OBJECTIVE To clarify the roles and functions of full-time pharmacists in the management of early-phase clinical trials of antineoplastic drugs， and to provide theoretical and practical support for their transformation from traditional drug managers to multi-dimensional roles in clinical research. METHODS Combined with relevant regulations such as the Good Clinical Practice （GCP） （2020 Edition）， and based on the clinical practice experience of the Phase Ⅰ Clinical Ward in our hospital， this study systematically sorted out full-time pharmacists’ roles and functions in early-phase clinical trials of antineoplastic drugs， and explored the core challenges and optimization pathways for role transformation and capacity-building of domestic full-time clinical trial pharmacists. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS Full-time pharmacists assumed multiple roles in early-phase clinical trials of antineoplastic drugs， including providing pharmaceutical support for protocol design， implementing whole-process standardized management of clinical trial drugs， ensuring medication safety for clinical trial subjects/participants， conducting quality control throughout the clinical trial process， and serving as a bridge for interdisciplinary collaboration and communication. Currently， there are challenges in this field in China， such as unclear roles， an imperfect capacity building system， and insufficient regulatory support. This paper proposes that by establishing a standardized role framework， clarifying the core responsibilities and authorities of full-time pharmacists， and leveraging cutting-edge technologies to provide comprehensive support for their roles， so as to fully harness their pharmaceutical expertise and contribute to the standardization and efficiency of the antineoplastic new drug development process.

AIM:To investigate the associations of triglyceride glucose(TyG)index, triglyceride glucose-body mass index(TyG-BMI), and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR)with diabetic retinopathy(DR), and to evaluate their diagnostic value.METHODS: This study was a single-center retrospective study. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)who were hospitalized in the endocrinology department of 3201 Hospital from January 1, 2023 to March 1, 2025 were included. According to the diagnostic criteria for DR, participants were classified into DR group and non-DR(NDR)group. Then the association of TyG index, TyG-BMI, and HOMA-IR index with DR of the two groups of patients were alalyzed.RESULTS:A total of 969 patients with T2DM were enrolled in this study, including 816 patients in the DR group. Among DR group, 271 were males(33.2%)and 545 were females(66.8%), with a mean age of 56.78±11.88 years. The NDR group consisted of 153 patients, including 41 males(26.8%)and 112 females(73.2%), with a mean age of 59.40±10.52 years. Statistically significant differences were observed between the DR group and the NDR group in terms of age, BMI, TyG index, TyG-BMI, HOMA-IR index, fasting blood glucose(FBG), 2-h postprandial blood glucose(2 hPBG), fasting insulin(FINS), 2-h postprandial insulin(2 hPINS), fasting C-peptide(FCP), 2-h postprandial C-peptide(2 hPCP), total cholesterol(CHO), triglyceride(TG), low-density lipoprotein(LDL-C), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), uric acid(UA), direct bilirubin(DBIL), glycated hemoglobin(HbA1c), milligrams per total protein(M-TP), microalbuminuria(MALB), urinary albumin to creatinine ratio(UACR), 24-hour urine protein, white blood cell(WBC), neutrophil(N), and platelets(PLT; all P<0.05), while no significant differences were found in the remaining indicators(all P>0.05). In multivariable Logistic regression, both TyG index(aOR=198.65, 95% CI: 66.73-591.41, P<0.001)and TyG-BMI(aOR=1.03, 95% CI: 1.02-1.04, P<0.001)remained independently positive associated with DR. Quartile analysis indicated a progressive increase in DR risk with ascending quartiles of TyG index and TyG-BMI(all Ptrend<0.001). In contrast, HOMA-IR was not significantly associated with DR. Restricted cubic spline analysis, fully adjusted for confounders, showed a nonlinear upward trend in DR risk with increasing TyG index(Pnonlinearity<0.001), whereas TyG-BMI exhibited a U-shaped association(Pnonlinearity<0.05). No significant association was found between HOMA-IR and DR after propensity score matching. Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve demonstrated area under curve(AUC)values of 0.870(95% CI: 0.839-0.901)for TyG index, 0.710(95% CI: 0.665-0.755)for TyG-BMI, and 0.657(95% CI: 0.608-0.706)for HOMA-IR.CONCLUSION:The TyG index and TyG-BMI are risk factors for DR. A dose-dependent increase in DR risk was associated with elevated TyG index values. TyG-BMI exhibited an inverted U-shaped relationship with DR risk. The TyG index had better diagnostic efficiency for DR compared to both TyG-BMI and HOMA-IR index.

