Combined with elastic network model(ENM),the perturbation response scanning(PRS)has emerged as a robust technique for pinpointing allosteric interactions within proteins.Here,we proposed the PRS analysis of drug-target networks(DTNs),which could provide a promising avenue in network medicine.We demonstrated the utility of the method by introducing a deep learning and network perturbation-based framework,for drug repurposing of multiple sclerosis(MS).First,the MS comorbidity network was constructed by performing a random walk with restart algorithm based on shared genes between MS and other diseases as seed nodes.Then,based on topological analysis and functional annotation,the neurotransmission module was identified as the"therapeutic module"of MS.Further,perturbation scores of drugs on the module were calculated by constructing the DTN and introducing the PRS analysis,giving a list of repurposable drugs for MS.Mechanism of action analysis both at pathway and structural levels screened dihydroergocristine as a candidate drug of MS by targeting a serotonin receptor of se-rotonin 2B receptor(HTR2B).Finally,we established a cuprizone-induced chronic mouse model to evaluate the alteration of HTR2B in mouse brain regions and observed that HTR2B was significantly reduced in the cuprizone-induced mouse cortex.These findings proved that the network perturbation modeling is a promising avenue for drug repurposing of MS.As a useful systematic method,our approach can also be used to discover the new molecular mechanism and provide effective candidate drugs for other complex diseases.

AIM To investigate the effects of volatile oil from Acorus tatarinowii Schott(A.tatarinowii)on neuroinflammation in a rat model of tic disorders.METHODS The SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group(8 rats)and the model group(40 rats).The rat models of tic disorders established successfully by intraperitoneal injection of iminodiapropionitrile(IDPN)were further divided into the model group,the tiapride group and the high-dose,moderate-dose and low-dose A.tatarinowii volatile oil groups,with 8 rats in each group.The 4-week intragastric treatment of respective drug was initiated the next day after the completion of modeling,and normal saline was dosed upon the blank group and the model group,during which the rats' behavioral changes were assessed by stereotyped behavior and motor behavior score every week.After the administration,the rats had their morphological changes of striatal neurons observed by Nissl staining;their levels of TGF-β,IL-10,TNF-αand IL-1β in serum and striatum detected by ELISA;their striatal protein expressions of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry;and their striatal expressions of M1,M2 microglia marker proteins CD86,CD206,SYN and PSD-95 detected by immunofluorescence co-staining.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the A.tatarinowii volatile oil groups demonstrated improved twitch-like behavior;decreased scores of motor behavior and rigid behavior(P＜0.01);alleviated damage of Nissl bodies in neurons;increased serum and striatum levels of TGF-β and IL-10(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);decreased levels of TNF-α and IL-1β(P＜0.01);decreased striatal protein expressions of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1(P＜0.01);increased protein expressions of PSD95 and SYN(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);and decreased CD86/Iba1(P＜0.01)and increased CD206/Iba1(P＜0.01)in terms of the fluorescence intensity.CONCLUSION A.tatarinowii volatile oil contributes an anti-tic effect and improves the neuroinflammation in the brain of the rat model of tic disorders by promoting the transformation of microglia into M2 type via CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signal axis.

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcomes of 514 cases of anterior cruciate ligament(ACL)reconstruction using hamstring tendon autograft and to observe postoperative changes and recovery of the grafts through second-look arthroscopy.Methods This retrospective study collected data from 514 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendon autograft between May 2015 and June 2018,with a follow-up of at least one year.Knee function recovery and stability were assessed using the Lysholm score,International Knee Documentation Committee(IKDC)score,and Tegner score,along with the pivot shift test and Lachman test.During the second-look arthroscopy,key observations included the synovial coverage,continuity of the reconstructed ligament,and any intra-articular abnormalities.Results The time interval between ACL reconstruction and second-look arthroscopy ranged from 12 to 28 months,with an average of 20 months.Postoperative infection occurred in 2 cases,both of which were successfully treated with arthroscopic debridement and drainage.No other patients experienced infections,graft resorption,or other complications.At the second-look arthroscopy,the Lysholm score significantly improved from(43.56±9.89)preoperative to(92.21±6.12)postoperatively,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05);The IKDC score increased from(20.32±7.87)to(85.67±10.43),the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05);The Tegner score improved from(4.31±0.82)to(6.61±1.21),the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Second-look arthroscopy revealed that the ligament remained intact in 375 patients,with partial tears in 139 patients,ligament tension was maintained in 447 patients,while 67 patients had laxity,the reconstructed ACL graft was deemed to be in good condition in 435 patients and suboptimal in 79 patients,there were significant differences observed in pre-and post-pivot shift test and Lachman test(P<0.05);Among the 514 patients,188(36.58%)successfully returned to sport.Conclusion ACL reconstruction using hamstring tendon autograft effectively restores knee function and stability.In patients followed for more than one years,the grafts show good vascularization and synovial coverage.Emphasis should be placed on systematic postoperative rehabilitation to optimize recovery.

