ObjectiveThe present study aimed to investigate alterations in white matter microstructure and spontaneous neural activity in male college smokers, and to further explore their associations with nicotine dependence. Given that adolescence and early adulthood represent critical periods for brain maturation, particularly for white matter development, understanding the neural correlates of smoking behavior during this stage is of substantial importance for both neuroscience and public health. MethodsA total of 115 male undergraduate students were initially recruited for this study. After quality control and exclusion procedures, 52 male college smokers and 42 demographically matched healthy non-smokers were included in the final analysis. All participants underwent multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI). White matter fiber tracts were reconstructed using the automated fiber quantification (AFQ) method, which enables precise identification and quantification of major fiber bundles. Eighteen major white matter tracts were segmented for each participant. Along the core trajectory of each tract, 100 equidistant nodes were sampled. Fractional anisotropy (FA) was calculated at each node to assess white matter microstructural integrity, while amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) was computed to evaluate spontaneous neural activity within white matter tracts. Between-group differences in FA and ALFF were assessed using two-sample t-tests, with appropriate corrections applied for multiple comparisons. Furthermore, Pearson correlation analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between imaging-derived metrics (FA and ALFF values in regions showing significant group differences) and nicotine dependence severity, as measured by the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence (FTND). ResultsCompared with healthy non-smokers, male college smokers exhibited significantly increased FA values in several white matter tracts, including the left thalamic radiation, right corticospinal tract, forceps major of the corpus callosum, left uncinate fasciculus, and right arcuate fasciculus. These findings suggest altered microstructural organization or increased directional coherence within these pathways. In addition, smokers demonstrated significantly elevated ALFF values in the forceps major, right uncinate fasciculus, and left arcuate fasciculus, indicating enhanced spontaneous neural activity in these white matter regions. Correlation analyses revealed that FA values in the left thalamic radiation and right corticospinal tract were negatively correlated with FTND scores, suggesting that higher levels of nicotine dependence were associated with reduced microstructural integrity or altered fiber organization in these regions. In contrast, ALFF values in the forceps major and right uncinate fasciculus were positively correlated with FTND scores, indicating that greater nicotine dependence was associated with increased spontaneous neural activity in specific white matter pathways. ConclusionThe present study provides evidence that male college smokers exhibit distinct alterations in both white matter microstructure and functional activity. These abnormalities are not uniformly distributed but rather localized to specific fiber tracts implicated in sensorimotor processing, interhemispheric communication, and higher-order cognitive and emotional regulation. Importantly, the observed associations between imaging metrics and nicotine dependence severity suggest that these structural and functional alterations may reflect neurobiological mechanisms underlying addiction. The combination of AFQ-based tract profiling and multimodal MRI offers a sensitive approach for detecting subtle changes along white matter pathways, highlighting its potential utility in identifying neuroimaging biomarkers of nicotine dependence. Overall, these findings indicate that smoking during early adulthood may disrupt ongoing white matter maturation, potentially leading to long-term consequences for brain function. This study provides novel insights into the neural basis of nicotine dependence and underscores the importance of early intervention and prevention strategies targeting young smokers.

Aim To explore the underlying molecular mechanism of Alisol A 24-acetate(24A)in improving oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R)injury in brain microvascular endothelial cells(BMECs)and its correlation with miR-98-5p/transi-ent receptor potential melastatin-2(TRPM2).Meth-ods The ischemia-reperfusion injury in brain micro-vascular endothelial cells(BMECs)was established u-sing bEnd.3 cells subjected to 8 h of oxygen-glucose deprivation followed by 16 h of re-oxygenation.The cells were intervened by miR-98-5p mimics and/or 18.77 μmol·L-1 24A for 24 h and divided into the control group,OGD/R group,OGD/R+24A group,OGD/R+24A+miR-98-5p mimics group and OGD/R+miR-98-5p mimics group.The mRNA levels of miR-98-5p and TRPM2 were detected by qPCR.IL-1 β and TNF-α levels were detected by ELISA.The expression levels of TRPM2,p-AKT,p-GSK3 β,AKT,GSK3 β,Bcl-2,Bax,ZO-1,Occludin,Claudin-5 were detected by Western blot.Apoptosis and reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels were detected by flow cytometry.The targeting relationship between miR-98-5p and TRPM2 was verified using dual luciferase assay.Results Compared with the control group,the apoptosis of OGD/R group was obvious,Bcl-2/Bax decreased,ZO-1,Occludin,Claudin-5 decreased,IL-1 β,TNF-α and ROS increased,miR-98-5p,p-AKT/AKT,p-GSK3β/GSK3β decreased but TRPM2 increased.But com-pared with the OGD/R group,except the control group,the other three groups showed the opposite trend in the above aspects;compared with the OGD/R+24A group,OGD/R+24A+miR-98-5p mimics group showed decreased apoptosis,decreased degradation of ZO-1,Occludin and Claudin-5,and decreased inflam-mation and ROS.miR-98-5p,p-AKT/AKT,p-GSK3β/GSK3β increased and TRPM2 decreased.However,compared with the OGD/R+24A+miR-98-5p mimics group,the OGD/R+miR-98-5p mimics group reversed this trend.Dual luciferase confirmed that miR-98-5p targeted regulation of TRPM2.Conclusion 24A in-hibits the expression of TRPM2 in BMECs through miR-98-5p,regulates AKT/GSK3β signal pathway,re-duces OGD/R inflammation and oxidative stress-medi-ated apoptosis,prevents the degradation of ZO-1,Oc-cludin and Claudin-5,and improves BBB permeability.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel intravascular lithotripsy(IVL)balloon—Vesscrack shockwave balloon—for vascular preparation before stent implantation in patients with severe coronary artery calcification(CAC).Methods This was a prospective,single-arm,multicenter study conducted in China from June 2022 to October 2022.Patients with severe CAC were treated with the Vesscrack shockwave balloon for lesion preparation,followed by drug-eluting stent(DES)implantation.Of these,33 patients underwent optical coherence tomography(OCT).The primary endpoint was procedural success,defined as successful stent implantation with residual stenosis≤30％and the absence of in-hospital major adverse events,including cardiac death,target vessel-related myocardial infarction,or target lesion revascularization.Results A total of 170 patients[mean age:(65.9±7.9)years,116 males]were enrolled.After treatment with IVL and DES,the minimum lumen diameter increased significantly compared to baseline[(2.34±0.40)mm vs.(0.95±0.33)mm,P＜0.001],the degree of stenosis was significantly reduced[(13.24±6.60)％vs.(65.18±10.59)％,P＜0.001].Procedural success was achieved in 100％of cases,and device success was 98.8％.The 30-day patient-related cardiovascular clinical composite endpoint(POCE)rate was 0.0,with no target lesion failure,no confirmed or potential thrombotic events were observed.The shockwave energy generator demonstrated excellent stability and ease of use.Among the 33 patients assessed with OCT,after IVL intervention,the maximum calcified area of the lumen[(3.51±1.51)mm2 vs.(2.85±1.80)mm2,P＜0.001],and the minimum lumen area within the target lesion[(3.08±1.04)mm2 vs.(2.02±0.75)mm2,P＜0.001],and after DES intervention,the luminal area of the largest calcified site[(6.59±1.64)mm2 vs.(2.85±1.80)mm2,P＜0.001]and the minimum luminal area within the target lesion[(6.19±1.45)mm2 vs.(2.02±0.75)mm2,P＜0.001]were significantly increased,and the differences were statistically significant.Conclusions The Vesscrack shockwave balloon is effective and safe for vascular preparation in patients with severe CAC prior to stent implantation.It achieves significant calcified plaque modification,high procedural success rates,and minimal complications.

This study was aimed at preliminarily assessing the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection(LTBI)among cattle farming and slaughterhouse workers across Wuxue,Xianning,and Yichang Cities in Hubei Province,and exploring associated risk factors.Data on cattle farming and slaughterhouse workers were gathered via a questionnaire.LTBI detection was performed with a tu-berculin skin test and interferon-gamma release assay,and influencing factors were subsequently analyzed.The LTBI prevalence among cattle farming and slaughterhouse personnel in the three cities was 30.50%,and a higher rate was observed in slaughterhouse workers(39.01%)than cattle farmers(21.63%)(P<0.01).Multifactor analysis indicated that working in slaughterhouses(95%CI:1.582-3.878),having a history of tuberculosis(95%CI:1.377-25.057)or BCG vaccination(95%CI:1.229-3.285),and having a college education or above(95%CI:0.303-0.859)were significant factors influencing LTBI positivity in these personnel.Having more than 30 years of work experience(95%CI:1.303-18.782)was a risk factor for personnel at cattle breeding farms.Among slaugh-terhouse personnel,having a college education or above(95%CI:0.164-0.894),11-20 years of work experience(95%CI:0.122-0.994),or a history of tuberculosis(95%CI:1.661-64.397);performing logistics work(95%CI:3.234-126.424);and working in slaughter-related positions(95%CI:1.209-19.639)were associated with LTBI positivity.Therefore,the slaughterhouse workers in the three cities had higher LTBI rates than the cattle farming workers,thus underscoring the need for increased attention to personnel in logistics and slaughter-related positions.

