BackgroundObstructive sleep apnea （OSA） represents a prevalent sleep disordered breathing condition characterized by complex pathophysiology. The arousal threshold （ArTH）， a core non-anatomical contributor to OSA pathogenesis， is intimately tied to the disease severity and clinical phenotypes. To date， research regarding factors associated with ArTH has yielded inconsistent findings， and ArTH profiles and disparities across populations with different genetic backgrounds are not fully elucidated. ObjectiveTo explore the differences of ArTH in OSA patients with different genetic backgrounds and analyze the key factors affecting ArTH， thereby providing evidence for understanding OSA pathophysiology and formulating targeted treatment regimens. MethodsA total of 285 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for OSA， as defined by the Multidisciplinary Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea， were retrospectively enrolled in this study. All participants underwent overnight polysomnography （PSG） at the Sleep Medicine Center of Inner Mongolia Mental Health Center from December 2022 to May 2024. Based on the study design， the cohort was stratified into two distinct genetic background subgroups （group A and group B）. Demographic and clinical characteristics， the Epworth Sleepiness Scale （ESS） score， and overnight PSG data were collected. The apnea hypopnea index （AHI）， the lowest pulse oxygen saturation （LSpO₂）， and fraction of hypopneas （F_Hypopneas） were utilized as surrogate indicators to estimate ArTH in OSA patients. The influencing factors of low ArTH were tested by binary Logistic regression analysis. ResultsAmong the 285 OSA patients， there were 227 cases （79.65%） in group A and 58 cases （20.35%） in group B. Comparisons between the two genetic background subgroups revealed no statistically significant differences in the proportion of low ArTH， ESS score， PSG parameters， and the three markers for low ArTH （AHI<30 events/h， LSpO₂>82.5%， F_Hypopneas>58.3%） （P>0.05）. Binary Logistic regression analysis identified sex （OR=2.421， 95% CI： 1.070–5.478）， BMI （OR=0.847， 95% CI： 0.770–0.932）， N1 sleep duration （OR=0.974， 95% CI： 0.963–0.985）， and hypertension （OR=0.348， 95% CI： 0.143–0.848） as independent factors associated with low ArTH in the total cohort. Stratified analysis by genetic backgrounds revealed that sex（OR=3.799， 95% CI： 1.389–10.392）， BMI（OR=0.819， 95% CI：0.723–0.929）， and N1 sleep duration（OR=0.973， 95% CI： 0.961–0.986） were independent factors of low ArTH in group A. In contrast， only N1 sleep duration （OR=0.951， 95% CI： 0.911–0.993） remained a significant factor in group B. ConclusionArthur may have conservative characteristics in patients with OSA with different genetic backgrounds， but the pathophysiological mechanism of OSA may have population heterogeneity. ［Funded by Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Natural Science Fundation Project （number， 2024QN08050）； Intra-institutional Scientific Research Project of Inner Mongolia Mental Health Center （number， 2022QNWN0010）］

Objective To explore the influences of transcranial direct current stimulation(tDCS)in combination with cognitive-motor dual task training(CMDT)on memory and executive function in patients suffering from post-stroke cognitive impairment.Methods A total of 75 stroke patients were randomly divided into the tDCS group,the CMDT group and the combined group,each consisting of 25 cases.All patients in the three groups received routine rehabilitation treatment.The tDCS group underwent tDCS stimulation of dorsolateral prefrontal lobe(DLPFC)of the region,the CMDT group received CMDT and the combined group received CMDT on the basis of tDCS treatment.The fourth edition of the Wechsler Memory Scale(WMS-IV),Wisconsin Card Test(WCST),Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA)and Modified Barthel Index(MBI)were used to evaluate the overall cognitive function,memory,executive function,and daily living ability of the patients before and 4 weeks after treatment,respectively.Results Before treatment,there were no significant differences in the evaluation indices between the three groups(P＞0.05).After 4 weeks of treatment,the scores of WCST,WMS-IV,MoCA and MBI in the three groups were improved compared with those before the treatment(P＜0.05),and the combined group was significantly superior to the tDCS group and the CMDT group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The combination of tDCS and CMDT can improve the cognitive function after stroke,and at the same time exert a synergistic effect on memory and executive function.

