Objective:To analyze the psychometric properties of the short-form Extended Barthel Index (EBI) in assessing ability in the activities of daily living (ADL).Methods:Data describing 295 discharged patients with stroke or traumatic brain injury were collected retrospectively, including their demographics, diagnoses, and functional assessments (EBI, FIM, MBI and MoCA). Then, data on 120 of them were used to construct short-form EBI models based on item-total advantage indices, while the remaining 175 patients served as a validation set to evaluate the acceptability, responsiveness, reliability, validity, and outcome consistency of the models. The optimal model was selected as the recommended short-form EBI.Results:The short-form EBI comprises seven items: personal hygiene, dressing/undressing, wheelchair-bed transfer, walking, social interaction during walking, problem-solving, and memory/learning/orientation, with each item scored 0-4 (total range: 0-28). The short-form EBI demonstrated good acceptability, with median and mean scores near the scale′s midpoint and no significant ceiling or floor effects. Its responsiveness (d=0.19) surpassed that of the original EBI (d=0.14). Moreover, the short-form EBI showed excellent reliability (Cronbach′s α=0.885; SEM=9.11) and validity, explaining 95.4% of the variance in EBI scores (adj. R 2=0.954). Concurrent validity with the EBI was strong (ρ=0.975, P≤0.001), and criterion validity with ρ=0.956 for FIM, 0.889 for MBI, and 0.806 for MoCA. The short-form and the original EBI exhibited good agreement [ICC=0.967 (95% CI: 0.769-0.989); score difference: 6.48±6.56]. Conclusions:The short-form EBI demonstrates excellent acceptability, responsiveness, reliability, validity, and outcome consistency, making it a practical tool for ADL assessment in cases of stroke or traumatic brain injury.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the common gastrointestinal tumors, and radiotherapy is an important treatment modality for CRC. Increased radioresistance in tumors can lead to recurrence and poor prognosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are naturally occurring small non-coding RNAs whose expression patterns are associated with clinical variables such as tumor type and stage, exhibiting significant oncogenic or tumor-suppressive functions. miRNAs regulate tumor biological functions, such as proliferation, apoptosis, invasion/metastasis, and angiogenesis, at the post-transcriptional level, either directly or indirectly. Radiotherapy, which utilizes ionizing radiation (IR) to induce DNA damage, is a molecular event mainly involving the activation of intracellular signaling pathways and post-translational modification of proteins. Mutiple studies have demonstrated that miRNAs can counteract radioresistance in CRC by regulating IR-induced DNA damage, programmed cell death, exosomes, and the generation of tumor stem cells, potentially optimizing CRC treatment. This review summarizes the research progress on the role of miRNAs in radiosensitivity in CRC, aiming to provide new therapeutic insights and approaches for CRC patients.

Objective:To explore the the possibility and potential mechanism of Coptis chinensis in treating caries based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology.Methods:The active ingredients of Coptis chinensis and the targets of the active in-gredients and caries were obtained through a variety of databases.The intersection targets of Coptis chinensis and caries were obtained by VENNY.Based on the target of the intersection,the protein-protein interaction(PPI)networks relationship diagram was formed on the STRING platform.The core target diagram was formed through the Cytoscape software,and the Coptis chinensis-active ingre-dient-target network diagram was constructed.The intersection targets are analyzed by GO and KEGG.The core targets of Coptis chinensis active ingredients in treating caries was analyzed by molecular docking.Results:The 11 Coptis chinensis active ingredi-ents,465 targets of Coptis chinensis active ingredients and 1 160 targets of caries were obtained from the database.After analysis,71 targets of Coptis chinensis-caries intersection and 12 core targets were obtained.The potential therapeutic effect of Coptis chinensis on caries involved relaxin,phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B(PI3K-Akt),mitogen activated protein kinase(MAPK),ras-re-lated protein 1(RAP1)and other signaling pathways.Berberine,one of the main active components of Coptis chinense,had strong binding activity on epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP9)and other core targets.Coptis chinen-sis and its active components can play a role in the treatment of caries through EGFR,MMP9 and PI3K-AKT,MAPK and other path-ways.Conclusion:Coptis chinensis and its active components can regulate several targets and signaling pathways such as EGFR,MMP9,PI3K-AKT and MAPK.Coptis chinensis may play a role in the prevention and treatment of caries through multiple pathways.

