Tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) is one of the key indicators in evaluating the renal function of patients. Mild TIF can cause a vicious cycle of renal tubular glomerular injury and aggravate renal disease. Therefore, studying the mechanisms underlying TIF is essential to identify therapeutic targets, thereby protecting the renal function of patients with timely intervention. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is a Chinese medicine component that has been shown to inhibit the occurrence and progression of TIF via multiple pathways. Previous studies have reported that AS-IV protected against TIF by inhibiting inflammation, autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum stress, macrophages, and transforming growth factor-β1, which laid the foundation for the development of a new preventive and therapeutic option for TIF.
Saponins/pharmacology* ; Triterpenes/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Fibrosis ; Animals ; Kidney Tubules/drug effects* ; Kidney Diseases/pathology*

Direct electrical stimulation of the human cortex can produce subjective visual sensations, yet these sensations are unstable. The underlying mechanisms may stem from differences in electrophysiological activity within the distributed network outside the stimulated site. To address this problem, we recruited 69 patients who experienced visual sensations during invasive electrical stimulation while intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) data were recorded. We found significantly flattened power spectral slopes in distributed regions involving different brain networks and decreased integrated information during elicited visual sensations compared with the non-sensation condition. Further analysis based on minimum information partitions revealed that the reconfigured network interactions primarily involved the inferior frontal cortex, posterior superior temporal sulcus, and temporoparietal junction. The flattened power spectral slope in the inferior frontal gyrus was also correlated with integrated information. Taken together, this study indicates that the altered electrophysiological signatures provide insights into the neural mechanisms underlying subjective visual sensations.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Visual Perception/physiology* ; Electric Stimulation ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; Electrocorticography ; Electroencephalography ; Brain Mapping

Objective:An in vivo mammalian hepatocyte Unscheduled DNA Synthesis(UDS)test was used to evaluate the genotoxicity of Cross-linked Sodium Hyaluronate Gel and Bone Repair Materials,providing experimental evidence for establishing a UDS testing method for medical devices and materials.Methods:0.9％sodium chloride injection and cottonseed oil were used as the solvent for test materials and negative control,respectively.N-dimethylnitrosamine(NDMA)was used as the positive control for the early sampling times,and 2-acetylaminofluorene(2-AAF)was used as the positive control for the late sampling times.SD rats were administered a single dose for toxic exposure,and liver tissues were collected at 4 h and 16 h,respectively.Hepatocytes were isolated using collagenase perfusion.After labeling with 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine(EdU),and the net average fluorescence intensity(NAFI)of cell nuclei and nucleoplasm was measured by fluorescence microscope.Data from 50 cells were used to analyze the DNA repair level.Results:Compared with the negative control groups,the positive control groups(NDMA and 2-AAF)showed highly statistically significant differences in NAFI(P＜0.01),indicating successful induction of DNA damage.There was no statistically significant differences between the cross-linked sodium hyaluronate gel groups,bone repair material groups and the negative control group(P＞0.05),suggesting that these materials did not significantly induce DNA damage under the experimental conditions.Conclusion:This study first applied EdU labeling technology to the in vivo hepatic UDS assay,achieving non-radioactive labeling through click chemistry reactions.Under the conditions of this study,cross-linked sodium hyaluronate gel and bone repair materials did not exhibit genotoxicity.In the follow-up,the sample range can be expanded and the observation period can be prolonged to further improve the genotoxicity evaluation system of medical devices.

