ObjectiveSpinal cord injury (SCI) directly impairs the regulatory function of the autonomic nervous system, induces intestinal dysfunction, and significantly reduces patients’ quality of life. Preclinical studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) therapy can regulate the brain-gut axis and is used to treat central nervous system diseases such as major depressive disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Recent research has established that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from EA-treated SCI rats restored intestinal motility and colonic morphology. However, it remains unclear whether the regulation of gut microbiota by EA therapy directly contributes to neural repair after SCI. This study aims to explore whether gut microbiota mediates the neuroprotective effect of EA in the treatment of SCI and its possible mechanism. MethodsThe study employed RNA transcriptome analysis of spinal cord tissue to characterize gene expression profiles and to identify key signaling pathways following EA treatment for SCI. Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining and Nissl staining were used to observe the morphological changes in spinal cord tissue. Western blot (WB) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were applied to detect the effects of EA on the expression of proteins related to nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 (NLRP3) -dependent pyroptosis. Using 16S rDNA sequencing, the study observed alterations in gut microbiota diversity and community composition in SCI rats. Prior to establishing SCI models, rats were pretreated with an antibiotic cocktail to induce gut dysbiosis, and the effects on intestinal function and spinal cord neural repair were evaluated. FMT was performed to investigate the regulatory effects of post-EA FMT on motor function, general status, liver and spleen indices, and NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in SCI rats. ResultsEA improved motor function and reduced regulated neuronal cell death in SCI rats. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated the activation of immune- and inflammation-related pathways post-SCI, including NOD-like receptors, nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB), and Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways. EA primarily influenced intestinal inflammation and autoimmune functions. 16S rDNA sequencing illustrated that EA did not alter the diversity of gut microbiota. However, EA altered the gut microbiota composition in SCI rats, increasing Lactobacillus and Akkermansia genera while rebalancing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Furthermore, depletion of gut microbiota by antibiotics disrupted the intestinal barrier, reduced the expression of intestinal barrier proteins Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1) and Occludin, elevated serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) levels, exacerbated spinal cord tissue damage, and hindered motor function recovery in SCI rats. FMT from donors treated with EA reduced LBP levels in the intestine, blood, and spinal cord of rats, inhibited the TLR4 myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88)-NF‑κB pathway and NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis, and improved motor function. On the other hand, FMT treatment resulted in decreased body weight and food intake, whereas FMT using EA-treated donors effectively alleviated these alterations. ConclusionEA effectively alleviated neuroinflammatory responses in rats with SCI, primarily through regulating the gut microbiota and suppressing the NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo clarify whether METTL14 mediates the core role of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) in promoting myelination and improving behavior in young autistic rats through gene intervention technology. MethodsThe ASD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA) in pregnant rats. Male offspring were intracerebroventricularly injected with adenovirus-packaged METTL14 shRNA (sh-METTL14) or its control (sh-NC) on postnatal day 1, with a model group set as well. Subsequently, the juvenile rats were divided into model group, acupuncture group, acupuncture+sh-NC group, and acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) from postnatal day 7, once daily for 21 consecutive days. Neurobehavioral changes were evaluated by behavioral tests; METTL14 knockdown efficiency and the expression of METTL14, METTL3, and PTEN were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB); PTEN m⁶A levels were measured by RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR (RIP-qPCR); myelin ultrastructure, expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofascin 155 (NF155), and dendritic spine density were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and primary neuron culture. ResultsBehaviorally, knockdown of METTL14 significantly counteracted the beneficial effects of acupuncture in improving self-grooming, open field exploration, three-chamber social interaction, and Morris water maze learning and memory (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the acupuncture+sh-NC group, the acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of hippocampal METTL14 (P<0.01), and the upregulating effects of acupuncture on METTL3 and PTEN expression were reversed (P<0.01). Meanwhile, knockdown of METTL14 significantly inhibited the acupuncture-induced increase in PTEN m⁶A levels (P<0.01). Morphologically, knockdown of METTL14 attenuated the improvement of myelin structure by acupuncture, reversed the downregulation of MBP and upregulation of NF155 induced by acupuncture, and blocked the increase in dendritic spine density (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionMETTL14 is a key molecule mediating the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Neiguan. Acupuncture at Neiguan upregulates METTL14, thereby enhancing m⁶A methylation modification of PTEN mRNA to stabilize its expression, ultimately promoting myelin development and improving behavioral symptoms in ASD juvenile rats. This preliminarily reveals the modern biological connotation of “opening Xuanfu and dredging myelin”.

