Objective To identify serum metabolic markers served in the clinical diagnosis of ulcerative colitis(UC).Methods Ser-um samples from 29 UC patients,31 Crohn's disease(CD)patients,and 21 matched healthy controls(HC)admitted to Department of Gastroenterology,Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital during September 2022 and March 2024 were collected.The ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q Exactive HF-X)technology was used to detect and analyze serum metabolites.A partial least squares discrimination analysis(PLS-DA)model was constructed,and the metabolites significantly up-regulated in UC were screened based on the variable importance in projection(VIP)score＞1,P value＜0.05,and fold change(FC)＞1.2.The pathway enrichment analysis was performed using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)database to reveal the biological pathways involved in the metabolites.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUCROC)was calculated to evaluate the diagnostic potential of the differential metabolites.Results A total of 1 522 metabo-lites were identified from the three sample groups.Among them,4 metabolites,namely leucodopachrome(VIP=1.964,P＜0.05,FC=1.916),tetrahydrodipicolinate(VIP=1.74,P＜0.05,FC=2.65),N-ethylmaleimide(VIP=1.519,P＜0.05,FC=1.597),and 5,6-dihydroxyindole(VIP=3.018,P＜0.05,FC=1.575),were significantly up-regulated in UC.Their AUCROC values for distinguishing UC from CD were 0.788(95%CI:0.655-0.921),0.773(95%CI:0.639-0.907),0.834(95%CI:0.720-0.949),and 0.899(95%CI:0.821-0.977),respectively,while those for distinguishing UC from HC were 0.966(95%CI:0.924-1.000),0.926(95%CI:0.857-0.995),0.969(95%CI:0.928-1.000),and 0.910(95%CI:0.830-0.990),respectively.KEGG pathway analysis showed that the up-regulated metabolites in UC were primarily enriched in biological pathways such as tyrosine metabolism,glycerophospholipid me-tabolism,and arachidonic acid metabolism.Conclusion The serum metabolic profile of UC patients is significantly changed,and the four differential metabolites mentioned above may serve as effective biomarkers for the differential diagnosis of UC,CD,and HC.

Cellular senescence, stable cell cycle arrest that can be triggered in normal cells in response to various intrinsic and extrinsic stressors, has been highlighted as one of the most important mechanisms involved in kidney diseases. It not only serves as a fundamental biological process promoting normal organogenesis and successful wound repair but also contributes to organ dysfunction, tissue fibrosis, and the generalized aging phenotype. Moreover, senescent cells exhibit reduced regenerative capacity, which impairs renal function recovery from injuries. Importantly, senescent cells are involved in immune regulation via secreting a diverse array of proinflammatory and profibrotic factors known as senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) with autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine activities. Thus, eliminating detrimental senescent cells or inhibiting SASP production holds great promise for developing innovative therapeutic strategies for kidney diseases. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the intricate mechanisms and hallmarks of cellular senescence in kidney diseases and emphasize novel therapeutic targets, including epigenetic regulators, G protein-coupled receptors, and lysosome-related proteins. Particularly, we highlight the recently identified senotherapeutics, which provide new therapeutic strategies for treating kidney diseases.
Humans ; Cellular Senescence/genetics* ; Kidney Diseases/pathology* ; Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype/physiology* ; Animals ; Epigenesis, Genetic/physiology*

This study investigates the clinical differentiation and treatment strategies for bipolar disorder （BD） by analyzing the relationship of its core pathomechanisms including qi stagnation， blood stasis， phlegm turbidity， and heat constraint with bile acid metabolism. The imbalance of "yin in form and yang in function" leads to qi stagnation， blood stasis， phlegm turbidity， and heat constraint， which are critical in the pathogenesis and progression of BD. Bile acids regulate neuroinflammation， neural plasticity， and intestinal flora homeostasis through receptor-mediated pathways. It is believed that the physiological functions of bile acids concretely embody the concept of the "liver is yin in form and yang in function" theory. Clinically， prescriptions such as Sini Powder （四逆散） with the function of venting pathogen and resolving constraint， Wendan Decoction （温胆汤） of drying dampness and resolving phlegm， Longdan Xiegan Decoction （龙胆泻肝汤） of clearing liver and draining fire， and Huanglian Ejiao Decoction （黄连阿胶汤） of nourishing yin and blood can be used to nourish liver yin and restore liver yang function. These strategies may improve BD prognosis by modulating bile acid synthesis and metabolism.

