Potassium affects the association between dietary intake of vitamin C and NAFLD among adults in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: Although the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and vitamin C has been well studied, the effects of dietary potassium intake on this relationship are still unclear. Thus, this study aimed to determine the effects of dietary potassium intake on the association between vitamin C and NAFLD. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional learn about with 9443 contributors the usage of 2007-2018 NHANES data. Multiple logistic regression evaluation has been utilized to check out the affiliation of dietary vitamin C intake with NAFLD and advanced hepatic fibrosis (AHF). Subsequently, we plotted a smoothed match curve to visualize the association. Especially, the analysis of AHF was conducted among the NAFLD population. In addition, stratified evaluation used to be developed primarily based on demographic variables to verify the steadiness of the results. Effect amendment by way of dietary potassium intake used to be assessed via interplay checks between vitamin C and NAFLD in the multivariable linear regression. RESULTS: In this cross-sectional study, we found that vitamin C was negatively related to NAFLD and AHF. The relationship between vitamin C and NAFLD was different in the low, middle and high potassium intake groups. Furthermore, potassium intake significantly modified the negative relationship between vitamin C and NAFLD in most of the models. CONCLUSION: Our research showed that potassium and vitamin C have an interactive effect in reducing NAFLD, which may have great importance for clinical medication.

Associations between trans fatty acids and systemic immune-inflammation index: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that trans fatty acids (TFAs) intake was linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases. As a novel systemic inflammatory biomarker, the clinical value and efficacy of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) have been widely explored. However, the association between TFAs and SII is still unclear. Therefore, the study aims to investigate the connection between TFAs and SII in US adults. METHODS: The study retrieved data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for the years 1999-2000 and 2009-2010. Following the exclusion of ineligible participants, the study encompassed a total of 3047 individuals. The research employed a multivariate linear regression model to investigate the connection between circulating TFAs and SII. Furthermore, the restricted cubic spline (RCS) model was utilized to evaluate the potential nonlinear association. Subgroup analysis was also conducted to investigate the latent interactive factors. RESULTS: In this investigation, participants exhibited a mean age of 47.40 years, with 53.91% of them being female. Utilizing a multivariate linear regression model, the independent positive associations between the log2-transformed palmitelaidic acid, the log2 transformed-vaccenic acid, the log2-transformed elaidic acid, the log2-transformed linolelaidic acid, and the log2-transformed-total sum of TFAs with the SII (all P < 0.05) were noted. In the RCS analysis, no nonlinear relationship was observed between the log2-transformed palmitelaidic acid, the log2 transformed-vaccenic acid, the log2-transformed elaidic acid, the log2-transformed linolelaidic acid, the log2-transformed-total sum of TFAs and the SII (all P for nonlinear > 0.05). For the stratified analysis, the relationship between the circulating TFAs and the SII differed by the obesity status and the smoking status. CONCLUSIONS: A positive association was investigated between three types of TFA, the sum of TFAs, and the SII in the US population. Additional rigorously designed studies are needed to verify the results and explore the potential mechanism.

Less common phenotypes of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-related diseases in children deserve more attention.

BACKGROUND: To facilitate the identification of less common clinical phenotypes of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) in children. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 236 patients with MOGAD. The following phenotypes were considered to be typical for MOGAD: ADEM, ON, TM, and NMOSD. Less common onset clinical phenotypes were screened out; their clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis were summarized and analyzed. RESULTS: 16 cases (6.8%) presented as cortical encephalitis, with convulsions, headache, and fever as the main symptoms. 15 cases were misdiagnosed in the early period. 13 cases (5.5%) showed the overlapping syndrome of MOGAD and anti-N-methyl-D aspartate receptor encephalitis (MNOS), with seizures (92.3%) being the most common clinical symptom. 11 cases (84.6%) showed relapses. The cerebral leukodystrophy-like phenotype was present in seven cases (3.0%), with a recurrence rate of 50%. Isolated seizures without any findings on MRI phenotype was present in three cases (1.3%), with the only clinical symptom being seizures of focal origin. Three cases (1.3%) of aseptic meningitis phenotype presented with prolonged fever. CONCLUSION: 40/236 (16.9%) of children with MOGAD had less common phenotypes. Less common clinical phenotypes of pediatric MOGAD are susceptible to misdiagnosis and deserve more attention. IMPACT: This is the first comprehensive analysis and summary of all less commonl clinical phenotypes of MOGAD in children, while previous studies have only focused on a specific phenotype or case reports. We analyzed the characteristics of MOGAD in children and further revealed the reasons why these less common clinical phenotypes are prone to misdiagnosis and deserve more attention. Our research on treatment has shown that early detection of MOG antibodies and early treatment are of great significance for improving the prognosis of these patients.

Association between frailty and hepatic fibrosis in NAFLD among middle-aged and older adults: results from NHANES 2017-2020.

Background: Although previous studies found that frailty is prevalent in NAFLD patients with advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, studies examining the relationship are spare. Aim: Our study aspires to investigate the potential correlation between the Frailty Index (FI) and hepatic fibrosis among middle-aged and older adults with NAFLD. Methods: Data from the 2017-2020.03 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were utilized for this study, with a final of 2,383 participants aged 50 years and older included. The quantification of frailty was executed employing a 49-item frailty index. The recognition of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis was accomplished through the utilization of the controlling attenuation parameter (CAP) and transient elastography (TE). The relationship between the FI and hepatic fibrosis were investigated employing univariable and multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analyses. A subgroup analysis was conducted, dividing the subjects based on gender, Body Mass Index (BMI), and the presence of hyperlipidemia. Results: The findings demonstrated a positive correlation between the FI and significant hepatic fibrosis in NAFLD, even after using multivariate logistic regression models adjusting for potential confounding factors (OR = 1.022, 95% CI, 1.004-1.041) and in tertiles (Q3vs Q1: OR = 2.004, 95% CI, 1.162-3.455). In the subgroup analysis, the correlation was more statistically significant in male (OR = 1.046, 95% CI, 1.022-1.071), under/normal weight (OR = 1.077, 95% CI, 1.009-1.150), overweight (OR = 1.040, 95% CI, 1.010-1.071), and subjects without hyperlipidemia (OR = 1.054, 95% CI, 1.012-1.097). The area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve for the FI in assessing the existence of substantial fibrosis in NAFLD was 0.612 (95% CI, 0.596-0.628). Conclusion: This study demonstrated a positive correlation between significant hepatic fibrosis and frailty, particularly among males aged 50 years and older, who were non-obese and did not have hyperlipidemia with NAFLD. Additional studies are required to further validate these findings.

The association between homocysteine and bacterial vaginosis: results from NHANES 2001-2004.

Although no study has directly shown the relationship between bacterial vaginosis (BV) and homocysteine (HCY), we still found some association between these two through extensive literature and data analysis. BV score was calculated by Nugent's method, less than equal to 6 is negative and greater than equal to 7 is positive. This article describes interrelationships we mined from data extracted by NHANES regarding BV and HCY under multiple covariates. We used two cycles of NHANES 2001-2002 and 2003-2004 in our study. We included 2398 participants in our study who recently completed the interview and the MEC tests. By investigating the relationship between BV and HCY under multivariate conditions, multiple linear regression analysis was performed. These factors may have influenced the results, such as ethnicity, age, education level, body mass index (BMI), etc. Serum vitamin B12, ferritin, percentage of segmented centrioles, and number of segmented centrioles were selected as potential covariates in our study. We observed that both the coarse model and the two adjusted models showed a high correlation between HCY and BV, and the correlation was positive. In the coarse model, OR = 1.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10, 1.44, P = 0.0018); HCY was positively correlated with BV (OR = 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05, 1.34, P = 0.0121). Multiple linear regression analysis was used to investigate the connection between BV and HCY under multivariate settings. The results of this study indicate that HCY is positively associated with the prevalence of BV and may play an important role in the prevention and management of BV.

Tumor-associated macrophages as a potential therapeutic target in thyroid cancers.

Macrophages are important precursor cell types of the innate immune system and bridge adaptive immune responses through the antigen presentation system. Meanwhile, macrophages constitute substantial portion of the stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) (referred to as tumor-associated macrophages, or TAMs) and exhibit conflicting roles in the development, invasion, and metastasis of thyroid cancer (TC). Moreover, TAMs play a crucial role to the behavior of TC due to their high degree of infiltration and prognostic relevance. Generally, TAMs can be divided into two subgroups; M1-like TAMs are capable of directly kill tumor cells, and recruiting and activating other immune cells in the early stages of cancer. However, due to changes in the TME, M2-like TAMs gradually increase and promote tumor progression. This review aims to discuss the impact of TAMs on TC, including their role in tumor promotion, gene mutation, and other factors related to the polarization of TAMs. Finally, we will explore the M2-like TAM-centered therapeutic strategies, including chemotherapy, clinical trials, and combinatorial immunotherapy.

Serum folate associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and advanced hepatic fibrosis.

The role played by serum folate in the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of serum folate with NAFLD and advanced liver fibrosis (AHF). We conducted a cross-sectional study with 5417 participants using 2011-2018 NHANES data. Multiple logistic regression analysis and propensity score matching analysis were used to investigate the association of serum folate with NAFLD and AHF. In the completely adjusted model, participants in the high serum folate group had a 27% (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.62, 0.87, p = 0.0003) and 53% (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.35, 0.63, p < 0.0001) lower odds of suffering from NAFLD and AHF, respectively, compared to the low serum folate group. The similar results in propensity score matching further validated the above association. Stratified analysis showed that the negative correlation of serum folate with NAFLD and AHF demonstrated a broad consistency across populations. The results of this study indicate that higher serum folate level was associated with lower odds of NAFLD and AHF among US adults. Further prospective studies are necessary due to the limitations of cross-sectional studies.

Efficacy and safety of subthreshold micropulse laser in the treatment of acute central serous chorioretinopathy.

AIM: To analyze the efficacy and safety of subthreshold micropulse laser (SML) in the treatment of acute central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). METHODS: This is a retrospective case analysis study. Totally 58 eyes of 58 patients were enrolled, and they were divided into different groups. And 39 patients were treated with SML (SML group) and 19 patients were only observed (observation group). The follow-up period was 3mo after diagnosis. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), superficial retinal vascular density (SRVD), deep retinal vascular density (DRVD), the superficial and deep foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, retinal light sensitivity (RLS), perfusion area of choroidal capillary layer (CCL), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and fundus autofluorescence (FAF) were investigated. RESULTS: The BCVA, CRT, SRVD, DRVD, the superficial and deep FAZ area, RLS, SFCT of SML group were significantly improved at 3mo (all P<0.05). In the observation group, only CRT, DRVD and SFCT were improved (all P<0.05). Other research items in the observation group were not significantly different from baseline (all P>0.05). At the last follow-up, the BCVA and RLS in the SML group were better than those in the observation group, and CRT was lower, SRVD and DRVD, perfusion area of CCL were larger (all P<0.05). On FAF, no change of treatment spots was found after treatment. No structural laser damage was observed on optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), and no choroidal neovascularization was observed. CONCLUSION: SML treatment of acute CSC can improve BCVA, RLS, and perfusion area of CCL, reduce CRT, increase SRVD and DRVD, and is safe.

Eucommia Polysaccharides Ameliorate Aging-Associated Gut Dysbiosis: A Potential Mechanism for Life Extension in Drosophila.

The gut microbiota is increasingly considered to play a key role in human immunity and health. The aging process alters the microbiota composition, which is associated with inflammation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), decreased tissue function, and increased susceptibility to age-related diseases. It has been demonstrated that plant polysaccharides have beneficial effects on the gut microbiota, particularly in reducing pathogenic bacteria abundance and increasing beneficial bacteria populations. However, there is limited evidence of the effect of plant polysaccharides on age-related gut microbiota dysbiosis and ROS accumulation during the aging process. To explore the effect of Eucommiae polysaccharides (EPs) on age-related gut microbiota dysbiosis and ROS accumulation during the aging process of Drosophila, a series of behavioral and life span assays of Drosophila with the same genetic background in standard medium and a medium supplemented with EPs were performed. Next, the gut microbiota composition and protein composition of Drosophila in standard medium and the medium supplemented with EPs were detected using 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis and quantitative proteomic analysis. Here, we show that supplementation of Eucommiae polysaccharides (EPs) during development leads to the life span extension of Drosophila. Furthermore, EPs decreased age-related ROS accumulation and suppressed Gluconobacter, Providencia, and Enterobacteriaceae in aged Drosophila. Increased Gluconobacter, Providencia, and Enterobacteriaceae in the indigenous microbiota might induce age-related gut dysfunction in Drosophila and shortens their life span. Our study demonstrates that EPs can be used as prebiotic agents to prevent aging-associated gut dysbiosis and reactive oxidative stress.

Homologous booster immunization with an inactivated vaccine induced robust antibody response in healthcare workers: A retrospective study.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) severely impacted the health, society, and economy around the world. With declining protective efficacy of primary vaccination and the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants, a Covid-19 booster vaccination is being fully implemented globally. Many people received three doses of BBIBP-CorV inactivated vaccine in China and other developing countries. However, the antibody response and immune persistence of the homologous BBIBP-CorV booster vaccination is yet to be thoroughly evaluated, as previous studies focused within one month after the third dose. In this study, 97 participants were enrolled to analyze the antibody response and immune persistence within 6 months as well as the safety within 7 days after the third-dose of homologous BBIBP-CorV inactivated vaccine. The seroconversion rate for total antibody against the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein were both 100% at month 1 and month 6 after the third dose. The IgG against the RBD of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein seroconversion rate increased from 42.27% before the third dose to 100% 1 month after the third dose and then slightly decreased to 98.97% 5 months later. Positive IgM against the RBD of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein was rare and was observed in only one participant at month 1 after the third dose. The neutralizing antibody levels at month 1 and month 6 after the third dose increased 63.32-fold and 13.16-fold compared with those before the third dose, and the positive rate for neutralizing antibody was still 100% at month 6 after the third dose. Importantly, the antibody responses induced by the vaccine and immune persistence were not affected by sex or age. No serious adverse reactions were reported. Total antibody and IgG against the RBD of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein were highly correlated with neutralizing antibody, suggesting that total antibody and IgG against the RBD of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein could be used as predictors for neutralizing antibody. In conclusion, the third dose of homologous BBIBP-CorV inactivated vaccine induced a robust antibody response and moderate immune persistence. These finding are of great significance for development future vaccination strategies.

Tuning Dimensions of Complexes through Selective In Situ Reaction, Mechanistic Insights into Ni(II)-Catalyzed Br-OH Exchange, Magnetic Properties, and Density Functional Theory Studies.

Two coordination polymers (CPs), namely, [Mn3(L)2(4,4'-bipy)2(H2O)2]n (1) and [Ni(L1)(1,4-bib)(H2O)]n (2) (H3L = 5-(3-bromo-4-carboxyphenoxy)isophthalic acid, H2L1 = 5-(3-hydroxyphenoxy)isophthalic acid, 4,4'-bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine, and 1,4-bib = 1,4-bis(1H-imidazol-1-yl)benzene), were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Most notably, with the help of the bromine atom-inducing effect, ligand transformation was observed in the structure of complex 2, which was scrutinized thoroughly by single crystal X-ray crystallography and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Strikingly, Ni(II) ions were utilized as both coordinated atoms and as a catalyst for in situ Br-OH exchange of H3L in the process, as a result of which the product would have preferred to form a one-dimensional chain. The same reaction cannot happen in 1, leading to form a two-dimensional structure. Moreover, Ni(II)-catalyzed and magnetic exchange mechanisms were well interpreted using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Finally, complexes 1-2 show three-dimensional (3D) supramolecular structures because of intermolecular weak interactions (C-Br···π, C-H···π, C-H···O, and π···π stacking) and exhibit utterly different antiferrimagnetic coupling interactions.

Fuel source shift or cost reduction: Context-dependent adaptation strategies in closely related Neodon fuscus and Lasiopodomys brandtii against hypoxia.

