Objective To explore the efficacy of progressive exercise training based on the modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (mMRC) grading in respiratory rehabilitation for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at a primary healthcare setting. Methods A total of 106 patients with COPD admitted to Zhuanqiao Community Health Service Center in Shanghai from Aug.1, 2022 to Jul. 30, 2024 were selected as research subjects. They were randomly divided into a study group and a control group in a 1∶1 ratio, with 53 patients in each group. The control group received conventional treatment, while the study group received conventional treatment combined with progressive exercise training. After 4 weeks of continuous treatment, the changes in the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), COPD assessment test (CAT) score, mMRC grading, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) grading and pulmonary function were compared between the two groups. Results Patients in both groups showed improvements in 6MWT distance, CAT score, mMRC grading, GOLD grading, and pulmonary function compared to baseline (P＜0.05). Moreover, the study group had better improvements in 6MWT distance, CAT score, mMRC grading, GOLD grading, and pulmonary function than the control group (P＜0.05). Conclusions Conventional treatment combined with progressive exercise training based on mMRC grading can enhance the effect of respiratory rehabilitation in patients with COPD, particularly in improving pulmonary function and exercise tolerance.

Magnetic stimulation has made significant strides in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Nonetheless, current magnetic stimulation techniques lack the precision to accurately modulate specific nuclei and cannot realize deep brain magnetic stimulation. To address this, we utilized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as mediators to achieve precise targeting and penetration. We investigated the effects of magnetic fields with varying frequencies on neuronal activity and compared the activation effects on neurons using a 10-Hz precise magneto-stimulation system (pMSS) with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in mice. Oxytocin levels, dendritic morphology and density, and mouse behavior were measured before and after pMSS intervention. Our findings suggest that pMSS can activate oxytocinergic neurons, leading to upregulation of oxytocin secretion and neurite outgrowth. As a result, sociability was rapidly improved after a one-week pMSS treatment regimen. These results demonstrate a promising magneto-stimulation method for regulating neuronal activity in deep brain nuclei and provide a promising therapeutic approach for autism spectrum disorder.
Animals ; Autism Spectrum Disorder/physiopathology* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/physiology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation/methods* ; Male ; Social Behavior ; Mice ; Oxytocin/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neurons/physiology*

Objective:To observe any effect of combining interactive scalp acupuncture with constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) in treating the upper extremity motor function of children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy.Methods:Fifty-seven children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy were randomly divided into a control group of 28 and an observation group of 29. The control group was given conventional rehabilitation and routine CIMT, while the observation group was additionally provided with interactive scalp acupuncture. In the observation group the CIMT lasted for 30 minutes while the needles were retained. Then, after the needles were removed, the family administered simple rehabilitation training for 2.5 hours guided by a rehabilitation therapist. The treatments were administered 5 days per week for 3 weeks as a session, and the whole treatment consisted of 3 sessions. Before, as well as 1 month and 3 months after the treatment, upper extremity motor function in both groups was evaluated using the Melbourne assessment scale 2 (MA2) and the fine motor Peabody developmental motor scales. Muscle tone in the children′s elbow flexors was assessed using the modified Ashworth scale (MAS).Results:After both 1 and 3 months of treatment, the average MA2 scores of both groups were significantly better than those before treatment, with those of the observation group significantly superior to the control group′s averages. After both 1 and 3 months, both groups′ visual-motor integration scores, grasping ability scores and total scores had improved significantly, with those of the observation group significantly better than in the control group, on average. The MAS scores of both groups were also significantly better than before the treatment, but with no significant differences between the two groups at either time point.Conclusions:Interactive scalp acupuncture combined with constraint-induced movement therapy can significantly improve the upper extremity motor functioning and fine motor ability of children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

Liver transplantation techniques have made significant advances in recent years in surgical procedures, expanding liver donor sources and perioperative management, leading to markedly improved patient survival rates. This review focuses on key recent developments in the field of liver transplantation, summarizing practical achievements and technical breakthroughs in areas such as machine perfusion techniques and utilization of marginally viable donors, minimally invasive liver transplantation techniques, and the clinical application of small-and ultra-small-size grafts. Furthermore, it explores the current challenges encountered in clinical practice and analyzes future research priorities and developmental trends.

