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”.

Recently, there has been an increasing risk of importation of tropical diseases into China and the resultant re-transmission in the country with the in-depth implementation of the “Belt and Road” Initiative, which poses a serious threat to the national public health security. To effectively respond to the cross-border transmission risk of tropical diseases and facilitate the process towards tropical disease control and elimination in China and the countries along the “Belt and Road” Initiative, this article analyzes the current status and governance risks of major imported tropical diseases, cross-border joint prevention and control polices implemented for tropical diseases and challenges in the establishment of the joint prevention and control system for tropical diseases in China, and discusses the establishment and implementation path of the joint prevention and control system for tropical diseases in countries along the “Belt and Road” Initiative. This path covers the establishment of cross-border cooperation mechanisms, research and development and pilot production of Chinese public health products, and implementation of key cross-border tropical disease prevention and control projects. The establishment of this system will further improve Chinese prevention and control capabilities for key cross-border tropical diseases, build a demonstrative prevention and control model for tropical diseases, and promote international technical exchanges and cooperation of tropical diseases.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder that significantly impacts patients’ independence and quality of life, imposing a substantial burden on both individuals and society. Although dopaminergic replacement therapies provide temporary relief from various symptoms, their long-term use often leads to motor complications, limiting overall effectiveness. In recent years, non-invasive deep brain stimulation (DBS) techniques have emerged as promising therapeutic alternatives for PD, offering a means to modulate deep brain regions with high precision without invasive procedures. These techniques include temporal interference stimulation (TIs), low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (LITFUS), transcranial magneto-acoustic stimulation (TMAS), non-invasive optogenetic modulation, and non-invasive magnetoelectric stimulation. They have demonstrated significant potential in alleviating various PD symptoms by modulating neural activity within specific deep brain structures affected by the disease. Among these approaches, TIs and LITFUS have received considerable attention. TIs generate low-frequency interference by applying two slightly different high-frequency electric fields, targeting specific brain areas to alleviate symptoms such as tremors and bradykinesia. LITFUS, on the other hand, uses low-intensity focused ultrasound to non-invasively stimulate deep brain structures, showing promise in improving both motor function and cognition in PD patients. The other three techniques, while still in early research stages, also hold significant promise for deep brain modulation and broader clinical applications, potentially complementing existing treatment strategies. Despite these promising findings, significant challenges remain in translating these techniques into clinical practice. The heterogeneous nature of PD, characterized by variable disease progression and individualized treatment responses, necessitates flexible protocols tailored to each patient’s unique needs. Additionally, a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying these treatments is crucial for refining protocols and maximizing their therapeutic potential. Personalized medicine approaches, such as the integration of neuroimaging and biomarkers, will be pivotal in customizing stimulation parameters to optimize efficacy. Furthermore, while early-stage clinical trials have reported improvements in certain symptoms, long-term efficacy and safety data are limited. To validate these techniques, large-scale, multi-center, randomized controlled trials are essential. Parallel advancements in device design, including the development of portable and cost-effective systems, will improve patient access and adherence to treatment protocols. Combining non-invasive DBS with other interventions, such as pharmacological treatments and physical therapy, could also provide a more comprehensive and synergistic approach to managing PD. In conclusion, non-invasive deep brain stimulation techniques represent a promising frontier in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. While they have demonstrated considerable potential in improving symptoms and restoring neural function, further research is needed to refine protocols, validate long-term outcomes, and optimize clinical applications. With ongoing technological and scientific advancements, these methods could offer PD patients safer, more effective, and personalized treatment options, ultimately improving their quality of life and reducing the societal burden of the disease.

