Artificial intelligence-enhanced brain-computer interfaces (BCI) are expected to significantly improve the performance of traditional BCIs in multiple aspects, including usability, user experience, and user satisfaction, particularly in terms of intelligence. However, such AI-integrated or AI-based BCI systems may introduce new ethical issues. This paper first evaluated the potential of AI technology, especially deep learning, in enhancing the performance of BCI systems, including improving decoding accuracy, information transfer rate, real-time performance, and adaptability. Building on this, it was considered that AI-enhanced BCI systems might introduce new or more severe ethical issues compared to traditional BCI systems. These include the possibility of making users' intentions and behaviors more predictable and manipulable, as well as the increased likelihood of technological abuse. The discussion also addressed measures to mitigate the ethical risks associated with these issues. It is hoped that this paper will promote a deeper understanding and reflection on the ethical risks and corresponding regulations of AI-enhanced BCIs.
Brain-Computer Interfaces/ethics* ; Artificial Intelligence/ethics* ; Humans ; Deep Learning ; User-Computer Interface ; Electroencephalography

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with radiolabeled SSTR2 agonists is a treatment option that is highly effective in controlling metastatic and progressive neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Previous studies have shown that an SSTR2 agonist combined with albumin binding moiety Evans blue (denoted as ¹⁷⁷Lu-EB-TATE) is characterized by a higher tumor uptake and residence time in preclinical models and in patients with metastatic NETs. This study aimed to enhance the in vivo stability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of ¹⁷⁷Lu-EB-TATE by replacing the maleimide-thiol group with a polyethylene glycol chain, resulting in a novel EB conjugated SSTR2-targeting radiopharmaceutical, ¹⁷⁷Lu-LNC1010, for PRRT. In preclinical studies, ¹⁷⁷Lu-LNC1010 exhibited good stability and SSTR2-binding affinity in AR42J tumor cells and enhanced uptake and prolonged retention in AR42J tumor xenografts. Thereafter, we presented the first-in-human dose escalation study of ¹⁷⁷Lu-LNC1010 in patients with advanced/metastatic NETs. ¹⁷⁷Lu-LNC1010 was well-tolerated by all patients, with minor adverse effects, and exhibited significant uptake and prolonged retention in tumor lesions, with higher tumor radiation doses than those of ¹⁷⁷Lu-EB-TATE. Preliminary PRRT efficacy results showed an 83% disease control rate and a 42% overall response rate after two ¹⁷⁷Lu-LNC1010 treatment cycles. These encouraging findings warrant further investigations through multicenter, prospective, and randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE To explore the main factors influencing the blood concentration of duloxetine， and provide a scientific basis for the individualized use of duloxetine. METHODS Retrospective analysis was conducted on 434 inpatients with depressive disorders at the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University， who were treated with duloxetine and underwent blood concentration monitoring between January 2022 and April 2024. The study examined the impact of various factors， including gender， age， body mass index （BMI）， gene phenotypes， combined medication， drug type （original/generic）， and genotyping results of gene single nucleotide polymorphism loci， on blood concentration and the concentration-to-dose （C/D） after dose adjustment. RESULTS The blood concentration of duloxetine was 76.65 （45.57， 130.31） ng/mL， and C/D was 0.96 （0.63， 1.60） ng·d/（mL·mg）. The blood concentration of duloxetine was positively correlated with the daily dose of administration （R2＝0.253 7， P＜0.001）. Blood concentration of duloxetine in 38.94% of patients exceeded the recommended range specified in the guidelines. Gender， age， BMI， combined use of CYP2D6 enzyme inhibitors， and CYP2D6 and CYP1A2 phenotypes had significant effects on C/D of duloxetine （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS The patient’s age， gender， BMI， combined medication， and genetic phenotypes are closely related to the blood concentration of duloxetine.

The paper reports a 32-year-old female acute myeloid leukemia patient who developed graft-versus-host disease after paternal hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, which subsequently led to renal thrombotic microangiopathy. She subsequently required a kidney transplant from the same donor 5 years later due to renal failure. Considering that both the bone marrow and kidney were from the same donor and the recovery of renal function was favorable, immunosuppressive therapy was discontinued after a short course of anti-rejection treatment, with maintained stable kidney function. This case suggests that under the condition of high chimerism, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and kidney transplantation from the same donor can achieve immune tolerance, potentially improving solid organ transplantation success rate. The findings provide a novel therapeutic approach for solid organ transplantation following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

