1.The Neural Circuit Characteristics of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Over The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex for The Treatment of Migraine
Chen-Xia JIN ; Bo-Lin TAN ; Yang YE ; Ji-Qing HE ; Ling-Yan WANG ; Zhong-Ming GAO ; Yu-Jun WANG ; Hui-Li LIU ; Yong-Xing YAN ; Xian-Wei CHE
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(7):1953-1968
ObjectiveMigraine is a leading neurological disorder and the fourth most common cause of years lived with disability worldwide, affecting nearly 116 million individuals. Although pharmacological treatments are available, their efficacy is often limited by side effects and variable response rates. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) offers a safe, non-invasive alternative for migraine management. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms, particularly how rTMS modulates local cortical excitability and distributed pain-related circuits, remain poorly understood. Elucidating these mechanisms is essential for optimizing treatment protocols and improving clinical outcomes. MethodsThis study employed concurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) to investigate neuroplastic and neurocircuitry mechanisms of DLPFC-rTMS in migraine. Study 1 compared 30 migraineurs and 28 healthy controls to identify abnormalities in TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) and significant current density (SCD) within sensory-discriminative regions including the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) and posterior insula (pINS), cognitive-affective regions including the anterior insula (aINS) and midcingulate cortex (MCC), and a descending modulatory region, the periaqueductal gray (PAG). Study 2 used a single-blind, crossover, sham-controlled design in 34 healthy participants. Each participant received both active (10 Hz, 80% RMT, 1 500 pulses) and sham DLPFC-rTMS in counterbalanced order. TMS-EEG and cold pain tolerance were assessed before and after each session. ResultsIn Study 1, migraineurs showed a significantly less negative N120 amplitude compared to healthy controls (P=0.027, Cohen’s d=0.60), indicating local intracortical disinhibition. No group differences were observed for N40, P60, or P180 components. At the source level, migraineurs exhibited significantly higher SCD in the S1, pINS, aINS, and MCC (allQ<0.05), but not in the ventroposterior thalamus (vpTHAL), mediodorsal thalamus (mdTHAL), or PAG. In Study 2, active rTMS significantly reduced SCD from pre- to post-stimulation in the S1, aINS, and MCC (all Q<0.05). Sham stimulation also reduced SCD in the S1 (Q<0.05) but not in the aINS or MCC. Although no significant group-level analgesic effect was observed between active and sham conditions (P=0.107), correlation analyses revealed that greater SCD reductions in the S1 and MCC were significantly associated with higher post-rTMS pain tolerance (R=-0.487 and -0.495, both Q<0.01) and larger improvements in pain tolerance(R=-0.487 and -0.451, both Q<0.05). No such correlations were found following sham stimulation, suggesting that the behavioural relevance of neural changes is specific to active rTMS. ConclusionThis study provides novel evidence that migraineurs exhibit both local neuroplastic abnormalities (reduced N120 amplitude) and hyperactivity in key pain-processing regions (S1, pINS, aINS, MCC). A single session of DLPFC-rTMS reduced hyperactivity in the aINS, MCC, and S1. Notably, greater reductions in the S1 and MCC were associated with improved pain tolerance. These findings identify distinct cortical circuitries, particularly within the cognitive-affective pain network, that may serve as potential biomarkers for optimizing rTMS treatment in migraine and other chronic pain conditions. Future studies should validate these results in patient populations experiencing spontaneous migraine attacks and explore multi-session or accelerated rTMS protocols.
