ObjectiveTo investigate the association of physical activity and balance ability with disability, and to further examine the mediating role of balance ability in the relationship between physical activity and disability. MethodsBased on data from 2021 to 2023 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycle, a multivariable Logistic regression model was constructed to evaluate the independent association of physical activity and balance ability with disability, with covariates adjusted in four steps. An interaction model was further developed to assess the multiplicative interaction between physical activity and balance ability. Mediation analysis was performed using the Baron and Kenny three-step approach to examine the mediating role of balance ability, and the proportion of the mediation effect was calculated. The significance of the mediation effect was assessed using the Delta method, and robustness was verified through the Bootstrap method with a fixed random seed. Multiple sensitivity analyses were conducted to ensure the stability of the results. ResultsA total of 3 902 participants were included, with a prevalence of disability of 17.7%. Multivariable regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for all covariates, both light-intensity physical activity (LIPA) (OR = 0.489, 95%CI 0.380 to 0.629, P < 0.001) and high-intensity physical activity (HIPA) (OR = 0.493, 95%CI 0.371 to 0.656, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with a reduced risk of disability, whereas impaired balance ability was significantly associated with an increased risk (OR = 1.579, 95%CI 1.266 to 1.970, P < 0.001). The interaction effect analysis showed that the interaction between physical activity and balance ability were not significant (P > 0.05), however, the main effect of LIPA remained robust (β = -0.597, SE = 0.221, OR = 0.550, P = 0.007), while impaired balance ability was significantly associated with an increased risk of disability (β = 0.577, SE = 0.231, OR = 1.780, P = 0.012). The mediation analysis further indicated that balance ability played a robust mediating role in the association between LIPA and disability, with a mediation proportion of 21.1%. The indirect effect (a × b) was statistically significant (P < 0.001), and the 95% confidence intervals derived from the bootstrap method did not include zero. ConclusionPhysical activity and balance ability are significantly associated with disability, and balance ability may mediate the relationship between physical activity and disability, highlighting its potential value in disability risk assessment and intervention strategies.

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a group of dementia diseases mainly characterized by progressive mental-behavioral abnormalities, executive dysfunction, and language impairment. A small number of FTD patients also present with movement disorders at certain disease course. Here the clinical and multimodal positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging manifestations in a patient with frontotemporal lobe dementia and parkinsonian syndrome are reported. 18F-fluorodopa PET showed reduced uptake in the head of the caudate nucleus. 18F-AV-45 PET showed negative amyloid deposition. 18F-AV-1451 PET showed tau deposition in the neocortex. The clinical and neuroimaging features support the underlying frontotemporal lobar degeneration-tau pathology.

Colorectal tumors often create an immunosuppressive microenvironment that prevents them from responding to immunotherapy.Cannabidiol(CBD)is a non-psychoactive natural active ingredient from the cannabis plant that has various pharmacological effects,including neuroprotective,antiemetic,anti-inflammatory,and antineoplastic activities.This study aimed to elucidate the specific anticancer mechanism of CBD by single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)and single-cell ATAC sequencing(scATAC-seq)technologies.Here,we report that CBD inhibits colorectal cancer progression by modulating the suppressive tumor microenvironment(TME).Our single-cell transcriptome and ATAC sequencing results showed that CBD suppressed M2-like macrophages and promoted M1-like macrophages in tumors both in strength and quantity.Furthermore,CBD significantly enhanced the interaction between M1-like macrophages and tumor cells and restored the intrinsic anti-tumor properties of macrophages,thereby preventing tumor progression.Mechanistically,CBD altered the metabolic pattern of macro-phages and related anti-tumor signaling pathways.We found that CBD inhibited the alternative acti-vation of macrophages and shifted the metabolic process from oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid oxidation to glycolysis by inhibiting the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B signaling pathway and related downstream target genes.Furthermore,CBD-mediated macrophage plasticity enhanced the response to anti-programmed cell death protein-1(PD-1)immunotherapy in xenografted mice.Taken together,we provide new insights into the anti-tumor effects of CBD.

Objective:To evaluate the dose-response relationship of remimazolam for loss of consciousness during anesthesia induction in the patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).Methods:American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅲ or Ⅳpatients, aged 55-64 yr, with body mass index of 21-26 kg/m 2, scheduled for elective CABG under general anesthesia, were included in this study.The trial was conducted using the modified Dixon′s up-and-down method. The initial dose of remimazolam was 0.225 mg/kg, each time the concentration increased/decreased by 0.025 mg/kg in the next patient depending on whether or not the patients lost consciousness. Criteria for loss of consciousness was considered as the modified vigilance sedation score≤1 within 3 min after remimazolam administration. The 50% effective dose (ED 50), 95% effective dose (ED 95) and their 95% confidence interval ( CI) was analyzed by probit probability analysis method. Results:The ED 50 of remimazolam for loss of consciousness during anesthesia induction was 0.175 mg/kg, 95% CI was 0.163-0.185 mg/kg, ED 95 was 0.211 mg/kg, and 95% CI was 0.197-0.255 mg/kg. Conclusions:The ED 50 and ED 95 of remimazolam were 0.175 and 0.211 mg/kg respectively when used for loss of consciousness during anesthesia induction in the patients undergoing CABG.

Objective:To investigate whether silencing signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) with siRNA can inhibit eosinophilic inflammation of sinonasal mucosa in a mouse model of eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (ECRS).Methods:The study was conducted from March to September in 2022. Forty-eight female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: the control group, the Vehicle (transfection reagent)-treated group, the Scramble siRNA (Control siRNA)-treated group, and the STAT6 siRNA-treated group, with twelve mice in each group. An ovalbumin (OVA)-staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)-induced ECRS murine model was established. SiRNA prepared in Lipofectamine was locally administered to the nasal cavity. After administration, samples of the peripheral blood and sinonasal mucosa were collected. Eosinophils in peripheral blood were detected by hematology analyzer. Total and OVA-specific IgE (OVA-sIgE) in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Mucosal levels of cytokines and chemokines, including interleukin (IL)-5, IL-17A, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and eotaxin-1, were also measured using ELISA. Mucosal histological changes of eosinophil infiltration were examined using hematoxylin, and eosin staining, and tissue eosinophil count was performed using a microscope under a high-power field (HPF). Tissue expression of STAT6 and phosphorylated STAT6 (p-STAT6) was detected with the western blot method. Immunofluorescence staining was used to localize the expression of p-STAT6 in sinonasal mucosa. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 18.0 software.Results:Peripheral blood eosinophil count, percentage of peripheral blood eosinophil, total serum IgE level, and serum OVA-sIgE level in the STAT6 siRNA-treated group [(0.318±0.045)×10 3/μl, (3.667±0.479)%, (102.070±13.205) ng/ml, and (38.870±7.352) ng/ml] were significantly different from those of the Vehicle-treated group [(0.532±0.049)×10 3/μl, (6.710±1.061)%, (203.102±29.653) ng/ml, and (74.575±6.432) ng/ml, Z value was -2.56, -2.24, -2.40, and -2.56, respectively, all P<0.05] and Scramble siRNA-treated group [(0.493±0.036)×10 3/μl, (5.858±0.872)%, (189.964±30.042) ng/ml, and (80.935±8.358) ng/ml, Z value was -2.17, -2.08, -2.24, and -2.72, respectively, all P<0.05]. Besides, IL-5 and eotaxin-1 levels in the STAT6 siRNA-treated group [(312.279±34.281) pg/ml and (25.297±4.323) pg/ml] were significantly lower than those in the Vehicle-treated group [(689.667±31.905) pg/ml and (68.278±6.485) pg/ml, Z value was -2.73 and -2.88, respectively, both P<0.01] and Scramble siRNA-treated group [(661.783±42.094) pg/ml and (63.015±7.416) pg/ml, Z value was -2.72 and -2.81, respectively, both P<0.01]. Tissue eosinophil count in sinonasal mucosa was (29.132±4.163)/HPF in the STAT6 siRNA-treated group, and were significantly less than those in the Vehicle-treated group [(78.050±7.912)/HPF, Z=-2.88, P<0.01] and Scramble siRNA-treated group [(73.864±8.671)/HPF, Z=-2.72, P<0.01]. The expression level of STAT6 protein (0.105±0.021) was significantly decreased in the mice treated with STAT6 siRNA compared with PBS, Vehicle, and Scramble siRNA (0.232±0.037, 0.243±0.039, and 0.228±0.032, Z value was -2.25, -2.49, and -2.56, respectively, all P<0.05). Corresponding, p-STAT6 protein level (0.292±0.038) was markedly decreased by the introduction of STAT6 siRNA, the difference was statistically significant as compared with the Vehicle-and Scramble siRNA-treated groups (0.613±0.046 and 0.641±0.050, Z value was -2.81 and -2.88, respectively, both P<0.01). Immunofluorescence staining showed that p-STAT6 was mainly located in the nucleus of nasal epithelial cells and inflammatory cells. The green fluorescence of p-STAT6 expression in sinonasal mucosa in the STAT6 siRNA-treated group was weaker than that in the Vehicle-and Scramble siRNA-treated groups. Conclusion:Intranasal administration of STAT6 siRNA can significantly downregulate STAT6 expression, decrease p-STAT6 level, and prohibit the development of Th2-skewed ECRS.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of remazolam on sublingual microcirculation during anesthesia induction in the patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting under general anesthesia.Methods:Forty-two patients of both sexes, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅲ or IV, aged 45-75 yr, with body mass index of 18-30 kg/m 2, undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting under total intravenous anesthesia, were divided into 2 groups ( n=21 each) using a random number table method: propofol group (group P) and remazolam group (group R).Remazolam 0.15-0.35 mg/kg was intravenously infused in group R, and propofol 1.5-2.0 mg/kg was intravenously infused in group P, when patients lost consciousness and they did not response to shoulder tapping, the maintenance dose was adjusted as follows: remazolam 0.15-0.30 mg·kg -1·h -1 in group R and propofol 2.0-4.0 mg·kg -1·h -1 in group P. The BIS value was maintained at 45-55 during operation in the two groups.The proportion of perfused vessels for all vessels (PPV (all)), proportion of perfused small vessels (PPV (small)), perfused vessel density of all vessels (PVD (all)), and perfused small vessel density (PVD (small)) were recorded before induction (T 1), immediately after intubation (T 2) and 30 min after intubation (T 3).The cardiovascular events were recorded during anesthesia induction. Results:Compared with the baseline at T 1, PPV (all), PPV (small) and PVD (all) were significantly decreased at T 3 ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in PPV (all), PPV (small), PVD (all) and PVD (small) at T 2 in group P ( P>0.05), and no significant change was found in PPV (all), PPV (small), PVD (all) and PVD (small) at T 2 and T 3 in group R ( P>0.05).Compared with group R, PPV (small) was significantly decreased at T 3 in group P ( P<0.01). Conclusions:Remazolam exerts less inhibitory effect on sublingual microcirculation than propofol during anesthesia induction in the patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Colorectal cancer (CRC), a malignant tumor worldwide consists of microsatellite instability (MSI) and stable (MSS) phenotypes. Although SHP2 is a hopeful target for cancer therapy, its relationship with innate immunosuppression remains elusive. To address that, single-cell RNA sequencing was performed to explore the role of SHP2 in all cell types of tumor microenvironment (TME) from murine MC38 xenografts. Intratumoral cells were found to be functionally heterogeneous and responded significantly to SHP099, a SHP2 allosteric inhibitor. The malignant evolution of tumor cells was remarkably arrested by SHP099. Mechanistically, STING-TBK1-IRF3-mediated type I interferon signaling was highly activated by SHP099 in infiltrated myeloid cells. Notably, CRC patients with MSS phenotype exhibited greater macrophage infiltration and more potent SHP2 phosphorylation in CD68⁺ macrophages than MSI-high phenotypes, suggesting the potential role of macrophagic SHP2 in TME. Collectively, our data reveals a mechanism of innate immunosuppression mediated by SHP2, suggesting that SHP2 is a promising target for colon cancer immunotherapy.

Objective:To analyze the epidemic characteristics of Cornona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wangkui County, Heilongjiang Province, and to provide a reference for optimizing epidemic prevention and control strategies.Methods:The epidemic characteristics of COVID-19 in Wangkui County, Heilongjiang Province in January 2021 were analyzed by applying the national infectious disease report system and information management system of Heilongjiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the public health emergency report management information system, the epidemiological investigation report of the Heilongjiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Suihua Municipal Certer for Disease Control and Prevention, and the epidemic information publicly released by the Health Commission of Heilongjiang Province.Results:From January 9 to February 5, 2021, 804 cases infected with Cornona virus were reported in Wangkui County, with an infection rate of 280.29/100 000. The epidemic affected 20 districts and counties in 6 cities, including Suihua, Harbin, Mudanjiang, Qiqihar, Yichun and Daqing. The sex ratio of male to female was 1.08 ∶ 1.00 (418 ∶ 386), the age ranged from 3 months to 93 years old, and the median age was 50 years old. The proportion of confirmed cases and asymptomatic infection was 1.23 ∶ 1.00 (444 ∶ 360), there were significant differences in gender, age and occupation between them ( P < 0.05). There were 314 places where the aggregation epidemic occurred, with family aggregation as the main way (300 households, 95.54%). The places with the highert average number of cases were banquets (25.75 cases/place) and grocery stores/chess and card rooms (16.00 cases/place). Conclusions:In January 2021, the epidemic of COVID-19 in Wangkui County is a typical outbreak in rural areas of North China. The main reasons for the rapid spread of the epidemic are a large number of gathering activities, frequent contact of personnel in confined spaces and other factors.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), one of the dominating constituents of tumor microenvironment, are important contributors to cancer progression and treatment resistance. Therefore, regulation of TAMs polarization from M2 phenotype towards M1 phenotype has emerged as a new strategy for tumor immunotherapy. Herein, we successfully initiated antitumor immunotherapy by inhibiting TAMs M2 polarization via autophagy intervention with polyethylene glycol-conjugated gold nanoparticles (PEG-AuNPs). PEG-AuNPs suppressed TAMs M2 polarization in both in vitro and in vivo models, elicited antitumor immunotherapy and inhibited subcutaneous tumor growth in mice. As demonstrated by the mRFP-GFP-LC3 assay and analyzing the autophagy-related proteins (LC3, beclin1 and P62), PEG-AuNPs induced autophagic flux inhibition in TAMs, which is attributed to the PEG-AuNPs induced lysosome alkalization and membrane permeabilization. Besides, TAMs were prone to polarize towards M2 phenotype following autophagy activation, whereas inhibition of autophagic flux could reduce the M2 polarization of TAMs. Our results revealed a mechanism underlying PEG-AuNPs induced antitumor immunotherapy, where PEG-AuNPs reduce TAMs M2 polarization via induction of lysosome dysfunction and autophagic flux inhibition. This study elucidated the biological effects of nanomaterials on TAMs polarization and provided insight into harnessing the intrinsic immunomodulation capacity of nanomaterials for effective cancer treatment.

Objective : To analyze the length of hospital stay of patients with heart failure in a multicenter cohort in order to explore the influencing factors of length of stay and provide data support for further intervention. Methods: A total of 2 794 patients enrolled in the multicenter prospective heart failure cohort were divided into two groups: long hospital stay group (≥9 days) and short hospital stay group ( < 9 days) . The general data of the two groups were compared, and the factors with statistical difference in univariate analysis were included in Logistic multifactor regression analysis to explore the difference in length of hospital stay between the two groups. According to left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), patients were divided into heart failure with preserved reduced ejection fraction (HFpEF)group, heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction(HFmrEF)group and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction(HFrEF) group, and Logistic multifactor regression analysis was performed to find influencing factors. Results : Logistic multifactor regression analysis showed that LVEF, pneumonia, N⁃terminal pro⁃B⁃type natriuretic peptide(NT⁃proBNP), serum sodium, cardiac resynchronization therapy( CRT) or implantable cardioverter defibrillator(ICD)implantation, β blockers, aldosterone receptor antagonists, positive inotropic drugs and vasodilators were all factors influencing the hospitalization of HF patients. In the HFpEF, HFmrEF, and HFrEF groupsCRT/ICD implantation, positive inotonic drugs, and vasodilator use were suggested to be common factors affecting length of hospital stay in all three groups. Conclusion LVEF, pneumonia, NT⁃proBNP, serum sodium, CRT or ICD implantation, β blockers, aldosterone receptor antagonists, positive inotropic drugs and vasodilators are the influencing factors of hospitalization time in HF patients.