The central amygdala (CeA) is a crucial modulator of emotional, behavioral, and autonomic functions, including cardiovascular responses. Despite its importance, the specific circuit by which the CeA modulates blood pressure remains insufficiently explored. Our investigations demonstrate that photostimulation of GABAergic neurons in the centromedial amygdala (CeM^GABA), as opposed to those in the centrolateral amygdala (CeL), produces a depressor response in both anesthetized and freely-moving mice. In addition, activation of CeM^GABA axonal terminals projecting to the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) significantly reduces blood pressure. These CeM^GABA neurons form synaptic connections with NTS neurons, allowing for the modulation of cardiovascular responses by influencing the caudal or rostral ventrolateral medulla. Furthermore, CeM^GABA neurons targeting the NTS receive dense inputs from the CeL. Consequently, stimulation of CeM^GABA neurons elicits hypotension through the CeM-NTS circuit, offering deeper insights into the cardiovascular responses associated with emotions and behaviors.
Animals ; GABAergic Neurons/physiology* ; Male ; Central Amygdaloid Nucleus/physiopathology* ; Hypotension/physiopathology* ; Mice ; Blood Pressure/physiology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Solitary Nucleus/physiology* ; Photic Stimulation ; Neural Pathways/physiology*

Based on the literature study,the thoughts and possible therapeutic mechanism in treating male infertility from the perspective of spleen and kidney by regulating intestinal flora were explored.Disturbance of intestinal flora is one of the important factors leading to the development of male infertility,and the spleen and kidney have certain similarities to intestinal flora in the physiological function and pathological changes.Moreover,tonifying the kidney and strengthening the spleen can regulate the intestinal flora by fostering the growth of beneficial bacteria,inhibiting the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria,and protecting the barrier of the intestinal mucosa.Therefore,the possible therapeutic mechanisms in treating male infertility with the prescriptions for tonifying the kidney and strengthening the spleen to regulate intestinal flora are as follows:inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors to reduce the inflammatory reaction of testicular tissues;improving the antioxidant capacity to alleviate the damage of spermatozoa caused by oxidative stress,and improving the bad mood to alleviate the impact of psychological stress on the reproductive system.The exploration of the thoughts for treating male infertility from the perspective of spleen and kidney by regulating intestinal flora may provide a new entry point for modern Chinese medicine clinical treatment of male infertility.

Objective To study chest computed tomography(CT)manifestations in neonates with chronic granulomatous disease(CGD)to provide clues for early diagnosis of this disease.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data and chest CT scan results of neonates diagnosed with CGD from January 2015 to December 2022 at Anhui Provincial Children's Hospital.Results Nine neonates with CGD were included,with eight presenting respiratory symptoms as the initial sign.Chest CT findings included:consolidation in all 9 cases;nodules in all 9 cases,characterized by multiple,variably sized scattered nodules in both lungs;masses in 4 cases;cavities in 3 cases;abscesses in 6 cases;bronchial stenosis in 2 cases;pleural effusion,interstitial changes,and mediastinal lymphadenopathy each in 1 case.CT enhancement scans showed nodules and masses with uneven or ring-shaped enhancement;no signs of pulmonary emphysema,lung calcification,halo signs,crescent signs,bronchiectasis,or scar lesions were observed.There was no evidence of rib or vertebral bone destruction.Fungal infections were present in 8 of the 9 cases,including 6 with Aspergillus infections;three of these involved mixed infections with Aspergillus,with masses most commonly associated with mixed Aspergillus infections(3/4).Conclusions The primary manifestations of neonatal CGD on chest CT are consolidation,nodules,and/or masses,with Aspergillus as a common pathogen.These features can serve as early diagnostic clues for neonatal CGD.

