With the extensive application of nuclear technology in industry, agriculture, and medicine, the safety issues associated with neutron radiation have become increasingly prominent. Due to their high penetrability and strong ionization effect, neutrons can cause serious health risks by directly damaging DNA or inducing secondary γ radiation. Therefore, the neutron radiation protection has become a core challenge in radiation protection, especially the research and development of neutron shielding materials. To ensure the safe development of nuclear technology, neutron shielding materials are indispensable and constitute a fundamental core technology for radiation protection. This paper reviews the theory of neutron radiation protection and the research progress of neutron shielding materials, with a focus on the current application status and existing problems of neutron shielding materials. This article also discusses the future development trends. This review aims to provide theoretical support and technical references for the safe application and development of nuclear technology.

Abstract Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has demonstrated unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases such as glycolipid metabolism disorder. However, its widespread application has been hindered by the unclear biological essence of TCM syndromes and therapeutic mechanisms. As an emerging interdisciplinary field, phenomics integrates multi-dimensional data including genome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, and microbiome. When combined with TCM's holistic philosophy, it forms TCM phenomics, providing novel approaches to reveal the biological connotation of TCM syndromes and the mechanisms of herbal medicine. Taking glycolipid metabolism disorder as an example, this paper explores the application of TCM phenomics in glycolipid metabolism disorder. By analyzing molecular characteristics of related syndromes, TCM phenomics identifies differentially expressed genes, metabolites, and gut microbiota biomarkers to elucidate the dynamic evolution patterns of syndromes. Simultaneously, it deciphers the multi-target regulatory networks of herbal formulas, demonstrating their therapeutic effects through mechanisms including modulation of insulin signaling pathways, improvement of gut microbiota imbalance, and suppression of inflammatory responses. Current challenges include the subjective nature of syndrome diagnosis, insufficient standardization of animal models, and lack of integrated multi-omics analysis. Future research should employ machine learning, multimodal data integration, and cross-omics longitudinal studies to establish quantitative diagnostic systems for syndromes, promote the integration of precision medicine in TCM and western medicine, and accelerate the modernization of TCM.

Chronic pain has emerged as a prevalent medical challenge in contemporary society.Patients suffering from chronic pain frequently develop comorbid psychological disorders,including anxiety,depression,post-traumatic stress disorder,and various psychiatric syndromes.These psychological complications not only affect patients' pain perception and responses,but may also constitute critical obstacles during pain management interventions.Acupuncture is a long-established clinical practice that has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in alleviating diverse pain types and has shown favorable therapeutic outcomes in ameliorating emotional disturbances such as anxiety and depression.The precise mechanisms underlying acupuncture-induced analgesia and anxiolytic effects,however,remain to be fully elucidated.In this context,it is essential to establish suitable and stable animal models to allow in-depth investigations into the pathogenesis of pain-related emotional disorders and the mechanistic foundations of acupuncture.This article presents a comprehensive review of recent literature regarding the selection of experimental animals,model-establishment method ologies,and behavioral-assessment paradigms pertaining to animal model platforms of chronic pain with comorbid anxiety.We also provide an in-depth discussion of research advancements regarding acupuncture intervention parameters,including needling techniques,acupoint selection,treatment duration,and efficacy evaluation within these animal models.This review proposes comprehensive and reference strategies for constructing preclinical animal models to investigate the mechanisms of acupuncture in managing chronic pain with comorbid anxiety,thus supporting scientific advancements in related research fields.

