To analyze the clinical and genetic features of oculopharyngodistal myopathy (OPDM) patients and compare the phenotypic differences among various causative genes.

In the context of burgeoning economic trade, there has been a remarkable increase in the number of ships travelling between domestic and international ports. Inbound and outbound cargo ships, cruise liners, ferries, and other types of vessels have emerged as critical vehicles for the dispersal of vector organisms and the spread of infectious disease agents. Public health concerns associated with these vessels represent a significant threat to human welfare. In this paper, we comprehensively review the hazards posed by vector organisms on ships, the latest advances in prevention and control strategies, and proposes appropriate countermeasures. The aim is to provide effective guidance for the prevention and control of public health security issues caused by ship-borne vector organisms.

ObjectiveTo validate the therapeutic effect of Yinqi Sanhuang Jiedu decoction （YQSH） on a mouse model of carbon tetrachloride （CCl₄）-induced liver fibrosis and to investigate its correlations with the Piezo-type mechanosensitive ion channel component 1 （Piezo1）-Yes-associated protein （YAP） mechanical signaling axis and macrophage polarization. MethodsFifty-four C57BL/6J mice were randomized into a blank control group， a 4-week model group， a 6-week model group， a 8-week model group， a positive drug （silymarin， 55 mg·kg^-1·d^-1） group， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （8.325， 16.65， 33.3 g·kg^-1·d^-1， respectively） YQSH groups. Except the 6-week model group （n=12）， each of the other groups had 6 mice. Mice in other groups except the blank control group received intraperitoneal injections of 10% CCl₄ twice weekly for the modeling of liver fibrosis. Drug interventions began one week after the initial modeling through gavage， and the blank control and model groups received 0.2 mL of normal saline via gavage. The histopathological changes and collagen deposition in the liver were observed via hematoxylin-eosin （HE）， Masson's trichrome， and Sirius red staining. Serum activities of alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， as well as serum levels of total protein （TP）， albumin （ALB）， total bilirubin （TBIL）， hyaluronic acid （HA）， laminin （LN）， procollagen type Ⅲ （PCⅢ）， and collagen type Ⅳ （Ⅳ-C）， were measured. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-1β （IL-1β） in the liver tissue were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The protein and mRNA levels of Piezo1 and YAP1 in the liver tissue were determined by immunohistochemistry （IHC） and Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， respectively. Co-localization of Piezo1 with YAP1， and YAP1 with inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） was observed by the immunofluorescence （IF） assay. The proportions of M1-type （F4/80⁺CD80⁺） and M2-type （F4/80⁺CD206⁺） macrophages in the liver tissue were examined by flow cytometry. Gene Ontology （GO） and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） enrichment analyses and gene set enrichment analysis （GSEA） were performed through transcriptomic sequencing. ResultsCompared with the blank control group， the model group exhibited gradually worsened liver fibrosis at the 4^th， 6^th， and 8^th weeks. The 6- and 8-week model groups showcased inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition in the liver （P<0.01） and upregulated protein levels of both Piezo1 and YAP1 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model groups， treatment with YQSH improved the liver function （P<0.05， P<0.01）， alleviated liver fibrosis （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and reduced intrahepatic inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition （P<0.01）. Furthermore， the treatment downregulated the protein and mRNA levels of Piezo1 and YAP1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， lowered the levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1β （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and decreased the ratio of CD80 （M1-type）/CD206 （M2-type） macrophage proteins （P<0.01）. The IF assay showed co-localization of YAP1 with Piezo1 and iNOS. Compared with the model groups， YQSH treatment downregulated the expression of Piezo1， YAP1， and iNOS （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Transcriptomic analysis suggested that the anti-liver fibrosis effect of YQSH may be related to the Hippo signaling pathway （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe anti-liver fibrosis effect of YQSH may be related to its inhibition of the Piezo1-YAP signaling axis and regulation of macrophage polarization.

