The neurophysiological mechanisms by which exercise improves cognitive function have not been fully elucidated. A comprehensive and systematic review of current domestic and international neurophysiological evidence on exercise improving cognitive function was conducted from multiple perspectives. At the molecular level, exercise promotes nerve cell regeneration and synaptogenesis and maintains cellular development and homeostasis through the modulation of a variety of neurotrophic factors, receptor activity, neuropeptides, and monoamine neurotransmitters, and by decreasing the levels of inflammatory factors and other modulators of neuroplasticity. At the cellular level, exercise enhances neural activation and control and improves brain structure through nerve regeneration, synaptogenesis, improved glial cell function and angiogenesis. At the structural level of the brain, exercise promotes cognitive function by affecting white and gray matter volumes, neural activation and brain region connectivity, as well as increasing cerebral blood flow. This review elucidates how exercise improves the internal environment at the molecular level, promotes cell regeneration and functional differentiation, and enhances the brain structure and neural efficiency. It provides a comprehensive, multi-dimensional explanation of the neurophysiological mechanisms through which exercise promotes cognitive function.
Animals ; Humans ; Brain/physiology* ; Cognition/physiology* ; Exercise/physiology* ; Nerve Regeneration/physiology* ; Neuronal Plasticity/physiology*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the dynamic changes of glucocorticoid (GC) dose and the feasibility of GC discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under the background of Chinese medicine (CM). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 1,196 RA patients enrolled in the China Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry of Patients with Chinese Medicine (CERTAIN) from September 1, 2019 to December 4, 2023, who initiated GC therapy. Participants were divided into the Western medicine (WM) and integrative medicine (IM, combination of CM and WM) groups based on medication regimen. Follow-up was performed at least every 3 months to assess dynamic changes in GC dose. Changes in GC dose were analyzed by generalized estimator equation, the probability of GC discontinuation was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curve, and predictors of GC discontinuation were analyzed by Cox regression. Patients with <12 months of follow-up were excluded for the sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: Among 1,196 patients (85.4% female; median age 56.4 years), 880 (73.6%) received IM. Over a median 12-month follow-up, 34.3% (410 cases) discontinued GC, with significantly higher rates in the IM group (40.8% vs. 16.1% in WM; P<0.05). GC dose declined progressively, with IM patients demonstrating faster reductions (median 3.75 mg vs. 5.00 mg in WM at 12 months; P<0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age <60 years [P<0.001, hazard ratios (HR)=2.142, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.523-3.012], IM therapy (P=0.001, HR=2.175, 95% CI: 1.369-3.456), baseline GC dose ⩽7.5 mg (P=0.003, HR=1.637, 95% CI: 1.177-2.275), and absence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs use (P=0.001, HR=2.546, 95% CI: 1.432-4.527) as significant predictors of GC discontinuation. Sensitivity analysis (545 cases) confirmed these findings. CONCLUSIONS RA patients receiving CM face difficulties in following guideline-recommended GC discontinuation protocols. IM can promote GC discontinuation and is a promising strategy to reduce GC dependency in RA management. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT05219214).
Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Glucocorticoids/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies

Depression, a prevalent mental disorder with significant socioeconomic burdens, underscores the urgent need for safe and effective non-pharmacological interventions. Recent advances in microbiome research have revealed the pivotal role of gut microbiota dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of depression. Concurrently, exercise, as a cost-effective and accessible intervention, has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in alleviating depressive symptoms. This comprehensive review synthesizes current evidence on the interplay among exercise, gut microbiota modulation, and depression, elucidating the mechanistic pathways through which exercise ameliorates depressive symptoms via the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis. Depression is characterized by gut microbiota alterations, including reduced alpha and beta diversity, depletion of beneficial taxa (e.g., Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Coprococcus), and overgrowth of pro-inflammatory and pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Morganella, Klebsiella, and Enterobacteriaceae). Metagenomic analyses reveal disrupted metabolic functions in depressive patients, such as diminished synthesis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), impaired tryptophan metabolism, and dysregulated bile acid conversion. For instance, Bifidobacterium longum deficiency correlates with reduced synthesis of neuroactive metabolites like homovanillic acid, while decreased Coprococcus abundance limits butyrate production, exacerbating neuroinflammation. Furthermore, elevated levels of indole derivatives from Clostridium species inhibit serotonin (5-HT) synthesis, contributing to depressive phenotypes. These dysbiotic profiles disrupt the MGB axis, triggering systemic inflammation, neurotransmitter