Assessing regional homogeneity and cognitive function alterations in pediatric brain tumor patients: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Background: Cognitive impairment mechanisms in children with preoperative brain tumors are not well understood. This study aimed to determine the correlation between the changes of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and the fourth edition of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV) in patients with brain tumors before surgery and in healthy controls (HCs).

Methods: rs-fMRI data were acquired using 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners for 21 patients with pediatric brain tumor and 19 age- and gender-matched HCs.

Hypoxia Induced Lnc191 Upregulation Dictates the Progression of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma by Activating GRP78/ERK Pathway.

Hypoxia is a typical hallmark of solid tumors and plays a crucial role in the progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinogenesis (ESCC). Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms underlying the involvement of hypoxia in tumor development remain unclear. In the present study, a novel hypoxia-induced long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is identified first, lnc191, which is highly expressed in clinical ESCC tissues and is positively correlated with poor prognosis of ESCC patients.

Synergistic insights: the integrated role of CT/CTP and clinical parameters in hemorrhagic transformation prediction.

Background: Acute ischemic stroke presents significant challenges in healthcare, notably due to the risk and poor prognosis associated with hemorrhagic transformation (HT). Currently, there is a notable gap in the early clinical stage for a valid and reliable predictive model for HT.

Methods: This single-center retrospective study analyzed data from 224 patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion.

Manganese self-boosting hollow nanoenzymes with glutathione depletion for synergistic cancer chemo-chemodynamic therapy.

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) has outstanding potential as a combination therapy to treat cancer. However, the effectiveness of CDT in the treatment of solid tumors is limited by the overexpression of glutathione (GSH) in the tumor microenvironment (TME). GSH overexpression diminishes oxidative stress and attenuates chemotherapeutic drug-induced apoptosis in cancer cells.

Evaluation of MRI post-processing methods combined with PET in detecting focal cortical dysplasia lesions for patients with MRI-negative epilepsy.

Objective: Accurate detection of focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a pivotal role in the preoperative assessment of epilepsy. The integration of multimodal imaging has demonstrated substantial value in both diagnosing FCD and devising effective surgical strategies. This study aimed to enhance MRI post-processing by incorporating positron emission tomography (PET) analysis.

Red blood cell transfusion in neurocritical patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Anemia can lead to secondary brain damage by reducing arterial oxygen content and brain oxygen supply. Patients with acute brain injury have impaired self-regulation. Brain hypoxia may also occur even in mild anemia.

Cortical structural changes of morphometric similarity network in early-onset schizophrenia correlate with specific transcriptional expression patterns.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the neuroanatomical subtypes among early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) patients by exploring the association between structural alterations and molecular mechanisms using a combined analysis of morphometric similarity network (MSN) changes and specific transcriptional expression patterns.

Methods: We recruited 206 subjects aged 7 to 17 years, including 100 EOS patients and 106 healthy controls (HC). Heterogeneity through discriminant analysis (HYDRA) was used to identify the EOS subtypes within the MSN strength.

Multimodal imaging-based diagnostic approach for MRI-negative posterior cortex epilepsy.

Background: Posterior cortex epilepsy (PCE) primarily comprises seizures originating from the occipital, parietal, and/or posterior edge of the temporal lobe. Electroclinical dissociation and subtle imaging representation render the diagnosis of PCE challenging. Improved methods for accurately identifying patients with PCE are necessary.

Xiaozheng pill exerts an anti-mammary hyperplasia effect through Raf/ERK/ELK and HIF-1α/bFGF pathways.

Background And Aim: The purpose of this study is to explore whether the Xiaozheng pill (XZP) has the effect of anti-hyperplasia of mammary glands (HMG) and to identify the related signaling pathways.

Experimental Procedure: We analyzed the effective chemical components of the XZP, as well as the key chemical components, key proteins, main biological processes, and pathways in the treatment of HMG; Secondly, the levels of Estradiol (E2), Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinizing hormone (LH), Progesterone (P), Raf/ERK/ELK and HIF-1α/bFGF pathways related proteins were detected; Finally, the effect of XZP on metabolites was analyzed by metabolomics.

Results And Conclusion: In this study, we identified key targets and pathways for XZP therapy of HMG, including EGFR, VEGFA, ER, and Ras signaling pathways.

