Objective:To summarize the clinical and genetic characteristics of late-onset facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 (FSHD1) patients, and to compare the differences between late-onset and classic-onset FSHD1 patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and genetic data of genetically confirmed late-onset FSHD1 patients (age at onset30 years) between January 2007 and June 2024 from the Department of Neurology of Peking University First Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. Classic-onset FSHD1 patients (10 yearsage at onset≤30 years) were matched 1∶1 according to sex and disease duration for comparison. The demographic information, the number of D4Z4 repeat units, the distal D4Z4 methylation levels, FSHD Clinical Score (CS), Clinical Severity Score (CSS), and Age-Corrected Clinical Severity Score (ACSS) of these patients were collected. Survival analysis was performed to compare the outcome of lower extremity involvement between late-onset and classic-onset FSHD1 patients. The correlation of the number of D4Z4 repeat units and D4Z4 methylation level with CS and ACSS was analyzed in late-onset FSHD1 patients.Results:A total of 61 patients with late-onset FSHD1 were enrolled, 33 (54.1%) of whom are female, with an age of 54.0 (46.0, 62.0) years and a disease duration of 14.0 (5.5, 22.5) years. Compared to classic-onset FSHD1 patients, late-onset patients exhibited significantly lower CS [7.0 (5.6, 8.4) vs 6.0 (4.4, 7.7), U=1 416.000, P=0.013], CSS [3.0 (2.8, 3.3) vs 3.0 (2.0, 4.0), U=2 352.000, P=0.010], and ACSS [189.2 (137.1, 241.3) vs 96.8 (61.3, 132.2), U=3 225.500, P0.001], and higher proportion of patients with limb girdle involvement but no facial muscle involvement [18.0% (11/61) vs 6.6% (4/61), χ2=3.725, P=0.054]. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the onset age of lower extremity involvement in late-onset patients (45 years, 95% CI 42-48 years) was significantly higher than that in classic-onset patients (24 years, 95% CI 21-27 years, χ2=61.012, P0.001). The duration from symptom onset to lower extremity involvement in late-onset patients (15 years, 95% CI 10-20 years) was significantly longer than that in classic-onset patients (8 years, 95% CI 3-13 years, χ2=9.105, P=0.003). Late-onset FSHD1 patients carried higher average distal D4Z4 methylation levels compared to those with classic-onset FSHD1 [46.68% (40.79%,52.57%) vs 41.02% (34.03%,48.00%), U=1 378.500, P=0.014]. Among late-onset FSHD1 patients, cytosine-phosphate-guanine 6 (CpG6) methylation levels were significantly negatively correlated with ACSS ( r=-0.278, P=0.025); the number of D4Z4 repeat units were significantly negatively correlated with ACSS ( r=-0.272, P=0.034);CpG6 methylation levels were significantly negatively correlated with CS ( r=-0.441, P=0.003), while no correlation was found between number of D4Z4 repeat units and CS ( r=-0.161, P=0.310). Conclusions:Compared with classic-onset FSHD1 patients, late-onset FSHD1 patients are associated with a higher degree of distal D4Z4 methylation, along with a milder muscle weakness phenotype, slower disease progression and a higher proportion of cases without facial muscle involvement. The age at onset can be used as a marker of the severity and prognosis in FSHD1.

