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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Recent research has highlighted structural and functional abnormalities in the cerebral cortex of patients with premature ejaculation (PE). These anomalies could play a pivotal role in the physiological mechanisms underlying PE. This study leveraged functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a noninvasive technique, to explore these neural mechanisms. We conducted resting-state fMRI scans on 36 PE patients and 22 healthy controls (HC), and collected data on Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT) scores and intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT). Employing a surface-based regional homogeneity (ReHo) approach, we analyzed local neural synchronous spontaneous activity, diverging from previous studies that utilized a volume-based ReHo method. Areas with significant ReHo differences between PE and HC groups underwent surface-based functional connectivity (FC) analysis. Significant discrepancies in ReHo and FC across the cortical surface were observed in the PE cohort. Notably, PE patients exhibited decreased ReHo in the left triangular inferior frontal gyrus and enhanced ReHo in the right middle frontal gyrus. The latter showed heightened connectivity with the left lingual gyrus and the right orbital superior frontal gyrus. Furthermore, a correlation between ReHo and FC values with PEDT scores and IELT was found in the PE group. Our findings, derived from surface-based fMRI data, underscore specific brain regions linked to the neurobiological underpinnings of PE.
Male ; Humans ; Premature Ejaculation ; Brain Mapping/methods* ; Brain ; Cerebral Cortex ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To detect the relative expression of IGLL1 (immunoglobulin lambda-like polypeptide 1) mRNA in bone marrow of children with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), and analyze its correlation with the clinical characteristics and prognosis of the patients, so as to clarify the clinical significance of IGLL1 in pediatric T-ALL patients. METHODS: A total of 56 pediatric T-ALL patients hospitalized in Children's Hospital of Soochow University from June 2012 to December 2017 and treated with CCLG-ALL 2008 regimen were selected. Transcriptome sequencing technology was used to detect the transcription level of IGLL1 gene in children with T-ALL. According to 25% of the IGLL1 transcription level (cutoff value:448), the enrolled children were divided into IGLL1 low expression group (17 cases) and IGLL1 high expression group (39 cases). Combined with clinical data, the correlation between the expression level of IGLL1 and prognosis of the patients was analyzed. RESULTS: The comparative analysis showed that the transcription level of IGLL1 was not correlated with the clinical characteristics of the patients, such as sex, age, bone marrow blast, white blood cell (WBC) count at initial diagnosis. The 5-year OS rate of patients with high IGLL1 expression was significantly higher than that of patients with low IGLL1 expression (76.9%±6.7% vs 47.1%±12.1%, P =0.018). Further comparison of relapse-free survival (RFS) rate between the two groups showed that the 5-year RFS rate of patients with high IGLL1 expression was higher than that of patients with low IGLL1 expression, but the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P =0.095). Multivariate COX analysis was conducted on common clinical prognostic factors (age, sex, WBC count at diagnosis, prednisone response on the 7th day, bone marrow response on the 15th day after treatment) and IGLL1 expression level, and the results showed that IGLL1 expression (P =0.012) and prednisone response (P =0.017) were independent risk factors for overall survival in pediatric T-ALL patients. CONCLUSION In pediatric T-ALL, the OS rate of children with high expression of IGLL1 gene was significantly higher than that of children with low expression of IGLL1 gene, and the expression level of IGLL1 gene was an independent factor affecting the survival of children with T-ALL, which suggests that IGLL1 is a marker of good clinical prognosis of children with T-ALL.
Child ; Humans ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Clinical Relevance ; Disease-Free Survival ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/genetics* ; Prednisone/therapeutic use* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Immunoglobulin Light Chains, Surrogate/genetics*