Visualization of lenticulostriate artery by intracranial dark-blood vessel wall imaging and its relationships with lacunar infarction in basal ganglia: a retrospective study.

Objectives: There is close relationship between lenticulostriate arteries (LSAs) and lacunar infarctions (LIs) of the basal ganglia. The study aims to visualize the LSAs using high-resolution vessel wall imaging (VWI) on 3T system and explore the correlation between LSAs and LIs.

Methods: Fifty-six patients with LIs in basal ganglia, and 44 age-matched control patients were enrolled and analyzed retrospectively.

A narrative review of acute pancreatitis and its diagnosis, pathogenetic mechanism, and management.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disease that can progress to severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), which increases the risk of death. AP is characterized by inappropriate activation of trypsinogen, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and destruction of secretory cells. Other contributing factors may include calcium (Ca) overload, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired autophagy, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.

Glucose Metabolism Characteristics of Extra-Hypothalamic Cortex in Patients With Hypothalamic Hamartomas (HH) Undergoing Epilepsy Evaluation: A Retrospective Study of 16 Cases.

There are few studies on the glucose metabolic characteristics of the extra-hypothalamic cortex in the hypothalamic hamartomas (HH). A comprehensive understanding of pathogenic progression of the disease is required from the perspective of cortical metabolism; therefore, we aimed to characterize metabolic characteristics of extra-hypothalamic in HH patients. We investigated the metabolic characteristics of 16 HH patients, all of whom underwent epilepsy evaluation at Xuan Wu Hospital between 2017 and 2019.

The role of only-child status in the psychological impact of COVID-19 on mental health of Chinese adolescents.

Background: The impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on public mental health in 2019 is verified, but the role of only-child status in the mental health of adolescents confined at home during the COVID-19 epidemic has not been investigated and is not clear.

Objective: Our study aims to assess the impact of only-child status on the mental health of adolescents confined at home during the COVID-19 outbreak. The exposure risk to COVID-19, adverse experience, parent-child relationship, and resilience have also been measured and considered.

Exploring the neural correlates of self-related names in healthy subjects.

Objectives: This study aimed to clarify the neural correlates and underlying mechanisms of the subject's own name (SON) and the unique name derived from the SON (SDN).

Methods: A name that was most familiar to the subject (SFN) was added as a self-related reference. We used 4 auditory stimuli-pure tone (1000 Hz), SON, SDN, and SFN-to evaluate the corresponding activated brain areas in 19 healthy subjects by using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Effectiveness of distal arterial bypass with porcine decellularized vascular graft for treating diabetic lower limb ischemia.

Background: Application of tissue engineered vascular grafts for small-diameter artery reconstruction has been a much anticipated advance in vascular surgery. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of small-diameter decellularized vascular grafts in below-knee bypass surgery for diabetic lower extremity ischemia.

Methods: Three patients with diabetic lower limb ischemia were admitted to the Department of Vascular Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University between May, 2010 and June, 2010.

Surgical methodology and protocols for preventing implanted cerebral catheters from becoming obstructed during and after neurosurgery.

Background: Convection Enhanced Delivery (CED) into targeted brain areas has been tested in animal models and clinical trials for the treatment of various neurological diseases.

New Method: We used a series of techniques, to in effect, maintain positive pressure inside the catheter relative to the outside, that included a hollow stylet, a high volume bolus of solution to clear the line, a low and slow continuous flow rate during implantation, and heat sealing the catheter at the time of implantation.

Results: 120 catheters implanted into brain parenchyma of 89 adult female rhesus monkeys across four sets of experiments.

Comparison of equiosmolar doses of 10% hypertonic saline and 20% mannitol for controlling intracranial hypertention in patients with large hemispheric infarction.

Objective: We conducted this prospective self-crossover controlled trial to compare the efficacy and safety of 10 % hypertonic saline (HS) and 20 % mannitol in doses of similar osmotic burden for the treatment of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with large hemispheric infarction (LHI).

Patients And Methods: Patients with LHI were enrolled from January 2017 to January 2018. We used an alternating treatment protocol to compare the effects of HS with mannitol given for episodes of increased ICP in patients with LHI.

Porcine carotid arteries decellularized with a suitable concentration combination of Triton X-100 and sodium dodecyl sulfate for tissue engineering vascular grafts.

Tissue engineering vascular grafts (TEVGs) constructed by decellularized arteries have the potential to replace autologous blood vessels in bypass surgery for patients with cardiovascular disease. There are various methods of decellularization without a standard protocol. Detergents approaches are simple, and easy control of experimental conditions.

Synchronous multiple primary lung cancers with shared EGFR mutation but differential imaging findings and pathological subtypes: A case report.

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. As the incidence of lung cancer increases in recent years, the number of patients diagnosed with synchronous multiple primary lung cancers (SMPLC) is also rising. SMPLC diagnosis is often made based on the clinical course, imaging findings, and histologic and molecular features.

Tumor necrosis factor inhibitor-induced pleuropericarditis: A retrospective evaluation using data from VigiBase.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the causality of anti-TNFα agents-associated pleuropericarditis in VigiBase with a focus on its diverse types.

Methods: All variables contained in the pleuropericarditis reports were reviewed. Well-documented reports, vigiGrade completeness score ≥ 0.

Risk Factors of Angiographic Recurrence After Endovascular Coil Embolization of Intracranial Saccular Aneurysms: A Retrospective Study Using a Multicenter Database.

Endovascular therapy of intracranial aneurysms has a high recurrence rate. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors of recurrence after endovascular coil embolization of intracranial aneurysms. From January 2014 to May 2015, 504 patients with 558 intracranial aneurysms who were treated by endovascular therapy were recruited from four high-volume centers.

The phosphorylation of CHK1 at Ser345 regulates the phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Background And Aims: DNA damage and repair have been shown to be associated with carotid artery restenosis and atherosclerosis. The proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is the main cause of artery stenosis. This study aims to define the relationship between DNA damage and VSMCs proliferation.

Electrical stimulation of the lateral cerebellar nucleus promotes neurogenesis in rats after motor cortical ischemia.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been tentatively explored to promote motor recovery after stroke. Stroke could transiently activate endogenous self-repair processes, including neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ). In this regard, it is of considerable clinical interest to study whether DBS of the lateral cerebellar nucleus (LCN) could promote neurogenesis in the SVZ for functional recovery after stroke.

Efficacy and safety of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharide capsules for depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Morinda officinalis oligosaccharide (MOO) capsules for depressive disorder.

Methods: Eight electronic databases were searched for relevant studies from inception to April 19, 2020. Randomized controlled trials comparing MOO capsules with antidepressants were included.

Multidimensional review of cognitive impairment after spinal cord injury.

Cognitive impairment is highly prevalent in the population with spinal cord injury (SCI) and exerts a significant impact on functional independence and quality of life in this population. A number of neuroscientists have conducted preliminary investigations of cognitive deficits after SCI, but achieved marginally contradictory results due to some limitations such as the heterogeneity in the sample population, sample size, types of tests utilized, study design, and time since SCI. Therefore, this review mainly focuses on the characteristics, assessments, potential causality and treatment of cognitive impairment for better understanding such deficits in the SCI population.

Sex-specific association between peripheral superoxide dismutase, BDNF and cognitive impairment in drug-naive first episode patients with schizophrenia.

Patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) have cognitive impairments across several domains. Cognition decline is related to the complex interrelationship between brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and redox system imbalance. However, the effect of sex on cognitive impairment and biomarkers has not been fully studied in patients with drug-naïve first episode (DNFE) SCZ.

Awareness, utilization and influencing factors of social supports for main informal caregivers of schizophrenia patients: a cross-sectional study in primary care settings in Beijing, China.

Background: Most schizophrenia patients are supported by main informal caregivers at home in China. This study aims to investigate the further needs of social supports for main informal caregivers of schizophrenia patients and to analyze influencing factors on the awareness and utilization of social supports in Beijing. The results of this study could potentially act as reference for health professionals to implement appropriate and effective support programs.

Laparoscopic advanced intraoperative restaging for radiographic non-metastasis pancreatic cancer: Protocol for a single-center, cross-sectional and follow-up study.

Background: Although surgical resection holds promise for curing pancreatic cancer, <20% of patients are suitable; however, early postoperative recurrence is common. Currently, radiographic examination is the primary method to determine whether pancreatic cancer has metastasized and to inform clinical staging before surgery. However, the method has a limited detection rate for micro-metastasis within the abdominal cavity; therefore, patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and existing micro-metastasis may receive unnecessary surgical treatment, delaying the timing of adjuvant chemotherapy and resulting in poor prognosis.

Salidroside shows anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects by activating the Nrf2-ARE pathway in a pentylenetetrazol-kindling epileptic model.

Evidence points towards oxidative stress and neuroinflammation being major processes associated with brain dysfunction in epilepsy. Salidroside reportedly possesses anti-oxidative activity and neuroprotective potential, in addition to exerting an anti-neuroinflammatory response. This study was designed to evaluate the anticonvulsant and neuroprotective role of salidroside in rats with pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) kindling and to explore the underlying mechanism.

Biocompatibility evaluation of heparin-conjugated poly(ε-caprolactone) scaffolds in a rat subcutaneous implantation model.

Vascular grafts prepared from synthetic polymers have serious shortcomings that can be resolved by surface modification, such as by immobilizing heparin. In this study, the mechanical properties, biocompatibility, anticoagulation property, and water contact angle of two heparin-conjugated poly(ε-caprolactone) scaffolds (PCL-hexamethylendiamine-heparin, PCL-HMD-H. PCL-lysine-heparin, PCL-LYS-H) were compared to identify a preferred heparin conjugation method.

The link of depression, untreated hypertension, and diabetes with mortality in postmenopausal women: A cohort study.

Objective: To explore the association of depression, as well as untreated hypertension or diabetes with all-cause death in community-based postmenopausal women in Beijing.

Methods: A cohort of 863 community-based postmenopausal women with no history of cardiovascular heart disease (CHD), stroke, cancer, or dementia was investigated on 20 July-28 September 2009 at baseline. Depression was diagnosed using the 30-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale with CES-D ≥ 11.

Evidence-based prevention of Alzheimer's disease: systematic review and meta-analysis of 243 observational prospective studies and 153 randomised controlled trials.

Background: Evidence on preventing Alzheimer's disease (AD) is challenging to interpret due to varying study designs with heterogeneous endpoints and credibility. We completed a systematic review and meta-analysis of current evidence with prospective designs to propose evidence-based suggestions on AD prevention.

Methods: Electronic databases and relevant websites were searched from inception to 1 March 2019.

Vaginal microbiome analysis of healthy women during different periods of gestation.

To assess the vaginal microbiome throughout full-term uncomplicated pregnancy, a longitudinal study was designed for 12 healthy women who had prepared to become pregnant and then delivered at term (38-42 weeks) without complications. The vaginal microbial community was studied at pre-pregnancy, 8-12, 24-28, 37-38 weeks of gestation, and puerperium, using hypervariable tag sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Sequencing produced approximately 10 million reads on the Illumina MiSeq.