Objective To explore the effect of Lokomat robotic-assisted gait training on lower limb motor function in children with hemiplegia.Methods From October,2023 to January,2025,a total of 52 children with hemiplegia admitted to Beijing Bo'ai Hospital were randomly divided into control group(n=26)and observation group(n=26).Both groups received conven-tional rehabilitation therapy,while the observation group additionally received Lokomat robotic-assisted gait training,for four weeks.Before and after intervention,the self-selected walking speed(SWS)and maximum walking speed(MWS)of 10-meter Walk Test,6-minute walking distance(6MWD),Physiological Cost Index(PCI),as well as gait line length asymmetry ratio,single support line asymmetry ratio,stance phase asymmetry ratio and step length ratio were compared.Results After intervention,SWS,MWS and 6MWD improved in both groups(|Z|>2.910,P<0.01),and were better in the the observation group than in the control group(|Z|>2.069,P<0.05);PCI significantly decreased in both groups(|Z|>4.458,P<0.001),and was lower in the observation group than in the control group(Z=-2.435,P<0.05);the gait line length asymmetry ratio,single support line asymmetry ratio and stance phase asymmetry ratio improved in both groups(Z=3.398,|t|>2.211,P<0.05),and were better in the observation group than in the control group(Z=2.802,|t|>2.107,P<0.05).Conclusion Lokomat robotic-assisted gait training can effectively improve walking speed and endurance in children with hemiplegia,reduce energy expenditure,enhance walking efficiency,and promote gait symmetry,thereby fa-cilitating symmetrical gait patterns.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)essential oil Tuina(Chinese therapeutic massage)combined with conventional Western medication in treating hypertension and its influence on TCM symptoms and anxiety.Methods:Eighty patients with hypertension were included and divided into an observation group and a control group using the random number table method,with 40 cases in each group.The control group was treated with conventional oral Western medication once a day.The observation group was treated with additional TCM essential oil Tuina once every other day.The two groups were treated for 4 weeks.The changes in blood pressure,TCM symptom score,and anxiety,as well as safety,were observed after treatment.Results:After treatment,the systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,TCM symptom score,and Hamilton anxiety scale score in the two groups were lower than those before treatment(P<0.05),and those of the observation group were lower compared to the control group with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).There were no adverse reactions,such as allergy and dry cough,in the two groups.Conclusion:Based on conventional Western medication,TCM essential oil Tuina was safe and effective in the treatment of hypertension,which both reduced blood pressure and improved clinical symptoms and anxiety.

Objective To explore the effect of Lokomat robotic-assisted gait training on lower limb motor function in children with hemiplegia.Methods From October,2023 to January,2025,a total of 52 children with hemiplegia admitted to Beijing Bo'ai Hospital were randomly divided into control group(n=26)and observation group(n=26).Both groups received conven-tional rehabilitation therapy,while the observation group additionally received Lokomat robotic-assisted gait training,for four weeks.Before and after intervention,the self-selected walking speed(SWS)and maximum walking speed(MWS)of 10-meter Walk Test,6-minute walking distance(6MWD),Physiological Cost Index(PCI),as well as gait line length asymmetry ratio,single support line asymmetry ratio,stance phase asymmetry ratio and step length ratio were compared.Results After intervention,SWS,MWS and 6MWD improved in both groups(|Z|>2.910,P<0.01),and were better in the the observation group than in the control group(|Z|>2.069,P<0.05);PCI significantly decreased in both groups(|Z|>4.458,P<0.001),and was lower in the observation group than in the control group(Z=-2.435,P<0.05);the gait line length asymmetry ratio,single support line asymmetry ratio and stance phase asymmetry ratio improved in both groups(Z=3.398,|t|>2.211,P<0.05),and were better in the observation group than in the control group(Z=2.802,|t|>2.107,P<0.05).Conclusion Lokomat robotic-assisted gait training can effectively improve walking speed and endurance in children with hemiplegia,reduce energy expenditure,enhance walking efficiency,and promote gait symmetry,thereby fa-cilitating symmetrical gait patterns.

