BackgroundNegative symptoms of schizophrenia impose a substantial burden on society， and the current antipsychotic drugs have limited efficacy in treating these symptoms. Intermittent theta burst stimulation （iTBS）， as a novel neuromodulation technique， shows potential therapeutic promise. However， the evidence for its efficacy in treating negative symptoms of schizophrenia and its relationship with associated immuno-inflammatory changes remain to be further elucidated. ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of iTBS targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex （L-DLPFC） on persistent negative symptoms of schizophrenia， and to analyze its relationship with changes in peripheral blood inflammatory markers， so as to provide references for the clinical application of iTBS in treating persistent negative symptoms and to offer clues for further research into its potential biological mechanisms. MethodsA randomized， double-blind， sham-controlled clinical trial was conducted. A total of 60 patients with schizophrenia who were hospitalized at Xuzhou Oriental Peopple's Hospital from February 20， 2024 to May 10， 2025 were consecutively enrolled. All patients met the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders， fifth edition （DSM-5） and fulfilled the criteria for persistent negative symptoms. Participants were randomly assigned into the study group and the control group， with 30 patients in each group. The two groups respectively received 20 sessions of either active iTBS or sham stimulation over a 4-week period. Clinical symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale （PANSS） at the baseline， the end of treatment， and 3 months after treatment. Peripheral blood inflammatory markers were measured at the baseline and at the end of treatment， including white blood cell count， platelet count， neutrophil count， lymphocyte count， and monocyte count， the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio （NLR）， monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio （MLR）， and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio （PLR） were also calculated. A linear mixed model was used to compare PANSS scores between the two groups. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to examine the association between reductions in inflammatory markers at the end of treatment and reductions in PANSS negative symptom subscale scores， with body mass index （BMI） and chlorpromazine-equivalent dose as covariates. Results①The time-group interaction effect for the PANSS negative symptom subscale score was statistically significant （F=5.410， P<0.01）. At the end of treatment and 3 months after treatment， the study group had significantly lower scores on the PANSS negative symptom subscale than the control group （P<0.01）. ② At the end of treatment， group differences in reduction scores for neutrophil count， NLR， and PLR were significant （Z=-2.262， -2.048， -2.070， P<0.05）. However， after FDR correction， the between-group differences in reductions in peripheral blood inflammatory markers were no longer statistically significant （P>0.05）. ③ After adjusting for BMI and chlorpromazine equivalents， the reduction in PANSS negative symptom subscale scores was positively correlated with the reduction in neutrophil count in the study group （r_s=0.382， P=0.045）. ConclusioniTBS targeting the L-DLPFC may be beneficial in improving persistent negative symptoms of schizophrenia， and its clinical efficacy may be associated with changes in neutrophil count. ［Funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China （number， 82371510）； Social Development Project of Jiangsu Province （number， BE2023668）. www.chictr.org.cn number， ChiCTR2500101060］

Objective To investigate the biological function of the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9(PCSK9)in prostate cancer(PCa)and its effect on ferroptosis sensitivity Methods Bioinformatics was used to analyze the relationship between the expression of PCSK9 and the prognosis of prostate cancer.The expression of PCSK9 in PCa cell lines were detected using RT-qPCR.PCa cells with PCSK9 knockdown were constructed using siRNA,and the The effect of PCSK9 on cell proliferation,migration,and invasion were detected using CCK-8 assays and Transwell assays.The Cancer Therapeutics Response Portal(CTRP)was employed to investigate the correlation between PCSK9 and ferroptosis drug sensitivity,and PCa cells with PCSK9 knockdown were treated with the ferroptosis inducer(RSL3)to detect the sensitivity to ferroptosis.Results Bioinformatics showed low expression of PCSK9 had longer disease specific survival(P<0.05).The results of the in vitro experiments showed that PCSK9 knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation,migration,and invasion of PCa cells(P<0.001).Furthermore,CTRP analysis showed that cellular sensitivity to ferroptosis inducers correlated with the expression level of PCSK9.PCSK9 knockdown cells exhibited higher sensitivity to the ferroptosis inducer RSL3.Conclusion Knockdown of PCSK9 inhibits the proliferation,migration,and invasion of PCa cells,and increases the sensitivity of cells to ferroptosis inducers.PCSK9 may provide new insights for the treatment of PCa.

Objective:To investigate the survival outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with double primary breast cancer (BC) and endometrial cancer (EC).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data for the period 1992-2018 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. There were 3 465 patients with BC as the first primary cancer (BC-EC group) and 2 804 patients with EC as the first primary cancer (EC-BC group). Kaplan-Meier analysis and cumulative incidence function were used to estimate overall mortality, breast cancer-specific mortality, and endometrial cancer-specific mortality, respectively. Cox regression and Fine-Gray regression were used to analyze the prognostic factors of overall mortality, breast cancer-specific mortality, and endometrial cancer-specific mortality, respectively.Results:During a median follow-up of 160 months, 1 616 deaths occurred in the BC-EC group, with EC being the leading cause of death (37.69%); 994 deaths occurred in the EC-BC group, with BC being the leading cause of death (28.77%). Cox regression identified patients with older ages at first primary cancer diagnosis (54-61 years: HR=1.46, 95% CI: 1.26-1.69; 62-68 years: HR=2.64, 95% CI: 2.29-3.03; ≥69 years: HR=4.89, 95% CI: 4.27-5.60), shorter time interval between the diagnoses (0-5 months: HR=6.13, 95% CI: 5.21-7.21; 6-23 months: HR=5.69, 95% CI: 4.95-6.55; 24-59 months: HR=3.44, 95% CI: 3.04-3.89; 60-119 months: HR=2.32, 95% CI: 2.07-2.59), mixed ductal-lobular BC ( HR=1.29, 95% CI: 1.11-1.48), endometrial mixed cell adenocarcinoma ( HR=1.23, 95% CI: 1.01-1.50), advanced tumor grade (grade Ⅱ BC: HR=1.13, 95% CI: 1.01-1.27; grade Ⅲ BC: HR=1.24, 95% CI: 1.10-1.41; grade Ⅱ EC: HR=1.19, 95% CI: 1.06-1.33; grade Ⅲ EC: HR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.48-1.90), advanced tumor stage of the two cancers (distant BC: HR=3.14, 95% CI: 2.50-3.94; regional EC: HR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.36-1.71; distant EC: HR=3.00, 95% CI: 2.59-3.47) had increased risk of overall mortality. Fine-Gray regression showed that compared with BC-EC patients, EC-BC patients had a higher risk of breast cancer-specific mortality [sub-distribution hazard ratio (s HR=1.24, 95% CI: 1.04-1.47], but a lower risk of endometrial cancer-specific mortality (s HR=0.37, 95% CI: 0.30-0.46). Older ages at first cancer diagnosis, shorter intervals between the diagnoses, negative ER and PR status, and advanced BC grades/stages were associated with increased breast cancer-specific mortality ( P＜0.05). Similarly, older ages, shorter intervals, endometrial serous carcinoma/mixed cell adenocarcinoma, and advanced EC grades/stages correlated with elevated endometrial cancer-specific mortality ( P＜0.05). Conclusion:The management of double primary BC and EC patients requires multidisciplinary strategies, with particular attention to patients presenting older ages at first cancer diagnosis, shorter intervals between the diagnoses, and unfavorable tumor characteristics.

Objective To investigate the biological function of the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9(PCSK9)in prostate cancer(PCa)and its effect on ferroptosis sensitivity Methods Bioinformatics was used to analyze the relationship between the expression of PCSK9 and the prognosis of prostate cancer.The expression of PCSK9 in PCa cell lines were detected using RT-qPCR.PCa cells with PCSK9 knockdown were constructed using siRNA,and the The effect of PCSK9 on cell proliferation,migration,and invasion were detected using CCK-8 assays and Transwell assays.The Cancer Therapeutics Response Portal(CTRP)was employed to investigate the correlation between PCSK9 and ferroptosis drug sensitivity,and PCa cells with PCSK9 knockdown were treated with the ferroptosis inducer(RSL3)to detect the sensitivity to ferroptosis.Results Bioinformatics showed low expression of PCSK9 had longer disease specific survival(P<0.05).The results of the in vitro experiments showed that PCSK9 knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation,migration,and invasion of PCa cells(P<0.001).Furthermore,CTRP analysis showed that cellular sensitivity to ferroptosis inducers correlated with the expression level of PCSK9.PCSK9 knockdown cells exhibited higher sensitivity to the ferroptosis inducer RSL3.Conclusion Knockdown of PCSK9 inhibits the proliferation,migration,and invasion of PCa cells,and increases the sensitivity of cells to ferroptosis inducers.PCSK9 may provide new insights for the treatment of PCa.

