The gut microbiota is a vast microbial ecosystem,specifically present in the organism and plays an important regulatory role in the body's health or disease state together with its metabolites.After spinal cord injury,the complex pathophysiology at the site of trauma makes axonal regeneration difficult,and the autonomic motor dysfunction induced by spinal cord injury disrupts gastrointestinal function and causes gut microbiota imbalance.The previous clinical outcomes of neurorepair strategies after spinal cord injury have not been ideal.The dysregulated gut microbiota and neuroinflammation after spinal cord injury are closely associated with the prognosis of the patients.The potential mechanisms by which the gut microbiota may influence the neuroinflammation after spinal cord injury may include the activation of gut-associated lymphoid tissue and disruption of the intestinal barrier by the imbalanced microbiota,and gut microbiota and its metabolites such as lipopolysaccharides(LPS),short chain fatty acids(SCFAs),5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),and tryptophan,as well as immune cells,inflammatory factors,and neurotransmitters the local inflammatory response in the spinal cord through the circulatory system.This paper revews the studies on the changes in gut microbiota after spinal cord injury and their effects on the spinal cord neuroinflammation,providing new targets and new ideas for improving the neuroinflammation after spinal cord injury.

Objective To develop an effective method for delivering VEGF and CD47 double-modified exosomes to treat renal damage induced by heat stroke so as to reduce and repair renal damage.Methods A plasmid fusion-expressing VEGF and CD47 targeting renal injury was constructed,transfected into rat bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs),and then fusion-exosomes were isolated and extracted.Transmission electron microscopy,nanoparticle tracking analysis,and Western blotting were used to identify the obtained exosomes.Rats were intravenously injected with 200 μg of DiD-labeled unmodified exosomes,VEGF-modified exosomes and VEGF-CD47 double-modified exosomes,respectively,through the tail vein,and the effects of exosomes on the kidneys were detected and analyzed using a small animal in vivo imaging instrument.A total of 60 SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups,with 10 rats in each group,that is,blank control group (group A),heat stroke-induced renal injury model receiving PBS in 12,24 and 36 h after modelling (group B),empty plasmid group (group C),Exos group (group D),ExosVEGF group (group E) and ExosVEGF-CD47.Kidney tissue and blood samples were collected in 72 h after 3 times of treatment.Pathological changes in kidney tissue were observed at the tissue level and the damage were scored.Changes in serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN)and serum creatinine (Scr)levels were detected to evaluate the therapeutic effect.Western blotting and qRT-PCR were used to analyze the expression of the pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α and NF-κB,the proliferation regulatory signaling molecules Ki67,FGF2,pAMPK and pERK,and the fibrosis regulatory molecule FGF23,in order to comprehensively analyze the effects on proliferation and inhibition of fibrosis.Results BMMSCs and ExosVEGF-CD47 were successfully isolated and characterized,and a rat model of acute kidney injury was effectively constructed.Higher fluorescence intensity was found in the kidney tissue of the Exos VEGF-CD47group than the Exos-Ctrl group and Exos VEGF group (P<0.05).In 72 h after treatment,the ExosVEGF-CD47 group had significantly lower serum BUN and Scr levels (P<0.0001),and notably lower Tubular casts score (P<0.0001),decreased levels of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α and NF-κB (P<0.0001),up-regulated Ki67 and FGF2 expression (P<0.05),and down-regulated FGF23 expression (P<0.0001)when compared with the AKI+Exos group and AKI+ExosVEGF group.Conclusion VEGF and CD47 show promise in targeting acute kidney injury induced by heat stroke,effectively mitigate damage and facilitate repair,which may be due to exosome-mediated inhibition of renal tissue inflammation,promotion of proliferation,and inhibition of fibrosis.

Purpose: In non-metastatic prostate cancer (nmPCa) setting, it is important to early identify the patients at risk of biochemical recurrence (BCR) for immediate postoperative intervention. Our study aimed to evaluate the potential clinical utility of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for predicting disease recurrence. Materials and Methods: This real-world observational study evaluated 161 cases of nmPCa undergoing next-generation sequencing at our institution. A total of 139 ctDNA samples and 31 biopsied tumor tissue underwent genomic profiling. The study endpoint was BCR after radical prostatectomy. Relationships between the ctDNA status and the biochemical progression-free survival (bPFS) were analyzed by log-rank test and multivariate Cox regression. Results: Of 161 enrolled patients, 19 (11.8%) harbored deleterious alterations in NCOR2, followed by BRCA2 (3.7%), ATR (2.5%), and CDK12 (2.5%). Of available pre-operative blood samples (n=139), ctDNA was detectable in 91 (65.5%). Until last follow-up, 56 of 68 patients (85.3%) with detectable ctDNA had achieved BCR, whereas only eight of 39 patients (20.5%) with undetectable ctDNA had achieved BCR. Patients who had undetectable ctDNA experienced significantly longer bPFS compared with those who had detectable ctDNA (not available vs. 8.2 months; hazard ratio, 0.14; p < 0.01). Pre-operative ctDNA status was a significant prognostic factor of disease recurrence. Conclusion Pre-operative ctDNA detection could identify patients at high risk of recurrence and has the potential to inform immediate postoperative interventions, but these approaches remain to be validated in prospective studies. ctDNA studies can provide insights into accurate monitoring and precise treatment rather than simply following routine clinical care.

Patients with spinal cord injury is associated with seriously affected gastrointestinal function and imbalance of intestinal flora, leading to increased inflammation of spinal cord nerves. With the proposal of the theory of gut microbiota-gut-brain axis in recent years, the regulatory role of gut microbiota in the central nervous system and gastrointestinal system has gradually attracted attention. Although a considerable number of studies have focused on the effects of intestinal flora characteristics on spinal cord nerve function repair in patients with spinal cord injury from different perspectives, there are numerous research models for treating spinal cord injury with intestinal flora as intervention targets and remains a lack of unified and effective clinical treatment methods. In this paper, the authors review the research progress in characteristics of intestinal microflora and intestinal microflora-targeted therapeutic methods in patients with spinal cord injury, hoping to provide a reference for the clinical treatment and basic research of spinal cord injury.

Objective:To explore the feasibility of staging Wilson's disease (WD) based on imaging indexes, and evaluate the clinical characteristic differences of WD patients at different stages.Methods:Sixty WD patients (40 with cerebral type and 20 with hepatic type) hospitalized in Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from July 2015 to June 2022 and 20 age- and gender-matched normal controls were selected. All subjects accepted susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS); 7 regions of interest were selected: globus pallidus, caudate nucleus, putamen, thalamus, cerebellum, midbrain and pons; their fractional anisotropy (FA), corrected phase (CP), N-acetylaspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr) values were measured. According to DTI, SWI and MRS results, WD patients were divided into group of metal deposition stage (decreased CP, normal FA and NAA/Cr), group of fiber damage stage (abnormal FA, normal NAA/Cr), and group of neuron necrosis stage (decreased NAA/Cr); the clinical data (modified Young scale scores, Child-Pugh grading of liver function, serum copper content, and urinary copper content) and imaging indexes (FA, CP, and NAA/Cr) among the 3 groups and control group were compared. Results:Among the 60 patients, 19 patients were at metal deposition stage (including 18 with liver type and 1 with brain type), 28 patients at fiber injury stage (including 2 with liver type and 26 with brain type), and 13 patients at neuron necrosis stage (all brain type). (1) Compared with group of metal deposition stage and fiber damage stage, group of neuron necrosis stage had significantly decreased urinary copper content ( P<0.05). The modified Young scale scores in groups of metal deposition stage, fiber injury stage and neuronal necrosis stage increased successively; Child-Pugh grading in group of metal deposition stage was higher than that in groups of fiber injury stage and neuronal necrosis stage. (2) Compared with groups of metal deposition stage and neuron necrosis stage, CP values in the globus pallidus and substantia nigra in group of fiber injury stage group were significantly decreased ( P<0.05). Compared with groups of metal deposition stage and fiber injury stage, the FA value in the putamen and NAA/Cr value in the pallidum, thalamus and caudate nucleus in group of neuron necrosis stage were significantly decreased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Disease stages of WD patients can be divided by imaging methods; neurological symptoms gradually worsen following progressed WD.

Objective:To explore the mediating effects of parental perceptions of child vulnerability (PPCV) and child anxiety in the relationship between parental social support and the quality of life in children with epilepsy.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. Totally 315 children with epilepsy and their 315 parents who visited the neurologic outpatient clinic for video EEG monitoring from September 2021 to April 2022 were selected by convenience sampling and investigated with General Information Questionnaire, Child Vulnerability Scale (CVS), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), PROMIS Parents Report Anxiety Short Form, and the Quality of Life in Children with Epilepsy-16 (QOLCE-16). Pearson correlation was used to analyze the relationships between quality of life in children with epilepsy and variables such as parental social support, PPCV, and child anxiety. AMOS 22.0 was utilized to establish a structural equation model to examine the relationships among the variables. A total of 315 questionnaires were distributed, with 295 valid questionnaires retrieved, yielding a response rate of 93.7%.Results:The scores for the 295 parents on the SSRS, CVS, PROMIS Parents Report Anxiety Short Form, and QOLCE-16 were (40.75±10.24), (8.08±4.84), (16.40±5.98), and (72.01±15.43), respectively. Parental social support was negatively correlated with PPCV and child anxiety ( P<0.01), and both PPCV and child anxiety were negatively correlated with the child's quality of life ( P<0.01), while parental social support had a positive correlation with the child's quality of life ( P<0.01). PPCV and child anxiety mediated the relationship between parental social support and the child's quality of life ( P<0.01), with the direct and indirect effects being 0.301 and 0.205 respectively. Conclusions:Parental social support can directly affect the quality of life of children with epilepsy, and also indirectly influence it through PPCV and child anxiety. Clinical nursing staff should provide more care and support for children with epilepsy and their parents, helping to deepen their understanding of the disease, reduce levels of PPCV and child anxiety, thereby enhancing the quality of life for children with epilepsy.

