Objective To evaluate the levels and changes in occupational individual external radiation dose in non-medical nuclear utilization units in Nanning City, and to provide a basis for radiation protection in such units. Methods Thermoluminescent dosimeters were used to monitor individual radiation doses among radiation workers in 38 non-medical nuclear utilization units in Nanning City. The results were subjected to statistical analysis. Results From 2021 to 2023, a total of 3724 person-times were monitored in 38 non-medical nuclear utilization units in Nanning City. The mean annual effective dose was 0.101 mSv in 2021, 0.060 mSv in 2022, and 0.094 mSv in 2023, with a three-year average of 0.085 mSv, all well below the occupational exposure limit of 1.0 mSv. Significant differences in mean annual effective doses were observed across occupations and sexes (P<0.05). Female workers received significantly lower mean annual effective dose than male workers. Workers in the cement manufacturing industry had a significantly higher mean annual effective dose compared to those in government institutions and industrial flaw detection practitioners (F = 2.913, P<0.05). No significant differences were found among workers exposed to unsealed radioactive sources, sealed radioactive sources, and radiation-generating equipment (F = 0.585, P>0.05). Conclusion The occupational individual external radiation doses in non-medical nuclear utilization units in Nanning City are at low levels. There are no significant differences in mean annual effective dose across different nuclear utilization units. However, differences in occupational roles between males and females significantly affect the mean annual effective dose.

Objective To explore the impact of number of positive regional lymph nodes (nPRLN) in N1 stage on the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods Patients with TxN1M0 stage NSCLC who underwent lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection from 2010 to 2015 were screened from SEER database (17 Regs, 2022nov sub). The optimal cutoff value of nPRLN was determined using X-tile software, and patients were divided into 2 groups according to the cutoff value: a nPRLN≤optimal cutoff group and a nPRLN>optimal cutoff group. The influence of confounding factors was minimized by propensity score matching (PSM) at a ratio of 1 : 1. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate overall survival (OS) and lung cancer-specific survival (LCSS) of patients. Results A total of 1316 patients with TxN1M0 stage NSCLC were included, including 662 males and 654 females, with a median age of 67 (60, 73) years. The optimal cutoff value of nPRLN was 3, with 1165 patients in the nPRLN≤3 group and 151 patients in the nPRLN>3 group. After PSM, there were 138 patients in each group. Regardless of before or after PSM, OS and LCSS of patients in the nPRLN≤3 group were superior to those in the nPRLN>3 group (P<0.001). N1 stage nPRLN>3 was an independent prognostic risk factor for OS [HR=1.52, 95%CI (1.22, 1.89), P<0.001] and LCSS [HR=1.72, 95%CI (1.36, 2.18), P<0.001]. Conclusion N1 stage nPRLN>3 is an independent prognostic risk factor for NSCLC patients in TxN1M0 stage, which may provide new evidence for future revision of TNM staging N1 stage subclassification.

Aging has emerged as a cutting edge and hotspot in global life science field， with anti-aging and geriatric disease prevention and treatment becoming critical issues urgently demanding solutions in international medical communities. In the face of the challenge of accelerating global population aging， in-depth exploration of aging mechanisms and the development of effective intervention strategies hold significant scientific and clinical value. This study supported by the national key research and development program of China， employed the essence-Qi-spirit theory of Qiluo doctrine as its guiding framework， focusing on the key scientific issue of the core traditional Chinese pathogenesis of aging， namely "depletion of kidney essence， deficiency of primordial Qi， and impairment of body and spirit". The treatment principle of "tonifying the kidney to replenish essence， harmonizing Yin and Yang， warming and invigorating primordial Qi， and nourishing the body and spirit" was established. Centered on holistic aging， systemic aging， and aging-related diseases， the research integrated multidisciplinary research approaches to construct multi-modal aging models and a multi-dimensional evaluation system， and it utilized multi-omics technologies to deeply analyze aging mechanisms. By systematically reviewing historical kidney-tonifying and anti-aging formulas and combining big data with artificial intelligence technologies， an information database of anti-aging traditional Chinese medicine substance was developed to reveal the differences and synergistic effects of various treatment methods and formulas on anti-aging. Based on this treatment method， the research integrated two millennia of kidney-tonifying medicinal experience to develop the innovative anti-aging traditional Chinese medicine， namely Bazhi Bushen capsules. It was validated that this capsule can delay holistic and systemic aging through multiple targets and mechanisms， thereby elucidating the scientific connotation of the essence-Qi-spirit theory of Qiluo doctrine in guiding anti-aging research from multiple dimensions and providing robust support for leveraging the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine to occupy the commanding heights of international anti-aging research.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect of oral sodium butyrate on skeletal muscle atrophy in CT26 tumor mice through the gut microbiota-skeletal muscle axis and its potential mechanism. MethodsSixty SPF BALB/c male mice aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into a normal control group (NC, n=18) and a ABX-depleted group (ABX, n=42). The ABX mice were pretreated with a quadruple antibiotic cocktail via oral gavage (0.2 ml per administration, once daily, 6 d per week, for 2 weeks), whereas NC received an equal volume of sterile water. The quadruple antibiotic cocktail consisted of metronidazole (1 g/L), vancomycin (0.5 g/L), ampicillin (1 g/L), and gentamicin (1 g/L). Following successful pretreatment, six mice from each group were randomly selected for gut microbiota sequencing analysis and designated as the Abx group and the NC0 group, respectively. Theremaining mice in ABX were subcutaneously inoculated in the dorsum with 0.2 ml of CT26 cell suspension (at a cell density of 1×10⁷/ml). Then these mice were randomly allocated into three subgroups: a control tumor bearing model group (0_NaB, n=12), a tumor-bearing model group receiving low-dose oral sodium butyrate (L_NaB, n=12), a tumor-bearing model group receiving high-dose oral sodium butyrate (H_NaB, n=12). And mice in NC were inoculated at the same site with 0.2 ml of normal saline. The administration dose for L_NaB was 0.3 g/(kg·d), that for H_NaB was 0.5 g/(kg·d), while NC and 0_NaB were given the same volume of normal saline (0.2ml per time, once daily, 6 d per week, for 4 weeks). The general condition of mice was monitored, and forelimb grip strength gastrocnemius muscle mass and its muscle fiber cross-sectional area were measured for each group. The structural changes in gut microbiota were assessed by 16S rRNA sequencing of cecal contents. Pathological alterations in the intestinal wall were examined via HE staining. Serum and gastrocnemius muscle levels of TNF‑α, IL-6, IL-1β, and LPS were quantified using ELISA. The protein expression of ZO-1 and occludin in the small intestine, as well as proteins associated with the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in the gastrocnemius muscle, were detected by Western blot analysis. Results(1) The alpha-diversity in Abx was significantly lower than that in NC0 (P<0.01), a significant decrease of the mass and muscle fiber cross-sectional area of the gastrocnemius (P<0.01), with the majority of gut microbiota being effectively depleted. (2) Compared with NC, the subcutaneous tumors of mice in 0_NaB were prominent, a significant increase of the mass and muscle fiber cross-sectional area of the gastrocnemius, accompanied by a significant decrease in body weight at the end of the 3th and 4th week (P<0.05), and a significant weakening of the forelimb grasping strength at the 5th and 6th week (P<0.01). Compared with 0_NaB, the tumor mass of mice in L_NaB and H_NaB showed a significant decreasing trend, and the grip strength of the forelimbs significantly increased at the 5th and 6th week (P<0.05, P<0.01). (3) Compared with 0_NaB, the Shannon and Observed species indices in α diversity of L_NaB and H_NaB were significantly increased (P<0.05). At the genus level, compared with 0_NaB, L_NaB exhibited a significant decrease in the relative abundance of Parasutterella (P< 0.01), while H_NaB showed significant reductions in the relative abundances of both Escherichia-Shigella and Parasutterella (P < 0.01). (4) Compared with 0_NaB, the small intestinal tissue structure in L_NaB and H_NaB was more intact, the infiltration of inflammatory cells was significantly reduced, and the capillaries were slightly dilated. The expression levels of ZO-1 and occludin proteins in L_NaB were significantly increased (P<0.01). (5) The LPS concentration in the gastrocnemius muscle and the protein expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, p-IκBα, and p-NF‑κB p65 in L_NaB and H_NaB were significantly lower than those in 0_NaB (P<0.05). The serum TNF‑α concentration in H_NaB and TNF-α concentration in the gastrocnemius muscle of the L_NaB and H_NaB were significantly lower than those in 0_NaB (P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.01). ConclusionOral administration of NaB can improve gut microbiota α diversity, adjusting its composition, improving intestinal mucosal barrier function, reducing the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory response, and delaying skeletal muscle atrophy. The underlying mechanism may involve down regulation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling in skeletal muscle.