The mortality rates are significantly elevated with the rapid progression of acute liver failure in the absence of timely diagnosis and treatment. Liver transplantation is an effective therapeutic approach that can halt disease progression, but transplantation timing is a crucial factor affecting prognosis. Patients with acute liver failure should be promptly transferred to hospitals equipped for liver transplantation while simultaneously preparing for the procedure during the course of treatment to avoid missing the opportunity to save lives when the condition suddenly worsens. Auxiliary liver transplantation preserves the patient's native liver while transplanting a new liver. Therefore, patients are expected to gradually reduce immunosuppressants following the regeneration of the autologous liver, so avoiding the problem of lifelong use of immunosuppressants. This is also a unique advantage, offering benefits to patients undergoing auxiliary liver transplantation therapy for acute liver failure, while simultaneously presenting challenges for clinicians in terms of technical skill and comprehensive management.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of using small and ultra-small sized grafts for in situ auxiliary liver transplantation in the treatment of portal hypertension.Methods:A prospective single-arm cohort study was conducted. Patients who underwent liver transplantation at Beijing Friendship Hospital from December 2014 to July 2025 were included. Intraoperative portal vein pressure was routinely monitored, with the target regulation for portal vein blood flow set at<15 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and follow-up continued until September 2025. The primary endpoints were the patient's status and graft survival. The secondary endpoints were small-for-size syndrome and perioperative complications. The small-for-size syndrome was graded according to the 2023 International Liver Transplantation Society consensus statement.Results:A total of 33 cases were enrolled. Among them, 22 had ultra-small size grafts, 11 had small-size grafts, 28 had living donor grafts, and five had split grafts. The graft-to-recipient weight ratio in living donor liver transplantation was 0.31%～0.79%, while in split liver transplantation it was 0.45%～1.02%. Intraoperative portal vein pressure of ≥15 mmHg was observed in 11 cases, who underwent portal vein blood flow adjustment via splenic artery ligation (2 cases), partial splenectomy (8 cases), and/or restrictive portocaval shunting (1 case), after which all patients achieved the target portal vein pressure. All cases completed at least one month of follow-up, with 28 cases following for more than one year, and the median follow-up period was 36.5 months. Early-stage postoperative small-for-size syndrome occurred in eight cases (24.2%, 8/33), all classified as grade A, with improvements following supportive treatment. Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo≥Ⅲ) occurred in three cases (9.1%, 3/33). The one-year survival rate was 92.9% (26/28). The overall survival rate at the end of follow-up was 90.9% (30/33). No patients experienced graft loss or death due to small-for-size syndrome. Graft tissue tested negative for hepatitis B core antibody and covalently closed circular DNA, and hepatitis B surface antigen seroconversion was achieved following second-stage residual liver resection and under a combined strategy of potent nucleos(t)ide analogs and hepatitis B immunoglobulin in ten cases of hepatitis B-related disease.Conclusions:With standardized portal vein blood flow monitoring and individualized portal vein blood flow adjustment, in situ auxiliary liver transplantation can safely and effectively use small and even ultra-small sized grafts, thereby significantly expanding graft sources and ensuring donor and recipient safety. These findings warrant further validation and promotion in multicenter controlled studies.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP), whose etiology is influenced by genetic and clinical risk factors, considerably impacts women's quality of life. However, the genetic underpinnings in non-European populations and comprehensive risk models integrating genetic and clinical factors remain underexplored. This study constructed the first polygenic risk score (PRS) for POP in the Chinese population by utilizing 20 disease-associated variants from the largest existing genome-wide association study. We analyzed a discovery cohort of 576 cases and 623 controls and a validation cohort of 264 cases and 200 controls. Results showed that the case group exhibited a significantly higher PRS than the control group. Moreover, the odds ratio of the top 10% risk group was 2.6 times higher than that of the bottom 10%. A high PRS was significantly correlated with POP occurrence in women older than 50 years old and in those with one or no childbirths. As far as we know, the integrated prediction model, which combined PRS and clinical risk factors, demonstrated better predictive accuracy than other existing PRS models. This combined risk assessment model serves as a robust tool for POP risk prediction and stratification, thereby offering insights into individualized preventive measures and treatment strategies in future clinical practice.
Humans ; Female ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse/epidemiology* ; Middle Aged ; Risk Assessment/methods* ; China/epidemiology* ; Multifactorial Inheritance ; Aged ; Risk Factors ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Case-Control Studies ; Adult ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Genetic Risk Score ; East Asian People

