Machado-Joseph disease, or spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), represents the most common autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia worldwide. Despite its progressive and debilitating nature, disease-modifying therapies remain elusive. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a promising non-invasive intervention; however, its clinical application has been hindered by inconsistent protocols and a lack of mechanistic understanding. A recent landmark study published in Brain Stimulation by Chen et al. addressed these challenges by combining a high-dose intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) protocol with concurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation-electroencephalography (TMS-EEG). This commentary provides an in-depth analysis of their findings, highlighting the restoration of cerebello-cortical inhibition (CBI) as a key therapeutic mechanism. Furthermore, we discuss the broader implications of this work, proposing that future translational research should integrate accelerated iTBS (aiTBS) paradigms, cortical response measurements (CRM), and individualized neuro-navigation to establish a new era of precision neuromodulation for ataxia.

Machado-Joseph disease, or spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), represents the most common autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia worldwide. Despite its progressive and debilitating nature, disease-modifying therapies remain elusive. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has emerged as a promising non-invasive intervention; however, its clinical application has been hindered by inconsistent protocols and a lack of mechanistic understanding. A recent landmark study published in Brain Stimulation by Chen et al. addressed these challenges by combining a high-dose intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) protocol with concurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation-electroencephalography (TMS-EEG). This commentary provides an in-depth analysis of their findings, highlighting the restoration of cerebello-cortical inhibition (CBI) as a key therapeutic mechanism. Furthermore, we discuss the broader implications of this work, proposing that future translational research should integrate accelerated iTBS (aiTBS) paradigms, cortical response measurements (CRM), and individualized neuro-navigation to establish a new era of precision neuromodulation for ataxia.

Objective:To investigate the current status of pruritus care in dermatology departments of public hospitals in China.Methods:A multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted. By convenience sampling, dermatology nurses were selected from 85 public hospitals across 17 provinces in China from September 2 to September 14, 2024, and a self-designed pruritus care questionnaire survey was conducted. The survey content included two parts: general information (e.g., education levels, professional titles, regions, hospital grades) and current status of pruritus care (e.g., pruritus care systems or standards, establishment of pruritus clinics, pruritus assessment, pruritus intervention measures, pruritus nursing training, and challenges in pruritus care) .Results:A total of 607 nurses were investigated, including 322 (53.0%) from general hospitals and 285 (47.0%) from specialized hospitals; 359 (59.1%) were from tertiary grade-A hospitals. In total, 264 (43.5%) nurses reported that pruritus clinics had been established in their hospitals, 218 (35.9%) reported that pruritus nursing teams had been set up, and 283 (46.6%) noted a lack of pruritus care systems or standards in their hospitals. The most commonly used anti-pruritus measures were physical therapy (51.2%) , drug treatment (37.9%) , and environmental management (10.9%) . There were 418 (68.9%) nurses who had received pruritus nursing training. The most frequently used pruritus assessment tools were the numeric rating scale ( n = 341, 56.2%) and the visual analog scale ( n = 268, 44.2%) , while 165 (27.2%) nurses had not used any assessment tools. The most challenging issues in pruritus care were the selection of pruritus assessment tools ( n = 303, 49.9%) and poor efficacy of pruritus control ( n = 113, 18.6%) . Tertiary grade-A hospitals and hospitals with pruritus clinics exhibited higher rates of establishing pruritus care systems/standards and providing pruritus nursing training compared with non-tertiary grade-A hospitals and hospitals without pruritus clinics respectively (all P < 0.05) . Conclusions:Public hospitals in China currently face issues such as inadequate pruritus care management systems, non-standardized pruritus assessment, and insufficient pruritus nursing training. Pruritus nursing levels were variable among different hospitals, and the standardization and homogeneity of pruritus nursing urgently need to be improved.

