Effect of intravenous thrombolysis combined with endovascular treatment on vascular recanalization rate and peak systolic velocity in patients with acute cerebral infarction.

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) combined with endovascular treatment (EVT) on vascular recanalization rate and peak systolic velocity (PSV) in patients with acute cerebral infarction (ACI). Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted from January 2019 to December 2021 in Chengdu First People's Hospital. The clinical data of 96 patients with ACI were reviewed and the patients were assigned to either the control group (IVT alone, n=54) or the observation group (IVT+EVT, n=42). The vascular recanalization rate, PSV, neurological function, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were compared between groups. Results: The vascular recanalization rate and PSV in the observation group were higher than the control group (P<0.05). The NIHSS scores of the observation group at 24 hour, one week and one month after treatment were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). The mRS scores of the observation group were significantly lower than the control group after treatment (P<0.05), while there was no difference in the incidence of MACE between groups (P>0.05). Conclusions: IVT combined with EVT can improve the vascular recanalization rate and PSV in patients with ACI, which is worthy of promotion in clinical practice.

Metallic-semiconducting transition and spin polarized-unpolarized transition in a single molecule with a negative Poisson's ratio.

Different from conventional materials, structures with a negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) contract/expand laterally under a longitudinal compressive/tensile strain, usually exhibiting peculiar features. Through first-principles calculations, we investigate the electronic and transport properties of Pd9B16 molecules. Its Poisson's ratio is found to be negative under uniaxial strain along a specific direction. By contacting with Au nanowires, atomic Au chains and atomic C chain electrodes, two kinds of transitions for transmission states could be realized by the modulation of the strain and the contacting site, i.e., metallic-semiconducting transition and spin polarized-unpolarized transition. Further analysis shows that it is the suppression and shifting of density of states, caused by the strain or contacting electrodes, that trigger the transitions. Those findings combine NPR and spintronics at the single-molecule level, which may throw light on the development of nanoelectronic devices.

Sleep Quality Improvement Enhances Neuropsychological Recovery and Reduces Blood Aß42/40 Ratio in Patients with Mild-Moderate Cognitive Impairment.

Background and objectives: Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain degeneration and is associated with a high prevalence of sleep disorders. Amyloid ß peptide-42/40 (Aß42/40) and Tau-pT181 are the core biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid and blood. Accumulated data from studies in mouse models and humans demonstrated an aberrant elevation of these biomarkers due to sleep disturbance, especially sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). However, it is not clear if sleep quality improvement reduces the blood levels of Ab42/40 ratio and Tau-pT181 in Alzheimer's disease patients. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, a longitudinal analysis was conducted on 64 patients with mild-moderate cognition impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease accompanied by SDB. Another 33 MCI cases without sleep-disordered breathing were included as the control group. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score system. Neuropsychological assessments were conducted using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), 24-h Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD-24), and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) scoring systems. Aß42, Aß40, and Tau-pT181 protein levels in blood specimens were measured using ELISA assays. All patients received donepezil treatment for Alzheimer's disease. SDB was managed with continuous pressure ventilation. Results: A significant correlation was found among PSQI, HRSD-24, HAMA, Aß42/40 ratio, and Tau-pT181 level in all cases. In addition, a very strong and negative correlation was discovered between education level and dementia onset age. Compared to patients without SDB (33 non-SD cases), patients with SDB (64 SD cases) showed a significantly lower HRSD-24 score and a higher Aß42/40 ratio Tau-pT181 level. Sleep treatment for patients with SDB significantly improved all neuropsychological scores, Aß42/40 ratio, and Tau-pT181 levels. However, 11 patients did not completely recover from a sleep disorder (PSQI > 5 post-treatment). In this subgroup of patients, although HAMA score and Tau-pT181 levels were significantly reduced, MoCA and HRSD-24 scores, as well as Aß42/40 ratio, were not significantly improved. ROC analysis found that the blood Aß42/40 ratio held the highest significance in predicting sleep disorder occurrence. Conclusions: This is the first clinical study on sleep quality improvement in Alzheimer's disease patients. Sleep quality score was associated with patient depression and anxiety scores, as well as Aß42/40 ratio and Tau-pT181 levels. A complete recovery is critical for fully improving all neuropsychological assessments, Aß42/40 ratio, and Tau-pT181 levels. Blood Aß42/40 ratio is a feasible prognostic factor for predicting sleep quality.

