Mecánica y energética durante la marcha en cinta caminadora en adultos uruguayos saludables: efecto del IMC y la edad / Mechanics and energy during treadmill walking in healthy uruguayan adults: effect of BMI and age / Mecânica e energia durante a caminhada em esteira em adultos uruguaios saudáveis: efeito do IMC e Idade

La evaluación de la marcha en cinta caminadora puede resultar relevante para la toma de decisiones clínicas. No obstante, factores demográficos como la edad y el IMC pueden alterar la interpretación de los resultados. Nuestro objetivo fue obtener variables espacio- temporales, energéticas y costo de transporte durante la velocidad autoseleccionada en cinta caminadora para una muestra representativa de adultos uruguayos (n=28) y evaluar si diferentes rangos de edades e IMC pueden ser factores a tener en cuenta en pruebas clínicas donde se consideren dichas variables. Participaron 17 hombres y 11 mujeres (39,3 ± 14,8 años, 75,9 ± 12,5 kg, 1,74 ± 0,09 m, IMC 25,2 ± 4,06). Se realizó una reconstrucción 3D del movimiento en forma sincronizada con el consumo energético. Se obtuvieron valores de referencia y luego de agrupar los participantes según su IMC y rango de edad se compararon los datos mediante test de t (p≤0.05). Los resultados revelaron discrepancias significativas en las medidas espacio-temporales y energéticas de los adultos uruguayos al caminar en cinta con respecto a la literatura. La marcha difiere entre adultos jóvenes y de mediana edad en su velocidad autoseleccionada (p=0,03), longitud de zancada (p=0,01), trabajo mecánico externo (<0,001) y recuperación de energía mecánica (0,009), destacando la importancia de considerar la edad en evaluaciones clínicas. El IMC no influyó significativamente en estas variables. Estos hallazgos subrayan la necesidad de ajustar las interpretaciones de las pruebas clínicas de la marcha sobre cinta caminadora en adultos uruguayos de mediana edad (45 a 65 años).

Treadmill gait assessment can be relevant for clinical decision-making. However, demographic factors such as age and BMI may alter result interpretation. Our aim was to obtain spatiotemporal, energetic, and cost of transport variables during self-selected treadmill walking speed for a representative sample of Uruguayan adults (n=28) and to assess if different age ranges and BMI could be factors to consider in clinical tests involving these variables. Seventeen men and eleven women participated (39.3 ± 14.8 years, 75.9 ± 12.5 kg, 1.74 ± 0.09 m, BMI 25.2 ± 4.06). A synchronized 3D motion reconstruction was performed with energy consumption. Reference values were obtained and data were compared using t-tests (p≤0.05), after grouping participants by BMI and age range. Results revealed significant discrepancies in spatiotemporal and energetic measures of Uruguayan adults walking on the treadmill, compared to the literature. Gait differed between young and middle-aged adults in their self-selected speed (p=0.03), stride length (p=0.01), external mechanical work (p<0.001), and mechanical energy recovery (0.009), emphasizing the importance of considering age in clinical evaluations. BMI did not significantly influence these variables. These findings underscore the need to adjust interpretations of treadmill gait clinical tests in middle-aged Uruguayan adults (45 to 65 years).

A avaliação da marcha na esteira pode ser relevante para a tomada de decisões clínicas. No entanto, fatores demográficos como idade e IMC podem alterar a interpretação dos resultados. Nosso objetivo foi obter variáveis espaço-temporais, energéticas e custo de transporte durante a velocidade de caminhada autoselecionada na esteira para uma amostra representativa de adultos uruguaios (n = 28) e avaliar se diferentes faixas etárias e IMC podem ser fatores a serem considerados em testes clínicos que envolvam essas variáveis. Dezessete homens e onze mulheres participaram (39,3 ± 14,8 anos, 75,9 ± 12,5 kg, 1,74 ± 0,09 m, IMC 25,2 ± 4,06). Foi realizada uma reconstrução tridimensional do movimento sincronizada com o consumo de energia. Foram obtidos valores de referência e os dados foram comparados usando testes t (p≤0,05), após agrupar os participantes por IMC e faixa etária. Os resultados revelaram discrepâncias significativas nas medidas espaço-temporais e energéticas dos adultos uruguaios ao caminhar na esteira, em comparação com a literatura. A marcha diferiu entre adultos jovens e de meia-idade em sua velocidade autoselecionada (p=0,03), comprimento da passada (p=0,01), trabalho mecânico externo (<0,001) e recuperação de energia mecânica (0,009), destacando a importância de considerar a idade em avaliações clínicas. O IMC não influenciou significativamente essas variáveis. Esses achados destacam a necessidade de ajustar as interpretações dos testes clínicos de marcha na esteira em adultos uruguaios de meia- idade (45 a 65 anos).

