Objective To explore the predictive value of gait and balance on the frailty in community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older in Shanghai. Methods A total of 414 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years or older were recruited from Shanghai,from De-cember,2022 to April,2023.They were investigated with Fried's Frailty Phenotype Scale,Timed Up and Go Test(TUGT),one leg standing test(OLST)and self-designed questionnaire.The factors related to frailty were ana-lyzed using multivariate Logistic regression. Results The prevalence of pre-frailty and frailty were 62.8%and 10.9%,respectively.Living in rural residence,older age,low income,smoking,sedentary lifestyle and no regular exercise were the risk factors for frailty among com-munity-dwelling older adults.Time of TUGT increased,and time of closed eyes OLST descreased respectively in the frail older adults(P<0.05).The area under curve was 0.846(95%CI 0.808 to 0.884,P<0.001)as prediction for frailty using the combination of TUGT and closed eye OLST,with a sensitivity of 0.726 and a specificity of 0.817 at the optimal threshold. Conclusion Gait and balance may be a valuable predictor of frailty in community-dwelling older adults in Shanghai.

Objective:To evaluate the distribution characteristics of choroidal vascularity index (CVI) in macula among normal children using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT), and to investigate the influencing factors.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted.Sixty-three children aged 6 to 12 years were enrolled in The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from May 2021 to November 2021.Spherical equivalent refraction, axial length (AL) and other ocular biological parameters were measured.Macula-centered CVI and choroidal thickness (ChT) were measured by SS-OCT angiography.According to the ETDRS partition, the obtained image was divided into macular central fovea (0-1 mm diameter), inner ring (1-3 mm diameter) and outer ring (3-6 mm diameter) zones.Data from the right eye were selected for statistical analysis.CVI in the three rings and four zones (superior, temporal, inferior and nasal zones) of the inner and outer rings were compared.Univariate and multiple linear regression analyses were used to analyze the correlation between CVI and sex, AL, anterior chamber depth (ACD), ChT and pupil diameter.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (No.2021-KY-0399-003). Written informed consent was obtained from each guardian.Results:The average CVI in the macular central fovea, inner ring and outer ring were 0.35±0.12, 0.32±0.10 and 0.27±0.08, respectively, with a significant difference ( F=10.96, P<0.001), and significant differences in CVI were found in pairwise comparisons of the three ring zones (all at P<0.05). Significant differences in CVI were found among superior, temporal, inferior and nasal zones in inner and outer rings ( Fring=11.60, P=0.001; Fzone=12.02, P<0.05). The CVI was smaller in superior and nasal zones in inner ring than in temporal zone, greater in superior, temporal and inferior zones in outer ring than in nasal zone, smaller in superior zone of outer ring than that of the inner ring, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.001). The single factor linear regression analysis showed that ChT in the fovea, inner ring and outer ring were the influencing factors of CVI in the three ring zones (all at β=0.001, P<0.001). Pupil diameter ( β=0.034, P=0.038; β=0.040, P=0.003; β=0.024, P=0.011) and ACD ( β=0.097, P=0.034; β=0.097, P=0.013; β=0.061, P=0.032) were the influencing factors of CVI in fovea, inner ring and outer ring.After multiple linear regression analysis, the regression equations were established as follows: CVI in the macular fovea=0.001×ChT in the macular fovea + 0.001×ChT in the inner ring+ 0.001×ChT in the outer ring-0.301 ( R2=0.514, F=6.875, P<0.001); CVI in the inner ring=0.001×ChT in the macular fovea+ 0.001×ChT in the inner ring+ 0.001×ChT in the outer ring+ 0.088×AL-0.307 ( R2=0.603, F=9.870, P<0.001); CVI in the outer ring=0.001×ChT in the macular fovea+ 0.001×ChT in the inner ring+ 0.001×ChT in the outer ring-0.135 ( R2=0.601, F=9.781, P<0.001). Conclusions:In children aged 6-12 years old, the CVI is higher in the macular central fovea than in inner and outer rings, and the CVI in nasal zone is the smallest in both inner and outer rings.The thicker the ChT, the higher the CVI in all zones in the macular area; the deeper the anterior chamber, the higher the CVI in the inner ring.

Objective: To analyze the prevalence and trend of myopia among children and adolescents in Inner Mongolia from 2019 to 2021，so as to provide a reference for making scientific and effective prevention and controlling measures of myopia. Methods: By using the stratified random cluster sampling method, 555 093 children and adolescents were selected from 12 professional institutions in league cities of the whole region for remote vision examination and refractive examination. The refraction test was carried out under the condition of non-Ciliary muscle paralysis using a desktop automatic computer optometer. Chi-squared test and multivariate Logistic regression were used to analyze the myopia status of children and adolescents and its influencing factors. Results: From 2019 to 2021, the myopia rate of children and adolescents was 53.30%, 58.65% and 54.82%, respectively, the difference was statistically significant ( χ 2=991.70, P <0.01). The overall female myopia rate(58.82%) was higher than that of male (51.52%), and the differece was statistical significant ( χ 2=3 295.66, P <0.05). The myopia rates of boys and girls by year were 49.44% and 57.30%, 54.76% and 62.60%, 51.23% and 57.62%, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant ( χ 2=1 197.02, 922.31, 1 172.09, P <0.01). The overall myopia rate of urban students (59.42%) was higher than that of suburban counties (53.61%), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ 2=1 565.03, P <0.05). The myopia rates of children and adolescentss in urban and suburban counties were 59.20% and 50.79%, 60.26% and 57.88%, 58.95% and 53.36%, and the differences were statistically significant ( χ 2=1 150.80, 74.10, 529.25, P <0.01). The children and adolescents of learning stages were of statistical significance ( χ 2=92 402.39, P <0.05), and the overall myopia rate of senior school students was the highest, accounting for 83.57%. The difference of overall myopia rates of different age groups was of statistical significance ( χ 2=121 881.67, P <0.05), and the students in age group of 17 ranked the first (83.32%), those in age group of 5 ranked the last(15.52%). Conclusion From 2019 to 2021, the myopia rate of children and adolescents in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region increase first and then decrease, and the myopia rate in 2020 and 2021 is higher than that in 2019. The high incidence and low age of myopia are intensifying. The prevention and controlling of myopia among children and adolescents should be strengthened, so as to reduce the occurance of myopia.

Malfunction of the ventral subiculum (vSub), the main subregion controlling the output connections from the hippocampus, is associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). Although the vSub receives cholinergic innervation from the medial septum and diagonal band of Broca (MSDB), whether and how the MSDB-to-vSub cholinergic circuit is involved in MDD is elusive. Here, we found that chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) induced depression-like behaviors with hyperactivation of vSub neurons, measured by c-fos staining and whole-cell patch-clamp recording. By retrograde and anterograde tracing, we confirmed the dense MSDB cholinergic innervation of the vSub. In addition, transient restraint stress in CUMS increased the level of ACh in the vSub. Furthermore, chemogenetic stimulation of this MSDB-vSub innervation in ChAT-Cre mice induced hyperactivation of vSub pyramidal neurons along with depression-like behaviors; and local infusion of atropine, a muscarinic receptor antagonist, into the vSub attenuated the depression-like behaviors induced by chemogenetic stimulation of this pathway and CUMS. Together, these findings suggest that activating the MSDB-vSub cholinergic pathway induces hyperactivation of vSub pyramidal neurons and depression-like behaviors, revealing a novel circuit underlying vSub pyramidal neuronal hyperactivation and its associated depression.
Rats ; Mice ; Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Depressive Disorder, Major/metabolism* ; Basal Forebrain ; Depression ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Cholinergic Agents

This paper focused on the research progress of the assessment methods of carers′ fall concern for the elderly. The content of this review included the definition of carers′ fall concern, and the advantages and disadvantages of various assessment method of carers′ fall concern for the caregivers to the elderly, such as qualitative interviews, questionnaires, and scales. Through this review, the authors hoped to provide a reference for selecting or developing a localized carers′ fall concern assessment tool.

Objective:To observe the effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture combined with electroacupuncture on neurological function and limb motor function in patients with ischemic stroke. Methods:A total of 106 eligible subjects were divided into a treatment group and a control group according to the random number table method,with 53 cases in each group.Patients in the control group were treated with conventional rehabilitation.The treatment group was treated with wrist-ankle acupuncture and electroacupuncture in addition to the treatment used in the control group.The National Institute of Heath stroke scale(NIHSS)score,Fugl-Meyer assessment scale score,Berg balance scale score,lower limb main nerve conduction velocity,and total response rate were compared between the two groups. Results:The total response rate of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the NIHSS score,Fugl-Meyer assessment scale score,and Berg balance scale score of the two groups were improved compared with those before treatment(P<0.05),and the treatment group was significantly better than the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,only the conduction velocity of femoral nerve in the control group was better than that before treatment(P<0.05),and the conduction velocity of femoral nerve,tibial nerve,sural nerve,and common peroneal nerve in the treatment group was better than that before treatment(P<0.05),and was better than that in the control group(P<0.05). Conclusion:Wrist-ankle acupuncture and electroacupuncture combined with conventional rehabilitation therapy can significantly improve nerve and muscle function and the motor and living ability of patients with ischemic stroke,and its therapeutic effect is superior to that of conventional rehabilitation therapy alone.

Alcoholic liver disease(ALD)is the most frequent liver disease worldwide,resulting in severe harm to personal health and posing a serious burden to public health.Based on the reported antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities of scutellarin(SCU),this study investigated its protective role in male BALB/c mice with acute alcoholic liver injury after oral administration(10,25,and 50 mg/kg).The results indicated that SCU could lessen serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)levels and improve the histopathological changes in acute alcoholic liver;it reduced alcohol-induced malondialdehyde(MDA)content and increased glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),catalase(CAT),and superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity.Furthermore,SCU decreased tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6),and IL-1β messenger RNA(mRNA)expression levels,weakened inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)activity,and inhibited nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain(NOD)-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome activation.Mechanistically,SCU suppressed cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily E member 1(CYP2E1)upregulation triggered by alcohol,increased the expression of oxidative stress-related nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)pathways,and suppressed the inflammation-related degradation of inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)-α(IκBα)as well as activation of NF-κB by mediating the protein kinase B(AKT)and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)pathways.These findings demonstrate that SCU protects against acute alcoholic liver injury via inhibiting oxidative stress by regulating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and suppressing inflammation by regulating the AKT,p38 MAPK/NF-κB pathways.

Background The optimal model method for estimation of benchmark dose (BMD) does not consider the uncertainty of model selection. There is a lack of studies on using Bayesian model averaging (BMA) to estimate BMD. Objective To apply BMA to the exposure assessment of cadmium pollution in China, discuss the role of BMA in estimating BMD based on dose-response models, and to provide methodological support for health risk assessment of hazardous substances. Methods The parameters of five dose-response models (Gamma, Log-logistic, Log-probit, Two-stage, and Weibull models) estimated from the data from a cadmium-contaminated area in Baiyin City of Gansu Province and the urinary cadmium ranges in five cadmium-contaminated areas in China were used to simulate the data of varied correct models with different numbers of dosage groups (5 and 8) and different sample sizes (50, 100, and 200), then the performance of BMA and traditional optimal model were compared. The case analysis used the cadmium exposure data in Baiyin, Gansu Province. All analyses set urinary cadmium as the indicator of cadmium exposure, the abnormal rate of β₂-microglobulin as the effect indicator, and the benchmark response to 10%. The correct model (the model used when simulating data), optimal model [the model with smallest Akaike information criterion (AIC)], and BMA were used to estimate BMD and lower confidence limit of benchmark dose (BMDL); the BMDs, BMDLs, and relative deviations from different methods were compared. Results In the simulation study, with increasing sample size or the number of dosage groups, the intervals of the 5th percentile and the 90th percentile of BMD tended to be narrower; when the correct model was a single model, the relative deviation of BMD estimation by BMA was greater than that of the traditional optimal model; when the correct model was an equal weight mixed model, the relative deviation of BMD estimation by BMA was less than that by the traditional optimal model. For the data of cadmium-contaminated areas, the optimal model was a Log-probit model (AIC=1814.46), followed by a Log-logistic model (AIC=1814.57); the BMDs (BMDLs) estimated by the Log-probit model, the Log-logistic model, and BMA were 3.46 (2.68), 3.16 (2.33), and 2.92 (2.07) μg·g⁻¹, respectively. Conclusion The traditional optimal model is still recommended when the correct model is known. However, when the dose-response relationship of a hazardous substance is uncertain or with different sources or exposure grouping, compared with the traditional optimal model, BMA theoretically provides more stable estimation of BMD and BMDL by considering multiple possible alternative models.

