Objective: To investigate the association between dietary behaviors and overweight and obesity among middle school students, so as to provide the evidence for developing dietary intervention strategies for them. Methods: From October to December 2023, a total of 7 063 middle school students from six counties (districts) in Ma'anshan City, Anhui Province were selected through stratified cluster random sampling method. Demographic information, physical activity, sleep, and dietary behaviors over the past year were collected through questionnaire surveys. Height and weight were measured to calculate body mass index (BMI), with overweight and obesity determined based on gender- and age-specific BMI cut-off points. The association between dietary behaviors and overweight and obesity was analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: Totally 7 063 questionnaires were allocated, and 7 045 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 99.75%. There were 3 925 males (55.71%) and 3 120 females (44.29%). A total of 2 326 students were overweight and obesity, with the prevalence of 33.02%. There were significant differences in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among middle school students with different genders, whether they were the only child or not, different intake frequency of sugar-sweetened beverages, and different intake frequency of beans and soy products (all P<0.05). After adjusting for factors such as gender, education stage, whether the only child, whether living on school, physical activity and sleep, multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the frequency of snack consumption (1-2 times/week, OR=0.803, 95%CI: 0.669-0.963; 3-6 times/week, OR=0.759, 95%CI: 0.623-0.926; daily, OR=0.758, 95%CI: 0.595-0.964), sugar-sweetened beverages consumption (1-2 times/week, OR=1.166, 95%CI: 1.012-1.343; daily, OR=1.891, 95%CI: 1.302-2.746) and beans and soy products consumption (1-2 times/week, OR=0.787, 95%CI: 0.628-0.987) were the influencing factors of overweight and obesity among middle school students. Conclusions The frequencies of snack, beans and soy products and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption are associated with overweight and obesity among middle school students. Targeted interventions should be strengthened to reduce the risk of overweight and obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and its effect on gut microbiota. METHODS: A total of 62 MCI patients were randomly divided into an experimental group (31 cases, 2 cases dropped out) and a control group (31 cases). Both groups received exercise and cognitive training. In addition, the experimental group underwent acupuncture treatment at acupoints including Baihui (GV20), Sishencong (EX-HN1), and bilateral Fengchi (GB20), Xuanzhong (GB39), Zusanli (ST36), Yanglao (SI6), Xinshu (BL15), and etc., once every other day, three times per week, for a total of 12 weeks. Before and after treatment, the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores were evaluated in the two groups, changes in gut microbiota were detected using 16S rDNA sequencing technology. The clinical efficacy was assessed after treatment. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, MoCA and MMSE scores were increased in both groups after treatment (P<0.001), with higher scores in the experimental group than those in the control group (P<0.001, P<0.05). After treatment, the relative abundance of Faecalibacterium, Clostridia, and Ruminococcaceae was increased in the experimental group compared with that before treatment (P<0.05). Moreover, the relative abundance of Faecalibacterium in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 82.8% (24/29) in the experimental group, which was higher than 61.3% (19/31) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture could improve cognitive dysfunction in patients with MCI, and its mechanism may be related to increasing the relative abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria such as Faecalibacterium, Clostridia, and Ruminococcaceae, maintaining the intestinal barrier, and inhibiting related inflammatory responses.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Cognitive Dysfunction/psychology* ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Acupuncture Points ; Treatment Outcome ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cognition