BACKGROUND: Disease-modifying therapies have been approved for the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). The present study aims to examine the safety of teriflunomide in Chinese patients with RMS. METHODS: This non-randomized, multi-center, 24-week, prospective study enrolled RMS patients with variant (c.421C>A) or wild type ABCG2 who received once-daily oral teriflunomide 14 mg. The primary endpoint was the relationship between ABCG2 polymorphisms and teriflunomide exposure over 24 weeks. Safety was assessed over the 24-week treatment with teriflunomide. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were assigned to variant ( n  = 42) and wild type groups ( n  = 40), respectively. Geometric mean and geometric standard deviation (SD) of pre-dose concentration (variant, 54.9 [38.0] μg/mL; wild type, 49.1 [32.0] μg/mL) and area under plasma concentration-time curve over a dosing interval (AUC tau ) (variant, 1731.3 [769.0] μg∙h/mL; wild type, 1564.5 [1053.0] μg∙h/mL) values at steady state were approximately similar between the two groups. Safety profile was similar and well tolerated across variant and wild type groups in terms of rates of treatment emergent adverse events (TEAE), treatment-related TEAE, grade ≥3 TEAE, and serious adverse events (AEs). No new specific safety concerns or deaths were reported in the study. CONCLUSION: ABCG2 polymorphisms did not affect the steady-state exposure of teriflunomide, suggesting a similar efficacy and safety profile between variant and wild type RMS patients. REGISTRATION NCT04410965, https://clinicaltrials.gov .
Humans ; Crotonates/adverse effects* ; Toluidines/adverse effects* ; Nitriles ; Hydroxybutyrates ; Female ; Male ; Adult ; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily G, Member 2/genetics* ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting/genetics* ; Prospective Studies ; Young Adult ; Neoplasm Proteins/genetics* ; East Asian People

Objective:Comparative efficacy and safety profiles of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) versus tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with high viral load.Methods:CHB patients with high viral load (hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA>7 lg IU/mL) receiving TDF ( n=155) or TAF ( n=157) monotherapy were included between December 1st, 2022 and December 1st, 2023, to compare the rates of undetectable HBV DNA (<20 IU/mL), the alanine transaminase (ALT) normalization rate, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion rate, renal function and lipid profiles at 48 weeks of treatment. The statistical analysis was performed by the two independent samples t test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test or Fisher′s exact probability test. Results:At week 48 of treatment, the TDF group achieved significantly higher HBV DNA undetectability rates (49.03%(76/155) vs 29.30%(46/157)) and greater mean reduction ((6.05±0.81) lg IU/mL vs (5.57±1.02) lg IU/mL) than the TAF group ( χ2=12.75, t=-4.65, both P<0.001). The ALT normalization rate of patients in the TDF and TAF groups were 77.19%(88/114) and 72.50%(87/120), and HBeAg seroconversion rates were 4.00%(6/150) and 2.67%(4/150), respectively, with no statistically significant differences between the two groups (all P>0.05). The differences in the changes and abnormal rates of serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate between the two groups of patients were not statistically significant (both P>0.05). The magnitude of decrease (0.15(-0.02, 0.38) mmol/L vs 0.06(-0.06, 0.20) mmol/L) and abnormal rate (27.73%(33/119) vs 16.39%(20/122)) in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the TDF group was higher than those in the TAF group, while the increases in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-0.09(-0.39, 0.25) mmol/L vs 0.05(-0.31, 0.42) mmol/L), total cholesterol (TC) (-0.23(-0.75, 0.23) mmol/L vs 0.08(-0.35, 0.57) mmol/L), and triglyceride (-0.12(-0.40, 0.06) mmol/L vs 0.00(-0.19, 0.24) mmol/L), as well as the abnormal rate of TC (4.31%(5/116) vs 15.75%(20/127)), in the TDF group were lower than those in the TAF group ( Z=-3.19, χ2=4.51, Z=2.17, Z=4.09, Z=3.71, χ2=8.59, all P<0.05). Conclusion:TDF demonstrated superior efficacy and better safety profiles compared to TAF in high viral load CHB patients.

Objective To explore the clinical application value of multimodal radiomics in differentiating parotid pleomorphic adenoma(PA)from adenolymphoma(AL).Methods The clinical and imaging data of 68 cases of PA and 52 cases of AL were retrospectively analyzed.All patients underwent ultrasound examination,enhanced CT scan and enhanced MRI scan of the neck before the operation.All patients were randomly divided into training group(n=84)and validation group(n=36)according to the ratio of 7∶3.The 3D Slicer software was used to manually draw the lesion area of the preoperative images and perform radiomics feature extraction.The best feature subset was selected to establish the radiomics model,and the diagnostic efficacy of different models was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results The study found that age,gender,and smoking history were effective in differentiating parotid PA from AL,and were used to construct a clinical diagnostic model.Eighteen features were selected through dimensionality reduction to establish the radiomics model.A multimodal combined diagnostic model was then constructed by integrating the radiomics model with gender,age,and smoking history.Compared to the clinical model and the radiomics model,the multimodal combined diagnostic model demonstrated the highest area under the curve(AUC)for distinguishing PA from AL in both the training group and the validation group.Conclusion The combination of radiomics based on neck ultrasound,CT,and MRI with clinical characteristics shows significant clinical application value in the preoperative differentiation of PA and AL.

