Objective: To investigate the microbial mechanisms of Banxia Xiexin Decoction (半夏泻心汤, BXXXD) in the treatment of esophageal precancerous lesions. Methods: A total of 30 specific pathogen-free (SPF) grade female C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to a control group (n = 6) and a 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO)-exposed group (n = 24). Esophageal precancerous lesions were induced by providing the 4-NQO-exposed group with 4-NQO in drinking water (100 μg/mL) for 17 consecutive weeks, whereas control group received sterile drinking water. After model establishment, the mice in 4-NQO-exposed group were further randomized into model group and three BXXXD-treated groups: low-dose (BXXXD-L, 3.7 g/kg), medium-dose (BXXXD-M, 7.4 g/kg), and high-dose (BXXXD-H, 14.8 g/kg) groups (n = 6 per group). During the subsequent intervention period, mice in control and model groups were gavaged with sterile water, while mice in BXXXD groups were gavaged once daily with the corresponding dose of BXXXD aqueous extract for 4 weeks. Histopathological changes in esophageal tissues were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The fecal and esophageal microbiota were profiled via 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing to evaluate bacterial diversity, community structure, and co-occurrence networks. BXXXD chemical fingerprints were analyzed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole QExactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QE-MS). Serum short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) level was quantified by targeted metabolomics using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Transcriptomic analysis of esophageal tissues was performed to assess gene expression profiles. Results: Compared with model group, BXXXD-M group exhibited reduced mucosal hyperplasia and more orderly epithelial cell arrangement, with superior therapeutic effects in comparison with both BXXXD-L and BXXXD-H groups (P < 0.01). Microbiota analysis revealed that BXXXD increased the abundance of beneficial Enterococcus and reduced pathogenic Escherichia-Shigella in the esophagus. In the gut, BXXXD elevated the relative abundance of beneficial taxa, including Lactobacillus, Dubosiella, Bacteroides, and Faecalibacterium. Targeted metabolomics showed that BXXXD significantly reduced total serum SCFA level (P < 0.01). Transcriptomic analysis indicated that BXXXD downregulated the expression of genes associated with the progression, migration, and invasion of esophageal cancer, which were identified as kallikrein-related peptidase 6 (Klk6), defensin beta 4 (Defb4), family with sequence similarity 3 member B (Fam3b), carboxypeptidase A4 (Cpa4), serum amyloid A1 (Saa1), and chitinase-like 1 (Chil1) (P < 0.05). Conclusion BXXXD may reduce the expression levels of esophageal cancer-related genes and improve esophageal precancerous lesions through modulation of the gut microbiota and metabolites.