2.Carvedilol to prevent hepatic decompensation of cirrhosis in patients with clinically significant portal hypertension stratified by new non-invasive model (CHESS2306)
Chuan LIU ; Hong YOU ; Qing-Lei ZENG ; Yu Jun WONG ; Bingqiong WANG ; Ivica GRGUREVIC ; Chenghai LIU ; Hyung Joon YIM ; Wei GOU ; Bingtian DONG ; Shenghong JU ; Yanan GUO ; Qian YU ; Masashi HIROOKA ; Hirayuki ENOMOTO ; Amr Shaaban HANAFY ; Zhujun CAO ; Xiemin DONG ; Jing LV ; Tae Hyung KIM ; Yohei KOIZUMI ; Yoichi HIASA ; Takashi NISHIMURA ; Hiroko IIJIMA ; Chuanjun XU ; Erhei DAI ; Xiaoling LAN ; Changxiang LAI ; Shirong LIU ; Fang WANG ; Ying GUO ; Jiaojian LV ; Liting ZHANG ; Yuqing WANG ; Qing XIE ; Chuxiao SHAO ; Zhensheng LIU ; Federico RAVAIOLI ; Antonio COLECCHIA ; Jie LI ; Gao-Jun TENG ; Xiaolong QI
Clinical and Molecular Hepatology 2025;31(1):105-118
Background:
s/Aims: Non-invasive models stratifying clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) are limited. Herein, we developed a new non-invasive model for predicting CSPH in patients with compensated cirrhosis and investigated whether carvedilol can prevent hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified using the new model.
Methods:
Non-invasive risk factors of CSPH were identified via systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG). A new non-invasive model was validated for various performance aspects in three cohorts, i.e., a multicenter HVPG cohort, a follow-up cohort, and a carvediloltreating cohort.
Results:
In the meta-analysis with six studies (n=819), liver stiffness measurement and platelet count were identified as independent risk factors for CSPH and were used to develop the new “CSPH risk” model. In the HVPG cohort (n=151), the new model accurately predicted CSPH with cutoff values of 0 and –0.68 for ruling in and out CSPH, respectively. In the follow-up cohort (n=1,102), the cumulative incidences of decompensation events significantly differed using the cutoff values of <–0.68 (low-risk), –0.68 to 0 (medium-risk), and >0 (high-risk). In the carvediloltreated cohort, patients with high-risk CSPH treated with carvedilol (n=81) had lower rates of decompensation events than non-selective beta-blockers untreated patients with high-risk CSPH (n=613 before propensity score matching [PSM], n=162 after PSM).
Conclusions
Treatment with carvedilol significantly reduces the risk of hepatic decompensation in patients with high-risk CSPH stratified by the new model.
3.Clinical efficacy and safety of a domestic calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment in the treatment of stable plaque psoriasis: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled study
Lixin XIA ; Guang XIANG ; Qingchun DIAO ; Kun HUANG ; Shoumin ZHANG ; Shanshan LI ; Yumei LI ; Zhiqiang SONG ; Qing SUN ; Xiumin YANG ; Meng PAN ; Yuling SHI ; Shuping GUO ; Huiping WANG ; Tiechi LEI ; Xiaoyong ZHOU ; Songmei GENG ; Suchun HOU ; Juan SU ; Yong CUI ; Rixin CHEN ; Yanyan FENG ; Hongxia FENG ; Rushan XIA ; Zudong MENG ; Fang YIN ; Jingjing WANG ; Xinghua GAO
Chinese Journal of Dermatology 2025;58(11):1020-1026
Objective:To evaluate the clinical equivalence between a domestic calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment and the originator product in the treatment of stable plaque psoriasis.Methods:A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, three-arm, parallel-group, active- and placebo-controlled study was conducted, and 449 patients aged 18 - 65 years with stable plaque psoriasis were enrolled from 25 hospitals (such as the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University). Eligible patients had a baseline physician's global assessment (PGA) score of ≥ 3 points, baseline body surface area (BSA) involvement of 5% - 30%, and a target lesion psoriasis area and severity index (TL-PASI) for plaque elevation of ≥ 3 points. Participants were randomly assigned in a 2:2:1 ratio to the test group ( n = 179), reference