ObjectiveTo validate the therapeutic effect of Yinqi Sanhuang Jiedu decoction （YQSH） on a mouse model of carbon tetrachloride （CCl₄）-induced liver fibrosis and to investigate its correlations with the Piezo-type mechanosensitive ion channel component 1 （Piezo1）-Yes-associated protein （YAP） mechanical signaling axis and macrophage polarization. MethodsFifty-four C57BL/6J mice were randomized into a blank control group， a 4-week model group， a 6-week model group， a 8-week model group， a positive drug （silymarin， 55 mg·kg^-1·d^-1） group， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （8.325， 16.65， 33.3 g·kg^-1·d^-1， respectively） YQSH groups. Except the 6-week model group （n=12）， each of the other groups had 6 mice. Mice in other groups except the blank control group received intraperitoneal injections of 10% CCl₄ twice weekly for the modeling of liver fibrosis. Drug interventions began one week after the initial modeling through gavage， and the blank control and model groups received 0.2 mL of normal saline via gavage. The histopathological changes and collagen deposition in the liver were observed via hematoxylin-eosin （HE）， Masson's trichrome， and Sirius red staining. Serum activities of alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， as well as serum levels of total protein （TP）， albumin （ALB）， total bilirubin （TBIL）， hyaluronic acid （HA）， laminin （LN）， procollagen type Ⅲ （PCⅢ）， and collagen type Ⅳ （Ⅳ-C）， were measured. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-1β （IL-1β） in the liver tissue were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The protein and mRNA levels of Piezo1 and YAP1 in the liver tissue were determined by immunohistochemistry （IHC） and Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， respectively. Co-localization of Piezo1 with YAP1， and YAP1 with inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） was observed by the immunofluorescence （IF） assay. The proportions of M1-type （F4/80⁺CD80⁺） and M2-type （F4/80⁺CD206⁺） macrophages in the liver tissue were examined by flow cytometry. Gene Ontology （GO） and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） enrichment analyses and gene set enrichment analysis （GSEA） were performed through transcriptomic sequencing. ResultsCompared with the blank control group， the model group exhibited gradually worsened liver fibrosis at the 4^th， 6^th， and 8^th weeks. The 6- and 8-week model groups showcased inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition in the liver （P<0.01） and upregulated protein levels of both Piezo1 and YAP1 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model groups， treatment with YQSH improved the liver function （P<0.05， P<0.01）， alleviated liver fibrosis （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and reduced intrahepatic inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition （P<0.01）. Furthermore， the treatment downregulated the protein and mRNA levels of Piezo1 and YAP1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， lowered the levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1β （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and decreased the ratio of CD80 （M1-type）/CD206 （M2-type） macrophage proteins （P<0.01）. The IF assay showed co-localization of YAP1 with Piezo1 and iNOS. Compared with the model groups， YQSH treatment downregulated the expression of Piezo1， YAP1， and iNOS （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Transcriptomic analysis suggested that the anti-liver fibrosis effect of YQSH may be related to the Hippo signaling pathway （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe anti-liver fibrosis effect of YQSH may be related to its inhibition of the Piezo1-YAP signaling axis and regulation of macrophage polarization.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Hei Xiaoyaosan on neuroinflammation in APP/PS1 mice and decipher the mechanism based on the C-X3-C chemokine ligand 1 （CX3CL1）-CX3CL1 receptor 1 （CX3CR1） signaling axis. MethodsSixty 16-week-old male APP/PS1 mice were selected and acclimatized for one week， and they were then randomly allocated into a model group， a CX3CL1 group （bilateral hippocampal injection of CX3CL1 at 0.5 g·L^-1）， and high-， medium-， and low-dose （22.10， 11.05， and 5.53 g·kg^-1， respectively） Hei Xiaoyaosan groups， with 12 mice in each group. Twelve age-matched male C57BL/6J mice served as the blank group （bilateral hippocampal injection of an equal volume of PBS）. The high-， medium-， and low-dose Hei Xiaoyaosan groups received corresponding drugs via gavage， while the blank group received an equal volume of normal saline， with an intervention period of 90 days. Morris water maze was used to assess learning and memory abilities. Nissl staining was performed to observe the pathological changes in neurons of the hippocampal CA1 region. Immunohistochemistry was adopted to detect amyloid-β_1-42 （Aβ_1-42） deposition in the hippocampal CA1 region. The immunofluorescence assay was employed to detect the expression of M1 and M2 microglial markers， including cluster of differentiation 86 （CD86）/ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 （Iba-1） and arginase-1 （Arg1）/Iba1. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to measure the levels of interleukin-8 （IL-8） and interleukin-13 （IL-13） in the hippocampal tissue. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of CX3CL1， CX3CR1， CREB-binding protein （CBP）， cyclic AMP response element-binding protein （CREB）， phosphorylated （p）-CREB， and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） in the hippocampal tissue. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group exhibited prolonged escape latency on day 5 and a reduced swimming distance in the target quadrant （P<0.01）， disarrangement of hippocampal neurons， with a reduced number of cells and uneven Nissl body staining， increased CD86/Iba1 expression， decreased Arg1/Iba1 expression （P<0.01）， enhanced Aβ expression （P<0.01）， an elevated IL-8 level and a declined IL-13 level （P<0.01）， and downregulated protein levels of CX3CL1， CX3CR1， CBP， p-CREB， and BDNF （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， all treatment groups showed shortened escape latency on day 5 and an increased swimming distance in the target quadrant （P<0.05， P<0.01）， regular arrangement of neurons with an increased number and increased Nissl bodies， reduced CD86/Iba1 expression， increased Arg1/Iba1 and decreased Aβ expression （P<0.01）， and a declined IL-8 level and an elevated IL-13 level （P<0.05， P<0.01）. In the CX3CL1 group and the high- and medium-dose Hei Xiaoyaosan groups， the relative expression levels of CX3CL1， CX3CR1， CBP， and p-CREB were upregulated （P<0.01）. In the low-dose Hei Xiaoyaosan group， the relative expression levels of CX3CL1， CX3CR1， CBP， p-CREB/CREB， and BDNF were upregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionHei Xiaoyaosan can improve learning and cognitive abilities in APP/PS1 mice. Specifically， it may regulate the CX3CL1/CX3CR1 signaling axis to activate the CREB/BDNF signaling pathway for the subsequent release of BDNF， modulation of microglial polarization， reduction of inflammatory cytokine levels， and attenuation of Aβ deposition.

Based on the holistic view of "spleen-vessels-heart-spirit" system， this article explores the pathogenesis and progression of atrial fibrillation. It is proposed that the onset of atrial fibrillation is due to failure of the spleen to transport and disharmony of blood vessels； phlegm and blood stasis obstructing the collaterals and damage to the heart structure are the basis of its pathogenesis； the unclear mind and disorder of body and spirit are the causes of its progression. Based on the characteristics of pathological changes in different stages of the disease， it is proposed that early treatment should focus on restoring the middle jiao， clearing and promoting blood vessels， using modified Yigong Powder （异功散）； during the progression of the disease， treatment should remove blood stasis and phlegm， nourish heart and protect the pulse， using self-prescribed modified Mengshi Tongmai Decoction （礞石通脉汤）； meanwhile， calming mind and stabilizing palpitations， and regulating spirit should be sequentially incorporated， with self-prescribed Jiazao Ningmai Decoction （甲枣宁脉汤） or Shenying Dingji Decoction （参英定悸汤） and modified as appropriate. Clinical treatment should focus on the whole disease course of atrial fibrillation， implementing stage-based treatments to enable early intervention and holistic regulation.

ObjectiveMicrotube associated protein-2 （MAP-2）， alpha-tubulin （α-tubulin）， and synaptophysin （SYP） are important proteins in neuronal signal communication. This paper observed the effects of modified Zhigancao Tang on the expression of serum α-Synuclein （α-Syn） and its oligomers， MAP-2， α-tubulin， and SYP of patients with liver and kidney deficiency of Parkinson's disease （PD）， analyzed their correlation， and evaluated the therapeutic effect of modified Zhigancao Tang in patients with liver and kidney deficiency of PD based on α-Syn transmission pathway mediated by neuronal communication in vivo. MethodsA total of 60 patients with PD who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a treatment group （30 cases） and a control group （30 cases）. Both groups were treated on the basis of PD medicine， and the treatment group was treated with modified Zhigancao Tang. Both groups were treated for 12 weeks. The changes in UPDRS score， TCM syndrome score， and expression of serum α-Syn and its oligomers， MAP-2， α-tubulin， and SYP were observed before and after 12 weeks of treatment in each group. The correlation between the above-mentioned serum biological indexes and the levels of serum α-Syn and its oligomers was analyzed. ResultsAfter treatment， the TCM syndrome score， UPDRS score， UPDRS-Ⅱ score， and UPDRS-Ⅲ score of the treatment group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The UPDRS score， UPDRS-Ⅱ score， and UPDRS-Ⅲ scores in the treatment group were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group after treatment （P<0.05）. After treatment， the total effective rate of the control group was 63.3% （19/30）， and that of the treatment group was 86.7% （26/30）. The clinical effect of the observation group was better than the control group （Z=-2.03， P<0.05）. The total effective rate of the observation group was better than that of the control group， and the difference was statistically significant （χ²=5.136， P<0.05）. After treatment， the oligomer level of serum α-Syn and MAP-2 level in the treatment group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The levels of serum α-Syn and its oligomers， as well as α-tubulin in the treatment group， were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group after treatment （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Serum α-Syn was correlated with serum MAP-2 and α-Syn oligomer in patients with PD （P<0.05， P<0.01） but not correlated with serum SYP . Serum α-Syn oligomers of patients with PD were correlated with serum MAP-2 and α-tubulin （P<0.05， P<0.01） but not correlated with serum SYP level. Serum SYP of patients with PD was correlated with serum MAP-2 （P<0.05）. ConclusionModified Zhigancao Tang has a therapeutic effect on patients with liver and kidney deficiency of PD by inhibiting the production of α-Syn oligomers and intervening α-Syn microtubule transport pathway in vivo.

BACKGROUND:In recent years,with the rapid development of biomedicine,the study of brain aging and exosomes has attracted more and more attention,but there is no bibliometrics analysis in this field. OBJECTIVE:To objectively analyze domestic and foreign literature on brain aging and exosomes in the past 15 years,to summarize the research status,hot spots,and development trends in this field. METHODS:Using the core database of Web of Science as a search platform,we downloaded the literature on brain aging and exosomes published from the establishment of the database to December 28,2022,and analyzed the data from the aspects of country or region,institution,author,keywords,and co-cited literature using CiteSpace 6.1.R6 visualization software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A total of 1 045 research articles were included,and the number of publications on brain aging and exosomes research both domestically and internationally was showing an increasing trend year by year.The United States ranked first with 429 papers,and China ranked second with 277 papers.Louisiana State University ranked first with 16 articles.Professor Lukiw Walter J from Louisiana State University in the United States was the author with the highest number of publications,and Professor Bartel DP from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was the author with the most citations.The most prolific Journal was the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.Alzheimer's disease,microRNA,gene expression,extracellular vesicles,exosomes,oxidative stress,and biomarkers are the most relevant terms.According to the research on hot topics,biomarkers have become a new research hotspot.The above results indicate that the research on brain aging and exosomes has gradually increased in the past 15 years.The research direction has gradually shifted from the initial exploration of the expression of miRNAs in central nervous system diseases related to brain aging to the search for biomarkers that can identify and diagnose neurodegenerative diseases.The study of exocrine miRNAs to protect central nervous system from damage has emerged as promising therapeutic strategy.

Fermented traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has a long history of medicinal use, such as Sojae Semen Praeparatum, Arisaema Cum Bile, Pinelliae Rhizoma Fermentata, red yeast rice, and Jianqu. Fermentation technology was recorded in the earliest TCM work, Shen Nong's Classic of the Materia Medica. Microorganisms are essential components of the fermentation process. However, the contamination of fermented TCM by toxigenic fungi and mycotoxins due to unstandardized fermentation processes seriously affects the quality of TCM and poses a threat to the life and health of consumers. In this paper, the characteristics, microbial composition, and mycotoxin profile of fermented TCM are systematically summarized to provide a theoretical basis for its quality and safety control.
Fermentation ; Mycotoxins/analysis* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/analysis* ; Fungi/classification* ; Bacteria/genetics* ; Drug Contamination ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

With the extensive application of nuclear technology in industry, agriculture, and medicine, the safety issues associated with neutron radiation have become increasingly prominent. Due to their high penetrability and strong ionization effect, neutrons can cause serious health risks by directly damaging DNA or inducing secondary γ radiation. Therefore, the neutron radiation protection has become a core challenge in radiation protection, especially the research and development of neutron shielding materials. To ensure the safe development of nuclear technology, neutron shielding materials are indispensable and constitute a fundamental core technology for radiation protection. This paper reviews the theory of neutron radiation protection and the research progress of neutron shielding materials, with a focus on the current application status and existing problems of neutron shielding materials. This article also discusses the future development trends. This review aims to provide theoretical support and technical references for the safe application and development of nuclear technology.