Objective To observe the value of neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging(NODDI)for diagnosing unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy(TLE)complicated with hippocampal sclerosis(HS)(TLE-HS).Methods Brain diffusion kurtosis imaging(DKI),3D T1WI and 3D fluid attenuated inversion recovery(FLAIR)sequence images were prospectively collected in 55 patients with unilateral TLE-HS(TLE-HS group)and 55 healthy controls(HC group),and NODDI parameter maps were acquired.The hippocampus NODDI parameters values and FLAIR signal intensity were compared among the affected side,the healthy side in TLE-HS group and HC group,as well as between each two,and their value for diagnosing unilateral TLE-HS were analyzed.Results Significant differences of hippocampus intracellular volume fraction(ICVF),isotropic volume fraction(ISOVF),orientation dispersion index(ODI)values and FLAIR signal intensity were found among the affected side,the healthy side in TLE-HS group and HC group(all P＜0.05).There were significant differences of ICVF,ISOVF and ODI values between the affected side and the healthy side in TLE-HS group(all P＜0.05),of ICVF,ISOVF,ODI values and FLAIR signal intensity between the affected side in TLE-HS group and HC group(all P＜0.05),and of ISOVF values and FLAIR signal intensity between the healthy side in TLE-HS group and HC group(both P＜0.05).The area under the curve(AUC)of ICVF,ISOVF,ODI and their combination for differentiating the affected side and the healthy side of TLE-HS was 0.913,0.712,0.912 and 0.964,for differentiating the affected side of TLE-HS and HC was 0.940,0.822,0.871 and 0.971,respectively,and the combination both had the highest AUC(both P＜0.05).The AUC of ISOVF,ODI and their combination for differentiating the healthy side of TLE-HS and HC was 0.666,0.630 and 0.744,respectively,being not significant different(all P＞0.05).The AUC of FLAIR signal intensity for differentiating the affected side and the healthy side of TLE-HS,the affected side of TLE-HS and HC,the healthy side of TLE-HS and HC was 0.627,0.756 and 0.653,respectively.Conclusion Bilateral hippocampus NODDI parameters were helpful for diagnosing unilateral TLE-HS,which might be superior to commonly used FLAIR sequence.

Objective:To construct the user personas of the patients who practice self-management home rehabilitation after lower limb bone transport by exploring their self-management experiences and needs in rehabilitation at home so as to provide targeted countermeasures for related medical staff.Methods:A purposive sampling method was employed to select the 21 patients who had undergone home rehabilitation after lower limb bone transport at Department of Orthopedic Trauma, Nanfang Hospital from September to December 2024. The cohort included 12 males and 9 females, with an age of (39.8±15.1) years. The phenomenological research method was used to conduct semi-structured interviews with this cohort. After the data from interviews were explored by the Colaizzi 7-step analysis to extract the factual labels, role dimension models were built, covering 3 dimensions: description, characteristics (basic, cognitive, behavioral, social support, and psychological adjustment characteristics) and needs.Results:All patients were interviewed. Four user personas were constructed, including self-awareness growth type (5 cases), emotional dependency-driven type (4 cases), risk-aversion procrastination type (7 cases), and management motivation-impaired type (5 cases). The patients of self-awareness growth type were 21 to 36 years old and received high school or university education, characterized by high self-efficacy, active measures to improve and maintain their state of rehabilitation, good management of negative emotions, and a low sense of stigma. The patients of emotional low-driven type were 42 to 74 years old and received their education in a primary school or junior high school, characterized by lack of independence, dependence on others for rehabilitation management, common management of negative emotions, low self-efficacy, and a strong sense of stigma. The patients of risk-aversion procrastination type were 33 to 56 years old and received their education in a junior or senior high school, characterized by a willingness to cooperate but insufficient motivation for rehabilitation management, an awareness of rehabilitation which was vulnerable to external factors, common management of negative emotions, low self-efficacy, and a strong sense of stigma. The patients of management motivation-impaired type were 51 to 61 years old, received primary school education or lower, characterized by insufficient knowledge and poor self-management behavior, constant failure to follow the prescribed rehabilitation exercises, poor management of negative emotions, low self-efficacy, and a low sense of stigma.Conclusion:The user personas we have constructed for the patients who practice self-management home rehabilitation after lower limb bone transport can help healthcare professionals with specific targeted interventions to enhance self-management efficacy to facilitate the rehabilitation process for the patients.