Objective To compare the node strength in white matter networks between depressive disorder and bipolar depression patients,analyze structural connectivity impairments across brain regions,and assess their diagnostic utility.Methods This longitudinal study initially enrolled 91 patients with a baseline diagnosis of depressive episode.All subjects underwent diffusion tensor imaging at recruitment and white matter structural weighted networks were constructed using deterministic fiber tracking.After≥9 years of naturalistic follow-up,23 patients who maintained a diagnosis of major depressive disorder(MDD group)and 18 patients who maintained a diagnosis of bipolar disorder(BD group),while 30 demographically matched healthy controls(HC group)were included for comparison.The differences in nodal connection strength within the brain white matter networks among the three groups were compared.Furthermore,the receiver operator characteristic(ROC)curve was utilized to evaluate the diagnostic value of the differential brain regions in distinguishing between MDD and BD.Results In the left anterior cingulate gyrus,the node strength was lower in the BD than in the MDD group(3.89±0.76 vs.4.74±0.60).However,the node strength in the right caudate nucleus(4.94±1.26 vs.3.46±0.99)and right globus pallidus(1.98±0.67 vs.1.25±0.29)was higher in the BD than in the MDD group(P<0.01,FWE-corrected).The combined connectivity strengths of three brain regions—the left anterior cingulate gyrus,right caudate nucleus and right globus pallidus—were used to differentiate between MDD and BD,and an ROC curve was plotted,with an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.95(95%CI:0.91～0.99;P<0.001).The sensitivity and the specificity were 0.89 and 0.87,respectively.Conclusion The differences in node strength between patient groups may serve as a potential neuroimaging biomarker.Integration of node connectivity strengths from these differential brain regions can achieve superior discrimination accuracy.

Addressing the enduring challenge of evaluating traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), the integrated evidence chain-based effectiveness evaluation of TCMs (Eff-iEC) has emerged. This paper explored its capacity through a demonstration study that evaluated the effectiveness evidence of six commonly used anti-hepatic fibrosis Chinese patent medicines (CPMs), including Biejiajian Pill (BP), Dahuang Zhechong Pill (DZP), Biejia Ruangan Compound (BRC), Fuzheng Huayu Capsule (FHC), Anluo Huaxian Pill (AHP), and Heluo Shugan Capsule (HSC), using both Eff-iEC and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. The recognition of these CPMs within the TCM academic community was also assessed through their inclusion in relevant medical documents. Results showed that the evidence of BRC and FHC received higher assessments in both Eff-iEC and GRADE system, while the assessments for others varied. Analysis of community recognition revealed that Eff-iEC more accurately reflects the clinical value of these CPMs, exhibiting superior evaluative capabilities. By breaking through the conventional pattern of TCMs effectiveness evaluation, Eff-iEC offers a novel epistemology that better aligns with the clinical realities and reasoning of TCMs, providing a coherent methodology for clinical decision-making, new drug evaluations, and health policy formulation.

Flexible conductive fibers have been widely applied in wearable flexible sensing. However, exposed wearable flexible sensors based on liquid metal (LM) are prone to abrasion and significant conductivity degradation. This study presented a high-sensitivity LM conductive fiber with integration of strain sensing, electrical heating, and thermochromic capabilities, which was fabricated by coating eutectic gallium-indium (EGaIn) onto spandex fibers modified with waterborne polyurethane (WPU), followed by thermal curing to form a protective polyurethane sheath. This fiber, designated as Spandex/WPU/EGaIn/Polyurethane (SWEP), exhibits a four-layer coaxial structure: spandex core, WPU modification layer, LM conductive layer, and polyurethane protective sheath. The SWEP fiber had a diameter of (458.3 ± 10.4) μm, linear density of (2.37 ± 0.15) g/m, and uniform EGaIn coating. The fiber had excellent conductivity with an average value of (3 716.9 ± 594.2) S/m. The strain sensing performance was particularly noteworthy. A 5 cm × 5 cm woven fabric was fabricated using polyester warp yarns and SWEP weft yarns. The fabric exhibited satisfactory moisture permeability [(536.06 ± 33.15) g/(m ²·h)] and maintained stable thermochromic performance after repeated heating cycles. This advanced conductive fiber development is expected to significantly promote LM applications in wearable electronics and smart textile systems.