Objective:To explore the relationship between urinary cadmium levels and thyroid hormone levels in people aged 40-89 years old in selected areas of China.Methods:Based on the "Investigation of the Impact of Soil Quality of Agricultural Land on Human Health in Typical Areas" project from October 2019 to August 2020, a multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to include 6 588 middle-aged and older adults aged 40-89. Demographic characteristics, dietary frequency and disease status were collected through the questionnaire and physical examination. Urinary cadmium and urinary creatinine were detected by random midstream urine. Fasting venous blood was collected for the detection of Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4). The linear mixed effects model was used to explore the association of urine cadmium levels with thyroid hormone levels. Its dose-response relationship was explored by using the restricted cubic spline.Results:The age of the subjects was (63.48±12.18) years, with males accounting for 51.28%. The M ( Q 1,Q 3) of urinary cadmium level, T3 and T4 was 2.48 (1.36, 4.42) μg/g·creatinine, (1.96±0.51) nmol/L and (113.75±29.11) nmol/L, respectively. The linear mixed effects model showed that the changes of T3 and T4 were 0.027 (0.009, 0.044) nmol/L and 2.019 (1.084, 2.953) nmol/L for each one-unit increase (natural logarithm transformed) of urinary cadmium. The restricted cubic spline showed that there was a positive nonlinear association between urinary cadmium and T3 as well as T4 (all Pnonlinear<0.05). Conclusion:In selected areas of China, the urinary cadmium level of middle-aged and older adults aged 40-89 years is positively associated with T3 and T4.

Objective:To improve the isolation and culture method of seasonal influenza virus in embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs), and evaluate their isolation efficiency.Methods:We randomly selected 80 positive samples of H1N1 (H1N1pdm09) and seasonal H3N2 (H3N2snl) influenza virus nucleic acid, and inoculated them into the amniotic and urinary sac cavities of 10-day-old (traditional method) and 14-day-old (improved method) ECEs respectively to adapt the virus to the ECEs (E1-E2). Both method were used to inoculate 10-day-old urinary sac amplification virus (E2-E3), and the final virus isolation positive rates of the two method were compared; using fluorescence quantitative PCR method to detect viral nucleic acids in the improved amniotic and urinary sac cultures, and evaluate the viral proliferation at different inoculation sites; we analyzed the correlation between virus content and isolation positivity rate in the original specimen based on the CT value of nucleic acid testing and the final virus isolation positivity rate using the improved method.Results:The improved method obtained 42 strains of H1N1pdm09 strain, with a positive rate of 52.5% ( χ2=38.571, P<0.01); obtained 54 strains of H3N2snl strain, with a positive rate of 67.5% ( χ2=40.921, P<0.01). Significant differences were observed in the isolation efficiency of H1N1pdm09 samples when the improved method was applied to different inoculation sites of chicken embryos ( χ2=30.476, P<0.01), and similar differences were noted for H3N2snl samples ( χ2=4.928, P=0.026). There was no significant difference in the isolation rate of different CT value intervals of the original samples ( χH1N1pdm092=10.226, χH3N2snl2=3.764, P>0.05). Conclusions:The improved method of inoculating 14-day old ECEs adapted the virus, and the final number of strains obtained was significantly higher than the traditional method of inoculating 10 day old ECEs, which can significantly improve the positive isolation rate of H1N1pdm09 and H3N2snl influenza virus in ECEs. The amniotic cavity is more sensitive to H1N1pdm09 and H3N2snl influenza viruses, which helps the virus adapt in ECEs. There was no significant difference in the sample isolation rate and total positive rate of virus isolation among different CT value ranges, and further verification is needed.

Objective To identify serum metabolic markers served in the clinical diagnosis of ulcerative colitis(UC).Methods Ser-um samples from 29 UC patients,31 Crohn's disease(CD)patients,and 21 matched healthy controls(HC)admitted to Department of Gastroenterology,Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital during September 2022 and March 2024 were collected.The ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q Exactive HF-X)technology was used to detect and analyze serum metabolites.A partial least squares discrimination analysis(PLS-DA)model was constructed,and the metabolites significantly up-regulated in UC were screened based on the variable importance in projection(VIP)score＞1,P value＜0.05,and fold change(FC)＞1.2.The pathway enrichment analysis was performed using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)database to reveal the biological pathways involved in the metabolites.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUCROC)was calculated to evaluate the diagnostic potential of the differential metabolites.Results A total of 1 522 metabo-lites were identified from the three sample groups.Among them,4 metabolites,namely leucodopachrome(VIP=1.964,P＜0.05,FC=1.916),tetrahydrodipicolinate(VIP=1.74,P＜0.05,FC=2.65),N-ethylmaleimide(VIP=1.519,P＜0.05,FC=1.597),and 5,6-dihydroxyindole(VIP=3.018,P＜0.05,FC=1.575),were significantly up-regulated in UC.Their AUCROC values for distinguishing UC from CD were 0.788(95%CI:0.655-0.921),0.773(95%CI:0.639-0.907),0.834(95%CI:0.720-0.949),and 0.899(95%CI:0.821-0.977),respectively,while those for distinguishing UC from HC were 0.966(95%CI:0.924-1.000),0.926(95%CI:0.857-0.995),0.969(95%CI:0.928-1.000),and 0.910(95%CI:0.830-0.990),respectively.KEGG pathway analysis showed that the up-regulated metabolites in UC were primarily enriched in biological pathways such as tyrosine metabolism,glycerophospholipid me-tabolism,and arachidonic acid metabolism.Conclusion The serum metabolic profile of UC patients is significantly changed,and the four differential metabolites mentioned above may serve as effective biomarkers for the differential diagnosis of UC,CD,and HC.

Objective:To explore the relationship between urinary cadmium levels and thyroid hormone levels in people aged 40-89 years old in selected areas of China.Methods:Based on the "Investigation of the Impact of Soil Quality of Agricultural Land on Human Health in Typical Areas" project from October 2019 to August 2020, a multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to include 6 588 middle-aged and older adults aged 40-89. Demographic characteristics, dietary frequency and disease status were collected through the questionnaire and physical examination. Urinary cadmium and urinary creatinine were detected by random midstream urine. Fasting venous blood was collected for the detection of Triiodothyronine (T3) and Thyroxine (T4). The linear mixed effects model was used to explore the association of urine cadmium levels with thyroid hormone levels. Its dose-response relationship was explored by using the restricted cubic spline.Results:The age of the subjects was (63.48±12.18) years, with males accounting for 51.28%. The M ( Q 1,Q 3) of urinary cadmium level, T3 and T4 was 2.48 (1.36, 4.42) μg/g·creatinine, (1.96±0.51) nmol/L and (113.75±29.11) nmol/L, respectively. The linear mixed effects model showed that the changes of T3 and T4 were 0.027 (0.009, 0.044) nmol/L and 2.019 (1.084, 2.953) nmol/L for each one-unit increase (natural logarithm transformed) of urinary cadmium. The restricted cubic spline showed that there was a positive nonlinear association between urinary cadmium and T3 as well as T4 (all Pnonlinear<0.05). Conclusion:In selected areas of China, the urinary cadmium level of middle-aged and older adults aged 40-89 years is positively associated with T3 and T4.

