Methods: Cervical radiographs were analyzed. EOP hyperplasia was classified into three subtypes with standardized length measurements. Variables encompassed demographics, ONL-related indices, and sagittal parameters. Subtype comparisons and multivariate regression analyses (with EOP length as dependent variable) were conducted. Results: Analysis of 187 CSM patients (64.2% male) identified gender-specific patterns: males exhibited greater EOP length (9.4±6.8 mm vs. 4.6±3.4 mm, p<0.001). Type III EOP demonstrated male predominance (82.4% vs. type I 31.8%, type II 51.4%; p<0.001), with associated longer hyperplasia length (11.6±6.6 mm vs. type II 5.1±1.9 mm, p<0.001). Type III EOP was associated with higher ONL prevalence (type III 64.8% vs. type I 45.5%, type II 41.9%; p=0.010) and longer ONL osteophyte length (type III 18.8±9.8 mm vs. type I 14.2±8.1 mm, type II 14.2±9.4 mm; p=0.046). Multivariate regression confirmed male sex (β=–3.82, p=0.009), ONL osteophyte length (β=0.16, p=0.017), T1 slope (β=0.27, p=0.041), and spino-cranial angle (β=–0.19, p=0.009) as factors independently associated with EOP length (adjusted R²=0.382). Conclusions Severe EOP hyperplasia exhibits a male-predominant distribution pattern and demonstrates significant radiological associations with ONL and cervical sagittal imbalance in CSM patients. These findings advocate for EOP evaluation in clinical evaluations to identify high-risk biomechanical profiles.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive dementia, is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. Clinical trial results of amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau regulators based on the pretext of straightforward amyloid and tau immunotherapy were disappointing. There are currently no effective strategies for slowing the progression of AD. Herein, we spotlight the dysregulation of lipid metabolism, particularly the elevation of ceramides (Cers), as a critical yet underexplored facet of AD pathogenesis. Our study delineates the role of Cers in promoting microglial pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death distinct from apoptosis and necroptosis, characterized by cellular swelling, and membrane rupture mediated by the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Utilizing both in vivo experiments with amyloid precursor protein (APP)/presenilin 1 (PS1) transgenic mice and in vitro assays with BV-2 microglial cells, we investigate the activation of microglial pyroptosis by Cers and its inhibition by icariin (ICA), a flavonoid with known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Our findings reveal a significant increase in Cers levels and pyroptosis markers (NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain, caspase-1, gasdermin D (gasdermin D (GSDMD)), and interleukin-18 (IL-18)) in the brains of AD model mice, indicating a direct involvement of Cers in AD pathology through the induction of microglial pyroptosis. Conversely, ICA treatment effectively reduces these pyroptotic markers and Cer levels, thereby attenuating microglial pyroptosis and suggesting a novel therapeutic mechanism of action against AD. This study not only advances our understanding of the pathogenic role of Cers in AD but also introduces ICA as a promising candidate for AD therapy, capable of mitigating neuroinflammation and pyroptosis through the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-NLRP3 inflammasome-gasdermin D (GSDMD) axis. Our results pave the way for further exploration of Cer metabolism disorders in neurodegenerative diseases and highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting microglial pyroptosis in AD.

Alzheimer's disease(AD),a progressive dementia,is one of the most common neurodegenerative dis-eases.Clinical trial results of amyloid-β(Aβ)and tau regulators based on the pretext of straightforward amyloid and tau immunotherapy were disappointing.There are currently no effective strategies for slowing the progression of AD.Herein,we spotlight the dysregulation of lipid metabolism,particularly the elevation of ceramides(Cers),as a critical yet underexplored facet of AD pathogenesis.Our study delineates the role of Cers in promoting microglial pyroptosis,a form of programmed cell death distinct from apoptosis and necroptosis,characterized by cellular swelling,and membrane rupture mediated by the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.Utilizing both in vivo experiments with amyloid precursor protein(APP)/presenilin 1(PS1)transgenic mice and in vitro assays with BV-2 microglial cells,we investigate the activation of microglial pyroptosis by Cers and its inhibition by icariin(ICA),a flavonoid with known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.Our findings reveal a significant increase in Cers levels and pyroptosis markers(NOD-like receptor family,pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3),apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain,caspase-1,gasdermin D(GSDMD),and interleukin-18(IL-18))in the brains of AD model mice,indicating a direct involvement of Cers in AD pathology through the induction of microglial pyroptosis.Conversely,ICA treatment effec-tively reduces these pyroptotic markers and Cer levels,thereby attenuating microglial pyroptosis and suggesting a novel therapeutic mechanism of action against AD.This study not only advances our un-derstanding of the pathogenic role of Cers in AD but also introduces ICA as a promising candidate for AD therapy,capable of mitigating neuroinflammation and pyroptosis through the cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)-NLRP3 inflammasome-gasdermin D(GSDMD)axis.Our results pave the way for further exploration of Cer metabolism disorders in neurodegenerative diseases and highlight the therapeutic potential of tar-geting microglial pyroptosis in AD.

