Objective: To understand the subjective and objective comfort evaluations of students from different age groups on desks and chairs, so as to provide reference for standardized allocation and use of desks and chairs. Methods: From January to April 2024, a total of 2 446 students were selected from 26 schools in 13 districts (counties/cities) in Shanghai, Tianjin, and Wuxi from Jiangsu Province by using cluster random method, including students in kindergartens, primary schools, junior high schools,senior high schools, colleges and universities. Standardized procedures were used to measure the height and weight of participants, and the matching desks and chairs models were selected according to the height. The subjective comfort of students on matching desks and chairs was investigated, and their objective comfort was evaluated by using a self designed questionnaire. The χ 2 test was used to analyze the differences of subjective perception and objective evaluation in comfort between different types of desks and chairs. Results: About 84.1% of the students subjectively thought that large desks and small chairs were very comfortable or relatively comfortable, followed by large desks and chairs (75.7%), and the proportion of small desks and chairs was the lowest among the three types (46.2%), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ 2=722.46, P <0.01). The reporting rates of primary school, junior high school and senior high school students who subjectively considered large desks and chairs to be very comfortable/relatively comfortable were higher than that of other types of desks and chairs, and the differences were statistically significant ( χ 2=297.49, 252.82, 343.67, P <0.01). However, there was no significant difference in the subjective comfort evaluation of different types of desks and chairs among kindergarten children ( χ 2=3.21, P >0.05), and 66.3% of the students in colleges and universities felt very comfortable/relatively comfortable when they used the matching standard desks and chairs. The objective evaluation results of the comfort for the three types of desks and chairs were consistent with the subjective evaluation, but the proportions of the objective evaluation as very comfortable/relatively comfortable were higher than that of the subjective evaluation ( χ 2=20.76- 813.47, P <0.01). Conclusions Large desks and chairs, as well as large desks with small chairs are perceived comfortable, while small desks and chairs are perceived less comfortable. It is recommended to match the large desks and chairs or large desks and small chairs that are suitable for them according to the "standard", to promote physical and mental health of students.

ObjectiveThe rapid advancement of bioanalytical technologies has heightened the demand for high-throughput, label-free, and real-time cellular analysis. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) operating in the GHz frequency range (GHz-EIS) has emerged as a promising tool for characterizing cell suspensions due to its ability to rapidly and non-invasively capture the dielectric properties of cells and their microenvironment. Although GHz-EIS enables rapid and label-free detection of cell suspensions, significant challenges remain in interpreting GHz impedance data for complex samples, limiting the broader application of this technique in cellular research. To address these challenges, this study presents a novel method that integrates GHz-EIS with deep learning algorithms, aiming to improve the precision of cell suspension concentration identification and quantification. This method provides a more efficient and accurate solution for the analysis of GHz impedance data. MethodsThe proposed method comprises two key components: dielectric property dataset construction and backpropagation (BP) neural network modeling. Yeast cell suspensions at varying concentrations were prepared and separately introduced into a coaxial sensor for impedance measurement. The dielectric properties of these suspensions were extracted using a GHz-EIS dielectric property extraction method applied to the measured impedance data. A dielectric properties dataset incorporating concentration labels was subsequently established and divided into training and testing subsets. A BP neural network model employing specific activation functions (ReLU and Leaky ReLU) was then designed. The model was trained and tested using the constructed dataset, and optimal model parameters were obtained through this process. This BP neural network enables automated extraction and analytical processing of dielectric properties, facilitating precise recognition of cell suspension concentrations through data-driven training. ResultsThrough comparative analysis with conventional centrifugal methods, the recognized concentration values of cell suspensions showed high consistency, with relative errors consistently below 5%. Notably, high-concentration samples exhibited even smaller deviations, further validating the precision and reliability of the proposed methodology. To benchmark the recognition performance against different algorithms, two typical approaches—support vector machines (SVM) and K-nearest neighbor (KNN)—were selected for comparison. The proposed method demonstrated superior performance in quantifying cell concentrations. Specifically, the BP neural network achieved a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 2.06% and an R² value of 0.997 across the entire concentration range, demonstrating both high predictive accuracy and excellent model fit. ConclusionThis study demonstrates that the proposed method enables accurate and rapid determination of unknown sample concentrations. By combining GHz-EIS with BP neural network algorithms, efficient identification of cell concentrations is achieved, laying the foundation for the development of a convenient online cell analysis platform and showing significant application prospects. Compared to typical recognition approaches, the proposed method exhibits superior capabilities in recognizing cell suspension concentrations. Furthermore, this methodology not only accelerates research in cell biology and precision medicine but also paves the way for future EIS biosensors capable of intelligent, adaptive analysis in dynamic biological research.

Objective: To explore the effects of Cldn14 gene knockout on renal metabolism and stone formation in rats，so as to provide reference for research in the field of urinary calium metabolism and stone formation. Methods: Cldn14 gene knockout homozygous rats and wild-type rats of the same age were randomly divided into 4 groups：wild-type control (WC) group，wild-type ethylene glycol (WE) group，gene knockout control (KC) group and gene knockout ethylene glycol (KE) group，with 10 rats in each group.The WE and KE groups were induced with ethylene glycol + ammonium chloride to form kidney stones，while the WC and KC groups received normal saline gavage.After 4 weeks of standard maintenance feeding，the urine samples were collected to detect the venous blood.The kidneys were collected for HE，Pizzolatto's staining and transmission electron microscopy.The protein in renal tissues was extracted to detect the expressions of Claudin16 and Claudin19. Results: Crystal deposition was observed in the renal tubular lumen of the WE and the KE groups，and more crystals were detected in the KE group.The WE group had a large number of intracytoplasmic black crystalline inclusions observed in renal tubular epithelial cells under transmission electron microscope，followed by the KE and KC groups.Compared with WC and WE groups，KC and KE groups had significantly decreased serum calcium and magnesium levels but significantly increased urinary calcium level.In addition，the urinary calcium level was higher in the WE group than in the WC group and higher in the KE group than in the KC group.The KE group had lower level of Claudin16，but there was no significant difference in the level of Claudin19 among the 4 groups(P>0.05). Conclusion: Knockout of Cldn14 gene alone cannot effectively reduce urinary calcium excretion or reduce the risk of stone formation in rats，which may be related to the decrease of Claudin16 level.

BACKGROUND: The primary limitation to kidney transplantation is organ shortage. Recent progress in gene editing and immunosuppressive regimens has made xenotransplantation with porcine organs a possibility. However, evidence in pig-to-human xenotransplantation remains scarce, and antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is a major obstacle to clinical applications of xenotransplantation. METHODS: We conducted a kidney xenotransplantation in a brain-dead human recipient using a porcine kidney with five gene edits (5GE) on March 25, 2024 at Xijing Hospital, China. Clinical-grade immunosuppressive regimens were employed, and the observation period lasted 22 days. We collected and analyzed the xenograft function, ultrasound findings, sequential protocol biopsies, and immune surveillance of the recipient during the observation. RESULTS: The combination of 5GE in the porcine kidney and clinical-grade immunosuppressive regimens prevented hyperacute rejection. The xenograft kidney underwent delayed graft function in the first week, but urine output increased later and the single xenograft kidney maintained electrolyte and pH homeostasis from postoperative day (POD) 12 to 19. We observed AMR at 24 h post-transplantation, due to the presence of pre-existing anti-porcine antibodies and cytotoxicity before transplantation; this AMR persisted throughout the observation period. Plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin treatment mitigated the AMR. We observed activation of latent porcine cytomegalovirus toward the end of the study, which might have contributed to coagulation disorder in the recipient. CONCLUSIONS 5GE and clinical-grade immunosuppressive regimens were sufficient to prevent hyperacute rejection during pig-to-human kidney xenotransplantation. Pre-existing anti-porcine antibodies predisposed the xenograft to AMR. Plasma exchange and intravenous immunoglobulin were safe and effective in the treatment of AMR after kidney xenotransplantation.
Transplantation, Heterologous/methods* ; Kidney Transplantation/methods* ; Heterografts/pathology* ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/administration & dosage* ; Graft Survival/immunology* ; Humans ; Animals ; Sus scrofa ; Graft Rejection/prevention & control* ; Kidney/pathology* ; Gene Editing ; Species Specificity ; Immunosuppression Therapy/methods* ; Plasma Exchange ; Brain Death ; Biopsy ; Male ; Aged

The study aims to examine the effects and potential mechanisms of disulfiram (DSF) on cardiac hypertrophic injury, focusing on the role of transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1)-mediated pan-apoptosis (PANoptosis). H9C2 cardiomyocytes were treated with angiotensin II (Ang II, 1 µmol/L) to establish an in vitro model of myocardial hypertrophy. DSF (40 µmol/L) was used to treat cardiomyocyte hypertrophic injury models, either along or in combination with the TAK1 inhibitor, 5z-7-oxozeaenol (5z-7, 0.1 µmol/L). We assessed cell damage using propidium iodide (PI) staining, measured cell viability with CCK8 assay, quantified inflammatory factor levels in cell culture media via ELISA, detected TAK1 and RIPK1 binding rates using immunoprecipitation, and analyzed the protein expression levels of key proteins in the TAK1-mediated PANoptosis pathway using Western blot. In addition, the surface area of cardiomyocytes was measured with Phalloidin staining. The results showed that Ang II significantly reduced the cellular viability of H9C2 cardiomyocytes and the binding rate of TAK1 and RIPK1, significantly increased the surface area of H9C2 cardiomyocytes, PI staining positive rate, levels of inflammatory factors [interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)] in cell culture media and p-TAK1/TAK1 ratio, and significantly up-regulated key proteins in the PANoptosis pathway [pyroptosis-related proteins NLRP3, Caspase-1 (p20), and GSDMD-N (p30), apoptosis-related proteins Caspase-3 (p17), Caspase-7 (p20), and Caspase-8 (p18), as well as necroptosis-related proteins p-MLKL, RIPK1, and RIPK3]. DSF significantly reversed the above changes induced by Ang II. Both 5z-7 and exogenous IL-1β weakened these cardioprotective effects of DSF. These results suggest that DSF may alleviate cardiac hypertrophic injury by inhibiting TAK1-mediated PANoptosis.
Animals ; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases/physiology* ; Rats ; Myocytes, Cardiac/pathology* ; Disulfiram/pharmacology* ; Cardiomegaly ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Cell Line ; Angiotensin II ; Necroptosis/drug effects* ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Lactones ; Resorcinols ; Zearalenone/administration & dosage*

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the research on NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3(NLRP3) inflammasome inhibitors in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The NLRP3 inflammasome is integral to the innate immune response, and its abnormal activation can lead to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokine, consequently facilitating the progression of various pathological conditions. Therefore, investigating the pharmacological inhibition pathway of the NLRP3 inflammasome represents a promising strategy for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) has not approved drugs targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome for clinical use due to concerns regarding liver toxicity and gastrointestinal side effects associated with chemical small molecule inhibitors in clinical trials. Natural small molecule compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids are ubiquitously found in animals, plants, and other natural substances exhibiting pharmacological activities. Their abundant sources, intricate and diverse structures, high biocompatibility, minimal adverse reactions, and superior biochemical potency in comparison to synthetic compounds have attracted the attention of extensive scholars. Currently, certain natural small molecule compounds have been demonstrated to impede the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome via various action mechanisms, so they are viewed as the innovative, feasible, and minimally toxic therapeutic agents for inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the treatment of both acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Hence, this study systematically examined the effects and potential mechanisms of natural small molecule compounds derived from traditional Chinese medicine on the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes at their initiation, assembly, and activation stages. The objection is to furnish theoretical support and practical guidance for the effective clinical application of these natural small molecule inhibitors.
NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Inflammasomes/metabolism* ; Inflammation/drug therapy* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Biological Products/therapeutic use* ; Drug Discovery ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods*

Cardiac fibrosis(CF) is a cardiac pathological process characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix(ECM). When the heart is damaged by adverse stimuli, cardiac fibroblasts are activated and secrete a large amount of ECM, leading to changes in cardiac fibrosis, myocardial stiffness, and cardiac function declines and accelerating the development of heart failure. There is a close relationship between heart yin deficiency and cardiac fibrosis, which have similar pathogenic mechanisms. Heart Yin deficiency, characterized by insufficient Yin fluids, causes the heart to lose its nourishing function, which acts as the initiating factor for myocardial dystrophy. The deficiency of body fluids leads to stagnation of blood flow, resulting in blood stasis and water retention. Blood stasis and water retention accumulate in the heart, which aligns with the pathological manifestation of excessive deposition of ECM, as a tangible pathogenic factor. This is an inevitable stage of the disease process. The lingering of blood stasis combined with water retention eventually leads to the generation of heat and toxins, triggering inflammatory responses similar to heat toxins, which continuously stimulate the heart and cause the ultimate outcome of CF. Considering the syndrome of heart Yin deficiency, traditional Chinese medicine capable of nourishing Yin, activating blood, and promoting urination can reduce myocardial cell apoptosis, inhibit fibroblast activation, and lower the inflammation level, showing significant advantages in combating CF.
Humans ; Fibrosis/drug therapy* ; Animals ; Yin Deficiency/metabolism* ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) resources are the essential material foundation for the development of TCM. The national survey of TCM resources serves as a periodic summary of these resources, ensuring the continuity, prosperity, and development of TCM in China. Since 1949, four national surveys of TCM resources have been conducted. The fourth survey incorporated an investigation into traditional knowledge related to TCM resources, including the traditional medicinal knowledge of Chinese ethnic minorities, with the goal of systematically exploring, preserving, and inheriting this knowledge. This manuscript provides an overview of the basic findings from the first three national surveys of TCM resources, while also clarifying the concepts, categories, forms, carriers, and acquisition pathways of traditional knowledge related to TCM resources. A preliminary summary of the findings from traditional knowledge investigations reported in current literature is also presented. Based on the fourth survey, this manuscript emphasizes the urgency of developing public medical knowledge through empirically-based investigations, the excavation, and compilation of traditional knowledge. It also outlines the potential for conducting "precise" investigations based on first-hand data obtained from the survey, as well as facilitating the discovery and evaluation of new medicines using traditional knowledge related to ethnic minority medicinal practices. This manuscript is expected to provide valuable insights for promoting the health and industrial development of ethnic minority populations in the post-"survey" phase.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; China/ethnology* ; Minority Groups ; Ethnicity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice/ethnology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Through evidence mapping, this paper systematically summarized the research evidence on the use of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in treating renal anemia, displaying the distribution of evidence in this field. A systematic search was conducted across databases, including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, SinoMed, Springner, PubMed, Engineering Village, and Web of Science, targeting studies published up to June 30, 2024. The research evidence was summarized and displayed through a combination of graphs, tables, and text. A total of 264 interventional studies, 37 observational studies, and 7 systematic reviews were included. The annual publication volumes related to TCM treatment in renal anemia showed an overall upward trend, with most studies involving sample sizes between 60 and 120 participants(224 articles, 74.42%). Intervention measures were categorized into 21 types, with oral TCM decoctions being the most common medicine(171 times, 56.81%). The use of self-made prescriptions was the most common TCM intervention method. The intervention duration was mainly between 8 weeks and 3 months(239 articles, 79.40%). The most frequently reported TCM syndrome was spleen and kidney Qi deficiency. The top 2 outcome indicators were the anemia indicators and renal injury/renal function markers. However, several issues were identified in these studies, such as insufficient attention to the sources, social/geographical information, and temporal continuity of research subjects in observational research. Randomized controlled trials mostly had a high risk of bias, mainly due to issues such as randomization bias, blinding bias, and failure to register research protocols. The methodology quality of systematic reviews was generally low, mainly due to inadequate inclusion of literature, failure to specify funding sources, and lack of pre-registrations. While the report quality of systematic review was acceptable, there were significant gaps in the reporting of protocols, registration, and funds. The results show that these issues affect the quality of research and the reliability of findings on TCM in treating renal anemia, underscoring the need to address them to conduct higher-quality research and provide more reliable medical evidence for TCM in treating renal anemia.
Humans ; Anemia/drug therapy* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Kidney Diseases/drug therapy*

Moringa oleifera, widely utilized in Ayurvedic medicine, is recognized for its leaves, seeds, and velamen possessing traditional effects such as vātahara(wind alleviation), sirovirecaka(brain clearing), and hridya(mental nourishment). This study aims to identify the medicinal part of ■ in the Sārasvata ghee formulation as described in the Bower Manuscript, while investigating the ameliorative effects of different medicinal parts of M. oleifera on learning and memory deficits in mice and elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms. A total of 144 male ICR mice were randomly assigned to the following groups: control, model(scopolamine hydrobromide, Sco, 2 mg·kg~(-1)), donepezil(donepezil hydrochloride, Don, 3 mg·kg~(-1)), M. oleifera leaf low-, medium-, and high-dose groups(0.5, 1, 2 g·kg~(-1)), M. oleifera seeds low-, medium-, and high-dose groups(0.25, 0.5, 1 g·kg~(-1)), and M. oleifera velamen low-, medium-, and high-dose groups(0.31, 0.62, 1.24 g·kg~(-1)). Learning and memory abilities were assessed using the passive avoidance test and Morris water maze. Nissl and HE staining were employed to examine histopathological changes in the hippocampus. Transcriptomics and targeted metabolomics were used to screen differential genes and metabolites, with MetaboAnalyst 6.0 and O2PLS methods applied to identify key disease-related targets and pathways. RESULTS:: demonstrated that M. oleifera leaf(1 g·kg~(-1)) significantly ameliorated Sco-induced learning and memory deficits, outperforming M. oleifera seeds(0.25 g·kg~(-1)) and M. oleifera velamen(1.24 g·kg~(-1)). This was evidenced by improved behavioral performance, reversal of neuronal damage, and reduced acetylcholinesterase(AChE) activity. Multi-omics analysis revealed that M. oleifera leaf upregulated Tuba1c gene expression through the synaptic vesicle cycle, enhancing glutamate(Glu), dopamine(DA), and acetylcholine(ACh) release via Tuba1c-Glu associations for neuroprotection. M. oleifera seeds targeted the dopaminergic synapse pathway, promoting memory consolidation through Drd2-ACh associations. M. oleifera velamen was associated with the cocaine addiction pathway, modulating dopamine metabolism via Adora2a-DOPAC, with limited relevance to learning and memory. In conclusion, M. oleifera leaf exhibits superior efficacy and mechanistic advantages over M. oleifera seeds and velamen, suggesting that the ■ in the Sārasvata ghee formulation is likely M. oleifera leaf, providing scientific evidence for its identification in ancient texts.
Animals ; Moringa oleifera/chemistry* ; Male ; Mice ; Seeds/chemistry* ; Plant Leaves/chemistry* ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Memory Disorders/psychology* ; Transcriptome/drug effects* ; Memory/drug effects* ; Learning/drug effects* ; Metabolomics ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Maze Learning/drug effects*