BackgroundModified electroconvulsive therapy （MECT） is a common front-line strategy widely used in psychiatric practice， and the optimal first stimulus dosage in MECT is usually estimated clinically based on the factors influencing the patient's initial seizure threshold （IST）. However， previous studies on the influencing factors of IST have mostly suffered from limitations such as small sample sizes and single-dimensional research perspectives. ObjectiveTo explore the factors influencing IST in MECT for patients with mental disorders， so as to provide references for stimulus dosing strategies in MECT for the patients. MethodsA retrospective study was used to include 1 446 inpatients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for any specific mental disorder listed in the ICD-10 and receiving MECT at Shandong Daizhuang Hospital from January 1， 2021 to August 1， 2023. Their general and clinical data were collected， including IST， psychiatric diagnostic categories， gender， ethnicity， age， body weight， body mass index （BMI）， course of disease， family history of psychiatric disorders， first episode status， use of antiepileptic drugs the day before treatment， use of benzodiazepines the day before treatment， and previous MECT treatment history. Pearson correlation analysis was utilized to test the correlation of IST with age， height， body weight， BMI， and course of disease， and stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to identify the factors affecting IST. ResultsIST yielded statistical difference among patients in terms of gender， first episode status， use of antiepileptic drugs the day before treatment， and use of benzodiazepines the day before treatment （t=2.256， -3.059， -2.136， -3.006， P<0.05 or 0.01）. IST in patients of different ages and psychiatric diagnostic categories also demonstrated statistical difference （F=913.120， 6.212， P<0.01）. Within young population， IST varied significantly based on the psychiatric diagnostic categories （F=2.986， P<0.05）. Correlation analysis indicated that IST was positively correlated with age， body weight， BMI and course of disease （r=0.886， 0.055， 0.184， 0.456， P<0.05 or 0.01）， and negatively correlated with height （r=-0.183， P<0.01）. Stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that age， gender， and body weight were influencing factors of IST （β=0.888， -0.049， -0.035， P<0.01）. ConclusionsAge， gender and body weight may be factors influencing IST in MECT for patients with mental disorders. ［Funded by Key R&D Plan Projects of Jining City in 2024 (number, 2024YXNS202）］

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder is one of the most disabling mental diseases. Currently， medication in combination with physiotherapy and psychotherapy remains the most commonly used treatment modality for the disease， whereas only a few randomized controlled studies have been conducted on physiotherapy， and even fewer studies have focused on medication combined with physiotherapy. ObjectiveTo explore the efficacy and safety profile of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation （rTMS） versus modified electroconvulsive therapy （MECT） in combination with antidepressants in the treatment of major depressive disorder， so as to provide an optimized treatment plan for patients with major depressive disorder. MethodsPatients with major depressive disorder （n=335） hospitalized in Shandong Daizhuang Hospital from January 1， 2019 to April 30， 2023 were included， all of whom met the diagnostic criteria of the International Classification of Diseases， tenth edition （ICD-10）. Depending on their disease condition， patients were subjected to either MECT in combination with drugs （n=141） or rTMS in combination with drugs （n=194） after admission. Depressive symptoms were assessed using Hamilton Depression Scale-24 item （HAMD-24） at the baseline and the end of the 1^st， 2^nd， 3^rd and 4^th week of treatment， and the adverse reactions were documented in patient's medical records. ResultsAnalysis of variance on HAMD-24 revealed a significant effect of time （F=3.081， P=0.042）， but no effect of group （F=1.023， P=0.313）， and the interaction effect between the time and the groups was not statistically significant （F=1.642， P=0.191）. No statistical difference was reported between two groups in response rate and full remission rate （P>0.05）. Throughout the course of treatment， 58 cases （41.13%） of recent memory impairment and 74 cases （52.48%） of headache or neck muscle pain occurred in MECT combined with drugs group， and 27 cases （13.92%） in rTMS combined with drugs group experienced headache or head skin discomfort. ConclusionAntidepressants in combination with rTMS or MECT show equivalent efficacy in the treatment of major depressive disorder， while rTMS combined with antidepressants demonstrates a superior safety profile compared to MECT.

To construct and validate a deep learning-based bone age prediction model for children living in both plain and highland regions.

To construct and validate a deep learning-based bone age prediction model for children living in both plain and highland regions.

