Objective: To identify early clinical predictors associated with dysphagia and delayed swallowing recovery in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: In this retrospective study, we enrolled adult TBI patients admitted to the rehabilitation unit of a tertiary medical center between June 2019 and June 2023. Data on baseline characteristics, neurological status, imaging findings, and rehabilitation-related variables were collected. Swallowing function was assessed using two indicators: (1) nasogastric (NG) tube retention and (2) the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) scores at 1, 4, and 12 weeks post-injury. Regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors associated with dysphagia and swallowing recovery. Results: A total of 160 patients were included. At 1 week post-injury, longer intensive care unit (ICU) stay, poor initial sitting balance and use of sedative medication in ICU were associated with NG tube retention. At 4 weeks, lower initial Rancho Los Amigos Scale (RLAS) scores, immobility-related complications, longer hospitalization, and temporal lobe hematomas were associated with persistent NG tube dependence. By 12 weeks, older age, delayed ability to follow commands, and poor initial sitting balance remained associated with NG tube retention. FOIS outcomes were also associated with older age, delayed time to follow commands, impaired initial sitting balance, prolonged ICU stay, temporal lobe hematomas, lower initial RLAS scores, immobility-related complications, prolonged endotracheal tube placement and extended hospital stays. Conclusion Impaired cognitive status, poor physical function, immobility-related complications, and temporal lobe hematomas were key factors associated with dysphagia and delayed oral intake in individuals with TBI.