OBJECTIVE: To explore the displacement and pressure distribution of American Chiropractic in a model of third lumbar syndrome based on finite element analysis. METHODS: On March 2021, CT and MRI images of a 23-year-old male patient with right third lumbar syndrome were selected. A 3D stl model was established using Mimics and CATIA, and the data was imported into Hypermesh, Abaqus & ANSYS. The elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio of the affected side material were adjusted to establish its finite element model. Based on the comparison of the operating positions and routines of the American Chiropractic and the lumbar spine oblique pull method, but with differences in the focus and direction of force, the experimental group simulated the American Chiropractic with the healthy side (left side) lying position of the model. The upper endplate of L₃ and the lower part below L₃ twisted accordingly with the body position, we applied a vertical forward thrust of 246 N to the plane formed by the L₄, L₅ spinous processes and L₄ upper articular processes;The control group simulates the oblique pull method of the lumbar spine, requiring the model to lie on the healthy side (left side), fix the upper endplate of L₄, and perform a horizontal rotation along the longitudinal axis of L₃ vertebral body. At this time, the contact force in the upward direction is also set to 246 N. Compare the displacement and stress differences between the L₁-L₅ intervertebral bodies, intervertebral discs, articular processes, and transverse process muscles in two intervention models. RESULTS: ① Under safe load conditions, a test force of 246 N was applied to the model, and the maximum vertebral displacement occurred on the right side of the L₃ vertebral body (1.197 mm) after manual intervention in the control group. The vertebral displacement between L₁-L₅ induced by manual intervention in the experimental group was smaller than that of the control group's manual intervention (P<0.05). ② The maximum vertebral body stress occurred on the right side of the L₃ vertebral body after manual intervention in the control group (98.425 MPa). The stress on each vertebral body formed by the experimental group's manual intervention was lower than that of the control group's manual intervention (P<0.05). ③The maximum intervertebral disc stress occurred on the right side of the L_2,3 intervertebral disc (6.282 MPa) after manual intervention in the control group. ④ The maximum joint process stress occurred on the right side of the L₄ upper joint process after manual intervention in the experimental group (1.587 MPa). The joint process stress on the left side below L₁ and the left side above and below L₂ induced by manual intervention in the experimental group was lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). ⑤The maximum stress on the intertransverse process muscle was observed at the right lateral L₃ process end (31.960 MPa) of L_3,4 in the control group after manual intervention. The stress on the L_2,3 and L_4,5 segments of the intertransverse process muscle induced by manual intervention in the experimental group was lower than that of the control group's manual intervention (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The mechanical feedback of the L₁-L₅ vertebral body, the lower left side of the articular process L₁, the upper and lower left side of the articular process L₂, and the L_2,3 and L_4,5 segments of the transverse process muscle in the model indicates that performing American Chiropractic for the treatment of third lumbar transverse process syndrome can accurately hit the target pain point and allow the patient's tissue to form a low stress and low tension state after manual operation, thereby reducing the possibility of tissue damage caused by hypertonia after intervertebral joint movement, making it relatively safe. The application of American Chiropractic will be a new supplement to the traditional treatment plan for third lumbar transverse process syndrome.
Humans ; Finite Element Analysis ; Male ; Lumbar Vertebrae/physiopathology* ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Young Adult ; Manipulation, Chiropractic ; Adult ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on immune mediators dysregulation in severe infection after chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its molecular mechanism. METHODS: Bone marrow or peripheral blood samples of 36 AML patients with severe infection (AML-SI) and 29 AML patients without infection (AML-NI) after chemotherapy were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University from August 2022 to June 2023. In addition, the peripheral blood of 21 healthy subjects from the same period in our hospital was selected as the control group. The mRNA expressions of CXCL12, CXCR4 and CXCR7 were detected by RT-qPCR technology, and the levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were detected by ELISA. Leukemia-derived THP-1 cells were selected and constructed as AML disease model. At the same time, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) from AML-SI patients were co-cultured with THP-1 cells and divided into Mono group and Co-culture group. THP-1 cells were treated with different concentration gradients of HCQ. The cell proliferation activity was subsequently detected by CCK-8 method and apoptosis was detected by Annexin V/PI double staining flow cytometry. ELISA was used to detect the changes of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α levels in the supernatant of the cell co-culture system, RT-qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expression changes of the core members of the CXCL12-CXCR4/7 regulatory axis, and Western blot was used to detect the expressions of apoptosis regulatory molecules and related signaling pathway proteins. RESULTS: CXCL12, CXCR4, CXCR7, as well as IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were all abnormally increased in AML patients, and the increases were more significant in AML-SI patients (P <0.01). Furthermore, there were statistically significant differences between AML-NI patients and AML-SI patients (all P <0.05). HCQ could inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of THP-1 cells, but the low concentration of HCQ had no significant effect on the killing of THP-1 cells. When THP-1 cells were co-cultured with BM-MSCs of AML patients, the levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in the supernatance of Co-culture group were significantly higher than those of Mono group (all P <0.01). After HCQ intervention, the levels of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α in cell culture supernatant of Mono group were significantly decreased compared with those before intervention (all P <0.01). Similarly, those of Co-culture group were also significantly decreased (all P <0.001). However, the expression of the core members of the CXCL12-CXCR4/7 regulatory axis was weakly affected by HCQ. HCQ could up-regulate the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax, down-regulate the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, as well as simultaneously promote the hydrolytic activation of Caspase-3 when inhibiting the activation level of TLR4/NF-κB pathway, then induce the programmed death of THP-1 cells after intervention. CONCLUSION The core members of CXCL12-CXCR4/7 axis and related cytokines may be important mediators of severe infectious immune disorders in AML patients. HCQ can inhibit cytokine levels to reverse immune mediators dysregulation and suppress malignant biological characteristics of leukemia cells. The mechanisms may be related to regulating the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins, hydrolytically activating Caspase-3 and inhibiting the activation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/immunology* ; Hydroxychloroquine/pharmacology* ; Receptors, CXCR4/metabolism* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Chemokine CXCL12/metabolism* ; Interleukin-8/metabolism* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Receptors, CXCR/metabolism* ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells ; THP-1 Cells

