ObjectiveSpinal cord injury (SCI) directly impairs the regulatory function of the autonomic nervous system, induces intestinal dysfunction, and significantly reduces patients’ quality of life. Preclinical studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) therapy can regulate the brain-gut axis and is used to treat central nervous system diseases such as major depressive disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Recent research has established that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from EA-treated SCI rats restored intestinal motility and colonic morphology. However, it remains unclear whether the regulation of gut microbiota by EA therapy directly contributes to neural repair after SCI. This study aims to explore whether gut microbiota mediates the neuroprotective effect of EA in the treatment of SCI and its possible mechanism. MethodsThe study employed RNA transcriptome analysis of spinal cord tissue to characterize gene expression profiles and to identify key signaling pathways following EA treatment for SCI. Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining and Nissl staining were used to observe the morphological changes in spinal cord tissue. Western blot (WB) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were applied to detect the effects of EA on the expression of proteins related to nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 (NLRP3) -dependent pyroptosis. Using 16S rDNA sequencing, the study observed alterations in gut microbiota diversity and community composition in SCI rats. Prior to establishing SCI models, rats were pretreated with an antibiotic cocktail to induce gut dysbiosis, and the effects on intestinal function and spinal cord neural repair were evaluated. FMT was performed to investigate the regulatory effects of post-EA FMT on motor function, general status, liver and spleen indices, and NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in SCI rats. ResultsEA improved motor function and reduced regulated neuronal cell death in SCI rats. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated the activation of immune- and inflammation-related pathways post-SCI, including NOD-like receptors, nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB), and Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways. EA primarily influenced intestinal inflammation and autoimmune functions. 16S rDNA sequencing illustrated that EA did not alter the diversity of gut microbiota. However, EA altered the gut microbiota composition in SCI rats, increasing Lactobacillus and Akkermansia genera while rebalancing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Furthermore, depletion of gut microbiota by antibiotics disrupted the intestinal barrier, reduced the expression of intestinal barrier proteins Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1) and Occludin, elevated serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) levels, exacerbated spinal cord tissue damage, and hindered motor function recovery in SCI rats. FMT from donors treated with EA reduced LBP levels in the intestine, blood, and spinal cord of rats, inhibited the TLR4 myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88)-NF‑κB pathway and NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis, and improved motor function. On the other hand, FMT treatment resulted in decreased body weight and food intake, whereas FMT using EA-treated donors effectively alleviated these alterations. ConclusionEA effectively alleviated neuroinflammatory responses in rats with SCI, primarily through regulating the gut microbiota and suppressing the NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis signaling pathway.

ObjectiveSpinal cord injury (SCI) directly impairs the regulatory function of the autonomic nervous system, induces intestinal dysfunction, and significantly reduces patients’ quality of life. Preclinical studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) therapy can regulate the brain-gut axis and is used to treat central nervous system diseases such as major depressive disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Recent research has established that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from EA-treated SCI rats restored intestinal motility and colonic morphology. However, it remains unclear whether the regulation of gut microbiota by EA therapy directly contributes to neural repair after SCI. This study aims to explore whether gut microbiota mediates the neuroprotective effect of EA in the treatment of SCI and its possible mechanism. MethodsThe study employed RNA transcriptome analysis of spinal cord tissue to characterize gene expression profiles and to identify key signaling pathways following EA treatment for SCI. Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining and Nissl staining were used to observe the morphological changes in spinal cord tissue. Western blot (WB) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were applied to detect the effects of EA on the expression of proteins related to nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 (NLRP3) -dependent pyroptosis. Using 16S rDNA sequencing, the study observed alterations in gut microbiota diversity and community composition in SCI rats. Prior to establishing SCI models, rats were pretreated with an antibiotic cocktail to induce gut dysbiosis, and the effects on intestinal function and spinal cord neural repair were evaluated. FMT was performed to investigate the regulatory effects of post-EA FMT on motor function, general status, liver and spleen indices, and NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in SCI rats. ResultsEA improved motor function and reduced regulated neuronal cell death in SCI rats. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated the activation of immune- and inflammation-related pathways post-SCI, including NOD-like receptors, nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB), and Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways. EA primarily influenced intestinal inflammation and autoimmune functions. 16S rDNA sequencing illustrated that EA did not alter the diversity of gut microbiota. However, EA altered the gut microbiota composition in SCI rats, increasing Lactobacillus and Akkermansia genera while rebalancing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Furthermore, depletion of gut microbiota by antibiotics disrupted the intestinal barrier, reduced the expression of intestinal barrier proteins Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1) and Occludin, elevated serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) levels, exacerbated spinal cord tissue damage, and hindered motor function recovery in SCI rats. FMT from donors treated with EA reduced LBP levels in the intestine, blood, and spinal cord of rats, inhibited the TLR4 myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88)-NF‑κB pathway and NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis, and improved motor function. On the other hand, FMT treatment resulted in decreased body weight and food intake, whereas FMT using EA-treated donors effectively alleviated these alterations. ConclusionEA effectively alleviated neuroinflammatory responses in rats with SCI, primarily through regulating the gut microbiota and suppressing the NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the differences in heartbeat-evoked response (HER) under drug-related cues and neutral cues in individuals with heroin use disorder (HUD), and analyze the correlation between HER potentials and immediate cue-induced craving scores. Methods Fifty HUD participants were recruited from the Chang’an Compulsory Isolation Drug Rehabilitation Center in Shaanxi Province from June to September 2024. Simultaneous acquisition of 64-channel electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiogram signals was performed. Twenty alternating segments of drug-related and neutral cue videos were presented, and participants rated their subjective craving after each segment using visual analogue scale (VAS) scores. Scalp EEG data were source analyzed to obtain cortical EEG signals and corresponding HER. Short-time Fourier transform was used to calculate the power spectral density (PSD) of EEG within a time window from 100 ms before the R-peak to 500 ms after it, using the R-peak as the time zero point. Cluster-based permutation testing was used to analyze PSD differences between drug-related and neutral cues in the HUD individuals. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the correlation between HER potentials and VAS scores. Results In the 350–420 ms time window, HER potentials in the left posterior parietal, temporal, and posterior cingulate cortices were significantly lower under drug-related cues compared to neutral cues (P＜0.01); in the 140–210 ms time window, HER potentials in the right prefrontal cortex were significantly higher under drug-related cues compared to neutral cues (P＜0.01). Correlation analysis showed that HER potentials in the left temporal and left posterior cingulate cortices were significantly negatively correlated with VAS scores (P＜0.05). Drug-related cues enhanced PSD of γ power (30–100 Hz) in salience network (fronto-insular), parietal and occipital regions (P＜0.05). PSD integrations of low-γ power (40–60 Hz) in parietal region (350–400 ms) and high-γ power (70–100 Hz) in left salience network (fronto-parietal) and occipital regions (300–350 ms) were positively correlated with VAS scores (P＜0.05). Conclusions Drug-related cues may modulate cortical activity related to heartbeat perception in HUD individuals, and such dynamic changes in both time and frequency domains are stably associated with subjective craving.

AIM: To explore the clinical therapeutic effect of teprotumumab combined with glucocorticoid pulse therapy for thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO), and its impacts on thyroid function, levels of inflammatory factors, and adverse reactions in patients. METHODS: Active TAO patients admitted to the Ophthalmology Department were enrolled and randomly divide into the steroid group and the combined group. Then the steroid group was treated with glucocorticoid pulse therapy, while the combined group was combined with intravenous infusion of teprotumumab on the basis of the steroid group. The clinical therapeutic effect, the CAS, OSDI, M-C-TAO-QOL scores, ocular sign indicators(fissure width, proptosis), levels of inflammatory factors(TNF-α, CRP, IL-17), thyroid function(TSH, FT3, FT4)before and after treatment, and occurrence of adverse reactions were compared between two groups.RESULTS:Totally 96 TAO patients(192 eyes)were included, with 48 cases(96 eyes)in each group. In the combined group, there were 17 males and 31 females, with an average age of 51.85±3.53 y; in the steroid group, there were 14 males and 34 females, with an average age of 51.26±3.84 y. The total effective rate of the combined group(94%)was higher than that of the steroid group(79%)(P<0.05). After treatment, the CAS score, OSDI score, fissure width, proptosis, levels of TNF-α, CRP, and IL-17 in the combined group were all lower than those in the steroid group, and the M-C-TAO-QOL score was higher than that in the steroid group(P<0.05). However, there was no difference in thyroid function indicators and adverse reactions between two groups after treatment(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The combination of teprotumumab and glucocorticoid pulse therapy for TAO has a prominent therapeutic effect. Meantime, it can more effectively control ocular inflammation, improve ocular signs and quality of life of patients, and has no obvious adverse effect on thyroid function, with controllable safety.

ObjectiveThe present study aimed to investigate alterations in white matter microstructure and spontaneous neural activity in male college smokers, and to further explore their associations with nicotine dependence. Given that adolescence and early adulthood represent critical periods for brain maturation, particularly for white matter development, understanding the neural correlates of smoking behavior during this stage is of substantial importance for both neuroscience and public health. MethodsA total of 115 male undergraduate students were initially recruited for this study. After quality control and exclusion procedures, 52 male college smokers and 42 demographically matched healthy non-smokers were included in the final analysis. All participants underwent multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). White matter fiber tracts were reconstructed using the automated fiber quantification (AFQ) method, which enables precise identification and quantification of major fiber bundles. Eighteen major white matter tracts were segmented for each participant. Along the core trajectory of each tract, 100 equidistant nodes were sampled. Fractional anisotropy (FA) was calculated at each node to assess white matter microstructural integrity, while amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) was computed to evaluate spontaneous neural activity within white matter tracts. Between-group differences in FA and ALFF were assessed using two-sample t-tests, with appropriate corrections applied for multiple comparisons. Furthermore, Pearson correlation analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between imaging-derived metrics (FA and ALFF values in regions showing significant group differences) and nicotine dependence severity, as measured by the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND). ResultsCompared with healthy non-smokers, male college smokers exhibited significantly increased FA values in several white matter tracts, including the left thalamic radiation, right corticospinal tract, forceps major of the corpus callosum, left uncinate fasciculus, and right arcuate fasciculus. These findings suggest altered microstructural organization or increased directional coherence within these pathways. In addition, smokers demonstrated significantly elevated ALFF values in the forceps major, right uncinate fasciculus, and left arcuate fasciculus, indicating enhanced spontaneous neural activity in these white matter regions. Correlation analyses revealed that FA values in the left thalamic radiation and right corticospinal tract were negatively correlated with FTND scores, suggesting that higher levels of nicotine dependence were associated with reduced microstructural integrity or altered fiber organization in these regions. In contrast, ALFF values in the forceps major and right uncinate fasciculus were positively correlated with FTND scores, indicating that greater nicotine dependence was associated with increased spontaneous neural activity in specific white matter pathways. ConclusionThe present study provides evidence that male college smokers exhibit distinct alterations in both white matter microstructure and functional activity. These abnormalities are not uniformly distributed but rather localized to specific fiber tracts implicated in sensorimotor processing, interhemispheric communication, and higher-order cognitive and emotional regulation. Importantly, the observed associations between imaging metrics and nicotine dependence severity suggest that these structural and functional alterations may reflect neurobiological mechanisms underlying addiction. The combination of AFQ-based tract profiling and multimodal MRI offers a sensitive approach for detecting subtle changes along white matter pathways, highlighting its potential utility in identifying neuroimaging biomarkers of nicotine dependence. Overall, these findings indicate that smoking during early adulthood may disrupt ongoing white matter maturation, potentially leading to long-term consequences for brain function. This study provides novel insights into the neural basis of nicotine dependence and underscores the importance of early intervention and prevention strategies targeting young smokers.

BackgroundCurrent studies on the relationship between depressive symptoms and the risks of stroke and all-cause mortality mostly focus on the elderly population or high-risk groups with chronic diseases. The long-term impact of depressive symptoms in young and middle-aged people on the risks of stroke and all-cause mortality still lacks systematic assessment， and the relevant evidence is insufficient. ObjectiveTo explore the association between depressive symptoms and the risks of stroke and all-cause mortality in young and middle-aged adults， thereby expanding the risk evidence in this age group and providing epidemiological basis for early identification of high-risk individuals and the development of targeted intervention strategies. MethodsBased on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey （NHANES） database （2009–2018）， a total of 14 947 young and middle-aged respondents aged 18 to 64 were included as the research subjects. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline （RCS） models were employed to examine the association between depressive symptoms and stroke. Cox proportional hazards model， RCS model， and Kaplan-Meier （K-M） survival curves were used to clarify the relationship between depressive symptoms and all-cause mortality risk. To verify the robustness of main findings， sensitivity analysis was conducted stratified by gender， hypertension， diabetes， hyperlipidemia， body mass index （BMI）， and age. ResultsLogistic regression analysis revealed that compared with the non-depressed group， the risk of stroke in the mild depression group increased by 53.50% （OR=1.535， 95% CI： 1.147–2.053）， while the moderate-to-severe depression group showed the highest risk with a 132.90% increase （OR=2.329， 95% CI： 1.733–3.129）. RCS analysis indicated an approximately linear dose-response relationship between PHQ-9 score and the risk of stroke （P_{for non-linearity}=0.089）， with stroke risk increasing as PHQ-9 scores rose. As the PHQ-9 score increased， the risk of stroke also showed an upward trend. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that compared with the non-depressed group， the risk of all-cause mortality in the mild depression group increased by 48.80% （HR=1.488， 95% CI： 1.164–1.902）， and the moderate-to-severe depression group had a 70.60% increased risk （HR=1.706， 95% CI： 1.310–2.221）. RCS analysis showed a linear dose-response relationship between PHQ-9 scores and all-cause mortality risk （P_{for non-linearity}=0.440）. K-M curves indicated that as the severity of depressive symptoms increases， the risk of all-cause mortality gradually rises （P<0.05）. Sensitivity analysis confirmed that the associations between depression symptoms and risks of stroke and all-cause mortality were not modified by gender， hypertension， diabetes， hyperlipidemia， BMI， or age， demonstrating robust findings. ConclusionAmong the young and middle-aged population， both mild and moderate-to-severe depression were associated with increased risks of stroke and all-cause mortality， with the moderate-to-severe depression group showed more pronounced risk elevations. A positive dose-response relationship was observed between depressive symptoms and these risks.

Objective:To explore the evaluation value of blood routine derived indicators[derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio(dNLR),red blood cell distribution width to platelet ratio(RPR)]combine with serum C-reactive protein(CRP)and procalcitonin(PCT)detection for the clinical outcomes of children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(MPP).Methods:149 children with MPP who were admitted to our hospital from April 2022 to August 2024 were included,they were divided into good prognosis and poor prognosis groups based on their clinical outcomes 28 d after admission.The blood routine derived indicators,serum CRP,and PCT levels between the good prognosis group and the poor prognosis group were compared.The influencing factors of clinical outcomes in children with MPP were analyzed by Multiple logistic regression analysis,the value of blood routine derived indicators,serum CRP,and PCT testing alone and in combination to evaluate the clinical outcomes of children with MPP were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.Results:Among 149 children with MPP,113 had good prognosis and 36 had poor prognosis 28 d after admission,with a poor prognosis incidence rate of 24.16％(36/149).dNLR,RPR,CRP,and PCT levels in the poor prognosis group were higher than those in the good prognosis group(P＜0.05).Univariate analysis showed that,the clinical outcome of children with MPP was related to pleural thickening,pleural effusion,severity disease and peak body temperature(P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed:Pleural thickening,pleural effusion,severity disease was severe,elevated dNLR,elevated RPR,elevated CRP and elevated PCT were risk factors for poor prognosis in children with MPP(P＜0.05).The area under the Curve(AUC)of dNLR,RPR,CRP and PCT combined to predict the prognosis of children with MPP was higher than that evaluated by the four indicators alone.Conclusion:Pleural thickening,pleural effusion,severe disease severity,elevated dNLR,elevated RPR,elevated CRP and elevated PCT are risk factors for poor prognosis in children with MPP.Moreover,the combined evaluate value of dNLR,RPR,CRP,and PCT is relatively high.

BACKGROUND:The clearance pathway of metabolic waste in the brain is crucial for maintaining neural homeostasis.The accumulation of metabolic waste disrupts this equilibrium,representing a common pathological feature of many central nervous system diseases.In recent years,research focusing on the glymphatic system has emerged as a hotspot in the nervous system field.OBJECTIVE:To construct a knowledge map of glymphatic system research,visually analyze the current state of research,main hotspots,and future development trends within this area.METHODS:Utilizing CiteSpace,VOSviewer,and the Bibliometrix package in the R language environment,this study conducted an in-depth visual analysis of glymphatic system-related literature from the Web of Science Core Collection database,spanning from January 2012 to March 2024.This analysis included authors,institutions,countries,journals,keywords,and co-citation frequencies.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 687 related articles were included in this study.The number of publications in this field increased year by year,showing an explosive growth trend in the past three years.The countries,institutions,and authors with the largest number of publications in this research field were the United States,University of Rochester,and Professor Maiken Nedergaard.The journal with the highest number of publications was JOURNAL OF CEREBRAL BLOOD FLOW AND METABOLISM.The high-frequent and high-central keywords mainly focused on the mechanism such as cerebrospinal fluid hydrodynamics,neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease,and imaging techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging.The literature with the highest co-citation frequency was a classic review of the glymphatic system.The above results show that the research of glymphatic system is an emerging and active field,which has attracted wide attention at home and abroad and gradually expand from theoretical research to clinical practice.

Objective Through reviewing the herbs,medical books and classic prescriptions of the past dynasties,the herbal examination of Gypsum fibrosum and its analogs was carried out to clarify the relationship between them.The qualitative analysis was carried out by single-point Raman,infrared,near infrared and XRD techniques,the quantitative analysis of the main components was carried out by EDTA titration and Raman surface scanning technique,the elemental analysis was carried out by ICP-OES,and the differences between gypsum and argillite were observed by scanning electron microscope.Results Gypsum fibrosum is mixed with marble,feldspar,north cold-water stone,south cold-water stone and xuanjing stone and so on.Before the Ming Dynasty,there was no differentiation between soft and anhydrite,and after the Ming Dynasty,it was clear that gypsum was soft gypsum and feldspar was anhydrite;in modern times,marble is also made to be gypsum for medicinal use;Feldspar is anhydrite and is no longer made to be used for medicinal use,north cold-water stone is red gypsum,and south cold-water stone is calcite.Gypsum,south coldwater stone is calcite.The peaks of argillite appeared to be buried in the Raman spectrum compared with Gypsum fibrosum,and the original profiles of both infrared and near-infrared were basically the same,and the near-infrared model established by the preprocessing method of the first-order derivatives plus vector normalization(5-point smoothing)could effectively differentiate between Gypsum fibrosum and its analogues,but it could not differentiate between argillite and Gypsum fibrosum with high content.XRD showed that there are differences in the relative intensities of the peaks of argillite and Gypsum fibrosum,and some XRD shows that there are differences in the relative intensities of the peaks of basalt and Gypsum fibrosum,and some of the peaks of basalt are characterized by impurities such as quartz,and the contents of trace elements such as Fe,Mn,Cr,Pb,Hg and As are higher in basalt.The peak shapes of XRD,Raman spectra,infrared spectra and near-infrared spectra of Gypsum fibrosum and calcined gypsum are closer but can still be distinguished,and the Ca content of calcined gypsum is higher than that of gypsum.Commercially available south chrysocolla and stalactite source are carbonate minerals calcite calcite.Spectral detection can not be distinguished,the trace element content is basically the same,but the traits are different.North chrysocolla(red gypsum)is higher than the Fe content of commercially available white gypsum.Raman surface scanning not only can be a qualitative and quantitative determination of minerals such as gypsum and other minerals,and the results of the content of the titration is basically similar,but also to determine the state of Gypsum fibrosum and calcined gypsum calcined water loss status and the degree of calcined gypsum.The results of Raman surface scanning are similar to the titration results.Conclusion This study can provide a scientific basis for the traceability of Gypsum fibrosum,and can better guide the clinical use of medicine and the rational use of resources.

Objective To analyze the bromodomain-containing protein 9(BRD9)and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1(HNRNPA2B1)in the bromine domain of multiple myeloma(MM)and explore their correlation with the survival prognosis of MM patients.Methods A total of 102 MM patients who received treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from May 2017 to May 2020 were selected as the MM group,while 60 patients who were confirmed to have no bone marrow dysfunction through bone marrow puncture were selected as the control group.Real time fluorescence quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR)was applied to detect the expression of BRD9 mRNA and HNRNPA2B1 mRNA in bone marrow tissue.Pearson correlation analysis was applied to analyze the relationship between BRD9 mRNA and HNRNPA2B1 mRNA.Kaplan-Meier curve and COX regression analysis were used to investigate the relationship between BRD9 mRNA and HNRNPA2B1 mRNA expression and the survival prognosis of MM patients.Results The relative expression levels of BRD9 mRNA(3.14±0.66)and HNRNPA2B1 mRNA(2.93±0.57)in the bone marrow tissue of the MM group were higher than those in the control group(0.84±0.22,0.92±0.36),and the differences were statistically significant(t=26.124,24.567,all P<0.001).Pearson correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between BRD9 mRNA and HNRNPA2B1 mRNA expression in the bone marrow tissue of MM group(r=0.761,P<0.001).The relative expression levels of BRD9 mRNA(3.90±0.69)and HNRNPA2B1 mRNA(4.13±0.64)in the bone marrow tissue of the MM group with ISS stage III were higher than those in international staging system(ISS)stages I,II(2.70±0.60,3.15±0.65;2.23±0.51,2.95±0.56),and the differences were statistically significant(t=7.399,4.272;13.255,7.551,all P<0.05).The 3-year overall survival rates of the BRD9 mRNA high expression and low expression groups were 60.00%(30/50)and 82.69%(43/52),respectively,the overall 3-year survival rates of HNRNPA2B1 mRNA high and low expression groups were 57.14%(28/49)and 84.91%(45/53),respectively,with statistically significant differences between the groups(Log Rank χ2=7.572,9.686,P=0.006,0.002).ISS stage III,high expression of BRD9 mRNA,and high expression of HNRNPA2B1 mRNA were risk factors affecting the poor survival prognosis of MM patients(all P<0.001).Conclusion The expression of BRD9 and HNRNPA2B1 are elevated in MM patients,both of them are risk factors for poor prognosis in MM patients.