We studied the genetic diversity and established the DNA molecular identify for Prunus mume with both ornamental and edible values, aiming to collect, identify, evaluate, and breed new varities of this plant and promote the upgrading of the P. mume industry chain in northern China. We employed 13 pairs of primers with good polymorphism, clear bands, and good repeatability to analyze the genetic diversity and establish the molecular identify of 68 germplasm accessions of P. mume with both ornamental and edible values from Xingtai, Hebei Province. We then employed the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means (UPGMA) to perform the cluster analysis based on genetic distance. After that, we analyzed the genetic structure of the 68 germplasm accessions based on a Bayesian model. The 13 pairs of SSR primers amplified a total of 124 alleles from 68 P. mume germplasm accessions, with the mean number of alleles (Na) of 9.538 5, the minor allele frequency (MAF) of 0.369 3, the mean number of effective alleles (Ne) of 4.483 5, and the mean Shannon genetic diversity index (I) of 1.712 4. The mean Nei's gene diversity index (H) of 0.763 7, the mean observed heterozygosity (Ho) of 0.719 5, the mean expected heterozygosity (He) of 0.769 3, the mean polymorphism information content (PIC) of 0.733 6, and the mean genetic similarity (GS) of 0.772 9 suggested that there were significant genetic differences and rich genetic diversity among the studied P. mume germplasm accessions. The cluster analysis revealed that the 68 accessions were classified into three groups, with the mean genetic distance of 0.622 6. The population structure analysis classified the germplasm accessions into two populations. According to the PIC of primers, we selected primers for combination and constructed the combination with the fewest primers required for germplasm differentiation of P. mume with both ornamental and edible values. This study provides a theoretical basis for the innovation and industrial upgrading of P. mume with both ornamental and edible values in gardening and the improvement of breeding efficiency.
Prunus/classification* ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics* ; Genetic Variation ; China ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; DNA, Plant/genetics* ; Alleles

Objective: To observe the effect of Xipayimaizibizi oral liquid (XP) in an overactive bladder (OAB) experimental rat model and to explore its pharmacological mechanisms. Methods: Network pharmacology was used to explore the potential mechanisms of action of XP. The rats underwent bladder outlet obstruction surgery and were administered the corresponding drug concentrations by gavage for 4 weeks. The study observed the body weight, water intake, bladder and kidney indices (to evaluate their general status), urination behavior pattern (to observe frequency and urgency), and urodynamics (to measure bladder parameters). Hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichome staining were used to observe changes in the bladder structure. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the levels of nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and acetylcholine in the urine. The key targets involved in these mechanisms were validated using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and western blot in vivo/vitro experiments. Result: Network pharmacological analysis predicted that XP may alleviate OAB by affecting the cholinergic synapse and calcium signaling pathways. XP treatment significantly reduced the bladder index, improved urine behavior and urodynamic parameters, decreased the neurotransmitters in urine, and reduced the thickness of the bladder wall and collagen ratio. These results indicate that XP can alleviate OAB symptoms and improve the bladder structure. In vivo/vitro experiments further demonstrated that XP can inhibit targets, such as muscarinic acetylcholine receptor 2, and participate in cholinergic synapses to further regulate the parasympathetic nervous system. It can also reduce the overexpression of Ca2+ caused by agonists, inhibit targets such as transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1, and participate in calcium signaling pathways to maintain Ca2+ homeostasis. Conclusion These results suggest that XP inhibited bladder overactivity by maintaining Ca2+ homeostasis and regulating the parasympathetic nervous system.

