ObjectiveCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) plays a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). CSF rapidly exchanges with interstitial fluid (ISF) via the glymphatic system within the brain parenchyma. CSF-ISF circulation and its associated mechanisms are often referred to as the brain lymphatic system. This system is connected directly to meningeal lymphatic vessels (mLVs), jointly performing the function of clearing metabolic waste from the CNS. Emerging evidence indicates that this system is closely associated with the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Importantly, abnormal CSF circulation is not only a downstream consequence of AD pathology, but also a risk factor. In AD, the dynamics of CSF flow within the CNS are diminished, immune dysregulation occurs, and this may increase the risk of AD by exacerbating the burden of amyloid β-protein (Aβ). In the mouse model of AD, impaired CSF flow compromises this clearance function, leading to cognitive deficits. Clinically, acupuncture at cognition-related acupoints is commonly used for the prevention and treatment of AD. However, whether its therapeutic effects are mediated through the modulation of CSF dynamics remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of acupuncture on CSF flow and investigate its acupoint specificity. MethodsMice were randomly assigned to experimental groups for the different electroacupuncture groups with the following acupoints: Baihui point (GV 20), Ear point, Neiguan point (PC 6), and Tianshu point (ST 25). Wild-type mice on a C57BL/6J background were used as controls. Fluorescent tracer was injected into the cisterna magna to label CSF flow. Fluorescence imaging was employed to assess the distribution of CSF within the brain before and after acupuncture stimulation. ResultsFollowing tracer injection into the cisterna magna, fluorescence signals rapidly reached the cerebellum and medulla—the regions closest to the injection site. Fluorescence intensity was higher in ventral brain regions compared to dorsal regions, likely due to greater vascular density in ventral areas facilitating CSF-ISF exchange. Electroacupuncture at the GV 20 produced the most pronounced enhancement of CSF across the whole brain, while stimulation at the ST 25 primarily augmented flow within subcortical regions. In contrast, electroacupuncture at the Ear point or the PC 6 had no observable effect on CSF in mice. ConclusionElectroacupuncture promotes CSF flow into the brain parenchyma in an acupoint-specific manner, with GV 20 exhibiting the most pronounced enhancement of CSF dynamics. These findings suggest that acupuncture-mediated facilitation of CSF flow may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing or delaying age-related cognitive decline.

ObjectiveCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) plays a crucial role in maintaining the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). CSF rapidly exchanges with interstitial fluid (ISF) via the glymphatic system within the brain parenchyma. CSF-ISF circulation and its associated mechanisms are often referred to as the brain lymphatic system. This system is connected directly to meningeal lymphatic vessels (mLVs), jointly performing the function of clearing metabolic waste from the CNS. Emerging evidence indicates that this system is closely associated with the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Importantly, abnormal CSF circulation is not only a downstream consequence of AD pathology, but also a risk factor. In AD, the dynamics of CSF flow within the CNS are diminished, immune dysregulation occurs, and this may increase the risk of AD by exacerbating the burden of amyloid β-protein (Aβ). In the mouse model of AD, impaired CSF flow compromises this clearance function, leading to cognitive deficits. Clinically, acupuncture at cognition-related acupoints is commonly used for the prevention and treatment of AD. However, whether its therapeutic effects are mediated through the modulation of CSF dynamics remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of acupuncture on CSF flow and investigate its acupoint specificity. MethodsMice were randomly assigned to experimental groups for the different electroacupuncture groups with the following acupoints: Baihui point (GV 20), Ear point, Neiguan point (PC 6), and Tianshu point (ST 25). Wild-type