Telitacicept use in children with IgA vasculitis nephritis: preliminary observations.

Objectives: To investigate the safety and efficacy of telitacicept in children with immunoglobulin (Ig) A vasculitis nephritis (IgAVN).

Methods: This is a case series of children with biopsy-confirmed IgAVN who received glucocorticoid with or without a second immunosuppressant and presented with urinary protein levels > 0.3 g/day/kg.

A novel corneal indentation device for comparison of corneal tangent modulus before and after FS-LASIK in vivo.

Background: Corneal refractive laser surgery is widely used to correct myopia and astigmatism due to its safety and effectiveness. However, postoperative changes in corneal biomechanics, such as corneal ectasia, can occur, necessitating a deeper understanding of these changes. Finite Element Analysis has shown promise in predicting surgical outcomes based on corneal biomechanics.

Interactions between protein Z and lycopene: A win-win scenario for both security and stability.

Malt protein Z (PZ), the main albumin in malt endosperm, exhibits trypsin inhibitory activity and has the ability to bind fat-soluble active molecules. However, its potential utilization as a food ingredient necessitates an evaluation of its allergenicity. Lycopene has many functional activities, such as antioxidant and treatment or alleviation of various diseases, but its tendency to degrade easily hinders its effective utilization.

Genetic and clinical analysis of in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Background: Considerable heterogeneity in genotypes and phenotypes has been observed among patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) harbouring optineurin gene () mutations, as reported in prior studies. The study aimed to elucidate the correlation between genotypes and phenotypes.

Methods: gene variants were screened within a substantial Chinese cohort of patients with ALS, encompassing LoF and rare missense variants.

Efficacy, Indications, and Safety of Intrathecal Baclofen Pump: A Narrative Review.

Purpose Of Review: Baclofen, a muscle relaxant that reduces the release of excitatory neurotransmitters in the pre-synaptic neurons stimulating inhibitory neuronal signals in post-synaptic neurons, has been around for over 5 decades. Baclofen is used primarily for spasticity and since 1982, has had a role as an intrathecal agent. In the present investigation, we review research trends and updates on safety and efficacy of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) pumps.

A Comprehensive Overview of the Current Status and Advancements in Various Treatment Strategies against Epilepsy.

Epilepsy affects more than 70 million individuals of all ages worldwide and remains one of the most severe chronic noncommunicable neurological diseases globally. Several neurotransmitters, membrane protein channels, receptors, enzymes, and, more recently noted, various pathways, such as inflammatory and mTORC complexes, play significant roles in the initiation and propagation of seizures. Over the past two decades, significant developments have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy.

Altered gait speed and brain network connectivity in Parkinson's disease.

Slow gait speed and disrupted brain network connectivity are common in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aimed to clarify the relationship between gait speed and clinical characteristics in PD, and explore the underlying brain network mechanisms. Forty-two PD patients and 20 healthy controls (HC) were recruited.

Mutation Screening of ATXN1, ATXN2, and ATXN3 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Emerging evidence suggests potential disease modifying roles of ATXN1, ATXN2, and ATXN3 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We aimed to provide a comprehensive variants profile of the ATXN1, ATXN2, and ATXN3 genes and examine the association of these variants with the risk and clinical characteristics of ALS. We screened and analyzed the rare variants in a cohort of 2220 ALS patients from Southwest China, using controls from the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) and the China Metabolic Analytics Project (ChinaMAP).

Trajectories and sex differences of brain structure, oxygenation and perfusion functions in normal aging.

Background: Brain structure, oxygenation and perfusion are important factors in aging. Coupling between regional cerebral oxygen consumption and perfusion also reflects functions of neurovascular unit (NVU). Their trajectories and sex differences during normal aging important for clinical interpretation are still not well defined.

Comparison of spontaneous brain activity in distinguishing parkinsonian variant of multiple system atrophy from Parkinson's disease at an early stage.

Background: The overlapping clinical manifestations in parkinsonian variant of multiple system atrophy (MSA-P) and Parkinson's Disease (PD) can complicate clinical diagnostic accuracy, particularly in the early stage. The study aims to uncover the patterns of brain function in the initial phase of the two conditions.

Methods: We recruited 24 MSA-P patients, 34 PD patients and 27 healthy controls (HC).

Two-axis twisting using Floquet-engineered XYZ spin models with polar molecules.

Polar molecules confined in an optical lattice are a versatile platform to explore spin-motion dynamics based on strong, long-range dipolar interactions. The precise tunability of Ising and spin-exchange interactions with both microwave and d.c.

Protective role of serum albumin in dementia: a prospective study from United Kingdom biobank.

Background: A number of studies have explored the link between neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) and albumin, the main protein in human plasma. However, the results have been inconsistent, highlighting the necessity for a detailed systemic analysis.

Methods: Utilizing data from the United Kingdom Biobank, we investigated the relationship between baseline levels of serum and urine albumin and the occurrence of common NDDs, including Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and dementia, employing Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

Genotype-phenotype correlation of variants in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Background: Several variants of sequestosome 1 () were screened in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), while the pathogenicity and genotype-phenotype correlation remains unclear.

Methods: We screened variants of gene in 2011 Chinese patients with ALS and performed a burden analysis focusing on the rare variants. Furthermore, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of patients with variants of gene in patients with ALS from our cohort and published studies.

TLE4 downregulation identified by WGCNA and machine learning algorithm promotes papillary thyroid carcinoma progression via activating JAK/STAT pathway.

Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma (PTC), a common type of thyroid cancer, has a pathogenesis that is not fully understood. This study utilizes a range of public databases, sophisticated bioinformatics tools, and empirical approaches to explore the key genetic components and pathways implicated in PTC, particularly concentrating on the Transducin-Like Enhancer of Split 4 (TLE4) gene. Public databases such as TCGA and GEO were utilized to conduct differential gene expression analysis in PTC.

Clinical and genetic characteristics of ALS patients with variants in genes regulating DNA methylation.

Background: Aberrant DNA methylation alterations are implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Nevertheless, the influence of genetic variants in genes regulating DNA methylation on ALS patients is not well understood. Therefore, we aim to provide a comprehensive variant profile of genes related to DNA methylation (DNMT1, DNMT3A, DNMT3B, DNMT3L) and demethylation (TET1, TET2, TET3, TDG) and to investigate the association of these variants with ALS.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients with various gene mutations show diverse motor phenotypes and survival in China.

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder characterised by progressive degeneration of motor neurons. Genetic factors have a substantial impact on ALS. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the correlation between genotype () and phenotype in ALS.

Peripheral immunity involvement in the cognitive impairment of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Background: Recent research has indicated the significance of immune activation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, the impact of peripheral immunity on cognitive impairment in sporadic ALS remains poorly characterized. Therefore, we aim to assess the relationship between peripheral immune parameters and cognitive impairment in patients with sporadic ALS.

GWAS Identifies DPP6 as Risk Gene of Cognitive Decline in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Cognitive decline is among the most common non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD), while its physiological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Genetic factors constituted a fundamental determinant in the heterogeneity of cognitive decline among PD patients. However, the underlying genetic background was still less studied.

Calcium channel blockers and Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The calcium channel has been considered to have great potential as a drug target for neuroprotective therapy in Parkinson's disease (PD), but previous studies yielded inconsistent results.

Objectives: This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the relationship between using calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and the risk and progression of PD.

Data Sources And Methods: The terms such as 'Parkinson's disease', 'PD', 'calcium channel blockers', and 'CCB' were used to search the literature published before 1 May 2023 in English databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, for studies on CCB and PD.

Development and Validation of a Diagnostic Model for Identifying Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma in Small Renal Masses Based on CT Radiological Features: A Multicenter Study.

Rationale And Objectives: This study aimed to develop a diagnostic model based on clinical and CT features for identifying clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) in small renal masses (SRMs).

Material And Methods: This retrospective multi-centre study enroled patients with pathologically confirmed SRMs. Data from three centres were used as training set (n = 229), with data from one centre serving as an independent test set (n = 81).

Homogentisic acid metabolism inhibits papillary thyroid carcinoma proliferation through ROS and p21-induced cell cycle arrest.

Thyroid cancer is one of the most common primary endocrine malignancies worldwide, and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the predominant histological type observed therein. Although PTC has been studied extensively, our understanding of the altered metabolism and metabolic profile of PTC tumors is limited. We identified that the content of metabolite homogentisic acid (HGA) in PTC tissues was lower than that in adjacent non-cancerous tissues.