Objective To investigate the status of population dynamics and distribution changes of Aedes aegypti in Guangdong Province.Methods Continuous monitoring was conducted from May 2018 to July 2024 in Wushi Town and Qishui Town,Leizhou City,Zhanjiang City,Guangdong Province.Additionally,a survey of the distribution of Ae.aegypti along the Leizhou Peninsula coast was carried out.Results The density of Ae.aegypti in Zhanjiang showed a gradual decline from 2018 to 2024.The last detection of adult Ae.aegypti in Wushi Town was in September 2021,and the last larva was found in October 2023.No Ae.aegypti was detected in Qishui Town during surveys from 2021 to 2024.A survey of 18 coastal villages in the Leizhou Peninsula revealed no detections of Ae.aegypti.Conclusions This study provides a basis for understanding the distribution and population density fluctuations of Ae.aegypti,assessing its invasion risk,and scientifically conducting relevant prevention and control efforts.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features and multi-slice spiral computed tomography(CT)imaging features of acute appendicitis in soldiers who have been living in plateau for a long time.Methods:The clinical features and imaging data of 56 cases of acute appendicitis in soldiers who have been living in plateau for a long time confirmed by surgery from February 2022 to August 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:In 56 cases with acute appendicitis in soldiers who have been living in plateau for a long time,the appendectomy position results showed:anterior ileum 4 cases(7.14％),lower ileum 10 cases(17.86％),posterior cecum 16 cases(28.57％),lower cecum 9 cases(16.07％),lateral cecum 2 cases(3.58％),posterior ileum 6 cases(10.71％),high(subhepatic)9 cases(16.07％),and left lower abdominal 0 cases,retroperitoneal appendicitis 0 cases,which was suggested that the anatomical position variation of appendicitis in soldiers with acute appendicitis who have been living at high altitude for a long time was relatively large.The direct manifestations of multi-slice spiral CT showed:appendectomy enlarged diameter＞6 mm in 49 cases(87.50％),appendicular wall thickening＞2 mm in 42 cases(75.00％),ppendiceal dilation lumen and effusion in 29 cases(51.79％),appendix indistinctness in 3 cases(5.36％),lppendix fecalith:27 cases(48.21％),gas in the appendix in 16 cases(28.57％).Indirect findings of multi-slice spiral CT showed that,periappendiceal exudation with shadow in 32 cases(57.14％),appendiceal cellulitis with peripheral abscess in 9 cases(16.07％),peritonitis and ascites in 13 cases(23.21％),ileocecal intestinal wall thickening in 22 cases(39.29％),mesenteric lymph node enlargement in 16 cases(28.57％),reflexive intestinal stasis in ileocecal region was observed in 19 cases(33.93％).Conclusion:In the officers and soldiers with acute appendicitis who lived at high altitude for a long time,multi-slice spiral CT showed the direct manifestations of appendiceal thickening,tube wall thickening,lumen dilatation,fluid accumulation,etc.,and the indirect manifestations were periappendiceal exudation with shadow,appendiceal cellulitis with peripheral abscess,ileocecal intestinal wall thickening,reflexes of small intestine and mesenteric lymph node enlargement.Multi-slice spiral CT has the advantages of clear and intuitive,high safety,high resolution and simple operation in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

This study analyzed the genetic evolutionary characteristics of sandflies and their effects on the spread of kala-azar in various environments in endemic provinces in China,to provide a scientific basis for kala-azar disease prevention and control.Sand-flies were collected in kala-azar endemic areas such as southern Xinjiang,the large hilly areas of southern Gansu,the northern Sich-uan and Taihang Mountains,and surrounding small hills.The cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and cytochrome b gene fragments of mito-chondrial DNA were amplified to identify sandfly species.The COI and Cytb gene sequences of sandflies from southern Xinjiang and Si-chuan recorded in NCBI were also collected.The intraspecific and interspecific genetic differences of sandflies were calculated in MEGA11.0,and a phylogenetic tree was constructed through the neighbor-joining method,for analysis of the genetic and evolutionary characteristics of sandfly populations and their effects on disease transmission.A total of 155 sandflies were collected from nine sam-pling sites in seven provinces of China;the species included Phlebotomus chinensis,Phlebotomus wui,and Sergentomyia squamirostris.Five sandfly species belonging to two genera were collected:P.chinensis,P.wui,and Phlebotomus alexandri in the genus Phleboto-mus,and S.squamirostris in the genus Sergentomyia.Genetic evolution analysis based on COI and Cytb gene sequences indicated intra-specific genetic distances of 0-0.062 and 0-0.056,respectively,and interspecific genetic distances of 0.126-0.176 and 0.110-0.171,respectively.The phylogenetic tree indicated that P.wui,P.alexandri,Phlebotomus longiductus,and S.squamirostris clus-tered into one branch.The sequences of P.chinensis in the large and small hilly areas clustered into two geographical clades.In the small hilly areas,the sequences of P.chinensis aggregates showed small genetic differences,the pathogen infection was consistent,and the cases showed an epidemic spread trend.Large genetic differences at the molecular level were observed among sandflies in dif-ferent ecological regions,thus indicating key effects on leishmaniasis transmission.On the basis of these findings,prevention and con-trol strategies should be adapted to local conditions,and precise and effective prevention and control measures should be formulated according to the genetic evolution characteristics of sandflies in different regions,to better control the transmission of Kala-azar.