Objective To explore the characteristics of fluid flow within loaded osteons under different boundary conditions.Methods The COMSOL Multiphysics software was used to establish a three-dimensional(3D)finite element model of osteons with different boundary conditions,and the variation rules of pore pressure and flow velocity of osteons under different inner wall pulsating blood pressures and outer wall elastic constraint conditions were analyzed.Results As the pulsatile blood pressure inside the osteon increased from 0 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)to 300 mmHg,the peak pore pressure within the osteon correspondingly increased from 26 kPa to 68 kPa.As the elastic constraint on the outer wall of osteons changed from being completely elastic to completely constrained,the peak pore pressure within osteons increased from 15 kPa to 26 kPa,and the peak flow velocity increased from 0.04 um/s to 0.07 um/s.Conclusions This study reveals the influence laws of changes in boundary conditions such as the pulsatile blood pressure on the inner wall and the elastic constraint on the outer wall of osteons on fluid flow characteristics within loaded osteons.These findings are conducive to a deeper understanding of the mechanical response mechanisms of bone tissues in both physiological and pathological states,and provide an important theoretical basrs for further researches on bone mechanotransduction.

Objective To explore the characteristics of fluid flow within loaded osteons under different boundary conditions.Methods The COMSOL Multiphysics software was used to establish a three-dimensional(3D)finite element model of osteons with different boundary conditions,and the variation rules of pore pressure and flow velocity of osteons under different inner wall pulsating blood pressures and outer wall elastic constraint conditions were analyzed.Results As the pulsatile blood pressure inside the osteon increased from 0 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)to 300 mmHg,the peak pore pressure within the osteon correspondingly increased from 26 kPa to 68 kPa.As the elastic constraint on the outer wall of osteons changed from being completely elastic to completely constrained,the peak pore pressure within osteons increased from 15 kPa to 26 kPa,and the peak flow velocity increased from 0.04 um/s to 0.07 um/s.Conclusions This study reveals the influence laws of changes in boundary conditions such as the pulsatile blood pressure on the inner wall and the elastic constraint on the outer wall of osteons on fluid flow characteristics within loaded osteons.These findings are conducive to a deeper understanding of the mechanical response mechanisms of bone tissues in both physiological and pathological states,and provide an important theoretical basrs for further researches on bone mechanotransduction.

The aim of this study is to establish a rapid,efficient,and sensitive method for detecting the infectious laryngotracheitis virus(ILTV).The DNA of ILTV was extracted and used as a tem-plate to develop a recombinant enzyme-mediated isothermal amplification(RAA)fluorescence de-tection method for ILTV through optimization of conditions,sensitivity analysis,and repeatability assessment.Additionally,the nucleic acids of avian influenza virus(AIV),IBV,and Newcastle dis-ease virus(NDV)were detected to verify the specificity of this method.Finally,this method was applied to analyze 59 clinical samples collected from multiple large-scale chicken farms in Hebei Province,and the results were compared with those obtained from real-time fluorescence quantifi-cation(qPCR)and PCR methods according to national standards.The results showed that the RAA detection method established in this study had a reaction system of 25.0 μL buffer,2.1 μL primer,0.6 μL probe,5.0 μL magnesium acetate,and 5.0 μL template.The reaction temperature was 39 ℃ and the amplification time was within 20 minutes.The sensitivity of this method was 101 copies/μL,and the specificity detection was 100％.Testing of 59 clinical samples showed that 17 were detected positive by both RAA fluorescence and qPCR,and 12 were detected by PCR,and the detection rate of RAA(fluorescence)was consistent with real-time fluorescence quantification and qPCR,which was higher than that of the PCR assay.The research results indicate that the RAA fluorescence method has a short detection time,good specificity and sensitivity,and can be used for rapid detection of ILTV.

Objective To assess the accuracy and consistency of point-of-care testing(POCT)technology in detecting D-dimer(DDI),Procalcitonin(PCT),and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)in whole blood samples,as well as to validate its feasibility for rapid clinical diagnosis.Methods From July 8 to August 22,2022,a total of 104 paired DDI whole blood and plasma samples,496 paired PCT whole blood and serum samples,and 77 paired NT-proBNP whole blood and serum samples were collected.The consistency and accuracy of test results between whole blood and plasma/serum samples were assessed using the Mann-Whitney U test,regression analysis,relative sensitivity,relative specificity,Youden's index,and Kappa value.Results The test results of DDI,PCT,and NT-proBNP in whole blood and plasma/serum samples demonstrated excellent consistency,with correlation coefficients of r2=0.951 2,r2=0.942 8,and r2=0.991 6,respectively,and all P-values exceeding 0.05.At the medical decision levels,for DDI(0.55 μg/mL),the relative sensitivity,rela-tive specificity,Youden index,and Kappa value were 94.3%,94.1%,0.88,and 0.87,respectively.For PCT(0.5 ng/mL and 2.0 ng/mL),the relative sensitivities were 97.4%and 89.0%,the relative specificities were 95.8%and 98.3%,the Youden indices were 0.93 and 0.87,and the Kappa values were 0.93 and 0.89,respectively.For NT-proBNP(125 pg/mL),the relative sensitivity was 94.1%,the relative specificity was 100%,the Youden index was 0.94,and the Kappa value was 0.87.These findings confirm the high accuracy of whole blood sample testing and the strong concordance between the two methods.Conclusions This study confirmed the efficacy of POCT technology for detecting DDI,PCT,and NT-proBNP in whole blood samples.The results showed a high level of consistency compared to traditional plasma/serum methods,thereby reinforcing the clinical applicability of POCT for rapid diagnosis.