Socio-environmental factors contributing to the high incidence of COVID-19 in a border city in northern Uruguay / Factores socioambientales que contribuyen a alta incidencia de COVID-19 en ciudad fronteriza del norte de Uruguay / Fatores socioambientais que contribuem para alta incidência de COVID-19 em cidade fronteiriça no norte do Uruguai

Background and Objectives: the present study was conducted in the city of Rivera, situated in northern Uruguay on the border with Brazil. The disease initially progressed slowly in 2020, with subsequent outbreaks followed by a rapid increase in incidence. The objective was to explore the relationship between the spatial distribution of COVID-19 cases in a binational city and variables such as socioeconomic status, population density, and mobility patterns, with the aim of informing public policies. Methods: an exploratory study was conducted between August 2020 and January 2021 using data obtained from the Ministry of Health. The explanatory variables considered included population density, socioeconomic level, and mobility. Three distinct periods from 2020 to 2021 were identified. Spatial autocorrelation was analyzed using Moran's Index and the Gi* statistic (Getis & Ord). Hierarchical cluster analysis was employed to identify homogeneous groups of census segments. Results: a total of 1,846 cases were georeferenced. Through hierarchical cluster analysis, seven homogeneous groups were identified. Mobility was found to explain the incidence of cases among the high socioeconomic level group, while population density accounted for the differences observed in the low socioeconomic group. Conclusion: in this city, priority should be given to populations residing in areas with higher population density and greater mobility. This small-scale territorial analysis provides valuable information for developing localized policies aimed at addressing health crises.(AU)

Justificación y Objetivos: el estudio se realizó en la ciudad de Rivera, situada en el norte del país en la frontera con Brasil. La enfermedad progresó lentamente durante 2020, con brotes posteriores seguidos de un rápido aumento de la incidencia. El objetivo fue explorar la relación entre la distribución espacial de los casos de COVID-19 en una ciudad binacional y variables como nivel socioeconómico, densidad poblacional y patrones de movilidad, con el objetivo de informar políticas públicas. Métodos: se realizó un estudio exploratorio entre agosto 2020 y enero 2021 con datos del Ministerio de Salud, considerando semanas epidemiológicas. Las variables explicativas consideradas fueron densidad poblacional, nivel socioeconómico y movilidad. Se identificaron tres periodos temporales desde agosto 2020 hasta enero 2021. Se analizo la autocorrelación espacial empleando el Índice de Moran y estadística Gi* (Getis & Ord). Mediante el análisis de cluster jerárquico, fue posible identificar grupos homogéneos de segmentos censales. Resultados: se georreferenciaron un total de 1.846 casos. Mediante análisis de cluster jerárquico, se identificaron siete grupos homogéneos. Para el nivel alto socioeconómico, la movilidad es el factor explicativo de una mayor incidencia de casos. Mientras que, para para el grupo de nivel bajo, la densidad de la población fue el factor explicativo de las diferencias en la presentación de la enfermedad. Conclusión: la población a ser priorizada en esta ciudad corresponde a aquellas zonas con mayor densidad poblacional y donde se incrementa la movilidad. El análisis territorial a pequeña escala genera información para la construcción de política local, ante una crisis sanitaria, que la hace más eficaz.(AU)

Justificativa e Objetivos: o presente estudo foi realizado na cidade de Rivera, localizada no norte do Uruguai, na fronteira com o Brasil. A doença progrediu lentamente durante 2020, com surtos subsequentes seguidos por um rápido aumento na incidência. O objetivo foi explorar a relação entre a distribuição espacial dos casos de COVID-19 em uma cidade binacional e variáveis como nível socioeconômico, densidade populacional e padrões de mobilidade, com o objetivo de informar políticas públicas. Métodos: estudo exploratório foi realizado entre agosto de 2020 e janeiro de 2021 com dados do Ministério da Saúde. As variáveis explicativas incluíram densidade populacional, nível socioeconômico e mobilidade. Três períodos distintos de 2020 a 2021 foram identificados. Autocorrelação espacial foi analisada com o Índice de Moran e a estatística Gi* (Getis & Ord). Utilizando a análise de cluster hierárquico, foi possível identificar grupos homogêneos de segmentos censitários. Resultados: um total de 1.846 casos foi georreferenciado. Através da análise de cluster hierárquico, sete grupos homogêneos foram identificados. A mobilidade foi encontrada como explicativa para a incidência de casos no grupo de alto nível socioeconômico, enquanto a densidade populacional explicou as diferenças observadas no grupo de baixo nível socioeconômico. Conclusão: nessa cidade, as populações a serem priorizadas são aquelas que residem em áreas com maior densidade populacional e maior mobilidade. Essa análise territorial em pequena escala fornece informações valiosas para o desenvolvimento de políticas locais destinadas a lidar com crises de saúde.(AU)

Preliminary study of the population and reproductive dynamics of Echinaster sepositus (Spinulosida: Echinasteridae) in Cala del Racó / Estudio preliminar de la población y dinámica reproductiva de Echinaster sepositus (Spinulosida: Echinasteridae) en Cala del Racó

Abstract Introduction: The red starfish (Echinaster sepositus) is one of the most common asteroid species in the Mediterranean Sea. However, information about their biology or their role in benthic communities is scarce. Objective: This study aims to provide new information on the ecology of this species through the temporal characterization of the population of E. sepositus in Cala del Racó (Alicante, Spain) and the in situ monitoring of its reproductive cycle. Methods: For this purpose, three study areas were established at different depths. For each of the recorded starfish, data about the size, the substrate on which it was found, the area, the depth and the sex in the case of observing the reproduction were collected. Results: A total of 19 samplings have been carried out throughout a year of study. In this way, it has been possible to observe that the density of individuals increases in the shallower zone during autumn and winter, when the temperature drops to 14.13 ºC, while it decreases in spring and summer when the temperature rises to 27.17 ºC. Those results are reversed in the deepest part of the study. The highest density of individuals (0.51 ind/m2) occurred in October. Arborescent photophilic algae and crustose coralline algae were the substrates with the highest number of E. sepositus recorded. Medium to large specimens are located preferably on crustose coralline algae or arborescent photophilic algae, while smaller individuals were mostly located on Posidonia oceanica. No specimens of E. sepositus were observed spawning. Conclusions: Data leads to assume that there is a migration of starfishes towards more superficial areas when the water is at colder temperature and towards deeper areas when the temperature increases. It is valued the possibility that there is a change in the nutritional needs of E. sepositus throughout its development. According to our observations, the future reproduction studies should be concentrated between late-summer and early-autumn.

Resumen Introducción: La estrella de mar roja (Echinaster sepositus) es una de las especies de asteroideos más comunes del mar Mediterráneo. Sin embargo, la información sobre su biología o su papel en las comunidades bentónicas es escasa. Objetivo: Este estudio pretende aportar nueva información sobre la ecología de esta especie mediante la caracterización temporal de la población de E. sepositus en la Cala del Racó (Alicante, España) y el monitoreo in situ de su ciclo reproductivo. Métodos: Con este fin se establecieron tres zonas de estudio a distintas profundidades. Para cada una de las estrellas registradas se tomaron datos de tamaño, el sustrato sobre el que se encuentra, la zona, la profundidad y el sexo en caso de observar la reproducción. Resultados: A lo largo de un año de estudio se han realizado un total de 19 muestreos. De esta forma se ha podido observar que la densidad de individuos aumenta en la zona menos profunda durante otoño e invierno, cuando la temperatura del agua baja hasta los 14.13 ºC, mientras que se reduce en primavera y verano, cuando la temperatura se eleva hasta los 27.17 ºC. Este resultado se invierte en la zona más profunda del estudio. La mayor densidad de individuos ha sido observada en octubre (0.51 ind/m2). Las algas fotófilas arborescentes y las algas coralinales costrosas han sido los sustratos con un mayor número de E. sepositus registrados. Los ejemplares de tamaños medianos a grandes se localizan preferentemente sobre algas coralinales costrosas o algas fotófilas arborescentes, mientras que los individuos de menor tamaño se sitúan mayormente sobre Posidonia oceanica. No se observaron ejemplares de E. sepositus reproduciéndose. Conclusiones: Los datos permiten presuponer que existe una migración entre las zonas más superficiales, cuando la temperatura del agua es menor, y zonas más profundas cuando la temperatura aumenta. Se valora la posibilidad de la existencia de un cambio en los requerimientos nutricionales de E. sepositus a lo largo de su desarrollo. De acuerdo con nuestras observaciones, los estudios futuros sobre la reproducción de esta especie deben concentrarse entre finales de verano y principios de otoño.

Establishment and comparison of 2 mouse models of kainic acid induced epilepsy / 陆军军医大学学报

Objective To investigate and analyze the behavioral and pathological differences in early-stage mouse models of epilepsy established by 2 different administration routes for kainic acid(KA),intracerebroventricular(ICV)injection and intraperitoneal(IP)injection.Methods A total of 100 male C57BL/6N wild-type(WT)mice(20～22 g)were randomly divided into ICV+normal saline(NS)control group(n=10),ICV+KA model group(n=40),IP+NS control group(n=10)and IP+KA model group(n=40).The ICV+KA model group was given 600 nL of KA(0.5 mg/mL)via ICV injection,and the IP+KA model group was injected with different dose of KA(25 mg/kg).Two control groups were administered equal volumes of NS via corresponding routes.After 3 d of modeling,the evaluation of behavioristics,molecular biology(including Western blotting),and neuropathological assessments(including FJB staining,TUNEL staining and immunofluorescence staining)were performed.Results No epileptic seizures were observed in both 2 control groups,while exhibited seizures were observed in both model groups.The mortality rates of the IP+KA group and the ICV+KA group were 47.50%and 65.00%respectively,while the success rates of modeling were 80.00%and 60.00%respectively.Compared with the IP+KA group,the ICV+KA group showed a significant increase in success rate and a significant reduction in mortality rate.FJB and TUNEL staining results showed that,compared with the IP+KA group,the severity of neurodegeneration and apoptotic changes in the hippocampus of the ICV+KA group were more significant(P＜0.05).Compared with the IP+KA group,there was also a significant difference in the expression of apoptotic proteins in the hippocampus of the ICV+KA group(P＜0.05).Immunofluorescence results showed that the astrocytes and microglia in the hippocampus and cortex of the ICV+KA and IP+KA groups were significantly activated compared with the control groups(P＜0.05),but the activation of glial cells in the hippocampus and cortex of the ICV+KA group was stronger than that of the IP+KA model group(P＜0.05)and the activation levels in the ICV+KA group were higher than in the IP+KA model group(P＜0.01).Moreover,expression levels of GFAP and Iba-1 proteins in the hippocampus and cortex were higher in the ICV+KA group than the IP+KA group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Two routes of KA administration are effective in construct epilepsy models.The mice with ICV administration route show a higher success rate and lower mortality rate,and more significant neuropathological damage and glial cell activation.

Abnormal changes of white matter structure in temporal lobe epilepsy patients with sleep disorders based on diffusion kurtosis imaging / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To investigate the microstructural changes of temporal lobe epilepsy(TLE)in patients with sleep disorders based on diffusion kurtosis imaging(DKI).Methods This research prospectively included 38 TLE patients(case group)and 20 healthy controls(HC)(HC group).Participants used sleep questionnaires to evaluate their sleep status.All TLE patients were divided into groups with and without sleep disorders according to the diagnostic criteria and scale scores of sleep disorders.The mean kurtosis(MK),mean diffusivity(MD),and fractional anisotropy(FA)of the relevant region of interest(ROI)were measured by DKI sequence.The differences of sleep quality scores and DKI parameters between groups were further compared via independent samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance.Results The Epworth sleepiness scale(ESS),Athens insomnia scale(AIS),and Pittsburgh sleep qual-ity index(PSQI)scores of TLE patients with sleep disorders were significantly higher than those of HC group(P＜0.05).The FA and MK values in TLE patients were significantly lower than those in HC group,while the MD value of TLE patients were substan-tially higher than that of HC group(P＜0.05).The values of MK and FA in left TLE patients with sleep disorders were significantly lower than those of without sleep disorders(P＜0.05),while there was no significant difference in MD value between the two groups(P＞0.05).MK value of right TLE patients with sleep disor-ders was significantly lower than that of without sleep disorders(P＜0.05),however,there were no significant differences in MD and FA values between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion Quantitative DKI analysis revealed differences in DKI parameters in TLE patients combined with sleep disorders,inferring a specific white matter fiber damage in this group and providing imaging data to support the personalized treatment and prognostic assessment of these patients.