Age-related sarcopenia is a progressive, systemic skeletal muscle disorder associated with aging. It is primarily characterized by a significant decline in muscle mass, strength, and physical function, rather than being an inevitable consequence of normal aging. Despite ongoing research, there is still no globally unified consensus among physicians regarding the diagnostic criteria and clinical indicators of this condition. Nonetheless, regardless of the diagnostic standards applied, the prevalence of age-related sarcopenia remains alarmingly high. With the global population aging at an accelerating rate, its incidence is expected to rise further, posing a significant public health challenge. Age-related sarcopenia not only markedly increases the risk of physical disability but also profoundly affects patients’ quality of life, independence, and overall survival. As such, the development of effective prevention and treatment strategies to mitigate its dual burden on both societal and individual health has become an urgent and critical priority. Skeletal muscle regeneration, a vital physiological process for maintaining muscle health, is significantly impaired in age-related sarcopenia and is considered one of its primary underlying causes. Skeletal muscle satellite cells (MSCs), also known as muscle stem cells, play a pivotal role in generating new muscle fibers and maintaining muscle mass and function. A decline in both the number and functionality of MSCs is closely linked to the onset and progression of sarcopenia. This dysfunction is driven by alterations in intrinsic MSC mechanisms—such as Notch, Wnt/β‑Catenin, and mTOR signaling pathways—as well as changes in transcription factors and epigenetic modifications. Additionally, the MSC microenvironment, including both the direct niche formed by skeletal muscle fibers and their secreted cytokines, and the indirect niche composed of extracellular matrix proteins and various cell types, undergoes age-related changes. Mitochondrial dysfunction and chronic inflammation further contribute to MSC impairment, ultimately leading to the development of sarcopenia. Currently, there are no approved pharmacological treatments for age-related sarcopenia. Nutritional intervention and exercise remain the cornerstone of therapeutic strategies. Adequate protein intake, coupled with sufficient energy provision, is fundamental to both the prevention and treatment of this condition. Adjuvant therapies, such as dietary supplements and caloric restriction, offer additional therapeutic potential. Exercise promotes muscle regeneration and ameliorates sarcopenia by acting on MSCs through various mechanisms, including mechanical stress, myokine secretion, distant cytokine signaling, immune modulation, and epigenetic regulation. When combined with a structured exercise regimen, adequate protein intake has been shown to be particularly effective in preventing age-related sarcopenia. However, traditional interventions may be inadequate for patients with limited mobility, poor overall health, or advanced sarcopenia. Emerging therapeutic strategies—such as miRNA mimics or inhibitors, gut microbiota transplantation, and stem cell therapy—present promising new directions for MSC-based interventions. This review comprehensively examines recent advances in MSC-mediated muscle regeneration in age-related sarcopenia and systematically discusses therapeutic strategies targeting MSC regulation to enhance muscle mass and strength. The goal is to provide a theoretical foundation and identify future research directions for the prevention and treatment of this increasingly prevalent condition.

Objective To evaluate the application value of the MR three-dimensional double inversion recovery(3D DIR)sequence in the diagnosis of optic neuritis(ON).Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on MRI images from 40 patients with sus-pected ON.All patients underwent conventional T2 WI fat suppression(FS)and 3D DIR sequences.The lesion detection rate and diag-nostic accuracy of the intraorbital,intracanalicular,and intracranial segments of the optic nerve were compared between the two sequences,respectively.The receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves were used to assess the diagnostic performance,and the intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC)were used to analyze interobserver consistency.Imaging assessments were independently performed by two senior and two junior radiologists.Results The sensitivity(SEN),specificity(SPE),and accuracy(ACC)in lesion detection of 3D DIR sequence were significantly better than those of conventional T2 WI FS sequence[odds ratio(OR)221 vs 104,P＜0.001].Notably,3D DIR sequence exhibited superior performance in detecting lesions in the intraorbital segment[area under the curve(AUC)0.915,OR=102]and intracanalicular segment(AUC 0.858,OR=51)compared with conventional T2WI FS sequence.Additionally,3D DIR sequence significantly improved diagnostic consistency among junior radiologists(ICC value increased from 0.469 to 0.655),bring-ing their diagnostic performance closer to that of senior radiologists(AUC improved to 0.883,ACC reached 90.1％).Conclusion The 3D DIR sequence has outstanding diagnostic efficacy in detecting ON lesions,significantly improving ACC and interobserver consistency,thereby offering strong support for the precise diagnosis of ON.

Objective To propose a novel method for verifying the isocenter in radiotherapy based on markers and conduct a preliminary test. Methods A feasibility experiment was conducted on wooden box phantom for radiotherapy resetting. Fifteen groups of displacement data were randomly generated,corresponding to the position deviations of the isocenter in the radiotherapy plan relative to the original isocenter. According to each set of displacement data,with the aid of movable lasers and a CT scanning couch,CT scanning was performed with two sets of markers (3 per set) affixed to the phantom which were corresponding to the original and treatment isocenters,respectively. In the Eclipse treatment planning system,the coordinate data of the original and treatment isocenters were manually verified,and the difference of coordinate data was calculated to obtain the actual displacement value. The treatment isocenter position was finally confirmed by comparing with the actual displacement. In addition,the study attempts to use threshold segmentation algorithm to automatically detect metal markers and obtain coordinate values of the original isocenter on patient-positioned CT images. In the wooden box experiment,the absolute value of the difference between the actual displacement value and the planned displacement value (?d) was used to represent the position accuracy of treatment isocenter,and the deviation value obtained with threshold segmentation algorithm for isocenter detection was ?s. Results The ?d in the X (left-right),Y (superior-inferior) and Z (anterior-superior) directions was (0.83±0.37) mm,0 (0,0.5) mm and (0.45±0.29) mm,respectively. The ?s in the X,Y and Z directions was (0.46±0.22) mm,0 (0,0.5) mm and (0.33±0.29) mm,respectively. The mean values of ?s in 3 directions were all lower than 2 mm,within the range of permissible clinical positioning error. Conclusion The method of automatically verifying treatment isocenter position based on markers is feasible,and the study provides a useful reference for radiotherapy resetting using CT simulator.

