ObjectiveTo explore effect of the ankle soft robotic exosuits (ASRE) on gait function in stroke patients. MethodsDatabases including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP were searched for researches evaluating the impact of ASRE on gait function in stroke patients with hemiplegia, covering the period from January 1st, 2020 to May 1st, 2025. The PEDro scale and the Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions tool were used to assess the quality of the included researches, and data were extracted for a scoping review. ResultsA total of twelve researches were finally included, consisting of three randomized controlled trials (RCT), three cross-over controlled trials and six pre-post controlled trials, which came from three countries of China, the United States and South Korea, involving 256 patients. The three RCT were rated as high-quality, while the remaining researches were presented moderate to serious risk of bias. Five researches employed a single-session intervention; and seven used multiple-session intervention, with 30 to 60 minutes a session, two to five sessions a week, for five to 20 sessions. ASRE was effective on walking speed, walking distance, propulsive force of the hemiplegic side, gait parameters and spatiotemporal symmetry, joint range of motion, as well as the scores of scales related to lower limb motor function, balance and gait, with favorable safety and reliability. ConclusionASRE may improve the gait function in stroke patients.

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical potential of magnetic resonance elastography （MRE） for assessing the stiffness of common intracranial tumors. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 47 patients with brain tumors who underwent surgical treatment at The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between April 2023 and September 2024. The cohort included 10 cases of glioma， 12 cases of vestibular schwannoma， and 25 cases of meningioma. All patients underwent multiparameter MRI and MRE preoperatively. After co-registering MRE images with contrast-enhanced 3D T1-weighted images， three regions of interest （ROIs） were placed in the areas of maximum and minimum tumor stiffness respectively to measure the shear stiffness values， and the mean was calculated as the average shear stiffness. Additionally， one ROI was placed in the white matter and one in the grey matter of the posterior horn of the lateral ventricle at the basal ganglia level to obtain normal reference values. A neurosurgeon， blind to the MRE results， graded the intraoperative tumor stiffness based on surgical videos using a 5-point scale （1： soft； 5： hard）. Intraclass correlation coefficient （ICC） was used to assess inter-observer consistency. Analysis of variance （ANOVA） and nonparametric tests were employed to compare the differences of shear stiffness values between groups. Spearman correlation analysis was used to examine the correlation between elasticity values and clinicopathological parameters. The discriminatory efficacy of shear stiffness values for tumor types was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curves. ResultsThe ICCs for elasticity values measured by two physicians in the hardest and softest tumor areas were 0.868 and 0.831， respectively （both P＜ 0.01）. The maximum， minimum， and average shear stiffness values of meningiomas［（1.91±0.28） m/s， （1.66±0.25） m/s， （1.78±0.26） m/s， respectively］ were significantly higher than those of gliomas［（1.59±0.23） m/s， （1.42±0.23） m/s， （1.50±0.22） m/s， respectively （P＜0.05）］. The shear stiffness values of vestibular schwannomas［（1.70±0.30） m/s， （1.51±0.23） m/s， （1.61±0.26） m/s， respectively） were lower than those of meningiomas and higher than those of gliomas， but these differences were not statistically significant （both P＞0.05）. The shear stiffness values of white matter were significantly higher than that of grey matter［（1.63±0.08） m/s vs. （1.39±0.12） m/s， P＜0.05）］. In the overall sample， the maximum， minimum， and average shear stiffness values were significantly positively correlated with the intraoperative hardness grade （r_s = 0.591， r_s = 0.541， r_s = 0.571， respectively； all P＜0.001）， negatively correlated with WHO grade （r_s = -0.458， r_s = -0.458， r_s = -0.480， respectively； all P＜0.01）， but showed no correlation with Ki-67 （all P＞0.05）. ConclusionMRE can be used to assess the stiffness of intracranial tumors and to some extent differentiate between tumor types， which aids in formulating more individualized preoperative surgical plans.

Research on IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), an autoimmune condition recognized to be a unique disease entity only two decades ago, has processed from describing patients' symptoms and signs to summarizing its critical pathological features, and further to investigating key pathogenic mechanisms. Challenges in gaining a better understanding of the disease, however, stem from its relative rarity-potentially attributed to underrecognition-and the absence of ideal experimental animal models. Recently, with the development of various high-throughput techniques, "omics" studies at different levels (particularly the single-cell omics) have shown promise in providing detailed molecular features of IgG4-RD. While, the application of omics approaches in IgG4-RD is still at an early stage. In this paper, we review the current progress of omics research in IgG4-RD and discuss the value of machine learning methods in analyzing the data with high dimensionality.
Humans ; Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease/metabolism* ; Immunoglobulin G/metabolism* ; Machine Learning ; Animals ; Proteomics/methods*

BACKGROUND: Infertility is a burdensome, often overlooked condition. This study aimed to investigate the global distribution and trends in the burden of infertility from 1990 to 2021. METHODS: We obtained data on the prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs) related to infertility from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study and evaluated them by calculating the estimated annual percentage change in age-standardized rates. We investigated the relationship between sociodemographic index (SDI) and the burden of infertility on the global, regional, and national levels. RESULTS: In 2021, there were 143,261,562 female and 55,481,380 male infertility cases worldwide, respectively. In China, female and male infertility cases accounted for 23.59% and 21.47% of the global totals, reaching 33,795,944 and 11,909,889, respectively. Compared with 2019, the global number of female and male infertility cases increased by 5,286,227 in females and 2,017,271 in males. In contrast, China saw a decline in both female and male infertility cases, with reductions of 698,735 and 154,591, respectively. From 1990 to 2021, the age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) and age-standardized YLDs rate (ASYR) for female infertility both increased by 0.59% annually, whereas these two corresponding indicators for male infertility increased by 0.50% annually worldwide. The burden of female infertility was consistently higher than that of male infertility and demonstrated a faster rate of increase. East Asia had the highest ASPR and ASYR for female infertility, whereas Eastern Europe had the highest metrics for male infertility. A horizontal S-shaped association was observed between the SDI and ASPR and ASYR of infertility, with a rapid decline in the infertility burden when the SDI exceeded 0.7. CONCLUSIONS The global burden of infertility has increased over the years, with a higher burden on women and underdeveloped regions. These findings emphasize the need to prioritize healthcare for patients with infertility to address the rising burden.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Global Burden of Disease ; Prevalence ; Infertility/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Infertility, Male/epidemiology* ; Persons with Disabilities/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Infertility, Female/epidemiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Disability-Adjusted Life Years

The plant F-box protein more axillary growth 2 (MAX2) is a key factor in the signal transduction of strigolactones (SLs) and karrinkins (KARs). As the main component of the SKP1-CUL1-FBX (SCF) complex ubiquitin ligase E3, MAX2 is responsible for specifically recognizing the target proteins, suppressor of MAX2 1/SMAX1-like proteins (SMAX1/SMXLs), which would be degraded after ubiquitination. It can thereby regulate plant morphogenesis and stress responses. There exist homologous genes of MAX2 in the important grain and oil crop soybean (Glycine max). However, its role in plant defense responses has not been investigated yet. Here, GmMAX2b, a homologous gene of MAX2, was successfully cloned from stressed soybean. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that there were two MAX2 homologous genes, GmMAX2a and GmMAX2b, with a similarity of 96.2% in soybean. Their F-box regions were highly conserved. The sequence alignment and cluster analysis of plant MAX2 homologous proteins basically reflected the evolutionary relationship of plants and also suggested that soybean MAX2 might be a multifunctional protein. Expression analysis showed that plant pathogen infection and salicylic acid treatment induced the expression of GmMAX2b in soybean, which is consistent with that of MAX2 in Arabidopsis. Ectopic expression of GmMAX2b compensated for the susceptibility of Arabidopsis max2-2 mutant to pathogen, indicating that GmMAX2b positively regulated plant disease resistance. In addition, yeast two hybrid technology was used to explore the potential target proteins of GmMAX2b. The results showed that GmMAX2b interacted with SMXL6 and weakly interacted with SMXL2. In summary, GmMAX2b is a positive regulator in plant defense responses, and its expression is induced by pathogen infection and salicylic acid treatment. GmMAX2b might exert its effect through interaction with SMXL6 and SMXL2. This study expands the theoretical exploration of soybean disease resistant F-box and provides a scientific basis for future soybean disease resistant breeding.
Glycine max/metabolism* ; Disease Resistance/genetics* ; Plant Diseases/immunology* ; Plant Proteins/genetics* ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; F-Box Proteins/genetics* ; Arabidopsis/genetics* ; Phylogeny

Objective To explore the nephrotoxic effects of exposure to perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) and its mechanism in mice, with a particular focus on analyzing the changes in kidney metabolism and their potential implications. Methods The specific pathogen free C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, low-dose group, and high-dose group, with 10 mice in each group. Mice in the three groups received intragastric administration of PFBA solution at doses of 0, 35 and 350 mg/kg body weight, once per day for seven consecutive days. The histopathological changes of kidneys of mice in these three groups were evaluated. Metabolomic profiling of mouse kidneys was performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were identified based on the Human Metabolome Database, and related metabolic pathways were analyzed through MetaboAnalyst 6.0 and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Results Histopathological analysis of kidneys showed that the renal pelvis mucosa of mice in the low-dose group presented focal mild inflammatory changes without marked structural damage, whereas mice in the high-dose group showed severe inflammation and partial destruction of renal structure. The kidney coefficient of mice in both low-dose group and the high-dose group decreased (both P<0.05), and the Paller scores of renal tissues increased (both P<0.05) compared with that in the control group. The Paller score of mouse renal tissue in the high-dose group was higher than that in the low-dose group (P<0.05). Metabolomic profiling identified 46 DAMs (26 upregulated, 20 downregulated) in the low-dose group and 104 DAMs (54 upregulated, 50 downregulated) in the high-dose group, with 26 shared DAMs between the two dose groups. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that DAMs were mainly involved in metabolic pathways such as glycerophospholipid metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, sphingolipid and steroid hormone synthesis. Conclusion Acute exposure to PFBA can cause kidney injury in mice. Lipid metabolism pathways such as glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism is involved in the development of acute renal toxicity of PFBA.

