Objective To investigate the changes in eosinophil counts and the activation of microglial cells in the brain tissues of mice at different stages of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection, and to examine the role of microglia in regulating the progression of angiostrongyliasis and unravel the possible molecular mechanisms. Methods Fifty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into the control group and the 7-d, 14-d, 21-day and 25-d infection groups, of 10 mice in each group. All mice in infection groups were infected with 30 stage III A. cantonensis larvae by gavage, and animals in the control group was given an equal amount of physiological saline. Five mice were collected from each of infection groups on days 7, 14, 21 d and 25 d post-infection, and 5 mice were collected from the control group on the day of oral gavage. The general and focal functional impairment was scored using the Clark scoring method to assess the degree of mouse neurological impairment. Five mice from each of infection groups were sacrificed on days 7, 14, 21 d and 25 d post-infection, and 5 mice from the control group were sacrificed on the day of oral gavage. Mouse brain tissues were sampled, and the pathological changes of brain tissues were dynamically observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Immunofluorescence staining with eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) was used to assess the degree of eosinophil infiltration and the counts of microglial cells in mouse brain tissues in each group, and the morphological parameters of microglial cells (skeleton analysis and fractal analysis) were quantified by using Image J software to determine the morphological changes of microglial cells. In addition, the expression of M1 microglia markers Fcγ receptor III (Fcgr3), Fcγ receptor IIb (Fcgr2b) and CD86 antigen (Cd86), M2 microglia markers Arginase 1 (Arg1), macrophage mannose receptor C-type 1 (Mrc1), chitinase-like 3 (Chil3), and phagocytosis genes myeloid cell triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (Trem2), CD68 antigen (Cd68), and apolipoprotein E (Apoe) was quantified using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) assay in the mouse cerebral cortex of mice post-infection. Results A large number of A. cantonensis larvae were seen on the mouse meninges surface post-infection, and many neuronal nuclei were crumpled and deeply stained, with a large number of bleeding points in the meninges. The median Clark scores of mouse general functional impairment were 0 (interquartile range, 0), 0 (interquartile range, 0.5), 6 (interquartile range, 1.0), 14 (interquartile range, 8.5) points and 20 (interquartile range, 9.0) points in the control group and the 7-d, 14-d, 21-d and 25-d groups, respectively (H = 22.45, P < 0.01), and the median Clark scores of mouse focal functional impairment were 0 (interquartile range, 0), 2 (interquartile range, 2.5), 7 (interquartile range, 3.0), 18 (interquartile range, 5.0) points and 25 (interquartile range, 6.5) points in the control group and the 7-d, 14-d, 21-d and 25-d groups, respectively (H = 22.72, P < 0.01). The mean scores of mice general and focal functional impairment were all higher in the infection groups than in the control group (all P values < 0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed a significant difference in the eosinophil counts in mouse brain tissues among the five groups (F = 40.05, P < 0.000 1), and the eosinophil counts were significantly higher in mouse brain tissues in the 14-d (3.08 ± 0.78) and 21-d infection groups (5.97 ± 1.37) than in the control group (1.00 ± 0.28) (both P values < 0.05). Semi-quantitative analysis of microglia immunofluorescence showed a significant difference in the counts of microglial cells among the five groups (F = 17.66, P < 0.000 1), and higher Iba1 levels were detected in mouse brain tissues in 14-d (5.75 ± 1.28), 21-d (6.23 ± 1.89) and 25-d infection groups (3.70 ± 1.30) than in the control group (1.00 ± 0.30) (all P values < 0.05). Skeleton and fractal analyses showed that the branch length [(162.04 ± 34.10) μm vs. (395.37 ± 64.11) μm; t = 5.566, P < 0.05] and fractal dimension of microglial cells (1.30 ± 0.01 vs. 1.41 ± 0.03; t = 5.266, P < 0.05) were reduced in mouse brain tissues in the 21-d infection group relative to the control group. In addition, there were significant differences among the 5 groups in terms of M1 and M2 microglia markers Fcgr3 (F = 48.34, P < 0.05), Fcgr2b (F = 55.46, P < 0.05), Cd86 (F = 24.44, P < 0.05), Arg1 (F = 31.18, P < 0.05), Mrc1 (F = 15.42, P < 0.05) and Chil3 (F = 24.41, P < 0.05), as well as phagocytosis markers Trem2 (F = 21.19, P < 0.05), Cd68 (F = 43.95, P < 0.05) and Apoe (F = 7.12, P < 0.05) in mice brain tissues. Conclusions A. cantonensis infections may induce severe pathological injuries in mouse brain tissues that are characterized by massive eosinophil infiltration and persistent activation of microglia cells, thereby resulting in progressive deterioration of neurological functions.

