BACKGROUND:Ca2+expression in astrocytes has been found to be closely related to cognitive function,and the Ca2+signaling pathway regulated by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors(IP3R2)and ryanodine receptor(RYR)2 receptors has become a hot spot in the study of cognitive disorder-related diseases. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the expression of Ca2+signals mediated by IP3R2 and RYR2 in hippocampal astrocytes in animal models of delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning,and to explore the possible pathogenesis of delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning. METHODS:C57BL mice with qualified cognitive function were selected by Morris water maze experiment and randomly divided into control group and experimental group.An animal model of delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning was established by static carbon monoxide inhalation in the experimental group,and the same amount of air was inhaled in the control group.Behavioral and neuronal changes,astrocyte specific marker glial fibrillary acidic protein,IP3R2,RYR2 receptor and Ca2+concentration in astrocytes of the two groups were detected using Morris water maze,hematoxylin-eosin staining,western blot,immunofluorescence double labeling and Ca2+fluorescence probe at 21 days after modeling. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the Morris water maze,the escape latency of the experimental group was significantly longer than that of the control group(P<0.05).Hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed that in the experimental group,the number of hippocampal pyramidal cells decreased,the cell structure was disordered,and the nucleus was broken and dissolved.Immunofluorescence results showed that IP3R2 and RYR2 were co-expressed with glial fibrillary acidic protein in the hippocampus,and the expressions of IP3R2,RYR2 and glial fibrillary acidic protein were up-regulated in the hippocampus of the experimental group(P<0.05).Western blot analysis showed that the expressions of IP3R2,RYR2,and glial fibrillary acidic protein in the hippocampus of the experimental group were increased(P<0.05).Ca2+concentration in hippocampal astrocytes increased significantly in the experimental group(P<0.05).To conclude,astrocytes may affect Ca2+signals by mediating IP3R2 and RYR2 receptors,then impair the cognitive function of mice with carbon monoxide poisoning,and eventually lead to delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning.

To summarize the applications of data-intelligence technology in diagnosing lysosomal storage disease(LSD), analyze their opportunities and challenges in clinical practice as well as their development trends, and provide insights and recommendations for advancing digitally driven auxiliary diagnostic technologies.

Background Pneumoconiosis is the most serious occupational disease in China, among which silicosis accounts for more than 50%. microRNA (miRNA) plays an important role in the occurrence process of silicosis fibrosis, but the mechanism of it has not been fully clarified yet. Objective To explore the molecular mechanism by which miR-411-3p modulates the ubiquitination degradation of SMAD specific E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (SMURF) 2/Smad7, thereby suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in mouse alveolar type II epithelial cells and counteracting silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Methods Twenty-four 8-week-old SPF male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups: Control group, silica group, silica +miR-411-3p agomir-NC group, and silica +miR-411-3p agomir group, with 6 mice in each group. Silicosis model was prepared by a one-time bronchial infusion of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) (200 mg·mL^-1, 50 μL). In vitro MLE-12 cells were divided into (1) control group and SiO₂ group, (2) SiO₂+negative control siRNA (siRNA-NC) group and SiO₂+Smurf2 gene silencing (si-Smurf2) group, (3) SiO₂+solvent (DMSO) group and SiO₂+protease inhibitor (MG132) group, (4) mutant sequence plasmid (Mut)+miR-411-3p mimic control (miR-NC) group, Mut+miR-411-3p mimic group, wild sequence plasmid (Wt)+miR-NC group, and Wt+miR-411-3p mimic group, (5) SiO₂+miR-NC group and SiO₂+miR-411-3p mimic group. The pathological morphology and collagen deposition of lung tissue were observed after staining. Detection of miR-411-3p and proteins was conducted by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot. The binding of SMURF2 to Smad7 protein and Smad7 to ubiquitin (Ub) were detected by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) method. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was adopted to verify the regulatory effect of miR-411-3p on Smurf2. Results In the SiO₂-induced MLE-12 cells, compared to the control group, the SiO₂-treated group showed significantly upregulated expressions of N-cadherin (N-Cad), collagen I (CoL I), SMURF2, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and phosphorylated Smad2/3 (p-Smad2/3). In contrast, the expressions of E-cadherin (E-Cad), Smad7, and miR-411-3p were significantly downregulated (P<0.05). The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay revealed a regulatory effect of miR-411-3p on Smurf2 (P<0.05). Meanwhile, in the MLE-12 cells induced by SiO₂, the miR-411-3p mimic down-regulated the protein expressions of SMURF2, N-Cad, CoL I, TGF-β1, and p-Smad2/3, while up-regulated the protein expressions of E-Cad and Smad7 (P<0.05). The silenced Smurf2 gene inhibited the expressions of N-Cad, CoL I, and p-Smad2/3 proteins, while promoted the expressions of E-Cad and Smad7 proteins in the MLE-12 cells (P<0.05). The Co-IP results showed that the binding of SMURF2 to Smad7 was enhanced, and the ubiquitin binding ability of Smad7 was enhanced in the SiO₂ group. In the lung tissue of mice, the results of pathological observation with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and sirius red (VG) staining showed that compared with the agomir-NC, the lesion was relieved in the lung tissue of the miR-411-3p agomir group. Meanwhile, the expressions of SMURF2, N-Cad, CoL I, TGF-β1, and p-Smad2/3 were significantly down-regulated, while the expressions of E-Cad and Smad7 were significantly up-regulated (P<0.05). Conclusion MiR-411-3p alleviates the EMT of alveolar type II epithelial cells and antagonizes silicosis fibrosis progression in mice by inhibiting SMURF2-mediated ubiquitination and degradation of Smad7.

Somatostatin receptor 1 (SSTR1) is a crucial therapeutic target for various neuroendocrine and oncological disorders. Current SSTR1-targeted treatments, including the first-generation somatostatin analog lanreotide (Lan) and the second-generation analog pasireotide (Pas), show promise but encounter challenges related to selectivity and efficacy. This study presents high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy structures of SSTR1 complexed with Lan or Pas, revealing the distinct mechanisms of ligand-binding and activation. These structures illustrate unique conformational changes in the SSTR1 orthosteric pocket induced by each ligand, which are critical for receptor activation and ligand selectivity. Combined with the biochemical assays and molecular dynamics simulations, our results provide a comparative analysis of binding characteristics within the SSTR family, highlighting subtle differences in SSTR1 activation by Lan and Pas. These insights pave the way for designing next-generation therapies with enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects through improved receptor subtype selectivity.

Objective To investigate whether there is a synergistic pathogenic effect between triglyceride glucose index(TyG)and C-reactive protein(CRP)on new-onset nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)by observing the influence of combinations of TyG and CRP at different levels,and to provide a basis for identifying the high-risk population of NAFLD.Methods A total of 31 935 employees in Kailuan Group who participated in physical examination in 2006-2007 were enrolled as the observation cohort,and they had no history of drinking,fatty liver disease,cardiovascular disease,or malignant tumor and did not take antidiabetic or lipid-lowering drugs.According to the median of TyG and CRP at baseline,the subjects were divided into TyG<8.42 and CRP<0.60 mg/L group,TyG<8.42 and CRP≥0.60 mg/L group,TyG≥8.42 and CRP<0.60 mg/L group,and TyG≥8.42 and CRP≥0.60 mg/L group.A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between multiple groups,and an analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data with skewed distribution between groups after logarithmic transformation;the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the cumulative incidence rate of NAFLD in different combinations of CRP and TyG levels,and the multivariate Cox regression model was used to investigate the influence of different combinations of TyG and CRP on the incidence rate of NAFLD.Results After a mean follow-up time of 7.59 years,a total of 16 592 employees developed NAFLD.The cumulative incidence rate of NAFLD in the TyG<8.42 and CRP<0.60 mg/L group,TyG<8.42 and CRP≥0.60 mg/L group,TyG≥8.42 and CRP<0.60 mg/L group,and TyG≥8.42 and CRP≥0.60 mg/L group were 59.5%,67.1%,73.8%,and 80.8%,respectively(P<0.001).After adjustment for confounding factors,compared with the TyG<8.42 and CRP<0.60 mg/L group,the TyG≥8.42 and CRP≥0.60 mg/L group had the highest risk of developing NAFLD(hazard ratio[HR]=1.54,95%confidence interval[CI]:1.47-1.61),followed by the TyG≥8.42 and CRP<0.60 mg/L group(HR=1.43,95%CI:1.36-1.49)and the TyG<8.42 and CRP≥0.60 mg/L group(HR=1.17,95%CI:1.12-1.22).Conclusion With elevated TyG and CRP levels,the cumulative incidence of NAFLD increased,and rising levels of these markers significantly augmented the risk of NAFLD development.

