Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of epilepsy: electromagnetic stimulation-mediated neuromodulation therapy and new technologies

Epilepsy is a severe,relapsing,and multifactorial neurological disorder.Studies regarding the accurate diagnosis,prognosis,and in-depth pathogenesis are crucial for the precise and effective treatment of epilepsy.The pathogenesis of epilepsy is complex and involves alterations in variables such as gene expression,protein expression,ion channel activity,energy metabolites,and gut microbiota composition.Satisfactory results are lacking for conventional treatments for epilepsy.Surgical resection of lesions,drug therapy,and non-drug interventions are mainly used in clinical practice to treat pain associated with epilepsy.Non-pharmacological treatments,such as a ketogenic diet,gene therapy for nerve regeneration,and neural regulation,are currently areas of research focus.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the pathogenesis,diagnostic methods,and treatments of epilepsy.It also elaborates on the theoretical basis,treatment modes,and effects of invasive nerve stimulation in neurotherapy,including percutaneous vagus nerve stimulation,deep brain electrical stimulation,repetitive nerve electrical stimulation,in addition to non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation.Numerous studies have shown that electromagnetic stimulation-mediated neuromodulation therapy can markedly improve neurological function and reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures.Additionally,many new technologies for the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy are being explored.However,current research is mainly focused on analyzing patients’clinical manifestations and exploring relevant diagnostic and treatment methods to study the pathogenesis at a molecular level,which has led to a lack of consensus regarding the mechanisms related to the disease.

Diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder in Phelan-McDermid syndrome:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Phelan-McDermid syndrome(PMS)is a rare genetic disorder characterized by intellectual disability,delayed language development,autism spectrum disorders,motor tone abnormalities,and a high risk of psychiatric symptoms,including bipolar disorder.CASE SUMMARY This report presented an 18-year clinical history of a 36-year-old woman with PMS,marked by intellectual disabilities,social withdrawal,and stereotyped behaviors.Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 18 years old,she encountered significant treatment challenges,including severe adverse reactions to antipsychotic medications in 2022,which led to speech and functional regression.Through rehabilitation and comprehensive therapy,her condition gradually improved.In 2024,after further treatment,her symptoms stabilized,highlighting the complexities and successes of long-term management.CONCLUSION Effective management of PMS requires a thorough clinical history,genetic testing,and long-term supportive care.

Pancreatic primitive neuroectodermal tumors:Clinical features,treatment,and influencing factors

BACKGROUND Data on clinical characteristics,treatment outcomes,and prognosis of pancreatic primitive neuroectodermal tumors(PNETs)are limited.AIM To analyze the clinical data of 30 patients with pancreatic PNETs to identify their clinical characteristics and factors associated with prognosis.METHODS We used the keywords"primary neuroectodermal tumor,""digestive tract,""pancreas,""pancreatic,"and"gastrointestinal,"individually or in combination,to collect data from a global database for all patients with pancreatic PNET to date.Univariate and Cox regression analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors for patient survival.RESULTS A total of 30 cases of pancreatic PNET were included in this study:15 males and 15 females with a mean age of 24 years.The main symptom was abdominal pain(73.3%),and the median tumor size was 7.85 cm.Twenty-four patients(80.0%)underwent surgery and nineteen patients received adjuvant therapy.Local metastasis was observed in 13 patients(43.3%),lymph node metastasis in 10 patients(33.3%),and distant metastasis in 6 patients(20.0%).Local recurrence was observed in 13 patients(43.3%).The median survival time of all patients was 29.4 months,and the overall estimated 1-year and 3-year survival rates were approximately 66.0%and 36.4%,respectively.Univariate analysis showed that chemotherapy(P=0.036),local metastasis(P=0.041),lymph node metastasis(P=0.003),distant metastasis(P=0.049),and surgical margins(P=0.048)were the prognostic factors affecting survival.Multivariate analysis revealed only lymph node metastasis(P=0.012)as a prognostic factor.CONCLUSION Pancreatic PNET is extremely rare,occurs in young adults,has no apparent sex predisposition,has a high rate of metastasis and early recurrence,and has a very poor prognosis.The diagnosis of pancreatic PNET requires a combination of clinical symptoms,pathologic features,immunohistochemistry,and cytogenetic analysis.Univariate analysis suggested that chemotherapy,metastasis,and surgical margins were prognostic factors affecting survival,and multivariate analysis suggested that lymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor.Therefore,early diagnosis,early and extensive resection,and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy may help improve prognosis.

