Within the prefrontal-cingulate cortex, abnormalities in coupling between neuronal networks can disturb the emotion-cognition interactions, contributing to the development of mental disorders such as depression. Despite this understanding, the neural circuit mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain elusive. In this study, we present a biophysical computational model encompassing three crucial regions, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, subgenual anterior cingulate cortex, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. The objective is to investigate the role of coupling relationships within the prefrontal-cingulate cortex networks in balancing emotions and cognitive processes. The numerical results confirm that coupled weights play a crucial role in the balance of emotional cognitive networks. Furthermore, our model predicts the pathogenic mechanism of depression resulting from abnormalities in the subgenual cortex, and network functionality was restored through intervention in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. This study utilizes computational modeling techniques to provide an insight explanation for the diagnosis and treatment of depression.
Prefrontal Cortex/physiology* ; Humans ; Emotions/physiology* ; Cognition/physiology* ; Gyrus Cinguli/physiology* ; Computer Simulation ; Models, Neurological ; Neural Pathways/physiology* ; Nerve Net/physiology*

Objective:To compare the lung shunt fraction (LSF) of 90Y imaging after 90Y-selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) and preoperative 99Tc m-macroaggregated albumin (MAA) imaging in patients with liver malignant tumors, and compare the volume and visual score of intrahepatic distribution of both nucleins on SPECT/CT images. Methods:A total of 91 patients with liver malignant tumors (78 males, 13 females; age (56.7±13.7)years; 99 cases) who underwent 90Y-SIRT in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from November 2022 to June 2024 were retrospectively collected. All patients underwent preoperative 99Tc m-MAA simulation and postoperative 90Y distribution verification by whole-body planar scintigraphy and hepatic SPECT/CT imaging. ROIs of the liver and lungs under the anterior-posterior position were delineated on the planar scintigraphy and LSF of 99Tc m-MAA and 90Y were calculated. The volume of interest (VOI) was drawn on the SPECT/CT images to calculate the nuclide distribution volume of both 99Tc m-MAA and 90Y within the liver. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare the difference between two groups. In addition, the liver was divided into five lobes, namely left lateral lobe, left medial lobe, caudate lobe, right anterior lobe and right posterior lobe. Visual assessment of 90Y and 99Tc m-MAA radioactive distribution was performed ( 90Y and 99Tc m-MAA uptakes were graded on a scale of 0-3, where 0 indicated no nuclide accumulation and 3 indicated heavy accumulation). Kappa consistency test was used to analyze the scores of the corresponding lobes between two groups. Results:LSF for 99Tc m-MAA was 11.60%(4.27%, 15.03%), and LSF for 90Y was 11.80%(9.70%, 13.30%), without significant difference ( Z=-1.50, P=0.134). The distribution volume of 99Tc m-MAA within the liver was 542.63(204.00, 818.00)ml, which was significantly different from that of 90Y (688.69(287.00, 954.00)ml; Z=-7.37, P<0.001). Kappa values of the score of each lobe between 99Tc m-MAA imaging and 90Y imaging were 0.469-0.740 (all P<0.001). Conclusions:99Tc m-MAA simulation is reliable for assessing LSF for 90Y-SIRT. The distribution volume of 99Tc m-MAA is generally smaller than that of 90Y, but the consistency of the visual score of radioactive distribution is high. Overall, 99Tc m-MAA may well simulate the distribution pattern of 90Y-SIRT.

