Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder that significantly impacts patients’ independence and quality of life, imposing a substantial burden on both individuals and society. Although dopaminergic replacement therapies provide temporary relief from various symptoms, their long-term use often leads to motor complications, limiting overall effectiveness. In recent years, non-invasive deep brain stimulation (DBS) techniques have emerged as promising therapeutic alternatives for PD, offering a means to modulate deep brain regions with high precision without invasive procedures. These techniques include temporal interference stimulation (TIs), low-intensity transcranial focused ultrasound stimulation (LITFUS), transcranial magneto-acoustic stimulation (TMAS), non-invasive optogenetic modulation, and non-invasive magnetoelectric stimulation. They have demonstrated significant potential in alleviating various PD symptoms by modulating neural activity within specific deep brain structures affected by the disease. Among these approaches, TIs and LITFUS have received considerable attention. TIs generate low-frequency interference by applying two slightly different high-frequency electric fields, targeting specific brain areas to alleviate symptoms such as tremors and bradykinesia. LITFUS, on the other hand, uses low-intensity focused ultrasound to non-invasively stimulate deep brain structures, showing promise in improving both motor function and cognition in PD patients. The other three techniques, while still in early research stages, also hold significant promise for deep brain modulation and broader clinical applications, potentially complementing existing treatment strategies. Despite these promising findings, significant challenges remain in translating these techniques into clinical practice. The heterogeneous nature of PD, characterized by variable disease progression and individualized treatment responses, necessitates flexible protocols tailored to each patient’s unique needs. Additionally, a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying these treatments is crucial for refining protocols and maximizing their therapeutic potential. Personalized medicine approaches, such as the integration of neuroimaging and biomarkers, will be pivotal in customizing stimulation parameters to optimize efficacy. Furthermore, while early-stage clinical trials have reported improvements in certain symptoms, long-term efficacy and safety data are limited. To validate these techniques, large-scale, multi-center, randomized controlled trials are essential. Parallel advancements in device design, including the development of portable and cost-effective systems, will improve patient access and adherence to treatment protocols. Combining non-invasive DBS with other interventions, such as pharmacological treatments and physical therapy, could also provide a more comprehensive and synergistic approach to managing PD. In conclusion, non-invasive deep brain stimulation techniques represent a promising frontier in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. While they have demonstrated considerable potential in improving symptoms and restoring neural function, further research is needed to refine protocols, validate long-term outcomes, and optimize clinical applications. With ongoing technological and scientific advancements, these methods could offer PD patients safer, more effective, and personalized treatment options, ultimately improving their quality of life and reducing the societal burden of the disease.

Aim To investigate the role of metabolites of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in promoting the transdifferentiation of pancreatic α cells to β cells. Methods Male C57BL/6J mice were injected intraperitoneally with 60 mg/kg streptozocin (STZ) for five consecutive days to establish a type 1 diabetes (T1DM) mouse model. After two weeks, they were randomly divided into model groups and 97% EPA diet intervention group, 75% fish oil (50% EPA +25% DHA) diet intervention group, and random blood glucose was detected every week; after the model expired, the regeneration of pancreatic β cells in mouse pancreas was observed by immunofluorescence staining. The islets of mice (obtained by crossing GCG

Humans ; Vascular Stiffness ; Coal Mining ; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology* ; Risk Factors ; Coal ; Miners

