BACKGROUND:Exercise as a form of active rehabilitation can improve the dysfunction caused by peripheral nerve injury,and different exercise modalities target different lesion sites and recovery mechanisms. OBJECTIVE:To comprehensively analyze the application and mechanisms of different exercise modalities in functional recovery from peripheral nerve injury. METHODS:A computerized search was conducted in PubMed and CNKI databases for relevant literature published before January 2024.The search terms used were"peripheral nerve injury,spinal cord,exercise,cerebral cortex,muscle atrophy,mirror therapy,blood flow restriction training"in both English and Chinese.Finally,77 articles were included for review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Peripheral nerve injury can cause systemic pathological changes such as skeletal muscle atrophy,corresponding spinal cord segmental lesions,and sensorimotor cortex remodeling.Aerobic exercise can improve dysfunction by enhancing the immune response,promoting glial cell polarization,and promoting the release of nerve growth factor.Blood flow restriction exercise can regulate the secretion of muscle growth factor,promote muscle growth and enhance muscle strength.Mirror movement has a good effect in activating the cerebral cortex and reducing cortical remodeling.Different exercise modalities have potential benefits in functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury;however,there are still some problems and challenges,such as the choice of exercise modalities,the control of exercise intensity and frequency,and the detailed analysis of mechanisms.

[Objective] To conduct a retrospective statistical comparison of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) test values in blood donors prior to blood collection, aiming to analyze the objective characteristics of the population with elevated ALT levels (ALT>50 U/L) and provide reference data for adjusting the screening eligibility threshold for ALT. [Methods] The preliminary ALT screening data of 30 341 blood donor samples collected prior to blood donation from three smart blood donation sites at the Shenzhen Blood Center between 2022 and 2023 were extracted and compared with data from a health examination department of a tertiary hospital in Shenzhen (representing the general population, n=24 906). Both datasets were categorized and statistically described. A retrospective analysis was conducted to examine the associations between ALT test results and factors such as donors' gender, age, ethnicity, donation site, donation season, and frequency of blood donation. [Results] The ALT levels in both blood donors and the general population were non-normally distributed. The 95th percentile of ALT values was calculated as 61.4 U/L (male: 67.8 U/L, female: 39.3 U/L) for blood donors and 58.1 U/L (male: 63.7 U/L, female: 51.2 U/L) for the general population. The non-compliance rates (ALT>50 U/L) were 7.65% (2 321/30 341) in blood donors and 7.08% (1 763/24 906) in the general population. There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the ALT failure rate among blood donors based on gender, age, and donation site, but no significant differences (P>0.05) during the blood donation season. There was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) in the positive rates of four serological markers (HBsAg, anti HCV, HIV Ag/Ab, anti TP) for blood screening pathogens between ALT unqualified and qualified individuals (2.05% vs 1.5%). If the ALT qualification threshold was raised from 50 U/L to 90 U/L, the non qualification rates of male and female blood donors would decrease from 9.82% (2 074/21 125) to 2.23% (471/21 125) and from 2.70% (249/9 216) to 0.75% (69/9 216), respectively. Among the 154 blood donors who donated blood more than 3 times, 88.31% of the 248 ALT test results were in the range of 50-90 U/L. Among them, 9 cases had ALT>130 U/L, and ALT was converted to qualified in subsequent blood donations. [Conclusion] There are differences in the ALT failure rate among blood donors of different genders and ages, and different blood donation sites and operators can also affect the ALT detection values of blood donors. The vast majority of blood donors with ALT failure are caused by transient and non pathological factors. With the widespread use of blood virus nucleic acid testing, appropriately increasing the ALT qualification threshold for blood donors can expand the qualified population and alleviate the shortage of blood sources, and the risk of blood safety will not increase.

Compared with conventional transdermal drug delivery systems, dissolving microneedles significantly enhance drug bioavailability by penetrating the stratum corneum barrier and achieving intradermal drug delivery. In order to improve the transdermal bioavailability of dexmedetomidine hydrochloride, in this study, a novel microneedle delivery system was developed for dexmedetomidine hydrochloride based on 3D printing combined with micro-molding. By systematically optimizing the microneedle geometrical parameters, array arrangement, and preparation process parameters, we determined the optimal ratio of drug-carrying matrix as 15% PVP (polyvinyl pyrrolidone) K90. The microneedles exhibited significant drug loading gradients, with mean content of (209.99±27.56) μg/patch, (405.31±30.31) μg/patch, and (621.61±34.43) μg/patch. They showed a regular pyramidal structure under SEM and handheld electron microscopy, and their mechanical strength allowed effective penetration into the stratum corneum. The surface contact angles were all < 90°, indicating excellent hydrophilicity. The microneedles dissolved completely within 10 min after skin insertion, achieving a cumulative release rate of 90% (Higuchi model, r=0.996) during 2 hours of in vitro transdermal permeation. The cytotoxicity test and hemolysis test verified good biocompatibility. Pharmacodynamic evaluation showed that the microneedle group demonstrated pain-relieving effect within 15 min, with the pain threshold at the time point of 60 min being 3 times that in the transdermal cream group. The microneedle system developed in this study not only offers an efficient drug delivery option for patients but also establishes an innovative platform for rapid percutaneous delivery of hydrophilic drugs, demonstrating significant potential in perioperative pain management.
Dexmedetomidine/pharmacokinetics* ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Needles ; Drug Delivery Systems/methods* ; Administration, Cutaneous ; Animals ; Microinjections/instrumentation* ; Skin Absorption ; Skin/metabolism*