Diabetic retinopathy（DR）， as one of the most common and serious microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus， seriously threatens human health， and belongs to "Xiaoke eye diseases" in traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）， which has been richly experienced by medical practitioners through the ages， but is mostly recorded in a piecemeal manner and has not been systematically researched. This disease is featured by long course and repeated attack， and is refractory， which belongs to the research category of "persistent illness entering collaterals". Systematic establishment of TCM collateral disease theory for guiding prevention and treatment of DR has important clinical value. On the basis of close correlation between tertiary collaterals at the terminal of collaterals and capillaries and microcirculation， the concept of "tertiary collaterals-microvascular" is proposed. It is pointed out that DR falls within the scope of "tertiary collaterals-microvascular" diseases， and presents four types of micro-pathological characteristics， including stasis， insufficiency， growth and bleeding of tertiary collaterals. It is concluded that "deficiency of both Qi and Yin" is the basic pathogenesis of DR， and "blood stasis and collateral obstruction" is the important pathogenesis and key factor. Thus， the treatment method of "dispersing blood stasis， dredging collateral， tonifying Qi and Yin， stopping hemorrhage and improving eyesight" is determined， and the formula of Tongluo Mingmu capsules is developed. The article tightly focuses on the pathological changes such as stasis， growth， insufficiency and bleeding of collaterals， addresses both symptoms and root causes， and plays a synergistic role of both dispersing stasis and stopping bleeding. In this way， it can realize the purpose of tonifying Qi and Yin to replenish the essence， dispersing stasis and dredging collaterals to meet the requirement， as well as stopping hemorrhage and improving eyesight to deal with changes. Fundamental researches demonstrate that Tongluo Mingmu capsules has synergy effects of protecting both retinal capillaries and retinal cells. Phase-Ⅲ clinical trial of new drug has proven definite clinical efficacy and good safety， which provides a new drug choice for enhancing clinical effect of DR， and further supports the scientific value of Luobing theory in preventing and treating DR and other clinically significant diseases.

Background: and Purpose Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) following endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is a severe complication associated with adverse functional outcomes and increased mortality rates. Currently, a reliable predictive model for sICH risk after EVT is lacking. Methods: This study used data from patients aged ≥20 years who underwent EVT for anterior circulation stroke from the nationwide Taiwan Registry of Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke (TREAT-AIS). A predictive model including factors associated with an increased risk of sICH after EVT was developed to differentiate between patients with and without sICH. This model was compared existing predictive models using nationwide registry data to evaluate its relative performance. Results: Of the 2,507 identified patients, 158 developed sICH after EVT. Factors such as diastolic blood pressure, Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score, platelet count, glucose level, collateral score, and successful reperfusion were associated with the risk of sICH after EVT. The TREAT-AIS score demonstrated acceptable predictive accuracy (area under the curve [AUC]=0.694), with higher scores being associated with an increased risk of sICH (odds ratio=2.01 per score increase, 95% confidence interval=1.64–2.45, P<0.001). The discriminatory capacity of the score was similar in patients with symptom onset beyond 6 hours (AUC=0.705). Compared to existing models, the TREAT-AIS score consistently exhibited superior predictive accuracy, although this difference was marginal. Conclusions The TREAT-AIS score outperformed existing models, and demonstrated an acceptable discriminatory capacity for distinguishing patients according to sICH risk levels. However, the differences between models were only marginal. Further research incorporating periprocedural and postprocedural factors is required to improve the predictive accuracy.

