ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of α-ketoglutarate （α-KG） on hepatic lipid deposition in offspring caused by arsenic exposure during pregnancy. Methods8-week-old institute of cancer research （ICR） mice were mated in a ratio of 2∶1 between females and males， and the detection of vaginal plugs confirmed pregnant. A total of 32 pregnant mice were randomly divided into four groups： control group， arsenic group， α-KG group， arsenic+α-KG group. On gestational day 0-16 （GD0-GD16）， the arsenic and arsenic+α-KG groups were exposed to sodium arsenite （NaAsO₂ ，15 mg/L） in drinking water everyday， and the α-KG and arsenic+α-KG groups were gavaged with α-KG （2 g/kg） everyday. On GD16， pregnant mice were euthanized to collect fetal liver， and fetal body weight and crown-rump length were measured. Gene expression differences between the control group and the arsenic group were analyzed by transcriptome. The total triglycerides （TGs） and subtypes in fetal liver were detected by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry （LC-MS/MS）. Oil red O staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in the liver. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction （qPCR） was used to detect the expression level of genes related to lipid synthesis， transport， and degradation， and phosphatidylinositol 3' -kinase/ protein kinase B （PI3K/AKT） in the liver of fetus. ResultsTranscriptomics analysis showed that 2 144 genes were downregulated and 1 675 genes were upregulated in the arsenic exposed fetal liver； body weight and crown-rump length were reduced （P_TuKey<0.05）； the level of hepatic TGs was elevated in arsenic group （P_TuKey<0.05）； oil-red O staining showed a significant increase in lipid droplets in arsenic group （P_TuKey<0.01）； the expression of lipid synthesis-related genes were significantly upregulated （P_TuKey<0.05）； the expression of β-oxidation-related genes and lipid degradation-related genes were downregulated （P_TuKey<0.05）； the expression of PI3K， AKT decreased（P_TuKey<0.05）. Compared with the arsenic group， the body weight and crown-rump length of fetus increased in the arsenic+α-KG group （P_TuKey<0.05）； the level of hepatic TGs decreased in the arsenic+α-KG group （P_TuKey<0.05）； oil red O staining showed lipid droplets significantly decreased （P_TuKey<0.01）； the expression of lipid synthesis-related genes were downregulated （P_TuKey<0.05）， the expression of β-oxidation-related genes and lipid degradation-related genes were upregulated （P_TuKey<0.05）； the expression levels of PI3K and AKT increased （P_TuKey<0.05）. Conclusionα-KG alleviated hepatic lipid deposition in offspring exposed to arsenic during pregnancy through activating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Objective To explore the correlation between kinesiophobia and disease uncertainty, personal mastery, cardiac discomfort symptoms in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during recovery period. Methods A total of 320 patients with AMI admitted to the hospital were enrolled between January 2020 and January 2024. According to the results of Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia Heart (TSK-H), they were divided into AMI kinesiophobia group (n=166) and simple AMI group (n=154). The disease uncertainty was evaluated by Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale for Adults (MUIS-A), personal mastery was evaluated by Personal Mastery Scale (PMS), and cardiac discomfort symptoms were evaluated by cardiac discomfort symptom scale. The correlation between kinesiophobia and disease uncertainty, personal mastery, cardiac discomfort symptoms in AMI patients was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. Results The scores of MUIS-A and cardiac discomfort symptoms in AMI kinesiophobia group were higher than those in simple AMI group (P<0.05), and PMS scores were lower than those in simple AMI group (P<0.05). The score of kinesiophobia was significantly positively correlated with scores of disease uncertainty and cardiac discomfort symptoms (r=0.628, 0.689, P<0.05), while significantly negatively correlated with the score of personal mastery (r=-0.526, P<0.05). Conclusion Kinesiophobia is related to disease uncertainty, personal mastery and cardiac discomfort symptoms in AMI patients during recovery period. Clinical medical staffs should focus on patients with the above characteristics. The targeted intervention measures can improve kinesiophobia and promote recovery of patients.