It is considered that "latent wind in stomach collaterals" is the core pathogenesis underlying the inflammation-caner transformation of helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis （HpAG）. The concept of "latent wind in stomach collaterals" integrates stomach wind theory， latent pathogen theory， and collateral disease theory， referring to wind pathogen deeply hidden in the stomach collaterals， characterized by both external and internal wind pathogen as well as latent pathogen that remain concealed and may be triggered under certain conditions. Accordingly， the Correa cascade is reclassified into four stages including the prodromal stage， progressive stage， transitional stage and carcinogenic stage. In the prodromal stage， the fundamental pathogenesis is described as "wind toxin invading externally with collateral deficiency and stirring of wind". In the progressive stage， wind is accompanied by qi constraint， fire pathogen， and dryness pathogen， manifesting as "wind pathogen complicated by constraint" "wind-fire agitation" and "wind-dryness interaction". In the transitional stage， "wind transforming into phlegm-drool and stomach collaterals being obstructed by stasis" is identified as a critical window for disease reversal. In the carcinogenesis stage， "wind-qi hyperactivity leading to pathological transformation， and collateral damage resulting in abdominal masses" drives tumor progression and metastasis. This paper proposes the treatment principle of "wind-dispelling throughout the entire process and stage-based treatment"， according to the pathological evolution of "collateral deficiency-collateral stagnation-collateral accumulation". In the prodromal stage， it is suggested to dispel wind and resolve toxin， fortify spleen and tonify collaterals； in the progressive and transitional stage， the method of dispelling wind pathogen， clearing phlegm and eliminating stasis should be used； in the carcinogenesis stage， it is suggested to expel wind and remove pathogens from collaterals， disperse concretions and eliminate tumors.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Tianmeng Lingjiao Formula（天礞羚角方， TLF） as an adjunctive therapy for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation （PAF） with phlegm-heat harassing the interior syndrome. MethodsNinety patients with PAF and phlegm-heat harassing the interior syndrome were enrolled and randomly assigned in a 2∶1 ratio to test group （60 cases） and control group （30 cases）. The control group received conventional western medicine， while the test group received TLF in addition to the conventional treatment， with one dose administered daily. The treatment course for both groups was 4 weeks. The efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome and the rate of atrial fibrillation （AF） conversion were compared between groups. Assessments included AF burden， frequency and duration of AF episodes， TCM syndrome scores， and European Heart Rhythm Association （EHRA） AF symptom classification before and after treatment. Safety indicators such as blood routine， urine routine， stool routine， liver function， kidney function， and electrolytes were also monitored. Adverse events were recorded. ResultsA total of 82 patients completed the study （54 in the test group and 28 in the control group）. After treatment， AF burden， the frequency and duration of AF episodes， and TCM syndrome scores were significantly reduced in both groups， and the test group showed lower indicators than the control group （P＜0.01 or P＜0.05）. The AF conversion rate was 25.93% （14/54） in the test group， significantly higher than 3.57% （1/28） in the control group （P＜0.05）. The total effective rate for TCM syndrome efficacy was 83.33% （45/54） in the test group， which was significantly higher than 67.86% （19/28） in the control group （P＜0.05）. After treatment， the EHRA atrial fibrillation symptom severity in the test group showed significant improvement， and the improvement in atrial fibrillation symptoms was superior to that in the control group （P＜0.01or P＜0.05）. No significant abnormalities were observed in safety indicators， and no adverse events occurred during the trial. ConclusionTLF as an adjunctive therapy can reduce AF burden， enhance the conversion rate of AF， decrease the frequency and duration of episodes， and improve clinical symptoms in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation presenting with phlegm-heat harassing the interior syndrome， with a favorable safety profile.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory impairment in clinical. Currently, there are no effective treatments for AD. In recent years, a variety of therapeutic approaches from different perspectives have been explored to treat AD. Although the drug therapies targeted at the clearance of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) had made a breakthrough in clinical trials, there were associated with adverse events. Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the onset and progression of AD. Continuous neuroinflammatory was considered to be the third major pathological feature of AD, which could promote the formation of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. At the same time, these toxic substances could accelerate the development of neuroinflammation, form a vicious cycle, and exacerbate disease progression. Reducing neuroinflammation could break the feedback loop pattern between neuroinflammation, Aβ plaque deposition and Tau tangles, which might be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating AD. Traditional Chinese herbs such as Polygonum multiflorum and Curcuma were utilized in the treatment of AD due to their ability to mitigate neuroinflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and indomethacin had been shown to reduce the level of inflammasomes in the body, and taking these drugs was associated with a low incidence of AD. Biosynthetic nanomaterials loaded with oxytocin were demonstrated to have the capability to anti-inflammatory and penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively, and they played an anti-inflammatory role via sustained-releasing oxytocin in the brain. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells could reduce neuroinflammation and inhibit the activation of microglia. The secretion of mesenchymal stem cells could not only improve neuroinflammation, but also exert a multi-target comprehensive therapeutic effect, making it potentially more suitable for the treatment of AD. Enhancing the level of TREM2 in microglial cells using gene editing technologies, or application of TREM2 antibodies such as Ab-T1, hT2AB could improve microglial cell function and reduce the level of neuroinflammation, which might be a potential treatment for AD. Probiotic therapy, fecal flora transplantation, antibiotic therapy, and dietary intervention could reshape the composition of the gut microbiota and alleviate neuroinflammation through the gut-brain axis. However, the drugs of sodium oligomannose remain controversial. Both exercise intervention and electromagnetic intervention had the potential to attenuate neuroinflammation, thereby delaying AD process. This article focuses on the role of drug therapy, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, gut microbiota therapy, exercise intervention, and brain stimulation in improving neuroinflammation in recent years, aiming to provide a novel insight for the treatment of AD by intervening neuroinflammation in the future.

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a highly aggressive hematologic malignancy with a poor prognosis, despite advancements in treatment. Many patients struggle with relapse or refractory disease. Investigating the role of the super-enhancer (SE) regulated gene ubiquitin-specific protease 20 (USP20) in T-ALL could enhance targeted therapies and improve clinical outcomes. Analysis of histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) data from six T-ALL cell lines and seven pediatric samples identified USP20 as an SE-regulated driver gene. Utilizing the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and BloodSpot databases, it was found that USP20 is specifically highly expressed in T-ALL. Knocking down USP20 with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) increased apoptosis and inhibited proliferation in T-ALL cells. In vivo studies showed that USP20 knockdown reduced tumor growth and improved survival. The USP20 inhibitor GSK2643943A demonstrated similar anti-tumor effects. Mass spectrometry, RNA-Seq, and immunoprecipitation revealed that USP20 interacted with hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF1A) and stabilized it by deubiquitination. Cleavage under targets and tagmentation (CUT&Tag) results indicated that USP20 co-localized with HIF1A, jointly modulating target genes in T-ALL. This study identifies USP20 as a therapeutic target in T-ALL and suggests GSK2643943A as a potential treatment strategy.