Objective With the vigorous development of nuclear reactors and controlled thermonuclear fusion research, the release of tritium, the predominant radionuclide in nuclear wastewater, into the environment has attracted widespread attention. Its impact on human health has also become a hot topic of research. This article presents a visual analysis of the literature on the biological effects of tritium ingestion by organisms over the past 70 years, with the aim of elucidating the biological effects of tritiated water and identifying current research hotspots and emerging trends. Methods We retrieved articles on the biological effects of tritium radiation published in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Web of Science (WOS) over the past 70 years. CiteSpace software was used to generate visual maps, including annual number of publications, countries of publication, keyword clustering, keyword timeline, keyword burst, and literature co-citation. Results A total of 437 articles were included. The cumulative number of annual publications exhibited a linear growth trend. Research hotspots focused on low-radioactivity tritiated water, dose rate effect, DNA double-strand break damage, genetic effect, and cancer mortality. Emerging research frontiers included human lymphocyte immune injury, oxidase activity, comparison of marine organisms in different living environments, comparison of tritium and ionizing radiation effects, changes in mitochondrial ATP content, and the hormetic effect of low-dose radiation. Conclusion In cellular and animal models, high doses of tritium exposure induce negative biological effects. However, whether low doses of tritium esposure elicit beneficial biological effects remains to be further explored. It is suggested that domestic and foreign teams enhance academic collaboration and discussions, focusing on current hotspots and frontiers to deepen our understanding of the biological effects induced by tritium radiation. This will provide scientific solutions for disease treatment and establish a scientific basis for the safe utilization of nuclear energy and the formulation of safety standards for nuclear wastewater discharge.

AIM:To investigate the effects of high-altitude hypoxic exposure on retinal injury and the associated changes in oxidative stress-related indicators in rats. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into a plain group and a high-altitude group, with 12 rats(24 eyes)in each group. Rats in the plain group were housed under normoxic conditions in an SPF-grade animal facility, whereas rats in the high-altitude group were placed in a special environmental chamber simulating an altitude of 6 000 m for 7 d. Optical coherence tomography(OCT)was used to assess retinal layer architecture and quantify retinal thickness. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was performed to observe retinal histopathological changes. Immunofluorescence(IF)was used to detect the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α)in retinal tissue. Transmission electron microscopy(TEM)was applied to examine the ultrastructure of retinal ganglion cells(RGCs). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to measure the levels of malondialdehyde(MDA), total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD), and reduced glutathione(GSH)in retinal tissue. In addition, intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS)levels in retinal tissue were assessed using the 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate(DCFH-DA)fluorescent probe. RESULTS: OCT examination revealed disorganized retinal architecture in the high-altitude group, with increased inner and middle ring thickness and decreased outer ring thickness compared with the plain group(all P<0.05). HE staining showed varying degrees of retinal layer damage, blurred layer boundaries, loosely arranged RGCs, and partial cellular necrosis in the high-altitude group. IF analysis demonstrated significantly increased HIF-1α expression in the inner nuclear layer of the high-altitude group(P<0.01). TEM revealed mitochondrial swelling, disrupted cristae, and reduced matrix electron density in RGCs of the high-altitude group. ELISA and fluorescence probe assays showed significantly elevated MDA levels and ROS fluorescence intensity, accompanied by decreased T-SOD and GSH levels in the retinal tissue of the high-altitude group(all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Exposure to a high-altitude hypoxic environment induces marked morphological and ultrastructural damage in the rat retina and significantly enhances oxidative stress, suggesting that oxidative stress may play a critical role in retinal injury induced by high-altitude hypoxia.

Neuroscience is a significant frontier discipline within the natural sciences and has become an important interdisciplinary frontier scientific field. Brain is one of the most complex organs in the human body, and its structural and functional analysis is considered the “ultimate frontier” of human self-awareness and exploration of nature. Driven by the strategic layout of “China Brain Project”, Chinese scientists have conducted systematic research focusing on “understanding the brain, simulating the brain, and protecting the brain”. They have made breakthrough progress in areas such as the principles of brain cognition, mechanisms and interventions for brain diseases, brain-like computation, and applications of brain-machine intelligence technology, aiming to enhance brain health through biomedical technology and improve the quality of human life. Due to limited understanding and comprehension of neuroscience, there are still many important unresolved issues in the field of neuroscience, resulting in a lack of effective measures to prevent and protect brain health. Therefore, in addition to actively developing new generation drugs, exploring non pharmacological treatment strategies with better health benefits and higher safety is particularly important. Epidemiological data shows that, exercise is not only an indispensable part of daily life but also an important non-pharmacological approach for protecting brain health and preventing neurodegenerative diseases, forming an emerging research field known as motor neuroscience. Basic research in motor neuroscience primarily focuses on analyzing the dynamic coding mechanisms of neural circuits involved in motor control, breakthroughs in motor neuroscience research depend on the construction of dynamic monitoring systems across temporal and spatial scales. Therefore, high spatiotemporal resolution detection of movement processes and movement-induced changes in brain structure and neural activity signals is an important technical foundation for conducting motor neuroscience research and has developed a set of tools based on traditional neuroscience methods combined with novel motor behavior decoding technologies, providing an innovative technical platform for motor neuroscience research. The protective effect of exercise in neurodegenerative diseases provides broad application prospects for its clinical translation. Applied research in motor neuroscience centers on deciphering the regulatory networks of neuroprotective molecules mediated by exercise. From the perspectives of exercise promoting neurogenesis and regeneration, enhancing synaptic plasticity, modulating neuronal functional activity, and remodeling the molecular homeostasis of the neuronal microenvironment, it aims to improve cognitive function and reduce the incidence of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. This has also advanced research into the molecular regulatory networks mediating exercise-induced neuroprotection and facilitated the clinical application and promotion of exercise rehabilitation strategies. Multidimensional analysis of exercise-regulated neural plasticity is the theoretical basis for elucidating the brain-protective mechanisms mediated by exercise and developing intervention strategies for neurological diseases. Thus,real-time analysis of different neural signals during active exercise is needed to study the health effects of exercise throughout the entire life cycle and enhance lifelong sports awareness. Therefore, this article will systematically summarize the innovative technological developments in motor neuroscience research, review the mechanisms of neural plasticity that exercise utilizes to protect the brain, and explore the role of exercise in the prevention and treatment of major neurodegenerative diseases. This aims to provide new ideas for future theoretical innovations and clinical applications in the field of exercise-induced brain protection.

Objective: To understand the prevalence of elevated blood pressure and its association with dietary patterns in children and adolescents in China, providing evidence for developing dietary intervention of hypertension in children and adolescents. Methods: Data were derived from the China Children s Nutrition and Health System Survey and Application Project(2019-2021). A stratified cluster random sampling method was used to include 7 933 participants from 28 survey sites in seven major regions of Northeast, North, Northwest, East, Central, South and Southwest China. Multivariate Logistic regression models were used to analyze associations between demographic characteristics, nutritional status and elevated blood pressure. Exploratory factor analysis identified dietary patterns, which were divided into three quartile groups (T3, T2, T1) based on factor scores (compliance for dietary pattern) from high to low, and multivariate Logistic regression model assessed the correlation between elevated blood pressure and dietary patterns. Results: The prevalence of elevated blood pressure was 15.4% among Chinese children aged 7-17 years. Significant differences were observed across nutritional status (reference: underweight; normal weight: OR =1.57; overweight: OR = 2.61 ; obesity: OR =3.85), urban/rural residence (reference: rural; urban: OR =0.86), and paternal education (reference: junior high school and below; bachelor degree or above: OR =0.68) ( P <0.05). The detection rates of high blood pressure in T3 group children and adolescents with four dietary patterns (staple food, animal based food, snacks, vegetables and fruits) were 15.7%, 14.6%, 16.8%, and 15.8%, respectively. After adjusting for residence, paternal education, and nutritional status, the "snack dietary pattern" (mainly candy, sugar sweetened beverages, and processed snacks) showed positive associations with elevated blood pressure in T2 ( OR =1.21) and T3 ( OR =1.19) tertiles ( P <0.05). Conclusions The snack dietary pattern is a related factor for elevated blood pressure in children and adolescents. Restricting unhealthy snack intake may promote cardiovascular health.

