The central amygdala (CeA) is a crucial modulator of emotional, behavioral, and autonomic functions, including cardiovascular responses. Despite its importance, the specific circuit by which the CeA modulates blood pressure remains insufficiently explored. Our investigations demonstrate that photostimulation of GABAergic neurons in the centromedial amygdala (CeM^GABA), as opposed to those in the centrolateral amygdala (CeL), produces a depressor response in both anesthetized and freely-moving mice. In addition, activation of CeM^GABA axonal terminals projecting to the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) significantly reduces blood pressure. These CeM^GABA neurons form synaptic connections with NTS neurons, allowing for the modulation of cardiovascular responses by influencing the caudal or rostral ventrolateral medulla. Furthermore, CeM^GABA neurons targeting the NTS receive dense inputs from the CeL. Consequently, stimulation of CeM^GABA neurons elicits hypotension through the CeM-NTS circuit, offering deeper insights into the cardiovascular responses associated with emotions and behaviors.
Animals ; GABAergic Neurons/physiology* ; Male ; Central Amygdaloid Nucleus/physiopathology* ; Hypotension/physiopathology* ; Mice ; Blood Pressure/physiology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Solitary Nucleus/physiology* ; Photic Stimulation ; Neural Pathways/physiology*

Objective:To compare the efficacy of body posture combined with pharmacotherapy and pharmacotherapy alone in the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma(CSDH).Methods:Firstly, retrospective case series study was conducted. Thirty cases of CSDH that had received body posture combined with pharmacotherapy at Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University from December 2016 to October 2020 were studied retrospectively. Twenty-seven patients were male, and 3 patients were female. The age of patients ( M(IQR)) was 66(16) years (range:28 to 84). Nineteen patients had unilateral hematoma, and 11 patients had bilateral hematoma. All patients received pharmacotherapy and body posture therapy that was to raise their lower limbs 20 to 30 cm with leg lift pad and get abdominal compressed with customized abdominal belt in supine position. Patients were required to maintain the body posture as much as possible, with the maximum to 16 to 18 hours per day. Patients with unilateral hematoma should tilt the head to the affected side and avoid tilting it to the opposite side. For patients with bilateral hematoma, there was no need for head lateralization. Patient were treated with oral dexamethasone and atorvastatin simultaneously. The preliminary efficacy of body posture combined with pharmacotherapy was determined by hematoma improvement rate which was analyzed by Clopper-Pearson method. Then, the multi-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial had carried out in 9 medical centers from August 2020 to November 2021. The stratified block randomization method was adopted. Patients were randomized in a ratio of 1∶1 to either receive pharmacotherapy alone(the control group) or body posture combined with pharmacotherapy(the experiment group) for 3 months and followed up for 6 months. Effective treatment was defined as complete absorption of hematoma, or the hematoma volume decreased by more than 10 ml and Markwalder grading scale score had improved by more than 1 point compared to the baseline. The efficacy rate and surgery conversion rate at 3 months and recurrence at 6 months were observed. Comparison between groups was performed with paired sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test, corrected χ2 test, or Fisher exact probability method. Logistic regression was used to compare the effective rate and operation rate between the two groups. Results:In the respective study, 30 patients completed follow-up 13 to 353 days after treatment. At the last follow-up, the incidence of almost complete absorption or significantly absorption of hematoma (hematoma volume was significantly reduced accompanied by symptom improvement) was 93.3%. The 95% CI for the incidence that analyzed by the Clopper-Pearson method was 77.9% to 99.2%. One hundred and six patients were enrolled in the multicenter study. Fifty-five patients underwent body posture combined with pharmacotherapy. The age was 74(17) years (range:26 to 92). Thirty-nine patients were males and 16 were females. Fifty-one patients underwent pharmacotherapy alone. The age was 69(12) years (range:48 to 84). Thirty-seven patients were males and 14 were females. The length of body posture recorded in diary card was (15.7±2.3) hours(range:7.6 to 19.3 hours). The efficacy rate in the body posture combined with pharmacotherapy group and pharmacotherapy alone group were 83.6% (46/55) and 56.9% (29/51), respectively at 3 months. The result of the logistic regression analysis showed that the efficacy of body posture combined with pharmacotherapy group was better than that of pharmacotherapy alone group ( OR=3.88,95% CI:1.57 to 9.58, P=0.003). Surgery rate in the body posture combined with pharmacotherapy group and pharmacotherapy alone group were 5.5% (3/55) and 21.6% (11/51) respectively. The result of Logistic regression showed that the pharmacotherapy alone group was more likely to be converted to surgery ( OR=0.21,95% CI:0.05 to 0.80, P=0.023). At the 6 months, no recurrence of cases was found in the body posture combined with pharmacotherapy group. However, the recurrence rate of pharmacotherapy alone group was 6.3% (3/48), there was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The effect of body posture combined with pharmacotherapy for chronic subdural hematoma is better than that of pharmacotherapy alone.