Objective To prepare glucose transporter 1(Glut1)-targeted doxorubicin(DOX)-loaded liposomes(doxorubicin/polyphyllin H-liposomes,DOX/ppH-LPs)using polyphyllin H(ppH)instead of cholesterol as the liposomal membrane material,and to investigate their in vitro synergistic anti-tumor activity against non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods DOX/ppH-LPs were prepared using thin-film hydration,and the formulation was optimized by single-factor investigation.The optimized DOX/ppH-LPs were characterized for morphology,particle size,polydispersity index(PDI),and zeta potential with transmission electron microscopy(TEM)and dynamic light scattering(DLS).Drug loading DL%was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).The storage stability was evaluated by observing in PBS at 4℃for 7 d,and the serum stability was observed in DMEM containing 10%fetal bovine serum(FBS)at 37℃for 48 h.In vitro drug release was studied in PBS at pH 7.4 and pH 5.0 values,respectively.Human NSCLC A549 cells were subjected as the model,MTT assay was performed to detect the proliferation inhibition by DOX/ppH-LPs at different concentrations(0.5,5.0,15.0 μg/mL)and the control group(ppH+DOX/LPs,a physical mixture of free ppH and DOX-loaded liposomes).Fluorescence microscopy was used to observe cellular uptake of DOX/ppH-LPs and DOX/LPs(containing 5 μg/mL DOX)at 15 min and 2 h.Live/dead cell staining was applied to assess apoptosis/necrosis induced by formulations(15 μg/mL DOX)after 48 h incubation.Transwell assay was conducted to evaluate inhibitory effect on cell migration and invasion,and the targeting property and in vitro synergistic anti-NSCLC activity of DOX/ppH-LPs were then comprehensively evaluated.Results The optimal formulation of DOX/ppH-LPs was determined as hydration temperature at 50℃,6 mg DOX,2 mg ppH,and 24 mg lecithin.The prepared DOX/ppH-LPs were in spherical shape,uniform distribution,and at an average particle size of 145.13±22.14 nm,a PDI of 0.15±0.05,a zeta potential of-23.92±1.73 mV,and a DL of 10.13±0.71%for DOX and(1.22±0.21)%for ppH.DOX/ppH-LPs maintained stable particle size,PDI,and exhibited significantly unchanged zeta potential after storage in PBS at 4℃for 7 d or incubation in DMEM containing 10%FBS at 37℃for 48 h,demonstrating excellent physical and serum stability.Both liposomes showed slow release at pH 7.4 value,while drug release was significantly accelerated at pH 5.0 value(P<0.05),indicating pH-sensitive release characteristics.MTT assay revealed that DOX/ppH-LPs exerted significantly stronger cytotoxicity against A549 cells than the ppH+DOX/LPs control group(P<0.05).Compared with ppH+DOX/LPs,DOX/ppH-LPs showed remarkably enhanced cellular uptake in A549 cells(P<0.05),with more DOX localized in the nucleus.Live/dead cell staining showed that at the same DOX concentration(15 μg/mL),the proportion of apoptotic/necrotic cells induced by DOX/ppH-LPs was significantly higher than that of the DOX/LPs control group.Transwell assay demonstrated that there were significantly less cells migrating and invading through the membrane in the DOX/ppH-LPs group than the ppH+DOX/LPs group.Conclusion Glut1-targeted doxorubicin-loaded liposomes(DOX/ppH-LPs)constructed by substituting cholesterol with ppH can target NSCLC cells,significantly enhance the in vitro synergistic anti-NSCLC activity of DOX and ppH.

Investigated the mechanisms by which baicalein regulates nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)to ameliorate lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced sepsis-asso-ciated acute kidney injury(AKI)in mice.Sixty male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into six groups:control,model,low-dose baicalein(50 mg/kg),medium-dose baicalein(100 mg/kg),high-dose baicalein(200 mg/kg),and high-dose baicalein+brusatol(4 mg/kg).Baicalein was adminis-tered orally for 7 days as a preventative measure.Sepsis was induced via intraperitoneal injection of LPS.Murine sepsis score(MSS)was assessed within 12 hours post-induction.Serum creatinine(Scr),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),and interleukin-6(IL-6)were measured using an automatic biochemical analyzer and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays(ELISA),respectively.Histopathological changes in kidney tissues were ob-served via hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.Western blot analysis was employed to determine the protein expression levels of Nrf2,HO-1,caspase-8,TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 in kidney tissues.Additionally,total superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity in kidney tissues was assessed using com-mercially available kits.Compared to the model group,baicalein treatment significantly improved renal histopathological changes,alleviated cellular damage,and reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines(TNF-α,IL-1βand IL-6)(P＜0.01)and kidney injury markers(Scr and BUN)(P＜0.01).Moreover,baicalein treatment significantly increased the protein expression levels of Nrf2 and HO-1(P＜0.01)and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity.In conclusion,baicalein may pro-tect against LPS-induced sepsis-associated AK1 in mice by modulating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway,thereby attenuating oxidative stress,reducing inflammation,and disrupting the vicious cycle between inflammation and oxidative stress.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and genetic alterations of undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver (UESL).Methods:Three cases of UESL diagnosed in the Department of Pathology, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from 2020 to 2023 were retrospectively collected. The clinical, histomorphological, immunohistochemical, and genetic profiles were reviewed and analyzed.Results:The cohort comprised of three patients, including one male and two females, aged 7, 9, and 15 years, respectively. Tumor locations were in the right lobe of the liver in two cases, and in both the right and left lobes in one case. One case exhibited tumor rupture with hemorrhage. Gross examination revealed solid tumors in gray-red fleshy appearance, with areas of hemorrhage and necrosis. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of irregularly shaped spindle and polygonal cells arranged in bundles or sheets with varying density, scattered within a myxoid matrix containing giant tumor cells and eosinophilic globules. The tumor cells were positive for Vimentin, CD56, CD68, and bcl-2, with a Ki-67 index of 30%-80%. INI1 expression was retained, while p53 exhibited a mutant pattern. CKpan, CK7, CK19, EMA, HepPar-1, Arginase-1, AFP, CD34, S-100, Myogenin, and MyoD1 were negative. All three cases harbored TP53 missense mutations. Case 1 also showed MDM2 copy number amplification (class Ⅰ mutation), and case 2 exhibited a frameshift mutation in exon 10 of TSC2 (class Ⅱ mutation). Additionally, several class Ⅲ mutations were identified in all three cases. Germline testing for tumor-related genetic variants in case 2 revealed a missense mutation in exon 12 of DICER1, an in-frame insertion mutation in exon 8 of MSH2, and a missense mutation in exon 30 of TSC2.Conclusion:UESL is a rare malignant mesenchymal tumor of the liver, predominantly affecting children, with distinctive clinicopathological features and genetic alterations. TP53 mutations may play a key role in the pathogenesis of this tumor.

