Objective To analyze the feasibility of probiotics in delaying the progression of early Alzheimer's disease(AD)based on the changes of brain-gut-microbiota axis factors.Methods A total of 100 patients with early AD who visited Shaoxing 7th People's Hospital from December 2023 to December 2024 were selected and divided into control group(40 cases)and study group(60 cases)based on different treatment methods.The control group was treated with donepezil hydrochloride,while study group was treated with donepezil hydrochloride combined with probiotic preparations.The cognitive function,daily living ability,intestinal flora,and relative expression levels of brain-gut-microbiota axis factors,interleukin(IL)-6,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA),and lipopolysaccharide(LPS)/Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/nuclear factor-KB(NF-κB)axis factors were compared before and after treatment in both groups.The clinical efficacy and prognosis monitoring results were also compared.Results The total effective rate and the proportion of patients with a clinical dementia rating score of 0 in study group were higher than those in control group(P＜0.05).The cognitive function and daily living ability scores in study group were higher than those in control group(P＜0.05).The copy numbers of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium in study group were higher than those in control group,while the copy numbers of enterococcus and escherichia coli were lower(P＜0.05).The relative expression levels of amyloid-β protein 1-42,IL-6,TNF-α,TLR4,and NF-κB in study group were lower than those in control group,and the levels of 5-HT and GABA were higher(P＜0.05).Conclusion Probiotics can delay the progression of early AD patients and improve clinical efficacy.It is speculated that the mechanism of action may be related to regulating the brain-gut-microbiota axis-mediated LPS/TLR4/NF-κB pathway to restore the intestinal microecology and alleviate neurological inflammation.

Objective To analyze the feasibility of probiotics in delaying the progression of early Alzheimer's disease(AD)based on the changes of brain-gut-microbiota axis factors.Methods A total of 100 patients with early AD who visited Shaoxing 7th People's Hospital from December 2023 to December 2024 were selected and divided into control group(40 cases)and study group(60 cases)based on different treatment methods.The control group was treated with donepezil hydrochloride,while study group was treated with donepezil hydrochloride combined with probiotic preparations.The cognitive function,daily living ability,intestinal flora,and relative expression levels of brain-gut-microbiota axis factors,interleukin(IL)-6,tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),γ-aminobutyric acid(GABA),and lipopolysaccharide(LPS)/Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/nuclear factor-KB(NF-κB)axis factors were compared before and after treatment in both groups.The clinical efficacy and prognosis monitoring results were also compared.Results The total effective rate and the proportion of patients with a clinical dementia rating score of 0 in study group were higher than those in control group(P＜0.05).The cognitive function and daily living ability scores in study group were higher than those in control group(P＜0.05).The copy numbers of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium in study group were higher than those in control group,while the copy numbers of enterococcus and escherichia coli were lower(P＜0.05).The relative expression levels of amyloid-β protein 1-42,IL-6,TNF-α,TLR4,and NF-κB in study group were lower than those in control group,and the levels of 5-HT and GABA were higher(P＜0.05).Conclusion Probiotics can delay the progression of early AD patients and improve clinical efficacy.It is speculated that the mechanism of action may be related to regulating the brain-gut-microbiota axis-mediated LPS/TLR4/NF-κB pathway to restore the intestinal microecology and alleviate neurological inflammation.