Objective:To investigate the current status of pruritus care in dermatology departments of public hospitals in China.Methods:A multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted. By convenience sampling, dermatology nurses were selected from 85 public hospitals across 17 provinces in China from September 2 to September 14, 2024, and a self-designed pruritus care questionnaire survey was conducted. The survey content included two parts: general information (e.g., education levels, professional titles, regions, hospital grades) and current status of pruritus care (e.g., pruritus care systems or standards, establishment of pruritus clinics, pruritus assessment, pruritus intervention measures, pruritus nursing training, and challenges in pruritus care) .Results:A total of 607 nurses were investigated, including 322 (53.0%) from general hospitals and 285 (47.0%) from specialized hospitals; 359 (59.1%) were from tertiary grade-A hospitals. In total, 264 (43.5%) nurses reported that pruritus clinics had been established in their hospitals, 218 (35.9%) reported that pruritus nursing teams had been set up, and 283 (46.6%) noted a lack of pruritus care systems or standards in their hospitals. The most commonly used anti-pruritus measures were physical therapy (51.2%) , drug treatment (37.9%) , and environmental management (10.9%) . There were 418 (68.9%) nurses who had received pruritus nursing training. The most frequently used pruritus assessment tools were the numeric rating scale ( n = 341, 56.2%) and the visual analog scale ( n = 268, 44.2%) , while 165 (27.2%) nurses had not used any assessment tools. The most challenging issues in pruritus care were the selection of pruritus assessment tools ( n = 303, 49.9%) and poor efficacy of pruritus control ( n = 113, 18.6%) . Tertiary grade-A hospitals and hospitals with pruritus clinics exhibited higher rates of establishing pruritus care systems/standards and providing pruritus nursing training compared with non-tertiary grade-A hospitals and hospitals without pruritus clinics respectively (all P < 0.05) . Conclusions:Public hospitals in China currently face issues such as inadequate pruritus care management systems, non-standardized pruritus assessment, and insufficient pruritus nursing training. Pruritus nursing levels were variable among different hospitals, and the standardization and homogeneity of pruritus nursing urgently need to be improved.