Emphysematous pancreatitis:Diagnosis,treatment,and prognosis

BACKGROUND Emphysematous pancreatitis(EP)is a rare,severe form of acute necrotizing pancreatitis characterized by gas in pancreatic or peripancreatic tissue,with a high mortality rate.AIM To assess the diagnosis,treatment,and outcomes of EP through a series of case studies.METHODS This case series was conducted in intensive care units at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University.Patients were included if they were diagnosed with pancreatic necrosis and gas via computed tomography from June 2018 to June 2024.Patients were categorized into early and late EP groups based on the timing of the appearance of the bubble sign and into extensive and common types based on the distribution range of the bubble sign.The data recorded included sex,age,aetiology,Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score,Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score,Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis score,subtype,gas distribution extent,aetiological diagnostic basis,pathogen categories,intervention measures,and prognosis.RESULTS Among the 15 patients,66.7%had a biliary aetiology and extensive type of EP,47.1%had early-onset EP,and 73.3%had confirmed aetiological evidence[6 based on bacterial culture,4 based on both routine culture and next-generation sequencing(NGS),and 1 solely based on NGS].The common pathogens were Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.Six patients survived.Among the 2 patients who did not undergo percutaneous drainage or surgical treatment,1 survived.Of the 6 patients who underwent percutaneous drainage,2 survived,2 survived after subsequent surgery,and 2 died without surgery.Among the 6 patients who underwent surgery alone,5 died and 1 survived.Among the early-onset EP patients,4 survived;among the late-onset EP patients,2 survived.Among the common EP types,4 survived;among the extensive EP types,only 1 survived.CONCLUSION The mortality rate among patients with EP is considerable,and NGS enhances pathogen identification accuracy.Despite the debate on conservative vs surgical management,the STEP-UP strategy remains viable.Aggressive antimicrobial therapy,early percutaneous catheter drainage,and other minimally invasive interventions,along with delayed surgical intervention,may improve patient prognosis.

Automation in road distress detection,diagnosis and treatment

Road transportation plays a crucial role in society and daily life,as the functioning and durability of roads can significantly impact a nation's economic development.In the whole life cycle of the road,the emergence of disease is unavoidable,so it is necessary to adopt relevant technical means to deal with the disease.This study comprehensively reviews the advancements in computer vision,artificial intelligence,and mobile robotics in the road domain and examines their progress and applications in road detection,diagnosis,and treatment,especially asphalt roads.Specifically,it analyzes the research progress in detecting and diagnosing surface and internal road distress and related techniques and algorithms are compared.In addition,also introduces various road gover-nance technologies,including automated repairs,intelligent construction,and path planning for crack sealing.Despite their proven effectiveness in detecting road distress,analyzing diagnoses,and planning maintenance,these technologies still confront challenges in data collection,parameter optimization,model portability,system accuracy,robustness,and real-time performance.Consequently,the integration of multidisciplinary technologies is imperative to enable the development of an integrated approach that includes road detection,diagnosis,and treatment.This paper addresses the challenges of precise defect detection,condition assessment,and unmanned construction.At the same time,the efficiency of labor liberation and road maintenance is achieved,and the automation level of the road engineering industry is improved.

Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease

Intracranial atherosclerotic disease(ICAD)manifests systemic atherosclerosis in the intra-cranial arterial bed.It is the most common risk factor for ischemic stroke in Chinese population,with symptomatic ICAD(sICAD)patients at higher stroke risk.Continuous cerebral hypoperfusion and hemodynamic decompensa-tion caused by arterial stenosis or occlusion are the main pathological mechanisms for stroke recurrence and cog-nitive impairment in sICAD patients.Despite receiving reinforced medical therapy,about 10%of sICAD patients still suffer stroke recurrence.Blood flow reconstruction techniques are not yet established as routine stroke pre-vention for sICAD due to complex perioperative com-plications.Limb remote ischemic conditioning(LRIC)can effectively reduce the incidence of ischemic stroke,and composite cerebrovascular diseases,and improve ce-rebral perfusion,brain metabolism,and cerebrovascular reserve(CVR)in sICAD patients,serving as a novel ther-apeutic strategy.However,the protective mechanisms of LRIC and the optimal treatment regimen for sICAD still require further exploration.Exploring imaging biomark-ers with high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis is of great significance in evaluating and predicting stroke risk in sICAD patients.

Circular RNAs in breast cancer diagnosis,treatment and prognosis

Breast cancer has surpassed lung cancer to become the most common malignancy worldwide.The incidence rate and mortality rate of breast cancer continue to rise,which leads to a great burden on public health.Circular RNAs(circRNAs),a new class of noncoding RNAs(ncRNAs),have been recognized as important oncogenes or suppressors in regulating cancer initiation and progression.In breast cancer,circRNAs have significant roles in tumorigenesis,recurrence and multidrug resistance that are mediated by various mechanisms.Therefore,circRNAs may serve as promising targets of therapeutic strategies for breast cancer management.This study reviews the most recent studies about the biosynthesis and characteristics of circRNAs in diagnosis,treatment and prognosis evaluation,as well as the value of circRNAs in clinical applications as biomarkers or therapeutic targets in breast cancer.Understanding the mechanisms by which circRNAs function could help transform basic research into clinical applications and facilitate the development of novel circRNA-based therapeutic strategies for breast cancer treatment.

Advances and challenges in diagnosing and managing adult autoimmune enteropathy

Autoimmune enteropathy(AIE)is a rare immune mediated disorder primarily affecting children,characterized by chronic diarrhea,malabsorption,vomiting,weight loss and villous atrophy.It has also been observed in adults presenting diagnostic and treatment challenges due to its overlap with other gastrointestinal disorders such as celiac disease.Initial diagnostic criteria for AIE include small bowel villous atrophy,lack of response to dietary restrictions,presence of anti-enterocyte antibodies,and predisposition to autoimmunity without severe immu-nodeficiency.Refined criteria emphasize characteristic histological findings and exclusion of other causes of villous atrophy.AIE is associated with various autoimmune disorders and can present with overlapping features with Celiac disease,including villous atrophy but without significant intraepithelial lympho-cytosis.Treatment primarily involves immunosuppression using corticosteroids,calcineurin inhibitors,and anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy,alongside nutri-tional support.Despite the challenges,understanding AIE’s diverse manifest-ations and improving diagnostic criteria are essential for effective management and improved patient outcome.Further research is needed to elucidate the pathogenesis,disease progression and long-term outcomes of AIE.

Clinicopathological features and treatment of gastrointestinal schwannomas

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal schwannomas(GIS)are rare neurogenic tumors arising from Schwann cells in the gastrointestinal tract.Studies on GIS are limited to small case reports or focus on specific tumor sites,underscoring the diagnostic and thera-peutic challenges they pose.AIM To comprehensively examine the clinical features,pathological characteristics,treatment outcomes,associated comorbidities,and prognosis of GIS.METHODS The study population included patients diagnosed with GIS at the First Affiliated Hospital,Zhejiang University School of Medicine,between June 2007 and April 2024.Data were retrospectively collected and analyzed from medical records,including demographic characteristics,endoscopic and imaging findings,treatment modalities,pathological evaluations,and follow-up information.RESULTS In total,229 patients with GIS were included,with a mean age of 56.00 years and a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.83.The mean tumor size was 2.75 cm,and most(76.9%)were located in the stomach.Additionally,6.6%of the patients had other malig-nant tumors.Preoperative imaging and endoscopy frequently misdiagnosed GIS as gastrointestinal stromal tumors.However,accurate preoperative diagnosis was achieved using endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration combined with immunohistochemical analysis,in which S100 and SOX-10 markers were mostly positive.Smaller tumors were typically managed with endoscopic resection,while larger lesions were treated with surgical resection.Follow-up results showed that most patients experienced favorable outcomes.CONCLUSION Preoperative diagnosis of GIS via clinical characteristics,endoscopy,and imaging examinations remains challenging but crucial.Endoscopic therapy provides a minimally invasive and effective option for patients.

Guidelines for the standardized diagnosis and treatment of non-specific orbital inflammation(2024)

Non-specific orbital inflammation(NSOI)is a noninfectious orbital inflammation.Although it is often considered the most common diagnosis in orbital biopsies,it is an exclusionary diagnosis that requires ruling out systemic disease or other possible causes.Its characteristics include acute orbital signs and symptoms,including pain,proptosis,periorbital edema,chemosis,diplopia,and visual impairment.The clinical manifestations and histological findings of NSOI are heterogeneous,without specific diagnostic criteria or treatment guidelines,which poses significant challenges for diagnosis and treatment.This guideline provides a detailed description of the definition,classification,diagnosis,and treatment of NSOI.

Intestinal Behçet's disease: A review of clinical diagnosis and treatment

Behçet's disease(BD)is a chronic inflammatory disorder prone to frequent re-currences,with a high predilection for intestinal involvement.However,the ef-ficacy and long-term effects of surgical treatment for intestinal BD are unknown.In the current issue of World J Gastrointest Surg,Park et al conducted a retrospec-tive analysis of 31 patients with intestinal BD who received surgical treatment.They found that elevated C-reactive protein levels and emergency surgery were poor prognostic factors for postoperative recurrence,emphasizing the adverse impact of severe inflammation on the prognosis of patients with intestinal BD.This work has clinical significance for evaluating the postoperative condition of intestinal BD.The editorial attempts to summarize the clinical diagnosis and treatment of intestinal BD,focusing on the impact of adverse factors on surgical outcomes.We hope this review will facilitate more precise postoperative management of patients with intestinal BD by clinicians.

Etiology and Treatment Advances of Hematochezia in Infants Aged ≤3 Months

The incidence of hematochezia in infants aged three months or younger has shown an upward trend in recent years. This condition is characterized by visible bloody stools, which may appear bright red, dark red, jam-like, or mucus-purulent bloody stools, and is often accompanied by positive fecal occult blood tests, with or without additional systemic clinical symptoms. The etiology is multifactorial, potentially influenced by the maternal health status during pregnancy, neonatal diseases or treatments received in the NICU, and the methods used for establishing enteral and parenteral nutrition. Notably, allergic factors have gained prominence in recent years. This paper reviews recent studies to elucidate the incidence, primary causes, and current treatment approaches for early infant hematochezia, providing a reference for clinical practice.

Beyond the stomach: An updated view of Helicobacter pylori pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is an extremely common, yet underappreciated, pathogen that is able to alter host physiology and subvert the host immune response, allowing it to persist for the life of the host. H. pylori is the primary cause of peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. In the United States, the annual cost associated with peptic ulcer disease is estimated to be $6 billion and gastric cancer kills over 700000 people per year globally. The prevalence of H. pylori infection remains high (> 50%) in much of the world, although the infection rates are dropping in some developed nations. The drop in H. pylori prevalence could be a double-edged sword, reducing the incidence of gastric diseases while increasing the risk of allergies and esophageal diseases. The list of diseases potentially caused by H. pylori continues to grow; however, mechanistic explanations of how H. pylori could contribute to extragastric diseases lag far behind clinical studies. A number of host factors and H. pylori virulence factors act in concert to determine which individuals are at the highest risk of disease. These include bacterial cytotoxins and polymorphisms in host genes responsible for directing the immune response. This review discusses the latest advances in H. pylori pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. Up-to-date information on correlations between H. pylori and extragastric diseases is also provided.

A review of Helicobacter pylori diagnosis, treatment, and methods to detect eradication

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) affects nearly half of the world’s population and, thus, is one of the most frequent and persistent bacterial infections worldwide. H. pylori is associated with peptic ulcer disease, gastric ulcers, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, and gastric cancer. Various diagnostic methods exist to detect infection, and the choice of one method or another depends on several factors, such as accessibility, advantages and disadvantages of each method, cost, and the age of patients. Once H. pylori infection is diagnosed, the clinician decides whether treatment is necessity, according to the patient’s clinical condition. Typically, eradication of H. pylori is recommended for treatment and prevention of the infection. Cure rates with the standard triple therapy are acceptable, and effective quadruple therapies, sequential therapies, and concomitant therapies have been introduced as key alternatives to treat H. pylori infection. In this work, we review the main diagnostic methods used to identify H. pylori infection and to confirm eradication of infection. In addition, key factors related to treatment are reviewed.

From diagnosis to treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: An epidemic problem for both developed and developing world

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the most frequent primary liver malignancy and the third cause of cancer-related death in the Western Countries. The well-established causes of HCC are chronic liver infections such as hepatitis B virus or chronic hepatitis C virus, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, consumption of aflatoxins and tobacco smocking. Clinical presentation varies widely; patients can be asymptomatic while symptomatology extends from right upper abdominal quadrant paint and weight loss to obstructive jaundice and lethargy. Imaging is the first key and one of the most important aspects at all stages of diagnosis, therapy and follow-up of patients with HCC. The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Staging System remains the most widely classification system used for HCC management guidelines. Up until now, HCC remains a challenge to early diagnose, and treat effectively; treating management is focused on hepatic resection, orthotopic liver transplantation, ablative therapies, chemoembolization and systemic therapies with cytotocix drugs, and targeted agents. This review article describes the current evidence on epidemiology, symptomatology, diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of advanced breast cancer in China(2022 edition)

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide.It has been estimated that about 416000 new cases and over 117000 deaths of breast cancer occurred in China in 2020.Among the new cases of breast cancer diagnosed each year,3-10%have distant metastasis at the time of initial diagnosis.In addition,approxi-mately 30%of patients with early-stage breast cancer may eventually experience recurrence or metastases.The 5-year survival rate of patients with advanced breast cancer is only 20%with a median overall survival of 2-3 years.Although advanced breast cancer remains incurable at present,new therapeutic options and multidisci-plinary treatment could be utilized to alleviate symptoms,improve quality of life,and prolong patients’survival.The choice of treatment regimens for patients with advanced breast cancer is very important,and the optimal treatment strategy beyond the first-and second-line therapy is often lacking.Herein,the China Advanced Breast Cancer Guideline Panel discussed and summarized recent clinical evidence,updated the guidelines for the diag-nosis and treatment of advanced breast cancer based on the 2020 edition,and formulated the“Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of advanced breast cancer in China(2022 edition)”for clinicians’reference.

Research Progress on Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Treatment of Tourette Syndrome in Children

Tourette syndrome is a common neuropsychiatric disorder that affects the physical and mental health of children.Early detection,diagnosis,and treatment are crucial to prevent serious impacts on the affected children,their families,and society.In recent years,there has been an increasing trend towards using a combination of methods in the clinical treatment of children with Tourette syndrome.This approach has achieved remarkable results,leading to a reduction in the rate of Tourette syndrome symptoms in children.In recent years,a combination of clinical methods has been used to treat children with Tourette syndrome,resulting in significant improvement in control rates.This article reviews the etiology of infantile Tourette syndrome and the progress made in Chinese and Western medicine treatments,providing a reference for further treatment of the condition.

A handy review of carpal tunnel syndrome:From anatomy to diagnosis and treatment

Carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS) is the most commonly diagnosed disabling condition of the upper extremities. It is the most commonly known and prevalent type of peripheral entrapment neuropathy that accounts for about 90% of all entrapment neuropathies. This review aims to provide an outline of CTS by considering anat-omy, pathophysiology, clinical manifestation, diagnostic modalities and management of this common condition, with an emphasis on the diagnostic imaging evaluation.

Research Progress of Ultrasound Radiomics in The Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer

With the advancement of medical research in recent years and the frequent occurrence of different types of cancer, breast cancer has gradually attracted the public’s attention. The incidence of breast cancer is rising, mainly affecting women with a high mortality rate. According to the clinical treatment effect, early diagnosis and early treatment can effectively control the mortality of breast cancer and improve patient’s quality of life. Ultrasound radiomics is an emerging field that can extract quantitative high-dimensional data from ultrasound images. Recently, ultrasound radiomics has been widely used in the clinical treatment of breast cancer. This paper analyzed the research progress of ultrasound radiomics in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

Diagnosis and treatment of acute pulmonary inflammation in critically ill patients: The role of inflammatory biomarkers

Pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome are common and important causes of respiratory failure in the intensive care unit with a significant impact on morbidity, mortality and health care utilization despite early antimicrobial therapy and lung protective mechanical ventilation. Both clinical entities are characterized by acute pulmonary inflammation in response to direct or indirect lung injury. Adjunct anti-inflammatory treatment with corticosteroids is increasingly used, although the evidence for benefit is limited. The treatment decisions are based on radiographic, clinical and physiological variables without regards to inflammatory state. Current evidence suggests a role of biomarkers for the assessment of severity, and distinguishing sub-phenotypes (hyperinflammatory versus hypo-inflammatory) with important prognostic and therapeutic implications. Although many inflammatory biomarkers have been studied the most common and of interest are C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin 6. While extensively studied as prognostic tools (prognostic enrichment), limited data are available for the role of biomarkers in determining appropriate initiation, timing and dosing of adjunct anti-inflammatory treatment (predictive enrichment)