Objective:To analyze the risk factors and prognosis of pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) complicated with myocardial injury.Methods:A retrospective selection was made of 108 PLA patients treated in Beijing Friendship Hospital from January 2016 to June 2022 as the research subjects. Patients were divided into the myocardial injury group and non-myocardial injury group according to the occurrence of myocardial injury. Baseline characteristics, laboratory test data, imaging and etiological examination results, echocardiographic indicators, and prognosis were compared between the two groups. A logistic regression model was used to identify the risk factors for PLA complicated with myocardial injury.Results:Among the 108 PLA patients, 24 cases (22.2%) were complicated with myocardial injury. The age of the myocardial injury group was (71±13)years, which was significantly higher than that of the non-myocardial injury group [(59±14)years, P<0.05]. The levels of neutrophil ratio, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and D-dimer in the myocardial injury group were significantly higher than those in the non-myocardial injury group, while the levels of platelet count (PLT) and albumin (ALB) were significantly lower, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). In terms of blood culture, the positive detection rate in the myocardial injury group was as high as 54.2%(13/24), among which the detection rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae was 41.7%(10/24); the positive rate of blood culture in the non-myocardial injury group was only 17.9%(15/84), and the detection rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae was 14.3%(12/84), with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). The left ventricular ejection fraction in the myocardial injury group was lower than that in the non-myocardial injury group, and the brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level, the incidence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, the proportion of transfer to emergency intensive care unit (EICU), shock, and death were significantly higher than those in the non-myocardial injury group (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age was an independent risk factor for myocardial injury in PLA patients ( P<0.05), and for each 1-year increase in age, the risk of myocardial injury increased by 11.9%. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of age for myocardial injury, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.729( P<0.05), and the cut-off value calculated by Youden index was 64.5 years. Conclusions:Age is an independent risk factor for myocardial injury in PLA patients. PLA patients complicated with myocardial injury have poor cardiac function, higher incidence of transfer to EICU, shock, and death, and poor prognosis.

Objective:To analyze the risk factors and prognosis of pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) complicated with myocardial injury.Methods:A retrospective selection was made of 108 PLA patients treated in Beijing Friendship Hospital from January 2016 to June 2022 as the research subjects. Patients were divided into the myocardial injury group and non-myocardial injury group according to the occurrence of myocardial injury. Baseline characteristics, laboratory test data, imaging and etiological examination results, echocardiographic indicators, and prognosis were compared between the two groups. A logistic regression model was used to identify the risk factors for PLA complicated with myocardial injury.Results:Among the 108 PLA patients, 24 cases (22.2%) were complicated with myocardial injury. The age of the myocardial injury group was (71±13)years, which was significantly higher than that of the non-myocardial injury group [(59±14)years, P<0.05]. The levels of neutrophil ratio, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and D-dimer in the myocardial injury group were significantly higher than those in the non-myocardial injury group, while the levels of platelet count (PLT) and albumin (ALB) were significantly lower, with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). In terms of blood culture, the positive detection rate in the myocardial injury group was as high as 54.2%(13/24), among which the detection rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae was 41.7%(10/24); the positive rate of blood culture in the non-myocardial injury group was only 17.9%(15/84), and the detection rate of Klebsiella pneumoniae was 14.3%(12/84), with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). The left ventricular ejection fraction in the myocardial injury group was lower than that in the non-myocardial injury group, and the brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level, the incidence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, the proportion of transfer to emergency intensive care unit (EICU), shock, and death were significantly higher than those in the non-myocardial injury group (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age was an independent risk factor for myocardial injury in PLA patients ( P<0.05), and for each 1-year increase in age, the risk of myocardial injury increased by 11.9%. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of age for myocardial injury, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.729( P<0.05), and the cut-off value calculated by Youden index was 64.5 years. Conclusions:Age is an independent risk factor for myocardial injury in PLA patients. PLA patients complicated with myocardial injury have poor cardiac function, higher incidence of transfer to EICU, shock, and death, and poor prognosis.