Wearable Electronic Devices ; Polyurethanes/chemistry* ; Electric Conductivity ; Gallium/chemistry* ; Metals/chemistry*

Objective To compare the node strength in white matter networks between depressive disorder and bipolar depression patients,analyze structural connectivity impairments across brain regions,and assess their diagnostic utility.Methods This longitudinal study initially enrolled 91 patients with a baseline diagnosis of depressive episode.All subjects underwent diffusion tensor imaging at recruitment and white matter structural weighted networks were constructed using deterministic fiber tracking.After≥9 years of naturalistic follow-up,23 patients who maintained a diagnosis of major depressive disorder(MDD group)and 18 patients who maintained a diagnosis of bipolar disorder(BD group),while 30 demographically matched healthy controls(HC group)were included for comparison.The differences in nodal connection strength within the brain white matter networks among the three groups were compared.Furthermore,the receiver operator characteristic(ROC)curve was utilized to evaluate the diagnostic value of the differential brain regions in distinguishing between MDD and BD.Results In the left anterior cingulate gyrus,the node strength was lower in the BD than in the MDD group(3.89±0.76 vs.4.74±0.60).However,the node strength in the right caudate nucleus(4.94±1.26 vs.3.46±0.99)and right globus pallidus(1.98±0.67 vs.1.25±0.29)was higher in the BD than in the MDD group(P<0.01,FWE-corrected).The combined connectivity strengths of three brain regions—the left anterior cingulate gyrus,right caudate nucleus and right globus pallidus—were used to differentiate between MDD and BD,and an ROC curve was plotted,with an area under the curve(AUC)of 0.95(95%CI:0.91～0.99;P<0.001).The sensitivity and the specificity were 0.89 and 0.87,respectively.Conclusion The differences in node strength between patient groups may serve as a potential neuroimaging biomarker.Integration of node connectivity strengths from these differential brain regions can achieve superior discrimination accuracy.

Background/Aims: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical regulatory roles in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. The aim of this study was to explore whether miRNA antagomirs could serve as potential therapeutic agents in interstitial lung diseases. Methods: A mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis was established by intratracheal injection of bleomycin (BLM). Using microarray analysis, up-regulated miRNAs were identified during the development of pulmonary fibrosis. miR-155 was chosen as the candidate miRNA. Fifteen mice were then randomized into the following three groups: BLM + antagomiR-155 group, treated with BLM plus intravenously injected with antagomiR-155; BLM group, treated with intratracheal BLM plus phosphate-buffered saline (PBS); and a control group, treated with PBS only. Lung tissues were collected for histopathological analysis, hydroxyproline measurement, and Western blotting. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used for the measurement of cytokines associated with pulmonary fibrosis. Results: Histological changes and hydroxyproline levels induced by BLM were significantly inhibited by antagomiR-155. The levels of interleukin 4 (IL-4) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) expression were increased after BLM treatment. However, miR-155 silencing decreased the expression of IL-4, TGF-β, and interferon-γ. TGF-β-activated kinase 1/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 7 (MAP3K7)-binding protein 2 (TAB2) of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, was activated by BLM and inhibited by in vivo silencing of miR-155 via antagomiR-155. Conclusions In vivo treatment with antagomiR-155 alleviated the pathological changes induced by BLM and may be a promising therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective: To explore the safety and feasibility of transumbilical single channel laparoscopic cryptorchidopexy with conventional instruments in treatment of cryptorchidism in children. Methods: Thirty-five children with cryptorchidism were treated by transumbilical single channel laparoscopic cryptorchidopexy with conventional instruments from November 2017 to March 2018 at Department of Pediatric Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University.Clinical data were recorded including the general information, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative testicular position and postoperative complications, etc. Results: All 35 patients completed the cryptorchidopexy in one operation.Among those 35 patients, 28 patients had unilateral lesions and 7 patients had bilateral lesions, with a total of 42 sides.Twenty-six patients were of groin type(33 sides), 9 patients abdominal type(9 sides). The average operation time was (40.4±8.2) min for unilateral lesion, and (62.5±15.3) min for bilateral lesions; the average intraoperative blood loss was (3.0±1.8) mL; and the average postoperative hospital stay was (6.4±2.1) h. Testis of 32 patients (40 sides) were fixed in the middle and bottoms of