Objective: To compare quality control (relative purity and specific activity) and process control [plasminogen (Pg) antigen recovery and potency recovery] indexes of samples before and after adding the Q chromatography step to the full chromatography process of human Pg, thereby determining whether the addition of this step could improve Pg recovery by affinity chromatography. Methods: A Q chromatography step was added before the Pg affinity chromatography in the original Pg chromatography process. The loading solution, flow through solution and eluate of Q chromatography and Pg affinity chromatography were collected. The potency of coagulation factor Ⅱ (FⅡ), Ⅶ (FⅦ), Ⅷ (FⅧ), Ⅸ (FⅨ), and Ⅹ(FⅩ) were detected by the coagulation method, the total protein content was detected by the BCA method, and the Pg potency was detected by the chromogenic substrate method. The content of specific plasma proteins was detected by immunoturbidimetry, the potency recovery of coagulation factors was calculated, and the flow direction of coagulation factors was analyzed. The recovery of different plasma protein antigens were calculated, and the distribution of impurity proteins was analyzed. The relative purity and specific activity of Pg, antigen content, and potency recovery in the target fractions were calculated and compared with the original process indicators, so as to determine the effect of adding Q chromatography on the original process. Furthermore, the reproducibility after process modification was assessed. Results: 100% of FⅡ, FⅩ, and FⅨ, 87.81% of FⅧ, and 40.44% of FⅦ in filtered plasma were removed by Q chromatography. The residual FⅦ (53.26%) and FⅧ (13.30%) in Q flow-through fraction were completely removed by Pg affinity chromatography. In both the original process (without Q-chromatography) and the modified process (with Q-chromatography), non-target plasma proteins mainly existed in the flow-through fraction of Pg affinity chromatography. The antigen recovery of IgM, ceruloplasmin (CER), and fibronectin (FNC) in Q-chromatography flow-through fraction were reduced. In contrast, antigen recovery of other plasma proteins [IgG, IgA, Pg, albumin (AlB), alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), and fibrinogen (Fg)] were all >90%, which were consistent with the protein composition and proportion in the original affinity chromatography loading solution. Compared with the recovery rate of Pg antigen in the original process (74.4%), the total recovery of Pg antigen in the modified process was significantly increased (89.97%). Compared with the recovery of IgG (97.48%) and Fg (95.32%) in the Pg affinity flows-through fraction of the original process, the modified process resulted in a slight reduction in the recovery of IgG (94.60%), while the recovery of Fg was not affected (95.05%). The potency recovery rate, specific activity, and relative purity of Pg after Q chromatography were 99.3%, 0.016 U/mg, and 0.15%. These values were the same as those of Pg affinity chromatography loading solution by the original process, indicating that introduction of Q chromatography did not affect subsequent Pg affinity chromatography. Compared with the recovery of Pg antigen in three batches of the original process (66.49±1.02)%, the recovery of Pg antigen in the affinity chromatography eluent of the modified process [five batches; (77.43±4.43)%] was significantly improved. Furthermore, the potency recovery was (86.80±4.28)%, the relative purity was (81.99±1.25)%, the specific activity was (8.679±1.073)U/mg, and the process was reproducible. Conclusion: The addition of Q chromatography could improve the recovery of Pg affinity chromatography in the full chromatography process.

Recent studies have shown that the physiological homeostasis of oral mucosal cells is regulated by the circadian clock.Dis-ruption or dysfunction of the circadian clock is closely associated with the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC).Research based on the circadian clock offers a novel perspective on the pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies for OSCC.However,there is current-ly limited research on this topic,and people generally have insufficient understanding and recognition of the circadian clock.Given the complexity and challenges of circadian clock which is the fourth dimension of medical research,we organize relevant experts based on summarizing the current research results of circadian clock in the pathogenesis and precision diagnosis and treatment of OSCC,combining the scientific principles of the circadian clock's role and their long-term research experience,then summarizes and recommends the con-sensus opinions for the research of circadian clock in the pathogenesis mechanism and precision diagnosis and treatment of human OSCC,with the hope of providing guidance for the basic research and clinical application of circadian clock or circadian rhythm in the pathogene-sis mechanism and precision diagnosis and treatment of oral and maxillofacial squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE To understand the drug resistance genes,virulence genes and molecular epidemiological characteristics of extensively drug-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae(XDR-hvKP)strains causing hospital-associated infection.METHODS The clinical isolates of XDR-hvKP were collected from Tongling People's Hospital from Jul.2020 to Dec.2022.The strains were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight(MALDI-TOF)mass spectrometry,the common drug resistance genes and virulence genes were an-alyzed by Sanger sequencing,the capsular serotypes were determined by wzi gene sequencing;the drug resistance genes,virulence genes and ST subtypes were observed by means of whole-genome sequencing(WGS)technique.RESULTS Totally 18 strains of XDR-hvKP were collected,55.56％(10/18)of which were isolated from blood specimens,and 61.11％(11/18)were isolated from critical care medicine department.Sanger sequen-cing analysis showed that all of the strains carried blaKPC-2 drug resistance gene;rmpA2(100.00％)and rmpA,i-roN,iutA(94.44％,17/18)were the major virulence genes carried by the strains.WGS analysis indicated that all of the 18 XDR-hvKP isolates carried multiple drug resistance genes such as blaKPC-2 carbapenemase and the viru-lence genes like capsule(rmpA/rmpA2),aerobacterin(iucABCD-iutA),Salmonella(iroN)and yersinin(ybt).All of the ST subtypes were ST 11,and all of the capsular serotypes were KL 64.CONCLUSIONS The ST11-KL64 type XDR-hvKP strains carry blaKPC-2;rmpA,rmpA2,iroN and iutA are the major virulence genes.It is necessary to strengthen the monitoring of key population of the key departments and make joint efforts of multiple departments to contain the transmission of the strains.