Myelin is an essential structure that facilitates rapid saltatory conduction in the nervous system. Discrepancies in myelin microstructure are a hallmark of numerous neurological disorders, rendering the assessment of myelin integrity and content an indispensable tool in clinical diagnostics and neuroscience research. Extensive research has been dedicated to scrutinizing its biochemical makeup and morphology under normal, pathological, and experimental conditions over the years. In this review, we present an updated summary of the myelin sheath's structure, composition, and developmental trajectory. We systematically enumerate and contrast eight prevalent myelin staining techniques across dimensions of sensitivity, specificity, and resolution, delving into their underlying staining principles. With an initial application of myelin histology on the mouse demyelination model, our review accentuates the accurate delineation of myelination and the microstructural analysis of the myelin sheath. Such insights are anticipated to significantly contribute to the evaluation and understanding of white matter pathologies.
Myelin Sheath/metabolism* ; Animals ; Humans ; Demyelinating Diseases/pathology* ; Staining and Labeling/methods*

Background Some studies have found that exposure to heavy metals significantly increases the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and welding operators in automobile manufacturing enterprises are exposed to heavy metals in the working environment. Objective To analyze the prevalence and related factors of NAFLD in workers of an automobile company in Guangzhou. Methods From January 1 of 2023 to December 31 of 2023, 5463 workers of an automobile company in Guangzhou who participated in the physical examination in the Occupational Health Surveillance Centre of Guangzhou Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment Hospital were selected as research subjects. The general data, laboratory examinations, B-ultrasound examinations, and other data of the subjects were obtained through the physical examination system. The exposed occupational hazards were identified based on the workplace hazard surveillance report provided by the automotive company. Logistic regression was used to analyze potential influencing factors of NAFLD, and stratified analysis was used to adjust confounding factors according to the stepwise model to evaluate the relationship between exposure to manganese and its inorganic compounds and NAFLD. Results A total of 2129 cases (38.97%) were reported positive NAFLD. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that women had a lower risk of NAFLD (OR=0.40, 95%CI: 0.25, 0.64), while age > 25 years old (OR=1.49, 95%CI: 1.39, 1.60), body mass index (BMI) ≥24 kg·m⁻² (OR=7.54, 95%CI: 6.46, 8.79), and elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (OR=4.87, 95%CI: 3.73, 6.36), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GGT) (OR=1.54, 95%CI: 1.17, 2.02), triglyceride (TG) (OR=3.47, 95%CI: 2.92, 4.14), and fasting blood glucose (OR=1.70, 95%CI: 1.32, 2.20) associated with a higher risk of NAFLD. NAFLD was positive in 39.40% of heavy metal exposed workers (701/1779). NAFLD was positive in 45.19% of workers exposed to manganese and its inorganic compounds (169/374), and among workers over 34 years old, exposure to manganese and its inorganic compounds (OR=1.79, 95%CI: 1.07, 2.97) significantly increased the prevalence of NAFLD. Conclusion The association between heavy metal exposure and NAFLD in workers of an automobile enterprise in Guangzhou is not significant, but age and gender are related to the prevalence of NAFLD. BMI, ALT, γ-GGT, TG, and fasting blood glucose are positively correlated with the prevalence of NAFLD. Exposure to manganese and its inorganic compounds in welding workers of the automobile enterprise is associated with elevated risk of the disease, and the prevalence of NAFLD is significantly increased in workers over 34 years old.

