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.

Supercooling preservation technology, as a groundbreaking innovation in the field of organ preservation, significantly reduces the metabolic rate of cells and inhibits ice crystal formation by placing organs in a low-temperature environment near or below the freezing point. This technology extends the preservation time of organs and maintains their biological activity. Compared with the traditional low-temperature preservation at 4 °C, supercooling preservation effectively avoids cell damage and the accumulation of metabolic products, demonstrating significant advantages in the preservation of cells, tissues and organs. In recent years, important progress has been made in the optimization of cryoprotectants, the application of antifreeze proteins, the improvement of vitrification technology, and the development of nanotechnology-based rewarming techniques. These advancements provide new pathways to address the challenges of toxicity, ice crystal formation and uneven rewarming rates during supercooling preservation. This review summarizes the basic principles of supercooling preservation, the application of key technologies, and their practical effects in organ transplantation. It also analyzes the challenges of toxicity and rewarming efficiency, aiming to provide theoretical support and research directions for the future optimization of organ low-temperature preservation technology and its clinical application.

Objective: To explore the feasibility of synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (syMRI) combined with clinicopathological characteristics for the pre-treatment prediction of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) response in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (ANPC). Materials and Methods: Patients with ANPC treated with CRT between September 2020 and June 2022 were retrospectively enrolled and categorized into response group (RG, n = 95) and non RGs (NRG, n = 32) based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1. The quantitative parameters from pre-treatment syMRI (longitudinal [T1] and transverse [T2] relaxation times and proton density [PD]), diffusion-weighted imaging (apparent diffusion coefficient [ADC]), and clinicopathological characteristics were compared between RG and NRG. Logistic regression analysis was applied to identify parameters independently associated with CRT response and to construct a multivariable model. The areas under the receiveroperating characteristic curve (AUC) for various diagnostic approaches were compared using the DeLong test. Results: The T1, T2, and PD values in the NRG were significantly lower than those in the RG (all P < 0.05), whereas no significant difference was observed in the ADC values between these two groups. Clinicopathological characteristics (Epstein–Barr virus [EBV]-DNA level, lymph node extranodal extension, clinical stage, and Ki-67 expression) exhibited significant differences between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that T1, PD, EBV-DNA level, clinical stage, and Ki-67 expression had significant independent relationships with CRT response (all P < 0.05). The multivariable model incorporating these five variables yielded AUC, sensitivity, and specificity values of 0.974, 93.8% (30/32), and 91.6% (87/95), respectively. Conclusion SyMRI may be used for the pretreatment prediction of CRT response in ANPC. The multivariable model incorporating syMRI quantitative parameters and clinicopathological characteristics, which were independently associated with CRT response, may be a new tool for the pretreatment prediction of CRT response.

Objective To investigate the effects of liraglutide on the gut microbiota of db/db diabetic mice and the predictive value of the microbial structure for the hypoglycemic efficacy.Methods The db/db mice were randomly divided into control group and liraglutide group(0.4 μg/g).Fasting blood glucose levels were measured in the mice,and fecal samples were collected to determine the structure of the gut microbiota.Results Compared with the control group,the liraglutide group exhibi-ted a significant increase in the average number of operational taxonomic unit(OTU)(P＜0.01).The number of observed species,Chao1 index and ACE index were all significantly higher in the liraglutide group than those in the control group(P＜0.05).Additionally,the liraglutide group showed a signifi-cant increase in the relative abundance of Firmicutes and a significant decrease in the abundance of Actinobacteria compared with the control group(P＜0.01).The percentage decrease in blood glucose levels in db/db mice was positively correlated with the abundance of Pseudomonadaceae and negatively correlated with the abundances of Clostridiaceae and Peptostreptococcaceae.Conclusion Liraglutide treatment can modulate the structure of the gut microbiota,increasing the number of OTU and diversity,particularly enhancing the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Clostridium,Lachnospira and Oscillospira.The gut microbiota structure in mice serves as a predictive factor for the hypoglycemic efficacy of liraglutide,with diabetic mice exhibiting a higher abundance of Pseudomonas being more likely to benefit from liraglutide-induced hypoglycemic therapy.

The European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) has recently updated and published the "2024 EACTS guidelines on perioperative medication in adult cardiac surgery". Based on the latest evidence, the guidelines have been updated in multiple aspects including underlying disease management, antithrombotic medication, arrhythmia treatment and other supportive care, etc. This paper aims to summarize and interpret the guidelines, in order to promote clinicians’ understanding and optimize perioperative medical treatment in adult cardiac surgery.