Objective:Comparative efficacy and safety profiles of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) versus tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with high viral load.Methods:CHB patients with high viral load (hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA>7 lg IU/mL) receiving TDF ( n=155) or TAF ( n=157) monotherapy were included between December 1st, 2022 and December 1st, 2023, to compare the rates of undetectable HBV DNA (<20 IU/mL), the alanine transaminase (ALT) normalization rate, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion rate, renal function and lipid profiles at 48 weeks of treatment. The statistical analysis was performed by the two independent samples t test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test or Fisher′s exact probability test. Results:At week 48 of treatment, the TDF group achieved significantly higher HBV DNA undetectability rates (49.03%(76/155) vs 29.30%(46/157)) and greater mean reduction ((6.05±0.81) lg IU/mL vs (5.57±1.02) lg IU/mL) than the TAF group ( χ2=12.75, t=-4.65, both P<0.001). The ALT normalization rate of patients in the TDF and TAF groups were 77.19%(88/114) and 72.50%(87/120), and HBeAg seroconversion rates were 4.00%(6/150) and 2.67%(4/150), respectively, with no statistically significant differences between the two groups (all P>0.05). The differences in the changes and abnormal rates of serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate between the two groups of patients were not statistically significant (both P>0.05). The magnitude of decrease (0.15(-0.02, 0.38) mmol/L vs 0.06(-0.06, 0.20) mmol/L) and abnormal rate (27.73%(33/119) vs 16.39%(20/122)) in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the TDF group was higher than those in the TAF group, while the increases in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-0.09(-0.39, 0.25) mmol/L vs 0.05(-0.31, 0.42) mmol/L), total cholesterol (TC) (-0.23(-0.75, 0.23) mmol/L vs 0.08(-0.35, 0.57) mmol/L), and triglyceride (-0.12(-0.40, 0.06) mmol/L vs 0.00(-0.19, 0.24) mmol/L), as well as the abnormal rate of TC (4.31%(5/116) vs 15.75%(20/127)), in the TDF group were lower than those in the TAF group ( Z=-3.19, χ2=4.51, Z=2.17, Z=4.09, Z=3.71, χ2=8.59, all P<0.05). Conclusion:TDF demonstrated superior efficacy and better safety profiles compared to TAF in high viral load CHB patients.