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of body posture combined with pharmacotherapy and pharmacotherapy alone in the treatment of chronic subdural hematoma(CSDH).Methods:Firstly, retrospective case series study was conducted. Thirty cases of CSDH that had received body posture combined with pharmacotherapy at Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University from December 2016 to October 2020 were studied retrospectively. Twenty-seven patients were male, and 3 patients were female. The age of patients ( M(IQR)) was 66(16) years (range:28 to 84). Nineteen patients had unilateral hematoma, and 11 patients had bilateral hematoma. All patients received pharmacotherapy and body posture therapy that was to raise their lower limbs 20 to 30 cm with leg lift pad and get abdominal compressed with customized abdominal belt in supine position. Patients were required to maintain the body posture as much as possible, with the maximum to 16 to 18 hours per day. Patients with unilateral hematoma should tilt the head to the affected side and avoid tilting it to the opposite side. For patients with bilateral hematoma, there was no need for head lateralization. Patient were treated with oral dexamethasone and atorvastatin simultaneously. The preliminary efficacy of body posture combined with pharmacotherapy was determined by hematoma improvement rate which was analyzed by Clopper-Pearson method. Then, the multi-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial had carried out in 9 medical centers from August 2020 to November 2021. The stratified block randomization method was adopted. Patients were randomized in a ratio of 1∶1 to either receive pharmacotherapy alone(the control group) or body posture combined with pharmacotherapy(the experiment group) for 3 months and followed up for 6 months. Effective treatment was defined as complete absorption of hematoma, or the hematoma volume decreased by more than 10 ml and Markwalder grading scale score had improved by more than 1 point compared to the baseline. The efficacy rate and surgery conversion rate at 3 months and recurrence at 6 months were observed. Comparison between groups was performed with paired sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test, corrected χ2 test, or Fisher exact probability method. Logistic regression was used to compare the effective rate and operation rate between the two groups. Results:In the respective study, 30 patients completed follow-up 13 to 353 days after treatment. At the last follow-up, the incidence of almost complete absorption or significantly absorption of hematoma (hematoma volume was significantly reduced accompanied by symptom improvement) was 93.3%. The 95% CI for the incidence that analyzed by the Clopper-Pearson method was 77.9% to 99.2%. One hundred and six patients were enrolled in the multicenter study. Fifty-five patients underwent body posture combined with pharmacotherapy. The age was 74(17) years (range:26 to 92). Thirty-nine patients were males and 16 were females. Fifty-one patients underwent pharmacotherapy alone. The age was 69(12) years (range:48 to 84). Thirty-seven patients were males and 14 were females. The length of body posture recorded in diary card was (15.7±2.3) hours(range:7.6 to 19.3 hours). The efficacy rate in the body posture combined with pharmacotherapy group and pharmacotherapy alone group were 83.6% (46/55) and 56.9% (29/51), respectively at 3 months. The result of the logistic regression analysis showed that the efficacy of body posture combined with pharmacotherapy group was better than that of pharmacotherapy alone group ( OR=3.88,95% CI:1.57 to 9.58, P=0.003). Surgery rate in the body posture combined with pharmacotherapy group and pharmacotherapy alone group were 5.5% (3/55) and 21.6% (11/51) respectively. The result of Logistic regression showed that the pharmacotherapy alone group was more likely to be converted to surgery ( OR=0.21,95% CI:0.05 to 0.80, P=0.023). At the 6 months, no recurrence of cases was found in the body posture combined with pharmacotherapy group. However, the recurrence rate of pharmacotherapy alone group was 6.3% (3/48), there was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The effect of body posture combined with pharmacotherapy for chronic subdural hematoma is better than that of pharmacotherapy alone.

