Background Benzothiazoles and benzotriazoles are ubiquitously detected in drinking water, posing potential health risks. Developing a reliable and sensitive analytical method is critical for assessing their exposure levels and associated risks. Objective To establish an automated solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous determination of benzothiazole, 2-aminobenzothiazole, benzotriazole, and 5-chlorobenzotriazole in drinking water. Methods Key parameters were systematically optimized. Three mobile phase systems were compared to evaluate their effects on chromatographic peak shape and separation; three SPE cartridges were tested for extraction efficiency; the influences of water pH on extraction recoveries and matrix effects were investigated; the contributions of pretreatment steps to benzothiazole blank were analyzed, and control measures were established; nitrogen evaporation temperatures were tested to ensure analyte stability. The optimized parameters were used to develop the method, validate its performance, and analyze drinking water samples. Results Drinking water samples were first adjusted to pH 6.0 with formic acid, and then extracted using HLB cartridges. After elution with 6 mL methanol, the eluate was concentrated under nitrogen evaporation at 45 °C, followed by separation on a C18 column using a gradient elution of acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid solution, and tandem mass spectrometry detection. Avoiding nitrogen blow-drying during SPE and eliminating the use of polypropylene materials during nitrogen evaporation can effectively minimize benzothiazole contamination. Good calibration linearity was obtained for the target analytes in the concentration range of 5.0-250 μg·L⁻¹, with a correlation coefficient of r > 0.995. The method detection limits were in the range of 1.0-5.0 ng·L⁻¹. The recoveries of the target analytes in pure water and tap water were 80.2%-119.5% and 72.2%-115.6%, respectively, with relative standard deviations of were 3.2%-12.8% and 2.3%-11.6%, respectively. When applying this method to actual water samples, benzotriazole was detected in 100% of treated and tap water samples, with median concentrations of 79.4 ng·L⁻¹ and 114 ng·L⁻¹, respectively. Benzothiazole was detected in 83.3% of treated water samples and 100% of tap water samples, with median concentrations of 48.3 ng·L⁻¹ and 65.4 ng·L⁻¹, respectively. In addition, 5-chloro-benzotriazole exhibited low detection rates and concentrations, while 2-amino-benzothiazole was undetected. Conclusion The developed method demonstrates high accuracy, reliability, and sensitivity, making it suitable for the analysis of trace levels of benzothiazoles and benzotriazoles in drinking water.

Several types of arthritis share the common feature that the generation of inflammatory mediators leads to joint cartilage degradation. However, the shared mechanism is largely unknown. H2BK120ub1 was reportedly involved in various inflammatory diseases but its role in the shared mechanism in inflammatory joint conditions remains elusive. The present study demonstrated that levels of cartilage degradation, H2BK120ub1, and its regulator WW domain-containing adapter protein with coiled-coil (WAC) were increased in cartilage in human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients as well as in experimental RA and OA mice. By regulating H2BK120ub1 and H3K27me3, WAC regulated the secretion of inflammatory and cartilage-degrading factors. WAC influenced the level of H3K27me3 by regulating nuclear entry of the H3K27 demethylase KDM6B, and acted as a key factor of the crosstalk between H2BK120ub1 and H3K27me3. The cartilage-specific knockout of WAC demonstrated the ability to alleviate cartilage degradation in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and collagenase-induced osteoarthritis (CIOA) mice. Through molecular docking and dynamic simulation, doxercalciferol was found to inhibit WAC and the development of cartilage degradation in the CIA and CIOA models. Our study demonstrated that WAC is a key factor of cartilage degradation in arthritis, and targeting WAC by doxercalciferol could be a viable therapeutic strategy for treating cartilage destruction in several types of arthritis.

