Although global brain science research has progressed rapidly in recent decades, several fundamental questions in neuroscience remain unresolved. In particular, the physical mechanism underlying neural signal transmission remains controversial, and the carriers responsible for neural information storage and retrieval have not yet been fully clarified. These unresolved issues motivate us to re-examine the processes of neural information generation, transmission, integration, storage, and retrieval from multiple perspectives. A key observation is that neural electromagnetic activities are closely associated with time. Their duration, temporal structure, and dynamic evolution play crucial roles in neural information processing. In this work, we analyze neural electromagnetic activities from the perspective of temporal scales (referred to here as the “time course”). By reviewing and integrating findings from previous studies, we examine the characteristic time requirements and dynamic features of neural processes occurring at different stages of information processing. These stages include neural signal generation, signal transmission along axons, synaptic integration, synaptic plasticity, and memory formation and retrieval. Based on this temporal analysis, we outline a framework describing neural electromagnetic activities across a wide range of time scales, spanning from microseconds to minutes, hours, or even longer periods associated with long-term memory, which suggests that neural information processing involves multiple physical processes operating at different time levels. Rapid electromagnetic events may occur on microsecond scales, whereas electrophysiological phenomena such as action potentials typically last on the order of milliseconds. Longer time scales are associated with synaptic plasticity and memory-related processes. From this perspective, we propose that the physical carrier of neural information may be transient electromagnetic pulses with durations on the microsecond scale. In this framework, action potentials can be interpreted as the macroscopic electrophysiological manifestation of underlying electromagnetic processes triggered by ionic currents across neuronal membranes. Rather than being the fundamental neural signal itself, the action potential may represent a measurable membrane-level response associated with the successful activation of these electromagnetic events. Moreover, we discuss a possible mechanism for long-term memory storage. Considering the apparent temporal contradiction between the millisecond-scale excitation of neurons and the long-term persistence of memories, we believe that long-term memory information may be stored within neural network topologies formed by electrical synapse coupling. Such structures, referred to as electrically coupled memory networks (ECMNs), may enable neurons within the same network to respond rapidly and synchronously to stimuli, thereby facilitating efficient memory retrieval. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of considering the temporal organization of neural electromagnetic activities when interpreting neural signaling mechanisms. It may provide new insights into the physical nature of neural information carriers and the mechanisms of memory storage and retrieval. Furthermore, highlighting the potential role of electromagnetic interactions in neural activity may contribute to the development of new theoretical frameworks and experimental approaches in neuroscience. Such perspectives may also offer valuable references for future research on neural coding, brain function mechanisms, and neuromodulation technologies.

ObjectiveTo analyze the output and efficiency of chronic disease management services for hypertension and diabetes in community health service institutions in Shanghai, to evaluate the allocation and efficiency of chronic disease management resources, and to provide references for improving the efficiency of chronic disease management in Shanghai’s communities. MethodsA total of 73 community health institutions from 15 districts of Shanghai were selected. Based on the chronic disease management resource data of community health institutions in 2019, 2021, and 2023, descriptive methods and the BCC model in Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) were used to analyze the resource allocation, service output, and the efficiency of chronic disease management services in community health institutions in Shanghai. ResultsFrom 2019 to 2023, the indicators of resource allocation and service output of community health service institutions in Shanghai all showed upward trends. In terms of service efficiency, the average number of chronic disease patients managed by each health technician decreased from 237 to 231, and the number of patients served per 1 000 working hours decreased from 54 to 44. DEA efficiency analyses showed that the average overall efficiency increased from 0.867 in 2019 to 0.886 in 2021 and then decreased to 0.811 in 2023. The average technical efficiency decreased from 0.901 to 0.847, which was the main reason for the decline in overall efficiency. The average scale efficiency showed an initial increase followed by a decrease, rising from 0.961 in 2019 to 0.977 in 2021 and dropping back to 0.955 in 2023. The number of strong effective districts (overall efficiency=1.000) decreased from 6 in 2019 to 3 in 2023, and the efficiency differences between districts expanded. The range of overall efficiency widened from 0.622‒1.000 to 0.513‒1.000, indicating a decline in overall efficiency and an increase in inter-district heterogeneity. ConclusionFrom 2019 to 2023, the total volume of resource allocation and service output for chronic disease management in community health service institutions in Shanghai increased continuously. However, both the service output efficiency and the overall resource allocation efficiency declined, driven primarily by a decrease in technical efficiency, and accompanied by widening inter‑district disparities.