mice on a C57BL/6J background were used as controls. Fluorescent tracer was injected into the cisterna magna to label CSF flow. Fluorescence imaging was employed to assess the distribution of CSF within the brain before and after acupuncture stimulation. ResultsFollowing tracer injection into the cisterna magna, fluorescence signals rapidly reached the cerebellum and medulla—the regions closest to the injection site. Fluorescence intensity was higher in ventral brain regions compared to dorsal regions, likely due to greater vascular density in ventral areas facilitating CSF-ISF exchange. Electroacupuncture at the GV 20 produced the most pronounced enhancement of CSF across the whole brain, while stimulation at the ST 25 primarily augmented flow within subcortical regions. In contrast, electroacupuncture at the Ear point or the PC 6 had no observable effect on CSF in mice. ConclusionElectroacupuncture promotes CSF flow into the brain parenchyma in an acupoint-specific manner, with GV 20 exhibiting the most pronounced enhancement of CSF dynamics. These findings suggest that acupuncture-mediated facilitation of CSF flow may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing or delaying age-related cognitive decline.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of neuroendoscopy-assisted small bone window craniotomy and large bone flap craniotomy for acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) evacuation in elderly patients.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 57 elderly patients with ASDH admitted to Chongqing University Fuling Hospital from November 2020 to November 2023, including 27 males and 30 females, aged 65-89 years [(75.0±7.0)years]. The preoperative Glasgow coma scale (GCS) ranged 8-15 points [11.0(11.0, 12.0)points]. Among them, 27 patients were treated with neuroendoscopy-assisted small bone window craniotomy to evacuate ASDH (small bone window group) and 30 received large bone flap craniotomy to evacuate ASDH (large bone flap group). The following parameters were compared between the two groups: surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, and length of hospital stay; residual subdural hematoma volume before surgery and at 1 day after surgery; GCS before surgery, at 1 and 3 days after surgery; good rate of Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) at 7 days and 6 months after surgery; and postoperative complication rate.Results:All the patients were followed up for 6 months. The surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, and length of hospital stay were 89.0(85.0, 96.0)minutes, 65.0(55.0, 85.0)ml, and 15.0(14.0, 16.0)days, respectively in the small bone window group, which were shorter or less than 135.0(127.5, 150.0)minutes, 332.0(308.0, 367.5)ml, and 18.5(16.0, 20.0)days in the large bone flap group ( P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the residual subdural hematoma volume between the two groups before surgery and at 1 day after surgery ( P>0.05). No statistically significant difference was found in GCS scores between the two groups before surgery ( P>0.05), while the GCS scores in the small bone window group at 1 and 3 days after surgery [12.0(12.0, 13.0)points and 15.0(14.0, 15.0)points] were higher than 11.5(11.0, 12.0)points and 13.0(12.8, 14.0)points in the large bone flap group ( P<0.01). The good rate of GOS in the small bone window group at 7 days after surgery was 100% (27/27), higher than 77% (23/30) in the large bone flap group ( P<0.05), but no statistically significant difference was found in the good rate of GOS between the two groups at 6 months after surgery ( P>0.05). Two patients in the small bone window group had pulmonary infection after surgery, with a complication rate of 7% (2/27), while in the large bone flap group, four patients had pulmonary infection, two epidural hematoma, one intracranial infection, one delayed wound healing, one subcutaneous fluid accumulation, and one epilepsy after surgery, with a complication rate of 33% (10/30) ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with the conventional large bone flap craniotomy, neuroendoscopy-assisted small bone window craniotomy can shorten the surgical duration and length of hospital stay, reduce the intraoperative bleeding volume, promote early functional recovery, improve prognosis, and reduce the complication rate in elderly patients with ASDH.