imbalances, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity. Exercise exerts profound effects on gut microbiota composition, diversity, and metabolic activity. Longitudinal studies demonstrate that sustained aerobic exercise increases alpha diversity, enriches SCFA-producing genera (e.g., Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Roseburia, and Akkermansia), and suppresses pathobionts (e.g., Desulfovibrio and Streptococcus). For example, a meta-analysis of 25 trials involving 1 044 participants confirmed that exercise enhances microbial richness and restores the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, a biomarker of metabolic health. Notably, endurance training promotes Veillonella proliferation, which converts lactate into propionate, enhancing energy metabolism and delaying fatigue. Exercise also strengthens intestinal barrier integrity by upregulating tight junction proteins (e.g., ZO-1, occludin), thereby reducing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) translocation and systemic inflammation. However, excessive exercise may paradoxically diminish microbial diversity and exacerbate intestinal permeability, highlighting the importance of moderate intensity and duration. Exercise ameliorates depressive symptoms through multifaceted interactions with the gut microbiota, primarily via 4 interconnected pathways. First, exercise mitigates neuroinflammation by elevating anti-inflammatory SCFAs such as butyrate, which suppresses NF-κB signaling to attenuate microglial activation and oxidative stress in the hippocampus. Animal studies demonstrate that voluntary wheel running reduces hippocampal TNF‑α and IL-17 levels in stress-induced depression models, while fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from exercised mice reverses depressive behaviors by modulating the TLR4/NF‑κB pathway. Second, exercise regulates neurotransmitter dynamics by enriching GABA-producing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, thereby counteracting neuronal hyperexcitability. Aerobic exercise also enhances the abundance of Lactobacillus plantarum and Streptococcus thermophilus, which facilitate 5-HT and dopamine synthesis. Clinical trials reveal that 12 weeks of moderate exercise increases fecal Coprococcus and Blautia abundance, correlating with improved 5-HT bioavailability and reduced depression scores. Third, exercise normalizes HPA axis hyperactivity by reducing cortisol levels and restoring glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity. In rodent models, chronic stress-induced corticosterone elevation is reversed by probiotic supplementation (e.g., Lactobacillus), which enhances endocannabinoid signaling and hippocampal neurogenesis. Furthermore, exercise upregulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) via microbial metabolites like butyrate, promoting histone acetylation and synaptic plasticity. FMT experiments confirm that exercise-induced microbiota elevates prefrontal BDNF expression, reversing stress-induced neuronal atrophy. Fourth, exercise reshapes microbial metabolic crosstalk, diverting tryptophan metabolism toward 5-HT synthesis instead of neurotoxic kynurenine derivatives. Butyrate inhibits indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), a key enzyme in the kynurenine pathway linked to depression. Concurrently, exercise-induced Akkermansia enrichment enhances mucin production, fortifies the gut barrier, and reduces LPS-driven neuroinflammation. Collectively, these mechanisms underscore exercise as a potent modulator of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, offering a holistic approach to alleviating depression through microbial and neurophysiological synergy. Current evidence supports exercise as a potent adjunct therapy for depression, with personalized regimens (e.g., aerobic, resistance, or yoga) tailored to individual microbiota profiles. However, challenges remain in optimizing exercise prescriptions (intensity, duration, and type) and integrating them with probiotics, prebiotics, or FMT for synergistic effects. Future research should prioritize large-scale randomized controlled trials to validate causality, multi-omics approaches to decipher MGB axis dynamics, and mechanistic studies exploring microbial metabolites as therapeutic targets. The authors advocate for a paradigm shift toward microbiota-centric interventions, emphasizing the bidirectional relationship between physical activity and gut ecosystem resilience in mental health management. In conclusion, this review underscores exercise as a multifaceted modulator of the gut-brain axis, offering novel insights into non-pharmacological strategies for depression. By bridging microbial ecology, neuroimmunology, and exercise physiology, this work lays a foundation for precision medicine approaches targeting the gut microbiota to alleviate depressive disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To explore clinical efficacy of congenital brachymetatarsia with immediate metatarsal lengthening. METHODS: From March 2015 to December 2020, 7 patients with brachymetatarsia were treated, including 6 females and 1 male;aged range from 18 to 30 years old;there were 5 patients with metatarsal microsomia on one foot, 2 patients with metatarsal microsomia on the first and fourth right foot, and immediate extension of metatarsal microsomia on the first and fourth right foot;two patients were short metatarsal bones of both feet. The length of short metatarsal bone, length of normal metatarsal bone, distance of short metatarsal bone and healing of bone graft were observed before and 12 months after operation. American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores were used to evaluate clinical efficacy and