ObjectiveSpinal cord injury (SCI) directly impairs the regulatory function of the autonomic nervous system, induces intestinal dysfunction, and significantly reduces patients’ quality of life. Preclinical studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) therapy can regulate the brain-gut axis and is used to treat central nervous system diseases such as major depressive disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Recent research has established that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from EA-treated SCI rats restored intestinal motility and colonic morphology. However, it remains unclear whether the regulation of gut microbiota by EA therapy directly contributes to neural repair after SCI. This study aims to explore whether gut microbiota mediates the neuroprotective effect of EA in the treatment of SCI and its possible mechanism. MethodsThe study employed RNA transcriptome analysis of spinal cord tissue to characterize gene expression profiles and to identify key signaling pathways following EA treatment for SCI. Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining and Nissl staining were used to observe the morphological changes in spinal cord tissue. Western blot (WB) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were applied to detect the effects of EA on the expression of proteins related to nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 (NLRP3) -dependent pyroptosis. Using 16S rDNA sequencing, the study observed alterations in gut microbiota diversity and community composition in SCI rats. Prior to establishing SCI models, rats were pretreated with an antibiotic cocktail to induce gut dysbiosis, and the effects on intestinal function and spinal cord neural repair were evaluated. FMT was performed to investigate the regulatory effects of post-EA FMT on motor function, general status, liver and spleen indices, and NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in SCI rats. ResultsEA improved motor function and reduced regulated neuronal cell death in SCI rats. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated the activation of immune- and inflammation-related pathways post-SCI, including NOD-like receptors, nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB), and Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways. EA primarily influenced intestinal inflammation and autoimmune functions. 16S rDNA sequencing illustrated that EA did not alter the diversity of gut microbiota. However, EA altered the gut microbiota composition in SCI rats, increasing Lactobacillus and Akkermansia genera while rebalancing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Furthermore, depletion of gut microbiota by antibiotics disrupted the intestinal barrier, reduced the expression of intestinal barrier proteins Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1) and Occludin, elevated serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) levels, exacerbated spinal cord tissue damage, and hindered motor function recovery in SCI rats. FMT from donors treated with EA reduced LBP levels in the intestine, blood, and spinal cord of rats, inhibited the TLR4 myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88)-NF‑κB pathway and NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis, and improved motor function. On the other hand, FMT treatment resulted in decreased body weight and food intake, whereas FMT using EA-treated donors effectively alleviated these alterations. ConclusionEA effectively alleviated neuroinflammatory responses in rats with SCI, primarily through regulating the gut microbiota and suppressing the NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis signaling pathway.

ObjectiveSpinal cord injury (SCI) directly impairs the regulatory function of the autonomic nervous system, induces intestinal dysfunction, and significantly reduces patients’ quality of life. Preclinical studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) therapy can regulate the brain-gut axis and is used to treat central nervous system diseases such as major depressive disorder, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Recent research has established that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from EA-treated SCI rats restored intestinal motility and colonic morphology. However, it remains unclear whether the regulation of gut microbiota by EA therapy directly contributes to neural repair after SCI. This study aims to explore whether gut microbiota mediates the neuroprotective effect of EA in the treatment of SCI and its possible mechanism. MethodsThe study employed RNA transcriptome analysis of spinal cord tissue to characterize gene expression profiles and to identify key signaling pathways following EA treatment for SCI. Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining and Nissl staining were used to observe the morphological changes in spinal cord tissue. Western blot (WB) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were applied to detect the effects of EA on the expression of proteins related to nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 (NLRP3) -dependent pyroptosis. Using 16S rDNA sequencing, the study observed alterations in gut microbiota diversity and community composition in SCI rats. Prior to establishing SCI models, rats were pretreated with an antibiotic cocktail to induce gut dysbiosis, and the effects on intestinal function and spinal cord neural repair were evaluated. FMT was performed to investigate the regulatory effects of post-EA FMT on motor function, general status, liver and spleen indices, and NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in SCI rats. ResultsEA improved motor function and reduced regulated neuronal cell death in SCI rats. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated the activation of immune- and inflammation-related pathways post-SCI, including NOD-like receptors, nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB), and Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways. EA primarily influenced intestinal inflammation and autoimmune functions. 16S rDNA sequencing illustrated that EA did not alter the diversity of gut microbiota. However, EA altered the gut microbiota composition in SCI rats, increasing Lactobacillus and Akkermansia genera while rebalancing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Furthermore, depletion of gut microbiota by antibiotics disrupted the intestinal barrier, reduced the expression of intestinal barrier proteins Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1) and Occludin, elevated serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) levels, exacerbated spinal cord tissue damage, and hindered motor function recovery in SCI rats. FMT from donors treated with EA reduced LBP levels in the intestine, blood, and spinal cord of rats, inhibited the TLR4 myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88)-NF‑κB pathway and NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis, and improved motor function. On the other hand, FMT treatment resulted in decreased body weight and food intake, whereas FMT using EA-treated donors effectively alleviated these alterations. ConclusionEA effectively alleviated neuroinflammatory responses in rats with SCI, primarily through regulating the gut microbiota and suppressing the NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis signaling pathway.