Hearing loss is the most prevalent disabling disease. Cochlear implantation（CI） serves as the primary intervention for severe to profound hearing loss. This consensus systematically explores the value of genetic diagnosis in the pre-operative assessment and efficacy prognosis for CI. Drawing upon domestic and international research and clinical experience, it proposes an evidence-based medicine three-tiered prognostic classification system（Favorable, Marginal, Poor）. The consensus focuses on common hereditary non-syndromic hearing loss（such as that caused by mutations in genes like GJB2, SLC26A4, OTOF, LOXHD1） and syndromic hereditary hearing loss（such as Jervell & Lange-Nielsen syndrome and Waardenburg syndrome）, which are closely associated with congenital hearing loss, analyzing the impact of their pathological mechanisms on CI outcomes. The consensus provides recommendations based on multiple round of expert discussion and voting. It emphasizes that genetic diagnosis can optimize patient selection, predict prognosis, guide post-operative rehabilitation, offer stratified management strategies for patients with different genotypes, and advance the application of precision medicine in the field of CI.
Humans ; Cochlear Implantation ; Prognosis ; Hearing Loss/surgery* ; Consensus ; Connexin 26 ; Mutation ; Sulfate Transporters ; Connexins/genetics*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of high expression of transmembrane and coiled helix structural domain 1 (TMCO1) on prognosis of gastric cancer and the possible mechanisms. METHODS: TMCO1 expression in gastric cancer and its effect on gastric cancer progression and prognosis were analyzed using publicly available databases and clinical data of patients undergoing radical surgery in our hospital, and its possible biological functions were explored using KEGG and GO analyses. In gastric cancer HGC-27 cells, the effects of lentivirus-mediated TMCO1 overexpression and TMCO1 silencing on cell apoptosis, proliferation, invasion and migration were examined. RESULTS: TMCO1 expression was significantly elevated in gastric cancer tissues (P<0.05), and its high expression was positively correlated with cancer progression (P<0.001) and a lowered postoperative 5-year survival rate of the patients (P<0.05). Bioinformatic analyses suggested that TMCO1 may affect gastric cancer cell apoptosis via Wnt signaling. In HGC-27 cells, TMCO1 overexpression significantly promoted tumor cell proliferation, inhibited cell apoptosis, and enhanced cell migration and invasion, whereas TMCO1 silencing produced the opposite effects. Western blotting showed that β-catenin levels were significantly upregulated in TMCO1-overexpressing cells and downregulated in cells with TMCO1 silencing. CONCLUSIONS TMCO1 is overexpressed in gastric cancer tissues, and its high expression promotes gastric cancer progression and affects long-term prognosis of the patients possibly by activating the Wnt/ β-catenin signaling pathway to inhibit apoptosis of gastric cancer cells.
Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Apoptosis ; Prognosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Movement ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; beta Catenin/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic

The ability to localize sound sources rapidly allows human beings to efficiently understand the surrounding environment. Previous studies have suggested that there is an auditory "where" pathway in the cortex for processing sound locations. The neural activation in regions along this pathway encodes sound locations by opponent hemifield coding, in which each unilateral region is activated by sounds coming from the contralateral hemifield. However, it is still unclear how these regions interact with each other to form a unified representation of the auditory space. In the present study, we investigated whether functional connectivity in the auditory "where" pathway encoded sound locations during passive listening. Participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while passively listening to sounds from five distinct horizontal locations (-90°, -45°, 0°, 45°, 90°). We were able to decode sound locations from the functional connectivity patterns of the "where" pathway. Furthermore, we found that such neural representation of sound locations was primarily based on the coding of sound lateralization angles to the frontal midline. In addition, whole-brain analysis indicated that functional connectivity between occipital regions and the primary auditory cortex also encoded sound locations by lateralization angles. Overall, our results reveal a lateralization-angle-based representation of sound locations encoded by functional connectivity patterns, which could add on the activation-based opponent hemifield coding to provide a more precise representation of the auditory space.
Humans ; Sound Localization/physiology* ; Male ; Female ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Young Adult ; Functional Laterality/physiology* ; Adult ; Brain Mapping ; Auditory Cortex/physiology* ; Acoustic Stimulation ; Auditory Pathways/physiology* ; Brain/physiology*