observe complications. RESULTS: Seven patients were followed up for 12 to 24 months. All metatarsal bones were extended to satisfactory length and bone graft were healed completely. Metatarsal length and shortening distance were improved from 3.55 to 5.90 cm and 0.77 to 1.46 cm before operation to 4.31 to 6.87 cm and 0.04 to 0.57 cm at 12 months after operation. Postoperative X-ray of the affected foot at 12 months showed bone healing was achieved between metatarsal bone and bone graft in 7 patients, and the parabolic shape of the distal metatarsal bone recovered after operation. AOFAS scores improved from 40 to 70 before operation to 88 to 95 points at 12 months after operation, and 6 patients were excellent and 1 good. CONCLUSION Immediate extension of metatarsal bone for congenital brachymetatarsia, the transplanted bone grew well during the process of bone grafting healing, the occurrence of bone nonunion was reduced, the short metatarsal bone was restored to a satisfactory length, and the toe function restored well.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Metatarsal Bones/abnormalities* ; Adult ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Bone Lengthening/methods* ; Foot Deformities, Congenital/surgery*

Objective:This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and related influencing factors of obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS)and hypertension.Methods:A total of 201 obese OS-AS patients who admitted and were diagnosed in Tianyou Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science & Tech-nology between January 2020 and September 2022 were retrospectively selected,the 100 cases complicated with hy-pertension were treated as hypertension group and 101 cases without hypertension were regarded as control group.According to apnea hypopnea index(AHI),all obese OSAS patients were divided into mild OSAS group(n=36),moderate OSAS group(n=48)and severe OSAS group(n=117).General data,blood biochemical indexes,cardiac color ultrasound and polysomnography(PSG)indexes were collected in all groups.Correlation between blood pres-sure and OSAS-related indexes in obese OSAS patients was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis.Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze influencing factors of hypertension in obese OSAS patients.Results:Com-pared with those in control group,patients in hypertension group had significant higher age,proportions of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),coronary heart disease and moderate OSAS,systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),lipoprotein a[Lp(a)],uric acid(UA),fasting plasma glucose(FPG),high sensitive C re-active protein(hsCRP),left atrial diameter(LAD)and lowest oxygen saturation(LSO2),and significant lower proportion of severe OSAS and AHI(P＜0.05 or＜0.01).Pearson correlation analysis indicated that SBP and DBP were inversely correlated with AHI in obese OSAS patients(r=-0.177,P=0.035;r=-0.189,P=0.024).Multivariate Logistic regression showed that age(OR=1.073,95％C1 1.017～1.133,P=0.010),T2DM(OR=2.752,95％CI 1.245～6.082,P=0.011),UA(OR=1.011,95％CI 1.001～1.021,P=0.031),SBP(OR=1.313,95％CI 1.168～1.475,P＜0.001)and DBP(OR=1.304,95％CI 1.154～1.474,P＜0.001)were independent risk factors for hypertension in obese OSAS patients.Conclusion:Age,T2DM,UA,SBP and DBP are independent risk factors for hypertension in obese OSAS patients.Clinical staff can early identify and treat hypertension by detecting above-mentioned indexes.

Objective:This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and related influencing factors of obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS)and hypertension.Methods:A total of 201 obese OS-AS patients who admitted and were diagnosed in Tianyou Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science & Tech-nology between January 2020 and September 2022 were retrospectively selected,the 100 cases complicated with hy-pertension were treated as hypertension group and 101 cases without hypertension were regarded as control group.According to apnea hypopnea index(AHI),all obese OSAS patients were divided into mild OSAS group(n=36),moderate OSAS group(n=48)and severe OSAS group(n=117).General data,blood biochemical indexes,cardiac color ultrasound and polysomnography(PSG)indexes were collected in all groups.Correlation between blood pres-sure and OSAS-related indexes in obese OSAS patients was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis.Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze influencing factors of hypertension in obese OSAS patients.Results:Com-pared with those in control group,patients in hypertension group had significant higher age,proportions of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),coronary heart disease and moderate OSAS,systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),lipoprotein a[Lp(a)],uric acid(UA),fasting plasma glucose(FPG),high sensitive C re-active protein(hsCRP),left atrial diameter(LAD)and lowest oxygen saturation(LSO2),and significant lower proportion of severe OSAS and AHI(P＜0.05 or＜0.01).Pearson correlation analysis indicated that SBP and DBP were inversely correlated with AHI in obese OSAS patients(r=-0.177,P=0.035;r=-0.189,P=0.024).Multivariate Logistic regression showed that age(OR=1.073,95％C1 1.017～1.133,P=0.010),T2DM(OR=2.752,95％CI 1.245～6.082,P=0.011),UA(OR=1.011,95％CI 1.001～1.021,P=0.031),SBP(OR=1.313,95％CI 1.168～1.475,P＜0.001)and DBP(OR=1.304,95％CI 1.154～1.474,P＜0.001)were independent risk factors for hypertension in obese OSAS patients.Conclusion:Age,T2DM,UA,SBP and DBP are independent risk factors for hypertension in obese OSAS patients.Clinical staff can early identify and treat hypertension by detecting above-mentioned indexes.

