In different stages of schizophrenia (SZ), alterations in gray matter volume (GMV) of patients are normally regulated by various pathological mechanisms. Instead of analyzing stage-specific changes, this study employed a multivariate structural covariance model and sliding-window approach to investigate the illness duration-related developmental trajectory of GMV in SZ. The trajectory is defined as a sequence of brain regions activated by illness duration, represented as a sparsely directed matrix. By applying this approach to structural magnetic resonance imaging data from 145 patients with SZ, we observed a continuous developmental trajectory of GMV from cortical to subcortical regions, with an average change occurring every 0.208 years, covering a time window of 20.176 years. The starting points were widely distributed across all networks, except for the ventral attention network. These findings provide insights into the neuropathological mechanism of SZ with a neuroprogressive model and facilitate the development of process for aided diagnosis and intervention with the starting points.
Humans ; Schizophrenia/pathology* ; Gray Matter/pathology* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Disease Progression ; Male ; Female ; Brain/pathology* ; Cerebral Cortex/pathology* ; Adult

OBJECTIVE: Paridis Rhizoma (Chonglou in Chinese), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has been shown have strong anti-tumor effects. Paris saponin VII (PSVII), an active constituent isolated from Paridis Rhizoma, was demonstrated to significantly suppress the proliferation of BxPC-3 cells in our previous study. Here, we aimed to elucidate the anti-pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) effect of PSVII and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Cell viability was determined by CCK-8, colony formation, and cell migration assays. Cell apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were measured by flow cytometry with annexin V/propidine iodide (Annexin V/PI) and 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA), respectively. Pyroptosis was evaluated by morphological features, Hoechst 33342/PI staining assay, and release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). JC-1 fluorescent dye was employed to measure mitochondrial membrane potential. Western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to determine the levels of proteins or mRNAs. The effect in vivo was assessed by a xenograft tumor model. RESULTS: PSVII inhibited the viability of PDAC cells (BxPC-3, PANC-1, and Capan-2 cells) and induced gasdermin E (GSDME) cleavage, as well as the simultaneous cleavage of Caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP). Knockdown of GSDME shifted PSVII-induced pyroptosis to apoptosis. Additionally, the effect of PSVII was significantly attenuated by Z-Asp(OMe)-Glu(OMe)-Val-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone (Z-DEVD-FMK), on the induction of GSDME-dependent pyroptosis. PSVII also elevated intracellular ROS accumulation and stimulated Bax and Caspase-3/GSDME to conduct pyroptosis in PDAC cells. The ROS scavenger N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) suppressed the release of LDH and inhibited Caspase-9, Caspase-3, and GSDME cleavage in PDAC cells, ultimately reversing PSVII-induced pyroptosis. Furthermore, in a xenograft tumor model, PSVII markedly suppressed the growth of PDAC tumors and induced pyroptosis. CONCLUSION These results demonstrated that PSVII exerts therapeutic effects through Caspase-3/GSDME-dependent pyroptosis and may constitute a novel strategy for preventing chemotherapeutic resistance in patients with PDAC in the future.

This paper systematically reviews the application progress of machine learning in perioperative transfusion medicine, focusing on its significant achievements in identifying transfusion risk factors, accurately predicting transfusion requirements, and enabling dynamic monitoring with real-time feedback. It also examines the methodologies, performance metrics, and clinical significance of constructing machine learning models across various surgical specialties, including orthopaedics, cardiac surgery, trauma, and obstetrics. The review further analyzes major challenges currently facing the field, including data bias, model overfitting and interpretability issues, alongside privacy and ethical concerns. Finally, it outlines future directions, highlighting how multimodal data fusion, deep learning applications, multicentre validation, and interdisciplinary collaboration are poised to significant potential for advancing the clinical translation of intelligent transfusion models, achieve personalized precision transfusion management, and enhance patient safety and therapeutic outcomes.