Objective:To analyze the efficacy and safety of a fully biodegradable occluder for the treatment of ventricular septal defects through percutaneous and transthoracic strategies.Methods:A case series study was conducted.The clinical data of 38 pediatric patients with a ventricular septal defect treated with a fully biodegradable occluder at Central China Fuwai Hospital from January 2023 to July 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.Among these patients, 15 received the percutaneous approach(percutaneous approach group) and the other 23 adopted the transthoracic approach(transthoracic approach group).The diagnosis was confirmed by transthoracic echocardiography before operation in all patients.The percutaneous approach was defined as establishing a venous-arterial track through X-ray and then placing an occluder under the guidance of transthoracic echocardiograph.The transthoracic approach was achieved by establishing a delivery track with a special hollow bougie through a small right subaxillary incision under the real-time guidance of esophageal ultrasound and then delivery and put an occluder.The clinical data of the patients, including general characteristics, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms and the biodegradable occluder system were collected and analyzed.Categorical variables were tested using the chi-square or Fisher′s exact test.Continuous variables were verified using the t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. Results:The patients were aged (5.7±3.9) years on average, with an average weight of 19.5(14.9, 25.9) kg.There were 39.5%(15 cases) of males among the patients included.The average size of the ventricular septal defect was 4.1(4.0, 5.0) mm.A simple perimembrane ventricular septal defect was detected in 29 patients (76.3%), concomitant membranous aneurysm in 4 patients (10.5%), an intracristal ventricular septal defect in 3 patients (7.9%), and a muscular ventricular septal defect in 2 patients (5.3%).Preoperative aortic and tricuspid valve regurgitations accounted for 5.3%(2/38) and 81.6%(31/38), respectively.The average age was (9.0±3.9) years in the percutaneous approach group and (3.6±1.9) years in the transthoracic approach group.In terms of the cardiac structure, the percutaneous approach group had smaller Z values of the left atrial anterior-to-posterior diameter (-0.5±0.6 vs.0.5±1.0, P<0.01) and the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (-0.5±1.1 vs.0.8±0.8, P<0.01), and a smaller ventricular septal defect [4.0(3.9, 4.2) mm vs.4.5(4.0, 5.5) mm, P=0.01] than the transthoracic approach group.Regarding the operation, the percutaneous approach group had a larger difference between the waist diameter of the selected occluder and the diameter of the ventricular septal defect [2.8(2.0, 3.0) mm vs.2.0(1.5, 2.5) mm, P=0.02], shorter operative time [(61.5±27.3) minutes vs.(91.5±31.4) minutes, P=0.01], and a shorter hospital stay [8(5, 9) days vs.12(9, 15) days, P<0.01] than the transthoracic approach group.Both groups achieved immediate occlusion postoperatively, with no residual shunts and no grade Ⅲ atrioventricular conduction block.Five new cases of bundle branch blocks and 1 case of trivial aortic valve regurgitation occurred in the transthoracic approach group. Conclusions:Both percutaneous and transthoracic approaches are safe and effective in interventional closure of ventricular septal defects, but the former is more applicable to slightly older or heavier patients with a smaller ventricular septal defect, who need a larger occluder.