group ( n = 180), and placebo group ( n = 90), and applied the domestic calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment, originator product, and ointment base respectively, once daily in the evening for 4 weeks. Efficacy and safety were assessed at weeks 1, 2, and 4. The primary efficacy endpoints were the treatment success rates and clinical success rates in each group at week 4. The per-protocol set (PPS) was used for the primary efficacy analysis, and the intention-to-treat (ITT) set for supplementary efficacy analysis. Equivalence between the test and reference preparations was tested using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel method adjusted for randomization strata. Superiority of the test and reference preparations over the placebo was also tested. Measurement data were compared among the 3 groups using analysis of variance or non-parametric tests, while treatment success rates, clinical success rates, and incidence rates of adverse reactions were compared using the chi-square test. Results:The ITT, PPS, and safety sets included 447, 420, and 448 patients, respectively. In the ITT set, patients were aged 43.6 ± 12.8 years, including 320 (71.6%) males and 127 (28.4%) females, and the disease duration was 11.21 ± 9.05 years; 316 (70.7%) had a PGA score of 3 points and 131 (29.3%) had a PGA score of 4 - 5 points. No significant differences in the baseline characteristics (including age, sex, disease duration and disease severity) were observed among the 3 groups (all P > 0.05). Based on the PPS analysis, the treatment success rates were 57.9% (99/171) in the test group, 50.3% (86/171) in the reference group, and 7.7% (6/78) in the placebo group, and the clinical success rates were 57.9% (99/171), 50.3% (86/171), and 10.3% (8/78), respectively; both the test and reference groups were superior to the placebo group in both treatment and clinical success rates (all P < 0.001) ; the rate differences for treatment success (90% confidence interval [ CI]: -1.3% - 16.4%) and clinical success (90% CI: -1.3% - 16.3%) between the test and reference groups were entirely within the pre-defined equivalence margin (-20% - 20%). Subgroup analyses by baseline PGA scores: for patients with a baseline PGA score of 3 points, the treatment success rates in the test, reference, and placebo groups were 60.8% (73/120), 52.1% (62/119), and 11.1% (6/54), respectively, and the corresponding clinical success rates were 61.7% (74/120), 53.8% (64/119), and 13% (7/54), respectively; the test and reference groups did not differ significantly in treatment or clinical success rates (both P > 0.05), but both showed higher success rates than the placebo group (all P < 0.001) ; the results of statistical comparisons among the 3 groups in patients with a baseline PGA score of 4 - 5 points were consistent with those observed in patients with a baseline PGA score of 3 points. The percentage reductions in PGA and TL-PASI scores from baseline to weeks 1, 2, and 4 showed significant differences among the 3 groups, which were significantly higher in the test and reference groups than in the placebo group (all P < 0.001), but did not differ between the test and reference groups (all P > 0.05). The primary adverse reactions were local skin reactions, such as pruritus, pain, and erythema. The incidence rates of adverse reactions were 8.9% (16/179) in the test group, 7.3% (13/179) in the reference group, and 7.8% (7/90) in the placebo group, with no significant difference among the 3 groups ( P > 0.05) . Conclusions:The domestic calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment demonstrated clinical equivalence to the originator product in the treatment of stable plaque psoriasis, and the two agents exhibited comparable efficacy for patients with varying degrees of disease severity, and were comparable in the speed and degree of clinical improvement, with similar favorable safety profiles.
