Objective:To establish normal reference value ranges for dynamic balance function parameters in healthy Chinese adults aged 20-69 years. Methods:A total of 100 healthy subjects were selected and evenly divided into five age groups: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, and 60-69 years, with equal gender distribution in each group. Balance function was assessed using the EquiTest system （NeuroCom）, with following tests performed Sensory Organization Test （SOT）, Motor Control Test （MCT）, Adaptation Test （ADT）, and Limits of Stability （LOS） test. All parameters were statistically analyzed and expressed as ±S. Results:The normal reference ranges for SOT, MCT, ADT, and LOS parameters were established for each age group. Multiple balance function parameters demonstrated a gradual decline with advancing age, with more pronounced deterioration observed after the age of 60. Specific findings included decreased vestibular ratio and reduced visual preference in SOT, as well as prolonged reaction time, impaired directional control, and reduced maximum excursion in the backward direction during LOS testing. Conclusion:This study is the first to establish age-specific reference ranges for dynamic balance function parameters in a healthy Chinese population aged 20-69 years, providing localized and objective criteria for the assessment of balance function and supporting clinical diagnosis of balance-related disorders in China.
Humans ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Postural Balance/physiology* ; Reference Values ; Aged ; Male ; Female ; Young Adult ; Healthy Volunteers

OBJECTIVES: To explore the expression profile of circular RNAs (circRNAs) and their potential roles in prognosis and progression of Wilms' tumor (WT). METHODS: Four pairs of WT and adjacent tissues were collected for high-throughput circRNA sequencing to identify the differentially expressed circular RNAs. RT-qPCR was used to verify the expression levels of the top 6 candidate circRNAs in the clinical samples. hsa_circ_0001900 was selected for analysis of its correlation with clinicopathological features and prognosis in 34 patients with WT. Sanger sequencing and RNase R digestion experiments were used to verify the cycling site and structural stability of hsa_circ_0001900 molecule. RESULTS: A total of 23 978 circular RNA molecules were identified in WT tissues by high-throughput circular RNA sequencing, and among them 614 were differentially expressed in WT. hsa_circ_0001900 showed the highest expression level among the differentially expressed circRNAs, which was consistent with the findings in clinical tumor samples and the sequencing results. Correlation analysis showed that hsa_circ_0001900 expression level was positively correlated with WT volume, and the children with high hsa_circ_0001900 expression had a lowered recurrence-free survival rate. The results of Sanger sequencing verified the circular splice site sequence of the molecule, and Rnase R digestion assay confirmed its stable covalent structure. CONCLUSIONS This study presents a comprehensive expression profile of circular RNAs in WT, and the expression level of hsa_circ_0001900 is related to the size of WT and the patients' prognosis, suggesting its possible role as a key driving gene in WT progression.
Humans ; RNA, Circular ; Wilms Tumor/pathology* ; Prognosis ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Kidney Neoplasms/genetics* ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Male ; Female

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the biological properties of double-negative T (DNT) cells isolated from leukoreduction filter residues. METHODS: Leukoreduction filters containing residues from 400 mL whole blood units (n=6) were collected from a blood center. Filters were back-flushed with normal saline, and the eluate was concentrated to obtain leukoreduction filter residues. Leukocytes in the residues were counted by dual-fluorescence staining. DNT cells were then isolated from the residues using antibody-mediated adsorption and density gradient centrifugation. Both cryopreserved and fresh unstimulated DNT cells derived from the residues were subjected to in vitro culture. Following culture, cells were assessed for expansion fold, viability, immunophenotype, differentiation status, and cytotoxicity against target cells using dual-fluorescence staining and flow cytometry, with comparisons made to DNT cells derived from whole blood. RESULTS: The leukocyte recovery rate achieved through reverse flushing of the leukocyte reduction filter was (41.9±14.7)%. Compared to whole blood, the DNT cell starting material obtained from filter residues showed no significant difference in total T-cell content (P>0.05). However, the viability and purity of the resulting DNT cell starting materials were significantly lower (both P<0.05). After 17 days of culture, DNT cells from filter residues and whole blood showed no significant differences in expansion fold, immunophenotype, differentiation status, or cytotoxicity toward target cells (all P>0.05). However, the viability of DNT cells from residues was significantly lower than that of whole blood-derived DNT cells [(86.0±4.2)% vs. (92.2±1.2)%, P<0.05]. After thawing (post 3 or 15 days of cryopreservation) and 17 days of culture, DNT cell starting materials from residues showed comparable immunophenotype, expansion fold, and differentiation status to their non-cryopreserved counterparts from the same source (all P>0.05). However, the viability of DNT cells cryopreserved for 3 days [92.4% (91.8%, 92.8%)] and the cytotoxicity against target cells of those cryopreserved for 15 days [91.3% (89.4%, 95.1%)] were significantly higher than those of non-cryopreserved DNT cells [87.8% (82.0%, 89.0%) and 70.9% (67.3%, 80.2%), respectively] (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS DNT cells derived from leukoreduction filter residues exhibited highly comparable characteristics to those from whole blood in terms of expansion, purity, differentiation, and biological potency. Furthermore, their biological activity post-cryopreservation and revival remained largely similar to non-cryopreserved cells. These findings suggest that leukoreduction filter residues represent a promising alternative source of starting material for manufacturing off-the-shelf, allogeneic DNT cell therapeutics.

During transfer tasks, the dual-arm nursing-care robot require a human-robot mechanics model to determine the balance region to support the patient safely and stably. Previous studies utilized human-robot two-dimensional static equilibrium models, ignoring the human body volume and muscle torques, which decreased model accuracy and confined the robot ability to adjust the patient's posture in three-dimensional spatial. Therefore, this study proposes a three-dimensional spatial mechanics modeling method based on individualized human musculoskeletal multibody dynamics. Firstly, based on the mechanical features of dual-arm support, this study constructed a foundational three-dimensional human-robot mechanics model including body posture, contact position and body force. With the computed tomography data from subjects, a three-dimensional femur-pelvis-sacrum model was reconstructed, and the individualized musculoskeletal dynamics was analyzed using the ergonomics software, which derived the human joint forces and completed the mechanic model. Then, this study established a dual-arm robot transfer platform to conduct subject transfer experiments, showing that the constructed mechanics model possessed higher accuracy than previous methods. In summary, this study provides a three-dimensional human-robot mechanics model adapting to individual transfers, which has potential application in various scenarios such as nursing-care and rehabilitating robots.
Humans ; Robotics ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Posture ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Nursing Care

Objective:To summarize the clinical and genetic characteristics of late-onset facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 (FSHD1) patients, and to compare the differences between late-onset and classic-onset FSHD1 patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and genetic data of genetically confirmed late-onset FSHD1 patients (age at onset30 years) between January 2007 and June 2024 from the Department of Neurology of Peking University First Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. Classic-onset FSHD1 patients (10 yearsage at onset≤30 years) were matched 1∶1 according to sex and disease duration for comparison. The demographic information, the number of D4Z4 repeat units, the distal D4Z4 methylation levels, FSHD Clinical Score (CS), Clinical Severity Score (CSS), and Age-Corrected Clinical Severity Score (ACSS) of these patients were collected. Survival analysis was performed to compare the outcome of lower extremity involvement between late-onset and classic-onset FSHD1 patients. The correlation of the number of D4Z4 repeat units and D4Z4 methylation level with CS and ACSS was analyzed in late-onset FSHD1 patients.Results:A total of 61 patients with late-onset FSHD1 were enrolled, 33 (54.1%) of whom are female, with an age of 54.0 (46.0, 62.0) years and a disease duration of 14.0 (5.5, 22.5) years. Compared to classic-onset FSHD1 patients, late-onset patients exhibited significantly lower CS [7.0 (5.6, 8.4) vs 6.0 (4.4, 7.7), U=1 416.000, P=0.013], CSS [3.0 (2.8, 3.3) vs 3.0 (2.0, 4.0), U=2 352.000, P=0.010], and ACSS [189.2 (137.1, 241.3) vs 96.8 (61.3, 132.2), U=3 225.500, P0.001], and higher proportion of patients with limb girdle involvement but no facial muscle involvement [18.0% (11/61) vs 6.6% (4/61), χ2=3.725, P=0.054]. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the onset age of lower extremity involvement in late-onset patients (45 years, 95% CI 42-48 years) was significantly higher than that in classic-onset patients (24 years, 95% CI 21-27 years, χ2=61.012, P0.001). The duration from symptom onset to lower extremity involvement in late-onset patients (15 years, 95% CI 10-20 years) was significantly longer than that in classic-onset patients (8 years, 95% CI 3-13 years, χ2=9.105, P=0.003). Late-onset FSHD1 patients carried higher average distal D4Z4 methylation levels compared to those with classic-onset FSHD1 [46.68% (40.79%,52.57%) vs 41.02% (34.03%,48.00%), U=1 378.500, P=0.014]. Among late-onset FSHD1 patients, cytosine-phosphate-guanine 6 (CpG6) methylation levels were significantly negatively correlated with ACSS ( r=-0.278, P=0.025); the number of D4Z4 repeat units were significantly negatively correlated with ACSS ( r=-0.272, P=0.034);CpG6 methylation levels were significantly negatively correlated with CS ( r=-0.441, P=0.003), while no correlation was found between number of D4Z4 repeat units and CS ( r=-0.161, P=0.310). Conclusions:Compared with classic-onset FSHD1 patients, late-onset FSHD1 patients are associated with a higher degree of distal D4Z4 methylation, along with a milder muscle weakness phenotype, slower disease progression and a higher proportion of cases without facial muscle involvement. The age at onset can be used as a marker of the severity and prognosis in FSHD1.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical phenotype and genetic etiology of a patient with primary infertility accompanied by Oocyte maturation defect (OOMD). METHODS: A 24-year-old female patient who visited the Reproductive Medicine Center of Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child Care Hospital in April 2024 was selected as the study subject. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed on the proband and her husband. Candidate gene variants were validated in the family using Sanger sequencing, and compound heterozygous variants were confirmed through vector construction. Candidate variants were classified for pathogenicity according to the "Standards and Guidelines for the Interpretation of Sequence Variants" established by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Hospital [Ethics No.: (2023) GSFYLS(78)]. RESULTS: The proband, a 24-year-old female, had been unable to conceive for four years without contraception after marriage. She had undergone two ovarian stimulation cycles using the antagonist protocol and the PPOS protocol, respectively. A total of 74 oocytes were retrieved, with all showing OOMD and some oocytes exhibiting abnormal morphology and poor quality. WES results revealed two heterozygous missense variants in exons 14 and 16 of the PATL2 gene: c.1127G>A (p.R376Q) and c.1388C>G (p.A463G). Family validation results indicated that the missense variant in exon 14 was inherited from the proband's father, while the variant in exon 16 was de novo. CONCLUSION The compound heterozygous variants of the PATL2 gene probably underlay the OOMD and infertility in this proband. Further analysis based on the variant sites and protein structures is needed to determine whether PATL2 gene variants can fully affect oocyte development, thereby providing a personalized treatment plan for the proband.
Female ; Humans ; Young Adult ; Exome Sequencing ; Infertility, Female/genetics* ; Oocytes/metabolism* ; Pedigree ; Phenotype

Objective:To compare the efficacy of Ilizarov ring external fixation and unilateral rail external fixation in the treatment of infected bone defects following surgery for tibial fractures.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 50 patients with infected bone defects after surgery for tibial fractures, who were admitted to the 940th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the PLA from August 2019 to November 2021, including 37 males and 13 females, aged 19-59 years [(42.2±8.8)years]. After debridement and osteotomy, 28 patients were treated with Ilizarov ring external fixation (Ilizarov group) and 22 with unilateral rail external fixation (unilateral fixation group). All the patients in the two groups had previously undergone internal fixation with plates or Kirschner wires for tibial fracture before bone transport. Bone transport started at one week for three stages after successful infection control and osteotomy and was conducted. The following parameters were compared between the two groups: frame-wearing time and healing index after bone transport, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) grade at 6 months after bone transport, Paley score and Association for the Study and Application of the Method of Ilizarov (ASAMI) score at the last follow-up, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) knee score and Baird-Jackson ankle score on admission, after external fixator removal and at the last follow-up, and incidence of postoperative complications.Results:All the patients were followed up for 28-36 months [(32.5±1.6)months]. There were no significant differences in frame-wearing time or healing index between the two groups after bone transport ( P>0.05). At 6 months after bone transport, the SAS grade in the unilateral fixation group (13 patients with mild anxiety, 8 with moderate anxiety, and 1 with severe anxiety) was better than that in the Ilizarov group (6 patients with mild anxiety, 19 with moderate anxiety, 3 with severe anxiety) ( P<0.01). No significant differences were found in the Paley score or ASAMI score between the two groups at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences in HSS knee score or Baird-Jackson ankle score between the two groups on admission, after external fixator removal or at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). No significant differences were observed in the incidence of pin tract infection, poor healing, infection in the bone elongation area, or re-fracture between the two groups ( P>0.05). The incidence of postoperative axial deviation was 0 in the Ilizarov group, lower than 18% in the unilateral fixation group (4/22) ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Although Ilizarov ring external fixation and unilateral rail external fixation demonstrate comparable efficacy in the treatment of infected bone defects after surgery for tibial fractures, the former provides superior mechanical stability and postoperative axial deviation correction, while the latter offers advantages in reducing psychological burden and enhancing treatment tolerance.

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of adverse events following immunization(AEFI) ofthree types of hepatitis B vaccines(CHO, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Hansenula polymorpha) in Fujian Province from 2019to 2023, and evaluate their safety. Methods The AEFI case data and vaccination data of hepatitis B vaccines reported inFujian Province from 2019 to 2023 were collected through the Chinese Immunization Planning Information ManagementSystem. The occurrence characteristics, incidence rates and other indicators of AEFI related to hepatitis B vaccines wereanalyzed by using descriptive analysis methods. Results In Fujian Province from 2019 to 2023, there were 677 reportedcases of AEFI related to hepatitis B vaccines, with an AEFI reported incidence of 7. 44 per 100 000 doses. The male-to-female ratio was 1. 20∶1, and the age distribution was mainly in the group of less than 1 year old. The reported incidence ofcommon adverse reactions was 6. 24 per 100 000 doses, and the reported incidence of rare adverse reactions was 0. 96 per100 000 doses. Rare vaccine reaction cases were mainly anaphylactic reaction. There were statistically significant differencesin the reported incidence of common adverse reactions and allergic skin rashes among the three types of hepatitis B vaccines(χ~2= 111. 587 and 13. 284, respectively, each P < 0. 05). Conclusion The reported incidence of AEFI related to hepatitisB vaccines in Fujian Province has been rare from 2019 to 2023, falling within the expected range of WHO, indicating goodsafety of the vaccines.

Objective: To identify an optimal back-flush solution for leukocyte-depleted filters that maximizes peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) recovery with high viability, long-term storage stability, and sterility of the harvested residues, thereby providing a clinically translatable strategy. Methods: Three sterile bag-packaged solutions—Saline, Solvent, and Hanks' balanced salt solution (HBSS)—were used to back-flush randomly assigned leukocyte-depleted filters. Nucleated cell recovery rate and viability of the harvested residues were compared. The optimal solution identified was applied to an expanded sample set. PBMC viability and yield were evaluated after 1h vs 48h storage of the residues. PBMCs isolated from the residues were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen for 1 month, followed by post-thaw comparisons of viability and T-cell expansion capacity. Results: The Solvent group achieved the highest and most consistent nucleated cell recovery rate. Post-flush recovery rate from filters after 400 mL whole blood processing was (21.3±1.6)% for the Solvent group, significantly higher than Saline group (19.2±6.3)% and HBSS group (11.2±5.0)%, with residues from all groups maintaining viability >90%. No biologically significant difference in residue viability was observed between 48h vs 1h storage groups (93.3±2.3)% vs (95.7±1.8)%). PBMC recovery rates from residues showed no statistical difference between 48h vs 1h storage groups [(48.2%±9.5%)vs (40.41%±8.35%), P>0.05], with (17.7±2.6)×10 cells. After 1-month cryopreservation and 10-day expansion, PBMCs isolated from 48-hour-stored residues retained (91.2±3.2)% viability and achieved a (61.9±15.9)-fold expansion. Conclusion: The bag-packaged Solvent, as a back-flush solution, enables sterile acquisition of leukocyte-depleted filter residues through closed-system tubing connections. These residues maintained PBMC viability and recovery rates after 48h storage at 2℃-8℃, with post-cryopreservation (1-month liquid nitrogen) viability and expansion capacity remaining stable. This protocol complies with blood bank regulatory criteria, addresses the concerns about the infectious window period in cell therapy raw materials, and provides a clinically translatable strategy for PBMC-based applications.