The Global Research Trends on Intrinsic Capacity of Older Adults: A Bibliometric and Visual Analysis of Papers Published During 2015-2023.

Objective: The concept of intrinsic capacity (IC) revolves around healthy aging and active aging. Since the Introduction of the concept by the World Health Organization in 2015, a series of studies have been conducted by scholars from multiple fields. However, no bibliometric analysis has systematically investigated this issue. We aim to identify the current landscape and frontier trends of scientific achievements on IC in older adults through bibliometric approaches. Methods: Quantitative analysis of publications relating to IC in older adults from 2015 to 2023 was interpreted and graphed through the Web of Science Core Collection database on December 5, 2023. A variety of quantitative variables was analyzed, including publication and citation counts, H-index, and journal citation reports. Co-authorship, citation, co-citation, and co-occurrence analyses were performed for countries/regions, institutions, authors, and keywords using the VOSviewer and CiteSpace. Results: A total of 952 original and review articles in English were identified. The European countries possessed an absolute advantage in this field. The most contributive institution was the University of São Paulo. The most productive author is Cesari Matteo from France, followed by Qaisar Rizwan from the United Arab Emirates. However, a relatively low level of research cooperation existed between institutions and authors. Important topics mainly include the connotations, theoretical framework models, evaluation, screening tools, and application scenarios of IC. Among the promising hotspots, "biological aging", "ICOPE", "Covid-19", "prevention", "inflammation", "caf22", "prevalence", and "randomized controlled trial" displayed relatively latest average appearing year. Conclusion: Global trends indicate a growing scientific output on IC in older adults, and developed countries are leading the way. There is still room for improvement in research team collaboration. The focus gradually shifts from theoretical research to empirical research. It is recommended to pay attention to the latest hot spots, such as "biological aging", "ICOPE implementation", "post-COVID-19 syndrome", and "biomarkers".

Application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing for rapid molecular identification in spinal infection diagnosis.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) for detecting pathogens in spinal infections and to identify the differences in the diagnostic performance between mNGS and targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS). Methods: A total of 76 consecutive patients with suspected spinal infections who underwent mNGS, culture, and histopathological examinations were retrospectively studied. The final diagnosis of the patient was determined by combining the clinical treatment results, pathological examinations, imaging changes and laboratory indicators. The sensitivity and specificity of mNGS and culture were determined. Results: The difference between the two detection rates was statistically significant (p < 0.001), with mNGS exhibiting a significantly higher detection rate (77.6% versus 18.4%). The average diagnosis time of mNGS was significantly shorter than that of bacterial culture (p < 0.001, 1.65 versus 3.07 days). The sensitivity and accuracy of mNGS were significantly higher than that of the culture group (p < 0.001, 82.3% versus 17.5%; 75% versus 27.6%), whereas the specificity of mNGS (42.9%) was lower than that of the culture group (p > 0.05, 42.9% versus 76.9%). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive predictive value (PPV) of pus were higher than those of tissue samples for mNGS, whereas for culture, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and PPV of tissue samples were higher than those of pus. tNGS demonstrated higher sensitivity and accuracy in diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) than mNGS (80% versus 50%; 87.5% versus 68.8%). Conclusion: mNGS for spinal infection demonstrated better diagnostic value in developing an antibiotic regimen earlier, and it is recommended to prioritize pus samples for testing through mNGS. Moreover, tNGS outperformed other methods for diagnosing spinal TB and identifying antibiotic-resistance genes in drug-resistant TB.

Do Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Show Selective Trust in Social Robots?

PURPOSE: Previous researches suggest that social robots can facilitate the learning of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by enhancing their interests, engagement, and attention. However, there is limited understanding regarding whether children with ASD can learn directly from the testimony of social robots and whether they can remain vigilant based on the perceived accuracy of these robots. Therefore, the present study was conducted to examine whether children with ASD demonstrated selective trust towards social robots. METHODS: Twenty-nine children with ASD between ages of 4-7 years, and 38 typically-developing (TD) age and IQ-matched peers participated in classic selective trust tasks. During the tasks, they learned the names of novel objects from either a pair of social robots or a pair of human informants, where one informant had previously been established as accurate and the other inaccurate. RESULTS: Children with ASD trusted information from an accurate social robot over an inaccurate one, similar to their performance with human informants. However, compared to TD children, children with ASD exhibited lower levels of selective trust regardless of the type of informants they learned from. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that children with ASD can selectively trust and acquire knowledge from social robots, shedding light on the potential use of social robots in supporting individuals with ASD.