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)essential oil Tuina(Chinese therapeutic massage)combined with conventional Western medication in treating hypertension and its influence on TCM symptoms and anxiety.Methods:Eighty patients with hypertension were included and divided into an observation group and a control group using the random number table method,with 40 cases in each group.The control group was treated with conventional oral Western medication once a day.The observation group was treated with additional TCM essential oil Tuina once every other day.The two groups were treated for 4 weeks.The changes in blood pressure,TCM symptom score,and anxiety,as well as safety,were observed after treatment.Results:After treatment,the systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,TCM symptom score,and Hamilton anxiety scale score in the two groups were lower than those before treatment(P<0.05),and those of the observation group were lower compared to the control group with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).There were no adverse reactions,such as allergy and dry cough,in the two groups.Conclusion:Based on conventional Western medication,TCM essential oil Tuina was safe and effective in the treatment of hypertension,which both reduced blood pressure and improved clinical symptoms and anxiety.

Axon initial segment (AIS) is the most excitable subcellular domain of a neuron for action potential initiation. AISs of cortical projection neurons (PNs) receive GABAergic synaptic inputs primarily from chandelier cells (ChCs), which are believed to regulate action potential generation and modulate neuronal excitability. As individual ChCs often innervate hundreds of PNs, they may alter the activity of PN ensembles and even impact the entire neural network. During postnatal development or in response to changes in network activity, the AISs and axo-axonic synapses undergo dynamic structural and functional changes that underlie the wiring, refinement, and adaptation of cortical microcircuits. Here we briefly introduce the history of ChCs and review recent research advances employing modern genetic and molecular tools. Special attention will be attributed to the plasticity of the AIS and the ChC-PN connections, which play a pivotal role in shaping the dynamic network under both physiological and pathological conditions.
Animals ; Neuronal Plasticity/physiology* ; Cerebral Cortex/cytology* ; Axons/physiology* ; Nerve Net/physiology* ; Humans ; Synapses/physiology* ; GABAergic Neurons/physiology*

BACKGROUND: Red-cell transfusion is critical for surgery during the peri-operative period; however, the transfusion threshold remains controversial mainly owing to the diversity among patients. The patient's medical status should be evaluated before making a transfusion decision. Herein, we developed an individualized transfusion strategy using the West-China-Liu's Score based on the physiology of oxygen delivery/consumption balance and designed an open-label, multicenter, randomized clinical trial to verify whether it reduced red cell requirement as compared with that associated with restrictive and liberal strategies safely and effectively, providing valid evidence for peri-operative transfusion. METHODS: Patients aged >14 years undergoing elective non-cardiac surgery with estimated blood loss > 1000 mL or 20% blood volume and hemoglobin concentration <10 g/dL were randomly assigned to an individualized strategy, a restrictive strategy following China's guideline or a liberal strategy with a transfusion threshold of hemoglobin concentration <9.5 g/dL. We evaluated two primary outcomes: the proportion of patients who received red blood cells (superiority test) and a composite of in-hospital complications and all-cause mortality by day 30 (non-inferiority test). RESULTS: We enrolled 1182 patients: 379, 419, and 384 received individualized, restrictive, and liberal strategies, respectively. Approximately 30.6% (116/379) of patients in the individualized strategy received a red-cell transfusion, less than 62.5% (262/419) in the restrictive strategy (absolute risk difference, 31.92%; 97.5% confidence interval [CI]: 24.42-39.42%; odds ratio, 3.78%; 97.5% CI: 2.70-5.30%; P <0.001), and 89.8% (345/384) in the liberal strategy (absolute risk difference, 59.24%; 97.5% CI: 52.91-65.57%; odds ratio, 20.06; 97.5% CI: 12.74-31.57; P <0.001). No statistically significant differences were found in the composite of in-hospital complications and mortality by day 30 among the three strategies. CONCLUSION: The individualized red-cell transfusion strategy using the West-China-Liu's Score reduced red-cell transfusion without increasing in-hospital complications and mortality by day 30 when compared with restrictive and liberal strategies in elective non-cardiac surgeries. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01597232.
Humans ; Adult ; Postoperative Complications ; Erythrocyte Transfusion/adverse effects* ; Blood Transfusion ; Hospitals ; Hemoglobins/analysis*