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of dulaglutide combined with metformin in the treatment of obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods A total of 200 obese patients with T2DM who were treated in Shanghai Jiading District Anting Hospital from January 2021 to January 2023 were randomly divided into liraglutide group(n=100)and dulaglutide group(n=100).The liraglutide group was treated with liraglutide combined with metformin,and the dulaglutide group was treated with dulaglutide combined with metformin.Both groups were treated for 3 months.The body metabolic indexes[fasting blood glucose(FBG),2 h postprandial blood glucose(2 h PBG),hemoglobin(HbA1 c),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG)],body fat composition[body fat rate,body mass index,subcutaneous fat rate of limbs,visceral fat index]and serum adipokines(adiponectin,neuropeptide Q(NPQ),asprosin,irisin)levels were compared before treatment and 3 months after treatment.The clinical efficacy and adverse reactions of the two groups were observed.Results After 3 months of treatment,FBG,2 h PBG,HbAlc,TC,TG,body fat rate,body mass index,subcutaneous fat rate of limbs,visceral fat index and asprosin in the two groups were lower than those before treatment,and those in the dulaglutide group were lower than those in the liraglutide group(P＜0.05).After 3 months of treatment,the levels of serum adiponectin,NPQ and irisin in the two groups were higher than those before treatment,and the increase in the dulaglutide group was greater than that in the liraglutide group(P＜0.05).The effective rate of dulaglutide group(98.00%)was higher than that of liraglutide group(91.00%)(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups(11.00%,14.00%)(P＞0.05).Conclusion Dulaglutide combined with metformin could improve the metabolic status of obese T2 DM patients,regulate body fat composition and serum adipokines,with significant clinical efficacy and safety.

Objective:To observe any effect of exercise preconditioning on the levels of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the brain tissue of rats after induced cerebral ischemia and reperfusion, and how it might promote angiogenesis.Methods:Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, a model group and an exercise preconditioning group, each of 12. After adaptive running training for 3 days, the exercise preconditioning group ran daily for 30 minutes at 15m/min for 14 days, while the other two groups did not exercise. Middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion were then induced in the model and exercise preconditioning groups using the modified Zea-Longa suture method. Rats in the sham-operation group were only cut open to expose the right carotid artery. Right after the modeling, and again 24 hours later neurological deficit was evaluated using the Zea-Longa score and modified neurological severity scoring (mNSS). Infarct sizes were measured using 2, 3, 5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining. Any morphological changes were noted using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and the expression of CD31 protein, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor in the ischemic cerebral cortex were quantified immunohistochemically.Results:Right after the modelling, compared with the sham-operation group, the average Zea-Longa scores of the model and exercise groups had increased significantly, but were not significantly different from each other. Twenty-four hours later the average Zea-Longa score, mNSS score and relative cerebral infarction area of the model group had increased significantly compared with the sham-operation group, while the exercise preconditioning group′s averages had decreased significantly. The HE staining showed that compared with the sham-operation group, pathological changes such as loose tissue, reduced number of nerve cells, nucleolysis, and vacuolization of the cerebral cortex on the ischemic side were found in the model group. Compared with the model group, the pathological changes in the exercise preconditioning group were less serious. The levels of CD31 protein, HIF-1α and VEGF in the ischemic cerebral cortexes of the model group had by then increased significantly. But compared with the model group, those levels had increased more in the exercise preconditioning group.Conclusion:Exercise preconditioning can effectively promote angiogenesis after cerebral ischemia and reduce chronic injury. That may be related to the activation of the HIF-1α and/or VEGF signaling pathways.