Objectives:To analyze the characteristics of adjacent vertebral compression fracture(AVCF)after lumbar spinal fusion,and to investigate its treatment modality and clinical efficacy.Methods:353 patients treated with lumbar fixation and fusion for lumbar degenerative diseases at our center from January 2013 to January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed,and a total of 11 patients had AVCF after fusion,all were female,aged 70±7.2 years(61-83 years)old,including 1 case of T12 vertebral fracture,1 case of T12 combined with L1 vertebral fracture,4 cases of L1 vertebral fracture,2 cases of L2 vertebral fracture,1 case of L1 combined with L2 vertebral fracture,1 case of L3 vertebral fracture,and 1 case of L3 combined with T11 vertebral fracture.The fractures were treated accordingly based on the AVCF.characteristics,three cases underwent conservative treatments such as anti-osteoporosis due to healed fractures or other underlying diseases that were not suitable for surgery;Three cases of simple fractures without severe neurological damage symptoms were treated with percutaneous kyphoplasty(PKP)under local anesthesia;Five cases of fractures combined with lower limb nerve compression symptoms were treated with posterior revision surgery,spinal canal decompression,and upward extension and pedicle screws fixation.The mean follow-up time was 24.5±6.4 months(24-31 months).The visual analogue scale(VAS)score for low back pain and lower extremity pain and Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA)score for lumbar spine were performed preoperatively,1 week postoperatively,and at the final follow-up,and the occurrence of complications during the perioperative period and the follow-up were recorded.Results:The incidence of AVCF after lumbar fusion was 3.1％(11/353).The VAS score for low back pain was 5.2±2.3 preoperatively,3.5±1.8 at 1 week postoperatively(P＜0.05),and 3.9±2.0 at the final follow-up(P＜0.05);the VAS score for lower extremity pain was 7.1±2.2 preoperatively,3.0±1.6 at 1 week postoperatively(P＜0.05),and 3.7±1.9 at the final follow-up(P＜0.05);The JOA score of lumbar spine was 14.8±5.6 before operation,21.5±4.2 at one week after operation(P＜0.05)and 18.7±3.9 at the final follow-up(P＜0.05).According to the recovery rate(RR)of JOA at the final follow-up,5 cases were excellent,3 cases were good,2 cases were fair and 1 case was poor,and the satisfaction rate of clinical efficacy was 72％.A total of 4 patients(36％)had 5 complications.One patient developed a deep infection of staphylococcus aureus in the wound was treated with incision,debridement,irrigation,drainage,and sensitive antibiotics,and was cured afterward;One patient suffered from increased weakness of both lower extremities and urinary retention after surgery,and was treated with vertebral canal decompression and bone cement screw lengthening and fixation again,while after revision surgery,the patient suffered from temporary cardiac insufficiency,and recovered after treatment of salt and water restriction,cardiotonic diuresis,etc;One patient developed vertebral compression fracture after surgery and was treated with PKP bone cement reinforcement;One patient developed AVCF again and combined with intervertebral disc herniation and spinal stenosis after surgery,who underwent further revision and extended fixation.Conclusions:AVCF after lumbar fusion mostly occurs in the thoracolumbar segment and in elderly women,and simple AVCF without neurological symptoms can be treated with PKP,while AVCF with intervertebral disc herniation or spinal stenosis can be treated with lumbar revision and spinal decompression,and good clinical results can be achieved.

Background: No currently available biomarkers or treatment regimens fully meet therapeutic needs of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Circular RNA (circRNA) is a recently identified class of stable noncoding RNA that have been documented as potential biomarkers for various diseases. Our objective was to identify and analyze plasma circRNAs altered in T1DM. Methods: We used microarray to screen differentially expressed plasma circRNAs in patients with new onset T1DM (n=3) and age-/gender-matched healthy controls (n=3). Then, we selected six candidates with highest fold-change and validated them by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in independent human cohort samples (n=12). Bioinformatic tools were adopted to predict putative microRNAs (miRNAs) sponged by these validated circRNAs and their downstream messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were performed to gain further insights into T1DM pathogenesis. Results: We identified 68 differentially expressed circRNAs, with 61 and seven being up- and downregulated respectively. Four of the six selected candidates were successfully validated. Curations of their predicted interacting miRNAs revealed critical roles in inflammation and pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. Functional relations were visualized by a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network. GO and KEGG analyses identified multiple inflammation-related processes that could be potentially associated with T1DM pathogenesis, including cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, inflammatory mediator regulation of transient receptor potential channels and leukocyte activation involved in immune response. Conclusion Our study report, for the first time, a profile of differentially expressed plasma circRNAs in new onset T1DM. Further in silico annotations and bioinformatics analyses supported future application of circRNAs as novel biomarkers of T1DM.

No currently available biomarkers or treatment regimens fully meet therapeutic needs of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Circular RNA (circRNA) is a recently identified class of stable noncoding RNA that have been documented as potential biomarkers for various diseases. Our objective was to identify and analyze plasma circRNAs altered in T1DM.