Objective:To summarize and elucidate the impact of ambient air pollution on biological aging among middle-aged and older adults.Methods:"Air pollution""Biological age""Epigenetic age""Biological aging"and"Epigenetic aging", as well as specific names of air pollutants and biological age were used as search keywords. This study searched the databases of PubMed and Web of Science for eligible English articles and CNKI, CQVIP, Wanfang, CBM, CSTP and other Chinese databases for eligible Chinese articles from inception until June 30, 2023. The language was limited to Chinese and English.Results:Among the 14 included articles, five studies investigated the impact of air pollution on DNA methylation age using different algorithms, while six studies explored the relationship between air pollutants and telomere length. Six studies focused on frailty as an outcome, and an additional study revealed the relationship between fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and its components with composite indicator age (KDM age). The results indicated that, although different forms of biological ages were susceptible to different ambient air pollutants at different degrees, previous studies had consistently found that the increased levels of PM 2.5 and one of its major components, black carbon (BC), could significantly accelerate the biological aging of middle-aged and older adults. Similar trends were observed with nitrogen oxides (NO x) and ozone (O 3) but with relatively limited evidence. Conclusion:Major air pollutants could accelerate the biological aging of middle-aged and older adults.

Objective:To summarize and elucidate the impact of ambient air pollution on biological aging among middle-aged and older adults.Methods:"Air pollution""Biological age""Epigenetic age""Biological aging"and"Epigenetic aging", as well as specific names of air pollutants and biological age were used as search keywords. This study searched the databases of PubMed and Web of Science for eligible English articles and CNKI, CQVIP, Wanfang, CBM, CSTP and other Chinese databases for eligible Chinese articles from inception until June 30, 2023. The language was limited to Chinese and English.Results:Among the 14 included articles, five studies investigated the impact of air pollution on DNA methylation age using different algorithms, while six studies explored the relationship between air pollutants and telomere length. Six studies focused on frailty as an outcome, and an additional study revealed the relationship between fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and its components with composite indicator age (KDM age). The results indicated that, although different forms of biological ages were susceptible to different ambient air pollutants at different degrees, previous studies had consistently found that the increased levels of PM 2.5 and one of its major components, black carbon (BC), could significantly accelerate the biological aging of middle-aged and older adults. Similar trends were observed with nitrogen oxides (NO x) and ozone (O 3) but with relatively limited evidence. Conclusion:Major air pollutants could accelerate the biological aging of middle-aged and older adults.

METTL3 and METTL14 are two components that form the core heterodimer of the main RNA m6A methyltransferase complex (MTC) that installs m6A. Surprisingly, depletion of METTL3 or METTL14 displayed distinct effects on stemness maintenance of mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC). While comparable global hypo-methylation in RNA m6A was observed in Mettl3 or Mettl14 knockout mESCs, respectively. Mettl14 knockout led to a globally decreased nascent RNA synthesis, whereas Mettl3 depletion resulted in transcription upregulation, suggesting that METTL14 might possess an m6A-independent role in gene regulation. We found that METTL14 colocalizes with the repressive H3K27me3 modification. Mechanistically, METTL14, but not METTL3, binds H3K27me3 and recruits KDM6B to induce H3K27me3 demethylation independent of METTL3. Depletion of METTL14 thus led to a global increase in H3K27me3 level along with a global gene suppression. The effects of METTL14 on regulation of H3K27me3 is essential for the transition from self-renewal to differentiation of mESCs. This work reveals a regulatory mechanism on heterochromatin by METTL14 in a manner distinct from METTL3 and independently of m6A, and critically impacts transcriptional regulation, stemness maintenance, and differentiation of mESCs.
Animals ; Mice ; Methylation ; Chromatin ; Histones/metabolism* ; RNA, Messenger/genetics* ; Methyltransferases/metabolism* ; RNA/metabolism*