Objective:To compare the lung shunt fraction (LSF) of 90Y imaging after 90Y-selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) and preoperative 99Tc m-macroaggregated albumin (MAA) imaging in patients with liver malignant tumors, and compare the volume and visual score of intrahepatic distribution of both nucleins on SPECT/CT images. Methods:A total of 91 patients with liver malignant tumors (78 males, 13 females; age (56.7±13.7)years; 99 cases) who underwent 90Y-SIRT in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from November 2022 to June 2024 were retrospectively collected. All patients underwent preoperative 99Tc m-MAA simulation and postoperative 90Y distribution verification by whole-body planar scintigraphy and hepatic SPECT/CT imaging. ROIs of the liver and lungs under the anterior-posterior position were delineated on the planar scintigraphy and LSF of 99Tc m-MAA and 90Y were calculated. The volume of interest (VOI) was drawn on the SPECT/CT images to calculate the nuclide distribution volume of both 99Tc m-MAA and 90Y within the liver. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare the difference between two groups. In addition, the liver was divided into five lobes, namely left lateral lobe, left medial lobe, caudate lobe, right anterior lobe and right posterior lobe. Visual assessment of 90Y and 99Tc m-MAA radioactive distribution was performed ( 90Y and 99Tc m-MAA uptakes were graded on a scale of 0-3, where 0 indicated no nuclide accumulation and 3 indicated heavy accumulation). Kappa consistency test was used to analyze the scores of the corresponding lobes between two groups. Results:LSF for 99Tc m-MAA was 11.60%(4.27%, 15.03%), and LSF for 90Y was 11.80%(9.70%, 13.30%), without significant difference ( Z=-1.50, P=0.134). The distribution volume of 99Tc m-MAA within the liver was 542.63(204.00, 818.00)ml, which was significantly different from that of 90Y (688.69(287.00, 954.00)ml; Z=-7.37, P<0.001). Kappa values of the score of each lobe between 99Tc m-MAA imaging and 90Y imaging were 0.469-0.740 (all P<0.001). Conclusions:99Tc m-MAA simulation is reliable for assessing LSF for 90Y-SIRT. The distribution volume of 99Tc m-MAA is generally smaller than that of 90Y, but the consistency of the visual score of radioactive distribution is high. Overall, 99Tc m-MAA may well simulate the distribution pattern of 90Y-SIRT.

Objective To explore the association between mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1(MST1)gene poly-morphism and haplotype and the risk of colorectal cancer,rectal cancer,and colon cancer in the Han population in Baotou area by case-control association study.Methods A total of 390 patients with colorectal cancer diagnosed by pathology and 413 normal physical examination population were collected,and 2 ml of peripheral blood was taken for subsequent gene genotyping.Single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)of MST1 gene were screened according to the genetic polymorphism data of Chinese Han population provided by the National Center for Biotechnology In-formation-Haplotype Mapping database.Gene genotyping was performed by Taqman method.Logistic regression was used to calculate the association between each SNP and the risk of colorectal cancer,colon cancer,and rectal cancer under codominant,dominant,overdominant,and recessive genetic models.Results Four SNPs of MST1 gene were screened,namely rs8000,rs2234197,rs2267853,and rs6073629.Among them,SNP rs2234197 was associated with the risk of rectal cancer.Compared with the GG+AA genotype,the AG genotype could reduce the risk of rectal cancer,OR[95%confidence interval(CI)]=0.657(0.442-0.976).SNP rs8000 was associated with the risk of colon cancer.Compared with the TT+GT genotype,the GG genotype could reduce the risk of colon cancer[OR(95%CI)=0.425(0.182-0.992)].Conclusion MST1 gene SNP rs2234197 AG genotype and SNP rs8000 GG genotype may be protective factors for rectal cancer and colon cancer,respectively.