Objective:To summarize the clinical data of single-center juvenile dermatomyositis（JDM）complicated with interstitial lung disease（ILD），and provide experience for pediatricians.Methods:Data of 61 children with JDM who were admitted to Children's Hospital affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2016 to May 2023 were collected. General data，clinical symptoms，chest high-resolution CT，laboratory examination and myositis antibody spectrum of the children were recorded.Results:Among the 61 children with JDM，there were 30 cases（13 males and 17 females）without ILD. The age of onset was 5.96（3.50，8.92）years and the course of disease was（11.79±20.00）months. There were 31 cases with ILD（14 males and 17 females），the age of onset was 7.42（4.50，10.08）years，and the duration of ILD was（5.47±8.09）months. There was statistical difference in the course of disease between the two groups（ P<0.05），but no statistical difference in gender and age between the two groups（ P>0.05）. Among 61 children with JDM，there were statistical differences in fever between the two groups（ P<0.05），but no statistical differences in heliotrope discoloration，gottron’s papules，calcinosis and myasthenia between the two groups（ P>0.05）. AST and FER showed statistical difference between the two groups（ P<0.05），while CK，LDH，CK-MB，ESR，C3 and C4 showed no statistical difference（ P>0.05）. All 61 cases of children were tested for myositis antibody spectrum，and there was statistical difference in anti-MDA5 antibody between the two groups（ P<0.05），but no statistical difference in the rest（ P>0.05）. There were statistical differences between the two groups in the treatment of methotrexate，hydroxychloroquine and cyclophosphamide（ P<0.05）. A total of 11 cases（36.67%）in the without ILD group were treated with biologics（8 adalimumab，2 infliximab and 1 tofacitinib），and 23 cases（74.19%）in the ILD group were treated with biologics（11 adalimumab，9 tofaciib，2 infliximab and 1 tocilizumab）. All 61 cases with JDM were followed up. Among the 30 children without ILD，1 case was lost to follow-up 2 months after treatment，and the rest were treated effectively without death. Among the 31 children with ILD，3 cases died of severe pulmonary infection with multidrug-resistant bacteria during treatment，of which 1 case was positive for anti-MDA5 antibody and 2 cases were negative for myositis specific antibody. Conclusion:JDM is more likely to be complicated with ILD，fever is more likely to occur in ILD group，and children with positive anti-MDA5 antibody are more likely to occur ILD. Biologic agents such as adalimumab and tofacitinib are effective in combination therapy. In the course of treatment，multi-drug resistant bacteria infection should be guarded against to reduce mortality.

Objective:To investigate the molecular mechanisms of bexarotene in treating double hit lymphoma(DHL)based on Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis(WGCNA),thereby providing potential targets and experimental evidence for DHL treatment.Methods:The gene expression datasets GSE44164 and GSE43677 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database,and differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified.WGCNA was employed to identify gene modules associated with DHL.A protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed to screen for key hub genes.Drug-gene association analysis was conducted using the EpiMed platform to identify potential targeted drugs for DHL.The effects of bexarotene on DHL cell proliferation and key protein expression were evaluated using the CCK-8 assay and Western blotting(WB),and its effects on cell apoptosis was evaluated using flow cytometry.Results:WGCNA identified a turquoise module highly associated with DHL,and 10 hub genes(COL1A2,COL3A1,MMP2,COL5A2,DCN,BGN,FN1,MMP9,FBN1,and LUM)were screened from the PPI network.Drug association analysis nominated bexarotene as a potential therapeutic agent.In vitro validation demonstrated that bexarotene significantly inhibited U2932 cell viability(P<0.05),promoted cell apoptosis(P<0.001),and downregulated c-Myc and COL1A2 expression(P<0.05).Conclusion:Bexarotene may exert anti-DHL effects by suppressing the c-Myc signaling pathway and modulating extracellular matrix-related genes.Further studies are warranted to validate its in vivo efficacy and potential for combination therapy.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of neuroendoscopy-assisted small bone window craniotomy and large bone flap craniotomy for acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) evacuation in elderly patients.