Objective To investigate the changes and therapeutic effects of Ginkgo biloba extract(GBE),Donepezil and combination therapy on gray matter volume and cortical morphology in patients with cognitive dysfunction.Methods According to different treatment methods,59 patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease were divided into GBE group(n=20),Donepezil group(n=20)and combined treatment group(n=19).Before and after treatment,the patients were evaluated by MMSE,Alzheimer's disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale(ADAS-cog),instrumental activities of daily living scale(IADL),geriatric depression scale(GDS),neuropsychiatric inventory(NPI),and quality of life-Alzheimer's disease scale(QOL-AD).Before and after treatment,T1-weighted structural sequence images were acquired using cranial MRI,and voxel-based morphometry(VBM)and cortical morphological analyses were performed.Results There was no significant difference in the scores of MMSE,ADAS-cog,GDS,NPI,IADL and QOL-AD among the GBE group,Donepezil group and combined treatment group before and after treatment(all P>0.05).Compared with those before treatment,there were significant differences in MMSE and ADAS-cog scores in the GBE group,MMSE,ADAS-cog,IADL and NPI scores in Donepezil group,and MMSE,ADAS-cog and IADL scores in combined treatment group after treatment(P＜0.05-0.01).The volume of gray matter in the cerebellar region of GBE group was significantly increased(voxel P＜0.005,cluster P＜0.05,GRF corrected,one-tailed test).In the left putamen region,the difference of gray matter volume in the combined treatment group was significantly higher than that in the GBE group and Donepezil group(all P＜0.01).In the right putamen area,there was no significant difference among the three groups(all P>0.05).In the right hippocampus,the difference in gray matter volume between combined treatment group and GBE group was significantly higher than that in Donepezil group(all P＜0.05).In the left hippocampus,the difference in gray matter volume between GBE group and combined treatment group was significantly higher than that in Donepezil group(all P＜0.001).Correlation analysis showed that the volume of left and right hippocampal gray matter was positively correlated with MMSE before treatment(r=0.352,P=0.008;r=0.424,P=0.001),and negatively correlated with ADAS-cog(r=-0.336,P=0.012;r=-0.362,P=0.007)and IADL scores(r=-0.345,P=0.01;r=-0.312,P=0.02);after treatment,the gray matter volume of the left and right hippocampus was strong positively correlated with MMSE(r=0.582,P＜0.001;r=0.560,P＜0.001),strong negatively correlated with ADAS-cog(r=-0.512,P＜0.001;r=-0.567,P＜0.001)and IADL(r=-0.454,P＜0.001;r=-0.435,P＜0.001).The difference of gray matter volume in the right hippocampus before and after treatment was only weakly negatively correlated with GDS score(r=-0.269,P=0.047),the gray matter volume of right hippocampus was positively correlated with GDS score before treatment(r=0.451,P＜0.001),and this correlation disappeared after intervention(r=0.131,P=0.340).There was no correlation between the difference of gray matter volume before and after treatment in the left hippocampus and the neuropsychological test scores(all P>0.05).The cortex of the superior parietal lobule and inferior parietal lobe in the combined treatment group was significantly thickened(all P＜0.05,FWE corrected).Conclusions GBE,Donepezil and the combined therapy have significant effects on the reduction of cognitive function,and the changes of brain gray matter and cortical morphology are different.GBE improve the volume of the posterior superior cerebellum and other regions,and the combined therapy improve the cortical thickness of the superior parietal lobule and the inferior parietal lobule.

