Objective To explore the correlation between amide proton transfer weighted(APTw)imaging of the brain and the clinical psychological scale assessment in patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods A total of 30 AD patients(AD group)and 33 gender-and age-matched healthy volunteers(control group)were selected and all patients underwent brain MRI,magnetic resonance angiography(MR A)and APTw imaging examinations.According to the APTw images,the magnetization transfer ratio asym-metry(MTRasym)at 3.5 ppm values of each brain region were measured.The differences in MTRasym(3.5 ppm)values of each brain region between the AD group and the control group were compared,and then the diagnostic efficacy of MTRasym(3.5 ppm)values with significant differences were further analyzed.The correlations between the MTRasym(3.5 ppm)values of each brain region and scores of the mini-mental state examination(MMSE)and Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA)were analyzed.Results Compared with the control group,the MTRasym(3.5 ppm)values of the left hippocampal head in the AD group were significantly increased(P＜0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve of MTRasym(3.5 ppm)values of the left hippocampal head was 0.656(P＜0.05).MTRasym(3.5 ppm)values of the left hippocampal head,right temporal white matter,and bilateral occipital white matter were significantly negatively correlated with MoCA score(P＜0.05).Conclusion APTw imaging can effectively reflect the changes of protein concentration of the brain regions in AD patients,and is associated with cognitive func-tion,providing a new approach and method for early non-invasive diagnosis and disease monitoring of AD.

Objective To explore the correlation between amide proton transfer weighted(APTw)imaging of the brain and the clinical psychological scale assessment in patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD).Methods A total of 30 AD patients(AD group)and 33 gender-and age-matched healthy volunteers(control group)were selected and all patients underwent brain MRI,magnetic resonance angiography(MR A)and APTw imaging examinations.According to the APTw images,the magnetization transfer ratio asym-metry(MTRasym)at 3.5 ppm values of each brain region were measured.The differences in MTRasym(3.5 ppm)values of each brain region between the AD group and the control group were compared,and then the diagnostic efficacy of MTRasym(3.5 ppm)values with significant differences were further analyzed.The correlations between the MTRasym(3.5 ppm)values of each brain region and scores of the mini-mental state examination(MMSE)and Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA)were analyzed.Results Compared with the control group,the MTRasym(3.5 ppm)values of the left hippocampal head in the AD group were significantly increased(P＜0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve of MTRasym(3.5 ppm)values of the left hippocampal head was 0.656(P＜0.05).MTRasym(3.5 ppm)values of the left hippocampal head,right temporal white matter,and bilateral occipital white matter were significantly negatively correlated with MoCA score(P＜0.05).Conclusion APTw imaging can effectively reflect the changes of protein concentration of the brain regions in AD patients,and is associated with cognitive func-tion,providing a new approach and method for early non-invasive diagnosis and disease monitoring of AD.

The orbitofrontal cortex (ORB), a region crucial for stimulus-reward association, decision-making, and flexible behaviors, extensively connects with other brain areas. However, brain-wide inputs to projection-defined ORB neurons and the distribution of inhibitory neurons postsynaptic to neurons in specific ORB subregions remain poorly characterized. Here we mapped the inputs of five types of projection-specific ORB neurons and ORB outputs to two types of inhibitory neurons. We found that different projection-defined ORB neurons received inputs from similar cortical and thalamic regions, albeit with quantitative variations, particularly in somatomotor areas and medial groups of the dorsal thalamus. By counting parvalbumin (PV) or somatostatin (SST) interneurons innervated by neurons in specific ORB subregions, we found a higher fraction of PV neurons in sensory cortices and a higher fraction of SST neurons in subcortical regions targeted by medial ORB neurons. These results provide insights into understanding and investigating the function of specific ORB neurons.
Animals ; Neurons/physiology* ; Mice ; Prefrontal Cortex/cytology* ; Parvalbumins/metabolism* ; Brain Mapping/methods* ; Neural Pathways/physiology* ; Somatostatin/metabolism* ; Male ; Interneurons/physiology* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Thalamus/physiology* ; Mice, Transgenic

