Objective:To compare the characteristics of gait disorders between patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus(iNPH)and Parkinson's disease(PD)patients.Methods:General clinical data and gait assessment results of 16 iNPH patients, 20 PD patients, and 23 healthy adults seeking treatment at Tianjin Huanhu Hospital between January 2020 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.Gait analysis was conducted using the Mobility Lab? system with APDM Opal sensors from the US.Results:The 16 patients in the iNPH group had a mean age of(68.81±8.73), the 20 patients in the PD group had a mean age of(65.05±10.15), and the 23 adults in the control group had a mean age of(59.96±6.20).There was no significant difference in age between the iNPH group and the PD group( P>0.05).However, the iNPH group was older than the healthy control group( t=3.71, P<0.05).The disease duration of the iNPH group was(22.94±23.19)months, which was shorter than(92.60±53.70)months in the PD group( t=5.23, P<0.05).The mini-mental state examination(MMSE)score(17.13±7.08)and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)score(11.75±5.43)of the iNPH group were significantly lower than those in the PD group[(24.17±4.73), t=3.45, P<0.05、(21.29±5.82), t=4.86, P<0.05]and the control group[(26.70±1.61), t=5.31, P<0.05、(22.78±3.30), t=7.89, P<0.05].Compared with the PD group, the iNPH group had a significantly lower foot clearance[right: (1.65±0.76)cm vs.(2.56±1.30)cm]and smaller bilateral toe-off angles[left: (20.59±6.11)° vs.(28.43±6.36)°; right: (20.78±6.88)° vs.(28.12±7.49)°, t=3.74、3.02, respectively, all P<0.05].There were statistically significant differences in all gait parameters in iNPH patients compared with the control group( P<0.05). Conclusions:iNPH patients exhibit clear gait disturbance, which is more prominent than in PD patients.The wearable gait analysis system can accurately assess gait disorders in iNPH patients, and can be applied to gait assessment and the development of rehabilitation plans.

Objective:To explore the changes of gait flexibility and stability in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) 2 years after deep brain stimulation (DBS).Methods:Twenty PD patients accepted DBS in Department of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Huanhu Hospital from October 2019 to November 2021 were enrolled. Motor symptoms were evaluated by Movement Disorder Society-unified Parkinson's disease rating scale III (MDS-UPDRS-III) at preoperative medication-off state, postoperative medication-off state, and postoperative medication-on state. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) were used to assess the cognition and 39-item Parkinson's disease questionnaire (PDQ-39) was used to evaluate the quality of life at preoperative medication-on state and postoperative medication-on state. A three-dimensional gait analyzer was used to record the gait parameters during Instrumented Stand and Walk test (ISAW) at preoperative medication-off state, postoperative medication-off state, and postoperative medication-on state. Differences in motor symptom scores, cognitive scores, quality of life scores, as well as changes in gait flexibility and stability were compared before and after DBS.Results:(1) The MDS-UPDRS-Ⅲ scores at preoperative medication-off state, postoperative medication-off state, and postoperative medication-on state ([45.30±12.57], [24.95±10.74], [15.80±7.19]) were decreased successively, with significant differences ( P<0.05).(2) Compared with those before surgery, PD patients had significantly lower levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD), total scores of PDQ-39, and scores of question 9 "degree of concern about falling" in PDQ-39 at 2 years after DBS ([711.84±343.99] mg/d vs. [549.30±301.08] mg/d, 47.00[30.00, 64.00] vs. 13.50[7.75, 27.00], 2.00[0.00, 3.00] vs. 0.00[0.00, 1.75], P<0.05). (3) Compared with that at preoperative medication-off state, the arm swing velocity at postoperative medication-on state statistically increased in PD patients ( P<0.05); compared with those at preoperative medication-off state, the arm swing range and turning speed at postoperative medication-off and medication-on states significantly increased in PD patients ( P<0.05); compared with that at preoperative medication-off state, the turning duration at postoperative medication-off state statistically decreased in PD patients ( P<0.05). Compared with that at preoperative medication-off state, the range of motion of the trunk in the horizontal plane at postoperative medication-off and medication-on states increased significantly in PD patients ( P<0.05); compared with that at preoperative medication-off state, the range of motion in the sagittal plane of the lumbar, coronal plane of the trunk, and sagittal plane of the trunk all increased significantly in PD patients at postoperative medication-on state ( P<0.05); the mean velocity and root mean square acceleration at postoperative medication-on state increased significantly in PD patients compared with that at preoperative medication-off state ( P<0.05); conversely, the swing frequency at postoperative medication-off state decreased significantly in PD patients compared with that at preoperative medication-off state ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Two years after DBS, PD patients exhibit obviously improved gait, with enhanced flexibility, and dynamic and static stability.