The overuse of antibiotics in animal husbandry has resulted in escalating animal safety con-cerns,highlighting the urgent need for a safe and effective alternative to traditional acidifiers.necessita-ting the development of safe and effective alternatives to traditional acidifiers.This study investigates the antibacterial activity and underlying mechanisms of rare-earth organic acid complexes (Re-SOA),a promising alternative to traditional acidifiers,against three common poultry and livestock pathogens:Escherichia coli,Staphylococcus aureus,and Salmonella.A series of Re-SOA were synthesized via a liq-uid-phase method.Structural characterization using infrared spectroscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectros-copy,and Raman spectroscopy confirmed successful complexation.The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum sterilization concentration (MBC) were determined using the Oxford cup method and agar dilution method,respectively.The results indicated a synergistic antibacterial effect of the Re-SOA complexes,demonstrating significantly enhanced antibacterial activity compared to organic acids (SOA) and rare-earth ions (Re3+) alone.The antibacterial activity of the Re-SOA complexes followed the order:Yb-SOA>Gd-SOA>La-SOA,with Yb-Ac (Ac:acetic acid) exhibiting MIC values of 0.27,0.53,and 0.53 mmol·L-1,and MBC values of 0.53,0.53,and 0.53 mmol·L-1 against the three path-ogenic bacteria,respectively.Further investigation into the cellular mechanisms of action using field e-mission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM),transmission electron microscopy (TEM),and tran-scriptome sequencing revealed that Re-SOA effectively inhibits bacterial growth by targeting key metabolic pathways,including carbohydrate metabolism,energy metabolism,amino acid metabolism,and biofilm formation.Re-SOA,as a novel antibacterial agent,exhibits high efficacy and safety.This research pro-vides a promising approach for developing novel antibacterial agents and offers a potential solution to the critical issue of antibiotic resistance in animal husbandry.

The overuse of antibiotics in animal husbandry has resulted in escalating animal safety con-cerns,highlighting the urgent need for a safe and effective alternative to traditional acidifiers.necessita-ting the development of safe and effective alternatives to traditional acidifiers.This study investigates the antibacterial activity and underlying mechanisms of rare-earth organic acid complexes (Re-SOA),a promising alternative to traditional acidifiers,against three common poultry and livestock pathogens:Escherichia coli,Staphylococcus aureus,and Salmonella.A series of Re-SOA were synthesized via a liq-uid-phase method.Structural characterization using infrared spectroscopy,X-ray photoelectron spectros-copy,and Raman spectroscopy confirmed successful complexation.The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum sterilization concentration (MBC) were determined using the Oxford cup method and agar dilution method,respectively.The results indicated a synergistic antibacterial effect of the Re-SOA complexes,demonstrating significantly enhanced antibacterial activity compared to organic acids (SOA) and rare-earth ions (Re3+) alone.The antibacterial activity of the Re-SOA complexes followed the order:Yb-SOA>Gd-SOA>La-SOA,with Yb-Ac (Ac:acetic acid) exhibiting MIC values of 0.27,0.53,and 0.53 mmol·L-1,and MBC values of 0.53,0.53,and 0.53 mmol·L-1 against the three path-ogenic bacteria,respectively.Further investigation into the cellular mechanisms of action using field e-mission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM),transmission electron microscopy (TEM),and tran-scriptome sequencing revealed that Re-SOA effectively inhibits bacterial growth by targeting key metabolic pathways,including carbohydrate metabolism,energy metabolism,amino acid metabolism,and biofilm formation.Re-SOA,as a novel antibacterial agent,exhibits high efficacy and safety.This research pro-vides a promising approach for developing novel antibacterial agents and offers a potential solution to the critical issue of antibiotic resistance in animal husbandry.

OBJECTIVE: To compare different methods for calculating sample size based on confidence interval estimation for a single proportion with different event incidences and precisions. METHODS: We compared 7 methods, namely Wald, AgrestiCoull add z2, Agresti-Coull add 4, Wilson Score, Clopper-Pearson, Mid-p, and Jefferys, for confidence interval estimation for a single proportion. The sample size was calculated using the search method with different parameter settings (proportion of specified events and half width of the confidence interval [ω=0.05, 0.1]). With Monte Carlo simulation, the estimated sample size was used to simulate and compare the width of the confidence interval, the coverage of the confidence interval and the ratio of the noncoverage probability. RESULTS: For a high accuracy requirement (ω =0.05), the Mid-p method and Clopper Pearson method performed better when the incidence of events was low (P < 0.15). In other settings, the performance of the 7 methods did not differ significantly except for a poor symmetry of the Wald method. In the setting of ω=0.1 with a very low p (0.01-0.05), failure of iteration occurred with nearly all the methods except for the Clopper-Pearson method. CONCLUSION Different sample size determination methods based on confidence interval estimation should be selected for single proportions with different parameter settings.