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 57 elderly patients with ASDH admitted to Chongqing University Fuling Hospital from November 2020 to November 2023, including 27 males and 30 females, aged 65-89 years [(75.0±7.0)years]. The preoperative Glasgow coma scale (GCS) ranged 8-15 points [11.0(11.0, 12.0)points]. Among them, 27 patients were treated with neuroendoscopy-assisted small bone window craniotomy to evacuate ASDH (small bone window group) and 30 received large bone flap craniotomy to evacuate ASDH (large bone flap group). The following parameters were compared between the two groups: surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, and length of hospital stay; residual subdural hematoma volume before surgery and at 1 day after surgery; GCS before surgery, at 1 and 3 days after surgery; good rate of Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) at 7 days and 6 months after surgery; and postoperative complication rate.Results:All the patients were followed up for 6 months. The surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, and length of hospital stay were 89.0(85.0, 96.0)minutes, 65.0(55.0, 85.0)ml, and 15.0(14.0, 16.0)days, respectively in the small bone window group, which were shorter or less than 135.0(127.5, 150.0)minutes, 332.0(308.0, 367.5)ml, and 18.5(16.0, 20.0)days in the large bone flap group ( P<0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the residual subdural hematoma volume between the two groups before surgery and at 1 day after surgery ( P>0.05). No statistically significant difference was found in GCS scores between the two groups before surgery ( P>0.05), while the GCS scores in the small bone window group at 1 and 3 days after surgery [12.0(12.0, 13.0)points and 15.0(14.0, 15.0)points] were higher than 11.5(11.0, 12.0)points and 13.0(12.8, 14.0)points in the large bone flap group ( P<0.01). The good rate of GOS in the small bone window group at 7 days after surgery was 100% (27/27), higher than 77% (23/30) in the large bone flap group ( P<0.05), but no statistically significant difference was found in the good rate of GOS between the two groups at 6 months after surgery ( P>0.05). Two patients in the small bone window group had pulmonary infection after surgery, with a complication rate of 7% (2/27), while in the large bone flap group, four patients had pulmonary infection, two epidural hematoma, one intracranial infection, one delayed wound healing, one subcutaneous fluid accumulation, and one epilepsy after surgery, with a complication rate of 33% (10/30) ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with the conventional large bone flap craniotomy, neuroendoscopy-assisted small bone window craniotomy can shorten the surgical duration and length of hospital stay, reduce the intraoperative bleeding volume, promote early functional recovery, improve prognosis, and reduce the complication rate in elderly patients with ASDH.

AIM To establish the near-infrared spectroscopy quantitative models for moisture,23-acetylalismol B and 23-acetylalismol C in Alismatis Rhizoma decoction pieces.METHODS The near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS)data were collected in 95 batches of decoction pieces,after which drying method was adopted in the content determination of moisture,HPLC was applied to determining the contents of 23-acetylalismol B and 23-acetylalismol C,the quantitative models were established by partial least squares method combined with feature extraction algorithms.RESULTS The model training determination coefficients were 0.952 6,0.958 1 and 0.920 8,along with the prediction determination coefficients of 0.930 0,0.905 2 and 0.906 4,the residual prediction deviations(PRD)of 4.00,3.58 and 3.46,and the root mean square error ratios of prediction values to calibration values(RMSEP/RMSEC)of 1.15,1.11 and 1.06,respectively.CONCLUSION The quantitative models based on NIRS exhibit good prediction effects,which can be used for the rapid quality detection of Alismatis Rhizoma decoction pieces.

Objective To investigate the serum levels of long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)HOX transcript antisense RNA(HOTAIR)and homeobox A11 antisense RNA(LncRNA HOXA11-AS)in patients with traumatic brain injury(TBI),and their relationship with cognitive function.Methods From January 2022 to December 2023,106 TBI patients who visited Fuling Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing University were regarded as the TBI group.They were separated into a cognitive impairment group(n=44)and a non-cognitive impairment group(n=62)based on whether they experienced cognitive impairment.78 healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations in Fuling Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing University were regarded as the control group.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(qRT-DCR)method was applied to detect serum LncRNA HOTAIR and LncRNA HOXA11-AS levels.Spearman and Pearson methods were used to analyze the correlation between serum LncRNA HOTAIR and LncRNA HOXA11-AS levels,cognitive function,and inflammatory factors in TBI patients.