BACKGROUND: Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the predominant form of chronic liver disease worldwide. This study was designed to investigate the proportion and characteristics of MAFLD within the general Chinese population and to identify the contributory risk factors for liver fibrosis among MAFLD individuals. METHODS: The participants were recruited from a cohort undergoing routine health evaluations at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University between May 2019 and March 2023. The diagnosis of MAFLD was based on the established clinical practice guidelines. The fibrosis-4 index score (FIB-4) was employed to evaluate hepatic fibrosis, with a FIB-4 score of ≥1.3 indicating significant fibrosis. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to determine risk factors associated with significant hepatic fibrosis in MAFLD. RESULTS: A total of 22,970 participants who underwent comprehensive medical examinations were included in the analysis. The overall proportion of MAFLD was 28.77% (6608/22,970), with 16.87% (1115/6608) of these patients showing significant fibrosis as assessed using FIB-4. Independent risk factors for significant liver fibrosis in MAFLD patients were male (odds ratio [OR] = 0.676, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.558-0.821), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity (OR = 2.611, 95% CI: 1.557-4.379), body mass index ≥23.00 kg/m 2 (OR = 0.632, 95% CI: 0.470-0.851), blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg (OR = 1.885, 95% CI: 1.564-2.272), and plasma glucose ≥5.6 mmol/L (OR = 1.815, 95% CI: 1.507-2.186) (all P <0.001). CONCLUSIONS The proportion of MAFLD in an urban Chinese population is 28.77%. About 16.87% of MAFLD patients presented with significant liver fibrosis. Independent risk factors for significant liver fibrosis in MAFLD patients should be noticed.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Liver Cirrhosis/pathology* ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Adult ; Fatty Liver/pathology* ; Aged ; China/epidemiology* ; Logistic Models ; Urban Population ; East Asian People

Basket trial, as an innovative clinical trial design concept, marks the transformation of medical research from the traditional large-scale and single-disease treatment to the precise and individualized treatment. By gradually incorporating the Bayesian method during development, the trial design becomes more scientific and reasonable and increases its efficiency. The fundamental principle of the Bayesian method is the utilization of prior knowledge in conjunction with new observational data to dynamically update the posterior probability. This flexibility enhances the basket trial's capacity to effectively adapt to variations during the research process. Consequently, it enables researchers to dynamically adjust research strategies based on accumulated data and improve the predictive accuracy regarding treatment responses. In addition, the design concept of the basket trial aligns with the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) principle of "homotherapy for heteropathy". The principle of "homotherapy for heteropathy" emphasizes that under certain conditions, different diseases may have the same treatment. Similarly, basket trials allow using a uniform trial design across multiple diseases, offering enhanced operational and significant practical value in the realm of TCM, particularly within the context of syndrome-based disease research. By introducing basket trials, the design of TCM clinical studies will be more scientific and yield higher-quality evidence. This study systematically categorized various Bayesian methods and models utilized in basket trials, evaluated their strengths and weaknesses, and identified their appropriate application contexts, so as to offer a practical guide for designing basket trials in the realm of TCM.
Bayes Theorem ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Research Design ; Clinical Trials as Topic/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of periodontitis induced by Prevotella nigrescens (Pn) combined with ligation on cognitive functions in mice. METHODS: Twenty-four C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, ligation group, and ligation + Pn treatment (P+Pn) group. Experimental periodontitis was induced by silk ligation of the first molars followed by topical application of Pn for 6 weeks. After modeling, alveolar bone resorption was assessed using micro-CT and histological analysis. Learning and memory abilities of the mice were evaluated using open field test (OFT), novel object recognition test (NORT), and Morris water maze test (MWM). Seven weeks after the start of modeling, the mice were sacrificed for examining histopathological changes in the hippocampus using HE and Nissl staining. RESULTS: After 6 weeks of molar ligation, micro-CT revealed horizontal alveolar bone resorption and furcation exposure in the mice, and histological analysis showed apical migration of the junctional epithelium, epithelial ridge hyperplasia, and lymphocyte infiltration, and these changes were obviously worsened in P+Pn group. Alveolar bone height decreased significantly in both ligation groups compared to the control group. Cognitive tests showed that the mice in both of the ligation groups traveled shorter distances in OFT, showed reduced novel object preference in NORT, and exhibited longer escape latencies in MWM, and the mice in P+Pn group had significantly poorer performances in the tests. Histologically, obvious neuronal cytoplasmic degeneration, necrosis, nuclear pyknosis, vacuolation, and reduced Nissl bodies and viable neurons were observed in the hippocampal regions of the mice in the two ligation groups. CONCLUSIONS Pn infection aggravates alveolar bone destruction, accelerates necrosis and causes morphological abnormalities of neuronal cells in the hippocampus to reduce cognitive functions of mice with periodontitis.
Animals ; Periodontitis/microbiology* ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Cognition ; Alveolar Bone Loss ; Hippocampus/pathology* ; Male ; Inflammation ; Maze Learning