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between retinoblastoma binding protein 1 (RB1) gene deletion and the prognosis of multiple myeloma (MM) patients, and the possible effect of renal insufficiency on it.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. The clinical data and follow-up information of MM patients who were treated in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University and the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University from December 2020 to November 2023 were collected. According to the presence of RB1 gene deletion in bone marrow samples detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), the patients were divided into the RB1 gene deletion group and the RB1 gene non-deletion group, and the clinicopathological characteristics and hematological index levels were compared between the two groups. Renal insufficiency was determined by renal function assessment indicator serum creatinine (Scr) >177 μmol/L. The Spearman test was used to analyze the relationship between the number of RB1 gene deletion positive cells and levels of Scr, hemoglobin and serum calcium in MM patients. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze progression-free survival (PFS), and the Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the influencing factors of PFS in all MM patients and RB1 gene deletion and non-deletion MM patients.Results:A total of 75 MM patients were enrolled, of whom 24 (32.0%) had RB1 gene deletion. There were no significant differences in gender, age ≥65 years old, bone destruction and lactate dehydrogenase level between the RB1 gene deletion and non-deletion groups (all P > 0.05). There were significant differences in the distributions of patients in each stage of MM International Staging System (ISS) and revised International Staging System (R-ISS) between the two groups, as well as in hemoglobin, serum calcium, Scr, β 2-microglobulin, serum albumin levels, and the proportion of bone marrow plasma cells (all P < 0.05). The number of RB1 gene deletion positive cells was positively correlated with Scr level ( r = 0.863, P = 0.016), but not with hemoglobin and serum calcium levels (both P > 0.05). The PFS of the RB1 gene non-deletion group was better than that of the RB1 gene deletion group (1-year PFS rate: 83.5% vs. 71.7%, 2-year PFS rate: 56.3% vs. 26.3%), and the difference was statistically significant ( P = 0.012). PFS in the non-renal insufficiency group was better than that in the renal insufficiency group (1-year PFS rate: 85.6% vs. 61.9%, 2-year PFS rate: 58.0% vs. 13.5%), and the difference was statistically significant ( P = 0.001). The PFS of patients without renal insufficiency in both the RB1 gene deletion and non-deletion groups was better than that in patients with renal insufficiency, and the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that ISS stage Ⅲ was an independent risk factor for poor PFS in MM patients (stage Ⅲ vs. stage Ⅰ, HR = 11.317, 95% CI: 1.220-104.979, P = 0.033). Multivariate Cox regression analysis in RB1 gene deletion and non-deletion groups showed that ISS stage Ⅲ (stage Ⅲ vs. stageⅠ, HR = 4.166, 95% CI: 1.419-12.225, P = 0.009), R-ISS stage Ⅲ (stage Ⅲ vs. stage Ⅰ, HR = 3.800, 95% CI: 1.005-14.367, P = 0.049), serum calcium > 2.52 mmol/L (> 2.52 mmol/L vs. ≤2.52 mmol/L, HR = 2.398, 95% CI: 1.037-5.546, P = 0.041) and renal insufficiency (yes vs. no, HR = 2.363, 95% CI: 1.021-5.472, P = 0.045) were independent risk factors for poor PFS in RB1 gene non-deletion MM patients, and serum calcium >2.52 mmol/L (>2.52 mmol/L vs. ≤ 2.52 mmol/L, HR = 3.673, 95% CI: 1.160-11.627, P = 0.027) and renal insufficiency (yes vs. no, HR = 3.985, 95% CI: 1.220-13.016, P = 0.022) were independent risk factors for poor PFS in RB1 gene deletion MM patients. Conclusions:The PFS of MM patients with RB1 gene deletion is worse than that of patients without RB1 gene deletion, RB1 gene deletion may be related to renal insufficiency in MM patients, and the prognosis of MM patients with RB1 gene deletion and renal insufficiency may be worse.