Objective:To explore the association between childhood trauma and prefrontal cortex functional networks in early adulthood using functional near-infrared spectroscopy(fNIRS).Methods:Twenty-eight individu-als with childhood trauma comprised the trauma group,while 32 without trauma formed the control group.The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire(CTQ)assessed abuse and neglect,the Ruminative Responses Scale(RRS)meas-ured repetitive thinking about negative events,and the Iowa Gambling Task(IGT)evaluated decision-making tend-encies.fNIRS data collected during the IGT were used to calculate degree centrality(DC),betweenness centrality(BC),and local efficiency(LE)in prefrontal networks.Mediation analysis explored relationships among childhood trauma,brain function(DC,BC,LE),and ruminative thinking.Results:Compared to controls,the trauma group had decreased DC in bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortices,increased DC,BC,and LE in the right inferior frontal gy-rus,and elevated LE in the bilateral frontal poles.BC and LE in the right inferior frontal gyrus partially mediated the relationship between CTQ sexual abuse and RRS scores(48.57％and 41.43％,respectively).Conclusion:Child-hood trauma is significantly associated with changes in prefrontal network properties in early adulthood.Sexual a-buse,in particular,may influence emotional regulation and cognitive functions by altering the network attributes of the right inferior frontal gyrus.

Objective To explore the changes in neural activity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and their corre-lation with executive function,and to analyze the neural mechanisms underlying the decline in executive function in T2DM patients.Methods Thirty-one T2DM patients(T2DM group)and thirty-two healthy controls(HC)(HC group)matched for body mass index(BMI)underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(rs-fMRI)scans and N-back task tests were included.Differ-ences in the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation(ALFF),regional homogeneity(ReHo),and seed-based functional connectivity(FC)between the two groups were compared,and partial correlation analyses were performed between the difference results and N-back task performance.Results The T2DM group showed prolonged reaction time(RT)in the 1-back and 2-back tasks.T2DM patients exhibited increased ALFF in the bilateral caudate nucleus,left medial superior frontal gyrus,and right postcentral gyrus,as well as elevated ReHo in the right putamen.FC analysis revealed significant alterations in FC between the caudate nucleus,putamen,and multiple brain regions in T2DM patients,with some of these FC changes significantly correlated with RT and accuracy(ACC)in the N-back task.Conclusion The decline in executive function in T2DM patients may be associated with abnormal neural activity in brain regions such as the striatum,salience network,and frontoparietal control network.FC further decreases under increased cognitive load.These findings provide evidence for the study of the neural mechanisms of executive function impairment in T2DM patients.