Background The association between occupational physical activity (OPA) and cardiometabolic risk factors remains controversial, potentially due to differences in the associations between OPA and various cardiometabolic indicators, as well as the lack of a clearly defined optimal OPA range for multiple-indicator synergistic benefits. Objective To investigate the relationship between OPA and cardiometabolic risk factors in individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Hubei Province, and to explore an optimal OPA range for multi-indicator improvements. Methods Data were derived from the Hubei Province dataset of the China Health Evaluation And Risk Reduction Through Nationwide Teamwork from 2015 to 2023, including 19028 high-risk CVD individuals. OPA (metabolic equivalent·h·d⁻¹, MET·h·d⁻¹) was assessed using the China Kadoorie Biobank physical activity questionnaire, anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist circumference) and cardiometabolic indicators (blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, lipid profiles) were measured. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the association between logOPA quartiles (Q1-Q4) and abnormal cardiometabolic indicators, while restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were employed to explore their dose-response relationships. Subgroup and interaction analyses were also conducted by gender. Results The median OPA of all participants was 12.86 MET·h·d⁻¹ (male: 14.40 MET·h·d⁻¹, female: 11.14 MET·h·d⁻¹). After adjusting for confounders, compared with the Q1 group, logOPA in the Q4 group was associated with 20% (OR=0.80, 95%CI: 0.72, 0.89), 14% (OR=0.86, 95%CI: 0.78, 0.96), and 13% (OR=0.87, 95%CI: 0.79, 0.95) reduction in the risk of abdominal obesity, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and metabolic syndrome (MS), respectively, and 33% (OR=1.33, 95%CI: 1.18, 1.49), 33% (OR=1.33, 95%CI: 1.18, 1.50), and 38% (OR=1.38, 95%CI: 1.21, 1.57) increase in the risk of high total cholesterol (TC), high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high non-HDL-C, respectively. Similar trends were observed in males and females, with significant positive associations of logOPA with high TC and high non-HDL-C in males (P_interaction<0.05). The risk of low HDL-C decreased rapidly when logOPA was more than 2.213 (OPA>9.14 MET·h·d⁻¹), showing an inverted L-shaped trend. The risk of high TC, high LDL-C, and high non-HDL-C increased beyond logOPA thresholds of 3.244, 2.476, and 3.377 (OPA >25.64, 11.89, and 29.28 MET·h·d⁻¹), respectively, showing a J-shaped trend. However, logOPA exhibited a U-shaped nonlinear dose-response relationship with blood pressure and fasting blood glucose abnormalities (P_non-linear<0.05) , with minimal risks at logOPA 2.969 and 2.372 (OPA of 19.47 and 10.72 MET·h·d⁻¹). Conclusion OPA exhibits heterogeneous dose-response patterns across cardiometabolic indicators. Integrating the inverted L-, J-, and U-shaped association patterns, we suggest an optimal OPA range of 9.14−25.64 MET·h·d⁻¹ for multiple cardiometabolic indicators in total individuals at high-risk of CVD, with ranges of 9.61−31.34 MET·h·d⁻¹ for males and 8.97−22.87 MET·h·d⁻¹ for females. These findings provide critical evidence for developing OPA interventions strategies targeting high-risk population for CVD.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) on postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in mice and its association with the excitability of parvalbumin (PV) neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC).Methods:Twenty-four specific pathogen-free healthy male C57BL/6 mice, aged 8 weeks, weighing 18-24 g, in which adeno-associated virus (AAV) for labeling PV neurons was injected into the mPFC using stereotaxic surgery, were used in this study. Three weeks later, the mice were divided into 3 groups ( n=8 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), POCD group (group P) and cTBS group. Group C received no treatment. A mouse model of POCD was established by performing tibial fracture surgery under sevoflurane anesthesia and the mice received sham stimulation from postoperative day 0 to day 4 in group P. Group cTBS underwent POCD model establishment and received cTBS stimulation from postoperative day 0 to day 4. Cognitive function was assessed using contextual fear conditioning, Y-maze and novel object recognition tests on postoperative day 5. The spontaneous firing frequency of PV neurons in the mPFC was then measured using ex vivo patch-clamp electrophysiology. Results:The results of contextual fear conditioning test showed that compared to group C, the percentage of freezing time was significantly increased in group P ( P<0.05); compared to group P, the percentage of freezing time was significantly decreased in group cTBS ( P<0.05). The results of Y-maze test showed that compared to group C, the alternation accuracy was significantly decreased in group P ( P<0.05); compared to group P, the alternation accuracy was significantly increased in group cTBS ( P<0.05). The results of novel object recognition test showed that compared to group C, the percentage of time spent exploring the novel object was significantly decreased in group P ( P<0.05); compared to group P, this percentage of time spent exploring the novel object was significantly increased in group cTBS ( P<0.05). The results of ex vivo patch-clamp electrophysiology showed that compared to group C, the spontaneous firing frequency of PV neurons in the mPFC was significantly decreased in group P ( P<0.05); compared to group P, the spontaneous firing frequency of PV neurons in the mPFC was significantly increased in group cTBS ( P<0.05). Conclusions:cTBS can ameliorate POCD in mice, and the mechanism is related to the restoration of excitability of PV neurons in the mPFC.

Antibiotics are chemicals with bactericidal or bacteriostatic activity produced by microorganisms and artificially synthesized. Since the discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928, antibiotics have been widely used in clinical treatments as well as in the animal husbandry and aquaculture, leading to antibiotic residues in soil, water, food and other environments. At the same time, antibiotic resistance is increasingly serious, which necessitates the discovery of novel antibiotics. In recent years, with the development of synthetic biology, researchers have developed a variety of whole-cell biosensors that can respond to antibiotics. These whole-cell biosensors use microbial cells to convert antibiotic signals into readable signals, which can not only perform dynamic detection of antibiotics simply, quickly, sensitively and accurately but also effectively discover novel antibiotics. This review comprehensively summarizes the reported whole-cell biosensors for antibiotics, classifies them into two types (specific and general), and elaborates on the design principles and applications of the two types of antibiotic biosensors. This review will provide reference for the construction and application of other whole-cell biosensors for antibiotics.
Biosensing Techniques/methods* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology*