Objective:To investigate the survival outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with double primary breast cancer (BC) and endometrial cancer (EC).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data for the period 1992-2018 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. There were 3 465 patients with BC as the first primary cancer (BC-EC group) and 2 804 patients with EC as the first primary cancer (EC-BC group). Kaplan-Meier analysis and cumulative incidence function were used to estimate overall mortality, breast cancer-specific mortality, and endometrial cancer-specific mortality, respectively. Cox regression and Fine-Gray regression were used to analyze the prognostic factors of overall mortality, breast cancer-specific mortality, and endometrial cancer-specific mortality, respectively.Results:During a median follow-up of 160 months, 1 616 deaths occurred in the BC-EC group, with EC being the leading cause of death (37.69%); 994 deaths occurred in the EC-BC group, with BC being the leading cause of death (28.77%). Cox regression identified patients with older ages at first primary cancer diagnosis (54-61 years: HR=1.46, 95% CI: 1.26-1.69; 62-68 years: HR=2.64, 95% CI: 2.29-3.03; ≥69 years: HR=4.89, 95% CI: 4.27-5.60), shorter time interval between the diagnoses (0-5 months: HR=6.13, 95% CI: 5.21-7.21; 6-23 months: HR=5.69, 95% CI: 4.95-6.55; 24-59 months: HR=3.44, 95% CI: 3.04-3.89; 60-119 months: HR=2.32, 95% CI: 2.07-2.59), mixed ductal-lobular BC ( HR=1.29, 95% CI: 1.11-1.48), endometrial mixed cell adenocarcinoma ( HR=1.23, 95% CI: 1.01-1.50), advanced tumor grade (grade Ⅱ BC: HR=1.13, 95% CI: 1.01-1.27; grade Ⅲ BC: HR=1.24, 95% CI: 1.10-1.41; grade Ⅱ EC: HR=1.19, 95% CI: 1.06-1.33; grade Ⅲ EC: HR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.48-1.90), advanced tumor stage of the two cancers (distant BC: HR=3.14, 95% CI: 2.50-3.94; regional EC: HR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.36-1.71; distant EC: HR=3.00, 95% CI: 2.59-3.47) had increased risk of overall mortality. Fine-Gray regression showed that compared with BC-EC patients, EC-BC patients had a higher risk of breast cancer-specific mortality [sub-distribution hazard ratio (s HR=1.24, 95% CI: 1.04-1.47], but a lower risk of endometrial cancer-specific mortality (s HR=0.37, 95% CI: 0.30-0.46). Older ages at first cancer diagnosis, shorter intervals between the diagnoses, negative ER and PR status, and advanced BC grades/stages were associated with increased breast cancer-specific mortality ( P＜0.05). Similarly, older ages, shorter intervals, endometrial serous carcinoma/mixed cell adenocarcinoma, and advanced EC grades/stages correlated with elevated endometrial cancer-specific mortality ( P＜0.05). Conclusion:The management of double primary BC and EC patients requires multidisciplinary strategies, with particular attention to patients presenting older ages at first cancer diagnosis, shorter intervals between the diagnoses, and unfavorable tumor characteristics.

Objective:Diabetic retinopathy (DR) has been reported as the leading cause of blindness among diabetic adults, which is closely related to poor quality of life and increased burden of disability. This study aimed to aggregate the optimally available evidence on modifiable risks of DR.Methods:Until June 2023, PubMed, Cochrane Library, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were used to retrieve Meta-analysis about various risk factors for DR, and Meta-analysis were analyzed and summarized. R 4.3.2 software was used for each Meta-analytic association to calculate the effect size, 95% CI, heterogeneity, small-study effects, excess significance bias, and 95% prediction intervals. The credibility of significant evidence was graded. Results:We captured 23 eligible papers (72 associations) covering a wide range of medication use, concomitant diseases, daily intervention, biomarkers, lifestyle, and physical measurement index. Among them, higher HbA1c variability ( RR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.26-1.66) and urine microalbumin positive ( OR=2.44, 95% CI: 1.99-2.97) were convincing (grade Ⅰ) evidence, and insulin use ( RR=3.48, 95% CI: 2.14-5.67) was highly suggestive (grade Ⅱ) evidence. Moreover, hypertension ( OR=2.03, 95% CI: 1.06-3.97), poor glycemic control ( OR=4.35, 95% CI: 1.47-12.85), positive macroalbuminuria ( OR=8.42, 95% CI: 3.52-20.15), long sleep duration ( OR=2.05, 95% CI: 1.37-3.05), vitamin D deficiency ( OR=2.02, 95% CI: 1.17-3.50), periodontitis ( OR=4.51, 95% CI: 1.76-11.55) were the main risk factors for DR. Intensive blood pressure intervention ( RR=0.78, 95% CI: 0.65-0.94), dietary control ( OR=0.64, 95% CI: 0.47-0.89) and moderate intensity physical activity ( RR=0.76, 95% CI: 0.59-0.97) yielded significant protective associations with DR. Conclusions:Intensive blood pressure glycemic control, and a healthy lifestyle pattern could reduce the risk of DR. This study provides the evidence to identify high-risk populations and recommends rational treatment options and healthy living interventions.