Objective To systematically evaluate the risk prediction models for postoperative pulmonary infection in patients with esophageal cancer, providing an objective basis for clinical selection and optimization of models. Methods A systematic search was conducted in Chinese and English databases such as VIP, Wanfang, CNKI, CBM, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science for studies related to the risk prediction models of postoperative pulmonary infection in patients with esophageal cancer from the inception to September 30, 2024. The PROBAST tool was used to assess the quality of prognostic model research, and the RevMan 5.4 software was used for meta-analysis of predictive factors. Results A total of 17 articles were included, containing 26 pulmonary infection risk prediction models. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) ranged from 0.627 to 0.942, among which 21 models had good predictive performance (AUC>0.7). Quality assessment through the PROBAST tool revealed that all 17 articles had a high risk of bias. Meta-analysis results showed that common predictive factors for postoperative pulmonary infection in esophageal cancer included smoking history (OR=1.97), smoking index ≥200 (cigarettes-years) (OR=4.38), smoking index ≥400 (cigarettes-years) (OR=2.00), age (OR=1.27), comorbid diabetes (OR=2.13), comorbid emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR=1.55), low plasma albumin levels (OR=1.17), prognostic nutritional index (OR=4.45), history of related lung diseases (OR=2.10), tumor location (OR=2.32), surgical approach (OR=2.21), operation time (OR=1.73), preoperative serum procalcitonin levels (OR=3.06), anastomotic leakage (OR=3.39), reduced forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity ratio (OR=0.86), and hoarseness (OR=2.23). Conclusion At present, the risk prediction models for postoperative pulmonary infection in esophageal cancer are still in the stage of continuous development and optimization, and their research quality needs to be further improved. Future research can refer to the predictive factors summarized in this study based on meta-analysis, combined with clinical practice, to select appropriate methods to construct and validate the risk prediction models for postoperative pulmonary infection in esophageal cancer, thus providing early targeted preventive strategies for high-risk patients.

Healthy dental pulp is essential for preserving teeth and maintaining their normal function. Vital pulp therapy (VPT) is widely used in clinical applications because it aims to preserve vital pulp and enhance the long-term survival of teeth. An accurate diagnosis of pulp vitality is a prerequisite for successful VPT. However, accurately assessing pulp viability remains challenging in clinical practice. Pulp viability is influenced by various factors, including the type of pulp exposure, caries status, periodontitis, trauma, treatment factors, patient age, and individual differences. Assessing pulp viability requires a comprehensive consideration of medical history and clinical manifestations, along with a combination of various auxiliary methods, such as pulp sensibility tests, pulp blood flow tests, imaging techniques and molecular diagnostics. In the future, the technology for assessing pulp vitality should evolve toward chairside, visualization, and precision techniques, to achieve consistency between clinical and histological diagnoses, thereby providing patients with the most effective treatment.

Tooth loss is a common oral problem, and cognitive decline is a primary manifestation of neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly. Both conditions affect their daily living abilities and quality of life. Studies have shown that tooth loss may negatively impact cognitive function through physiological mechanisms such as neural pathways and inflammatory factors, and social, psychological and behavioral factors are identified as important modifiable elements for preventing cognitive decline. This review examined literature about tooth loss and cognitive decline in the elderly, and explored the potential pathways of social, psychological and behavioral factors between these two conditions. The findings indicated that tooth loss may increase the risk of cognitive decline through reduced social participation, social isolation and limited social capital, increased chronic stress, depression and negative aging attitudes, as well as altered physical activity patterns, sleep duration and diets. For the elderly with tooth loss, targeted preventive and intervention measures addressing social, psychological and behavioral aspects can be implemented to prevent and delay cognitive decline, thereby improving their quality of life.