Objective To investigate the clinical effects of different right lung volume reduction techniques when the donor lung is oversized and mismatched with the recipient. Methods Clinical data of 10 recipients who underwent right lung volume reduction lung transplantation at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from October 2022 to June 2024 were collected, including gender, age, primary disease type, and type of transplantation. A retrospective analysis was performed on postoperative complications within 90 days, duration of mechanical ventilation, hospital stay, and survival status to explore the impact of different volume reduction techniques on the survival rate of lung transplant recipients. Results A total of 10 right lung volume reduction recipients were included in this study, with 2 cases of upper lobe reduction, 7 cases of middle lobe reduction, and 1 case of lower lobe reduction. Three recipients developed airway complications (one each with upper, middle, and lower lobe reduction). The 30-day survival rate was 90% and the 1-year survival rate was 70%. One recipient with upper lobe reduction died of septic shock during the perioperative period, one with lower lobe reduction died of airway anastomotic fistula 2 months after surgery, and one with middle lobe reduction died of renal insufficiency 1 year after surgery. All 7 recipients with middle lobe reduction successfully passed the perioperative period, with one case of airway anastomotic stenosis (1/7). The average duration of mechanical ventilation was 71 hours, and the average hospital stay was 26 days. The 30-day survival rate was 7/7, and the 1-year survival rate was 6/7. Conclusions Middle lobe reduction in right lung transplantation surgery has the advantages of low incidence of airway complications, good safety, and minimal loss of lung function, and may be a better right lung volume reduction option with potential for application.

This study is to explore the antibiofilm activity of tirapazamine(TPZ)against Salmonella and the mechanism of inhibiting biofilm formation.In this study,crystal violet staining was used to determine the effect of TPZ on the minimal biofilm inhibitory concentration(MBIC)of Salmonel-la and on the development stage of Salmonella biofilm.The effects of TPZ on bacteria and biofilm of Salmonella were observed by scanning electron microscope and fluorescence microscope.Phe-nol-sulfuric acid method,spectrophotometer and BCA method were used to detect the effects of the bacteria on the content of main extracellular matrix of Salmonella.The autocoagulation and hydro-phobicity of Salmonella were measured and their effects on the cell wall of Salmonella were meas-ured by AKP method.The result showed that the MBIC value of TPZ on Salmonella ATCC 14028 was 1.563 μmol/L,it had destructive effects on both Salmonella bacteria and mature biofilm structure,it inhibited the formation of early Salmonella biofilm in a concentration-dependent manner,and inhibited the synthesis and secretion of extracellular polymers in Salmonella biofilm.The autoagglutination ability,hydrophobicity and cell wall integrity of Salmonella were affected.To sum up,the TPZ may inhibit the formation of a large number of Salmonella biofilms in the early stage of biofilm development by affecting the extracellular polymer and cell agglutination a-bility,which is expected to be a potential candidate drug against biofilm infection and provide a new idea for finding alternative antibiotics.

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has impacted our lifestyles. On the one hand, the patients with hematological malignancies (HM) are more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. Once infected with COVID-19, these patients tend to develop into severe type with a higher mortality rate. Although patients with HM demonstrated a reduced response to COVID-19 vaccines, they still can benefit from vaccine injection with reduced rates of viral infection and incidence of severe cases. The combination of monoclonal antibodies and antiviral drugs is helpful to the COVID-19 treatment of patients with HM. On the other hand, COVID-19 infection can lead to a delay of hematopoietic recovery and low immunity in patients with HM. For HM patients with COVID-19 infection, to reduce the intensity and shorten the course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy is needed. This article will review the interaction between COVID-19 infection and HM.
Humans ; COVID-19/complications* ; Hematologic Neoplasms/complications* ; SARS-CoV-2

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of malignant lymphoma of the head and neck in children, and to improve the understanding and diagnosis and treatment of this type of disease by otolaryngologists. Methods:Clinical data of 49 children with malignant lymphoma of the head and neck hospitalized in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery of Kunming Children's Hospital from 2013-2021 were retrospectively analyzed and statistically analyzed according to gender, age distribution, duration of the disease, site of onset, type of pathology and survival status. Results:A total of 49 cases of malignant lymphoma of the head and neck in children were collected, of which, 39 were male and 10 female. The minimum age was 3 years, the maximum was 14 years and 4 months, the median age of onset was 7 years, and the largest percentage （51.02%） of children was in the school age（6-12 years）. The duration of the disease ranged from 5 days to 2 years, with a median of 1 month, and the site of the lesion was located in the neck in the majority of cases, 41（83.67%）. The pathologic types of hodgkin lymphoma（HL） were 25 cases（51.02%） and non-hodgkin lymphoma（NHL） were 24 cases（48.98%）, and among hodgkin lymphomas, mixed-cell classical hodgkin lymphoma was the most common, with 9 cases（18.37%）; among non-hodgkin lymphomas,originated from B-cells in 16 cases （32.65%） and from T-cells in 7 cases （14.29%）, with Burkitt's lymphoma being the most numerous of B-cell origin in 13 cases （26.53%）, and T-cell lymphoblastoid lymphoma being the most common of T-cell origin in 4 cases （8.16%）. The follow-up period was from 22 days to 6 years and 10 months, with 3 cases losing, 43 cases surviving, 3 cases dying, with a survival rate of 93 5%, and 3 cases relapsing, with a relapse rate of 6 5%. Conclusion:Children's head and neck malignant lymphoma has its own characteristics in terms of age of onset, gender distribution, site of onset, pathological type and treatment prognosis, which should be comprehensively assessed, diagnosed as early as possible, and multidisciplinary joint treatment actively carried out to propose personalized treatment plans.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Child ; Head and Neck Neoplasms/therapy* ; Child, Preschool ; Retrospective Studies ; Adolescent ; Lymphoma/therapy* ; Survival Rate ; Hodgkin Disease ; Prognosis ; Infant ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin