BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the first cohort of people in China treated with a responsive neurostimulation system (Epilcure TM , GenLight MedTech, Hangzhou, China) for focal drug-resistant epilepsy in this study. METHODS: This multicenter, before-and-after self-controlled study was conducted across 8 centers from March 2022 to June 2023, involving patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who were undergoing responsive neurostimulation (RNS). The study was based on an ongoing multi-center, single-blind, randomized controlled study. Efficacy was assessed through metrics including median seizure count, seizure frequency reduction (SFR), and response rate. Multivariable linear regression analysis was conducted to explore the relationships of basic clinical factors and intracranial electrophysiological characteristics with SFR. The postoperative quality of life, cognitive function, depression, and anxiety were evaluated as well. RESULTS: The follow-up period for the 19 participants was 10.7 ± 3.4 months. Seizure counts decreased significantly 6 months after device activation, with median SFR of 48% at the 6th month (M6) and 58% at M12 ( P  <0.05). The average response rate after 13 months of treatment was 42%, with 21% ( n  = 4) of the participants achieving seizure freedom. Patients who have previously undergone resective surgery appear to achieve better therapeutic outcomes at M11, M12 and M13 ( β  <0, P  <0.05). No statistically significant differences were observed in patients' scores of quality of life, cognition, depression and anxiety following stimulation when compared to baseline measurements. No serious adverse events related to the devices were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary findings suggest that Epilcure TM exhibits promising therapeutic potential in reducing the frequency of epileptic seizures. However, to further validate its efficacy, larger-scale randomized controlled trials are required. REGISTRATION Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No. ChiCTR2200055247).
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Drug Resistant Epilepsy/therapy* ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; China ; Adolescent ; Treatment Outcome ; Quality of Life ; Single-Blind Method ; Seizures ; Electric Stimulation Therapy/methods*

The unique advantages of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treating late onset hypogonadism in male have gradually emerged with the continuous deepening of the understanding and research on late onset hypogonadism in male. Time sequence is a general summary of the natural growth and operational laws. Tian gui and testosterone have their normal time sequences, and they may be associated with each other. A man′s tian gui follows the regular time sequence from " inception" to " exhaustion" throughout " eight" under normal physiological conditions. " Tian gui out of time sequence" includes the loss of tian gui exuberance (dysfunction of viscera dominated by the liver) and exhaustion in the time sequence (pathological deficiency of viscera dominated by the kidney), resulting in " tian gui exhaustion" in advance of " eight eight". Tian gui and testosterone are key concepts in Chinese and Western medicine for understanding late onset hypogonadism in male. The theory of " tian gui out of time sequence" may be closely related to the core pathogenesis of this condition, particularly in cases of liver depression and kidney deficiency. This study suggests that restoring the normal time sequence of tian gui while treating the liver and kidney simultaneously through time-sharing treatment should be effective. The use of Xiongcan Yishen Formula has shown promising therapeutic result, offering new insights and references for treating late onset hypogonadism in male using TCM.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of arsenic on the homeobox D10( HOXD10) gene expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes and human lung adenocarcinoma cell A549. METHODS: ⅰ) A total of 59 workers exposed to arsenic from a arsenic factory were selected as the exposure group and 17 local people without arsenic exposure were chosen as controls by using judgment sampling method. Hydride generation-cold hydrazine trapping-atomic absorption spectrometry was used to detect arsenic levels in urine of these 2 groups. The expression of HOXD10 in peripheral blood lymphocytes was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction( qRT-PCR).ⅱ) The A549 cells were treated with arsenic trioxide( As_2O_3) with concentration of 0. 0,0. 1,0. 5,1. 0 and 2. 0 μmol/L,and the survival rate of cells was examined by colorimetric assay. The expression of HOXD10 was detected by qRT-PCR. RESULTS: ⅰ) The levels of inorganic arsenic,methylarsonic acid,dimethyl arsenate,total arsenic in the urine,and the relative expression of HOXD10 mRNA in peripheral blood lymphocyte in exposure group were higher than that of the control group( P < 0. 05).ⅱ) As_2O_3 decreased the survival rate of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner( P < 0. 01) and lead to a dose-dependent increase of HOXD10 mRNA expression( P < 0. 01). A549 cell survival rate and relative expression of HOXD10 mRNA showed a negative correlation,the correlation coefficient was-0. 777( P < 0. 01). CONCLUSION: Arsenic can up-regulate HOXD10 expression in the peripheral blood of occupational arsenic exposure individuals. As_2O_3 can inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells,which may be related to the up-regulation of HOXD10 expression.