Objective:To explore the potential categories of psychological distress in spousal caregivers of stroke patients and differences in quality of life between categories, in order to provide a theoretical basis for early clinical identification and provision of individualized and targeted interventions for psychological distress in spousal caregivers of stroke patients and improvement of their quality of life.Methods:A total of 207 spouse caregivers of stroke patients hospitalized in three class 1-Grade A hospitals in Yinchuan city of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected from December 2020 to July 2021 by convenience sampling method as study subjects. The general information questionnaire, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, and the Mos 36-Item Short from Health Survey were used for a cross-sectional survey.Results:A total of 203 spousal caregivers of stroke patients were finally investigated, 46 males and 157 females with a age of (58.65 ± 9.66) years. Psychological distress among spousal caregivers of stroke patients was categorized into 3 potential categories:no distress group (40%, 81/203), listlessness group (45%, 91/203) and helplessness and restlessness group (15%, 31/203). The psychological distress subgroup was a factor influencing the quality of life of spousal caregivers of stroke patients ( t=-10.03, P<0.05), explaining 33.0% of the variance in quality of life. Conclusions:Psychological distress in spousal caregivers of stroke patients is significantly heterogeneous. Those in the helplessness and restlessness group have the lowest quality of life and should be given focused attention and early intervention.

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum levels of long non-coding RNA(ln-cRNA)nuclear-enriched abundant transcript 1(NEAT1)and microRNA miR-23c in patients with diabetic ne-phropathy(DN).Methods A total of 136 DN patients admitted to the hospital from May 2019 to May 2020 were enrolled in the study as the DN group.Fifty-eight healthy people who underwent physical examination in the hospital during the same period were enrolled as the control group.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(qPCR)was used to detect serum lncRNA NEAT1,miR-23c,kidney injury molecule-1(KIM-1),neutro-phil gelatinase-associated lipocalin(NGAL),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)mRNA and interleukin-6(IL-6)mRNA in the two groups.Pearson/Spearman correlation was used to analyze the correlation of serum ln-cRNA NEAT1 and miR-23c with KIM-1,NGAL,TNF-α,IL-6 mRNA levels and eGFR in DN patients.DN pa-tients were divided into different CKD stages,and the levels of serum lncRNA NEAT1,miR-23c,KIM-1,NGAL,TNF-α,and IL-6 mRNA in patients in different CKD stages were compared.Multivariate ordered Lo-gistic regression was used to analyze whether serum levels of lncRNA NEAT1 and miR-23c were influencing factors for the progression of DN.Results Compared with the control group,the serum levels of lncRNA NEAT1,KIM-1,NGAL,TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA in the DN group were increased,while miR-23c and esti-mated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)were decreased,and the differences were all statistically significant(P＜0.05).The serum levels of lncRNA NEAT1,KIM-1,NGAL,TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA in DN patients in G1-G5 stages were increased in order,and the level of miR-23c was decreased in order(P＜0.05).Serum ln-cRNA NEAT1 in DN patients was positively correlated with KIM-1,NGAL,TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA levels(P＜0.05),and negatively correlated with miR-23c and eGFR(P＜0.05).The level of serum miR-23c was negatively correlated with the mRNA levels of KIM-1,NGAL,TNF-α and IL-6(P＜0.05),and positively cor-related with eGFR(P＜0.05).lncRNA NEAT1(OR=2.177,95％CI:2.113-2.441)was an independent risk factor for DN progression,while miR-23c(OR=0.595,95％CI:0.543-0.726)was an independent pro-tective factor(P＜0.05).Conclusion Elevated serum lncRNA NEAT1 levels and reduced miR-23c levels in DN patients are closely associated with the progression of DN disease.

