PROCESS Trial: Effect of Duloxetine Premedication for Postherpetic Neuralgia Within 72 Hours of Herpes Zoster Reactivation-A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is the most common chronic complication of herpes zoster (HZ) and results in severe refractory neuropathic pain. This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of premedication with duloxetine in the prevention of PHN. METHODS: The PROCESS trial is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, blinded-endpoint trial used a 1:1 duloxetine:control ratio. Adults 50 years or older with HZ who presented with vesicles within 72 hours were recruited. The primary outcome was the incidence of PHN at 12 weeks. PHN was defined as any pain intensity score other than 0 mm on the visual analog scale (VAS) at week 12 after the onset of the rash. The secondary outcomes were the number of participants with VAS >0 and VAS ≥3. The modified intention-to-treat (mITT) principle and per-protocol (PP) principle were used for the primary outcome analysis. RESULTS: A total of 375 participants were randomly assigned to the duloxetine group and 375 were assigned to the control group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of PHN in the duloxetine group compared with the control group in the mITT analysis (86 [22.9%] of 375 vs 108 [28.8%] of 375; P = .067). PP analysis produced similar results. However, there were significant differences between the 2 groups in the number of participants with VAS >0 and VAS ≥3 (P < .05 for all comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: Although absolute prevention of PHN does not occur, this trial found that premedication with duloxetine can reduce pain associated with HZ, and therefore can have clinically relevant benefits. Clinical Trials Registration. Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04313335. Registered on 18 March 2020.

Prognostic factors and outcomes in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated glomerulonephritis: A retrospective single-center study from southern China.

Objective: To investigate the prognostic factors and outcomes in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated glomerulonephritis (ANCA-GN) in Southern China. Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records of patients with ANCA-GN admitted to Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University and Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University between September 2011 and September 2021 was performed. The clinical presentation, biological, and renal pathology were collected. In addition, the risk factors for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and short-term overall survival in patients with ANCA-GN were analyzed. Results: A total of 93 patients with ANCA-GN were included in the study. Of them, 91.4%, were perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (MPO-pANCA)-positive. Approximately one-quarter (24.7%) of patients had progressed to ESRD, and 7.5% died within six months. Most patients presented with hematuria (94.6%), proteinuria (78.5%), elevated serum creatinine (86.0%), anemia (90.3%), and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (44.1%). The majority (94.6%) of patients presented with crescent formations at histopathological examination. Serum creatinine, hemoglobin, and Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS) were all independent factors for ESRD (P<0.05). Moreover, while ANCA renal risk score (ARRS) has an impact on prognosis of nephropathy, it did not influence ESRD independently (P>0.05). The effect of Berden's histopathologic classification on ESRD has not been confirmed. Age at onset, ESR and cardiovascular involvement were all independent factors affecting short-term overall survival of patients with ANCA-GN (P<0.05). Conclusions: Serum creatinine, hemoglobin, and BVAS were all independent risk factors of ESRD, while ARRS and Berden's histopathologic classification were not. Age at onset, ESR, and cardiovascular involvement were independent risk factors for the overall six-month survival rate in patients with ANCA-GN.

Visualization Analysis of Artificial Intelligence Literature in Forensic Research.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the literature on artificial intelligence in forensic research from 2012 to 2022 in the Web of Science Core Collection Database, to explore research hotspots and developmental trends. METHODS: A total of 736 articles on artificial intelligence in forensic medicine in the Web of Science Core Collection Database from 2012 to 2022 were visualized and analyzed through the literature measuring tool CiteSpace. The authors, institution, country (region), title, journal, keywords, cited references and other information of relevant literatures were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 736 articles published in 220 journals by 355 authors from 289 institutions in 69 countries (regions) were identified, with the number of articles published showing an increasing trend year by year. Among them, the United States had the highest number of publications and China ranked the second. Academy of Forensic Science had the highest number of publications among the institutions. Forensic Science International, Journal of Forensic Sciences, International Journal of Legal Medicine ranked high in publication and citation frequency. Through the analysis of keywords, it was found that the research hotspots of artificial intelligence in the forensic field mainly focused on the use of artificial intelligence technology for sex and age estimation, cause of death analysis, postmortem interval estimation, individual identification and so on. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to pay attention to international and institutional cooperation and to strengthen the cross-disciplinary research. Exploring the combination of advanced artificial intelligence technologies with forensic research will be a hotspot and direction for future research.

Lidocaine aerosol sprayed on oral and/or nasal mucosa for the rescue of acute trigeminal neuralgia exacerbations: A retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Acute trigeminal neuralgia exacerbation is a common reason for frequent emergency department visits, that often occurs while waiting for surgery, but evidence on effective drugs for acute trigeminal neuralgia is scant. Whether lidocaine aerosol could be a rescue option for the treatment of acute trigeminal neuralgia exacerbations is worth exploring. Positive predictors of the analgesic effects of lidocaine aerosol also warrant further investigation. METHODS: This is a retrospective study with a total of 152 patients. We analyzed the efficacy of lidocaine aerosol for the treatment of acute trigeminal neuralgia exacerbations. A positive response was considered a decrease in the VAS score of at least 50% at 30 min of treatment. Multivariable logistic analyses were performed to identify predictive factors for lidocaine aerosol response. RESULTS: In the group of 109 responders, the VAS score decreased from 8.3 ± 1.1 cm to 0.8 ± 1.0 cm at 15 min, and 1.7 ± 1.0 cm at 30 min. The effective rate at 15 min and 30 min were 77.6% and 70.4%, respectively. Multivariate logistic analyses showed the treatment may provide better clinical outcomes in V2 trigeminal neuralgia (OR 0.01, 95%Cl 0.001-0.15, p < 0.001), V3 trigeminal neuralgia (OR 0.02, 95%Cl 0.001-0.16, p = 0.001), and V2 + V3 trigeminal neuralgia (OR 0.01, 95%Cl 0.001-0.13, p < 0.001), patients who were taking carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine with a maximum dose (OR 6.15, 95%Cl 2.11-17.93, p = 0.001) were less likely to experience immediate pain relief. CONCLUSION: Lidocaine aerosol sprayed on oral and/or nasal mucosa is beneficial for immediate pain relief in patients with acute trigeminal neuralgia exacerbations. It is expected to become a promising treatment option for patients with V2 and/or V3 trigeminal neuralgia.

Effectiveness, Safety, and Predictors of Response to 5% Lidocaine-Medicated Plaster for the Treatment of Patients With Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Whether 5% lidocaine-medicated plaster (LMP) is a valuable therapeutic option for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is worth exploring. If LMP is proven effective for TN, positive predictors of the analgesic effects of LMP warrant further investigation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of LMP for the treatment of TN, and to explore the predictive factors for the treatment efficacy of LMP. METHODS: This is a retrospective and observational study. We analyzed the efficacy of LMP for the treatment of TN between March 2019 and January 2022. The follow-up time was approximately 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months after LMP treatment. The LMP response was considered the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) score of I to III and an improvement in BNI of at least I grade from pretreatment baseline. Univariable and multivariable logistic analyses were performed to identify the predictive factors for LMP response. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients were included and analyzed in this study. LMP was effective in some TN patients, with an efficacy rate of 21.4%, 21.4%, 18.4%, and 16.5% after 2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months of LMP treatment, respectively. The overall adverse event rate associated with LMP was 5.8%, and the reported adverse events were all skin reactions. Facial trigger points (odds ratio [OR] = 0.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.07-0.86, P = 0.03) and a lower BNI score (OR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.07-0.87, P = 0.01) were identified as potential predictors for initial efficacy (2-week follow-up) of LMP treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: LMP has been shown to provide effective and sustained analgesia in some TN patients with minimal risk of systemic adverse reactions. Patients with facial trigger points and mild to moderate pain are more likely to benefit from LMP treatment. Our data suggest that LMP may be an effective treatment option for patients with the aforementioned characteristics of TN.

Mechanisms and functional implications of adult neurogenesis.

The generation of new neurons is sustained throughout adulthood in the mammalian brain due to the proliferation and differentiation of adult neural stem cells. In this review, we discuss the factors that regulate proliferation and fate determination of adult neural stem cells and describe recent studies concerning the integration of newborn neurons into the existing neural circuitry. We further address the potential significance of adult neurogenesis in memory, depression, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Efficacy and safety of computed tomography-guided percutaneous balloon compression for trigeminal neuralgia secondary to vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia.

Percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) of Gasserian ganglion has been popularly used to treat trigeminal neuralgia (TN), one of the most painful syndromes in human experience. Vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) is a rare cause of TN and remains challenging to treat. To our knowledge, no study has reported the therapeutic outcome of PBC for VBD-related TN (VBD-TN). In this retrospective study, we collected and analyzed the medical records of all patients undergoing PBC procedure for VBD-TN under the guidance of CT plus three-dimensional reconstruction at the Pain Management Center of Beijing Tiantan Hospital from January 2017 to December 2022. All 23 patients (15 men and 8 women) had a substantial pain relief as modified Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) I-IIIb immediately after procedure. The follow-up duration ranged from 2 to 63 months, and at the last follow-up visit, only 3 patients (13%) relapsed (BNI IV-V). The cumulative recurrence-free survival was 95%, 87%, and 74% within 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Patients' reported satisfactory rate was 100% as Likert scale 4-5 throughout the whole follow-up period, with no severe complications occurring. Our data revealed promising efficacy and safety of PBC procedure for treatment of VBD-TN, thus suggesting a valuable option for pain control in these rare cases of TN. However, there has been no supporting evidence that PBC treatment is a preferred option to other treatments.

Genome-wide identification of auxin response factor (ARF) gene family and the miR160-ARF18-mediated response to salt stress in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.).

Auxin response factors (ARFs) are transcription factors that regulate the transcription of auxin-responsive genes during plant growth and development. In this study, 29 and 30 ARF members were identified from the two wild peanut species, A. duranensis and A. ipaensis, respectively. The ARFs, including their classifications, conserved domains and evolutionary relationships were characterized. RNA-seq analyses revealed that some of the ARF genes were responsive to abiotic stress, particularly high salinity. In addition to abiotic stress, the expression of 2 ARF members was also regulated by biotic stress, specifically Bradyrhizobium infection in A. duranensis. The ARF gene Arahy.7DXUOK was predicted to be a potential target of miR160. Overexpression of miR160 could cause degradation of the Arahy.7DXUOK target gene transcript and increased salt tolerance in miR160OX transgenic plants. Therefore, these molecular characterization and expression profile analyses provide comprehensive information on ARF family members and will help to elucidate their functions to facilitate further research on peanuts.

Effectiveness and safety of high-voltage pulsed radiofrequency to treat patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a debilitating pain disorder that still lacks an ideal treatment option. Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF), especially with high output voltage, is a novel and minimally invasive technique. PRF is regarded a promising treatment option for TN patients who respond poorly to medical treatment; however, the available evidence still lacks high quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Our study aimed to evaluate the long-term (1 year and 2 years) effects and safety of high-voltage PRF in primary TN patients and provide stronger evidence for TN treatment options. METHODS: We performed a multicenter, double-blind, RCT in adults (aged 18-75 years) with primary TN who responded poorly to drug therapy or were unable to tolerate the side effects of drug. Eligible participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either high voltage PRF or nerve block with steroid and local anesthetic drugs. The primary endpoint was the 1-year response rate. This trial has been registered in the clinicaltrials.gov website (registration number: NCT03131466). RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-two patients were screened for enrollment between April 28th,2017 and September1st, 2019, among whom, 28 were excluded. One hundred and thirty-four participants were randomly assigned to either receive high voltage PRF (n = 67) or nerve block (n = 67). The proportion of patients with a positive response at 1-year after the procedure in the PRF group was significantly higher than that in the nerve block group in the intention-to-treat population (73.1% vs. 32.8%, p < 0.001). There was no difference between groups in the incidence of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support that high voltage PRF could be a preferred interventional choice prior to receiving more invasive surgical treatment or neuro-destructive treatment for TN patients who have poor responses to medical treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Our study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (trial registration number: NCT03131466).