Objective:To improve the isolation and culture method of seasonal influenza virus in embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs), and evaluate their isolation efficiency.Methods:We randomly selected 80 positive samples of H1N1 (H1N1pdm09) and seasonal H3N2 (H3N2snl) influenza virus nucleic acid, and inoculated them into the amniotic and urinary sac cavities of 10-day-old (traditional method) and 14-day-old (improved method) ECEs respectively to adapt the virus to the ECEs (E1-E2). Both method were used to inoculate 10-day-old urinary sac amplification virus (E2-E3), and the final virus isolation positive rates of the two method were compared; using fluorescence quantitative PCR method to detect viral nucleic acids in the improved amniotic and urinary sac cultures, and evaluate the viral proliferation at different inoculation sites; we analyzed the correlation between virus content and isolation positivity rate in the original specimen based on the CT value of nucleic acid testing and the final virus isolation positivity rate using the improved method.Results:The improved method obtained 42 strains of H1N1pdm09 strain, with a positive rate of 52.5% ( χ2=38.571, P<0.01); obtained 54 strains of H3N2snl strain, with a positive rate of 67.5% ( χ2=40.921, P<0.01). Significant differences were observed in the isolation efficiency of H1N1pdm09 samples when the improved method was applied to different inoculation sites of chicken embryos ( χ2=30.476, P<0.01), and similar differences were noted for H3N2snl samples ( χ2=4.928, P=0.026). There was no significant difference in the isolation rate of different CT value intervals of the original samples ( χH1N1pdm092=10.226, χH3N2snl2=3.764, P>0.05). Conclusions:The improved method of inoculating 14-day old ECEs adapted the virus, and the final number of strains obtained was significantly higher than the traditional method of inoculating 10 day old ECEs, which can significantly improve the positive isolation rate of H1N1pdm09 and H3N2snl influenza virus in ECEs. The amniotic cavity is more sensitive to H1N1pdm09 and H3N2snl influenza viruses, which helps the virus adapt in ECEs. There was no significant difference in the sample isolation rate and total positive rate of virus isolation among different CT value ranges, and further verification is needed.

Objective:To understand the current status of HIV self-testing reagent use in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and related factors in men who have sex with men (MSM).Methods:From December 2018 to December 2019, "Gold data" online platform (www.jinshuju.com) was used to conduct multicenter PrEP studies in Shenyang, Beijing, Chongqing and Shenzhen of China.Results:A total of 1 222 MSM PrEP users were included in the multicenter study. The average age of the participants was (31.5±8.7) years, and the number of sexual partners in the past three months was 3 ( P 25, P 75:2,6). The proportions of those who did not use condoms in anal sex with fixed, casual and commercial partners were 62.7% (456/727), 56.3% (440/781) and 41.0% (16/39), respectively. Up to 74.5% (910/1 222) of participants had used HIV self-testing reagents, and the number of HIV self-testing during last year was 3 ( P 25, P 75:2,5). The multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that compared with age group >40 years, those with education level of junior high school or below, those with psychological identity as female, event driven PrEP users, those never using new type drugs in past 3 months, the participants aged 18- years (a OR=2.06, 95% CI: 1.35-3.14), 26- years (a OR=2.72, 95% CI: 1.77-4.17), 31- years (a OR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.19-2.59), undergraduates (a OR=2.18, 95% CI: 1.35-3.49), graduate students and above (a OR=3.06, 95% CI: 1.69-5.54), those with psychological identity as male (a OR=3.22, 95% CI: 1.55-6.70), daily PrEP users (a OR=1.35, 95% CI: 1.03-1.78), and new type drug users in the past three months (a OR=1.72, 95% CI: 1.30-2.28) had higher proportions of HIV self-testing behaviors. Conclusions:The proportion of HIV self-testing in MSM PrEP users was high, while it was relatively low in older age group, event driven PrEP users and MSM never using new type drugs. To assess and improve the effectiveness and compliance of PrEPs, it is necessary to provide better HIV self-testing service for MSM with low HIV self-testing rate.

Marine-derived biopolymers are excellent raw materials for biomedical products due to their abundant resources, good biocompatibility, low cost and other unique functions. Marine-derived biomaterials become a major branch of biomedical industry and possess promising development prospects since the industry is in line with the trend of "green industry and low-carbon economy". Chitosan and alginates are the most commonly commercialized marine-derived biomaterials and have exhibited great potential in biomedical applications such as wound dressing, dental materials, antibacterial treatment, drug delivery and tissue engineering. This review focuses on the properties and applications of chitosan and alginates in biomedicine.