AIM: To investigate the effects of hypobaric hypoxia in plateau on tear indexes and related anatomical structures in rabbits.METHODS: A total of 18 healthy New Zealand rabbits were selected and randomly divided into plateau group and control group, with 9 rabbits(18 eyes)in each group. The plateau group was housed in the Simulated Climate Cabin for Special Environment of Northwest of China, simulating hypobaric hypoxia at an altitude of 6 000 m. The control group was housed in a clean animal room with atmospheric pressure and oxygen. Changes in the tear meniscus height and non-invasive tear break-up time were detected by using RHCT-1 corneal topographer dry eye comprehensive analysis system, changes in tear secretion was measured by Schirmer Ⅰ test, before intervention and on the 3, 7 d, 2 and 4 wk. Meanwhile, the changes in tear composition before and after intervention in the plateau environment were analyzed using Raman Spectroscopy. The histopathological changes of the lower lid conjunctiva, cornea, lacrimal gland, and Hardarian gland were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining after 4 wk of intervention, and the expression of mucin 5AC(MUC5AC)in conjunctiva was detected by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: Compared with the control group, Schirmer Ⅰ test, tear meniscus height, first and average non-invasive tear break-up time in the plateau group decreased significantly since 3 d, and the difference was significant with the extension of observation time(P<0.05). The above indexes increased from 2 wk. After 4 wk of intervention, the protein and lipid content of the tear composition of rabbits in the plateau group increased, and the nucleic acid content decreased compared with the pre-intervention period. Compared with the control group, rabbits in the plateau group showed thickening of corneal stromal edema, an increase in the number of conjunctival cup cells, increase in the level of expression of MUC5AC, an increase in the level of expression of MUC5AC, an atrophy and flattening of cytoplasm in lacrimal epithelial cells, an enlargement of glandular lumen, and no obvious destructive changes in the Hardarian glands.CONCLUSION: Acute plateau environment can destroy the homeostasis of rabbit ocular surface, so that the tear secretion and the tear film stability decreases, but within a certain period of time, rabbits undergo compensation with the habituation to the hypobaric hypoxia environment, which can increase the tear secretion to a certain extent and restore the tear film stability.

Targeted therapy for breast cancer can significantly improve the prognosis, quality of life and survival of breast cancer patients, but the emergence of primary or acquired drug resistance will eventually lead to disease progression, recurrence or metastasis. Tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex environment for breast cancer cells to survive. Breast cancer cells and TME are currently known to be a functional whole, and the crosstalk between them plays a key role in breast cancer progression and resistance to targeted therapies. Therefore, clarifying TME abnormalities is important to reveal the underlying mechanisms of targeted therapy resistance and to develop therapeutic strategies against targeted therapy-resistant malignancies.

Objective:To explore the role and the intervention effect of emodin in intestinal neuropathy in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) through the nucleotide binding oligomerization domain like receptor protein 3/cysteine containing aspartic acid protease-1 (NLRP3/Caspase-1) pathway.Methods:Forty male healthy SD rats aged 6-8 weeks with a weight of approximately 200g were randomly divided into control group, SAP model group, emodin treatment (EMO) group, and NLRP3 knockdown group. SAP were induced by retrograde injection of sodium deoxycholate into the pancreatic duct of rats and serum amylase of which were detected. The effective NLRP3 knockdown sequence was screened for NLRP3 knockdown animal experiments. Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the expression of NLRP3, Caspase-1, gasdermin-D (GSDMD), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18 and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the small intestine of each group. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the small intestine of each group.Results:The amylase levels of the control group, SAP group, EMO group, and NLRP3 knockdown group were (277.73±24.92) U/L, (1018.57±282.89) U/L, (625.43±134.40) U/L, and (391.01±27.63) U/L, respectively. The SAP and EMO groups were significantly higher than the control group ( P<0.001), while the EMO and NLRP3 knockdown groups were significantly lower than the SAP group (all P<0.001). Compared with control group, the expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18, TNF-α and GSDMD in SAP group were increased, with statistical significance (all P<0.001). Compared with SAP group, the NLRP3 knockdown group showed the expressionlevels of the above 6 genes were all decreased, and EMO group showed decreased gene expressing levels of NLRP3, IL-1β, IL-18 and TNF-α, with statistical significance (all P<0.05). The relative expression of GFAP in small intestine of control group, SAP group, EMO group and NLRP3 knockdown group were (1.00±0), (1.66±0.11), (1.13±0.02) and (1.13±0.02), respectively. Among them, the expression of GFAP in SAP group was increased compared with the control group; The expression of GFAP in EMO group and NLRP3 knockdown group was lower than that in model group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Emodin and knocking down NLRP3 can both promote the repair of SAP small intestine injury through the NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway, and thus play a protective role in the intestine.

