ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Hei Xiaoyaosan in improving the cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease （AD） from cell apoptosis mediated by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/nuclear factor kappa B （NF-κB） signaling pathway. MethodsFour-month-old SD male rats were randomly assigned into a blank group， a sham group， a model group， a donepezil hydrochloride （0.45 mg·kg^-1） group， and high-， medium-， and low-dose （15.30， 7.65， and 3.82 g·kg^-1， respectively） Hei Xiaoyaosan groups， with 10 rats in each group. The sham group received bilateral hippocampal injection of 1 μL normal saline， while the other groups received bilateral hippocampal injection of 1 μL beta-amyloid 1-42 （Aβ_1-42） solution for the modeling of AD. Rats were administrated with corresponding agents once a day for 42 consecutive days. The Morris water maze test was carried out to assess the learning and memory abilities of rats. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to observe pathological changes in the hippocampus of rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to measure the levels of cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-3 （Caspase-3）， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， and Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of PI3K， Akt， and NF-κB. A cell model of AD was established by co-culturing Aβ_1-42 and PC12 cells in vitro. Cell viability and apoptosis were detected by the cell-counting kit 8 （CCK-8） assay and flow cytometry （FC）， respectively. ResultsAnimal experiments showed that compared with the blank group， the model group had a prolonged escape latency （P<0.01）， a reduced number of crossing platforms （P<0.01）， disarrangement and a reduced number of hippocampal neurons， up-regulated expression of Bax and Caspase-3， down-regulated expression of Bcl-2 （P<0.01）， decreased p-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/Akt levels， and an increased p-NF-κB/NF-κB level （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， donepezil hydrochloride and high- and medium-dose Hei Xiaoyaosan shortened the escape latency and increased the number of crossing platforms （P<0.05， P<0.01）， improved the arrangement and increased the number of hippocampal neurons， down-regulated the expression levels of Bax and Caspase-3， up-reguated the expression level of Bcl-2 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， increased the p-PI3K/PI3K and p-Akt/Akt levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and reduced the p-NF-κB/NF-κB level （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Cell experiments showed that compared with the blank group， the model group exhibited an increased apoptosis rate （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the serum containing Hei Xiaoyaosan at various doses improved the cell viability （P<0.01）， and the serum containing Hei Xiaoyaosan at the high dose decreased the cell apoptosis （P<0.01）. ConclusionHei Xiaoyaosan may improve the learning and memory abilities of AD model rats by regulating cell apoptosis， while increasing the vitality and reducing the apoptosis rate of AD model cells via the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway.

ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of Baihe Wuyaotang （BWT） on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD） and elucidate its underlying mechanism. MethodC57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to six groups： normal control， model， positive drug （pioglitazone hydrochloride 1.95×10^-3 g·kg^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose BWT （1.3，2.5 and 5.1 g·kg^-1）. Following a 12-week high-fat diet （HFD） inducement， the mice underwent six weeks of therapeutic intervention with twice-daily drug administration. Body weight was monitored weekly throughout the treatment period. At the fifth week， glucose tolerance （GTT） and insulin tolerance （ITT） tests were conducted. Subsequently， the mice were euthanized for the collection of liver tissue and serum， and the subcutaneous adipose tissue （iWAT） and epididymal adipose tissue （eWAT） were weighed. Serum levels of total triglycerides （TG） and liver function indicators，such as alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， were determined. Histological examinations， including oil red O staining， hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， Masson staining， and transmission electron microscopy， were performed to evaluate hepatic lipid deposition， pathological morphology， and ultrastructural changes， respectively. Meanwhile， Western blot and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） were employed to analyze alterations， at both gene and protein levels， the insulin signaling pathway molecules， including insulin receptor substrate 1/2/protein kinase B/forkhead box gene O1 （IRS1/2/Akt/FoxO1）， glycogen synthesis enzymes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxy kinase （Pepck） and glucose-6-phosphatase （G6Pase）， lipid metabolism-related genes stearoyl-coA desaturase-1 （SCD-1） and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 （CPT-1）， fibrosis-associated molecules α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）， type Ⅰ collagen （CollagenⅠ）， and the fibrosis canonical signaling pathway transforming growth factor-β₁/drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic protein2/3（TGF-β₁/p-Smad/Smad2/3）， inflammatory factors such as interleukin（IL）-6， IL-8， IL-11， and IL-1β， autophagy markers LC3B Ⅱ/Ⅰ and p62/SQSTM1， and the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）. ResultCompared with the model group， BWT reduced the body weight and liver weight of NAFLD mice（P<0.05， P<0.01）， inhibited liver lipid accumulation， and reduced the weight of white fat： it reduced the weight of eWAT and iWAT（P<0.05， P<0.01） as well as the serum TG content（P<0.05， P<0.01）. BWT improved the liver function as reflected by the reduced ALT and AST content（P<0.05， P<0.01）. It improved liver insulin resistance by upregulating IRS2， p-Akt/Akt， p-FoxO1/FoxO1 expressions（P<0.05）. Besides， it improved glucose and lipid metabolism disorders： it reduced fasting blood glucose and postprandial blood glucose（P<0.05， P<0.01）， improved GTT and ITT（P<0.05， P<0.01）， reduced the expression of Pepck， G6Pase， and SCD-1（P<0.01）， and increased the expression of CPT-1（P<0.01）. The expressions of α-SMA， Collagen1， and TGF-β₁ proteins were down-regulated（P<0.05， P<0.01）， while the expression of p-Smad/Smad2/3 was downregulated（P<0.05）， suggesting BWT reduced liver fibrosis. BWT inhibited inflammation-related factors as it reduced the gene expression of IL-6， IL-8， IL-11 and IL-1β（P<0.01） and it enhanced autophagy by upregulating LC3B Ⅱ/Ⅰ expression（P<0.05）while downregulating the expression of p62/SQSTM1 and mTOR（P<0.05）. ConclusionBWT ameliorates NAFLD by multifaceted improvements， including improving IR and glucose and lipid metabolism， anti-inflammation， anti-fibrosis， and enhancing autophagy. In particular， BWT may enhance liver autophagy by inhibiting the mTOR-mediated signaling pathway.

