Objective To classify the foot types of young Chinese males,extract characteristic indicators of foot types,and construct a standard foot type database.Methods Foot type data from 1 483 healthy young male individuals were collected.Spectral clustering algorithm was utilized to categorize foot types,and a deep neural network(DNN)was employed for training the classification model.Layer-wise relevance propagation(LRP)and the correlation coefficient method were combined to extract foot type features,and the differences in various foot type characteristics were compared.Results Spectral clustering yielded 4 distinct foot type categories.Foot type 1 was characterized by a high-arched foot with a prominent big toe,inwardly rotated 5th toe,and a high heel with a wide foot;foot type 2 was characterized by a narrow foot with hallux valgus;foot type 3 was characterized by a low-arched foot with hallux valgus;foot type 4 was characterized by a high-arched foot with a prominent big toe.By integrating interpretable neural networks and the correlation coefficient method,nine indicators were extracted from 27 foot type indicators,including the heel to the sole length,hallux height,navicular bone height,lateral malleolus height,hallux valgus angle,5th toe angle,dorsal foot circumference,heel angle,and longitudinal arch angle.The classification model constructed with these extracted indicators achieved an overall discrimination accuracy rate of 93.67％.Conclusions Chinese young males can be classified into four typical foot types.By examining the rearfoot,midfoot,and forefoot regions,nine key foot morphology parameters,including length,height,circumference,and angle,can be extracted.These parameters provide both theoretical and empirical support for establishing normative data on foot morphology for Chinese young males and for advancing biomechanical researches on the foot and ankle.

The neurophysiological mechanisms by which exercise improves cognitive function have not been fully elucidated. A comprehensive and systematic review of current domestic and international neurophysiological evidence on exercise improving cognitive function was conducted from multiple perspectives. At the molecular level, exercise promotes nerve cell regeneration and synaptogenesis and maintains cellular development and homeostasis through the modulation of a variety of neurotrophic factors, receptor activity, neuropeptides, and monoamine neurotransmitters, and by decreasing the levels of inflammatory factors and other modulators of neuroplasticity. At the cellular level, exercise enhances neural activation and control and improves brain structure through nerve regeneration, synaptogenesis, improved glial cell function and angiogenesis. At the structural level of the brain, exercise promotes cognitive function by affecting white and gray matter volumes, neural activation and brain region connectivity, as well as increasing cerebral blood flow. This review elucidates how exercise improves the internal environment at the molecular level, promotes cell regeneration and functional differentiation, and enhances the brain structure and neural efficiency. It provides a comprehensive, multi-dimensional explanation of the neurophysiological mechanisms through which exercise promotes cognitive function.
Animals ; Humans ; Brain/physiology* ; Cognition/physiology* ; Exercise/physiology* ; Nerve Regeneration/physiology* ; Neuronal Plasticity/physiology*

Objective To classify the foot types of young Chinese males,extract characteristic indicators of foot types,and construct a standard foot type database.Methods Foot type data from 1 483 healthy young male individuals were collected.Spectral clustering algorithm was utilized to categorize foot types,and a deep neural network(DNN)was employed for training the classification model.Layer-wise relevance propagation(LRP)and the correlation coefficient method were combined to extract foot type features,and the differences in various foot type characteristics were compared.Results Spectral clustering yielded 4 distinct foot type categories.Foot type 1 was characterized by a high-arched foot with a prominent big toe,inwardly rotated 5th toe,and a high heel with a wide foot;foot type 2 was characterized by a narrow foot with hallux valgus;foot type 3 was characterized by a low-arched foot with hallux valgus;foot type 4 was characterized by a high-arched foot with a prominent big toe.By integrating interpretable neural networks and the correlation coefficient method,nine indicators were extracted from 27 foot type indicators,including the heel to the sole length,hallux height,navicular bone height,lateral malleolus height,hallux valgus angle,5th toe angle,dorsal foot circumference,heel angle,and longitudinal arch angle.The classification model constructed with these extracted indicators achieved an overall discrimination accuracy rate of 93.67％.Conclusions Chinese young males can be classified into four typical foot types.By examining the rearfoot,midfoot,and forefoot regions,nine key foot morphology parameters,including length,height,circumference,and angle,can be extracted.These parameters provide both theoretical and empirical support for establishing normative data on foot morphology for Chinese young males and for advancing biomechanical researches on the foot and ankle.