Cell-SELEX and application research of a DNA aptamer against esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell line TE-1.

Esophageal cancer is a common cancer with high morbidity and mortality that severely threatens the safety and quality of human life. The strong metastatic nature of esophageal cancer enables it to metastasize more quickly and covertly, making it difficult for current diagnostic and treatment methods to achieve efficient early screening, as well as timely and effective treatment. As a promising solution, nucleic acid aptamers, a kind of special single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotide selected by the Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment (SELEX) technology, can specifically bind with different molecular targets. In this paper, random DNA single-stranded oligonucleotides were used as the initial library. Using TE-1 cells and HEEC cells as targets, specific binding sequences were selected by 15 rounds of the cell-SELEX method, and the aptamer sequence that binds to TE-1 cells with the most specificity was obtained and named Te4. The Te4 aptamer was further validated for binding specificity, binding affinity, type of target, in vitro cytotoxicity when conjugated with DOX(Te4-DOX), and in vivo distribution. Results of in vitro validation showed that Te4 has outstanding binding specificity with a Kd value of 51.16 ± 5.52 nM, and the target type of Te4 was preliminarily identified as a membrane protein. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity experiment showed that Te4-DOX has specific cytotoxicity towards cultured TE-1 cells. Finally, the results of the in vivo distribution experiment showed that the Te4 aptamer is able to specifically target tumor regions in nude mice, showing great potential to be applied in future diagnosis and targeted therapy of esophageal cancer.

Self-assembled flower-like carbon nanosheets for magnetic solid-phase extraction of microcystins from aquatic organism.

Adsorbents with good dispersibility and high efficiency are crucial for magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE). In this study, flower-like magnetic nanomaterials (F-Ni@NiO@ZnO2-C) were successfully prepared by calcination of metal-organic framework (MOF) precursors that was stacked by two-dimensional (2D) nanosheet. The synthesized F-Ni@NiO@ZnO2-C has a flower-like layered structure with a large amount of pore space, promoting the rapid diffusion of targets. In addition, Zn2+ doped in MOF precursors was still retained that further produced strong metal chelation with targets. The unique structure of F-Ni@NiO@ZnO2-C was used as MSPE adsorbent, and combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) for extraction of three microcystins (MCs) detection, including microcystin-LR (MC-LR), microcystin-RR (MC-RR), microcystin-YR (MC-YR). The resulting method has a detection limit of 0.2-1.0 pg mL-1, a linear dynamic range of 0.6-500.0 pg mL-1 and has good linearity (R ≥ 0.9996). Finally, the established method was applied to the highly selective enrichment of MCs in biological samples, successfully detecting trace amounts of MCs (8.4-15.0 pg mL-1) with satisfactory recovery rates (83.7-103.1 %). The results indicated that flower-like magnetic F-Ni@NiO@ZnO2-C was a promising adsorbent, providing great potential for the determination of trace amounts of MCs in biological samples.

Stereochemical Control of Redox CoII/CoIII-Cages with Switchable Cotton Effects Based on Labile-Static States.