Objective:To analyze the effects of highdose methotrexate(HD-MTX)and lenalidomide as central nervous system(CNS)prophylaxis strategies in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(DLBCL).Methods:The data of DLBCL patients with high risk of CNS recurrence who were initially treated in Fujian Provincial Hospital and Fujian Cancer Hospital from January 2012 to June 2022 were analyzed retrospectively.The patients were divided into HD-MTX group and lenalidomide group according to different prophylaxis strategies.Each group was further divided into high-risk group and medium-risk group based on CNS-IPI score and/or testicular involvement.The CNS relapse-free survival(CRFS)rate,adverse effects,and the effects of different prophylaxis strategies on overall survival(OS)rate and progression-free survival(PFS)rate were evaluated in different groups and subgroups.Results:There were 200 patients enrolled in this study,80 cases in lenalidomide group and 120 cases in HD-MTX group.According to the delivery timing of prophylactic HD-MTX,the patients in HD-MTX group were further divided into two groups:80 cases at the end of induction chemotherapy and 40 cases during chemotherapy interval.At a median follow-up of 48(14-133)months,the 4-year CRFS rate,4-year PFS rate,and 4-year OS rate of the HD-MTX group was 93.6％,57.2％,and 68.8％,respectively,while that of the lenalidomide group was 90.4％,69.4％and 75.6％.There were no significant differences in 4-year CRFS rate,4-year PFS rate,and 4-year OS rate between HD-MTX group and lenalidomide group(all P＞0.05),but lenalidomide group showed a trend of improvement in PFS.Further subgroup analysis showed that there was no significant difference in 4-year CRFS rate between high-risk patients of the two groups(91.7％vs 83.4％,P＞0.05),while 4-year PFS rate showed difference(49.5％vs 64.2％,P＜0.05).A total of 248 cycles were collected for adverse reaction analysis in the HD-MTX group,and 25 cycles occurred neutropenia accompanied with infection(10.1％),while in lenalidomide group 240 cycles were collected in which 20 cycles occurred neutropenia accompanied with infection(8.3％).Both the two groups had no treatment-related deaths.Conclusion:Compared with HD-MTX,lenalidomide combined with immunochemotherapy can prevent CNS relapse,at the same time,improve prognosis,which is a safe and well tolerated central prophylaxis strategy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the risk of postoperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in breast cancer patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to determine the optimal timing for surgery in the era of “post COVID-19 pandemic.” Methods: This prospective study included breast cancer patients who contracted COVID-19 and underwent surgery from December 20th, 2022, to March 20th, 2023 (n = 577). A control group comprised patients who underwent surgery from May 1st, 2019, to October 1st, 2019 (n = 327) and had not contracted COVID-19 prior to surgery. Patients were categorized based on the timing of their surgery relative to their COVID-19 infection. Data were analyzed using logistic regression. Results: Patients with COVID-19 had a higher incidence of postoperative DVT compared to those without COVID-19 (3.64% vs. 1.21%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that the timing of surgery was significantly associated with the risk of DVT (odds ratio [OR], 2.795; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.692–11.278; p = 0.024). Patients who underwent surgery within two weeks of COVID-19 infection experienced the highest DVT rates (OR, 10.556; 95% CI, 1.095–303.313; p = 0.003). However, the incidence decreased to 2.85% when surgery was delayed until two weeks or more after infection. The median followup period was 10 months, all patients with DVT after surgery were recovered without serious complications or death. There were no adverse effects on subsequent anti-tumor therapy. Conclusion Caution is advised when performing breast cancer surgery within two weeks after a COVID-19 infection. Although the risk of DVT remains somewhat elevated even after two weeks, surgery can be considered safe given the urgency of treatment, favorable complication outcomes, and lack of impact on subsequent adjuvant therapy.