Background Atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) can disrupt the metabolic homeostasis of the liver and accelerate the progression of liver diseases, but there are few studies on the effects of sub-chronic PM_2.5 exposure on the liver metabolome. Objectives To investigate the effects of sub-chronic exposure to concentrated PM_2.5 on hepatic metabolomics in mice by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and to identify potentially affected metabolites and metabolic pathways. Methods Twelve male C57BL/6J (6 weeks old) mice were randomly divided into two groups: a concentrated PM_2.5 exposure group and a clean air exposure group. The mice were exposed to concentrated PM_2.5 using the "Shanghai Meteorological and Environmental Animal Exposure System" at Fudan University. The exposure duration was 8 h per day, 6 d per week, for a total of 8 weeks. The mice's liver tissues were collected 24 h after the completion of exposure. LC-MS was performed to assess changes in the hepatic metabolome. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis and t-test were employed to identify differentially regulated metabolites between the two groups under the conditions of variable important in projection (VIP)≥1.0 and P<0.05. Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis was performed using MetaboAnalyst 5.0 software and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Results A total of 297 differentially regulated metabolites were identified between the concentrated PM_2.5 exposure group and the clean air group. Among these metabolites, 142 were upregulated and 155 were downregulated. A total of 38 metabolic pathways were altered, with 7 pathways showing significant perturbation (P<0.05). These pathways involved amino acid metabolism, glucose metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, as well as cofactor and vitamin metabolism. The 7 significant metabolic pathways were pantothenic acid and coenzyme A biosynthesis; purine metabolism; amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism; arginine biosynthesis; alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism; aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis; and fructose and mannose metabolism. Conclusion The results from metabolomics analysis suggest that sub-chronic exposure to PM_2.5 may disrupt hepatic energy metabolism and induce oxidative stress damage. Aspartic acid, succinic acid, ornithine, fumaric acid, as well as purine and xanthine derivatives, were identified as potential early biomarkers of hepatic response to sub-chronic PM_2.5 exposure.

Tourette syndrome(TS)is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder.Acupuncture can effectively improve the clinical symptoms of TS patients.This article systematically summarized the clinical research status of acupuncture for the treatment of TS in recent years from the aspects of characteristic acupuncture methods,characteristic needles and comprehensive therapies,and put forward suggestions and prospects for systematically elaborating the peripheral-central mechanism of acupuncture for TS around the intestinal immunity and brain network mechanism in the future,so as to provide reference for optimizing clinical research and treatment.

Objective:To explore the relationship between the hypertensive snowbirds′ length of migratory stay and their blood pressure control and blood pressure levels.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. A population of snowbirds with hypertension was recruited between October and November 2022, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect their self-measured blood pressure and length of stay in Hainan Province. The blood pressure control status is determined based on self-measured blood pressure. According to the self-measured blood pressure to determine whether the blood pressure was well controlled. The associations between snowbirds′ length of stay and their blood pressure control as well as their self-measured blood pressure were analyzed using restricted cubic splines.Results:A total of 362 research subjects were included, 169(46.7%) of whom were male, and their age was (69.7±7.0) years old. The participants′ self-measured systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were (129.1±16.2) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and (78.9±10.1) mmHg, respectively. Overall, 174 (48.1%) participants attained adequate blood pressure control. The median length of stay in Wuzhishan City was 7(6, 7) months. There was an inverted U-shaped association between snowbirds′ length of stay and blood pressure control (overall: P=0.023; nonlinearity: P=0.014), where participants with a length of stay of 7 months had the highest rate of blood pressure control. There is a U-shaped curve relationship between length of stay and systolic blood pressure (overall: P=0.001; nonlinearity: P=0.033), and a linear negative correlation with diastolic blood pressure ( β=-1.19, P=0.003). Conclusions:Compared with hypertensive snowbirds with too long or too short lengths of stay, snowbirds who stayed in Wuzhishan City for seven months have better blood pressure control, and systolic blood pressure is also lower.