Objective To examine the impact of different numbers of microsatellite markers on the analysis of population genetic diversity of Schistosoma japonicum, so as to provide insights into studies on the population genetic diversity of S. japonicum. Methods Oncomelania hupensis snails were collected from a wasteland in Gong’an County, Hubei Province, and 37 S. japonicum-infected O. hupensis snails were identified using the cercarial shedding method. A single cercaria released from each S. japonicum-infected O. hupensis snail was collected, and 10 cercariae were randomly collected from DNA extraction. Nine previously validated microsatellite loci and 15 additional microsatellite loci screened from literature review and the GenBank database and confirmed with stable amplification efficiency were selected as molecular markers. Genomic DNA from cercariae was subjected to three multiplex PCR amplifications of microsatellite markers with the Type-it Microsatellite PCR kit, and genotyped using capillary electrophoresis. The population genetic diversity of S. japonicum cercariae DNA was analyzed with observed number of alleles (Na), effective number of alleles (Ae), observed heterozygosity (Ho), expected heterozygosity (He), and polymorphism information content (PIC), and tested for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) and linkage disequilibrium (LD). To further investigate the impact of the number of microsatellite loci on the population genetic diversity of S. japonicum, the number of microsatellite markers was sequentially assigned from 1 to 24, and the mean and standard deviation of Na were calculated for S. japonicum populations at different locus numbers. In addition, the coefficient of variation (CV) of allelic number (defined as the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean) was determined, and the variation in Na with increasing microsatellite locus numbers was analyzed. Results Genomic DNA from 345 S. japonicum cercariae was selected for genotyping of 24 microsatellite markers, and all 24 microsatellite loci met linkage equilibrium (standardized linkage disequilibrium coefficient D′ < 0.7, r² < 0.3) and deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P < 0.001). The mean Na, Ae, Ho and He were 27.46 ± 2.18, 12.46 ± 0.95, 0.46 ± 0.03, and 0.91 ± 0.01 for 24 microsatellite loci in S. japonicum cercarial populations, respectively, and PIC ranged from 0.85 to 0.96, indicating high genome-wide representativeness of 24 microsatellite loci. The mean value of Na-Ae was higher in genotyping with 9 previously validated microsatellite loci (19.88 ± 8.43) than with all 24 loci (14.99 ± 8.09). As the number of microsatellite loci increased, the mean Na showed no significant variation; however, the standard deviation gradually decreased. Notably, if the locus number reached 18 or more, the variation in the standard deviation of Na remarkably reduced. In addition, the standard deviation of Na at 18 loci was less than 5% of the mean Na at 24 loci, with a CV of 4.6%. Conclusions The number of microsatellite loci significantly affects the population genetic diversity analysis of S. japonicum. Eighteen or more microsatellite loci are recommended for analysis of the population genetic diversity of S. japonicum under the current conditions of low-prevalence infection and unbalanced genetic distribution of S. japonicum.

