ObjectiveMagnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive neuroimaging technique, meticulously captures the magnetic fields emanating from brain electrical activity. Compared with MEG based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID), MEG based on optically pump magnetometer (OPM) has the advantages of higher sensitivity, better spatial resolution and lower cost. However, most of the current studies are clinical studies, and there is a lack of animal studies on MEG based on OPM technology. Pain, a multifaceted sensory and emotional phenomenon, induces intricate alterations in brain activity, exhibiting notable sex differences. Despite clinical revelations of pain-related neuronal activity through MEG, specific properties remain elusive, and comprehensive laboratory studies on pain-associated brain activity alterations are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of inflammatory pain (induced by Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA)) on brain activity in a rat model using the MEG technique, to analysis changes in brain activity during pain perception, and to explore sex differences in pain-related MEG signaling. MethodsThis study utilized adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Inflammatory pain was induced via intraplantar injection of CFA (100 μl, 50% in saline) in the left hind paw, with control groups receiving saline. Pain behavior was assessed using von Frey filaments at baseline and 1 h post-injection. For MEG recording, anesthetized rats had an OPM positioned on their head within a magnetic shield, undergoing two 15-minute sessions: a 5-minute baseline followed by a 10-minute mechanical stimulation phase. Data analysis included artifact removal and time-frequency analysis of spontaneous brain activity using accumulated spectrograms, generating spectrograms focused on the 4-30 Hz frequency range. ResultsMEG recordings in anesthetized rats during resting states and hind paw mechanical stimulation were compared, before and after saline/CFA injections. Mechanical stimulation elevated alpha activity in both male and female rats pre- and post-saline/CFA injections. Saline/CFA injections augmented average power in both sexes compared to pre-injection states. Remarkably, female rats exhibited higher average spectral power 1 h after CFA injection than after saline injection during resting states. Furthermore, despite comparable pain thresholds measured by classical pain behavioral tests post-CFA treatment, female rats displayed higher average power than males in the resting state after CFA injection. ConclusionThese results imply an enhanced perception of inflammatory pain in female rats compared to their male counterparts. Our study exhibits sex differences in alpha activities following CFA injection, highlighting heightened brain alpha activity in female rats during acute inflammatory pain in the resting state. Our study provides a method for OPM-based MEG recordings to be used to study brain activity in anaesthetized animals. In addition, the findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of pain-related neural activity and pain sex differences.

Objective: To analyze the distribution characteristics of fluoride and trichloromethane in drinking water in rural schools in Guizhou Province and assess their health risks, so as to provide a scientific basis for ensuring the safety of drinking water in rural schools. Methods: During the dry season (March to May) and wet season (July to September) of 2020 to 2022, 788 rural primary and secondary schools in agricultural counties (districts) in Guizhou Province were selected for investigation by using a direct sampling method. A total of 1 566 drinking water samples were collected from these schools, and the mass concentrations of fluoride and trichloromethane in the water samples were detected. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for intergroup comparison, and a health risk assessment model was employed to evaluate the health risks of students oral intake of fluoride and trichloromethane. Results: From 2020 to 2022, the mass concentrations of fluoride and trichloromethane in the drinking water of rural schools in Guizhou Province all met the standards, and the ranges were no detection to 0.99 mg/L and (no detection to 0.06)×10 -3 mg/L, respectively. The mass concentrations of fluoride in dry and wet seasons were 0.05(0.05,0.10), 0.05(0.05,0.10) mg/L, the mass concentrations of trichloromethane were [0.02(0.02,1.00)]×10 -3 , [0.02(0.02,1.00)]×10 -3 mg/L, the mass concentrations of fluoride in factory water and terminal water were 0.05(0.05,0.05), 0.05(0.05,0.10) mg/L, and the differences were not statistically significant ( Z=-0.04, -0.88, - 0.98 , P >0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in the mass concentration of trichloromethane between factory water and peripheral water [0.02(0.02,0.02)×10 -3 , 0.02(0.02,1.05)×10 -3 mg/L]( Z=-2.16, P < 0.05 ). The non-carcinogenic risk assessment values for students oral exposure to fluoride and trichloromethane were in the range of 0.01(0.01,0.03)-0.03(0.03,0.06) and [0.26( 0.26 ,14.54)]×10 -4 -[0.52(0.52,48.62)]×10 -4 , respectively, all of which were at acceptable levels; the carcinogenic risk assessment values for oral exposure to trichloromethane were in the range of [0.08(0.08, 4.51 )]×10 -7 -[0.16(0.16,15.07)]×10 -7 , indicating a low risk. Conclusions The health risks of students expore to fluoride and trichloromethane in drinking water in rural schools of Guizhou Province are low. It is necessary to strengthen the standardized management of disinfection in some rural drinking water projects and the monitoring of fluoride in water sources to reduce the exposure risk to children.