AIM:This study investigated the potential mechanism of acupuncture regulating adenosine A1 re-ceptor(ADORA1)in the mouse caudate putamen(CPu)to improve neuroplasticity and alleviate inflammatory pain.METHODS:Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups,namely,saline,complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA),acupuncture(MA),acupuncture+ADORA1 shRNA(MA+shRNA),and acupuncture+negative shRNA(MA+NCshRNA)groups.Twenty-one days before modeling,the mice in the MA+shRNA and MA+NCshRNA groups were in-jected with ADORA1 shRNA and control virus into the CPu.Modeling was performed 21 d later by injection of CFA into the right plantar skin of mice in the model and acupuncture groups to induce adjuvant-mediated arthritis.On day 2 after modeling,mice in the acupuncture groups received acupuncture at bilateral"Zusanli"points,30 min per session,once a day,for a total of 7 days.The paw thermal radiation pain threshold was used as an indicator of the effects on pain in the mice.Changes in the protein levels of ADORA1,synaptophysin(SYP),synapsin(SYN)I,SYN II,and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)in the CPu were assessed by Western blot,and transmission electron microscopy was used to examine the dendritic structure and synaptic ultrastructure of neurons within the CPu.RESULTS:(1)Compared with the saline group,CFA modeling significantly reduced the thermal radiation pain threshold in mice(P<0.01),as well as the protein levels of ADORA1(P<0.01).Compared with the CFA group,the thermal pain threshold in the MA group in-creased between days 1 and 7 of acupuncture(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and ADORA1 protein levels increased(P<0.01).(2)Compared with the saline group,SYN I,SYN II,and BDNF protein levels were increased in the CFA group(P<0.05 or P<0.01),while relative to the CFA group,the levels of SYN I,SYN II,and BDNF were reduced in the acupuncture group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).No significant changes in SYP protein levels were observed in any of the groups.(3)Golgi staining and Sholl analysis showed that compared with the saline group,there were reductions in the total dendritic length and number of intersection points in the CFA group,while the dendritic spine density increased(P<0.05).Relative to the CFA group,the total dendritic length and the number of intersection points were increased in the MA group,while the dendritic spine density decreased(P<0.05).(4)Transmission electron microscopy revealed that compared with the Sa-line group,the synaptic clefts were narrower in the CFA group,while the density of synaptic vesicles in the presynaptic membrane was increased.Compared with the CFA group,synaptic clefts in the MA group were wider,and synaptic vesi-cle densities in the presynaptic membrane were reduced.(5)Twenty-one days after viral transfection,the thermal pain threshold in the MA and MA+NCshRNA groups increased from day 1 to day 7 of acupuncture relative to the CFA and MA+shRNA groups(P<0.05 or P<0.01),while the expression of ADORA1 was increased in both the MA and MA+NCshRNA groups(P<0.05 or P<0.01).(6)Compared with the CFA and MA+shRNA groups,the protein expression of SYN II and BDNF in the MA and MA+NCshRNA groups was reduced(P<0.05 or P<0.01).No significant changes in SYN I protein were observed in any of the groups.CONCLUSION:Acupuncture on Zusanli point can alleviate chronic pain in CFA-treated mice,potentially mediated by up-regulation of ADORA1 expression in the CPu brain region,thereby improving neuroplasticity.

Objective:To investigate the role of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) -derived nanovesicles in hair regeneration.Methods:(1) Nanovesicles were prepared by continuously extruding umbilical cord MSCs through polycarbonate membranes, and were identified using transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis. (2) Six C57BL/6 female mice with full-thickness skin wounds were randomly divided into a nanovesicle group (subcutaneously injected with nanovesicles once at the wound margin) and a control group (subcutaneously injected with an equal volume of phosphate-buffered saline [PBS] at the wound margin) ; skin samples were collected on day 16 for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining to assess wound healing and hair follicle regeneration. (3) Human hair follicle dermal papilla cells (DPCs) were isolated using a two-step enzyme method; the uptake of PKH26-pre-labeled nanovesicles by DPCs was observed by fluorescence microscopy; the proliferative activity of DPCs co-cultured with nanovesicles was evaluated using cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays. (4) Six healthy C57BL/6 female mice were randomly divided into two groups after anesthesia, and subcutaneously injected with either fluorescent dye DIR-pre-labeled nanovesicles or PBS; an in vivo imaging system was used to observe the uptake and metabolism of nanovesicles in the mouse skin. (5) Twenty-four C57BL/6 female mice with depilated backs were randomly divided into a