The structural dynamics of artificial assemblies, in aspects such as molecular recognition and structural transformation, provide us with a blueprint to achieve bioinspired applications. Here, we describe the assembly of redox-switchable chiral metal-organic cages Λ8/Δ8-[Pd6(CoIIL3)8]28+ and Λ8/Δ8-[Pd6(CoIIIL3)8]36+. These isomeric cages demonstrate an on-off chirality logic gate controlled by their chemical and stereostructural dynamics tunable through redox transitions between the labile CoII-state and static CoIII-state with a distinct Cotton effect. The transition between different states is enabled by a reversible redox process and chiral recognition originating in the tris-chelate Co-centers. All cages in two states are thoroughly characterized by NMR, ESI-MS, CV, CD, and X-ray crystallographic analysis, which clarify their redox-switching behaviors upon chemical reduction/oxidation. The stereochemical lability of the CoII-center endows the Λ8/Δ8-CoII-cages with efficient chiral-induction by enantiomeric guests, leading to enantiomeric isomerization to switch between Λ8/Δ8-CoII-cages, which can be stabilized by oxidation to their chemically inert forms of Λ8/Δ8-CoIII-cages. Kinetic studies reveal that the isomerization rate of the Δ8-CoIII-cage is at least an order of magnitude slower than that of the Δ8-CoII-cage even at an elevated temperature, while its activation energy is 16 kcal mol-1 higher than that of the CoII-cage.

Response of growth and physiological enzyme activities in Eriogyna pyretorum to various host plants.

Morphological attributes and chemical composition of host plants shape growth and development of phytophagous insects via influences on their behavior and physiological processes. This research delves into the relationship between Eriogyna pyretorum and various host plants through studuying how feeding on different host tree species affect growth, development, and physiological enzyme activities. We examined E. pyretorum response to three distinct host plants: Camphora officinarum, Liquidambar formosana and Pterocarya stenoptera. Notably, larvae feeding on C. officinarum and L. formosana displayed accelerated development, increased pupal length, and higher survival rates compared to those on P. stenoptera. This underlines the pivotal role of host plant selection in shaping the E. pyretorum's life cycle. The activities of a-amylase, lipase and protective enzymes were the highest in larvae fed on the most suitable host L. formosana which indicated that the increase of these enzyme activities was closely related to growth and development. Furthermore, our investigation revealed a relationship between enzymatic activities and host plants. Digestive enzymes, protective enzymes, and detoxifying enzymes exhibited substantial variations contingent upon the ingested host plant. Moreover, the total phenolics content in the host plant leaves manifested a noteworthy positive correlation with catalase and lipase activities. In contrast, a marked negative correlation emerged with glutathione S-transferase and α-amylase activities. The total developmental duration of larvae exhibited a significant positive correlation with the activities of GST and CarE. The survival rate of larvae showed a significant positive correlation with CYP450. These observations underscore the insect's remarkable adaptability in orchestrating metabolic processes in accordance with available nutritional resources. This study highlights the interplay between E. pyretorum and its host plants, offering novel insights into how different vegetation types influence growth, development, and physiological responses. These findings contribute to a deeper comprehension of insect-plant interactions, with potential applications in pest management and ecological conservation.

From biogenesis to aptasensors: advancements in analysis for tumor-derived extracellular vesicles research.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are enclosed by a nanoscale phospholipid bilayer membrane and typically range in size from 30 to 200 nm. They contain a high concentration of specific proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, reflecting but not identical to the composition of the parent cell. The inherent characteristics and variety of EVs give them extensive and unique advantages in the field of cancer identification and treatment. Recently, EVs have been recognized as potential tumor markers for the detection of cancer. Aptamers, which are molecules of single-stranded DNA or RNA, demonstrate remarkable specificity and affinity for their targets by adopting distinct tertiary structures. Aptamers offer various advantages over their protein counterparts, such as reduced immunogenicity, the ability for convenient large-scale synthesis, and straightforward chemical modification. In this review, we summarized EVs biogenesis, sample collection, isolation, storage and characterization, and finally provided a comprehensive survey of analysis techniques for EVs detection that are based on aptamers.

Intravenous application of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells alleviate neuropathic pain by suppressing microglia activation in rats.