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has been used for the control and prevention of infectious diseases for thousands of years.Due to its characteristics of multiple components and multiple targets,it shows promising therapeutic prospects in the field of anti-infection.Here,we provide a detailed introduction to the current application of various omics technologies,such as metabolomics,proteomics,genomics,and transcriptomics in the study of TCM's anti-infective properties.The application of omics technologies can help explore the active components and their targets in TCM that contribute to its anti-infective effects;elucidate the biosynthetic pathways of active components,aiding in the discovery of new active ingredients;and investigate the mechanisms by which TCM affects pathogenic microorganisms,as well as interpret the mechanisms of TCM's synergy with antibiotics.As more research findings are produced and validated,the role of TCM in addressing the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance will become increasingly prominent through the integration of multi-omics and multidisciplinary research methods in the future.

BACKGROUND:Electromyographic biofeedback therapy has demonstrated unique advantages of non-invasive,real-time feedback,personalized treatment and promotion of neuroplasticity,and can promote the recovery of motor function in patients with spinal cord injury.OBJECTIVE:To review the current application status and therapeutic effects of electromyographic biofeedback combined with exercise therapy,robotic exoskeletons,and virtual reality technology in the recovery of motor function after spinal cord injury.METHODS:Relevant literature was retrieved from CNKI and PubMed databases up to May 2024.The search terms included"spinal cord injury,EMG biofeedback,physical therapy,robotic exoskeleton,VR,motor function,exercise"in both English and Chinese.Finally,71 articles were included for review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Mechanisms by which electromyographic biofeedback therapy promotes spinal cord injury rehabilitation include promoting neural plasticity changes,strengthening neuromuscular connections and improving movement patterns.Electromyographic biofeedback,as an emerging tool for treating spinal cord injury,is often used in conjunction with other therapeutic methods,including exercise therapy,robotic exoskeletons,and VR,to promote the recovery of motor function after spinal cord injury.The effectiveness of combination therapy has been significantly improved.However,there are still some problems and challenges,such as the lack of detailed analysis of the mechanism,the lack of large-scale trials that provide strong evidence for combined efficacy,and the limited adaptability of the technology.Future research can focus on these aspects:to improve the personalization and accuracy of electromyographic biofeedback;to develop new rehabilitation equipment and expand the application areas of electromyographic biofeedback combined with more advanced technologies or engineering equipment;to apply electromyographic biofeedback to gait training systems,respiratory training systems,and limb-linkage rehabilitation systems,so as to improve the accuracy of the feedback and the effect of personalized treatment plans.At the same time,the ease of use and comfort of the equipment will be improved.

Objective To explore the effects of glycyrrhizic polysaccharide(GP)on the biological activity of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma tumor cells and its mechanisms of anti-tumor action.Methods GP was prepared,and human adenoid cystic carcinoma high-metastatic cell line SACC-LM and low-metastatic cell line SACC-83 were used as target cells.Different concentrations of GP were used for intervention.The cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay was employed to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis.Reverse transcrip-tion polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and Western blot experiments were conducted to detect the expression of genes and proteins related to tumor invasion and metastasis.The scratch assay was used to observe the effect of GP on the migration ability of SACC cells.In vivo experiments were conducted to verify the inhibitory effect of GP on tumor cells.Results Glycyrrhiza polysaccharides signifi-cantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of the highly metastatic human adenoid cystic carcinoma cell line SACC-LM by regulating the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)-related markers.In vivo experiments showed that glycyrrhiza poly-saccharides had no significant hepatotoxicity,could significantly reduce the volume and weight of tumors,and inhibit the growth rate of tumors in nude mice.Conclusion GP has a certain inhibitory effect on the growth and migration ability of SACC.