Objective:To investigate the current situation of nuclear medicine practices, determine the number of nuclear medicine staff, conduct internal exposure monitoring and dose estimation for nuclear mecidine staff engaged in 131I treatment in Zhejiang province. Methods:A survey was conducted over all the 22 hospitals involved in 131I treatment in the province. The 131I activity in thyroid of 96 stafff in 131I treatment workplaces were measured by means of direct method. At the same time, the effective doses from internal exposure were estimated and the influencing factors were analyzed. Results:131I activity in thyroids was found to be above the detection limit for 49 staff (51.04%) in nineteen hospitals. The maximum value of 131I activity was 629.18 Bq. There was no statistically significant difference in 131I detection rate in thyroid of 131I treatment staff between different positions, different genders and different levels of hospitals ( P>0.05). Comparisons of 131I activity of thyroid of nuclear medicine staff for theatment of thyroid cancers had shown that the highest was for nurses, followed by technicians and doctors, and the lowest was for cleaning staff ( H=6.39, P<0.05). The estimated committed effective dose to the nuclear medicine staff ranged from 0.05 to 2.37 mSv, with those below 1 mSv accounting for 93.88% of the total. Logistic regression analysis showed that nursing position was the risk factor contributing to the committed effective dose ( OR=2.805, 95% CI 1.076-7.314). Conclusions:In Zhejiang province, the committed effective dose to thyroid of nuclear medicine staff from 131I internal exposure was not in excess of the dose limit. However, the staff performing iodine therapy still need to strengthen protection against internal exposure and take scientific and effective protective measures to reduce the risk of health hazards from internal exposure.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical equivalence between a domestic calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment and the originator product in the treatment of stable plaque psoriasis.Methods:A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, three-arm, parallel-group, active- and placebo-controlled study was conducted, and 449 patients aged 18 - 65 years with stable plaque psoriasis were enrolled from 25 hospitals (such as the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University). Eligible patients had a baseline physician's global assessment (PGA) score of ≥ 3 points, baseline body surface area (BSA) involvement of 5% - 30%, and a target lesion psoriasis area and severity index (TL-PASI) for plaque elevation of ≥ 3 points. Participants were randomly assigned in a 2:2:1 ratio to the test group ( n = 179), reference group ( n = 180), and placebo group ( n = 90), and applied the domestic calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment, originator product, and ointment base respectively, once daily in the evening for 4 weeks. Efficacy and safety were assessed at weeks 1, 2, and 4. The primary efficacy endpoints were the treatment success rates and clinical success rates in each group at week 4. The per-protocol set (PPS) was used for the primary efficacy analysis, and the intention-to-treat (ITT) set for supplementary efficacy analysis. Equivalence between the test and reference preparations was tested using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel method adjusted for randomization strata. Superiority of the test and reference preparations over the placebo was also tested. Measurement data were compared among the 3 groups using analysis of variance or non-parametric tests, while treatment success rates, clinical success rates, and incidence rates of adverse reactions were compared using the chi-square test. Results:The ITT, PPS, and safety sets included 447, 420, and 448 patients, respectively. In the ITT set, patients were aged 43.6 ± 12.8 years, including 320 (71.6%) males and 127 (28.4%) females, and the disease duration was 11.21 ± 9.05 years; 316 (70.7%) had a PGA score of 3 points and 131 (29.3%) had a PGA score of 4 - 5 points. No significant differences in the baseline characteristics (including age, sex, disease duration and disease severity) were observed among the 3 groups (all P > 0.05). Based on the PPS analysis, the treatment success rates were 57.9% (99/171) in the test group, 50.3% (86/171) in the reference group, and 7.7% (6/78) in the placebo group, and the clinical success rates were 57.9% (99/171), 50.3% (86/171), and 10.3% (8/78), respectively; both the test and reference groups were superior to the placebo group in both treatment and clinical success rates (all P < 0.001) ; the rate differences for treatment success (90% confidence interval [ CI]: -1.3% - 16.4%) and clinical success (90% CI: -1.3% - 16.3%) between the test and reference groups were entirely within the pre-defined equivalence margin (-20% - 20%). Subgroup analyses by baseline PGA scores: for patients with a baseline PGA score of 3 points, the