Objective:To summarize the clinical and genetic characteristics of late-onset facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 (FSHD1) patients, and to compare the differences between late-onset and classic-onset FSHD1 patients.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and genetic data of genetically confirmed late-onset FSHD1 patients (age at onset30 years) between January 2007 and June 2024 from the Department of Neurology of Peking University First Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. Classic-onset FSHD1 patients (10 yearsage at onset≤30 years) were matched 1∶1 according to sex and disease duration for comparison. The demographic information, the number of D4Z4 repeat units, the distal D4Z4 methylation levels, FSHD Clinical Score (CS), Clinical Severity Score (CSS), and Age-Corrected Clinical Severity Score (ACSS) of these patients were collected. Survival analysis was performed to compare the outcome of lower extremity involvement between late-onset and classic-onset FSHD1 patients. The correlation of the number of D4Z4 repeat units and D4Z4 methylation level with CS and ACSS was analyzed in late-onset FSHD1 patients.Results:A total of 61 patients with late-onset FSHD1 were enrolled, 33 (54.1%) of whom are female, with an age of 54.0 (46.0, 62.0) years and a disease duration of 14.0 (5.5, 22.5) years. Compared to classic-onset FSHD1 patients, late-onset patients exhibited significantly lower CS [7.0 (5.6, 8.4) vs 6.0 (4.4, 7.7), U=1 416.000, P=0.013], CSS [3.0 (2.8, 3.3) vs 3.0 (2.0, 4.0), U=2 352.000, P=0.010], and ACSS [189.2 (137.1, 241.3) vs 96.8 (61.3, 132.2), U=3 225.500, P0.001], and higher proportion of patients with limb girdle involvement but no facial muscle involvement [18.0% (11/61) vs 6.6% (4/61), χ2=3.725, P=0.054]. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the onset age of lower extremity involvement in late-onset patients (45 years, 95% CI 42-48 years) was significantly higher than that in classic-onset patients (24 years, 95% CI 21-27 years, χ2=61.012, P0.001). The duration from symptom onset to lower extremity involvement in late-onset patients (15 years, 95% CI 10-20 years) was significantly longer than that in classic-onset patients (8 years, 95% CI 3-13 years, χ2=9.105, P=0.003). Late-onset FSHD1 patients carried higher average distal D4Z4 methylation levels compared to those with classic-onset FSHD1 [46.68% (40.79%,52.57%) vs 41.02% (34.03%,48.00%), U=1 378.500, P=0.014]. Among late-onset FSHD1 patients, cytosine-phosphate-guanine 6 (CpG6) methylation levels were significantly negatively correlated with ACSS ( r=-0.278, P=0.025); the number of D4Z4 repeat units were significantly negatively correlated with ACSS ( r=-0.272, P=0.034);CpG6 methylation levels were significantly negatively correlated with CS ( r=-0.441, P=0.003), while no correlation was found between number of D4Z4 repeat units and CS ( r=-0.161, P=0.310). Conclusions:Compared with classic-onset FSHD1 patients, late-onset FSHD1 patients are associated with a higher degree of distal D4Z4 methylation, along with a milder muscle weakness phenotype, slower disease progression and a higher proportion of cases without facial muscle involvement. The age at onset can be used as a marker of the severity and prognosis in FSHD1.

Objective To explore the clinical application value of multimodal radiomics in differentiating parotid pleomorphic adenoma(PA)from adenolymphoma(AL).Methods The clinical and imaging data of 68 cases of PA and 52 cases of AL were retrospectively analyzed.All patients underwent ultrasound examination,enhanced CT scan and enhanced MRI scan of the neck before the operation.All patients were randomly divided into training group(n=84)and validation group(n=36)according to the ratio of 7∶3.The 3D Slicer software was used to manually draw the lesion area of the preoperative images and perform radiomics feature extraction.The best feature subset was selected to establish the radiomics model,and the diagnostic efficacy of different models was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results The study found that age,gender,and smoking history were effective in differentiating parotid PA from AL,and were used to construct a clinical diagnostic model.Eighteen features were selected through dimensionality reduction to establish the radiomics model.A multimodal combined diagnostic model was then constructed by integrating the radiomics model with gender,age,and smoking history.Compared to the clinical model and the radiomics model,the multimodal combined diagnostic model demonstrated the highest area under the curve(AUC)for distinguishing PA from AL in both the training group and the validation group.Conclusion The combination of radiomics based on neck ultrasound,CT,and MRI with clinical characteristics shows significant clinical application value in the preoperative differentiation of PA and AL.

AIM: To investigate the mechanism by which Yijing Decoction antagonist high glucose-induced damage to the basement membrane(BM)in an in vitro inner blood-retinal barrier(iBRB)model.METHODS:Rat retinal microvascular pericytes(RMPs)and endothelial cells(ECs)were isolated and cultured to establish an in vitro iBRB model. The cells were randomly divided into four groups: low glucose group(LG), high glucose group(HG), minocycline group(MG)and Yijing Decoction group(YG). The LG group received 25 mmol/L glucose, the HG group received 60 mmol/L glucose, the MG group received 60 mmol/L glucose + 10 μg/mL minocycline, and the YG group received 60 mmol/L glucose + 10% Yijing Decoction-containing serum. Incubation for each group were terminated after intervention for 12 h. Next, the Western blot analysis was performed to assess the protein expression of BM-related proteins, including collagen Ⅳ(CⅣ)and laminin(LN), as well as matrix metalloproteinase(MMPs)/tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases(TIMPs)such as MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2.RESULTS:Compared to the LG group, the protein expressions of CⅣ increased in the HG, MG, and YG groups, as did LN in the HG and MG groups(all P<0.05). Both Yijing Decoction and minocycline effectively inhibited the elevated expression of CⅣ and LN induced by high glucose, and the difference between the YG, MG, and HG groups was statistically significant(all P<0.05). Futhermore, compared to the LG group, the protein expressions of MMP-2, MMP-3, and MMP-9 increased in the HG, MG, and YG groups(all P<0.05). Yijing Decoction specifically attenuated the high glucose-induced increase in MMP-2, MMP-3 and MMP-9 protein expression, and there were statistically significant differences between the YG and HG group(all P<0.05). No significant difference were observed in the expressions of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 among the LG, HG, MG, and YG groups(all P>0.05).CONCLUSION:Yijing Decoction can potentially intervene in DR by modulating the protein expression of MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, CⅣ, and LN, suppressing high glucose-induced BM remodeling, and mitigating damage to iBRB.

