ObjectiveTo clarify whether METTL14 mediates the core role of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) in promoting myelination and improving behavior in young autistic rats through gene intervention technology. MethodsThe ASD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA) in pregnant rats. Male offspring were intracerebroventricularly injected with adenovirus-packaged METTL14 shRNA (sh-METTL14) or its control (sh-NC) on postnatal day 1, with a model group set as well. Subsequently, the juvenile rats were divided into model group, acupuncture group, acupuncture+sh-NC group, and acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) from postnatal day 7, once daily for 21 consecutive days. Neurobehavioral changes were evaluated by behavioral tests; METTL14 knockdown efficiency and the expression of METTL14, METTL3, and PTEN were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB); PTEN m⁶A levels were measured by RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR (RIP-qPCR); myelin ultrastructure, expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofascin 155 (NF155), and dendritic spine density were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and primary neuron culture. ResultsBehaviorally, knockdown of METTL14 significantly counteracted the beneficial effects of acupuncture in improving self-grooming, open field exploration, three-chamber social interaction, and Morris water maze learning and memory (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the acupuncture+sh-NC group, the acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of hippocampal METTL14 (P<0.01), and the upregulating effects of acupuncture on METTL3 and PTEN expression were reversed (P<0.01). Meanwhile, knockdown of METTL14 significantly inhibited the acupuncture-induced increase in PTEN m⁶A levels (P<0.01). Morphologically, knockdown of METTL14 attenuated the improvement of myelin structure by acupuncture, reversed the downregulation of MBP and upregulation of NF155 induced by acupuncture, and blocked the increase in dendritic spine density (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionMETTL14 is a key molecule mediating the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Neiguan. Acupuncture at Neiguan upregulates METTL14, thereby enhancing m⁶A methylation modification of PTEN mRNA to stabilize its expression, ultimately promoting myelin development and improving behavioral symptoms in ASD juvenile rats. This preliminarily reveals the modern biological connotation of “opening Xuanfu and dredging myelin”.

ObjectiveTo clarify whether METTL14 mediates the core role of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) in promoting myelination and improving behavior in young autistic rats through gene intervention technology. MethodsThe ASD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA) in pregnant rats. Male offspring were intracerebroventricularly injected with adenovirus-packaged METTL14 shRNA (sh-METTL14) or its control (sh-NC) on postnatal day 1, with a model group set as well. Subsequently, the juvenile rats were divided into model group, acupuncture group, acupuncture+sh-NC group, and acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) from postnatal day 7, once daily for 21 consecutive days. Neurobehavioral changes were evaluated by behavioral tests; METTL14 knockdown efficiency and the expression of METTL14, METTL3, and PTEN were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB); PTEN m⁶A levels were measured by RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR (RIP-qPCR); myelin ultrastructure, expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofascin 155 (NF155), and dendritic spine density were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and primary neuron culture. ResultsBehaviorally, knockdown of METTL14 significantly counteracted the beneficial effects of acupuncture in improving self-grooming, open field exploration, three-chamber social interaction, and Morris water maze learning and memory (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the acupuncture+sh-NC group, the acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of hippocampal METTL14 (P<0.01), and the upregulating effects of acupuncture on METTL3 and PTEN expression were reversed (P<0.01). Meanwhile, knockdown of METTL14 significantly inhibited the acupuncture-induced increase in PTEN m⁶A levels (P<0.01). Morphologically, knockdown of METTL14 attenuated the improvement of myelin structure by acupuncture, reversed the downregulation of MBP and upregulation of NF155 induced by acupuncture, and blocked the increase in dendritic spine density (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionMETTL14 is a key molecule mediating the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Neiguan. Acupuncture at Neiguan upregulates METTL14, thereby enhancing m⁶A methylation modification of PTEN mRNA to stabilize its expression, ultimately promoting myelin development and improving behavioral symptoms in ASD juvenile rats. This preliminarily reveals the modern biological connotation of “opening Xuanfu and dredging myelin”.

BACKGROUND:Polylactic acid(PLA)has good biocompatibility and a controllable degradation rate and is currently widely used in biomedical engineering.However,PLA has shortcomings such as low mechanical strength and insufficient biological activity,which limits its further application in bone tissue engineering. OBJECTIVE:To construct polylactic acid/polydopamine/tantalum(PLA/PDA/Ta)bone tissue engineering scaffolds,and explore their biosafety and in vitro osteogenesis. METHODS:A PLA scaffold with a porous structure was prepared through liquid crystal display light-curing technology.PLA/PDA scaffolds and PLA/PDA/Ta scaffolds were prepared by soaking PLA scaffolds in dopamine solution and dopamine-tantalum nanoparticle solution,respectively.The microstructure and water contact angle of scaffolds were characterized.MC3T3-E1 cells were co-cultured with PLA,PLA/PDA,and PLA/PDA/Ta scaffolds,respectively,and CCK-8 assay and live/dead cell staining were performed.After osteogenic differentiation,alkaline phosphatase,alizarin red staining,and osteogenic gene detection were performed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The scanning electron microscope results exhibited that the three kinds of prepared scaffolds had an interconnected porous three-dimensional structure,and the average pore diameter was 200 μm.The water contact angle of PLA/PDA/Ta scaffolds was lower than that of PLA and PLA/PDA scaffolds(P<0.05).(2)CCK-8 assay showed that compared with PLA and PLA/PDA scaffolds,PLA/PDA/Ta scaffolds could promote cell proliferation(P<0.05).Live/dead cell staining showed good cell proliferation in the three groups.(3)Alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red staining showed that compared with PLA and PLA/PDA scaffolds,PLA/PDA/Ta scaffolds could promote the expression of alkaline phosphatase and the formation of mineralized nodules.RT-qPCR showed that compared with PLA and PLA/PDA scaffolds,PLA/PDA/Ta scaffolds could enhance the mRNA expression of cell bone morphogenetic protein,Runx-2,and type I collagen(P<0.05,P<0.01).(4)The results showed that the PLA/PDA/Ta scaffold had excellent osteogenic activity and the ability to promote cell proliferation.

Objective:To investigate the situation of computed tomography(CT)equipment and socio economic development of various grades and classifications of medical institutions in Jiangsu Province,and to analyze the interrelationship between them.Methods:From October 20,2023 to November 20,2023,a questionnaire survey was conducted on imported and domestic CT equipment of various grades and classifications of medical institutions in 13 prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu Province through online questionnaire survey of"questionnaire star".The gross domestic product(GDP)of each prefecture-level city in Jiangsu province was used as an indicator of measuring the level of socio-economic development in the region.The CT number,the row number of detector,quality of image,the total examination case number of daily average and the daily average case number of single machine examination of medical institutions of various grades and classifications of 13 prefecture-level cities were used to conduct correlation analysis with GDP values of various districts.Results:A total of 910 questionnaires were distributed,and 512 questionnaires were retrieved.There were 482 valid questionnaires in the 512 questionnaires,and the valid rate was 94.15,which involved to 482 various grade and classification institutions of 13 prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu province.The number of imported and domestic CT equipment in the 13 prefecture-level cities of Jiangsu Province positively correlated with the GDP of each city(r=0.882,0.880,P<0.001).The number of imported CT equipment with 64 rows and more than 64 rows,and with less than 64 rows,and the number of domestic CT equipment with 64 rows and more than 64 rows,and with less than 64 rows all positively correlated with the GDP of each city(r=0.880,0.881,0.736,0.897,P<0.05).The total number of daily average of examinations for imported and domestic CT equipment of 13 prefecture-level cities positively correlated with the GDP of each city(r=0.774,0.814,P<0.05).There were no significant difference in the image quality and the daily average case number of single machine examination between the domestic CT equipment and the imported CT equipment(P>0.05).Conclusion:The medical institutions of city with high level of economic development have more quantitative and more high-end CT equipment,and the quality of image of domestic CT equipment is equal to that of imported CT equipment regardless of the high and low level of economic development.

Objective To explore the value of MRI subtraction technique(ST)for evaluating the efficacy of systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and predicting prognosis after combining with surgery.Methods Totally 35 patients with 39 HCC lesions who received systemic therapy+radical resection were retrospectively collected.Based on preoperative MRI,tumor activity ratio(recorded as tumor activityST)was obtained with ST,while tumor activity value(recorded as tumor activitypathology)was obtained through postoperative pathology,and their correlation was analyzed.The patients were regularly followed up after surgery,and the survival data were recorded.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was drawn to evaluate the efficacy of tumor activityST for predicting patients'survival status.Then the patients were divided into survival benefit group and no survival benefit group according to the cut-off value,and survival analysis was conducted.Results Tumor activityST was positively correlated with tumor activitypathology(r=0.900,P＜0.001).The median follow-up time was 32.93 months,during which 8 patients died,and the median survival time was 29.9 months.The area under the curve(AUC)of tumor activityST for predicting patients'survival status was 0.67,and the cut-off value was 0.36.Thirty patients with tumor activityST＜0.36 were enrolled in survival benefit group,while 5 patients≥0.36 were collected in no survival benefit group.The overall survival in survival benefit group was longer than that in no survival benefit group(P＜0.001).Conclusion MRI ST could be used to non-invasively evaluate the efficacy of systemic therapy for advanced HCC and predict prognosis after combining with surgery.

There is significant inter-individual variation of pharmacokinetics and pharmacody-namics in patients receiving tacrolimus(TAC)for an-ti-rejection therapy,which cause the rejection or toxic action.Based on results of therapeutic drug monitoring and pathophysiological index of trans-plant patients,the individualized dosing regimen can be designed and adjusted by using model in-formed precision dosing(MIPD).The patients'clini-cal outcome can be improved.In the consensus,the different methods of MIPD used for patients re-ceived TAC for anti-rejection therapy were intro-duced,which can be used for the designing and ad-justing doing regimen,predicting adverse drug reac-tion,improving medication adherence and econom-ics during therapy.

