Background Diesel engines are widely used in transportation, agriculture, construction, industry, and other fields. Diesel exhaust, classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, emits particles (DEP) that can penetrate deep into the respiratory tract, posing significant health risks. DEP pollution is particularly severe in confined environments, necessitating effective control measures. Objective Under laboratory simulation conditions, to explore the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of the mass and number concentrations of DEP as it diffuses indoors and to reveal the effects of ventilation and additional airflow on indoor DEP pollution levels. Methods A diesel engine was placed in a laboratory (length 3.39 m × width 2.85 m × height 2.4 m) with its exhaust emitted from east to west. An air purifier was installed 1 m south of the engine. Eight measurement points (1 m horizontal distance from the exhaust outlet, height: 1 m/1.5 m) were setup to monitor DEP concentrations using portable laser particle sizers. The effects of engine power (4.05 kW vs. 5.15 kW), ventilation (maximum airflow: 600 m³·h⁻¹), additional airflow intensity (low and high), and direction (forward/reverse) on DEP pollution were analyzed. DEP levels of 5 diesel vehicle models were also compared. Results The mass and number concentrations of DEP indoors increased immediately after the diesel engine started. The peak mass concentration time at the eastern measurement point (−1, 0) m opposite to the exhaust direction (17.70 min) was significantly longer than that at the western (1, 0) m (16.20 min), southern (0, -1) m (14.45 min), and northern (0, 1) m (12.70 min) points (P<0.05), with no significant differences between the other points (western, southern, and northern) (P>0.05). The northern point (0, 1) m exhibited the highest DEP mass and number concentration peaks (174.62 μg·m⁻³, 1319.85 p·cm⁻³), significantly exceeding those at the southern (0, −1) m (129.89 μg·m⁻³, 1175.24 p·cm⁻³), eastern (−1, 0) m (140.12 μg·m⁻³, 1120.53 p·cm⁻³), and western (1, 0) m (147.60 μg·m⁻³, 818.62 p·cm⁻³) points (P<0.05), and no significant differences were observed among other points (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in peak DEP mass and number concentrations by measurement heights (P>0.05). Diesel engine power, ventilation, airflow intensity, and airflow direction had no significant effect on the time of peak DEP concentration (P>0.05). However, higher engine power (5.15 kW) produced greater DEP peaks [(186.66±19.29) μg·m⁻³, (1382.79±122.56) p·cm⁻³] than the 4.05 kW engine power [(168.41±12.65) μg·m⁻³, (1284.45±71.30) p·cm⁻³] (P<0.05). The peak mass concentration [(342.04±35.03) μg·m⁻³] and number concentration [(1886.87±57.91) p·cm⁻³] of DEP in the non-ventilated group were significantly higher than those in the ventilated group [(186.66±19.29) μg·m⁻³, (1382.79±122.56) p·cm⁻³] (P<0.001). Forward airflow elevated DEP mass concentrations compared to reverse airflow (287.71 μg·m⁻³ vs. 243.74 μg·m⁻³, t=−2.592, P=0.009), but no effects on DEP number concentration (P>0.05). Significant differences in mass concentration were observed among selected 5 vehicle models (Z=38.109, P<0.001). Conclusion The operation of diesel engines will emit a large amount of particulate matter, causing pollution in enclosed spaces. Diesel engines with greater power have higher levels of DEP pollution emissions. Based on the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics, it is recommended to set the operation position in the reverse direction of exhaust emissions and close to air purifiers, while avoiding the use of additional air flow equipment.

Closed-loop neuromodulation, especially using the phase of the electroencephalography (EEG) rhythm to assess the real-time brain state and optimize the brain stimulation process, is becoming a hot research topic. Because the EEG signal is non-stationary, the commonly used EEG phase-based prediction methods have large variances, which may reduce the accuracy of the phase prediction. In this study, we proposed a machine learning-based EEG phase prediction network, which we call EEG phase prediction network (EPN), to capture the overall rhythm distribution pattern of subjects and map the instantaneous phase directly from the narrow-band EEG data. We verified the performance of EPN on pre-recorded data, simulated EEG data, and a real-time experiment. Compared with widely used state-of-the-art models (optimized multi-layer filter architecture, auto-regress, and educated temporal prediction), EPN achieved the lowest variance and the greatest accuracy. Thus, the EPN model will provide broader applications for EEG phase-based closed-loop neuromodulation.
Humans ; Electroencephalography/methods* ; Brain/physiology* ; Machine Learning ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Adult ; Neural Networks, Computer ; Brain Waves/physiology*