The fluid status and rate of blood flow through the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) are two important factors affecting hemodynamic in hemodialysis patients; however, their effects on pulmonary hypertension have rarely been studied. Hence, we aimed to evaluate the effects of these factors in hemodialysis patients with pulmonary hypertension. Methods: This single-center cross-sectional survey included 219 maintenance hemodialysis patients (139 [63.5%] male). The prevalence of pulmonary hypertension was 13.6% (30 of 219). Pulmonary artery pressure was measured by echocardiography, fluid status was measured objectively using bioimpedance spectroscopy, and blood flow rate in the AVF (Qa) was determined using Doppler ultrasound. Results: The overall mean overhydration before hemodialysis was 1.5 L (range, 0.6–2.8 L). The mean overhydration in patients with and without pulmonary hypertension was 3.6 L (range, 2.3–4.6 L) and 1.4 L (range, 0.6–2.4 L), respectively (p < 0.001). The overall mean Qa was 780 mL/min (range, 570–1,015.5 mL/min). The mean Qa of patients with and without pulmonary hypertension was 672 mL/min (range, 505.7–982.2 mL/min) and 790 mL/min (range, 591–1,026 mL/min), respectively (p = 0.27). Overhydration (odds ratio [OR], 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08–1.97; p = 0.01), N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP; OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.09–1.71; p = 0.007), and left atrial diameter (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.01–1.28; p = 0.03) were risk factors. Conclusion: Pulmonary hypertension is strongly associated with overhydration, NT-proBNP, and left atrial diameter in hemodialysis patients

Objective:To investigate the mediating role of self-regulatory fatigue between psychological distress and patient activation among elderly patients undergoing PCI, in order to establish a foundation for enhancing patient activation in this population.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted on 267 elderly patients hospitalized in the Department of Geriatrics at Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, for PCI treatment of coronary artery disease from March to August 2023.The study utilized the Patient Self-Regulation Fatigue Scale(SRF-S), the Positivity Scale(PAM), and the Kessler Scale of Psychological Distress(K10)to evaluate self-regulation fatigue, positivity, and psychological distress in the patients.Additionally, a structural equation model was developed to investigate the relationships among these variables.Results:The study found that the scores of PAM, SRF-S, and K10 were as follows: (56.49±9.52), (42.74±8.11), and(23.42±4.45)respectively.Patient activation showed a negative correlation with self-regulatory fatigue and psychological distress, while self-regulatory fatigue was positively correlated with psychological distress.Furthermore, self-regulatory fatigue was identified as playing a partial mediating role between psychological distress and patient activation, with a mediating effect of 0.198, which accounted for 53.8% of the total effect.Conclusions:self-regulatory fatigue serving as a mediating factor between psychological distress and patient activation.Clinicians should prioritize addressing self-regulatory fatigue to enhance the efficacy of patient activation interventions.

Objective:To investigate the potential mechanism of miR-1298-5p in non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)to regu-late the MSH2 gene and its effect on the biological behavior of tumor cells and the tumor immune microenvironment.Methods:Bioin-formatics was used to identify the key genes and miRNA involved in NSCLC.Cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay,and cell invasion and migration were detected by Transwell assay.Levels of inflammatory factors were detected by ELISA assay.Western blot was used to measure the expression of MSH2 in cells,and fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR)was used to detect the expressions of miR-1298-5p and MSH2 gene in NSCLC cells.Dual luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to verify the targeting relationship between miR-1298-5p and MSH2.Spearman correlation analysis was performed to correlate miR-1298-5p with immune cells and immune factors in the tumor immune microenvironment.Results:The level of miR-1298-5p was down-regulated in NSCLC cells compared with normal lung tissue cells.miR-1298-5p overexpression inhibited the proliferation,migration and inva-sion of NSCLC cells.MSH2 was confirmed to be a target gene of miR-1298-5p using luciferase reporter gene assay.Furthermore,down-regulation of miR-1298-5p in NSCLC cells could be reversed by silencing MSH2.miR-1298-5p expression levels were negatively corre-lated with the levels of Treg,IL-10,and TGF-β,and positively correlated with the levels of CD3+T,CD4+T,CD8+T,NK cells,IL-2,and IFN-γ.Conclusion:miR-1298-5p negatively regulates MSH2 to inhibit the proliferation,invasion and migration of NSCLC cells and improve the tumor immune microenvironment.

