BACKGROUND: Disease-modifying therapies have been approved for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). The present study aims to examine the safety of teriflunomide in Chinese patients with RMS. METHODS: This non-randomized, multi-center, 24-week, prospective study enrolled RMS patients with variant (c.421C>A) or wild type ABCG2 who received once-daily oral teriflunomide 14 mg. The primary endpoint was the relationship between ABCG2 polymorphisms and teriflunomide exposure over 24 weeks. Safety was assessed over the 24-week treatment with teriflunomide. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were assigned to variant ( n  = 42) and wild type groups ( n  = 40), respectively. Geometric mean and geometric standard deviation (SD) of pre-dose concentration (variant, 54.9 [38.0] μg/mL; wild type, 49.1 [32.0] μg/mL) and area under plasma concentration-time curve over a dosing interval (AUC tau ) (variant, 1731.3 [769.0] μg∙h/mL; wild type, 1564.5 [1053.0] μg∙h/mL) values at steady state were approximately similar between the two groups. Safety profile was similar and well tolerated across variant and wild type groups in terms of rates of treatment emergent adverse events (TEAE), treatment-related TEAE, grade ≥3 TEAE, and serious adverse events (AEs). No new specific safety concerns or deaths were reported in the study. CONCLUSION: ABCG2 polymorphisms did not affect the steady-state exposure of teriflunomide, suggesting a similar efficacy and safety profile between variant and wild type RMS patients. REGISTRATION NCT04410965, https://clinicaltrials.gov .
Humans ; Crotonates/adverse effects* ; Toluidines/adverse effects* ; Nitriles ; Hydroxybutyrates ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2/genetics* ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting/genetics* ; Prospective Studies ; Young Adult ; Neoplasm Proteins/genetics* ; East Asian People

The hippocampus and its circuits play crucial roles in human learning, memory, and emotional regulation. Whether it is vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD), damage to the hippocampus is a prominent pathological feature. This review summarizes the recent advance in multimodal magnetic resonance imaging in anatomy, blood supply, structure and function of the hippocampus and the circuits related to VCI and AD in recent years, aiming to provide help in early recognizing and differentially diagnosing VCI and AD.

Background The substantial health damage attributed to heat waves, along with their increasing intensity and frequency in the context of global warming, highlights the importance of exploring the health effects of heat waves. Objective To calculate the excess heat stroke cases during heat waves in the summer of 2013—2023 in Shanghai, analyze the association between heat waves and heat stroke, and to further explore the modifying effects of heat wave characteristics on heat stroke. Methods Using a retrospective ecological study design, data on heat stroke cases were collected from the heat stroke case reporting system of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and concurrent meteorological data from Xujiahui Meteorological Station. A heat wave was defined as at least 3 consecutive days with daily maximum temperature meeting or exceeding 35 ℃ in this study, excess heat stroke cases related to heat waves were assessed as the difference between the numbers of heat stroke cases observed on a given day and the corresponding 31 d (15 d before and after that day) moving average, and statistical analyses using generalized linear model based on time series study were performed to assess the impact of heat waves on heat stroke. Results Overall 25 heat waves during the study period were observed, leading to a total of estimated 792.6 extra heat stroke cases. The risk of heat stroke significantly increased during heat waves (RR=2.60, 95%CI: 2.08, 3.26), but no statistically significant differences in heat wave effects were observed among different genders, ages, or regions. In terms of the timing of heat waves, the risk of heat stroke was highest during the first heat wave (RR=3.58, 95%CI: 2.82, 4.55), which was significantly higher than that during the second heat wave (RR=2.19, 95%CI: 1.66, 2.90), and no significant effect was observed during the third or subsequent heat waves. The impact of heat waves on heat stroke persisted for more than 4 d, with the risk higher on the fourth day and beyond (RR=2.95, 95%CI: 2.28, 3.83), significantly higher than on the first day of heat wave (RR=1.74, 95%CI: 1.18, 2.56). Conclusion Heat waves had a substantial effect on heat stroke in Shanghai from 2013 to 2023, and special attention need to be paid to heat waves with early onset and long duration.

Objective To explore the effect of virtual reality treadmill training on balance and gait in stroke patients. Methods From March,2022,to March,2023,40 stroke patients in Beijing Tiantan Hospital,Capital Medical University were randomly divided into control group(n = 20)and experimental group(n = 20).Both groups received rou-tine rehabilitation training.The control group received ordinary treadmill walking training,and the experimental group received treadmill walking training with virtual reality,for two weeks.They were assessed with Berg Bal-ance Scale(BBS)and Timed Up and Go Test(TUGT),and the envelope ellipse area,center of pressure(COP)av-erage speed of movement,step length,stride length and stride width were compared between two groups before and after treatment. Results After treatment,the scores of BBS and time of TUGT improved in both groups(|t|>3.508,P<0.01),and they were better in the experimental group than in the control group(|t|>3.019,P<0.01);there was no significant dif-ference in the envelope ellipse area,COP average speed,and stride width between two groups(P>0.05);howev-er,the step length and stride width improved in the experimental group(|t|>4.008,P<0.01). Conclusion Treadmill training with virtual reality can improve the balance and walking ability of stroke patients.