Objective To explore the relationship between the types of bicuspid aortic valves(BAV)and the outcome of functional mitral regurgitation(FMR)and the affecting factors of FMR.Methods From Jun 2018 to Sep 2022,patients with severe BAV aortic valve stenosis(AS)complicated with FMR underwent post transcatheter aortic valve replacement(TAVR)in Zhongshan Hospital,Fudan University were retrospectively analyzed.The baseline information and imaging data of different BAV patients were collected.Logistic regression was used to analyze the factors affecting the outcome of FMR(improvement and non-improvement).Result A total of 100 patients with TAVR were included,including 49 patients with type 0 of BAV and 51 patients with type 1 of BAV.Compared with patients of type 1,patients of type 0 had younger age[(72.78±6.09)y vs.(77.00±8.35)y,P=0.050],lower male ratio(47%vs.73%,P= 0.009)higher BMI[(23.19±2.62)kg/m2 vs.(21.99±3.13)kg/m2,P=0.041],and lower incidence of aortic regurgitation(69%vs.92%,P=0.040).Compared with the non-improvement group,the improvement group had a lower incidence of coronary heart disease(5%vs.18%,P=0.042),higher incidence of pulmonary hypertension(20%vs.2%,P=0.007),larger left ventricular diastolic diameter[(51.98±6.74)mm vs.(48.04±7.72)mm,P=0.009]and higher maximum flow velocity[(4.86±0.95)cm/s vs.(4.47±0.75)cm/s,P= 0.023]of the aortic valve.The results of Logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative pulmonary hypertension,left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and maximum valvular flow velocity of BAV patients were the potential affecting factors of FMR improvement after TAVR.Conclusion No significant difference was found in FMR improvement between BAV patients of type 0 and type 1 after TAVR.For BAV patients with AS,preoperative pulmonary hypertension,larger left ventricular end-diastolic diameter,and faster aortic valve flow velocity were associated with higher FMR improvement rate.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in promoting recovery of the facial function with the involvement of autophagy, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. METHODS: Seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into the control, sham-operated, facial nerve injury (FNI), EA, EA+3-methyladenine (3-MA), and EA+GDNF antagonist groups using a random number table, with 12 rats in each group. An FNI rat model was established with facial nerve crushing method. EA intervention was conducted at Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Yifeng (SJ 17), and Hegu (LI 4) acupoints for 2 weeks. The Simone's 10-Point Scale was utilized to monitor the recovery of facial function. The histopathological evaluation of facial nerves was performed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The levels of Beclin-1, light chain 3 (LC3), and P62 were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Additionally, IHC was also used to detect the levels of GDNF, Rai, PI3K, and mTOR. RESULTS: The facial functional scores were significantly increased in the EA group than the FNI group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). HE staining showed nerve axons and myelin sheaths, which were destroyed immediately after the injury, were recovered with EA treatment. The expressions of Beclin-1 and LC3 were significantly elevated and the expression of P62 was markedly reduced in FNI rats (P<0.01); however, EA treatment reversed these abnormal changes (P<0.01). Meanwhile, EA stimulation significantly increased the levels of GDNF, Rai, PI3K, and mTOR (P<0.01). After exogenous administration with autophagy inhibitor 3-MA or GDNF antagonist, the repair effect of EA on facial function was attenuated (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS EA could promote the recovery of facial function and repair the facial nerve damages in a rat model of FNI. EA may exert this neuroreparative effect through mediating the release of GDNF, activating the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway, and further regulating the autophagy of facial nerves.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Electroacupuncture ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/metabolism* ; Facial Nerve Injuries/therapy* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Beclin-1 ; Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Signal Transduction ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Autophagy ; Mammals/metabolism*

Objective Recombinase-aided polymerase chain reaction(RAP)is a sensitive,single-tube,two-stage nucleic acid amplification method.This study aimed to develop an assay that can be used for the early diagnosis of three types of bacteremia caused by Staphylococcus aureus(SA),Pseudomonas aeruginosa(PA),and Acinetobacter baumannii(AB)in the bloodstream based on recombinant human mannan-binding lectin protein(M1 protein)-conjugated magnetic bead(M1 bead)enrichment of pathogens combined with RAP. Methods Recombinant plasmids were used to evaluate the assay sensitivity.Common blood influenza bacteria were used for the specific detection.Simulated and clinical plasma samples were enriched with M1 beads and then subjected to multiple recombinase-aided PCR(M-RAP)and quantitative PCR(qPCR)assays.Kappa analysis was used to evaluate the consistency between the two assays. Results The M-RAP method had sensitivity rates of 1,10,and 1 copies/μL for the detection of SA,PA,and AB plasmids,respectively,without cross-reaction to other bacterial species.The M-RAP assay obtained results for<10 CFU/mL pathogens in the blood within 4 h,with higher sensitivity than qPCR.M-RAP and qPCR for SA,PA,and AB yielded Kappa values of 0.839,0.815,and 0.856,respectively(P<0.05). Conclusion An M-RAP assay for SA,PA,and AB in blood samples utilizing M1 bead enrichment has been developed and can be potentially used for the early detection of bacteremia.