Objective: Neuropathic pain has been considered as one of the most serious chronic pain subtypes and causes intolerable suffering to patients physically and mentally. This study aimed to verify the analgesic effect of intravenous administration of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUC-MSCs) upon rats with chronic constriction injury (CCI)-induced neuropathic pain and the concomitant mechanism via modulating microglia. Methods: 30 male SD rats were randomized divided into three groups (n = 10 per group): Sham + Saline group (S&S group), CCI + Saline group (C&S group) and CCI + HUC-MSCs group (C&U group). Rats were injected with either saline or HUC-MSCs via the caudal vein on the 7th day after modelling. The paw mechanical withdrawal threshold (PMWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) of the ligation side were measured before (day 0) and after (day 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15) modelling. On day 15 after modelling, western-blotting and immunofluorescent staining were used to assess the expressive abundance of Iba-1 (a typical biomarker of activated microglia) in the ligation side of the spinal cord dorsal horn, and ultrastructural changes of the ligation of sciatic nerve were evaluated by transmission electron microscope (TEM). Results: Compared with the S&S group, PMWT and TWL in the C&S group were significantly decreased on day 5 and then persisted to day 15 after modelling (C&S vs S&S, P < 0.05), while a significant amelioration of mechanical hyperalgesia (day 13, day 15) and thermal allodynia (day 9, day 11, day 15) was observed in the C&U group (C&U vs C&S, P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the expression of Iba-1 was significantly suppressed by systemic infusion of HUC-MSCs in the C&U group according to western-blotting and immunofluorescent staining analyses (P < 0.05). With the aid of TEM detection, we intuitively noticed the efficacious reconstruction of the laminate structure of the sciatic nerve ligation, elimination of mitochondrial swelling, and formation of new myelination were noted on day 15 after modelling in the C&U group. Conclusions: Overall, intravenous administration of HUC-MSCs systemically revealed an ameliorative effect upon CCI-induced neuropathic pain in SD rats by inhibiting microglia activation in the dorsal horn of the impaired spinal cord and alleviating sciatic nerve injury. Our findings supply new references for the further development of HUC-MSCs-based cytotherapy for neuropathic pain administration.

An easy-to-perform method for microvessel isolation and primary brain endothelial cell culture to study Alzheimer's disease.

Dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been increasingly recognised as a critical early event in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology. Central to this mechanism is the impaired function of brain endothelial cells (BECs), the primary structural constituents of the BBB, the study of which is imperative for understanding AD pathophysiology. However, the published methods to isolate BECs are time-consuming and have a low success rate. Here, we developed a rapid and streamlined protocol for BEC isolation without using transgenic reporters, flow cytometry, and magnetic beads, which are essential for existing methods. Using this novel protocol, we isolated high-purity BECs from cell clusters of cortical microvessels from wild-type and APPswe/PS1dE9 (APP/PS1, a classical AD model) mice at 2, 4 and 9 months of age. Reduced levels of tight junction proteins Claudin-5 and Zonula Occludens-1, as well as glucose transporter 1, were observed in the isolated cortical microvessels from APP/PS1 mice and amyloid-ß (Aß) oligomer-treated BECs from wild-type mice. Trans-well permeability assay showed increased FITC-dextran leakage in BECs treated with Aß, suggesting impaired BBB permeability. BECs obtained using our novel protocol can undergo various experimental analyses, including immunofluorescence staining, western blotting, real-time PCR, and trans-well permeability assay. In conclusion, our novel protocol represents a reliable and valuable tool for in vitro modelling BBB to study AD-related mechanisms and develop targeted therapeutic strategies.

The Lungs in Space: A Review of Current Knowledge and Methodologies.

Space travel presents multiple risks to astronauts such as launch, radiation, spacewalks or extravehicular activities, and microgravity. The lungs are composed of a combination of air, blood, and tissue, making it a complex organ system with interactions between the external and internal environment. Gravity strongly influences the structure of the lung which results in heterogeneity of ventilation and perfusion that becomes uniform in microgravity as shown during parabolic flights, Spacelab, and Skylab experiments. While changes in lung volumes occur in microgravity, efficient gas exchange remains and the lungs perform as they would on Earth; however, little is known about the cellular response to microgravity. In addition to spaceflight and real microgravity, devices, such as clinostats and random positioning machines, are used to simulate microgravity to study cellular responses on the ground. Differential expression of cell adhesion and extracellular matrix molecules has been found in real and simulated microgravity. Immune dysregulation is a known consequence of space travel that includes changes in immune cell morphology, function, and number, which increases susceptibility to infections. However, the majority of in vitro studies do not have a specific respiratory focus. These studies are needed to fully understand the impact of microgravity on the function of the respiratory system in different conditions.

