ObjectiveMigraine is a leading neurological disorder and the fourth most common cause of years lived with disability worldwide, affecting nearly 116 million individuals. Although pharmacological treatments are available, their efficacy is often limited by side effects and variable response rates. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) offers a safe, non-invasive alternative for migraine management. However, the neurophysiological mechanisms, particularly how rTMS modulates local cortical excitability and distributed pain-related circuits, remain poorly understood. Elucidating these mechanisms is essential for optimizing treatment protocols and improving clinical outcomes. MethodsThis study employed concurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) to investigate neuroplastic and neurocircuitry mechanisms of DLPFC-rTMS in migraine. Study 1 compared 30 migraineurs and 28 healthy controls to identify abnormalities in TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) and significant current density (SCD) within sensory-discriminative regions including the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) and posterior insula (pINS), cognitive-affective regions including the anterior insula (aINS) and midcingulate cortex (MCC), and a descending modulatory region, the periaqueductal gray (PAG). Study 2 used a single-blind, crossover, sham-controlled design in 34 healthy participants. Each participant received both active (10 Hz, 80% RMT, 1 500 pulses) and sham DLPFC-rTMS in counterbalanced order. TMS-EEG and cold pain tolerance were assessed before and after each session. ResultsIn Study 1, migraineurs showed a significantly less negative N120 amplitude compared to healthy controls (P=0.027, Cohen’s d=0.60), indicating local intracortical disinhibition. No group differences were observed for N40, P60, or P180 components. At the source level, migraineurs exhibited significantly higher SCD in the S1, pINS, aINS, and MCC (allQ<0.05), but not in the ventroposterior thalamus (vpTHAL), mediodorsal thalamus (mdTHAL), or PAG. In Study 2, active rTMS significantly reduced SCD from pre- to post-stimulation in the S1, aINS, and MCC (all Q<0.05). Sham stimulation also reduced SCD in the S1 (Q<0.05) but not in the aINS or MCC. Although no significant group-level analgesic effect was observed between active and sham conditions (P=0.107), correlation analyses revealed that greater SCD reductions in the S1 and MCC were significantly associated with higher post-rTMS pain tolerance (R=-0.487 and -0.495, both Q<0.01) and larger improvements in pain tolerance(R=-0.487 and -0.451, both Q<0.05). No such correlations were found following sham stimulation, suggesting that the behavioural relevance of neural changes is specific to active rTMS. ConclusionThis study provides novel evidence that migraineurs exhibit both local neuroplastic abnormalities (reduced N120 amplitude) and hyperactivity in key pain-processing regions (S1, pINS, aINS, MCC). A single session of DLPFC-rTMS reduced hyperactivity in the aINS, MCC, and S1. Notably, greater reductions in the S1 and MCC were associated with improved pain tolerance. These findings identify distinct cortical circuitries, particularly within the cognitive-affective pain network, that may serve as potential biomarkers for optimizing rTMS treatment in migraine and other chronic pain conditions. Future studies should validate these results in patient populations experiencing spontaneous migraine attacks and explore multi-session or accelerated rTMS protocols.

Aim To investigate the effect of ellagic acid (EA) on cognitive function in APP/PS 1 double- transgenic mice, and to explore the regulatory mechanism of ellagic acid on the level of oxidative stress in the hippocampus of double-transgenic mice based on the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/glycogen synthase kinase-3 (PI3K/AKT/GSK-3 β) signaling pathway. Methods Thirty-two SPF-grade 6-month-old APP/PS 1 double transgenic mice were randomly divided into four groups, namely, APP/PS 1 group, APP/PS1 + EA group, APP/PS1 + LY294002 group, APP/PS 1 + EA + LY294002 group, with eight mice in each group, and eight SPF-grade C57BL/6J wild type mice ( Wild type) were selected as the blank control group. The APP/PS 1 + EA group was given 50 mg · kg

Osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) can lead to lower back pain and may be even accompanied by scoliosis, neurological dysfunction and other complications, which will affect the daily activities and life quality of patients. Vertebral augmentation is an effective treatment method for OVCF, but it cannot correct unbalance of bone metabolism or improve the osteoporotic status, causing complications like lower back pain, limited spinal activities and vertebral refracture. The post-operative systematic and standardized rehabilitation treatments can improve curative effect and therapeutic efficacy of anti-osteoporosis, reduce risk of vertebral refracture, increase patient compliance and improve quality of life. Since there still lack relevant clinical treatment guidelines for postoperative rehabilitation treatments following vertebral augmentation for OVCF, the current treatments are varied with uneven therapeutic effect. In order to standardize the postoperative rehabilitation treatment, the Spine Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized relevant experts to refer to relevant literature and develop the "Guideline for postoperative rehabilitation treatment following vertebral augmentation for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (2022 version)" based on the clinical guidelines published by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) as well as on the principles of scientificity, practicality and advancement. The guideline provided evidence-based recommendations on 10 important issues related to postoperative rehabilitation treatments of OVCF.