Objective:An in vivo mammalian hepatocyte Unscheduled DNA Synthesis(UDS)test was used to evaluate the genotoxicity of Cross-linked Sodium Hyaluronate Gel and Bone Repair Materials,providing experimental evidence for establishing a UDS testing method for medical devices and materials.Methods:0.9％sodium chloride injection and cottonseed oil were used as the solvent for test materials and negative control,respectively.N-dimethylnitrosamine(NDMA)was used as the positive control for the early sampling times,and 2-acetylaminofluorene(2-AAF)was used as the positive control for the late sampling times.SD rats were administered a single dose for toxic exposure,and liver tissues were collected at 4 h and 16 h,respectively.Hepatocytes were isolated using collagenase perfusion.After labeling with 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine(EdU),and the net average fluorescence intensity(NAFI)of cell nuclei and nucleoplasm was measured by fluorescence microscope.Data from 50 cells were used to analyze the DNA repair level.Results:Compared with the negative control groups,the positive control groups(NDMA and 2-AAF)showed highly statistically significant differences in NAFI(P＜0.01),indicating successful induction of DNA damage.There was no statistically significant differences between the cross-linked sodium hyaluronate gel groups,bone repair material groups and the negative control group(P＞0.05),suggesting that these materials did not significantly induce DNA damage under the experimental conditions.Conclusion:This study first applied EdU labeling technology to the in vivo hepatic UDS assay,achieving non-radioactive labeling through click chemistry reactions.Under the conditions of this study,cross-linked sodium hyaluronate gel and bone repair materials did not exhibit genotoxicity.In the follow-up,the sample range can be expanded and the observation period can be prolonged to further improve the genotoxicity evaluation system of medical devices.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety and efficacy of Neuroform Atlas stent used in treatment of unruptured wide-neck intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: Clinical data of 62 patients with unruptured wide-neck intracranial aneurysms undergoing Neuroform Atlas stent-assisted coiling from August 2020 to September 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 64 aneurysms in those 62 patients. Among them, 25 aneurysms were located at the bifurcation of M1 segment on middle cerebral artery, 16 at the anterior communicating artery, 10 at the C7 segment of internal carotid artery, 5 at the C6 segment of internal carotid artery, 4 at the apex of basilar artery, 3 at the A3 segment of anterior cerebral artery, and 1 at the M2 segment of middle cerebral artery. All the patients underwent Neuroform Atlas stent-assisted coiling, including 49 patients with single stent assisted coiling and 15 patients with dual stents assisted coiling (14"Y"style and 1"X"style). After the procedure, the immediate DSA was performed to evaluate the status of aneurysm occlusion and the parent artery patency. The clinical follow-up was performed 3 months after the operation and evaluated based on the modified Rankin Scale(mRS).DSA image was reviewed at 6 months after operation and Raymond grading scale was used to assess the status of aneurysm occlusion and the parent artery patency. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients with 64 aneurysms were all achieved technical success(100%).The immediate post-procedural Raymond scale was assessed, including Raymond Ⅰ in 57 aneurysms(89.1%, 57/64), Raymond Ⅱ in 6 aneurysms(9.3%, 6/64) and Raymond Ⅲ in 1 aneurysm(1.6%, 1/64). The peri-procedural complications rate was 4.8%(3/62), 2 patients developed intraoperative thrombosis and 1 patient suffered from local subarachnoid hemorrhage. Among them, 55 patients obtained 3 months clinical follow-up after operation and all the patients had good outcomes (mRS≤2), 50 patients with 52 aneurysms were followed up with DSA 6 months after operation, including Raymond Ⅰ in 45 aneurysms(86.5%, 45/52), Raymond Ⅱ in 4 aneurysms(7.7%, 4/52) and Raymond Ⅲ in 3 aneurysms(5.8%, 3/52). CONCLUSION Neuroform Atlas stent for the treatment of unruptured wide-neck intracranial aneurysms has high safety and good efficacy, and has its advantages over other traditional stents.
Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm/etiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Embolization, Therapeutic/methods* ; Stents/adverse effects* ; Cerebral Angiography

Objective: To explore the association between the cognition of Nutrition Facts Panel and prepackaged food purchase behavior among residents in six provinces in China. Methods: Using a multi-stage sampling method, 3 002 adults aged 18-70 were selected from the western region (Sichuan), eastern region (Guangdong, Jiangsu, Beijing), central region (Henan), and northeastern region (Heilongjiang) of China from July 2020 to March 2021. Socio-demographic characteristics of participants and their cognition of Nutrition Facts Panel and prepackaged food purchase behavior were collected through questionnaire. A multivariate binary logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between cognition of Nutrition Facts Panel and prepackaged food purchase behavior. Results: The age of 3 002 subjects was (42.3±13.4) years, among which 63.8% (1 914) were female, 66.7% knew the Nutrition Facts Panel, 49.8% would read it when purchasing, 30.7% could understand it, and 56.6% (1 699) bought prepackaged food more than once a week. The results of multivariate analysis showed that after adjusting for relevant confounding factors, compared with the participants knowing but not reading the Nutrition Facts Panel, the group knowing and reading was more likely to buy 11 types of prepackaged food at least once a week (all P<0.05). Compared with the participants reading but not understanding the Nutrition Facts Panel, the group reading and understanding was less likely to buy 11 types of prepackaged food at least once a week (all P<0.05). Conclusion: There was a correlation between cognition of Nutrition Facts Panel and prepackaged food purchase behavior among residents.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Food Labeling/methods* ; Food ; Nutritional Status ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; China ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

