Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics of 5 children with developmental epileptic encephalopathy type 17 (DEE17) caused by GNAO1 gene variants confirmed by whole-exome sequencing and analyze the features of their genetic variants. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 5 children diagnosed with GNAO1-related DEE17 in the Department of Neurology, Children′s Hospital of Soochow University from January 2019 to October 2024. Their clinical features, genetic testing results, neuroimaging findings, electroencephalogram (EEG) results, and treatment regimens were summarized. Follow-up was performed via telephone or outpatient visits. Results:Among the 5 diagnosed children (3 males, 2 females), the age of onset ranged from 2 days to 2 years, and the age at diagnosis ranged from 2 days to 6 years. Four children presented with seizures in the neonatal or infantile period, manifesting as hypotonia, developmental delay, and seizure types including generalized tonic-clonic, myoclonic, and epileptic spasms. One child had a later onset at 2 years, presenting with language delay, intellectual disability, and involuntary movements, followed by seizures at 6 years, including focal and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Genetic testing revealed de novo heterozygous missense variants in GNAO1 in all 5 cases: c.119G>C (p.G40A), c.808A>C (p.N270H), c.808A>G (p.N270D), c.118G>C (p.G40R), and c.17G>T (p.S6I). Among these variants, c.119G>C and c.17G>T were previously unreported pathogenic variants. Neuroimaging showed nonspecific changes in 3 children (widened frontal-temporal subarachnoid space, delayed myelination) and abnormal white matter signals in 2 cases. Long-term video-EEG revealed abnormal discharges and background slowing in all cases: multifocal discharges in 4 cases and focal epileptiform discharges (left mid-temporal) in 1 case. Clinical seizures were captured in 3 cases: 1 with a burst-suppression pattern and 2 with hypsarrhythmia. All patients received 3 or more antiseizure medications. Four cases (cases 1-4) responded well to topiramate combination therapy, with 2 cases (cases 1, 2) achieving complete seizure freedom and 2 cases (cases 3, 4) experiencing more than a 50% reduction in seizures. One child (case 3) achieved seizure control with an adjunctive ketogenic diet. The late-onset case (case 5) required a combination of levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, and valproate for seizure management. Conclusions:GNAO1 variants can lead to DEE17 with diverse seizure types, often requiring multiple antiseizure medications, among which topiramate is effective. Early-onset cases typically present with seizures and developmental delay, while late-onset cases may exhibit language delay, intellectual disability, movement disorders, and refractory epilepsy. Genetic testing should be performed early for timely diagnosis.

Objective:To investigate the effect of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) on the permeability of blood labyrinth barrier in C57BL/6J male mice and its possible mechanism.Methods:As for the design of animal experiment, twenty male C57BL/6J mice aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into control group and cisplatin group with 10 mice in each group by software method. The control group was intraperitoneally injected with normal saline every day, and the cisplatin group was intraperitoneally injected with 4 mg/kg cisplatin for 4 consecutive days. After administration, auditory brainstem response (ABR) was used to detect hearing changes in mice. HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of mouse cochlea vasculature. The expression of TNF-α was detected by immunohistochemistry and ELISA. The permeability of the blood labyrinth barrier was observed by Evans blue staining. With respect to the design of cell experiment, primarily cultured cochlea pericytes (PC) and endothelial cells (EC) were divided into EC group, EC+TNF-α group, EC+PC group, EC+PC+TNF-α group, EC+PC+TNF-α+SB-3CT (MMP-9/MMP-2 secretion inhibitor) group, PC group, PC+TNF-α group, PC+TNF-α+LY294002 (PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor) group, PC+LY294002 group. The protein expressions of ZO-1, VE-cadherin, MMP-9, MMP-2, PI3K, p-PI3K, AKT, and p-AKT were detected by Western blot. TEER and FITC-dextran penetration experiment were used to detect EC resistance and monolayer EC permeability, respectively. The data were statistically analyzed using GraphPad Prism 8 software.Results:In animal experiment, compared with control group, the ABR response threshold of mice in cisplatin group was increased ( P<0.01). The vaccine ular structure of the cochlea was disordered red, wrinkled and vacuole increased. The extravasation of vascular red fluorescent dye increased ( P<0.05), and also, levels of serum TNF-α and cochlear veins increased ( P<0.01). In cell experiment, by treatment of EC with different concentrations of cisplatin, 20 μmol cisplatin led to the highest expression of TNF-α ( P<0.01). The expression of TNF-α was the highest after 3 h intervention in EC ( P<0.05). Compared with those in EC+PC group, the resistance value of EC was decreased, the permeability of monolayers EC was increased, the expression of ZO 1 and VE cadherin proteins was decreased, and however, the resistance value was increased and the permeability of EC was decreased after the intervention of SB-3CT in EC+PC+TNF-α group. The expressions of ZO-1 and VE-cadherin proteins were increased ( P<0.05). The expression of MMP-9 increased after TNF-α intervention ( P<0.05), the expression of MMP-2 had no significant change, and the expression of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT were increased ( P<0.05). The expression of MMP-9 decreased in PC+TNF-α+LY294002 group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The hearing loss of C57BL/6J male mice induced by cisplatin may be related to the increased release of TNF-α from the blood labyrinth barrier EC in the cochlear stria vascularis, and the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by TNF-α in PC, which increases the secretion of MMP-9 from PC, ultimately leads to the increased permeability of the blood labyrinth barrier.

Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common arrhythmias;its high incidence rate and high disability rate lead to heavy social and economic burdens.Most atrial fibrillation originates from pulmonary veins,so pulmonary vein isolation is the mainstay of catheter ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.Cryoballoon ablation has the advantages of reversible injury,short operation time,and better surgical experience for patients.At present,it has been widely used in clinical practice and has become the first-line treatment scheme for atrial fibrillation.However,compared with radiofrequency ablation,cryoballoon ablation carries a relatively higher risk of causing phrenic nerve injury,particularly during the process of cryoablation targeting the right pulmonary vein.Therefore,this article aims to discuss the strategies for preventing phrenic nerve injury during cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation,such as the temperature monitoring during cryoablation and the strategies of balloon operation(i.e.balloon deflation,proximal occlusion,phrenic nerve pacing),so as to summarize the experience and effectively prevent complications.

Objective:To summarize the clinical characteristics of 5 children with developmental epileptic encephalopathy type 17 (DEE17) caused by GNAO1 gene variants confirmed by whole-exome sequencing and analyze the features of their genetic variants. Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 5 children diagnosed with GNAO1-related DEE17 in the Department of Neurology, Children′s Hospital of Soochow University from January 2019 to October 2024. Their clinical features, genetic testing results, neuroimaging findings, electroencephalogram (EEG) results, and treatment regimens were summarized. Follow-up was performed via telephone or outpatient visits. Results:Among the 5 diagnosed children (3 males, 2 females), the age of onset ranged from 2 days to 2 years, and the age at diagnosis ranged from 2 days to 6 years. Four children presented with seizures in the neonatal or infantile period, manifesting as hypotonia, developmental delay, and seizure types including generalized tonic-clonic, myoclonic, and epileptic spasms. One child had a later onset at 2 years, presenting with language delay, intellectual disability, and involuntary movements, followed by seizures at 6 years, including focal and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Genetic testing revealed de novo heterozygous missense variants in GNAO1 in all 5 cases: c.119G>C (p.G40A), c.808A>C (p.N270H), c.808A>G (p.N270D), c.118G>C (p.G40R), and c.17G>T (p.S6I). Among these variants, c.119G>C and c.17G>T were previously unreported pathogenic variants. Neuroimaging showed nonspecific changes in 3 children (widened frontal-temporal subarachnoid space, delayed myelination) and abnormal white matter signals in 2 cases. Long-term video-EEG revealed abnormal discharges and background slowing in all cases: multifocal discharges in 4 cases and focal epileptiform discharges (left mid-temporal) in 1 case. Clinical seizures were captured in 3 cases: 1 with a burst-suppression pattern and 2 with hypsarrhythmia. All patients received 3 or more antiseizure medications. Four cases (cases 1-4) responded well to topiramate combination therapy, with 2 cases (cases 1, 2) achieving complete seizure freedom and 2 cases (cases 3, 4) experiencing more than a 50% reduction in seizures. One child (case 3) achieved seizure control with an adjunctive ketogenic diet. The late-onset case (case 5) required a combination of levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine, and valproate for seizure management. Conclusions:GNAO1 variants can lead to DEE17 with diverse seizure types, often requiring multiple antiseizure medications, among which topiramate is effective. Early-onset cases typically present with seizures and developmental delay, while late-onset cases may exhibit language delay, intellectual disability, movement disorders, and refractory epilepsy. Genetic testing should be performed early for timely diagnosis.

Objective:To investigate the effect of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) on the permeability of blood labyrinth barrier in C57BL/6J male mice and its possible mechanism.Methods:As for the design of animal experiment, twenty male C57BL/6J mice aged 6-8 weeks were randomly divided into control group and cisplatin group with 10 mice in each group by software method. The control group was intraperitoneally injected with normal saline every day, and the cisplatin group was intraperitoneally injected with 4 mg/kg cisplatin for 4 consecutive days. After administration, auditory brainstem response (ABR) was used to detect hearing changes in mice. HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of mouse cochlea vasculature. The expression of TNF-α was detected by immunohistochemistry and ELISA. The permeability of the blood labyrinth barrier was observed by Evans blue staining. With respect to the design of cell experiment, primarily cultured cochlea pericytes (PC) and endothelial cells (EC) were divided into EC group, EC+TNF-α group, EC+PC group, EC+PC+TNF-α group, EC+PC+TNF-α+SB-3CT (MMP-9/MMP-2 secretion inhibitor) group, PC group, PC+TNF-α group, PC+TNF-α+LY294002 (PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor) group, PC+LY294002 group. The protein expressions of ZO-1, VE-cadherin, MMP-9, MMP-2, PI3K, p-PI3K, AKT, and p-AKT were detected by Western blot. TEER and FITC-dextran penetration experiment were used to detect EC resistance and monolayer EC permeability, respectively. The data were statistically analyzed using GraphPad Prism 8 software.Results:In animal experiment, compared with control group, the ABR response threshold of mice in cisplatin group was increased ( P<0.01). The vaccine ular structure of the cochlea was disordered red, wrinkled and vacuole increased. The extravasation of vascular red fluorescent dye increased ( P<0.05), and also, levels of serum TNF-α and cochlear veins increased ( P<0.01). In cell experiment, by treatment of EC with different concentrations of cisplatin, 20 μmol cisplatin led to the highest expression of TNF-α ( P<0.01). The expression of TNF-α was the highest after 3 h intervention in EC ( P<0.05). Compared with those in EC+PC group, the resistance value of EC was decreased, the permeability of monolayers EC was increased, the expression of ZO 1 and VE cadherin proteins was decreased, and however, the resistance value was increased and the permeability of EC was decreased after the intervention of SB-3CT in EC+PC+TNF-α group. The expressions of ZO-1 and VE-cadherin proteins were increased ( P<0.05). The expression of MMP-9 increased after TNF-α intervention ( P<0.05), the expression of MMP-2 had no significant change, and the expression of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT were increased ( P<0.05). The expression of MMP-9 decreased in PC+TNF-α+LY294002 group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The hearing loss of C57BL/6J male mice induced by cisplatin may be related to the increased release of TNF-α from the blood labyrinth barrier EC in the cochlear stria vascularis, and the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by TNF-α in PC, which increases the secretion of MMP-9 from PC, ultimately leads to the increased permeability of the blood labyrinth barrier.

Bipolar disorder （BD） is a serious chronic emotional disorder with a high suicide rate and a common psychiatric disease. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） treatment based on syndrome differentiation of BD has unique advantages and good safety， which is expected to become a breakthrough in the treatment. Based on Expert Consensus on TCM Syndrome Differentiation Criteria for Bipolar Disorder by Professor Yin Dongqing and Professor Jia Hongxiao， this study collated the treatment protocols of BD with various syndrome types according to Meta-analysis of the existing literature in the database and evaluated the evidence level according to the evidence evaluation standard issued by the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality （AHRQ）. （1） Depression attack. ① Liver depression and spleen deficiency syndrome： Xiaoyaosan pills or Shugan Jieyu capsules， ② Phlegm dampness and spleen stagnation syndrome： Wendantang modified with Tianwang Buxindan， ③ Heart and spleen deficiency syndrome： Jiuwei Zhenxin Granules or DANG's Ganmai Dazhaotang， ④ Fire heat and internal depression syndrome： Danzhi Xiaoyaosan Granules or Chaihu Longgu Mulitang， ⑤ Liver and kidney deficiency syndrome： JIANG's Buganshen Decoction. （2） Mania episode. ① Heart and liver fire hyperactivity syndrome： Zhengan Ningshen Formula， ② Phlegm heat harassing spirit syndrome： Huatan Xiehuo Dingshen decoction， Lianzhi Tongqiao Anshen decoction， Qingshen Dingkuang decoction or Qingshen Xingnao decoction， ③ Liver and gallbladder dampness-heat syndrome： Longdan Xiegantang. （3） Other syndrome types. ① Liver qi stagnation syndrome： modified Tongqiao Huoxue decoction， Shengyang Yiwei Acupuncture， ② Deficiency of kidney yang syndrome： Jingui Shenqitang， ③ Phlegm accumulation and blood stasis syndrome： modified Tongqiao Huoxue decoction， ④ Qi and Yin deficiency， stagnation of blood stasis syndrome： Xinnaoxin pills， ⑤ Syndrome of blood deficiency generating wind and fire heat harassing spirit： Fangji Dihuangtang.

Autophagy is a lysosome-dependent intracellular degradation process，and it is a key mechanism of diabetic cardiomyopathy （DCM）. Autophagy has dual regulatory effects on DCM. Under physiological conditions，normal autophagy can promote the decomposition of damaged cardiomyocytes and metabolites，so as to reduce the damage of harmful substances to the body and provide energy for cardiomyocytes. Under pathological conditions，the inhibited autophagy of cardiomyocytes will cause the accumulation of damaged cells and metabolites，which will cause damage to cardiomyocytes and eventually aggravate cardiac dysfunction in the patients with DCM. However，the over autophagy of cardiomyocytes will lead to autophagic death of a large number of cardiomyocytes and result in pathological myocardial remodeling and cardiac dysfunction，thus promoting the progression of DCM. Therefore，the restoration of a normal autophagy level is the key means to protect cardiomyocytes and improve the prognosis of DCM. Chinese medicine can regulate autophagy to treat DCM. Specifically，it can promote autophagy （making up for deficiency） or inhibit autophagy （removing excess） to restore the balance of autophagy，thereby alleviating DCM.

Autophagy， a mechanism of cell self-protection and self-renewal， is associated with the occurrence and development of lung cancer. Favorable autophagy can slow down the progression of lung cancer， while unfavorable autophagy can promote the progression. Therefore， regulating the level of autophagy is of great significance in the treatment of lung cancer. Healthy Qi deficiency and pathogenic Qi stagnation is an extension of the theory of deficiency and Qi stagnation proposed by the Academician WANG Yongyan. It refers to the pathological process that the abnormal body fluid metabolism caused by Qi deficiency of lung， spleen， and kidney results in phlegm and blood stasis. Lung cancer has the root cause of Qi deficiency of lung， spleen， and kidney and the syndrome of phlegm and blood stasis. The autophagy in lung cancer is interconnected with healthy Qi deficiency and pathogenic Qi stagnation. The Qi deficiency of lung， spleen， and kidney is the key factor for the weakening of favorable autophagy in lung cancer， which inhibits the apoptosis of tumor cells and leads to the accumulation of harmful substances. Phlegm and blood stasis is a direct factor enhancing the unfavorable autophagy in lung cancer， which promotes the autophagic death of normal cells， weakens the immunosuppressive effect of immune cells on tumor cells， and leads to the proliferation and migration of tumor cells. The combination of healthy Qi deficiency and pathogenic Qi stagnation results in the development of autophagy in an unfavorable direction and finally leads to the continuous progression of lung cancer. Therefore， the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） treatment of lung cancer should follow the principle of reinforcing healthy Qi and expelling pathogenic Qi， removing phlegm and resolving stasis， so as to enhance favorable autophagy while inhibiting unfavorable autophagy. Such therapy can inhibit the proliferation and migration of tumor cells and promote the remission of lung cancer. According to the existing literature， Chinese medicine monomers are mainly used to treat lung cancer by regulating autophagy. The Chinese medicine intervention of autophagy in lung cancer mainly aims to promote the activation of autophagy. This may be because the favorable autophagy weakening caused by the Qi deficiency of lung， spleen， and kidney is the fundamental reason for the development of lung cancer.

