than that in the control group,the degree of cartilage endplate degeneration was lighter than that in the model group,the fiber circle permutation was relatively regular with no cracks,and the nucleus pulposus was partially shrunk.Safranine O-fast green staining showed that in the model group,the cartilage endplate of the intervertebral disc was defective and the calcified layer of cartilage became thinner,showing obvious degeneration.The structure and morphology of intervertebral disc cartilage endplate in the syringin group recovered to some extent.Immunohistochemical staining showed that,compared with the control group,the expressions of type Ⅱ collagen and aggrecan in the intervertebral disc cartilage were decreased in the model group(P<0.000 1),while the expressions of matrix metalloproteinases 3 and 13 increased(P<0.000 1).Compared with the model group,the expressions of type Ⅱ collagen and aggrecan in the intervertebral disc cartilage tissue were increased in the syringin group(P<0.001,P<0.000 1),while the expressions of matrix metalloproteinases 3 and 13 decreased(P<0.001,P<0.000 1).These results showed that syringin could improve the structure and function of intervertebral disc by inhibiting the expression of matrix metalloproteinases 3 and 13 and increasing the expression of type Ⅱ collagen and aggrecan,thus preventing and slowing down the procession of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Myocardial fibrosis （MF） is a prevalent pathological process in a spectrum of cardiac conditions， including myocardial infarction， hypertensive heart disease， and dilated cardiomyopathy. It is marked by an overabundance of extracellular matrix deposition， diminished myocardial compliance， and impaired cardiac function， which can lead to arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The current therapeutic approach primarily aims to suppress the progression of fibrosis， yet the therapeutic outcomes are poor. The pathogenesis of MF involves multiple signaling pathways， including the transforming growth factor-beta （TGF-β）/Smads signaling pathway， nuclear factor-kappa B （NF-κB） signaling pathway， phosphoinositide 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathway， and mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） signaling pathway. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） boasts a rich history in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases， offering distinctive benefits such as minimal side effects and high safety， and it has demonstrated promising therapeutic effects in the treatment of MF. In recent years， research has turned its attention to the application of TCM in modulating the signaling pathways associated with MF. It has been demonstrated that TCM can modulate the MF-related signaling pathways to exert anti-inflammatory effects， regulate cellular autophagy， cell proliferation， and apoptosis， reduce myocardial oxidative stress and damage， and inhibit the activation of fibroblasts and collagen synthesis， thereby exhibiting the potential to mitigate or even reverse the progression of MF. Experimental research and clinical observations indicate that TCM formulas such as Yixin Futing decoction， Luhong prescription， Zhilong Huoxue Tongyu capsules， and Kangjian Yixin prescription can effectively ameliorate MF and enhance cardiac function through the multi-component regulation of multiple cellular pathways. Specific TCM constituents， including isoliquiritigenin and astragaloside， have been shown to inhibit the expression of TGF-β₁， thereby disrupting the Smad signaling pathway. Compounds like glycyrrhizic acid and allicin can suppress the NF-κB signaling pathway and curtail collagen synthesis in myocardial cells， and forsythoside can activate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway， contributing to its anti-fibrotic effects.

Gastric cancer(GC)is one of the most common gastrointestinal tumors.As a newly discovered type of non-coding RNAs,transfer RNA(tRNA)-derived small RNAs(tsRNAs)play a dual biological role in cancer.Our previous studies have demonstrated the potential of tRF-23-Q99P9P9NDD as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for GC.In this work,we confirmed for the first time that tRF-23-Q99P9P9NDD can promote the proliferation,migration,and invasion of GC cells in vitro.The dual luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed that tRF-23-Q99P9P9NDD could bind to the 3'untranslated region(UTR)site of acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase short/branched chain(ACADSB).In addition,ACADSB could rescue the effect of tRF-23-Q99P9P9NDD on GC cells.Next,we used Gene Ontology(GO),the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG),and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis(GSEA)to find that downregulated ACADSB in GC may promote lipid accumulation by inhibiting fatty acid catabolism and ferroptosis.Finally,we verified the correlation between ACADSB and 12 ferroptosis genes at the transcriptional level,as well as the changes in reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels by flow cytometry.In summary,this study proposes that tRF-23-Q99P9P9NDD may affect GC lipid metabolism and ferroptosis by targeting ACADSB,thereby promoting GC progression.It provides a theoretical basis for the diagnostic and prognostic monitoring value of GC and opens up new possibilities for treatment.

Literature analysis,expert consultation,case analysis and other methods were used to establish a public hospital specialty operation evaluation system suitable for high-quality development,including 2 first-level indicators of medical ability and economic operation and 13 second-level indicators.Urology surgery in the pilot hospital was taken as an example to carry out surgical operation effect evaluation.To strengthen the evaluation of public hospital specialized operation,it should pay attention to the evaluation of medical capacity,strengthen the cooperation of functional departments,and improve the supporting policies of operation,for better promoting the development of high-quality operation of hospitals.

