Childhood simple obesity has become a significant public health issue in China. Modern medicine primarily relies on lifestyle interventions and often suffers from poor long-term compliance， while pharmacological options are limited and associated with potential adverse effects. Traditional Chinese Medicine （TCM） has a long history in the prevention and management of this condition， demonstrating eight distinct advantages， including systematic theoretical foundation， diversified therapeutic approaches， definite therapeutic efficacy， high safety profile， good patient compliance， comprehensive intervention strategies， emphasis on prevention， and stepwise treatment protocols. Additionally， TCM is characterized by six distinctive features： the use of natural medicinal substances， non-invasive external therapies， integration of medicinal dietetics， simple exercise regimens， precise syndrome differentiation， and diverse dosage forms. By combining internal and external treatments， TCM facilitates individualized regimen adjustment and holistic regulation， demonstrating remarkable effects in improving obesity-related metabolic indicators， regulating constitutional imbalance， and promoting healthy behaviors. However， challenges remain， such as inconsistent operational standards， insufficient high-quality clinical evidence， and a gap between basic research and clinical application. Future efforts should focus on accelerating the standardization of TCM diagnosis and treatment， conducting multicenter randomized controlled trials， and fostering interdisciplinary integration， so as to enhance the scientific validity and international recognition of TCM in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.

Scientific bibliometric tools were employed to conduct a visual analysis of literature related to neuroimaging ethics， revealing information such as the core authors and key topics in the field of neuroimaging ethics. From the perspective of neuroethics， it analyzed the research topics of neuroimaging ethics， encompassing the impacts of neuroimaging technologies on foundational research in morality， as well as the ethical issues arising from medical and non-medical applications of neuroimaging technologies. Among these， ethical issues in the medical application of neuroimaging technologies included general ethical concerns such as security challenges， privacy protection， and informed consent in neuroimaging practices， together with specific ethical dilemmas， including ethical challenges in assessing disorders of consciousness， incidental findings， and other aspects. Furthermore， this paper explored the frontier trends in neuroimaging ethics， aiming to provide certain ethical guidance for the advancement and application of neuroimaging technologies.

Objectives: Hypoparathyroidism (HP) is a rare endocrine disorder caused by parathyroid hormone (PTH) defi ciency. The PTH is a candidate gene for familial isolated hypoparathyroidism (FIH). This study aimed to investigate the pathogenicity of two novel rare variants (RVs) ofPTH through in vitro functional study. Methods: Targeted next-generation sequencing was used to identify candidate gene mutations. Clinical data were retrospectively collected. Wild-type (WT) PTH was used as a template for site-directed mutagenesis to create mutant eukaryotic expression plasmids, which were transfected into cells. Treated with or without 4-phenylbu tyric acid (4-PBA), the levels of intact PTH (iPTH) and PTH (1-84) were measured by chemiluminescence, and protein expression was assessed using Western blotting. Results: Two patients carrying PTH mutations (c.154G > A: p.Val52Ile, c.270G > T: p.Leu90Phe) were identified.Patient 1, a 45-year-old male, presented with carpal and pedal numbness, muscle cramps, and low serum calcium (1.29 mmol/L). Patient 2, a 12-year-old female, had muscle twitches, convulsions, low calcium (1.50 mmol/L), and iPTH of 4 pg/mL. The iPTH or PTH (1-84) levels in the medium transfected with mutant Val52Ile and Leu90Phe PTH decreased by 31%–38%, and 51%–96% compared to WT (allP < 0.05), which were not rescued by 4-PBA. No significant changes in intracellular PTH expression were observed. Conclusions In this study, two novel RVs of PTH(Val52Ile and Leu90Phe) were identified that may impair hormone synthesis and secretion. Our study has broadened the mutation spectrum of the PTH and shed light on potential mechanisms underlying FIH.

Objective To establish a stable and reproducible animal model of abdominal intestinal firearm penetrating injury in a cold high-altitude environment.Methods Twenty landrace pigs were randomly and equally assigned to a low-altitude normal temperature(LN)group and a high-altitude cold(HC)group.The HC group was placed in a cold environment at high altitudes,and the LN group was placed in a normal-temperature environment at low altitudes.They were raised for 48 hours respectively.After anesthesia,they were suspended on the shooting range,and the right lower abdomen of the experimental pigs was shot with a gun.After injury,they were simply bandaged and transported back to the laboratory for observation in the normal temperature environment of the low altitudes.The vital signs and injuries at 0,2,4,8,12 and 24 h and 24 h survival rates of experimental pigs were compared.Laparotomy was immediately performed on the dead pigs and the experimental pigs still alive at 24 h to explore the injuries and observe the pathology of the small intestine and colon.Results The 24 h survival rate of the HC group was 70％,with no statistically significant difference compared to the LN group's 90％(P＞0.05).After the injury,the body temperature of both groups gradually increased.The body temperature of the HC group was significantly higher than the LN group at 0,2,4 and 8 h time points(P＜0.001),and the LN group exceeded the HC group at 24 h(P＜0.05).Both groups showed an initial increase followed by a decrease in heart rate,with the HC group significantly higher than the LN group only at 0 h(P＜0.01),and no statistically significant differences were observed at other time points(P＞0.05).Both groups showed an early increase and later decrease in respiratory rate,with the HC group higher than the LN group at 0,4,8,12 and 24 h(P＜0.05 or P＜0.001).There was no statistically significant difference(P＞0.05)between the HC group and the LN group in small intestine rupture,small intestine contusion,mesenteric injury,colon rupture and wound diameter.The pathology of the small intestine and colon in the HC group showed extensive necrosis and shedding of the mucosa layer,severe congestion and edema of the submucosa,and extensive lymphocyte infiltration.The LN group also showed similar symptoms but to a lesser extent.Conclusion This study established a pig model of abdominal firearm intestinal perforation injury in a cold environment at high-altitudes.The model has strong operability and stable damage,which can provide a reference for subsequent research.

L-valine is an important branched-chain amino acid widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, and feed industries. Microbial fermentation has become the primary production method for L-valine. However, current industrial production still faces issues such as inefficient carbon flux utilization, imbalance in cofactor supply and demand, and suboptimal fermentation processes, which limit the efficient synthesis of L-valine. To further enhance the production performance of L-valine, In this study, metabolic engineering was conducted for a previously constructed Escherichia coli strain with a high yield of L-valine to optimize carbon flux distribution and balance cofactor consumption. Dual-phase oxygen-controlled fermentation was carried out to enhance L-valine production. Firstly, to address the pyruvate loss, we knocked out multiple competing pathway genes (ldhA, poxB, pflB, frdA, and pta), which resulted in a 48% increase in flask yield of the constructed strain VL-04. Next, we optimized the cofactor supply and demand balance by replacing ilvE with bcd (NADH-preferential) from Bacillus subtilis to construct the strain VL-06, which achieved a flask yield of 22.80 g/L, a further improvement of 25.8%. Subsequently, the fermentation conditions of VL-06 were optimized in a 5 L bioreactor with dual-phase oxygen-controlled fermentation. After optimization, the L-valine production reached 86.44 g/L in 26 h, with a glucose-to-acid conversion rate of 44.08% and a production intensity of 3.32 g/(L·h). This study not only shortens the time for L-valine production but also improves the economic efficiency, providing insights for similar fermentation processes employing dual-phase oxygen control.
Metabolic Engineering/methods* ; Escherichia coli/genetics* ; Valine/biosynthesis* ; Fermentation ; Bacillus subtilis/genetics*

Objective:To construct a self-management scheme for osteoporosis related to endocrine therapy in patients with early-stage breast cancer, so as to provide a reference for clinical nursing intervention.Methods:In the chronic disease self-management domain theory as the instruction, using literature research, the semi-structured interview to build the first draft of the plan, through the expert meeting law to plan to revise the first draft, and form a self-management scheme for osteoporosis related to endocrine therapy in patients with early-stage breast cancer.Results:A total of 10 experts were included, aged 37-47 (42.70 ± 3.43) years. The recovery rate of the expert questionnaire was 10/10, the expert authority coefficient was 0.93, and the coefficient of variation of each item ranged from 0.06 to 0.19. The final formed self-management scheme for osteoporosis related to endocrine therapy in patients with early-stage breast cancer includes three intervention modules: self-prevention, self-monitoring, and self-coping. It encompasses six intervention themes: enhancing knowledge reserves, non-pharmacological prevention, pharmacological prevention, risk assessment and self-reporting of symptoms, non-pharmacological intervention, and pharmacological intervention.Conclusions:The construction of the self-management scheme for osteoporosis related to endocrine therapy in patients with early-stage breast cancer is of great significance. The content of the scheme is scientific, reliable and targeted, which can provide guidance for the self-management of osteoporosis in patients with early breast cancer during endocrine therapy.

Objective:To systematically review qualitative studies on the experiences of musculoskeletal symptoms in breast cancer patients undergoing endocrine therapy, and to gain insights into the initiation, development, and effects of these symptoms, along with their implications for patients, to guide the creation of targeted strategies for symptom management.Methods:The qualitative studies on the experiences of musculoskeletal symptoms in breast cancer patients undergoing endocrine therapy were performed across several databases, which included the Cochrane Library, Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence based Healthcare Center Database, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, CNKI, Wanfang Data, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. The retrieval period was from the establishment of the database to April 30, 2024. The studies' quality was evaluated utilizing the iteration of the Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument designed for qualitative research. Data synthesis was carried out using Meta-aggregation techniques.Results:A total of 15 articles were included and 41 results were extracted, which were grouped into 11 new categories and integrated into 3 primary themes: the manifestation of bone and joint symptoms was highly unique and varied, prominently featuring experiences such as migratory joint pain, morning stiffness, and cramps affecting both large and small joints, frequently associated with functional limitations; these symptoms significantly influence patients' everyday activities and mental health, contributing to feelings of anxiety, avoidance behaviors, fear, and a reduction in overall quality of life; to manage the intricate nature of their symptoms, patients employ a variety of coping mechanisms, such as engaging in physical activity, taking dietary supplements, consulting about medications, and seeking support from external sources.Conclusions:During endocrine therapy for breast cancer, patients exhibit diverse characteristics of musculoskeletal symptoms, and the resulting fear of recurrence, avoidance behaviors, and anxiety have a negative impact on their psychological well-being and overall health. Healthcare professionals should take into account individual differences, such as age, menopausal status, type of endocrine therapy, medication adherence, and factors that may exacerbate or alleviate symptoms, in order to effectively predict, assess, and manage bone and joint symptoms during endocrine therapy.

eIF3a is a N ⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) reader that regulates mRNA translation by recognizing m⁶A modifications of these mRNAs. It has been suggested that eIF3a may play an important role in regulating translation initiation via m⁶A during infection when canonical cap-dependent initiation is inhibited. However, the death of animal model studies impedes our understanding of the functional significance of eIF3a in immunity and regulation in vivo. In this study, we investigated the in vivo function of eIF3a using eIF3a knockout and knockdown mouse models and found that eIF3a deficiency resulted in splenic tissue structural disruption and multi-organ damage, which contributed to severe sepsis induced by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Ectopic eIF3a overexpression in the eIF3a knockdown mice rescued mice from LPS-induced severe sepsis. We further showed that eIF3a maintains a functional and healthy immune system by regulating B cell function and quantity through m⁶A modification of mRNAs. These findings unveil a novel mechanism underlying sepsis, implicating the pivotal role of B cells in this complex disease process regulated by eIF3a. Furthermore, eIF3a may be used to develop a potential strategy for treating sepsis.

Objectives: Hypoparathyroidism (HP) is a rare endocrine disorder caused by parathyroid hormone (PTH) defi ciency. The PTH is a candidate gene for familial isolated hypoparathyroidism (FIH). This study aimed to investigate the pathogenicity of two novel rare variants (RVs) ofPTH through in vitro functional study. Methods: Targeted next-generation sequencing was used to identify candidate gene mutations. Clinical data were retrospectively collected. Wild-type (WT) PTH was used as a template for site-directed mutagenesis to create mutant eukaryotic expression plasmids, which were transfected into cells. Treated with or without 4-phenylbu tyric acid (4-PBA), the levels of intact PTH (iPTH) and PTH (1-84) were measured by chemiluminescence, and protein expression was assessed using Western blotting. Results: Two patients carrying PTH mutations (c.154G > A: p.Val52Ile, c.270G > T: p.Leu90Phe) were identified.Patient 1, a 45-year-old male, presented with carpal and pedal numbness, muscle cramps, and low serum calcium (1.29 mmol/L). Patient 2, a 12-year-old female, had muscle twitches, convulsions, low calcium (1.50 mmol/L), and iPTH of 4 pg/mL. The iPTH or PTH (1-84) levels in the medium transfected with mutant Val52Ile and Leu90Phe PTH decreased by 31%–38%, and 51%–96% compared to WT (allP < 0.05), which were not rescued by 4-PBA. No significant changes in intracellular PTH expression were observed. Conclusions In this study, two novel RVs of PTH(Val52Ile and Leu90Phe) were identified that may impair hormone synthesis and secretion. Our study has broadened the mutation spectrum of the PTH and shed light on potential mechanisms underlying FIH.

Objective:To explore the impact and underlying mechanisms of social support on illness uncertainty among parents of children with autism.Methods:A convenience sample of 312 parents of children with autism was recruited from the outpatient clinic of Peking University Sixth Hospital between September 2023 and January 2024. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Chinese version of the Parent's Perception Uncertainty Scale (PPUS), the Social Support Scale for Families with Children with Autism, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and the Questionnaire on Caregiving Issues and Service Needs of Parents of Children with Autism. Independent samples t-tests or one-way ANOVA were used to compare illness uncertainty scores across different characteristics. Pearson correlation analysis examined relationships among illness uncertainty, social support, caregiving issues and service needs, and anxiety. Chain mediation analysis was conducted using the SPSS macro PROCESS v4.1 to test the mediating roles of caregiving issues and service needs and anxiety. Results:The illness uncertainty score of the 307 valid respondents was (82.40±14.09). Mediation analysis indicated a direct effect of social support on illness uncertainty (effect value=-1.040), accounting for 72.27% of the total effect (-1.040/-1.439). A chain-mediated effect through caregiving issues and service needs and anxiety was also observed (effect value=-0.065), accounting for 4.50% of the total effect (-0.065/-1.439) .Conclusions:Parents of children with autism experience a relatively high level of illness uncertainty. Enhancing social support, addressing caregiving issues and service needs, alleviating parental anxiety may reduce their illness uncertainty.