nanovesicle group (subcutaneously injected with nanovesicles on days 0, 8, and 15) and a control group (subcutaneously injected with an equal volume of PBS at the same time points) ; skin samples were collected on days 4, 18, and 21 for HE staining to analyze differences in hair follicle cycling; transcriptome sequencing was performed on skin samples collected on day 4. Statistical analyses were conducted using the t test. Results:(1) Transmission electron microscopy showed that nanovesicles exhibited a spherical membranous structure with diameters of 141.3 ± 60.0 nm. (2) In 6 C57BL/6 female mice with full-thickness skin wounds, the wound area on day 12 was significantly smaller in the nanovesicle group (1.27 ± 0.50 mm 2) than in the control group (4.13 ± 1.03 mm 2, t = 4.34, P = 0.012). (3) Fluorescence microscopy revealed that nanovesicles were taken up by DPCs within 20 hours; the absorbance of DPCs was significantly higher in the nanovesicle group than in the control group ( t = 20.23, P < 0.001), and the percentage of EdU-positive cells was also significantly higher in the nanovesicle group (49.62% ± 6.45%) than in the control group (37.58% ± 3.42%, t = 3.69, P = 0.006). (4) In vivo imaging of the 6 C57BL/6 female mice showed strong fluorescence in the back of mice in the nanovesicle group on day 0, which markedly decreased by day 8, while no fluorescence was observed in the control group throughout the experiment. (5) Hair follicle cycle experiments on the 24 C57BL/6 female mice with depilated backs showed that the hair follicle length on day 4 after depilation was significantly longer in the nanovesicle group (368.00 ± 63.17 μm) than in the control group (266.90 ± 34.41 μm, t = 9.87, P < 0.001), and the hair bulb diameter was also significantly longer in the nanovesicle group (54.83 ± 10.32 μm) than in the control group (39.12 ± 7.54 μm, t = 16.02, P < 0.001) ; on day 18, the nanovesicle group showed a significantly higher hair follicle density (19.12 ± 0.90) compared with the control group (11.07 ± 1.51, t = 7.92, P = 0.001) ; on day 21, 46.13% ± 8.64% of hair follicles in the nanovesicle group remained in the anagen phase Ⅵ to the catagen phase Ⅱ, and 46.24% ± 3.29% were in the catagen phases Ⅲ to Ⅳ, while 78.89% ± 18.36% of hair follicles in the control group were in the telogen phases Ⅶ to Ⅷ. Transcriptome sequencing showed that differentially expressed genes in the nanovesicle group were significantly positively enriched in the keratinization process (NES = 2.23, P < 0.001) . Conclusion:Umbilical cord MSC-derived nanovesicles could promote the proliferation of DPCs, advance the entry of hair follicles into the anagen phase, delay their entry into the catagen phase, and induce hair regeneration.

One hundred 1-day-old HY-LINE VARIETY BROWN were randomly divided into 5 groups:the blank group,the model group,the Baihuang Zhili decoction low-dose treatment group(1 g/kg),the Baihuang Zhili decoction medium-dose treatment group(2 g/kg)and the Baihuang Zhili decoction high-dose treatment group(4 g/kg).The results showed that:(1)Compared with the model group,Baihuang Zhili decoction could restore the integrity of intestinal mucosal barrier structure and reduce inflammation.It significantly increased the expression of tight junction pro-teins ZO-1,Claudin-1 and Occludin in small intestine(P＜0.05),and significantly decreased the levels of DAO(diamine axidase)and D(-)-lactic acid(P＜0.05).(2)Compared with the model group,Baihuang Zhili decoction could significantly increase the number of goblet cells(P＜0.05).Baihuang Zhili decoction could significantly increase the MUC2 levels of duodenum,and the MUC2 level of ileum in 1 g/kg group and 4 g/kg group was significantly increased(P＜0.05),the MUC2 levels of jejunum in 2 g/kg group were significantly increased(P＜0.05).(3)Compared with the model group,Baihuang Zhili decoction significantly decreased the sIgA level in duodenum and jeju-num(P＜0.05),and the sIgA level in ileum in 1 g/kg group was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The IgG level in serum was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Baihuang Zhili decoction could significantly reduce the expression levels of intestinal immune-related genes(IL-1β,IL-2,IL-6,IL-8,TNF-α)(P＜0.05).It could significantly decrease the expression levels of immune-related factors(TNF-α,IFN-γ,IL-1β,IL-2)in tonsil of cecum(P＜0.05).(4)Compared with the model group,Baihuang Zhili decoction could increase Ace,Chao and Shannon index of intestinal flora,reduce Simpson index of intestinal flora,and increase alpha diversity of intestinal microbes.It significantly decreased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria(P＜0.05),and significantly increased the rela-tive abundance of Campylobacterota(P＜0.05).It also significantly decreased the relative abun-dance of Lactobacillus(P＜0.05).In summary,Baihuang Zhili decoction can improve the damage of intestinal mechanical barrier,chemical barrier,immune barrier and microbial barrier caused by pul-lorum disease,and enhance the intestinal immunity.