Surgical operation is the main treatment of oral and maxillofacial tumors.Dysphagia is a common postoperative complication.Swal-lowing disorder can not only lead to mis-aspiration,malnutrition,aspiration pneumonia and other serious consequences,but also may cause psychological problems and social communication barriers,affecting the quality of life of the patients.At present,there is no systematic evalua-tion and rehabilitation management plan for the problem of swallowing disorder after oral and maxillofacial tumor surgery in China.Combining the characteristics of postoperative swallowing disorder in patients with oral and maxillofacial tumors,summarizing the clinical experience of ex-perts in the field of tumor and rehabilitation,reviewing and summarizing relevant literature at home and abroad,and through joint discussion and modification,a group of national experts reached this consensus including the core contents of the screening of swallowing disorders,the phased assessment of prognosis and complications,and the implementation plan of comprehensive management such as nutrition management,respiratory management,swallowing function recovery,psychology and nursing during rehabilitation treatment,in order to improve the evalua-tion and rehabilitation of swallowing disorder after oral and maxillofacial tumor surgery in clinic.

Objective:To explore the effects of different polymers on in vitro biomimetic mineralization of small intestinal submucosa(SIS)scaffolds,and to evaluate the physicochemical properties and bio-compatibility of the SIS scaffolds.Methods:The SIS scaffolds prepared by freeze-drying method were im-mersed in simulated body fluid(SBF),mineralized liquid containing polyacrylic acid(PAA)and mine-ralized liquid containing PAA and polyaspartic acid(PASP).After two weeks in the mineralized solu-tion,the liquid was changed every other day.SBF@SIS,PAA@SIS,PAA/PASP@SIS scaffolds were ob-tained.The SIS scaffolds were used as control group to evaluate their physicochemical properties and bio-compatibility.We observed the bulk morphology of the scaffolds in each group,analyzed the microscopic morphology by environment scanning electron microscopy and determined the porosity and pore size.We also analyzed the surface elements by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDX),analyzed the struc-ture of functional groups by Flourier transformed infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),detected the water ab-sorption rate by using specific gravity method,and evaluated the compression strength by universal me-chanical testing machine.The pro-cell proliferation effect of each group of scaffolds were evaluated by CCK-8 cell proliferation method.Results:Under scanning electron microscopy,the scaffolds of each group showed a three-dimensional porous structure with suitable pore size and porosity,and crystal was observed in all the mineralized scaffolds of each group,in which the crystal deposition of PAA/PASP@SIS scaffolds was more regular.At the same time,the collagen fibers could be seen to thicken.EDX analysis showed that the characteristic peaks of Ca and P were found in the three groups of mineralized scaffolds,and the highest peaks were found in the PAA/PASP@SIS scaffolds.FTIR analysis proved that all the three groups of mineralized scaffolds were able to combine hydroxyapatite with SIS.All the scaf-folds had good hydrophilicity.The compressive strength of the mineralized scaffold in the three groups was higher than that in the control group,and the best compressive strength was found in PAA/PASP@SIS scaffold.The scaffolds of all the groups could effectively adsorb proteins,and PAA/PASP@SIS group had the best adsorption capacity.In the CCK-8 cell proliferation experiment,the PAA/PASP@SIS scaffold showed the best ability to promote cell proliferation with the largest number of living cells observed.Con-clusion:Compared with other mineralized scaffolds,PAA/PASP@SIS scaffolds prepared by mineralized solution containing both PAA and PASP have better physicochemical properties and biocompatibility and have potential applications in bone tissue engineering.

