Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is an important way to observe the condition of patients with severe neurological diseases; at present, ICP detection mainly relies on mean ICP, but with the progress of scientific and technological means and deepened research in related fields, ICP waveforms and their related derivative indicators have attracted more and more attention from clinicians. Based on the types and morphologies of ICP waveforms and their related derivative indexes, such as pressure response index and pressure amplitude index, relationships of ICP waveforms with brain tissue compliance and brain tissue lesions, and their clinical application are reviewed to provide some references for application of ICP waveforms in patients with severe neurological diseases.

Objective:To explore the relationship between blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio and frailty in the elderly aged ≥65 years in 8 longevity areas in China.Methods:Participants were recruited from the Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study. Based on baseline information about blood urea nitrogen and risk for frailty obtained at follow-up of the participants, blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio was classified according to quintiles, Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to analyze the association between blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio and frailty.Results:A total of 1 562 participants aged (81.0±17.0) years were included, in whom 814 (52.1%) were men, and 258 frailty events occurred during a mean follow-up of (3.73±1.43) years. Cox proportional hazards model showed that after adjusting for relevant confounders, compared with the participants in the lowest quintile group ( Q1), the risk for frailty decreased by 36%, 44%, and 40% in the participants in the third quintile group ( Q3), the fourth quintile group ( Q4) and the highest quintile group ( Q5) respectively [hazard ratio ( HR)=0.64, 95% CI: 0.43-0.94; HR=0.56, 95% CI: 0.38-0.84; HR=0.60, 95% CI: 0.41-0.88]. The risk for frailty decreased by 20% for every unit standard deviation increase in blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio ( HR=0.80, 95% CI: 0.70-0.91). Moreover, blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio and the risk for frailty showed a nearly linear dose-response relationship. Conclusions:The increase in blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio was associated with higher risk for frailty. Maintaining high blood urea nitrogen to creatinine ratio is important for the prevention of frailty in the elderly.

The testis is pivotal for male reproduction, and its progressive functional decline in aging is associated with infertility. However, the regulatory mechanism underlying primate testicular aging remains largely elusive. Here, we resolve the aging-related cellular and molecular alterations of primate testicular aging by establishing a single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas. Gene-expression patterns along the spermatogenesis trajectory revealed molecular programs associated with attrition of spermatogonial stem cell reservoir, disturbed meiosis and impaired spermiogenesis along the sequential continuum. Remarkably, Sertoli cell was identified as the cell type most susceptible to aging, given its deeply perturbed age-associated transcriptional profiles. Concomitantly, downregulation of the transcription factor Wilms' Tumor 1 (WT1), essential for Sertoli cell homeostasis, was associated with accelerated cellular senescence, disrupted tight junctions, and a compromised cell identity signature, which altogether may help create a hostile microenvironment for spermatogenesis. Collectively, our study depicts in-depth transcriptomic traits of non-human primate (NHP) testicular aging at single-cell resolution, providing potential diagnostic biomarkers and targets for therapeutic interventions against testicular aging and age-related male reproductive diseases.
Animals ; Male ; Testis ; Sertoli Cells/metabolism* ; Transcriptome ; Spermatogenesis/genetics* ; Primates ; Aging/genetics* ; Stem Cells

Objective:To explore the effect of laryngeal massage combined with feeding training on swallowing function and quality of life in patients with poststroke swallowing disorders.Methods:From November 2021 to October 2022, convenience sampling was used to select 148 patients with poststroke swallowing disorders in the Department of Neurosurgery and Rehabilitation at the North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital. The patients were divided into a control group, a laryngeal massage group, a feeding training group, and a combination group using the random number table method, with 37 cases in each group. The control group was given routine nursing, while the laryngeal massage group and feeding training group respectively received laryngeal massage and feeding training on the basis of routine nursing. The combination group underwent laryngeal massage combined with feeding training on the basis of routine nursing. Before and after 2, 4, and 8 weeks of intervention, the Water Swallowing Test, Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA), and Chinese version Swallowing Quality of Life Questionnaire (SWAL-QOL) were used to compare the swallowing function and quality of life of four groups of patients with poststroke swallowing disorders.Results:After 2, 4, and 8 weeks of intervention, the Water Swallowing Test rating and efficacy evaluation of the 4 groups of patients with poststroke swallowing disorders were better than those before intervention ( P<0.05). Moreover, the SSA scores decreased compared to before intervention ( P<0.05), and the SWAL-QOL scores increased compared to before intervention ( P<0.05). The Water Swallowing Test efficacy evaluation and SWAL-QOL scores in the combined group were higher than those of the other groups ( P<0.05), while the SSA scores were lower than those of the other groups ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:Laryngeal massage and feeding training can improve the swallowing function and quality of life of patients with poststroke swallowing disorders, and the combination of the 2 interventions has a significant effect.