ObjectiveSpinal cord injury (SCI) directly impairs the regulatory function of the autonomic nervous system, induces intestinal dysfunction, and significantly reduces patients’ quality of life. Preclinical studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) therapy can regulate the brain-gut axis and is used to treat central nervous system diseases such as major depressive disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Recent research has established that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from EA-treated SCI rats restored intestinal motility and colonic morphology. However, it remains unclear whether the regulation of gut microbiota by EA therapy directly contributes to neural repair after SCI. This study aims to explore whether gut microbiota mediates the neuroprotective effect of EA in the treatment of SCI and its possible mechanism. MethodsThe study employed RNA transcriptome analysis of spinal cord tissue to characterize gene expression profiles and to identify key signaling pathways following EA treatment for SCI. Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining and Nissl staining were used to observe the morphological changes in spinal cord tissue. Western blot (WB) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were applied to detect the effects of EA on the expression of proteins related to nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 (NLRP3) -dependent pyroptosis. Using 16S rDNA sequencing, the study observed alterations in gut microbiota diversity and community composition in SCI rats. Prior to establishing SCI models, rats were pretreated with an antibiotic cocktail to induce gut dysbiosis, and the effects on intestinal function and spinal cord neural repair were evaluated. FMT was performed to investigate the regulatory effects of post-EA FMT on motor function, general status, liver and spleen indices, and NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in SCI rats. ResultsEA improved motor function and reduced regulated neuronal cell death in SCI rats. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated the activation of immune- and inflammation-related pathways post-SCI, including NOD-like receptors, nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB), and Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways. EA primarily influenced intestinal inflammation and autoimmune functions. 16S rDNA sequencing illustrated that EA did not alter the diversity of gut microbiota. However, EA altered the gut microbiota composition in SCI rats, increasing Lactobacillus and Akkermansia genera while rebalancing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Furthermore, depletion of gut microbiota by antibiotics disrupted the intestinal barrier, reduced the expression of intestinal barrier proteins Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1) and Occludin, elevated serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) levels, exacerbated spinal cord tissue damage, and hindered motor function recovery in SCI rats. FMT from donors treated with EA reduced LBP levels in the intestine, blood, and spinal cord of rats, inhibited the TLR4 myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88)-NF‑κB pathway and NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis, and improved motor function. On the other hand, FMT treatment resulted in decreased body weight and food intake, whereas FMT using EA-treated donors effectively alleviated these alterations. ConclusionEA effectively alleviated neuroinflammatory responses in rats with SCI, primarily through regulating the gut microbiota and suppressing the NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo clarify whether METTL14 mediates the core role of acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) in promoting myelination and improving behavior in young autistic rats through gene intervention technology. MethodsThe ASD model was established by intraperitoneal injection of valproic acid (VPA) in pregnant rats. Male offspring were intracerebroventricularly injected with adenovirus-packaged METTL14 shRNA (sh-METTL14) or its control (sh-NC) on postnatal day 1, with a model group set as well. Subsequently, the juvenile rats were divided into model group, acupuncture group, acupuncture+sh-NC group, and acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group. The acupuncture group received acupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) from postnatal day 7, once daily for 21 consecutive days. Neurobehavioral changes were evaluated by behavioral tests; METTL14 knockdown efficiency and the expression of METTL14, METTL3, and PTEN were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB); PTEN m⁶A levels were measured by RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR (RIP-qPCR); myelin ultrastructure, expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) and neurofascin 155 (NF155), and dendritic spine density were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and primary neuron culture. ResultsBehaviorally, knockdown of METTL14 significantly counteracted the beneficial effects of acupuncture in improving self-grooming, open field exploration, three-chamber social interaction, and Morris water maze learning and memory (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the acupuncture+sh-NC group, the acupuncture+sh-METTL14 group showed significantly decreased mRNA and protein expression of hippocampal METTL14 (P<0.01), and the upregulating effects of acupuncture on METTL3 and PTEN expression were reversed (P<0.01). Meanwhile, knockdown of METTL14 significantly inhibited the acupuncture-induced increase in PTEN m⁶A levels (P<0.01). Morphologically, knockdown of METTL14 attenuated the improvement of myelin structure by acupuncture, reversed the downregulation of MBP and upregulation of NF155 induced by acupuncture, and blocked the increase in dendritic spine density (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionMETTL14 is a key molecule mediating the therapeutic effect of acupuncture at Neiguan. Acupuncture at Neiguan upregulates METTL14, thereby enhancing m⁶A methylation modification of PTEN mRNA to stabilize its expression, ultimately promoting myelin development and improving behavioral symptoms in ASD juvenile rats. This preliminarily reveals the modern biological connotation of “opening Xuanfu and dredging myelin”.