Objective: To investigate the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, on-site dust monitoring and individual protection of the patients with artificial stone-related silicosis. Methods: In March 2022, the literature on artificial stone-related silicosis published from January 1965 to February 2022 was searched in China Journal Full-text Database, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, EMbase and PubMed. Chinese and English search terms include "silica dust""silica dust""silicosis""artificial stone""pneumoconiosis", etc. References were included according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, and data were extracted. The epidemiological characteristics, natural course of disease, workplace dust concentration and individual protection level of patients with artificial stone-related silicosis were analyzed by systematic review. Results: A total of 30 literatures were included, including 7 cohort studies, 14 cross-sectional studies, 3 case-control studies and 6 case reports. A total of 1358 patients with artificial stone-related silicosis were diagnosed from 1997 to 2020, with an average age of 41.5 years old and an average dust exposure time of 11.3 years. Among them, 36.2% (282/778) had progressive mass fibrosis or accelerated progressive silicosis at first diagnosis. Chest imaging showed diffuse small nodule shadow, pulmonary fibrosis, and silico-alveolar proteinosis. Pulmonary function showed restricted or mixed ventilation disorder with or without decreased diffusion volume. The disease progressed rapidly, with progressive mass fibrosis, respiratory failure, and even death. Patients engaged in artificial quartz stone processing, with high concentration of silica including ultra-fine particles, most of which were dry operation, lack of on-site ventilation measures and no effective personal protection. Conclusion: The artificial stone processing workers suffer from artificial stone-related silicosis due to dry cutting, lack of on-site dust removal facilities and personal protective measures, and the disease progresses rapidly, leading to poor prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze clinical data of patients under 40 years old who underwent surgical treatment for renal tumors with tumor thrombus from January 2016 to December 2022 at Peking University Third Hospital, and to evaluate the surgical effect and investigate the relationship between clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis. METHODS: The clinical data of 17 young patients with renal tumor thrombus were retrospectively analyzed, and the clinicopathological features and prognosis were summarized. The patients were grouped according to the presence or absence of symptoms, 2017 American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) clinical stage, and postoperative combined adjuvant therapy. Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot the survival curve, and Log-rank test was used to compare the differences in postoperative survival time and progression-free survival time between the different groups. The relationship between clinicopathological features and prognosis was analyzed. RESULTS: All the 17 patients received venous tumor thrombectomy, including 16 patients (94.1%) who underwent radical nephrectomy and 1 patient (5.9%) who underwent partial nephrectomy. Twelve patients (70.6%) had symptoms and 5 (29.4%) had no symptoms before operation. A total of 17 renal tumors were observed, with 2 patients (11.8%) identified as benign and 15 patients (88.2%) classified as malignant. Among the malignant tumors, 1 patient (6.7%) was diagnosed as clear cell carcinoma, while the remaining 14 patients (93.3%) were categorized as non-clear cell carcinoma. In terms of tumor stage, 8 patients (53.3%) were classified as stage Ⅲ according to the AJCC classification, while 7 patients (46.7%) were categorized as stage Ⅳ. Additionally, 6 patients (40%) received multiple adjuvant therapy, while 9 patients (60%) did not undergo such treatment. The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 78 months, with a median follow-up of 41 months. During this time, 3 patients (20%) died. The median survival time after surgery was 39.0 (2.3, 77.8) months, and the progression-free survival time was 16.4 (2.3, 77.8) months. There was no significant difference in postoperative survival time and progression-free survival time among young patients with renal tumor with tumor thrombus, based on the presence of symptoms before surgery (P=0.307, P=0.302), clinical stage of AJCC (P=0.340, P=0.492), and postoperative adjuvant therapy (P=0.459, P=0.253) group. CONCLUSION The pathological types of young patients with renal tumor with tumor thrombus are more complex and varied due to symptoms, and the proportion of non-clear cell carcinoma in malignant tumor with tumor thrombus is higher. Symptomatic and non-clear cell carcinoma may be potentially associated with poor prognosis. Surgical operation combined with adjuvant therapy is a relatively safe and effective treatment for young patients with renal tumor and tumor thrombus.
