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Background Childhood obesity is associated with obesity in adulthood, but the consistency between the geographic distributions of obesity among children and adults in China is not fully understood. We aimed to examine the consistency of the geographic distributions of overweight and obesity between adults and children in China. Methods This was a cross-sectional study including 11,940 adults. Data were from the China Health and Nutrition Survey conducted in 2015. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were measured. The geographical areas were categorized as low-, middle- or high-epidemic areas according to the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children at the provincial level, based on the classification system determined by the National Health Commission. We examined the differences in adult BMI, WC, prevalence of overweight and obesity, abdominal overweight and obesity across the three classification areas. Results In this study, the overall prevalence of overweight/obesity and abdominal overweight/obesity were 49.8% and 61.0% respectively. We observed the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults increased from low- to middle- and high- epidemic areas. Compared with adults from low-epidemic areas, those from middle- and high-epidemic areas had a higher odds of having overweight or obesity (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.518 [1.362, 1.692] and 2.190 [1.972, 2.433], respectively). Similar results were observed for abdominal overweight and obesity in adults. Conclusion Our study confirmed the consistency in the geographical clustering of overweight and obesity among adults and children, which suggests that interventions addressing overweight and obesity should be targeted at both local children and adults simultaneously.

Individuals with anxiety exhibit high clinical usage of benzodiazepines, particularly among those with long-term use, yet the impact of these medications on cognitive function remains inconclusive. Previous research has predominantly focused on epidemiological data and metabolic measurements, often overlooking both cortical activation and the synchrony between different brain regions. This study investigates how brain neuronal activities are modulated in both long-term benzodiazepine users and nonusers during cognitive tasks, offering insights into the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive function. Fifty older adults with anxiety disorders participated in this study, including 31 long-term benzodiazepine users (BZD group) and 19 nonusers (control group). Functional near-infrared spectroscopy was used to assess cortical activation and functional connectivity during a verbal fluency task. Our study is the first to find a greater interhemispheric functional connectivity in chronic benzodiazepine users. However, no notable differences were detected between the two groups regarding behavioral performance, cortical activation, or changes in oxygenated hemoglobin concentration. Moreover, cumulative dosage of benzodiazepines use had no significant effect on dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation. Long-term benzodiazepines use does not affect brain activation but impacts functional connectivity. The increased interhemispheric connectivity may serve to maintain the stability of brain networks, and this enhanced connectivity could be associated with the long-term adaptive disinhibition of GABAergic neurotransmission.

Extrapancreatic nerves project to pancreatic islets directly or converge onto intrapancreatic ganglia. Intrapancreatic ganglia constitute a complex information-processing center that contains various neurotransmitters and forms an endogenous neural network. Both intrapancreatic ganglia and extrapancreatic nerves have an important influence on pancreatic endocrine function. This review introduces the histomorphology, innervation, neurochemistry, and electrophysiological properties of intrapancreatic ganglia/neurons, and summarizes the modulatory effects of intrapancreatic ganglia and extrapancreatic nerves on endocrine function.

Background This study examined the association between social support and the severity of positive symptoms in rural community-dwelling schizophrenia patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method The cross-sectional study included 665 rural community-dwelling schizophrenia patients investigated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social support was measured using the Social Support Rating Scale, and positive symptoms were assessed using the Positive Scale extracted from the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Multiple linear regression was adopted to examine the association of social support with positive symptoms. Result The scores for total social support, subjective support, objective support and the use of social support were 28.3 ± 5.9, 16.4 ± 5.2, 6.5 ± 1.4 and 5.4 ± 2.8, respectively. Total social support ( β = −0.08, 95%CI: −0.13 to −0.02, P  < 0.01) and subjective social support ( β = −0.10, 95%CI: −0.16 to −0.04, P  < 0.01) were significantly and negatively associated with the Positive Scale score after adjustment for confounders. Objective social support ( β =  0.11, 95%CI: −0.10 to 0.32, P  = 0.31) and the use of social support ( β = −0.03, 95%CI: −0.14 to 0.07, P  = 0.53) were not significantly associated with the Positive Scale score. Conclusion The study confirmed the importance of social support, especially subjective support, provided to rural community-dwelling schizophrenia patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. This support should be addressed and strengthened for such patients in emergent events.

