The somatosensory system, including modalities such as touch, temperature, and pain, is essential for perceiving and interacting with the environment. When individuals encounter different somatosensory modalities, they interact through a process called multimodal somatosensory integration. This integration is essential for accurate perception, motor coordination, pain management, and adaptive behavior. Disruptions in this process can lead to a variety of sensory disorders and complicate rehabilitation efforts. However, research on the behavioral patterns and neural mechanisms underlying multimodal somatosensory integration remains limited. According to previous studies, multimodal somatosensory integration can result in facilitative or inhibitory effects depending on factors like stimulus type, intensity, and spatial proximity. Facilitative effects are observed primarily when stimuli from the same sensory modality (e.g., two touch or temperature stimuli) are presented simultaneously, leading to amplified perceptual strength and quicker reaction times. Additionally, certain external factors, such as cooling, can increase sensitivity to other sensory inputs, further promoting facilitative integration. In contrast, inhibitory effects may also emerge when stimuli from different sensory modalities interact, particularly between touch and pain. Under such conditions, one sensory input (e.g., vibration or non-noxious temperature stimulation) can effectively reduce the perceived intensity of the other, often resulting in reduced pain perception. These facilitative and inhibitory interactions are critical for efficient processing in a multi-stimulus environment and play a role in modulating the experience of somatosensory inputs in both normal and clinical contexts. The neural mechanisms underlying multimodal somatosensory integration are multi-tiered, encompassing peripheral receptors, the spinal cord, and various cortical structures. Facilitative integration relies on the synchronous activation of peripheral receptors, which transmit enhanced signals to higher processing centers. At the cortical level, areas such as the primary and secondary somatosensory cortex, through multimodal neuron responses, facilitate combined representation and amplification of sensory signals. In particular, the thalamus is a significant relay station where multisensory neurons exhibit superadditive responses, contributing to facilitation by enhancing signal strength when multiple inputs are present. Inhibitory integration, on the other hand, is mediated by mechanisms within the spinal cord, such as gating processes that limit transmission of competing sensory signals, thus diminishing the perceived intensity of certain inputs. At the cortical level, lateral inhibition within the somatosensory cortex plays a key role in reducing competing signals from non-target stimuli, enabling prioritized processing of the most relevant sensory input. This layered neural architecture supports the dynamic modulation of sensory inputs, balancing facilitation and inhibition to optimize perception. Understanding the neural pathways involved in somatosensory integration has potential clinical implications for diagnosing sensory disorders and developing therapeutic strategies. Future research should focus on elucidating the specific neural circuitry and mechanisms that contribute to these complex interactions, providing insights into the broader implications of somatosensory integration on behavior and cognition. In summary, this review highlights the importance of multimodal somatosensory integration in enhancing sensory perception. It also underscores the need for further exploration into the neural underpinnings of these processes to advance our understanding of sensory integration and its applications in clinical settings.