Neuropathic pain, often featuring allodynia, imposes significant physical and psychological burdens on patients, with limited treatments due to unclear central mechanisms. Addressing this challenge remains a crucial unsolved issue in pain medicine. Our previous study, using protein kinase C gamma (PKCγ)-tdTomato mice, highlights the spinal feedforward inhibitory circuit involving PKCγ neurons in gating neuropathic allodynia. However, the regulatory mechanisms governing this circuit necessitate further elucidation. We used diverse transgenic mice and advanced techniques to uncover the regulatory role of the descending serotonin (5-HT) facilitation system on spinal PKCγ neurons. Our findings revealed that 5-HT neurons from the rostral ventromedial medulla hyperpolarize spinal inhibitory interneurons via 5-HT_2C receptors, disinhibiting the feedforward inhibitory circuit involving PKCγ neurons and exacerbating allodynia. Inhibiting spinal 5-HT_2C receptors restored the feedforward inhibitory circuit, effectively preventing neuropathic allodynia. These insights offer promising therapeutic targets for neuropathic allodynia management, emphasizing the potential of spinal 5-HT_2C receptors as a novel avenue for intervention.
Animals ; Neuralgia/physiopathology* ; Protein Kinase C/metabolism* ; Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C/metabolism* ; Hyperalgesia/physiopathology* ; Mice, Transgenic ; Mice ; Spinal Cord/metabolism* ; Serotonin/metabolism* ; Male ; Neurons/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL

AIM: To quantify early changes of macular capillary parameters in type 2 diabetic patients using optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA).METHODS: Retrospective case study. A total of 49 healthy subjects, 52 diabetic patients without retinopathy(noDR)patients, and 43 mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy(mNPDR)patients were recruited. Capillary perfusion density, vessel length density(VLD), and average vessel diameter(AVD)were calculated from macular OCTA images(3 mm×3 mm)of the superficial capillary plexus after segmenting large vessels and the deep capillary plexus. Parameters were compared among control subjects, noDR, and mNPDR patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve estimated the abilities of these parameters to detect early changes of retinal microvascular networks.RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the VLD and AVD among the three groups(P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the noDR group had significantly higher AVD(P<0.05). VLD of both layers in patients of mNPDR group was significant decreased compared with that of noDR group(all P<0.01). Deep AVD had a higher area under the curve(AUC)of 0.796 than other parameters to discriminate the noDR group from the healthy group. Deep AVD had the highest AUC of 0.920, followed by that of the deep VLD(AUC=0.899)to discriminate the mNPDR group from the healthy group.CONCLUSIONS: NoDR patients had wider AVD than healthy individuals and longer VLD than mNPDR patients in both layers. When compared with healthy individuals, deep AVD had a stronger ability than other parameters to detect early retinal capillary impairments in noDR patients.

Objective: To investigate the changes of microorganisms and metabolites in joint effusion of patients with Rheumatoid arthritis(RA), Osteoarthritis(OA) and Urarthritis(UA). To provide new ideas for the study of the effect of microbiota on the pathogenesis of arthritis. Methods: Joint effusion samples were collected from 20 patients with RA, 20 patients with OA, and 20 patients with UA. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted ultra-high performance Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS) were used to explore the differences in microorganisms and metabolites among the three groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to detect the correlation between effusion microbiota and metabolites. Results: There were differences in microbial diversity and microbiota composition among the three groups. Combined with VIP>1 from OPLS-DA andP<0.05 from two-tailed Students t-test, 45 differential metabolites(Between RA and OA groups), 38 differential metabolites(Between UA and OA groups) and 16 differential metabolites(Between RA and UA groups), were identified. GO analysis and KEGG pathway analysis showed that the differential metabolic pathways among the three groups were mainly concentrated in citric acid cycle(TCA cycle), nucleotide metabolism, amino acid metabolism and glycolysis pathway. Correlation analysis of joint effusion microbiota and metabolites suggested that bacteria enriched in the three groups of joint effusion, such asPrevotella,Clostridium ruminosus,Prevotellaceae＿UCG-001, were related to many key metabolites such as lysozyme, uric acid, glucose, and L-glutamine. Conclusion This study shows that there are a variety of bacterial flora in joint cavity effusion of RA, OA, and UA patients, and the differential metabolites produced by them are involved in the pathogenesis of the three types of arthritis by affecting a variety of metabolic pathways.