4.Longitudinal study on core symptoms and nursing strategies for patients with colorectal cancer undergoing postoperative chemotherapy
Cunfeng ZHENG ; Zheng WANG ; Haijing LIU ; Jie GAO ; Ya QIN ; Qing ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Nursing 2025;60(11):1309-1315
Objective To explore the changes in symptom clusters and core symptoms at different stages in col-orectal cancer patients undergoing postoperative chemotherapy,and to provide a reference for developing precise symptom management strategies in clinical practice.Methods 300 colorectal cancer patients who underwent post-operative chemotherapy at 2 tertiary hospitals in Tianjin from August 2023 to May 2024 were conveniently selected as the study subjects.General information questionnaires and the Chinese version of the MD Anderson Symptom In-ventory for Colorectal Cancer were used to survey patients during the first chemotherapy cycle(T1)and the third chemotherapy cycle(T2).Exploratory factor analysis was used to extract symptom clusters;R language was used to construct symptom networks.Results 300 questionnaires were distributed and collected at T1,and 264 question-naires were distributed and collected at T2,with a recovery rate of 88.00%.Colorectal cancer patients undergoing postoperative chemotherapy had 5 symptom clusters at T1,and 4 symptom clusters at T2.In the symptom network,distress was the symptom with the highest strength(rs=1.188),closeness centrality(rc=0.004),and betweenness centrality(rb=36)at T1.Distress was the symptom with the highest strength(rs=1.397),while decreased appetite had the highest closeness centrality(rc=0.004)and betweenness centrality(rb=39)at T2.Conclusion The symptom clusters in colorectal cancer patients undergoing postoperative chemotherapy remain stable over time.Distress is a stable core symptom during chemotherapy,while decreased appetite is a bridging symptom in the mid-chemotherapy phase.Healthcare providers should prioritize interventions for decreased appetite while addressing emotional symptoms to improve the efficiency of symptom management.
5.Real-world effectiveness of an immunosuppressant combined with different chemoth-erapy regimens in the neoadjuvant treatment of advanced gastric cancer
Che SHENGFU ; Gao ZHONGTI ; Qing HUIGUO ; Han JINGJING ; Wang KESHEN ; Li LONG ; Long BO ; Yu ZEYUAN
Chinese Journal of Clinical Oncology 2025;52(9):447-453
Objective:The aims of this study were to compare the clinical effectiveness of an immunosuppressant(sintilimab)combined with different chemotherapy regimens(two-and three-drug regimens)in the neoadjuvant treatment of advanced gastric cancer and to explore the efficacy-associated clinical features.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with advanced gastric cancer who re-ceived treatment at Lanzhou University Second Hospital between August 2020 and February 2024.Overall,133 patients were included in the study and assigned into groups A(three-drug regimens)and B(two-drug regimens),according to the treatment regimen received.Recent ef-ficacy outcomes,including the pathological complete response rate(pCR),major pathological response rate(MPR),objective response rate(ORR),and disease control rate(DCR),as well as long-term efficacy outcomes,including overall survival(OS)and disease-free survival(DFS),were compared.Subgroup analyses were performed to identify clinical features associated with treatment efficacy.Results:The recent effic-acy outcomes were similar between groups A(two-drug regimen)and B(three-drug regimen),with pCRs of 18.46%and 27.94%,MPRs of 52.31%and 58.82%,ORRs of 76.92%and 76.47%,and DCRs of 87.69%and 95.59%,respectively.However,the three-drug regimen led to significantly improved OS and DFS,compared with the two-drug regimen(P<0.05).Subgroup analysis revealed that male patients and those with gastric antrum cancer,an ECOG score of 0,a T4 stage tumor,and no vascular or nerve invasion benefited more from the three-drug re-gimen.Conclusions:Sintilimab combined with the three-drug chemotherapy regimen demonstrated superior long-term efficacy in the neo-adjuvant treatment of advanced gastric cancer,compared with the combination with the two-drug regimen.Certain clinical features may predict greater benefit from the three-drug regimen.
