Background: and Purpose Vertebrobasilar fusiform aneurysms (VBFAs) carry substantial morbidity and mortality, but optimal management for unruptured VBFAs remains unclear. We compared the safety and efficacy of conservative management (CM), stent-assisted coiling (SAC), and flow diverters (FDs) in patients with unruptured VBFAs, focusing on long-term prognosis. Methods: This study included data from a nationwide Chinese cohort of patients with vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) balanced confounders across groups. The primary outcome was poor prognosis (modified Rankin Scale score >2). Secondary outcomes included aneurysm rupture, ischemic stroke, compression symptoms, and VBFA-related deaths. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: Among 1,115 patients with unruptured VBFAs, 838 (median age, 54 years; 655 men) were included. After IPTW, baseline characteristics were balanced. Median follow-up was 54 months. FD was associated with a lower risk of poor prognosis than CM (OR, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.30 to 0.77]; p=0.002), with no difference between CM and SAC. FD also reduced aneurysm rupture (OR, 0.20 [95% CI, 0.07 to 0.60]; p=0.004) and compression symptoms (OR, 0.30 [95% CI, 0.13 to 0.68]; p=0.004) versus CM. Time-to-event analyses further revealed significant differences in vertebral artery lesions and Type I–II VBFAs, whereas no significant differences were observed in basilar or vertebrobasilar junction lesions or in Type III–IV VBFAs. Conclusions Compared with CM, FD was associated with improved long-term outcomes in unruptured VBFAs, particularly in vertebral artery lesions and Type I–II VBFAs, although residual confounding cannot be excluded.

Objective To explore the effect of artificial pleural effusion combined with radiofrequency ablation in patients with phrenic top liver cancer.Methods A total of 92 patients with liver tumors at top of the diaphragm were prospectively selected and divided into the control group(46 cases,radiofrequency ablation)and the observation group(46 cases,radiofrequency ablation+artificial pleural effusion)by the random number table method.Clinical outcomes one month after treatment,time to first surgical ablation,serum alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)levels and complications before treatment and one month after treatment were compared.Both groups were followed up for 2 years after the operation,and survival conditions of patients were compared.Results Enhanced MRI or enhanced CT at 1 month after surgery in the 2 groups showed that the complete tumor ablation rate was lower in the control group than that in the observation group(76.09%vs.93.48%,P＜0.05).The surgical ablation time of the observation group was shorter than that of the control group[(9.64±1.22)min vs.(11.15±1.47)min,P＜0.05].The survival rates were higher in the observation group than those in the control group at 1 year(82.61%vs.58.70%)and 2 years(71.74%vs.47.83%)after treatment(P＜0.05).Serum AFP levels decreased in both groups after treatment,and those were lower in the observation group than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The total complication rate of the observation group was lower than that of the control group(8.70%vs.23.91%,P＜0.05).The follow-up period of 92 patients ranged from 7 to 29 months,with a mean of(20.17±4.61)months.The local tumor progression rate was higher in the control group than that in the observation group during the follow-up period(36.96%vs.10.87%,P＜0.05).Conclusion Artificial pleural effusion combined with radiofrequency ablation can effectively improve the clinical efficacy and survival rate of patients with liver cancer,reduce the level of serum AFP and decrease the occurrence of complications.

Objective:To explore the characteristics of brain functional connectivity changes associated with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in adolescents with anhedonia symptoms, and to develop a predictive model of treatment efficacy based on baseline functional connectivity.Methods:A total of 88 adolescents (aged 13-18 years) with major depressive disorder and comorbid anhedonia, diagnosed according to the Diagnostic And Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, block-design trial. Participants received either active rTMS ( n=44) or sham stimulation ( n=44) for 15 consecutive days with individualized targeting. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data and clinical assessments were collected before and after the intervention. Brain regions were parcellated using the Brainnetome Atlas to construct whole-brain functional connectivity matrices. Linear mixed-effects models were used to identify functional connections showing significant group×time interaction effects. The percentage change in Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) scores (ΔSHAPS) served as the dependent variable in multiple regression analyses to examine the explanatory power of connectivity changes for treatment response. A connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM) approach was employed to predict individual treatment responses based on baseline functional connectivity with permutation testing used to validate model robustness. Results:Thirty-one functional connections showing significant group×time interaction ( F=6.67-15.69, all P<0.01) were identified between the active and sham stimulation groups, primarily involving the subcortical network (SCN), dorsal attention network (DAN), limbic network (LN), and default mode network (DMN). Changes in these connections accounted for 53% of the variance in ΔSHAPS (adjusted R2=0.53, F=4.574, P=0.001). The CPM model based on baseline connectivity showed strong predictive performance (10-fold cross-validation: r=0.65, R2=0.40, MAE=0.095, permutation P<0.001; leave-one-out cross-validation: r=0.74, R2=0.52, MAE=0.013, permutation P<0.001). Among the 59 predictive features, those originating from the LN contributed most substantially, particularly cross-network connections with the DMN and SCN. Correlation analyses revealed widespread associations between baseline predictive features and rTMS-induced connectivity changes, including significant negative correlations between baseline LN-DMN connectivity and post-treatment changes in DAN and subcortical connectivity. Conclusion:rTMS significantly alleviates anhedonia symptoms in adolescents with depression and induces widespread reconfiguration of functional connectivity across multiple brain networks. The CPM model based on baseline connectivity features effectively predicts rTMS treatment efficacy for anhedonia, providing new insights for individualized treatment strategies in adolescent depression.