Spatio-temporal gait characteristics of the elderly and the risk of adverse health outcomes / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Gait is one of the optimal indicators of functional status in older adults.Gait parameters are associated with adverse health outcomes in older adults. OBJECTIVE:To summarize and compare the practical value of gait parameters,and to review the progress of research on spatio-temporal parameters and the risk of adverse health outcomes in older adults. METHODS:PubMed,Web of Science,and CNKI were searched for relevant literature published from January 2010 to June 2023 using the search terms of"gait speed,walking speed,step length,cadence,step frequency,step time,walking base,aged and elderly"in English and Chinese,respectively.A total of 52 papers were finally included for the systematic review. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Currently,researchers have focused on three basic temporal-spatial parameters,namely,step speed,step length and step frequency,to explore their association with adverse health outcomes in older adults.Reduced gait speed in older adults may increase the risk of falls,all-cause mortality,and may be an independent predictor of all-cause mortality.Older adults with slow gait speed are at higher risk of cognitive decline,and may be the preferred gait parameter in assessing cognitive impairment in older adults.Older adults with slow gait speed are more likely to have debilitating or common chronic illnesses,and are at higher risk of hospitalization and public care.Step length is positively correlated with individual height and lower limb length,but age-induced shortening of step length is not related to height or lower limb length,and shortening of step length reflects reduced physical function in older adults,and shortening of step length is a risk factor for falls and cognitive decline in older adults.Stride frequency is often used as a measure of exercise intensity,and a stride frequency of≥100 steps/minute is predictive of all-cause mortality,and slowing of step frequency may lead to a higher risk of falls,hospitalization and all-cause mortality in older adults.Changes in gait parameters are closely related to the level of physical fitness in older adults,and there may be a bidirectional relationship between the two.The results of the study will provide a theoretical basis for further improving risk screening in clinical populations,refining health risk assessment in the elderly,improving health protection and promoting active health in the elderly.

Deep neural networks analysis of 18F-FDG PET imaging in postoperative patients with temporal lobe epilepsy / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective:To predict the short-term postoperative recurrence status of patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) by analyzing preoperative 18F-FDG PET images and patients′ clinical characteristics based on deep residual neural network (ResNet). Methods:Retrospective analysis was conducted on preoperative 18F-FDG PET images and clinical data of 220 patients with refractory TLE (132 males and 88 females, age 23.0(20.0, 30.2) years)) in the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University between January 2014 and June 2020. ResNet was used to perform high-throughput feature extraction on preprocessed PET images and clinical features, and to perform a postoperative recurrence prediction task for differentiating patients with TLE. The predictive performance of ResNet model was evaluated by ROC curve analysis, and the AUC was compared with that of classical Cox proportional risk model using Delong test. Results:Based on PET images combined with clinical feature training, AUCs of the ResNet in predicting 12-, 24-, and 36-month postoperative recurrence were 0.895±0.073, 0.861±0.058 and 0.754±0.111, respectively, which were 0.717±0.093, 0.697±0.081 and 0.645±0.087 for Cox proportional hazards model respectively ( z values: -3.00, -2.98, -1.09, P values: 0.011, 0.018, 0.310). The ResNet showed best predictive effect for recurrence events within 12 months after surgery. Conclusion:The ResNet model is expected to be used in clinical practice for postoperative follow-up of patients with TLE, helping for risk stratification and individualized management of postoperative patients.

Epidemiological characteristics of leptospirosis in China from 2010 to 2022 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of leptospirosis in China from 2010 to 2022, so as to provide insights into formulation of the leptospirosis control strategy. Methods All data pertaining to clinically diagnosed cases and confirmed cases of leptospirosis reported in China from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2022 was collected from Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information Management System. The spatial, temporal and population distributions, and report and diagnosis institutions of leptospirosis cases were analyzed using a descriptive epidemiological method. Results A total of 4 559 leptospirosis cases were reported in China from 2010 to 2022, with an annual average number of 351 cases, and the number of reported leptospirosis cases reduced from 679 cases in 2010 to 158 cases in 2018. A total of 4 276 leptospirosis cases were reported in Sichuan Province, Yunnan Province, Guangdong Province, Hunan Province, Fujian Province, Zhejiang Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Anhui Province, Jiangxi Province and Guizhou Province, accounting for 93.79% of the total number of leptospirosis cases in China. The number of leptospirosis cases had recently appeared a remarkable decline in Yunnan Province, while a significant rise was seen in the number of leptospirosis cases in two provinces of Zhejiang and Guangdong. No leptospirosis cases were reported in Henan Province from 2010 to 2020; however, there were 5 cases and 2 cases reported in 2021 and 2022, respectively. There was only one leptospirosis case reported in Shaanxi Province from 2010 to 2017; however, leptospirosis cases were reported in the province for 5 consecutive years since 2018. Leptospirosis cases were reported throughout the year in China from 2010 to 2022, with the peak of incidence found during the period between August and October, and the peak of leptospirosis incidence varied in provinces. A higher number of leptospirosis cases was seen among men than among women, with a male to female ratio of 2.3:1, and the median age of leptospirosis cases was 50 years (interquartile range, 23 years), with the highest proportion of leptospirosis cases reported at ages of 51 to 60 years (23.21%). Among all reported leptospirosis cases, 53.28% were confirmed cases, and the proportion of confirmed cases increased from 35.05% in 2010 to 61.66% in 2022. In addition, there were 67.22% of leptospirosis cases (2 937 cases) reported by comprehensive hospitals, 20.44% (893 cases) by disease control and prevention institutions, 7.23% (316 cases) by grassroots healthcare institutions and 5.10% (223 cases) by other healthcare and medical institutions, and the mortality of reported leptospirosis cases was 1.07% in China from 2010 to 2022, with a higher mortality seen among men than among women (1.39% vs. 0.36%; χ2 = 9.52, P = 0.002). Conclusions The incidence of leptospirosis remained at a low level in China from 2010 to 2022, and southern China was still the main endemic area for leptospirosis. The epidemiological characteristics of leptospirosis cases varied in endemic provinces, and leptospirosis cases had been continued to be reported in Shaanxi and Henan provinces, which should be paid much attention to. Intensified surveillance of leptospirosis, improved diagnosis and treatment capability of leptospirosis cases and leptospirosis control with adaptations to local circumstance are recommended.

Congenital unilateral hearing loss from cochlear nerve canal stenosis

@#A 2-month-old baby girl presented with a failed neonatal otoacoustic emission (OAE) hearing screening in the left ear. Combined Auditory Brainstem Response/Auditory Steady-State Response (ABR/ASSR) testing confirmed the presence of a unilateral left moderate to severe hearing loss. No Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) risk factors for early childhood hearing loss1 were identified. She subsequently underwent computed tomography (CT) of the temporal bones to determine the presence of any inner ear malformation. No abnormalities of the internal auditory canal, cochlea, semicircular canals and ossicles were noted by the radiologist, and the study was officially reported as a “normal temporal bone CT scan.” Independent review of the CT imaging revealed the presence of a visually apparent disparity in the width of the cochlear nerve canals. (Figure 1) Measurement of the cochlear nerve canal width in the axial plane parallel to the infraorbitomeatal line2 using the length measurement tool in the DICOM imaging software (RadiAnt DICOM Viewer, Version 2024.1, Medixant) indicated a cochlear nerve canal width of 2.18 mm on the right and 1.02 mm on the left. (Figure 2) Applying the suggested cutoff point of 1.2 mm as described by Lin et al.,2 we identified the presence of left cochlear nerve canal stenosis as the etiology of the congenital unilateral hearing loss. The cochlear nerve canal, which has also been referred to as the bony canal for the cochlear nerve (BCNC), cochlear aperture, and cochlear fosette, is the bony transition point between the internal auditory canal and the cochlear modiolus. A relationship between a hypoplastic cochlear nerve canal and congenital sensorineural hearing loss was first suggested by Fatterpekar et al. in 2000.3 Subsequent studies confirmed the association between cochlear nerve canal stenosis and sensorineural hearing loss that ranges from near-normal to profound, with a statistically significant relationship between the degree of hearing loss and the degree of stenosis.4 Various cutoff points to define stenosis of the cochlear nerve canal have been identified in the medical literature. These cutoff points range from 1.2 mm to 1.7 mm when the canal width is measured in the axial plane.2 This particular case demonstrated clear-cut evidence of cochlear nerve canal stenosis, as it satisfied the smallest cutoff criteria (< 1.2 mm) seen in the medical literature. The identification of cochlear nerve canal stenosis as the cause of congenital sensorineural hearing loss is important not only from a diagnostic point, but also from a prognostic perspective. Cochlear nerve deficiency has been noted to be highly prevalent among pediatric patients with cochlear nerve canal stenosis,5 and this has significant negative implications in relation to rehabilitation with external hearing devices and cochlear implants.