6.Construction and application of medical safety system in Xidan Campus of Peking Union Medical College Hospital
Pengyu ZHAO ; Ligen YU ; Chen WANG ; Qiao LI ; Yi GAO ; Guojie ZHANG ; Qing CHANG
Chinese Journal of Hospital Administration 2025;41(6):426-431
The construction of a medical safety system based on the medical core quality and safty systems is the foundation of the hospital. Multi-campus operation coordinated development is key to the high-quality development of public hospitals and the balanced distribution of high-quality medical resources. Building a medical safety system that comfoms to the specialized layout and operation of branch districts is very important the construction of multi-campus hospitals. In January 2023, Xidan Campus of Peking Union Medical College Hospital established a medical safety system that was compatible with its development, based on the construction of the medical core quality and safty system. The system covered four dimensions: early identification, early assessment, early intervention, and fast response. It included high-risk surgical evaluation and filing, early warning of nursing rooms, periodic medical safety rounds, and rapid response teams and cross hospital transportation of critical care rapid response teams. As of June 2024, the hospital had recorded 570 high-risk surgeries with no unplanned secondary surgeries or unplanned readmissions; Reported nursing warnings 68 times, initiated 93 emergency treatments and cross hospital transfers. All emergency patients received early warning assessments and completed graded and classified transfers and management, effectively ensuring patient safety. This practice could provide references for other multi-campus hospitals to promote the construction and development of medical safety systems.
7.Risk prediction models for carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infection in ICU patients established based on 5 types of machine learning algorithms
Chen JIA ; Yan GAO ; Xili XIE ; Feng ZHAO ; Haiming QING ; Lu WANG
Chinese Journal of Nosocomiology 2025;35(17):2586-2591
OBJECTIVE To establish the an optimal prediction model for carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter bau-mannii(CRAB)infection in ICU patients based on machine learning(ML)so as to help clinicians to diagnose and make decisions.METHODS The clinical data were collected from the patients who were hospitalized in ICUs of a three-A hospital from Jan.1,2017 to Dec.31,2024 and were randomly divided into the training set and the test set in a 7∶3 ratio.The characteristic variables were selected by means of LASSO regression analysis in combina-tion with multivariate logistic regression analysis.Five types of M L classification models were integrated,the opti-mal model was analyzed and identified.The performance of the prediction model for CRAB infection in the ICU patients was evaluated with the use of sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,areas under receiver operating characteris-tic curves(AUCs),calibration curves,Hosmer-Lemeshow test and decision curve analysis(DCA).The outputs of the ML models were interpreted by Shapley additive explanations(SHAP)and permutation importance.RESULTS A total of 2 904 patients were enrolled in the study,695(23.93%)of whom had CRAB infection.The AUC of XGBoost model was highest in the training set and the test set,respectively(0.994 and 0.907).The result of Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that the calibration curves of the XGBoost model indicated that the predicated risk was highly con-sistent with the observed risk(x2=7.323 and 4.609,P=0.513 and 0.764,respectively).The DCA curves showed that the XGBoost model performed best within the whole range of threshold,with the highest net profit.The length of ICU stay,use of tigecycline,central venous catheterization,use of carbapenems and use of ventilator were determined as the major predictive factors by means of SHAP.CONCLUSIONS The XGBoost model is established and interpreted by SHAP.It provides bases for screening of the ICU patients at high risk of CRAB infection.
8.Visual analysis of the application of wearable devices in nursing care both domestically and internationally
Qing DONG ; Shujun XING ; Xianghuan LI ; Jing ZHAI ; Xinyu WANG ; Jiaqi LIU ; Jinlan LI ; Xiaoru GAO ; Yu TANG
China Modern Doctor 2025;63(30):1-4,68
Objective To analyze the research status,hotspots,and trends of wearable devices in nursing applications both domestically and internationally.Methods Using China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform,and Embase core databases as data sources,VOSviewer was used to visualize and analyze the publication time,keywords,and other relevant literature.Results Total of 428 articles were included,including 196 Chinese articles and 232 English articles.The overall publication volume showed an upward trend.Domestic research focuses on chronic diseases,artificial intelligence,and nursing,with the main research subjects being the elderly;Foreign research focuses on smart devices,self-monitoring,and quality of life,with the main research subjects being adults.Conclusion Currently,the number of publications on the application of wearable devices in nursing is relatively small,but the overall research heat is on the rise,mainly used for chronic diseases and self-monitoring.In the future,the application scope of wearable devices should be expanded and their potential value should be explored to promote the innovation and progress of nursing models.