Objective:To explore the diagnosis and treatment of lymphoepithelioma-like intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(LEL-ICC).Methods:The retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. The data of 7 patients with pathological diagnosis of LEL-ICC after hepatectomy who were treated in Lishui Central Hospital in Zhejiang Province from December 1, 2009 to January 30, 2024 were collected. There were 2 males and 5 females. The age range was from 40 to 64 years old, with a median age of 52 years old. All 7 patients showed no obvious clinical symptoms.We analysed the imaging manifestations, pathological features, treatmentsand prognoses of patients.Postoperative follow-upswere conducted via telephone, with a focus on whether the patient had relapsed. The deadline was February 20, 2024.Results:Five cases underwent ultrasound examination, of which 4 cases showed hypoechogenicity and 1 case showed hyperechogenicity. 7 cases underwent MRI examination, showing low signal on T1WI, high signal on T2WI, and high signal on diffusion-weighted imaging. 2 cases had type A enhancement, 2 cases had type B enhancement, and 3 cases had type C enhancement. All 7 cases received surgical treatment, 2 cases were received prophylactic transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) after surgery, and 3 cases were received systemic chemotherapy after surgery; All 7 cases underwent postoperative follow-up, with a follow-up time of 1-166 months and a median follow-up time of 56 months. One case developed hilar and retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis after surgery for 6 months, and underwent surgical treatment. After surgery, chemotherapy was performed. 25 months later, right adrenal gland metastasis reappeared, and after combined treatment, the metastatic lesion was reduced and the patient received surgical treatment and chemotherapy, and there is currently no recurrence. The remaining 6 cases showed no recurrence.Conclusions:LEL-ICC lacks specific clinical symptoms and imaging manifestations, diagnosis relies on histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations. Comprehensive treatment with surgical intervention as the main approach can lead to better prognosis for patients.

Objective:To explore the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment methods, and prognosis of hepatic portal venous gas (HPVG).Methods:Retrospective case analysis was used in the case data of 7 patients with HPVG, who were treated in Lishui Central Hospital from January 2017 to July 2024, including 5 males and 2 females. Age ranged from 46 to 90 years, with an average age of 69 years. Abdominal pain was the first manifestation in 6 cases, and septic shock occurred in 2 cases. The initial symptoms, primary diseases, comorbidities, laboratory results, imaging examinations, treatment plans, and prognosis were analyzed. Prognostic follow-up was conducted by telephone, with the focus on whether the patient had experienced HPVG recurrence and postoperative complications. The deadline for follow-up was July 31, 2024.Results:All patients had elevated white blood cells and C-reactive protein (CRP), and prothrombin time was prolonged in 4 patients. pH and base excess decreased in 4 cases, and lactic acid increased in 5 cases. Alanine aminotransferase increased in 2 cases, and total bilirubin increased in 3 cases. Blood culture was positive in 3 cases. Contrast-enhanced abdominal CT showed clear gas shadows in the portal vein and its branches in all 7 cases, which were confined to the left liver in 4 cases and distributed in both sides of the liver in 3 cases. The primary diseases were intestinal obstruction and necrosis in 4 cases, intestinal perforation and necrosis in 1 case, inflammatory bowel disease in 1 case, and acute pancreatitis in 1 case. Five patients were complicated with hypertension, diabetes and other diseases. Two patients received surgical treatment, and the average time from surgery to diagnosis was 6.8 h. Five cases received conservative treatment, 2 cases were cured and 3 cases died, with an average time from onset to death of 21.2 h.Conclusions:Contrast-enhanced abdominal CT should be the preferred method for the diagnosis of HPVG. The primary disease and its severity should be fully evaluated in the treatment of HPVG. Patients with intestinal necrosis should undergo laparotomy as soon as possible, and enterostomy should be performed during the operation. Clinicians should strengthen the awareness of HPVG in order to improve the prognosis of patients.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. It is highly contagious and can cause death in severe cases. As reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 6:36 pm Central European Summer Time (CEST), 12 August 2022, there had been 585 950 285 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 6 425 422 deaths (WHO, 2022).
Humans ; COVID-19 ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Mental Health ; Cohort Studies ; Quality of Life ; China/epidemiology* ; Health Personnel ; Hospitals ; Lung