More and more evidence shows that there is a close relationship between the inflammatory state and coronary heart disease. Inflammatory state triggers the damage of vascular endothelium in the early stage of coronary heart disease and ultimately mediates the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. The mechanism of occurrence and development of heart disease is of great significance. Phlegm is a pathological product formed by the subtle imbalance of the spleen and stomach in the transportation and transformation of water and grain. It is the general summary of a series of abnormally accumulated inflammatory substances， such as low density lipoprotein， inflammatory cells， and inflammatory factors. The nature of Phlegm determines the invasiveness and turbidity of Phlegm. Phlegm invades the meridians， causing damage to the meridians and gradually accumulating， which eventually causes the local meridian damage to aggravate. This process is similar to the persistent damage of the vascular endothelium caused by inflammation. Phlegm blocks the meridians， affects the operation of Qi and blood， causes Qi stagnation and blood stasis， and finally forms the outcome of heart and blood stasis. This process is similar to the mechanism of atherosclerotic plaques formed by continuous inflammatory damage. Heart blood stasis， depression and heat， heat toxin endogenous， forming the syndrome of heat toxin stasis， which is similar to the process of atherosclerotic plaque rupture and thrombosis causing acute cardiovascular events.The formation of Phlegm is rooted in the deficiency of spleen. Based on the ''phlegm，stasis，toxin'' theory， spleen deficiency is the intrinsic pathogenesis of the inflammatory state of coronary heart disease， and the invasion of phlegm， blood stasis of heart， heat and blood stasis are the evolution of inflammatory damage of coronary heart disease. Traditional Chinese medicine differentiation and treatment is based on strengthening the spleen and nourishing Qi to treat the root and removing phlegm and blood stasis， and clearing heat and detoxifying to treat symptoms. The related Chinese medicine compounds， Chinese patent medicines， and single Chinese medicines can reduce the inflammatory indicators of coronary heart disease， thereby improving the prognosis of coronary heart disease.

Bipolar disorder （BD） is considered to be mainly related to qi， phlegm， fire and deficiency. Binding constraint of liver qi is the initial cause， while phlegm and qi interact obstruction as well as phlegm and fire interact binding is the key pathogenesis of the transformation between depression and mania， and deficiency of both qi and yin is the main reason of the protracted course of disease. In clinical practice， BD is divided into binding constraint of liver qi pattern， phlegm and qi interact obstruction pattern， phlegm and fire interact binding pattern， and deficiency of both qi and yin pattern， which can be treated with Jinyu Shugan Powder （金玉疏肝散）， Kaiyu Wendan Decoction （开郁温胆汤）， Qingxin Huatan Decoction （清心化痰汤）， and Baihe Shengmai Beverage （百合生脉饮） in their modifications respectively； moreover， Guanye Jinsitao （Herba Hyperici Perforati） is usually used to rectify qi， relieve phlegm and clear heat. It is also suggested to put focus on the prevention and treatment of qi， phlegm and heat simultaneously， and modify the medicinals flexibly in accordance with the pathogenesis evolution and the abnormal exuberance.