OBJECTIVE: Asthma imposes a significant global health burden. This study examines changes in the asthma-related disease burden from 1990 to 2021 and projects future burdens for 2050 under different scenarios. METHODS: Using data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021 study, we analyzed asthma incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from 1990 to 2021. We projected the disease burden for 2050 based on current trends and hypothetical scenarios in which all risk factors are controlled. Temporal trends in age-standardized incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALY rates were explored using Annual Percent Change. RESULTS: In 2021, the age-standardized rates for asthma incidence, prevalence, mortality, and DALYs in China were 364.17 per 100,000 (95% uncertainty interval [ UI]: 283.22-494.10), 1,956.49 per 100,000 (95% UI: 1,566.68-2,491.87), 1.47 per 100,000 (95% UI: 1.15-1.79), and 103.76 per 100,000 (95% UI: 72.50-145.46), respectively. A higher disease burden was observed among Chinese men and individuals aged 70 years or older. Compared to the current trend, a combined scenario involving improvements in environmental factors, behavioral and metabolic health, child nutrition, and vaccination resulted in a greater reduction in the disease burden caused by asthma. CONCLUSION Addressing modifiable risk factors is essential for further reducing the asthma-related disease burden.
Humans ; Asthma/mortality* ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Child ; Adolescent ; Global Burden of Disease/trends* ; Child, Preschool ; Young Adult ; Infant ; Cost of Illness ; Disability-Adjusted Life Years ; Prevalence ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Aged, 80 and over ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the impact of foam macrophages (FMs) on the intracellular survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and identify the molecular mechanisms influencing MTB survival. METHODS: An in vitro FM model was established using oleic acid induction. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were conducted to identify the key molecular pathways involved in FM-mediated MTB survival. RESULTS: Induced FMs effectively restricted MTB survival. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling revealed distinct changes in gene and metabolite expression in FMs during MTB infection compared with normal macrophages. Integrated analyses identified significant alterations in the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathway, indicating that its activation contributes to the FM-mediated restriction of MTB survival. CONCLUSIONS FMs inhibit MTB survival. The cAMP signaling pathway is a key contributor. These findings enhance the understanding of the role of FMs in tuberculosis progression, suggest potential targets for host-directed therapies, and offer new directions for developing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against tuberculosis.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis/physiology* ; Transcriptome ; Metabolomics ; Foam Cells/microbiology* ; Humans ; Metabolome ; Tuberculosis/microbiology* ; Gene Expression Profiling

Objective:To investigate the inhibitory effect of astragaloside Ⅳ(AS-Ⅳ)on cisplatin(CDDP)-induced liver injury in the mice,and to elucidate its possible mechanism.Methods:Forty male C57BL/6 mice with body weights of 18-22 g were randomly divided into control group,model group,AS-Ⅳ group and adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK)inhibitor(Compound C)+AS-Ⅳ group.The mice in control group and model group were gavaged with the same volume of normal saline,and the drug was administered continuously for 9 d.The mice in AS-Ⅳ group and Compound C+AS-Ⅳ group were given AS-Ⅳ aqueous solution(150 mg·kg-1·d-1),respectively.On the 6th day of experiment,the mice in Compound C+AS-Ⅳ group were intraperitoneally injected with Compound C(20 mg·kg-1),and on the 7th day,except for control group,the mice in other groups were intraperitoneally injected with 20 mg·kg-1 CDDP to establish the mouse liver injury models,and the mice were sacrificed 48 h later.Serum and liver tissues were collected,and the levels of aspartate aminotransferase(AST)and alanine aminotransferase(ALT)in the serum of the mice,as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and catalase(CAT)and the levels of malondialdehyde(MDA)in the liver tissue of the mice in various groups were detected by kits.The pathomorphology of liver tissue of the mice in various groups were detected by HE staining.The expression levels of glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4),ferritin heavy chain 1(FTH1)and ferroptosis inhibitory protein 1(FSP1)proteins in liver tissue of the mice in various groups were detected by immunohistochemical staining,and the expression levels of nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2(Nrf2),heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)and AMPK proteins in liver tissue of the mice in various groups were detected by Western