Perimenopause raises the risk and incidence of depression, whereas the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Disturbed glucose regulation has been widely documented in depressive disorders, which renders the brain susceptible to various stresses such as estrogen depletion. However, whether and how glucose dysfunction regulates depression-like behaviors and neuronal damage in perimenopausal transition remains unexplored. Here, a prominent depressive phenotype was found in perimenopausal mice induced by the ovarian toxin 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD). The VCD depression susceptible group (VCD^SS) and the VCD depression resilient group (VCD^RES) were determined using a ROC-based behavioral screening approach. We found that the hippocampus, a crucial region linked to depression, had hyperglycemia and mitochondrial abnormalities. Interestingly, oral administration of the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin (EMPA) and intrahippocampal glucose infusion suggest a close relationship between hyperglycemia in the hippocampus and the susceptibility to depression. We verified that cytochrome c oxidase 7c (COX7C) downregulation is a potential cause of the high glucose-induced neuronal injury using proteomic screening and biochemical validations. High glucose causes COX7C to be ubiquitinated in a S-phase kinase associated protein 1 (SKP1)-dependent manner. According to these results, SKP1/COX7C represents a unique therapeutic target and a novel molecular route for treating perimenopausal depression.

BACKGROUND:Lumbar disc degeneration is a common disease that causes lower back pain and lower limb neurological symptoms.The balance of collagen metabolism plays an important role in maintaining the stability of the intervertebral discs.OBJECTIVE:To review the research progress in the imbalance of collagen metabolism in intervertebral disc degeneration.METHODS:The first author searched for relevant literature published before May 2024 in CNKI,PubMed and Web of Science databases.Search terms were"degenerative disc disease,""collagen metabolism,""collagenase family,""collagen synthesis related factors,"and"collagen breakdown related factors"in Chinese and English.Seventy-six articles were finally included for review.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the process of intervertebral disc degeneration,the balance of collagen metabolism plays a crucial role in maintaining the stability of the normal intervertebral disc.When intervertebral disc degeneration occurs,a large amount of pro-inflammatory factors,collagenase,and oxidative stress reactions occur in the intervertebral disc,which increases the breakdown of collagen in the intervertebral disc.At the same time,it inhibits the generation of growth factors,collagen synthase,and collagen synthesis-related factors,resulting in a decrease in collagen synthesis in the intervertebral disc.The combined effect of the above two conditions disrupts the balance of collagen metabolism in the intervertebral disc,further exacerbating the process of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Objective:To determine the epidemiological characteristics of human bocavirus (HBoV) in children with acute respiratory infections (ARI) in Bengbu City, Anhui Province, in 2024.Methods:Nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected from 269 children with ARI in Bengbu City, Anhui Province, in 2024. Seventeen respiratory pathogens were screened using quantitative fluorescence PCR. For HBoV-positive samples, the VP1/VP2 structural gene fragments of HBoV were amplified and sequenced for genetic evolutionary analysis.Results:Among the 269 nasopharyngeal swab samples from children with ARI, the overall detection rate of respiratory pathogens was 48.33% (103/269). The top three pathogens with the highest detection rates were: Influenza A virus (FluA): 10.04% (27/269), Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): 8.18% (22/269), Human bocavirus (HBoV): 7.43% (20/269). The age distribution of HBoV-infected children showed that the detection rate was highest in the 0-2 years age group (50%, 10/20), followed by the 3-5 years age group (25%, 5/20) and the over 6 years age group (25%, 5/20). However, there was no statistically significant difference in viral detection rates among the age groups. Genetic evolutionary analysis based on VP1/VP2 revealed that all 13 HBoV strains were of the HBoV-1 genotype.Conclusions:HBoV is one of the major pathogens causing ARI in children in Bengbu City, Anhui Province, in 2024, with HBoV-1 being the predominant genotype. Additionally, infants aged 0-2 years are the most susceptible population to HBoV infection.

