Humans ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Constipation/therapy* ; Probiotics/therapeutic use* ; Patients

Objective:To study the regulatory mechanism of p38 MAPK signaling pathway participate in hyperalge-sia reaction in Parkinson's disease(PD)rats model induced by 6-hydroxy dopamine(6-OHDA).Methods:Forty male Sprague Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into four groups:Sham group(Sham),model group(6-OHDA),p38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 treatment group(6-OHDA+SB203580)and p38 MAPK activator anisomycin(ANS)treatment group(6-OHDA+ANS).PD model was established by intra-striatal injection of 6-OHDA stereotactically.6-OHDA+SB203580 and 6-OHDA+ANS groups was injected with 6-OHDA to establish PD model,and treated with inhibitor SB203580 or activator ANS respectively.The von Frey hairs were applied to measure the mechanical paw with-draw threshold(PWT)of rats.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the content of IL-6,IL-1β,and TNF-α in rat dorsal root ganglion(DRG).The mRNA levels of genes IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α,and p38 MAPK in rat DRG was detected by real time RT-PCR.Results:In the DRG of 6-OHDA included PD rats,the expres-sion levels of IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α,and p38 MAPK were significantly increased(P＜0.05),and the PWT of rats were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The application of activator ANS further increased the expression levels of IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α,and p38 MAPK,and the PWT of rats were decreased.After application of inhibitor SB203580,the ex-pression levels of IL-6,IL-1β,TNF-α and p38 MAPK were significantly decreased in the DRG of rats(P＜0.05),and the PWT were significantly increased in rats(P＜0.05).Conclusion:6-OHDA induces mechanical hyperalgesia reaction in rats,and the molecular mechanism is related to activation of the p38 MAPK signalling pathway.

Objective To evaluate the imaging features of posterior circulation ischemic stroke caused by vertebral artery dissection(VAD)by high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging(HR-MRI).Methods A total of 56 patients with highly suspected VAD were selected.According to HR-MRI characteristics,these patients were divided into ischemic stroke group(n=23)and control group(n=33).The correlation between imaging features and risk factors in the two groups was analyzed.Results The proportions of intramural hematoma,tumor-like dilatation,and degree of vessel wall enhancement in the ischemic stroke group were significantly higher than those in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).However,there was no statistical significance in the double-chamber sign and intimal valve sign(P=0.075).Correlation analysis showed that the effective lumen index was significantly negatively correlated with the incidence of posterior circulation ischemic stroke in patients with VAD(r=-0.721,P<0.05),and the area under the curve(AUC)of the effective lumen index reached 0.935.Conclusion The effective features of HR-MRI in the diagnosis of posterior circulation ischemic stroke caused by VAD include intramural hematoma,tumor-like dilatation,degree of vessel wall enhancement,and reduction of effective lumen index,which are helpful for the management and prediction of patients with VAD.

Objective To investigate the application value of the global myocardial work parameters in the non-invasive pressure-strain loop (PSL) technology for early assessment of left ventricular systolic function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 74 patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) who were hospitalized in the Nephrology Department of Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen Branch), Fudan University, from August 2021 to December 2021. Based on CKD stages, patients were divided into early group (CKD stages 1-3) and advanced group (CKD stages 4-5). Additionally, 30 healthy volunteers matched for age and gender were selected as the control group. General clinical data, routine left ventricular ultrasound indicators, myocardial strain, and global myocardial work parameters were collected and compared among the three groups. Correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were used to assess the influencing factors of myocardial work. Results There were no statistically significant differences in global work index (GWI) and global constructive work (GCW) among the three groups. Compared to the control group, both CKD groups showed significantly reduced global work efficiency (GWE), along with significantly increased global waste work (GWW, P＜0.05). The absolute value of global longitudinal strain (GLS) in the advanced CKD group (n＝42) was significantly lower than that in the early CKD group (n＝32; [﹣17.09±0.82]% vs [﹣18.33±0.90]%, P＜0.05), and GWE was also significantly lower (93.00%[90.00%, 95.00%] vs 96.00%[92.25%, 96.75%], P＜0.05), while GWW was significantly higher than that in the early CKD group (150.00 mmHg%[105.25 mmHg%, 215.00 mmHg%] vs 88.00 mmHg%[64.25 mmHg%, 144.50 mmHg%], P＜0.05). Correlation analysis showed that GWE was negatively correlated with the absolute value of GLS and peak strain dispersion (PSD; r＝﹣0.396, ﹣0.558, P＜0.05), GWW was positively correlated with absolute value of GLS, and PSD (r＝0.341, 0.610, P＜0.01). Multiple linear regression results indicated that PSD was an independent influencing factor for GWE (β＝﹣0.558, P＜0.001) and GWW (β＝0.538, P＜0.001). Conclusions The myocardial work parameters GWE and GWW in non-invasive left ventricular PSL technology can identify subclinical left ventricular systolic dysfunction in patients with CKD early and quantitatively.