[Clinical features and chest CT findings of coronavirus disease 2019 in infants and young children].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical features and chest CT findings of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in infants and young children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data and chest CT images of 9 children, aged 0 to 3 years, who were diagnosed with COVID-19 by nucleic acid detection between January 20 and February 10, 2020. RESULTS: All 9 children had an epidemiological history, and family clustering was observed for all infected children. Among the 9 children with COVID-19, 5 had no symptoms, 4 had fever, 2 had cough, and 1 had rhinorrhea. There were only symptoms of the respiratory system. Laboratory examination showed no reductions in leukocyte or lymphocyte count. Among the 9 children, 6 had an increase in lymphocyte count and 2 had an increase in leukocyte count. CT examination showed that among the 9 children, 8 had pulmonary inflammation located below the pleura or near the interlobar fissure and 3 had lesions distributed along the bronchovascular bundles. As for the morphology of the lesions, 6 had nodular lesions and 7 had patchy lesions; ground glass opacity with consolidation was observed in 6 children, among whom 3 had halo sign, and there was no typical paving stone sign. CONCLUSIONS: Infants and young children with COVID-19 tend to have mild clinical symptoms and imaging findings not as typical as those of adults, and therefore, the diagnosis of COVID-19 should be made based on imaging findings along with epidemiological history and nucleic acid detection. Chest CT has guiding significance for the early diagnosis of asymptomatic children.

Edge-modulated dual spin-filter effect in zigzag-shaped buckling Ag2S nanoribbons.

Unlike MoS2, single-layered Ag2S nanoribbons (Ag2SNRs) exhibit a nonmetal-shrouded and a zigzag-shaped buckling structure and possess two distinct edges, S- or Ag-terminated ones. By performing first principle calculations, the spin-dependent electron transport of Ag2SNRs in a ferromagnetic state has been investigated. It is found that the SS- and AgAg-terminated Ag2SNRs exhibit semi-metallic characteristics, but with opposite spin-polarized directions. And AgS-terminated ones show metallic characteristics, but with completely spin-unpolarized transmission. That is to say, all three states, i.e., spin up polarized, spin down polarized and spin unpolarized ones, could be achieved by modulating the edge geometry. Further analysis shows that, the spatial separation on edges of the energy states with different spins around EF is responsible for the switch in the three states. The system could operate as a dual spin-filter, and the direction of the spin polarization can be switched by the edge morphology. Furthermore, calculations show that such a phenomenon is robust to the width of the ribbon and strain, showing great application potential.

Association Between Transforming Growth Factor-ß1 T869C Gene Polymorphism and Diabetic Nephropathy: A Meta-Analysis in the Chinese Population.

BACKGROUND: An updated meta-analysis was performed to clarify the effects of TGF-ß1 T869C polymorphism on the risk of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in the Chinese population. METHODS: The studies were searched using PubMed, Springer Link, Ovid, Chinese Wanfang Data Knowledge Ser-vice Platform, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Chinese Biology Medicine (CBM) up to October 2018. RESULTS: A total of 8 studies including 1,075 DN cases, 610 healthy controls, and 901 diabetes mellitus (DM) con-trols were involved in this meta-analysis. Overall, a significantly decreased risk of DN was associated with all vari-ants of TGF-ß1 T869C when compared with the healthy group (T vs. C, OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.61 - 0.83; TT vs. CC, OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.37 - 0.69; TT + CT vs. CC, OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.51 - 0.82; TT vs. CC + CT, OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.48 - 0.82) or DM (T vs. C, OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.56 - 0.76; TT vs. CC, OR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.17 - 0.55; TT + CT vs. CC, OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.54 - 0.84; TT vs. CC + CT, OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.13 - 0.55), as well as their combinations (T vs. C, OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.60 - 0.76; TT vs. CC, OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.21 - 0.56; TT + CT vs. CC, OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.56 - 0.80; TT vs. CC + CT, OR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.17 - 0.57). The sub-group analyses stratified by geographic areas revealed significant results in South China. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis showed that the TGF-ß1 T869C variants may influence DN risk in Chinese, and further studies with gene-gene and gene-environment interactions are required to confirm this conclusion.

