Background The widespread use of herbicides has led to environmental contamination and has implications for human health. The liver is an important organ for the detoxification of environmental pollutants; however, studies on the association between herbicide exposure and liver function are limited. Objectives To investigate the association between baseline serum herbicide levels and changes in liver enzyme levels and liver enzyme abnormalities over a 5-year period in middle-aged and older adults. Methods This study was based on a nested case-control population of type 2 diabetes established in the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort, with a total of 1388 subjects included in this study and followed up for 5 years. Epidemiological data were collected through questionnaires, and baseline serum concentrations of three herbicides (metolachlor, propham, and acetochlor) were measured by gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were detected at baseline and follow-up visits. The associations between baseline serum herbicide levels and changes in AST and ALT over 5 years were assessed using linear regression models with herbicide levels categorized into quartiles, adjusting for age, sex, education level, smoking status, drinking status, physical activity, body mass index, and new-onset type 2 diabetes occurred during follow-up. The relationship between baseline serum herbicide levels and the risk of liver enzyme abnormalities during follow-up was further analyzed using logistic regression models. Results The positive rates of metolachlor, propham, and acetochlor were all higher than 80%, and their spiked rates of recovery ranged from 73.46% to 106.77%. The mean ± standard deviation of the age of subjects at baseline was (62.7±7.6) years, with 34.1% being male. The median serum levels of metolachlor, propham, and acetochlor at baseline were 0.05, 0.16, and 0.03 ng·mL⁻¹, respectively. There was no significant difference in baseline serum herbicide levels between the normal and abnormal liver enzyme groups at follow-up (P >0.05). The baseline liver enzyme levels and the changes in AST and ALT over 5 years in those who developed abnormal liver enzymes were significantly higher than those in the normal liver enzyme group (P <0.05). The linear regression analysis showed that the changes in AST increased progressively over 5 years in the second, third, and fourth quartiles of propham compared to the lowest quartile group (the second quartile: b=1.49, 95%CI: 0.10, 2.87; the third quartile: b=1.52, 95%CI: 0.14, 2.90; the fourth quartile: b=1.69, 95%CI: 0.31, 3.08; P <0.05). The associations of serum metolachlor and acetochlor with changes in AST were not significant. Additionally, no significant relationships were found between the three serum herbicides and the changes in ALT over 5 years or the risk of liver enzyme abnormalities. Conclusion Serum propham levels in middle-aged and older adults are positively associated with changes in liver enzyme AST, which may have an effect on liver function. More studies are needed to provide scientific evidence for the association between herbicide exposure and liver function.

Background: The global rise in visual impairment, driven by population aging, the increasing prevalence of lifestyle-related chronic diseases, and environmental factors, has made it a critical public health concern, highlighting the urgent need for effective preventive strategies and eye health maintenance. Cuscutae Semen (CS), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine long regarded for its vision-enhancing properties, has been widely used to support ocular health. However, its underlying molecular mechanisms and bioactive constituents remain poorly understood, limiting its modernization and broader clinical application. Objective: This study aims to investigate the restorative effects of CS on visual impairment, elucidate its underlying mechanisms, and identify potential active components. Methods: A zebrafish model of visual impairment was established using mepanipyrim to simulate retinal structural damage and visual dysfunction. The therapeutic effects of CS were systematically evaluated through behavioral analyses and histomorphological observations. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, an integrated approach was employed, combining transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq), reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction validation, and immunofluorescence staining to identify critical genes and pathways involved. Furthermore, macroporous resin column chromatography was employed for the fractionation and screening of potential active components. Results: CS treatment significantly alleviated mepanipyrim-induced ocular abnormalities in zebrafish, restoring approximately 82% of the observed morphological defects. Behavioral assessments revealed that CS-treated zebrafish exhibited markedly increased swimming speed and distance, indicating enhanced visual light sensitivity. Histopathological analysis demonstrated that CS effectively repaired the structure of retinal cell layers. RNA-seq revealed that CS broadly reversed mepanipyrim-induced gene expression disturbances, suggesting a restorative effect on transcriptomic homeostasis. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis identified the phototransduction pathway as a key mediator of CS’s therapeutic effects. This was further supported by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction validation of critical genes and immunofluorescence staining, which confirmed the restored expression of Pde6a and Gnat2, key proteins involved in photic signal transmission. Active component screening indicated that high-polar constituents, including chlorogenic acid, may constitute one of the major bioactive fractions responsible for the observed therapeutic effects. Conclusion: This study provides evidence of the vision-protective effects of CS in a zebrafish model, demonstrating that its therapeutic mechanism involves modulation of the phototransduction pathway. Chlorogenic acid was identified as one of the key bioactive constituents contributing to this effect. These findings not only provide scientific validation for the traditional use of CS in ocular protection but also present promising therapeutic prospects for the prevention and treatment of visual impairment.