Hyperbaric oxygen attenuates chronic postsurgical pain by regulating the CD73/adenosine/A1R axis of the spinal cord in rats.

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) affects postoperative rehabilitation and quality of life in patients, but its mechanisms are still poorly understood. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) attenuates neuropathic pain in animal and human studies, but its efficacy for CPSP treatment and its underlying mechanism have not been elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the analgesic effect of HBO in a CPSP rat model and the role of spinal cord adenosine circulation in HBO-induced analgesia. A skin/muscle incision and retraction (SMIR) rat model was used to mimic CPSP, and HBO treatment (2.5 ATA, 60 min) was administered once daily for five consecutive days beginning three days after surgery. The role of spinal cord adenosine circulation in HBO-induced analgesia was investigated using APCP (a CD73 inhibitor), DPCPX (an A1R antagonist) or an intrathecal injection of adenosine. The mechanical paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) was determined at different time points before and after surgery. The spinal cord adenosine and ATP contents were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the spinal cord expression of A1R, CD73, and ADK was examined by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. The results showed that the mechanical PWT of the ipsilateral hind paw and the adenosine content decreased, and the spinal cord expression of A1R, CD73, and ADK and ATP content increased within 14 days after surgery. HBO treatment alleviated mechanical allodynia, reduced ATP content, and increased adenosine content by activating CD73 but downregulated the spinal cord expression of A1R, CD73, and ADK. Intrathecal adenosine alleviated mechanical allodynia after SMIR and downregulated the spinal cord expression of A1R and CD73, and intrathecal APCP or DPCPX attenuated the analgesic effect of HBO treatment on SMIR-induced CPSP. PERSPECTIVE: Spinal cord adenosine is involved in the occurrence and development of CPSP, and HBO treatment alleviates CPSP by regulating adenosine production/metabolism in the spinal cord. Thus, HBO may be employed for the treatment of CPSP with favorable efficacy.

Optimizing intubation technique using a single-use video laryngoscope: A comparative study in a simulation model.

Tracheal intubation poses a high risk of infection to medical staff due to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) highly infectious nature. To mitigate this risk, various medical devices, including video laryngoscopy, have been developed to assist intubation. This study compared conventional laryngoscopy (Macintosh) and disposable video laryngoscopes (Medcaptain VS-10s and Honestmc Laryngoscope_LA10000) in terms of their use and operation processes. We designed a questionnaire to assess the operator perception of performing intubation with the devices, and statistical analysis was performed on 50 clinical staff members from 2 hospitals who had performed intubation or had learned intubation techniques. The primary outcomes were time to glottic visualization, intubation time, intubation success rate, distance between the operator and training model, and time from glottic visualization to tube insertion. The secondary outcomes were as follows: overall laryngoscope quality, operative feel, maneuverability, ease of use, and video quality. This study showed that video laryngoscopes were superior to conventional laryngoscopes in terms of quality, operative feel, and ease of use. When LA10000 was employed, the intubation success rate was higher, and the operator risk of infection was lower because of the greater distance from the training model. However, the use of video laryngoscopes requires appropriate education and training use of the devices. This study also demonstrated that when participants viewed a simple operation video prior to using video laryngoscopes, tube insertion time was shorter. Overall, video laryngoscopy can provide a safer and more convenient option for clinical medical personnel during pandemics.

In the Qaidam Basin, Soil Nutrients Directly or Indirectly Affect Desert Ecosystem Stability under Drought Stress through Plant Nutrients.

