Objective: To investigate the factors influencing the co-prevalence of allergic rhinitis and obesity among primary and secondary school students in Inner Mongolia, so as to provide a data foundation and theoretical basis for developing targeted intervention measures. Methods: In September and October 2024, a stratified cluster random sampling method was employed to select 139 102 students from 539 schools across 12 leagues/cities and 103 banners/counties in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Participants who were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis by a doctor at least once within one year and had a body mass index ≥ 28 kg/m 2 were considered to have comorbid conditions. Results: The coprevalence rate of allergic rhinitis and obesity among primary and secondary school students in Inner Mongolia was 6.4% (8 931 cases). Lasso-Logistic regression revealed that nonboarding status, higher maternal education, consuming high protein foods ≥1 time daily, occasionally or never eating breakfast, engaging in moderate to vigorous physical activity for ≥60 minutes on fewer than half of holidays, and having been exposed to second hand smoke in person within the past seven days were associated with higher odds ratios for co-prevalence of allergic rhinitis and obesity( OR = 1.23 , 1.22-1.63, 1.20, 1.19, 1.38, 1.35); being female, higher grade level, residence in flag/county/district areas, non only child status, never having consumed a full glass of alcohol, non hypertensive status, and households without pets were associated with lower co-prevalence risks ( OR =0.65, 0.67-0.77, 0.81, 0.87, 0.73, 0.41, 0.68) (all P <0.05). The ROC curve indicated an area under the curve of 0.64 for the predictive model, demonstrating satisfactory discriminatory ability. The calibration curve showed consistency between predicted and actual occurrence probabilities. Conclusions The co-prevalence of allergic rhinitis and obesity among primary and secondary school students in Inner Mongolia is closely associated with demographic characteristics, dietary behaviours, and lifestyle habits. Future prevention and control strategies should prioritize these factors to implement targeted interventions.

Olfactory receptors (ORs) form the largest superfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Traditionally recognized for their role in the nasal olfactory epithelium, where they mediate the sense of smell, accumulating evidence has firmly established their ectopic expression in non-olfactory tissues, including the intestine, lungs, and kidneys. The intestine, as the primary site for nutrient digestion and absorption, harbors a highly complex chemical environment. To adapt to this environment, the gut employs a sophisticated network of “chemosensors” to monitor luminal contents and maintain homeostasis. Among these sensors, intestinal ORs have emerged as crucial functional components, serving as a molecular bridge that connects environmental chemical signals—such as food-derived odorants—to specific physiological responses. This discovery has significantly deepened our understanding of how dietary flavors and compounds influence intestinal physiology at the molecular level. This review systematically summarizes the expression profiles, ligand classification, and biological functions of ORs within the gastrointestinal tract. Studies indicate that intestinal ORs exhibit distinct spatial distribution patterns across different gut segments and display cell-type specificity, particularly within enterocytes and enteroendocrine cells. These receptors function as versatile sensors capable of recognizing a wide variety of ligands, including exogenous dietary components, gut microbiota metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, and endogenous small molecules like azelaic acid. Upon activation by specific ligands, intestinal ORs trigger intracellular signaling cascades, primarily involving the AC-cAMP-PKA pathway or calcium influx channels. A major focus of this review is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which these receptors regulate the secretion of gut hormones. Activation of specific ORs in enteroendocrine cells has been shown to stimulate the release of hormones such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), and serotonin (5-HT), thereby modulating systemic energy metabolism, glucose homeostasis, and gastrointestinal motility. Furthermore, the review addresses the critical roles of ORs in immune regulation and pathology. Evidence suggests that specific ORs contribute to the maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis and may offer protection against inflammation. Beyond their involvement in inflammatory responses, ORs such as Olfr78 have been shown to regulate the differentiation and function of intestinal endocrine cells. Similarly, Olfr544 has been demonstrated to alleviate intestinal inflammation by remodeling the gut microbiome and metabolome. These findings collectively suggest that specific ORs hold promise as therapeutic targets for mitigating intestinal inflammation and maintaining gut homeostasis. Additionally, the review explores the emerging role of ORs in cancer. Although OR expression is often downregulated in tumor tissues compared to normal mucosa, activation of specific ORs by certain ligands can inhibit tumor cell proliferation and migration and induce apoptosis via pathways such as MEK/ERK and p38 MAPK. Conversely, other receptors, such as OR7C1, may serve as biomarkers for cancer-initiating cells. In conclusion, intestinal ORs represent a vital component of the gut’s sensory network. The review also discusses the translational potential of these findings. By elucidating the precise pairing relationships between dietary components and specific ORs, novel therapeutic strategies could be developed. Intestinal ORs may thus emerge as promising targets for nutritional and pharmacological interventions in metabolic diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, and malignancies.

