Objective To explore the diagnosis and management of functional pancreatic endocrine tumor.Methods Clinical data of 19 cases of functional pancreatic endocrine tumor were retrospectively analyzed.Results 15 cases of insulinoma,2 cases of gastrinoma and 2 cases of glucagonoma were qualitatively diagnosed.The positive rate of preoperative diagosis for type B ultrasonic inspection,CT,MRI,EUS,selective portovenous sampling and intraoperative type B ultrasonic inspection was 15.8％ (3/19),67.5％ (10/16),71.4％ (5/7),87.5％ (7/8),100％(2/2) and 85.7％(6/7) respectively.Of the total 19 cases,7 cases underwent open surgery,11 cases unde rwent laparoscopic surgery,and one case didn't undergo any surgery as liver metastasis had occurred when glucagonoma was diagnosed.The operation methods included tumor enucleation (n=13),distal pancreatic resection (n=3),distal pancreatic resection plus splenectomy (n=1),and pancreatic head resection with duodenum preserved (n=1).Conclusions The measurement of serum insulin,gastrin and glucagon is the main basis for qualitative diagonosis of pancreatic endocrine tumor.Two stage spinal CT thin scanning is the main method for tumor location.Intraoperative type B ultrasonic inspection is the supplement to preoperative location.Tumor enucleation is the main choice of treatment.

Objective:To investigate the effect of separation exercise training of upper limb robot in improving upper limb motor function of stroke patients,and to explore the underlying mechanism by transcranial magnetic stimu-lation motor-evoked potential(MEP)evoked potentials. Method:Stroke patients were randomly divided into the experimental group(n=21)and the control group(n=23).The experimental group was trained with a fixed trajectories(the separation movement of elbow flexion-extension and shoulder adduction-abduction),while the control group underwent upper limb robot training with random movement trajectories(a compound action that can reach for objects).Both groups received robot train-ing once a day,20min/time,5 times/week for 3 weeks.The Fugl-Meyer assessment of upper extremity(FMA-UE)and modified Barthel index(modified Barthel index,MBI)were used to evaluate motor function.The la-tency period and central motor conduction time(CMCT)of MEP were detected before and after treatment. Result:After 3 weeks of treatment,the FMA-UE,MBI and MEP were improved compared with before treat-ment in the experimental group(P＜0.05),There was no significant difference between the FMA-UE,MBI and MEP of the control group and that before treatment(P＞0.05);There were no significant differences in in FMA-UE,MBI and MEP between-group comparisons after 3 weeks of treatment. Conclusion:The separation exercise training of the upper limb robot can improve the upper limb motor func-tion and enhance daily living activities in stroke patients,which may be related to enhanced remodeling of brain function in stroke patients.

Objective:To evaluate the role of hypothalamic aromatase in sevoflurane anesthesia-induced epileptic waves in neonatal rats.Methods:Thirty clean-grade healthy neonatal Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes, aged 5 days, weighing 10-15 g, were divided into 3 groups ( n=10 each) according to a random number table method: control group (group C), sevoflurane group (group S), and aromatase inhibitor formestane plus sevoflurane group (group F). The electroencephalogram (EEG) in the neonatal rat cortex was monitored, 30 min later formestane 2 mg/kg was subcutaneously injected in F group, while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in C and S groups.At 30 min after subcutaneous administration, 6% sevoflurane was inhaled to induce anesthesia for 3 min, and then the concentration was adjusted to 2.1% to maintain anesthesia for 57 min in S and F groups.The total duration and single duration of epileptic waves and the number of seizure during sevoflurane anesthesia were recorded.After the end of EEG recording, the laparotomy was performed, the left ventricular puncture was performed, and blood samples were collected for blood gas analysis and for determination of corticosterone levels (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Brain tissues were obtained, and then the hypothalamus was rapidly isolated for determination of the expression of aromatase mRNA, Na + -K + -2Cl - cotransporter-1 (NKCC1) mRNA and K + -Cl - cotransporter-2 (KCC2) mRNA (by polymerase chain reaction). Results:No epileptic waves were found in group C. Compared with group C, the total duration and single duration of cortical epileptic waves were significantly prolonged, and the number of seizures was increased, the serum corticosterone concentration was increased, the expression of aromatase mRNA was up-regulated, and NKCC1/KCC2 mRNA ratios were increased in S and F groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group S, the total duration and single duration of cortical epileptic waves were significantly shortened, and the number of seizures was decreased, the serum corticosterone concentration was decreased, the expression of aromatase mRNA was down-regulated, and NKCC1/KCC2 mRNA ratios were decreased in group F ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Up-regulation of hypothalamic aromatase expression is involved in the development of sevoflurane anesthesia-induced epileptic waves in newborn rats.

Background: No currently available biomarkers or treatment regimens fully meet therapeutic needs of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Circular RNA (circRNA) is a recently identified class of stable noncoding RNA that have been documented as potential biomarkers for various diseases. Our objective was to identify and analyze plasma circRNAs altered in T1DM. Methods: We used microarray to screen differentially expressed plasma circRNAs in patients with new onset T1DM (n=3) and age-/gender-matched healthy controls (n=3). Then, we selected six candidates with highest fold-change and validated them by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in independent human cohort samples (n=12). Bioinformatic tools were adopted to predict putative microRNAs (miRNAs) sponged by these validated circRNAs and their downstream messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were performed to gain further insights into T1DM pathogenesis. Results: We identified 68 differentially expressed circRNAs, with 61 and seven being up- and downregulated respectively. Four of the six selected candidates were successfully validated. Curations of their predicted interacting miRNAs revealed critical roles in inflammation and pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. Functional relations were visualized by a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network. GO and KEGG analyses identified multiple inflammation-related processes that could be potentially associated with T1DM pathogenesis, including cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, inflammatory mediator regulation of transient receptor potential channels and leukocyte activation involved in immune response. Conclusion Our study report, for the first time, a profile of differentially expressed plasma circRNAs in new onset T1DM. Further in silico annotations and bioinformatics analyses supported future application of circRNAs as novel biomarkers of T1DM.