Objective To conduct a bibliometric analysis of relevant literature on liver failure caused by viral hepatitis from the past five years,and to help researchers understand the current status and hotspots in this field,and to provide insights into future research trends.Methods Based on the Science Citation Index Expanded(SCI-Expanded)data from Web of Science Core Collection,visualization analysis and mapping were conducted through VOSviewer and CiteSpace software to generate visual representations of international research collaboration networks,keyword co-occurrence clustering,and keyword bursts.Results From 2019 to 2023,a total of 873 relevant literature were included,with a total citation frequency of 7 364 and an average citation frequency of 8.44.Among them,China had the highest number of publications(458 articles,52.46%)and had the most cooperation with the United States.The research hotspots of viral hepatitis induced liver failure were mainly divided into three categories:basic and clinical research on liver failure caused by non-hepatitis B virus(HBV),the pathogenesis of HBV related liver failure,and treatment and prediction models of liver failure.The keyword time overlay map and burst map showed that the research hotspots had gradually shifted from the prevention and control of new infections to the treatment and prognosis assessment of patients with chronic infection.Conclusion China is a major international research entity in liver failure caused by viral hepatitis and actively participates in international scientific collaborations.The research hotspots on liver failure caused by viral hepatitis have gradually shifted from preventing viral hepatitis infections and expanding treatment options to the treatment of chronic infection patients and prognostic prediction.

Objective To review the clinical characteristics of Slackia exigua infections for improving the diagnosis and treatment.Methods We reviewed the clinical characteristics of a case of pulmonary abscess caused by Slackia exigua.The infection cases caused by Slackia exigua were searched and retrieved from PubMed,CNKI,and Wanfang databases,for the articles published during the period from January 1,2011 to December 31,2023.Results Among the 15 cases of Slackia exigua infection,84.6％(11/13)had underlying diseases.Hypertension was the most common underlying disease,reported in 54.5％(6/11)of patients.Fever was present in 73.3％(11/15)of patients.Oral diseases and abscess caused by Slackia exigua were found in 63.6％(7/11)and 60.0％(9/15)of patients,respectively.Mixed infection was identified in 33.3％(5/15)of patients.The bacterium was susceptible to penicillin,ampicillin-sulbactam,ceftriaxone,levofloxacin and clindamycin,but mostly(2/3)resistant to metronidazole.Conclusions Slackia exigua infection often originates from oral aspiration and can cause abscess.Beta-lactam antibiotics are preferred for treatment of Slackia exigua infections.More data are required to confirm whether metronidazole is effective.

Frontopsylla(Frontopsylla)ochotona sp.nov.is closely related to Frontopsylla(Fr.)adixsterna Liu,Shao et Liu,1976,but can be distinguished by the following characteristics:1.In males,the immutable processes exhibit a wide,finger-like shape with asymmetrical anterior and posterior edges at their ends.The posterior edge of st.VIII lacks a deep depression,and the distal arm of st.IX is split into two lobes.2.In females,the posterior edge of the st.VII abdominal plate lacks a deep sinus,but the posterior end has a truncated or arc-shaped broad leaf.The posterior edge of t.VIII has a wide sinus,distinguishing it from F.adixsterna and other species in this genus.The type specimen was collected in Linzhi City,Xizang Autonomous Region of China,in November 2018,from an agricultural area at an altitude of approximately 3 000 m.The host species include Ochotona sp.,Niviventer confucianus,and Pitymys leucurus.

Objective To review the clinical characteristics of Slackia exigua infections for improving the diagnosis and treatment.Methods We reviewed the clinical characteristics of a case of pulmonary abscess caused by Slackia exigua.The infection cases caused by Slackia exigua were searched and retrieved from PubMed,CNKI,and Wanfang databases,for the articles published during the period from January 1,2011 to December 31,2023.Results Among the 15 cases of Slackia exigua infection,84.6％(11/13)had underlying diseases.Hypertension was the most common underlying disease,reported in 54.5％(6/11)of patients.Fever was present in 73.3％(11/15)of patients.Oral diseases and abscess caused by Slackia exigua were found in 63.6％(7/11)and 60.0％(9/15)of patients,respectively.Mixed infection was identified in 33.3％(5/15)of patients.The bacterium was susceptible to penicillin,ampicillin-sulbactam,ceftriaxone,levofloxacin and clindamycin,but mostly(2/3)resistant to metronidazole.Conclusions Slackia exigua infection often originates from oral aspiration and can cause abscess.Beta-lactam antibiotics are preferred for treatment of Slackia exigua infections.More data are required to confirm whether metronidazole is effective.