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the interaction of uric acid and inflammatory factors and hyperuricemia in overweight/obese patients. Methods The personnel with hyperuricemia who underwent physical examination in our hospital from September 2021 to September 2022 were selected as the study subjects, and they were divided into 100 cases of overweight group and 90 cases of obese group according to the BMI index; 120 cases of healthy and non-hyperuricemic personnel were randomly selected as the control group; venous blood of the three groups was collected in 5 mL after 8 h of fasting, and were tested respectively for serum uric acid, lipid indexes and inflammatory factors: IL-6, IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-10. Results Glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL were significantly higher in the obese group versus the overweight group (P<0.001), while HDL was significantly lower than the control group (P<0.001), and these changes were more pronounced in the obese group (P<0.001).The Pearson correlation coefficient pointed out that the levels of serum uric acid in patients with hyperuricosuric acid were significantly associated with the pro-inflammatory factors IL- 6, IL-2, IFN-γ, and TNF-α were significantly positively correlated (P<0.001), whereas they were significantly negatively correlated with the anti-inflammatory factors IL-4, IL-10 (P<0.001). Conclusion High uric acid levels in overweight/obese patients can cause enhanced inflammatory responses and reduced expression levels of anti-inflammatory factors, and the interaction between uric acid and pro-inflammatory factors aggravates the condition of patients with hyperuricemia.

Abnormal synaptic plasticity is an early pathological feature of Alzheimer disease (AD). Synaptic damage and dysfunction initiate neuronal degeneration and death, ultimately leading to cognitive impairment. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can effectively ameliorate cognitive dysfunction through multitarget regulation of synaptic plasticity. This review summarizes the mechanisms by which TCM, including active components, single herbs, and classical formulas, modulates synaptic plasticity, offering new insights for future research and clinical applications. Relevant experimental studies published between 2020 and 2024 were retrieved from major databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the National Science and Technology Library, Wanfang Data, Elsevier, ScienceDirect, PubMed, SpringerLink, and Web of Science. Network pharmacology and bioinformatics approaches were used to predict the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of TCM on AD-related synaptic plasticity. In total, 15 TCM single herbs and 11 TCM formulas were identified as enhancing AD-related synaptic plasticity. Additionally, 15 active ingredients targeting synaptic plasticity in AD were retrieved from TCM databases over the past decade. This review provides novel perspectives and strategic directions for future AD research and therapeutic development.