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), the most commonly-occurring form of hearing loss, is caused mainly by injury to or the loss of hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons in the cochlea. Numerous environmental and physiological factors have been shown to cause acquired SNHL, such as ototoxic drugs, noise exposure, aging, infections, and diseases. Several programmed cell death (PCD) pathways have been reported to be involved in SNHL, especially some novel PCD pathways that have only recently been reported, such as ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis. Here we summarize these PCD pathways and their roles and mechanisms in SNHL, aiming to provide new insights and potential therapeutic strategies for SNHL by targeting these PCD pathways.
Humans ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/metabolism* ; Necroptosis/drug effects* ; Pyroptosis/drug effects* ; Ferroptosis/drug effects* ; Animals

Objective·To investigate the impact of KH-type splicing regulatory protein(KHSRP)on the proliferation of prostate cancer cells and the regulation of downstream gene expression,and explore the potential role and mechanism of KHSRP in the transition of prostate cancer from androgen-dependent to androgen-independent.Methods·Recombinant lentivirus was used to infect androgen-dependent prostate cancer LNCaP cells and androgen-independent prostate cancer DU 145 cells to establish stable cell lines with functional deficiency/acquisition of KHSRP,and the functional differences of KHSRP between the two cell types were compared.Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of KHSRP,androgen receptor(AR),and ankyrin 3(ANK3)in the stable cell lines.Cell proliferation assay,colony formation assay,and mouse xenograft assay were performed to assess the impact of KHSRP on the proliferation ability of LNCaP cells.RNA sequencing(RNA-seq)was performed to identify downstream genes affected by KHSRP,and the mRNA expression levels of these genes were measured by quantitative real-time PCR(RT-qPCR).The expression of ANK3 and KHSRP in prostate tissue samples and the difference of ANK3 expression in different prostate cancer cell lines were analyzed by combining Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia(CCLE),The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)databases.Results·GEO data analysis showed that KHSRP was upregulated in prostate cancer tissues compared to benign prostate tissues,suggesting its association with prostate tumorigenesis.Cell proliferation assay,colony formation assay,and mouse xenograft assay demonstrated a negative correlation between KHSRP expression and the proliferation ability of LNCaP cells,indicating that KHSRP can inhibit the proliferation of prostate cancer cells,with a stronger effect on LNCaP cells than on DU 145 cells.Western blotting and RT-qPCR analysis of the stable LNCaP cell lines showed that KHSRP overexpression led to a decrease in AR protein level without affecting its mRNA level,suggesting that KHSRP can indirectly regulate AR protein level.RNA-seq and RT-qPCR results showed KHSRP was positively correlated with the expression of ANK3,a regulatory factor affecting AR protein stability,and subsequent Western blotting confirmed an increase in ANK3 protein expression after KHSRP overexpression.TCGA data analysis further supported the correlation between KHSRP and ANK3 mRNA expression.Interestingly,according to CCLE and GEO data,the expression of ANK3 was closely related to prostate cancer malignancy.Conclusion·KHSRP may indirectly regulate AR protein stability through ANK3,thereby influencing the proliferation of androgen-dependent prostate cancer cells and mediating the altered responsiveness to androgen in prostate cancer cells.

Near-surface ozone is a profoundly reactive and highly oxidizing gas and one of the critical respiratory toxicants. Numerous epidemiological investigations have indicated that asthmatic individuals are the vulnerable group of ozone exposure， and there is a strong correlation between ozone exposure and asthma morbidity and mortality rates. The potential mechanisms include oxidative stress， inflammatory response， autonomic nerve impairment， and immune dysfunction. The present study summarized and discussed the effect of ozone exposure on asthma and its underlying biological mechanisms in order to galvanize public cognizance concerning the perils of ozone pollution and serve as a reference for future research on ozone exposure and asthma.