Degenerative cervical myelopathy(DCM)is a group of diseases caused by cervical spine degeneration that compresses the spinal cord.It is a major cause of spinal cord dysfunction in adults,and its incidence is increasing globally.In the late stage,DCM could lead to paralysis due to spinal cord injury,which makes rapid,effective,and accurate medical diagnosis clinically significant.Deep learning(DL)technology can assist physicians in the rapid and accurate diagnosis of DCM by analyzing and processing a large amount of imaging data to extract features of the affected regions.In recent years,DL algorithm models have been leveraged for DCM-related research,which has become a focal point of intelligent medical development.In this review,domestic and international literature is surveyed,and the research progress and application of DL technology in the auxiliary diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of DCM are systematically summarized,aiming to provide a reference for intelligent diagnosis in clinical practice.

AIM To investigate the effects of volatile oil from Acorus tatarinowii Schott(A.tatarinowii)on neuroinflammation in a rat model of tic disorders.METHODS The SD rats were randomly divided into the blank group(8 rats)and the model group(40 rats).The rat models of tic disorders established successfully by intraperitoneal injection of iminodiapropionitrile(IDPN)were further divided into the model group,the tiapride group and the high-dose,moderate-dose and low-dose A.tatarinowii volatile oil groups,with 8 rats in each group.The 4-week intragastric treatment of respective drug was initiated the next day after the completion of modeling,and normal saline was dosed upon the blank group and the model group,during which the rats' behavioral changes were assessed by stereotyped behavior and motor behavior score every week.After the administration,the rats had their morphological changes of striatal neurons observed by Nissl staining;their levels of TGF-β,IL-10,TNF-αand IL-1β in serum and striatum detected by ELISA;their striatal protein expressions of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry;and their striatal expressions of M1,M2 microglia marker proteins CD86,CD206,SYN and PSD-95 detected by immunofluorescence co-staining.RESULTS Compared with the model group,the A.tatarinowii volatile oil groups demonstrated improved twitch-like behavior;decreased scores of motor behavior and rigid behavior(P＜0.01);alleviated damage of Nissl bodies in neurons;increased serum and striatum levels of TGF-β and IL-10(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);decreased levels of TNF-α and IL-1β(P＜0.01);decreased striatal protein expressions of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1(P＜0.01);increased protein expressions of PSD95 and SYN(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);and decreased CD86/Iba1(P＜0.01)and increased CD206/Iba1(P＜0.01)in terms of the fluorescence intensity.CONCLUSION A.tatarinowii volatile oil contributes an anti-tic effect and improves the neuroinflammation in the brain of the rat model of tic disorders by promoting the transformation of microglia into M2 type via CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signal axis.