Kennedy′s disease usually begins with limbs weakness, especially lower limbs weakness and atrophy, accompanied by tongue atrophy. A case of Kennedy′s disease with masticatory muscle weakness and atrophy as the first and main symptoms was reported. The patient was a middle-aged male who had been weak chewing for 7 years with progressive deterioration and needed to hold his jaw with his hand while chewing or speaking. There was no significant limbs weakness throughout the course. Physical examination showed strength of limbs grade Ⅴ, only mild tongue atrophy, but serious masticatory muscle atrophy and weak chowing. He was finally definitely diagnosed with Kennedy′s disease by genetic testing. Masticatory muscle atrophy and weak chowing as the main phenotype is rare in Kennedy′s disease. This case will help clinicians to strengthen the understanding of this rare clinical phenotype of Kennedy′s disease.

Objective To explore the effect of γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA)on the growth and related physiological metabolism of plantlets of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg from Huaiyu Mountain under low temperature stress,which provides a basis for its application of anti-freezing and cold resistance in the wild-imitation cultivation of T.hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg from Huaiyu mountain.Methods Plantlets of T.hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg from Huaiyu Mountain,which were treated with GABA under low temperature stress,were selected as research objects.The growth indicators,physiological indexes,the relative expression levels of chalcone synthase and flavonol synthase genes were measured using plant tissue culture,physiological and biochemical methods and qRT-PCR,respectively.Results Compared with the control group without GABA,the proliferation coefficient,plant height,fresh weight,dry weight,and tissue water content of the two cultivated plantlets of T.hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg from Huaiyu Mountain("Huaiyu 1"and"Huaiyu 2")reach their maximum value when 0.5 g·L-1 GABA was added to the culture medium.Moreover,content of soluble protein(SP),soluble sugar(SS),proline(Pro),reduced glutathione(GSH),ascorbic acid(AsA),indole acetic acid(IAA),zeatin nucleoside(ZR),gibberellin(GA3),jasmonic acid(JA),the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD),peroxidase(POD),ascorbic acid peroxidase(APX)and glutathione reductase(GR),and the relative expression level(RQ value)of chalcone synthase(CHS)gene were significantly increased.Moreover,relative conductivity,content of abscisic acid(ABA),hydrogen peroxide(H2O2),malondialdehyde(MDA),rate of O2·-production,and relative expression levels(RQ value)of flavonol synthase(FLS)gene were obviously decreased.The growth of plantlets of T.hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg from Huaiyu Mountain,which were treated with GABA under low temperature stress,was positively correlated with the contents of IAA,ZR,GA3,JA,SS,AsA,GSH,and the expression of CHS genes.Conclusion Appropriate concentration of GABA can regulate the contents of endogenous plant hormones and osmoregulation substances,antioxidant substances,and the expression of key genes in secondary metabolites,so as to promote the growth of plantlets of T.hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg from Huaiyu Mountain under low temperature stress.