Objective:To investigate the role of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) -derived nanovesicles in hair regeneration.Methods:(1) Nanovesicles were prepared by continuously extruding umbilical cord MSCs through polycarbonate membranes, and were identified using transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis. (2) Six C57BL/6 female mice with full-thickness skin wounds were randomly divided into a nanovesicle group (subcutaneously injected with nanovesicles once at the wound margin) and a control group (subcutaneously injected with an equal volume of phosphate-buffered saline [PBS] at the wound margin) ; skin samples were collected on day 16 for hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining to assess wound healing and hair follicle regeneration. (3) Human hair follicle dermal papilla cells (DPCs) were isolated using a two-step enzyme method; the uptake of PKH26-pre-labeled nanovesicles by DPCs was observed by fluorescence microscopy; the proliferative activity of DPCs co-cultured with nanovesicles was evaluated using cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays. (4) Six healthy C57BL/6 female mice were randomly divided into two groups after anesthesia, and subcutaneously injected with either fluorescent dye DIR-pre-labeled nanovesicles or PBS; an in vivo imaging system was used to observe the uptake and metabolism of nanovesicles in the mouse skin. (5) Twenty-four C57BL/6 female mice with depilated backs were randomly divided into a nanovesicle group (subcutaneously injected with nanovesicles on days 0, 8, and 15) and a control group (subcutaneously injected with an equal volume of PBS at the same time points) ; skin samples were collected on days 4, 18, and 21 for HE staining to analyze differences in hair follicle cycling; transcriptome sequencing was performed on skin samples collected on day 4. Statistical analyses were conducted using the t test. Results:(1) Transmission electron microscopy showed that nanovesicles exhibited a spherical membranous structure with diameters of 141.3 ± 60.0 nm. (2) In 6 C57BL/6 female mice with full-thickness skin wounds, the wound area on day 12 was significantly smaller in the nanovesicle group (1.27 ± 0.50 mm 2) than in the control group (4.13 ± 1.03 mm 2, t = 4.34, P = 0.012). (3) Fluorescence microscopy revealed that nanovesicles were taken up by DPCs within 20 hours; the absorbance of DPCs was significantly higher in the nanovesicle group than in the control group ( t = 20.23, P < 0.001), and the percentage of EdU-positive cells was also significantly higher in the nanovesicle group (49.62% ± 6.45%) than in the control group (37.58% ± 3.42%, t = 3.69, P = 0.006). (4) In vivo imaging of the 6 C57BL/6 female mice showed strong fluorescence in the back of mice in the nanovesicle group on day 0, which markedly decreased by day 8, while no fluorescence was observed in the control group throughout the experiment. (5) Hair follicle cycle experiments on the 24 C57BL/6 female mice with depilated backs showed that the hair follicle length on day 4 after depilation was significantly longer in the nanovesicle group (368.00 ± 63.17 μm) than in the control group (266.90 ± 34.41 μm, t = 9.87, P < 0.001), and the hair bulb diameter was also significantly longer in the nanovesicle group (54.83 ± 10.32 μm) than in the control group (39.12 ± 7.54 μm, t = 16.02, P < 0.001) ; on day 18, the nanovesicle group showed a significantly higher hair follicle density (19.12 ± 0.90) compared with the control group (11.07 ± 1.51, t = 7.92, P = 0.001) ; on day 21, 46.13% ± 8.64% of hair follicles in the nanovesicle group remained in the anagen phase Ⅵ to the catagen phase Ⅱ, and 46.24% ± 3.29% were in the catagen phases Ⅲ to Ⅳ, while 78.89% ± 18.36% of hair follicles in the control group were in the telogen phases Ⅶ to Ⅷ. Transcriptome sequencing showed that differentially expressed genes in the nanovesicle group were significantly positively enriched in the keratinization process (NES = 2.23, P < 0.001) . Conclusion:Umbilical cord MSC-derived nanovesicles could promote the proliferation of DPCs, advance the entry of hair follicles into the anagen phase, delay their entry into the catagen phase, and induce hair regeneration.

