AIM To analyze the dynamic change patterns of aflatoxin B1,aflatoxin B2,aflatoxin G1,aflatoxin G2,T-2 toxin and deoxynivalenol contents during the fermentation of Massa Medicata Fermentata.METHODS The analysis was performed on a 40 ℃ thermostatic Waters ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 column(100 mm×2.1 mm,1.8 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of 0.01％formic acid-[acetonitrile-methanol(1∶1)]flowing at 0.3 mL/min,and electron spray ionization source was adopted in positive ion scanning with multiple reaction monitoring mode.RESULTS Six mycotoxins showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(R2＞0.998 0),whose average recoveries were 76.1％-119.3％with the RSDs of 0.49％-9.27％,and except for deoxynivalenol,their contents demonstrated the trends of growing out of nothing and gradually increasing.CONCLUSION The risk of mycotoxin infection exists in the fermentation of Massa Medicata Fermentata.This simple,efficient,rapid and sensitive method can provide a reference for whole-process monitoring the fermentation process for Massa Medicata Fermentata.

Objective To investigate the effect of up-regulating tumor necrosis factor alpha induced protein 3(TNFAIP3)expression on hippocampal neurons in mice with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.Methods The mice were randomly divided into 6 groups:sham group,sham empty vector group(sham-),sham TNFAIP3 high expression group(sham+),model group,model empty vector group(model-),model TNFAIP3 high expression group(model+).A mouse model of middle cerebral artery occlusion and cerebral ischemia-reperfusion was established using the suture method.After the successful establishment of the model,lentivirus was injected into the hippocampus 24 hours later.Two weeks later,samples were collected and Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of TNFAIP3 and ERK signaling pathway proteins.The changes in ischemic area were observed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC)staining;HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of hippocampal neurons,and ELISA was used to detect the expressions of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2(Lp-PLA2)and interleukin(IL)-8.Results The results of Western blotting indicated that the TNFAIP3 expression in the model group decreased significantly compared with the sham group(P＜0.05);Compared with the model group,there was no significant change in TNFAIP3 expression in the model-group(P＞0.05);The TNFAIP3 expression in the model+group increased significantly compared with the model group and model-group(P＜0.05).Compared with the sham group,the results of the sham+group showed that the ischemic area had no significant changes in TTC staining,and there were no significant changes in hippocampal neuronal morphology,and the expressions ERK signaling pathway proteins,Lp-PLA2 and IL-8(P＞0.05);Compared with the sham-and sham+groups,the model group showed an increase in ischemic area,significant damage to hippocampal neurons,a decrease in the number of Nissl bodies,and a significant increase in the expressions of ERK signaling pathway proteins,Lp-PLA2,and IL-8(P＜0.05);Compared to the model-group,the model+group showed a decrease in ischemic area,an increase in the number of neurons in the hippocampus and the number of Nissl bodies,and a significant decrease in the expressions of ERK signaling pathway proteins,Lp-PLA2,and IL-8(P＜0.05).Conclusion Up-regulation of TNFAIP3 may be one of the methods for repairing hippocampal neuronal damage caused by cerebral ischemia reperfusion.

Objective To construct a decision aid scheme for surgical methods of thyroid cancer patients and explore its application effect.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 692 patients with thyroid cancer who were treated in the department of breast and thyroid surgery in the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from January 1 to December 31,2022,patients who underwent surgery from January 1 to June 30,2022 were selected as the control group(n=346),while patients who underwent surgery from July 1 to December 31,2022 were selected as the observation group(n=346).Patients in the control group chose surgical methods after conventional education,while patients in the observation group chose the surgical methods through the decision aid scheme.The decision conflict and decision-making at admission and 1 day before surgery of patients in the two groups were assessed.The psychological state at admission,1 day before surgery,and 1 month after surgery of patients in the two groups were evaluated.The decision satisfaction of patients in the two groups were assessed 1,3,and 6 months after surgery.Results There was no significant difference in the decision conflict score,decision making score or anxiety and depression scores at admission of patients between the two groups(P>0.05).One day before surgery,the decision conflict score of patients in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group(t=21.099,P<0.001),and the decision-making score was significantly higher than that in the control group(t=8.806,P<0.001).The anxiety and depression scores of patients in the two groups decreased over time,among which the anxiety and depression scores 1 day before surgery and 1 month after surgery of patients in the observation group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The decision satisfaction scores 1,3 and 6 months after surgery of patients in the observation group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion The implementation of decision aid scheme can effectively reduce decision conflicts of patients with thyroid cancer regarding the choice of surgical methods,relieve negative emotions,and enhance decision satisfaction.