Oxygen is essential for most life forms. Insufficient oxygen supply can disrupt homeostasis and compromise survival, and hypoxia-induced cardiovascular failure is fatal in many animals, including humans. However, certain species have adapted and evolved to cope with hypoxic environments and are therefore good models for studying the regulatory mechanisms underlying responses to hypoxia. Here, we explored the physiological and molecular responses of the cardiovascular system in two closely related hypoxia-adapted species with different life histories, namely, Qinghai voles ( Neodon fuscus) and Brandt's voles ( Lasiopodomys brandtii), under hypoxic (10% O 2 for 48 h) and normoxic (20.9% O 2 for 48 h) exposure. Kunming mice ( Mus musculus) were used for comparison. Qinghai voles live in plateau areas under hypoxic conditions, whereas Brandt's voles only experience periodic hypoxia. Histological and hematological analyses indicated a strong tolerance to hypoxia in both species, but significant cardiac tissue damage and increased blood circulation resistance in mice exposed to hypoxia. Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed enhanced oxygen transport efficiency as a coping mechanism against hypoxia in both N. fuscus and L. brandtii, but with some differences. Specifically, N. fuscus showed up-regulated expression of genes related to accelerated cardiac contraction and angiogenesis, whereas L. brandtii showed significant up-regulation of erythropoiesis-related genes. Synchronized up-regulation of hemoglobin synthesis-related genes was observed in both species. In addition, differences in cardiometabolic strategies against hypoxia were observed in the rodents. Notably, M. musculus relied on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) generation via fatty acid oxidation, whereas N. fuscus shifted energy production to glucose oxidation under hypoxic conditions and L. brandtii employed a conservative strategy involving down-regulation of fatty acid and glucose oxidation and a bradycardia phenotype. In conclusion, the cardiovascular systems of N. fuscus and L. brandtii have evolved different adaptation strategies to enhance oxygen transport capacity and conserve energy under hypoxia. Our findings suggest that the coping mechanisms underlying hypoxia tolerance in these closely related species are context dependent.

Matrix compatibility of typical sol-gel solid-phase microextraction coatings in undiluted plasma and whole blood for the analysis of phthalic acid esters.

Sol-gel materials have been widely used for solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coatings due to their outstanding performance; in contrast, sol-gel SPME coatings have seldom been used for in vivo sampling. The main reason is that their matrix compatibility is unclear. In order to promote the application of this type of coating and accelerate the development of in vivo SPME, in this study, the matrix compatibility of several typical sol-gel coatings was assessed in plasma and whole blood using phthalic acid esters as analytes. The service life of five kinds of sol-gel coatings was among 20-35 times in undiluted plasma, while it was 27 times for a homemade commercial polydimethylsiloxane coating, which indicates good matrix compatibility of sol-gel coatings in untreated plasma. The sol-gel hydroxy-terminated silicone oil/methacrylic acid fiber achieved the highest extraction ability among all of the fibers, and it was tested in pig whole blood. It could be continuously used for at least 22 times, demonstrating good potential for in vivo sampling. Subsequently, a direct-immersion SPME/gas chromatography-flame ionization detection method was established for the determination of 5 phthalic acid esters in blood. Compared with other methods reported in the literature, this method is rapid, simple, sensitive, and accurate, and does not need expensive instruments or tedious procedures. A simulation system of animal blood circulation was constructed to verify the practicability of sol-gel SPME coatings in animal vein sampling. The result illustrated the feasibility of that coating for in vivo blood sampling, but a more accurate quantification calibration approach needs to be explored.

Transcriptomic Analysis of Morphology Regulatory Mechanisms of Microparticles to Paraisaria dubia in Submerged Fermentation.

Liquid submerged fermentation is an effective strategy to achieve large-scale production of active ingredients by macrofungi, and controlling mycelium morphology is a key factor restricting the development of this technology. Mining for superior morphological regulatory factors and elucidation of their regulatory mechanisms are vital for the further development of macrofungal fermentation technology. In this study, microparticles were used to control the morphology of Paraisaria dubia (P. dubia) in submerged fermentation, and the underlying regulatory mechanisms were revealed by transcriptomic. The relative frequency of S-type pellet diameter increased significantly from 7.14 to 88.31%, and biomass increased 1.54 times when 15 g/L talc was added. Transcriptome analysis showed that the morphological regulation of filamentous fungi was a complex biological process, which involved signal transduction, mycelium polar growth, cell wall synthesis and cell division, etc. It also showed a positive impact on the basic and secondary metabolism of P. dubia. We provided a theoretical basis for controlling the mycelium morphology of P. dubia in submerged fermentation, which will promote the development of macrofungal fermentation technology.

MiR-30d Participates in Vincristine-Induced Neuropathic Pain by Down-Regulating GAD67.

