Schizophrenia (SZ) stands as a severe psychiatric disorder. This study applied diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data in conjunction with graph neural networks to distinguish SZ patients from normal controls (NCs) and showcases the superior performance of a graph neural network integrating combined fractional anisotropy and fiber number brain network features, achieving an accuracy of 73.79% in distinguishing SZ patients from NCs. Beyond mere discrimination, our study delved deeper into the advantages of utilizing white matter brain network features for identifying SZ patients through interpretable model analysis and gene expression analysis. These analyses uncovered intricate interrelationships between brain imaging markers and genetic biomarkers, providing novel insights into the neuropathological basis of SZ. In summary, our findings underscore the potential of graph neural networks applied to multimodal DTI data for enhancing SZ detection through an integrated analysis of neuroimaging and genetic features.
Humans ; Schizophrenia/pathology* ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging/methods* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Brain/metabolism* ; Young Adult ; Middle Aged ; White Matter/pathology* ; Gene Expression ; Nerve Net/diagnostic imaging* ; Graph Neural Networks

ObjectiveTo explore the therapeutic effect of Xuebijing injection （XBJ） on severe acute pancreatitis induced acute lung injury （SAP-ALI） by regulating formyl peptide receptors （FPRs）/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor 3 （NLRP3） inflammatory pathway. MethodsSixty rats were randomly divided into a sham group， a SAP-ALI model group， low-， medium-， and high-dose XBJ groups （4， 8， and 12 mL·kg^-1）， and a positive drug （BOC2， 0.2 mg·kg^-1） group. For the sham group， the pancreas of rats was only gently flipped after laparotomy， and then the abdomen was closed， while for the remaining five groups， SAP-ALI rat models were established by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate （Na-Tc） via the biliopancreatic duct. XBJ and BOC2 were administered via intraperitoneal injection once daily for 3 d prior to modeling and 0.5 h after modeling. Blood was collected from the abdominal aorta 6 h after the completion of modeling， and the expression of interleukin （IL）-1β， IL-6， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in plasma was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The amount of ascites was measured， and the dry-wet weight ratios of pancreatic and lung tissue were determined. Pancreatic and lung tissue was taken for hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining to observe pathological changes and then scored. The protein expression levels of FPR1， FPR2， and NLRP3 in lung tissue were detected by the immunohistochemical method. Western blot was used to detect the expression of FPR1， FPR2， and NLRP3 in lung tissue. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the mRNA expression of FPR1， FPR2， and NLRP3 in lung tissue. ResultsCompared with the sham group， the SAP-ALI model group showed significantly decreased dry-wet weight ratio of lung tissue （P<0.01）， serious pathological changes of lung tissue， a significantly increased pathological score （P<0.01）， and significantly increased protein and mRNA expression levels of FPR1， FPR2， and NLRP3 in lung tissue （P<0.01）. After BOC2 intervention， the above detection indicators were significantly reversed （P<0.01）. After treatment with XBJ， the groups of different XBJ doses achieved results consistent with BOC2 intervention. ConclusionXBJ can effectively improve the inflammatory response of the lungs in SAP-ALI rats and reduce damage. The mechanism may be related to inhibiting the expression of FPRs and NLRP3 in lung tissue， which thereby reduces IL-1β and simultaneously antagonize the release of inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α.

Objective:To observe any differences in the brain′s functional responses during swallowing with healthy young, middle-aged and elderly individuals.Methods:Fifteen healthy young people formed the youth group, while 15 healthy middle-aged or elderly subjects were the middle-aged and elderly group. Both groups performed repeated swallowing tasks while being observed using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. The data were processed using NirSpark software, and brain activation was compared between the two groups.Results:Swallowing-related brain regions were all significantly activated in the youth group, while in the middle-aged and elderly group only the primary motor cortex (M1), primary somatosensory cortex (PSC), premotor and supplementary motor cortex (pSMC), and inferior central region on the left side showed significantly increased activation. Compared to the youth group, the middle-aged and elderly group exhibited significantly reduced activation in seven channels, including the right M1 and pSMC, the left M1, the pSMC, the PSC, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and frontal pole area.Conclusions:The middle-aged and elderly show significantly less activation in certain brain regions during swallowing compared with younger persons. That may be related to aging and its associated cognitive decline, as well as reduced motor and sensory abilities related to swallowing.

Objective:To explore the factors influencing the recovery of swallowing function after a brainstem hemorrhage and to construct a prediction model.Methods:Clinical data on 134 persons with dysphagia after a brainstem hemorrhage were collected retrospectively. According to their swallowing ability at discharge, the patients were divided into a swallowing recovery group and a non-recovery group. Univariate correlation analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to explore the independent factors influencing the recovery of swallowing function and to construct a prediction nomogram. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were evaluated to analyze the nomogram′s predictive value and those of the relevant influencing factors.Results:Sixty-two of the patients (46%) had recovered their swallowing function at discharge, while 72 (54%) had not. Univariate correlation analysis showed that there had been significant differences in tracheal intubation, NIHSS score, FOIS score, Barthel index and Glasgow coma scale (GCS )score between the two groups, on average. The multivariate logistic regressions showed that a low NIHSS score, a high FOIS score and a high GCS score were independent predictors of swallowing function recovery, so they were used in the prediction model. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of the prediction model was 0.953 (95% CI: 0.902~0.982) with a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 93%. The model′s predictions were thus better than using an NIHSS score, GCS score or FOIS score alone. Conclusions:NIHSS score, GCS score and FOIS score can independently predict the recovery of swallowing function after a brainstem hemorrhage. A prediction model constructed using all three has good predictive power.