Humans ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Vena Cava, Inferior/surgery* ; Kidney Neoplasms/surgery* ; Prognosis ; Thrombosis/surgery* ; Thrombectomy/methods* ; Nephrectomy/methods*

OBJECTIVE: To observe the safety of donor NK cell infusions in the settings of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and after consolidation chemotherapy in elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). METHODS: Forty patients with AML were included, in which 21 patients aged over 60 years were at the stage of complete remission (CR) and 19 patients that received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Mononucleated cells were isolated from peripheral blood from the donors (for allo-HSCT) or healthy immediate family members (elderly AML). The cells were seeded into the flasks pre-coated with NK cell specific activators, and expanded in media containing recombinant human IL-15 and IL-2 for 14 days. The cells were transfused intravenously after the identification of quality control. Trypan blue exclusion test was used for the determination of cell viability and counting. Flow cytometry analysis was performed to assess the surface antigenic profile. Seventy-eight infusions of the cell products were received by the elderly patients with AML after consolidation chemotherapy, 11 infusions were received by the patients during allo-HSCT and 32 infusions 3 moths after transplantation. The safety of cell therapy, body temperature, blood pressure and other indexes were observe during and 48 hours after cell transfusion. Meanwhile, the occurrence and severity of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were documented. RESULTS: Flow cytometry analysis showed that the proportion of NK cells (CD3^-CD56⁺) in the mononucleated cells before culture was (14.10±4.22)% (n=121), and the proportion increased dramatically up to (87.29±8.75)% (n=121) after culture for 14 days, the number of NK cells increased to 753.47±140.13 times (n=121). The doses of the infused NK cells was (7.58±2.50)×10⁷/kg per infusion. Moderate fever occurred in three cases after multiple infusions, and the temperature restored to normal on the same day after treatment. Fever was observed in one patient after every infusion of four times in total. The temperature reached to 38.5-39.0 ℃ and returned to normal within 1-2 hours after adequate antipyretic treatment, and then there was no discomfort. No GVHD was observed in the elderly AML patients, while 6 cases that received allo-HSCT developed moderate acute GVHD, among them grade I in 5 cases and grade II in 1 case. No other severe toxicities were observed. CONCLUSION NK cell products with a high-purity could be obtained by ex vivo expansion with this protocol. The transfusion of these expanded cells is generally safe in the elderly patients with AML that have received chemotherapy or patients that received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Aged ; Graft vs Host Disease/prevention & control* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy* ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence

Objective: To explore the impact of environmental temperature exposure on eczema visits. Methods: Eczema clinic data from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2019 were collected from the Huizhou Dermatology Hospital, and data on meteorological factors (average daily temperature and relative humidity) for the same period were derived from 86 meteorological stations of the Guangdong Provincial Climate Center. A distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was used to assess the lagged effect of environmental temperature exposure on eczema, and a natural smooth spline function was used to control the nonlinear confounding of humidity. Results: There were 254 053 eczema outpatient visits at the Huizhou Dermatology Hospital within four years, with an average of 173.89 visits per day. The relationship between daily average temperature and the number of visits was non-linear (U shape). The risk of eczema increased by 2.20% (1.19%-3.21%) for every 1 ℃ decrease for the low temperature, and increased by 2.35% (1.24%-3.5%) for every 1 ℃ increase for the high temperature. The effect of high temperature was greater than that of low temperature. In all cases, 1.60% (0.44%-2.68%) of eczema outpatient visits were attributed to low temperature and the attributable number was 4 065 (1 128-6 798), while 6.33% (1.40%-10.87%) of eczema outpatient visits were due to high temperature and the attributable number was 16 082 (3 557-27 616). Conclusion: Both high temperature and low temperature are associated with increased risk of eczema.
Humans ; Air Pollution/adverse effects* ; Temperature ; Outpatients ; Cities ; Eczema/epidemiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Air Pollutants/analysis*