Purpose To investigate the expression of POLR2M in colorectal cancer(CRC)and its effects on cell growth,apoptosis and invasion.Methods GEPIA2.0,TCGA and Kaplan-Meier Plotter databases were used to ana-lyze the differential expression of POLR2M in CRC tissues and normal adjacent tissues,and to evaluate its prognostic significance using the Log-rank test.Quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)was used to detect the expression of POLR2M in human colorectal cancer cell lines SW480,HCT-8,RKO,LOVO,DLD-1,HCT-116,SW620 and human normal colorectal cell line FHC.DLD-1 and RKO cells were stably transfected with lentivirus,and the POLR2M groups were up-regulated into the control group(LV-NC)and experimental group(LV-POLR2M),and the transient transfec-tion of SW620 and SW480 cells with interfering fragments of SiRNA was used to down-regulate the POLR2M groups into the control group(Si-NC)and experimental group(Si-POLR2M),and the transfection efficiency of each group was verified.CCK-8,plate cloning,Transwell and scratch healing assays were used to detect cell proliferation,invasion and migration.Flow cytometry was used to detect the effects of POLR2M on cell cycle and apoptosis.Results GE-PIA2.0,TCGA and Kaplan-Meier Plotter database analysis showed that the expression of POLR2M in colorectal cancer was significantly higher than in normal adjacent tissues(P＜0.05),and the expression of POLR2M was closely associ-ated with the histological type of colorectal cancer and lymph node metastasis(P＜0.05),but not with the age,gen-der,tumor grade and vascular invasion of patients(P＞0.05).The prognosis of patients with POLR2M overexpression was poor(P＜0.05).The results of qRT-PCR showed that compared with FHC cells,the mRNA expression of POLR2M in SW480,HCT-8,RKO,LOVO,DLD-1,HCT-116 and SW620 cell lines was increased(F=97.7,P＜0.05),and POLR2M stable overexpression and interference cell lines were successfully constructed.Compared with the LV-NC group,the viability,colony number,number of cells passing through the chamber and cell mobility of DLD-1 and RKO cells in the LV-POLR2M group were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the Si-NC group,the viability,colony number,number of cells passing through the chamber,and cell mobility of SW620 and SW480 cells in the Si-POLR2M group were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Downregulation of POLR2M induced cell cycle arrest in G1 phase and promotes apoptosis(P＜0.05).Conclusion POLR2M may play a role as a pro-tumor gene in CRC,and its high expression can significantly promote the proliferation and invasion of CRC cells.

Objective:To investigate the nutritional risk status of children in PICU and analyze its influencing factors.Methods:From July 2021 to February 2023,all children aged 1 to 18 years admitted to PICU of Beijing Children's Hospital were investigated by using the pediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Scoring tool(PYMS)and the clinical data questionnaire.Results:A total of 492 children in PICU were enrolled.The first nutritional risk screening results showed that there were 32 cases of no/low nutritional risk(6.5%),76 cases of medium risk(15.4%),and 384 cases of high risk(78.1%).The incidence of medium/high nutritional risk was as high as 93.5%.The PYMS score of nutritional risk in PICU was(2.61±1.42).The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that weight,fever time before admission,white blood cells,body mass index,primary diagnosis,father's education,and diet before illness were the main influencing factors of nutritional risk of children in PICU(P<0.05).Conclusion:Children in PICU are in a state of high nutritional risk.It is suggested that children in PICU should carry out nutritional screening in a standardized manner,identify children with high nutritional risk and its influencing factors early.To actively conduct nutritional assessment and nutritional intervention could improve the clinical outcome of children in PICU.

The prevention and research of military training injuries(MTI)are crucial for reducing non-battle casualties,ensuring combat readiness,and enhancing the effectiveness of military training.In-depth analyses of the prevention and treatment strategies of MTI and related research can provide concrete guidance for scientific training practices.As a critical component of national defense,the Chinese Navy has experienced rapid development in recent years,and the prevention and research of MTI in naval forces have become a key focus.In recent years,rehabilitation medicine has been increasingly recognized for its importance in areas such as physical capability enhancement and injury prevention.The comprehensive adoption of rehabilitation concepts and the early implementation of rehabilitation measures have been widely accepted.It has important guiding significance for further strengthening the application of rehabilitation in preventing and treating injuries in naval training.This article discusses how to further strengthen the rehabilitation strategies for the prevention and research of MTI in the Navy,so as to provide insights and prospects for this field.