Effectiveness, safety, and predictors of response to ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion blockades for the treatment of patients with chronic migraine: A retrospective and observational study.

BACKGROUND: Whether ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block (SGB) is a valuable therapeutic option for the treatment of patients with chronic migraine (CM) is worth exploring. If SGB is proven to be effective for CM, the identification of potential predictors for the effectiveness of SGB warrants further investigation. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of SGB in patients with CM and to explore the predictive factors for its treatment effectiveness. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study. We retrospectively analyzed the effects of SGB for the treatment of patients with CM under ultrasound guidance, between January 2018 and June 2022. The follow-up time was approximately 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months after the last SGBs. The response criterion was defined as a reduction in pain intensity of > 50% measured using the most severe numerical rating scale (NRS) score compared to pretreatment baseline, without an increase in the dose or the type of analgesic or anxiolytic/antidepressant medication, otherwise unresponsive to SGB. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify the predictive factors for SGB response. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients were included in this study. SGB was effective in most of the CM patients, with an effective rate of 90.7%, 82.5%, and 71.1% after 1, 2, and 3 months of the last SGBs, respectively. At 3-month follow-up, 95.7% responsive patients benefited from repeated SGBs. In patients receiving repeated SGB treatments, the number of SGBs in responsive patients was significantly greater than those in patients with no response at 3-month follow-up (3.41 ± 1.31 vs. 2.68 ± 0.67, p = 0.02). Comorbid anxiety or depression was a negative predictor of SGB effectiveness at 3-month follow-up (B = -0.25, 95% CI -0.45 to -0.05, p = 0.01). The overall adverse events rate associated with ultrasound-guided SGB was 9.3%. There were no serious complications; all adverse events were transient, with hoarseness being the most common adverse event. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided SGB was an effective and safe treatment for CM patients. The majority of responsive patients with CM benefited from repeated SGBs. CM patients who needed repeated SGBs may obtain good and sustained analgesic effect after receiving a greater number of SGBs. Patients without comorbidities such as anxiety or depression were more likely to benefit from SGB treatments.

The effect of carbonization temperature on the capacity and mechanisms of Cd(II)-Pb(II) mix-ions adsorption by wood ear mushroom sticks derived biochar.

Heavy metals often coexist in contaminated environmental media, and competition between heavy metals for adsorption sites influences the absorption capacity of biochar. In this study, the adsorption mechanism of pyrolytically modified wood ear mushroom sticks (250, 450, and 650 °C) as a new bio-adsorbent for single-ion and mixed-ion solutions Cd2+ and Pb2+ Biochar adsorption experiments showed that the adsorption abilities of Cd2+ and Pb2+ increased with increasing WMBC (wood ear mushroom sticks biochar) pyrolysis temperature. According to the Langmuir model, the maximum adsorption capacity of Cd2+ and Pb2+increased with higher pyrolysis temperature, being 29.84, 39.08, 46.16 mg·g-1and 124.3, 186.8, 234.2 mg·g-1, respectively for three different pyrolysis temperatures 250, 450, and 650 °C. WMBC exhibited a stronger adsorption ability for Pb2+ than for Cd2+. Competition between the two heavy metals severely inhibited the adsorption of Cd2+. Based on X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses, the dominant interaction mechanisms were determined to be complexation, ion exchange, precipitation, and C-π interaction. The results suggest WMBC shows promise as a novel, cheap, and effective adsorbent that can be used to remove both Cd2+ and Pb2+ pollutants from environmental media.