Objective:To assess the consistency between corneal curvature instrument and computer optometry instrument for corneal curvature of patients before underwent laser-assisted in situ keratomarisis(LASIK).Methods:A total of 65 myopic patients(130 eyes)who planned to undergo LASIK at the 969th hospital of People's Liberation Army Joint Service Support Force from January to December 2022 were selected.Corneal curvature instrument and computer optometry instrument were applied to record corneal curvature,corneal curvature on the horizontal radial line(Kl),corneal curvature on the vertical radial line(K2)and average corneal curvature[(K1+K2)/2]values.Using the method of consistency evaluation measurement(Bland Altman)to analyze the consistency between two kinds of measurement methods of instrument.Results:There was no significant difference in corneal curvature values between computer optometry instrument and corneal curvature instrument.There were positive correlations in the K1,K2 and(K1+K2)/2 between two instruments(r=0.483,0.409,0.427,P<0.05),respectively.The mean d of the differences of the measured Kl,K2 and[(K1+K2)/2]values of corneal curvature between two kinds of instruments were respectively 42.094D,42.919D and 42.981D,and the standard deviation(SD)of the differences were respectively 2.113D,2.157D and 2.282D.The 95%CI were respectively(46.770-37.419),(47.148-38.691)and(47.145-38.508).Conclusion:There is favorable consistency between computer optometry instrument and corneal curvature instrument,and they can be used by mutual substitution.The applicability of the two instruments should be comprehensively considered in clinical work,so as to play its maximum role.

Objective To evaluate the predictive value of T2-fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)signal suppression rate for the short arm of chromosome 1 and long arm of chromosome 19 (1p/19q)molecular features in lower-grade gliomas (LGG),and to construct and verify the predictive model based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)tumor features and T2-FLAIR signal suppression rate.Methods Clincal and imaging data of the patients with pathologically confirmed supratentorial LGG (WHO grade 2～3)in our medical center from 2017 to 2021 were collected and retrospectively analyzed.According to the results of postoperative molecular pathology,they were divided into 1 p/19q-codeleted (1 p/19q-Codel)and 1 p/19q-noncodeleted (1 p/19q-Noncodel)groups.MRI tumor features were blindly assessed by 2 neuroradiologists.Five circular regions of interest were respectively delineated in the tumor area and the normal-appearing white matter in contralateral semioval center using the hot-spot method in order to calculate the T2-FLAIR signal suppression rate.The differences of clinical features,MRI tumor features and T2-FLAIR signal suppression rate were analyzed between the 2 groups.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to screen independent predictors and constructa predictive model and nomogram.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC)curve,calibration curve and Hosmer-Lemeshow test were applied to assess the model performance,and the model was internally validated by bootstrap method.Results A total of 146 supratentorial LGG patients were enrolled,including 68 being assigned into the 1 p/19q-Codel group and 78 into the 1 p/19q-Noncodel group.The T2-FLAIR signal suppression rate was 0.43 (0.28,0.62)in the 1 p/19q-Noncodel group,which was significantly higher than that in the 1 p/19q-Codel group[0.29 (0.24,0.35),P<0.001].Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that T2-FLAIR signal suppression rate>0.374 (P<0.001),cortex infiltration (P=0.001) and calcification (P=0.004) were independent predictors for 1 p/19q status.The AUC value of T2-FLAIR signal suppression rate>0.374 in predicting 1 p/19q-Noncodel was 0.720,the sensitivity was 60.26％ and the specificity was 83.82％.DeLong test indicated that T2-FLAIR signal suppression rate>0.374 was more effective than T2-FLAIR mismatch sign in predicting 1 p/19q molecular features (P<0.001).ROC curve analysis suggested that the predictive model established by T2-FLAIR signal suppression rate>0.374 combined with cortex infiltration and calcification had good performance,with an AUC value of 0.808,and the AUC value verified internally by bootstrap method was 0.807.At the same time,the calibration and goodness of fit of the model were good.Conclusion T2-FLAIR signal suppression rate can be used as a quantitative imaging marker to predict 1 p/19q-Noncodel LGG.The predictive model with T2-FLAIR signal suppression rate>0.374 combined with cortex infiltration and calcification can effectively predict 1 p/19q molecular features.