Objective:To explore the associations of platelet parameters platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and plateletcrit (PCT) with the risk for stroke in people with different blood pressure levels.Methods:All the participants were from Dongfeng-Tongji cohort, including 38 295 retired employees from Dongfeng Motor Corporation at the first follow-up survey. After excluding participants with coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, history of platelet influential drug use and those with missed data of platelet parameters or blood pressure or lost to follow-up, finally a total of 21 294 participants were included in this study. All the participants completed baseline questionnaires, physical examinations, clinical biochemical tests, and blood sample collection. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the hazard ratios ( HRs) and the corresponding 95% confident intervals ( CIs) for the associations between platelet parameters and risk for stroke in people with different blood pressure levels. Results:After a mean follow-up of 8.0 years, 1 578 participants developed incident stroke [1 266 ischemic stroke (IS) cases and 312 hemorrhagic stroke (HS) cases]. Compared with the participants with PLT<188×10 9/L, those with PLT≥188×10 9/L among hypertension cases were significantly associated with higher risks for stroke and IS (stroke: HR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.12-1.44; IS: HR=1.39, 95% CI: 1.21-1.60). Among hypertension group, compared with participants with PCT<0.165%, PCT≥0.165% were significantly associated with higher risk for stroke ( HR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.01-1.30) and lower risk for HS ( HR=0.70, 95% CI: 0.53-0.93); Among non-hypertension and hypertension group, PCT ≥0.165% were significantly associated with higher risks of IS ( HR=1.27, 95% CI: 1.05-1.54; HR=1.31, 95% CI: 1.14-1.50). MPV and PDW were not significantly associated with risk for stroke. Risk for stroke increased significantly in hypertension cases with different platelet parameters levels compared with non-hypertension cases with lower levels of each platelet parameters. Conclusion:Higher levels of PLT and PCT could increase the risks for stroke and IS in middle-aged and elderly hypertension patients, and lower levels of PCT could decrease the risk for HS in hypertension patients.

Objective To investigate the significance of T‐SPOT .TB and real‐time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in the diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis .Methods Among the 125 cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis group ,all the 125 cases were performed in accordance with the acid fast bacilli smear ,TB‐PCR and T‐SPOT .TB detection .87 cases of Non‐tuberculosis disease group were detected .Results Among 125 cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis ,4 cases were positive for acid fast bacilli smear and the positive rate was 3 .2% ;57 cases were positive byTB‐PCR and the positive rate was 45 .6% ;96 cases were positive by T‐SPOT .TB and the positive rate was 76 .8% .wo methods were detected in104 cases of positive patients ,the positive rate was 83 .2% .3 cases were positive by TB‐PCR and the positive rate was 3 .4% in 87 cases with non tuberculosis disease group . 4 cases were positive by T‐SPOT .TB and the positive rate was 4 .6% .Conclusion Here is an important practical value in the diag‐nosis of T‐SPOT .TB detection technology in extra pulmonary tuberculosis ,and TB‐PCR joint detection could further improve the detection rate of pulmonary tuberculosis .

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of prostate specific antigen density (PSAD)value in the differential diagnosis from malignant and benign prostate disease .Methods 56 patients who enrolled in this hospital during April 2008 to No-vember 2012 were reviewed ,all of them were suspected as prostate carcinoma with free total PSA value at 4-10 ng/mL .Prostate volume were determined via transrectal ultrasound ,while serum PSA was determined by chemiluminescence method ,and all patients were finally pathologically diagnosed via tissue biopsy or prostatectomy .21 cases were proved to be prostate carcinoma (prostate carcinoma group) ,and the other 35 cases were proved to be benign prostate hyperplasia(BPH) .And the statistical significances of tPSA ,prostate volume and PSAD values were compared between the two groups .Results Compared with BPH group ,serum level of tPSA was insignificant ,while the values of prostate volume and PSAD were significantly lower in the BPH group than in prostate carciboma group .Considering the mean prostate volume(39 .27 mL) as the reference point ,40 mL was set as the cut-off value of prostate volume .Therefore ,there were 80 .95% prostate carcinoma group patients whose prostate volume were less than 40 mL , and 68 .57% benign prostate hyperplasia group patients whose prostate volume were larger than 40 mL .Considering the PSAD val-ue(0 .147) as the reference point ,0 .15 was set as the cut-off value of PSAD .Therefore ,the sensitivity ,specificity ,positive predic-tive value and negative predictive value among patients with prostate volume less than 40 mL ,the datas were respectively as 80 .95% ,72 .73% ,85% and 61 .54% .While ,among patients with prostate volume larger than 40 mL ,were respectively as 75% , 66 .67% ,27 .27% and 94 .11% .Conclusion PSAD was of certain value in the differential diagnosis of prostate carcinoma in PSA gray zone cases .If PSAD=0 .15 was consider as the cut-off point ,the sensitivity and specificity of differential diagnosis for prostate carcinoma decreased as the prostate volume increase .However ,the influencing factors are still to be elucidated .