Peyronie's disease (PD) is a disorder characterized by fibrous plaque formation in the penile tissue that leads to curvature and complications in advanced stages. In this study, we aimed to compare four injectable induction agents for the establishment of a robust rat model of PD: transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), fibrin, sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) combined with TGF-β1, and polidocanol (POL) combined with TGF-β1. The results showed that injection of TGF-β1 or fibrin into the tunica albuginea induced pathological endpoints without causing penile curvature. The STS + TGF-β1 combination resulted in both histological and morphological alterations, but with a high incidence of localized necrosis that led to animal death. The POL + TGF-β1 combination produced pathological changes and curvature comparable to STS + TGF-β1 and led to fewer complications. In conclusion, fibrin, STS + TGF-β1, and POL + TGF-β1 all induced PD with a certain degree of penile curvature and histological fibrosis in rats. The POL + TGF-β1 combination offered comparatively greater safety and clinical relevance and may have the greatest potential for PD research using model rats.
Animals ; Male ; Penile Induration/drug therapy* ; Rats ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fibrin ; Penis/drug effects* ; Polidocanol/administration & dosage* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Polyethylene Glycols/administration & dosage* ; Injections

Objective:To investigate the current status of endoscopic treatment for gastroesophageal varices in portal hypertension in China, and to provide supporting data and reference for the development of endoscopic treatment.Methods:In this study, initiated by the Liver Health Consortium in China (CHESS), a questionnaire was designed and distributed online to investigate the basic condition of endoscopic treatment for gastroesophageal varices in portal hypertension in 2022 in China. Questions included annual number and indication of endoscopic procedures, adherence to guideline for preventing esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB), management and timing of emergent EGVB, management of gastric and isolated varices, and improvement of endoscopic treatment. Proportions of hospitals concerning therapeutic choices to all participant hospitals were calculated. Guideline adherence between secondary and tertiary hospitals were compared by using Chi-square test.Results:A total of 836 hospitals from 31 provinces (anotomous regions and municipalities) participated in the survey. According to the survey, the control of acute EGVB (49.3%, 412/836) and the prevention of recurrent bleeding (38.3%, 320/836) were major indications of endoscopic treatment. For primary [non-selective β-blocker (NSBB) or endoscopic therapies] and secondary prophylaxis (NSBB and endoscopic therapies) of EGVB, adherence to domestic guideline was 72.5% (606/836) and 39.2% (328/836), respectively. There were significant differences in the adherence between secondary and tertiary hospitals in primary prophylaxis of EGVB [71.0% (495/697) VS 79.9% (111/139), χ2=4.11, P=0.033] and secondary prophylaxis of EGVB [41.6% (290/697) VS 27.3% (38/139), χ2=9.31, P=0.002]. A total of 78.2% (654/836) hospitals preferred endoscopic therapies treating acute EGVB, and endoscopic therapy was more likely to be the first choice for treating acute EGVB in tertiary hospitals (82.6%, 576/697) than secondary hospitals [56.1% (78/139), χ2=46.33, P<0.001]. The optimal timing was usually within 12 hours (48.5%, 317/654) and 12-24 hours (36.9%, 241/654) after the bleeding. Regarding the management of gastroesophageal varices type 2 and isolated gastric varices type 1, most hospitals used cyanoacrylate injection in combination with sclerotherapy [48.2% (403/836) and 29.9% (250/836), respectively], but substantial proportions of hospitals preferred clip-assisted therapies [12.4% (104/836) and 26.4% (221/836), respectively]. Improving the skills of endoscopic doctors (84.2%, 704/836), and enhancing the precision of pre-procedure evaluation and quality of multidisciplinary team (78.9%, 660/836) were considered urgent needs in the development of endoscopic treatment. Conclusion:A variety of endoscopic treatments for gastroesophageal varices in portal hypertension are implemented nationwide. Participant hospitals are active to perform emergent endoscopy for acute EGVB, but are inadequate in following recommendations regarding primary and secondary prophylaxis of EGVB. Moreover, the selection of endoscopic procedures for gastric varices differs greatly among hospitals.