Objective: To examine the associations between three adipokines (omentin-1, nesfatin-1 and apelin) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), so as to provide the basis for the prevention and control of DR. Methods: The T2DM patients hospitalized in Lishui TCM Hospital from August 2021 to May 2023 were selected and divided into three groups: no diabetic retinopathy (NDR) group, non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) group, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) group based on fundus fluorescein angiography. Data on gender, age, and course of T2DM were collected through questionnaires, and serum omentin-1, nesfatin-1, apelin, and related blood biochemical indicators were measured. The associations of omentin-1, nesfatin-1 and apelin with DR were analyzed using a multinomial logistic regression model. Results: A total of 150 T2DM patients were enrolled, including 58 cases in the NDR group, 60 cases in the NPDR group, and 32 cases in the PDR group, with males accounting for 60.34%, 45.00% and 68.75%, respectively. The mean ages were (54.79±14.40), (57.03±12.20) and (57.72±10.70) years, respectively. The median (interquartile range) courses of T2DM were 7.00 (7.75), 10.00 (8.00) and 10.00 (5.00) years, respectively. Compared with the NDR group, the NPDR group had lower levels of omentin-1 and nesfatin-1 and higher level of apelin, while the PDR group had higher level of omentin-1 and lower level of apelin (all P<0.05). Compared with the NPDR group, the PDR group had higher levels of omentin-1 and nesfatin-1 and lower level of apelin (all P<0.05). Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that omentin-1 level was statistically associated with NPDR (OR=0.503, 95%CI: 0.291-0.871) and PDR (OR=7.862, 95%CI: 2.956-20.910); nesfatin-1 (OR=0.971, 95%CI: 0.953-0.989) and apelin (OR=3.266, 95%CI: 1.817-5.868) levels were statistically associated with NPDR. Conclusion Serum levels of omentin-1, nesfatin-1 and apelin were associated with different stages of DR among T2DM patients.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the potential mechanism of Sanqi danshen tablets in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease （NAFLD）. METHODS Core targets of Sanqi danshen tablets in the treatment of NAFLD were explored by network pharmacological methods. Gene ontology （GO） functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis were also performed. Based on the results obtained from network pharmacological studies， using SD rats as subjects， the NAFLD model was induced by feeding them high-fat diet. The effects of Sanqi danshen tablets on pathological changes such as lipid droplet vacuoles and lipid accumulation in the liver tissue of NAFLD rats， as well as its impact on relative indicators of lipid metabolism， inflammatory responses and oxidative stress， were investigated. RESULTS A total of 20 core targets for the treatment of NAFLD with Sanqi danshen tablets were screened， primarily involved in GO functions such as biological regulation， cellular membrane and binding， and enriched in signaling pathways related to inflammatory responses， oxidative stress and lipid metabolism. Compared with the model group， lipid droplet vacuoles were reduced significantly in low-dose， medium-dose， high-dose groups of Sanqi danshen tablets and positive control （simvastatin） group， the number of lipid droplets decreased significantly and the color became lighter. The contents of total cholesterol， triglyceride （except for medium- dose group of Sanqi danshen tablets）， aspartate transaminase， alanine transaminase， tumor necrosis factor-α （except for low-dose group of Sanqi danshen tablets）， interleukin-17 （except for Sanqi danshen tablets groups） and malondialdehyde （except for low- dose group of Sanqi danshen tablets） in liver tissue were significantly decreased， while the content of superoxide dismutase was significantly increased （P＜0.01 or P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Sanqi danshen tablets exert anti-inflammatory， antioxidant and lipid metabolism regulating effects by influencing the levels of inflammation， oxidative stress and lipids metabolism-related indicators， thereby improving NAFLD in rats.

ObjectiveTo study the effect of Bufei Tongbi decoction on pulmonary fibrosis in diabetic rats via the transforming growth factor-β₁ （TGF-β₁）/phosphorylated Smad family member 3 （p-Smad3） signaling pathway. MethodsStreptozotocin （60 mg·kg^-1） and bleomycin （24.80 U·kg^-1） were used to prepare the rat model of diabetes with pulmonary fibrosis by intratracheal injection. Sixty rats were randomly assigned into blank， model， low-， medium-， and high-dose （3.98， 7.95， and 15.90 g·kg^-1， respectively） Bufei Tongbi decoction， and pirfenidone （0.36 mg·kg^-1） groups （n=10）. The successfully modeled rats in each group were administrated with corresponding agents once per day for four consecutive weeks. After drug administration， fasting blood glucose and lung function indicators were measured. Chemical immunoassay was employed to determine the serum levels of hydroxyproline （Hyp）， hyaluronic acid （HA）， and laminin （LN）. The lung index was determined by the wet and dry methods. The pathological changes in the lung tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， and the degree of fibrosis was detected by Masson staining. The mRNA and protein levels of TGF-β₁， p-Smad3， Smad3， α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）， collagen type Ⅰ alpha 1 （Col1A1）， and fibronectin were determined by PCR and Western blotting， respectively. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group showed alveolar septa thickening， obvious thickening of the basement membrane of pulmonary blood vessels， severe destruction of the alveolar structure， structural disarrangement of the lung parenchyma， and an increase in the proportion of inflammatory cell infiltration in the lung tissue， together with a large amount of blue collagen deposition and a large amount of collagen fibroplasia in the bronchial wall， vessel wall， interstitium， and alveolar wall， which indicated severe fibrosis. Bufei Tongbi decoction groups and the pirfenidone group showed lower fasting blood glucose level （P<0.05） and higher forced vital capacity （FVC）， cytoplasmic dynein （Cydn）， FEV_0.3/FEV ratio， and lung index （P<0.05） than the model group. Moreover， these groups demonstrated alleviated lung fibrosis， elevated Hyp， HA， and LN levels， down-regulated mRNA levels of α-SMA， Col1A1， and fibronectin， and down-regulated protein levels of TGF-β₁， Smad3， p-Smad3， α-SMA， Col1A1， and fibronectin （P<0.05）. ConclusionBufei Tongbi decoction can inhibit pulmonary fibrosis in diabetic rats by inhibiting the TGF-β₁/p-Smad3 signaling pathway.

[Objective] To evaluate the feasibility of a novel outpatient infusion model for blinatumomab in two acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients, aiming to address challenges of poor treatment tolerance, high healthcare costs, and compromised quality of life, thereby providing clinical insights for broader adoption of this approach. [Methods] Two post-allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) patients undergoing blinatumomab maintenance therapy were selected to evaluate the efficacy of the outpatient infusion model. Patient selection criteria, nursing protocols, standardized workflows, and advancements in infusion practices were systematically analyzed combined with a review of global developments in this field. [Results] Both patients completed outpatient blinatumomab infusion without severe adverse events, demonstrating preliminary feasibility and safety of this model. The novel approach enhanced treatment convenience, reduced hospitalization costs, and improved quality of life. [Conclusion] Despite the limited sample size, this pilot study highlights the potential of outpatient blinatumomab administration as a viable alternative to traditional inpatient regimens.

OBJECTIVE To study the safety of Shuangshu decoction in rats and its efficacy in improving functional dyspepsia （FD） in rats. METHODS In safety test， 40 rats were divided into blank control group， Shuangshu decoction low-dose， medium- dose and high-dose groups [108， 216， 324 g/（kg·d）， calculated by raw medicine， the same applies below]； they were given relevant medicine intragastrically， for continuous 14 days. The mortality and toxic reactions of rats were recorded， and the organ indexes of the liver， kidney， spleen， lung and heart of rats were calculated； the pathological morphological changes in the liver， kidney， spleen， lung， heart， stomach， duodenum， and colon were observed to evaluate the acute toxicity of Shuangshu decoction. Another 40 rats were grouped and administered in the same way for 30 consecutive days. The mortality and toxic reactions of the rats were recorded， and the corresponding organ indexes were calculated. The pathological morphological changes in the corresponding organs were observed， and blood routine and serum biochemical indicators were measured， in order to assess the subacute toxicity of Shuangshu decoction. In pharmacodynamic experiments: 50 rats were divided into blank control group， model group， and Shuangshu decoction low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （9.45， 18.9， 37.8 g/kg）， with 10 rats in each group. Except for blank control group， rats in all other groups were used to establish the FD rat model by subcutaneous injection of loperamide （3.5 mg/kg）. Rats in each group were administered the corresponding drug solution/normal saline intragastrically， once a day， for 14 consecutive days. After the last medication， fecal moisture content， intestinal propulsion rate， gastric emptying rate and serum level of motilin were all detected， and interstitial cell of Cajal （ICC） ultrastructure of rats was observed in colon tissue. RESULTS The safety experiments showed that no death occurred in each dose group， and no significant difference was found in organ coefficient， routine blood and serum biological index， compared to blank control group （P＞0.05）； no abnormality was found in organ appearance and pathological sections. The results of the pharmacodynamic experiments showed that， compared with the blank control group， the fecal moisture content， gastric emptying rate， intestinal propulsion rate， and serum motilin levels in the model group were significantly decreased （P＜0.05）； in the colonic tissue， the mitochondria in the ICC exhibited severe swelling with the disappearance of cristae， and the endoplasmic reticulum was dilated. Compared with model group， the rats in Shuangshu decoction high-dose group showed significant increases in the above quantitative indicators （P＜ 0.05）； additionally， there was a large number of mitochondria in the ICC of the colonic tissue， with clear cristae and regular arrangement. CONCLUSIONS Shuangshu decoction is safe and has a beneficial improving effect on FD rats； its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of gastrointestinal hormone expression to promote gastric emptying and intestinal propulsion， as well as the repair of mitochondrial structure in ICCs to restore gastrointestinal function.

Objective: Machine learning (ML) has been reported to have better predictive capability than traditional statistical techniques. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of ML algorithms and logistic regression (LR) for predicting depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Analyses were carried out in a national cross-sectional study involving 21,916 participants. The ML algorithms in this study included random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), neural network (NN), and gradient boosting machine (GBM) methods. The performance indices were sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, precision, F1-score, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: LR and NN had the best performance in terms of AUCs. The risk of overfitting was found to be negligible for most ML models except for RF, and GBM obtained the highest sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, precision, and F1-score. Therefore, LR, NN, and GBM models ranked among the best models. Conclusion Compared with ML models, LR model performed comparably to ML models in predicting depressive symptoms and identifying potential risk factors while also exhibiting a lower risk of overfitting.

Metabolites produced as intermediaries or end-products of microbial metabolism provide crucial signals for health and diseases, such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). These metabolites include products of the bacterial metabolism of dietary substrates, modification of host molecules (such as bile acids [BAs], trimethylamine-N-oxide, and short-chain fatty acids), or products directly derived from bacteria. Recent studies have provided new insights into the association between MASLD and the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). Furthermore, alterations in microbiota composition and metabolite profiles, notably altered BAs, have been described in studies investigating the association between MASLD and the risk of CKD. This narrative review discusses alterations of specific classes of metabolites, BAs, fructose, vitamin D, and microbiota composition that may be implicated in the link between MASLD and CKD.

Objective: Machine learning (ML) has been reported to have better predictive capability than traditional statistical techniques. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of ML algorithms and logistic regression (LR) for predicting depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Analyses were carried out in a national cross-sectional study involving 21,916 participants. The ML algorithms in this study included random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), neural network (NN), and gradient boosting machine (GBM) methods. The performance indices were sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, precision, F1-score, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: LR and NN had the best performance in terms of AUCs. The risk of overfitting was found to be negligible for most ML models except for RF, and GBM obtained the highest sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, precision, and F1-score. Therefore, LR, NN, and GBM models ranked among the best models. Conclusion Compared with ML models, LR model performed comparably to ML models in predicting depressive symptoms and identifying potential risk factors while also exhibiting a lower risk of overfitting.