Objective:To investigate the effect of exercise preconditioning on angiogenesis in ischemic brain tissue in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in the view of VEGF/VEGFR2/dock6 signaling pathway. Method:SD male rats were divided into sham group,model group and exercise preconditioning group by ran-dom number table method,with 18 rats in each group.The sham operation group and the model group were not given any treatment,while the exercise preconditioning group was given adaptive running training for 3 days at a speed of 10 m/min,once a day for 20 minutes each time.After the adaptive training,the exercise preconditioning group was given formal running training for 3 weeks,continuous training for 6 days a week,rest for 1 day,electric treadmill slope of 0°,speed of 15m/min,30min/d.Model group and exercise precondi-tioning group were modified to prepare the middle cerebal artery occlusion(MACO)models by Koizumi thread method,while sham operation group only given skin cutting without thread insertion.Zea longa score and modi-fied neurological severity score(mNSS)were used to score neurological deficit in rats,the relative infarct size of the brain was detected by TTC staining,the morphological changes of the ischemic cerebral cortex was ob-served by HE staining,the expression of CD31 in ischemic cerebral cortex was detected by immunohistochemis-try and the expressions of VEGFA,VEGFR2,Dock6 in ischemic cerebral cortex were detected by western blot. Result:①Zea-Longa scoring:after awaking from anesthetizati,compared with the sham group,the Zea-Longa scores of the other two groups were increased(P＜0.01),and there was no statistical significance in the Zea-Lon-ga scores between the two groups.At 72 hours after reperfusion,compared with the sham group,the Zea-Longa score of the rats in the model group was significantly increased(P＜0.01);compared with the model group,the Zea-Longa score of the rats in the exercise preconditioning group was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).②mNSS scoring:At 72 hours after reperfusion,compared with the sham group,the mNSS score of the rats in the mod-el group was significantly increased(P＜0.01);compared with the model group,the mNSS score of the rats in the exercise preconditioning group was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).③TTC staining:Compared with the sham group,the cerebral infarction volume in the model group was increased(P＜0.01),and compared with the mod-el group,the cerebral infarction volume in the exercise preconditioning group was decreased(P＜0.05).④ HE staining:Compared with the sham group,the model group rats appeared significant pathological changes in the cerebral cortex on the ischemic side.Compared with the model group,the pathological changes of the cerebral cortex on the ischemic side of the rats in the exercise preconditioning group were alleviated.⑤ Immunohisto-chemistry of CD31:Compared with the sham group,the expression of CD31 in the ischemic cerebral cortex of the model group was significantly increased(P＜0.05).The expression of CD31 in the ischemic cerebral cortex of the exercise preconditioning group was further increased(P＜0.05).⑥Western blot of VEGF,VEGFR2 and Dock6:Compared with the sham group,the expressions of VEGF(P＜0.05),VEGFR2(P＜0.05)and Dock6(P＜0.01)in the ischemic cerebral cortex of the model group were significantly increased;compared with the model group,the expressions of VEGF(P＜0.05),VEGFR2(P＜0.05)and Dock6(P＜0.01)in the ischemic cerebral cor-tex of the exercise preconditioning group were further increased. Conclusion:Exercise preconditioning can effectively promote angiogenesis after cerebral ischemia and reduce cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury,which may be related to the activation of VEGF/VEGFR2/Dock6 signaling pathway.

Purpose/Significance To construct a Chinese medical knowledge Q&A corpus dataset as a standardized evaluation bench-mark for large language models(LLMs)in the medical domain,so as to improve the accuracy and efficiency of LLMs in handling Chinese medical questions.Method/Process Chinese medical paper knowledge,medical terminology explanations and supplementary questions are acquired from the Chinese medical licensing examination,and open-source Chinese medical Q&A datasets are encompassed in the developed Q&A datasets.Result/Conclusion The Chinese medical knowledge Q&A corpus datasets enrich the sources of existing datasets and promote the objective and comprehensive quantitative evaluation of large models in the medical field.In the near future,additional data such as electronic medical records and those from online health communities will be used to strengthen the support of artificial intelli-gence for the Healthy China strategy.

Purpose/Significance To reveal secondary infection knowledge related to infectious diseases by mining public literature data,and to promote the research and construction of the secondary infection monitoring platform,so as to improve the prevention and control level of infectious diseases in China.Method/Process The literature based discovery method is firstly adopted to mine and ana-lyze the secondary diseases from large-scale biomedical literature data,taking viral hepatitis,human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)infection and tuberculosis infection as the examples.Result/Conclusion 3 kinds of secondary diseases including infectious diseases,non-infectious diseases and even tumors,are found from more than 36.8 million PubMed literature.The research results not only validate that this method provides a new approach for systematically and comprehensively reveal secondary infection knowledge related to infectious diseases,but also provide more powerful literature evidences for effective monitoring and early intervention of secondary diseases.