Myelin is an essential structure that facilitates rapid saltatory conduction in the nervous system. Discrepancies in myelin microstructure are a hallmark of numerous neurological disorders, rendering the assessment of myelin integrity and content an indispensable tool in clinical diagnostics and neuroscience research. Extensive research has been dedicated to scrutinizing its biochemical makeup and morphology under normal, pathological, and experimental conditions over the years. In this review, we present an updated summary of the myelin sheath's structure, composition, and developmental trajectory. We systematically enumerate and contrast eight prevalent myelin staining techniques across dimensions of sensitivity, specificity, and resolution, delving into their underlying staining principles. With an initial application of myelin histology on the mouse demyelination model, our review accentuates the accurate delineation of myelination and the microstructural analysis of the myelin sheath. Such insights are anticipated to significantly contribute to the evaluation and understanding of white matter pathologies.
Myelin Sheath/metabolism* ; Animals ; Humans ; Demyelinating Diseases/pathology* ; Staining and Labeling/methods*

Saponins associated with Panax notoginseng (P. notoginseng) demonstrate significant therapeutic efficacy across multiple diseases. However, certain high-yield saponins face limited clinical applications due to their reduced pharmacological efficacy. This study synthesized and evaluated 36 saponin-1,2,3-triazole derivatives of ginsenosides Rg1/Rb1 and notoginsenoside R1 for anti-adipogenesis activity in vitro. The research revealed that the ginsenosides Rg1-1,2,3-triazole derivative a17 demonstrates superior adipogenesis inhibitory effects. Structure-activity relationships (SARs) analysis indicates that incorporating an amidyl-substituted 1,2,3-triazole into the saponin side chain via Click reaction enhances anti-adipogenesis activity. Additionally, several other derivatives exhibit general adipogenesis inhibition. Compound a17 demonstrated enhanced potency compared to the parent ginsenoside Rg1. Mechanistic investigations revealed that a17 exhibits dose-dependent inhibition of adipogenesis in vitro, accompanied by decreased expression of preadipocytes. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) adipogenesis regulators. These findings establish the ginsenoside Rg1-1,2,3-triazole derivative a17 as a promising adipocyte differentiation inhibitor and potential therapeutic agent for obesity and associated metabolic disorders. This research provides a foundation for developing effective therapeutic approaches for various metabolic syndromes.
Adipogenesis/drug effects* ; Triazoles/chemical synthesis* ; Ginsenosides/chemical synthesis* ; Saponins/chemical synthesis* ; Animals ; Mice ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; PPAR gamma/genetics* ; 3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes/metabolism* ; Panax notoginseng/chemistry* ; Drug Design ; Molecular Structure ; Humans ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins/genetics*

Background In recent years, the rising number of e-cigarette users among adolescents and the surging cases of lung injury related to e-cigarette use have attracted the attention of researchers in various fields. Objective To identify the research hotspots and trends of e-cigarette or vaping product use associated lung injury (EVALI) worldwide from 2013 to 2022 by bibliometric and visual analysis. Methods Web of Science Core Collection was selected to obtain literature related to EVALI from 2013 to 2022 across the world, statistics were calculated by country/region, institution, author, journal, cited literature, keyword, etc. CiteSpace 6.2.R1 was used for visual analysis to draw diagrams of publication trend, author cooperation network, co-citation clustering time distribution, and keyword cluster. Results A total of 888 EVALI-related papers published between 2013 and 2022 were retrieved. The number of publications was gradually increased, with a significant increase in 2020 and a decrease from 2021, but the number of citations was increased year by year. The most active country was the United States (631 articles). European and American countries cooperated closely and the centrality was prominent. Among the publishing institutions, the University of California system topped the list with 103 articles. Rahman I (27 articles) published the most articles and had a high degree of centrality; Goniewicz M L was the most cited author; and the network analysis diagram showed relatively weak collaboration between authors. The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine was the journal with the highest number of publications (94 articles). The top 5 cited articles were all cited more than 300 times. The leading high-frequency keywords of EVALI-related studies were nicotine (149 times), exposure (118 times), and oxidative stress (80 times). The cluster of key nodes in the co-citation network and the clustering time distribution diagram indicated youth e-cigarette addiction received widespread attention from society. From the top 25 keywords with the strongest bursts, the focus of research on the pathogenesis of EVALI gradually shifted from the oxidative stress damage associated with e-cigarette vapor to the oxidative effect of flavoring chemicals in the process of lung injury. The current research interests in this field were mainly the mechanisms of various chemicals in e-cigarettes and the heating elements that led to damage to the lungs. Conclusion EVALI is receiving continuous attention from researchers in government, medical institutions, and other organizations. A variety of e-cigarette ingredients such as flavoring chemicals may lead to varying degrees of cytotoxicity, inflammation, and lung damage. However, the pathophysiology of EVALI remains unclear. In the future, more Chinese scholars should be encouraged to participate in this field.