Objective To investigate pulmonary function in terms of tidal respiration and the influencing factors on it in ＜ 34 weeks premature infants with RDS at corrected gestational age of 40 weeks.Methods A total of 49 of ＜ 34 weeks premature infants with RDS (RDS group) and 36 of ＜ 34 weeks premature infants without RDS (non-RDS group) followed throughout entire twelve months were collected fromn December 2013 to October 2015.Of them,35 RDS patients and 20 non-RDS patients had the pulmonary function examination.A total of 26 full term infants with hyperbilirubinemia (full term group) were recruited for comparison study.The differences in parameters of tidal respiration were compared among the three groups.The RDS patients were further divided into the mild RDS subgroup and severe RDS subgroup according to the severity of illness.Result ①The TPEF [(0.17 ± 0.04) s vs.(0.23 ± O.09) s],VPEF [(6.74±2.70) mLvs.(9.33±2.92) mL],TPEF/TE [(29.06±4.21)％ vs.(38.27± 7.16) ％],VPEF/VE [(32.54 ± 4.43) ％ vs.(39.64 ± 5.88) ％] in RDS group were significantly lower than those in full term group (P ＜0.05).The TPEF [(0.19 ±0.06) s vs.(0.23 ±0.09) s],TPEF/TE [(30.31 ±11.53)％ vs.(38.27±7.16)％],VPEF/VE [(34.39±8.44)％ vs.(39.64±5.88)％] in non-RDS group were significantly lower than those in full termn group (P ＜ 0.05).The TPEF,TPEF/TE,VPEF/VE in RDS group were lower than those in non-RDS group,but the differences were not significant (P ＞ 0.05).②The TPEF,VPEF,TPEF/TE,VPEF/VE in mild RDS group were higher than those in severe RDS group,but the differences were.not significant (P ＞ 0.05).③ Logistic regression analysis indicated that the gestational age was the protective factor of pulmonary function in premature infants with RDS.Conclusions Small airway resistance in ＜ 34 weeks premature infants with RDS is higher than that in full term infants.There was no significant difference in pulmonary function between RDS premature infants and non-RDS premature infants.The gestational age was the influencing factor of pulmonary function in premature infants with RDS.

Objective To explore how the severity of periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH)impact on physique and neurodevelopment in premature infants.Methods A total of 80 preterm infants with PIVH admitted to NICU of Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital from December 2013 to June 2015 were eligible.According to the Papile classification,the premature infants were divided into 4 groups.They were grade Ⅰ PIVH group,grade Ⅱ PIVH group,grade Ⅲ PIVH group and grade Ⅳ PIVH group.The infants with grade Ⅰ PIVH and grade Ⅱ PIVH belong to the low-grade PIVH group.The infants with grade Ⅲ PIVH and grade Ⅳ belong to the severe-grade PIVH group.All of them were regularly followed up for 12 months.Neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants at 6 and 12-month correction age were assessed by using the 20 items neuromotor assessment applying for 0-1 year old and the Bayley scales of infant development-Ⅱ.The differences in physical and neurophysical development of premature infants among 4 groups were compared.Results There were no significant differences in physical growth indicators such as body weight,body length and the incidence of weight growth retardation among 4 groups (all P＞0.05).The incidence of neurobehavioral abnormalities in infants with grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ PIVH was significantly higher than that of infants with grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ PIVH at 12-month correction age (21.05％ vs 3.28％,x2 =4.284,P=0.038).Physical development index(PDI) of grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ PIVH infants was significantly higher than that of grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ PIVH infants at 6-month correction age(F=11.500,P＜0.05).At 12-month correction age,grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ PIVH infants showed a significant higher mental development index(MDI) scores and PDI scores than those of grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ PIVH infants(F=14.227,16.515,all P＜0.05).Of the 80 cases assessed,infants with grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ PIVH had significantly higher rates of cerebral palsy(21.05％ vs 1.64％,x2 =6.300,P=0.012) and developmental delay (26.32％ vs 4.92％,x2=5.185,P=0.023) compared with grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ PIVH infants.Conclusions The severe PIVH can have negative effect on the neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants and might induce mental retardation,cerebral palsy and other neurodevelopmental disabilities.Therefore,the regular follow-up and early intervention in preterm infants with PIVH should be implemented to improve the quality of their lives.