Objective:To establish and validate reference intervals of serum vitamin K for healthy children in China.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 to May 2023, involving 807 healthy children aged 0 to 14 years, selected by stratified random sampling based on the population distribution of children in eastern, central, western, and northeastern China. Sample collection was carried out in 16 hospitals across 12 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities. Basic information of the children was collected using a standardized self-design questionnaire. Serum levels of vitamin K 1 and vitamin K 2 (menaquinone-4 (MK-4), menaquinone-7 (MK-7)) were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The reference intervals was established by direct approach. The children were divided into different groups by age. Inter-group comparisons were conducted using the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test, and the reference intervals ( P2.5- P97.5) were determined using non-parametric methods. Screening 40 healthy children for small sample validation based on age groups within the reference range(25 from eastern, 10 from central, and 5 from western regions). Results:The age of the 807 children was 5.00 (2.00, 9.81) years, and 495 (61.3%) were males and 312 (38.7%) females. Reference intervals were established for 795 children, of whom 303 children were aged 1 month to 3 years and 492 were aged 4 to 14 years. The reference intervals for serum vitamin K 1 were 0.09-4.54 μg/L for children aged 1 month to 3 years, and 0.10-1.73 μg/L for 4-14 years. For MK-7, the intervals were 0.07-1.42 μg/L for 1 month to 3 years and 0.19-2.03 μg/L for 4-14 years. The reference intervals for MK-4 in children aged 1 month to 14 years were 0-0.42 μg/L. The measured values of serum vitamin K 1, MK-4, and MK-7 in the validation samples did not exceed the reference limit in more than 2 samples. Conclusion:Reference intervals for vitamin K 1, MK-4, and MK-7 in healthy children aged 1 month to 14 years have been established and validated, and can be used to assess vitamin K nutritional status in children.

The species and distributions of ticks in various leagues and cities in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region(IMAR)are summarized in the present paper to prevent and control ticks and tick-borne diseases.Through literatures'review and data collection,tick species and their distribution areas in were summarized.There are 31 species of ticks in nine cities and three leagues in IMAR,with two families,five subfamilies,eight genera,and 31 species.These ticks are recorded infested on mammals,birds,reptiles,and amphibians as well as vectors and reservoir hosts for pathogens that cause a wide range of zoonotic diseases.The complex and diverse of terrain and geomorphology in IMAR contributes tick fauna with richness and forms a variety of suitable habitats.

