Multimodal applications combining electroencephalogram (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) are widely used in cognitive neuroscience and have progressively been applied to clinical applications, such as the joint diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and pediatric epilepsy. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of EEG-fNIRS synchronization techniques over the past 20 years. The aim was to clarify their diagnostic and therapeutic value in clinical applications, particularly in the neurological system, and to guide future research and development trends.

This study utilized the Web of Science Core Collection database to analyze documents published between January 1, 2005, and May 13, 2024. CiteSpace and VOSviewer were employed for visual analyses of co-author relationships, keywords, citation patterns, and journal distributions. By overlaying dual-map diagrams and analyzing annual publication trends, the study identified research hotspots, development trends, and the evolution of EEG-fNIRS technology.

A total of 645 articles and reviews from 55 countries were analyzed. The USA contributed the most publications. The team led by Michela Balconi at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart published the highest number of papers. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience had the greatest number of publications, while NeuroImage had the highest citation impact. Recent research has primarily focused on the application of neuroimaging and neurophysiological techniques (e.g., EEG, fNIRS, functional magnetic resonance imaging), brain activation, and brain-computer interface.

This study highlights the applications and developmental trends of dual-modality EEG-fNIRS technology. Specifically, this approach can assist in diagnosing neurological disorders, assessing activation and connectivity within functional brain regions, and evaluating therapeutic neuromodulation in clinical neurology. Overall, multimodal fusion is poised to advance neuroscience research significantly.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition with significant health implications worldwide. In Nigeria, data on its prevalence and characteristics are limited, highlighting the need for comprehensive studies to better understand its epidemiology and clinical features in the region. This study aimed to assess the clinical presentation, endoscopic findings, and management challenges of IBD among patients undergoing colonoscopy in Nigeria.

Over five years (2019–2024), a multicenter, cross-sectional survey was conducted involving clinicians across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. It included a retrospective review of records from 18 centers. Data collection was conducted in two phases via Google Forms, focusing on care practices and detailed case information, including demographics, clinical features, histology, and treatment. Data analysis used descriptive statistics and tests for associations, with significance set at p < 0.05.

A total of 459 suspected IBD cases (9.7%) were identified among over 4,700 colonoscopies, with histological confirmation in 208 cases (4.4%), indicating the prevalence of IBD in the Nigerian patient population. The most common subtype was ulcerative colitis (53.9%), followed by Crohn’s disease (21.0%) and indeterminate colitis (25.0%). Regional variations were observed, with higher diagnosis rates in some zones (North-West: 14.9%; South-East: 1.4%). The predominant clinical feature was rectal bleeding. Endoscopic findings frequently showed pan-colitis (62%), with significant regional differences (p < 0.001), and management mainly involved medications such as acetylsalicylic acid derivatives (60.0%), with surgical options rarely employed (0.6%). Challenges included high medication costs and limited availability, which affected nearly half of the patients (49.4%; 46.2%).

IBD, though under-recognized, is present in the Nigerian population, with notable regional variation in prevalence and presentation. The primary clinical features align with global patterns, and significant barriers, such as medication costs and availability, hinder effective management. Increasing awareness, improving diagnostic infrastructure, and addressing treatment challenges are essential to enhance care and outcomes for patients with IBD in Nigeria.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other motor neuron diseases (MNDs) are major global causes of death. However, their global incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years remain largely unknown, despite their importance for disease prevention and resource allocation. We therefore examined the global epidemiology of ALS/MNDs.

This study analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database for 204 regions (1990–2021), focusing on ALS/MNDs. Data from the world, China, and the G8 countries were analyzed separately. Age-standardized incidence rates were reported for the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s.

A rising global burden of ALS/MNDs, with significant variations across regions and levels of the social development index, was observed in the Global Burden of Disease database. A significant overlap of etiology between neurological diseases and ALS was also identified. Among the G8 countries and China, China and the USA exhibited the highest prevalence rates in the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s, with China showing 3.3 per 10,000 and the USA 4.0 per 10,000 in the 2020s.

Understanding the common etiologies of ALS/MNDs is key to their effective control. Recommended strategies include pollution control, chemical and radiation safety management, disease monitoring, public health education, multi-departmental collaboration, and scientific research.