Objective:To investigate the effect of bone mesenchymal stem cells derived exosomes (BMSC-Exo) on improving hippocampal microangiogenesis, energy metabolism, and behaviors in depression mouse models.Methods:(1) Mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and cultured to extract BMSC-Exo; BMSC-Exo morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy, BMSC-Exo particle diameter ranges were determined by Zetaview analyzer, and expressions of CD9 and CD63 in BMSC-Exo were detected by Western blotting. (2) Depression models were established in 2 mice by chronic unforeseeable mild stress (CUMS); 24 h after stereotaxic injection of phosphate buffer solution (PBS) or DiR labeled BMSC-Exo, BMSC-Exo uptake was detected by in vivo imaging system. (3) Thirty-six mice were randomly divided into control group, model group and BMSC-Exo group ( n=12); CUMS was used to establish depression models in the latter 2 groups; brain stereotaxic injection of 1 μL BMSC-Exo was given to mice in the BMSC-Exo group after modeling, and same amount of PBS was given to the control group; behaviors were observed by forced swimming test (FST), tail suspension test (TST) and open field test (OFT); hippocampal microvascular length and number were detected by alkaline phosphatase staining; energy metabolism in the hippocampus was detected by micro positron emission tomography/computed tomography (mPET/CT); glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) expression in the hippocampus was detected by Western blotting. Results:(1) BMSC-Exo had a typical disk-like vesicle-like structure with particle size of (100.5±1.4) nm; Western blotting confirmed that CD9 and CD63 expressed in BMSC-Exo. (2) In vivo imaging showed no fluorescence in the brain and liver after PBS injection, but obvious local fluorescence after BMSC-Exo injection. (3) Compared with the control group, the model group and BMSC-Exo group had significantly longer rest time in FST and TST and shorter movement distance and time in the central region of OFT ( P<0.05); compared with the model group, BMSC-Exo group had significantly shorter rest time in FST and TST and longer movement distance and time in the central region of OFT ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the model group and BMSC-Exo group had significantly decreased standard uptake value (SUV) of regions of interest, microvascular length and number, and GLUT1 expression in the hippocampus ( P<0.05); compared with the model group, the BMSC-Exo group had significantly higher SUV, microvascular length and number, and GLUT1 expression in the hippocampus ( P<0.05). Positive correlations were noted between hippocampal microvascular length and SUV and between microvascular number and SUV in the 3 groups ( r=0.540, P<0.001; r=0.600, P<0.001). Conclusion:BMSC-Exo could promote microangiogenesis energy metabolism in the hippocampus to improve depression-like behaviors in depression mouse models.