Background: Cerebral hypoxia-ischemia impairs brain development in extremely preterm infants and is associated with poor neurological outcomes. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a noninvasive continuous monitoring method for regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rcSO2).Purpose: This study evaluated the clinical feasibility and neurological impact of a neurocritical care bundle that incorporates prolonged multidisciplinary hemodynamic monitoring and a stepwise management algorithm. Methods: Preterm infants with a gestational age (GA) ≤28 weeks or birth weight (BW) ≤1,000 g were prospectively enrolled in a bundle group subjected to NIRS for rcSO2, electrical cardiometry for cardiac output, and daily brain and cardiac echography during the first 72 hours of life. Monitoring was repeated weekly in the first month and then monthly until discharge or the term-equivalent age (TEA) was reached. We implemented a stepwise management algorithm for treating cerebral hypoxia. The primary outcome was a composite of mortality and adverse neurological events (structural abnormalities or electroencephalogram-confirmed seizures) before discharge. The secondary outcomes were the physiological pattern of rcSO2 within the initial 72 hours and up to discharge or TEA. Results: Thirty preterm infants (GA, 27.1±2.0 weeks; BW, 830±225 g) were enrolled in the bundle group. The mean time-averaged rcSO2 (66.8%±10.3%) was not associated with GA or BW. However, postnatal age appeared to influence physiological rcSO2 changes, given that rcSO2 values were higher during the initial 72 hours than at subsequent intervals. Seven infants (23.3%) had poor outcomes and significantly lower time-averaged rcSO2 (51.1% [50.0%–65.2%] vs. 71.8% [67.1%–73.1%], P=0.002). Multivariate regression indicated that a lower rcSO2 was an independent risk factor, and a 65% threshold showed an optimal predictive value for poor outcomes. Conclusion The neurocritical care bundle helped identify preterm infants at risk of cerebral hypoxia, and lower rcSO2 was an independent risk factor for composite mortality and adverse neurological outcomes.

Objective To gain insights into the biological characteristics of different populations of Culex tritaeniorhynchus within and around the Yellow Sea wetland from the perspective of the occurrence of resistance, we investigated the levels of resistance to deltamethrin and kdr gene mutation in the wetland and its peripheral areas. Methods Specimens were collected from Cx. tritaeniorhynchus populations at two monitoring sites in the Rare Bird National Nature Reserve and Tiaozi Ni Wetland Scenic Area, and also from two populations in Yancheng City and the Liuhe District of Nanjing, and the resistance of these mosquitoes to deltamethrin was determined using the CDC biotest bottle method. For each concentration of deltamethrin assessed, a random subset of exposed specimens was selected for amplification of the kdr gene fragment, followed by Sanger sequencing to identify and analyze resistance-associated mutations. Results The LC50 levels of deltamethrin among mosquitoes from the four populations in Luhe, Yancheng, the Rare Bird National Nature Reserve and the Tiaozi Ni Wetland Scenic Area were 2.048 5, 7.798 2, 3.473 3, and 17.695 5 mg/mL, respectively, with corresponding concentrations of deltamethrin ranging from 0.005 to 5.000,0.050 to 50.000,0.050 to 25.000 and 0.050 to 50.000 mg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the ranges of the KT50 values were 11.76-107.43, 67.05-216.30,29.77-107.43 and 28.40-329.51 min; the 1-h knockdown rates were 34.58%-99.15%, 9.52%-43.80%, 55.09%-73.01%, and 10.09%-68.07%; and the 24-h mortality rates were 12.15%-67.52%,9.52%-79.56%,13.17%-82.21%, and 11.01%-78.99%, respectively. With respect to kdr gene mutation, we assayed a total of 63,70,59, and 