An efficient analytical method was developed for simultaneous detection of alkylamines and alkylamides in food packaging plastics using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry(LC-HRMS).Based on the physicochemical properties of alkylamines and alkylamides,as well as the complexity of plastic samples,sample pretreatment and chromatographic-mass spectrometric parameters were optimized.The samples were extracted by vortex-ultrasonic extraction with a methanol-acetonitrile mixture for 15 min,followed by nitrogen evaporation to concentrate the extract,reconstitution,and analysis.The chromatographic mobile phase consisted of 0.1%formic acid aqueous solution and acetonitrile,and a gradient elution was used.The electrospray ionization(ESI)source was operated in positive ion mode,and mass spectrometry data were collected in full scan and data-dependent acquisition modes.Quantification was performed using an isotope-labeled internal standard method.The results showed that within the quantification range of 1-1000 ng/mL,the calibration curves exhibited good linearity(R2>0.99).Some compounds interfered with the validation experiments at higher concentrations,so only 10 kinds of target analytes were validated.Using a mixed food packaging plastic matrix,the recoveries at spiking levels of 40,400,and 4000 ng/g were mostly between 66.0%and 117.1%,with relative standard deviations ranging from 0.6%to 10.6%.The method was applied to detect 14 food packaging plastic samples,and the results showed that the concentrations of alkylamines and alkylamides ranged from not detected to 8924 ng/g.This method offered high sensitivity and accuracy,and was suitable for the screening and quantitative determination of alkylamines and alkylamides in plastics.

Thyroid hormone（TH）plays an important role in human development and is involved in gene and protein expression in almost all tissues，especially in the development of the central nervous system.TH requires a TH transporter to enter the cell，and three families of TH transporter proteins are known，namely monocarboxylate transporters（MCTs），organic anion transporting polypeptides（OATPs）and L-type amino acid transporter（LAT）.MCT8 has been found to be a specific TH transporter，and OATP1C1 also plays an important role.Deficiency of TH transporters may lead to different degrees of dysfunction in the nervous system and endocrine system.Currently，more studies have been conducted on MCT8 deficiency，which presents with characteristic psychomotor retardation and TH abnormalities，and there are no specific treatment options.In this paper，we summarize the research progress on clinical phenotype，pathogenic mechanism，and treatment of thyroid hormone transporter defects related diseases to provide reference for clinical research.

Objective To investigate the effect of tumor-infiltrating B cells on the therapeutic efficacy of programmed death ligand-1[PD-(L)1]inhibitors and elucidate the potential mechanisms.Methods Based on immunotherapy cohorts for melanoma patients in public databases,the relationship of B cells with progression-free survival (PFS) and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors treatment was analyzed.TC-1 and B16-OVA cells were implanted subcutaneously and in the liver in 6-8-week-old female C57BL/6 mice to establish tumor xenograft models.The effect of B cell clearance on PD-(L)1 therapy was compared.Flow cytometry was performed on the 15th day of TC-1 tumor microenvironment (TME)to confirm the number,function and phenotypic changes of T cells.Flow cytometry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)were used to detect B cell surface molecules and cytokines.Results Based on ERP105482 data from the ICBatlas public database,high CD19 expression in the tumors was associated with longer PFS in melanoma patients (753 vs 95 d,HR=0.3,95％CI:0.13～0.65,P=0.003).B cells were significantly enriched in immunotherapy-responsive patients (P=0.01).In a mouse TC-1 liver-loaded tumor model,PD-(L)1 antibody treatment reduced tumor mass (P<0.01),whereas B-cell clearance attenuated the therapeutic efficacy.B cells enhanced PD-(L)1 antibody treatment by promoting T cell infiltration and function,and the treatment resulted in changes in B cell subsets,as evidenced by an increase in PD-1 low-expressing subsets (P<0.01).Conclusion After PD-(L)1 treatment,a decrease in PD-1 expression on B cell subsets might be one of the potential mechanisms by which B cells enhance the efficacy of PD-(L)1 therapy.

Periodontitis is a critical risk factor for the occurrence and development of diabetes.Porphyromonas gingivalis may participate in insulin resistance(IR)caused by periodontal inflammation,but the functional role and specific mechanisms of P.gingivalis in IR remain unclear.In the present study,clinical samples were analysed to determine the statistical correlation between P.gingivalis and IR occurrence.Through culturing of hepatocytes,myocytes,and adipocytes,and feeding mice P.gingivalis orally,the functional correlation between P.gingivalis and IR occurrence was further studied both in vitro and in vivo.Clinical data suggested that the amount of P.gingivalis isolated was correlated with the Homeostatic Model Assessment for IR score.In vitro studies suggested that coculture with P.gingivalis decreased glucose uptake and insulin receptor(INSR)protein expression in hepatocytes,myocytes,and adipocytes.Mice fed P.gingivalis tended to undergo IR.P.gingivalis was detectable in the liver,skeletal muscle,and adipose tissue of experimental mice.The distribution sites of gingipain coincided with the downregulation of INSR.Gingipain proteolysed the functional insulin-binding region of INSR.Coculture with P.gingivalis significantly decreased the INSR-insulin binding ability.Knocking out gingipain from P.gingivalis alleviated the negative effects of P.gingivalis on IR in vivo.Taken together,these findings indicate that distantly migrated P.gingivalis may directly proteolytically degrade INSR through gingipain,thereby leading to IR.The results provide a new strategy for preventing diabetes by targeting periodontal pathogens and provide new ideas for exploring novel mechanisms by which periodontal inflammation affects the systemic metabolic state.