This study was analyzed the spatial-temporal distribution and aggregation characteristics of Yersinia pestispositive host animals and vector pathogens in marmot natural foci in the Qilian-Altun mountains,Gansu Province,to provide a scientific basis for precise plague prevention and control.Y.pestissurveillance data for marmot natural foci in Qilian-Altun Mountains of Gansu Province from 2014 to 2023 were obtained from the Disease Control and Prevention Center of Gansu Province.Origin 2024 software was used for data visualization and presentation.Global and local spatial autocorrelation analyses and trend analyses were conducted in ArcGIS 10.8 software,with townships as the spatial scale.Cumulatively,440 strains of Y.pestis were isolated from the natural marmot foci in the Qilian-Altun mountainsof Gansu Province from 2014 to 2023.Most strains was isolated from marmots(345 strains,78.41%),and the remainder were isolated from vectors.Temporal distribution analysis indicated that the highest number of detected bacteria was reported in July and August(both 121 strains,27.50%).Regional distribution analysis revealed that Aksai County reported the highest number of detected bacteria(255 strains,57.95%).Global spatial autocorrelation analysis showed a spatially clustered distribution of the number of bacteria detected annually in the townships containing natural foci,except in2014,2016,and 2021-2023.The strongest spatial clustering was observed in 2020(Moran's I=0.521 2,Z=14.397 0,P<0.001).Local spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated a"high-high"aggregation area in the natural foci every year from 2014 to 2023,primarily in Hongliuwan Town of Aksai County and Dangchengwan Town of Subei County.The distribution of the"low-low"aggregation area was essentially consistent with the low activity area of the Yersinia pestisepidemic.The trend in annual total bacterial count gradually increased from east to west,and peaked in the western part of the epidemic focus.Clear spatial aggregation characteristics of the number of Y.pestis were detected in the marmot natural foci in the Qilian-Altun mountains at the townshiplevel as a whole in Gansu Province from 2014 to 2023.The aggregation area was mainly in the western section of Qilian Mountain to the Altun mountain section of the epidemic source area.Monitoring and prevention and control efforts should be focused in this key area,with prevention and control measures tailored to the local conditions,and classified guidance to decrease the risk of plague occurrence and spread.

Aim To explore the underlying molecular mechanism of Alisol A 24-acetate(24A)in improving oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R)injury in brain microvascular endothelial cells(BMECs)and its correlation with miR-98-5p/transi-ent receptor potential melastatin-2(TRPM2).Meth-ods The ischemia-reperfusion injury in brain micro-vascular endothelial cells(BMECs)was established u-sing bEnd.3 cells subjected to 8 h of oxygen-glucose deprivation followed by 16 h of re-oxygenation.The cells were intervened by miR-98-5p mimics and/or 18.77 μmol·L-1 24A for 24 h and divided into the control group,OGD/R group,OGD/R+24A group,OGD/R+24A+miR-98-5p mimics group and OGD/R+miR-98-5p mimics group.The mRNA levels of miR-98-5p and TRPM2 were detected by qPCR.IL-1 β and TNF-α levels were detected by ELISA.The expression levels of TRPM2,p-AKT,p-GSK3 β,AKT,GSK3 β,Bcl-2,Bax,ZO-1,Occludin,Claudin-5 were detected by Western blot.Apoptosis and reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels were detected by flow cytometry.The targeting relationship between miR-98-5p and TRPM2 was verified using dual luciferase assay.Results Compared with the control group,the apoptosis of OGD/R group was obvious,Bcl-2/Bax decreased,ZO-1,Occludin,Claudin-5 decreased,IL-1 β,TNF-α and ROS increased,miR-98-5p,p-AKT/AKT,p-GSK3β/GSK3β decreased but TRPM2 increased.But com-pared with the OGD/R group,except the control group,the other three groups showed the opposite trend in the above aspects;compared with the OGD/R+24A group,OGD/R+24A+miR-98-5p mimics group showed decreased apoptosis,decreased degradation of ZO-1,Occludin and Claudin-5,and decreased inflam-mation and ROS.miR-98-5p,p-AKT/AKT,p-GSK3β/GSK3β increased and TRPM2 decreased.However,compared with the OGD/R+24A+miR-98-5p mimics group,the OGD/R+miR-98-5p mimics group reversed this trend.Dual luciferase confirmed that miR-98-5p targeted regulation of TRPM2.Conclusion 24A in-hibits the expression of TRPM2 in BMECs through miR-98-5p,regulates AKT/GSK3β signal pathway,re-duces OGD/R inflammation and oxidative stress-medi-ated apoptosis,prevents the degradation of ZO-1,Oc-cludin and Claudin-5,and improves BBB permeability.

This study was analyzed the spatial-temporal distribution and aggregation characteristics of Yersinia pestispositive host animals and vector pathogens in marmot natural foci in the Qilian-Altun mountains,Gansu Province,to provide a scientific basis for precise plague prevention and control.Y.pestissurveillance data for marmot natural foci in Qilian-Altun Mountains of Gansu Province from 2014 to 2023 were obtained from the Disease Control and Prevention Center of Gansu Province.Origin 2024 software was used for data visualization and presentation.Global and local spatial autocorrelation analyses and trend analyses were conducted in ArcGIS 10.8 software,with townships as the spatial scale.Cumulatively,440 strains of Y.pestis were isolated from the natural marmot foci in the Qilian-Altun mountainsof Gansu Province from 2014 to 2023.Most strains was isolated from marmots(345 strains,78.41%),and the remainder were isolated from vectors.Temporal distribution analysis indicated that the highest number of detected bacteria was reported in July and August(both 121 strains,27.50%).Regional distribution analysis revealed that Aksai County reported the highest number of detected bacteria(255 strains,57.95%).Global spatial autocorrelation analysis showed a spatially clustered distribution of the number of bacteria detected annually in the townships containing natural foci,except in2014,2016,and 2021-2023.The strongest spatial clustering was observed in 2020(Moran's I=0.521 2,Z=14.397 0,P<0.001).Local spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated a"high-high"aggregation area in the natural foci every year from 2014 to 2023,primarily in Hongliuwan Town of Aksai County and Dangchengwan Town of Subei County.The distribution of the"low-low"aggregation area was essentially consistent with the low activity area of the Yersinia pestisepidemic.The trend in annual total bacterial count gradually increased from east to west,and peaked in the western part of the epidemic focus.Clear spatial aggregation characteristics of the number of Y.pestis were detected in the marmot natural foci in the Qilian-Altun mountains at the townshiplevel as a whole in Gansu Province from 2014 to 2023.The aggregation area was mainly in the western section of Qilian Mountain to the Altun mountain section of the epidemic source area.Monitoring and prevention and control efforts should be focused in this key area,with prevention and control measures tailored to the local conditions,and classified guidance to decrease the risk of plague occurrence and spread.

Objective: To investigate the environmental contamination of norovirus in nurseries and primary/secondary schools, so as to provide a scientific basis for effective prevention and control measures. Methods: A total of 483 external environmental samples were collected from 34 cluster outbreaks of norovirus gastroenteritis in kindergartens and primary/secondary schools in Linhai City from 2021 to 2024. Pathogen detection was conducted using a rapid nucleic acid extraction kit and realtime fluorescence RT-PCR, and the results were analyzed using the χ2 test or Fishers exact test. Results: Among the collected external environmental samples, the total positive rate of surface contamination was 13.66%. The positive rates in kindergartens and primary/secondary schools were 12.20% and 15.82%, respectively. In kindergartens, the five surfaces with the highest detection rates were desks/chairs (23.33%), toilet stool troughs (20.69%), urinal troughs (12.00%), washbasins/sinks (11.11%), and toilet mops (9.38%). In primary/secondary schools, the top five were toilet stool troughs (38.30%), urinal troughs (23.53%), toilet door handles (13.04%), toilet mops (12.50%), and drinking cups (11.11%). The difference in positive detection rates among different external environments in primary/secondary schools was statistically significant (Fishers exact probability test, P<0.01). The positive detection rate in sanitary toilets was higher than that in classroom environments (χ2=17.38), while the positive detection rate in classroom environments of kindergartens was higher than that in primary/secondary schools (χ2=5.42)(P<0.05). Conclusions Norovirus exhibits a high contamination rate in nurseries and schools, particularly in restroom areas. Strengthening sanitation and disinfection in highrisk environments, and improving hygiene awareness among children and staff, are essential for the effective prevent and control of norovirus.