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.

A novel solution treatment and aging for powder bed fusion-laser beam Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-6Mo alloy:Microstructural and mechanical characterization

Ti-6Al-4Zr-2Sn-6Mo alloy is one of the most recent titanium alloys processed using powder bed fusion-laser beam(PBF-LB)technology.This alloy has the potential to replace Ti-6Al-4V in automotive and aerospace applications,given its superior mechanical properties,which are approximately 10%higher in terms of ultimate tensile strength(UTS)and yield strength after appropriate heat treatment.In as-built conditions,the alloy is characterized by the presence of soft orthorhombicα″martensite,necessitating a postprocessing heat treatment to decompose this phase and enhance the mechanical properties of the alloy.Usually,PBFed Ti6246 components undergo an annealing process that transforms theα″martensite into anα-βlamellar microstructure.The primary objective of this research was to develop a solution treatment and aging(STA)heat treatment tailored to the unique microstructure produced by the additive manufacturing process to achieve an ultrafine bilamellar microstructure reinforced by precipitation hardening.This study investigated the effects of various solution temperatures in theα-βfield(ranging from 800 to 875℃),cooling media(air and water),and aging time to determine the optimal heat treatment parameters for achieving the desired bilamellar microstructure.For each heat treatment condition,differentα-βmicrostructures were found,varying in terms of theα/βratio and the size of the primaryα-phase lamellae.Particular attention was given to how these factors were influenced by increases in solution temperature and how microhardness correlated with the percentage of the metastableβphase present after quenching.Tensile tests were performed on samples subjected to the most promising heat treatment parameters.A comparison with literature data revealed that the optimized STA treatment enhanced hardness and UTS by13%and 23%,respectively,compared with those of the annealed alloy.Fracture surface analyses were conducted to investigate fracture mechanisms.

The emerging role of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles to ameliorate hippocampal NLRP3 inflammation induced by binge-like ethanol treatment in adolescence

Our previous studies have reported that activation of the NLRP3(NOD-,LRR-and pyrin domain-containing protein 3)-inflammasome complex in ethanol-treated astrocytes and chronic alcohol-fed mice could be associated with neuroinflammation and brain damage.Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles(MSC-EVs)have been shown to restore the neuroinflammatory response,along with myelin and synaptic structural alterations in the prefrontal cortex,and alleviate cognitive and memory dysfunctions induced by binge-like ethanol treatment in adolescent mice.Considering the therapeutic role of the molecules contained in mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles,the present study analyzed whether the administration of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles isolated from adipose tissue,which inhibited the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome,was capable of reducing hippocampal neuroinflammation in adolescent mice treated with binge drinking.We demonstrated that the administration of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles ameliorated the activation of the hippocampal NLRP3 inflammasome complex and other NLRs inflammasomes(e.g.,pyrin domain-containing 1,caspase recruitment domain-containing 4,and absent in melanoma 2,as well as the alterations in inflammatory genes(interleukin-1β,interleukin-18,inducible nitric oxide synthase,nuclear factor-kappa B,monocyte chemoattractant protein-1,and C–X3–C motif chemokine ligand 1)and miRNAs(miR-21a-5p,miR-146a-5p,and miR-141-5p)induced by binge-like ethanol treatment in adolescent mice.Bioinformatic analysis further revealed the involvement of miR-21a-5p and miR-146a-5p with inflammatory target genes and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways.Taken together,these findings provide novel evidence of the therapeutic potential of MSC-derived EVs to ameliorate the hippocampal neuroinflammatory response associated with NLRP3 inflammasome activation induced by binge drinking in adolescence.

Combination treatment of inflammatory bowel disease:Present status and future perspectives

The treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD),especially those with severe or refractory disease,represents an important challenge for the clinical gastroenterologist.It seems to be no exaggeration to say that in these patients,not only the scientific background of the gastroenterologist is tested,but also the abundance of“gifts”that he should possess(insight,intuition,determ-ination,ability to take initiative,etc.)for the successful outcome of the treatment.In daily clinical practice,depending on the severity of the attack,IBD is treated with one or a combination of two or more pharmaceutical agents.These combin-ations include not only the first-line drugs(e.g.,mesalazine,corticosteroids,antibiotics,etc)but also second-and third-line drugs(immunosuppressants and biologic agents).It is a fact that despite the significant therapeutic advances there is still a significant percentage of patients who do not satisfactorily respond to the treatment applied.Therefore,a part of these patients are going to surgery.In recent years,several small-size clinical studies,reviews,and case reports have been published combining not only biological agents with other drugs(e.g.,immunosuppressants or corticosteroids)but also the combination of two biologi-cal agents simultaneously,especially in severe cases.In our opinion,it is at least a strange(and largely unexplained)fact that we often use combinations of drugs in a given patient although studies comparing the simultaneous administration of two or more drugs with monotherapy are very few.As mentioned above,there is a timid tendency in the literature to combine two biological agents in severe cases unresponsive to the applied treatment or patients with severe extraintestinal manifestations.The appropriate dosage,the duration of the administration,the suitable timing for checking the clinical and laboratory outcome,as well as the treatment side-effects,should be the subject of intense clinical research shortly.In this editorial,we attempt to summarize the existing data regarding the already applied combination therapies and to humbly formulate thoughts and suggestions for the future application of the combination treatment of biological agents in a well-defined category of patients.We suggest that the application of biomarkers and artificial intelligence could help in establishing new forms of treatment using the available modern drugs in patients with IBD resistant to treatment.

Dual-targeted treatment for inflammatory bowel disease:Whether fecal microbiota transplantation can be an important part of it

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is a chronic gastrointestinal inflammatory disease.With the emergence of biologics and other therapeutic methods,two biologics or one biologic combined with a novel small-molecule drug has been proposed in recent years to treat IBD.Although treatment strategies for IBD are being optimized,their efficacy and risks still warrant further consideration.This editorial explores the current risks associated with dual-targeted treatment for IBD and the great potential that fecal microbiota transplantation(FMT)may have for use in combination therapy for IBD.We are focused on addressing refractory IBD or biologically resistant IBD based on currently available dual-targeted treatment by incorporating FMT as part of this dual-targeted treatment.In this new therapy regimen,FMT represents a promising combination therapy.

Bonding enhancement of cold rolling TA1 P-Ti/AA6061 composite plates via surface oxidation treatment

TA1 P-Ti/AA6061 composite plate was produced by oxidizing the surface of the titanium plate and adopting a cold roll bonding process.The results revealed that the oxide film(Ti6O)prepared on the surface of TA1 pure titanium was easy to crack during the cold roll bonding,thereby promoting the formation of an effective mechanical interlock at the interface,which can effectively reduce the minimum reduction rate of the composite plates produced by cold rolling of titanium and aluminium plates.Moreover,the composite plate subjected to oxidation treatment exhibited high shear strength,particularly at a 43%reduction rate,achieving a commendable value of 117 MPa.Based on oxidation treatment and different reduction rates,the annealed composite plates at temperatures of 400,450,and 500°C displayed favorable resistance to interface delamination,highlighting their remarkable strength-plasticity compatibility as evidenced by a maximum elongation of 31.845%.

Significance of Primary Treatment Selection in the Efficiency of Wastewater Treatment in Constructed Wetlands (CWs)

This research explores strategies to enhance the efficiency of secondary treatment in Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands (CW) in Montenegro. The focus is on selecting appropriate primary treatment methods alongside three distinct substrate types to improve wastewater treatment efficacy. The study examines the combination of two primary treatments with different substrate types in constructed wetlands (CW1, CW2, and CW3). The primary treatments include the existing wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Podgorica, involving coarse material removal through screens, inert material separation in aerated sand traps, and sediment and suspended matter removal in primary sedimentation tanks. The Extreme Separator (ExSep) was employed to evaluate its efficacy as a primary treatment method. The research demonstrates that the efficiency of CW can be significantly enhanced by selecting suitable primary treatment methods and substrates in Podgorica’s conditions. The most promising results were achieved by combining ExSep as a primary treatment with secondary treatment in CW-3. The removal efficiencies after CW3 for COD, BOD, and TSS exceeded 89%, 93%, and 91%, respectively. The outcomes underscore the significance of primary treatment in mitigating pollutant loads before discharge into the constructed wetlands, emphasizing potential areas for further optimization in wastewater treatment practices to enhance environmental sustainability and water quality management.

Surgical treatment of liver cancer and pancreatic cancer under the China Healthcare Security Diagnosis Related Groups payment system

BACKGROUND Data from the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer reported that China had the highest prevalence of cancer and cancer deaths in 2022.Liver and pancreatic cancers accounted for the highest number of new cases.Real-world data(RWD)is now widely preferred to traditional clinical trials in various fields of medicine and healthcare,as the traditional research approach often involves highly selected populations and interventions and controls that are strictly regulated.Additionally,research results from the RWD match global reality better than those from traditional clinical trials.AIM To analyze the cost disparity between surgical treatments for liver and pancreatic cancer under various factors.METHODS This study analyzed RWD 1137 cases within the HB1 group(patients who underwent pancreatectomy,hepatectomy,and/or shunt surgery)in 2023.It distinguished different expenditure categories,including medical,nursing,technical,management,drug,and consumable costs.Additionally,it assessed the contribution of each expenditure category to total hospital costs and performed cross-group comparisons using the non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis test.This study used the Steel–Dwass test for post-hoc multiple comparisons and the Spearman correlation coefficient to examine the relationships between variables.RESULTS The study found that in HB11 and HB13,the total hospitalization costs were significantly higher for pancreaticoduodenectomy than for pancreatectomy and hepatectomy.Although no significant difference was observed in the length of hospital stay between patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy and pancreatectomy,both were significantly longer than those who underwent liver resection.In HB15,no significant difference was observed in the total cost of hospitalization between pancreaticoduodenectomy and pancreatectomy;however,both were significantly higher than those in hepatectomy.Additionally,the length of hospital stay was significantly longer for patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy than for those who underwent pancreatectomy or liver resection.CONCLUSION China Healthcare Security Diagnosis Related Groups payment system positively impacts liver and pancreatic cancer surgeries by improving medical quality and controlling costs.Further research could refine this grouping system and ensure continuous effectiveness and sustainability.

Has Coca-Cola treatment become the first-line therapy for gastric bezoars,both in general and specifically for western countries?

Phytobezoars is a rare disease and less common in Western countries.The stomach is the primary site for these formations,and endoscopic treatment involving fragmentation and extraction has traditionally been the most effective approach.However,medical treatments using enzymatic and chemical agents,such as cellulase and Coca-Cola,aimed at dissolving the bezoars,have also been utilized,showing varying degrees of resolution success.Notably,the oral dissolution treatment with Coca-Cola has emerged as a promising,simpler,and more costeffective method.The study by Liu et al represents an important step in clinical research on this topic,despite some limitations that need addressing for a more comprehensive understanding of its findings.Key considerations for future research include sample size calculation,endoscopic procedure details,outpatient vs.inpatient treatment,and detailed cost calculations.The study's exclusions,such as patients with upper gastric surgery,phytobezoars older than 14 d,and cases of gastroparesis,limit its applicability to broader populations,especially in Western countries.Given the promising outcomes of the Coca-Cola treatment,it's advocated as a first-line therapy for phytobezoars.Nonetheless,further research is essential to overcome these limitations.However special situations such as perforation or small bowel obstruction will require surgical treatment.

Immunotherapy in Cutaneous Oncology: Revolutionizing Treatment Approaches

Background: Cutaneous oncology encompasses a broad range of skin malignancies, including melanoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and basal cell carcinoma (BCC), all of which pose significant global health challenges. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that melanoma incidence has increased by approximately 50% over the past three decades. While SCC and BCC are generally less aggressive than melanoma, they contribute significantly to the overall burden of skin cancer due to their high prevalence. Traditional treatment modalities for these malignancies, such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, have shown limitations in achieving durable responses and minimizing systemic toxicity. As a result, there is an increasing need for more effective and less toxic treatment options. Immunotherapeutic strategies have emerged as a promising avenue in oncology, with the potential to revolutionize treatment approaches for cutaneous malignancies. Objectives: This literature review aims to undertake an in-depth examination of immunotherapeutic strategies for melanoma, SCC, and BCC. Specifically, the review focuses on the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapies, and emerging immunotherapies, assessing their impact on treatment outcomes, survival rates, and patient quality of life. Methods: A literature search was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. The search terms included “cutaneous oncology”, “immunotherapy”, “immune checkpoint inhibitors”, “adoptive cell therapy”, “melanoma”, “cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma”, and “basal cell carcinoma”. Peer-reviewed articles published in the last 10 years that reported clinical outcomes from immunotherapy-based treatments for cutaneous malignancies were included. The studies were reviewed and analyzed based on their reported clinical outcomes, including survival rates, adverse events, and quality of life metrics. Results: Our review identified significant advancements in immunotherapeutic strategies for cutaneous oncology. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab, demonstrated improved overall survival rates, particularly in melanoma patients. In addition, adoptive cell therapies, including tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapies, showed promise in managing both cutaneous SCC and BCC, with reported reductions in tumor burden and durable responses. Emerging immunotherapies, such as cancer vaccines and oncolytic viruses, are in early clinical trials but exhibit potential in enhancing antitumor immunity and expanding treatment options. Conclusions: Immunotherapeutic strategies represent a critical advancement in the management of cutaneous malignancies, offering improved outcomes compared to traditional therapies. Immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies are already reshaping clinical practice, while emerging immunotherapies provide exciting avenues for future research. These therapies not only enhance survival rates but also reduce systemic toxicities, representing a transformative approach to treating skin cancer. Further research and clinical trials are needed to refine these strategies and expand their applicability to a broader patient population.

Cost of Medical Treatment for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in Relation to Patients’ Income and Its Impact on the Prognosis of the Disease, in Bouaké University Hospital

Introduction: Medical treatment for POAG is continuous and lifelong treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the cost of this treatment and patients’ income and the impact of this relationship on treatment compliance. Materials and Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study with a descriptive aim covering sociodemographic data, average incomes, and direct and indirect costs of treatment of 57 patients followed for POAG during the period from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2016 (5 years). Results: The patients were aged 25 to 77 years (mean = 54.4 years) with a male predominance (sex ratio = 1.5). Retirees were the most represented (26.32%), followed by workers in the informal sector (14.04%) and housewives (12.28%). Patients who had an annual income less than or equal to 900,000 CFA francs (€1370.83) per year represented 56.14% and those who did not have health coverage represented 57.89%. The treatment was monotherapy (64.91%), dual therapy (31.58%) or triple therapy (3.05%) and the average ratio of “annual cost of treatment to annual income” was 0.56 with for maximum 2.23 and 0.02 as minimum. Patients who considered the cost of treatment unbearable for their income represented 78.95%. Conclusion: Prevention of blindness due to glaucoma requires early detection but also the establishment of health coverage mechanisms to improve compliance with medical treatment. In addition, consideration should be given to the development of glaucoma surgery in our country, the indication of which could be the first intention in certain patients, considering for those patients, the geographical and financial accessibility of medical treatment. .

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.

Application of Endovenous Laser Treatment Combined with Foam Sclerotherapy for the Minimally Invasive Treatment of Great Saphenous Vein Varicosity

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of endovenous laser treatment(EVLT)combined with foam sclerotherapy(FS)in the treatment of great saphenous vein varicosity(GSVV).Methods:A total of 50 patients with GSVV,treated between March 2021 and March 2024,were selected and randomly divided into two groups using a random number table.The combination group(25 cases)underwent EVLT combined with FS,while the conventional group(25 cases)underwent EVLT alone.The total effective rate,complication rate,disease severity score,and serological indicators were compared between the two groups.Results:The total effective rate in the combination group was higher,and the complication rate was lower compared to the conventional group(P<0.05).One week after surgery,the disease severity score in the combination group was lower,coagulation function indicators were better,and inflammatory factor levels were lower compared to the conventional group(P<0.05).Conclusion:EVLT combined with FS can improve the clinical efficacy in GSVV patients,prevent postoperative complications,reduce disease severity,protect patients’coagulation function,and alleviate postoperative inflammatory responses,showing significant advantages in combined surgery.

Analysis of the Clinical Value of Surgical Treatment and Postoperative Anti-Infection Treatment of Acute Suppurative Appendicitis

Objective: To explore the clinical value of surgical treatment and postoperative anti-infection treatment for acute suppurative appendicitis. Methods: A total of 116 patients with acute suppurative appendicitis were enrolled in this study. The collection period was from December 2021 to December 2023. The patients were randomly grouped into a control group (surgical treatment) and an observation group (surgical treatment and postoperative anti-infection treatment), of 58 patients each. At the end of the treatment, the results of each index of the two groups were compared. Results: The length of hospitalization time, exhaust time, and incidence of complications in the observation group were shorter than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The total effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: It is crucial to perform anti-infective treatment promptly after surgical treatment in patients with acute suppurative appendicitis. It can effectively prevent the occurrence of complications and improve the clinical efficacy. Hence, it is worthy of research and promotion.

Influence of heat treatment on microstructure,mechanical and corrosion behavior of WE43 alloy fabricated by laser-beam powder bed fusion

Magnesium(Mg)alloys are considered to be a new generation of revolutionary medical metals.Laser-beam powder bed fusion(PBF-LB)is suitable for fabricating metal implants withpersonalized and complicated structures.However,the as-built part usually exhibits undesirable microstructure and unsatisfactory performance.In this work,WE43 parts were firstly fabricated by PBF-LB and then subjected to heat treatment.Although a high densification rate of 99.91%was achieved using suitable processes,the as-built parts exhibited anisotropic and layeredmicrostructure with heterogeneously precipitated Nd-rich intermetallic.After heat treatment,fine and nano-scaled Mg24Y5particles were precipitated.Meanwhile,theα-Mg grainsunderwent recrystallization and turned coarsened slightly,which effectively weakened thetexture intensity and reduced the anisotropy.As a consequence,the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength were significantly improved to(250.2±3.5)MPa and(312±3.7)MPa,respectively,while the elongation was still maintained at a high level of 15.2%.Furthermore,the homogenized microstructure reduced the tendency of localized corrosion and favoredthe development of uniform passivation film.Thus,the degradation rate of WE43 parts was decreased by an order of magnitude.Besides,in-vitro cell experiments proved their favorable biocompatibility.

Epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury in China:a hospital-based retrospective study

Traumatic spinal cord injury is potentially catastrophic and can lead to permanent disability or even death.China has the largest population of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury.Previous studies of traumatic spinal cord injury in China have mostly been regional in scope;national-level studies have been rare.To the best of our knowledge,no national-level study of treatment status and economic burden has been performed.This retrospective study aimed to examine the epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and economic burden of traumatic spinal cord injury in China at the national level.We included 13,465 traumatic spinal cord injury patients who were injured between January 2013 and December 2018 and treated in 30 hospitals in 11 provinces/municipalities representing all geographical divisions of China.Patient epidemiological and clinical features,treatment status,and total and daily costs were recorded.Trends in the percentage of traumatic spinal cord injuries among all hospitalized patients and among patients hospitalized in the orthopedic department and cost of care were assessed by annual percentage change using the Joinpoint Regression Program.The percentage of traumatic spinal cord injuries among all hospitalized patients and among patients hospitalized in the orthopedic department did not significantly change overall(annual percentage change,-0.5%and 2.1%,respectively).A total of 10,053(74.7%)patients underwent surgery.Only 2.8%of patients who underwent surgery did so within 24 hours of injury.A total of 2005(14.9%)patients were treated with high-dose(≥500 mg)methylprednisolone sodium succinate/methylprednisolone(MPSS/MP);615(4.6%)received it within 8 hours.The total cost for acute traumatic spinal cord injury decreased over the study period(-4.7%),while daily cost did not significantly change(1.0%increase).Our findings indicate that public health initiatives should aim at improving hospitals’ability to complete early surgery within 24 hours,which is associated with improved sensorimotor recovery,increasing the awareness rate of clinical guidelines related to high-dose MPSS/MP to reduce the use of the treatment with insufficient evidence.

Gut flora in multiple sclerosis:implications for pathogenesis and treatment

Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disorder chara cterized by inflammation,demyelination,and neurodegeneration in the central nervous system.Although current first-line therapies can help manage symptoms and slow down disease progression,there is no cure for multiple sclerosis.The gut-brain axis refers to complex communications between the gut flo ra and the immune,nervous,and endocrine systems,which bridges the functions of the gut and the brain.Disruptions in the gut flora,termed dys biosis,can lead to systemic inflammation,leaky gut syndrome,and increased susceptibility to infections.The pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis involves a combination of genetic and environmental factors,and gut flora may play a pivotal role in regulating immune responses related to multiple scle rosis.To develop more effective therapies for multiple scle rosis,we should further uncover the disease processes involved in multiple sclerosis and gain a better understanding of the gut-brain axis.This review provides an overview of the role of the gut flora in multiple scle rosis.

Working toward an integrated plasticity/network framework for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to inform tailored treatments

Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques(NIBS),including repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation(rTMS) and transcranial electric stim ulation(tES),are increasingly being adopted clinically for treatment of neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders,albeit with varying success.The rationale behind the use of NIBS has historically been that stim ulation techniques modulate neuronal activity in the targeted region and consequently induce plasticity which can lead to therapeutic outcomes.

Ordered mesoporous materials for water pollution treatment:Adsorption and catalysis

To meet the growing emission of water contaminants,the development of new materials that enhance the efficiency of the water treatment system is urgent.Ordered mesoporous materials provide opportunities in environmental processing applications due to their exceptionally high surface areas,large pore sizes,and enough pore volumes.These properties might enhance the performance of materials concerning adsorption/catalysis capability,durability,and stability.In this review,we enumerate the ordered mesoporous materials as adsorbents/catalysts and their modifications in water pollution treatment from the past decade,including heavy metals(Hg^(2+),Pb^(2+),Cd^(2+),Cr^(6+),etc.),toxic anions(nitrate,phosphate,fluoride,etc.),and organic contaminants(organic dyes,antibiotics,etc.).These contributions demonstrate a deep understanding of the synergistic effect between the incorporated framework and homogeneous active centers.Besides,the challenges and perspectives of the future developments of ordered mesoporous materials in wastewater treatment are proposed.This work provides a theoretical basis and complete summary for the application of ordered mesoporous materials in the removal of contaminants from aqueous solutions.

Esophageal cancer screening,early detection and treatment:Current insights and future directions

Esophageal cancer ranks among the most prevalent malignant tumors globally,primarily due to its highly aggressive nature and poor survival rates.According to the 2020 global cancer statistics,there were approximately 604000 new cases of esophageal cancer,resulting in 544000 deaths.The 5-year survival rate hovers around a mere 15%-25%.Notably,distinct variations exist in the risk factors associated with the two primary histological types,influencing their worldwide incidence and distribution.Squamous cell carcinoma displays a high incidence in specific regions,such as certain areas in China,where it meets the cost-effect-iveness criteria for widespread endoscopy-based early diagnosis within the local population.Conversely,adenocarcinoma(EAC)represents the most common histological subtype of esophageal cancer in Europe and the United States.The role of early diagnosis in cases of EAC originating from Barrett's esophagus(BE)remains a subject of controversy.The effectiveness of early detection for EAC,particularly those arising from BE,continues to be a debated topic.The variations in how early-stage esophageal carcinoma is treated in different regions are largely due to the differing rates of early-stage cancer diagnoses.In areas with higher incidences,such as China and Japan,early diagnosis is more common,which has led to the advancement of endoscopic methods as definitive treatments.These techniques have demonstrated remarkable efficacy with minimal complications while preserving esophageal functionality.Early screening,prompt diagnosis,and timely treatment are key strategies that can significantly lower both the occurrence and death rates associated with esophageal cancer.