Objective:To explore the effects of dual task training assisted by a lower limb rehabilitation robot on lower extremity mobility and the walking ability of stroke survivors.Methods:Sixty-one stroke survivors were randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group with 30 in the control group and 31 in the experimental group. In addition to routine exercise training and physical therapy, both groups were given cognitive-motor dual task training 5 times a week for 3 weeks. But only in the experimental group was the dual task training assisted by a lower limb rehabilitation robot. Both groups′ lower limb motor function, walking ability, cognition, balance and ability in the activities of daily living were evaluated before and after the experiment using the Fugl-Meyer lower extremity assessment (FMA-LE), functional ambulation categories (FAC), the digital span test (DST), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Modified Barthel Index (MBI). Additionally, 6 survivors of a right hemisphere stroke from the experimental group received cognitive-motor dual task training both with and without the robotic assistance alternately. Near-infrared functional brain imaging was applied before and after the intervention, and the functional network connectivity of the resting brains was analyzed.Results:After the intervention the average FMA-LE, FAC, BBS and MBI scores had improved in both groups, with the improvement in the experimental group significantly better than in the control group on average. In terms of cognition there was no significant difference in the DST forward and backward assessment results between the two groups. The analysis of brain network functional connectivity showed that the intensity of functional connectivity between the left prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the left premotor cortex and supplementary motor cortex (PMC/SMA) increased significantly more, on average, after training assisted by the robot.Conclusion:Dual task training with the assistance of a lower limb rehabilitation robot can effectively improve the lower limb motor function, walking, balance and ability in the activities of daily living of stroke survivors. Enhanced functional connection of the PFC and the PMC/SMA in the healthy hemisphere induced by the robot may be the cause.

No currently available biomarkers or treatment regimens fully meet therapeutic needs of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Circular RNA (circRNA) is a recently identified class of stable noncoding RNA that have been documented as potential biomarkers for various diseases. Our objective was to identify and analyze plasma circRNAs altered in T1DM.

ObjectiveTo clarify the feasibility of the 3D scanning volume method for distal upper limb volume measurement, and to analyze its scorer reliability and criterion-related validity. MethodsFrom January to March, 2022, a therapist (operator A) who had not been exposed to 3D scanning volume method and water displacement method was trained to use a handheld 3D laser scanner and a spilt cup to measure the volume of a PVC distal upper limb model. The operation time of 30 operations of each method was recorded. The learning curves of the two methods were plotted using cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis. The curve was cut into the learning stage and the mastery stage by the vertex of peak. The times required to reach the mastery stage and the operation time of the mastery stage for the two methods were recorded. A total of 20 healthy subjects were recruited from Huashan Hospital of Fudan University. Two trained therapists (operator A and operator B) measured the bilateral distal upper limb volume using a handheld 3D laser scanner, and operator A measured the bilateral distal upper limb volume using a spilt cup. ResultsThe fitting learning curve of the 3D scanning volume method (R² = 0.984) reached its peak after eight times of operation; while that of the water displacement method (R² = 0.494) reached its peak after five times of operation. At mastery stage, the operator spent less time using 3D scanning volume method than using water displacement method (P < 0.05). The intraclass correlation coefficient between the two operators were both 0.979 for bilateral distal upper limb volume measure (P < 0.001). The Pearson coefficients was above 0.979 between 3D scanning volume method and water displacement method (P < 0.001). ConclusionA therapist can master the use of the 3D scanning volume method after eight times of operation, and the operation time of 3D scanning volume method is shorter than that of water displacement method at mastery stage. The 3D scanning volume method is well reliable and valid, that can be used as an alternative to the water displacement method for distal upper limb volumetric measurement.

Background::Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a severe and acute cardiovascular syndrome with high mortality among patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRDs). Accurate prediction and timely intervention play a pivotal role in enhancing survival rates. However, there is a notable scarcity of practical early prediction and risk assessment systems of PE in patients with AIIRD.Methods::In the training cohort, 60 AIIRD with PE cases and 180 age-, gender-, and disease-matched AIIRD non-PE cases were identified from 7254 AIIRD cases in Tongji Hospital from 2014 to 2022. Univariable logistic regression (LR) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) were used to select the clinical features for further training with machine learning (ML) methods, including random forest (RF), support vector machines (SVM), neural network (NN), logistic regression (LR), gradient boosted decision tree (GBDT), classification and regression trees (CART), and C5.0 models. The performances of these models were subsequently validated using a multicenter validation cohort.Results::In the training cohort, 24 and 13 clinical features were selected by univariable LR and LASSO strategies, respectively. The five ML models (RF, SVM, NN, LR, and GBDT) showed promising performances, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of 0.962-1.000 in the training cohort and 0.969-0.999 in the validation cohort. CART and C5.0 models achieved AUCs of 0.850 and 0.932, respectively, in the training cohort. Using D-dimer as a pre-screening index, the refined C5.0 model achieved an AUC exceeding 0.948 in the training cohort and an AUC above 0.925 in the validation cohort. These results markedly outperformed the use of D-dimer levels alone.Conclusion::ML-based models are proven to be precise for predicting the onset of PE in patients with AIIRD exhibiting clinical suspicion of PE.Trial Registration::Chictr.org.cn: ChiCTR2200059599.