ObjectiveMagnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive neuroimaging technique, meticulously captures the magnetic fields emanating from brain electrical activity. Compared with MEG based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID), MEG based on optically pump magnetometer (OPM) has the advantages of higher sensitivity, better spatial resolution and lower cost. However, most of the current studies are clinical studies, and there is a lack of animal studies on MEG based on OPM technology. Pain, a multifaceted sensory and emotional phenomenon, induces intricate alterations in brain activity, exhibiting notable sex differences. Despite clinical revelations of pain-related neuronal activity through MEG, specific properties remain elusive, and comprehensive laboratory studies on pain-associated brain activity alterations are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of inflammatory pain (induced by Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA)) on brain activity in a rat model using the MEG technique, to analysis changes in brain activity during pain perception, and to explore sex differences in pain-related MEG signaling. MethodsThis study utilized adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Inflammatory pain was induced via intraplantar injection of CFA (100 μl, 50% in saline) in the left hind paw, with control groups receiving saline. Pain behavior was assessed using von Frey filaments at baseline and 1 h post-injection. For MEG recording, anesthetized rats had an OPM positioned on their head within a magnetic shield, undergoing two 15-minute sessions: a 5-minute baseline followed by a 10-minute mechanical stimulation phase. Data analysis included artifact removal and time-frequency analysis of spontaneous brain activity using accumulated spectrograms, generating spectrograms focused on the 4-30 Hz frequency range. ResultsMEG recordings in anesthetized rats during resting states and hind paw mechanical stimulation were compared, before and after saline/CFA injections. Mechanical stimulation elevated alpha activity in both male and female rats pre- and post-saline/CFA injections. Saline/CFA injections augmented average power in both sexes compared to pre-injection states. Remarkably, female rats exhibited higher average spectral power 1 h after CFA injection than after saline injection during resting states. Furthermore, despite comparable pain thresholds measured by classical pain behavioral tests post-CFA treatment, female rats displayed higher average power than males in the resting state after CFA injection. ConclusionThese results imply an enhanced perception of inflammatory pain in female rats compared to their male counterparts. Our study exhibits sex differences in alpha activities following CFA injection, highlighting heightened brain alpha activity in female rats during acute inflammatory pain in the resting state. Our study provides a method for OPM-based MEG recordings to be used to study brain activity in anaesthetized animals. In addition, the findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of pain-related neural activity and pain sex differences.

BACKGROUND: The effect of the interval between previous Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication and rescue treatment on therapeutic outcomes remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between eradication rates and treatment interval durations in H. pylori infections. METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted from December 2021 to February 2023 at six tertiary hospitals in Shandong, China. We recruited patients who were positive for H. pylori infection and required rescue treatment. Demographic information, previous times of eradication therapy, last eradication therapy date, and history of antibiotic use data were collected. The patients were divided into four groups based on the rescue treatment interval length: Group A, ≥4 weeks and ≤3 months; Group B, >3 and ≤6 months; Group C, >6 and ≤12 months; and Group D, >12 months. The primary outcome was the eradication rate of H. pylori . Drug compliance and adverse events (AEs) were also assessed. Pearson's χ2 test or Fisher's exact test was used to compare eradication rates between groups. RESULTS: A total of 670 patients were enrolled in this study. The intention-to-treat (ITT) eradication rates were 88.3% (158/179) in Group A, 89.6% (120/134) in Group B, 89.1% (123/138) in Group C, and 87.7% (192/219) in Group D. The per-protocol (PP) eradication rates were 92.9% (156/168) in Group A, 94.5% (120/127) in Group B, 94.5% (121/128) in Group C, and 93.6% (190/203) in Group D. There was no statistically significant difference in the eradication rates between groups in either the ITT ( P = 0.949) or PP analysis ( P = 0.921). No significant differences were observed in the incidence of AEs ( P = 0.934) or drug compliance ( P = 0.849) between groups. CONCLUSION: The interval duration of rescue treatment had no significant effect on H. pylori eradication rates or the incidence of AEs. REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT05173493.