To address the problem of low accuracy in multi-classification recognition of motor imagery electroencephalogram(EEG)signals,a recognition method is proposed based on differential entropy and convolutional neural network for 4-class classification of motor imagery.EEG signals are extracted into 4 frequency bands(Alpha,Beta,Theta,and Gamma)through the filter,followed by the computation of differential entropy for each frequency band.According to the spatial characteristics of brain electrodes,the data structure is reconstructed into three-dimensional EEG signal feature cube which is input into convolutional neural network for 4-class classification.The method achieves an accuracy of 95.88%on the BCI Competition IV-2a public dataset.Additionally,a 4-class classification motor imagery dataset is established in the laboratory for the same processing,and an accuracy of 94.50%is obtained.The test results demonstrate that the proposed method exhibits superior recognition performance.

Objective:To explore the association between changes in brain structural network during the early stage of stroke recovery and the onset of post-stroke depression (PSD).Methods:A total of 87 acute ischemic stroke patients scheduled for discharge, who were admitted to the Yixing Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University from March 2020 to May 2021, were prospectively collected. During the same period, 34 healthy control subjects matched with the stroke patients were also collected. All participants underwent systematic magnetic resonance imaging scans and scale assessments, and were followed up longitudinally for 2 years. Based on the occurrence of depression during follow-up, the stroke patients were divided into PSD group and post-stroke non-depression (PSND) group. Graph theoretical analysis was used to analyze the topological characteristics of brain structural network. Analysis of variance was used to explore the differences in brain structural network attributes among groups. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the predictive power of differential brain network attributes for PSD. Linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between the synergism of non-rich-club regions and changes in rich-club connectivity.Results:The rich-club connectivity and synergism of the non-rich-club regions were significantly lower in the PSD group than in the PSND group (rich-club connectivity, P<0.01; synergism of feeder/local, P<0.001). The regression model demonstrated that the synergism of non-rich-club regions had a good predictive power for the occurrence of PSD ( OR=1.195, 95%CI 1.073-1.471, P<0.001). Furthermore, linear regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between the synergism of non-rich-club regions and Δrich-club connectivity ( r=-0.691, P<0.001). Conclusion:The good synergism of non-rich-club regions during the early stage of stroke recovery promotes the repair of rich-club connectivity and inhibits the onset of PSD.