[Mechanism of effective components of Mori Folium in alleviating insulin resistance based on JNK signaling pathway].

A stable hepatoma cell line(Hep G2 cell) insulin resistance model was established and used to analyze the effect of effective components of Mori Folium in alleviating insulin resistance,and preliminary explore the mechanism for alleviating insulin resistance. The Hep G2 insulin action concentration and the duration of action were investigated using the glucose oxidase method(GOD-POD method) to establish a stable Hep G2 insulin resistance model. Normal control group,model group,Mori Folium polysaccharide group,Mori Folium flavonoid group and rosiglitazone group were divided to determine the glucose consumption. The effect of Mori Folium effective components on Hep G2 insulin resistance was analyzed. The mRNA expressions of JNK,IRS-1 and PDX-1 in each group were detected by Real-time quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR). The protein expressions of p-JNK,IRS-1 and PDX-1 were detected by Western blot. And the mechanism of effective components of Mori Folium in alleviating insulin resistance was investigated. The results showed that the glucose consumption was significantly decreased in the insulin resistance cells after incubation with 25. 0 mg·L-1 insulin for 36 h(P<0. 01),and the model was relatively stable within 36 h. Mori Folium polysaccharides and flavonoids all alleviated insulin resistance,among which Mori Folium flavonoids had better effect in alleviating Hep G2 insulin resistance(P<0. 05). The qRT-PCR analysis showed that Mori Folium polysaccharides and flavonoids could inhibit JNK and IRS-1 mRNA expressions,while enhancing PDX-1 mRNA expression. Western blot analysis displayed that Mori Folium polysaccharides and flavonoids could inhibit p-JNK and IRS-1 protein expressions,while enhancing PDX-1 protein expression. Mori Folium polysaccharides and flavonoids can alleviate insulin resistance in Hep G2 cells,and its mechanism may be the alleviation of insulin resistance by inhibiting JNK signaling pathway.

A progressive metal-semiconductor transition in two-faced Janus monolayer transition-metal chalcogenides.

Breaking the symmetry in the out-of-plane direction in two-dimensional materials to trigger distinctive electronic properties has long been predicted. Inspired by the recent progress in the experimental synthesis of a sandwiched S-Mo-Se structure (Janus SMoSe) at the monolayer limit [Zhang et al., ACS Nano, 2017, 11, 8192-8198], we investigate the transport and electronic structure of two-faced XMoY monolayers (X, Y = O, S, Se and Te) through first-principles calculations. It is found that all the monolayers are semiconductors except OMoTe, which is metallic. Interestingly, the "parents" of OMoTe (MoO2 and MoTe2) are both semiconductors. Further analysis shows that it is the out-of-plane asymmetry-induced strain that results in the metal-semiconductor transition between Janus OMoTe and its parents. By increasing the ratio of O atoms in one face of MoTe2, a progressive decreasing trend of the bandgap, as well as the transition to metallic, is found. In addition, a transition from the direct band gap semiconductor to the indirect one is also observed in the process. This could be used as an effective way to precisely control electronic structures, e.g., the bandgap. Different from other methods, this method uses the intrinsic features of the material, which can persist without the need of additional equipment. Moreover, such a modulating method is expected to be extended to many other transition-metal chalcogenides, showing great application potential.

Resting State fMRI Demonstrates a Disturbance of the Cerebello-Cortical Circuit in Essential Tremor.

Individuals with essential tremor (ET) have postural and active movement abnormalities. Disturbances in the cerebello-thalamo-cortical circuit may contribute to the several motor symptoms of ET. Resting state fMRI provides a valuable, noninvasive tool to study intrinsic activation in the human brain, particularly in the brains of individuals with neuropsychiatric diseases. To investigate the low frequency oscillation features of intrinsic activation in ET in this study, we performed a resting state fMRI analysis in 24 patients with ET and 23 healthy controls. The amplitudes of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) were analyzed. When compared with healthy controls, patients showed significantly enhanced ALFF in the bilateral cerebral cortex, which is related to motor function, including the pre- and post-central gyrus, supplementary motor area and paracentral lobule. The larger ALFF value in the right precentral gyrus is related to a longer duration of tremor. The decreased ALFF in the bilateral cerebellum was also observed in patients. In addition, aberrant ALFF in the right cerebellar tonsil was negatively associated with the duration of tremor. Our findings suggest that abnormalities exist in the intrinsic activation of brain regions in patients with ET. These findings provide noninvasive evidence that supports the hypothesis that the abnormality of intrinsic activity in the cerebello-cerebral cortex pathway could be associated with the motor-related symptoms of ET. Furthermore, the duration of a tremor might relate to the severity of the alterations to the motor system of ET.

[Change patterns, influencing factors and predictors of quality of life in patients with Alzheimer's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the change patterns, influencing factors and predictors of quality of life for 4 years in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: A total of 96 mild-moderate AD patients on combined therapies of medicine and recuperation were enrolled. Their clinical symptoms were graded by mini-mental state examination (MMSE), activity of daily living (ADL), global deterioration scale (GDS), neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI), Hamilton depression scale (HRSD), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) and Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PQSI). And their qualities of life were evaluated by Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) at baseline and at the end of 1, 2, 3, 4 year. RESULTS: (1) During a 4-year follow-up, the scores of QOL-AD, MMSE, ADL, GDS, NPI, HRSD, HAMA and PQSI decreased markedly compared with baseline [(17.5±1.9), (12±3), (45±9), (5.2±0.8), (31±11), (20±6), (14±6), (14±4) vs (30.5±4.6), (21±4), (34±10), (3.3±0.9), (22±9), (18±6), (11±4), (12±4) respectively, t=25.31, 15.42, -7.16, -14.83, -5.56, -2.94, -4.45, -5.60, all P<0.01]. With the deterioration of AD, their qualities of life decreased significantly. (2) Spearman's correlation analysis showed that the scores of 4-year QOL-AD were correlated with the 4-year score changes of MMSE, ADL, GDS (r=0.344, 0.368, 0.213; P=0.002, 0.001, 0.047). (3) Multiple Logistic regression model showed that the baseline scores of NPI and HRSD were strong predictors of loss of quality of life (OR=1.697, 1.269; P=0.000, 0.006). And the area under the curve of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) of NPI and HRSD were 0.918 (95% CI: 0.844-0.991) and 0.878 (95% CI: 0.804-0.953) respectively. CONCLUSION: With the deterioration of AD, the quality of life decreases significantly and has correlations with the score changes of MMSE, ADL and GDS. High scores of NPI and HRSD are the important predictors for a loss of quality of life in AD patients. Early detection and timely interventions are necessary.

New record of Joffre's pipistrelle, Mirostrellusjoffrei (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae), in China.

Background: Mirostrellusjoffrei Thomas, 1915 is the sole species within the genus Mirostrellus and its occurrence is notably rare in China. Despite the recent discovery of four previously unreported specimens from western Yunnan, China (Zaoteng River, 25.31°N, 98.80°E, altitude 1451 m) at the National Museum of Prague in the Czech Republic, comprehensive descriptions or detailed accounts of this species within China have yet to be published. New information: During a field expedition within the Guanyinshan Provincial Nature Reserve, Yuanyang, Yunnan, China, a bat was captured using a mist net. The specimen was of moderate size, with its ventral surface presenting a golden-brown hue and its dorsal surface ranging from dark brown to obsidian. The forearm measured 37.31 mm, while the fifth digit was conspicuously diminished in comparison to the others. The snout was robust, featuring prominent buccal glands. It was characterised by a well-developed upper frame and a barely visible low sagittal crest. The upper canines possessed well-developed posterior cusps. The dentition comprised two upper and two lower premolars, with the first upper premolar being notably small and the lower molars being distinctly myotodont. These attributes correspond with the known traits of Mirostrellusjoffrei. Phylogenetically, the sequence of this specimen clustered with that of M.joffrei, forming an independent clade. Through an examination of its morphological characteristics and a phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cyt b), cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and recombination activating gene 2 (RAG2) sequences, we identified the specimen as M.joffrei, thus confirming the presence of Joffre's pipistrelle in China.

A New Species of Murina (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from Yunnan, China.