Iron metabolism is a critical factor in tumorigenesis and development. Although TP53 mutations are prevalent in glioblastoma (GBM), the mechanisms by which TP53 regulates iron metabolism remain elusive. We reveal an imbalance iron homeostasis in GBM via TCGA database analysis. TP53 mutations disrupted iron homeostasis in GBM, characterized by elevated total iron levels and reduced ferritin (FTH). The gain-of-function effect triggered by TP53 mutations upregulates itchy E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase (ITCH) protein expression in astrocytes, leading to FTH degradation and an increase in free iron levels. TP53-mut astrocytes were more tolerant to the high iron environment induced by exogenous ferric ammonium citrate (FAC), but the increase in intracellular free iron made them more sensitive to Erastin-induced ferroptosis. Interestingly, we found that Erastin combined with FAC treatment significantly increased ferroptosis. These findings provide new insights for drug development and therapeutic modalities for GBM patients with TP53 mutations from iron metabolism perspectives.
Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Humans ; Iron/metabolism* ; Glioblastoma/metabolism* ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism* ; Homeostasis/physiology* ; Ferritins/metabolism* ; Brain Neoplasms/genetics* ; Mutation ; Astrocytes/drug effects* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Piperazines/pharmacology* ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds/pharmacology* ; Ferric Compounds

This study was aimed at understanding the prevalence and influencing factors of food-borne parasitic diseases in ethnic minority areas of Guizhou Province,to provide a scientific basis for the development of appropriate intervention measures based on the human-animal-environment One Health concept.In 2023,the infection status of the human population,reservoir hosts,intermediate hosts,food-borne parasitic diseases,and related social and environmental factors were investigated in Congjiang County in Qidongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture;Luodian County in Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture;and Ceheng County in Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture.At least 1 000 individuals were sampled from each county,along with at least 50 insect-protected host samples from each location.Food-borne parasite infections were detected with the modified Kato thick smear method.A questionnaire survey was administered to the population.Detection of food-borne parasitic metacercariae was performed in intermediate host fish through the flaking and digestion method,and in crabs through the pounding and sedimentation method.The chi-square test was used to compare rates,and logistic regression was applied for multivariate analysis.A total of 3 023 questionnaires and fecal samples were collected.Males accounted for 47.50%,females accounted for 52.50%,and members of ethnic minorities accounted for 96.06%.A total of 186 food-borne parasitic infections were identified,and the infection rate was 6.15%.Five insect species were detected,which showed an infection rate of 5.39%.The infection rate of Clonorchis sinensis was 0.33%,that of Taenia was 0.40%,that of Heteroceles was 0.17%,that of Acanthus was 0.17%,and that of Echinostoma was 0.03%.Human infections with Echinostomus colloides and Echinostomia transferoris had not previously been reported in China.Single-factor analysis revealed statistically significant differences in food-borne parasite infections according to various factors,including the consumption of untreated water,raw fish and shrimp,raw pig blood,raw cow gastric juice,and raw pork and beef,as well as raw pig and cow viscera(P<0.05).Multivariate analysis indicated that the risk factors for food-borne parasite infections among residents in minority areas of Guizhou Province included the consumption of raw pig blood(OR=2.841,95%CI:1.809-4.463),raw cow gastric juice(OR=2.122,95%CI:1.297-3.469),and raw fish and shrimp(OR=1.779,95%CI:1.049-3.018).A total of 173 fecal samples of the reservoir host were examined,which showed a rate of food-borne parasite infection of 5.2%.A total of 510 intermediate host fish were examined,which showed a 4.51%positivity rate of encysted metacercaria of Clonorchis sinensis.The crab,pig,and beef samples were not positive.In conclusion,food-borne parasitic infections were prevalent in ethnic minority regions of Guizhou Province,and consumption of raw food were influencing factors.A focus on populations with raw food consumption habits,including raw pig blood,cow gastric juice,fish and shrimp,is essential.Concurrently,monitoring of animal hosts must be strengthened to perform key interventions according to the One Health concept.