Humans ; Helicobacter Infections/drug therapy* ; Helicobacter pylori/pathogenicity* ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/adverse effects* ; Adult ; Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Proton Pump Inhibitors/therapeutic use*

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with radiolabeled SSTR2 agonists is a treatment option that is highly effective in controlling metastatic and progressive neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Previous studies have shown that an SSTR2 agonist combined with albumin binding moiety Evans blue (denoted as ¹⁷⁷Lu-EB-TATE) is characterized by a higher tumor uptake and residence time in preclinical models and in patients with metastatic NETs. This study aimed to enhance the in vivo stability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of ¹⁷⁷Lu-EB-TATE by replacing the maleimide-thiol group with a polyethylene glycol chain, resulting in a novel EB conjugated SSTR2-targeting radiopharmaceutical, ¹⁷⁷Lu-LNC1010, for PRRT. In preclinical studies, ¹⁷⁷Lu-LNC1010 exhibited good stability and SSTR2-binding affinity in AR42J tumor cells and enhanced uptake and prolonged retention in AR42J tumor xenografts. Thereafter, we presented the first-in-human dose escalation study of ¹⁷⁷Lu-LNC1010 in patients with advanced/metastatic NETs. ¹⁷⁷Lu-LNC1010 was well-tolerated by all patients, with minor adverse effects, and exhibited significant uptake and prolonged retention in tumor lesions, with higher tumor radiation doses than those of ¹⁷⁷Lu-EB-TATE. Preliminary PRRT efficacy results showed an 83% disease control rate and a 42% overall response rate after two ¹⁷⁷Lu-LNC1010 treatment cycles. These encouraging findings warrant further investigations through multicenter, prospective, and randomized controlled trials.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Chinese medicine Jianpi Antai formula in infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer(IVF-ET).Methods:A total of 300 infertile women who underwent 2 frozen embryo transfer procedures at the Reproductive Medicine Center,Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital were included in the study.The participants were randomly divided into study group and control group.The study group received routine medication plus the Jianpi Antai formula during the period of embryo transfer,while the control group received routine medication only.The general condition,embryo implantation rate,clinical pregnancy rate,live birth rate,and the blood routine and liver and kidney function were evaluated and compared between two groups.Results:There were 277 cases who completed the study,including 134 in the study group and 143 in the control group.The embryo implantation rate(68.7%vs.55.9%),the clinical pregnancy rate(56.7%vs.44.8%)and the live birth rate(50.7%vs.37.8%)in the study group were all higher than those in the control group(all P＜0.05).Subgroup analysis revealed that in patients of advanced age(≥35 years)and those with decreased ovarian reserve function(anti-Müllerian hormone＜1.68 ng/mL),the embryo implantation rate,clinical pregnancy rate,and live birth rate in the study group were all higher than those in the control group(all P＜0.05).During the follow-up period,there were no abnormalities in the basic vital signs of both groups,and no adverse events were reported.Conclusion:Jianpi Antai formula can safely improve the embryo implantation rate in infertile women undergoing IVF-ET,reduce the embryo miscarriage rate,increase the live birth rate as well as improve the clinical outcomes.

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2.1(PI-RADS v2.1)for clinically significant prostate cancer(CSPCa)in the peripheral zone(PZ),transitional zone(TZ)and multiple zones(MZs).Methods:We retrospectively studied the clinical data on 108 patients undergoing multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging(mpMRI)and transperineal prostate biopsy in our hospital from January 2021 to January 2023.Using PI-RADS v2.1,we ex-amined the MR images of the patients with suspected PCa,compared the PI-RADS v2.1 scores with the results of prostate biopsy,and analyzed the correlation of the PI-RADS v2.1 scores with CSPCa.We calculated the area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve(AUC),and described the diagnostic performance of PI-RADS v2.1 for CSPCa in the PZ,TZ and MZs.Results:Transperineal prostate puncture biopsy was successfully completed in all the patients,which revealed 66(61.11％)cases of CSPCa with Gleason score(GS)7-10.Suspected CSPCa was observed in 45(95.74％)of the 47 PZ lesions,8(47.06％)of the 17 TZ le-sions,and 40(90.91％)of the 44 MZ lesions.The PZ,TZ and MZ lesions diagnosed by PI-RADS v2.1 were significantly correlated with CSPCa(r=0.492,P＜0.001).The AUCs of PI-RADS v2.1 for PZ,TZ and MZs were 0.644,0.732 and 0.811,with specificities of 66.8％,57.6％and 62.1％,and sensitivities of 57.2％,78.4％and 93.2％,respectively.The negative predictive values were 46.5％,85.7％and 79.2％,and the positive predictive values 76.2％,43.4％and 84.8％,respectively.Conclusion:The PI-RADS v2.1 score has a high diagnostic value for CSPCa in the PZ,TZ and MZs,with the best performance for that in the MZs.