Objective:To analyze the changes of thyroid volume before and after supplementation with lipiodol pills in children with goiter, and to evaluate the recovery effect of lipiodol pills supplementation on children with goiter in the short term.Methods:In October 2018, 4 townships and towns in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture with relatively serious historical conditions and high goiter rate of children aged 8 to 10 were selected for thyroid examination in 19 primary schools within the jurisdiction. Sixty children with goiter were selected as research subjects; at the same time, 138 children of the same age with normal thyroid B-ultrasound examination results were selected as control in the same period. Under the condition of normal diet, children with goiter were intervened by taking 200 mg lipiodol pills at one time. After 6 months, the thyroid volume of children with goiter and control children was measured by B-ultrasound.Results:Fifty-three children with goiter were finally included, with a sex ratio of 1.00 ∶ 1.04 (26 ∶ 27). There were 138 control children in the same period, with a sex ratio of 1.00 ∶ 1.30 (60 ∶ 78). Six months after taking lipiodol pills, the median thyroid volume of children with goiter was 3.7 ml, which was significantly different from that before supplementing with lipidol pills (5.8 ml, Z = - 7.95, P < 0.001), and not significantly different from that of control children (4.1 ml) in the same period ( Z = - 0.91, P = 0.365). Among them, 90.6% (48/53) of children with goiter recovered to the normal range, and 100.0% (15/15), 81.8% (18/22) and 93.8% (15/16) children's thyroid recovered returned to the normal range in the 8-, 9-, and 10-year-old age groups, respectively, and the highest proportion was in the 8-year-old age group. Stratified by age and gender, the thyroid volume of children with goiter in all age groups and gender after supplementation with lipiodol pills was lower than that before supplementation with lipiodol pills ( P < 0.001), but there was no difference compared with the control children in the same period ( P > 0.05). After supplementing with lipiodol pills, the diameters of thyroid in children with goiter were significantly lower than those before supplementing with lipiodol pills ( P < 0.001). Compared with the control children in the same period, there were significant differences in the right width, left length and right long diameter of the thyroid ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:Supplementing lipiodol pills can restore the thyroid volume of 8 - 10 year old children with goiter to normal range in a short term, and can effectively treat simple goiter.

Objective:To investigate the protective effect of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-mediated heme oxygenase-1 ( HO-1) gene overexpression on retinitis pigmentosa (RP) models in rats. Methods:Eighty healthy male SD rats were selected and randomized into the blank control group, RP model group, AAV-GFP group and AAV-HO-1-GFP group, with 20 rats in each group.The RP model was established via tail vein injection of 1% sodium iodate solution at the dose of 50 mg/kg.Rats in the RP model group, AAV-GFP group and AAV-HO-1-GFP group were subretinally injected with normal saline, AAV-GFP virus and AAV-HO-1-GFP virus according to grouping.Rats in the blank control group were administrated with subretinal injection of equal volume of normal saline.The eyeballs of rats were enucleated on 14th day after molding.The retinal structure and thickness were detected by hematoxylin-eosin staining; apoptosis in retinal tissue was detected by TUNEL assay; the expression levels of cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3 (caspase 3), B-lymphoma-2 (bcl-2) and HO-1 protein in rats retina was identified by Western blot.The use and care of the animals complied with the Statement of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). The study protocol was approved by an Ethics Committee of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University (No.202188).Results:Hematoxylin-eosin staining results showed normal retinal structure in the blank control group, obvious retinal structure damage with thinned and wavy outer nuclear layer in the RP model group and AAV-GFP group, and mild retinal structure damage with slightly thinned outer nuclear layer in the AAV-HO-1-GFP group.Compared with the blank control group, the outer nuclear layer was significantly thinner in the RP model group and AAV-GFP group (both at P<0.05). Relative expression level of HO-1 protein in the RP model group, AAV-GFP group, and AAV-HO-1-GFP group was 0.76±0.21, 0.76±0.16, 0.92±0.05, respectively, which were all significantly higher than 0.48±0.25 in the blank control group (all at P<0.05). The relative expression level of HO-1 protein in the AAV-HO-1-GFP group was significantly higher than that in the RP model group and the AAV-GFP group (both at P<0.05). There were significant differences in apoptosis rate, the relative expression levels of bcl-2 and caspase 3 protein among the four groups ( F=1 596.333, 1 043.806, 364.331; all at P<0.01). The apoptosis rate and the relative expression level of caspase 3 were significantly higher, and the relative expression level of bcl-2 was lower in the RP model group and AAV-GFP group than those in the AAV-HO-1-GFP group (all at P<0.05). Conclusions:AAV-mediated overexpression of HO-1 gene can protect the retina of RP rats.