OBJECTIVE: High-altitude hypoxia exposure often damages hippocampus-dependent learning and memory. Nogo-A is an important axonal growth inhibitory factor. However, its function in high-altitude hypoxia and its mechanism of action remain unclear. METHODS: In an in vivo study, a low-pressure oxygen chamber was used to simulate high-altitude hypoxia, and genetic or pharmacological intervention was used to block the Nogo-A/NgR1 signaling pathway. Contextual fear conditioning and Morris water maze behavioral tests were used to assess learning and memory in rats, and synaptic damage in the hippocampus and changes in oxidative stress levels were observed. In vitro, SH-SY5Y cells were used to assess oxidative stress and mitochondrial function with or without Nogo-A knockdown in Oxygen Glucose-Deprivation/Reperfusion (OGD/R) models. RESULTS: Exposure to acute high-altitude hypoxia for 3 or 7 days impaired learning and memory in rats, triggered oxidative stress in the hippocampal tissue, and reduced the dendritic spine density of hippocampal neurons. Blocking the Nogo-A/NgR1 pathway ameliorated oxidative stress, synaptic damage, and the learning and memory impairment induced by high-altitude exposure. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate the detrimental role of Nogo-A protein in mediating learning and memory impairment under high-altitude hypoxia and suggest the potential of the Nogo-A/NgR1 signaling pathway as a crucial therapeutic target for alleviating learning and memory dysfunction induced by high-altitude exposure. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT available in www.besjournal.com.
Animals ; Oxidative Stress ; Hippocampus/metabolism* ; Rats ; Nogo Proteins/genetics* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Hypoxia/metabolism* ; Altitude ; Synapses ; Humans ; Altitude Sickness/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality based on the 10-year population-based multicenter prospective study. METHODS: A general population-based multicenter prospective study was conducted at four sites in rural China between 2013 and 2023. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline analyses were used to assess the association between BMI and mortality. Stratified analyses were performed based on the individual characteristics of the participants. RESULTS: Overall, 19,107 participants with a sum of 163,095 person-years were included and 1,910 participants died. The underweight (< 18.5 kg/m ²) presented an increase in all-cause mortality (adjusted hazards ratio [ aHR] = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.66-2.41), while overweight (≥ 24.0 to < 28.0 kg/m ²) and obesity (≥ 28.0 kg/m ²) presented a decrease with an aHR of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.52-0.73) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.37-0.70), respectively. Overweight ( aHR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67-0.86) and mild obesity ( aHR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59-0.87) had a positive impact on mortality in people older than 60 years. All-cause mortality decreased rapidly until reaching a BMI of 25.7 kg/m ² ( aHR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.98) and increased slightly above that value, indicating a U-shaped association. The beneficial impact of being overweight on mortality was robust in most subgroups and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION This study provides additional evidence that overweight and mild obesity may be inversely related to the risk of death in individuals older than 60 years. Therefore, it is essential to consider age differences when formulating health and weight management strategies.
Humans ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Adult ; Mortality ; Cause of Death ; Obesity/mortality* ; Overweight/mortality*

Subunit 5B of constitutively photomorphogenic 9 signalosome(CSN5B)is an inhibitory factor for the biosynthesis of vitamin C in the L-galactose synthesis pathway in plants.To create mutants with richer vitamin C in tomato fruits,a dual-target vector of pKSE402-SlCSN5Bwas constructed and trans-formed into the breeding parent of 1912.Based on the molecular biological assay and DNA sequencing,17 transgenic positive lines were determined,and 6 lines of them were genetically mutated at the target site of SlCSN5B,with an editing efficiency of 35.3％.Among the mutants,2 lines were homozygous mu-tants,csn5b-6 with 180 bp deletion and csn5b-8 with 3 bp deletion.The biological traits of two types of deficiency homozygotes without exogenous T-DNA insertion derived from the T1 generation were observed,and there were no significant differences in phenotypes of the plant and fruit.Through physiological tes-ting of red-ripe fruits from T,generation lines of csn5b-6,the GMPase activity and the vitamin C content significantly increased by 43％and 37.8％,respectively,the content of hydrogen peroxide significantly decreased by 25.9％,and the content of soluble solids did not obviously change,compared with the wild type.There were no significant differences in plant traits and physiological characteristics between T1 gen-eration lines of csn5b-8 and the wild type.Based on gene expression analysis and protein structure predic-tion,the results showed that the gene of SlCSN5B normally transcribed,and the loss of large peptide seg-ments of CSN5B encoded by SlCSN5B caused changes in its structure to affect functioning,which led to an increase of vitamin C content in the line of csn5b-6-1 1.The findings suggest that the vitamin C content of tomato fruit can be improved by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated SlCSN5B gene editing,which provides the valuable resources for high-quality breeding in tomato.