Objective To observe the abnormal brain activity in patients with migraine without aura(MwoA)with MRI.Methods Fifty MwoA patients(MwoA group)and 46 healthy volunteers(control group)were prospectively enrolled.Functional MRI(fMRI)was performed to observe the dynamic regional homogeneity(dReHo)of brain regions,then brain regions with differences of dReHo value between groups were extracted,and correlations with clinical scales were analyzed.Results Compared with control group,dReHo values of surrounding cortex of bilateral calcarine fissure and right middle occipital gyrus increased,of right middle temporal gyrus,right middle frontal gyrus and left cuneus decreased in MwoA group(GRF correction,voxel level all P＜0.005,cluster level all P＜0.05).The weight analysis showed that brain regions with top 3 absolute weight values were surrounding cortex of right calcarine fissure,left cuneus and right middle occipital gyrus.dReHo value of surrounding cortex of left calcarine fissure in MwoA patients was negative correlated with self-rating depression scale(SDS)(r=-0.28,P=0.04).Conclusion Abnormalities in the upward transmission pathway of visual information existed in MwoA patient,especially in surrounding cortex of right calcarine fissure,left cuneus and right middle occipital gyrus.

BACKGROUND:The dura mater and skull are physically and functionally related,although there have been few investigations on primary extraction of dura mater and cranial cells,as well as co-culture of the two.The use of primary cells to investigate the influence of the dura mater on the skull is novel,and it is hoped that it may give a theoretical foundation for therapeutic therapy. OBJECTIVE:Rat dura mater and cranial bone cells were retrieved in situ to observe the influence of dura mater on cranial bone proliferation and differentiation,as well as to get a basic knowledge of the involvement of Twist1 in this process. METHODS:The enzyme digestion method was used in conjunction with the tissue block method to extract dural cells and cranial osteoblasts from rats within three days of birth.Immunofluorescence staining was used to identify the extracted cells,and alizarin red staining was used to identify and evaluate cranial osteoblasts and their mineralization ability.After co-culturing dural cells and cranial osteoblasts,real-time PCR was utilized to identify the expression of genes associated to cranial osteoblast proliferation and osteogenesis,as well as Twist1. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Morphology:The retrieved dural cells had morphological traits similar to fibroblasts,while the osteoblasts were spindle-shaped.(2)Cell identification:immunofluorescence staining revealed that extracted dural cells expressed high levels of vimentin and cranial osteoblasts expressed high levels of alkaline phosphatase;cranial osteoblasts were stained with alizarin red 28 days after osteogenic induction,and obvious mineralized nodules were observed.(3)Real time PCR detection showed that the co-culture group had higher levels of PCNA,alkaline phosphatase,and RUNX2 mRNA expression than the control group(P＜0.01);however,Twist1 mRNA expression was lower(P＜0.01).(4)The findings showed that the primary extracted cranial osteoblasts had a high mineralization capacity,and that the dura mater was a key factor in promoting cranial growth and development and osteogenic differentiation,with Twist1 playing a key role in this process.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for post-traumatic epilepsy(PTE)after traumatic brain injury(TBI).Methods According to PTE,169 patients with TBI were divided into PTE group and non-PTE group.Clinical data of the patients were collected and compared.Non-parametric test and binary Logistic regression were used to analyze the risk factors of PTE.Results Compared with those in non-PTE group,there were significant differences in psychiatric symptoms,GCS score,abnormal imaging examination type,injury type and post-traumatic seizures(PTS)ratio in the PTE group(P<0.05-0.01).Binary Logistic regression showed that GCS score,abnormal imaging examination type,psychiatric symptoms and PTS were independent risk factors for PTE(OR=5.825,95%CI:1.062-31.947,P=0.042;OR=6.942,95%CI:1.542-31.244,P=0.012;OR=31.059,95%CI:9.295-103.786,P<0.001;OR=0.099,95%CI:0.042-0.231,P<0.001).Conclusion GCS score,abnormal imaging examination type,psychiatric symptoms and PTS are independent risk factors PTE after TBI.

Cerebral small vascular disease (CSVD) is an important risk factor for stroke, cognitive impairment, and death, but its exact pathogenesis is not yet fully understood. Recent studies have shown that as an important part of pathophysiological mechanisms of CSVD, immunoinflammation may affect the progression and prognosis of CSVD. This article reviews the role of immunoinflammation in CSVD.

Dura mater is a tough collagen connective tissue attached to inner surface of skull and wrapped around brain.As a buffer bridge between brain tissue and skull,its physiological function and role in skull development and repair have always been a focus of research.Recent studies have found that dura mater not only directly participates in skull development during skull growth,but also secretes a variety of cytokines that control the development of central nervous system.There are abundant material exchange and cell communication between the two.This article reviews the role of dura in development and repair of skull,and provides clues for further discovery of the relevant mechanisms of dura in development and repair of skull.

Objective:To explore the genetic characteristics of a child with comorbid 16p11.2 microdeletion syndrome and Rett syndrome (RTT).Methods:A male infant who was admitted to Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital in May 2020 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the infant was collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples from the infant and his parents, and subjected to whole exome sequencing (WES). Candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing.Result:The patient, a 4-day-old male infant, had presented with poor response, poor intake, feeding difficulties, and deceased at 8 months after birth. WES revealed that he has harbored a 0.643 Mb deletion in the 16p11.2 region, which encompassed key genes of the 16p11.2 microdeletion syndrome such as ALDOA, CORO1A, KIFF22, PRRT2 and TBX6. His father has carried the same deletion, but was phenotypically normal. The deletion was predicted to be pathogenic. The child was also found to harbor a maternally derived c. 763C>T (p.R255X) hemizygous variant of the MECP2 gene, which was also predicted to be pathogenic (PVS1+ PS4+ PM2_Supporting). Conclusion:The 16p11.2 deletion and the MECP2: c.763C>T (p.R255X) variant probably underlay the pathogenesis in this infant.