Objective: To identify early clinical predictors associated with dysphagia and delayed swallowing recovery in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: In this retrospective study, we enrolled adult TBI patients admitted to the rehabilitation unit of a tertiary medical center between June 2019 and June 2023. Data on baseline characteristics, neurological status, imaging findings, and rehabilitation-related variables were collected. Swallowing function was assessed using two indicators: (1) nasogastric (NG) tube retention and (2) the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS) scores at 1, 4, and 12 weeks post-injury. Regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors associated with dysphagia and swallowing recovery. Results: A total of 160 patients were included. At 1 week post-injury, longer intensive care unit (ICU) stay, poor initial sitting balance and use of sedative medication in ICU were associated with NG tube retention. At 4 weeks, lower initial Rancho Los Amigos Scale (RLAS) scores, immobility-related complications, longer hospitalization, and temporal lobe hematomas were associated with persistent NG tube dependence. By 12 weeks, older age, delayed ability to follow commands, and poor initial sitting balance remained associated with NG tube retention. FOIS outcomes were also associated with older age, delayed time to follow commands, impaired initial sitting balance, prolonged ICU stay, temporal lobe hematomas, lower initial RLAS scores, immobility-related complications, prolonged endotracheal tube placement and extended hospital stays. Conclusion Impaired cognitive status, poor physical function, immobility-related complications, and temporal lobe hematomas were key factors associated with dysphagia and delayed oral intake in individuals with TBI.

BACKGROUND: Liver inflammation is the main cause of severe liver diseases, including liver fibrosis, steatohepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell therapy topics are receiving increasingly more attention. The therapeutic applications of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have become one of the most discussed issues. While other stem cells have therapeutic effects, they have only one or two clinical applications. MSCs are responsible for repairing a variety of tissue injuries. Moreover, MSCs could be derived from several sources, including adipose tissue. MSCs are usually more abundant and easier to obtain compared to other stem cells. METHODS: To prove the concept that MSCs have homing ability to the injured tissue and assist in tissue repair, we examined the effects of intravenous injected adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) in a N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN)-induced liver injury rat model. RESULTS: The significant repairing ability of ADSCs was observed. The levels of fibrosis, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis in the DEN-injured liver tissues all decreased after ADSC treatment. Furthermore, to enhance the therapeutic effects of ADSCs, we pretreated them with L-theanine, which promotes the hepatocyte growth factor secretion of ADSC, and therefore improved the healing effects on injured liver tissue. CONCLUSION ADSCs, especially L-theanine-pretreated ADSCs, have anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, and anti-tumorigenesis effects on the N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced liver injury rat model.

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of norovirus in adult cases with infectious diarrhea in Putuo District of Shanghai， and provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control of infectious diarrhea caused by norovirus. MethodsFecal samples， clinical information and epidemiological data were collected from January 2013 through December 2019 in surveillance hospitals in Putuo District of Shanghai. Norovirus was examined by real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （rRT-PCR）. ResultsIn 1 389 adult cases with infectious diarrhea， norovirus positive rate was 25.41%， which was significantly higher in male （27.16%） than female （23.89%）. Furthermore， in 353 cases positive for norovirus， GⅡ group was the most common （77.98%）.The positive rate was highest in the cases aged 30-44 years. Spring， autumn and winter were the seasons with higher incidence of norovirus （September to May）. The norovirus-infected cases had more nausea， vomiting， hyperactivity of bowel sounds， and watery stool， compared to the negative cases （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe detection rate of norovirus remains high in adult cases with infectious diarrhea in Putuo District of Shanghai， of which GII is predominant. Seasonality may be spring， autumn and winter. Therefore， it warrants the countermeasures， such as surveillance and health education， for prevention and control of norovirus in susceptible population during epidemic seasons.