Objective:To explore and analyze the characteristics and influencing factors of language development in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Methods:A case-control study was used, from May 2021 to August 2023, patients diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were enrolled in the mental health clinic of the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to the Capital Institute of Pediatrics. The language ability of 272 children with ADHD and 117 healthy children who underwent physical examination in children′s health center during the same period were tested by Diagnostic Receptive and Expressive Assessment of Mandarin-Comprehensive (DREAM-C), and the development levels of total language, receptive, expressive, semantics and syntax of the two groups were compared by independent sample t-test. The influential factors of language lag in children with ADHD were analyzed by univariate χ2 analysis and multiple logistic regression. Results:There were 272 children with ADHD, including 206 males and 66 females, with an age range of 6-8 (7.29±1.17) years. While in the control group, there were 117 healthy children, including 91 males and 26 females, with an age range of 6-8 (7.02±0.82) years. The average scores of total language, expressive and syntax of ADHD children were lower than those of healthy children [(92.73±12.47/96.36±11.04), t=-2.857, P<0.05; (84.49±13.24/87.78±15.25), t=-2.029, P<0.05; (87.93±10.26/90.27±11.05), t=2.022, P<0.05]. Univariate χ2 analysis showed that disharmonious family relationship ( χ2=4.183, P<0.05), the main caregivers were non-parents ( χ2=9.121, P<0.05), early screen exposure ( χ2=3.889, P<0.05), ADHD family history ( χ2=5.423, P<0.05) were influential factors of language development lag in ADHD children. The results of multivariate logistic regression model analysis showed that cesarean section ( OR=2.137, 95% CI: 1.078-4.379, P=0.030), disharmonious family relationship ( OR=2.659, 95% CI: 1.178-5.999, P=0.019), early screen exposure ( OR=3.556, 95% CI: 1.127-11.213, P=0.030), ADHD family history ( OR=1.959, 95% CI: 1.058-3.630, P=0.033) were risk factors for comorbidities of language development in children with ADHD. Conclusion:The total language ability, expressive and syntax scores of ADHD children lag behind those of healthy children. The delayed language development of ADHD children is related to delivery mode, family relationship, the main caregivers, early screen exposure, family history of ADHD.

Objective:To explore and analyze the characteristics and influencing factors of language development in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Methods:A case-control study was used, from May 2021 to August 2023, patients diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were enrolled in the mental health clinic of the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to the Capital Institute of Pediatrics. The language ability of 272 children with ADHD and 117 healthy children who underwent physical examination in children′s health center during the same period were tested by Diagnostic Receptive and Expressive Assessment of Mandarin-Comprehensive (DREAM-C), and the development levels of total language, receptive, expressive, semantics and syntax of the two groups were compared by independent sample t-test. The influential factors of language lag in children with ADHD were analyzed by univariate χ2 analysis and multiple logistic regression. Results:There were 272 children with ADHD, including 206 males and 66 females, with an age range of 6-8 (7.29±1.17) years. While in the control group, there were 117 healthy children, including 91 males and 26 females, with an age range of 6-8 (7.02±0.82) years. The average scores of total language, expressive and syntax of ADHD children were lower than those of healthy children [(92.73±12.47/96.36±11.04), t=-2.857, P<0.05; (84.49±13.24/87.78±15.25), t=-2.029, P<0.05; (87.93±10.26/90.27±11.05), t=2.022, P<0.05]. Univariate χ2 analysis showed that disharmonious family relationship ( χ2=4.183, P<0.05), the main caregivers were non-parents ( χ2=9.121, P<0.05), early screen exposure ( χ2=3.889, P<0.05), ADHD family history ( χ2=5.423, P<0.05) were influential factors of language development lag in ADHD children. The results of multivariate logistic regression model analysis showed that cesarean section ( OR=2.137, 95% CI: 1.078-4.379, P=0.030), disharmonious family relationship ( OR=2.659, 95% CI: 1.178-5.999, P=0.019), early screen exposure ( OR=3.556, 95% CI: 1.127-11.213, P=0.030), ADHD family history ( OR=1.959, 95% CI: 1.058-3.630, P=0.033) were risk factors for comorbidities of language development in children with ADHD. Conclusion:The total language ability, expressive and syntax scores of ADHD children lag behind those of healthy children. The delayed language development of ADHD children is related to delivery mode, family relationship, the main caregivers, early screen exposure, family history of ADHD.

By using thioflavin T(ThT)as displacement-based fluorescent probes,three kinds of aptasensors were constructed for rapid detection of three kinds of small molecules such as ochratoxin A(OTA),aflatoxin B1(AFB1)and adenosine.In the absence of target molecule,ThT bound with the aptamer to form an aptamer-ThT complex and exhibited a significant fluorescence response.Upon the addition of target molecule,because of the higher affinity between target and aptamer than that between ThT and the aptamer,ThT was displaced by the target molecule from the aptamer-ThT complex,resulting in weakened fluorescence signal.Based on this principle,the target molecule could be detected quantitatively.Further study through circular dichroism spectra showed that there was no significant change in the conformation of the aptamer after addition of ThT or target molecules.The stoichiometric ratios of ThT to OTAapt,AFB1apt and Adeapt measured through the method of equimolar continuous variation was 1∶1,1∶1 and 2∶1,respectively,and their dissociation constants were all larger than those between the target molecule and its aptamer.Therefore,the principle of this detection method was the displacement of fluorescent probe(ThT)in aptamer-ThT complex by target molecule,resulting in decrease of fluorescence intensity.Under optimal experimental conditions,the limits of detection(LODs)were 0.8 nmol/L for OTA,1.3 nmol/L for AFB1,and 0.10 μmol/L for adenosine,respectively.This method was label-free,simple to operate,with low cost,good selectivity and high sensitivity.The developed assay kit based on this method could be used for actual sample detection.