Objective:To explore diagnostic value of echocardiography indexes for moderate-severe stenosis in CHD patients and their correlation with cardiac function class.Methods:A total of 90 CHD patients admitted to our hos-pital from Dec 2020 to Dec 2022 were selected as CHD group.According to NYHA classification,CHD group was divided into class Ⅰ～Ⅱ group(n=38)and class Ⅲ～Ⅳ group(n=52).The patients were divided into mild group(n=35)and moderate-severe group(n=55)according to Gensini score.In addition,90 healthy people who sim-ultaneously received physical examination in our hospital were enrolled as control group.LVEF,LVEDd and LVESd were measured in two groups by color ultrasound diagnostic instrument.Cardiac function indexes were com-pared between control group and CHD group,mild group and moderate-severe group,class Ⅰ～Ⅱ group and classⅢ～Ⅳ group.ROC curve was used to analyze the diagnostic value of above cardiac function indexes for moderate-severe stenosis in CHD patients.The correlation among LVEF,LVEDd,LVESd,different stenosis degree and NYHA class in CHD patients was analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis.Results:Compared with the control group,there was significant reduction in LVEF,and significant rise in LVEDd and LVESd in CHD group,P=0.001 all;compared with the mild group,there was significant reduction in LVEF[(45.31±5.08)％vs.(40.34±3.01)％],and significant rise in LVEDd[(53.92±5.09)mm vs.(61.68±4.79)mm]and LVESd[(52.72±4.72)mm vs.(58.06±3.50)mm]in moderate-severe group,P=0.001 all;compared with the class Ⅰ～Ⅱgroup,there was significant reduction in LVEF[(45.07±4.95)％vs.(40.23±3.06)％],and significant rise in LVEDd[(54.50±5.30)mm vs.(61.71±4.91)mm]and LVESd[(52.92±4.63)mm vs.(58.22±3.43)mm]in class Ⅲ～Ⅳ group,P=0.001 all.AUC of combined detection of LVEF,LVEDd and LVESd diagnosing moder-ate-severe stenosis in CHD was 0.909,which was significantly higher than those of single detections(0.733,0.787,0.789)(Z=2.925,2.125,2.043,P＜0.05 or＜0.01).Spearman correlation analysis showed a significant negative correlation between LVEF and NYHA class(r=-0.514),LVEDd and LVESd showed a significant posi-tive correlation with NYHA class(r=0.538,0.546,P=0.001 both),and it showed a significant positive correla-tion between different degrees of coronary stenosis and NYHA class in CHD patients(r=0.875,P=0.001).Con-clusion:The combined detection of LVEF,LVEDd and LVESd possesses high diagnostic value for moderate-se-vere stenosis in CHD patients,and it is significantly correlated with NYHA cardiac function class,which can be used as one of assessing methods for coronary stenosis severity in CHD patients.