Objective To investigate the effects of long noncoding RNA(lncRNA)-NRON on apoptosis following myocardial infarc-tion(MI)in mice.Methods The C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups:sham operation(Sham)group,MI group,MI combined with lncRNA-NRON interference lentivirus(MI+shNRON)group,and MI combined with the negative control(NC)lentivirus(MI+NC)group.The expression of lncRNA-NRON was detected using real-time PCR.In addition,the pathology of the myocardial tissue injury was analyzed using HE staining,the myocardial infarction size was examined using TTC staining,and the extent of apoptosis was assessed using the TUNEL assay,respectively.The RPISeq database was used to predict the probability of interaction between lncR-NA-NRON and the voltage-dependent anionic channel protein(VDAC).The effect of lncRNA-NRON on the expression of VDAC protein was detected using Western blotting.Results The lncRNA-NRON expression was significantly increased in the MI group,and the tar-geted knockdown of lncRNA-NRON resulted in alleviation of the pathological myocardial tissue injury,reduction in the myocardial infarc-tion area,and inhibition of apoptosis.The probability of interaction between lncRNA-NRON and VDAC reached 0.9,indicating a high probability of their association.Additionally,lncRNA-NRON could regulate the protein expression of VDAC.Conclusion Knockdown of lncRNA-NRON could reduce the occurrence of myocardial injury following myocardial infarction.This effect may be attributable to a spe-cific mechanism wherein lncRNA-NRON affects the process of apoptosis by binding to VDAC,consequently suppressing its expression.

Objective:To investigate the study on the diagnostic value of multimodal ultrasound technique for the lesion of extensor carpi ulnaris(ECU)tendon in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods:A total of 175 RA patients who were confirmed by the department of rheumatology of Yantaishan Hospital of Yantai city from December 2021 to January 2023 were selected,and them were included into the RA group.Other 50 patients without RA but with clinical symptoms of wrist were included into the non-RA group,and 50 healthy volunteers were included into the healthy control group.All subjects underwent routine ultrasound and shear wave elastography(SWE)examination on wrist,and then,the characteristics of ultrasound images of wrists and the blood flow distribution of ECU power Doppler ultrasonography(PDUS)were recorded.SWE was used to measure ECU to obtain elastic modulus index(EI)and velocity modulus index(VI).The differences between three groups were compared,and the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)value of RA patients were drawn,so as to confirm the area under curve(AUC)value and optimize cutoff value.Results:There were significant differences in EI and VI of the ECU tendon among three groups(F=61.15,61.28,P<0.05),respectively.The optimal cut-off values of EI and VI were respectively 319.35 kPa and 10.55 m/s in RA patients.In RA patients,age and disease course had significant influences on EI(r=0.19,0.21,P<0.05),and age,disease course,ultrasound score of wrist joint,and grade of power Doppler ultrasonography PDUS of the ECU tendon(ECUPDUS)had significant influences on VI(r=0.19,0.15,-0.16,-0.17,P<0.05).Conclusion:SWE is able to quantitatively and non-invasively assess the stiffness information of the ECU tendon in RA patients.After the supplement of gray-scale ultrasound and PDUS,multimodal ultrasound technique can clearly judge the correlation of the lesions of ECU tendon of RA patients.

Lipid Droplets/metabolism* ; Bacteria ; Lipid Metabolism

OBJECTIVE:To systematically review the efficacy and safety of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in-hibitors in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP),and provide evidence-based reference for clinic. METHODS:Re-trieved from PubMed,EMBase,Cochrane Library,CJFD,VIP,CBM and Wangfang Database,randomized controlled trials (RCT) about VEGF inhibitors (test group) versus laser photocoagulation treatment (control group) in the treatment of ROP were collected. Meta-analysis was performed by using Rev Man 5.1 software after data extraction and quality evaluation by Cochrane re-viewers manual 5.1.0. RESULTS:Totally 5 RCTs were included,involving 381 infants and 754 eyes.Results of Meta-analysis showed that the recurrence rate of ROP [RR=0.23,95%CI(0.13,0.42),P<0.001],retinal detachment incidence [RR=0.27,95%CI(0.14,0.51),P<0.001] andresolution of plus signs [MD=-1.31,95%CI(-1.47,-1.14),P<0.001] in test group were signifi-cantly lower than control group,the differences were statistically significant;and there was no significant difference in the refrac-tive errors and the incidence of adverse reactions in 2 groups(P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Intravitreal VEGF inhibitors have better efficacy than laser photocoagulation in the treatment of ROP,but the optimal dose and safety need further verification by large-sam-ple and well-designed RCT.