Objective To investigate the setup error in patients with spinal bone metastasis who underwent radiotherapy under the guidance of kilovoltage cone-beam CT (KV-CBCT). Methods A total of 118 patients with spinal metastasis who underwent radiotherapy, including 17 cases of cervical spine, 62 cases of thoracic spine, and 39 cases of lumbar spine, were collected. KV-CBCT scans were performed using the linear accelerators from Elekta and Varian’s EDGE system. CBCT images were registered with reference CT images in the bone window mode. A total of 973 data were collected, and 3D linear errors were recorded. Results The patients with spinal bone metastasis were grouped by site, height, weight, and BMI. The P value of the patients grouped only by site was P<0.05, which was statistically significant. Conclusion When grouped by site in the 3D direction, the positioning effect of cervical spine is better than that of thoracic and lumbar spine. The positioning effect of the thoracic spine is better in the head and foot direction but worse in the left and right direction compared with that of the lumbar spine. Instead of extending or narrowing the margin according to the BMI of patients with spinal metastasis, the margin must be changed according to the site of spinal bone metastasis.

Background: Despite the fact that an increasing number of studies have focused on developing therapies for acute lung injury, managing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains a challenge in intensive care medicine.Whether the pathology of animal models with acute lung injury in prior studies differed from clinical symptoms of ARDS, resulting in questionable management for human ARDS. To evaluate precisely the therapeutic effect of trans‑ planted stem cells or medications on acute lung injury, we developed an animal model of severe ARDS with lower lung function, capable of keeping the experimental animals survive with consistent reproducibility. Establishing this animal model could help develop the treatment of ARDS with higher efficiency. Results: In this approach, we intratracheally delivered bleomycin (BLM, 5 mg/rat) into rats’ left trachea via a needle connected with polyethylene tube, and simultaneously rotated the rats to the left side by 60 degrees. Within sevendays after the injury, we found that arterial blood oxygen saturation ­(SpO2 ) significantly decreased to 83.7%, partial pressure of arterial oxygen ­(PaO2 ) markedly reduced to 65.3 mmHg, partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide ­(PaCO2 )amplified to 49.2 mmHg, and the respiratory rate increased over time. Morphologically, the surface of the left lung appeared uneven on Day 1, the alveoli of the left lung disappeared on Day 2, and the left lung shrank on Day 7. A his‑ tological examination revealed that considerable cell infiltration began on Day 1 and lasted until Day 7, with a larger area of cell infiltration. Serum levels of IL-5, IL-6, IFN-γ, MCP-1, MIP-2, G-CSF, and TNF-α substantially rose on Day 7. Conclusions This modified approach for BLM-induced lung injury provided a severe, stable, and one-sided (left-lobe) ARDS animal model with consistent reproducibility. The physiological symptoms observed in this severe ARDS animal model are entirely consistent with the characteristics of clinical ARDS. The establishment of this ARDS animal model could help develop treatment for ARDS.

Background: and Purpose Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) following endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is a severe complication associated with adverse functional outcomes and increased mortality rates. Currently, a reliable predictive model for sICH risk after EVT is lacking. Methods: This study used data from patients aged ≥20 years who underwent EVT for anterior circulation stroke from the nationwide Taiwan Registry of Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke (TREAT-AIS). A predictive model including factors associated with an increased risk of sICH after EVT was developed to differentiate between patients with and without sICH. This model was compared existing predictive models using nationwide registry data to evaluate its relative performance. Results: Of the 2,507 identified patients, 158 developed sICH after EVT. Factors such as diastolic blood pressure, Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score, platelet count, glucose level, collateral score, and successful reperfusion were associated with the risk of sICH after EVT. The TREAT-AIS score demonstrated acceptable predictive accuracy (area under the curve [AUC]=0.694), with higher scores being associated with an increased risk of sICH (odds ratio=2.01 per score increase, 95% confidence interval=1.64–2.45, P<0.001). The discriminatory capacity of the score was similar in patients with symptom onset beyond 6 hours (AUC=0.705). Compared to existing models, the TREAT-AIS score consistently exhibited superior predictive accuracy, although this difference was marginal. Conclusions The TREAT-AIS score outperformed existing models, and demonstrated an acceptable discriminatory capacity for distinguishing patients according to sICH risk levels. However, the differences between models were only marginal. Further research incorporating periprocedural and postprocedural factors is required to improve the predictive accuracy.