Objective: To analyze the results of national external quality assessment (EQA) for transfusion compatibility test from 2018 to 2023, with the aim of providing references for improving laboratory testing quality and ensuring the safety of clinical blood transfusion. Methods: Three EQA programs were conducted annually, each distributing 22 quality assessment samples. Participating transfusion laboratories were required to complete testing within specified deadlines and to submit results along with documentation of testing methodologies, reagents, and equipment used. National Center for Clinical Laboratories (NCCL) conducted statistical analysis of laboratory results, evaluated testing outcomes and related circumstances, and provided feedback to participating laboratories. EQA data from transfusion laboratories across China from 2018 to 2023 were collected and systematically analyzed. Results: From 2018 to 2023, the qualification rates for all five items (ABO forward typing, ABO reverse typing, Rh blood group typing, antibody screening, and cross-matching) were 67.59%, 77.11%, 77.38%, 72.78%, 79.96%, and 85.16%, respectively. The mean qualification rates for ABO forward typing, ABO reverse typing, RhD blood group typing, antibody screening, and cross-matching over the past six years were 96.25%±0.59%, 90.45%±4.52%, 96.05%±0.71%, 90.88%±2.86%, and 88.34%±3.48%, respectively. The qualification rates in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023 all showed a stable trend of "blood stations>tertiary hospitals>secondary hospitals". The mean qualification rate of laboratories in secondary hospitals from 2018 to 2023 was significantly lower than those of laboratories in tertiary hospitals and blood stations (P<0.05), while no significant difference was observed between laboratories in tertiary hospitals and blood stations (P>0.05). The micro column agglutination method was the most widely used in all five tests. In the four test items, namely ABO forward typing, ABO reverse typing, antibody screening, and cross-matching, there was a statistically significant difference in the qualification rate of micro column agglutination method compared to other methods (P<0.05). There was a statistical difference in the qualification rate between manual and automated detection using micro column agglutination method in the cross-matching tests (P<0.05), whereas no significant difference was noted for the other test items (P>0.05). Conclusion: From 2018 to 2023, the number of laboratories participating in EQA activities has been increasing year by year, and the qualification rate has shown an overall upward trend. The type of laboratory is a key factor affecting the qualification rate, and the testing capabilities of some laboratories still need to be improved. The micro column agglutination method is widely used in transfusion compatibility tests. The established EQA program effectively monitors quality issues in laboratories, drives continuous improvement, and ensures sustained enhancement of testing standards to safeguard clinical blood safety.

Objective To compare the value of high-field strength MRI half-Fourier single shot turbo spin-echo(HASTE)sequence with high-frequency color Doppler ultrasound for the diagnosis of placenta previa combined with placenta accreta.Methods A total of 116 pregnant women with suspected high-risk placenta previa and placenta accreta who underwent cesarean section at The No.2 Hospital of Baoding from December 2019 to December 2022 were selected as research objects.All parturients took examinations of ultrasound and high-field MRI before surgery.Pathological diagnosis after cesarean section was used as the gold standard for analysis of the consistency between MRI and ultrasound results and pathological results.The value of HASTE sequence and high-frequency ultrasound in diagnosing placenta accreta was compared.Results Pathological results confirmed that 86 patients had high-risk placenta previa and placenta accreta.The positive predictive values of ultrasound,MRI,and ultrasound+MRI in diagnosis of high-risk placenta previa combined with placenta accreta were 93.51%,97.62%,and 98.81%,respectively.The negative predictive values were 64.10%,87.50%,and 90.63%,respectively.The accuracies were 83.62%,94.83%,and 96.55%,respectively.The sensitivities were 83.72%,95.35%,and 96.51%,respectively.The specificities were 83.33%,93.33%,and 96.67%,respectively.The Kappa values for consistency were 0.611,0.868,and 0.912,respectively.The accuracy of MRI in diagnosis of high-risk placenta previa combined with placenta accreta was higher than that of ultrasound(P<0.05).Conclusion 3.0 T MRI HASTE sequence has greater efficacy and higher accuracy in diagnosis of high-risk placenta previa combined with placenta accreta.