To explore the clinical value of a multimodal predictive model based on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) radiomics combined with deep learning(DL) features for the preoperative noninvasive assessment of mismatch repair-deficient(MMRd) status in endometrial cancer(EC).

OBJECTIVE To screen a single matrix， prepare dissolving microneedles of Pterocarya hupehensis total flavonoids（PHTF-MN）， and characterize it while evaluating its analgesic effects.METHODS Using microneedle morphology and puncture rate as evaluation indicators， the matrix was screened from polyvinyl alcohol （PVA）， polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 （PVP K30）， PVP K90， and sodium hyaluronate with relative molecular weights of 15 000 and 60 000 （HA 1.5w and HA 6w ）. PHTF-MN was prepared by the layer-by-layer casting method with the selected matrix， and the appearance and morphology， total flavonoid content， mechanical properties， puncture performance， dissolution properties， and drug release behavior of the obtained PHTF-MN were characterized. Using male BALB/c mice as test subjects and aspirin （ASA） as a positive control， the analgesic effects of the microneedles were evaluated using a formalin-induced pain model.RESULTS Blank microneedles prepared with 30% HA 1.5w exhibited optimal surface flatness and the membrane puncture rate （through 4 layers of parafilm membrane） reaching 78%. The PHTF-MNs （with PHTF contents of 10， 20， 30， 40， and 50 mg/g in the matrix） exhibited uniform arrays and intact tips， with RSDs for total flavonoid contents all below 7% （ n ＝8）. The single-needle puncture forces were 1.46 and 1.07 N （with PHTF contents of 30 and 50 mg/g in the matrix， respectively）. The skin penetration rate approached 100%， with visible puncture marks in the stratum corneum and drug residue （with a PHTF content of 50 mg/g in the matrix）. After 30 min of fixation， the needles had almost completely dissolved， and the skin retention rates all exceeded 90% （with PHTF contents of 10， 30， and 50 mg/g in the matrix， respectively）. The cumulative release within 8 h was （134.64±2.03） μg/cm 2 ， and the fit to the first-order kinetic equation （ R 2 ＝0.950 1） was highest （with a PHTF content of 50 mg/g in the matrix）. Low- and high-dose PHTF-MN （containing 85.26 and 145.03 μg of total flavonoids per patch， respectively； 1 patch/day） significantly shortened the cumulative time of phase Ⅱ pain response in mice （ P ＜0.05）， with pain inhibition rates （43.67% and 59.78%） comparable to those of ASA （53.70%）.CONCLUSIONS PHTF-MN using HA 1.5w as a single matrix was successfully prepared. This formulation features a simplified preparation process， uniform drug loading， favorable mechanical properties， resistance to fracture， and rapid dissolution. Its drug release behavior conforms to a first-order kinetic model， and its analgesic effect is comparable to that of ASA.