57 mosquitoes for the four populations, for which we detected L1014F mutation frequencies of 14.29%, 35.00%, 20.34%, and 31.58%, respectively, with a majority of these mutations being heterozygous for resistance. In addition, five adult mosquitoes were identified has having synonymous mutations at site 1011[i. e. , AAT(asparagine)mutation to AAC(asparagine)]. Conclusions Our findings revealed the clear resistance of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus to deltamethrin in the Yancheng region of the Yellow Sea wetland, and the resistance phenotype and kdr frequency of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in the wetland environment were comparable to those of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in the wetland environment, thereby indicating that the resistance of different populations of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus was homogeneous under the pressure of different insecticide selection within and around the wetland. However, the underlying mechanisms need to be further studied.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the characteristics and safety of finerenone use in hospitalized patients with acute heart failure （AHF）.METHODS A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted， enrolling 171 AHF patients who initiated finerenone therapy during hospitalization at The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China between November 2023 and April 2026. Baseline characteristics， finerenone use patterns，in-hospital major and minor safety endpoints were collected. Univariate intergroup analysis， univariate and multivariate Logistic regression were performed to identify predictive factors （Firth’s penalized likelihood method was used when events were sparse）. Propensity score matching （PSM） and stabilized inverse probability of treatment weighting （sIPTW） were employed to compare the safety differences between early initiation （≤3 d） and intermediate-to-late initiation （＞3 d） of finerenone. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to verify the robustness of the hyperkalemia-related results.RESULTS A total of 171 hospitalized patients with AHF were included， with 63.7% having heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. The median time to finerenone initiation was 2 d after admission， with early initiation accounting for 64.3%， an initial dose of 10 mg once daily accounting for 83.0%， and concomitant use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor （SGLT2i） accounting for 83.6%. In the overall cohort， the incidence of hyperkalemia was 3.5%， the incidence of acute kidney injury was 13.5%， and the incidence of the composite endpoint was 21.6%. Concomitant SGLT2i use was associated with a lower risk of hyperkalemia in univariable Logistic regression （OR＝0.18， 95%CI of 0.04-0.86， P ＝0.032） and showed a trend toward a protective association after multivariable Logistic regression adjustment， although this did not reach statistical significance （OR＝0.24， 95%CI of 0.05-1.21， P ＝0.084）； after multivariable Logistic regression adjustment，baseline serum potassium was independently associated with the risk of the composite endpoint （OR＝2.01， 95%CI of 1.06-3.82， P ＝0.032）. Both PSM（OR＝0.70， 95%CI of 0.27-1.83）and sIPTW（OR＝0.70， 95%CI of 0.32-1.52）analyses showed that early initiation of finerenone did not increase the risk of the composite endpoint. Sensitivity analysis results were consistent with the overall cohort analysis.CONCLUSIONS The enrolled patients initiated finerenone early with reasonable starting doses， and a high proportion received concomitant SGLT2i therapy； early initiation did not increase the risk of in-hospital hyperkalemia or acute kidney injury， with an overall favorable safety profile， and concomitant SGLT2i use showed a protective trend with respect to hyperkalemia risk.

Objective To explore the clinical and pathological characteristics of medullary thyroid carcinoma(MTC)combined with papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC),and to improve the detection rate of mixed thyroid tumors.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinicopathological data of 11 cases of MTC combined with PTC diagnosed in the Department of Pathology,Jiangsu Province Hospital on Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine from April 2010 to April 2025,and analysis.Results Among the 11 patients,there were 4 males and 7 females with a median age of 57 years.The preoperative puncture pathology of 11 cases was not diagnosed as MTC combined with PTC.All patients underwent intraoperative rapid pathological diagnosis.Among them,5 cases were MTC combined with PTC,3 cases were PTC combined with thyroid follicular neoplasm,and the rest were diagnosed with single tumor(PTC or MTC).Conventional pathology diagnosed that all 11 patients had MTC combined with PTC,among which 2 cases were mixed MTC-PTC,and 6 cases were combined with multinodular goiter,and 3 cases combined with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis.The histological morphology of MTC and PTC was diverse,presenting in arrangements such as papillary,island,follicular or solid.MTC cells are round,oval,spindle-shaped or plasma cell-like,with indistinct boundaries.The cytoplasm is eosinophilic,bicolotropic or transparent.The nucleus is round,irregular or spindle-shaped,with rough chromatin that does not have the characteristics of PTC cell nuclei.Amyloid deposits are seen in the interstitium.Immunohistochemistry expresses calcitonin(CT)and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),but does not express thyroglobulin(Tg).Special staining shows Congo red as brick red,and under a polarizing microscope,it appears as a refractive apple green.The nuclei of PTC cells are round or oval,and the cytoplasm is eosinophilic or bicolotropic.The nuclei are enlarged and arranged in a crowded manner.Nuclear grooves and pseudo-inclusions within the nucleus can be seen.Immunohistochemistry expressed thyroid transcription factor-1,paired box gene 8,and mesothelial cell membrane protein protenin mesothelial cell membrane protenin-1,Tg,galectin-3,cytokeratin are not expressed.CT and CEA are not expressed.Special staining is negative for Congo red.Conclusion MTC combined with PTC is relatively rare.There are no special manifestations in clinical features and imaging examinations.Preoperative puncture pathology and intraoperative rapid pathology are difficult to make a clear diagnosis.Clinicians and pathologists should avoid missed diagnoses or misdiagnoses.

A solid-phase extraction-ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(SPE-UPLC-MS/MS)method was established for simultaneous determination of 10 kinds of neonicotinoid pesticide residues in aquaculture water.Based on the chemical properties of neonicotinoid pesticides and the matrix characteristics of aquaculture water,suitable temporary storage methods for water samples and appropriate solid-phase extraction columns were selected,and the extraction conditions(including elution solvents and sample loading volumes)were optimized.The method employed acetonitrile and 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate solution(containing 0.1%formic acid)as the mobile phase and an Oasis HLB solid-phase extraction column combined with PSA as a dispersive sorbent for sample purification.The method exhibited good linearity in detection of neonicotinoid in concentration range of 0.2-50 ng/mL(R2>0.99797),with a detection limit of 0.5 ng/L and a quantification limit of 1 ng/L,which were significantly lower than the maximum acceptable method detection limits(9-500 ng/L)for neonicotinoid insecticides in water published by the European Commission.In pond water,rice-fish water,and seawater,the average recoveries of the 10 target analytes were 74.6%-114.1%,with relative standard deviations ranging from 0.3%to 9.6%.Using this method,actual sample tests were conducted on the Pearl River water,Zhaoqing pond water,and Qingyuan rice-fish aquaculture water.The total concentration of five neonicotinoid pesticides in the Pearl River water ranged from 154.8 to 246.6 ng/L,the total concentration of four neonicotinoid pesticides in the Zhaoqing pond water was 95.0-176.1 ng/L,and the total concentration of three neonicotinoid pesticides in the Qingyuan rice-fish aquaculture water was 2.3-11.7 ng/L.This method was simple in operation,highly sensitive,and had strong resistance to interference.It was suitable for detection of trace neonicotinoid pesticides in aquaculture water and could provide technical support for construction of a green aquaculture environment and resolution of international trade disputes.

Objective To explore the incidence and its influencing factors of transient severe motion(TSM)in the arterial phase of gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid(Gd-EOB-DTPA)enhanced MRI.Methods The databases of China National Knowledge Network(CNKI),VIP,Wanfang,PubMed,and Embase were searched for studies on the incidence and influencing factors of TSM,and the search time was from the establishment of the databases to October 2024.Meta-analysis was performed via Stata 17.0 software.Results A total of 30 papers(33 studies)were finally included,totaling 12 565 patients.Meta-analysis results showed that the incidence of TSM in the arterial phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI was 13.0％.The risk factors for TSM included age[odds ratio(OR)=1.03;95％confidence interval(CI)1.02-1.05;P＜0.001),chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)(OR=4.21;95％CI 1.76-10.09;P=0.001),and moderate-to-severe pleural effusion(OR=3.34;95％CI 1.69-6.63;P=0.001),while a previous usage history of Gd-EOB-DTPA(OR=0.56;95％CI 0.39-0.81;P=0.002)was a protective factor of TSM.Conclusion The incidence of TSM in the arterial phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI is relatively high.Age,COPD,moderate-to-severe pleural effusion are risk factors for TSM,while the previous usage history of Gd-EOB-DTPA is a protective factor for TSM.

Pancreatic cancer has emerged as one of the most challenging malignancies worldwide,with its high resistance to chemotherapy being the primary cause of treatment failure.Therefore,enhancing the chemosensitivity of pancreatic cancer has become a major focus of current research.In this study,we in-vestigated how Bufotaline,a bufadienolide extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine toad venom,exhibits its antitumor activity.Specifically,we explored the potential of Bufotaline to enhance the chemo-sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to Adriamycin and elucidated its underlying molecular mechanisms.Using CCK-8 and colony formation assays,we demonstrated that Bufotaline enhances the inhibitory effect of Adriamycin on the survival of pancreatic cancer cell lines Patu-8988T,Aspc-1,and Patu-8988S.No-tably,Bufotaline treatment reduced the IC50 of Adriamycin in drug-resistant pancreatic cancer cells to lev-els comparable to those in non-resistant cells.Results from Western blot,immunofluorescence,comet as-say,and TUNEL assays revealed that Bufotaline promotes Adriamycin-induced DNA damage in pancreatic cancer cells.RNA-seq analysis of Patu-8988T cells treated with Adriamycin alone or in combination with Bufotaline showed significant changes in gene expression,and qRT-PCR analysis further confirmed that Bu-fotaline downregulates the expression of DNA damage repair proteins NBS1 and RAD50.Moreover,Western blot analysis revealed that Bufotaline reduces the levels of DNA damage response repair proteins,and Im-munofluorescence experiments indicated that Bufotaline inhibits the activation of the ATM/CHK2 signaling pathway.Finally,in a subcutaneous xenograft mouse model,the combination of Adriamycin and Bufotaline treatment significantly suppressed pancreatic cancer cell growth.In conclusion,Bufotaline enhances Adria-mycin-induced chemosensitivity in pancreatic cancer cells;the combination of Adriamycin and Bufotaline downregulates the expression of DNA damage response repair proteins NBS1 and RAD50,and inhibits the ATM/CHK2-mediated DDR signaling pathway,thereby delaying DNA damage repair.

Objective To explore the clinical and pathological characteristics of medullary thyroid carcinoma(MTC)combined with papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC),and to improve the detection rate of mixed thyroid tumors.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinicopathological data of 11 cases of MTC combined with PTC diagnosed in the Department of Pathology,Jiangsu Province Hospital on Integration of Chinese and Western Medicine from April 2010 to April 2025,and analysis.Results Among the 11 patients,there were 4 males and 7 females with a median age of 57 years.The preoperative puncture pathology of 11 cases was not diagnosed as MTC combined with PTC.All patients underwent intraoperative rapid pathological diagnosis.Among them,5 cases were MTC combined with PTC,3 cases were PTC combined with thyroid follicular neoplasm,and the rest were diagnosed with single tumor(PTC or MTC).Conventional pathology diagnosed that all 11 patients had MTC combined with PTC,among which 2 cases were mixed MTC-PTC,and 6 cases were combined with multinodular goiter,and 3 cases combined with chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis.The histological morphology of MTC and PTC was diverse,presenting in arrangements such as papillary,island,follicular or solid.MTC cells are round,oval,spindle-shaped or plasma cell-like,with indistinct boundaries.The cytoplasm is eosinophilic,bicolotropic or transparent.The nucleus is round,irregular or spindle-shaped,with rough chromatin that does not have the characteristics of PTC cell nuclei.Amyloid deposits are seen in the interstitium.Immunohistochemistry expresses calcitonin(CT)and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA),but does not express thyroglobulin(Tg).Special staining shows Congo red as brick red,and under a polarizing microscope,it appears as a refractive apple green.The nuclei of PTC cells are round or oval,and the cytoplasm is eosinophilic or bicolotropic.The nuclei are enlarged and arranged in a crowded manner.Nuclear grooves and pseudo-inclusions within the nucleus can be seen.Immunohistochemistry expressed thyroid transcription factor-1,paired box gene 8,and mesothelial cell membrane protein protenin mesothelial cell membrane protenin-1,Tg,galectin-3,cytokeratin are not expressed.CT and CEA are not expressed.Special staining is negative for Congo red.Conclusion MTC combined with PTC is relatively rare.There are no special manifestations in clinical features and imaging examinations.Preoperative puncture pathology and intraoperative rapid pathology are difficult to make a clear diagnosis.Clinicians and pathologists should avoid missed diagnoses or misdiagnoses.