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Highly accurate classification methods for multi-task biomedical signal processing are reported, including neural networks. However, reported works are computationally expensive and power-hungry. Such bottlenecks make it hard to deploy existing approaches on edge platforms such as mobile and wearable devices. Gaining motivation from the good performance and high energy-efficiency of spiking neural networks (SNNs), a generic neuromorphic framework for edge healthcare and biomedical applications are proposed and evaluated on various tasks, including electroencephalography (EEG) based epileptic seizure prediction, electrocardiography (ECG) based arrhythmia detection, and electromyography (EMG) based hand gesture recognition. This approach, NeuroCARE, uses a unique sparse spike encoder to generate spike sequences from raw biomedical signals and makes classifications using the spike-based computing engine that combines the advantages of both CNN and SNN. An adaptive weight mapping method specifically co-designed with the spike encoder can efficiently convert CNN to SNN without performance deterioration. The evaluation results show that the overall performance, including the classification accuracy, sensitivity and F1 score, achieve 92.7, 96.7, and 85.7% for seizure prediction, arrhythmia detection and hand gesture recognition, respectively. In comparison with CNN topologies, the computation complexity is reduced by over 80.7% while the energy consumption and area occupation are reduced by over 80% and over 64.8%, respectively, indicating that the proposed neuromorphic computing approach is energy and area efficient and of high precision, which paves the way for deployment at edge platforms.

Purpose Glial fibrillary acidic protein astrocytopathy (GFAP-A) is a form of autoimmune encephalitis (AE) that commonly affects the central nervous system (CNS). The pathogenesis of GFAP-A remains unclear, with infection proposed as a potential trigger, often leading to a misdiagnosis as meningoencephalitis due to overlapping clinical manifestations. This study aims to reports a case of GFAP-A associated with Enterococcus faecium infection, summarize the clinical characteristics, treatment details, and prognostic outcomes of GFAP-IgG-positive patients with concurrent infections, and provide evidence for optimizing clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies. Methods We report a detailed case of an 81-year-old male GFAP-A patient with an E. faecium infection, with primary manifestations of drowsiness and seizures. We also retrospectively analyzed 4 additional GFAP-A patients with confirmed infections from our institution (2022–2024) and systematically reviewed 20 eligible cases from the literature (2016–2024). The inclusion criteria were: (1) GFAP-IgG positivity in CSF/ serum, (2) definitive evidence of infection, (3) complete clinical, imaging, treatment, prognostic and laboratory data available. Results A total of 25 patients (19 males, 6 females; median age 45 years, range 12–81 years) were included. The most common initial symptoms were fever (80%, 20/25) and headache (76%, 19/25), followed by altered consciousness (76%, 19/25), urinary dysfunction (68%, 17/25), weakness (56%, 14/25), ataxia (44%, 11/25), blurred vision (40%,10/25), neuropsychiatric abnormalities (40%, 10/25), seizures (36%, 9/25), respiratory dysfunction (32%, 8/25), and positive meningeal signs (8%, 2/25). Brain MRI was abnormal in 75% (18/24) of patients, with T2-FLAIR hyperintensity (42%, 10/24) being the most common finding, and classic periventricular enhancement in 12.5% (3/24). All patients were GFAP-IgG-positive in CSF, and 52% (13/25) were positive in serum. Treatment included anti-infective therapy (all 25 cases) plus immunotherapy (21/25 cases: intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in 16, corticosteroids in 12, plasma exchange (PE) in 4, protein A immunoadsorption (PAIA) in 1). Prognostic outcomes: 10 patients (40%) achieved complete recovery, 11 (44%) had residual sequelae (urinary dysfunction in 5, cognitive impairment in 3, motor weakness in 2, behavioral abnormalities in 1), and 4 (16%) had unknown prognosis. The index case showed significant recovery after combined anti-infective (piperacillin-tazobactam + linezolid) and IVIG, with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score improving from 5 to 2 at 1-month follow-up. Conclusion Infection is a potential trigger for GFAP-A, and differentiation from infectious meningoencephalitis is challenging. For patients presenting with meningoencephalitis accompanied by persistent disturbances of consciousness and seizures, GFAP reactive antibody testing of CSF and plasma is appropriate. In patients with GFAP-A, early and effective anti-infective and immunotherapies may help to prevent disease progression and improve the likelihood of full recovery. In severe cases, additional immunotherapies may be required.