Objective: To investigate the role of butyric acid-producing bacteria in long bone homeostasis in mice with periodontitis under a high-fat/high-sugar diet and to provide new insights for the prevention and treatment of periodontitis and related bone metabolic diseases. Methods: This study has been approved by the Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee of the Experimental Animal Center. Initially, 14 mice were randomly divided into the CON group (the control group) and the LIG group (the periodontitis group). Mice in the LIG group had experimental periodontitis induced by ligating the second maxillary molars bilaterally and were fed a high-fat and high-sugar diet. After 8 weeks, samples were collected. Micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) was used to analyze alveolar bone resorption and various parameters of the proximal tibia trabecular bone, including bone mineral density (BMD), bone volume per tissue volume (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp). After decalcification, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed on maxillary bone sections to assess periodontal tissue inflammation and connective tissue destruction. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect related genes in the distal femur and proximal tibia bone tissues, including osteocalcin (OCN), osteogenic transcription factor (Osterix), osteoprotegerin (OPG), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANK), and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANK-L). Subsequently, the other 28 mice were randomly divided into the CON group (the control group), LIG group (the periodontitis group), CON + butyric acid-producing bacteria (BP) group, and LIG + BP group. The breeding, sampling, and sample detection methods remained the same. Finally, the other 28 mice were randomly divided into the CON group (the control group), LIG group (the periodontitis group), CON + sodium butyrate (SB) group, and LIG + SB group. The breeding, sampling, and sample detection methods remained the same. Results: ①Periodontitis modeling was successful. Compared with the CON group, the LIG group exhibited significant alveolar bone resorption of the maxillary second molar, aggravated periodontal tissue inflammation, and connective tissue destruction. ②Periodontitis exacerbated long bone resorption in mice fed a high-fat high-sugar diet. Compared with the CON group, the LIG group had significantly lower BMD, BV/TV, Tb.N, and Tb.Th (P<0.05), and significantly higher Tb.Sp (P<0.05). HE staining of the proximal tibia showed that the trabeculae in the LIG group were sparse and disordered, with some areas showing fractures or dissolution. The expression of osteoblast markers (OCN, Osterix, OPG) was significantly lower in the LIG group (P<0.05), while the expression of the osteoclast marker TRAP showed an increasing trend (P>0.05). The ratio of RANK-L/OPG was significantly higher in the LIG group compared with the CON group (P<0.05). ③ Supplementation with butyric acid-producing bacteria alleviates periodontitis-induced disruption of long bone homeostasis in mice fed a high-fat/high-sugar diet. Compared with the LIG group, BMD and Tb.Th were significantly higher in the LIG + BP group. HE staining of the proximal tibia showed that bone resorption was mitigated in the LIG + BP group compared with the LIG group. The expression of OCN and Osterix was significantly higher in the LIG + BP group, while the expression of osteoclast-specific genes (OSCAR, RANK, RANK-L) was significantly lower (P<0.05). ④ Supplementation with butyrate alleviates periodontitis-induced disruption of long bone homeostasis in mice fed a high-fat/high-sugar diet. Compared with the LIG group, BV/TV and Tb.N were significantly higher in the LIG + SB group, and Tb.Sp was significantly lower (P<0.05). HE staining of the proximal tibia showed that bone resorption was mitigated in the LIG + SB group compared with the LIG group. The expression of Osterix, OPG, OSCAR, TRAP, and RANK was significantly lower in the LIG + SB group compared with the LIG group (P<0.05). Conclusion Periodontitis disrupts the long bone homeostasis of mice fed a high-fat high-sugar diet, aggravating long bone resorption. Supplementation with butyric acid-producing bacteria or butyrate can effectively alleviate the disruption of long bone homeostasis caused by periodontitis.

Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of Jiedu Xiaoying Patch in rats with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT).Methods:Totally 32 rats were randomly divided into a blank group of 8 rats and a model group of 24 rats. The HT rat model was prepared by freely drinking 0.064% sodium iodide solution in the modeling module. 24 successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into model group, selenium yeast group, and patch group, with 8 rats in each group. Starting from the 9th week, the application group applied Jiedu Xiaoying Patch to the surface projection area of the thyroid gland in the neck of rats for 6 hours, once a day, for a total of 6 weeks; the selenium yeast group was orally administered with 21 μg/ml selenium yeast solution at a dose of 0.5 ml/100 g, while the blank group, model group, and patch group were orally administered with equal volumes of physiological saline solution once a day for a total of 6 weeks. The levels of TGAb,TPOAb, Sema 5A, and IL-17A in rat serum were detected by ELISA. The changes of thyroid tissue was observed with HE staining. The relative expression levels of plexin-A1 and plexin-B3 were determined through RT-PCR.Results:Compared with the model group, the levels of TPOAb, TGAb, Sema 5A, and IL-17A decreased ( P<0.05), and the expressions of plexin-A1 and plexin-B3 decreased in the selenium yeast group and the patch group ( P<0.05). The thyroid follicles in the model group were severely damaged, with a large number of lymphocytes infiltrating the interstices; the thyroid follicular structure of the selenium yeast group was relatively intact, and lymphocyte infiltration was reduced compared to the model group. The thyroid follicular structure of the patch group was basically intact, with a small amount of lymphocyte infiltration observed. Conclusion:Jiedu Xiaoying Patch can significantly reduce the levels of TPOAb and TGAb in HT rats. The mechanism may be related to reducing the content of Sema 5A, inhibiting the expressions of receptors plexin-A1 and plexin-B3, reducing the production of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-17A, and inhibiting immune and inflammatory responses.

Biotoxins are natural chemical substances produced by animals,plants or microorgan-isms that exhibit toxicity toward other species.These biotoxins exhibit a wide range of structural complexi-ties.Some of them are highly toxic,posing significant threats to human health and public safety.In recent years,researchers have employed the cell membranes of biotoxin target cells to coat nanomate-rials,thereby constructing biomimetic nanosystems with high biocompatibility,low immunogenicity,prolonged circulation time,and strong targeting capabilities.By leveraging the interactions between biotoxins and their target cell membranes,these systems effectively trap toxins,leading to notable advancements in this field.This article reviews the toxic mechanisms of biotoxins,the historical devel-opment of using biomimetic nanosystems for toxin detoxification,common preparation methods and characterization techniques,as well as the composition and detoxification efficacy of these nanosys-tems,thus providing references for their future design,development,and application.

This study investigated the types and distribution of rodents,and the infection status of eight pathogens in the high-altitude areas of western Sichuan,to provide a basis for control of rodent-borne diseases and pathogen surveillance in rodents in the area.From August to November of 2023,rodents were captured through the night method in high-altitude areas of western Sichuan.Nucleic acids were collected from the rodents'livers and lungs,and eight important pathogens were detected:Dabie bandavirus,Han-tavirus,Bartonella,Francisella tularensis,Anaplasma phagocytophilum,Rickettsia mooseri,Orientia tsutsugamushi,and Leptospira interrogans.The chi-square test was used to compare the composition ratios of rodent species and the difference in pathogen positivity rates among groups.A total of 114 rodents of nine species were captured.The dominant species in this area were Apodemus agrarius(22.81%),Apodemus chevrieri(18.42%),Niviventer confucianus(17.54%),Apodemus latronum(16.67%),and Apodemus peninsu-lae(13.16%).Other rodent species included Rattus nitidus(4.39%),Neodon irene(4.39%),Chodsigoa hypsibia(1.75%),and Nivi-venter excelsior(0.88%).Statistically significant differences in rodent species composition were observed among regions,altitudes,and habitats(χ2Region=112.358,P<0.05;χ2Altitude=96.843,P<0.05;χ2Habitat=48.842,P<0.05).The liver and lung pathogen results showed that the positivity rate of Bartonella was highest(29/114),whereas those of the other seven pathogens were 0%-4.39%.Five rodents were co-infected with two or more pathogens,and the composite positivity rate was 4.36%(5/114).Statistically significant differences in the positivity rates were observed for Leptospira interrogans among species(χ2=6.568,P=0.028)and Anaplasma phagocytophilum among habitats(χ2=7.596,P=0.027);however,no significant differences in the positivity rates of other pathogens were found among rodent species,regions,altitudes,habitats,and sexes(P>0.05).Thus,rodent species were abundant in the high-altitude areas of western Sichuan and carried a variety of pathogens.Multiple pathogens showed compound infections,among which the positivity rate of Bartonella was relatively high.The total infection rate of pathogens in living areas was relatively high,and the risk of pathogenesis to the population is greater.Therefore,rodent control and disease monitoring efforts should be strengthened.