Aim To investigate the interventional effects of polysaccharides from Dicliptera chinensis(L.)Juss.(DCP)on acute liver failure(ALF)in-duced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS)combined with D-galactosamine(D-GalN)in mice,and on LPS-induced inflammatory responses in RAW264.7 cells,based on the TLR-4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.Meth-ods Mice were randomly divided into the control,model,silymarin,DCP low,medium,and high dose groups,and toxicity test groups.After 10 consecutive days of treatment,ALF models were established by in-jecting mice with LPS+D-GalN.Additionally,an in-flammatory response model was established by stimula-ting RAW264.7 cells with LPS.Results Biochemical assays showed that compared with the model group,the medium-and high-dose DCP groups exhibited de-creased serum ALT,AST,ALP,TBIL,and γ-GT activi-ties(P＜0.05),reduced levels of ROS,MPO and MDA in liver(P＜0.05),increased activities of SOD,GSH-Px,CAT,and elevated T-AOC levels(P＜0.05).ELISA revealed lower levels of ICAM-1,VCAM-1,IL-6,IL-1β,and TNF-α in liver(P＜0.05).HE staining indicated reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and improved hepatocyte necrosis in liv-er after DCP administration.The use of DCP alone showed no significant organ toxicity.qRT-PCR and Western blot results indicated that DCP inhibited the expression of key factors in TLR-4/MyD88/NF-κB sig-naling pathway(P＜0.05).Cell validation experi-ments also confirmed that this pathway was inhibited by DCP.Conclusion DCP alleviates ALF primarily by inhibiting oxidative stress and blocking the activation of the TLR-4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective:Exploring the role and mechanism of CHMP4C in regulating necroptosis during gastric can-cer development and progression.Method:The expression of CHMP4C in pan-cancer was analyzed by bioinformatics methods,and the expression of CHMP4C was detected in human normal gastric epithelial cells and GC cell lines by RT-qPCR and Western blot.Overexpression or knockdown of CHMP4C was performed in GC cell lines,and the effects of CHMP4C on the growth and proliferation of GC cells were detected using CCK-8 and clone formation assays.The CCK-8 experiment and Hoechst/PI double staining experiment were used to detect the changes in GC cell mortality and PI positive cell ratio after treatment with the necroptsis inducer TSZ or inhibitor necrostatin-1(Nec-1).Western blot assay was used to detect the protein and phosphorylation levels of RIPK1,RIPK3,and MLKL in GC cells.Result:CHMP4C was upregulated in GC tissues and cells.The CCK-8 and clone formation experiments showed that overex-pression of CHMP4C significantly improved the proliferation ability and colony formation efficiency of GC cells,while knockdown of CHMP4C significantly weakened GC cells.Moreover,the results of CCK-8 and Hoechst 33342/PI double staining experiments showed that upregulated CHMP4C could inhibit TSZ induced GC cell death;Nec-1 can reverse the decrease in GC cell viability caused by CHMP4C knockdown.Western blot experiment showed that the levels of p-RIPK1,p-RIPK3,and p-MLKL were significantly decreased in overexpressing cells,while they were increased in knockdown cells.After treatment with Nec-1,the expression levels of these three proteins decreased in knockdown cells.Conclusion:CHMP4C may promote GC progression by negatively regulating necroptosis through inhibiting the phosphorylation of the RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL signaling pathway,suggesting that it is expected to be a potential target for GC therapy.

Objective To investigate the influencing factors of autism spectrum disorder(ASD)among the children in Bijie City.Methods A total of 195 children diagnosed as ASD in Bijie City from June 2022 to August 2023 were selected as the case group and 201 healthy children extracted from the urban and rural kin-dergartens by the simple random sampling survey method served as the control group.The guardians of the children were surveyed by using a self-designed questionnaire.The logistic regression was adopted to analyze the influencing factors of childhood ASD onset.Results The univariate analysis results revealed that the differences in the sex,age,residential environment,maternal education level,maternal occupation,maternal age at pregnancy,maternal prenatal depression,health status at birth,feeding mode,early health status after birth,primary caregiver before 1 year old,left-behind experience before 3 years old,parenting attitude towards discipline and parental disciplinary severity between the two groups had statistical significance(P＜0.05).The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the child's sex,age,residential environment,mater-nal education level,maternal occupation,annual household income,maternal age at pregnancy,health status in neonatal period,primary caregiver beforel year old and left-behind experience before 3 years old were the inde-pendent influencing factors for ASD occurrence(P＜0.05).The specific manifestations included the boys,aged 5-6 years old,living in urban areas,mothers with a junior high school education or below,mothers as full-time housewives,family average annual income＜50 000 Yuan,mother pregnancy age＜20 years old,dyspnea or suffocation at birth,mainly taking care by others before 1 year old,and experience of being a left-behind child before 3 years old,which were more likely to develop autism.Conclusion The onset of childhood ASD is the results of multiple factors concurrent action.