Background Alternative splicing (AS) may generate multiple mRNA splicing isoforms from a single mRNA precursor using different splicing sites, leading to enhanced diversity of transcripts and proteins. AS has been implicated in cold acclimation by affecting gene expression in various ways, yet little information is known about how AS influences cold responses in tea plant ( Camellia sinensis ). Results In this study, the AS transcriptional landscape was characterized in the tea plant genome using high-throughput RNA-seq during cold acclimation. We found that more than 41% (14,103) of genes underwent AS events. We summarize the possible existence of 11 types of AS events, including the four common types of intron retention (IR), exon skipping (ES), alternative 5′ splice site (A5SS), and alternative 3′ splice site (A3SS); of these, IR was the major type in all samples. The number of AS events increased rapidly during cold treatment, but decreased significantly following de-acclimation (DA). It is notable that the number of differential AS genes gradually increased during cold acclimation, and these genes were enriched in pathways relating to oxidoreductase activity and sugar metabolism during acclimation and de-acclimation. Remarkably, the AS isoforms of bHLH transcription factors showed higher expression levels than their full-length ones during cold acclimation. Interestingly, the expression pattern of some AS transcripts of raffinose and sucrose synthase genes were significantly correlated with sugar contents. Conclusion Our findings demonstrated that changes in AS numbers and transcript expression may contribute to rapid changes in gene expression and metabolite profile during cold acclimation, suggesting that AS events play an important regulatory role in response to cold acclimation in tea plant.

Background The prevalence of abnormal weight is on the rise, presenting serious health risks and socioeconomic problems. Nonetheless, there is a lack of studies on the medical cost savings that can be attained through the mitigation of abnormal weight. The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of abnormal weight on healthcare costs in China. Methods The study employed a 4-wave panel data from China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) between 2012 and 2018 (11,209 participants in each wave). Inpatient, non-inpatient and total healthcare costs were outcome variables. Abnormal weight is categorized based on body mass index (BMI). Initially, the two-part model was employed to investigate the impact of overweight/obesity and underweight on healthcare utilisation and costs, respectively. Subsequently, the estimated results were utilised to calculate the overweight/obesity attributable fraction (OAF) and the underweight attributable fraction (UAF). Results In 2018, healthcare costs per person for overweight and obese population were estimated to be $607.51 and $639.28, respectively, and the underweight population was $755.55. In comparison to people of normal weight, individuals who were overweight/obese (OR = 1.067, p < 0.05) was more likely to utilise healthcare services. Overweight/obesity attributable fraction (OAF) was 3.90% of total healthcare costs and 4.31% of non-inpatient costs. Overweight/obesity does not result in additional healthcare expenditures for young people but increases healthcare costs for middle-aged adults (OAF = 7.28%) and older adults (OAF = 6.48%). The non-inpatient cost of underweight population was significantly higher than that of normal weight population (β = 0.060,p < 0.1), but the non-inpatient health service utilisation was not significantly affected. Conclusions Abnormal weight imposes a huge economic burden on individuals, households and the society. Abnormal weight in Chinese adults significantly increased healthcare utilisation and costs, particular in non-inpatient care. It is recommended that government and relevant social agencies provide a better social environment to enhance individual self-perception and promote healthy weight.

Summary Brucellosis is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the Brucella spp., and the enhancement of diagnostic techniques is imperative for effective disease control. Currently, the diagnosis of brucellosis predominantly relies on serological tests, bacterial culture, and molecular biology methods. Among these approaches, serological diagnosis is the most widely utilized due to its relative simplicity. However, existing diagnostic antigens encounter challenges, such as cross-reactivity. Consequently, the development of novel antigens with high specificity and sensitivity is essential to improve the accuracy and efficiency of serological diagnosis for brucellosis. In this study, five antigenic proteins—Erythritol kinase, Nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDK), Adenosylhomocysteinase, the 31 kDa immunogenic protein, and Lyso-ornithine lipid O-acyltransferase—were selected, and B-cell linear epitopes were predicted using bioinformatics tools. Four prediction tools, namely ABCpred, SVMTriP, BCPred, and Bepipred Linear Epitope Prediction 2.0, were employed to screen for overlapping candidate epitopes. Fusion proteins were constructed through prokaryotic expression to serve as antigens for serological diagnosis. The sensitivity and specificity of the fusion protein were evaluated using indirect ELISA to detect human IgG antibodies in serum samples. The results indicated that the fusion protein achieved sensitivity and specificity values of 0.8095 and 0.9949, respectively. Although these values were lower in comparison to traditional antigens such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the Rose Bengal antigen, the fusion protein exhibited improved cross-reactivity. This study successfully developed a multiepitope fusion protein for the diagnosis of brucellosis, thereby providing a foundation for the creation of highly specific and sensitive diagnostic antigens.

Brucellosis, a significant zoonotic infectious disease caused by Brucella spp. , necessitates the development of efficient, rapid, accurate, and cost-effective diagnostic methods. This study evaluated the diagnostic value of Brucella Type IV secretion proteins VirB1, VirB5, and VirB6 for human brucellosis serological diagnosis. A total of 100 positive serum samples, 96 negative serum samples, and 27 serum samples from patients with fever caused by other pathogens were collected. Recombination VirB1 (rVirB1), rVirB5, and rVirB6 were expressed using prokaryotic expression systems, while VirB2 and VirB7 were synthesized as peptides. An indirect ELISA method was established using purified proteins and synthetic peptides, with sensitivity, specificity, AUC, and cut-off values determined through ROC analysis. The study successfully prepared rVirB1 (~ 36 kD, purity 90.6%), rVirB5 (~ 32 kD, purity 90.3%), and rVirB6 (~ 28 kD, purity 94.9%). These proteins exhibited sensitivity and specificity exceeding 0.9500 and 0.9271, respectively, comparable to traditional LPS antigens. Cross-reactivity assessments revealed that rVirB1 exhibited cross-reactivity with Pseudomonas putrida , while rVirB5 and rVirB6 showed no cross-reactivity. In contrast, LPS exhibited 14 instances of cross-reactivity. This study successfully developed an indirect ELISA diagnostic method using rVirB1, rVirB5, and rVirB6, demonstrating high diagnostic accuracy comparable to traditional LPS antigen detection techniques. Although some cross-reactivity was observed, the method presents a promising new candidate for the serological diagnosis of brucellosis. Future research should focus on optimizing this method to enhance diagnostic specificity and reliability.

The identification and visualization of functional elements within biological sequences offers visual presentation for biologists to integrate annotation, and also helps them to produce high-quality figures for publication. Although there are now some standalone tools that can perform this function, these tools generally lack flexibility and cannot meet personalized needs. Based on the advantages of R language in graphic display, we have developed an R package: BioVizSeq (CRAN: https://cran.r-project.org/package=BioVizSeq . Github: https://github.com/zhaosq2022/BioVizSeq ). It is designed for visualizing the types and distribution of elements within bio-sequences. These data could come from users or analysis programs, such as, GFF/GTF, MEME, SMART, Plantcare, PFAM, CDD and etc. BioVizSeq can be conducted locally or online, providing great convenience for researchers without coding training. Its user-friendly visualization function can simultaneously meet users’ general needs and personalized exploration.

Osteosarcoma (OS) represents a highly aggressive malignant neoplasm of the bone, predominantly affecting pediatric and adolescent populations. Despite significant advancements in surgical techniques and chemotherapeutic regimens, patient prognoses remain suboptimal, primarily due to elevated rates of metastasis and the development of chemoresistance. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a class of stable and tissue-specific non-coding RNAs, have emerged as critical regulators in diverse biological processes, including autophagy—a crucial mechanism implicated in tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. This review systematically summarizes the multifaceted roles of circRNAs in the initiation and progression of osteosarcoma, with a central focus on the molecular mechanisms by which circRNAs modulate cellular proliferation, migration, invasion, metastasis, and above all, chemotherapy resistance. Special attention is given to the interaction between circRNAs and autophagy pathways (e.g., PINK1/Parkin and PI3K/AKT signaling), underscoring the dual roles of circRNAs in both facilitating tumor survival via modulating cytoprotective autophagy and inducing autophagic cell death in OS. Furthermore, the potential of circRNAs as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers, prognostic indicators, and therapeutic targets is examined, with an emphasis on their capacity to modulate miRNA sponging and downstream signaling pathways. Despite these promising advancements, several key challenges remain in the clinical translation of circRNA-targeted strategies for OS management.