Delayed gastric emptying in nondiabetic patients with end-stage kidney disease.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the gastric emptying capacity in nondiabetic patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) by ultrasound. METHODS: Consecutive hemodialysis patients with ESKD (n = 37) and healthy controls (n = 37) were enrolled. All ESKD patients underwent ultrasound examinations on the day of hemodialysis (dialysis day) and the day after hemodialysis (nondialysis day). Standard ultrasound examinations were performed after overnight fasting, immediately after a light meal, and at 6 h after a meal. The antral cross-sectional area and gastric emptying according to the Perlas grading system were evaluated. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, patients with ESKD, on both dialysis and non-dialysis days, had significantly larger antral areas when examined in the supine position (p = 0.002 and p = 0.003, respectively), but not in the right lateral decubitus position (p = 0.452 and p = 0.512, respectively). In the supine position, the antral area of ESKD patients before dialysis (8 a.m. on the dialysis day) was larger than that at the same time on the nondialysis day (p = 0.028). The controls had a Perlas grade of either 0 or 1 at 6 h after a meal, whereas five patients (13.5%) and 11 patients (29.7%) in the ESKD group had Perlas grade 2 on the dialysis and non-dialysis days, respectively. Among patients with or without delayed gastric emptying, no differences were detected in the dialysis duration or levels of biochemical markers, except blood urea nitrogen (p = 0.038) and serum creatinine (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Nondiabetic patients with ESKD had significantly delayed gastric emptying. Hemodialysis might improve gastric emptying and reduce gastric emptying delay.

Characterization of Neodymium Speciation in the Presence of Fulvic Acid by Ion Exchange Technique and Single Particle ICP-MS.

It has been well known that the free ion concentration of metals plays a vital role in metal bioavailability. However, measurement of this fraction is still not easy over years of development. Nowadays, rare earth elements (REEs) are drawing more attentions as an emerging contaminant due to their wide applications in our daily life. To analyze the free ion concentration of neodymium (Nd), we adopted ion-exchange technique (IET) to investigate the changes on Nd free ion concentration in the presence of fulvic acid (FA). With the dynamic mode of IET analysis, the concentrations of Nd free ion were in the range of 0.85-36.8 × 10-8 M at the total Nd concentration of 5 × 10-7 M when FA varied from 0.4 to 10 M. However, these concentrations were 3-58 times higher than the one calculated by WHAM 7.0, which may be due to the particulate Nd spontaneously formed in solution. With single particle ICP-MS analysis, we found 0.25%-2.36% of Nd was in the form of colloids when the total Nd concentrations varied from 8.5 × 10-9 to 4.7 × 10-7 M, with the average particle sizes in the range of 26.5-39.2 nm. The presence of FA significantly decreased the number of Nd colloids, but increased the average particle size. Under the TEM, we found that Nd colloids were amorphous, with the size less than 200 nm. The present study provided a relatively new perspective on REE speciation in water. The natural organic matters not only affect the free ion concentration of Nd, but also influenced the size and numbers of Nd colloids in solution.

Screening Biomarkers of Sudden Coronary Death Based on mRNA Expression Profile of Rat Myocardial Tissues.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the differential expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) in myocardial tissues of rats with sudden coronary death (SCD), and to provide ideas for the forensic identification of SCD. METHODS: The rat SCD model was established, and the transcriptome sequencing was performed by next-generation sequencing technology. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in myocardial tissues of SCD rats were screened by using the R package limma. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by using the STRING database and Cytoscape 3.8.2 on DEG, and hub genes were screened based on cytoHubba plug-in. Finally, the R package clusterProfiler was used to analyze the biological function and signal pathway enrichment of the selected DEG. RESULTS: A total of 177 DEGs were associated with SCD and were mainly involved in the renin-angiotensin system and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The genes including angiotensinogen (AGT), complement component 4a (C4a), Fos proto-oncogene (FOS) and others played key roles in the development of SCD. CONCLUSIONS: Genes such as AGT, C4a, FOS and other genes are expected to be potential biomarkers for forensic identification of SCD. The study based on mRNA expression profile can provide a reference for forensic identification of SCD.