Background Whether there are differences in clinical symptoms and brain glucose metabolism between major depressive disorder (MDD) and Parkinson’s comorbid depression (DPD) is unclear. The aims of this study were to investigate the differences in characteristics in clinical and glucose metabolism between MDD and DPD and their internal correlation. Methods We enrolled 30 MDD patients, 25 DPD patients, and 20 Parkinson’s patients without depression (PD-ND), all of whom were evaluated by neuropsychological scales and position emission tomography (PET) imaging. We compared the differences in depressive symptoms, cognitive symptoms, and glucose metabolism imaging and analyzed metabolic characteristics and their correlation with depression. Results Compared with MDD, DPD has relatively mild depressive symptoms and is dominated by general systemic symptoms. Meanwhile, the cognitive impairment of DPD is more severe, mainly in executive function. Furthermore, both DPD and MDD have extended metabolism changes in the frontal and parietal lobes and the limbic system. The FDG metabolism in the left posterior medial temporal lobe was significantly lower in patients with DPD compared to those with MDD, and this reduction was positively correlated with the severity of depressive symptoms. Conclusions MDD and DPD have some brain regions with common trends, suggesting that both of them may share a common pathophysiological basis. The specific changes, such as hypometabolism in the left primary visual cortex and right inferior lateral temporal lobe, and the hypermetabolism of the right lentiform nucleus, may contribute to the early differentiation of DPD or MDD in patients with depression. Clinical trial number ChiCTR2400092675 (Date of Registration: 2024-11-21).

Urban park landscape design has significant potential to alleviate heat stress and promote public health, particularly during extreme summer heat. This study explores how the spatial configuration of landscapes within the Yanghu Wetland Park in Changsha, China, influences pedestrian thermal comfort and destination loyalty under hot summer conditions, and how these factors affect public perceived health. It enriches current research by examining the impact of landscape spatial configuration, thermal comfort, and destination loyalty on public perceived health from a psychological perspective. We identified connections between park users’ spatial perceptions and their psychological and health perceptions. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to examine the relationships among visitors’ spatial perception, psychological perceptions, and health perceptions within this large urban wetland park. At the same time, we explored how landscape characteristics, thermal comfort, destination loyalty, and public perceived health interact. This research constructs a Spatial–Thermal–Perception–Behavior (SPB) theoretical framework for such complex blue-green spaces, providing a multidimensional perspective on the relationship between the environment and health. Based on a survey of 321 visitors, This study pioneers the SPB theoretical framework, clarifying how this wetland park’s landscape configurations impact public perceived health through the mediating pathways of thermal comfort and destination loyalty. It provides a scientific basis for heat-adaptive landscape design in similar wetland park settings, aiming to enhance resident well-being and improve public perceived health.

The suppressive effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) on anti-tumor immunity have been well documented. However, ICIs can enhance immune responses and trigger autoimmune-related diseases by blocking PD-1 or PD-L1. The worst prognosis is observed in paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS). This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-related PNS and the prognostic impact of antibody subtypes, with the goal of enabling pre-treatment risk warning. This was a retrospective descriptive study involving 224 patients with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-related PNS from May 2015 to May 2025, including 8 patients who presented at our hospital and 216 patients reported in the literature. According to the July 2021 international consensus diagnostic framework for PNS, patients were stratified into risk-antibody (high-, intermediate-, and low-risk), unknown-risk antibody, and antibody-negative groups. Clinical features, primary tumor type, ICI regimen, autoantibody profile, treatments, and outcomes were analyzed. Risk-antibody subtypes were further explored. There were 112 patients in the risk-antibody group (87 high-risk, 20 intermediate-risk, and 5 low-risk), 51 in the unknown-risk antibody group, and 61 in the antibody-negative group. The risk-antibody group showed a higher incidence of limbic encephalitis, subacute cerebellar degeneration, and subacute sensory neuronopathy. The prognosis was worse in the risk-antibody group, with a mortality rate of 29%, significantly higher than 17% in the unknown-risk group and 10% in the antibody-negative group (P = 0.012). Anti-Hu-positive patients were mainly diagnosed with limbic encephalitis, encephalomyelitis, and subacute cerebellar degeneration, with a mortality rate of 23%. Anti-Ma-positive patients primarily presented with encephalomyelitis, limbic encephalitis, and subacute cerebellar degeneration, with a mortality rate of 35%. Anti-Yo-positive patients were mainly associated with subacute cerebellar degeneration, with a mortality rate of 25%. The mortality rate among Anti-amphiphysin-positive patients was 33%. In contrast, 71% of Anti-NMDAR-positive patients had favorable outcomes. Among patients with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-related PNS, those with risk-antibody positivity had worse prognoses, while patients with unknown-risk antibodies had outcomes similar to those with antibody negativity, suggesting that unknown-risk antibodies are not directly pathogenic or may elicit weaker immune responses. Pre-treatment screening for PNS-related antibodies is recommended, as it may facilitate early warning, identify high-risk patients, and help prevent autoimmune-related diseases caused by excessive immune modulation. After disease onset, efficient immunomodulatory treatment tailored to antibody subtypes may improve outcomes in risk-antibody-positive patients.

This study aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of the fully human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody ofatumumab in refractory generalized myasthenia gravis, with focus on its potential to promote recovery of neuromuscular junction transmission function. Fourteen refractory patients treated at the Eighth Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital from March 2023 to June 2024 were included. All had relapsed after maintaining Minimal Manifestation Status for over 1 year and showed inadequate response to immunosuppressants. Ofatumumab 20 mg was administered at weeks 0, 1, 2, and 4, followed by additional doses every 4-6 months according to symptoms and CD19-positive B-cell reconstitution. Low-frequency 3-Hz repetitive nerve stimulation of the facial, accessory, and axillary nerves was conducted at baseline and month 12. MG-ADL, QMG, MGC scores and B-cell and T-cell levels were monitored. The compound muscle action potential (CMAP) decrement of the predominantly involved nerve and the mean decrement across the three tested nerves improved at month 12, indicating enhanced neuromuscular junction transmission. MG-ADL, QMG, and MGC scores declined from month 1, with earlier improvement in bulbar, limb, and neck muscle groups. All patients discontinued corticosteroids by month 12 while remaining clinically stable. B cells stayed at low levels, whereas T-cell counts showed no significant change. Treatment was well tolerated. Ofatumumab provides durable clinical benefit and steroid-sparing effects, and its sustained depletion of CD20-positive B cells may facilitate recovery of neuromuscular junction transmission. These findings support its potential application within the field of regenerative pharmacology.

Image fusion is a very practical technology that can be applied in many fields, such as medicine, remote sensing and surveillance. An image fusion method using multi-scale decomposition and joint sparse representation is introduced in this paper. First, joint sparse representation is applied to decompose two source images into a common image and two innovation images. Second, two initial weight maps are generated by filtering the two source images separately. Final weight maps are obtained by joint bilateral filtering according to the initial weight maps. Then, the multi-scale decomposition of the innovation images is performed through the rolling guide filter. Finally, the final weight maps are used to generate the fused innovation image. The fused innovation image and the common image are combined to generate the ultimate fused image. The experimental results show that our method’s average metrics are: mutual information ( M I )—5.3377, feature mutual information ( F M I )—0.5600, normalized weighted edge preservation value ( Q A B / F )—0.6978 and nonlinear correlation information entropy ( N C I E )—0.8226. Our method can achieve better performance compared to the state-of-the-art methods in visual perception and objective quantification.

There is a wide variation in the reported prevalence of primary hyperhidrosis in the literature. Further, it is unknown if primary hyperhidrosis is a lifelong condition, or if demographical factors influence hyperhidrosis prevalence. This study aims to examine the prevalence of hyperhidrosis in multiple ethnic groups from two ethnically diverse cities and to determine if the prevalence of primary hyperhidrosis changes according to age, gender, ethnicity, body mass index, and geographical locations. In total, 1010 consecutive subjects attending dermatology outpatient clinics in Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital and 1018 subjects in Skin Care Center of Vancouver General Hospital were invited to fill out a questionnaire on their presenting concerns, demographical information, and sweating symptoms. The subjects were then classified to have primary hyperhidrosis using the criteria of International Hyperhidrosis Society, late-onset hyperhidrosis, or no-hyperhidrosis. The prevalence of primary HH and late-onset HH was calculated for the entire study population and in subgroups stratified according to age of examination, sex, ethnicity, presenting diagnosis, body mass index, and specific study cities. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the impact of these factors on HH prevalence. The prevalence of primary hyperhidrosis is very similar in Shanghai and in Vancouver, at 14.5% and 12.3% respectively. In addition, 4.0% of subjects in Shanghai and 4.4% subjects in Vancouver suffer from late-onset HH. Primary HH has highest prevalence in those younger than 30 years of age, decreasing dramatically in later years. Caucasian subjects are at least 2.5 times more likely to develop axillary hyperhidrosis compared to Chinese subjects. Obesity does not have much influence on primary HH presentation, although it does increase significantly the development of late-onset HH. Finally, there is no major difference of hyperhidrosis between Chinese subjects in Shanghai and Vancouver. The data were gathered according to patients' self-reports only and the sample size was relatively small in some groups after stratification for gender, ethnicity and age. Prevalence of primary HH and late-onset HH is similar in dermatology outpatients independent of geographical locations. However, certain specific HH subtypes can show great variations according to ethnicity, age, body mass index and sex.