Objective To investigate the present situation of radiation environment in Beijing and provide data support for monitoring and management of radiation environment in Beijing. Methods The γ radiation dose rate of environmental surface as well as the radioactive levels of aerosol, sediment, surface water, and soil samples were monitored in Beijing from 2015 to 2022. The radioactive levels of various environmental elements in this area were presented using statistical charts and statistical tables, and the related issues were discussed. Results The automatic monitoring and cumulative monitoring results of γ radiation dose rate were in the range of local natural background fluctuation. The radioactive levels of beryllium-7, lead-210, and polonium-210 in aerosols were low in summer and high in winter. The radioactive levels of total α, total β, and beryllium-7 in sediments were low in winter and high in summer. The activity concentration of radionuclide potassium-40 in aerosols and sediments did not change significantly with seasons. The total α and total β radioactivity levels of surface water fluctuated within the range of background. These values of reservoir water were within the limits specified in the Hygienic Standard for Drinking Water (GB 5749—2006). Natural radionuclides in soil were within the range of natural background fluctuation, and artificial radionuclides in soil were within the range of normal fluctuation over the years. Conclusion From 2015 to 2022, the environmental surface γ radiation dose rate as well as aerosol, sediment, surface water, and soil radioactivity levels in Beijing were generally low, all of which fluctuated within the environmental background.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) and hepatic fibrosis and skeletal muscle mass in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods:A total of 685 T2DM patients diagnosed at the Endocrinology department of Lanzhou University First Hospital, from April 2022 to May 2023, were divided into NAFLD and Non-NAFLD groups, and the NAFLD group was further categorized into fibrosis and non-fibrosis based on aspartate aminotransferase(AST) /alanine aminotransferase(ALT) level. The differences in appendicular skeletal muscle mass(ASM), appendicular skeletal muscle mass index(ASMI), and the prevalence of muscle mass loss were compared across groups. The correlations between ASMI and NAFLD, as well as liver fibrosis were analyzed by binary logistic regression.Results:Among male T2DM patients, those with NAFLD had lower ASMI levels and a higher prevalence of muscle mass reduction compared to non-NAFLD group. Among female T2DM patients, those with NAFLD had lower levels of ASM and ASMI, and a higher prevalence of muscle mass reduction compared to non-NAFLD group. ASMI levels in both male and female T2DM patients were independently negatively correlated with NAFLD risk( OR=-0.696, 95% CI 0.579-0.837; OR=-0.757, 95% CI 0.629-0.911). In NAFLD patients, ASM and ASMI levels were lower in those with liver fibrosis compared to those without fibrosis; however, the prevalence of muscle mass reduction did not differ significantly. Among male NAFLD patients, ASMI levels were independently negatively correlated with the risk of liver fibrosis( OR=-0.726, 95% CI 0.537-0.983), while no correlation was found in female patients. Conclusion:Reduced muscle mass is independently associated with the risk of NAFLD in both male and female T2DM patients. In males, reduced muscle mass is also independently related to the risk of liver fibrosis.