Objective To investigate the effects of ISO-1, a selective MIF tautomerase activity inhibitor, on liver metastasis in a BALB/c mouse model of colonic cancer. Methods Micmporous migration assay was used to determine the effect of ISO-1 on the invasion abilities of CT26 cells. Orthotopic transplantation of fresh colonic tumor fragments into the hernial sac of cecum was used in a BALB/c mouse model of eolorectal cancer. Thirty mouse models were divided into three groups and treated respectively with ISO-1 (0. 2 ml, 20 mg/kg), 5% DMSO and NS ( normal sodium) twice a week, iutraperitoneally. After 4 weeks, mice were sacrificed and the whole livers were made into serial slices to detect the occurrence of liver metastasis. Serum MIF tautomerase activities were measured using L-dopachrome methyl ester, ELISA was used to test serum VEGF concentrations. Immunohistochemical staining of CD31 was used for comparing microvascular density (MVD) of tumor tissues. Results 100 μmol/L ISO-1 treatment for 24 hours significantly reduced the average number of the cells penetrating polycarbonates, ( 151 ± 19 ) vs. ( 178 ± 9 ), P<0. 01. Serum MIF tautomerase activities were significantly inhibited after ISO-1 treatment (51% vs. 81%, P <0. 01 ). Compared with DMSO and NS treatment, ISO-1 decreased the occurrence of liver metastasis ( 10% ,60% and 70% ,respectively;x2 = 8. 30, P < 0. 05 ). Also ISO-1 decreased serum VEGF levels ( 15 ± 7 ) pg/ml, ( 63 ± 11 ) pg/ml and ( 67 ± 8 ) pg/ml, respectively; P < 0. 01 and the MVD of tumor tissues (17±4) ,(36±7) and( 38±5) ,respectively; P<0. 01. Conclusion In vitro ISO-1 inhibits the invasion ability of CT26 cells. In vivo ISO-1 reduces the occurrence of liver metastasis, possibly by a mechanism of inhibiting MIF tautomerase activities, down-regulating the expression of VEGF and reducing MVD.

Colorectal cancer, C RC, is a kind of cancer, which has a high rate of morbidity and mortality.Liver metastasis is the most frequent metastasis way in CRC, and related to the prognosis of the patients.There are many studies on the treatment of colorectal liver metastasis. The resection of the metastasis is one of the major treatments. Other treatments, including chemotherapy, alleviative and immunogenic treatments,are beneficial supplements to the resection. We summariz the indications, contraindications, managements and effects of these treatments.

AIM: To study intra-ocular distribution and pharmacokinetics of musk eye drops in the rabbit eyes.METHODS: After administration,twenty seven rabbits were euthanatized and taken eye in 0.083 h,0.167 h,0.5 h,1 h,2.0 h,4.0 h,8.0 h and 12 h,and then isolated aqueous humor,vitreous body,further cornea and ciliary margin of iris from rabbits’eyes.The intraocular concentrations of muscone were measured by GC after topical instillation with 10% musk solution in rabbits.The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated with 3p97 program.RESULTS: Results showed that the peak concentrations(max) of muscone in various ocular tissues were (107.52 ?67.07),(2.15 ?1.49),(0.034 ?0.007 6),(2.87 ?1.50) and(0.013 ?0.004 5)?g/g or ?g/mLin lacrimal fluid,cornea,aqueous humor,iris and vitreous body;Its half-Life(T1/2) was(8.08 ? 3.08),(2.87? 2.24),(3.37 ? 0.68),(4.69 ? 1.32) and(8.37 ? 2.70) h,respectively.AUC(0→T) of various tissues was (114.57 ?37.41),(11.57 ?7.16),(0.18 ?0.056),(2.86 ?0.42) and(0.079 ?0.017)?g/(h.g) or(?g/h.mL),respectively.CONCLUSION: The results indicate that musk in eye drop has a good permeability and high concentration in various intraocular tissues of rabbit after ocular instillation.