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a major global health challenge, often foreshadowing poor patient outcomes. The C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) serves as a pivotal biomarker, demonstrating a strong correlation with adverse outcomes in cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study sought to examine the correlation between CAR and the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with CKD stages 3-5. METHODS: This study utilized data of CKD patients from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2010, with follow-up to December 31, 2019. The optimal CAR cutoff value was identified utilizing the method of maximally selected rank statistics. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model, restricted cubic splines (RCS) model, and subgroup analysis were employed to assess the association between CAR and mortality among CKD patients. RESULTS: During a median (with interquartile range) follow-up period of 115 (112,117) months among 2,841 CKD individuals, 1,893 deaths were observed, including 692 deaths due to CVD events. Based on the RCS analysis, a non-linear correlation was observed between CAR and mortality. Using 0.3 as the optimal CAR cutoff value, the cohort was divided into high and low groups. In the fully adjusted model, CKD patients with high CAR values exhibited an elevated risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.28-1.83, P < 0.001) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.08-2.02, P = 0.014). Compared to the population aged >65 years (HR 1.32, 95% CI 0.99-1.76, P = 0.064), the risk of cardiovascular mortality was significantly higher in those aged ≤65 years (HR 2.19, 95% CI 1.18-4.09, P = 0.014) with elevated CAR levels. CONCLUSIONS A notable correlation exists between the elevation of CAR and increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, suggesting its potential as an independent indicator for evaluating the prognosis of patients with CKD stages 3-5.
Humans ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/epidemiology* ; Cardiovascular Diseases/blood* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; C-Reactive Protein/metabolism* ; Aged ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Nutrition Surveys ; Adult ; United States/epidemiology* ; Serum Albumin/analysis*

BACKGROUND:Cervical disc degeneration is a common degenerative disease,and inflammatory proteins play an important role in cervical disc degeneration,but the specific mechanisms involved remain to be thoroughly investigated.OBJECTIVE:Using the Mendelian randomization method to assess the potential causal relationship between 91 inflammatory proteins and cervical disc degeneration.METHODS:Genome-wide association analysis statistics for 91 inflammatory proteins(from GCST90274758 to GCST90274848)were obtained from the Genome-Wide Association Analysis Catalog of publicly available genome-wide association analysis data and genome-wide association analysis data for cervical disc degeneration from the Finngen database(finngen_R10_M13_CERVICDISCV).Inverse variance weighting,MR-Egger regression,weighted median,weighted modeling,and simple modeling were used to investigate the causal relationship between inflammatory proteins and cervical disc degeneration.Sensitivity analyses were performed to test whether the results of the Mendelian randomization analysis were reliable,and then the inverse Mendelian randomization analysis was performed in the same way.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The results of the forward analysis showed that a total of six inflammatory proteins were significantly and causally associated with cervical disc degeneration,of which glial cell lineage-derived neurotrophic factor(odds ratio(OR)=1.095,95%confidence interval(CI):1.012-1.184,P=0.023),interleukin 4(OR=1.094,95%CI:1.002-1.194,P=0.045)and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 levels(OR=1.062,95%CI:1.001-1.127,P=0.048)showed a direct positive causal association with the risk of cervical disc degeneration;interleukin 17C(OR=0.906,95%CI:0.839-0.979,P=0.013),interleukin 18(OR=0.924,95%CI:0.866-0.986,P=0.017)and interleukin 2 levels(OR=0.894,95%CI:0.821-0.973,P=0.010)showed a direct negative causal association with the risk of cervical disc degeneration.The results of the inverse analysis showed that when cervical disc degeneration was used as exposure data,there was no significant causal relationship with any of the 91 inflammatory proteins.The results of the sensitivity analysis showed that the Cochran's Q test for the two-way Mendelian randomization,the MR-Egger regression method,and the MR-PRESSO results had P values greater than 0.05,indicating that there was no significant heterogeneity or multiplicity in the analysis of the causal effect between inflammatory proteins and cervical disc degeneration.To conclude,there may be a relatively significant potential causal relationship between glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor,interleukin 4,monocyte chemotactic protein-1,interleukin 17C levels,interleukin 18,and interleukin 2 levels and cervical disc degeneration,which provides valuable clues for research on the potential mechanisms of cervical disc degeneration as well as early prevention and drug treatment of cervical disc degeneration.