Objective: To investigate the symptoms of depression and anxiety and their influencing factors among manufacturing workers in a district of Beijing Municipality, so as to provide insights into prevention and intervention of depression and anxiety among workers in this industry. Methods: Frontline workers from 15 manufacturing enterprises including large, medium, and small/micro sizes were selected using the stratified random sampling method. Demographic and occupational information were investigated using the Chinese National Occupational Health Literacy Monitoring Questionnaire among Key Populations. The symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed by the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, respectively. The influencing factors for depression and anxiety symptoms were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 759 questionnaires were allocated and 748 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 98.55%. The respondents included 372 people (49.73%) from 3 large enterprises, 167 people (22.33%) from 3 medium enterprises, and 209 people (27.94%) from 9 small/micro enterprises. There were 584 males, accounting for 78.07%. The median age was 39 (interquartile range, 11.00) years, and the median duration of employment was 8.50 (interquartile range, 11.00) years. Depression and anxiety symptoms were detected in 175 and 68 cases, with the detection rates were 23.40% and 9.09%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the educational level (junior high school, OR=0.305, 95%CI: 0.129-0.723), weekly working duration (≥55 h, OR=1.727, 95%CI: 1.026-2.906) and sleep disorders (OR=3.062, 95%CI: 2.127-4.407) were influencing factors for depression symptoms; educational level (junior high school, OR=0.196, 95%CI: 0.074-0.523; high school/vocational high school/technical secondary school, OR=0.171, 95%CI: 0.064-0.452; junior college and above, OR=0.187, 95%CI: 0.066-0.527), work shift (night shift, OR=2.369, 95%CI: 1.344-4.177) and sleep disorders (OR=5.411, 95%CI: 3.076-9.519) were influencing factors for anxiety symptoms. Conclusion The symptoms of depression and anxiety among manufacturing workers are mainly affected by educational level, weekly working duration, work shift and sleep disorders.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the total CSVD burden and fundus vasculopathy,and evaluate significance of fundus vasculopathy for cognitive impairment in CSVD patients.Methods A total of 290 inpatients who taking physical examination in our department from May 2021 to August 2022 were consecutively recruited,and according to their score of CSVD,they were divided into group 0(129 cases),group 1(51 case),group 2(42 cases),group 3(44 cases),and group 4(24 cases).All the subjects underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging,fundus fluorescein angiography,and cognitive function assessment.The total CSVD burden and fundus vasculopathy were evaluated.The general clinical data,results of laboratory tests,fundus vascularization,and cognitive function were compared among the groups with different CSVD burden scores.Spearman correlation analysis and linear correlation analysis were used to explore the correlation between total CSVD burden score and fundus vascular disease.Results Significant differences were observed in terms of age,years of education,cerebral infarction/TIA,total cho-lesterol,LDL-C,creatinine,MoC A and MMSE scores,positive results of connectivity test,digit-symbol conversion test,Stroop colour-word interference test and verbal fluency test,values of CRAE,CRVE,AVR,Scheie grade,DWMH and PVWMH,enlarged perivascular space in the basal ganglia(BG-EPVS),lacunar infarct and cerebral microbleeds(CMB)in different CSVD total bur-den groups(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Spearman correlation analysis showed that total CSVD burden was negatively correlated with CRAE and AVR(r=-0.655,P=0.000;r=-0.679,P=0.000),and positively with CRVE and Scheie grade(r=0.560,P=0.000;r=0.685,P=0.000).Multivari-ate linear analysis showed that the total CSVD burden after adjusting for relevant risk factors was significantly correlated with CRAE,CRVE,AVR and Scheie grades(P＜0.01).Conclusion Fun-dus vasculopathy is strongly associated with increased total CSVD burden,and it can be regarded as a valid predictor of CSVD-related cognitive impairment.

Objective To investigate the incidence of motoric cognitive risk(MCR)syndrome and declines in both motor and cognitive functions in elderly patients with enlarged perivascular spaces(EPVS).Methods A total of 113 patients(≥60 years old)with EPVS identified by head MRI admitted to our department from March 1 to November 30,2023 were consecutively recrui-ted,and according to having MCR syndrome or not,they were divided into MCR group(44 cases)and non-MCR group(69 cases).Cognitive function and motor function were assessed with aid of Montreal Cognitive Scale(MoCA),Simple Mental State Examination Scale(MMSE),trail making test,and motor function assessments,including Tinetti Balance and Gait Scale,Short Physical Performance Battery(SPPB),8-meter walk,Timed up and Go test(TUGT),walking and contin-uous subtraction task(WSS),walking and semantic fluency task(WSF),and TUGT and serial subtraction task(TUGSS).The motor and cognitive functions were compared between the two groups,and the risk factors related to MCR syndrome in EPVS patients were analyzed by multi-variate logistic regression.Results Compared with the non-MCR group,the MCR group had low-er MoCA score,total SPPB score,8-meter walk speed,and longer times of TMT-A,TMT-B,WSS,WSF and TUGSS(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that in Model 1(including variables with differences in univariate analysis),MoCA score,8-meter walk speed,and TUGSS time were independent risk factors for MCR syndrome in EPVS patients(P＜0.05,P＜0.01);in Model 2(adjusting for age,sex,education level,and comorbidities),MoCA score(OR=0.621,95％CI:0.432-0.929,P=0.010),8-meter walk speed(OR=1.332,95％CI:1.115-1.591,P=0.002),and TUGSS time(OR=0.393,95％CI:0.232-0.665,P=0.001)re-mained independent risk factors for MCR syndrome in EPVS patients.Conclusion Among elderly EPVS patients,those with MCR syndrome show significantly worse cognitive and motor function compared to those without.MoCA score,8-meter walk speed,and TUGSS time are related factors for MCR occurrence in EPVS patients.