This study summarizes Professor Qin Zhenhua's clinical experience in treating cutaneous pruritus using a modified self-prescribed formula,Yinqiao Xingzi Decoction.Following the viewpoints from the classical Chinese medical literature and after years of clinical practice,Professor Qin proposes that the onset of cutaneous pruritus is often associated with the attack of exogenous pathogens,disharmony of qi and blood,or debility due to prolonged illness.The disease primarily involves the skin,with the fundamental pathogenesis of pathogens stagnating in the muscular superficies.Clinically,the treatment is frequently conducted from the perspective of fire-heat syndrome,and the therapeutic methods of clearing heat and removing toxins,releasing muscles and dispersing pathogens from the superficies,and dispelling wind to relieve itching are utilized.The approaches aim to cool heat in the blood,expel pathogens from the muscular layer,eliminate heat for stopping itching,and extinguish wind for calming the skin.The basic prescription,Yinqiao Xingzi Decoction(composed of Lonicerae Japonicae Flos,Forsythiae Fructus,Armeniacae Semen Amarum,Arnebiae Radix,Tribuli Fructus,Dictamni Cortex,Kochiae Fructus,and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma),is used by modification depending on the predominance of pathogenic factors of wind,heat,dryness,or dampness-toxins,and according to the various syndromes like blood-heat,yin deficiency,or qi-blood deficiency.Yinqiao Xingzi Decoction is applicable to cutaneous pruritus with the most of clinical common syndrome types,but it is unsuitable for cases caused by yang deficiency or qi stagnation with blood stasis.

Objective To explore the effects of hepatitis B virus genotypes B and C on hepatic stellate cells(HSC)proliferation,cell cycle,and secretion under different alanine aminotransferase(ALT)statuses.Methods A total of 270 patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B in the First Hospital of Lanzhou University between January 2023 to December 2023 were selected by stratified random sam-pling.In the group with normal ALT,there were 42 patients with genotype B and 48 patients with genotype C.In the group with ALT ≥ the upper normal limit(UNL)and＜2 times the UNL(2 UNL),there were 48 patients with genotype B and 45 patients with genotype C.In the group with ALT≥2 UNL,there were 45 patients with genotype B and 42 patients with genotype C.Sera from these patients was used as the interfering sera.After HSC were treated with the interfering serum,the proliferation of HSC was detected by the MTT method,the cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry,the mRNA expressions of TGF-β1,Smad3,Smad7,α-SMA,Collagen Ⅰ,and Collagen Ⅲ were detected by real-time PCR,and the expressions of the corresponding proteins were detected by Western blotting.Results When the ALT level was normal,hepatitis B virus genotypes B and C had no obvious effect on HSCs.When the ALT level was abnormal,particularly in the group with ALT ≥ 2 UNL,the virus with genotype C was more likely to promote the proliferation of HSC,reduce the number of cells in the G0/G1 phase,increase the number of cells in the S phase and G2/M phase,enhance the mRNA and protein expressions of TGF-β1,Smad3,Collagen Ⅰ,Collagen Ⅲ,and α-SMA,and decrease the mRNA and protein expressions of Smad7,with significant differences(P＜0.05).Conclusion The effects of hepatitis B virus genotypes B and C on HSC differ varying ALT statuses.During abnormal ALT elevation,genotype C hepatitis B virus demonstrates more pronounced effects on HSC proliferation,cell cycle progression,and secretory function compared to genotype B.

lumbar fusion surgery is one of the commonly used surgical interventions and treatments for lumbar degenerative diseases.A small proportion of patients still experience complications such as low back pain after lumbar fusion surgery.Spinal-pelvic parameters are closely related to the occurrence of complications in patients after lumbar fusion surgery.This article reviews the commonly used lumbar fixation and fusion surgical techniques and mainstream sagittal spinal-pelvic parameters.Additionally,it summarizes the research progress and current status regarding the relationship between sagittal spinal-pelvic parameters and various postoperative complications,including low back pain.