Abstract Obesity is characterized by a body weight exceeding a certain range and a corpulent physique, often accompanied by symptoms such as dizziness and fatigue, lack of energy and motivation to speak, reduced physical activity, and shortness of breath. The core pathogenesis of obesity lies in the dysfunction of the spleen and stomach in transporting and transforming nutrients, leading to abnormal metabolism of water and grain essences and the subsequent accumulation of pathological substances such as phlegm-dampness and "Gaozhuo" (greasy-turbid substances). Traditional Chinese Medicine emphasizes that "spleen deficiency is the root cause, while phlegm-dampness and Gaozhuo are the manifestations", forming a dialectical system encompassing theories on spleen-stomach transportation and transformation, phlegm-dampness pathogenesis, Gaozhuo pathogenesis, and constitutional differentiation. Traditional Chinese Medicine plays a crucial role in preventing and treating obesity through interventions such as herbal medicine, external therapies, and dietary adjustments. This article systematically reviews classical Chinese medical texts, focusing on the etiology, pathogenesis, theoretical origins, and prevention and treatment methods of obesity, so as to provide references for modern Traditional Chinese Medicine approaches to obesity prevention and treatment.

Purpose: Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare, aggressive lymphoma that is characterized by terminal B-cell differ‑ entiation. In the West, PBL usually occurs in patients with immunodeficiencies, particularly those induced by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We investigated the clinicopathological features of PBL at a single institute in Taiwan, where HIV infection is rare. Methods: This retrospective chart review identified PBL cases that were treated at a single institute in southern Tai‑ wan between 2008 and 2024. Results: We identified nine patients (four males and five females; median age 71 years). Of the eight patients tested for HIV, only one tested positive. Pathologically, the tumors showed plasmablastic morphology and immunopheno‑ type, and three (33%) cases tested positive for Epstein–Barr virus. Six (67%) patients presented with Stage IV disease, including five (56%) with malignant effusion. Six patients were treated with chemotherapy and the remaining three received only supportive care. During a median follow-up of 10 months, five patients died of progressive disease, two died of unrelated diseases, and two were alive with PBL relapse. Conclusion In Taiwan, PBL constitutes a rare and aggressive clinical condition and is frequently associated with malignant effusion. In contrast to Western patients, the PBL in most patients from Taiwan was unrelated to HIV infection.

Background High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a sensitive biomarker for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and can independently predict the risk of cardiovascular events. Although the association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure and CVD risk has been widely reported, studies on the association between hs-CRP and PFAS remain limited. Objective To investigate the association between PFAS and hs-CRP levels, to provide a scientific basis for early identification and prevention of environment-related cardiovascular events. Methods This study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database (2015–2018). Based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 3219 participants were included for subsequent analysis. Five PFAS with detection rates exceeding 90% were selected as exposure factors and log-transformed (lnPFAS) for subsequent analysis, including perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA). After selecting potential confounders through a change-in-estimate approach, logistic regression was employed to examine the effects of individual PFAS on serum hs-CRP level. Additionally, quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were applied to assess the combined effects of PFAS mixtures on hs-CRP. Results The study included 3219 participants with a mean age of (50.4±17.6) years, of whom 1554 (48.28%) were male. The median concentrations of the five PFAS compounds were: 1.20 ng·mL⁻¹ (PFHxS), 0.50 ng·mL⁻¹ (PFNA), 1.50 ng·mL⁻¹ (PFOA), 5.20 ng·mL⁻¹ (PFOS), and 0.20 ng·mL⁻¹ (PFDA). The Wilcoxon rank-sum tests revealed statistically significant differences between the elevated serum hs-CRP (≥2 mg·L⁻¹) and normal (<2 mg·L⁻¹) groups for all five PFAS compounds (PFHxS: P=0.005; PFNA: P=0.009; PFOA: P<0.001; PFOS: P<0.001; PFDA: P<0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, the analysis of individual PFAS exposure demonstrated significant negative associations between serum hs-CRP levels and both ln-PFOS (OR: 0.87; 95%CI: 0.79, 0.96; P=0.0036) and lnPFDA (OR: 0.78; 95%CI: 0.71, 0.86; P < 0.001). The joint effect analysis using quantile g-computation revealed an overall inverse association between PFAS mixtures and hs-CRP, with lnPFDA emerging as a primary contributor; an similar association was observed in males, but not significant in females. Further evaluation through BKMR showed that when PFAS mixture concentrations reached or exceeded P₇₀, their combined effect on hs-CRP became significantly lower than when all PFAS concentrations were at P₅₀, establishing a clear negative dose-response relationship. Conclusion The mixed exposure to PFAS showed a significant negative joint effect on serum hs-CRP levels, with PFDA being the key component contributing to this combined effect. Future prospective cohort studies are warranted to further validate these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms involved.