Objective Evaluation of the efficacy of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for chronic disturbance of consciousness after severe craniocerebral injury based on magnetic resonance spectroscopy.Methods The clinical data of 106 patients with chronic disturbance of consciousness after severe craniocerebral injury from January 2018 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed,and they were divided into control group(conventional rehabilitation treatment)and observation group(high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment)by propensity score matching method(1∶1),with 53 cases in each group.Both groups were examined by magnetic resonance spectroscopy(MRS)before and after treatment.The brain metabolic indexes[N-acetyl aspartate(NAA)/creatine(Cr)value,choline complex(Cho)/Cr value],Glasgow coma scale(GCS)score,electroencephalogram(EEG)grading,coma recovery scale(CRS-R)score,brainstem auditory evoked potential(BAEP)grading,upper limb sensory evoked potential(SSEP)grading and Cerebral blood flow perfusion index[cerebral blood volume(CBV),mean transit time(MTT),cerebral blood flow(CBF)]were compared between the two groups.Results After treatment,the NAA/Cr values of the thalamus and brainstem in the two groups increased,while the Cho/Cr values decreased,and the levels of brain metabolic indexes in the observation group were signifi-cantly better than those in the control group(P<0.05).The two groups'GCS score and CRS-R score increased,and the improvement of the observation group was better than that of the control group(P<0.05).The BAEP grading,EEG grading,and SSEP grading of the two groups improved,and those of the observation group were better than the control group(P<0.05).The CBF and CBV of the two groups increased,and MTT decreased,and the level of cere-bral blood perfusion index in the observation group was better than that in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion High frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has a significant effect on the recovery of patients with chronic consciousness disorders after severe craniocerebral injury.The mechanism may be related to improving the blood flow velocity of brain tissue and metabolism in the brain.

Nephroptosis,a rare condition in urology,often results from inadequate support of the kidney's perinephric fat structures,leading to excessive renal mobility.It typically occurs in lean,tall,young females.Some cases manifest with abdominal pain and renal dysfunction.Open nephropexy,laparoscopic nephropexy and percutaneous nephropexy are all effective methods in the treatment of nephroptosis,among which percutaneous nephropexy is associated with less trauma and lower costs.Modifications to percutaneous nephropexy by the authors'team are also introduced mentioned in this article.

Aging and age-related ailments have emerged as critical challenges and great burdens within the global contemporary society.Addressing these concerns is an imperative task,with the aims of postponing the aging process and finding effective treatments for age-related degenerative diseases.Recent investigations have highlighted the significant roles of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NAD+)in the realm of anti-aging.It has been empirically evidenced that supplementation with nicotinamide mononucleotide(NMN)can elevate NAD+levels in the body,thereby ameliorating certain age-related degenerative diseases.The principal anti-aging mechanisms of NMN essentially lie in its impact on cellular energy metabolism,inhibition of cell apoptosis,modulation of immune function,and preservation of genomic stability,which collectively contribute to the deferral of the aging process.This paper critically reviews and evaluates existing research on the anti-aging mechanisms of NMN,elucidates the inherent limitations of current research,and proposes novel avenues for anti-aging investigations.

Disturbances of gut microbiota may affect the balance of the host immune system.The metabolism of gut microbiota produces many bioactive molecules interacting with host,typically secondary bile acids(SBAs).SBAs are involved in regulating the energy metabolism and the expression of inflammatory response-related genes by bind-ing to membrane receptors and nuclear receptors,such as takeda G protein-coupled receptor(TGR5)and farnesol X receptor(FXR),which are essential for maintaining host immune homeostasis.

Objective:To evaluate auditory spatial discrimination capabilities in patients with mild to moderately severe symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and to compare the impact of different psychophysical testing methods on Minimum Audible Angle (MAA) and test duration.Methods:A total of 105 symmetrical SNHL patients aged from 18 to 60 years old were enrolled from April to July 2023, including 56 males and 49 females. They were divided into three groups based on PTA: mild, moderate, and moderately severe hearing loss, with 35 individuals in each group. Additionally, a control group of 35 individuals with normal hearing was tested, including 18 males and 17 females. Participants underwent four distinct psychophysical discrimination tests: the block up-down, 1-up/1-down, 1-up/2-down, and 1-up/3-down procedures. We recorded the MAA and test duration for each. We employed repeated measures of ANOVA to compare the MAA and test duration across different methods and groups, and Pearson′s correlation to assess the relationship between MAA and degree of hearing loss.Results:MAA of sound localization in patients with symmetrical SNHL was significantly positively correlated with the degree of hearing loss ( r=0.59, P<0.01). Significant deterioration in MAA was observed as hearing loss progressed to the moderate level (PTA≥35 dBHL, P<0.01). The testing methods significantly influenced MAA and testing duration ( F=24.02, P<0.01; F=75.56, P<0.01) and the 1-up/1-down method was the quickest, averaging only (0.69±0.32) mins. Conclusions:The horizontal plane auditory spatial discrimination abilities in patients with symmetrical SNHL is impaired progressively with increasing hearing loss, notably beyond moderate hearing loss levels. Different psychophysical methods influence both MAA and test duration, the quicker 1-up/1-down method is recommended for assessing MAA in symmetrical SNHL patients.