Hot melt extrusion(HME)technology employs thermodynamic and kinetic principles to mix pharmaceutical polymers with crystalline drugs at high temperatures and extrude them,embedding drug molecules within the polymer matrix to form solid dispersions.Due to its solvent-free nature,capability for one-step processing,and support for continuous operation,HME has garnered significant attention in the pharmaceutical industry in recent years.This article introduced the basic principles and development history of HME technology and its marketed drugs.It reviewed the research progress of HME technology in improving drug solubility,masking taste,controlled release,targeted release,oral dispersible films,implant formulations,semi-solid formulations,and 3D printed formulations.Additionally,the article summarized the advantages and limitations of HME technology and provided an outlook on its future development.

Atrial fibrillation(AF)is one of the most common clinical arrhythmias and a significant risk factor for thromboembolism.The left atrial appendage(LAA)is the primary site of thrombus formation in AF patients.Recent studies have explored the mechanisms of LAA thrombosis from multiple dimensions,including anatomical structure(LAA morphology and architecture),functional indicators(hemodynamic alterations),pathophysiological mechanisms(endothelial injury,inflammatory activation),systemic diseases(renal dysfunction)and genetic factors(gene polymorphisms),providing critical evidence for precise clinical anticoagulation.This article systematically reviews the latest research advances in the mechanisms of LAA thrombosis in AF patients,aiming to offer theoretical support for the accurate assessment of thromboembolic risk and the formulation of individualized anticoagulation strategies.Additionally,it lays the foundation for exploring the intrinsic relationship and mechanisms between LAA hemodynamics and heart failure as well as thromboembolic events.

Objective:To investigate the effects of a visual feedback electromyography-driven exoskeleton on patients with hand injuries and to compare its efficacy with conventional rehabilitation treatment.Method:Patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups,with 15 patients in the experimental group and 15 in the control group.The control group underwent a 4-week con-ventional rehabilitation program,which included occupational therapy,muscle strength training,and range of motion exercises.The experimental group received the same conventional rehabilitation alongside training with the visual feedback electro-myography-driven exoskeleton.All participants were evaluated for grip strength,pinch strength,Purdue Pegboard results,and DASH questionnaire scores before and after treatment.Statistical analyses were performed to compare intra-group and inter-group differences.Result:After 4 weeks of rehabilitation,both groups showed significant differences in grip strength,pinch strength,Purdue Pegboard scores,and DASH questionnaire scores compared to baseline(P＜0.05).Between-group comparisons showed no significant difference in the post-treatment grip weight ratio(P＞0.05),while all other indicators demonstrated significant differences(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Following 4 weeks of rehabilitation,both groups showed improvements in muscle strength,hand dex-terity,and activities of daily living in the upper limbs.However,the functional level of patients in the experimen-tal group was superior to that of the control group,indicating that task-oriented rehabilitation using a visual feed-back electromyography-driven exoskeleton significantly promotes functional recovery in patients with hand trauma.

BACKGROUND:Peripheral nerve injuries can cause severe functional disabilities in patients,and long-segment nerve defects often fail to regenerate spontaneously.In recent years,tissue engineering techniques have gradually been applied to the repair of long-segment nerve injuries,yet research hotspots and development trends are unclear.OBJECTIVE:To analyze the research hotspots and trends in the field of peripheral nerve tissue engineering over the past 20 years using bibliometric software.METHODS:CiteSpace 6.2R6 software was employed to conduct highly cited analysis and keyword analysis on peripheral nerve tissue engineering literature published from 2004 to 2024 in the Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI)databases.The keyword analysis encompasses keyword co-occurrence analysis,keyword clustering analysis,keyword timeline analysis,and keyword emergence analysis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 2 961 articles from the Web of Science database and 1171 articles from the CNKI database were included.The number of publications in the Web of Science database showed fluctuations but exhibited an overall increasing trend year by year,while the publication volume in the CNKI database remained relatively stable annually.Most of the top ten most cited articles in the Web of Science database were review articles.The results of the keyword analysis from Web of Science and CNKI databases indicated that the most studied nerve tissue engineering materials over the past 20 years include silk fibroin,collagen,chitosan,polycaprolactone,polylactic acid,and graphene.The biochemical cues investigated in these materials include olfactory ensheathing cells,Schwann cells,stem cells,and nerve growth factors.The most commonly employed external physical factor is electrical stimulation applied to the materials.Among various tissue engineering techniques,electrospinning technology and 3D printing technology have been the most extensively researched.

Uncontrolled hemorrhage is the leading cause of potentially survivable combat casualty death,dominated by non-compressible hemorrhage in the torso and junctional areas.Rapid hemostasis using war trauma dressings is the mainstay of treatment for such casualties.The article reviews the research progress of novel hemostatic dressings for war trauma,including novel improved dressings,multifunctional dressings,electrospinning wound dressings,and smart dressings in order to provide references for the research on war trauma dressings.