Objective:To observe any therapeutic effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with intermittent oroesophageal tube feeding (IOE) on dysphagia among ischemic stroke survivors.Methods:Eighty-four ischemic stroke survivors with dysphagia were randomized into an observation group and a control group, each of 42. In addition to conventional rehabilitation, swallowing training and IOE, the observation group received tDCS while the control group received sham stimulation. Before and after 14 days of this treatment, both groups′ swallowing, life quality and depression were evaluated using the Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS), the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), the Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI), and a 9-item patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9).Results:There were no significant differences between the two groups before the experiment in terms of their general data, their average PAS, FOIS, DHI or PHQ-9 scores, or the incidence of depression. After the treatment, significant improvement was observed in the above indicators among both groups, but with significantly better average PAS, FOIS, DHI [(51.25±6.78) vs. (44.78±5.75)] and PHQ-9 [(4.17±1.15) vs. (6.01±1.93)] scores and less depression (14.29% vs. 42.86%) in the observation group compared with the control group.Conclusions:Combining tDCS with IOE better improves swallowing function, depression, and life quality after an ischemic stroke.

Objective:To explore the risk factors for malnutrition after a traumatic brain injury and to construct a model which usefully predicts that risk.Methods:This was a retrospective study of 374 patients with a craniocerebral injury for whom the relevant clinical data were available. Based on their nutritional status, they were stratified into a malnutrition group ( n=220) and a control group ( n=154). Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were evaluated seeking to identify the independent risk factors associated with malnutrition, and a prediction model was constructed based on the results. The model′s discrimination ability and accuracy were assessed using a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve. Results:A total of 220 patients (58.8%) developed malnutrition. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors for malnutrition were: age ≥60 years, pulmonary infection, dysphagia, cognitive impairment, a GCS score ≤8, or a Barthel index ≤40. In the ROC curve analysis, the area under the curve quantifying the model′s ability to predict malnutrition was 0.924 (95% CI: 0.896, 0.951), with a sensitivity of 0.868 and a specificity of 0.857, indicating its good prediction performance. Conclusions:Age ≥60 years, pulmonary infection, dysphagia, cognitive impairment, a GCS score ≤8 or a Barthel index ≤40 are independent predictors of malnutrition after a traumatic brain injury. The prediction model constructed based on those risk factors has demonstrated useful predictive power for malnutrition.

Objective:To study the correlations of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)and platelet-lymphocyte ratio(PLR)with arte-riovenous fistula(AVF)stenosis in hemodialysis(HD)patients.Methods:Data were collected from 625 patients who underwent arterio-venous fistula hemodialysis at the Department of Nephrology,Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College between January 2021 and June 2022.Of these,395 eligible patients with complete information were selected as subjects of study.The 245 patients with AVF stenosis were designated as group 1 and the 150 patients with-out AVF stenosis were designated as group 2.The routine biochemi-cal parameters and complete blood count were recorded for all pa-tients.Results:①Compared with patients in group 2,those in group 1 showed significantly higher NLR(5.07(4.00,6.66)vs.3.46(2.63,4.15),P<0.001),PLR(169.52(127.56,227.11)vs.125.66(89.31,165.31),P<0.001),and C-reactive protein(Hs-CRP)(1.90(0.80,2.99)vs.0.82(0.42,1.27),P<0.001).②Multivariate logistic regression analysis,which was corrected for age,sex,body mass index,AVF anastomosis,puncture method,and diabetes,showed that NLR(OR=2.195,95%CI=1.674～2.878,P<0.001),PLR(OR=1.008,95%CI=1.002～1.012,P=0.007),and Hs-CRP(OR=2.170,95%CI=1.607～2.751,P<0.001)were independent risk factors for AVF ste-nosis in HD patients.③Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the area under the NLR curve(0.799,95%CI=0.756～0.838,P<0.001),PLR(0.694,95%CI=0.646～0.740,P<0.001),and Hs-CRP(0.717,95%CI=0.670～0.761,P<0.001)could be used to predict AVF stenosis.Their optimal critical values for prediction were 4.08,122.49,and 1.62,respectively.Their combina-tion showed improved prediction effect(AUC 0.870,95%CI=0.833～0.901,P<0.001),high sensitivity(79.18%),and high specificity(81.33%).Conclusion:NLR,PLR,and Hs-CRP were independent risk factors and predictors of AVF stenosis,and their combination has higher predictive value.