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the co-morbid influencing factors of postmenopausal osteoporosis(PMOP) and dyslipidemia, and to provide evidence-based basis for clinical co-morbidity management. METHODS: Based on the 2017 to 2018 Beijing community cross-sectional survey data, PMOP patients were included and divided into the dyslipidemia group and the uncomplicated dyslipidemia group according to whether they were comorbid with dyslipidemia. Demographic characteristics, living habits and disease history were collected through questionnaires, and bone mineral density and bone metabolism biomarkers (osteocalcin, blood calcium, serum typeⅠprocollagen N-terminal prepeptide, etc.) were detected on site. Co-morbidity risk factors were analyzed using binary logistic regression. RESULTS: Three hundred and twenty patients with PMOP were included, including the comorbid group (75 patients) and the uncomplicated group (245 patients). The results showed that history of cardiovascular disease [OR=1.801, 95%CI(1.003, 3.236), P=0.049], history of cerebrovascular disease [OR=2.923, 95%CI(1.460, 5.854), P=0.002], frying and cooking methods[OR=5.388, 95%CI(1.632, 17.793), P=0.006], OST results[OR=0.910, 95%CI(0.843, 0.983), P=0.016], and blood Ca results [OR=60.249, 95%CI(1.862, 1 949.926), P=0.021] were the influencing factors of PMOP complicated with dyslipidemia. CONCLUSION Focus should be placed on the influencing factors of PMOP and dyslipidemia co-morbidities, with emphasis on multidimensional assessment, combining lifestyle interventions with bone metabolism marker monitoring to optimize co-morbidity management.
Humans ; Dyslipidemias/epidemiology* ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/metabolism* ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Risk Factors ; Bone Density

ObjectiveTobacco-related diseases remain one of the leading preventable public health challenges worldwide and are among the primary causes of premature death. In recent years, accumulating evidence has supported the classification of nicotine addiction as a chronic brain disease, profoundly affecting both brain structure and function. Despite the urgency, effective diagnostic methods for smoking addiction remain lacking, posing significant challenges for early intervention and treatment. To address this issue and gain deeper insights into the neural mechanisms underlying nicotine dependence, this study proposes a novel graph neural network framework, termed TI-GNN. This model leverages functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to identify complex and subtle abnormalities in brain connectivity patterns associated with smoking addiction. MethodsThe study utilizes fMRI data to construct functional connectivity matrices that represent interaction patterns among brain regions. These matrices are interpreted as graphs, where brain regions are nodes and the strength of functional connectivity between them serves as edges. The proposed TI-GNN model integrates a Transformer module to effectively capture global interactions across the entire brain network, enabling a comprehensive understanding of high-level connectivity patterns. Additionally, a spatial attention mechanism is employed to selectively focus on informative inter-regional connections while filtering out irrelevant or noisy features. This design enhances the model’s ability to learn meaningful neural representations crucial for classification tasks. A key innovation of TI-GNN lies in its built-in causal interpretation module, which aims to infer directional and potentially causal relationships among brain regions. This not only improves predictive performance but also enhances model interpretability—an essential attribute for clinical applications. The identification of causal links provides valuable insights into the neuropathological basis of addiction and contributes to the development of biologically plausible and trustworthy diagnostic tools. ResultsExperimental results demonstrate that the TI-GNN model achieves superior classification performance on the smoking addiction dataset, outperforming several state-of-the-art baseline models. Specifically, TI-GNN attains an accuracy of 0.91, an F1-score of 0.91, and a Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) of 0.83, indicating strong robustness and reliability. Beyond performance metrics, TI-GNN identifies critical abnormal connectivity patterns in several brain regions implicated in addiction. Notably, it highlights dysregulations in the amygdala and the anterior cingulate cortex, consistent with prior clinical and neuroimaging findings. These regions are well known for their roles in emotional regulation, reward processing, and impulse control—functions that are frequently disrupted in nicotine dependence. ConclusionThe TI-GNN framework offers a powerful and interpretable tool for the objective diagnosis of smoking addiction. By integrating advanced graph learning techniques with causal inference capabilities, the model not only achieves high diagnostic accuracy but also elucidates the neurobiological underpinnings of addiction. The identification of specific abnormal brain networks and their causal interactions deepens our understanding of addiction pathophysiology and lays the groundwork for developing targeted intervention strategies and personalized treatment approaches in the future.