BACKGROUND:Early diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis is the foundation for timely antifibrotic drug therapy.Therefore,exploring and discovering ideal biomarkers that can be effectively used for the early diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis is crucial for the treatment of the disease.OBJECTIVE:To conduct an in-depth analysis of key autophagy-related genes involved in the process of pulmonary fibrosis by means of bioinformatics and machine learning techniques,in order to investigate whether autophagy-related core genes of pulmonary fibrosis can be used as reliable biomarkers in the assessment of the progression of pulmonary fibrosis.METHODS:Two datasets of pulmonary fibrosis,GSE24206 and GSE110147,were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database(a public database developed and maintained by the U.S.National Center for Biotechnology Information to store and share bioinformatics data),and the gene expression matrices of these two datasets were normalized by using the"limma"package in R software.The autophagy-related genes were extracted from GeneCards database(a database created by the U.S.National Center for Biotechnology Information,which automatically integrates gene-centric data from about 200 Web sources,including genomic,transcriptomic,proteomic,genetic,clinical,and functional information).Differential gene analysis was performed on the pulmonary fibrosis dataset,and the common genes were extracted by cross-comparing the differential genes with the autophagy genes,so as to identify autophagy genes that may play a role in the process of pulmonary fibrosis.The intersecting genes were analyzed for functional enrichment and cellular immune infiltration by gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes.Core genes of pulmonary fibrosis associated with autophagy were screened by protein-protein interactions and machine learning,and core genes were subjected to the enrichment analysis.Diagnostic models were constructed from the identified core genes.Calibration curves were used to assess the predictive ability of the line graph model.An external dataset,GSE21369,was used to perform a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to validate the expression profiles of pulmonary fibrosis genes associated with autophagy,as well as to predict Chinese herbs associated with the genes IL6 and COL1A2 via the Coremine database.Finally,human embryonic lung fibroblasts were cultured and modelled by transforming growth factor-β1 treatment,and the relative expression of genes in the model cells was verified using qRT-PCR.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)A total of 51 pulmonary fibrosis differential genes and 25 genes intersecting with autophagy genes were obtained.Gene ontology analysis showed that the 25 intersecting genes were related to extracellular matrix tissue,collagen metabolism,collagen pro-fibroblasts,and growth factor binding,etc.The results of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis indicated that they were mainly related to the Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathway and the signaling pathway of the extracellular matrix-receptor interactions.(2)Immunoinfiltration analysis revealed that the expression of activated memory CD4+T cells,M0 macrophages,and resting dendritic cells was significantly elevated in the pulmonary fibrosis group(P＜0.05),showing a strong correlation.(3)Two autophagy signature genes involved in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis were identified:COL1A2 and IL6.The column-line diagram model showed that the two core genes predicted the onset of pulmonary fibrosis more accurately,and the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the two characteristic genes had diagnostic significance.COL1A2 and IL6 were related to the cell-cycle pathway,mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway,Janus kinase-signal transduction and activator of transcription signaling pathway and cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions.A total of 20 Chinese herbs were predicted to be related to COL1A2 and IL6 genes,and their efficacies were mainly to clear away heat and detoxify toxins and to invigorate blood and move qi.COL1A2 and IL6 were verified to be highly expressed in pulmonary fibrosis.To conclude,COL1A2 and IL6 may be potential diagnostic biomarkers for pulmonary fibrosis,but its specificity to pulmonary fibrosis needs to be further investigated.

Objective:To explore the relationship between the morphology of the carotid siphon, its related risk factors, and cerebral blood flow perfusion in patients with arteriosclerotic cerebral small vessel disease (aCSVD), and provide imaging evidence for the etiology of aCSVD.Methods:A total of 130 aCSVD patients hospitalized in the Department of Neurology of the First People′s Hospital of Hefei from March 2022 to June 2024, all of whom underwent multimodal imaging assessments, were enrolled. The baseline data were collected, and the morphology of the carotid siphon was visually evaluated using post-processing of head and neck computed tomography angiography (CTA), which was categorized into U-type ( n=63), C-type ( n=32), and V-type ( n=35). Calcification degree was semi-quantitatively assessed based on transverse CTA images. Cerebral perfusion was measured using magnetic resonance arterial spin labeling. The relationship between different siphon segment morphologies, calcification degrees, their risk factors, and cerebral blood flow perfusion was analyzed using analysis of variance and multinomial Logistic regression. Results:Univariate analysis of the 3 siphon types showed significant differences in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [U-type (2.44±0.84) mmol/L,V-type (2.21±0.57) mmol/L, C-type (2.89±1.07) mmol/L, F=5.578, P=0.005], calcification degree [Among the 63 cases in the U-type group, 19 cases (30.15%) had mild calcification, 20 cases (31.75%) had moderate calcification, and 24 cases (38.10%) had severe calcification; among the 35 cases in the V-type group, 20 cases (57.14%) had mild calcification, 10 cases (28.57%) had moderate calcification, and 5 cases (14.29%) had severe calcification; among the 32 cases in the C-type group, 12 cases (37.50%) had mild calcification, 14 cases (43.75%) had moderate calcification, and 6 cases (18.75%) had severe calcification; χ2=13.092, P=0.011], and total aCSVD load [modified aCSVD load score: U-type 4.00(1.00, 4.00),V-type 3.00(1.00, 4.00),C-type 2.00(2.00, 4.00), H=9.997, P=0.007]. Multivariate Logistic regression revealed that patients with U-shaped siphons had a significantly higher overall aCSVD load than those with C-shaped siphons, with a regression coefficient of 0.728, and a statistically significant difference ( OR=2.070 ,95% CI 1.026-4.178, P=0.042). Additionally, total brain and white matter cerebral blood flow were decreased in patients with U-type siphons compared to those with C-type and V-type, primarily involving bilateral superior frontal gyri, left orbital frontal gyrus, and left straight gyrus regions (false discovery rate correction, P<0.05). Conclusions:The imaging manifestations of aCSVD are closely related to the shape of the internal carotid artery siphon.The U type siphon is more likely to lead to hemodynamic changes, resulting in decreased global and regional cerebral blood flow, and demonstrating a higher overall burden of aCSVD, which has certain clinical reference value for assessing the etiology of aCSVD.