One hundred 1-day-old HY-LINE VARIETY BROWN were randomly divided into 5 groups:the blank group,the model group,the Baihuang Zhili decoction low-dose treatment group(1 g/kg),the Baihuang Zhili decoction medium-dose treatment group(2 g/kg)and the Baihuang Zhili decoction high-dose treatment group(4 g/kg).The results showed that:(1)Compared with the model group,Baihuang Zhili decoction could restore the integrity of intestinal mucosal barrier structure and reduce inflammation.It significantly increased the expression of tight junction pro-teins ZO-1,Claudin-1 and Occludin in small intestine(P＜0.05),and significantly decreased the levels of DAO(diamine axidase)and D(-)-lactic acid(P＜0.05).(2)Compared with the model group,Baihuang Zhili decoction could significantly increase the number of goblet cells(P＜0.05).Baihuang Zhili decoction could significantly increase the MUC2 levels of duodenum,and the MUC2 level of ileum in 1 g/kg group and 4 g/kg group was significantly increased(P＜0.05),the MUC2 levels of jejunum in 2 g/kg group were significantly increased(P＜0.05).(3)Compared with the model group,Baihuang Zhili decoction significantly decreased the sIgA level in duodenum and jeju-num(P＜0.05),and the sIgA level in ileum in 1 g/kg group was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The IgG level in serum was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Baihuang Zhili decoction could significantly reduce the expression levels of intestinal immune-related genes(IL-1β,IL-2,IL-6,IL-8,TNF-α)(P＜0.05).It could significantly decrease the expression levels of immune-related factors(TNF-α,IFN-γ,IL-1β,IL-2)in tonsil of cecum(P＜0.05).(4)Compared with the model group,Baihuang Zhili decoction could increase Ace,Chao and Shannon index of intestinal flora,reduce Simpson index of intestinal flora,and increase alpha diversity of intestinal microbes.It significantly decreased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria(P＜0.05),and significantly increased the rela-tive abundance of Campylobacterota(P＜0.05).It also significantly decreased the relative abun-dance of Lactobacillus(P＜0.05).In summary,Baihuang Zhili decoction can improve the damage of intestinal mechanical barrier,chemical barrier,immune barrier and microbial barrier caused by pul-lorum disease,and enhance the intestinal immunity.