Confidence Intervals ; Sample Size ; Computer Simulation ; Monte Carlo Method ; Probability

Objective:To explore the characteristics and factors affecting the occurrence of renal injury in patients with abnormal biochemical indexes of renal function after the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and to provide reference for selection of clinical treatment regimen.Methods:Patients who were treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors researched and developed independently in China including camrelizumab, sintilimab, tislelizumab, and toripalimab from March 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022 and showed estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <90 ml/(min·1.73 m 2) and/or serum creatinine (Scr)>105 μmol/L were retrieved from the China Hospital Pharmacovigilance System. The clinical data including general information, anti-tumor treatment regimen, laboratory test results, and concomitant medications were collected. Patients were divided into kidney injury group and non-kidney injury group, and all the clinical characteristics were compared between the 2 groups, the influencing factors of kidney injury were analyzed using a binary logistic regression model, the odds ratio ( OR) and its 95% confidence interval ( CI) were calculated. Results:A total of 222 patients were entered in the analysis, including 170 males and 52 females, with a median age of 67 (36, 85) years. Of them, 144 patients were treated with carrilizumab, 38 with sindilizumab, 31 with tirelizumab, and 9 with treprolizumab; 29 patients (13.1%) developed kidney injury, including 26 cases of grade 1 and 3 cases of grade 2 renal injuries; the time of renal injury occurrence was 19-355 days after the first application of ICIs, and the median time was 108 days. After diagnosed of kidney injury, 13 out of 29 patients stopped ICIs, of which 6 had recovered kidney function and 7 had no improvement; 16 patients continued the ICIs treatment, of which 10 patients had recovered or improved kidney function and 6 had no improvement. The clinical characteristics of patients in the 2 groups were compared, and 10 variables including age, gender, baseline renal function, previous use of carboplatin, previous radiotherapy, combined chemotherapy containing cisplatin, combined paclitaxel chemotherapy, combined tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) anti-vascular therapy, combined proton pump inhibitors, and combined radiotherapy were screened for the binary logistic regression analysis. The results showed that female ( OR=3.046, 95% CI: 1.149-8.077), ≤65 years ( OR=3.649, 95% CI: 1.435-9.274), combined TKI anti-vascular therapy ( OR=4.773, 95% CI: 1.496-15.227), and combined radiotherapy ( OR=8.655, 95% CI: 1.268-59.076) were independent risk factors for the development of kidney injury. Conclusions:The incidence of kidney injury in patients with eGFR <90 ml/(min·1.73 m 2) and/or Scr >105 μmol/L after using ICIs is 13.1%. In these patients, female, ≤65 years, combined TKI anti-vascular therapy, and combined radiotherapy may be risk factors for the development of ICI-associated kidney injury.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the risk factors for neonatal asphyxia in Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture and establish a nomogram model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted with 613 cases of neonatal asphyxia treated in 20 cooperative hospitals in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture from January to December 2019 as the asphyxia group, and 988 randomly selected non-asphyxia neonates born and admitted to the neonatology department of these hospitals during the same period as the control group. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify risk factors for neonatal asphyxia. R software (4.2.2) was used to establish a nomogram model. Receiver operator characteristic curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis were used to assess the discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness of the model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia, respectively. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that minority (Tujia), male sex, premature birth, congenital malformations, abnormal fetal position, intrauterine distress, maternal occupation as a farmer, education level below high school, fewer than 9 prenatal check-ups, threatened abortion, abnormal umbilical cord, abnormal amniotic fluid, placenta previa, abruptio placentae, emergency caesarean section, and assisted delivery were independent risk factors for neonatal asphyxia (P<0.05). The area under the curve of the model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia based on these risk factors was 0.748 (95%CI: 0.723-0.772). The calibration curve indicated high accuracy of the model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia. The decision curve analysis showed that the model could provide a higher net benefit for neonates at risk of asphyxia. CONCLUSIONS The risk factors for neonatal asphyxia in Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture are multifactorial, and the nomogram model based on these factors has good value in predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia, which can help clinicians identify neonates at high risk of asphyxia early, and reduce the incidence of neonatal asphyxia.
Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Nomograms ; Retrospective Studies ; Cesarean Section ; Risk Factors ; Asphyxia Neonatorum/etiology*

Objective:To explore the characteristics and factors affecting the occurrence of renal injury in patients with abnormal biochemical indexes of renal function after the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), and to provide reference for selection of clinical treatment regimen.Methods:Patients who were treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors researched and developed independently in China including camrelizumab, sintilimab, tislelizumab, and toripalimab from March 1, 2021 to February 28, 2022 and showed estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <90 ml/(min·1.73 m 2) and/or serum creatinine (Scr)>105 μmol/L were retrieved from the China Hospital Pharmacovigilance System. The clinical data including general information, anti-tumor treatment regimen, laboratory test results, and concomitant medications were collected. Patients were divided into kidney injury group and non-kidney injury group, and all the clinical characteristics were compared between the 2 groups, the influencing factors of kidney injury were analyzed using a binary logistic regression model, the odds ratio ( OR) and its 95% confidence interval ( CI) were calculated. Results:A total of 222 patients were entered in the analysis, including 170 males and 52 females, with a median age of 67 (36, 85) years. Of them, 144 patients were treated with carrilizumab, 38 with sindilizumab, 31 with tirelizumab, and 9 with treprolizumab; 29 patients (13.1%) developed kidney injury, including 26 cases of grade 1 and 3 cases of grade 2 renal injuries; the time of renal injury occurrence was 19-355 days after the first application of ICIs, and the median time was 108 days. After diagnosed of kidney injury, 13 out of 29 patients stopped ICIs, of which 6 had recovered kidney function and 7 had no improvement; 16 patients continued the ICIs treatment, of which 10 patients had recovered or improved kidney function and 6 had no improvement. The clinical characteristics of patients in the 2 groups were compared, and 10 variables including age, gender, baseline renal function, previous use of carboplatin, previous radiotherapy, combined chemotherapy containing cisplatin, combined paclitaxel chemotherapy, combined tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) anti-vascular therapy, combined proton pump inhibitors, and combined radiotherapy were screened for the binary logistic regression analysis. The results showed that female ( OR=3.046, 95% CI: 1.149-8.077), ≤65 years ( OR=3.649, 95% CI: 1.435-9.274), combined TKI anti-vascular therapy ( OR=4.773, 95% CI: 1.496-15.227), and combined radiotherapy ( OR=8.655, 95% CI: 1.268-59.076) were independent risk factors for the development of kidney injury. Conclusions:The incidence of kidney injury in patients with eGFR <90 ml/(min·1.73 m 2) and/or Scr >105 μmol/L after using ICIs is 13.1%. In these patients, female, ≤65 years, combined TKI anti-vascular therapy, and combined radiotherapy may be risk factors for the development of ICI-associated kidney injury.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical treatment outcomes and the changes of the outcomes over time in extremely preterm twins in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 269 pairs of extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks who were admitted to the department of neonatology in 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 2008 to December 2017. According to the admission time, they were divided into two groups: 2008-2012 and 2013-2017. Besides, each pair of twins was divided into the heavier infant and the lighter infant subgroups according to birth weight. The perinatal data of mothers and hospitalization data of neonates were collected. The survival rate of twins and the incidence rate of complications were compared between the 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 groups. RESULTS: Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of severe asphyxia and smaller head circumference at birth (P<0.05). The mortality rates of both of the twins, the heavier infant of the twins, and the lighter infant of the twins were lower in the 2013-2017 group compared with the 2008-2012 group (P<0.05). Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of pulmonary hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (P-IVH), and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and a higher incidence rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a significant increase in the survival rate over time in extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks in the 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province. The incidences of severe asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, PDA, P-IVH, and NRDS decrease in both the heavier and lighter infants of the twins, but the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases. With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the multidisciplinary collaboration between different fields of fetal medicine including prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, and neonatology is needed in the future to jointly develop management strategies for twin pregnancy.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome