Objective Objective To analyze the potential spatial factors affecting the genetic differentiation of Oncomelania hupensis robertsoni in Yunnan Province. Methods A total of 13 administrative villages were selected from schistosomiasis-endemic areas of Yunnan Province as O. hupensis snail sampling sites. At least 200 snails were collected in each site, and the spatial variable data of each site were recorded, including longitude, latitude and altitude. Thirty active and Schistosoma japonicum uninfected O. hupensis snails were selected from each sampling site by means of the crawling method and the cercarial shedding method. Genomic DNA was extracted from O. hupensis snails. Following PCR amplification, purification of PCR amplification products and sequencing, the gene sequences of O. hupensis snail samples were spliced and edited using the DNAstar software and the NCBI database to yield the complete mitochondrial sequences of O. hupensis snails at each sampling site, and the mitochondrial genetic distance matrix of O. hupensis robertsoni was calculated at each sampling site. The geographical coordinates of each sampling site were marked using the software ArcGIS 10.2, and the straight-line geographical distance between each sampling site was calculated. The altitude difference, longitude difference and latitude difference between each sampling site were calculated using the Excel software, and the correlation between the mitochondrial genetic distance matrix of O. hupensis robertsoni and each spatial variable matrix was examined by using the Mantel test at 13 sampling sites in Yunnan Province. Results Among the 13 O. hupensis snail sampling sites in Yunnan Province, the largest mitochondrial genetic distance of O. hupensis robertsoni snail populations was seen between Anding Village, Nanjian Yi Autonomous County and Caizhuang Village, Midu County (26.244 2), and the largest geographical distance was seen between Dongyuan Village, Gucheng District and Cangling Village, Chuxiong County (272.64 km). The highest altitude difference was seen between Anding Village, Nanjian Yi Autonomous County and Dongyuan Village, Gucheng District (1 086.10 m), and the largest longitude difference was found between Qiandian Village, Eryuan County and Cangling Village, Chuxiong County (1.86°), while the largest latitude difference was measured between Leqiu Village, Nanjian Yi Autonomous County and Dongyuan Village, Gucheng District (1.81°). In addition, the mitochondrial genetic distance of O. hupensis robertsoni snail populations was positively correlated with altitude at 13 snail sampling sites in Yunnan Province (r = 0.542 8, P < 0.001), and showed no significant correlations with geographical distance (r = 0.093 4, P > 0.05), longitude (r = −0.199 5, P > 0.05) or latitude (r = 0.205 7, P > 0.05). Conclusion Altitude may be a potential spatial factor affecting the genetic differentiation of O. hupensis robertsoni in Yunnan Province.

Objective To assess the echogenicity of the ultrasound-guided catheter and its associated delivery system. Methods The study consisted of in vitro characterization experiments and animal studies. In the in vitro phase, the acoustic and mechanical properties of the ultrasound-guided catheter were compared with those of the traditional MPA2 catheter, including parameters such as echo intensity, recognizability, and angle dependence. In the animal experiments, a ventricular septal defect (VSD) model was established in miniature pigs to compare the procedural performance of the ultrasound-guided delivery system versus the conventional system. Evaluation indicators included the time required for the system to cross the VSD, the detection rate of the system within the right ventricle, and the occurrence of intraoperative complications. Results The ultrasound-guided catheter demonstrated a significantly higher mean echo intensity than the MPA2 catheter [(237.3±1.8) dB vs. (190.9±13.1) dB, P<0.001] and a markedly improved recognizability rate (82.3%±5.6% vs. 26.7%±3.2%, P<0.001), along with better angle independence and image quality. In animal experiments, the ultrasound-guided delivery system significantly reduced the time required to cross the VSD [(18.5±5.7) min vs. (30.3±4.5) min, P<0.001] and substantially increased the detection rate within the right ventricle (100.0% vs. 30.0%). No severe complications occurred in any experimental animal. Conclusion The ultrasound-guided catheter and its corresponding delivery system exhibite superior ultrasound visibility and operational performance in both in vitro and animal experiments, indicating strong potential for clinical application.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of heat-sensitive moxibustion on quality of life and immune function in non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） patients undergoing chemotherapy. MethodsSeventy NSCLC patients with qi deficiency and phlegm stasis syndrome were randomly divided into an intervention group and a control group， with 35 cases in each group. The control group received chemotherapy combined with routine symptomatic treatment， while the intervention group additionally received heat-sensitive moxibustion since the first day of chemotherapy. Acupoints included Dazhui （GV14）， bilateral Feishu （BL13）， Zhongwan （CV12）， Qihai （CV6）， and Guanyuan （CV4）. The site exhibiting the strongest heat-sensitization response was selected for moxibustion. Treatment was administered for 45 minutes per session， three times weekly for three consecutive weeks， totaling nine sessions. Before and after treatment， quality of life was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire （EORTC QLQ-C30）， and traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome scores were evaluated. Peripheral blood levels of natural killer （NK） cells and T-lymphocyte subsets including CD3⁺， CD4⁺， and CD8⁺， and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio were measured. Levels of programmed cell death protein-1 （PD-1）， including PD-1⁺CD4⁺ and PD-1⁺CD8⁺ cells， were also assessed. Liver and renal function were monitored before and after treatment， and adverse events were recorded. ResultsIn the intervention group， 1 participant withdrew and 1 was excluded， while in the control group， 2 participants withdrew. Ultimately， 33 participants in each group were included in the final analysis. The intervention group showed significant improvements in physical， role， emotional， cognitive， and social functioning， as well as global health status after treatment， while scores for fatigue， nausea and vomiting， dyspnea， appetite loss， diarrhea， and TCM syndrome scale were significantly decreased （P＜0.05）. Moreover， the intervention group demonstrated higher scores in physical functioning， role functioning， and global health status， as well as lower scores for fatigue， nausea and vomiting， dyspnea， appetite loss， diarrhea， and the TCM syndrome scale than the control group （P＜0.05）. After treatment， the levels of peripheral NK cells and PD-1⁺CD8⁺ T cells in the intervention group increased significantly； furthermore， the intervention group exhibited higher peripheral NK cell levels and lower PD-1⁺CD8⁺ T cell levels than the control group （P＜0.05）. No significant differences were found in liver or renal function between the two groups （P＞0.05）. In addition， no adverse events such as burns or moxibustion-induced syncope occurred during the study. ConclusionHeat-sensitive moxibustion as an adjunctive therapy may enhance immune function， alleviate clinical symptoms， and improve quality of life， while demonstrating a favorable safety profile in NSCLC patients with qi deficiency and phlegm stasis.

Objective To investigate the clinical safety and efficacy of predictive extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support during liver transplantation in high-risk recipients. Methods A single-center retrospective study was conducted. A total of 35 liver transplant recipients who underwent predictive ECMO assistance during surgery at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from January 2021 to April 2025 were included. Baseline characteristics, ECMO application, ECMO operating parameters and hemodynamic conditions during ECMO operation were analyzed. The cumulative survival rate was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and survival curves were plotted. Results Veno-arterial ECMO in 35 recipients was established after induction of general anesthesia. The median ECMO operation time was 8.5 h, and the success rate of weaning from ECMO was 97%. The cardiac index (CI) during the non-liver period and the new liver period was higher than that before cannulation, and CI increased during the non-liver period and before weaning (all P<0.001). The mean invasive arterial pressure and central venous pressure remained stable. No ECMO-related complications occurred in the recipients. The average survival time was (25 ± 3) months. The main causes of death were severe pulmonary infection and multiple organ failure. Conclusions For liver transplant recipients with severe cardiopulmonary dysfunction, hemodynamic disorders, or multiple organ failure risk factors, implementing predictive ECMO support during liver transplantation through active risk prediction is a safe and effective circulatory guarantee strategy.

The relationship between gut microbiota and depressive disorder has become a research focus in recent years. Within the microbiota-gut-brain axis, the gut microbiota influences the onset and progression of depressive disorder primarily through the tryptophan metabolic pathway. Tryptophan, an essential amino acid in humans, is subject to dual regulation by intestinal microorganisms, which modulate its metabolic balance via inflammatory stimulation and microbial metabolite production. In depression, excessive activation of the kynurenine branch of tryptophan metabolism leads to the accumulation of proinflammatory and neurotoxic metabolites, thereby exacerbating neuroinflammation in the brain. Intervention studies indicate that the antidepressant-like effects of probiotics and traditional Chinese medicine are associated with remodeling of the gut microbiota, restoration of tryptophan metabolic balance, and alleviation of neuroinflammation. Furthermore, targeted inhibition of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase can mitigate neuroinflammation by regulating microglial activity, thus improving depressive-like behaviors. In summary, the metabolite-inflammation axis represents a central node in the interaction regulation between tryptophan metabolism and the microbiota-gut-brain axis. This provides a theoretical foundation for developing novel therapeutic strategies targeting depression through modulation of gut microbiota-mediated tryptophan metabolism.
Tryptophan/metabolism* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/physiology* ; Humans ; Depressive Disorder/microbiology* ; Probiotics/therapeutic use* ; Brain/metabolism* ; Kynurenine/metabolism* ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Animals ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Objective:To analyze the efficacy, influencing factors, and risk warning of multi-plane low-temperature plasma radiofrequency ablation（MLT-RFA） in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome（OSAHS）. Methods:A total of 118 OSAHS patients admitted from October 2022 to June 2024 were selected as the research subjects. They were divided into mild group（n=46）, moderate group（n=52）, and severe group（n=20） according to the severity of their condition. MLT-RFA treatment was used for all patients. After surgery, the results of polysomnography（PSG） and the changes in the Calier Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index（SAQLI） were observed before and after treatment. The incidence of complications after treatment was recorded, and the clinical efficacy of the patients was evaluated. At the same time, they were divided into a treatment effective group（n=106） and an ineffective group（n=12） according to their effects. The general clinical data of the two groups were compared, and binary logistics regression analysis was conducted to identify independent factors that affect treatment efficacy and construct a model. ROC curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the model. Results:The treatment effectiveness rate of the mild group was 93.48%, the moderate group was 90.38%, and the severe group was 80.00%. There was no statistically significant difference in the treatment effectiveness rate among the three groups（P>0.05）. The AHI of the mild group, moderate group, and severe group increased sequentially, while the LSaO2and SAQLI scores decreased sequentially. After treatment, the AHI of all three groups decreased compared to before treatment, while the LSaO2and SAQLI scores increased compared to before treatment, and the differences were statistically significant（P<0.05）. The pre-treatment AHI of the effective group was lower than that of the ineffective group, and the pre-treatment LSaO2and SAQLI were higher than those of the ineffective group, with statistically significant differences（P<0.05）. Pre-treatment LSaO2and pre-treatment SAQLI are independent factors affecting the efficacy of MLT-RFA（P<0.05）. The AUC of pre-treatment LSaO2, pre-treatment SAQLI, and combined prediction were 0.907, 0.763, and 0.947, respectively, with sensitivities of 0.896, 0.840, and 0.917, and specificities of 0.833, 0.667, and 0.887, respectively. Conclusion:MLT-RFA has a significant effect on the treatment of OSAHS, and the AHI, LSaO2, and SAQLI of patients before treatment can predict the treatment effect, with LSaO2 and SAQLI being independent influencing factors. The combinerd prediction model exhibits high diagnostic efficiency, sensitivity, and specificity.
Radiofrequency Ablation/methods* ; Plasma Gases ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/surgery* ; Polysomnography ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; Quality of Life ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome ; Humans

Increasing evidence shows that the early lesions of Parkinson's disease (PD) originate from gut, and correction of microbiota dysbiosis is a promising therapy for PD. FLZ is a neuroprotective agent on PD, which has been validated capable of alleviating microbiota dysbiosis in PD mice. However, the detailed mechanisms still need elucidated. Through metabolomics and 16S rRNA analysis, we identified glycoursodeoxycholic acid (GUDCA) was the most affected differential microbial metabolite by FLZ treatment, which was specially and negatively regulated by Clostridium innocuum, a differential microbiota with the strongest correlation to GUDCA production, through inhibiting bile salt hydrolase (BSH) enzyme. The protection of GUDCA on colon and brain were also clarified in PD models, showing that it could activate Nrf2 pathway, further validating that FLZ protected dopaminergic neurons through promoting GUDCA production. Our study uncovered that FLZ improved PD through microbiota-gut-brain axis, and also gave insights into modulation of microbial metabolites may serve as an important strategy for treating PD.

Although enteric glial cell (EGC) abnormal activation is reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), and inhibition of EGC gliosis alleviated gut and dopaminergic neuronal dysfunction was verified in our previous study, the potential role of gut microbiota on EGC function in PD still need to be addressed. In the present study, fecal microbiota transplantation revealed that EGC function was regulated by gut microbiota. By employing 16S rRNA and metabolomic analysis, we identified that 3-indolepropionic acid (IPA) was the most affected differential microbial metabolite that regulated EGC gliosis. The protective effects of IPA on PD were validated in rotenone-stimulated EGCs and rotenone (30 mg/kg i.g. for 4 weeks)-induced PD mice, as indicated by decreased inflammation, improved intestinal and brain barrier as well as dopaminergic neuronal function. Mechanistic study showed that IPA targeted pregnane X receptor (PXR) in EGCs, and inhibition of IL-13Rα1 involved cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway, leading to inactivation of downstream JAK1-STAT6 pathway. Our data not only provided evidence that EGC gliosis was critical in spreading intestinal damage to brain, but also highlighted the potential role of microbial metabolite IPA in alleviating PD pathological damages through gut-brain axis.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2025.02.029.].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of 3D printing spinal external fixator combined with McKenzie therapy for patients with lumbar dics herniation (LDH). METHODS: Sixty patients with LDH between January 2022 and January 2023 were enrolled. Among them, 30 patients were given McKinsey training. According to different treatment methods, all patients were divided into McKenzie group and McKenzie + 3D printing group, 30 patients in each group. The McKenzie group provided McKenzie therapy. The McKenzie + 3D printing group were treated with 3D printing spinal external fixation brace on the basis of McKenzie therapy. Patients in both groups were between 25 and 60 years of age and had their first illness. In the McKenzie group, there were 19 males and 11 females, with an average age of (48.57±5.86) years old, and the disease duration was (7.03 ±2.39) months. The McKenzie + 3D printing group, there were 21 males and 9 females, with an average age of (48.80±5.92) years old, and the disease duration was(7.30±2.56) months. Pain was evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS), and lumbar spine function was assessed using the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score. VAS, ODI and JOA scores were compared between two groups before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after treatment. RESULTS: All patients were followed up for 12 months. The VAS for the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment were(6.533±0.860), (5.133±1.008), (3.933±0.868), (2.900±0.759), (2.067±0.640), (1.433±0.504), respectively. In the McKenzie group, the corresponding scores were (6.467±0.860), (5.067±1.048), (4.600±0.968), (3.533±1.008), (2.567±0.728), (1.967±0.809), respectively. The ODI of the McKenzie group before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment were (41.033±6.810)%, (37.933±6.209)%, (35.467±6.962)%, (27.567±10.081)%, (20.800±7.531)%, (13.533±5.158)%, respectively. For the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group, the corresponding ODI were(38.033±5.605)%, (33.000±6.192)%, (28.767±7.045)%, (22.200±5.517)%, (17.700±4.836)%, (11.900±2.771)%, respectively. The JOA scores of the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment were(8.900±2.074), (13.133±2.330), (15.700±3.583), (20.400±3.480), (22.267±3.084), (24.833±2.640), respectively. In the McKenzie group, the corresponding scores were(9.200±2.091), (12.267±2.406), (15.333±3.198), (18.467±2.240), (20.133±2.751), (22.467±2.849), respectively. Before the initiation of treatment, no statistically significant differences were observed in the VAS, ODI, and JOA scores between two groups (P>0.05). At 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment, the VAS in the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group was significantly lower than that in the McKenzie group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The comparison of ODI between two groups at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment revealed statistically significant differences (P<0.05). At 6, 9, and 12 months post-treatment, the JOA score in the McKenzie combined with 3D printing group was significantly higher than that in the McKenzie-only group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The combination of 3D printed functional spinal external fixation brace with McKenzie therapy can significantly improve and maintain lumbar function in patients with LDH.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/surgery* ; External Fixators ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Adult ; Braces ; Treatment Outcome