Chronic pain has emerged as a prevalent medical challenge in contemporary society.Patients suffering from chronic pain frequently develop comorbid psychological disorders,including anxiety,depression,post-traumatic stress disorder,and various psychiatric syndromes.These psychological complications not only affect patients' pain perception and responses,but may also constitute critical obstacles during pain management interventions.Acupuncture is a long-established clinical practice that has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in alleviating diverse pain types and has shown favorable therapeutic outcomes in ameliorating emotional disturbances such as anxiety and depression.The precise mechanisms underlying acupuncture-induced analgesia and anxiolytic effects,however,remain to be fully elucidated.In this context,it is essential to establish suitable and stable animal models to allow in-depth investigations into the pathogenesis of pain-related emotional disorders and the mechanistic foundations of acupuncture.This article presents a comprehensive review of recent literature regarding the selection of experimental animals,model-establishment method ologies,and behavioral-assessment paradigms pertaining to animal model platforms of chronic pain with comorbid anxiety.We also provide an in-depth discussion of research advancements regarding acupuncture intervention parameters,including needling techniques,acupoint selection,treatment duration,and efficacy evaluation within these animal models.This review proposes comprehensive and reference strategies for constructing preclinical animal models to investigate the mechanisms of acupuncture in managing chronic pain with comorbid anxiety,thus supporting scientific advancements in related research fields.

AIM:This study investigated the potential mechanism of acupuncture regulating adenosine A1 re-ceptor(ADORA1)in the mouse caudate putamen(CPu)to improve neuroplasticity and alleviate inflammatory pain.METHODS:Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups,namely,saline,complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA),acupuncture(MA),acupuncture+ADORA1 shRNA(MA+shRNA),and acupuncture+negative shRNA(MA+NCshRNA)groups.Twenty-one days before modeling,the mice in the MA+shRNA and MA+NCshRNA groups were in-jected with ADORA1 shRNA and control virus into the CPu.Modeling was performed 21 d later by injection of CFA into the right plantar skin of mice in the model and acupuncture groups to induce adjuvant-mediated arthritis.On day 2 after modeling,mice in the acupuncture groups received acupuncture at bilateral"Zusanli"points,30 min per session,once a day,for a total of 7 days.The paw thermal radiation pain threshold was used as an indicator of the effects on pain in the mice.Changes in the protein levels of ADORA1,synaptophysin(SYP),synapsin(SYN)I,SYN II,and brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF)in the CPu were assessed by Western blot,and transmission electron microscopy was used to examine the dendritic structure and synaptic ultrastructure of neurons within the CPu.RESULTS:(1)Compared with the saline group,CFA modeling significantly reduced the thermal radiation pain threshold in mice(P<0.01),as well as the protein levels of ADORA1(P<0.01).Compared with the CFA group,the thermal pain threshold in the MA group in-creased between days 1 and 7 of acupuncture(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and ADORA1 protein levels increased(P<0.01).(2)Compared with the saline group,SYN I,SYN II,and BDNF protein levels were increased in the CFA group(P<0.05 or P<0.01),while relative to the CFA group,the levels of SYN I,SYN II,and BDNF were reduced in the acupuncture group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).No significant changes in SYP protein levels were observed in any of the groups.(3)Golgi staining and Sholl analysis showed that compared with the saline group,there were reductions in the total dendritic length and number of intersection points in the CFA group,while the dendritic spine density increased(P<0.05).Relative to the CFA group,the total dendritic length and the number of intersection points were increased in the MA group,while the dendritic spine density decreased(P<0.05).(4)Transmission electron microscopy revealed that compared with the Sa-line group,the synaptic clefts were narrower in the CFA group,while the density of synaptic vesicles in the presynaptic membrane was increased.Compared with the CFA group,synaptic clefts in the MA group were wider,and synaptic vesi-cle densities in the presynaptic membrane were reduced.(5)Twenty-one days after viral transfection,the thermal pain threshold in the MA and MA+NCshRNA groups increased from day 1 to day 7 of acupuncture relative to the CFA and MA+shRNA groups(P<0.05 or P<0.01),while the expression of ADORA1 was increased in both the MA and MA+NCshRNA groups(P<0.05 or P<0.01).(6)Compared with the CFA and MA+shRNA groups,the protein expression of SYN II and BDNF in the MA and MA+NCshRNA groups was reduced(P<0.05 or P<0.01).No significant changes in SYN I protein were observed in any of the groups.CONCLUSION:Acupuncture on Zusanli point can alleviate chronic pain in CFA-treated mice,potentially mediated by up-regulation of ADORA1 expression in the CPu brain region,thereby improving neuroplasticity.