Purpose: We aimed to analyze the optimal timing of enteral nutrition (EN) in the treatment of sepsis and its effect on sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI.) Materials and Methods: The MIMIC-III database was employed to identify patients with sepsis who had received EN. With AKI as the primary outcome variable, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were utilized to calculate the optimal cut-off time of early EN (EEN). Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to control confounding effects. Logistic regressions and propensity score-based inverse probability of treatment weighting were utilized to assess the robustness of our findings. Comparisons within the EEN group were performed. Results: 2364 patients were included in our study. With 53 hours after intensive care units (ICU) admission as the cut-off time of EEN according to the ROC curve, 1212 patients were assigned to the EEN group and the other 1152 to the delayed EN group. The risk of SA-AKI was reduced in the EEN group (odds ratio 0.319, 95% confidence interval 0.245–0.413, p<0.001). The EEN patients received fewer volumes (mL) of intravenous fluid (IVF) during their ICU stay (3750 mL vs. 5513.23 mL, p<0.001). The mediating effect of IVF was significant (p<0.001 for the average causal mediation effect). No significant differences were found within the EEN group (0–48 hours vs. 48–53 hours), except that patients initiating EN within 48 hours spent fewer days in ICU and hospital. Conclusion EEN is associated with decreased risk of SA-AKI, and this beneficial effect may be proportionally mediated by IVF volume.

Myopia has become a major public health problem affecting the eye health of our nationals, especially adolescents, and is listed as one of the three major diseases in the world. The etiology of myopia is complex and it is currently considered to be mainly related to environmental factors and genetic factors. Dietary factors are less concerned, but it has been reported that there is a correlation between high-sugar diet and the occurrence and development of myopia. Studies have found that high-sugar diet can cause hyperinsulinemia, which mediates the increase of retinal insulin-like growth factor(IGF-1, IGF-2)expression level, and the decrease of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3(IGFBP-3)expression level in scleral fibroblasts, thereby activating signal transduction and transcriptional activator protein 3(STAT3)signaling pathway, and then acting on scleral matrix metalloproteinases(MMP)/transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β)and other factors, resulting in a decrease in scleral extracellular matrix(ECM), eventually leading to scleral remodeling, eye axis growth and myopia. This article explores the relationship between high-sugar diet and the occurrence and development of myopia from the aspects of epidemiology and biological mechanisms by consulting relevant literature, and provides research directions for the prevention and control of myopia.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between spinous process deviation and lumbar disc herniation in young patients. METHODS: From March 2015 to January 2022, 30 treated young (under the age of 30) patients with lumbar disc herniation were included as the young group. In addition 30 middle-aged patients (quinquagenarian group) with lumbar disc herniation and 30 patients with non-degenerative spinal diseases (young non-degenerative group) were selected as control groups. The angle of the spinous process deviation was measured on CT and statistically analyzed by various groups. All the data were measured twice and the average value was taken and recorded. RESULTS: The average angle of spinous process deviation in the degenerative lumbar vertebra of young patients were (3.89±3.77) degrees, similar to the (3.72±2.98) degrees of quinquagenarian patients(P=0.851). The average angle of s spinous process deviation young non-degenerative group were (2.20±2.28) degrees, significantly less than young group(P=0.040). The spinous process deviation angle of the superior vertebral of the degenerative lumbar in the young group was (4.10±3.44) degrees, which similar to the (3.47±2.87) degrees in the quinquagenarian group (P=0.447). A total of 19 young patients had the opposite deviation direction of the spinous process of the degenerative lumbar vertebra and upper vertebra, while only 7 quinquagenarian patients had this condition(P=0.02). The type of lumbar disc herniation in young patients had no significant relationship with the direction of spinous process deflection of the degenerative or upper lumbar vertebra (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Spinous process deviation is a risk factor of young lumbar disc herniation patients. If the deviation directions of adjacent lumbar spinous processes are opposite, it will increase the incidence of lumbar disc herniation in young patients. There was no significant correlation between the type of disc herniation and the deviation direction of the spinous process of the degenerative or upper lumbar vertebra. People with such anatomical variation can strengthen the stability of spine and prevent lumbar disc herniation through reasonable exercise.