Objective To evaluate the inhibitory effect of ginsenoside Rg3 combined with 5-fluorouracil(5-FU)on tumor angiogenesis and tumor growth in colon cancer in mice.Methods CT26 mouse model of colon cancer was established and the mice were randomly assigned to the control group,the ginsenoside Rg3 group,the 5-FU group,and the Rg3 combined with 5-FU group.The 5-FU group was injected intraperitoneally at the dose of 20 mg/kg,0.2 mL/animal,and once a day for 10 days.Treatment for the Rg3 group was given at the dose of 20 mg/kg,0.2 mL/animal,and once a day for 21 days via gastric gavage.The dose and the mode of treatment for the Rg3+5-FU combination group were the same as those for the 5-FU and the Rg3 group.The control group was intraperitoneally injected with 0.2 mL/d of normal saline for 10 days.The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and CD31 and the microvascular density(MVD)of the tumor tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry.The blood flow signals and tumor necrosis were examined by color Doppler flow imaging(CDFI).The quality of life,survival rate,tumor volume,tumor mass,and tumor inhibition rate of the mice were monitored.Results After 21 days of treatment,the tumor volume and the tumor mass of all treatment groups were significantly decreased compared with those the control group,with the combination treatment group exhibiting the most significant decrease.The tumor inhibition rates of the Rg3 group,the 5-FU group,and the combination group were 29.96%,68.78%,and 73.42%,respectively.Rg3 treatment alone had inhibitory effect on tumor growth to a certain degree,while 5-FU treatment alone or 5-FU combined with Rg3 had a stronger inhibitory effect on tumor growth.The tumor inhibition rate of the combination group was higher than that of the 5-FU group,but the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Color Doppler ultrasound showed that there were multiple localized and large tumor necrotic areas that were obvious and observable in the Rg3 group and the combination group,and that there were only small tumor necrotic areas in the 5-FU group and the control group.The tumor necrosis rate of the combination group was(55.63±3.12)%,which was significantly higher than those of the other groups(P<0.05).CDFI examination of the blood flow inside of the tumor of the mice showed that the blood flow signals in the combination group were mostly grade 0-Ⅰ,and that the blood flow signals in the control group were the most abundant,being mostly grade Ⅱ-Ⅲ.The abundance of the blood flow signals in the Rg3 and 5-FU groups were between those of the control group and the combination group.Compared with those of the control group,the expression levels of MVD and VEGF in the tumor tissues of the Rg3 group,the 5-FU group,and the combination group were significantly decreased,with the combination group showing the most significant decrease(P<0.05).HE staining results indicated that there was significant tumor necrosis in mice in the control group and that there were more blood vessels.In contrast,in the tumor of the Rg3 group and the 5-FU group,there were fewer blood vessels and necrotic gaps appeared within the tumors.In the combination group,the tumor tissues had the fewest blood vessels and rope-like necrosis was observed.The mice started dying on the 18th day after treatment started,and all the mice in the control group died on the 42nd day.By this time,there were 3,5,and 7 mice still alive in the Rg3 group,the 5-FU group,and the combination group,respectively,presenting a survival rate of 30%,50%,and 70%,respectively.All mice in all the groups died on day 60 after treatment started.Conclusion Ginsenoside Rg3 combined with 5-FU can significantly inhibit tumor angiogenesis and tumor growth of colon cancer in mice and improve the survival and quality of life of tumor-bearing mice.

Objective: To elucidate clinical characteristics and build a prognostic nomogram for patients with vulvar cancer. Methods: The study population was drawn from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Patients were randomly assigned to training and validation sets. Cox proportional hazards model and competing risk model were used to identify the prognostic parameters of overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) to construct a nomogram. The nomogram was assessed by concordance index (C-index), area under the curve (AUC), calibration plot, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: A total of 20,716 patients were included in epidemiological analysis, of whom 7,025 patients were selected in survival analysis, including 4,215 and 2,810 in training and validation sets, respectively. The multivariate Cox model showed that the predictors for OS were age, marital status, histopathology, differentiation and tumor node metastasis (TNM) stages, whether to undergo surgery and chemotherapy. However, the predictors for CSS were age, race, differentiation and TNM stages, whether to undergo surgery and radiation. The C-index for OS and CSS in the training set were 0.76 and 0.80. The AUC in the training set for 1-, 3- and 5-year OS and CSS were 0.84, 0.81, 0.80 and 0.88, 0.85, 0.83, respectively, which was similar in the validation set. The calibration curves showed good agreement between prediction and actual observations. DCA revealed that the nomogram had a better discrimination than TNM stages. Conclusions The nomogram showed accurate prognostic prediction in OS and CSS for vulvar cancer, which could provide guidance to clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal carcinogenesis and progression are related to the gut microbiota and the tumor immune microenvironment. Our previous clinical trial demonstrated that berberine (BBR) hydrochloride might reduce the recurrence and canceration of colorectal adenoma (CRA). The present study aimed to further explore the mechanism of BBR in preventing colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: We performed metagenomics sequencing on fecal specimens obtained from the BBR intervention trial, and the differential bacteria before and after medication were validated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We further performed ApcMin/+ animal intervention tests, RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: The abundance of fecal Veillonella parvula ( V . parvula ) decreased significantly after BBR administration ( P = 0.0016) and increased through the development from CRA to CRC. Patients with CRC with a higher V. parvula abundance had worse tumor staging and a higher lymph node metastasis rate. The intestinal immune pathway of Immunoglobulin A production was activated, and the expression of TNFSF13B (Tumor necrosis factor superfamily 13b, encoding B lymphocyte stimulator [BLyS]), the representative gene of this pathway, and the genes encoding its receptors (interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor beta) were significantly upregulated. Animal experiments revealed that V. parvula promoted colorectal carcinogenesis and increased BLyS levels, while BBR reversed this effect. CONCLUSION: BBR might inhibit V. parvula and further weaken the immunomodulatory effect of B cells induced by V. parvula , thereby blocking the development of colorectal tumors. TRIAL REGISTRAION ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT02226185.