Incomplete immune reconstitution is characterized by chronic immune activation and systemic inflammation, which are not fully reversed by antiretroviral therapy. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties, which may benefit individuals with incomplete immune reconstitution. This study aimed to investigate the biological mechanisms underlying incomplete immune reconstitution and evaluate the therapeutic potential of DHA in modulating immune activation in immunological non-responders (INRs). This study aimed to investigate the biological mechanisms underlying incomplete immune reconstitution and evaluate the therapeutic potential of DHA in modulating immune activation in immunological non-responders (INRs).

RNA sequencing data (GSE106792) was retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. R software and Bioconductor packages were used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among INRs, immune responders (IRs), and healthy controls (HCs). Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses, along with protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction, were performed. Potential DHA-binding proteins were predicted using the STITCH server and molecular docking studies. Validation experiments were conducted on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 18 INRs. Cells were treated with varying concentrations of DHA, and CD4+ and CD8+ T cell activation markers (CD38 and HLA-DR) were measured via flow cytometry.

Enrichment and PPI network analysis identified 119, 56, and 189 DEGs in the INR vs. HC, INR vs. IR, and IR vs. HC comparisons, respectively. Enrichment and PPI analyses showed that DEGs were mainly involved in immune response pathways. DHA was predicted to interact with multiple target proteins, indicating anti-inflammatory effects. In vitro, DHA significantly reduced the frequency of CD38− HLA-DR+ CD4+ T cells and CD38+ HLA-DR+ CD8+ T cells at 1,000 µM and 500 µM compared to the control.

This study provides insights into the biological mechanisms underlying incomplete immune reconstitution and supports DHA’s potential as a therapeutic agent. DHA effectively inhibits T cell activation in INRs, presenting a novel and promising treatment strategy.

The incidence of early-onset pancreatic cancer (EOPC) is rising, yet optimal treatment strategies remain unclear. While adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) has shown survival benefits in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, its specific role in EOPC patients following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and surgery remains underexplored. This study aimed to assess the clinical benefit of ACT in EOPC patients after NACT.

This retrospective cohort study analyzed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients from the SEER database (2006–2019) who received NACT followed by curative resection. Propensity score matching (1:1) was used to balance covariates such as tumor, lymph node, metastasis stage, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were compared between patients with EOPC (<50 years) and average-onset pancreatic cancer (AOPC, ≥50 years). Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to identify prognostic factors.

After propensity score matching (124 EOPC vs. 124 AOPC), EOPC patients had significantly longer median OS (41.0 vs. 29.0 months, P = 0.042) and CSS (48.0 vs. 30.0 months, P = 0.016). ACT was an independent prognostic factor for EOPC (OS: hazard ratio = 0.495, 95% confidence interval 0.271–0.903, P = 0.022; CSS: hazard ratio = 0.419, 95% confidence interval 0.219–0.803, P = 0.009), but not for AOPC (P > 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed that EOPC patients with tumor, lymph node, metastasis stage II disease or those receiving ACT derived the greatest survival benefit.

EOPC patients exhibit superior survival following NACT and surgical resection compared to AOPC, with ACT further enhancing outcomes in this subgroup. These findings support the use of tailored ACT for EOPC and underscore the need for prospective validation.

Huo Xue Tong Luo Capsule (HXTL) has been clinically used to treat osteonecrosis of the femoral head, osteoporosis, and other bone and joint diseases with promising effects. Our previous study has shown that HXTL can promote osteogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells by inhibiting lncRNA-Miat expression through histone modifications. However, the mechanism by which HXTL treats postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) remains unclear. In this study, we used network pharmacology-based mechanism prediction, molecular docking, and pharmacological validation to investigate the mechanism of HXTL in treating PMOP.

The key candidate targets and relevant signaling pathways of HXTL for PMOP treatment were predicted using network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis. RAW264.7 cells were used for Western blot to validate the predicted mechanistic pathways. The ovaries of mice were surgically removed to simulate PMOP. The effect of HXTL on PMOP was evaluated using tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining and immunohistochemical assays in vivo.

Network pharmacology analysis suggested that HXTL interacted with 215 key targets linked to PMOP, primarily affecting the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Molecular docking showed that the main components of HXTL exhibited strong binding affinity to NFATc1, p-PI3K, and p-AKT1. Furthermore, our in vitro results confirmed that HXTL suppressed the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. In vivo, HE and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining results showed that HXTL inhibited osteoclast formation and protected bone mass.

This research demonstrated that HXTL could inhibit osteoclast formation and prevent bone loss induced by ovariectomy in mice by inhibiting the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. These findings provide important evidence for the clinical application of HXTL in treating PMOP.

Immunoinflammatory skin diseases are characterized by an imbalance in immune homeostasis, and their chronic inflammatory processes involve a complex regulatory network of CD4+ T cell differentiation. With the widespread use of biologics (e.g., interleukin-17/interleukin-23 inhibitors) in psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and other diseases, the adverse effects triggered by the phenomenon of CD4+ T cell-mediated immune drift have attracted significant attention, with the skin being the primary target as an immune organ. In this paper, we provide a review of the clinical features of the skin and the mechanisms of immune drift caused by different types of biologics, as well as the therapeutic modalities.

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted university students, presenting multifaceted challenges including the abrupt transition to virtual learning and significant disruptions to emotional well-being and dietary habits. This study aimed to investigate the dietary and nutritional characteristics associated with academic stress among Mexican university students during the COVID-19 lockdown.

This cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 114 university students in Mexico. Participants completed a self-reported questionnaire assessing dietary patterns, nutritional intake, and academic stress levels. Informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to data collection.

Among study participants (n = 114), 57.8% experienced moderate academic stress, while 25.7% reported high academic stress during the COVID-19 lockdown. Notably, 13.5% of students demonstrated food cravings that were significantly associated with increased consumption of red and fatty meats (P = 0.030) and sausages (P = 0.017). A negative virtual education experience was associated with food cravings towards high-calorie and saturated-fat foods (P = 0.014), as well as elevated academic stress levels (P = 0.009). Furthermore, high academic stress levels were positively associated with food cravings (P = 0.020), particularly towards carbohydrate-rich foods (P = 0.037).

The COVID-19 lockdown substantially disrupted the dietary habits and nutritional status of university students, with academic stress serving as a significant mediating factor.

Sepsis involves a complex cascade of inflammatory reactions and immune system dysregulation. Neutrophils play a crucial role in modulating the anti-inflammatory response, which is vital for managing sepsis. Impaired chemotaxis of granulocytes can significantly impact the outcome of sepsis. Shenfu Decoction, by tonifying Qi and warming Yang, enhances the propelling function of Qi for promoting the chemotactic function of neutrophils. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Shenfu Decoction on the chemotactic function of neutrophils in septic mice and the underlying mechanisms.

Thirty 10-week-old specific-pathogen-free male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into five groups: sham operation, model, and low-, medium-, and high-dose Shenfu Decoction treatment groups (n = 6 in each group). Sepsis was induced using cecum ligation and puncture procedures. The sham-operated group served as the control. The drug was administered 6 h after surgery; the sham-operated and model groups received saline, while the treatment groups were gavaged every 12 h with the respective concentrations of Shenfu Decoction. Four hours after the last gavage, the mice were euthanized, and samples were collected to determine neutrophil counts and related indices. Primary neutrophils were extracted from the peripheral blood of septic mice and divided into blank control, sham-operated, low-dose, and high-dose groups. These cells were cultured with serum containing the respective treatments to measure neutrophil chemotactic distance, intracellular calcium ion concentration, and the expression levels of chemokine receptors and P2X1 receptors.

Compared with the sham-operated group, the total number of colonies and the number of neutrophils in the peritoneal lavage fluid were increased in the model group (P < 0.05). In the treatment groups, the number of neutrophils in the peritoneal lavage fluid was significantly increased (P < 0.05), while the number of neutrophils in the blood was decreased. Compared with the blank control group, the neutrophil chemotaxis distance was significantly prolonged in the sham-operated group. Additionally, the expression levels of P2X1 and FPR1 receptors were decreased, the expression levels of CXCR1 and CXCR2 receptors were increased (P < 0.05), and the calcium ion concentration was decreased (P > 0.05). Compared with the sham-operated group, the treatment groups exhibited a prolonged neutrophil chemotaxis distance, significantly decreased expression levels of P2X1 and FPR1 receptors, significantly increased expression levels of CXCR1 and CXCR2 receptors (P < 0.05), and significantly decreased calcium ion concentrations (P < 0.05). These effects were positively correlated with the Shenfu Decoction dosage.

Shenfu Decoction can improve the chemotactic function of neutrophils, possibly through the downregulation of P2X1 receptor expression. Its effects are positively correlated with the dosage.