Effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with extracorporeal shockwave therapy for poststroke spasticity: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Spasticity is a common complication of stroke, which is related to poor motor recovery and limitations in the performance of activities. Both transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) are effective treatment methods for poststroke spasticity (PSS). However, there is no existing study exploring the safety and effectiveness of TMS combined with ESWT for PSS.

Infliximab for parenchymal neuro-Behçet's syndrome: case series and meta-analysis.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of infliximab (IFX) in patients with parenchymal neuro-Behçet's syndrome (p-NBS).

Methods: We retrospectively analysed eleven p-NBS patients treated with IFX at our institution and combined them with studies from database searches for a meta-analysis. Pooled estimates of clinical response (complete and partial remission) and MRI improvement at months 3, 6, and 12 were calculated.

Shelterin dysfunction promotes CD4+ T cell senescence in Behçet's disease.

Objectives: To investigate the potential role of shelterin dysfunction in naïve CD4+ T cells in the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease (BD).

Methods: Naïve CD4+ T cells were isolated from 40 BD patients and 40 sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HC). Senescent profiles, shelterin subunits expression, telomere length, telomerase activity and critical DNA damage response (DDR) were evaluated.

Proteomic profiling of membrane vesicles from Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis: Navigating towards an insilico design of a multi-epitope vaccine targeting membrane vesicle proteins.

Bacteria typically produce membrane vesicles (MVs) at varying levels depending on the surrounding environments. Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) have been extensively studied for over 30 years, but MVs from Gram-positive bacteria only recently have been a focus of research. In the present study, we isolated MVs from Mycobacterium avium subsp.

Comparison of Treatment and Prognosis Between Follicular Variant Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma and Classical Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

This cohort study evaluated the associations of different treatments with the prognosis of follicular variant papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC) and classical papillary thyroid carcinoma (CPTC) patients. The data of 69034 PTC patients were retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The 5-year mortality of CPTC and FVPTC patients receiving surgery, radiation and combination therapy were compared.

Altered connectivity in the cognitive control-related prefrontal cortex in Parkinson's disease with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder.

Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) frequently occurs in Parkinson's disease (PD), however, the exact pathophysiological mechanism is not clear. The prefrontal cortex (PFC), especially ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) which may play roles by regulating cognitive control processes. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is abnormal functional connectivity (FC) maps and volume changes in PD with RBD(PD-RBD).

Caffeine and neonatal acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury is one of the most threatening diseases in neonates, with complex pathogenesis and limited treatment options. Caffeine is a commonly used central nervous system stimulant for treating apnea in preterm infants. There is compelling evidence that caffeine may have potential benefits for preventing neonatal acute kidney injury, but comprehensive reports are lacking in this area.

Gut microbiota and neonatal acute kidney injury biomarkers.

One of the most frequent issues in newborns is acute kidney injury (AKI), which can lengthen their hospital stay or potentially raise their chance of dying. The gut-kidney axis establishes a bidirectional interplay between gut microbiota and kidney illness, particularly AKI, and demonstrates the importance of gut microbiota to host health. Since the ability to predict neonatal AKI using blood creatinine and urine output as evaluation parameters is somewhat constrained, a number of interesting biomarkers have been developed.

Baricitinib for the treatment of refractory vascular Behçet's disease.

Objective: The pilot study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of baricitinib in Behcet's Disease (BD) patients with refractory vascular involvement.

Methods: We consecutively enrolled vascular/cardiac BD patients who received baricitinib (2 mg/day) along with glucocorticoids (GCs) and immunosuppressants in our center. Efficacy assessment mainly depends on the proportion of clinical remission and side effects were recorded.

Mortality and prognostic factors in connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension patients complicated with right heart failure.

Objective: To identify predictive factors associated with mortality in connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTD-PAH) patients who were complicated with right heart failure (RHF).

Methods: In this single-center retrospective study, baseline demographics, clinical features, laboratory results, and hemodynamic assessments were collected. Kaplan-Meier analysis was applied to analyze all-cause mortality.

Baricitinib for the treatment of intestinal Behçet's disease: A pilot study.