As China accelerates its efforts in deep space exploration and long-duration space missions, including the operationalization of the Tiangong Space Station and the development of manned lunar missions, safeguarding astronauts’ physiological and cognitive functions under extreme space conditions becomes a pressing scientific imperative. Among the multifactorial stressors of spaceflight, microgravity emerges as a particularly potent disruptor of neurobehavioral homeostasis. Dopamine (DA) plays a central role in regulating behavior under space microgravity by influencing reward processing, motivation, executive function and sensorimotor integration. Changes in gravity disrupt dopaminergic signaling at multiple levels, leading to impairments in motor coordination, cognitive flexibility, and emotional stability. Microgravity exposure induces a cascade of neurobiological changes that challenge dopaminergic stability at multiple levels: from the transcriptional regulation of DA synthesis enzymes and the excitability of DA neurons, to receptor distribution dynamics and the efficiency of downstream signaling pathways. These changes involve downregulation of tyrosine hydroxylase in the substantia nigra, reduced phosphorylation of DA receptors, and alterations in vesicular monoamine transporter expression, all of which compromise synaptic DA availability. Experimental findings from space analog studies and simulated microgravity models suggest that gravitational unloading alters striatal and mesocorticolimbic DA circuitry, resulting in diminished motor coordination, impaired vestibular compensation, and decreased cognitive flexibility. These alterations not only compromise astronauts’ operational performance but also elevate the risk of mood disturbances and motivational deficits during prolonged missions. The review systematically synthesizes current findings across multiple domains: molecular neurobiology, behavioral neuroscience, and gravitational physiology. It highlights that maintaining DA homeostasis is pivotal in preserving neuroplasticity, particularly within brain regions critical to adaptation, such as the basal ganglia, prefrontal cortex, and cerebellum. The paper also discusses the dual-edged nature of DA plasticity: while adaptive remodeling of synapses and receptor sensitivity can serve as compensatory mechanisms under stress, chronic dopaminergic imbalance may lead to maladaptive outcomes, such as cognitive rigidity and motor dysregulation. Furthermore, we propose a conceptual framework that integrates homeostatic neuroregulation with the demands of space environmental adaptation. By drawing from interdisciplinary research, the review underscores the potential of multiple intervention strategies including pharmacological treatment, nutritional support, neural stimulation techniques, and most importantly, structured physical exercise. Recent rodent studies demonstrate that treadmill exercise upregulates DA transporter expression in the dorsal striatum, enhances tyrosine hydroxylase activity, and increases DA release during cognitive tasks, indicating both protective and restorative effects on dopaminergic networks. Thus, exercise is highlighted as a key approach because of its sustained effects on DA production, receptor function, and brain plasticity, making it a strong candidate for developing effective measures to support astronauts in maintaining cognitive and emotional stability during space missions. In conclusion, the paper not only underscores the centrality of DA homeostasis in space neuroscience but also reflects the authors’ broader academic viewpoint: understanding the neurochemical substrates of behavior under microgravity is fundamental to both space health and terrestrial neuroscience. By bridging basic neurobiology with applied space medicine, this work contributes to the emerging field of gravitational neurobiology and provides a foundation for future research into individualized performance optimization in extreme environments.

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of β-sitosterol on retinal structure and function and its underlying molecular mechanism in a sodium iodate(NaIO3)-induced mouse model of dry age-related macular degeneration(ARMD).METHODS: A dry ARMD mouse model was established by NaIO3 injection. The therapeutic effect of β-sitosterol intervention was evaluated using fundus photography, histopathology(HE staining), and electroretinography(ERG). Network pharmacology was employed to screen potential targets of β-sitosterol in ARMD, and molecular docking was used to validate the binding ability between β-sitosterol and these targets. The impact of β-sitosterol on ARPE-19 cell viability and apoptosis pathways was analyzed using CCK-8 assay, Hoechst staining, and Western blotting.RESULTS: The β-sitosterol significantly alleviated structural damage in the retinas of model mice(increased retinal and outer nuclear layer thickness, reduced yellowish-white drusen-like deposits)and functional impairment(partial restoration of a-wave and b-wave amplitudes). Network pharmacology identified PON1 as a key target of β-sitosterol; molecular docking demonstrated that β-sitosterol binds to PON1 via hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds. In vitro experiments showed that β-sitosterol(10 μmol/L)significantly increased ARPE-19 cell viability(P<0.01), reduced apoptosis(P<0.01), upregulated PON1 expression(P<0.01), and concurrently suppressed cleaved-Caspase3 expression(P<0.01).CONCLUSION: The β-sitosterol likely protects against oxidative stress-induced retinal damage by modulating PON1 to suppress the Caspase3-dependent apoptotic pathway. These findings provide experimental evidence supporting the development of β-sitosterol as a novel therapeutic agent for dry ARMD.

Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent programmed cell death process driven by reactive oxygen species-mediated lipid peroxidation, is regulated by several metabolic processes, including iron metabolism, lipid metabolism, and redox system. Macrophages are a group of innate immune cells that are widely distributed throughout the body, and play pivotal roles in maintaining metabolic balance by its phagocytic and efferocytotic effects. There is a profound association between the biological functions of macrophage and ferroptosis. Therefore, this review aims to elucidate three key aspects of the unique relationship between macrophages and ferroptosis, including macrophage metabolism and their regulation of cellular ferroptosis; ferroptotic stress that modulates functions of macrophage and promotion of inflammation; and the effects of macrophage ferroptosis and its role in diseases. Finally, we also summarize the possible mechanisms of macrophages in regulating the ferroptosis process at the global and local levels, as well as the role of ferroptosis in the macrophage-mediated inflammatory process, to provide new therapeutic insights for a variety of diseases.
Ferroptosis/physiology* ; Macrophages/metabolism* ; Humans ; Animals ; Iron/metabolism* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Lipid Peroxidation/physiology* ; Inflammation/metabolism*