Vincristine is a common chemotherapeutic agent in cancer treatment, while it often causes chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy(CIPN), which brings patients a great disease burden and associated economic pressure. The mechanism under CIPN remains mostly unknown. The previous study has shown that cell-type-specific spinal synaptic plasticity in the dorsal horn plays a pivotal role in neuropathic pain. Downregulation of GABA transmission, which mainly acts as an inhibitory pathway, has been reported in the growing number of research. Our present study found that GAD67, responsible for > 90% of basal GABA synthesis, is down-regulated, while its relative mRNA remains unchanged in vincristine-induced neuropathy. Considering microRNAs (miRNAs) as a post-transcription modifier by degrading targeted mRNA or repressing mRNA translation, we performed genome-wide miRNA screening and revealed that miR-30d might contribute to GAD67 down-regulation. Further investigation confirmed that miR-30d could affect the fluorescence activity of GAD67 by binding to the 3 'UTR of the GAD67 gene, and intrathecal injection of miR-30d antagomir increased the expression of GAD67, partially rescued vincristine-induced thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. In summary, our study revealed the molecule interactions of GAD67 and miR-30d in CIPN, which has not previously been discussed in the literature. The results give more profound insight into understanding the CIPN mechanism and hopefully helps pain control.

The Potential Advantages of Tai Chi Chuan in Promoting Inhibitory Control and Spontaneous Neural Activity in Young Adults.

Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is assumed to exert beneficial effects on functional brain activity and cognitive function in elders. Until now, empirical evidence of TCC induced intra-regional spontaneous neural activity and inhibitory control remains inconclusive. Whether the effect of TCC is better than that of other aerobic exercises is still unknown, and the role of TCC in younger adults is not yet fully understood. Here we used resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) to investigate the effects of 8-week TCC (n = 12) and brisk walking (BW, n = 12) on inhibitory control and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF). The results found that TCC had significant effects on inhibitory control performance and spontaneous neural activity that were associated with significantly increased fALFF in the left medial superior frontal gyrus (Cohen's d = 1.533) and the right fusiform gyrus (Cohen's d = 1.436) and decreased fALFF in the right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus (Cohen's d = 1.405) and the right paracentral lobule (Cohen's d = 1.132).TCC exhibited stronger effects on spontaneous neural activity than the BW condition, as reflected in significantly increased fALFF in the left medial superior frontal gyrus (Cohen's d = 0.862). There was a significant positive correlation between the increase in fALFF in the left medial superior frontal gyrus and the enhancement in inhibitory control performance. The change in fALFF in the left medial superior frontal gyrus was able to explain the change in inhibitory control performance induced by TCC. In conclusion, our results indicated that 8 weeks of TCC intervention could improve processing efficiency related to inhibitory control and alter spontaneous neural activity in young adults, and TCC had potential advantages over BW intervention for optimizing spontaneous neural activity.

Influence of Commercial Insurance Purchase on the Health Status of Chinese Residents.

Under the context of rapid economic and social development, and growing demands for a better life, Chinese residents have been increasingly concerned with their health status and issues. In this study, the internal relations between the purchase of commercial insurance by residents and their health status are analyzed and studied with a polytomous logit model based on the data of Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) in 2015. According to the research result, purchase of commercial insurance significantly improved the health status of residents, with an improving effect for rural residents apparently better than that among urban residents. In addition, purchase of commercial insurance can promote the health status of residents by increasing their household income. This research will provide an effective reference for the innovative development and medical reform of the commercial insurance of China in the future, which is theoretically and practically significant to the implementation of the Healthy China Strategy.