Objective:To investigate the efficiency of deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) algorithm in the image quality and detection of hypovascular hepatic metastases under low radiation doses in comparison with adaptive statistical iterative construction-V (ASiR-V).Methods:Fifty-six patients with suspected hypovascular hepatic metastases who needed abdominal enhanced CT scans were collected prospectively in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January to April 2021. The patients received conventional radiation dose with tube current-time products of 400 mA CT scans in the first venous phase, low-dose CT scans in the second venous phase, which were set as tube current-time products of 280 mA for group A (19 cases), 200 mA for group B (19 cases) and 120 mA for group C (18 case), respectively. The images of first venous phase and 3 groups of second venous phase were both reconstructed with ASiR-V60% and high-DLIR (DLIR-H). Quantitative parameters [image noise, liver and portal vein signal to noise ratio (SNR), contrast to noise ratio (CNR)] and qualitative parameters (overall image quality, lesion conspicuity, diagnostic confidence) were compared between ASiR-V60% and DLIR-H images, and the effective radiation dose (ED) and the lesion detectability of each group was recorded. The paired t test was used to compare quantitative parameters, whereas the Wilcoxon signed-rank test of paired data was used to compare qualitative parameters. Results:In the second venous phase, ED was (5.56±0.35) mSv in group A, (3.88±0.23) mSv in group B, and (2.42±0.23) mSv in group C, with a decrease of 30%, 50% and 70% compared with the first venous phase, respectively. Moreover, with the decrease of radiation dose, the noise gradually increased, and the CNR lesions, SNR liver and SNR portal vein all gradually decreased. DLIR-H images had statistically better quantitative scores than ASiR-V60% images when the same radiation dose was applied (all P<0.001). Furthermore, the qualitative parameters of each group decreased with the decrease of radiation dose. Under the same radiation dose, the overall image quality, lesion conspicuity and diagnostic confidence of DLIR-H were higher than those of ASiR-V60% (all P<0.001). All lesions [100% (84/84)] were detected by ASIR-V60% and DLIR-H in group A, 92.0% (75/81) in group B, and 88.0% (79/89) in group C. Conclusions:Compared with ASiR-V60%, DLIR-H could reduce image noise, improve overall image quality and lesion conspicuity of hypovascular hepatic metastases as well as increase diagnostic confidence under different radiation doses.

Objective:To observe the safety and efficacy of 0.01% atropine eye drops in the prevention of myopia onset in schoolchildren.Methods:A randomized double-blind controlled study was conducted.Sixty Chinese Han children (60 eyes) with binocular spherical equivalent (SE) between + 0.50 D and -0.75 D (pre-myopia) by cycloplegic autorefraction treated in The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were enrolled from July to October 2020.Aged 6-12 years old, the children were divided into 0.01% atropine group and control group according to a random number table, with 30 cases (30 eyes) in each group.The children were given one drop of 0.01% atropine or placebo eye drops in both eyes once a night.The SE, axial length (AL), accommodative amplitude and pupil diameter were compared before and after 3-month, 6-month of treatment between the two groups.Discomforts were recorded.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by an Ethics Committee of The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (No.2020-KY-286). Written informed consent was obtained from guardian of each subject.Results:After treatment, 26 and 25 subjects completed the 6-month follow-up in 0.01% atropine group and control group, respectively, among which 3 subjects in 0.01% atropine group accounting for 11.5% and 9 in control group accounting for 36.0% developed myopia, showing a statistically significant difference ( χ2=4.238, P=0.040). There were significant differences in the overall comparison of SE and AL at different time points between before and after treatment ( Ftime=10.981, 81.854; both at P<0.001). At 3 and 6 months after treatment, there were significant increases in the SE and AL of control group and AL of 0.01% atropine group compared with respective baseline values (all at P<0.05). There was no significant difference in SE at 3 and 6 months after treatment compared with baseline SE in 0.01% atropine group (both at P>0.05). At 6 months after treatment, the change in SE in 0.01% atropine group was (-0.15±0.26)D, which was significantly less than (-0.34±0.35)D in control group, and the change in AL in 0.01% atropine group was (0.17±0.11)mm, Which was significantly shorter than (0.28±0.14)mm in control group, with significant differences between them ( t=2.207, P=0.032; t=3.127, P=0.003). There were significant differences in pupil diameter at different time points between before and after treatment ( Ftime=2.263, P=0.032). At 3 and 6 months after treatment, the pupil diameter was increased in comparison with baseline in 0.01% atropine group (both at P<0.05). There were significant differences in accommodative amplitude at different time points between before and after treatment in the two groups ( Fgroup=0.882, P=0.042; Ftime=0.337, P=0.033). The accommodative amplitude at 3 and 6 months after treatment were decreased in comparison with baseline in 0.01% atropine group and control group at corresponding time points (all at P<0.05). Within a month after treatment, photophobia in bright sunlight occurred in 5 cases in 0.01% atropine group, accounting for 16.7%(5/30), and 2 cases in control group, accounting for 6.7%(2/30), showing no significant difference ( χ2=0.647, P=0.421). No near-vision blur and other uncomfortable symptoms was found in the two groups. Conclusions:After 6-month application of 0.01% atropine eye drops, the prevalence of myopia in pre-myopia schoolchildren decreases and the changing rate of SE and AL slows down.The accommodative amplitude is slightly reduced and pupil diameter is slightly increased, with no obvious effects on study and life.