The increasing prevalence of the aging population, and inadequate and uneven distribution of medical resources, have led to a growing demand for telemedicine services. Gait disturbance is a primary symptom of neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD). This study proposed a novel approach for the quantitative assessment and analysis of gait disturbance from two-dimensional (2D) videos captured using smartphones. The approach used a convolutional pose machine to extract human body joints and a gait phase segmentation algorithm based on node motion characteristics to identify the gait phase. Moreover, it extracted features of the upper and lower limbs. A height ratio-based spatial feature extraction method was proposed that effectively captures spatial information. The proposed method underwent validation via error analysis, correction compensation, and accuracy verification using the motion capture system. Specifically, the proposed method achieved an extracted step length error of less than 3 cm. The proposed method underwent clinical validation, recruiting 64 patients with Parkinson's disease and 46 healthy controls of the same age group. Various gait indicators were statistically analyzed using three classic classification methods, with the random forest method achieving a classification accuracy of 91%. This method provides an objective, convenient, and intelligent solution for telemedicine focused on movement disorders in neurological diseases.
Humans ; Aged ; Parkinson Disease/diagnosis* ; Aging ; Algorithms ; Gait ; Lower Extremity

Background/Aims: Existing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prediction models are derived mainly from pretreatment or early on-treatment parameters. We reassessed the dynamic changes in the performance of 17 HCC models in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) during long-term antiviral therapy (AVT). Methods: Among 987 CHB patients administered long-term entecavir therapy, 660 patients had 8 years of follow-up data. Model scores were calculated using on-treatment values at 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, and 5 years of AVT to predict threeyear HCC occurrence. Model performance was assessed with the area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC). The original model cutoffs to distinguish different levels of HCC risk were evaluated by the log-rank test. Results: The AUROCs of the 17 HCC models varied from 0.51 to 0.78 when using on-treatment scores from years 2.5 to 5. Models with a cirrhosis variable showed numerically higher AUROCs (pooled at 0.65–0.73 for treated, untreated, or mixed treatment models) than models without (treated or mixed models: 0.61–0.68; untreated models: 0.51–0.59). Stratification into low, intermediate, and high-risk levels using the original cutoff values could no longer reflect the true HCC incidence using scores after 3.5 years of AVT for models without cirrhosis and after 4 years of AVT for models with cirrhosis. Conclusions The performance of existing HCC prediction models, especially models without the cirrhosis variable, decreased in CHB patients on long-term AVT. The optimization of existing models or the development of novel models for better HCC prediction during long-term AVT is warranted.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of 7 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) including rs13278062 (TNFRSF10A), rs3750846 (ARMS2-HTRA1), rs429358 (APOE), rs5817082 (CEPT), rs2043085 (LIPC), rs1626340 (TGFBR1), and rs8135665 (SLC16A8) identified through genome-wide association study (GWAS) with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) among ethnic Han Chinese from Sichuan, China. METHODS: A cohort of 576 AMD patients and 572 healthy controls were enrolled in a case-control study. The SNPs were genotyped by a Mass array MALDI-TOF System. On the premise that the genotype distribution of each SNP locus in both groups satisfied Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the genetic pattern was analyzed and the scores of allele and genotype frequencies ware compared. RESULTS: There was a significant association between TNFRSF10A rs13278062 and AMD under the heterozygous model (P = 0.000, OR = 1.529, 95%CI = 1.196-1.954) and the dominant model (P = 0.002, OR = 1.459, 95%CI = 1.154-1.865), suggesting that subjects carrying rs13278062GT and rs13278062TT + GT are more likely to develop the AMD, whereas no significant difference was observed for rs13278062 under other models. No association was detected with the other six SNPs and AMD under various genetic models. CONCLUSION This case-control association study has indicated that TNFRSF10A rs13278062 is associated with AMD under the heterozygous and dominant models, suggesting that the TNFRSF10A variant may be involved in the development of AMD among ethnic Han Chinese population.
Case-Control Studies ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genome-Wide Association Study ; Genotype ; High-Temperature Requirement A Serine Peptidase 1/genetics* ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration/genetics* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide