BACKGROUND: Recent studies have provided compelling evidence that exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) can adversely affect human health. We aim to explore the potential impact of BFRs on adiposity and central obesity. METHODS: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) cycles conducted between 2009 and 2014 was used to study the connections between variables. After filtering, we analyzed a sample of 4,110 adults aged 20 years and above. Our goal was to examine the potential association between BFRs and consequences and investigate the part played by oxidative stress and inflammatory markers as intermediaries. To achieve this, we used advanced statistical methods such as weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, quantile-based g-computation (QGC), and the Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). RESULTS: The findings showed that among the examined chemicals, exposure to PBDE85 (weight: 41%), PBDE100 (24%), and PBB153 (23%) may be the dominant contributors to general obesity risk. Upon controlling for all variables that could impact the results, it was found that the QGC outcomes indicated a positive correlation between exposure to mixtures of brominated flame retardants and the occurrence of abdominal obesity (OR = 1.187, 95% CI: 1.056-1.334, p = 0.004). Significant contributions were made by PBDE85 (52%), PBB153 (27%), and PBDE100 (21%). Mediation analysis shows that lymphatic cells (LC) and albumin (ALB) partially mediate the link between brominated flame retardants and obesity. The results of BKMR are generally consistent with those of WQS and QGC. CONCLUSION At a population level, our research has revealed a noteworthy correlation between BFRs and obesity. However, further investigation is required through prospective cohort studies and in-depth mechanistic exploratory studies.
Humans ; Flame Retardants/adverse effects* ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects* ; Adult ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Inflammation/epidemiology* ; Obesity/chemically induced* ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Nutrition Surveys ; Mediation Analysis ; Young Adult ; United States/epidemiology* ; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects* ; Aged ; Environmental Pollutants/adverse effects* ; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers/adverse effects*

In general, bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation of bioactive constituents from botanical materials frequently ended up with the reward of a single compound. However, botanical materials typically exert their therapeutic actions through multi-pathway effects due to the intrinsic complex nature of chemical constituents. In addition, the content of bioactive compounds in botanical materials is largely dependent on humidity, temperature, soil, especially geographical origins, from which rapid and accurate identification of plant materials is pressingly needed. These long-standing obstacles collectively impede the deep exploitation and application of these versatile natural sources. To address the challenges, a new paradigm integrating biogravimetric analyses and machine learning-driven origin classification (BAMLOC) was developed. The biogravimetric analyses are based on absolute qHNMR quantification and in vivo zebrafish model-assisted activity index calculation, by which bioactive substance groups jointly responsible for the bioactivities in all fractions are pinpointed before any isolation effort. To differentiate origin-different botanical materials varying in the content of bioactive substance groups, principal component analysis, linear discriminant analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis in conjunction with supervised support vector machine are employed to classify and predict production areas based on the detection of volatile organic compounds by E-nose and GC-MS. Expanding BAMLOC to Codonopsis Radix enables the identification of polyacetylenes and pyrrolidine alkaloids as the bioactive substance group for immune restoration effect and accurately determines the origins of plants. This study advances the toolbox for the discovery of bioactive compounds from complex mixtures and lays a more definitive foundation for the in-depth utilization of botanical materials.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate early effectiveness of posterior 180-degree decompression via unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) combined with Michigan State University (MSU)-1 lumbar disc herniation (LDH). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from 33 patients with LSS combined with MSU-1 LDH, who met selection criteria and were treated between March 2022 and January 2024. All patients underwent UBE-assisted 180-degree spinal canal decompression. The cohort comprised 17 males and 16 females, aged 37-82 years (mean, 67.1 years). Preoperative presentations included bilateral lower limbs intermittent claudication and radiating pain, with disease duration ranging from 5 to 13 months (mean, 8.5 months). Affected segments included L _{3, 4} in 4 cases, L _{4, 5} in 28 cases, and L ₅, S ₁ in 1 case. LSS was rated as Schizas grade A in 4 cases, grade B in 5 cases, grade C in 13 cases, and grade D in 11 cases. LDH was categorized as MSU-1A in 24 cases, MSU-1B in 2 cases, and MSU-1AB in 7 cases. Intraoperative parameters (operation time, blood loss) and postoperative hospitalization length were recorded. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to assess the lower limb pain and functional outcomes after operation. Clinical efficacy was evaluated at last follow-up via modified MacNab criteria. Quantitative radiological assessments included dural sac cross-sectional area (DSCA) measurements and spinal stenosis grading on lumbar MRI. Morphological classification of lumbar canal stenosis was determined according to the Schizas grading, categorized into four grades. RESULTS: The operation time was 60.4-90.8 minutes (mean, 80.3 minutes) and intraoperative blood loss was 13-47 mL (mean, 29.9 mL). The postoperative hospitalization length was 3-5 days (mean, 3.8 days). All patients were followed up 12-16 months (mean, 13.8 months). The VAS score and ODI improved at immediate and 3, 6, and 12 months after operation compared to before operation, and the differences between different time points were significant ( P<0.05). At last follow-up, the clinical efficacy assessed by the modified MacNab criteria were graded as excellent in 23 cases, good in 9 cases, and poor in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate of 96.97%. Postoperative lumbar MRI revealed the significant decompression of the dural sac in 32 cases, with 1 case showing inadequate dural expansion. DSCA measurements confirmed progressive enlargement and stenosis reduction over time. The differences were significant ( P<0.05) before operation, immediately after operation, and at 6 months after operation. At 6 months after operation, Schizas grading of spinal stenosis improved to grade A in 27 cases and grade B in 6 cases. CONCLUSION Posterior 180-degree decompression via UBE is a safe and feasible strategy for treating LSS combined with MSU-1 LDH, achieving effective neural decompression while preserving intervertebral disc integrity.
Humans ; Spinal Stenosis/diagnostic imaging* ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Middle Aged ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/complications* ; Decompression, Surgical/methods* ; Retrospective Studies ; Endoscopy/methods* ; Adult ; Aged, 80 and over ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore the efficacy of extracting biopsy needle pose in chest CT images based on point cloud processing.Methods Three-dimensional point clouds were generated through segmentation of chest CT images and surface reconstruction.Spatial point cloud clustering and geometric constraints were applied to filter regions contained the puncture needle in space.The principal direction of the needle was judged using principal component analysis,and a cylindrical model was constructed to enclose the needle data.Then random sample consensus algorithm was used for needle trajectory fitting to accurately extract the spatial position and orientation of the puncture needle.The efficacy of the above method was evaluated using a 3D-printed anatomical model based on common clinical combinations of puncture depths and angles.Results The anatomical model experiments showed a 100％success rate in puncture needle identification,with angular error of(1.013±0.424)° and positional error of(2.023±1.553)mm,indicating that this method had good accuracy and stability.Conclusion The puncture needle's position in chest CT images could be extracted with high precision based on point cloud processing.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound（CEUS），as a non-invasive imaging technique，has been widely applied in the characterization of focal liver lesions（FLLs）. By intravenously injecting contrast agents and using specific low mechanical index imaging techniques，CEUS not only provides high spatial and temporal resolution，but also enables dynamic assessment of blood flow perfusion in both large vessels and microvessels，including capillaries in the liver. However，CEUS is highly operator-dependent. The quantitative analysis of time-intensity curves in dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound（DCE-US）can provide further information，overcome the subjectivity limitations of traditional CEUS and improve the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment in FLLs. This review discusses the theoretical basis of DCE-US and its quantitative analysis methods，their applications in the diagnosis and treatment of FLLs，limitations，and future directions.

The ultrasound probe is the most important accessory in ultrasound equipment,which adopted the piezoelectric vibrator as its core component,and it can complete ultrasonic emission and receiving echoes.A deep understanding for the operational characteristics of the probe's array elements is important premise that user can accurately judge the running situation of the probe.This study employed pulse-echo technique to detect sensitivity and capacitance of the array elements of ultrasonic probe.The detected data of 60 probes at China-Japan Friendship Hospital were collected,and 75%of the 60 probes existed residual couplant,and 80%of them existed indentation or damage to the outer skin.The tested results of leakage current indicated that 1 probe(1.7%)existed excessively high leakage current.In test for array elements,2 probes(3.4%)displayed partial damage at array elements,and 6 probes(10.2%)were irreparably damaged.The preventive test for the diagnostic equipment with ultrasound is helpful to establish a quality control system for ultrasound,and to provide analysis materials with reliability in using diagnostic equipment with ultrasound,and to also provide decision-making basis for equipment departments and clinical department of using equipment in hospital.

Objective To determine the body weights and blood physiological and biochemical indicators in the Macaca mulatta brevicaudus(M.m.brevicaudus),to provide a reference for the breeding of experimental animals.Methods A total of 180 wild M.m.brevicaudus(female and male)from the South Bay Macaque Reserve in Lingshui were selected as the research subjects.Body weights were measured using electronic scales and blood samples were collected.Routine blood indicators(red blood cell count,hemoglobin,white blood cell count,and platelet count)were detected using an automated blood cell analyzer,and biochemical indicators(alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,glucose,blood urea nitrogen)were measured using an automated biochemical analyzer.Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0 software for descriptive statistics,and differences in body weights and blood indicators between sexes and age groups were compared using t-tests.Results Adult male wild M.m.brevicaudus were significantly heavier than females(P＜0.05);however,there were no significant differences in complete blood cell counts between female and male macaques(P＞0.05).In terms of blood biochemical indicators,lactate dehydrogenase and total bilirubin levels differed significantly between female and male M.m.brevicaudus(P＜0.05),but there were no significant differences in any other biochemical indicators.Conclusions This study established baseline data on the body weights and blood physiological and biochemical indicators of wild M.m.brevicaudus,providing a reference for their future breeding as experimental animals.

Fatty liver is common disease of nutritional metabolism in the perinatal period,character-ized by elevated levels of NEFA in the blood and disorders of lipid metabolism.High concentra-tions of NEFA damage mitochondria and promote the release of reactive oxygen species(ROS).At the same time,lipid peroxidation occurs in lipid accumulation in hepatocytes,producing free radi-cals such as ROS,which leads to oxidative stress in the liver.When the level of intracellular ROS increases,thioredoxin-interacting protein(TXNIP)activates nucleotide-binding oligomerization structure-like protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasomes,and oxidative stress can regulate pyroptosis,but it is unclear whether reactive oxygen species(ROS)produced by oxidative stress in hepatocytes can mediate pyroptosis and induce liver injury in dairy cows through the TXNIP/NLRP3 pathway.In this study,liver tissue samples from healthy dairy cows and fatty liver cows were collected,and NEFA was used to construct a fatty liver cell model,and triglyceride(TG)content and oxidative stress related indicators were detected by kit.Western blot was used to detect the activation of NL-RP3 inflammasomes,the inflammatory pathway of NF-κB and the expression levels of pyroptosis-related proteins.Fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the relative expression level of inflammatory factor mRNA.The results showed that compared with the healthy(control)group,the TG content of fatty liver tissue and fatty liver cells was significantly increased(P＜0.05),the activities of SOD and GSH-Px were significantly decreased(P＜0.05),and the protein expression levels of TXNIP,NLRP3,GSDMD-N and Caspase-1 were significantly up-regulated(P＜0.05).The results of the antioxidant model of fatty hepatocytes using NEFA and antioxidants(NAC)showed that compared with the fatty hepatocyte model,the content of ROS in hepatocytes was sig-nificantly reduced,and oxidative stress,NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis were alle-viated.In summary,this study found that when fatty liver disease occurs in dairy cows,ROS pro-duced by oxidative stress in the liver can mediate pyroptosis through the TXNIP/NLRP3 path-way,which can lead to liver injury in fatty liver cows.

Objective To determine the body weights and blood physiological and biochemical indicators in the Macaca mulatta brevicaudus(M.m.brevicaudus),to provide a reference for the breeding of experimental animals.Methods A total of 180 wild M.m.brevicaudus(female and male)from the South Bay Macaque Reserve in Lingshui were selected as the research subjects.Body weights were measured using electronic scales and blood samples were collected.Routine blood indicators(red blood cell count,hemoglobin,white blood cell count,and platelet count)were detected using an automated blood cell analyzer,and biochemical indicators(alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,glucose,blood urea nitrogen)were measured using an automated biochemical analyzer.Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0 software for descriptive statistics,and differences in body weights and blood indicators between sexes and age groups were compared using t-tests.Results Adult male wild M.m.brevicaudus were significantly heavier than females(P＜0.05);however,there were no significant differences in complete blood cell counts between female and male macaques(P＞0.05).In terms of blood biochemical indicators,lactate dehydrogenase and total bilirubin levels differed significantly between female and male M.m.brevicaudus(P＜0.05),but there were no significant differences in any other biochemical indicators.Conclusions This study established baseline data on the body weights and blood physiological and biochemical indicators of wild M.m.brevicaudus,providing a reference for their future breeding as experimental animals.

Fatty liver is common disease of nutritional metabolism in the perinatal period,character-ized by elevated levels of NEFA in the blood and disorders of lipid metabolism.High concentra-tions of NEFA damage mitochondria and promote the release of reactive oxygen species(ROS).At the same time,lipid peroxidation occurs in lipid accumulation in hepatocytes,producing free radi-cals such as ROS,which leads to oxidative stress in the liver.When the level of intracellular ROS increases,thioredoxin-interacting protein(TXNIP)activates nucleotide-binding oligomerization structure-like protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasomes,and oxidative stress can regulate pyroptosis,but it is unclear whether reactive oxygen species(ROS)produced by oxidative stress in hepatocytes can mediate pyroptosis and induce liver injury in dairy cows through the TXNIP/NLRP3 pathway.In this study,liver tissue samples from healthy dairy cows and fatty liver cows were collected,and NEFA was used to construct a fatty liver cell model,and triglyceride(TG)content and oxidative stress related indicators were detected by kit.Western blot was used to detect the activation of NL-RP3 inflammasomes,the inflammatory pathway of NF-κB and the expression levels of pyroptosis-related proteins.Fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the relative expression level of inflammatory factor mRNA.The results showed that compared with the healthy(control)group,the TG content of fatty liver tissue and fatty liver cells was significantly increased(P＜0.05),the activities of SOD and GSH-Px were significantly decreased(P＜0.05),and the protein expression levels of TXNIP,NLRP3,GSDMD-N and Caspase-1 were significantly up-regulated(P＜0.05).The results of the antioxidant model of fatty hepatocytes using NEFA and antioxidants(NAC)showed that compared with the fatty hepatocyte model,the content of ROS in hepatocytes was sig-nificantly reduced,and oxidative stress,NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis were alle-viated.In summary,this study found that when fatty liver disease occurs in dairy cows,ROS pro-duced by oxidative stress in the liver can mediate pyroptosis through the TXNIP/NLRP3 path-way,which can lead to liver injury in fatty liver cows.