Regulatory T cells: A suppressor arm in post-stroke immune homeostasis.

The activation of the immune system and the onset of pro- and anti-inflammatory responses play crucial roles in the pathophysiological processes of ischaemic stroke (IS). CD4 regulatory T (Treg) cells is the main immunosuppressive cell population that is studied in the context of peripheral tolerance, autoimmunity, and the development of chronic inflammatory diseases. In recent years, more studies have focused on immune modulation after IS, and Treg cells have been demonstrated to be essential in the remission of inflammation, nerve regeneration, and behavioural recovery.

Exploring the potential of vagus nerve stimulation in treating brain diseases: a review of immunologic benefits and neuroprotective efficacy.

The vagus nerve serves as a critical connection between the central nervous system and internal organs. Originally known for its effectiveness in treating refractory epilepsy, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has shown potential for managing other brain diseases, including ischaemic stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. However, the precise mechanisms of VNS and its benefits for brain diseases are not yet fully understood.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes mediated delivery of tetramethylpyrazine attenuate cerebral ischemic injury.

Objectives: Tetramethylpyrazine (TEP) can protect the brain from ischemic damage, but it has defects such as short half-life, fast absorption, wide distribution, and rapid elimination, which limits its application. Exosomes (Exos) have the property of loading drugs and transporting signal substances. Here, we elucidated the effect of TEP-loaded bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)-derived Exos (Exo-TEP) on cerebral ischemic injury.

Development of a Brief Cognitive Screening Tool for Predicting Postoperative Delirium in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Secondary Analysis.

Background: A simple, rapid, and effective cognitive screening test appropriate for fast-paced settings with limited resources and staff is essential, especially preoperatively. This study aimed to develop and validate the short versions of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) for predicting postoperative delirium (POD) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) who were scheduled for surgery.

Methods: The current study was a secondary analysis of data collected from 128 inpatients scheduled for deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nuclei (STN-DBS) lasting >60 min, at Tsinghua University Yuquan Hospital, China.

The specific DNA methylation landscape in focal cortical dysplasia ILAE type 3D.

Focal Cortical Dysplasia (FCD) is a frequent cause of drug-resistant focal epilepsy in children and young adults. The international FCD classifications of 2011 and 2022 have identified several clinico-pathological subtypes, either occurring isolated, i.e.

Process model of emotion regulation-based digital intervention for emotional problems.

Background: To address the lack of mental health practitioners in developing countries, the current study explored the feasibility of a newly developed self-guided digital intervention program TEA (training for emotional adaptation) in alleviating depressive and anxiety symptoms, as one of a few studies which adapted from theoretical models with effective intervention techniques.

Methods: The first part of this study involved 11 professional mental health practitioners giving feedback on the feasibility of the TEA; while the second part involved a mixed-method single-arm study with 32 participants recruited online, who went through the seven intervention sessions within 14 days. The questionnaires were collected before, after, 14 days after, and 30 days after intervention.

Impact of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Prognosis of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: In a previous study, we found that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) alleviated the clinical symptoms and improved the quality of life (QoL) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Objectives: A cohort was continuously followed up to determine the impact of the TCM adjuvant therapies on the prognosis of HCC after conventional treatments.

Methods: We did a retrospective monocentric cohort study including 175 eligible patients.

Antiseizure medications for idiopathic generalized epilepsies: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of antiseizure medications (ASMs), both as monotherapies and adjunctive therapies, for idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGEs) and related entities.

Methods: Two reviewers independently searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for relevant randomized controlled trials from December 2022 to February 2023. Studies on the efficacy and safety of ASM monotherapies or adjunctive therapies for IGEs and related entities-including juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, childhood absence epilepsy (CAE), juvenile absence epilepsy, or generalized tonic-clonic seizures alone (GTCA)-were included.

Multi-scale goal distance representations in human hippocampus during virtual spatial navigation.

Goal-directed navigation relies on both coarse and fine-grained coding of spatial distance between the current position of a navigating subject and a goal destination. However, the neural signatures underlying goal distance coding remain poorly understood. Using intracranial EEG recordings from the hippocampus of drug-resistant epilepsy patients who performed a virtual spatial navigation task, we found that the right hippocampal theta power was significantly modulated by goal distance and decreased with goal proximity.