Objective To investigate the correlation between traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)syndrome elements and risk factors in children with IgA vasculitis(IgAV,also known as Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura).Methods The medical records of 131 children with IgAV were retrospectively analyzed.And then the distribution of their TCM syndrome elements was investigated,and the correlation of TCM syndrome elements with the gender,age,clinical symptoms,as well as risk factors such as mosquito bite,pathogen infection,and allergic rhinitis was analyzed.Results(1)Among the 131 children with IgAV,the diseases-location syndrome elements of IgAV involved lung in 97 cases(74.05%),spleen in 61 cases(46.56%),kidney in 54 cases(41.22%),liver in 17 cases(12.98%),and heart in 11 cases(8.40%);the disease-nature syndrome elements of IgAV involved blood stasis in 131 cases(100.00%),wind-damp in 125 cases(95.42%),wind-heat in 90 cases(68.70%),damp-heat in 72 cases(54.96%),blood heat in 49 cases(37.40%),qi deficiency in 19 cases(14.50%),and yin deficiency in three cases(2.29%).(2)There were 69 cases(52.67%)of females and 62 cases(47.33%)of males among the IgAV children,with females outnumbering males.The age group of IgAV children was predominated by five to six years old,and 10 cases(7.63%)were younger than four years old,18 cases(13.74%)were four years old,39 cases(29.77%)were five years old,34 cases(25.95%)were six years old,17 cases(12.98%)were seven years old,and 13 cases(9.92%)were older than seven years old.The disease-nature syndrome elements such as blood stasis,wind-damp,wind-heat,and damp-heat were frequently seen in the age group of five to seven years old,yin deficiency was frequently seen in the age group older than seven years,and blood stasis was seen in all age groups.(3)The results of logistic regression analysis of the correlation between TCM syndrome elements and risk factors in IgAV patients showed that allergic rhinitis was positively correlated with blood stasis[OR=2.236,95%CI(1.049-4.007)],damp-heat[OR=2.183,95%CI(1.554-3.671)]and wind-damp[OR=1.202,95%CI(1.050-2.409)];pathogen infection was positively correlated with blood stasis[OR=3.199,95%CI(1.457-4.101)]and damp-heat[OR=1.119,95%CI(1.072-2.009)];mosquito bite was positively correlated with blood stasis[OR=4.533,95%CI(1.029-9.022)]and damp-heat[OR=2.257,95%CI(1.081-13.207)];the gender was positively correlated with blood stasis[OR=1.352,95%CI(1.271-3.018)]and wind-damp[OR=1.149,95%CI(1.071-3.102)].The differences were all statistically significant(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Conclusion IgAV usually involves the lungs and is also related to the five zang organs.Its pathogenesis is characterized by excess in superficiality such as blood stasis and wind-damp-heat in the early stage,and is predominated by deficiency in origin such as qi deficiency and yin deficiency in the later stage.For the children with IgAV,mosquito bite,pathogen infection and allergic rhinitis are more likely to induce blood stasis and wind-damp-heat;TCM syndrome elements such as wind-heat,damp-heat,blood heat,and qi deficiency are frequently seen in the males,while TCM syndrome elements such as blood stasis,wind-damp,and yin deficiency are frequently seen in the females.

Objective: To describe the distribution characteristics of hyperlipidemia in adult twins in the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) and explore the effect of genetic and environmental factors on hyperlipidemia. Methods: Twins recruited from the CNTR in 11 project areas across China were included in the study. A total of 69 130 (34 565 pairs) of adult twins with complete information on hyperlipidemia were selected for analysis. The random effect model was used to characterize the population and regional distribution of hyperlipidemia among twins. The concordance rates of hyperlipidemia were calculated in monozygotic twins (MZ) and dizygotic twins (DZ), respectively, to estimate the heritability. Results: The age of all participants was (34.2±12.4) years. This study's prevalence of hyperlipidemia was 1.3% (895/69 130). Twin pairs who were men, older, living in urban areas, married,had junior college degree or above, overweight, obese, insufficient physical activity, current smokers, ex-smokers, current drinkers, and ex-drinkers had a higher prevalence of hyperlipidemia (P<0.05). In within-pair analysis, the concordance rate of hyperlipidemia was 29.1% (118/405) in MZ and 18.1% (57/315) in DZ, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Stratified by gender, age, and region, the concordance rate of hyperlipidemia in MZ was still higher than that in DZ. Further, in within-same-sex twin pair analyses, the heritability of hyperlipidemia was 13.04% (95%CI: 2.61%-23.47%) in the northern group and 18.59% (95%CI: 4.43%-32.74%) in the female group, respectively. Conclusions: Adult twins were included in this study and were found to have a lower prevalence of hyperlipidemia than in the general population study, with population and regional differences. Genetic factors influence hyperlipidemia, but the genetic effect may vary with gender and area.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Diseases in Twins/genetics* ; Hyperlipidemias/genetics* ; Metabolic Diseases ; Twins, Dizygotic ; Twins, Monozygotic/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the associations of lipid indicators and mortality in Beijing Elderly Comprehensive Health Cohort Study. METHODS: A prospective cohort was conducted based on Beijing Elderly Comprehensive Health Cohort Study with 4499 community older adults. After the baseline survey, the last follow-up was March 31, 2021 with an average 8.13 years of follow-up. Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HR) with 95% CI for cardiovascular disease (CVD) death and all-cause death in associations with baseline lipid indicators. RESULTS: A total of 4499 participants were recruited, and the mean levels of uric acid, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) showed an upward trend with the increasing remnant cholesterol (RC) quarters (P_trend < 0.05), while the downward trend was found in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). During the total 36,596 person-years follow-up, the CVD mortality and all-cause mortality during an average 8.13 years of follow-up was 3.87% (95% CI: 3.30%-4.43%) and 14.83% (95% CI: 13.79%-15.86%) with 174 CVD death participants and 667 all-cause death participants. After adjusting for confounders, the higher level of TC (HR = 0.854, 95% CI: 0.730-0.997), LDL-C (HR = 0.817, 95% CI: 0.680-0.982) and HDL-C (HR = 0.443, 95% CI: 0.271-0.724) were associated with lower risk of CVD death, and the higher level of HDL-C (HR = 0.637, 95% CI: 0.501-0.810) were associated with lower risk of all-cause death. The higher level of RC (HR = 1.276, 95% CI: 1.010-1.613) increase the risk of CVD death. Compared with the normal lipid group, TC ≥ 6.20 mmol/L group and LDL-C ≥ 4.10 mmol/L group were no longer associated with lower risk of CVD death, while RC ≥ 0.80 mmol/L group was still associated with higher risk of CVD death. In normal lipid group, the higher levels of TC, LDL-C and HDL-C were related with lower CVD death. CONCLUSIONS In community older adults, higher levels of TC and HDL-C were associated with lower CVD mortality in normal lipid reference range. Higher RC was associated with higher CVD mortality, which may be a better lipid indicator for estimating the CVD death risk in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Measuring the health of the population is of great significance to the development of a region. We aimed to estimate the population, probability of death, and quality of life in western China. METHODS: We calculated the age-specific mortality rate and prevalence rate of diseases and injuries using the Full Population Database and the Home Page of Inpatient Medical Record. We used multiple interpolation methods to insert missing information from the death data and the model of Kannisto to adjust the mortality rate for elderly individuals. The age-specific prevalence rate of diseases and injuries was adjusted according to the standard ratio of age and methods of equal proportional allocation. Life expectancy was calculated by a life table, and the quality of life was estimated using the Sullivan method. RESULTS: The total population continued to increase in 2015 to 2019 in the Shaanxi Province, China. The mortality rate of children under five has improved, and the mortality rate of people over 65 is decreasing year by year. Life expectancy increased from 74.66 years in 2015 to 77.19 years in 2019. Even with the total risk of disease and injury, the health-adjusted life expectancy increased by 1.90 years within 5 years, and the number of unhealthy years significantly improved. Health-adjusted life expectancy increased by 1.75 years when only considered the ten major disease systems (tumors; endocrinology, nutrition and metabolism; mental and behavioral disorders; nervous system; sensory diseases; circulatory system; respiratory system; digestive system; genitourinary system; musculoskeletal system and connective tissue), and the number of unhealthy years increased slightly. CONCLUSIONS In the past five years, Shaanxi Province has made progress in improving life expectancy and controlling the development of chronic diseases. It is necessary to take specific preventive measures and improve the quality of basic public health services.
Child ; Humans ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Quality of Life ; Life Expectancy ; China/epidemiology* ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether the protein Deglycase protein 1 (DJ1) can ameliorate Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like pathology in Amyloid Precursor Protein/Presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) double transgenic mice and its possible mechanism to provide a theoretical basis for exploring the pathogenesis of AD. METHODS: Adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV) of DJ1-overexpression or DJ1-knockdown were injected into the hippocampus of 7-month-old APP/PS1 mice to construct models of overexpression or knockdown. Mice were divided into the AD model control group (MC), AAV vector control group (NC), DJ1-overexpression group (DJ1 ⁺), and DJ1-knockdown group (DJ1 ^-). After 21 days, the Morris water maze test, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and western blotting were used to evaluate the effects of DJ1 on mice. RESULTS: DJ1 ⁺ overexpression decreased the latency and increased the number of platform traversals in the water maze test. DJ1 ^- cells were cured and atrophied, and the intercellular structure was relaxed; the number of age spots and the expression of AD-related proteins were significantly increased. DJ1 ⁺ increased the protein expression of Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), light chain 3 (LC3), phosphorylated AMPK (p-AMPK), and B cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), as well as the antioxidant levels of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), while decreasing the levels of Kelch-like hydrates-associated protein 1 (Keap1), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), p62/sequestosome1 (p62/SQSTM1), Caspase3, and malondialdehyde (MDA). CONCLUSION DJ1-overexpression can ameliorate learning, memory, and AD-like pathology in APP/PS1 mice, which may be related to the activation of the NRF2/HO-1 and AMPK/mTOR pathways by DJ1.
Animals ; Mice ; Alzheimer Disease/therapy* ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism* ; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor/metabolism* ; Antioxidants/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1/metabolism* ; Mammals/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Transgenic ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Presenilin-1/metabolism* ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*