Late-onset major depressive disorder (LOD) increases the risk of disability and suicide in elderly patients. However, the complex pathological mechanism of LOD still remains unclear. We selected 10 LOD patients and 12 healthy control samples from the GSE76826 dataset for statistical analysis. Under the screening criteria, 811 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened. We obtained a total of two most clinically significant modules through the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Functional analysis of the genes in the most clinically significant modules was performed to explore the potential mechanism of LOD, followed by protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis and hub gene identification in the core area of the PPI network. Furthermore, we identified immune infiltrating cells using the cell-type identification by estimating relative subsets of RNA transcripts (CIBERSORT) algorithm between healthy subjects and LOD patients with the GSE98793 dataset. Next, six hub genes (CD27, IL7R, CXCL1, CCR7, IGLL5, and CD79A) were obtained by intersecting hub genes with DEGs, followed by verifying the diagnostic accuracy with the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). In addition, we constructed the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model for hub gene cross-validation. Finally, we found that CD27 and IGLL5 were good diagnostic indicators of LOD, and CD27 may be the key gene of immune function change in LOD. In conclusion, our research shows that the changes in the immune function may be an important mechanism in the development of LOD, which can provide some guidance for the related research of LOD in the future.

Depression is a common but serious mental health illness affected human's physiology and psychology. In contemporary times, neurophysiological research on depression has emerged as a prominent area of investigation, yet there remains a paucity of review elucidating the central mechanisms of depression in the brain. Consequently, we undertook a bibliometric analysis and visualization assessment to underscore recent advancements in research pertaining to the neural underpinnings of depression. By employing these methods, we have collected articles spanning the period from 2013 to 2024, shedding light on the latest insights into the brain mechanisms associated with depression. Bibliometric analysis found 16327 research papers in the field of brain mechanism underlying depression, overall showing a sustained growth trend. Through meticulous analysis of collected data on institutions and countries, authors, co-cited literature, keywords, etc., this paper humbly aims to tentatively identify future research hotspots and frontiers, hoping to modestly contribute to and stimulate further scholarly progress in the field.

Introduction: Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN) constitutes a severe sequelae following herpes zoster (HZ) Infection, and one of the most problematic issues is the treatment of cephalo-facial PHN in patients over 50 years of age, which severely affects the patient’s work mood, sleep and activities of daily living. The efficacy of conventional treatments for PHN remains unsatisfactory. Therefore, there is an urgent need for alternative approaches to explore simpler, more convenient, effective, and inexpensive treatment options in the clinical treatment of PHN. This trial aims to thoroughly evaluate the effectiveness and safety of EA as a therapeutic modality for individuals suffering from cephalo-facial PHN.Methods and analysis: The protocol outlines a double-center, randomized, and controlled trial design where both patients and assessors are blinded to the intervention being administered. The duration of the trial’s therapeutic intervention will span 4 weeks, followed by a 2-month observation period for monitoring any subsequent effects or outcomes. The 124 qualified individuals will be randomly allocated in a balanced 1:1 ratio to either the EA group or the drug group. All variables will undergo evaluation at the start of the study (week 0, baseline), during the treatment period at weeks 2 and 4, and during the follow-up period at weeks 8 and 12. The primary outcome is the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes include the Brief pain inventory-Facial scale (BPI-Facial), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale (PSQI), Self-rating depression scale (SDS), Hamilton depression scale (HAMD), and Quality of Life Rating Scale (SF-36). The occurrence of any adverse reactions will be monitored and assessed throughout the duration of the trial.Conclusion: This study will preliminarily evaluate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval for this trial has been obtained from the Institutional Ethics Review Board of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (No. ZSLL-KY-2023-029-01) and Zhejiang Hospital (No. 2024-030-K). Before enrollment, participants will be required to sign a form of informed consent.Clinical trial registration: Identifier NCT06420778, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06420778.

Aims: This study aimed to address the lack of comprehensive reviews on the comorbidity between depression and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by investigating their complex connections and identifying emerging research trends. Methods: We conducted an in-depth review combining macro bibliometric analysis and micro content interpretation of literature. Based on the bibliometric analysis of 3,986 papers in Web of Science Core Collection and 238 clinical trials in PubMed published between 2016 and 2025, the institutions, countries, authors and keywords were investigated, and the research maps were drawn by bibliometric software such as VOSviewer, Citespace and Bibliometrix. Meanwhile, micro interpretation entails in-depth content analysis of key articles to develop personal insights. Results: The analysis identified 3,986 relevant papers and 238 clinical trials, revealing a consistent overall growth in research volume. Key contributing entities and potential future research hotspots are mapped, such as the link between comorbidity and Parkinson’s disease and obesity. Also, our micro-interpretation identified the comorbidity mechanism through hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA axis) and Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and integrated treatment strategy of depression and T2DM. Conclusion: The results of the study outlined the evolving knowledge and research focus in this field. This study provides a comprehensive review of the comorbidity of depression and T2DM, emphasizing the mechanism and treatment of the comorbidity. The current research focus is on the HPA axis and BDNF, and the integrated treatment idea to solve depression and T2DM at the same time has the potential to change in chronic disease management and clinical practice.

Background: Olfactory dysfunction (OD) has gained prominence in neurodegenerative diseases and COVID-19 sequelae in recent years. Its mechanisms have also attracted increasing research interest. However, there is currently a scarcity of bibliometric analyses in this field. Methods: Articles related to OD mechanisms were searched in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and Scopus. Data merging and bibliometric analysis were conducted using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, Excel, Scimago Graphica, and the bibliometrix in R package. Simultaneously, PubMed was used to search and summarize interventional clinical trials in this field, and their protocols were tracked through trial registration information and ethical approval records. Results: A total of 7,915 articles met the inclusion criteria in WoSCC and Scopus. Overall, the number of articles published annually on the mechanisms of OD is on the rise. The USA (2635 publications), University of California System (143 publications), and Thomas Hummel (174 publications) are the most productive country, institution, and author, respectively. Keyword analysis shows that “COVID-19,” “Parkinson’s disease,” “inflammation,” “odorant receptor,” and other related topics are hot topics and trends in research. PubMed retrieved and included 14 interventional clinical trials. These trials mainly focus on pharmacological interventions, non-pharmacological interventions, surgical interventions, and mechanistic studies. Conclusion: Mechanistic research on OD is advancing from macroscopic observations to precise molecular mechanisms. This review synthesizes evidence on how distinct etiologies, ranging from post-viral and inflammatory damage to neurodegeneration and metabolic imbalances, contribute to OD. Notably, the dysregulation of the inflammatory NF-κB, signal-transducing cAMP, and neuroregenerative Wnt/β-catenin pathways may collectively contribute to the development of OD. By integrating bibliometric trends with clinical trial evaluations, this study delineates a clear translational pipeline from mechanism exploration to clinical interventions.

Background: Sleep disorders not only impair nocturnal rest but also significantly compromise daytime functioning, emotional regulation, and overall mental well-being. Beyond conventional pharmacological treatments, manual therapy has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention. Specifically, emerging evidence suggests its benefits may extend to alleviating psychological distress and enhancing mood. This study employs a bibliometric approach to systematically investigate the current status, research hotspots, and future trends of manual therapy for sleep disorders, with an emphasis on its psycho-physiological outcomes. Methods: Publications related to manual therapy for sleep disorders were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). Bibliometric visualizations and analyses were conducted using VOSviewer and CiteSpace. Furthermore, clinical trial records from PubMed were extracted to assess the translational and clinical advancements in this field. Results: The analysis included 594 publications originating from 321 institutions across 63 countries. The overall trend demonstrates a consistent annual increase in both publication volume and citation impact, reflecting escalating academic interest. Keyword and literature co-occurrence analyses indicate that exploring neurobiological mechanisms and circadian rhythm regulation are the predominant research frontiers. Conclusion: Bibliometric evidence indicates that research on manual therapy for sleep disorders is evolving toward multidimensional and interdisciplinary integration. Manual therapy increasingly emerges as a key complementary treatment, exerting therapeutic effects via the regulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis (HPA axis). Its safety and efficacy represent distinct advantages; however, future clinical translation necessitates multi-center validation and standardized sham-controlled protocols.