Purpose: In non-metastatic prostate cancer (nmPCa) setting, it is important to early identify the patients at risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR) for immediate postoperative intervention. Our study aimed to evaluate the potential clinical utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for predicting disease recurrence. Materials and Methods: This real-world observational study evaluated 161 cases of nmPCa undergoing next-generation sequencing at our institution. A total of 139 ctDNA samples and 31 biopsied tumor tissue underwent genomic profiling. The study endpoint was BCR after radical prostatectomy. Relationships between the ctDNA status and the biochemical progression-free survival (bPFS) were analyzed by log-rank test and multivariate Cox regression. Results: Of 161 enrolled patients, 19 (11.8%) harbored deleterious alterations in NCOR2, followed by BRCA2 (3.7%), ATR (2.5%), and CDK12 (2.5%). Of available pre-operative blood samples (n=139), ctDNA was detectable in 91 (65.5%). Until last follow-up, 56 of 68 patients (85.3%) with detectable ctDNA had achieved BCR, whereas only eight of 39 patients (20.5%) with undetectable ctDNA had achieved BCR. Patients who had undetectable ctDNA experienced significantly longer bPFS compared with those who had detectable ctDNA (not available vs. 8.2 months; hazard ratio, 0.14; p < 0.01). Pre-operative ctDNA status was a significant prognostic factor of disease recurrence. Conclusion Pre-operative ctDNA detection could identify patients at high risk of recurrence and has the potential to inform immediate postoperative interventions, but these approaches remain to be validated in prospective studies. ctDNA studies can provide insights into accurate monitoring and precise treatment rather than simply following routine clinical care.

Objective To investigate effects of human postures on flow characteristics of iliac vein compression syndrome. Methods The numerical model of iliac vein was reconstructed from CT images of a typical patient with pelvic-type iliac vein compression syndrome with collateral veins. Based on the computational fluid dynamics method, the non-Newtonian model and the porous media model were adopted to describe effects of abnormal structures on blood flow and acquire the wall shear stress and pressure of iliac vein. The discrete phase model was used to study the residence conditions of erythrocytes under three human postures. Results The pressure gradient at two ends of the compressive region was lowest under lying state, while the iliac vein showed a high pressure under sitting and walking states. The local maximum wall shear stresses under three postures were found at narrow segment of the collateral vein and convergence region of two flows of right iliac vein. The maximum shear stress was largest under lying state and smallest under sitting state. The blood residence time of 52.2 s in the left iliac vein was the longest under sitting state. The residence time of 14.8 s was shortest under lying state. The blood residence time was 23.8 s under walking state. Conclusions Porous media model used to simulate the effect of abnormal structures was highly consistent with the angiography data. The venous hypertension under sitting and walking states was consistent with the clinical results, and the lying state could relieve the hypertensive condition. In terms of wall shear stress and blood residence time in iliac vein, the continual change between three human postures would cause endothelial damage and blood flow stasis alternately, thus increase the risk of thrombosis.

Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a key pathogen in periodontitis, has been shown to accelerate the progression of atherosclerosis (AS). However, the definite mechanisms remain elusive. Emerging evidence supports an association between mitochondrial dysfunction and AS. In our study, the impact of P. gingivalis on mitochondrial dysfunction and the potential mechanism were investigated. The mitochondrial morphology of EA.hy926 cells infected with P. gingivalis was assessed by transmission electron microscopy, mitochondrial staining, and quantitative analysis of the mitochondrial network. Fluorescence staining and flow cytometry analysis were performed to determine mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) levels. Cellular ATP production was examined by a luminescence assay kit. The expression of key fusion and fission proteins was evaluated by western blot and immunofluorescence. Mdivi-1, a specific Drp1 inhibitor, was used to elucidate the role of Drp1 in mitochondrial dysfunction. Our findings showed that P. gingivalis infection induced mitochondrial fragmentation, increased the mtROS levels, and decreased the MMP and ATP concentration in vascular endothelial cells. We observed upregulation of Drp1 (Ser616) phosphorylation and translocation of Drp1 to mitochondria. Mdivi-1 blocked the mitochondrial fragmentation and dysfunction induced by P. gingivalis. Collectively, these results revealed that P. gingivalis infection promoted mitochondrial fragmentation and dysfunction, which was dependent on Drp1. Mitochondrial dysfunction may represent the mechanism by which P. gingivalis exacerbates atherosclerotic lesions.
Endothelial Cells ; Mitochondria ; Mitochondrial Dynamics ; Porphyromonas gingivalis