Animals ; Humans ; Berberine/therapeutic use* ; Carcinogenesis ; Veillonella ; Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics* ; Tumor Microenvironment

Objective : To investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphism ( SNP) rs558614， rs9552315，rs7317471 and rs9509492 in large tumor suppressor kinase 2 (LATS2) gene and the risk of colorectal cancer． Methods : A total of 390 colorectal cancer patients and 413 healthy subjects were genotyped by Taqman method．The odds ratio ( OR) and its 95% CI were calculated by unconditional logistic regression，to estimate the associations between SNP rs558614，rs9552315，rs7317471，rs9509492 in LATS2 gene and the risk of colorectal cancer，rectal cancer，as well as colon cancer under codominant，dominant，recessive，overdominant，and log-ad- ditive genetic models． Haplotypes were constructed by haploview software 4. 2 . Results : SNP rs558614， rs7317471，rs9552315 and rs9509492 in LATS2 gene were not associated with the risk of colorectal cancer，rectal cancer and colon cancer under codominant，dominant，recessive，overdominant，and log-additive genetic models. No haploid blocks were formed between the 4 SNPs． Conclusion SNP rs558614 ，rs7317471 ，rs9552315， rs9509492 in LATS2 gene may not play a major role in the development of colorectal cancer，rectal cancer and co- lon cancer.

Objective:To summarize clinical characteristics of and treatment experience with patients with critical illnesses in a dermatological ward.Methods:All patients with serious or life-threatening conditions, who were hospitalized at the dermatological ward of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from July 9, 2011 to December 31, 2020, were collected, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic characteristics, disease types and proportions, main complications, causes of serious or life-threatening conditions, important treatment measures and outcomes were summarized, and causes of death were also analyzed and discussed.Results:A total of 1 057 patients with critical illnesses were collected, with a male-to-female ratio of 1∶1.11, and 64.81% of them aged 18 to 65 years. The types of diseases mainly included drug eruptions (332 cases) , connective tissue diseases (226 cases) , bullous skin diseases (104 cases) , psoriasis (57 cases) , erythroderma (45 cases) , infectious skin diseases (67 cases) , etc. Among them, psoriasis (39 cases) and erythroderma (32 cases) mostly occurred in males, and connective tissue diseases (168 cases) mostly occurred in females. Common complications mainly involved infections, important organ damage or dysfunction, hypoalbuminemia, and fluid, electrolyte and acid-base imbalances. A total of 94 patients were diagnosed with life-threatening conditions, which were found to be mainly caused by primary skin diseases, hematologic abnormalities, respiratory failure, nervous system abnormalities, renal failure, sepsis, fluid, electrolyte and acid-base imbalances, etc. During the management of critical illnesses, 43 patients were treated with high-dose glucocorticoid pulse therapy, 264 were treated with gamma-globulin pulse therapy, 355 were transfused with other blood products, and 34 received special therapies such as hemoperfusion/immunoadsorption therapy, plasma exchange, dialysis, artificial liver support therapy; 42 patients were transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) , 12 were transferred to the department of surgery for operations, and 12 were transferred to the department of obstetrics and gynecology for delivery or induction of labor. After treatment, 989 patients (93.57%) achieved improvement and were discharged. A total of 14 patients (1.32%) died, of whom 7 died of secondary sepsis, 2 died of severe pulmonary infections, 2 died of asphyxia caused by respiratory mucosa shedding-induced airway obstruction, the other 3 died of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, cerebral hemorrhage and neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus, respectively.Conclusions:Critical cases in the dermatological ward mainly suffered from serious skin diseases such as severe drug eruptions, connective tissue diseases and bullous skin diseases, as well as complications such as severe underlying diseases, severe organ dysfunction, sepsis or severe fluid, electrolyte and acid-base imbalances. In terms of treatment, it is of critical significance to make a clear diagnosis and assess the severity of disease as early as possible, monitor and prevent possible complications, and to consult with specialists in relevant disciplines in time.