Spatial-temporal Distribution and Influencing Factors of Late Diagnosis of HIV/AIDS Based on Bayes Spatial-temporal Model / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectivesTo analyze the spatial and temporal clustering characteristics and related influencing factors of late diagnosis of HIV/AIDS in Lanzhou， to identify its high-risk areas and time trends in Lanzhou， and to provide a theoretical basis for developing targeted HIV/AIDS prevention and control strategies in Lanzhou. MethodsThe subjects of this study were adult HIV/AIDS cases reported in Lanzhou City between 2011 and 2018. Data used in the study were sourced from the Lanzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Lanzhou Statistical Yearbook. To analyze the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of the relative risk （RR） of late HIV/AIDS diagnosis， Bayes spatial-temporal model was used. ResultsA total of 1984 new HIV/AIDS cases were reported in Lanzhou from 2011 to 2018， with an mean age of 37.51 years and predominantly male （91.8%）. The number of late diagnosis cases was 982， with an mean age of 39.67 years and a predominance of males （91.8%）. Late diagnosis was more common in older individuals and women with HIV/AIDS. Chengguan District （51.1%）， Anning District （50.3%） and Yuzhong County （51.9%） had an above-average proportion of late diagnosis of HIV/AIDS. The proportion of late diagnosis cases in Lanzhou showed a fluctuating upward trend from 2011 to 2018. The results of Bayes spatial-temporal model showed that the risk of late HIV/AIDS diagnosis in Lanzhou had fluctuated from 2011 to 2015， and then increased rapidly after 2015 ［RR （95% credibility interval， 95%CI） increased from 1.01 （0.84， 1.23） to 1.11 （0.77， 1.97）］； the trends of risk of late diagnosis in Honggu district and three counties were similar to the overall trend in Lanzhou city， while the risk of late diagnosis in Chengguan District and Qilihe District showed a decreasing trend. The regions with the RR for late diagnosis greater than 1 included Yongdeng County （RR=1.07， 95% CI： 0.55， 1.96）， Xigu District （RR=1.04， 95% CI： 0.67， 1.49）， Chengguan District （RR=2.41， 95% CI： 0.85， 6.16）， and Qilihe District （RR=2.03， 95% CI： 1.10， 3.27）. Besides， the heatmap analysis showed that Chengguan District and Qilihe District were the hot spots. The influencing factors analysis showed that the higher GDP per capita （RR=0.65， 95% CI： 0.35， 0.90） and the larger proportion of males with HIV/AIDS cases （RR=0.53， 95% CI： 0.19， 0.92） could lead to the lower the relative risk of late HIV/AIDS diagnosis. However， the higher the population density （RR=1.35， 95% CI： 1.01， 1.81） caused the higher the risk of late diagnosis. ConclusionOur study shows the risk of late diagnosis of HIV/AIDS in Lanzhou was on the rise， and there are significant regional differences. GDP per capita， the proportion of males in HIV/AIDS cases and population density are influencing factors in the late diagnosis of HIV/AIDS. Therefore， for regions with a high risk of late diagnosis or related risk factors， targeted HIV screening and prevention services should be given priority in order to reduce the proportion and risk of late diagnosis of HIV/AIDS.

Clinical effect of superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery anastomosis in the treatment of occlusive cerebrovascular disease / 局解手术学杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery anastomosis(STA-MCA)in the treatment of patients with occlusive cerebrovascular disease.Methods A total of 74 patients with occlusive cerebrovascular disease admitted to our hospital were included and divided into the observation group and control group according to the random number table method,with 37 cases in each group.Patients in the control group received conservative treatment,and patients in the observation group received STA-MCA.After 3 months of follow-up,the cerebral blood flow indexes(including cerebral blood flow of anterior cerebral artery,and peak time)before treatment and 3rd day,1st month and 3rd month after treatment were observed,the modified Rankin scores before treatment and 3rd day and 1 month after treatment were recorded,and the revascularization and occurrence of complications after treatment were recorded.Results At 1 month and 3 months after treatment,the cerebral blood flow of anterior cerebral artery in the two groups increased and the peak time was shortened,and the cerebral blood flow of anterior cerebral artery in the observation group was higher than that in the control group,and the peak time was shorter than that in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).The modified Rankin scores of the two groups 1 month after treatment were lower compared with those before treatment,and the modified Rankin score of the observation group was lower than that of the control group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).At 1 month after treatment,the proportions of patients with grades 0 and 1 of vascular reconstruction in the observation group were lower than those in the control group,and the proportions of patients with grades 2 and 3 were higher than those in the control group,with statistical significant differences(P<0.05).At 3 months after treatment,the proportions of patients with grades 0 and 1 of vascular reconstruction in the observation group were lower than those in the control group,and the proportion of patients with grade 3 of vascular reconstruction was higher than that in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the total incidence of complications after treatment between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion STA-MCA has a good clinical effect in the treatment of patients with occlusive cerebrovascular disease,which is conducive to improving the cerebral blood flow indexes and promoting the recovery of neurological function and vascular reconstruction,with safety and reliability.

Research progress in the treatment of speech disorders in patients with Parkinson disease by repetitive tran-scranial magnetic stimulation / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

Up to 90%of patients with Parkinson disease(PD)experience speech disorders that seriously affect quality of life.The new progress has been made on repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS)in the clinical practice of treating speech disorders in patients with PD in recent years.The studies showed that applying rTMS to the orofacial region of the primary motor cortex(M1)and the superior temporal gyrus(STG)could safely and effectively improve speech function of patients with PD with no reported side effects.The underlying mechanism may relate to ability of rTMS to modulate the degree of excitability and functional connectivity in speech-associated cerebral cortices,such as M1 and STG.In conclusion,rTMS has exhibited encouraging outcomes in managing speech disorders in patients with PD.However,the number of studies is still insufficient and more large-scale randomized controlled trials with large sample sizes are needed in the future to further support the findings of this review.

Evolution of spatial-temporal differentiation pattern and decoupling relationship between provincial health resources and medical pressure in China / 中国卫生政策研究

Objective:To clarify the spatio-temporal characteristics and changing trends of provincial health resources and medical pressure,and to provide suggestions for the high-quality development of medical and health services in China.Methods:Based on the panel data of 31 provincial administrative units from 2010 to 2020,a comprehensive evaluation system of provincial health resources and medical pressure was constructed.The global entropy method and exploratory spatial analysis were used to reveal the spatio-temporal differentiation and correlation pattern,and the Tapio decoupling index was illustrated to explain the evolution characteristics and trends.Results:During the observation period,health resources and medical pressure in the vast majority of provinces in China rose steadily,with positive spatial correlation and agglomeration,and a close relationship with economic development and population demand;the mainstream decoupling state of the country shifted from a negative decoupling to a positive decoupling,with an obvious progressive decoupling trend,and the development of regional health continued to improve.Conclusions and suggestions:Provinces need to take into account the status quo of health development in their own provinces,focus on the spatio-temporal coupling of elements and structures,and optimize the structure of health resource allocation and enhance the resilience of the health system as a means of bringing into play the comparative advantages of the regional health system.

Clinical effects of free superficial temporal fascia flap combined with split-thickness thin skin graft in repairing refractory wounds in the anterior tibia / 中国医师杂志

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of free superficial temporal fascia flap combined with split thickness skin transplantation in repairing refractory wounds in the anterior tibia.Methods:Data on 19 patients with soft tissue defects in the anterior tibial region who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University from September 2019 to October 2023 and met the inclusion criteria were collected and summarized. Among them, 11 were males and 8 were females, aged 19-70 years old. The wound area was 4.3 cm×5.0 cm-6.8 cm×9.5 cm, and all wounds were accompanied by tendon exposure. 5 patients also had local bone exposure, and 10 patients had varying degrees of local infection. All patients were treated with wound debridement and continuous closed negative pressure drainage to control infection. After controlling the wound infection, an equally large temporal superficial fascia tissue flap was designed and cut according to the size of the wound to repair the wound. At the same time, a scalp split thick skin was taken to cover the fascia flap.Results:All 19 patients with superficial temporal fascia flaps survived, while 2 patients had poor skin flap survival due to subcutaneous hematoma. After re-grafting, the wound healed. After follow-up for 6-24 months, all patients were satisfied with the appearance of the anterior tibial region and had good recovery of ankle joint function. The supply valve area was concealed, without obvious scars, hair loss, baldness and other complications.Conclusions:The use of free superficial temporal fascia flap combined with split thick skin transplantation for repairing anterior tibial wounds has the advantages of strong anti infection ability, thin fascia flap, concealed donor site, and reconstruction of supporting ligaments. It is an ideal repair method for repairing difficult to heal wounds in the anterior tibial area.

Spatial-temporal graph convolutional neural network for schizophrenia recognition / 中国医学物理学杂志

A spatial-temporal convolutional neural network-based method is proposed for schizophrenia classification.Unlike the mainstream methods that only analyze the temporal frequency features in EEG and ignore the spatial features between brain regions,the model mainly obtains the spatial-frequency features by convolving the adjacency matrix composed of wavelet coherence coefficients between different channels and EEG sequences,and then extracts the temporal-frequency features through one-dimensional temporal convolution.The processed matrix is flattened after multiple convolutions and input to the classification model.Experimental results show that the method has a classification accuracy of 96.32%on the publicly available dataset Zenodo,demonstrating its effectiveness and exhibiting the advantages of fusing temporal-frequency and spatial-frequency features for schizophrenia diagnosis.

Consistency and Repeatability of Cerebral Blood Flow by Automatic Segmentation of Region of Interest and 3D-pCASL Fusion in Hippocampal Subregions / 中国医学影像学杂志

Purpose To evaluate the consistency and repeatability of cerebral blood flow(CBF)values measured by automatic segmentation of region of interest(ROI)and arterial spin labeling(ASL)functional image fusion in hippocampal sclerosis patients with medial temporal lobe epilepsy.Materials and Methods From January 2021 to October 2022,a total of 52 patients with medial temporal lobe epilepsy confirmed by MRI or pathology in General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University were retrospectively collected.All subjects were scanned on 3.0T MRI to obtain axial T1 weighted three-dimensional magnetization reserve gradient echo(3D-T1W1-MPGAGE)sequence and three-dimensional pseudo continuous ASL sequence.The 3D-T1W1-MPGAGE imaging were automatically segmented.Two physicians used the freeview visualization interface of freeSurfer software to fuse the ROI and ASL functional images of the hippocampal subregions and to measure the CBF values.The intra-observer and inter-observer consistency and repeatability were evaluated and analyzed.The consistency analysis and repeatability evaluation were performed via intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC),Bland-Altman diagram and Wilcoxon rank sum test.Results The ICC of CBF values measured by two physicians were all>0.750,with an average of 0.868±0.095.The ICC of left and right hippocampal subregions were as follows:subiculum(SUB):0.818/0.801,cornu ammonis(CA)1:0.920/0.907,CA2-3:0.759/0.978,CA4:0.757/0.758 and dentate gyrus(DG):0.990/0.991;The ICC delineated by the same physician's ROI were all>0.990 with an average of 0.994±0.002.The ICC of left and right hippocampal subregions were as follows:SUB:0.993/0.993,CA1:0.996/0.995,CA2-3:0.989/0.994,CA4:0.992/0.995 and DG:0.993/0.996.The Bland-Altman diagram showed the scatter distribution and consistency,and the coefficient of repeatability was obtained.The same observer had certain repeatability for the fusion measurement of automatic segmentation ROI and ASL functional images.Conclusion The CBF values measured by fusing ROI and ASL functional images of automatically segmented hippocampal subregion have higher consistency and repeatability.

Analysis of the Spatio-temporal Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Local Hospitalization Propor-tion of Guangdong Province / 中国医院管理

Objective To analyze the spatio-temporal characteristics and influencing factors of local hospitalization proportion in 57 counties of Guangdong Province.Methods Using local hospitalization proportion and related indicators in 57 counties of Guangdong Province from 2016 to 2019,temporal trend analysis and spatial autocorrelation analy-sis were used to analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics.Bayesian spatio-temporal model was used to explore in-fluencing factors of local hospitalization proportion.Results The local hospitalization proportion in Guangdong Province rose from 79.8%in 2016 to 84.1%in 2019,showing an increasing trend and the overall characteristics of"high in the west and low in the east".The global and local spatial autocorrelation results show that there is a spatial correla-tion in the local hospitalization proportion within the counties of Guangdong Province,and spatial aggregation has formed in some areas.There is a"high"aggregation in western Guangdong,and a"low"aggregation in eastern Guangdong Province.The Bayesian spatio-temporal model shows that the number of people with a bachelor's de-gree or above per 1 000 population and the CMI of county hospitals had an effect on the local hospitalization propor-tion(P＜0.05).Conclusion Guangdong Province can improve the medical service capacity of county hospitals sub-stantially and introduce or train high-quality talents through multiple measures,and continue to improve the local hospitalization proportion.