ObjectiveTo establish and validate a new prediction model for the risk of death in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure （ACLF） based on sarcopenia and other clinical indicators， and to improve the accuracy of prognostic assessment for ACLF patients. MethodsA total of 380 patients with ACLF who were admitted to Beijing YouAn Hospital， Capital Medical University， from January 2019 to January 2022 were enrolled， and they were divided into training group with 228 patients and testing group with 152 patients in a ratio of 6∶4 using the stratified random sampling method. For the training group， CT images were used to measure the cross-sectional area of the skeletal muscle at the third lumbar vertebra （L3）， and L3 skeletal muscle index （L3-SMI） was calculated. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the previously established L3-SMI reference values for healthy adults in northern China. Univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to establish a sarcopenia-ACLF model which integrated sarcopenia and clinical risk factors， and a nomogram was developed for presentation. The area under the ROC curve （AUC） was used to assess the predictive performance of the model， the calibration curve was used to assess the degree of calibration， and a decision curve analysis was used to investigate the clinical application value of the model. The independent-samples t test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups， and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves， and the Log-rank test was used for comparison between groups. The DeLong test was used for comparison of AUC between different models. ResultsThe multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that sarcopenia （hazard ratio ［HR］=1.962， 95% confidence interval ［CI］： 1.185‍ ‍—‍ ‍3.250， P=0.009）， total bilirubin （HR=1.003， 95%CI： 1.002‍ ‍—‍ ‍1.005， P<0.001）， international normalized ratio （HR=1.997， 95%CI： 1.674‍ ‍—‍ ‍2.382， P<0.001）， and lactic acid （HR=1.382， 95%CI： 1.170‍ ‍—‍ ‍1.632， P<0.001） were included in the sarcopenia-ACLF model. In the training cohort， the sarcopenia-ACLF model had a larger AUC than MELD-Na score in predicting 90-day mortality in patients with ACLF （0.80 vs 0.73， Z=1.97， P=0.049）. In the test cohort， the sarcopenia-ACLF model had a significantly larger AUC than MELD score （0.79 vs 0.69， Z=2.70， P=0.007） and MELD-Na score （0.79 vs 0.68， Z=2.92， P=0.004）. The calibration curve showed that the model had good calibration ability， with a relatively good consistency between the predicted risk of mortality and the observed results. The DCA results showed that within a reasonable range of threshold probabilities， the sarcopenia-ACLF model showed a greater net benefit than MELD and MELD-Na scores in both the training cohort and the test cohort. ConclusionThe sarcopenia-ACLF model developed in this study provides a more accurate tool for predicting the risk of 90-day mortality in ACLF patients， which provides support for clinical decision-making and helps to optimize treatment strategies.

Aim To explore the effect of circ_0038467 on nerve cell damage induced by hypoxia-glucose dep-rivation(OGD)and its possible mechanism.Methods Rat cortical nerve cells were isolated and cultured,and then induced by OGD to establish a cell injury model.si-NC,si-circ_0038467,miR-NC,and miR-940 mimics were transfected into rat cortical nerve cells and treated with OGD for 6 h.si-circ_0038467 and an-ti-miR-NC or anti-miR-940 were co-transfected into rat cortical neurons,followed by OGD treatment for 6 h.qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression levels of circ_0038467 and miR-940.CCK-8 method and flow cytometry were used to examine cell proliferation and apoptosis.LDH method was used to detect cell dam-age.The dual luciferase reporter experiment was used to detect the targeting relationship between circ_0038467 and miR-940.Western blot was employed to detect cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 protein levels.Results Circ_0038467 expression increased and miR-940 expression decreased in OGD-induced nerve cells(P＜0.01).After transfection with si-circ_0038467 or miR-940 mimics,cell survival rate in-creased(P＜0.01),while LDH release rate,apopto-sis rate,and the protein levels of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 decreased(P＜0.01).Circ_0038467 could target miR-940.Compared with the OGD+si-circ_0038467+anti-miR-NC group,cell survival rate in OGD+si-circ_0038467+anti-miR-940 group was down-regulated(P＜0.01),while LDH re-lease rate,apoptosis rate and cleaved caspase-3,cleaved caspase-9 levels were up-regulated(P＜0.01).Conclusion Interference of circ_003 8467 and could protect nerve cells from OGD-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis by up-regulating miR-940.