Cavernous nerve injury is an important cause of erectile dysfunction (ED). Although protective nerve technology has been widely used in nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (nsRP), the incidence of ED is still very high after surgery. The purpose of our study was to evaluate erectile function (EF) and penile length in the non-erectile state (PLNES) following scheduled phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5i), vacuum erectile device (VED) treatment, and combination therapy after nsRP. One hundred patients with localized prostate cancer and normal EF were randomized to scheduled PDE5i group, VED treatment group, a combined treatment group, and the control group without any intervention. The International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) scores and PLNES were evaluated after 6 months and 12 months of treatment. Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP-Question 2 and SEP-Question 3) were evaluated after 12 months of treatment. Ninety-one of the 100 randomized patients completed the study. We found that the 5 mg tadalafil once a day (OaD) combined with VED can help improve IIEF-5 scores in nsRP patients after both 6 months and 12 months. VED alone or combined with tadalafil OaD can help patients maintain PLNES. VED combined with tadalafil OaD can improve the rate of successful penetration (SEP-Question 2) after 12 months. There were no significant differences in the return to target EF after 12 months among the groups. No significant correlation was noted between the variables and return to target EF (IIEF ≥ 17), and between the variables and effective shortening of the patient's penis (shortening ≥ 1 cm) after 12 months of intervention.
Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Male ; Penile Erection ; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors ; Prospective Studies ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Tadalafil ; Treatment Outcome ; Vacuum

COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection severely threatens global health and economic development. No effective antiviral drug is currently available to treat COVID-19 and any other human coronavirus infections. We report herein that a macrolide antibiotic, carrimycin, potently inhibited the cytopathic effects (CPE) and reduced the levels of viral protein and RNA in multiple cell types infected by human coronavirus 229E, OC43, and SARS-CoV-2. Time-of-addition and pseudotype virus infection studies indicated that carrimycin inhibited one or multiple post-entry replication events of human coronavirus infection. In support of this notion, metabolic labelling studies showed that carrimycin significantly inhibited the synthesis of viral RNA. Our studies thus strongly suggest that carrimycin is an antiviral agent against a broad-spectrum of human coronaviruses and its therapeutic efficacy to COVID-19 is currently under clinical investigation.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic significance of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in the detection of primary glaucoma.Methods Totally 70 patients (116 eyes) of primary glaucoma were selected as the experimental group and 20 normal subjects (36 eyes) as the control group.The changes in macular vessel density,macular retinal ganglion cell (RGC) thickness,macular thickness,and optic disc retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) opening distance were measured by OCTA,and the correlation between the parameters and the mean deviation (MD) of visual field.Results When compared with the control group,the upper macular thickness,inferior macular thickness,macular RGC thickness and macular vessel density were reduced in the experimental group (all P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in optic disc RPE opening distance between the control group and the experimental group (F =2.646,P =0.051 3).Linear positive correlations were found between macular thickness,macular RGC thickness,macular vessel density and MD (all r ＞ 0.5,P ＜0.01).The area under the curve of the diagnostic ROC curve of the macular vessel density,macular RGC thickness and mactlar thickness for glaucoma were all greater than 0.7.Conelusion There are linear positive correlations between macular thickness,macular RGC thickness,macular vessel density and MD.The parameters have a high diagnostic ability for the primary glaucoma.OCTA is a valuable technique for detecting glaucoma.

AIM To observe the effect of Yinao Jieyu Granules (Curcumae Radix,Schisandrae chinensis Fructus,Gardeniae Fructus,etc.) on rats depression induced by olfactory bulbectomy (OB).METHODS The model rats randomly divided into model group,Fluoxetine Hydrochloride Capsules group,Yinao Jieyu Granules groups (7.29,3.65 and 1.82 g crude drug/kg) went on with their corresponding intragastric administration once per day (the same volume of purified water for the model group) for 2 weeks.The weight,food intake,liquid consumption,open field test,killing test,light/dark transition test and step-down test were checked every week before and after the administration.The blood sample and brain tissue were procured within 2 hours after the final administration.The serum CRH,ACTH and CORT concentration and the content of hippocampal monoamine neurotransmitters 5-HT,DA and NE were tested by ELISA method.RESULTS Compared with the model group,rats of Yinao Jieyu Granules groups (7.29-3.65 g crude drug/kg) displayed a better sucrose consumption improvement (P ＜ 0.05);more content increase of hippocampal tissue 5-HT (P ＜ 0.05);longer duration time in the dark and on the platform before the error making (P ＜ 0.05);less horizontal and vertical movement,and more significant content decrease of the serum CRH (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION Yinao Jieyu Granules can relieve the depression behaviors of OB animals,and the mechanism may associate with its efficacy on 5-HT and CRH modulation.

ObjectiveTo explore the inductive action of docosapentenoic acid(DPA) on neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells in vitro.MethodsNeurite outgrowth in PC12 cells was examined after the treatment with different concentration of DPA using Motic Zamges Plus software mapping cell image system.Western blot was performed to detect the expression of β Ⅲ-tubulin regulated protein kinase,a neuronal marker as well as ERK and protein kinase B (Akt) phosphorylation.ResultsPC12 cell neurite formation rate was increased in a concentration dependent manner in the induction of DPA,increased by 2.4% (DPA 10 μg/ml,P>0.05),18.6% (DPA 30 μg/ml,P<0.05) and 25.0% (DPA 50 μg/ml,P<0.05) compared with that in the control group.DPA promoted the expression of β Ⅲ-tubulin (P<0.05) and the phosphorylation level of ERK and Akt (P<0.05,P<0.01).ConclusionDPA promotes PC12 cell neurites growth and its mechanism may be related to the activation of ERK and Akt signaling pathways.

The chromatographic fingerprint was established by eluting with the mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 0.2% formic acid water on an Agilent TC-C18 (2) column (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm). Six chromatographic peaks were identified by HPLC-MS/MS method. Ten batches of Glycyrrhizea Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle were determined, and the similarity was arranged from 0.72 to 0.99. Good precision, stability and repeatability were obtained, and this study provides a reference for the quality control of Glycyrrhizea Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata Cum Melle.
China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; chemistry