Objectives:The goal of the present study was to develop and validate a set of Mandarin Chinese adaptation of AzBio sentence test (CMnBio) used for the assessment of speech recognition in hearing-impaired listeners and cochlear implant (CI) users.Methords:Following the procedures of development of the English AzBio sentence materials, the present study was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, a total of 1 850 sentences were compiled and recorded by four Mandarin-speaking adult talkers (two males and two females), from which 1 020 sentences with better sound quality and higher naturalness were retained. All the 1 020 sentences were processed through a 5-channel noise vocoder and presented to 17 normal-hearing Mandarin-speaking adults for recognition. A total of 600 sentences (150 from each talker) in the range of approximately 62% to 92% correct were subsequently selected to compile 30, 20-sentence lists. In the second stage, 30 postlingually-deafened adult CI users were recruited to verify the list equivalency. Finally, the binomial distribution model was adopted to account for the inherent variability in the lists and to generate the lower and upper limits of the 95% critical differences.Results:The average sentence recognition of the 5-channel vocoder-processed 30 lists of Mandarin Chinese AzBio sentences (600 sentences total) by the 17 normal-hearing listeners was 78.0% correct. The validation based on the performance scores of the 30 CI participants revealed that 26 of the 30 lists were equivalent through a repeated-measures analysis of variance and a following post hoc Tukey′s test. The binomial distribution modelling indicated that the inter-list variability could be accounted for with a 65-item binomial distribution model. The lower and upper limits of the 95% critical differences for one-and two-list recognition scores were generated.Conclusions:The Mandarin Chinese adaptation of AzBio sentence test (CMnBio) is developed and validated for speech recognition assessment of CI users. The final set of 26, 20-sentence lists shows high inter-list reliability or equivalency. The elevated level of difficulties of the CMnBio sentences can help eliminate the ceiling effects when testing sentence recognition in Mandarin-speaking CI users. The lower and upper limits of the 95% critical differences derived from the binomial distribution modelling can provide guidance for detection of a significant difference in recognition scores in clinical settings.

Objective To explore the feasibility and safety of kidney transplantation for pre-sensitized infants using deceased donors and summarize the relevant literature reports .Methods A second kidney transplantation was successfully performed for an 8-month-old pre-sensitized girl in July 2017 .She had a low level of donor specific antibody (DSA ) against human leucocyte antigen (HLA ) B62 due to severe acute rejection (AR) after her first kidney transplantation .For desensitization , plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin plus anti-CD20 antibodies were offered on operative day .Clinical data and outcomes were retrospectively analyzed .Results Renal graft regained immediate function after transplantation .Preformed DSA could be detected at 1 week .However ,there was no de novo DSA .At 1 year post-transplantation ,preformed DSA turned negative .During a follow-up period of 2 years ,renal graft showed an excellent function with a serum creatinine of 31 μmol/l and eGFR of 110 ml/min/1 .73m2 .No AR episode or proteinuria occurred .DSA stayed negative .Simultaneously physical development also caught up .Her height of 93 cm tall and weight of 13 .5 kg at month 24 & 8 months corresponded to normal grow th curve of her age .Conclusions Pre-sensitized infant could tolerate desensitization therapy well and achieve satisfactory outcomes .With surgical precisions and optimized managements ,kidney transplantation provides excellent renal functions and survivals for infants with organs from deceased donors .