Management and treatment of terminal metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) remains heavily debated. We sought to investigate the efficacy of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor plus anlotinib as a potential solution for terminal mCRPC and further evaluate the association of genomic characteristics with efficacy outcomes. We conducted a retrospective real-world study of 25 mCRPC patients who received PD-1 inhibitor plus anlotinib after the progression to standard treatments. The clinical information was extracted from the electronic medical records and 22 patients had targeted circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) next-generation sequencing. Statistical analysis showed that 6 (24.0%) patients experienced prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response and 11 (44.0%) patients experienced PSA reduction. The relationship between ctDNA findings and outcomes was also analyzed. DNA-damage repair (DDR) pathways and homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway defects indicated a comparatively longer PSA-progression-free survival (PSA-PFS; 2.5 months vs 1.2 months, P = 0.027; 3.3 months vs 1.2 months, P = 0.017; respectively). This study introduces the PD-1 inhibitor plus anlotinib as a late-line therapeutic strategy for terminal mCRPC. PD-1 inhibitor plus anlotinib may be a new treatment choice for terminal mCRPC patients with DDR or HRR pathway defects and requires further investigation.
Male ; Humans ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Treatment Outcome ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant/drug therapy* ; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To explore the efficacy of sodium valproate and haloperidol in the treatment of Tourette's syndrome in children and the effects on serum levels of insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF-1),neuron specific enolase(NSE)and S100β.Methods Children with Tourette's syndrome were divided into treatment group and control group.Control group was given oral administration of haloperidol 2 mg every time,twice or three times a day for 3 months,treatment group was given oral administration of 20 mg·kg-1·d-1 sodium valproate for every 12 hours,totally treatment for 3 months.The clinical efficacy,Yale Global Tourette Severity Scale(YGTSS),levels of serum IGF-1,NSE and S100β,neurotransmitters,cytokines,and occurrence of adverse drug reactions were compared between the two groups of patients.Results A total of 150 patients were included in this study,including 5 cases of shedding during the trial,thus 73 cases in treatment group and 72 cases in control group were finally enrolled.The total effective rates of treatment in treatment group and control group were 91.78％(67 cases/73 cases)and 79.17％(57 cases/72 cases),with significant difference(P＜0.05).The scores of motor tic of YGTSS in treatment group and control group after treatment were(9.79±1.73)and(11.05±2.18)points;the vocal tic scores were(10.52±2.06)and(11.37±2.24)points;the total scores of YGTSS were(20.31±2.57)and(22.42±2.57)points;serum levels of IGF-1 were(60.37±3.29)and(58.04±3.16)μg·L-1;levels of NSE were(95.26±10.19)and(101.81±10.54)ng·L-1,S100β levels were(83.69±10.33)and(87.05±9.76)ng·L-1;levels of 5-HT were(59.05±5.69)and(61.37±5.52)ng·mL-1;levels of GABA were(2.37±0.32)and(2.04±0.39)ng·mL-1;levels of NE were(32.85±4.63)and(29.24±4.02)ng·mL-1;levels of IL-6 in were(19.05±2.97)and(21.31±4.01)ng·mL-1,all with significant difference(all P＜0.05).The recurrence rate in treatment group and control group were 16.44％(12 cases/73 cases)and 23.61％(17 cases/72 cases),with no significant difference(P＞0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse drug reactions between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Compared with haloperidol,sodium valproate has higher effective rate in the treatment of children with Tourette's syndrome,and it can better relieve the clinical symptoms,improve the neurological function,and help to reduce the levels of serum IGF-1,NSE,S100βand inflammatory factors.

Objective: We analyze the characteristics of Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection among diarrhea patients in Kunming from 2018 to 2020 and provide evidence for follow-up surveillance and prevention. Methods: A total of 388 fecal samples of diarrhea patients from four sentinel hospitals in Yunnan Province from 2018 to 2020 were collected. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the fecal toxin genes of C. difficile. The positive fecal samples isolated the bacteria, and isolates were identified by mass spectrometry. The genomic DNA of the strains was extracted for multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). The fecal toxin, strain isolation, and clinical patient characteristics, including co-infection with other pathogens, were analyzed. Results: Among the 388 fecal samples, 47 samples with positive reference genes of C. difficile were positive, with a total positive rate of 12.11%. There were 4 (8.51%) non-toxigenic and 43 (91.49%) toxigenic ones. A total of 18 strains C. difficile were isolated from 47 positive specimens, and the isolation rate of positive specimens was 38.30%. Among them, 14 strains were positive for tcdA, tcdB, tcdC, tcdR, and tcdE. All 18 strains of C. difficile were negative for binary toxins. The MLST results showed 10 sequence types (ST), including 5 strains of ST37, accounting for 27.78%; 2 strains of ST129, ST3, ST54, and ST2, respectively; and 1 strain of ST35, ST532, ST48, ST27, and ST39, respectively. Fecal toxin gene positive (tcdB+) results were statistically associated with the patient's age group and with or without fever before the visit; positive isolates were only statistically associated with the patient's age group. In addition, some C. difficile patients have co-infection with other diarrhea-related viruses. Conclusions: The infection of C. difficile in diarrhea patients in Kunming is mostly toxigenic strains, and the high diversity of strains was identified using the MLST method. Therefore, the surveillance and prevention of C. difficile should be strengthened.
Humans ; Bacterial Toxins/genetics* ; Enterotoxins/genetics* ; Clostridioides difficile/genetics* ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Coinfection ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics* ; China/epidemiology* ; Clostridium Infections/epidemiology* ; Diarrhea/microbiology*