Objective To investigate the correlation between 23 metals and metalloids elements in the urine and thyroid function indicators in the blood of traffic police. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed to assess the effects of 23 metals and metalloids elements in the urine on blood thyroid function indicators in 166 traffic policemen (122 field staff and 44 internal staff) in Wuhan, Hubei Province. Each subject received an occupational health examination. Results After multiple corrections for false detection rates, in the polymetallic model, the levels of urinary manganese and urinary uranium were positively correlated with the levels of thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) in the blood (β = 66.57, 95% CI 2.92-130.22, P = 0.040 and β = 62.43, 95% CI 14.37-110.49, P = 0.011), and the level of urinary uranium was positively correlated with thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in the blood (β = 6.20, 95% CI 2.68-9.72 , P = 0.001). Urinary uranium level was negatively correlated with free thyroxine level in the blood (FT4) (β = -2.03, 95 % CI (-3.67 )- (-0.39), P = 0.015), and urinary lead level was negatively correlated with blood TSH level (β = -4.59, 95% CI (-8.67) - (-0.51), P = 0.027). Conclusion Manganese exposure is related to the increase of TPOAb level in blood, uranium exposure is related to the increase of TPOAb and TSH levels and the decrease of FT4 level in blood, and lead exposure is related to the decrease of TSH level in blood, suggesting that more attention should be paid to the effects of heavy metals on the thyroid of traffic police.

Benign liver lesions mainly include hepatic hemangioma， focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver， hepatocellular adenoma， and hepatic angiomyolipoma. Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis is a type of parasitic disease， and since it mainly occurs in the liver， it is also a benign lesion of the liver. The clinical treatment of benign liver lesions is mainly based on follow-up observation， supplemented by surgical resection. For patients with end-stage diseases， liver transplantation can be performed due to the large volume of the lesion， the invasion of a number of surrounding large vessels， unclear anatomic location， and the possibility of intraoperative rupture and massive hemorrhage. Since patients with poor liver function based on the liver allocation score for organ donation are more likely to get donor liver， it is difficult for patients with benign liver lesions to obtain the corresponding donor liver resources due to the growth pattern of benign liver lesions， thereby leading to the limited application of allogeneic liver transplantation. Since its emergence in the 1980s， ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation （ELRA） has brought a new way for the treatment of such patients. This article summarizes the current application of ELRA in benign liver lesions， in order to provide a reference for diagnosis and treatment by clinical medical staff.

Pancreatic cancer often has an insidious onset and difficulties in treatment,with various limitations in early diagnosis and treatment.This article reviews the application of Mendelian randomization(MR)in exploring the risk factors for pancreatic cancer,with a special focus on the causal relationships of factors such as gut microbiota,lifestyle,and metabolic diseases.Leveraging data from large-scale genome-wide association studies(GWAS),MR analysis has revealed several biomarkers associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer.The two-sample MR approach is commonly used in current research,including the methods such as Inverse Variance Weighted,Weighted Median,and MR-Egger,which helps to explain the causal network of the disease from a genetic perspective.While MR strategy provides a new perspective for understanding the etiology of pancreatic cancer,caution is still needed in data synthesis,selection of instrumental variables,and pleiotropy assessment.The use of emerging analytical models such as BWMR,CAUSE,and MVMR offers new possibilities for the comprehensive evaluation of multiple risk factors and their interaction.In the future,with the combination of these methods and the ever-increasing genetic epidemiological data,MR analysis is expected to provide more solid evidence for identifying potential therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer and formulating prevention strategies.