The PCR-amplified severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus(SFTSV)Gn-DⅢ-Ⅲ gene was inserted into the pET-30a(+)prokaryotic expression vector to generate the re-combinant plasmid pET-SFTSV-Gn-D Ⅲ-Ⅲ.The plasmid was transformed into E.coli BL21(DE3)for Gn-DⅢ-m protein expression and the expression conditions were optimized.The Gn-DⅢ-Ⅲ protein purified with Ni-NTA column affinity chromatography was applied as the captured antigen to establish an indirect ELISA method for the detection of SFTSV antibody.The results demonstrated that the recombinant plasmid pET-SFTSV-Gn-D Ⅲ-Ⅲ was successfully constructed as identified by PCR and sequencing.The recombinant protein SFTSV Gn-D m-Ⅲ was soluble ex-pression in E.coli under the optimal induction conditions of 0.4 mmol/L IPTG at 25 ℃ for 4 h,and the protein purity was 91.77％after purification by Ni-NTA column.The optimal reaction con-ditions for the indirect ELISA of SFTSV antibody were as follows:coating antigen concentration(5 μg/mL),primary antibody(incubation at 37 ℃ for 1.5 h),and secondary antibody(diluted 1:10 000 and incubated at 37 ℃ for 1 h).The established method had no cross-reactivity with Rift Valley fever virus(RVFV),Ebola virus(EBOV),and tick-borne encephalitis virus(TBEV)posi-tive sera.The method had a high sensitivity,with P/N＞2.1 for SFTSV-positive sera diluted to 81920.Coefficients of variation for intra-and inter-batch reactions were less than 10％.Detection of four SFTSV-infected human clinical serum samples showed the serum samples from patients in re-mission were tested as positive(P/N＞2.1),while serum samples from patients with multiple or-gan failure were detected as negative(P/N＜2.1).The results indicated that the SFTSV Gn-D Ⅲ-Ⅲ protein was successfully expressed and purified,and it was used as the coating protein to estab-lish an indirect ELISA assay for SFTSV antibody,which possesses good specificity,sensitivity and reproducibility.This method might be applied to detect human SFTSV clinical serum samples.

OBJECTIVE:To systematically evaluate the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation on the motor function of patients with Parkinson's disease,and to compare the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation at different targets on the motor function of patients with Parkinson's disease,so as to provide a theoretical basis for the target selection of transcranial direct current stimulation in clinical practice. METHODS:Cochrane Library,PubMed,Web of Science,CNKI,VIP,WanFang Data were retrieved for randomized controlled trials on the improvement of motor function in patients with Parkinson's disease by transcranial direct current stimulation published from the database inception to January 2023.The keywords were"Parkinson,transcranial direct current stimulation"in English and Chinese.The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane 5.1.0 risk of bias assessment tool and the PEDro scale.Meta-analysis of outcome indicators was performed using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 17.0 software. RESULTS:Fifteen randomized controlled trials were finally included,and the PEDro scale showed that all were high-quality or very high-quality studies.Meta-analysis showed that transcranial direct current stimulation significantly improved Unified-Parkinson Disease Rating Scale part III score[mean difference(MD)=-2.49,95%confidence interval(CI):-4.42 to-0.55,P<0.05),step frequency score(MD=0.07,95%CI:0.03-0.11,P<0.05)and step speed score(MD=0.02,95%CI:0.00-0.05,P<0.05),but not for Berg Balance Scale scores(MD=2.57,95%CI:-0.74 to 5.87,P>0.05).Network Meta-analysis probability ranking:In terms of Unified-Parkinson Disease Rating Scale part III scores,the probability ranking results of target stimulation efficacy were dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex(52.4%)>primary motor cortex(45.8%)>central point of the brain(1.8%)>conventional rehabilitation(0%);in terms of gait frequency scores,the probability probability ranking results of target stimulation efficacy were cerebellum(50.1%)>central point of the brain(45.8%)>dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex(3.9%)>primary motor cortex(0.2%)>conventional rehabilitation(0%);in terms of gait speed scores,the probability ranking results of target stimulation efficacy were cerebellum(64.8%)>dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex(23.8%)>central point of the brain(9.4%)>primary motor cortex(1.7%)>conventional rehabilitation(0.4%);in terms of Berg Balance Scale scores,the probability ranking results of target stimulation efficacy were cerebellum(77.4%)>dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex(20.7%)>central point of the brain(0.7%)>conventional rehabilitation(0.2%). CONCLUSION:Transcranial direct current stimulation significantly improves motor function of patients with Parkinson's disease,with better motor coordination in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and better walking and balance in the cerebellum.