Background Previous studies havedemonstrated that excitatory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS)can improve the cognitive function of patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD).Intermittent theta burst s...Background Previous studies havedemonstrated that excitatory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS)can improve the cognitive function of patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD).Intermittent theta burst stimulation(iTBS)is a novel excitatory rTMS protocol for brain activity stimulation with the ability to induce long-term potentiation-like plasticity and represents a promising treatment for AD.However,the long-term effects of iTBS on cognitive decline and brain structure in patients with AD areunknown.Aims We aimed to explore whether repeating accelerated iTBS every three months could slow down the cognitive decline in patients with AD.Methods In this randomised,assessor-blinded,controlled trial,iTBS was administered to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(DLPFC)of 42 patients with AD for 14days every 13weeks.Measurements included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA),a comprehensive neuropsychological battery,and the grey matter volume(GMV)of the hippocampus.Patients were evaluated at baseline and after follow-up.The longitudinal pipeline of the Computational Anatomy Toolbox for SPM was used to detect significant treatment-related changes over time.Results The iTBS group maintained MoCA scores relative to the control group(t=3.26,p=0.013)and reduced hippocampal atrophy,which was significantly correlated with global degeneration scale changes.The baseline Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)score,apolipoprotein E genotype and Clinical Dementia Rating were indicative of MoCA scores at follow-up.Moreover,the GMV of the left(t=0.08,p=0.996)and right(t=0.19,p=0.977)hippocampus were maintained in the active group but significantly declined in the control group(left:t=4.13,p<0.001;right:t=5.31,p<0.001).GMV change in the left(r=0.35,p=0.023)and right(r=0.36,p=0.021)hippocampus across the intervention positively correlated with MoCA changes;left hippocampal GMV change was negatively correlated with global degeneration scale(r=-0.32,p=0.041)changes.Conclusions DLPFC-iTBS maybe a feasible and easy-to-implement non-pharmacological intervention to slow down the progressive decline of overall cognition and quality of life in patients with AD,providing a new AD treatment option.Trial registration number NCT04754152.展开更多
DEAR EDITOR,Sox9 is a member of the Sry-related high-mobility group box(Sox)transcription factor family in animals.In teleost fish,Sox9 undergoes duplication to generate two duplicates,namely Sox9a and Sox9b.However,t...DEAR EDITOR,Sox9 is a member of the Sry-related high-mobility group box(Sox)transcription factor family in animals.In teleost fish,Sox9 undergoes duplication to generate two duplicates,namely Sox9a and Sox9b.However,the functions of these duplicates in the teleost Nile tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus)remain unclear.In this study,we characterized the roles of Nile tilapia Sox9a in chondrogenesis and gonadal development.In situ hybridization assays showed that Sox9a was mainly expressed in cartilage tissues and somatic cells surrounding germ cells of the gonads.CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homozygous mutation of the Sox9a gene resulted in craniofacial deformities and missed mandibles,as well as impaired the expression of Col2a1a that is involved in chondrogenesis.In addition,germ cell number and DNA replication in somatic cells in the gonads of both sexes were reduced following Sox9a mutation.Taken together,this study demonstrates that Sox9a is involved in cartilage development and germ cell proliferation in Nile tilapia.展开更多
海洋垃圾已引起国际社会的广泛关注,是当前环境领域热点问题之一.为揭示我国渤海近岸海域海洋垃圾的赋存特征及其分布规律,于2018年丰水期(8月)在辽东湾河口区海域布设6个长度为5~10 km的调查断面,利用拖网同时采集海面漂浮垃圾与海底垃...海洋垃圾已引起国际社会的广泛关注,是当前环境领域热点问题之一.为揭示我国渤海近岸海域海洋垃圾的赋存特征及其分布规律,于2018年丰水期(8月)在辽东湾河口区海域布设6个长度为5~10 km的调查断面,利用拖网同时采集海面漂浮垃圾与海底垃圾,初步调查辽东湾近岸海域海洋垃圾分布和组成特征,并对海洋垃圾来源进行了分析.结果表明:①辽东湾海面漂浮垃圾数量密度为67个km^2,质量密度为741 g km^2;海底垃圾数量密度为19个km^2,质量密度为2544 g km^2.②在所收集的各类海洋垃圾中,塑料类垃圾数量占比约为50.9%,其中海底塑料类垃圾数量占比(62.1%)明显高于海面漂浮塑料垃圾数量占比(37.5%).③由塑料垃圾形态特征和表面带有的标识判断,辽东湾近岸海域塑料垃圾主要是来源于生活塑料垃圾(84.9%)和渔业垃圾(15.1%).在此基础上,建议加强源头管理以减少塑料垃圾进入海洋,主要包括完善当前海洋垃圾分类方法、加强渔业塑料垃圾回收、提升公民保护海洋环境意识和制定国家海洋塑料垃圾行动计划等.展开更多
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82101498 to XW)STI2030-Major Prjects of China(No.20212D0201801 to PH)+1 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82171917 to PH,No.82090034 and 31970979 to KW and 32071054 to YT)the 2021 Youth Foundation Training Program of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University(No.2021kj19 to XW).
文摘Background Previous studies havedemonstrated that excitatory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS)can improve the cognitive function of patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD).Intermittent theta burst stimulation(iTBS)is a novel excitatory rTMS protocol for brain activity stimulation with the ability to induce long-term potentiation-like plasticity and represents a promising treatment for AD.However,the long-term effects of iTBS on cognitive decline and brain structure in patients with AD areunknown.Aims We aimed to explore whether repeating accelerated iTBS every three months could slow down the cognitive decline in patients with AD.Methods In this randomised,assessor-blinded,controlled trial,iTBS was administered to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex(DLPFC)of 42 patients with AD for 14days every 13weeks.Measurements included the Montreal Cognitive Assessment(MoCA),a comprehensive neuropsychological battery,and the grey matter volume(GMV)of the hippocampus.Patients were evaluated at baseline and after follow-up.The longitudinal pipeline of the Computational Anatomy Toolbox for SPM was used to detect significant treatment-related changes over time.Results The iTBS group maintained MoCA scores relative to the control group(t=3.26,p=0.013)and reduced hippocampal atrophy,which was significantly correlated with global degeneration scale changes.The baseline Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)score,apolipoprotein E genotype and Clinical Dementia Rating were indicative of MoCA scores at follow-up.Moreover,the GMV of the left(t=0.08,p=0.996)and right(t=0.19,p=0.977)hippocampus were maintained in the active group but significantly declined in the control group(left:t=4.13,p<0.001;right:t=5.31,p<0.001).GMV change in the left(r=0.35,p=0.023)and right(r=0.36,p=0.021)hippocampus across the intervention positively correlated with MoCA changes;left hippocampal GMV change was negatively correlated with global degeneration scale(r=-0.32,p=0.041)changes.Conclusions DLPFC-iTBS maybe a feasible and easy-to-implement non-pharmacological intervention to slow down the progressive decline of overall cognition and quality of life in patients with AD,providing a new AD treatment option.Trial registration number NCT04754152.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFD1201600)National Natural Science Foundation of China(31861123001,31302170,and 31772831)+1 种基金Chongqing Science and Technology Bureau(CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX1608 and cstc2021ycjh-bgzxm0024)Chongqing Fishery Technology Innovation Union(2023)。
文摘DEAR EDITOR,Sox9 is a member of the Sry-related high-mobility group box(Sox)transcription factor family in animals.In teleost fish,Sox9 undergoes duplication to generate two duplicates,namely Sox9a and Sox9b.However,the functions of these duplicates in the teleost Nile tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus)remain unclear.In this study,we characterized the roles of Nile tilapia Sox9a in chondrogenesis and gonadal development.In situ hybridization assays showed that Sox9a was mainly expressed in cartilage tissues and somatic cells surrounding germ cells of the gonads.CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homozygous mutation of the Sox9a gene resulted in craniofacial deformities and missed mandibles,as well as impaired the expression of Col2a1a that is involved in chondrogenesis.In addition,germ cell number and DNA replication in somatic cells in the gonads of both sexes were reduced following Sox9a mutation.Taken together,this study demonstrates that Sox9a is involved in cartilage development and germ cell proliferation in Nile tilapia.
文摘海洋垃圾已引起国际社会的广泛关注,是当前环境领域热点问题之一.为揭示我国渤海近岸海域海洋垃圾的赋存特征及其分布规律,于2018年丰水期(8月)在辽东湾河口区海域布设6个长度为5~10 km的调查断面,利用拖网同时采集海面漂浮垃圾与海底垃圾,初步调查辽东湾近岸海域海洋垃圾分布和组成特征,并对海洋垃圾来源进行了分析.结果表明:①辽东湾海面漂浮垃圾数量密度为67个km^2,质量密度为741 g km^2;海底垃圾数量密度为19个km^2,质量密度为2544 g km^2.②在所收集的各类海洋垃圾中,塑料类垃圾数量占比约为50.9%,其中海底塑料类垃圾数量占比(62.1%)明显高于海面漂浮塑料垃圾数量占比(37.5%).③由塑料垃圾形态特征和表面带有的标识判断,辽东湾近岸海域塑料垃圾主要是来源于生活塑料垃圾(84.9%)和渔业垃圾(15.1%).在此基础上,建议加强源头管理以减少塑料垃圾进入海洋,主要包括完善当前海洋垃圾分类方法、加强渔业塑料垃圾回收、提升公民保护海洋环境意识和制定国家海洋塑料垃圾行动计划等.