Objective:To investigate the effects of a visual feedback electromyography-driven exoskeleton on patients with hand injuries and to compare its efficacy with conventional rehabilitation treatment.Method:Patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups,with 15 patients in the experimental group and 15 in the control group.The control group underwent a 4-week con-ventional rehabilitation program,which included occupational therapy,muscle strength training,and range of motion exercises.The experimental group received the same conventional rehabilitation alongside training with the visual feedback electro-myography-driven exoskeleton.All participants were evaluated for grip strength,pinch strength,Purdue Pegboard results,and DASH questionnaire scores before and after treatment.Statistical analyses were performed to compare intra-group and inter-group differences.Result:After 4 weeks of rehabilitation,both groups showed significant differences in grip strength,pinch strength,Purdue Pegboard scores,and DASH questionnaire scores compared to baseline(P＜0.05).Between-group comparisons showed no significant difference in the post-treatment grip weight ratio(P＞0.05),while all other indicators demonstrated significant differences(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Following 4 weeks of rehabilitation,both groups showed improvements in muscle strength,hand dex-terity,and activities of daily living in the upper limbs.However,the functional level of patients in the experimen-tal group was superior to that of the control group,indicating that task-oriented rehabilitation using a visual feed-back electromyography-driven exoskeleton significantly promotes functional recovery in patients with hand trauma.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of robot system-assisted versus freehand screw revision for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with lower cervical fractures.Methods:A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 57 patients with AS combined with lower cervical fractures admitted to Honghui Hospital Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou Orthopedic Hospital, and Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, including 46 males and 11 females, aged 38-77 years [(65.4±9.5)years]. Injury segments involved C 3 in 7 patients, C 4 in 13, C 5 in 25, C 6 in 10, and C 7 in 2. All the patients underwent revision surgery, among whom, 22 patients were treated with robot system-assisted cervical pedicle screw placement (robot nailing group, with 190 screws), and 35 with freehand cervical pedicle screw placement (freehand nailing group, with 300 screws). The operative duration, intraoperative bleeding volume, frequency of intraoperative fluoroscopy, incision length, and length of hospital stay of the two groups were compared; the time of single nscrew insertion, the number of single nail revisions, the distance between screws and the anterior cortex, the accuracy of screw placement of grade 0 and grade 0+1 were recorded in the two groups. The visual analogue scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopedic Society (JOA) score, neck dysfunction index (NDI), American Spine Injury Association (ASIA) classification before operation, at 3 days, 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up were compared between the two groups. The complication rate was also noted. Results:All the patients were followed up for 12-16 months [(14.3±2.1)months]. The operative duration, intraoperative bleeding volume, and frequency of intraoperative fluoroscopy were (186.4±12.9)minutes, (486.1±68.6)ml, and (3.4±1.3)times in the robot nailing group, which were shorter or less than (206.7±14.4)minutes, (660.3±45.2)ml, and (13.5±3.6)times in the freehand nailing group ( P<0.01). The incision length was (9.4±2.4)cm in the robot nailing group, longer than (5.6±1.2)cm in the freehand nailing group ( P<0.01), and the length of hospital stay was (3.7±0.4)days, shorter than (4.4±1.4)days in the freehand nailing group ( P<0.01). The length of single nail insertion, the number of single nail revision, and the distance between the screws and the front cortex were (6.5±0.4)minutes, (1.1±0.1)times, and (3.5±1.3)mm in the robot nailing group, which were shorter or less than (11.6±0.2)minutes, (1.5±0.2)times, and (12.4±4.7)mm in the freehand nailing group ( P<0.01). The accuracy of the screw placement in the robot nailing group was 90.0% (171/190) and 95.8% (182/190) with level 0 and 0+1 screws, better than 80.0% (240/300) and 89.0% (267/300) in the freehand nailing group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in VAS, JOA score, NDI, or ASIA grading between the two groups before operation ( P>0.05). The VAS, JOA, and NDI scores at 3 days after operation were (3.1±0.6)points, (12.1±1.2)points, and (15.6±2.9)points, respectively in the robot nailing group, which were better than (5.0±1.4)points, (11.3±1.1)points and (22.5±3.7)points, respectively in the freehand nailing group ( P<0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in the ASIA grade between the two groups at 3 days after operation ( P>0.05). There were no significant differences in VAS, JOA, NDI scores, or ASIA grading between the two groups at 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). Compared with those before operation, the VAS, JOA, NDI scores, and ASIA grading were significantly improved at 3 days, 3 months after operation and at the last follow-up in the two groups, which were further improved with the passage of time. Two patients in the robot nailing group had pneumonia, with a complication rate of 9% (2/22), while 2 patients in the freehand nailing group had dural sac rupture and cerebrospinal fluid leakage and 3 had lung infection after operation, with a complication rate of 14% (5/35) ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with freehand nailing, the robot system-assisted nailing revision for AS with lower cervical fracture has more advantages in terms of the operative duration, length of hospital stay, intraoperative bleeding volume, frequency of intraoperative fluoroscopy nailing speed and accuracy, screw holding force, early pain relief, function restoration, and complication rate, despite longer surgical incision.