Background Alternative splicing (AS) regulates mRNA at the post-transcriptional level to change gene function in organisms. However, little is known about the AS and its roles in tea plant ( Camellia sinensis ), widely cultivated for making a popular beverage tea. Results In our study, the AS landscape and dynamics were characterized in eight tissues (bud, young leaf, summer mature leaf, winter old leaf, stem, root, flower, fruit) of tea plant by Illumina RNA-Seq and confirmed by Iso-Seq. The most abundant AS (~ 20%) was intron retention and involved in RNA processes. The some alternative splicings were found to be tissue specific in stem and root etc. Thirteen co-expressed modules of AS transcripts were identified, which revealed a similar pattern between the bud and young leaves as well as a distinct pattern between seasons. AS events of structural genes including anthocyanidin reductase and MYB transcription factors were involved in biosynthesis of flavonoid, especially in vegetative tissues. The AS isoforms rather than the full-length ones were the major transcripts involved in flavonoid synthesis pathway, and is positively correlated with the catechins content conferring the tea taste. We propose that the AS is an important functional mechanism in regulating flavonoid metabolites. Conclusion Our study provides the insight into the AS events underlying tea plant’s uniquely different developmental process and highlights the important contribution and efficacy of alternative splicing regulatory function to biosynthesis of flavonoids.

The key to gestational weight management intervention involves health-related behaviors, including dietary and exercise management. Behavioral theory-based interventions are effective in improving health-related behaviors. However, evidence for mobile health interventions based on specific behavioral theories is insufficient and their effects have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to examine the effects of a gestational mobile health intervention on psychological cognition and behavior for gestational weight management, using an integrated behavioral model as the theoretical framework. This study was conducted in a tertiary maternity hospital and conducted as a single-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. Using the behavioral model, integrated with the protection motivation theory and information-motivation-behavioral skills model (PMT-IMB model), the intervention group received a mobile health intervention using a self-developed app from 14 to 37 gestational weeks, whereas the control group received routine guidance through the application. Psychological cognition and behaviors related to weight management during pregnancy were the main outcomes, which were measured at baseline, and at the second and third trimesters of pregnancy using a self-designed questionnaire. Generalized estimation and regression equations were used to compare the outcome differences between the intervention and control groups. In total, 302 (302/360, 83.9%) participants underwent all measurements at 3 time points (intervention group: n=150; control group: n=152). Compared with the control group, the intervention group had significantly higher scores for information, perceived vulnerability, response cost, and exercise management in the second trimester, while their scores for perceived vulnerability, response cost, and diet management were significantly higher in the third trimester. The results of repeated measures analysis revealed that, in psychological cognition, the information dimension exhibited both the time effects (T3 β=3.235, 95% CI 2.859-3.611; P<.001) and the group effects (β=0.597, 95% CI 0.035-1.158; P=.04). Similarly, response costs demonstrated both the time effects (T3 β=0.745, 95% CI 0.199-1.291; P=.008) and the group effects (β=1.034, 95% CI 0.367-1.700; P=.002). In contrast, perceived vulnerability solely exhibited the group effects (β=0.669, 95% CI 0.050-1.288; P=.03). Regarding weight management behaviors, both time (T3 β=6, 95% CI 4.527-7.473; P<.001) and group (β=2.685, 95% CI 0.323-5.047; P=.03) had statistically significant impacts on the total points. Furthermore, the exercise management dimension also demonstrated both the time effects (T3 β=3.791, 95% CI 2.999-4.584; P<.001) and the group effects (β=1.501, 95% CI 0.232-2.771; P=.02). The intervention program was effective in increasing psychological cognitions in terms of information, perceived vulnerability, and response costs, as well as promoting healthy behaviors among Chinese pregnant women. This study provides new evidence supporting the effectiveness of mobile intervention based on behavioral science theory in gestational weight management. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2100043231; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=121736.