Middle Aged ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/complications* ; Vertebral Body ; Spinal Diseases ; Spinal Fusion/adverse effects* ; Lumbar Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging* ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/etiology*

Objective: To understand the distribution of genotypes and sub-genotypes of HBV in different ethnic groups in China. Methods: The HBsAg positive samples were selected by stratified multi-stage cluster sampling from the sample base of national HBV sero-epidemiological survey in 2020 for the amplification of S gene of HBV by nested PCR. A phylogeny tree was constructed to determine the genotypes and sub-genotypes of HBV. The distribution of genotypes and sub-genotypes of HBV were analyzed comprehensively by using laboratory data and demographic data. Results: A total of 1 539 positive samples from 15 ethnic groups were successfully amplified and analyzed, and 5 genotypes (B, C, D, I and C/D) were detected. The proportion of genotype B was higher in ethnic group of Han (74.52%, 623/836), Zhuang (49.28%, 34/69), Yi (53.19%, 25/47), Miao (94.12%, 32/34), Buyi (81.48%, 22/27). The proportions of genotype C were higher in ethnic groups of Yao (70.91%, 39/55). Genotype D was the predominant genotype in Uygur (83.78%, 31/37). Genotype C/D were detected in Tibetan (92.35%,326/353). In this study, 11 cases of genotype I were detected, 8 of which were distributed in Zhuang nationality. Except for Tibetan, sub-genotype B2 accounted for more than 80.00% in genotype B in all ethnic groups. The proportions of sub-genotype C2 were higher in 8 ethnic groups, i.e. Han, Tibetan, Yi, Uygur, Mongolian, Manchu, Hui and Miao. The proportions of sub-genotype C5 were higher in ethnic groups of Zhuang (55.56%, 15/27) and Yao (84.62%, 33/39). For genotype D, sub-genotype D3 was detected in Yi ethnic group and sub-genotype D1 was detected in both Uygur and Kazak. The proportions of sub-genotype C/D1 and C/D2 in Tibetan were 43.06% (152/353) and 49.29% (174/353). For all the 11 cases of genotype I infection, only sub-genotype I1 was detected. Conclusions: Five genotypes and 15 sub-genotypes of HBV were found in 15 ethnic groups. There were significant differences in the distribution of genotypes and sub-genotypes of HBV among different ethnic groups.
Humans ; Asian People ; China/epidemiology* ; Ethnicity ; Genotype ; Gerbillinae ; Hepatitis B virus/genetics* ; Hepatitis B/virology*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the underlying mechanism of inhibition by Jinkui Shenqi Pills (JKSQP) on glucocorticoid-enhanced axial length elongation in experimental lens-induced myopia (LIM) guinea pigs. METHODS: Sixty 2-week old male guinea pigs were randomly divided into 4 groups with 15 guinea pigs in each group, according to the random numbers generated by SPSS software: control, LIM, saline and JKSQP groups. The control group includes animals with no treatment, while the guinea pigs in the other 3 groups received lens-induced myopization on the right eyes throughout the experiment (for 8 weeks). The saline and JKSQP groups were given daily intraperitoneal injections of 10 mg/kg hydrocortisone for 2 consecutive weeks at the same time, and then orally administered either saline or JKSQP [13.5 g/(kg•d) for 6 consecutive weeks. Body weight, anal temperature and animal appearance were observed and recorded to evaluate the GC-associated symptoms. The ocular parameters, including refraction and axial length, were measured by streak retinoscopy and A-scan ultrasonography, respectively. The levels of plasma hormones associated with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA), including free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, estradiol and testosterone, were measured by radioimmunoassay, and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the mRNA and protein expressions of retinal amphiregulin (AREG) was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS: JKSQP effectively increased body weight and anal temperature, improved animal appearance and suppressed axial length elongation in glucocorticoid-enhanced myopic guinea pigs with normalization of 4 HPAA-associated plasma hormones (all P<0.05). The plasma level of cAMP was significantly increased, whereas the plasma level of cGMP and the mRNA and protein expressions of retinal AREG were decreased after treatment with JKSQP (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION JKSQP exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on axial length elongation with decreased expression of AREG in the retina, and normalized 4 HPAA-associated plasma hormones and the expression of cAMP and cGMP in GC-enhanced myopic guinea pigs.
Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Animals ; Glucocorticoids ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; Myopia/metabolism* ; Body Weight ; RNA, Messenger ; Disease Models, Animal