Multi-gene assays have emerged as crucial tools for risk stratification in early-stage breast cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of the 21-gene recurrence score (RS) in Chinese patients with pN0-1, estrogen receptor-positive (ER
Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics* ; Breast Neoplasms/pathology* ; Female ; Humans ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology* ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Receptor, ErbB-2/genetics* ; Receptors, Estrogen

Objective:To observe the effect of intermittent oro-esophageal tube feeding (IOE) on dysphagia patients with cerebral small vessel disease.Methods:Sixty such patients were randomly divided into an experimental group ( n=30) and a control group ( n=30). In addition to the routine basic treatment and swallowing function training, the control group was given nasogastric tube feeding, while the experimental group was provided with IOE. Before and after two weeks of the treatment the swallowing function and nutritional status of both groups were evaluated along with the incidence of pneumonia, ability in the activities of daily living and general quality of life. Results:Before the intervention, there were no significant differences between the two groups in any of the measurements. Afterward significant improvements were observed in all of the measurements in both groups, but the experimental group had improved significantly more than the control group in terms of each measure.Conclusions:IOE is superior to NG in improving the nutrition and swallowing function of patients with dysphagia and cerebral small vessel disease. It betters their ability in daily life activities and their quality of life.

Purpose: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the distribution pattern and prognostic value of 21-gene recurrence score (RS) in Chinese patients with mucinous breast cancer (MC) and compared with infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC). Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed with MC or IDC from January 2010 to January 2017 were retrospectively recruited. Reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction assay of 21 genes was conducted to calculate the RS. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the association between RS and clinicopathological factors. Survival outcomes including disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated by Kaplan-Meier method and compared by log-rank test. Results: The MC cohort included 128 patients and the IDC cohort included 707 patients. The proportions of patients with a low (RS < 18), intermediate (18-30), or high risk (RS > 30) were 32.0%, 48.4%, and 19.5% in MC cohort, and 26.9%, 46.8% and 26.3% in IDC cohort. The distribution of RS varied significantly according to different Ki-67 index and molecular subtype in both cohorts. Moreover, the receipt of chemotherapy was associated with RS in both cohorts. Among patients with MC, tumor stage was related to the DFS (p=0.040). No significant differences in DFS and OS were found among MC patients in different RS risk groups (OS, p=0.695; DFS, p=0.926). Conclusion RS was significantly related to Ki-67 index and molecular subtypes in MC patients, which is similar in IDC patients. However, RS was not able to predict DFS and OS in patients with MC.

Biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following curative resection are not currently sufficient for prognostic indication of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic performance of osteopontin (OPN), matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7), and pregnancy specific glycoprotein 9 (PSG9) in patients with HCC. A total of 179 prospective patients with HCC provided plasma before hepatectomy. Plasma OPN, MMP7, and PSG9 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Correlations between plasma levels, clinical parameters, and outcomes (OS and DFS) were overall analyzed. High OPN ( ⩾ 149.97 ng/mL), MMP7 ( ⩾ 2.28 ng/mL), and PSG9 ( ⩾ 45.59 ng/mL) were prognostic indicators of reduced OS (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.007, respectively). Plasma PSG9 protein level was an independent factor in predicting OS (P = 0.008) and DFS (P = 0.038). Plasma OPN + MMP7 + PSG9 elevation in combination was a prognostic factor for OS (P < 0.001). OPN was demonstrated to be a risk factorassociated OS in stage I patients with HCC and patients with low α-fetoprotein levels ( < 20 ng/mL). These findings suggested that OPN, MMP7, PSG9 and their combined panels may be useful for aiding in tumor recurrence and mortality risk prediction of patients with HCC, particularly in the early stage of HCC carcinogenesis.
Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; mortality ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; mortality ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Osteopontin ; blood ; Pregnancy-Specific beta 1-Glycoproteins ; analysis ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Survival Analysis