Objective To understand the equity and influencing factors of maternal health service utilization in Changning District, Shanghai. Methods A convenience sampling method was used to conduct a questionnaire survey among mothers of children aged 1 to 1.5 years old who received health services from the child health care clinics and EPI clinics of 10 community health service centers in Changning District, Shanghai from March to April 2022. Count data was expressed by frequency and percentage. Chi-square analysis, binomial logistic regression analysis, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze fairness-related factors. Rate difference, rate ratio and concentration index were used to represent fairness. Results A total of 696 subjects were investigated, with an average age of (33.35±4.76) years. There were statistically significant differences in service utilization among women with different household registrations only in early pregnancy registration (χ²=11.026, P=0.001) and postpartum visits (χ²=4.989, P=0.026). Women with a career showed differently in folic acid supplement (χ²=6.247, P=0.012), early pregnancy registration (χ²=12.989, P=0.002), physical examination in 42 days postpartum (χ²=4.446, P=0.035) and postpartum contraception (χ²=4.061, P=0.044), and the differences were statistically significant. Women with different monthly family income had a statistically significant difference in pre-pregnancy examination (χ²=8.977, P=0.030) and postpartum visit (χ²=16.114, P=0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between women with maternity insurance or not in the early pregnancy registration (χ²=10.576, P=0.001) and physical examination in 42 days postpartum (χ²=8.166, P=0.004). The results of the multivariate analysis showed that occupation (OR=2.616, 95% CI: 1.142-5.990) and maternity insurance (OR=4.490, 95% CI: 1.992~10.120) affected the utilization of service in early pregnancy registration. The monthly household income (OR=0.278, 95% CI: 0.124-0.625) affected the utilization of services in postpartum visit. At the same time, the monthly household income (10,000-19,999: OR=0.286, 95% CI: 0.090-0.907; ≥30,000: OR=0.180, 95% CI: 0.041-0.801) also affected the utilization of service in physical examination in 42 days postpartum. Conclusion The equity of maternal health care service utilization overall is good in central area in Shanghai, but there is still room for improvement. It is necessary to strengthen community mobilization, propagandize maternal health services, and expand the coverage of maternity insurance to improve the equity of maternal health service utilization and provide equal access to maternity health services.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the intestinal flora in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and explore its possible mechanism based on the gut-lung axis theory. METHODS: A total of 30 male SD rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into a normal control (NC) group, a model group and an EA group, 10 rats in each one. In the model group and the EA group, COPD model was established by intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide combined with cigarette fumigation. In the EA group, EA was applied at bilateral "Feishu" (BL13) and "Zusanli" (ST36), with disperse-dense waves, in frequency of 4 Hz/20 Hz, current of 1-3 mA, 20 min a time, once a day for 14 days continuously. Before and after modeling, as well as after intervention, body weight was observed; after intervention, the lung function indexes (forced expiratory volume in 0.1 second [FEV_0.1], FEV_0.1/forced vital capacity [FVC]%, forced expiratory volume in 0.3 second [FEV_0.3] and FEV_0.3/FVC%) were measured, serum levels of inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor-α[TNF-α], interleukin-6[IL-6], interleukin-1β[IL-1β] and interleukin-10[IL-10]) were detected by ELISA, histopathology of lung and colon tissues was observed by HE staining, the intestinal flora were analyzed by 16S rRNA, and the correlations between lung function and intestinal flora were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with the NC group, in the COPD group, the body weight and lung function indexes were reduced (P<0.01); the lung and colon tissues were damaged, the mean linear intercept (MLI) of alveolus and inflammatory cell numbers of 100 μm² in lung tissue were increased (P<0.01); the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β were increased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the serum level of IL-10 was decreased (P<0.01); α-diversity indexes of intestinal flora were increased (P<0.01); the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Oscillospira, Bacteroides, Coprococcus was increased (P<0.01), the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Tenericutes, TM7 and Lactobacillus, Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, YRC22 was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); 31 different expressed metabolic pathways were identified between the two groups. Compared with the COPD group, in the EA group, the body weight and lung function indexes were increased (P<0.01); the damage of lung and colon tissues was improved, the MLI of alveolus was decreased (P<0.05); the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β were decreased (P<0.05), and the serum level of IL-10 was increased (P<0.05); α-diversity indexes of intestinal flora were decreased (P<0.01); the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Oscillospira, Bacteroides, Coprococcus was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Tenericutes, TM7 and Lactobacillus, Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, YRC22 was increased (P<0.01); 35 different expressed metabolic pathways were identified between the two groups. The lung function was positive related with Actinobacteria, Tenericutes, TM7 and YRC22, and was negative related with Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Oscillospira, Bacteroides, Coprococcus. CONCLUSION EA may ameliorate lung function and tissue injury of COPD by regulating intestinal flora dysbiosis and inflammatory response, suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect mediated via "gut-lung" axis.
Animals ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/genetics* ; Male ; Electroacupuncture ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Lung/metabolism* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Interleukin-6/immunology* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunology* ; Intestines/microbiology* ; Interleukin-10/immunology*

Immune complex deposition is a critical factor in early renal damage associated with lupus nephritis (LN), and targeting plasma cell aggregation offers a promising therapeutic strategy. Ginsenoside compound K (i.e., 20-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol) (CK), a derivative of ginsenoside, has indicated significant potential in alleviating renal damage in lupus-prone mice, potentially by modulating B cell dynamics in response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In this study, CK (20 or 40 mg/kg) was orally administered to female MRL/lpr mice for 10 weeks. The effects of CK on B cell subpopulations, renal function, and histopathological changes were evaluated. Single-cell ribonucleic acid sequencing was employed to analyze gene expression profile and pseudotime trajectories during B cell-mediated renal injury. Additionally, in vitro B cell assays were conducted to explore the role of the sirtuin-1 (SIRT1)-X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) axis in ER stress. Our findings demonstrated that CK effectively reduced anti-double stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibody levels, alleviated systemic inflammation, improved renal function, and facilitated the clearance of deposited immune complexes. CK likely suppressed the unfolded protein response (UPR), delaying the differentiation of renal-activated B cells into plasma cells. It promoted B cell-specific SIRT1 activation and inhibited the splicing of XBP1 into its active form, XBP1s. CK also restored ER morphology by interacting with calmodulin (CALM) to maintain ER calcium storage, reinforcing SIRT1 functional integrity and promoting XBP1 deacetylation, thereby limiting plasma cell differentiation. In conclusion, CK mitigates plasma cell accumulation in the renal microenvironment by preventing SIRT1-mediated XBP1 splicing, offering a potential therapeutic approach for LN.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of endometrial polyps (EP) on postoperative pregnancy outcomes in infertile women with endometriosis (EMs). METHODS: PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, SinoMed, and WanFang Data databases were searched to include clinical studies on the effect of EP on pregnancy outcomes in patients with EMs, published before August 31, 2020. A meta-analysis was performed using Rev Man 5.3 software after two investigators independently screened the literature, extracted information, and evaluated the risk of bias of the included studies. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included ten studies (651 and 1,040 in the combined EP and uncomplicated EP groups, respectively). The spontaneous pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate were significantly lower in the group with combined EPs than in the group without combined EPs [Odd's ratio ( OR) = 0.63, 95% confidence interval ( CI): 0.50-0.80, P = 0.0001; OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.48-0.84, P = 0.001; OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.42-0.96, P = 0.03], and the rate of embryonic abortion was significantly higher than that in the uncomplicated EP group [ OR = 3.10, 95% CI: 1.52-6.32, P = 0.002]. CONCLUSION EP may adversely affect pregnancy outcomes in patients with infertility and EMs. Even after surgical treatment, EP can still reduce natural pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates in infertile women with EMs and increase the risk of embryo arrest in these women.
Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Endometriosis/complications* ; Pregnancy Outcome/epidemiology* ; Polyps/complications* ; Infertility, Female/etiology* ; Pregnancy Rate ; Uterine Diseases/complications*