AIM:To investigate the effects of emo-din on autophagy and apoptosis in rats with severe pneumonia(KP)caused by K.pneumoniae and its possible mechanism.METHODS:The KP rat model was established by infecting K pneumonia was treat-ed with Emodin.The rats were grouped into Sham surgery group,KP group,low concentration Emodin group,medium concentration Emodin group,high concentration Emodin group,and Emodin+sirtinol(SIRT1 activity inhibitor)group;Arterial partial pres-sure of carbon dioxide(PaCO2),arterial partial pres-sure of oxygen(PaO2)and arterial oxygen saturation(SaO2)were measured by blood gas analyzer;the white blood cells and neutrophils in bronchoalveo-lar lavage fluid(BALF)were measured by Wright-Gi-emsa staining;HE staining was applied to detect pathological changes in lung tissue in each group;ELISA was applied to detect the expression of IL-6,TNF-α,and IL-1β in lung tissues of each group;elec-tron microscopy scanning was applied to observe the autophagy of cells in lung tissues of each group;the expression of LC3B in lung tissues was observed by immunofluorescence staining;TUNEL method was applied to detect changes in cell apoptosis in lung tissue of rats in each group;Western blot was applied to detect the expression of silent informa-tion regulatory factor(SIRT1),adenosine monophos-phate activated protein kinase(AMPK),LC3-Ⅱ,LC3-Ⅰ,c-caspase-3,and caspase-3 proteins in lung tissue.RESULTS:K.pneumoniae caused severe lung tissue damage in rats with pneumonia,increased inflam-matory infiltration and cytokine release in the lungs,arterial blood PaO2 and SaO2 levels de-creased,PaCO2 levels increased,white blood cells and neutrophils count increased in BALF,increased cell apoptosis rate and c-caspase-3/caspase-3 level,and the cell autophagy and the levels of autophagy related proteins LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ were decreased(all P＜0.05),after Emodin treatment,SIRT1/AMPK signal-ing pathway was activated,PaO2 and SaO2 levels in arterial blood were increased,PaCO2 levels was de-creased,inflammatory reaction was inhibited,cell apoptosis in lung tissue was inhibited(all P＜0.05),and cell autophagy level was restored,sirtinol,a SIRT1 inhibitor,partially reversed the therapeutic ef-fect of Emodin on KP rats after inhibiting SIRT1/AMPK signaling pathway(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:Emodin may enhance autophagy of lung tissue cells and inhibit apoptosis of rat lung tissue cells by acti-vating SIRT1/AMPK pathway,which may provide po-tential therapeutic options for KP.

Objective·To investigate the application effects and benefits of full-neuroendoscopic technique in the surgical treatment of posterior cranial fossa lesions.Methods·A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 105 patients with posterior cranial fossa lesions who underwent surgery using full-neuroendoscopic techniques at the Department of Neurosurgery,Renji Hospital,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine,between January 2021 and December 2023.The data included patients'gender,age,lesion locations,nature of lesions,surgical procedures,and postoperative recovery.Follow-up with contrast-enhanced MRI was performed one month postoperatively,with subsequent follow-ups every three months on average,depending on the nature of the lesions.Results·Among the 105 patients,there were 45 males with an average age of(56±17)years and 60 females with an average age of(62±12)years.Lesions were predominantly located in the cerebellopontine angle area(78 cases),with others in the petrous bone area(7 cases),cerebellum(10 cases),and brainstem(10 cases).The nature of lesions included vestibular schwannoma(11 cases),meningioma(7 cases),glioma(7 cases),brain metastases(7 cases),hemangioblastoma(6 cases),cyst(1 case),and neuropathic conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia(43 cases),hemifacial spasm(22 cases),and glossopharyngeal neuralgia(1 case).All patients successfully underwent resection or biopsy of their lesions or microvascular decompression under full-neuroendoscopy.The follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 3 years.Enhanced MRI confirmed complete resection in 34 tumor cases(87.2％),near-total resection in 3 cases(7.7％),and biopsy in 2 cases(5.1％).Three deaths occurred during follow-up.Among the patients with vascular neuropathic diseases,two with trigeminal neuralgia experienced incomplete pain relief postoperatively.The resolution rates for hemifacial spasm and glossopharyngeal neuralgia were 100％.Postoperative complications occurred in 3 cases,with 2 cases of hydrocephalus that were managed with ventriculoperitoneal shunting,and 1 case of poor wound healing.Conclusion·Full-neuroendoscopic technique demonstrates potential in the surgical treatment of posterior cranial fossa lesions.