Glutamine provides carbon and nitrogen to support the proliferation of cancer cells. However, the precise reason why cancer cells are particularly dependent on glutamine remains unclear. In this study, we report that glutamine modulates the tumor suppressor F-box and WD repeat domain-containing 7 (FBW7) to promote cancer cell proliferation and survival. Specifically, lysine 604 (K604) in the sixth of the 7 substrate-recruiting WD repeats of FBW7 undergoes glutaminylation (Gln-K604) by glutaminyl tRNA synthetase. Gln-K604 inhibits SCFFBW7-mediated degradation of c-Myc and Mcl-1, enhances glutamine utilization, and stimulates nucleotide and DNA biosynthesis through the activation of c-Myc. Additionally, Gln-K604 promotes resistance to apoptosis by activating Mcl-1. In contrast, SIRT1 deglutaminylates Gln-K604, thereby reversing its effects. Cancer cells lacking Gln-K604 exhibit overexpression of c-Myc and Mcl-1 and display resistance to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Silencing both c-MYC and MCL-1 in these cells sensitizes them to chemotherapy. These findings indicate that the glutamine-mediated signal via Gln-K604 is a key driver of cancer progression and suggest potential strategies for targeted cancer therapies based on varying Gln-K604 status.
Glutamine/metabolism* ; Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein/genetics* ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/genetics* ; Cell Proliferation ; Signal Transduction ; Neoplasms/pathology* ; F-Box-WD Repeat-Containing Protein 7/genetics* ; Cell Survival ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Apoptosis

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the characteristics and clinical significance of anorectal manometry measurements in children with tethered cord syndrome (TCS) before and after surgery. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 44 children with TCS treated at the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 2022 to September 2023. These patients were divided into effective subgroup (n=34) and non-effective subgroup (n=10) based on postoperative symptom improvement. Additionally, 34 children with functional constipation were selected as a control group. Baseline data and manometry measurements were compared between the preoperative TCS group and the control group, as well as between the non-effective and effective subgroups. RESULTS: The TCS group had lower short contraction time and defecation relaxation rate compared to the control group (P<0.05), while defecation residual pressure and maximum rectal tolerable threshold were higher than the control group (P<0.05). The length of the anal canal in the high-pressure zone in the effective subgroup was greater postoperatively than preoperatively (P<0.05), and the initial rectal sensation threshold decreased postoperatively (P<0.05). The non-effective subgroup had lower preoperative maximum rectal expulsion pressure compared to the effective subgroup (P<0.05). Postoperative rectal anal inhibition reflex values in the effective subgroup were higher than those in the non-effective subgroup (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There are some differences in anorectal dynamics between children with TCS and those with functional constipation. Maximum rectal expulsion pressure may be a key predictor of surgical outcomes. Surgery can alter certain defecation functions in some children.
Humans ; Male ; Anal Canal/physiopathology* ; Female ; Rectum/physiopathology* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Retrospective Studies ; Manometry ; Neural Tube Defects/physiopathology* ; Infant ; Defecation ; Adolescent ; Constipation/physiopathology* ; Clinical Relevance

Functional dyspepsia (FD), characterized by persistent or recurrent dyspeptic symptoms without identifiable organic, systemic or metabolic causes, is an increasingly recognized global health issue. The objective of this guideline is to equip clinicians and nursing professionals with evidence-based strategies for the management and treatment of adult patients with FD using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The Guideline Development Group consulted existing TCM consensus documents on FD and convened a panel of 35 clinicians to generate initial clinical queries. To address these queries, a systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database, China Biology Medicine (SinoMed) Database, Wanfang Database, Traditional Medicine Research Data Expanded (TMRDE), and the Traditional Chinese Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System (TCMLARS). The evidence from the literature was critically appraised using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The strength of the recommendations was ascertained through a consensus-building process involving TCM and allopathic medicine experts, methodologists, pharmacologists, nursing specialists, and health economists, leveraging their collective expertise and empirical knowledge. The guideline comprises a total of 43 evidence-informed recommendations that span a range of clinical aspects, including the pathogenesis according to TCM, diagnostic approaches, therapeutic interventions, efficacy assessments, and prognostic considerations. Please cite this article as: Zhang SS, Zhao LQ, Hou XH, Bian ZX, Zheng JH, Tian HH, Yang GH, Hong WS, He YY, Liu L, Shen H, Li YP, Xie S, Shu J, Zeng BF, Li JX, Liu Z, Xiao ZH, Xiao JD, Zheng PY, Huang SG, Chen SL, Fei GJ. International clinical practice guideline on the use of traditional Chinese medicine for functional dyspepsia (2025). J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):502-518.
Dyspepsia/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between physical activity and genetic risk and their combined effects on the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 318,085 biobank participants from the UK. Physical activity was assessed using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The participants were stratified into low-, intermediate-, and high-genetic-risk groups based on their polygenic risk scores. Multivariate Cox regression models and multiplicative interaction analyses were used. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 13 years, 9,209 participants were diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For low genetic risk, compared to low physical activity, the hazard ratios ( HRs) for moderate and high physical activity were 0.853 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: 0.748-0.972) and 0.831 (95% CI: 0.727-0.950), respectively. For intermediate genetic risk, the HRs were 0.829 (95% CI: 0.758-0.905) and 0.835 (95% CI: 0.764-0.914), respectively. For participants with high genetic risk, the HRs were 0.809 (95% CI: 0.746-0.877) and 0.818 (95% CI: 0.754-0.888), respectively. A significant interaction was observed between genetic risk and physical activity. CONCLUSION Moderate or high levels of physical activity were associated with a lower risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease across all genetic risk groups, highlighting the need to tailor activity interventions for genetically susceptible individuals.
Humans ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/epidemiology* ; Exercise ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Aged ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Risk Factors ; United Kingdom/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Adult

The MXene/MF microspheres were prepared by coating MXene nanosheets on melamine formaldehyde(MF)resin microspheres.Co(NO3)2 was adsorbed on the surface of the microspheres by impregnation,and then calcined at high temperature in an argon atmosphere.MF pyrolysis generated reducing gases such as CO and NH3,reducing Co2+to elemental Co,which was then used as a catalyst for in situ growth of carbon nanotube(CNT)through chemical vapor deposition(CVD),forming MXene-Co-CNT microspheres(MXene-Co-CNT MS).During this process,the pyrolysis of MF microspheres had dual effects.On one hand,the template was sacrificed to produce an internal hollow structure,and on the other hand,the generated gas worked as carbon source to generate CNT,forming an external sea urchin-like structure.Both of them promoted the formation of a novel structure,which combined the advantages of large specific surface area and good conductivity,thus possessing excellent electrocatalytic activity.The MXene-Co-CNT MS was modified on glassy carbon electrode(GCE)and further used in highly sensitive detection of nitroaromatic compounds(NACs).The detection limits of MXene-Co-CNT MS/GCE for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene(TNT),1,3,5-nitrobenzamide(TNB),2,4-dinitrotoluene(DNT),1,3-dinitrobenzene(DNB),1-Cl-2,4-dinitrotoluene(Cl-DNB),and 4-nitrophenol(4-NP)were 26.84,31.60,35.03,54.14,43.86 and 28.67 nmol/L,respectively.It also had excellent anti-interference ability,and was used to detect NACs in environmental water samples accurately.

In this work,near infrared carbon quantum dots(NIR-CDs)were synthesized by hydrothermal method using biomass material Clausena lansium leaves.The synthesized NIR-CDs emitted maximum fluorescence signal at 677 nm,which was independent of excitation wavelength.The characterization results showed that there were abundant groups on the surface of NIR-CDs.Pd2+could form non-fluorescent compounds with the surface groups of NIR-CDs,resulting in fluorescence quenching(Fluorescence signal was denoted as F0).Because chlorpromazine hydrochloride(CPZ)parent nucleus contained unoxidized S atom,CPZ could form stable colored complex with Pd2+under acidic conditions.In the presence of CPZ,Pd2+dissociated from the surface of NIR-CDs and bonded with CPZ,so that the fluorescence signal could be restored(Fluorescence signal was denoted as F).An"on-off-on"fluorescence sensor was thus constructed.The fluorescence signal recovery value of NIR-CDs(△F=F-F0)showed a good linear relationship with the concentration of CPZ in the range of 5.68-28.43 μg/mL,and the detection limit(3σ)was 0.078 μg/mL.The sensor was applied to determination of CPZ in pharmaceutical preparations,and the recoveries were 94％-106％.The developed fluorescence sensor was expected to be used in quality control of actual pharmaceutical preparations.

In this report, the protective effect and molecular mechanism of Chaihu Shugan San-containing serum on corticosterone(CORT)-induced mitochondrial damage in pheochromocytoma(PC12) cells was studied based on CORT-induced rat PC12 cell model. The cultured cells were divided into five groups: blank control group, CORT group(400 μmol·L~(-1) CORT), Chaihu Shugan San-containing serum group(400 μmol·L~(-1) CORT + 10% Chaihu Shugan San-containing serum), control serum group(400 μmol·L~(-1) CORT + 10% control serum), and fluoxetine group(400 μmol·L~(-1) CORT + 10% fluoxetine-containing serum). The study was carried out by cell activity detection, mitochondrial morphology observation, membrane potential measurement, energy metabolism analysis, and mitochondrial dynamics-related protein detection. The results showed that CORT treatment significantly reduced the survival rate of PC12 cells, altered mitochondrial morphology, and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and adenosine triphosphate(ATP) synthetic rate. Both Chaihu Shugan San-and fluoxetine-containing serum significantly increased the survival rate of CORT-treated PC12 cells and the ATP synthetic rate in the mitochondria. Unlike fluoxetine, Chaihu Shugan San-containing serum significantly inhibited the decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential caused by CORT and increased the oxygen consumption rate(OCR) values of both mitochondrial maximum respiration and reserve respiration capacity. Western blot analysis showed that CORT induced upregulated protein expressions of dynamin-related protein 1(Drp1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1α(PGC-1α) in PC12 cells and specific protein expression of optic atrophy protein 1(OPA1), yet it repressed the protein expressions of silent information regulator 1(SIRT1) and mitochondrial fusion protein 1(Mfn1) in PC12 cells. Both Chaihu Shugan San-and fluoxetine-containing serum significantly inhibited the protein expression of Drp1. However, only Chaihu Shugan San-containing serum could significantly inhibit the CORT-induced upregulation protein of PGC-1α. RESULTS:: herein suggest that Chaihu Shugan San-containing serum can alleviate CORT-induced damage in PC12 cells, which may be related to the mitochondrial fragmentation/lipid peroxidation protection by Drp1 inhibition, as well as mitochondrial dynamics and energy metabolism mediated by PGC-1α/SIRT1 signaling pathway.
Animals ; PC12 Cells ; Rats ; Mitochondrial Dynamics/drug effects* ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Corticosterone/adverse effects* ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Protective Agents/pharmacology* ; Cell Survival/drug effects*

Objective:To investigate the relationship between lipid levels and cognitive impairment in the elderly Chinese population using prospective cohort data.Methods:Based on the China-PAR (Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China) cohort, this study included 24 380 individuals aged ≥60 years who participated in the cognitive function follow-up survey from 2018 to 2019. Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), with cognitive impairment defined according to different educational levels: MMSE ≤17 for illiterate individuals, MMSE ≤20 for those with primary education and MMSE ≤24 for those with secondary education or above. Multivariable linear regression and logistic regression models were employed to examine the associations between six baseline lipid indicators and cognitive scores, as well as cognitive impairment. Additionally, restricted cubic splines were used to explore the exposure-dose relationship between lipid levels and cognitive function.Results:The study population had a median follow-up time of 11.6 years, with a baseline age of (59.7±6.8) years. Among the participants, 9 510 (39.0%) were males, and the mean MMSE score was 24.7±6.8. A total of 3 887 individuals (15.9%) were identified as cognitively impaired. The results of multivariable linear regression and logistic regression indicated that total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) levels were not only significantly positively associated with cognitive scores but also significantly associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment. Each 1 mmol/L increase in these lipid levels corresponded to β values (95% CI) of 0.267 (0.173-0.361), 0.385(0.271-0.499) and 0.331(0.231-0.431), respectively. Each 1 mmol/L increase in these lipid levels corresponded to odds ratio ( OR) (95% CI) values of 0.915 (0.876-0.956), 0.875 (0.830-0.923) and 0.886 (0.848-0.927), respectively. The dose-response curve demonstrated that the negative association was primarily observed within the guideline-recommended optimal lipid level range. Specifically, when LDL-C was less than 3.4 mmol/L and non-HDL-C was less than 4.1 mmol/L, the corresponding OR (95% CI) values were 0.859 (0.796-0.926) and 0.876 (0.818-0.939). Conclusion:Lipid levels exhibit a certain linear negative association with cognitive impairment in elderly Chinese adults, with LDL-C and non-HDL-C demonstrating a stronger effect, particularly within the guideline-recommended optimal range.