Objective:To compare the clinical effect of transaxillary non-inflatable endoscopic surgery and traditional open thyroid surgery in the treatment of PTC. Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 342 patients with PTC treated in the Otorhinolaryngology Department of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from December 2020 to December 2022. There were 73 males and 269 females, aged 16-72 years, who underwent unilateral non-inflatable transaxillary endoscopic thyroid surgery（endoscopic group） and unilateral traditional open thyroid surgery（open group）. There were 108 patients in the endoscopic group and 234 in the open group. Results:The endoscopic group was lower in age（37.1±9.4 vs 43.5±11.2） years and BMI（23.4±3.4 vs 25.7±3.8 ）kg/m² than that in the open group, and the difference was statistically significant（t was 5.53, 5.67 respectively, P<0.01）. There was no significant difference in hospitalization days between the two groups（P>0.05）. The logarithmic curve of the operation time showed a smooth downward trend, and the overall operation time of the endoscopic group was relatively consistent. There was no significant difference in intraoperative blood loss between the endoscopic group（13.3±3.2） mL and the open group（14.7±6.3） mL（P>0.05）, but the operation time（130.1±37.9） min was longer than that in the open group（57.4±13.7） min, and the difference was statistically significant（t=19.40, P<0.01）. There was no significant difference in complications such as temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve injury within 3 days after operation between the two groups（P>0.05）. The aesthetic satisfaction score of the surgical incision and the incision concealment effect score in the endoscopic group were higher than those in the open group, and the difference was statistically significant（P<0.05）. Conclusion:Compared with traditional open thyroidectomy, transaxillary non-inflatable endoscopic thyroidectomy has more advantages in the concealment and aesthetics of postoperative incision. Although the former has longer operation time and more drainage, it is still a safe and feasible surgical method with good postoperative clinical effect.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Neck ; Thyroidectomy/methods* ; Endoscopy/methods*

Objective:To evaluate the renal injury of ultrasound-guided percutaneous fascia dilatation with one-step and multi-step percutaneous renal dilatation on renal injury in pigs.Methods:20 experimental pigs were randomly divided into 16F group and 24F group, with 10 pigs in each group. Under the guidance of ultrasound, the left and right kidneys of each experimental pig in group 16F were expanded by percutaneous renal multi-step expansion and one-step expansion (multi-step dilation subgroup and one-step dilation subgroup respectively) with 16F expander, and the same operation was performed with 24F expander in 24F group. After the operation, the left and right kidneys were left with fistula tubes for 1 week. The duration of hematuria in the renal fistula tubes was observed and compared. One month later, the experimental pigs were killed and the kidneys were removed. The histopathology of each group was observed under the naked eye and microscope. The scar tissue around the nephrostomy channel was removed, and hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining were performed respectively. The scar volume was measured by digital image analysis technology, and the percentage of the scar volume in the renal cortex volume was calculated.Results:There was no significant difference in gross hematuria duration between one-step dilation subgroup [(4.60±1.26)d] versus multi-step dilation subgroup [(4.70±1.17)d] of 16F group ( P>0.05); There was no significant difference in gross hematuria duration between one-step dilation subgroup [(5.40±1.25)d] versus multi-step dilation subgroup [(5.50±1.08)d] of the 24F group ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the gross and histological observation of pig kidney specimens in 16F group and 24F group. There was no significant difference in the scar volume of the fistula channel [(0.35±0.04)cm 3, (0.36±0.03)cm 3] and its percentage in the whole renal cortical volume [(0.41±0.05)%, (0.41±0.06)%] between one-step dilation subgroup versus multi-step dilation subgroup of 16F group (all P>0.05); there was no significant difference in the scar volume of the fistula channel [(0.48±0.02)cm 3, (0.49±0.04)cm 3] and its percentage in the whole renal cortical volume [(0.52±0.04)%, (0.53±0.07)%] between one-step dilation subgroup versus multi-step dilation subgroup of 24F group (all P>0.05). The scar volume and its percentage in the whole renal cortical volume of the one-step dilation subgroup and the multi-step dilation subgroup in the 24F group were higher than that of the 16F group, with statistically significant difference (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Both one-step and multi-step percutaneous renal dilatation have less damage to renal parenchyma. The multi-step dilatation has no obvious advantage over one-step dilatation in reducing renal parenchyma injury.

Objective:To summarize the clinical manifestations and color Doppler ultrasonography of benign lymphoepithelial disease (BLL) in lacrimal gland, so as to improve the diagnostic accuracy of lacrimal BLL.Methods:Clinical manifestations and color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) features of lacrimal BLL in 16 patients (2 males and 14 females, with 31 lesions) who visited the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from November 2014 to August 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:The performance for lesions in patients with duration less than 3 months was scattered in irregular low echo, lesion blood flow signals within the rich (Adler Ⅱ level), pathologic examination results showed more lymphocytes were seen in the lacrimal matrix, and the myoepithelium of the lacrimal duct grew to form the epithelium-myocutaneous island. The ultrasonic feasures in patients with course of 3-6 months were in multiple categories such as circular low echo, "honeycomb" change, CDFI showed lesions with a lot of blood flow signals (Adler Ⅲ level), the pathological examination results indicated that there were a large number of lymphocytes and epithelial-musculocutaneous islands in the lacrimal matrix, and the lymphocytes were significantly increased compared with patients with the course of disease less than 3 months. The ultrasound results in patients with a course of more than 6 months showed lesions in multiple categories such as circular low echo, and large low echo, greater than 3 mm in diameter, CDFI showed lesions within the same large amounts of blood flow signals (Adler Ⅲ level), the pathological examination results were consistent with the course of 3 to 6 months. One patient had positive tuberculin test and 11 had higher IgG4 than normal.The number of lymphocytes increased with the prolongation of disease course.Conclusions:With the expert knowledge of color Doppler ultrasonographic characteristics of lacrimal gland BLL and with the serum IgG4 level helps to improve the accuracy of ultrasonic diagnosis.