Objective To explore the changes in gut microbiota and levels of short-chain fatty acids(SCFA)in infants with cow's milk protein allergy(CMPA),and to clarify their role in CMPA.Methods A total of 25 infants diagnosed with CMPA at Children's Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from August 2019 to August 2020 were enrolled as the CMPA group,and 25 healthy infants were selected as the control group.Fecal samples(200 mg)were collected from both groups and subjected to 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing technology and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to analyze the changes in gut microbial composition and metabolites.Microbial diversity was analyzed in conjunction with metabolites.Results Compared to the control group,the CMPA group showed altered gut microbial structure and significantly increased α-diversity(P＜0.001).The abundance of Firmicutes,Clostridiales and Bacteroidetes was significantly decreased,while the abundance of Sphingomonadaceae,Clostridiaceae_l and Mycoplasmataceae was significantly increased in the CMPA group compared to the control group(P＜0.001).Metabolomic analysis revealed reduced levels of acetic acid,butyric acid,and isovaleric acid in the CMPA group compared to the control group,and the levels of the metabolites were positively correlated with the abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria such as Faecalibacterium and Roseburia(P＜0.05).Conclusions CMPA infants have alterations in gut microbial structure,increased microbial diversity,and decreased levels of SCFA,which may contribute to increased intestinal inflammation.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(3):236-243]

This study was aimed at understanding the genomic characteristics of the Vibrio cholerae O1 group isolated from humans in Fujian Province,to provide essential data for the molecular epidemiological study of cholera.From 2008 to 2022,16 strains of the V.cholerae O1 group from patients and carriers were collected,and antibiotic sensitivity was determined accord-ing to the minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC).The whole genome sequences obtained through second generation sequen-cing were analyzed in open source software,including snippy,Roary,and Prokka,as well as online analysis websites,inclu-ding NCBI and BacWGSTdb,for core-genome multilocus sequence typing(cgMLST),core-genome single nucleotide polymor-phism analysis(cgSNP),virulence gene analysis,drug resistance gene prediction,and pan-genomic diversity analysis.The whole genome sequences of V.cholerae were divided into five sequence types(STs),among which the newly discovered ST182 and ST1480 were the evolutionary branches of the current dominant clonal group ST75 in China,and were highly related to two strains isolated from Taiwan in 2010 and 2013,respectively.Both toxigenic strains and non-toxigenic strains carried a variety of virulence factors and showed gene variation to varying degrees.Thirteen drug resistance genes in seven categories were predicted,among which the distribution of colistin and tetracycline resistance genes was consistent with the drug resistance phenotype.Pan-ge-nomic analysis indicated that V.cholerae had an open pan-genome,and Roary cluster analysis showed higher resolution than cgMLST.In summary,V.cholerae O1 group isolates from humans in Fujian Province have polymorphisms in genome structure and function,and the newly discovered ST1480 clone group has epidemic potential.Therefore,the monitoring of such strains must be strengthened.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of ibrutinib combined with venetoclax in the treatment of relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(R/R DLBCL),and to analyze the factors affecting efficacy and prognosis.Methods:Clinical data of 62 R/R DLBCL patients admitted to our hospital from August 2017 to July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients were treated with ibrutinib combined with venetoclax.The clinical efficacy and drug safety were evaluated.The effects of clinical features on short-term efficacy and overall survival(OS)were analyzed.Results:The objective response rate(ORR)of 62 patients was 48.39％.The extranodal lesions,intermediate-high/high risk of NCCN-IPI,intermediate-high/high risk of IPI,progression or recurrence time＜12 months were the risk factors affecting the short-term efficacy of chemotherapy in R/R DLBCL patients(all P＜0.05).The most common adverse effect was neutropenia(75.19％),and the incidence of grade Ⅱ-Ⅳ neutropenia was 52.71％.The l-year and 2-year OS rates of 62 patients were 48.51％and 31.56％,respectively,and the median OS time was 12 months.Multivariate analysis showed that objective remission after chemotherapy[HR=0.080(95％CI:0.028-0.235)]was a protective factor for OS in R/R DLBCL patients,and intermediate-high/high risk of NCCN-IPI[HR=4.828(95％CI:1.546-15.080)]was an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of R/R DLBCL patients.Conclusion:Ibrutinib combined with venetoclax can be used as an effective treatment regimen for R/R DLBCL,and NCCN-IPI can be used as a prognostic indicator.Objective remission after chemotherapy is beneficial for R/R DLBCL patients to achieve better OS.