Raman Spectroscopy Analysis of The Temporal Heterogeneity in Lung Cell Carcinogenesis Induced by Benzo(a)pyrene / 生物化学与生物物理进展

ObjectiveTemporal heterogeneity in lung cancer presents as fluctuations in the biological characteristics, genomic mutations, proliferation rates, and chemotherapeutic responses of tumor cells over time, posing a significant barrier to effective treatment. The complexity of this temporal variance, coupled with the spatial diversity of lung cancer, presents formidable challenges for research. This article will pave the way for new avenues in lung cancer research, aiding in a deeper understanding of the temporal heterogeneity of lung cancer, thereby enhancing the cure rate for lung cancer. MethodsRaman spectroscopy emerges as a powerful tool for real-time surveillance of biomolecular composition changes in lung cancer at the cellular scale, thus shedding light on the disease’s temporal heterogeneity. In our investigation, we harnessed Raman spectroscopic microscopy alongside multivariate statistical analysis to scrutinize the biomolecular alterations in human lung epithelial cells across various timeframes after benzo(a)pyrene exposure. ResultsOur findings indicated a temporal reduction in nucleic acids, lipids, proteins, and carotenoids, coinciding with a rise in glucose concentration. These patterns suggest that benzo(a)pyrene induces structural damage to the genetic material, accelerates lipid peroxidation, disrupts protein metabolism, curtails carotenoid production, and alters glucose metabolic pathways. Employing Raman spectroscopy enabled us to monitor the biomolecular dynamics within lung cancer cells in a real-time, non-invasive, and non-destructive manner, facilitating the elucidation of pivotal molecular features. ConclusionThis research enhances the comprehension of lung cancer progression and supports the development of personalized therapeutic approaches, which may improve the clinical outcomes for patients.

Spatio-temporal analysis of the visceral leishmaniasis in the state of Alagoas, Brazil

Abstract Visceral leishmaniosis is a neglected tropical disease. We evaluated the spatial distribution of cases of visceral leishmaniosis in the state of Alagoas, Brazil. All cases of VL, registered by the health department, were analyzed and georeferenced. Results: Between 2008 and 2017, 97.1% of the municipalities presented sporadic classification of transmission. With temporal evolution, the incidence of cases of visceral leishmaniosis was concentrated in most municipalities in the microregion of Santana do Ipanema-AL. Space-time analysis, if considered, may promote the improvement of surveillance and control actions of visceral leishmaniosis.

Resumo A leishmaniose visceral é uma doença tropical negligenciada. Foram avaliadas a distribuição espacial dos casos de leishmaniose visceral no estado de Alagoas. Todos os casos de LV, registrados pela secretaria de saúde, foram analisados e georreferenciados. Entre 2008 e 2017, 97,1% dos municípios apresentaram classificação esporádica de transmissão. Com a evolução temporal, a incidência de casos de leishmaniose visceral se concentrou na maioria dos municípios da microrregião de Santana do Ipanema-AL. A análise espaço-tempo, se considerada, pode promover o aprimoramento das ações de vigilância e controle da leishmaniose visceral.

Was the COVID-19 epidemic synchronous in space? An analysis in the health regions of the Rio de Janeiro state, 2020-2022 / A epidemia de COVID-19 foi síncrona no espaço? Uma análise nas regiões de saúde do estado do Rio de Janeiro, 2020-2022

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the spatio-temporal dynamics of COVID-19 in the Rio de Janeiro state within the nine health regions, between March 2020 and December 2022. Methods: The Poisson model with random effects was used to smooth and estimate the incidence of COVID-19 hospitalizations reported in the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System (SIVEP-Gripe) to verify the synchronicity of the epidemic in the state. Results: The COVID-19 epidemic in the state is characterized by the presence of seven peaks during the analyzed period corresponding to seven found. An asynchrony in hospitalizations was identified, varying according to the different virus variants in the nine health regions of the state. The incidence peaks of hospitalizations ranged from 1 to 12 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during the pandemic. Conclusion: This spatio-temporal analysis is applicable to other scenarios, enabling monitoring and decision-making for the control of epidemic diseases in different areas.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a dinâmica espaço-temporal de COVID-19 no estado do Rio de Janeiro nas nove regiões de saúde, entre março de 2020 e dezembro de 2022. Métodos: Utilizou-se o modelo de Poisson com efeitos aleatórios para suavizar a curva de incidência de hospitalizações por COVID-19 notificadas no Sistema de Informação da Vigilância Epidemiológica da Gripe (Sivep-Gripe) para verificar a sincronicidade da epidemia no estado. Resultados: A epidemia de COVID-19 no estado é caracterizada pela presença de sete picos no período analisado correspondentes a sete variantes encontradas. Identificou-se uma assincronicidade nas hospitalizações, variando de acordo com as diferentes variantes do vírus nas nove regiões de saúde do estado. Os picos de incidência das hospitalizações variaram de 1 a 12 casos por 100 mil habitantes no decorrer da pandemia. Conclusão: Essa análise espaço-temporal é extensível em outros cenários, sendo possível o monitoramento e a tomada de decisões de controle de doenças epidêmicas em várias áreas.