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was applied to analyze the predictive value of serum LncRNA HOTAIR and LncRNA HOXA11-AS for cognitive impairment in TBI patients.Logistic regression was applied to analyze the impacts of serum LncRNA HOTAIR and LncRNA HOXA11-AS expression on cognitive impairment after TBI.Results Compared with the control group,the expression levels of serum LncRNA HOTAIR(1.75±0.29 vs 1.03±0.15)and LncRNA HOXA11-AS(1.59±0.35 vs 0.99±0.18)in the TBI group were significantly increased,and the differences were statistically significant(t=20.034,13.846,all P<0.05).The cognitively impaired group had significantly higher serum LncRNA HOTAIR,LncRNA HOXA11-AS,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin 1β(IL-1β)and interleukin 6(IL-6)levels were significantly higher in the cognitive impairment group than in the group without cognitive impairment(t=3.011～9.615),and Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)scale was considerably lower than that of the no cognitive impairment group(t=17.633),and the differences were statistical significance(all P<0.05).Spearman correlation analysis showed that the expression levels of serum LncRNA HOTAIR and LncRNA HOXA11-AS in TBI patients were negatively correlated with MoCA scores(r=-0.515,-0.430,all P<0.001),Pearson correlation analysis showed that the expression levels of serum LncRNA HOTAIR and LncRNA HOXA11-AS were positively correlated with TNF-α,IL-1βand IL-6 levels(r=0.423,0.397,0.452,0.437,0.512,0.390,all P<0.001).The AUC(95%CI)of serum LncRNA HOTAIR and LncRNA HOXA11-AS alone and in combination predicted cognitive impairment after TBI was 0.896(0.822～0.947),0.864(0.784～0.923)and 0.960(0.903～0.988),respectively,the combined predictive value of the two was better than that of individual prediction(Z=2.457,2.998,all P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that elevated expression levels of serum LncRNA HOTAIR and LncRNA HOXA11-AS were risk factors for cognitive impairment in TBII patients,while MoCA score was a protective factor(all P<0.05).Conclusion The levels of serum LncRNA HOTAIR and LncRNA HOXA11-AS have certain value in the functional impairment of TBI patients,and they may participate in the occurrence and progression of cognitive impairment in TBI patients by regulating the levels of inflammatory factors in the body.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) assisted bilateral decompression in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation with imaging herniation on one side and clinical symptoms on the contralateral side.Methods:A total of 20 patients with lumbar disc herniation with imaging herniation on one side and clinical symptoms on the contralateral side treated with UBE from January 2022 to January 2024 in the Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. There were 9 males and 11 females, aged 50.4±14.0 years (range, 23-72 years). The intervertebral disc herniation level included L 3-4 in 1 case, L 4-5 in 15 cases, and L 5S 1 in 4 cases. There were 10 cases on the left side and 10 cases on the right side. The duration of symptoms was 24.1±33.7 months (range, 1-120 months). Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were used to evaluate postoperative pain relief and functional recovery. The clinical efficacy was evaluated by modified MacNab criteria at 6 months after operation. Results:All patients successfully completed the operation. The operation time was 90.3±24.6 min (range, 55-134 mins). The VAS scores of patients at 3 days, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after operation were 3.6±0.9, 2.2±0.7, 1.2±0.5 and 1.0±0.6, respectively, which were lower than those before operation (6.4±0.8), and the differences were statistically significant ( F=668.728, P<0.001). The ODI at 3 days, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after operation were 34.2%±4.7%, 28.7%±2.8%, 24.3%±2.1% and 20.5%±2.0%, respectively, which were lower than 69.4%±5.2% before operation, and the differences were statistically significant ( F=515.578, P<0.001). The clinical efficacy was evaluated by modified MacNab criteria at 6 months after operation. Among 20 patients, 18 cases were excellent, 1 case was good, and 1 case was fair. All patients were followed up for 9.1±2.1 months (range, 6-14 months). One patient had a dural tear during the operation, but the range was small and there was no defect, and no further treatment was performed. Numbness of the lower limbs occurred 1 day after operation, and the symptoms disappeared after symptomatic treatment. There was no recurrence of lower limb symptoms, lumbar instability, intervertebral space infection or other complications at the last follow-up. Conclusion:Bilateral decompression with UBE is effective in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation with imaging herniation on one side and clinical symptoms on the contralateral side, which can improve the lumbar pain and function of patients.

In the general population, obesity (high BMI) is often considered as an important risk factor for many diseases and premature death. However, in patients with a certain disease, the risk of death in people with obesity was lower than that in people with normal weight. This abnormal correlation has caused widespread discussion, and different explanations have been given by physiology and epidemiology. Based on causal inference theory, this study used directed acyclic graphs to introduce the collision bias (also called collision-stratification bias). Through example demonstrations, this study explored whether and why the abnormal correlation between obesity and higher survival rates in patients with hyperglycemia exists. Finally, it was concluded that this abnormal correlation among patients with a certain disease (e.g., hyperglycemia in the current analysis) was partly or even totally caused by collider bias.