Objective:To compare the effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the contralesional hemisphere at different frequencies on the recovery of upper limb motor function after a moderate-to-severe ischemic stroke.Methods:The inter-hemisphere compensation model was applied along with electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectrum density measurements. Thirty stroke survivors were randomly assigned to a sham stimulation group ( n=9), a high-frequency stimulation group ( n=11) or a low-frequency stimulation group ( n=10). In addition to physical and pharmacological therapy, the low-frequency and high-frequency groups received 1Hz or 5Hz rTMS, while the sham group received sham stimulation. The rTMS was delivered over the contralesional (unaffected) hemisphere once daily for 20 minutes over 15 consecutive days. Before, as well as 7 and 15 days after the treatment, all of the subjects′ motor functioning was assessed using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for the upper extremity (FMA-UE) and their ability in the activities of daily living was assessed using the modified Barthel Index (MBI). Resting-state EEGs with the eyes closed were also recorded, and absolute alpha power across the whole brain was calculated. Changes from baseline FMA-UE and MBI scores and absolute alpha power were analyzed using one-way and repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results:After the treatment, significant within-group improvements from baseline were observed in the FMA-UE scores, MBIs and absolute alpha power, except for absolute alpha power in the low-frequency and sham groups. The repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed significant time × group interactions for FMA-UE ( F=9.926, P≤0.001), MBI ( F=8.789, P≤0.001) and absolute alpha power ( F=4.511, P≤0.05). So the treatment effects varied among the groups. Post hoc Bonferroni-corrected comparisons showed that the high-frequency group exhibited significantly greater improvements from baseline in terms of all three indicators compared with the other two groups. Conclusions:High-frequency (5Hz) rTMS applied to the contralesional hemisphere produced greater improvement than low-frequency (1Hz) stimulation in the upper limb motor function of patients with moderate-to-severe stroke. These findings support the use of the interhemispheric compensation model to guide rTMS therapy, particularly for patients with FMA-UE scores below 43.

Objective:To investigate the endocardial myocardial biopsy and ultrastructural features of heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction, to determine their histopathologic phenotype, and to explore the diagnostic utility of endomyocardial biopsy in such patients.Methods:A total of 35 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction diagnosed at Beijing Anzhen Hospital and underwent endomyocardial biopsy were collected between January 2022 and December 2023. The clinical features, histopathological, and ultrastructural characteristics were analyzed and compared with 11 patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.Results:The age ranged from 35-58 years, with median age of 51 years; there were 26 males and 9 females. Myocardial fibrosis and myocardial fiber disorders were the most common histopathologic changes [97.1% (34/35) and 74.3% (26/35), respectively]. Myocardial fibrosis was not statistically different between the heart failure with reduced ejection fraction group and the heart failure with preserved ejection fraction group [13.3% (5.7%-21.4%) vs. 13.2% (9.3%-34.2%), P=0.279]. Significant ultrastructural changes were dense mitochondrial proliferation, vacuolar degeneration, and disorganized arrangement of myocardial fibers with localized lysis and fracture. After endomyocardial biopsy, the etiology was identified in 11 patients (31.4%,11/35), with a prevalence of cardiac amyloidosis of 17.1% (6/35). Conclusions:Endomyocardial biopsy is useful for early diagnosis and precise treatment in patients presenting with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Histopathological and ultrastructural analyses can uncover potential treatments, and predict and improve prognosis by providing relevant information for understanding the pathogenesis and clinical evolution.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of baicalein on acute myocardial injury in rats with high-level spinal cord injury (SCI) and the role of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2).Methods:Twenty-four clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 8-10 weeks, weighing 250-300 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (Sham group), SCI group, SCI+ baicalein group (SCI+ Bai group) and SCI+ baicalein+ ML385 group (SCI+ Bai+ ML385 group). The high-level SCI rat model was established by the modified Allens method. In Sham group, the 7th cervical vertebra (C 7) was only exposed, but the spinal cord was not hit. In SCI group, C 7 was exposed and the spinal cord was hit. In SCI+ Bai group, baicalein 50 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected immediately after SCI. In SCI+ Bai+ ML385 group, Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 30 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected at 1 h before SCI, and baicalein 50 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected immediately after SCI. The rats were anesthetized at 24 h after SCI and sacrificed after the blood samples from the abdominal aorta were collected and the hearts were taken for microscopic examination of the pathological changes (by HE staining) which were scored and the ultrastructure of cells (with a transmission electron microscope) and for determination of the serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), content of ferrous ion (Fe 2+ ) in myocardial tissues (by colorimetry), contents of malondialdehyde(MDA) and glutathione (GSH) and activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) in myocardial tissues (by biochemical method) and expression of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), acyl CoA synthase long chain family member 4 (ACSl4) and Nrf2 protein and mRNA in myocardial tissues (by Western blot and fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction). The mitochondrial Flameng score was assessed and recorded. Results:Compared with Sham group, the pathological score, mitochondrial Flameng score and serum cTnI concentrations were significantly increased, the contents of Fe 2+ and MDA in myocardial tissues were increased, the content of GSH and SOD activity were decreased, the expression of GPX4 was down-regulated, and the expression of ACSL4 and Nrf2 was up-regulated in SCI group ( P<0.05). Compared with SCI group, the pathological score, mitochondrial Flameng score and serum cTnI concentration were significantly decreased, the contents of Fe 2+ and MDA in myocardial tissues were decreased, the contents of GSH and SOD activity were increased, the expression of GPX4 and Nrf2 was up-regulated, and the expression of ACSL4 was down-regulated in SCI+ Bai group ( P<0.05). Compared with SCI+ Bai group, the pathological score, mitochondrial Flameng score and serum cTnI concentrations were significantly increased, the contents of Fe 2+ and MDA in myocardial tissues were increased, the content of GSH and SOD activity were decreased, the expression of GPX4 and Nrf2 was down-regulated, and the expression of ACSL4 was up-regulated in SCI+ Bai+ ML385 group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Baicalein can alleviate acute myocardial injury in rats with high-level SCI, and Nrf2 is involved in this process.

Objective:To systematically review the research progress in the evaluation of the integration of medical care and prevention in China.Methods:The keywords "medical care","prevention","public health", and "evaluate" were used to search in Chinese databases (CNKI, Wangfang and VIP Chinese Science and Technology Journal) and English databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science) from March 17, 2009, to August 7, 2024. The language of studies was restricted to Chinese and English. The inclusion criteria were the integration of medical care and prevention occurring at one of the three dimensions, i.e., macro-system level, meso-institution and professional level and micro-service level. The study area should be located in China. The studies about theoretical exploration, policy analysis, and review of theory and practice in foreign countries regarding the integration of medical care and prevention and the article types of conference abstract, editorial, letter, and news were excluded. A total of 30 studies (in Chinese) were finally included. The definition of the integration of medical care and prevention, study design, evaluation objects, and specific evaluation indicators were compared and analyzed.Results:The evaluation objects of the included studies were mainly primary health staff and patients with chronic diseases in primary care. The study designs were mainly cross-sectional studies ( n=18) and controlled trials ( n=8). The included studies involved a total of 39 specific evaluation indicators at the macro-system level (5), meso-institutional level (8), professional level (11), micro-service level (12), and outcome level (3). Conclusion:Research on the integration of medical care and prevention is still in the development stage. The existing studies lack commonly recognized evaluation indicators regarding the integration of medical care and prevention.

Objective:To investigate the effects of oral propranolol on the heart rate and blood glucose levels in children with hemangiomas receiving hospital care.Methods:A total of 259 children [77 males and 182 females, aged (125.2±85.4) days, weighted (6.3±1.6) kg], who were treated with oral propranolol for the first time under hospital care from January 2013 to August 2021, were retrospectively analyzed. After fasting, the patients administered the same dose of propranolol once daily (0.5-2.5 mg/kg). Fasting blood glucose and heart rate were measured in all children before propranolol administration and after 2 h. Heart rate was measured at 1, 3 and 6 h after propranolol administration for three consecutive days. Adverse reactions were observed and recorded.Results:Within three days of oral propranolol administration, the heart rates at 1, 3 and 6 h after propranolol administration were lower than those before propranolol administration (all P<0.001). Within three days after taking propranolol and 2 h after taking propranolol daily, blood glucose levels reduced in all children (all P<0.001). During the hospitalization period, the incidence of adverse reactions was 5.4% (14/259), including lesion ulcers in four cases, upper respiratory tract infection with fever in four, reduced eating in two, nausea and vomiting in one, lethargy in one, sinus tachycardia in one, and hyperkalemia in one. No serious adverse reactions were life-threatening. Conclusion:After oral administration of propranolol, the heart rate and blood sugar of the children decrease to different degrees compared with those before propranolol administration.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment strategies, and prognostic outcomes of patients infected with Listeria monocytogenes, thereby providing evidence-based insights for the prevention and control of this disease.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data, diagnostic tests, treatment protocols, and prognostic outcomes of patients definitively diagnosed with Listeria monocytogenes infection at Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital over the past decade. Additionally, a comprehensive literature review was conducted, encompassing studies published between 2014 and 2024, sourced from CNKI, Wanfang Data, and PubMed. This review focused on summarizing the clinical features, treatment regimens, and prognostic outcomes of patients with Listeria monocytogenes infection.Results:The study cohort comprised 17 patients, with a mean age of (61.29 ± 16.24) years. The confirmed cases included 7 cases of bloodstream infections, 3 cases of central nervous system infections, and 7 cases of combined infections. Sepsis developed in 9 patients. The average time from symptom onset to the initiation of empirical antibiotic therapy was 72 hours, while the mean time to definitive diagnosis was 102 hours. Antimicrobial regimens predominantly featured penicillins, meropenem, and vancomycin. The average hospitalization duration was 16 days, with 9 patients experiencing adverse outcomes. A total of 78 relevant literature pieces were retrieved, encompassing data from 85 patients. The average age of these patients was (57.96 ± 16.48) years. Primary diagnostic methods relied on blood/cerebrospinal fluid cultures and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). Treatment regimens primarily involved antibiotics such as penicillins, aminoglycosides, carbapenems, and glycopeptides. Despite these interventions, the proportion of patients with poor prognosis remained significantly high at 30.6% (26/85). Logistic regression analysis identified sepsis and delayed antibiotic administration as independent predictors of poor prognosis.Conclusions:Listeriosis, caused by an opportunistic pathogen, necessitates early antibiotic administration and timely identification of at-risk populations to mitigate the risk of poor prognostic outcomes in patients.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Yiqi Tongluo Decoction in the intervention of early traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes after ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD) intervention. Methods: From October 2020 to July 2023, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to include 60 patients with qi deficiency, blood stasis, and phlegm obstruction syndrome after ICVD interventional therapy. They were assigned to the Yiqi Tongluo Decoction treatment group (30 cases) and the TCM placebo routine treatment control group (30 cases) according to the randomized block design. Both groups received routine standardized treatment of Western medicine, including dual antiplatelet, lipid regulation, and control of risk factors for cerebrovascular disease. The treatment group was treated with Yiqi Tongluo Decoction based on the control group. The course of treatment was 60 days and follow-up was carried out 2 and 6 months after the operation. The improvement of qi deficiency syndrome, blood stasis syndrome, phlegm syndrome score and TCM syndrome score, modified Rankin score (mRS), Barthel index (BI) score, Fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) level, incidence of transient ischemic attack (TIA) and ischemic stroke (IS) and incidence of adverse reactions, Head and neck CT angiography (CTA) or digital subtraction angiography (DSA) examination were collected. The clinical efficacy of the patients 2 months after the operation was taken as the main outcome index to preliminarily evaluate the early and long-term efficacy of Yiqi Tongluo Decoction after the ICVD intervention. The early and long-term clinical efficacy and safety of Western medicine standardized treatment combined with TCM Yiqi Tongluo Decoction on patients with qi deficiency, blood stasis and phlegm obstruction syndrome after ICVD intervention were evaluated. The safety of Yiqi Tongluo Decoction in the treatment of patients after ICVD intervention with white blood cell (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen (FIB), plasminogen time (PT), recurrence of cerebral ischaemia and restenosis in patients at 2 and 6 months after treatment were evaluated. Results: Compared to the control group, the TCM syndrome scores for qi deficiency, blood stasis and phlegm syndrome in the treatment group reduced significantly, the clinical efficacy improved significantly, the mRS score and FABP4 were reduced, and the BI score was increased. Adverse events such as cerebral ischaemia were fewer in the treatment group than in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant; levels of CRP, WBC and PT were reduced, and levels of FIB were reduced at 6 months post-treatment, all P<0.01, and images were intuitively compared. The treatment group was superior to the control group. Conclusion Yiqi Tongluo Decoction combined with Western medicine standard treatment can improve the early clinical efficacy of ICVD patients with qi deficiency, blood stasis and phlegm obstruction syndrome after interventional surgery, improve neurological impairment and daily living ability, reduce the state of qi deficiency syndrome, blood stasis syndrome and phlegm syndrome after interventional surgery, and improve the clinical efficacy of TCM. At the same time, it can reduce the level of FABP4, the target of atherosclerosis and restenosis after interventional surgery, reduce the level of inflammation after interventional surgery in patients with ICVD, regulate coagulation function, and reduce the incidence of long-term recurrence of cerebral ischemia after interventional surgery, with good safety.

Schizophrenia is a chronic and debilitating mental disorder.Around 20%to 40%of patients do not respond well to normal antipsychotic medication,and are ultimately diagnosed with treatment-resistant schizophrenia(TRS),representing the most severe and challenging form of schizophrenia.Currently,clozapine is the standard treatment for TRS.Early identification and standardized treatment can be beneficial to patients with TRS by controlling acute-phase symptoms as soon as possible,reducing suicidal rate and improving their quality of life.Under the guidance of the Steering Committee,this consensus was formed after multiple discussions by 30 psychiatric experts and anonymous Delphi surveys including 17 consensus opinions on treatment-resistant schizophrenia,which cover risk factors and prevention,diagnosis and evaluation,standardized clozapine treatment and management of adverse reactions,treatment regimens for clozapine resistance and intolerance,and psychosocial intervention,etc.The consensus-making process also incorporated evidence-based medicine to help standardize and guide diagnosis and treatment for adults with TRS in China.

Objective To achieve a preliminary understanding of the current situation of clinical laboratories in Guangdong Province,and discuss how to establish a sound investigation system,and utilize quality indicators to improve laboratory quality through the inves-tigation and analysis of data from 16 clinical laboratory quality indicators issued by the National Center for Clinical Laboratories.Meth-ods The questionnaire was issued by Clinet-EQA system and the basic information and quality indicator information during 2023 were collected.SPSS 20.0 software was used for statistical analysis according to different specialty categories and hospital grades.The 13 quality indicators measured in rate-based units were evaluated by sigma measurement.The P75,P50 and P25 percentiles of the overall distribution of each quality index were used to explore the optimal,appropriate and minimum quality specifications.Results A total of 577 laboratories participated in this survey.In addition to the implementation rate of internal quality assessment and the inter-laboratory comparison rate,the median sigma(σ)value of 11/13 quality indicators was greater than 3σ,and some of them even reach the level of 6σ,and there were disparities between hospital laboratories at different grades.The turnaround time(TAT)of the whole process of emergency examination was significantly less than those of inpatient and outpatient,TAT before emergency examination was controlled within 20 min,TAT before outpatient examination was within 30 min,and TAT before inpatient examination was within 42 min.The optimal quality specifications of 8 out of 13 indicators reached 6σ level,while the minimum quality specifications of 2 out of 13 indica-tors were lower than 3σ level.Conclusion In Guangdong Province,the overall level of quality indicators in the post-analytical of clin-ical laboratories was superior to that in the pre-analytical and analytical process.It should be essential to continuously monitor quality indicators and actively adopt improvement measures for those laboratories with unsatisfactory results,so as to enhance the examination quality of laboratories.

Objective To explore the effect of exenatide on oxidative stress in the hypothalamus of diabetes mice and its potential mechanism.Methods After one week of adaptive feeding,C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into the CON group(normal chaw diet),the T2DM group(high-fat diet,HFD),and the T2DM+Exe group(HFD+exenatide).After 8 weeks of HFD,mice in the T2DM+Exe group were intraperitoneally injected with exenatide[24 nmol/(kg·d)]for 8 weeks.The weight and glucose and lipid metabolism levels of the mice were measured,and the levels of inflammatory and adipokine factors in mice were detected using the ELISA method.Western Blot was used to detect the expression of melanocortin receptor-4(MC4R)and proopiomelanocor-tin(POMC)in the hypothalamus.Hypothalamic mitochondria were extracted,and the content of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species(ROS)was measured using a flow cytometer.The content of malondialdehyde(MDA)and the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD)in the mitochondria were detected using assay kits.Changes in the ultrastructure of mitochondria were observed using a transmission electron microscope.In vitro experiments,pal-mitic acid(PA)and exenatide were used to treat hypothalamic GT1-7 cells,and short hairpin RNA(shRNA)was used to silence the melanocortin 4 receptor(MC4R),and observe the cellular oxidative stress and lipid deposition.Results Compared with the CON group,the T2DM group mice showed a significant increase in glucose and lipid metabolism indicators,pro-inflammatory factors,and adipose factor levels(P<0.05),the expression of MC4R and POMC proteins in the hypothalamus were decreased(P<0.05),and the mitochondrial ROS and MDA content in the hypothalamus significantly were increased(P<0.05),while SOD and CAT activities were decreased(P<0.05).Mitochondrial morphology was abnormal.After intervention with exenatide,the above indicators were signifi-cantly improved.After inhibiting MC4R expression in vitro experiments,compared with the intervention group with exenatide,the ROS and MDA content was significantly increased(P<0.05),SOD activity was decreased(P<0.05),and lipid deposition occurred in the cells.Conclusions Exenatide exhibits a protective effect on hypotha-lamic oxidative stress injury in diabetic mice,and this mechanism may be associated with the upregulation of MC4R expression.