Objective To explore the effect of artificial pleural effusion combined with radiofrequency ablation in patients with phrenic top liver cancer.Methods A total of 92 patients with liver tumors at top of the diaphragm were prospectively selected and divided into the control group(46 cases,radiofrequency ablation)and the observation group(46 cases,radiofrequency ablation+artificial pleural effusion)by the random number table method.Clinical outcomes one month after treatment,time to first surgical ablation,serum alpha-fetoprotein(AFP)levels and complications before treatment and one month after treatment were compared.Both groups were followed up for 2 years after the operation,and survival conditions of patients were compared.Results Enhanced MRI or enhanced CT at 1 month after surgery in the 2 groups showed that the complete tumor ablation rate was lower in the control group than that in the observation group(76.09%vs.93.48%,P＜0.05).The surgical ablation time of the observation group was shorter than that of the control group[(9.64±1.22)min vs.(11.15±1.47)min,P＜0.05].The survival rates were higher in the observation group than those in the control group at 1 year(82.61%vs.58.70%)and 2 years(71.74%vs.47.83%)after treatment(P＜0.05).Serum AFP levels decreased in both groups after treatment,and those were lower in the observation group than those in the control group(P＜0.05).The total complication rate of the observation group was lower than that of the control group(8.70%vs.23.91%,P＜0.05).The follow-up period of 92 patients ranged from 7 to 29 months,with a mean of(20.17±4.61)months.The local tumor progression rate was higher in the control group than that in the observation group during the follow-up period(36.96%vs.10.87%,P＜0.05).Conclusion Artificial pleural effusion combined with radiofrequency ablation can effectively improve the clinical efficacy and survival rate of patients with liver cancer,reduce the level of serum AFP and decrease the occurrence of complications.

Objective:To summarize the current status of living space for elderly patients with chronic diseases.Methods:Literature on living space for elderly patients with chronic diseases was electronically searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, China Biology Medicine disc, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP, and WanFang Data. The search period was from database establishment to April 13, 2024.Results:A total of 33 papers were included. Elderly patients with chronic diseases generally had limited living space, and the assessment tool was mainly the Life Space Assessment. The main influences on living space included demographic, disease-related, psychological, and other factors.Conclusions:Elderly patients with chronic diseases generally have limited living space and have a single assessment tool with complex and diverse influencing factors. Healthcare professionals should develop specific living space assessment tools and individualized interventions based on influencing factors to help patients with chronic diseases improve their living space limitations.

Background/Aims: Liver cirrhosis involves chronic inflammation and progressive fibrosis.Among various immune cells, CD8+ T cells are considered a major contributor to hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. However, the exact molecular pathways governing CD8+ T-cell-mediated effects in cirrhosis remain unclear. Methods: This study analyzed transcriptomic and single-cell sequencing data to elucidate CD8+ T-cell heterogeneity and implications in cirrhosis. Results: Weighted gene co-expression analysis of bulk RNA-seq data revealed an association between cirrhosis severity and activated T-cell markers like HLA and chemokine genes. Furthermore, single-cell profiling uncovered eight CD8+ T-cell subtypes, notably, effector memory (Tem) and exhausted (Tex) T cells. Tex cells, defined by PDCD1, LAG3, and CXCL13 expression, were increased in cirrhosis, while Tem cells were decreased. Lineage tracing and differential analysis highlighted CXCL13+ Tex cells as a terminal, exhausted subtype of cells with roles in PD-1 signaling, glycolysis, and T-cell regulation. CXCL13+ Tex cells displayed T-cell exhaustion markers like PDCD1, HAVCR2, TIGIT, and TNFRSF9. Functional analysis implicated potential roles of these cells in immunosuppression. Finally, a CXCL13+ Tex-cell gene signature was found that correlated with cirrhosis severity and poorer prognosis of liver cancer. Conclusions In summary, this comprehensive study defines specialized CD8+ T-cell subpopulations in cirrhosis, with CXCL13+ Tex cells displaying an exhausted phenotype associated with immune dysregulation and advanced disease. Key genes and pathways regulating these cells present potential therapeutic targets.

Background/Aims: Liver cirrhosis involves chronic inflammation and progressive fibrosis.Among various immune cells, CD8+ T cells are considered a major contributor to hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. However, the exact molecular pathways governing CD8+ T-cell-mediated effects in cirrhosis remain unclear. Methods: This study analyzed transcriptomic and single-cell sequencing data to elucidate CD8+ T-cell heterogeneity and implications in cirrhosis. Results: Weighted gene co-expression analysis of bulk RNA-seq data revealed an association between cirrhosis severity and activated T-cell markers like HLA and chemokine genes. Furthermore, single-cell profiling uncovered eight CD8+ T-cell subtypes, notably, effector memory (Tem) and exhausted (Tex) T cells. Tex cells, defined by PDCD1, LAG3, and CXCL13 expression, were increased in cirrhosis, while Tem cells were decreased. Lineage tracing and differential analysis highlighted CXCL13+ Tex cells as a terminal, exhausted subtype of cells with roles in PD-1 signaling, glycolysis, and T-cell regulation. CXCL13+ Tex cells displayed T-cell exhaustion markers like PDCD1, HAVCR2, TIGIT, and TNFRSF9. Functional analysis implicated potential roles of these cells in immunosuppression. Finally, a CXCL13+ Tex-cell gene signature was found that correlated with cirrhosis severity and poorer prognosis of liver cancer. Conclusions In summary, this comprehensive study defines specialized CD8+ T-cell subpopulations in cirrhosis, with CXCL13+ Tex cells displaying an exhausted phenotype associated with immune dysregulation and advanced disease. Key genes and pathways regulating these cells present potential therapeutic targets.

Background/Aims: Liver cirrhosis involves chronic inflammation and progressive fibrosis.Among various immune cells, CD8+ T cells are considered a major contributor to hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. However, the exact molecular pathways governing CD8+ T-cell-mediated effects in cirrhosis remain unclear. Methods: This study analyzed transcriptomic and single-cell sequencing data to elucidate CD8+ T-cell heterogeneity and implications in cirrhosis. Results: Weighted gene co-expression analysis of bulk RNA-seq data revealed an association between cirrhosis severity and activated T-cell markers like HLA and chemokine genes. Furthermore, single-cell profiling uncovered eight CD8+ T-cell subtypes, notably, effector memory (Tem) and exhausted (Tex) T cells. Tex cells, defined by PDCD1, LAG3, and CXCL13 expression, were increased in cirrhosis, while Tem cells were decreased. Lineage tracing and differential analysis highlighted CXCL13+ Tex cells as a terminal, exhausted subtype of cells with roles in PD-1 signaling, glycolysis, and T-cell regulation. CXCL13+ Tex cells displayed T-cell exhaustion markers like PDCD1, HAVCR2, TIGIT, and TNFRSF9. Functional analysis implicated potential roles of these cells in immunosuppression. Finally, a CXCL13+ Tex-cell gene signature was found that correlated with cirrhosis severity and poorer prognosis of liver cancer. Conclusions In summary, this comprehensive study defines specialized CD8+ T-cell subpopulations in cirrhosis, with CXCL13+ Tex cells displaying an exhausted phenotype associated with immune dysregulation and advanced disease. Key genes and pathways regulating these cells present potential therapeutic targets.

Biliary atresia is often complicated with portal hypertension, which induces a series of hemodynamic changes leading to splenomegaly. Splenomegaly is a common in patients with biliary atresia, which indicates the status of portal hypertension, esophageal varices, and the progression of hepatic fibrosis. Furthermore, it can help monitor the native liver survival status after Kasai procedure and the need for liver transplantation. For patients with biliary atresia presenting splenomegaly and/or hypersplenism, the treatment strategy, involving the pharmacological or surgical options, should be individually selected based on specific clinical condition. This article reviews the value of splenomegaly in the diagnosis and management of biliary atresia, aiming to provide references for clinical practice.

Background:To compare the efficacy and safety of monthly administrations of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists LY01005 and Zoladex ? in Chinese patients with premenopausal breast cancer. Methods:From October 2020 to November 2021, 188 premenopausal breast cancer patients were enrolled in 34 hospitals and randomized 1:1 to receive either LY01005 or Zoladex ? every 28 days for a total of three injections. All patients concomitantly received oral tamoxifen (TAM). The primary efficacy endpoint was cumulative probability of maintaining menopausal level [oestradiol (E2) ≤30 pg/ml] from day 29 to day 85. The second efficacy endpoint included changes in E2, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) compared with the baseline. Pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and safety were analyzed. The study also evaluated the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of LY01005. Results:A total of 188 patients were randomised and 187 patients received either LY01005 or Zoladex ?. Cumulative probabilities of maintaining menopausal level (E2≤30 pg/ml) from day 29 to day 85 were 93.1% for LY01005 and 86.3% for Zoladex ?. The between-group difference was 6.8% (95% CI: -2.3%, 15.9%) and primary efficacy in the LY01005 group was not inferior to that in the Zoladex ? group. Changes in E2, LH, and FSH levels compared with the baseline were equivalent between the two groups (E2: 89.34% to 90.23% vs. 82.11% to 85.02%; LH: 88.89% to 95.52% vs. 89.70% to 97.02%; FSH: 75.36% to 80.85% vs.73.07% to 80.24%, respectively). After three consecutive doses of LY01005, the LH and FSH levels of the subjects showed a transient increase after the first dose, reached a peak on the second day and then started to decrease. The LH and FSH reached a lower level and remained at or below that level until the 85th day. Both treatments were well-tolerated. Conclusion:LY01005 is as effective as Zoladex ? in suppressing E2 to menopausal levels in Chinese patients with premenopausal breast cancer, with a similar safety profile.