Objective:To investigate the current status of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with epilepsy using the Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire (QOLCE-16) and identify its influencing factors.Methods:Totally 289 epileptic children and their parents who visited the epilepsy center of Shanghai Children's Hospital from May 2021 to April 2022 were selected for the study by convenience sampling. Data were collected using general information surveys, epilepsy knowledge questionnaires, Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) , and the QOLCE-16. A stepwise linear regression was performed to analyze the factors influencing the HRQoL of children with epilepsy. Out of 289 questionnaires distributed, 261 valid responses were received, yielding a valid response rate of 90.31% (261/289) .Results:The QOLCE-16 score for the 261 children with epilepsy was (71.05±14.04) . Stepwise linear regression revealed that single-parent family, presence of comorbidities, utilization of social support, and the accuracy rate of the epilepsy knowledge questionnaire were influencing factors for HRQoL in children with epilepsy.Conclusions:The HRQoL in children with epilepsy requires further enhancement. Clinical nursing processes should pay attention to the child's family situation, alleviate negative emotions, encourage active treatment cooperation, assist in social interaction, and provide family-centered health education to improve the quality of life for children with epilepsy.

Acupuncture can improve the motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease, and the effect of acupuncture combined with drug therapy is better than that of drug therapy alone. The possible mechanism includes inhibiting α-synuclein aggregation, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation, inhibiting the apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons, and achieving a neuroprotective effect. The points mainly selected for Acupuncture treatment for this disease are Zusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Taichong (LR 3), Xuehai (SP 10), and other points. Early use of acupuncture and acupuncture combined with medical treatment strategy is worthy of clinical application.

Objective:To study the impact of simultaneous ligation of splenic artery on prognosis of patients with severe hypersplenism in liver transplantation.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 206 patients who underwent liver transplantation in the Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from December 2016 to February 2019. There were 180 males and 26 females, aged (51.0±9.0) years old. Fifty-one patients underwent splenic artery ligation during liver transplantation and they were enrolled into the observation group, and 155 patients without splenic artery ligation were enrolled into the control group. The changes in white blood cells (WBC), platelets, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin and serum creatinine as well as the incidence of postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.Results:The platelet count of the observation group was significantly lower than those of the control group before operation and on days 1, 3, 7, 30 and 90 after operation, (all P<0.05). The WBC counts in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group before operation and on days 1 and 3 after operation (all P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the WBC counts between the two groups on days 5, 7, 30 and 90 after operation (all P>0.05). There were also no significant differences in alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin indexes between the two groups after surgery (all P>0.05), but the serum creatinine levels in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group on days 3, 5, 7 and 30 after surgery (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the rates of infection, severe acute rejection, biliary tract complications, arterial/portal thrombosis and mental complications between the two groups (all P>0.05). The rate of renal replacement therapy for acute kidney injury in the observation group (9.8%, 5/55) was significantly higher than that in the control group (1.3%, 2/155) ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Ligation of splenic artery during liver transplantation was safe and it had a significant advantage in the early postoperative recovery of WBC count and creatinine without increasing the incidence of complications in patients with severe hypersplenism.

Objective:To study the risk factors and treatment of portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in patients after liver transplantation.Methods:The clinical data of 290 recipients who underwent liver transplantation at the Department of Hepatology, the Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from July 2015 to April 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 245 males and 45 females, with a median age of 51(44, 56) years old. The liver transplantation recipients were divided into two groups according to whether PVT occurred or not after operation: the PVT group ( n=16) and the non-PVT group ( n=274). Gender, age and other clinical data of the recipients were compared between the two groups. Outpatient and inpatient follow-up were performed. The risk factors of postoperative PVT were analysed in the liver transplantation recipients. Results:The median follow-up of these 290 liver transplant recipients was 59(42, 73) months, and 16 patients were confirmed to have PVT after operation, with an incidence of 5.5%(16/290). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative PVT ( OR=12.773, 95% CI: 3.887-41.973) was an independent risk factor for PVT after liver transplantation. For the 16 patients with postoperative PVT, 10 were treated with portal vein intervention, and the remaining 6 patients were treated with oral aspirin or rivaroxaban anticoagulation due to mild symptoms. The 3-year survival rate of the PVT group was 93.8% (15/16), while that of the non-PVT group was 90.1% (247/274). There was no significant difference in the 3-year survival rates between the two groups (χ 2<0.01, P=0.969). Conclusions:Preoperative PVT in recipients was an independent risk factor for PVT after liver transplantation. For patients with postoperative PVT, appropriate treatment resulted in good results without affecting the long-term prognosis of these patients.