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of alendronate sodium tablet combined with injection of recombinant teriparatide and calcium carbonate D3 tablet in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis(PMDP).Methods The patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis were divided into control group and treatment group according to the cohort method according to the treatment regimen.The control group was treated with calcium carbonate D3 tablet(600 mg,1 tablet a day)and alendronate sodium tablet(70 mg,once a week),while the treatment group was given injection of reacombinant teriparatide(200 U/20 μg,20 μg every day)on the basis of the control group.Both groups were continuously treated for 6 months.The clinical efficacy was compared after 6 months of treatment.The bone mineral density(BMD)of lumbar spine,total hip and femoral neck and levels of bone metabolism indicators[osteocalcin(OCN),tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b(TRAP-5b),procollagen type Ⅰ amino-terminal propeptide(PINP),C-terminal cross-linked peptide of type Ⅰ collagen(CTX-Ⅰ)]before treatment and after 6 months of treatment and bone pain[visual analogue scale(VAS)]and quality of life[European Foundation Osteoporosis Quality of Life Questionnaire(ECOS-16)]before treatment and after 3 and 6 months of treatment were recorded,and the adverse drug reactions within 6 months of treatment were compared.Results Fifty-two cases in treatment group and 64 cases in control group were enrolled.After treatment,the total effective rates in treatment group and control group were 87.80％(36 cases/41 cases)and 68.29％(28 cases/41 cases),respectively(P＜0.05).The BMD values of lumbar spine in treatment group and control group after treatment were(0.69±0.15)and(0.79±0.18)g·cm-2;the BMD values of total hip were(0.70±0.11)and(0.77±0.15)g·cm-2;the BMD values of femoral neck were(0.79±0.19)and(0.87±0.15)g·cm-2,respectively;the OCN levels were(7.42±1.53)and(5.37±1.16)μg·L-1;the PINP levels were(85.31±5.66)and(76.30±5.49)ng·mL-1;the TRAP-5b levels were(3.27±0.46)and(5.16±0.72)U·L-1;the CTX-Ⅰ levels were(3.37±0.54)and(5.08±0.70)ng·mL-1;the VAS scores were(1.48±0.13)and(2.07±0.24)points;the ECOS-16 scores were(24.84±4.62)and(32.71±6.07)points,and there were statistical differences in the above indicators between treatment group and control group(all P＜0.05).The main adverse drug reactions in treatment group were rash,dizziness and limb pain,and the main adverse drug reactions in control group were rash,dizziness,nausea,and limb pain,and the total incidence rates of adverse reactions in treatment group and control group were 12.20％(5 cases/41 cases)and 19.51％(8 cases/41 cases)(P＞0.05).Conclusion Alendronate sodium tablet combined with injection of recombinant teriparatide and calcium carbonate D3 tablet has a significant short-term efficacy on PMOP patients,and it can help to enhance the bone mineral density,reduce the symptoms of bone pain,and relieve the osteoporosis.

Body weight abnormalities, including overweight, obesity, and underweight, have become a dual public health challenge in Chinese adults: overweight and obesity lead to a variety of chronic complications, while underweight increases the risks of malnutrition, sarcopenia, and organ dysfunction. To systematically address these issues, multidisciplinary experts in endocrinology, sports science, nutrition, and psychiatry from various regions have held multiple weight management seminars. Based on the latest epidemiological data and clinical evidence, they expanded the guideline to include assessment and intervention strategies for underweight, in addition to the core content of obesity management. This guideline outlines the etiological mechanisms, evaluation methods, and multidimensional management strategies for overweight and obesity, covering key areas such as diagnosis and assessment, medical nutrition therapy, exercise prescription, pharmacological intervention, and psychological support. It is intended to provide a scientific and standardized approach to weight management across the adult population, aiming to curb the rising prevalence of obesity, mitigate complications associated with abnormal body weight, and improve nutritional status and overall quality of life.

Testicular histology based on testicular biopsy is an important factor for determining appropriate testicular sperm extraction surgery and predicting sperm retrieval outcomes in patients with azoospermia. Therefore, we developed a deep learning (DL) model to establish the associations between testicular grayscale ultrasound images and testicular histology. We retrospectively included two-dimensional testicular grayscale ultrasound from patients with azoospermia (353 men with 4357 images between July 2017 and December 2021 in The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China) to develop a DL model. We obtained testicular histology during conventional testicular sperm extraction. Our DL model was trained based on ultrasound images or fusion data (ultrasound images fused with the corresponding testicular volume) to distinguish spermatozoa presence in pathology (SPP) and spermatozoa absence in pathology (SAP) and to classify maturation arrest (MA) and Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS) in patients with SAP. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were used to analyze model performance. DL based on images achieved an AUC of 0.922 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.908-0.935), a sensitivity of 80.9%, a specificity of 84.6%, and an accuracy of 83.5% in predicting SPP (including normal spermatogenesis and hypospermatogenesis) and SAP (including MA and SCOS). In the identification of SCOS and MA, DL on fusion data yielded better diagnostic performance with an AUC of 0.979 (95% CI: 0.969-0.989), a sensitivity of 89.7%, a specificity of 97.1%, and an accuracy of 92.1%. Our study provides a noninvasive method to predict testicular histology for patients with azoospermia, which would avoid unnecessary testicular biopsy.
Humans ; Male ; Azoospermia/diagnostic imaging* ; Deep Learning ; Testis/pathology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Adult ; Ultrasonography/methods* ; Sperm Retrieval ; Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome/diagnostic imaging*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical features of children with STAT gene mutations, and to explore corresponding immunotherapy strategies. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 10 children with STAT gene mutations who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, from October 2015 to October 2024. Exploratory immunotherapy was implemented in some refractory cases, and the changes in symptoms, imaging manifestations, and cytokine levels were assessed after treatment. RESULTS: For the 10 children, the main clinical manifestations were recurrent rash since birth (7/10), cough (8/10), wheezing (5/10), expectoration (4/10), and purulent nasal discharge (4/10). Genotyping results showed that there was one child with heterozygous loss-of-function (LOF) mutation in the STAT1 gene, four children with heterozygous LOF mutation in the STAT3 gene, and five children with heterozygous gain-of-function (GOF) mutation in the STAT3 gene. Two children with LOF mutation in the STAT3 gene showed decreased interleukin-6 levels and improved clinical symptoms and imaging findings after omalizumab treatment. Three children with GOF mutation in the STAT3 gene achieved effective disease control after treatment with methylprednisolone (0.5 mg/kg per day). Two children with GOF mutation in the STAT3 gene received treatment with JAK inhibitor and then showed some improvement in symptoms. CONCLUSIONS STAT gene mutation screening should be considered for children with recurrent rash and purulent respiratory tract infections. Targeted immunotherapy may improve prognosis in patients with no response to conventional treatment.
Humans ; Male ; Immunotherapy ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Gain of Function Mutation ; Retrospective Studies ; Infant ; Loss of Function Mutation ; STAT Transcription Factors/genetics*