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features and therapeutic efficacy of patients with hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma(RCC) syndrome-associated RCC (HLRCC-RCC) in China.Methods:The clinical data of 119 HLRCC-RCC patients with fumarate hydratase (FH) germline mutation confirmed by genetic diagnosis from 15 medical centers nationwide from January 2008 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 73 were male and 46 were female. The median age was 38(13, 74) years. The median tumor diameter was 6.5 (1.0, 20.5) cm. There were 38 cases (31.9%) in stage Ⅰ-Ⅱand 81 cases (68.1%) in stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ. In this group, only 11 of 119 HLRCC-RCC patients presented with skin smooth muscle tumors, and 44 of 46 female HLRCC-RCC patients had a history of uterine fibroids. The pathological characteristics, treatment methods, prognosis and survival of the patients were summarized.Results:A total of 86 patients underwent surgical treatment, including 70 cases of radical nephrectomy, 5 cases of partial nephrectomy, and 11 cases of reductive nephrectomy. The other 33 patients with newly diagnosed metastasis underwent renal puncture biopsy. The results of genetic testing showed that 94 patients had FH gene point mutation, 18 had FH gene insertion/deletion mutation, 4 had FH gene splicing mutation, 2 had FH gene large fragment deletion and 1 had FH gene copy number mutation. Immunohistochemical staining showed strong 2-succinocysteine (2-SC) positive and FH negative in 113 patients. A total of 102 patients received systematic treatment, including 44 newly diagnosed patients with metastasis and 58 patients with postoperative metastasis. Among them, 33 patients were treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) combined with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), 8 patients were treated with bevacizumab combined with erlotinib, and 61 patients were treated with TKI monotherapy. Survival analysis showed that the median progression-free survival (PFS) of TKI combined with ICI was 18 (5, 38) months, and the median overall survival (OS) was not reached. The median PFS and OS were 12 (5, 14) months and 30 (10, 32) months in the bevacizumab combined with erlotinib treatment group, respectively. The median PFS and OS were 10 (3, 64) months and 44 (10, 74) months in the TKI monotherapy group, respectively. PFS ( P=0.009) and OS ( P=0.006) in TKI combined with ICI group were better than those in bevacizumab combined with erlotinib group. The median PFS ( P=0.003) and median OS ( P=0.028) in TKI combined with ICI group were better than those in TKI monotherapy group. Conclusions:HLRCC-RCC is rare but has a high degree of malignancy, poor prognosis and familial genetic characteristics. Immunohistochemical staining with strong positive 2-SC and negative FH can provide an important basis for clinical diagnosis. Genetic detection of FH gene germ line mutation can confirm the diagnosis. The preliminary study results confirmed that TKI combined with ICI had a good clinical effect, but it needs to be confirmed by the results of a large sample multi-center randomized controlled clinical study.

Objective:To investigate the epidemiological and genetic characteristics of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in Tianjin during two influenza epidemic seasons from October 2020 to March 2021 and from October 2021 to March 2022, and enrich the whole genome database of hMPV in China.Methods:A total of 1 040 pharyngeal swab samples collected from patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) were analyzed using microfluidic chip fluorescence quantitative PCR. RT-PCR was used to amplify the whole genome in hMPV-positive samples, and the second-generation sequencing was performed for complete genome sequencing. Bioinformatics software including CLC, DNAStar, and MEGA was used for sequence assembly, nucleotide and amino acid homology analysis, and phylogenetic tree mapping.Results:Among the 1 040 samples, 25 were positive for hMPV with a positive rate of 2.40%. The highest positive rate was observed in the age group of 3 to 5 years, reaching 3.71% (16/431). During the influenza epidemic seasons, the detection rate of hMPV peaked in December, reaching 6.67% (12/180). Twelve strains were successfully sequenced, and there were seven of type B2, four of type A2b, and one of type B1. More variations were detected in the G gene, with 111nt-dup sequence repeats observed in the G gene of three A2b strains.Conclusions:The prevalence of hMPV peaks in December during the influenza epidemic seasons in Tianjin, with Type B2 being the predominant type. Except for the G gene with more mutations, other genes remain stable.