the scrotum, and testis of 2 patients (2 sides) were fixed on the top of the scrotum.One case had poor healing of naval incision, which was recovered in 1 week after dressing change.There were no postoperative complications such as scrotum hematoma, infection of incision, testicular epididymitis, testicular necrosis, testicular retraction or testicular atrophy, etc.No obvious visible scar was found in the abdomen review 2 weeks postoperatively, with the incidence of complications was 2.9%(1/35 cases). Conclusions Transumbilical single channel laparoscopic cryptorchidopexy with conventional instruments in treatment of cryptorchidism is characterized by small trauma, quick recovery, low complication rate and visible scar free result, which is worthy of clinical promotion, but the operation is relatively complex and the correct procedures are required.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and influencing factors of liver injury associated with Qubai Babuqi tablets.Methods Case reports of liver injury associated with Qubai Babuqi tablets in the National Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring System (ADRMS) from 2012 to 2016 and clinical information of patients with liver injury induced by Qubai Babuqi tablets,who were admitted to the Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from 2008 to 2017,were collected and retrospectively analyzed.Results A total of 64 patients (59 from case reports in ADRMS and 5 from the Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital) with liver injury induced by Qubai Babuqi tablets were enrolled,including 32 males and 32 females,aged from 10 to 73 years with an average age of (34 ± 13) years.Thirty-three patients (51.6％) were treated with Qubai Babuqi tablets alone,31 patients (48.4％) had combined medication,and 3 of the 64 patients suffered from liver injury again after their remedication of Qubai Babuqi tablets.The median time from medication to liver injury was 33 (2-210) days and the median cumulative dose of Qubai Babuqi tablets was 184.5 (8.0-868.5) g.There were 35 patients (54.7％) with severe liver injury.No significant association was found between the severity of liver injury and the dose of the drug (P ＞ 0.05).But the proportion of patients with severe liver injury treated with combined medication was significantly higher than that of patients with severe liver injury treated with Qubai Babuqi tablets alone [67.7％ (21/31) vs.42.4％ (14/33),x2 =4.282,P =0.042].Among the 64 patients,the liver injury was cured in 31 patients,improved in 21 patients,did not improve in 2 patients,worsened in 2 patients (developed to hepatic encephalopathy and cirrhosis,respectively),and had unknown outcomes in 8 patients.Conclusions About half of the liver injuries caused by Qubai Babuqi tablets were severe ones.The prognosis of liver injury was relatively good and it could be cured or improved in most patients.The combination of other drugs might be the influencing factor of severe liver injury caused by Qubai Babuqi tablets.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and influencing factors of liver injury associated with Qubai Babuqi tablets.Methods Case reports of liver injury associated with Qubai Babuqi tablets in the National Adverse Drug Reaction Monitoring System (ADRMS) from 2012 to 2016 and clinical information of patients with liver injury induced by Qubai Babuqi tablets,who were admitted to the Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from 2008 to 2017,were collected and retrospectively analyzed.Results A total of 64 patients (59 from case reports in ADRMS and 5 from the Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital) with liver injury induced by Qubai Babuqi tablets were enrolled,including 32 males and 32 females,aged from 10 to 73 years with an average age of (34 ± 13) years.Thirty-three patients (51.6％) were treated with Qubai Babuqi tablets alone,31 patients (48.4％) had combined medication,and 3 of the 64 patients suffered from liver injury again after their remedication of Qubai Babuqi tablets.The median time from medication to liver injury was 33 (2-210) days and the median cumulative dose of Qubai Babuqi tablets was 184.5 (8.0-868.5) g.There were 35 patients (54.7％) with severe liver injury.No significant association was found between the severity of liver injury and the dose of the drug (P ＞ 0.05).But the proportion of patients with severe liver injury treated with combined medication was significantly higher than that of patients with severe liver injury treated with Qubai Babuqi tablets alone [67.7％ (21/31) vs.42.4％ (14/33),x2 =4.282,P =0.042].Among the 64 patients,the liver injury was cured in 31 patients,improved in 21 patients,did not improve in 2 patients,worsened in 2 patients (developed to hepatic encephalopathy and cirrhosis,respectively),and had unknown outcomes in 8 patients.Conclusions About half of the liver injuries caused by Qubai Babuqi tablets were severe ones.The prognosis of liver injury was relatively good and it could be cured or improved in most patients.The combination of other drugs might be the influencing factor of severe liver injury caused by Qubai Babuqi tablets.