Clinical characteristics of children with Guillain-Barré syndrome and factors associated with disease severity.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is the leading cause of pediatric acute flaccid paralysis. This study aimed to summarize the clinical features of children with GBS and to explore factors associated with the severity of weakness. One hundred and twenty-two children with GBS (73 males and 49 females) were retrospectively analysed. The median age (IQR) at diagnosis was 4.0 years (2.9-7.2 years), and 26.2% of patients were at the age of 2-3 years. Of the 122 cases, 71 (58.2%) had an antecedent infection, 58 (47.5%) had cranial nerve involvement, 36 (29.1%) had dysautonomia, 77 (63.1%) had sensory symptoms, 28 (23.0%) had difficulty in breathing of which 15 (12.3%) patients required mechanical ventilation, and 8 (6.6%) had normal tendon reflex or hyperreflexia. Cytoalbuminologic dissociation of the cerebrospinal fluid was observed in 97 cases (82.9%). Further, 120 patients underwent nerve conduction studies: 76 (63.3%) exhibited demyelinating features whereas 36 (30.0%) had axonal type of CBS. 70.2% of patients could walk independently at 12 weeks. Fourteen (11.5%) patients were classified into the mild group [GBS disability score (GBS-DS) < 3] and 108 (88.5%) were classified into the severe group (GBS-DS ≥ 3). The incidence of cranial involvement (P = 0.038) and decreased tendon reflexes (P = 0.048) were significantly different between the two groups. These findings suggested that cranial nerve involvement is associated with severe muscle weakness in children with GBS.

Tai Chi Chuan Alters Brain Functional Network Plasticity and Promotes Cognitive Flexibility.

Objective: This study used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the effects of 8 weeks of Tai Chi Chuan and general aerobic exercise on the topological parameters of brain functional networks, explored the advantages of Tai Chi Chuan for improving functional network plasticity and cognitive flexibility, and examined how changes in topological attributes of brain functional networks relate to cognitive flexibility. Methods: Thirty-six healthy adults were grouped into Tai Chi Chuan (Bafa Wubu of Tai Chi), general aerobic exercise (brisk walking), and control groups. All of the subjects underwent fMRI and behavioral assessment before and after the exercise intervention. Results: Tai Chi Chuan exercise significantly enhanced the clustering coefficient and local efficiency compared with general aerobic exercise. Regarding the nodal properties, Tai Chi Chuan significantly enhanced the nodal clustering coefficient of the bilateral olfactory cortex and left thalamus, significantly reduced the nodal clustering coefficient of the left inferior temporal gyrus, significantly improved the nodal efficiency of the right precuneus and bilateral posterior cingulate gyrus, and significantly improved the nodal local efficiency of the left thalamus and right olfactory cortex. Furthermore, the behavioral performance results demonstrated that cognitive flexibility was enhanced by Tai Chi Chuan. The change in the nodal clustering coefficient in the left thalamus induced by Tai Chi Chuan was a significant predictor of cognitive flexibility. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that Tai Chi Chuan could promote brain functional specialization. Brain functional specialization enhanced by Tai Chi Chuan exercise was a predictor of greater cognitive flexibility.

The Genotype and Phenotype of Proline-Rich Transmembrane Protein 2 Associated Disorders in Chinese Children.

Objectives: To study the genetic and clinical characteristics of Chinese children with pathogenic proline-rich transmembrane protein 2 (PRRT2) gene-associated disorders. Methods: Targeted next generation sequencing (NGS) was used to identify pathogenic PRRT2 variations in Chinese children with epilepsy and/or kinesigenic dyskinesia. Patients with confirmed PRRT2-associated disorders were monitored and their clinical data were analyzed. Results: Forty-four patients with pathogenic PRRT2 variants were recruited. Thirty-five of them (79.5%) had heterozygous mutations, including 30 frameshifts, three missenses, one nonsense, and one splice site variant. The c.649dupC was the most common variant (56.8%). Eight patients (18.2%) showed whole gene deletions, and one patient (2.3%) had 16p11.2 microdeletion. Thirty-four cases (97.1%) were inherited and one case (2.9%) was de novo. Forty patients were diagnosed with benign familial infantile epilepsy (BFIE), two patients had paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) and two had infantile convulsions and choreoathetosis (ICCA). Patients with whole gene deletions had a later remission than patients with heterozygous mutations (13.9 vs. 7.1 months, P = 0.001). Forty-two patients were treated with antiseizure medications (ASMs). At last follow-up, 35 patients, including one who did not receive therapy, were asymptomatic, and one patient without ASMs died of status epilepticus at 12 months of age. One patient developed autism, and one patient showed mild developmental delay/intellectual disability. Conclusion: Our data suggested that patients with whole gene deletions could have more severe manifestations in PRRT2-associated disorders. Conventional ASMs, especially Oxcarbazepine, showed a good treatment response.