9.New-onset urethral stricture after transurethral holmium laser enucleation of the prostate and analysis on its influencing factors
Jie WANG ; Chenxi YE ; Qiang HU ; Guorong YANG ; Xiaowei HAO ; Yin LU ; Fan GAO ; Qing YUAN
Journal of Army Medical University 2025;47(12):1342-1349
Objective To systematic analyze the risk factors for new-onset urethral stricture after transurethral holmium laser enucleation of the prostate(HoLEP)in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH).Methods A case-control study was conducted on 746 BPH patients undergoing HoLEP treatment in Department of Urology of the Third Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from November 2021 to August 2024.After 23 cases were excluded because of complication of prostate cancer,finally 723 patients were included.General clinical data such as age,height,weight,history of smoking and drinking,perioperative parameters,and follow-up data at 1,3 and 6 months after operation were collected.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the clinical risk factors for new-onset urethral stricture after HoLEP.Results The subjected patients had a median age of 66.5(64.0,75.0)years,and a preoperative median prostate volume of 66(45,92)mL,and a median indwelling catheter time of 4(4,5)d.The incidence of new urethral stricture after operation was 5.8%(42/723),with membranous part of the urethra(61.9%)the most common site,followed by the external urethral orifice(21.4%)and the bladder neck(7.1%).Risk factor analysis indicated that low BMI(<18.5 kg/m2)(OR=4.682,P=0.037),young age(OR=0.946,P=0.005),and postoperative urinary tract infection(OR=4.513,P=0.001)were independent risk factors for new-onset urethral stricture after surgery.Prostate volume and indwelling time of urinary catheter had no significant association with the occurrence of new urethral stricture after surgery.Conclusion The occurrence of new-onset urethral stricture after HoLEP is significantly correlated with BMI,age and urinary tract infection.The above 3 factors can be used as better predictors of new-onset urethral stricture after HoLEP.
10.Dual-modal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agents Based on Polymetallic Nanoclusters for Targeted Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer
Qing-Dong LI ; Peng WANG ; Jian-Min XIAO ; Wen-Juan GAO ; Zhen-Hong XIA ; Gui-Long ZHANG ; Zheng-Yan WU
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(4):602-611
Fe/Mn/Gd polymetallic nanooxide(FMGN)were prepared by one-step solvent thermal reaction by using Fe(acac)3,Mn(acac)2 and Gd(acac)3 as reaction precursors.Next,hyaluronic acid(HA)was used to modify FMGN to fabricate tumor-targeting T 1-T 2 dual-mode magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)contrast agent(HA-FMGN)for accurate diagnosis of prostate cancer.The structure and morphology of FMGN were observed by transmission electron microscope(TEM).It was found that FMGN exhibited a uniform nanocluster spherical structure when the feeding ratio of iron acetylacetonate,manganese acetylacetonate,and gadolinium acetylacetonate was 3:2:1.X-ray diffraction(XRD)analysis showed that FMGN had a typical inverse spinel structure of Mn doped Fe 3O 4,with Gd existing in the form of amorphous gadolinium oxide.The longitudinal relaxivity(r 1)and transverse relaxivity(r 2)of FMGN were 13.395 and 428.535 L/(mmol·s),respectively,measured by 0.5 T MRI analyzer,which proved that FMGN had excellent T 1-T 2 dual-mode MRI contrast capability.The cytotoxicity and hemolysis test found that HA-FMGN didn't damage red cells and induce toxicity for normal cells,indicating that HA-FMGN had excellent cell biocompatibility.The internalization efficacy of HA-FMGN was observed by CLSM,and the results showed that HA-FMGN possessed excellent prostate tumor-targeting ability.In vivo MRI experiment showed that HA-FMGN significantly enhanced T 1 and T 2 weighted MRI signal to noise ratio(SNR)of prostate tumor,which promoted the accurate diagnosis of orthotopic prostate cancer.

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