ObjectiveTo present the health status of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） constitutions more intuitively and comprehensively based on improved radar chart. MethodsParticipants who completed a 26-week comprehensive intervention based on TCM constitution from February 2013 to January 2014 in Zhuhai branch of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine were included in the study. They were divided into groups according to gender and age， i.e. young， middle-aged， and elderly male and female groups. TCM constitution scale and health survey short form （SF-36） were used to evaluate the 9 basic TCM constitution types and quality of life at three time points， including pre-intervention （T1）， at 13-week intervention （T2）， and at 26-week intervention （T3）. The improved radar charts were drawn to visually present the comprehensive evaluation results on the health status of 9 TCM constitutions， and graphic features （area S value， perimeter L value） were extracted to construct a comprehensive health index for TCM constitutions （H value）. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between H value and SF-36 total score. ResultsAmong the included 509 participants， there were 45 elderly male， 76 elderly female， 60 middle-aged male， 140 middle-aged female， 53 young male and 135 young female. The radar charts for comprehensive evaluation of TCM constitution health status showed that the total areas for all groups increased at T3 compared to T1， with the most significant increase in the young population. In the middle-aged population， the fan-shaped areas of certain constitutions decreased at T2 than T1. At T3， the radar chart shapes for females were more balanced than males in the same age group. By calculating the features of function graphs， it was found that the S， L， and H values for the elderly population were relatively higher than those for the middle-aged and young population with the same gender， and the young population increased by highest ratio. The values measured at T3 compared to T1 showed average increase of 26% for S value （11% for the middle-aged and 14% for the elderly）， 22% for L value （10% for the middle-aged and the elderly each）， and 22% for H value （10% for the middle-aged and 9% for the elderly）. The female had lower S and L values， as well as higher H value than the male of the same age group measured at T3. The correlation coefficient between the H value of all participants and the total SF-36 score was 0.662 （P＜0.01）. ConclusionThe comprehensive evaluation model for the health status of TCM constitution based on the improved radar chart constructed in this study can present the health status of TCM constitutions and intervention effectiveness more comprehensively and intuitively. It is suggested to regulate the constitution in pursuit of the dynamic balance of the constitution health status， as well as consider the parts from the whole， and put focus on the balance of nine TCM constitutions.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of cinacalcet on right ventricular function in rats with MCT-induced arterial pulmonary hypertension by echocardiography.Methods:Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into control group, PAH group, and cinacalcet group, with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the cinacalcet group were given intraperitoneal injection of cinacalcet hydrochloride with 30 mg/kg, and the control group and the PAH group were given equal-volume of solvent. Echocardiographic parameters: right ventricular wall thickness (RVWT), right ventricular basal dimension (RVD), left ventricular eccentricity index (EI), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC), tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity (s′), right ventricular global longitudinal strain (RV4CSL), and right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWSL), etc. Histopathological parameters: pulmonary arteriole wall thickness (WT), right ventricular cardiomyocyte mean diameter (RV cell-D), collagen volume fraction (CVF) and right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVI). Echocardiographic and pathological parameters were compared among three groups, and the correlation between right ventricular pathological changes and strain parameters was analyzed.Results:①Compared with the control group, WT, RV cell-D, CVF and RVI in PAH group were increased (all P<0.01), the size of right ventricle and thickness of RV wall were increased (all P<0.05), and the right ventricular longitudinal strain was reduced ( P<0.01). ②Compared with the PAH group, rats in the cinacalcet group showed reduced WT, RV cell-D, CVF and RVI (all P<0.01), as well as improved structure and function of the right ventricle (all P<0.05). There was no statistical difference of the above parameters between cinacalcet and control group (all P>0.05). ③Correlation analysis: the right chamber remodeling parameters CVF and RV cell-D were positively correlated with WT ( rs=0.706 3, 0.629 4; both P<0.05); and RVFWSL correlated well with CVF, RV cell-D ( rs=-0.685 3, r=-0.767 2; both P<0.05). Conclusions:The right ventricular inverse remodeling of PAH rats with the intervention of cinacalcet was retained, suggesting that cinacalcet had a protective effect on the structure and function of the right ventricle in rats with PAH.

Objective To investigate and evaluate the changes in total α and total β radioactivity levels in drinking water in Beijing, China, 2012—2021. Methods The test results of total α and total β radioactivity levels at 14 monitoring sites from 9 groundwater sources and 5 surface water sources in Beijing, 2012—2021 were collected. The radioactivity levels in the two types of water sources were compared. Statistical charts were used to show the monitoring situation at sampling sites in different regions during different periods, and related issues were explored. Results The total α and total β activity concentrations measured at monitoring sites from some water sources in Beijing, 2012—2021, were less than the total α and total β guideline values specified in the Standards for Drinking Water Quality (GB 5749—2006) (total α: 0.5 Bq/L, total β: 1.0 Bq/L). The mean total α activity concentration in the groundwater was significantly higher than that in the surface water. The total α and total β radioactivity levels in the reservoir D in the surface water were slightly higher than those in the other surface water. Conclusion In the past decade from 2012 to 2021, the total α and total β radioactivity levels in some water sources in Beijing were generally in a good condition and fluctuated within the range of environmental background values, without significant changes on the whole.