BACKGROUND:The recovery of function after spinal cord injury depends on the functional remodeling of the motor cortex.However,the anatomical evidence underlying the functional remodeling of the motor cortex is still illusive.Analyzing the anatomical changes in the motor cortex after spinal cord injury can provide new ideas and research directions for regulating functional recovery and rehabilitation after spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the neural circuit structural basis of functional remodeling of the primary motor cortex after spinal cord injury. METHODS:C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a sham operation group and a spinal cord injury group.The adeno-associated virus vectors expressing the fusion protein of Cre recombinase were injected into C4 of mice of both groups.The adeno-associated virus vectors with Cre recombinase-inducible expression of avian sarcoma/leukosis envelope glycoprotein receptor TVA and rabies glycoprotein were injected into the primary motor cortex.Fourteen days later,a C6 dorsal hemisection mice model was established in the spinal cord injury group.The pseudotyped rabies virus was injected into the primary motor cortex of mice of both groups.After 7 days,brain samples were collected and frozen sections were made.The distribution of input neurons innervating corticospinal motor neurons in the brain was observed and analyzed quantitatively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Fluorescence microscopy observation and quantitative analysis found that input neurons innervating corticospinal motor neurons of the primary motor cortex in mice of both groups were distributed in the cerebral cortex,thalamus and midbrain.Among them,in the sham operation group,the number of input neurons in the mouse cerebral cortex accounted for(84.0±3.6)%of total brain input neurons;that in the thalamus accounted for(10.6±2.3)%,and that in the midbrain accounted for(0.7±0.4)%.Direct synaptic input neurons in the spinal cord injury group accounted for(81.7±1.0)%,(13.1±0.5)%,and(1.6±0.8)%in the cerebral cortex,thalamus and midbrain,respectively.The proportion and number of primary motor cortex input neurons in the three regions of the spinal cord injury group did not differ significantly from that of the sham operation group.After spinal cord injury,the number of input neurons innervating corticospinal pyramidal motor neurons in various brain regions did not change significantly,suggesting that functional remodeling of the motor cortex after spinal cord injury may not only depend on changes in synaptic input related to injured corticospinal motor neurons,but also on transcriptional regulation changes within the injured neurons themselves.

Purpose: The poor retention and ambiguous differentiation of stem cells (SCs) within corpus cavernosum (CC) limit the cell application in erectile dysfunction (ED). Herein, the effects and mechanism of microRNA-145 (miR-145) gene modification on modulating the traits and fate of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were investigated. Materials and Methods: The effects of miR-145 on cell apoptosis, proliferation, migration, and differentiation were determined by flow cytometry, cell counting kit-8, transwell assays and myogenic induction. Then, the age-related ED rats were recruited to four groups including phosphate buffer saline, BMSC, vector-BMSC, overexpressed-miR-145-BMSC groups. After cell transplantation, the CC were harvested and prepared to demonstrate the retention and differentiation of BMSCs by immunofluorescent staining. Then, the target of miR-145 was verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical. After that, APTO-253, as an inducer of Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), was introduced for rescue experiments in corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMCs) under the co-culture system. Results: In vitro, miR-145 inhibited the migration and apoptosis of BMSCs and promoted the differentiation of BMSCs into smooth muscle-like cells with stronger contractility. In vivo, the amount of 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU)+cells within CC was significantly enhanced and maintained in the miR-145 gene modified BMSC group. The EdU/CD31 co-staning was detected, however, no co-staining of EdU/α-actin was observed. Furthermore, miR-145, which secreted from the gene modified BMSCs, dampened the expression of KLF4. However, the effects of miR-145 on CCSMCs could be rescued by APTO-253. Conclusions Overall, miR-145 modification prolongs the retention of the transplanted BMSCs within the CC, and this effect might be attributed to the modulation of the miR-145/KLF4 axis. Consequently, our findings offer a promising and innovative strategy to enhance the local stem cell-based treatments.