Objective:To investigate the effect of circular RNA bromodomain PHD finger transcription factor (circBPTF) targeting microRNA (miR)-224-3p on the damage of human retinal vascular endothelial cells (HRECs) induced by high glucose.Methods:HRECs were divided into control group and high glucose group, which were cultured with medium containing 5.5 mmol/L glucose and 30 mmol/L glucose for 48 hours, respectively.HRECs were transfected with siRNA negative control (si-NC), siRNA of circBPTF (si-circBPTF), miRNA mimic control (miR-NC), and miR-224-3p by Lipofectamine 2000, followed by cultured in 30 mmol/L glucose medium for 48 hours and were recorded as si-NC group, si-circBPTF group, miR-NC group and miR-224-3p group, respectively.HRECs were transfected with si-circBPTF and anti-miR-NC or si-circBPTF and anti-miR-224-3p by double transfection method, and then treated with 30 mmol/L glucose medium for 48 hours and were recorded as anti-miR-NC group and anti-miR-224-3p group, respectively.The expression of circBPTF and miR-224-3p was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry.Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was determined by 2′, 7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate probe.Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were detected by colorimetric method.Expression of cleaved-caspase-3/caspase-3 and cleaved-caspase-9/caspase-9 proteins was detected by Western blot.The interaction between circBPTF and miR-224-3p was identified by the dual luciferase reporter method.Results:Compared with the control group, the apoptosis rate, cleaved-caspase-3/caspase-3 protein expression, cleaved-caspase-9/caspase-9 protein expression, ROS level, MDA content, and circBPTF relative expression were significantly increased and SOD activity and miR-224-3p expression were decreased in the high glucose group (all P<0.05).Compared with the si-NC group, circBPTF relative expression, ROS level, MDA content, cleaved-caspase-3/caspase-3 protein expression, cleaved-caspase-9/caspase-9 protein expression, and cell apoptosis rate were significantly reduced and SOD activity was significantly increased in the si-circBPTF group (all P<0.05).Compared with the miR-NC group, miR-224-3p relative expression and SOD activity were significantly enhanced and ROS level, MDA content, cleaved-caspase-3/caspase-3 protein expression, cleaved-caspase-9/caspase-9 protein expression and cell apoptosis rate were significantly reduced in the miR-224-3p group (all P<0.05).The relative luciferase activity of HRECs after co-transfection of wild type circBPTF and miR-224-3p mimic was 0.43±0.04, which was significantly decreased compared with 0.99±0.06 after co-transfection of wild type circBPTF and miR-NC ( t=23.297, P<0.05).Compared with anti-miR-NC group, the relative expression of miR-224-3p and SOD activity were significantly decreased and ROS level, MDA content, cell apoptosis rate, cleaved-caspase-3/caspase-3 protein expression, and cleaved-caspase-9/caspase-9 protein expression were significantly increased in the anti-miR-224-3p group (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Interfering with circBPTF can inhibit high glucose induced HRECs apoptosis and oxidative stress damage by targeting miR-224-3p.

Objective:To compare the effects of brinzolamide-timolol (B&T) eye drops and dipivefrine hydrochloride (DH) eye drops on the intraocular metabolism of ranibizumab after intravitreal injection in rabbit.Methods:Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly and equally divided into DH group, B&T group, and control group.The right eye was selected as the experimental eye.The B&T and DH groups received DH and B&T eye drops, respectively, twice daily, 30 μl each time.The control group did not receive any treatment.Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured in both eyes before the first administration and 1 hour after the first administration on the second day.After IOP measurement, the experimental eye received an intravitreal injection of 0.25 mg ranibizumab (10 mg/ml).Aqueous humor samples were collected 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21 and 28 days after injection.Ranibizumab concentration in the aqueous humor was measured by ELISA kit.Pharmacokinetic parameters including time to peak concentration ( tmax), peak concentration ( Cmax), elimination half-life ( t1/2) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of ranibizumab were calculated.This experiment was approved by the Ethics Committee of Henan Eye Hospital (No.HNEECA-2023-03). Results:The tmax of ranibizumab in the aqueous humor was 1 day in all three groups.The Cmax values in the control, B&T and DH groups were (8.122±2.445), (13.079±3.140) and (8.299±0.899)μg/ml, respectively.Except for day 3 in the control group, the ranibizumab concentrations in aqueous humor of the B&T group were higher than that of the DH group and the control group at all time points after injection, with statistically significant significances (all P<0.05).The t1/2 of ranibizumab in aqueous humor in the control group, B&T group, and DH group were (2.90±0.29), (3.36±0.35) and (2.80±0.29) days, respectively, and the AUC0-t values were (52.697±10.178), (80.244±11.249) and (51.985±8.734)μg/ml·d, respectively.The t1/2 and AUC0-t of ranibizumab in aqueous humor of the B&T group were significantly higher than those of the DH group and the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05).The mean bioavailability in the B&T group was increased by 52.3% compared to the control group. Conclusions:B&T eye drops prolong the half-life and enhance the intraocular bioavailability of ranibizumab after intravitreal injection in rabbits, whereas DH has no significant effect on its intraocular metabolism.