treatment success rates in the test, reference, and placebo groups were 60.8% (73/120), 52.1% (62/119), and 11.1% (6/54), respectively, and the corresponding clinical success rates were 61.7% (74/120), 53.8% (64/119), and 13% (7/54), respectively; the test and reference groups did not differ significantly in treatment or clinical success rates (both P > 0.05), but both showed higher success rates than the placebo group (all P < 0.001) ; the results of statistical comparisons among the 3 groups in patients with a baseline PGA score of 4 - 5 points were consistent with those observed in patients with a baseline PGA score of 3 points. The percentage reductions in PGA and TL-PASI scores from baseline to weeks 1, 2, and 4 showed significant differences among the 3 groups, which were significantly higher in the test and reference groups than in the placebo group (all P < 0.001), but did not differ between the test and reference groups (all P > 0.05). The primary adverse reactions were local skin reactions, such as pruritus, pain, and erythema. The incidence rates of adverse reactions were 8.9% (16/179) in the test group, 7.3% (13/179) in the reference group, and 7.8% (7/90) in the placebo group, with no significant difference among the 3 groups ( P > 0.05) . Conclusions:The domestic calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate ointment demonstrated clinical equivalence to the originator product in the treatment of stable plaque psoriasis, and the two agents exhibited comparable efficacy for patients with varying degrees of disease severity, and were comparable in the speed and degree of clinical improvement, with similar favorable safety profiles.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a serious intracranial hemorrhage characterized by acute bleeding into the subarachnoid space. The effects of shikonin, a natural compound from the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, on oxidative stress and blood–brain barrier (BBB) injury in SAH was evaluated in this study. A rat model of SAH was established by endovascular perforation to mimic the rupture of intracranial aneurysms. Rats were then administered 25 mg/kg of shikonin or dimethylsulfoxide after surgery. Brain edema, SAH grade, and neurobehavioral scores were measured after 24 h of SAH to evaluate neurological impairment. Concentrations of the oxidative stress markers superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain cortex were determined using the corresponding commercially available assay kits. Evans blue staining was used to determine BBB permeability. Western blotting was used to quantify protein levels of tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1, Occludin, and Claudin-5. After modeling, the brain water content increased significantly whereas the neurobehavioral scores of rats with SAH decreased prominently. MDA levels increased and the levels of the antioxidant enzymes GSH and SOD decreased after SAH. These changes were reversed after shikonin administration. Shikonin treatment also inhibited Evans blue extravasation after SAH. Furthermore, reduction in the levels of tight junction proteins after SAH modeling was rescued after shikonin treatment. In conclusion, shikonin exerts a neuroprotective effect after SAH by mitigating BBB injury and inhibiting oxidative stress in the cerebral cortex.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a serious intracranial hemorrhage characterized by acute bleeding into the subarachnoid space. The effects of shikonin, a natural compound from the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, on oxidative stress and blood–brain barrier (BBB) injury in SAH was evaluated in this study. A rat model of SAH was established by endovascular perforation to mimic the rupture of intracranial aneurysms. Rats were then administered 25 mg/kg of shikonin or dimethylsulfoxide after surgery. Brain edema, SAH grade, and neurobehavioral scores were measured after 24 h of SAH to evaluate neurological impairment. Concentrations of the oxidative stress markers superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain cortex were determined using the corresponding commercially available assay kits. Evans blue staining was used to determine BBB permeability. Western blotting was used to quantify protein levels of tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1, Occludin, and Claudin-5. After modeling, the brain water content increased significantly whereas the neurobehavioral scores of rats with SAH decreased prominently. MDA levels increased and the levels of the antioxidant enzymes GSH and SOD decreased after SAH. These changes were reversed after shikonin administration. Shikonin treatment also inhibited Evans blue extravasation after SAH. Furthermore, reduction in the levels of tight junction proteins after SAH modeling was rescued after shikonin treatment. In conclusion, shikonin exerts a neuroprotective effect after SAH by mitigating BBB injury and inhibiting oxidative stress in the cerebral cortex.