Objective: To explore the dynamic variation trend of bronchial wall thickness (BWT) in severely burned patients combined with inhalation injury, and to determine the value of BWT to prognosis of patients. Methods: Forty-three severely burned patients with inhalation injury hospitalized in Intensive Burn Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Nankai University (Tianjin No.4 Hospital) from July to November 2016, conforming to the study criteria, were divided into survival group (n=27) and death group (n=16) according to the prognosis of patients within 14 days after admission. All patients underwent fiberoptic bronchoscopy and inhalation injury rating based on abbreviated injury scale at admission. High resolution CT examination was performed in patients of two groups at admission and 24 h post admission, 3, 7, and 14 d post admission to measure the BWT of right superior lobar bronchus trunk opening. Receiver operating characteristic curves of rating of inhalation damage at admission and BWT at admission were drawn to evaluate the predictive value for death of 43 patients. Data were processed with chi-square test, independent sample t test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, analysis of variance for repeated measurement and least-significant difference-t test. Results: (1) The numbers of patients rated as 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 grade for inhalation injury in survival group and death group were 0, 19, 6, 2, and 0, and 0, 2, 7, 7, and 0, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups (Z=-3.79, P<0.01). (2) BWT of patients in death group at admission and 24 h post admission, 3, 7, and 14 d post admission was respectively (2.72±0.26), (3.18±0.22), (2.98±0.18), (2.29±0.17), and (1.45±0.21) mm, which was significantly larger than (2.24±0.15), (2.49±0.15), (1.51±0.17), (1.04±0.16), and (1.01±0.13) mm in survival group (t=7.55, 12.14, 27.11, 19.99, 7.11, P<0.01). BWT of patients in survival group and death group at 24 h post admission, 3, 7, and 14 d post admission showed statistically significant difference when compared with that at admission within the corresponding group (t=5.97, 16.63, 28.21, 38.57, 5.34, 3.31, 4.39, 6.48, P<0.01). BWT of patients in survival group and death group on 3, 7, and 14 d post admission was significantly smaller than that at 24 h post admission within the corresponding group (t=22.27, 34.02, 45.03, 2.77, 10.53, 10.59, P<0.01). BWT of patients in survival group and death group on 7 and 14 d post admission was significantly smaller than that on 3 d post admission within the corresponding group (t=10.49, 18.26, 9.57, 11.44, P<0.01). BWT of patients in survival group and death group on 14 d post admission was significantly smaller than that on 7 d post admission within the corresponding group (t=6.97, 6.15, P<0.01). (3) The total areas under ROC curves of inhalation injury rating at admission and BWT at admission for predicting death of 43 patients were 0.880 and 0.956, respectively (with 95% confidence intervals 0.768-0.991, 0.882-1.000, P<0.05). Grade 1.5 and 2.75 mm were respectively chosen as the optimal threshold values of inhalation injury rating at admission and BWT at admission, with sensitivity of 87.50%, 83.33% and specificity of 77.78%, 96.00%, respectively. Conclusions The BWT of survived and dead patients with severe burn and inhalation injury increases significantly post burn, while the BWT of survived patients restores to normal level faster. BWT can be used to assess the severity of inhalation injury and to predict death in severely burned patients combined with inhalation injury.