Dexamethasone as a ropivacaine adjuvant to pre-emptive incision-site infiltration analgesia in pediatric craniotomy patients: A prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Dexamethasone added to incision-site infiltration has been routinely used to reduce pain after tonsillectomy in children. However, this has not been studied in pediatric craniotomy patients yet. We hypothesized that incision-site infiltration with a combination of ropivacaine and dexamethasone might provide superior analgesia to ropivacaine alone in pediatric craniotomy patients. METHODS: In this multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, children aged 2-12 years, scheduled for craniotomy, were prospectively enrolled at two study centers, from September 2, 2019, to July 5, 2020. Eighty children were randomly assigned (1:1) to either ropivacaine plus dexamethasone group who received pre-emptive incision-site infiltration with 0.2% ropivacaine plus 0.025% dexamethasone, or ropivacaine group who received 0.2% ropivacaine alone. Primary outcome was the modified Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale (mCHEOPS) at 24 h postoperatively. Primary analysis was performed using the modified intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: Pre-emptive incision-site infiltration with ropivacaine plus dexamethasone had a reduced pain score of 2.0, compared with the pain score of 2.9 in the ropivacaine group, at 24 h postoperatively (mean difference -0.9, 95% confidence interval [CI], -1.7 to -0.2; p = .019). Estimated median of the time of first rescue analgesic demand was 24 h in the ropivacaine plus dexamethasone group and 8.5 h in the ropivacaine group [hazard ratio 0.43, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.08; Log-rank p = .0025]. No adverse events related to incision-site infiltration with dexamethasone were observed in this study. DISCUSSION: Dexamethsone reduces the local production of pro-inflammatory factors after tissue damage and as a ropivacaine adjuvant for incision-site infiltration reduced the pain scores by 31% at 24 h postoperatively. The results were similar to several prior studies on to tonsillectomy patients. However, this changes on pain scores might has limited clinical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of dexamethasone to ropivacaine for preoperative incision-site infiltration has better postoperative analgesic effect than ropivacaine alone in pediatric craniotomy patients.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of nonspecific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP) genes in Arachis duranensis.

Nonspecific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) play vital roles in lipid metabolism, cell apoptosis and biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. However, the distribution of nsLTPs in Arachis duranensis has not been fully characterized. In this study, we identified 64 nsLTP genes in A. duranensis (designated AdLTPs), which were classified into six subfamilies and randomly distributed along nine chromosomes. Tandem and segmental duplication events were detected in the evolution of AdLTPs. The Ks and ω values differed significantly between Types 1 and D subfamilies, and eight AdLTPs were under positive selection. The expression levels of AdLTPs were changed after salinity, PEG, low-temperature and ABA treatments. Three AdLTPs were associated with resistance to nematode infection, and DOF and WRI1 transcription factors may regulate the AdLTP response to nematode infection. Our results may provide valuable genomic information for the breeding of peanut cultivars that are resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses.

Predictors of the Analgesic Efficacy of CT-Guided Percutaneous Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment of Gasserian Ganglion in Patients With Idiopathic Trigeminal Neuralgia.

AIMS: Although pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) has few postoperative adverse reactions, its analgesic efficacy for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is not always guaranteed. The response rate of PRF targeting the Gasserian ganglion for patients with TN varies. This study aims to identify the predictors of the analgesic efficacy of CT-guided percutaneous PRF in patients with idiopathic TN. METHODS: The patients with idiopathic TN who failed to respond to conservative treatment and underwent CT-guided percutaneous PRF treatment of the Gasserian ganglion from July 2008 to August 2018 at our pain clinic were screened. A positive response was defined as a ≥50% reduction in the pain numeric rating scale (NRS) score from baseline. The demographics and other pretreatment clinical data were analyzed by logistic regression analysis to identify the predictors of a positive response. RESULTS: Of the total 102 patients with idiopathic TN who were evaluated in this study, 57 patients (55.9%) were positively responsive to our treatment after 1 year. The binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the positive response to a prior peripheral branch nerve block of the trigeminal nerve with steroid and local anesthetic agents was an independent predictor of the analgesic efficacy of PRF treatment (odds ratio [OR] = 3.685, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.583 to 8.577, P = 0.002). The disease duration of TN was also included in the multivariate regression model, although the P value was 0.058 (OR 0.807, 95% CI 0.646 to 1.007). CONCLUSION: For patients who previously had positive responses to peripheral branch nerve block of the trigeminal nerve, PRF is likely to have better efficacy.