[Purpose]To analyze the incidence and mortality of thyroid cancer in Hefei of Anhui Province in 2021 and the trend from 2013 to 2021.[Methods]Using the data of Hefei Cancer Registry,the crude incidence/mortality rate,age-standardized incidence/mortality rate by Chinese standard population(ASIRC/ASMRC)and world standard population(ASIRW/ASMRW)were cal-culated in 2021.The average annual percentage change(AAPC)of the crude incidence/mortality rate and age-standardized incidence/mortality rate were calculated using Joinpoint software to ana-lyze trends from 2013 to 2021.[Results]In 2021,the crude incidence rate of thyroid cancer in Hefei was 47.54/105,the ASIRC was 42.30/105,the ASIRW was 35.85/105.The crude mortality rate of thyroid cancer was 0.70/105,the ASMRC was 0.38/105,the ASMRW was 0.40/105.The in-cidence rate of thyroid cancer reached its peak in the 50～54 age group and the mortality rate reached its peak in the group over 85 years old.The incidence rate and mortality rate of women were higher than those of men,and the incidence and mortality rates in urban areas were higher than those in rural areas.The incidence and mortality of thyroid cancer showed a upward trend from 2013 to 2021 in Hefei City(AAPC were 38.23％and 9.68％,both P＜0.05).[Conclusion]The ASIRC/ASMRC of thyroid cancer showed a upward trend from 2013 to 2021 in Hefei City.It is necessary to strengthen prevention and control to reduce the exposure of risk factors.At the same time,diagnosis and treatment should be standardized to avoid over diagnosis.

Objective:To analyze the psychometric properties of the short-form Extended Barthel Index (EBI) in assessing ability in the activities of daily living (ADL).Methods:Data describing 295 discharged patients with stroke or traumatic brain injury were collected retrospectively, including their demographics, diagnoses, and functional assessments (EBI, FIM, MBI and MoCA). Then, data on 120 of them were used to construct short-form EBI models based on item-total advantage indices, while the remaining 175 patients served as a validation set to evaluate the acceptability, responsiveness, reliability, validity, and outcome consistency of the models. The optimal model was selected as the recommended short-form EBI.Results:The short-form EBI comprises seven items: personal hygiene, dressing/undressing, wheelchair-bed transfer, walking, social interaction during walking, problem-solving, and memory/learning/orientation, with each item scored 0-4 (total range: 0-28). The short-form EBI demonstrated good acceptability, with median and mean scores near the scale′s midpoint and no significant ceiling or floor effects. Its responsiveness (d=0.19) surpassed that of the original EBI (d=0.14). Moreover, the short-form EBI showed excellent reliability (Cronbach′s α=0.885; SEM=9.11) and validity, explaining 95.4% of the variance in EBI scores (adj. R 2=0.954). Concurrent validity with the EBI was strong (ρ=0.975, P≤0.001), and criterion validity with ρ=0.956 for FIM, 0.889 for MBI, and 0.806 for MoCA. The short-form and the original EBI exhibited good agreement [ICC=0.967 (95% CI: 0.769-0.989); score difference: 6.48±6.56]. Conclusions:The short-form EBI demonstrates excellent acceptability, responsiveness, reliability, validity, and outcome consistency, making it a practical tool for ADL assessment in cases of stroke or traumatic brain injury.