AIM To analyze the dynamic change patterns of aflatoxin B1,aflatoxin B2,aflatoxin G1,aflatoxin G2,T-2 toxin and deoxynivalenol contents during the fermentation of Massa Medicata Fermentata.METHODS The analysis was performed on a 40 ℃ thermostatic Waters ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 column(100 mm×2.1 mm,1.8 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of 0.01％formic acid-[acetonitrile-methanol(1∶1)]flowing at 0.3 mL/min,and electron spray ionization source was adopted in positive ion scanning with multiple reaction monitoring mode.RESULTS Six mycotoxins showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(R2＞0.998 0),whose average recoveries were 76.1％-119.3％with the RSDs of 0.49％-9.27％,and except for deoxynivalenol,their contents demonstrated the trends of growing out of nothing and gradually increasing.CONCLUSION The risk of mycotoxin infection exists in the fermentation of Massa Medicata Fermentata.This simple,efficient,rapid and sensitive method can provide a reference for whole-process monitoring the fermentation process for Massa Medicata Fermentata.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of irradiation dose rate of ⁶⁰Co γ-ray on hematopoietic and immune cells in total body irradiation (TBI) mice. METHODS: After TBI with 8 Gy ⁶⁰Co γ-ray at three irradiation dose rates of 0.027, 0.256 and 0.597 Gy/min, the survival and change of body weight of C57BL/6J mice were observed within 30 days. The peripheral blood parameters were examined at each time point within 30 days post-irradiation. The hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell counts of mice were examined on the 10^th and 30^th day post-irradiation by flow cytometry, as well as the proportions of immune cells in peripheral blood, bone marrow and spleen of mice on the 30^th day post-irradiation. RESULTS: After TBI with 8 Gy ⁶⁰Co γ-ray, the 30-day survival rate of high dose-rate group was 0, which was significantly lower than 90% of medium dose-rate group and 100% of low dose-rate group (both P < 0.001). The peripheral blood parameters of all three groups showed a sharp decline → low value → gradually recovering trend. The count of white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, red blood cell, platelet and hemoglobin level in the high dose-rate and medium dose-rate groups were significantly lower than those in the low dose-rate group on day 7-18 post-irradiation (all P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences between the high dose-rate and medium dose-rate groups (P >0.05). On the 10^th day after irradiation, the proportion and number of bone marrow hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (including LK, LSK, LT-HSC, ST-HSC, and MPP cells) in the low dose-rate and medium dose-rate groups were significantly decreased compared to those in the normal group (all P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences between the two groups (P >0.05). On the 30^th day after irradiation, LSK, LT-HSC, ST-HSC and MPP cells in the low dose-rate group recovered to normal levels, while those in the medium dose-rate group were still significantly lower than those in the low dose-rate group (all P < 0.001). The results of bone marrow and peripheral immune cell tests on the 30^th day after irradiation showed that the ratios of T and B lymphocytes in the low dose-rate and medium dose-rate groups were reduced compared to that in the normal group (both P < 0.05), while the ratio of neutrophils was increased (P < 0.01). The trend of changes in the spleen and peripheral blood was consistent. CONCLUSION The degree of hematopoietic and immune cell damage in mice after TBI with 8 Gy ⁶⁰Co γ-ray is related to the dose rate, and low dose-rate irradiation can reduce the damage in the animal model. Therefore, choosing the appropriate dose rate of irradiation is a key factor in establishing an objective and reliable experimental animal model of irradiation.
Animals ; Mice ; Whole-Body Irradiation ; Gamma Rays ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells/radiation effects* ; Cobalt Radioisotopes ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Male

Purpose: Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare, aggressive lymphoma that is characterized by terminal B-cell differ‑ entiation. In the West, PBL usually occurs in patients with immunodeficiencies, particularly those induced by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We investigated the clinicopathological features of PBL at a single institute in Taiwan, where HIV infection is rare. Methods: This retrospective chart review identified PBL cases that were treated at a single institute in southern Tai‑ wan between 2008 and 2024. Results: We identified nine patients (four males and five females; median age 71 years). Of the eight patients tested for HIV, only one tested positive. Pathologically, the tumors showed plasmablastic morphology and immunopheno‑ type, and three (33%) cases tested positive for Epstein–Barr virus. Six (67%) patients presented with Stage IV disease, including five (56%) with malignant effusion. Six patients were treated with chemotherapy and the remaining three received only supportive care. During a median follow-up of 10 months, five patients died of progressive disease, two died of unrelated diseases, and two were alive with PBL relapse. Conclusion In Taiwan, PBL constitutes a rare and aggressive clinical condition and is frequently associated with malignant effusion. In contrast to Western patients, the PBL in most patients from Taiwan was unrelated to HIV infection.

Purpose: Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare, aggressive lymphoma that is characterized by terminal B-cell differ‑ entiation. In the West, PBL usually occurs in patients with immunodeficiencies, particularly those induced by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We investigated the clinicopathological features of PBL at a single institute in Taiwan, where HIV infection is rare. Methods: This retrospective chart review identified PBL cases that were treated at a single institute in southern Tai‑ wan between 2008 and 2024. Results: We identified nine patients (four males and five females; median age 71 years). Of the eight patients tested for HIV, only one tested positive. Pathologically, the tumors showed plasmablastic morphology and immunopheno‑ type, and three (33%) cases tested positive for Epstein–Barr virus. Six (67%) patients presented with Stage IV disease, including five (56%) with malignant effusion. Six patients were treated with chemotherapy and the remaining three received only supportive care. During a median follow-up of 10 months, five patients died of progressive disease, two died of unrelated diseases, and two were alive with PBL relapse. Conclusion In Taiwan, PBL constitutes a rare and aggressive clinical condition and is frequently associated with malignant effusion. In contrast to Western patients, the PBL in most patients from Taiwan was unrelated to HIV infection.