ObjectiveTo build an evaluation index system for traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） medicated diet， promoting the scientific and standardized development of medicated diet in TCM. MethodsThe framework of the evaluation index system was constructed through literature review and Delphi expert consultation method. The analytic hierarchy process was used to construct a hierarchical structure model. Pairwise comparisons between the indicators were conducted using the Saaty 1-9 scale method， and the weight of each indicator was calculated using Yaahp 10.3. ResultsThe response rates for the two rounds of expert consultation were 93.33% and 100%， respectively. The Kendall's W coefficients for the first-level and second-level indicators in the second round were 0.270 and 0.281， respectively （both P＜0.001）. Finally， an evaluation index system for TCM medicated diet therapy was constructed， consisting of 6 primary indicators and 27 secondary indicators. The weightings of the primary indicators were as follows： sensory appearance （0.1843）， health value （0.3569）， ingredient compatibility （0.1271）， packaging （0.0370）， production and preparation （0.1005）， and reliability （0.1940）. ConclusionA comprehensive and universally applicable evaluation index system for TCM medicated diet has been developed， taking into conside-rations of color， taste， appearance， efficacy， preparation， quality and others. This system can provide valuable reference for the evaluation of the value of medicated diet as well as its development.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation of magnetic resonance (MR) T₂-weighted image (T₂WI) signal characteristics of adenomyosis and the efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation. METHODS: Based on the presence or absence of patchy hyperintense foci on preoperative MR T₂WI, the patients with adenomyosis undergoing HIFU treatment were divided into homogeneous signal group and heterogeneous signal group, and the heterogeneous group was further divided into heterogeneous hypointense group and heterogeneous isointense group according to signal intensity of the lesions. The patients in heterogeneous signal group were matched with the patients in the homogeneous group at a 1:1 ratio using the propensity score matching, and similarly, the patients in the heterogeneous hypointense group were matched with those in the heterogeneous isointense group at a 1:1 ratio. The non-perfused volume ratio (NPVR) and relief of dysmenorrhea were used to assess the therapeutic efficacy in the 4 groups. RESULTS: A total of 299 patients were enrolled, who had a median preoperative dysmenorrhea score of 7.0 (6.0, 8.0) and a median NPVR of 53.5% (35.4, 70.1)%. After propensity score matching, the NPVR in homogeneous signal group was significantly higher than that in heterogeneous signal group [(60.3 ± 21.8)% vs (44.6±21.6)%, P < 0.05]. At 3, 6 and 12 months after HIFU, dysmenorrhea relief rates were higher in homogeneous signal group than in heterogeneous signal group, and the difference was statistically significant at 12 months (91.1% vs 76.8%, P < 0.05). The NPVR of heterogeneous hypointense group was higher than that of heterogeneous isointense group [(54.0±22.0) % vs (47.3± 22.9) %, P < 0.05]. At 6 months after HIFU, dysmenorrhea relief rate was significantly higher in heterogeneous hypointense group than in heterogeneous isointense group (91.5% vs 80.9%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The signal characteristics of adenomyosis on T₂WI are closely related with the outcome of HIFU ablation, and its efficacy is better for homogeneous than for heterogeneous adenomyosis, and better for heterogeneous hypointense adenomyosis than for heterogeneous isointense adenomyosis.
Female ; Humans ; Adenomyosis/pathology* ; Dysmenorrhea ; Cohort Studies ; Propensity Score ; High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation/methods* ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To investigate the effects of over expression and low expression of antisense transcripts of circular RNA cerebellar degeneration associated protein 1 (CDR1as) in Balb/C mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on factors related to osteogenesis and angiogenesis. Methods: BMSCs were cultured and identified in vitro. The lentiviral (LV) vector containing the overexpressed and silenced circRNA CDR1as genes and the control lentivirus were respectively transfected into mouse BMSCs, and stable cell lines were screened. The cells were divided into the circRNACDR1as over expression group and the over expression control group, and the CircRNACDR1as low expression group and the low expression control group. The components were stained with Alizarin Red S and alkaline phosphatase after 14 and 21 days of osteoinduction; qRT-PCR was used to detect the target genes circRNA CDR1as, osteogenic differentiation markers alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt- related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), osteocalcin (OCN), osteopontin (OPN), osterix(Osx), collagen I (COL-1), and the mRNA expression levels of vascular endothelial grown factor (VEGF) and angiogenin-1 (Ang-1). Results: The results of alizarin red staining and alkaline phosphatase staining showed that the extracellular matrix calcium precipitation and ALP staining area of the over expression experimental group was greater than its control group, and those of the low expression experimental group was less than its control group. As the number of days of osteogenic induction increased, the calcium precipitation and ALP staining in each group also increased. RT-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression levels of circRNA CDR1as, ALP, RUNX2, OCN, OPN, OSX, COL-1, VEGF and Ang-1 in the over expression experimental group BMSCs were significantly increased (P<0.001). In the low expression experimental group, the mRNA expression levels of circRNA CDR1as, ALP, RUNX2, OCN, OPN, OSX, COL-1, VEGF and Ang-1 in BMSCs were significantly reduced (P<0.001). Conclusion Over expression of the circRNA CDR1as gene promotes the osteogenic differentiation and angiogenesis of BMSCs. Low expression of the circRNA CDR1as gene inhibits the osteogenic differentiation and angiogenesis of BMSCs.