During an examination of various specimens previously collected from different locations and times, we discovered seven Murina specimens that had been collected in May 2023 from the Guanyinshan Provincial Nature Reserve, Yuanyang, Yunnan, China. Based on the assessment of morphological characteristics and molecular data analysis, these specimens were determined to represent a previously unidentified species, designated Murina yuanyang sp. nov.

New records of Harpiolaisodon (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) from the Chinese mainland.

Background: The new species, Harpiolaisodon Kuo et al., 2006, was described from Taiwan, China. So far, no distribution of this species outside Taiwan has been reported. New information: During two field investigations of small mammals in Guanyin Mountains Provincial Nature Reserve, Yuanyang, Yunnan, China, in April 2022 and May 2023, five individuals of Harpiola were collected in the mid-montane evergreen broad-leaved forest. Our morphological and molecular results reveal that these individuals from the Chinese mainland belong to Harpiolaisodon, extending the occurrence of this species well beyond its known distributions in Taiwan, China and Vietnam.

New record of Miniopterusmagnater (Chiroptera, Miniopteridae) from south-western China and a comparative study of three species of Miniopterus in China.

Background: This research documents a new record of Miniopterusmagnater in the south-western region of China, a significant discovery given the limited diversity of the Miniopterus genus within the country. Only three species of Miniopterus occur in China: Miniopterusmagnater, Miniopterusfuliginosus and Miniopteruspusillus. These species share a high degree of morphological similarity, particularly in their external characteristics. This underscores the necessity for the identification of additional distinguishing traits that can aid in the taxonomic differentiation of these closely-related species. New information: During the 2023 field expedition to various nature reserves in Yunnan Province, China, we encountered specimens of the genus Miniopterus. Utilising a combination of morphological assessments and phylogenetic analyses, we identified six individuals as Miniopterusmagnater. A review of the existing geographical distribution data revealed that this species is primarily found in central and southern regions of China, with no previous records from the south-western part of the country. Based on our findings, we present a novel record of Miniopterusmagnater's distribution in the south-western region of China.

Advances in Small-Molecule Dual Inhibitors Targeting EGFR and HER2 Receptors as Anti-Cancer Agents.

As members of the protein tyrosine kinase family, the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) play essential roles in cellular signal transduction pathways. Overexpression or abnormal activation of EGFR and HER2 can lead to the development of various solid tumors. Therefore, they have been confirmed as biological targets for the development of anticancer drugs. Due to the fact that many cancers are highly susceptible to developing resistance to single-target EGFR inhibitors in clinical practice, dual inhibitors that target both EGFR and HER2 have been developed to increase efficacy, reduce drug resistance and interactions, and improve patient compliance. Currently, a variety of EGFR/HER2 dual inhibitors have been developed, with several drugs already approved for marketing or in clinical trials. In this review, we summarize recent advancements in small-molecule EGFR/HER2 dual inhibitors by focusing on structure-activity relationships and share novel insights into developing anticancer agents.

Trends in innovative pediatric drug development in China based on clinical trial registration data.

In China, the focus of drug research and development has gradually shifted from generic to innovative drugs. Using the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry and Information Transparency Platform, we retrospectively analyzed clinical trials of innovative pediatric drugs conducted in mainland China over the last decade. The goal of this work was to better understand the characteristics of and historical changes in innovative pediatric drug research and development (R&D) in China and to provide effective data support for policy makers and other stakeholders. This study included 198 innovative pediatric drug clinical trials. The data showed that, although some progress has been made in the R&D of innovative pediatric drugs in China, many factors limiting this progress still exist, such as concentrated R&D areas, inadequate pediatric participants, and unbalanced source distributions. The level of innovative pediatric drug R&D in China currently lags behind the global level and has not kept pace with anti-neoplastic drug R&D in China. To promote the innovative development of pediatric drugs in China, the Chinese government must develop an R&D supervision framework, improve the motivation and innovation capabilities of pharmaceutical companies, and optimize the source distribution between regions.

Recent advances on dual inhibitors targeting HIV reverse transcriptase associated polymerase and ribonuclease H.