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of alendronate sodium tablet combined with injection of recombinant teriparatide and calcium carbonate D3 tablet in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis(PMDP).Methods The patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis were divided into control group and treatment group according to the cohort method according to the treatment regimen.The control group was treated with calcium carbonate D3 tablet(600 mg,1 tablet a day)and alendronate sodium tablet(70 mg,once a week),while the treatment group was given injection of reacombinant teriparatide(200 U/20 μg,20 μg every day)on the basis of the control group.Both groups were continuously treated for 6 months.The clinical efficacy was compared after 6 months of treatment.The bone mineral density(BMD)of lumbar spine,total hip and femoral neck and levels of bone metabolism indicators[osteocalcin(OCN),tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b(TRAP-5b),procollagen type Ⅰ amino-terminal propeptide(PINP),C-terminal cross-linked peptide of type Ⅰ collagen(CTX-Ⅰ)]before treatment and after 6 months of treatment and bone pain[visual analogue scale(VAS)]and quality of life[European Foundation Osteoporosis Quality of Life Questionnaire(ECOS-16)]before treatment and after 3 and 6 months of treatment were recorded,and the adverse drug reactions within 6 months of treatment were compared.Results Fifty-two cases in treatment group and 64 cases in control group were enrolled.After treatment,the total effective rates in treatment group and control group were 87.80％(36 cases/41 cases)and 68.29％(28 cases/41 cases),respectively(P＜0.05).The BMD values of lumbar spine in treatment group and control group after treatment were(0.69±0.15)and(0.79±0.18)g·cm-2;the BMD values of total hip were(0.70±0.11)and(0.77±0.15)g·cm-2;the BMD values of femoral neck were(0.79±0.19)and(0.87±0.15)g·cm-2,respectively;the OCN levels were(7.42±1.53)and(5.37±1.16)μg·L-1;the PINP levels were(85.31±5.66)and(76.30±5.49)ng·mL-1;the TRAP-5b levels were(3.27±0.46)and(5.16±0.72)U·L-1;the CTX-Ⅰ levels were(3.37±0.54)and(5.08±0.70)ng·mL-1;the VAS scores were(1.48±0.13)and(2.07±0.24)points;the ECOS-16 scores were(24.84±4.62)and(32.71±6.07)points,and there were statistical differences in the above indicators between treatment group and control group(all P＜0.05).The main adverse drug reactions in treatment group were rash,dizziness and limb pain,and the main adverse drug reactions in control group were rash,dizziness,nausea,and limb pain,and the total incidence rates of adverse reactions in treatment group and control group were 12.20％(5 cases/41 cases)and 19.51％(8 cases/41 cases)(P＞0.05).Conclusion Alendronate sodium tablet combined with injection of recombinant teriparatide and calcium carbonate D3 tablet has a significant short-term efficacy on PMOP patients,and it can help to enhance the bone mineral density,reduce the symptoms of bone pain,and relieve the osteoporosis.