blotting method.Results:Compared with control group,the levels of AST and ALT in serum of the mice in model group were increased(P＜0.01),the activities of SOD and CAT in the liver tissue were significantly decreased(P＜0.01),and the MDA level was increased(P＜0.01);compared with model group,the levels of AST and ALT in serum of the mice in AS-Ⅳ group were decreased(P＜0.01),the MDA level in the liver tissue was decreased(P＜0.01),and the activities of SOD and CAT were increased(P＜0.01);compared with AS-Ⅳ group(P＜0.01),the levels of AST and ALT in serum of the mice in Compound C+AS-Ⅳ group were increased(P＜0.01),the level of MDA in liver tissue was increased(P＜0.05),and the activities SOD and CAT were decreased(P＜0.01).The HE staining results showed that compared with control group,the liver damage degree of the mice in model group was enhanced,the hepatocyte arrangement was disordered,and some hepatocyte edema were increased;compared with model group,the liver morphology of the mice in AS-Ⅳ group returned to normal;compared with AS-Ⅳ group,the hepatocyte arrangement of the mice in Compound C+AS-Ⅳ group was disordered and the edges were blurred.The immunohistochemistry results showed that compared with control group,the expression levels of GPX4,FTH1 and FSP1 proteins in liver tissue of the mice in model group were decreased(P＜0.05);compared with model group,the expression levels of GPX4,FTH1 and FSP1 proteins in liver tissue of the mice in AS-Ⅳ group were increased(P＜0.05);compared with AS-Ⅳ group,the expression levels of GPX4,FTH1 and FSP1 proteins in liver tissue of the mice in Compound C+AS-Ⅳ group were decreased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The Western blotting results showed that compared with control group,the expression levels of Nrf2,HO-1 and AMPK proteins in liver tissue of the mice in model group were decreased(P＜0.01);compared with model group,the expression levels of Nrf2,HO-1 and AMPK proteins in liver tissue of the mice in AS-Ⅳgroup were increased(P＜0.01);compared with AS-Ⅳ group,the expression levels of Nrf2,HO-1 and AMPK proteins in liver tissue of the mice in Compound C+AS-Ⅳ group were decreased(P＜0.01).Conclusion:AS-Ⅳ can alleviate the CDDP-induced liver injury,and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of AMPK/Nrf2/HO-1 signal pathway and ferroptosis by AS-Ⅳ.

Objective:To identify the trajectories of dietary choline intake in middle-aged and older population, and to analyze its longitudinal association with cognitive function.Methods:Subjects aged 55 to 79 years with at least two rounds of completed population economics, lifestyle, disease history, cognitive function, dietary assessments and physical measurements in 1997-2018 and those with at least three rounds of dietary measures in 1991-2015 were selected from the China Health and Nutrition Survey. Dietary survey was conducted using three consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls combined with a weighing inventory at the household level. Cognitive assessment was performed using part of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status Scale. Group-based univariate trajectory modeling was used to identify trajectory of choline intake, and three-level linear mixed-effects models or three-level logistic mixed-effects models was employed to analyze the relationship between trajectory groups and cognitive function. Subgroup analyses were conducted by gender and age at baseline.Results:Four trajectories of dietary choline intake were identified in the whole population, named as low-intake-stable group (61.0%), medium-intake-stable group (23.9%), medium-intake-slowly-declined group (11.2%), and high-intake-stable group (3.9%). Three trajectories were identified for each subgroup. Low-intake-stable group accounted for more than 60% in total population as well as each subgroup, especially in women and 55-59 years group. After adjusting for covariates, global cognitive scores were 0.54 (95% CI: 0.26-0.82), 0.77 (95% CI: 0.36-1.18), and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.21-1.48) points higher in medium-intake-stable, medium-intake- slowly-declined and high-intake-stable groups in the whole population, respectively, compared with the low-intake-stable group. The likelihoods of cognitive decline were 18.4% ( OR=0.816,95% CI: 0.709-0.939), 17.6% ( OR=0.824, 95% CI: 0.680-0.998), 24.4% ( OR=0.756, 95% CI: 0.589-0.970) and 22.4% ( OR=0.776,95% CI: 0.623-0.968) lower in medium-intake-stable group of dietary choline in the whole population, medium-intake-stable group in males, medium-intake-slightly-increased group in females and medium-intake-slowly-increased group in 55-59 years at baseline than in low-intake-stable group, respectively. Conclusions:Dietary choline intake is generally lower in the Chinese population aged 55-79 years. Long-term lower choline intake has a negative impact on cognitive function in middle-aged and older adults and may increase the risk of cognitive decline. The increment in the consumption of choline-enriched foods should be recommended.