BACKGROUND:Satisfactory clinical results have been achieved in the treatment of Sanders Ⅲ calcaneal fractures by percutaneous compression fixation with three-dimensional frame screws.However,whether the stability of minimally invasive plate internal fixation can be achieved in terms of biomechanics,and the advantages and disadvantages after comparison are still unknown. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the fixation effect of different internal fixation devices on Sanders Ⅲ calcaneal fractures by finite element analysis. METHODS:A finite element model of Sanders Ⅲ calcaneal fracture was made based on CT data of a 26-year-old healthy male volunteer.The calcaneal fracture models were fixed by minimally invasive three-dimensional frame screws and minimally invasive Y-plate.The longitudinal loads of 350 and 700 N were applied respectively.The displacement and stress distribution of the two models were analyzed,and the stability of each model was compared. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The peak stress of bone block and implant in the minimally invasive three-dimensional frame screw model was significantly lower than that in the minimally invasive minimally invasive plate model.The average stress of bone block and implant in the three-dimensional frame screw model was also significantly lower than that in the minimally invasive plate model.(2)The maximum displacement of the two models was located at the medial side of the articular surface of the posterior talus,and the maximum displacement of the three-dimensional frame screw model was smaller than that of the minimally invasive plate model.(3)The longitudinal displacement between the anterior fragment and the medial fragment of the minimally invasive plate model was smaller,and the transverse and vertical displacement between the medial fragment and the middle fragment of the three-dimensional group screw model was smaller.(4)It is concluded that both of the two internal fixation models can provide satisfactory fixation effect.The three-dimensional frame screw model can provide better transverse and vertical stability with more uniform stress distribution and smaller comprehensive displacement of bone fragments,while the minimally invasive plate has more advantages in maintaining longitudinal stability.

As public hospitals continue to expand,buildings continue to age,sporadic renovation projects are increas-ing,and expenditures are increasing.In order to ensure the safe,stable and efficient operation of the hospital,the piecemeal re-pair project has become an important basic guarantee for the hospital.There are many kinds of sporadic repair projects,and the projects are trivial and scattered.The contradictions among the needs,cost control,management ability and service quality of sporadic repair projects are becoming increasingly prominent,which has become the difficulty and pain point of logistics service management.In the practice of hospital sporadic repair project management,the traditional project management mode is broken,the whole process of fine management system is established,the level of management personnel and the whole process of the pro-ject are effectively integrated,and the management ability and service quality of sporadic maintenance projects are comprehensive-ly improved.

Objective:To investigate the value of traditional metabolic parameters, CT features and intratumoral heterogeneity parameters measured by 18F-FDG PET/CT in predicting the mutation status of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in patients with adenocarcinoma. Methods:A total of 147 patients (73 males, 74 females, age (59.8±10.2) years) with pathological confirmed adenocarcinoma between January 2016 and June 2020 in the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University were retrospectively included. The differences of clinical data (smoking history, tumor location and clinical stage), CT features (maximum diameter, ground-glass opacity content, lobulation, speculation, cavitation, air-bronchogram, pleural retraction and bronchial cut-off sign), 18F-FDG PET/CT traditional metabolic parameters (SUV max, SUV mean, metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG)) and intratumoral heterogeneity parameters ( CV, heterogeneity index (HI)) were analyzed between patients with EGFR mutation and patients with EGFR wild-type. Independent-sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test and χ2 test were used to analyze the data. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the predictors of EGFR mutation. ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of clinical and PET/CT information. Results:Among 147 patients, 87 were with EGFR mutation and 60 were with EGFR wild-type. There were significant differences in gender (male/female), smoking history (with/without), location (peripheral lesion/central lesion), pleural retraction (with/without), SUV max, SUV mean, TLG, CV and HI ( χ2 values: 4.72-23.89, z values: from -2.31 to 5.74, all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that smoking history (odds ratio ( OR)=0.167, 95% CI: 0.076-0.366; P<0.001), pleural retraction ( OR=1.404, 95% CI: 1.115-3.745; P=0.012), SUV max ( OR=0.922, 95% CI: 0.855-0.995; P=0.003), TLG ( OR=0.991, 95% CI: 0.986-0.996; P=0.001) and HI ( OR=0.796, 95% CI: 0.700-0.859; P<0.001) were predictors of EGFR mutation. ROC curve analysis showed the AUC of HI was 0.779, with the sensitivity of 76.67%(46/60) and the specificity of 79.31%(69/87). The predictive model was constructed by combining smoking history, pleural retraction, TLG, SUV max and HI, and the AUC was 0.908, with the sensitivity of 88.33%(53/60) and the specificity of 68.97%(60/87). The difference of AUCs between HI and the predictive model was statistically significant ( z=3.71, P<0.001). Conclusion:HI can predict EGFR mutations better, and the predictive value for EGFR mutations can be enhanced when combining HI with smoking history, pleural retraction, TLG and SUV max.