The low nutrient content of soil in desert ecosystems results in unique physiological and ecological characteristics of plants under long-term water and nutrient stress, which is the basis for the productivity and stability maintenance of the desert ecosystem. However, the relationship between the soil and the plant nutrient elements in the desert ecosystem and its mechanism for maintaining ecosystem stability is still unclear. In this study, 35 sampling sites were established in an area with typical desert vegetation in the Qaidam Basin, based on a drought gradient. A total of 90 soil samples and 100 plant samples were collected, and the soil's physico-chemical properties, as well as the nutrient elements in the plant leaves, were measured. Regression analysis, redundancy analysis (RDA), the Theil-Sen Median and Mann-Kendall methods, the structural equation model (SEM), and other methods were employed to analyze the distribution characteristics of the soil and plant nutrient elements along the drought gradient and the relationship between the soil and leaf nutrient elements and its impact on ecosystem stability. The results provided the following conclusions: Compared with the nutrient elements in plant leaves, the soil's nutrient elements had a more obvious regularity of distribution along the drought gradient. A strong correlation was observed between the soil and leaf nutrient elements, with soil organic carbon and alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen identified as important factors influencing the leaf nutrient content. The SEM showed that the soil's organic carbon had a positive effect on ecosystem stability by influencing the leaf carbon, while the soil's available phosphorus and the mean annual temperature had a direct positive effect on stability, and the soil's total nitrogen had a negative effect on stability. In general, the soil nutrient content was high in areas with a low mean annual temperature and high precipitation, and the ecosystem stability in the area distribution of typical desert vegetation in the Qaidam Basin was low. These findings reveal that soil nutrients affect the stability of desert ecosystems directly or indirectly through plant nutrients in the Qaidam Basin, which is crucial for maintaining the stability of desert ecosystems with the background of climate change.

[Application of Fetal Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Prognosis Assessment of Fetuses With Congenital Pulmonary Cystic Diseases]. / äº§å‰ç£å ±æŒ¯åœ¨å ˆå¤©æ€§è‚ºå›Šæ€§ç–¾ç— èƒŽå„¿é¢„åŽè¯„ä¼°ä¸­çš„åº”ç”¨ç ”ç©¶.