Objective:To investigate the features of the brain structural network in patients with postpartum depression (PPD).Methods:This cross-sectional study included PPD patients who visited the mental health counseling clinic after delivery at the Jiangsu University Affiliated Yixing Hospital from June 2013 to September 2022 (PPD group). Matched non-PPD postpartum women based on age, years of education, and body mass index who came for postpartum follow-up (non-PPD postpartum group), and non-pregnant women who visited the hospital or underwent physical examinations during the same period (non-pregnant group) were also included. Demographic data and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data were collected for all three groups. The brain was partitioned into 90 regions using an anatomical template to construct the brain structural network. Network-based statistics (NBS) were applied to further screen and construct subnetworks. The efficacy of the subnetworks in identifying PPD was evaluated through multivariable logistics regression models and receiver operating characteristic curves. A comparison of the connectivity strength of white matter tracts and topological attributes of brain structural network parameters was conducted using independent samples t-tests, and the results were corrected using the false discovery rate (FDR) method. Results:(1) A total of 116 subjects were included, with 40 in the non-pregnant group, 40 in the non-PPD postpartum group, and 36 in the PPD group. PPD group had higher Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) scores than the non-pregnant and non-PPD postpartum groups [(18.0±4.1) scores vs. (2.5±1.2) and (6.1±2.1) scores, F=340.40; t=24.65,10.60 and 16.16 in pairwise comparison; all P<0.001]. (2) Compared to the non-pregnant group, there was a decrease in the connectivity strength of nine white matter tracts within the brain structural network of the postpartum group (including left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus-left anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyrus, left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus-right amygdala, left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus-left insula, left insula-left lentiform nucleus, left insula-left hippocampus, left hippocampus-right amygdala, left hippocampus-left precuneus, left anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyrus-right amygdala, and right amygdala-right hippocampus) (all P<0.05, FDR corrected). No increased connection strengths were observed. There were no significant differences in the connection strengths of these nine tracts between the non-PPD and PPD groups. (3) A characteristic subnetwork for the maternal group was successfully constructed based on the nine tracts, which exhibited typical small-world properties (σ>1). Compared to the non-PPD maternal group, the characteristic path length in the PPD group was increased [(3.904±0.328) vs. (4.130±0.433), t=－2.58], and global efficiency was decreased [(0.361±0.036) vs. (0.331±0.053), t=2.91] (both P<0.05). Local property comparisons showed that the node efficiency values for the left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, left insula, left anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyrus, left hippocampus, right hippocampus, right amygdala, left precuneus and left putamen in the PPD group were significantly reduced [(0.273±0.023) vs. (0.267±0.030), t=0.98; (0.299±0.035) vs. (0.276±0.041), t=2.64; (0.265±0.019) vs. (0.258±0.025), t=1.38; (0.318±0.028) vs. (0.305±0.031), t=1.92; (0.312±0.027) vs. (0.302±0.031), t=1.50; (0.322±0.030) vs. (0.298±0.026), t=3.71; (0.356±0.040) vs. (0.338±0.056), t=1.62; (0.346±0.028) vs. (0.331±0.036), t=1.74; all P<0.05]. However, only the differences in node efficiency values for the left insula and right amygdala remained significant after FDR correction (corrected P=0.041 and 0.003). (4) Global efficiency, as well as node efficiency for the left insula and right amygdala, demonstrated good value for identifying PPD [areas under the curve (AUC) and their 95% CI were 0.827 (0.732-0.922), 0.741 (0.628-0.854), and 0.761 (0.653-0.867), respectively], with even better performance when combined [0.897 (0.828-0.969)]. (5) In the PPD group, global efficiency ( r=－0.43, P=0.008), node efficiency for the left insula ( r=－0.39, P=0.019), and node efficiency for the right amygdala ( r=－0.42, P=0.011) were all negatively correlated with EPDS scores. Conclusion:Aberrations in global efficiency, node efficiency for the left insula, and node efficiency for the right amygdala may serve as characteristic neuroimaging biomarkers for PPD.

As cardiovascular disease(CVD)incidence and mortality rates continue to rise in China,the importance of identifying and managing CVD risk factors grows.Obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)is a prevalent sleep-related breathing disorder,affecting an estimated 936 million individuals aged 30-69 worldwide,with China leading globally with 176 million affected.Increasing research indicates a close association between OSA and the onset and progression of various CVD,significantly affecting outcomes.However,OSA has long been underrecognized and undertreated in CVD clinical practice.To address this,National Expert Commission for Cardiovascular Diseases,Cardiovascular Group,Chinese Academy Society of Sleep Medicine,Chinese Medical Doctor Association,and Geriatric Sleep Disorders and Cardiopulmonary Group,Division of Sleep Science and Technology,China Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics convened multidisplinary experts to formulate the"Expert Consensus on the Evaluation and Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients With Cardiovascular Diseases(2024 Edition)".This consensus addresses core clinical issues such as screening,diagnosis,treatment,and follow-up of CVD patients with OSA.It offers 17 recommendations on common clinical questions,based on current evidence-based medicine,following extensive discussions and votes,aiming to standardize the assessment and management of OSA in Chinese CVD patients,support clinical decision-making,and improve clinical care and service quality.

Pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis(LAM)is a rare chronic progressive diffuse cystic lung disease that mainly occurs in women of reproductive age.Pulmonary hypertension is a rare complication of LAM.Currently,there is insufficient evidence on the epidemiology,pathogenesis and treatment strategy of LAM related pulmonary hypertension.We reported a case of a woman at reproductive age with shortness of breath and diagnosed with LAM by the combination of specific lung imaging features and serum vascular endothelial growth factor D.Precapillary pulmonary hypertension was confirmed by right cardiac catheterization.Her condition was stable with Sirolimus and home oxygen therapy.