Objective To investigate the effect of matrine on improving diabetic nephropathy(DN)through transforming growth factor β/signal transduction protein(TGF-β/Smads)pathway.Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into NC group,DN group,DN+matrine group,and DN+metformin group,with 10 mice in each group.Except for NC group,other groups were established DN models by high-fat and high-sugar diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ).After successful modeling,DN+matrine group was treated with matrine for 4 weeks,DN+metformin group was treated with metformin,DN and NC groups were given equal volumes of 0.9％NaCl.Western blot was used to detect the expression of collagen Ⅳ(Col Ⅳ),fibronectin(FN),Smad family member 2/3(Smad2/3),and phosphorylated Smad2/3(p-Smad2/3)in kidney.Biochemical method were used to detect blood glucose,creatinine,and urea nitrogen levels of mice.Results In NC group,DN group and DN+matrine group,blood glucose levels were(8.16±2.53),(24.84±4.67)and(23.88±3.57)mmol·L-1;blood creatinine levels were(36.48±5.63),(97.51±10.59)and(41.88±7.26)mmol·L-1;urea nitrogen levels were(53.11±4.72),(91.50±8.62)and(63.29±5.69)mmol·L-1;Col Ⅳ protein expression levels in kidney were 1.00±0.19,3.34±0.58 and 1.99±0.44;FN protein expression levels were 1.00±0.21,3.63±0.47 and 1.79±0.43;p-Smad2/3/Smad2/3 were 1.00±0.18,2.74±0.51 and 1.08±0.33.Above indicators showed statistically significant differences between NC group and DN group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Matrine can effectively inhibit the activation of TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway and reduce the polyproduct of extracellular matrix-related proteins,thus playing a protective role in DN kidney injury.

The microbiological quality of laboratory animals is crucial for the validity and reproducibility of scientific research data,as well as human health and animal welfare.Currently,individual ventilation cages(IVC)have become the mainstream feeding system for rodent laboratory animals.The most commonly used pathogen monitoring method for this feeding system is soiled bedding sentinels(SBS).This method monitors the microbial carrying status of mouse colony through indirect contact and delayed feedback.It can effectively monitor pathogens transmitted via the fecal-oral route,such as mouse hepatitis virus and reovirus.However,this method has difficulty detecting pathogens mainly transmitted through aerosols or direct contact,such as Sendai virus and Pasteurella pneumotropica.The exhaust air dust(EAD)-PCR monitoring method involves swab sampling in the IVC exhaust ducts to monitor the corresponding racks of the ducts;swab sampling before the prefiltration of the host to monitor the entire IVC rack;and EAD collection device sampling to monitor all racks connected to the same host.Different IVC manufacturers have developed corresponding EAD collection devices for their respective IVC systems,making operations convenient and standardization easy.Compared with the SBS method,the EAD-PCR method significantly improves detection rate and timeliness,with the fastest detection possible after one week of exposure.It can serve as a supplement or replacement for the SBS method.Currently,increasing evidence supports that EAD-PCR testing is a more reliable,sensitive,and cost-effective monitoring method,and is more beneficial to animal welfare.This article reviews the application progress of these two methods for monitoring pathogens,analyzes the existing limitations of the EAD-PCR method,and proposes solutions based on its implementation in our laboratory and examination units.The EAD-PCR method helps reduce the number of live sentinel animals used in pathogen monitoring,in order to better maintain the"3Rs"principle of laboratory animal welfare.