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the practical value of prenatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the assessment of congenital cystic lung disease in fetuses, to evaluate the relative size of the lesion and the status of lung development, and to make an attempt at utilizing the strength of MRI in post-processing to obtain assessment indicators of the size of the lesion and the status of lung development, with which predictions can be made for the prognosis that these fetuses may face after birth. We retrospectively collected and analyzed the data of fetuses diagnosed with congenital cystic lung disease. Prenatal ultrasound examination of these fetuses led to the diagnosis that they were suspected of having congenital cystic lung disease and the diagnosis was confirmed by subsequent prenatal MRI. The fetuses were followed up to track their condition at birth (postnatal respiratory distress, mechanical ventilation, etc.), whether the fetuses underwent surgical treatment, and the recovery of the fetuses after surgical treatment. The recovery of the fetuses was followed up to explore the feasibility of prenatal MRI examination to assess fetal congenital pulmonary cystic disease, and to preliminarily explore the predictive value of prenatal MRI for the prognosis of fetuses with congenital pulmonary cystic disease. Methods: MRI fetal images were collected from pregnant women who attended the West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University between May 2018 and March 2023 and who were diagnosed with fetal congenital pulmonary cystic disease by prenatal ultrasound and subsequent MRI. Fetal MRI images of congenital cystic lung disease were post-processed to obtain the fetal lung lesion volume, the fetal affected lung volume, the healthy lung volume, and the fetal head circumference measurements. The signal intensity of both lungs and livers, the lesion volume/the affected lung volume, the lesion volume/total lung volume, the cystic volume ratio (CVR), and the bilateral lung-liver signal intensity ratio were measured. The feasibility and value of MRI post-processing acquisition indexes for evaluating the prognosis of fetuses with congenital cystic lung disease were further analyzed by combining the follow-up results obtained 6 months after the birth of the fetus. Logistic regression models were used to quantify the differences in maternal age, gestational week at the time of MRI, CVR, and bilateral lung-to-liver signal intensity ratio, and to assess whether these metrics correlate with poor prognosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the value of the parameters obtained by MRI calculations alone and in combination with multiple metrics for predicting poor prognosis after birth. Results: We collected a total of 67 cases of fetuses diagnosed with congenital cystic lung disease by fetal MRI between May 2018 and March 2023, and excluded 6 cases with no normal lung tissue in the affected lungs, 11 cases of fetal induction, and 3 cases of loss of pregnancy. In the end, 47 cases of fetuses with congenital cystic lung disease were included, of which 30 cases had a good prognosis and 17 cases had a poor prognosis. The difference in the difference between the signal intensity ratios of the affected and healthy sides of the lungs and livers of the fetuses in the good prognosis group and that in the poor prognosis group was statistically significant (P<0.05), and the signal intensity ratio of the healthy side of the lungs and livers was higher than the signal intensity ratio of the affected side of the lungs and livers. Further analysis showed that CVR (odds ratio [OR]=1.058, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.014-1.104), and the difference between the lung-to-liver signal intensity ratios of the affected and healthy sides (OR=0.814, 95% CI: 0.700-0.947) were correlated with poor prognosis of birth in fetuses with congenital cystic lung disease. In addition, ROC curve analysis showed that the combined application of lesion volume/affected lung volume and the observed difference in the signal intensity ratio between the affected and healthy lungs and liver predicted the prognosis of children with congenital cystic lung disease more accurately than the single-parameter judgment did, with the area under the curve being 0.988, and the cut-off value being 0.33, which corresponded to a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 93.3%, and a 95% CI of 0.966-1.000. Conclusions: Based on the MRI of fetuses with congenital cystic lung disease, we obtained information on lesion volume, lesion volume/affected lung volume, lesion volume/total lung volume, CVR, and bilateral lung-to-liver signal intensity ratio difference, all of which showing some clinical value in predicting the poor prognosis in fetuses with congenital cystic lung disease. Furthermore, among the combined indexes, the lesion volume/affected lung volume and bilateral lung-to-liver signal intensity ratio difference are more effective predictors for the poor prognosis of fetuses with congenital cystic lung disease, and show better efficacy in predicting the poor prognosis of fetuses with congenital cystic lung disease. This provides a new and effective predictive method for further assessment of pulmonary lung development in fetuses with congenital cystic lung disease, and helps improve the assessment and prediction of the prognosis of fetuses with congenital cystic lung disease.

Association of systolic blood pressure variability with remote ischemic conditioning in acute ischemic stroke.

Systolic blood pressure variability (SBPV) is associated with outcome in acute ischemic stroke. Remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) has been demonstrated to be effective in stroke and may affect blood pressure. Relationship between SBPV and RIC treatment after stroke warrants investigation. A total of 1707 patients from per-protocol analysis set of RICAMIS study were included. The SBPV was calculated based on blood pressure measured at admission, Day 7, and Day 12. (I) To investigate the effect of SBPV on efficacy of RIC in stroke, patients were divided into High and Low categories in each SBPV parameter. Primary outcome was excellent functional outcome at 90 days. Compared with Control, efficacy of RIC in each category and interaction between categories were investigated. (II) To investigate the effect of RIC treatment on SBPV, SBPV parameters were compared between RIC and Control groups. Compared with Control, a higher likelihood of primary outcome in RIC was found in high category (max-min: adjusted risk difference [RD] = 7.2, 95% CI 1.2-13.1, P = 0.02; standard deviation: adjusted RD = 11.5, 95% CI 1.6-21.4, P = 0.02; coefficient of variation: adjusted RD = 11.2, 95% CI 1.4-21.0, P = 0.03). Significant interaction of RIC on outcomes were found between High and Low standard deviations (adjusted P < 0.05). No significant difference in SBPV parameters were found between treatment groups. This is the first report that Chinese patients with acute moderate ischemic stroke and presenting with higher SBPV, who were non-cardioemoblic stroke and not candidates for intravenous thrombolysis or endovascular therapy, would benefit more from RIC with respect to functional outcomes at 90 days, but 2-week RIC treatment has no effect on SBPV during hospital.

The Association Between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Mobile Phone Addiction Among Overseas Chinese Students During COVID-19: The Mediating Roles of Perceived Stress and Rumination.