Cerebral small vessel disease （CSVD） is a common disease with great impact on the health of the Chinese population. CSVD has insidious progression and is often neglected by both patients and physicians. In recent years， advances have been made in the research on CSVD from the aspects of risk factors， pathogenesis， clinical manifestations， and evaluation systems. In 2013， the international Standards for Reporting Vascular Changes on Neuroimaging （STRIVE） collaborative group standardized the definition and description of CSVD， and subsequently in 2021， our team released Chinese expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of cerebral small vessel disease 2021， which summarized the latest research findings in China and globally. In 2023， the international STRIVE collaborative group provided further updates on research advances in the field of CSVD. CSVD has similar clinical manifestations to neurodegenerative diseases， with a lack of significant specificity. Although genetic testing and brain tissue biopsy help to make a confirmed diagnosis to a certain extent， their application in clinical practice has been limited by technical and financial constraints. At present， neuroimaging techniques are mainly used to detect brain tissue lesions induced by CSVD and make a diagnosis. This article discusses the imaging markers for the diagnosis of CSVD and the imaging-based differential diagnosis of CSVD.
Diagnosis

In recent years, the development of bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) has been rapid, with many new structures and target combinations being created. The boom in bsAbs has led to the successive issuance of industry guidance for their development in the US and China. However, there is a high degree of similarity in target selection, which could affect the development of diversity in bsAbs. This review presents a classification of various bsAbs for cancer therapy based on structure and target selection and examines the advantages of bsAbs over monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Through database research, we have identified the preferences of available bsAbs combinations, suggesting rational target selection options and warning of potential wastage of medical resources. We have also compared the US and Chinese guidelines for bsAbs in order to provide a reference for their development.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of different transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE)-based regimens in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(uHCC)and explore the optimal timing for combining TACE with tyrosine kinase inhibit-ors(TKIs)and immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs).Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from 555 patients with uHCC who underwent TACE-based treatment between April 2016 and December 2021 in Nanfang Hospital,Southern Medical University.The pa-tients were assigned into the following four groups according to different treatment regimens:TACE group(n=317),TACE combined with TKIs group(TACE+TKIs,n=66),TACE combined with ICIs group(TACE+ICIs,n=33),and TACE combined with TKIs+ICIs group(TACE+TKIs+ICIs,n=139).Subgroup analysis was performed within the TACE+TKIs+ICIs group,with patients being assigned into"pre-TACE"and"post-TACE"groups based on the timing of the combination therapy.Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to identify pro-gnostic factors influencing overall survival(OS).Results:The TACE+TKIs+ICIs group showed the longest OS(21.9 months,95%confidence in-terval[CI]:17.2-26.6,P=0.030)and progression-free survival(PFS)(8.3 months,95%CI:7.3-9.3,P=0.004)compared to those in the other three groups.In the subgroup analysis,the"post-TACE"group had longer OS than the"pre-TACE"group(26.8 months vs.19.2 months,P = 0.011).The objective response rate(ORR)was 32.8%,41.1%,42.4%,and 52.5%(P=0.001)and the disease control rate(DCR)was 59.6%,71.2%,69.7%,and 82.7%(P<0.001)in the TACE,TACE+TKIs,TACE+ICIs,and TACE+TKIs+ICIs groups,respectively.The adverse events were similar to those reported in previous studies.Cox regression analysis revealed that tumor number,extrahepatic metastasis,and treatment regimen were independent factors influencing OS in patients(all P<0.05).Conclusions:TKIs or ICIs can improve OS and PFS in patients with uHCC receiving TACE,and the combination of TKIs+ICIs with TACE achieves better beneficial outcomes.The greatest OS was observed when the combination therapy TKIs+ICIs was initiated within 3 months after the first TACE procedure.