Objective: To examine the purchase behaviors of prepackaged food and its determinants among primary and middle school students in 6 provinces of China. Methods: A multi-stage sampling strategy was adopted to select 2 499 primary and middle school students and their parents from the eastern region of China(Beijing, Jiangsu Province, Guangdong Province), the northeast region(Heilongjiang Province), the central region(Henan Province) and the western region(Sichuan Province) from July 2020 to March 2021. Socio-demographic characteristics of students and their parents, eating-related behaviors and the purchase behaviors of prepackaged food of students, and parents' attitudes towards students' eating behavior were collected through questionnaire towards students and their parents. The χ² test was conducted to compare the purchase behaviors in different groups of students, and multivariate logistic stepwise regression analysis was used to analyze the determinants among primary and middle school students. Results: The age of 2 499 participants was(12.7±2.5) years. There were 1 272(50.9%) females and 1 279(51.2%) middle school students. About 1 404(56.2%) students bought prepackaged food. The top 6 prepackaged foods bought at least once a week were milk and dairy products(74.6%), baked food(58.7%), beverages(42.8%), puffed food(40.8%), chocolate and candy(39.8%), and nuts and dried fruits(37.5%). The multivariate logistic regression model analysis results showed that compared with primary school students, rural students, non-boarding students, students who did not like snacks and students whose parents paid attention to their children eating snacks, middle school students(OR=3.36, 95%CI:2.73-4.12), urban students(OR=1.33, 95%CI:1.11-1.61), boarding students(OR=2.15, 95%CI:1.66-2.79), students who liked snacks(OR=2.01, 95%CI:1.66-2.43), students whose parents did not pay attention to their children eating snacks(OR=1.27, 95%CI:1.05-1.54) were more likely to buy prepackaged food by themselves. Compared with students whose parents had education level of junior high school and below, students whose parents had education level of undergraduate and above(OR=0.70, 95%CI:0.53-0.92) were less likely to buy prepackaged food by themselves. Compared with students whose family monthly income was less than 5 000 yuan, students whose family monthly income was over 10 000 yuan(OR=0.67, 95%CI:0.52-0.87) were less likely to buy prepackaged food by themselves. Conclusion: Many primary and middle school students buy prepackaged food by themselves in 6 provinces of China. Individual characteristics such as grade, place of residence, boarding status, as well as family environment such as parents' education level, monthly income and concern about children eating snacks are the influencing factors of purchasing prepackaged food.
Child ; Female ; Humans ; Adolescent ; Male ; Schools ; China ; Feeding Behavior ; Students ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect among ultrasound-guided electroacupuncture (EA) at suprahyoid muscle group, conventional acupuncture and conventional EA at suprahyoid muscle group on pharyngeal dysphagia after stroke, and to explore its biomechanical mechanism. METHODS: A total of 120 patients with pharyngeal dysphagia after stroke were randomly divided into an observation group, a control-1 group and a control-2 group, 40 cases in each group. The patients in the observation group were treated with ultrasound-guided EA at suprahyoid muscle group; the patients in the control-1 group were treated with EA at Lianquan (CV 23), Wangu (GB 12) and Fengchi (GB 20), etc.; the patients in the control-2 group were treated with EA at suprahyoid muscle group according to anatomical location. The EA in the three groups were discontinuous wave, with frequency of 5 Hz and current intensity of 1 mA. The EA was given for 30 minutes, once a day, 6 times were taken as a course of treatment, and 4 courses of treatment were provided. The video floroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) was performed before and after treatment. The Rosenbek penetration-aspiration scale (PAS) score, the forward and upward movement distance of hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage, Ichiro Fujima ingestion-swallowing function score were recorded in the three groups, and the incidences of subcutaneous hematoma were recorded after treatment. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the PAS scores were reduced and the Ichiro Fujima ingestion-swallowing function scores were increased after treatment in the three groups (P<0.05); the PAS scores in the observation group were lower than those in the control-1 group and the control-2 group, and the Ichiro Fujima ingestion-swallowing function scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control-1 group and the control-2 group (P<0.05). After treatment, the forward and upward movement distance of hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage in the observation group and the control-2 group was increased (P<0.05), and the forward and upward movement distance of hyoid bone was increased in the control-1 group (P<0.05); the forward and upward movement distance of hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage in the observation group was longer than that in the control-1 group and the control-2 group (P<0.05). The incidence of subcutaneous hematoma in the observation group was 0% (0/40), which was lower than 20.0% (8/40) in the control-1 group and 47.5% (19/40) in the control-2 group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Ultrasound-guided EA at suprahyoid muscle group could improve the swallowing function in patients with pharyngeal dysphagia after stroke by increasing the motion of hyoid laryngeal complex. Its effect and safety are better than conventional acupuncture and conventional EA at suprahyoid muscle group.
Deglutition Disorders/therapy* ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Muscles ; Stroke/diagnostic imaging* ; Ultrasonography, Interventional/adverse effects*