Purpose: This study investigated the mechanism underlying the association between intolerance of uncertainty and mobile phone addiction among Chinese overseas students during the COVID-19 pandemic by examining the mediating roles of perceived stress and rumination. Patients and Methods: An online questionnaire survey was distributed via social media platforms popular in mainland China. The items collected demographic information and assessed intolerance of uncertainty, perceived stress, rumination, and mobile phone addiction. A total of 249 respondents completed the questionnaire. Results: The findings suggest a considerably high risk of mobile phone addiction in the study period among overseas Chinese students, as three-fourths of the participants may have been susceptible to mobile phone addiction according to the suggested cut-off point of the Chinese version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form. Intolerance of uncertainty showed a significant positive direct effect on mobile phone addiction. The mediation analyses suggest that intolerance of uncertainty affected mobile phone addiction mainly through three pathways: the mediating effect of perceived stress, the mediating effect of rumination, and the chain mediating effect of perceived stress and rumination. Conclusion: This study enhances understanding of mobile phone addiction among Chinese overseas students and suggests the mediating roles of rumination and perceived stress in the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and mobile phone addiction. The study also provides suggestions for interventions among Chinese students overseas.

Effect of endoscopic sphincterotomy and endoscopic papillary balloon dilation endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies on the sphincter of Oddi.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), with its clinical ad-vantages of less trauma and faster recovery, has become the primary treatment for choledocholithiasis. AIM: To investigate the effects of different ERCP procedures on the sphincter of Oddi. METHODS: The clinical data of 91 patients who underwent ERCP at Yixing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between February 2018 and February 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were divided into endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST, n = 24) and endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD, n = 67) groups. The duration of operation, pancreatic development, pancreatic sphincterotomy, intubation difficulties, stone recurrence, and incidence of reflux cholangitis and cholecystitis were statistically analyzed in patients with a history of choledocholithiasis, pancreatitis, and Oddi sphincter dysfunction in the EST and EPBD groups. RESULTS: Differences in hypertension, diabetes, increased bilirubin, small diameter of the common bile duct, or ampullary diverticulum between the two groups were not significant. Statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups concerning sex and age (< 60 years). Patients with a history of choledocholithiasis, pancreatitis, and Oddi sphincter dysfunction were higher in the EST group than in the EPBD group. The number of cases of pancreatic development, pancreatic duct sphincterotomy, and difficult intubation were higher in the EST group than in the EPBD group. The number of Oddi's sphincter manometries, ERCP surgical outcomes, and guidewires entering the pancreatic duct several times in EST group were lower than those in the EPBD group. The numbers of stone recurrences, reflux cholangitis, and cholecystitis were higher in the EST group than in the EPBD group. CONCLUSION: In summary, common bile duct stones, pancreatitis history, and multiple guided wire introductions into the pancreatic duct are independent risk factors for EST and EPBD. Based on this evidence, this study can provide actionable insights for clinicians and researchers.

Multisystemic recurrent Langerhans cell histiocytosis misdiagnosed with chronic inflammation at the first diagnosis: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is characterized by diabetes insipidus and is an uncommon occurrence. Pathological biopsies still have a certain degree of diagnostic probability. We present a case in which LCH initially affected the pituitary gland. This resulted in a misdiagnosis of chronic inflammation upon pathological examination. CASE SUMMARY: A 25-year-old female exhibited symptoms of diabetes insipidus. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an enhanced foci in the pituitary gland. After surgical resection of the pituitary lesion, the pathological diagnosis was chronic inflammation. However, the patient later experienced bone destruction in the skull and lower limb bones. After the lower limb bone lesion was compared with the initial pituitary lesion, the final diagnosis was modified to LCH. The patient was treated with multiple chemotherapy courses. However, the patient's condition gradually worsened, and she eventually passed away at home. CONCLUSION: LCH should be considered when patients exhibit diabetes insipidus and absence of high signal intensity in the pituitary gland on sagittal T1-weighted image and abnormal enhancement in the pituitary region.