Objective:To explore the construction method of a resistant multiple myeloma(MM)patient-derived xenotransplantation(PDX)model.Methods:1.0 × 107 MM patient-derived mononuclear cells(MNCs),2.0 × 106 MM.1S cells and 2.0 × 106 NCI-H929 cells were respectively subcutaneously inoculated into NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid Il2rgtml/Bcgen(B-NDG)mice with a volume of 100 p1 per mouse to establish mouse model.The morphologic,phenotypic,proliferative and genetic characteristics of PDX tumor were studied by hematoxylin-eosin staining,immunohistochemical staining(IHC),cell cycle analysis,flow cytometry and fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH).The sensitivity of PDX tumor to bortezomib and anlotinib monotherapy or in combination was investigated through cell proliferation,apoptosis and in vitro and in vivo experiments.The effects of anlotinib therapy on tumor blood vessel and cell apoptosis were analyzed by IHC,TUNEL staining and confocal fluorescence microscope.Results:MM PDX model was successfully established by subcutaneously inoculating primary MNCs.The morphologic features of tumor cells from MM PDX model were similar to those of mature plasma cells.MM PDX tumor cells positively expressed CD138 and CD38,which presented 1q21 amplification,deletion of Rb1 and IgH rearrangement,and had a lower proliferative activity than MM cell lines.In vitro,PDX,MM.1S and NCI-H929 cells were treated by bortezomib and anlotinib for 24 hours,respectively.Cell viability assay showed that the IC50 value of bortezomib were 5 716.486,1.025 and 2.775 nmol/L,and IC50 value of anlotinib were 5 5107.337,0.706 and 5.13 μmol/L,respectively.Anlotinib treatment increased the apoptosis of MM.1S cells(P＜0.01),but did not affect PDX tumor cells(P＞0.05).In vivo,there was no significant difference in PDX tumor growth between bortezomib monotherapy group and control group(P＞0.05),while both anlotinib monotherapy and anlotinib combined with bortezomib effectively inhibited PDX tumor growth(both P＜0.05).The vascular perfusion and vascular density of PDX tumor were decreased in anlotinib treatment group(both P＜0.01).The apoptotic cells in anlotinib treatment group were increased compared with those in control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Bortezomib-resistant MM PDX model can be successfully established by subcutaneous inoculation of MNCs from MM patients in B-NDG mice.This PDX model,which retains the basic biological characteristics of MM cells,can be used to study the novel therapies.

Objective:To assess the efficacy and safety of a new conditioning regimen with chidamide and BEAM for autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(AHSCT)in patients with lymphoma.Methods:Medical records and further follow-up data from 85 patients with lymphoma from May 2015 to September 2020 in our hospital were retrospectively collected and analyzed.Results:Among 85 patients,52 cases accepted BEAM regimen and 33 cases accepted CBEAM followed by AHSCT.In CBEAM group,18 patients(54.5％)received AHSCT as salvage therapy,while only 26.9％(14 cases)for salvage in BEAM group(P＜0.01).CBEAM conditioning resulted in shorter neutrophil engraftment of 2 days,while no significant difference was found in platelet engraftment.Although the incidence of liver impairment was higher in CBEAM group(12.1％),the grade of impairment was only Ⅰ to Ⅱ.The two conditioning regimens both achieved good complete remission rate of over 90％,and no transplant-related death occurred.The median follow-up time in the CBEAM group was 18(12,22)months,and 39(20,59)months in the BEAM group.There were no significantly differences in 2-year progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival(OS)rate between the two groups(P＞0.05).In patients with refractory or relapsed non-Hodgkin lymphoma,the 2-year PFS rate after transplantation in BEAM group and CBEAM group was 74.1％and 92.9％,respectively(P＞0.05),indicating that chidamide may have certain advantages in prolonging PFS.Conclusion:CBEAM conditioning regimen has a good efficacy and safety in lymphoma patients before AHSCT,especially in refractory and relapsed non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients,suggesting that it could serve as an alternative conditioning regimen prior to AHSCT for lymphoma.

Spine fracture and dislocation are common traumatic spinal conditions that often require surgical intervention due to compromised spinal stability. Surgical approaches include anterior, posterior, and combined anterior-posterior spinal procedures. According to the specific surgical requirements, patients may be placed in the prone position or repositioned between prone and supine positions during surgery. Intraoperative repositioning has become an essential step in patient positioning. However, during repositioning, patients with spinal fracture and dislocation are at increased risk for complications such as hemodynamic instability, nerve injury, and pressure injuries to the skin and soft tissue. Notably, due to the instability of the spinal cord, even minor manipulations can further exacerbate the damage, potentially leading to severe outcomes like paraplegia. Although the current clinical guidelines provide instructive recommendations for standard position, there remains no specific protocols for intraoperative repositioning in patients with spine fracture and dislocation. With a concern for the lack of clinical studies on positioning techniques, risk prevention, and operational norms for special patients, no applicable guidelines or standards are available. A consensus was required to provide clinical reference, meet the requirements of surgical treatment, and minimize the safety risks of patients caused by improper placement of positions. Professional Committee of Operating Room Nursing of Shaanxi Nursing Association organized experts in nursing management and operating room nursing from major hospitals across China to formulate Expert consensus on intraoperative repositioning for patients with spinal fracture and dislocation ( version 2025). The consensus provides 11 recommendations covering pre-repositioning preparation, intraoperative maneuvers, and post-repositioning observation, aiming to provide references for clinical standardization of the intraoperative repositioning process and protection of patients′ safety.