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of human oligodendrocyte precursor cell (hOPC) transplantation in the treatment of white matter injury (WMI). METHODS: Neonatal rats were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, a model group, and a transplantation group ( RESULTS: The place navigation test using the Morris water maze showed that the model group had a significantly longer escape latency than the sham-operation group, and compared with the model group, the transplantation group had a significant reduction in escape latency ( CONCLUSIONS Intrathecal hOPC transplantation may alleviate neurological injury and promote remyelination in a rat model of WMI.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Humans ; Myelin Sheath ; Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells ; Oligodendroglia ; Rats ; White Matter

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of mechanical thrombectomy treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS),and to explore influential factors of the clinical prognosis preliminarily. METHODS: Clinical data of 26 patients with acute cerebral arterial occlusion treated with mechanical thrombectomy in Peking University Third Hospital from January 2014 to June 2017 were retrospectively collected. The immediate effects of the 26 patients in this group after mechanical thrombectomy treatment were analyzed,The national institutes of health stroke scale (NIHSS) scores between preoperative and at discharge of the 26 patients in this group were compared,and modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores of 90 days post operation were analyzed to assess the prognosis of the 26 patients in this group. RESULTS: (1)In this group, 23 patients (88.5%) achieved vascular recanalization evaluated by thrombolysis in cerebral ischemia scale scores [thrombolysis in cerebral ischemia scale (TICI) scores, 3/2b grades were recognized as vascular recanalization], 19 patients of them reached TICI grade 3 and 4 atients reached TICI grade 2b. In this group 3 patients (11.5%) encountered symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, 2 patients of them recovered after cerebral hemorrhage absorbed and 1 patient died of massive cerebral hemorrhage. In this group 4 patients (15.4%) died after mechanical thrombectomy treatment,2 patients died of hernia of the brain caused by severe cerebral edema, 1 patient died of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and 1 patient died of extensive subarachnoid hemorrhage. (2)The assessment of NIHSS scores at discharge(5.3±2.1)showed significantly lower than those preoperatively(12.6±4.2), P<0.01,and in this group 12 patients (46.2%) achieved favourable prognosis (defined as mRS scores 0-2), 6 patients of them reached mRS 0 score,4 patients reached mRS 1 score and 2 patients reached mRS 2 scores. CONCLUSION Mechanical thrombectomy with stent retriever contributed to a high rate of vascular recanalization and favourable prognosis,but some patients had poor prognosis, suggesting that we should screen the enrolled patients strictly.
Brain Ischemia ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Stroke ; Thrombectomy ; Treatment Outcome