【Objective】 To observe the effects of mirror neuron system theory(MNST) on hand dexterity and fine motor function in preschool children with developmental coordination disorder(DCD), so as to provide reference for the rehabilitation of children with DCD. 【Methods】 A total of 51 children with DCD treated at Nantong Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital from June 2021 to April 2023 were enrolled in this study, and were randomly assigned to treatment group (n=26) and control group (n=25) except for 5 cases who missed in the follow-up. Both groups received conventional rehabilitation training, while the treatment group received MNST additionally. The hand dexterity and fine motor function of both groups were assessed using the hand dexterity subscale of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-Second Edition (MABC-2), Peabody Developmental Motor Scale-Fine Motor (PDMS-FM), and Function Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM) before and after 12 weeks of treatment. 【Results】 Before treatment, there were no significant differences in hand dexterity subscale of MABC-2, PDMS-FM, and WeeFIM scores between the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment, both groups showed improvements in hand dexterity subscale of MABC-2, PDMS-FM, and WeeFIM scores (treatment group: t=35.620, 42.084, 40.072; control group: t=14.000, 12.017, 14.054, P<0.001), with the treatment group showing significantly greater improvements compared to the control group (t=2.611, 3.120, 2.331, P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 MNST combined with conventional rehabilitation training can enhance hand dexterity and fine motor function in children with DCD, thereby improving children′s activities of daily living.

Objective:To explore the influence of deviation of the bolt in femoral neck system (FNS) on the short-term outcomes in young and middle-aged patients with displaced femoral neck fracture.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted of the 114 young and middle-aged patients with displaced femoral neck fracture who had been treated with FNS at Department of Orthopaedics, Suzhou Municipal Hospital from December 2019 to January 2023. Based on the postoperative measurements of the deviation of the bolt tip to the central axis of the femoral head and neck (W), the patients were divided into a central group (W≤20%) and a deviation group (W>20%). In the central group of 63 cases, there were 27 males and 36 females with a mean age of (46.4±8.0) years. In the deviation group of 51 cases, there were 20 males and 31 females with a mean age of (45.1±9.8) years. The 2 groups were compared in terms of weight-bearing time, fracture healing time, tip-apex distance, degree of femoral neck shortening, Harris Hip Score and EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire-5L (EQ-5D-5L) utility value at the last follow-up, as well as complications and revision surgeries.Results:There was no statistically significant difference in the preoperative general information, auxiliary reduction or quality of fracture reduction between the 2 groups, showing comparability between groups ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the partial weight-bearing time between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). In the central group, the full weight-bearing time [15.0 (14.0, 16.0) weeks] and fracture healing time [14.0 (12.0, 15.0) weeks] were significantly shorter than those in the deviation group [16.0 (15.0, 19.0) weeks; 15.0 (13.0, 17.0) weeks], the tip-apex distance [(21.4±3.4) mm] was significantly shorter than that in the deviation group [(23.5±2.7) mm], the Harris Hip Score [(90.6±6.1) points] and EQ-5D-5L utility value [0.9 (0.8, 0.9)] at the last follow-up were significantly higher than those in the deviation group [(87.7±6.2) points; 0.9 (0.8, 0.9)], and the incidences of moderate and severe femoral neck shortening [25.4% (16/63)], avascular necrosis of the femoral head [0 (0/63)] and revision surgery [0 (0/63)] were significantly lower than those in the deviation group [66.7% (34/51), 7.8% (4/51), 9.8% (5/51)] (all P< 0.05). Conclusion:A closer positioning of the FNS bolt to the central axis of the femoral head and neck favors satisfactory short-term outcomes and a lower revision surgery rate in young and middle-aged patients with displaced femoral neck fracture.

This article explores the standardized management of colorectal polyps, including classification, treatment, follow-up, and preventive control. Corresponding treatment strategies, including endoscopic resection and surgical intervention, are employed for different types of polyps. Currently, there is debate over whether to choose endoscopic resection or surgical intervention for malignant polyps at pT1 stage. Drawing on the latest literature and guidelines, the article elaborates on polyp classification, treatment modalities, follow-up, and preventive measures. Standardized management of colorectal polyps is important for reducing the incidence of colorectal cancer and improving the cure rate of early-stage colorectal cancer.