Reverse transcriptase (RT) plays an indispensable role in the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through its associated polymerase and ribonuclease H (RNase H) activities during the viral RNA genome transformation into proviral DNA. Due to the fact that HIV is a highly mutagenic virus and easily resistant to single-target RT inhibitors, dual inhibitors targeting HIV RT associated polymerase and RNase H have been developed. These dual inhibitors have the advantages of increasing efficacy, reducing drug resistance, drug-drug interactions, and cytotoxicity, as well as improving patient compliance. In this review, we summarize recent advances in polymerase/RNase H dual inhibitors focusing on drug design strategies, and structure-activity relationships and share new insights into developing anti-HIV drugs.

Altered spontaneous brain activity patterns in patients with diabetic retinopathy using amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by prolonged elevation of blood glucose due to various causes. Currently, the relationship between diabetic retinopathy (DR) and altered connectivity of brain function is unclear. AIM: To investigate the relationship between this brain activity and clinical manifestations and behaviors of DR patients by using the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) technique. METHODS: Twenty-four DR patients and 24 healthy controls (HCs) matched for age and gender were enrolled. We measured and recorded average ALFF values of DR patients and HCs and then classified them using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: ALFF values of both left and right posterior cerebellar lobe and right anterior cingulate gyrus were remarkably higher in the DR patients than in the HCs; however, DR patients had lower values in the bilateral calcarine area. ROC curve analysis of different brain regions demonstrated high accuracy in the area under the curve analysis. There was no significant relationship between mean ALFF values for different regions and clinical presentations in DR patients. Neuronal synchronization abnormalities in some brain regions of DR patients were associated with cognitive and visual disorders. CONCLUSION: Abnormal spontaneous brain activity was observed in many areas of DR patients' brains, which may suggest a possible link between clinical manifestations and behaviors in DR patients.

Altered White Matter Integrity in Patients with Retinal Vein Occlusion: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Tract-Based Spatial Statistics Study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate microstructural alterations of white matter in retinal vein occlusion (RVO) patients by tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Material/Methods. DTI was performed on 14 RVO patients and 14 normal controls (HCs). We measured and recorded fractional anisotropy (FA) and radial diffusivity (RD) of white matter fibers and classified them through the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and correlation analysis, respectively. RESULTS: The mean FA value of white matter in RVO patients is lower than the HCs, and the mean RD value in RVO patients increased, especially in the bilateral posterior thalamic, bilateral sagittal stratum, body of corpus callosum, cingulum, and fornix. The ROC curve of different brain regions showed high accuracy. Moreover, the mean FA and RD values were significantly correlated with visual and psychological disorders. CONCLUSION: TBSS could be regarded as an important method to reveal the alterations of white matter in RVO patients, indicating the underlying neurological mechanism of the RVO.

Acarbose ameliorates spontaneous type­2 diabetes in db/db mice by inhibiting PDX­1 methylation.

Pancreatic and duodenal homeobox (PDX)­1 is a gene that plays an important role in pancreatic development and function. Type­2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disease associated with insulin resistance and impaired islet ß­cell function. There is evidence that methylation of PDX­1 plays a role in the development of T2DM. Acarbose is an α­glucosidase inhibitor that can effectively delay the absorption of glucose by the body. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of acarbose on PDX­1 methylation in islet ß­cells in spontaneous type­2 diabetic db/db mice. The effect of acarbose on glucose and lipid metabolism in these mice was assessed by measuring food intake, body weight, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), glucagon, serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and fasting blood glucose (FBG). Blood glucose levels were also analyzed using intraperitoneal glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance tests. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the effect of acarbose on pathological changes in the pancreas. Moreover, a BrdU assay was used to analyze cell proliferation. Lastly, the effect of acarbose on PDX­1 methylation was evaluated in mice using methylation­specific PCR and western blot analysis. In the present study, body weight significantly increased in the acarbose group, compared to the normal group. The levels of HbA1c and glucagon in the T2DM group significantly increased, compared with the normal group, but significantly decreased in acarbose­treated mice. Moreover, FBG levels significantly decreased in the acarbose groups compared with T2DM mice. Acarbose also promoted cell proliferation, compared with untreated T2DM mice. In addition, PDX­1 methylation and cytoplasmic expression levels were both downregulated in the acarbose group, compared with the T2DM group. In conclusion, these results suggested that acarbose could promote the proliferation of islet ß­cells and inhibit PDX­1 methylation in islet ß cells from diabetic mice. Thus, acarbose may provide a new strategy to treat T2DM.