Objective:To investigate the current status and risk factors of central venous catheter-related thrombus（CRT）in critically ill children，and to provide evidence for proposing preventive measures.Methods:This study was a single-center cross-sectional survey.The hospitalized children with central venous catheters implanted in the intensive care unit of Shanghai Children's Medical Center,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from January to March 2024 were included.Based on the ultrasound diagnosis indicating CRT or the presence of visually detectable thrombi after central venous catheter removal,the children included in the study were categorized into the CRT group and the non-CRT group.The data of demographic，clinical data，laboratory tests，medication treatment，and catheter related information of the affected children were collected.Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors associated with CRT.Results:A total of 328 children were included，of which 158 cases（48.2%）were female，with the median age of 35.00（9.00，88.75）months.There were 51 cases（15.6%）in CRT group and 277 cases（84.4%）in non-CRT group.After adjusted by pediatric critical illness score，multivariate binary Logistic analysis revealed that the use of normal saline for catheter flushing and sealing (adjust OR=26.52,95% CI 8.32-84.60, P<0.001),longer duration of vasoactive drug use (adjust OR=5.06,95% CI 1.93-13.26, P=0.001),higher Caprini scale score (adjust OR=3.09,95% CI 1.38-6.91, P=0.006),presence of high-risk comorbidities or complications (adjust OR=2.87,95% CI 1.11-7.45, P=0.030),longer immobilization time (adjust OR=1.13,95% CI 1.07-1.19, P<0.001),and lower international normalized ratio after catheter placement (adjust OR=0.10,95% CI 0.02-0.53, P=0.007) were independent risk factors affecting the occurrence of CRT. Conclusion:The incidence of CRT is relatively high among critically ill children,and medical staff can develop targeted intervention measures by taking relevant risk factors into consideration.

Objective:To evaluate the value of ultrasound radiomics combined with machine learning for early diagnosis of seronegative Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (SN-HT) .Methods:This retrospective study included 164 patients from Liaoning Provincial People’s Hospital , Lixin County People’s Hospital, Linghai Dalinghe Hospital, Fengcheng Phoenix Hospital, who underwent thyroidectomy for solitary nodules with normal thyroid function between Nov. 2016 and Jan. 2024. Postoperative pathology confirmed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) in some cases, who were further categorized into antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups based on serum antibody status. Patients without Hashimoto’s thyroiditis served as the control group. A total of 298 ultrasound images were analyzed. Radiomics features were extracted from hypoechoic non-nodular areas within 0.5 cm surrounding the tumor. Two senior pathologists and two senior ultrasound physicians independently assessed lymphocytic infiltration, eosinophilic changes of follicular epithelium, and the proportion of hypoechoic areas in pathology and ultrasound images, respectively. A machine learning model, CCH-NET, was developed using linear regression and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) techniques. The dataset was divided into a training set (80%) and a validation set (20%) to compare the diagnostic accuracy of CCH-NET with that of senior ultrasound physicians. Results:In internal validation, CCH-NET achieved a diagnostic accuracy of 88.89% for both antibody-positive and antibody-negative groups, significantly higher than the 66.67% accuracy of senior ultrasound physicians ( P<0.01). In external validation, CCH-NET achieved 75.00% and 66.67% accuracy for the two groups, compared to 50.00% by senior ultrasound physicians. For the control group, both methods achieved 93.33% accuracy. The AUC of CCH-NET was 0.848, outperforming senior ultrasound physicians (0.681) ,demonstrating superior diagnostic performance. Conclusion:The radiomics-based CCH-NET model, using non-nodular hypoechoic areas as a specific indicator, can accurately identify early SN-HT in euthyroid patients. It significantly outperforms senior ultrasound physicians, improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing missed diagnoses.