OBJECTIVES: As early as the Apollo 11 mission, astronauts experienced ocular, skin, and upper airway irritation after lunar dust (LD) was brought into the return cabin, drawing attention to its potential biological toxicity. However, the biological effects of LD exposure through the digestive system remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of digestive exposure to lunar dust simulant (LDS) on gut microbiota and on the intestine, liver, kidney, lung, and bone in mice. METHODS: Eight-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were used. LDS was used as a substitute for lunar dust, and Shaanxi loess was used as Earth dust (ED). Mice were randomly divided into a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) group, an ED group (500 mg/kg), and a LDS group (500 mg/kg), with assessments at days 7, 14, and 28. Mice were gavaged once every 3 days, with body weight recorded before each gavage. At sacrifice, fecal samples were analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing; inflammatory cytokine expression [interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)] in intestinal, liver, and lung tissues was measured by real-time reverse transcription PCR (real-time RT-PCR); hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed on lung, liver, and intestinal tissues; Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining was used to assess the integrity of the intestinal mucus barrier, and immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate the expression of mucin-2 (MUC2). Serum biochemical tests assessed hepatic and renal function. Femoral bone mass was analyzed by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT); osteoblasts and osteoclasts were assessed by osteocalcin (OCN) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. Bone marrow immune cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: At day 10, weight gain was slowed in ED and LDS groups. At days 22 and 28, body weight in both ED and LDS groups was significantly lower than controls (both P<0.05). LDS exposure increased microbial species richness and diversity at day 7. Compared with the PBS and ED groups, mice in the LDS group showed increased relative abundance of Deferribacterota, Desulfobacterota, and Campylobacterota, and decreased Firmicutes, with increased Helicobacter typhlonius and reduced Lactobacillus johnsonii and Lactobacillusmurinus. HE and PAS staining of the colon showed that mucosal structural disruption and goblet cell loss were more severe in the LDS group. In addition, immunohistochemistry revealed a significant downregulation of MUC2 expression in this group (P<0.05). No obvious pathological alterations were observed in liver HE staining among the 3 groups, and none of the groups exhibited notable hepatic or renal dysfunction. HE staining of the lungs in the ED and LDS groups showed increased perivascular inflammatory cell infiltration (both P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS LDS exposure via the digestive route induces gut dysbiosis, intestinal barrier disruption, pulmonary inflammation, bone loss, and bone marrow immune imbalance. These findings indicate that LD exposure poses potential health risks during future lunar missions. Targeted restoration of beneficial gut microbiota may represent a promising strategy to mitigate LD-related health hazards.
Animals ; Dust ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Dysbiosis/etiology* ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Moon ; Liver/metabolism* ; Digestive System/microbiology* ; Lung/metabolism* ; Kidney

OBJECTIVES: Due to prolonged exposure to cosmic radiation and meteorite impacts, lunar surface dust forms nanoscale angular particles with strong electrostatic adsorption properties. These dust particles pose potential inhalation risks, yet their pulmonary toxicological mechanisms remain unclear. Given the need for dust exposure protection in future lunar base construction and resource development, this study established an acute exposure model using lunar soil simulant (LSS) and used Earth soil (ES; Loess from Shaanxi, China) as a comparison to investigate lung injury mechanisms. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to 3 groups: Phosphate buffered saline (PBS), LSS, and ES, with 5 to 7 mice per group. Mice in the LSS and ES groups received a single intratracheal instillation to induce acute inhalation exposure. Body weight was monitored for 28 days. Mice were euthanized at days 3, 7, 14, and 28 post-exposure, and peripheral blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lung tissues were collected. Immune cell subsets in BALF were analyzed using flow cytometry. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining assessed lung structure and inflammation; periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining evaluated airway mucus secretion; Masson staining examined collagen deposition. Real-time reverse transcription PCR (real-time RT-PCR) was used to measure the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and epithelial barrier genes (Occludin, Cadherin-1, and Zo-1). Lung tissues at day 7 were subjected to transcriptomic sequencing, followed by immune infiltration and pathway enrichment analyses to determine immunoregulatory mechanisms. RESULTS: Body weight in the ES group progressively declined after day 18 (all P<0.05), while the LSS group showed no significant changes compared with the control group. HE staining showed both LSS and ES induced inflammatory cell infiltration around airways and vasculature, which persisted for 28 days but gradually lessened over time. PAS staining revealed marked mucus hypersecretion in the LSS group at day 3, followed by gradual recovery; no significant mucus changes were observed in the ES group. Masson staining indicated no obvious pulmonary fibrosis in either group within 28 days. Real-time RT-PCR demonstrated significant upregulation of IL-1β and TNF-α in both LSS and ES groups, peaking on day 7, accompanied by downregulation of epithelial barrier genes (Occludin, Cadherin-1, and Zo-1)(all P<0.05). Transcriptomic analysis showed that both LSS and ES activated chemokine-related pathways and enriched leukocyte migration and neutrophil recruitment pathways. Further validation revealed upregulation of CXCL2 and MMP12 in the LSS group, whereas CXCL3 and MMP12 were predominantly elevated in the ES group. CONCLUSIONS Both LSS and ES can induce sustained lung injury and neutrophil infiltration in mice, though the underlying molecular mechanisms differ. Compared with ES, exposure to LSS additionally triggers a transient eosinophilic response, suggesting that lunar dust particles possess stronger immunostimulatory potential and higher biological toxicity.
Animals ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Soil ; Lung Injury/etiology* ; Dust ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Moon ; Lung/pathology* ; Inhalation Exposure/adverse effects* ; Male

Objective To evaluate the impact of optimizing the stroke green channel on the efficiency of acute ischemic stroke management in a county hospital. Methods A retrospective analysis of the emergency stroke green channel treatment data from Sixian People’s Hospital from May 2020 to April 2021 (before optimization of the green channel) and from May 2021 to April 2022 (after optimization of the green channel) was conducted. The rates of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and mechanical thrombectomy (MT) patients, as well as door-to-needle time (DNT), door-to-puncture time (DPT), and the modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores of patients three months post-treatment before and after the optimization of the stroke green channel were compared. Results Within one year before and after optimization of the green channel, the number of acute visits for ischemic stroke was 3 143 and 2 623, respectively. Before optimization, 84 and 51 underwent IVT and MT, respectively. After optimization of the green channel, the ratios of patients underwent IVT (n＝215) and MT (n＝103) significantly increased, and both DNT and DPT were significantly shortened (P＜0.000 1); the proportion of MT patients with an mRS score of 0-2 at 3 months post-discharge significantly increased (46/99 vs 13/46, P＝0.038). Conclusion After optimizing the green channel at Sixian People’s Hospital, the efficiency of stroke treatment has significantly improved, and the patients’ prognosis improved.

Lead is one of the most important occupational hazards in China, and occupational exposure is the leading cause of lead poisoning. Lead can be absorbed by the body through air, food, drinking water and skin, and accumulate in multiple organs in the body, posing health risks to humans, especially to lead workers. Many previous studies have shown that lead can affect the function of glial cells such as microglia, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, resulting in irreversible neurological damage. This article provides an overview of the neurotoxic mechanism induced by lead through glial cells, elucidates that lead can induce neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer′s disease, Parkinson′s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and reviews the relationship between lead and glial cells, in order to provide reference for further research on the neurotoxic mechanism of lead on glial cells.

Lead is one of the most important occupational hazards in China, and occupational exposure is the leading cause of lead poisoning. Lead can be absorbed by the body through air, food, drinking water and skin, and accumulate in multiple organs in the body, posing health risks to humans, especially to lead workers. Many previous studies have shown that lead can affect the function of glial cells such as microglia, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, resulting in irreversible neurological damage. This article provides an overview of the neurotoxic mechanism induced by lead through glial cells, elucidates that lead can induce neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer′s disease, Parkinson′s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and reviews the relationship between lead and glial cells, in order to provide reference for further research on the neurotoxic mechanism of lead on glial cells.

Diabetic dry eye is a prevalent ocular surface disease and has a profound impact on patients'quality of visual acuity.The pathological changes of diabetic dry eye are influenced by a multitude of factors,involving the effects of hyperglycemia on the ocular surface microenvironment and corneal nerves,oxidative stress and the accumulative effect of glycation end products.Current therapeutic strategies include physiotherapy,tear replacement therapy,promotion of ocu-lar surface repair,and anti-inflammatory therapy.However,these treatments have certain limitations.This article presents a summary of the research conducted on the pathogenesis and clinical treatment of diabetic dry eye in recent years,aiming to provide clinicians with new ideas for developing personalized treatment plans for diabetic dry eye patients.

Objective:To evaluate the impact of bladder volume on dosimetric parameters of clinical target volume (CTV) and organs at risk (OAR) of intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) for localized prostate cancer during the treatment planning and daily treatment.Methods:Clinical data of 25 patients with localized prostate cancer admitted to Ruijin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from November 2021 to June 2022 and enrolled in the "Proton Therapy System" (SAPT-PS-01) registered clinical trial were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were male and the median age was 72 years old. A total of 30 sets of IMPT plans were obtained. Based on the planning CT (30 sets) and weekly verification CT during treatment (172 sets), bladder volume, CTV and OAR dose parameters were collected. Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between bladder volume in CT and the dosimetric parameters of CTV and OAR during IMPT plans, and Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test was adopted to compare the dosimetric parameters of CTV and OAR among different bladder volume change groups.Results:The V 95% of CTV1 and CTV2 were both 100.0%±0.0% in IMPT plans. Bladder volume was significantly negatively correlated with D mean, V 70 Gy(RBE), V 60 Gy(RBE), V 50 Gy(RBE), V 40 Gy(RBE) of the bladder ( P<0.001, 0.003, <0.001, <0.001,<0.001), and D mean, V 50 Gy(RBE) of the small intestine (both P<0.001). During treatment, bladder D mean, V 70 Gy(RBE), V 60 Gy(RBE), V 50 Gy(RBE), V 40 Gy(RBE)( P<0.001, 0.001, <0.001, <0.001, <0.001), rectal D mean, V 50 Gy(RBE), V 40 Gy(RBE) (all P<0.001), small intestine D mean, V 50 Gy (RBE) (both P<0.001) of patients with bladder volume increase >20% compared to baseline were significantly decreased compared to those in IMPT plans. But CTV1 V 100%, and CTV2 V 95% were significantly decreased too( P=0.029, 0.020). In the bladder volume decreased>20% patients, the D mean, V 70 Gy(RBE), V 60 Gy(RBE), V 50 Gy(RBE), V 40 Gy(RBE) of the bladder were significantly increased compared to those in IMPT plans (all P<0.001). However, a bladder volume reduction of ≤20% and increase of ≤20% from baseline had no significant impact on CTV and OAR dosimetric parameters during treatment. Conclusions:For patients with localized prostate cancer undergoing proton therapy, a certain bladder volume should be ensured during planning CT scans. During the daily treatment, the bladder volume should be maintained between 80%-120% of the baseline level to ensure CTV coverage and good dose sparing to OAR.

Objective To develop an expert consensus on subcutaneous injection nursing for allergic asthma in children,standardize nursing practice to reduce the occurrence of related adverse reactions.Methods The clinical guideline,expert consensus,systematic review,evidence summary and original research on subcutaneous injection of monoclonal antibody drug for children with allergic asthma were comprehensively searched in domestic and foreign databases.The time limit for retrieval was from the establishment of databases until August 2023.Combined with clinical practice experience,the first draft of the consensus was formed.From December 2023 to February 2024,27 experts were invited to conduct 2 rounds of expert letter consultation,revise and improve the contents of the first draft,and expert demonstration was conducted,and finally a consensus final draft was formed.Results The effective recovery rate of the 2 rounds of letter consultation questionnaires was 100％;the authority coefficient of experts was 0.88;the judging basis coefficient was 0.93;the familiarity coefficient was 0.83.In the 2 rounds of correspondence,the Kendall concordant coefficients of expert opinions were 0.241 and 0.252,respectively(P＜0.001 for both).The consensus includes 6 parts,including personnel management,environmental layout,indications and contraindications,subcutaneous injection operation norms,identification and treatment of adverse reactions,and health education.Conclusion The consensus is strongly scientific and practical,and can provide guidance for nursing practice of subcutaneous injection of monoclonal antibodies in children with allergic asthma.

To investigate the effect of long-term indwelling gastric tube on the prevention and treatment of esophageal stenosis after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for esophageal circumferential superficial cancer, data of patients with esophageal circumferential superficial cancer who underwent ESD in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2018 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 15 patients with gastric tube placement (GTP) after ESD (the GTP group ), and 23 patients without GTP (the non-GTP group). The general information, lesion location, pathological stage, postoperative complications, degree of esophageal stenosis (water intake), pain conditions, number of hospitalizations and medical expenses were compared between the two groups. The results showed that there was no significant difference in age, gender, lesion location or postoperative pathological stage between the two groups ( P>0.05). Compared with the non-GTP group, the rate of water intake in the GTP group was significantly higher (11/15 VS 6/23, P<0.05), the frequency of pain was less in the GTP group (7.3±3.1 times VS 10.7±3.6 times, t=3.00, P<0.05), and the number of hospitalizations and the medical expenses after ESD to before and after stent placement were significantly lower in the GTP group than those in the non-GTP group ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the incidence of delayed bleeding and perforation, or time of the first stenosis after ESD between the two groups ( P>0.05). The results of the study initially showed that long-term indwelling gastric tube after ESD can reduce the degree of esophageal stenosis with good safety for esophageal circumferential superficial lesions.

Purpose: This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the clinical efficacy of chemotherapy or endocrine therapy maintenance in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. Materials and Methods: The meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and propensity score matching of multicenter cohort study evaluated MBC patients who underwent first-line chemotherapy or endocrine therapy maintenance. This study is registered with PROSPERO: CRD42017071858 and ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04258163. Results: A total of 2,867 patients from 15 RCTs and 760 patients from multicenter cohort were included. The results from meta-analysis showed that chemotherapy maintenance improved progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio [HR], 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54 to 0.73; p < 0.001; moderate-quality evidence) and overall survival (OS) (HR, 0.87; 95% CI 0.78 to 0.97; p=0.016; high-quality evidence) than observation. In the cohort study, for hormone receptor–positive MBC patients, chemotherapy maintenance improved PFS (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.85; p < 0.001) and OS (HR, 0.55; 95% CI 0.42 to 0.73; p < 0.001) compared with observation, and endocrine therapy maintenance also improved PFS (HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.80; p < 0.001) and OS (HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.69; p < 0.001). There were no differences between chemotherapy and endocrine therapy maintenance in PFS and OS (all p > 0.05). Regardless of the continuum or switch maintenance therapy, showed prolonged survival in MBC patients who were response to first-line treatment. Conclusion This study provided evidences for survival benefits of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy maintenance in MBC patients, and there was no difference efficacy between chemotherapy and endocrine therapy maintenance for hormone receptor–positive patients.