Objectives: The pilot study aims to explore the efficacy and safety of baricitinib in treating refractory intestinal Behçet's disease (BD).

Methods: We consecutively enrolled patients with refractory intestinal BD from October 2020 to September 2022. They were treated with baricitinib 2-4 mg daily, with background glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants.

Relationships between stable isotope natural abundances (δC and δN) and water use efficiency in rice under alternate wetting and drying irrigation in soils with high clay contents.

Natural abundance of the stable isotope (δC and δN) in plants is widely used to indicate water use efficiency (WUE). However, soil water and texture properties may affect this relationship, which remains largely elusive. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate δC as affected by different combinations of alternate wetting and drying irrigation (AWD) with varied soil clay contents in different organs and whole plant and assess the feasibility of using δC and δN as a physiological indicator of whole-plant water use efficiency (WUE).

Macrophage polarization toward M1 phenotype through NF-κB signaling in patients with Behçet's disease.

Background: Macrophages are key innate immune cells implicated in the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease (BD), and macrophage polarization plays a pivotal role in inflammatory response. This study aimed to investigate the role of BD serum on the phenotypes and functions of macrophage polarization.

Methods: BD or HC serum-treated human monocyte-derived macrophages (HMDMs) were examined M1/M2 phenotypes using flow cytometry and ELISA.

Bacterioferritin nanocage: Structure, biological function, catalytic mechanism, self-assembly and potential applications.

Bacterioferritin (Bfr) is a subfamily of ferritin protein family. Bfrs are composed of 24 identical subunits and self-assemble into 4-3-2-fold symmetric cage-like structure with the incorporation of 12 heme groups into twelve 2-fold symmetric binding sites between subunits. Bfr protein cage has an outer diameter of ∼12 nm and interior cavity diameter of ∼8 nm with a total of 62 pores to connect the interior cavity with the bulk solution outside the protein nanocage.

Transcriptional analysis of neutrophils from patients with Behçet's disease reveals activation and chemotaxis of neutrophils.

Behçet's disease (BD) is a systemic vasculitis characterized by neutrophil activation with unclear pathogenesis. This study aimed to explore the transcriptional profiles of BD neutrophils and identify specific gene signatures. We performed RNA sequencing on neutrophils from treatment-naive active BD patients and healthy controls, then analyzed differentially expressed genes (DEGs), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways (KEGG) and transcription regulatory network.

Effect of COVID-19 on non-performing loans in China.

We examine the resilience of Chinese banks during the COVID-19 pandemic by investigating non-performing loan (NPL) ratios. We find that despite the reduction in the growth rate of total bank lending, bank NPL ratios significantly increase during the COVID-19 crisis. Banks with high-quality capital are more effective in controlling their NPL ratios during the Crisis.

Effectiveness and safety of low-dose interferon alpha-2a treatment in Behçet's Syndrome with refractory vascular or neurological involvement: a case series.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of low-dose interferon alpha-2a (IFNα2a) in Behçet's syndrome (BS) patients with refractory vascular/cardiac or neurological involvement.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we consecutively included 25 BS patients with refractory vascular/cardiac ( = 16) or neurological involvement ( = 9) who received IFNα2a treatment in our center between June 2018 and September 2021. The low-dose IFNα2a (3 million IU, every other day) was used as an add-on treatment with the continuation of glucocorticoids (GCs) and immunosuppressants.

Methylprednisolone pulse therapy promotes the differentiation of regulatory T cells by inducing the apoptosis of CD4 T cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: To investigate the differentiation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) induced by methylprednisolone (MP) pulse therapy in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: We enrolled 30 patients with SLE and analyzed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) before and after MP pulse therapy. Peripheral Tregs, apoptosis of PBMCs subsets, and TGFβ production by monocytes was quantified by flow cytometry.

The clinical features, image findings and risk factors of vena cava syndrome in Behçet's syndrome.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical features, image findings, and potential risk factors of vena cava syndrome (VCS) in Behçet's syndrome (BS).

Methods: We conducted a case-control study in our BS registry database from 2012 to 2021. Fifty-five BS patients with VCS were enrolled in the case group, and two BS patients without VCS were selected as controls for each VCS case using risk-set-sampling.