Glial cells are the most abundant and widely distributed cells that maintain cerebral homeostasis in the central nervous system. They mainly include microglia, astrocytes, and the oligodendrocyte lineage cells. Moreover, glial cells may induce pathological changes, such as inflammatory responses, demyelination, and disruption of the blood–brain barrier, to regulate the occurrence and development of neurological diseases through various molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, RNA m6A modifications are involved in various pathological processes associated with glial cells. In this review, the roles of glial cells in physiological and pathological states, as well as advances in understanding the mechanisms by which glial cells regulate neurological diseases under RNA m6A modification, are summarized, hoping to provide new perspectives on the deeper mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets for neurological diseases.

The association between serum vitamin D levels and urinary tract infection (UTI) in children is unclear. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the relationships between different vitamin D levels and the likelihood of UTI in children. Online databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, were searched up to 6 February 2023 for studies based on the inclusion criteria. Weighted mean difference (WMD) and Odds Ratios (ORs), along with their 95% confidence intervals (CI), were calculated, and the random-effects model was used for analysis. Twelve case–control studies and one cross-sectional study (839 children with UTI and 929 controls) were included. We found that children with UTI had lower levels of serum vitamin D than healthy controls (WMD: −7.730, 95% CI: −11.57, −3.89; p < 0.001). Low vitamin D levels were significantly associated with UTI in children (OR: 2.80; 95% CI: 1.55, 5.05; p = 0.001). The likelihood of children having a UTI significantly increased when their serum vitamin D level was less than 20 ng/mL (OR: 5.49, 95% CI: 1.12, 27.04; p = 0.036). Therefore, vitamin D level, especially when less than 20 ng/mL, is a risk factor in UTI.

Background and aim: Abdominal tuberculosis (TB) is a common type of extrapulmonary TB with an insidious onset and non-specific symptoms. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels increase rapidly in the early stages of abdominal TB. However, it remains unclear whether ADA serves as a diagnostic marker for abdominal TB.Methods: We performed a systematic literature search for relevant articles published in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase up to April 2022. First, we used the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool-2 (QUADAS-2), to evaluate the quality of the included articles. Bivariate and hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) models were then utilized to analyze pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). In addition, we explored a subgroup analysis for potential heterogeneity and publication bias among the included literature.Results: Twenty-four articles (3,044 participants, 3,044 samples) which met the eligibility criteria were included in this study. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of ADA for abdominal TB detection were 93% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.89–0.95] and 95% (95% CI: 0.93–0.96), respectively. PLR and NLR were 18.6 (95% CI: 14.0–24.6) and 0.08 (95% CI: 0.05–0.12), respectively. DOR and AUROC were 236 (95% CI: 134–415) and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.96–0.99), respectively. Furthermore, no heterogeneity or publication bias was found.Conclusions: Our meta-analysis found ADA to be of excellent diagnostic value for abdominal TB and could be used as an auxiliary diagnostic tool.Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42022297931.

Background: Isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency (ISOD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a deficiency of sulfite oxidase, which is encoded by the sulfite oxidase gene (SUOX). Clinically, the disorder is classified as one of two forms: the late-onset mild form or the classic early-onset form. The latter is life-threatening and always leads to death during early childhood. Mild ISOD cases are rare and may benefit from dietary therapy. To date, no cases of ISOD have been reported to recover spontaneously. Here, we present three mild ISOD cases in one family, each with a stable clinical course and spontaneous recovery. Case presentation: All three siblings had two novel compound heterozygous mutations in the SUOX gene (NM_000456; c.1096C > T [p.R366C] and c.1376G > A [p.R459Q]). The siblings included two males and one female with late ages of onset (12–16 months) and presented with specific neuroimaging abnormalities limited to the bilateral globus pallidus and substantia nigra. The three patients had decreased plasma homocysteine levels. They exhibited a monophasic clinical course continuing up to 8.5 years even without dietary therapy. Conclusion: This is the first report of mild ISOD cases with a stable clinical course and spontaneous recovery without dietary therapy. Our study provides an expansion for the clinical spectrum of ISOD. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of including ISOD in the differential diagnosis for patients presenting with late-onset symptoms, bilaterally symmetric regions of abnormal intensities in the basal ganglia, and decreased plasma homocysteine levels.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a frequently used mechanical cardiopulmonary support for rescuing critically ill patients for whom conventional medical therapies have failed. However, ECMO is associated with several complications, such as acute kidney injury, hemorrhage, thromboembolism, and acute brain injury (ABI). Among these, ABI, particularly intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and infarction, is recognized as the primary cause of mortality during ECMO support. Furthermore, survivors often suffer significant long-term morbidities, including neurocognitive impairments, motor disturbances, and behavioral problems. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the different subtypes of ECMO-related ABI and the updated advance mechanisms, which could be helpful for the early diagnosis and potential neuromonitoring of ECMO-related ABI.

ObjectivesTo investigate twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence for the prediction of TRAP-related adverse pregnancy outcomes at the gestational age of 11-14 weeks. MethodsPregnant women in the first trimester diagnosed with TRAP were recruited at West China Second University Hospital from January 2015 to June 2018. Systematic screening for the pump twin’s crown-rump length (CRL) and acardiac twin’s upper pole-rump length (URL) was conducted using ultrasonic detection. The (CRL-URL)/CRL and URL/CRL ratios were used to assess the pregnancy outcomes for the pump twin. ResultsTwenty-one pregnant women aged 21–39 years with a gestation of 11-14 weeks were recruited. TRAP was diagnosed on average (± standard deviation [SD]) at pregnancy week 13.1 ± 0.18. The pump twins’ mean (± SD) CRL was 6.65 ± 1.1 cm. The incidence of intrauterine death for the pump twins was 19.0% (n=4), the miscarriage rate was 14.3% (n=3), and the live birth rate was 66.7% (n=14). The (CRL-URL)/CRL ratios between the non-survival (intrauterine death and miscarriage) and survival groups significantly differed (0.33 ± 0.08 vs. 0.58 ± 0.08, p < 0.05). Similarly, the URL/CRL ratios between the non-survival and survival groups significantly differed (0.67 ± 0.08 vs. 0.42 ± 0.08, p < 0.05). ConclusionsThe (CRL-URL)/CRL and URL/CRL ratios were valuable indicators for determining pregnancy outcomes of pump twins with TRAP at an early gestational age.