Long-term Outcomes of Computerized Tomography-Guided Sphenopalatine Ganglion-Targeted Pulsed Radiofrequency for Refractory Cluster Headache.

OBJECTIVE: To further evaluate the efficacy and safety of computerized tomography-guided sphenopalatine ganglion-targeted pulsed radiofrequency treatment for patients with refractory episodic and chronic cluster headache (CH). METHODS: Forty-five patients with refractory episodic CH and 14 patients with chronic CH who underwent computerized tomography-guided sphenopalatine ganglion-targeted pulsed radiofrequency between January 2011 and December 2018 at the Beijing Tiantan Hospital were included and analyzed in this retrospective cohort study. RESULTS: A total of 59 patients underwent 106 computerized tomography-guided pulsed radiofrequency procedures throughout the observational period. Effective remission was observed in 95.6% and 64.3% of patients with refractory episodic and chronic CH, respectively. Repeated computerized tomography-guided sphenopalatine ganglion-targeted pulsed radiofrequency procedures for recurrent CH was also proven to be effective. No severe side effects or complications were observed in this study. CONCLUSION: The computerized tomography-guided sphenopalatine ganglion-targeted pulsed radiofrequency procedure is an effective, safe, and repeatedly effective strategy for refractory CH. For patients who have not responded to conservative treatment, this minimally invasive intervention is a reliable alternative.

Identification specific miRNA in t(4;14) multiple myeloma based on miRNA-mRNA expressing profile correlation analysis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a common malignancy belonging to the hematological system. The translocation t(4;14)(p16.3;q32.3) is a critical cytogenetic change of MM, which is presenting a poor prognosis. The specific microRNAs (miRNAs) that are involved in t(4;14) myeloma are still unknown. Thus, the main purpose of this research was to identify specific miRNAs in t(4;14) positive myeloma. METHODS: The expression profiles of miRNA and messenger RNA (mRNA) in t(4; 14) positive and negative samples were obtained from the gene expression omnibus data series. The miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed based on two self-defined regulation models. Subsequently, we performed the topology analysis for mining the hub genes, and Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis was used to calculate the relevance of the hub genes and specific miRNAs. RESULTS: Thirteen differentially expressed miRNAs and 206 differential mRNAs were extracted between t(4;14) positive group and negative group. The network consisted of 8 miRNAs and 154 mRNAs in 2 reverse regulated models, which showed a total of 485 interactions, including 376 cis-regulated and 109 trans-regulated relationships. The miR-125a-3p, miR-125a-5p, miR-99b-5p, and let-7e were powerful miRNAs correlating with the FGFR3, MAP1B, MYRIP, and CDC42BPA under the relevance analysis in the subnetwork. CONCLUSION: In our study, a distinctive correlation analysis of miRNA-mRNA was established to excavate specific miRNAs and hub target mRNAs in patients with t(4;14), but it was only a matter of theoretical principles. The further experimental explorations are needed to confirm valuable diagnostic and therapeutic symbols specific associated with t(4;14) in the future.

Ecological Risk Assessment of Neodymium and Yttrium on Rare Earth Element Mine Sites in Ganzhou, China.

Nowadays rare earth elements (REEs) are widely applied in high-technology and clean energy products, but their environmental risks are still largely unknown. To estimate the ecological risk of REEs, soil samples were collected from REE mine tailings with and without phytoremediation. The results showed that the tailings had rather low organic matter and high total REE concentrations, up to 808.5 mg/kg. The 10% effective concentration (EC10) of neodymium (Nd) and yttrium (Y) were calculated based on the toxicity tests of seed germination and root growth. For both wheat and mung bean, the EC10 of Nd and Y in soils were in the range of 1053.1-1300.1 mg/kg. The average hazard quotient of mine tailing soil without phytoremediation was higher than that with phytoremediation. All the hazard quotient of Nd and Y were less than 1, indicating that Nd or Y alone was unlikely to cause adverse ecological effects. Given to the coexistence of REEs on mine sites, the ecological risk of REE mixture could be potentially high towards local soil environments, even for soils with phytoremdiation.