Objective: To analyze the prevalence trends of different types of elevated blood pressure and their association with nutritional status among primary and secondary school students in Inner Mongolia from 2019 to 2024, providing references for targeted prevention strategies. Methods: From September 2019 to 2024, a stratified random cluster sampling method was used to select 12 primary and secondary schools from each league city in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. A total of 177 108, 137 758, 190 182, 180 084 , 188 056, 180 351 primary and secondary school students (excluding grades one to three of primary school) were included for physical examination. The correlation between their nutritional status and high blood pressure was analyzed based on the basic situation of 129 821 primary and secondary school students who completed a questionnaire survey at the same time in 2024. Statistical analysis was conducted using a Chi-square test and multiple Logistic regression model. Results: From 2019 to 2024, the detection rates of elevated blood pressure were 13.60%, 13.68%, 17.60%, 17.24%, 14.77% and 15.96%, respectively. The rates for isolated systolic hypertension were 4.24%, 5.83%, 7.26%, 7.19%, 6.24% and 6.93%; isolated diastolic hypertension rates were 6.38%, 4.99%, 6.23 %, 6.41%, 5.39% and 5.66%; and combined systolic and diastolic hypertension rates were 2.97%, 2.86%, 4.11%, 3.65%, 3.14 % and 3.36%. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that girls, junior high school, senior high school, overweight, and obesity were positively associated with elevated blood pressure risk ( OR =1.27, 1.25, 1.32, 1.66, 3.07, all P <0.05); conversely, county residence, Mongolian ethnicity, and other ethnicities showed negative associations ( OR =0.90, 0.93, 0.90, all P <0.05). Conclusions Overweight and obesity among children and adolescents are closely related to various types of elevated blood pressure. Prevention strategies should prioritize effectively controlling weight issues among children and adolescents, thereby effectively reducing the incidence of elevated blood pressure.

Epimedium sagittatum is a perennial herb of Berberidaceae. Its leaves have a long history of medicinal use in China. This plant is widely used as a Chinese traditional medicine，with the main functions of tonifying kidney Yang，strengthening bones and muscles，and dispelling wind and dampness. It can be used for treating kidney Yang deficiency，impotence，spermatorrhea，flaccidity of bones and muscles，rheumatic arthralgia，numbness，and spasms. The chemical constituents of this plant include flavonoids，polysaccharides，lignans，and alkaloids. Flavonoids are the main active ingredients. These compounds show a wide range of biological activities，including cartilage repair，anti-aging，anti-fatigue，cough-relieving，blood glucose-lowering，and anti-tumor effects. Modern pharmacological research has shown that E. sagittatum has definite pharmacological effects on the reproductive system，respiratory system，nervous system，cardiovascular system，skeletal system，etc. It has remarkable effects of helping pregnancy，resisting osteoporosis，controlling diabetes，improving immunity，and inhibiting tumor. Under the background of advocating one health and Chinese medicine，E. sagittatum is widely used in health care products，serving as the main raw material of various products. It has great market potential and is a Chinese medicinal herb with great clinical application and research value. This paper reviews the main chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of E. sagittatum based on domestic and foreign reports， providing a theoretical basis for further study on E. sagittatum and its safe clinical application.

Epimedium sagittatum is a perennial herb of Berberidaceae. Its leaves have a long history of medicinal use in China. This plant is widely used as a Chinese traditional medicine，with the main functions of tonifying kidney Yang，strengthening bones and muscles，and dispelling wind and dampness. It can be used for treating kidney Yang deficiency，impotence，spermatorrhea，flaccidity of bones and muscles，rheumatic arthralgia，numbness，and spasms. The chemical constituents of this plant include flavonoids，polysaccharides，lignans，and alkaloids. Flavonoids are the main active ingredients. These compounds show a wide range of biological activities，including cartilage repair，anti-aging，anti-fatigue，cough-relieving，blood glucose-lowering，and anti-tumor effects. Modern pharmacological research has shown that E. sagittatum has definite pharmacological effects on the reproductive system，respiratory system，nervous system，cardiovascular system，skeletal system，etc. It has remarkable effects of helping pregnancy，resisting osteoporosis，controlling diabetes，improving immunity，and inhibiting tumor. Under the background of advocating one health and Chinese medicine，E. sagittatum is widely used in health care products，serving as the main raw material of various products. It has great market potential and is a Chinese medicinal herb with great clinical application and research value. This paper reviews the main chemical constituents and pharmacological effects of E. sagittatum based on domestic and foreign reports， providing a theoretical basis for further study on E. sagittatum and its safe clinical application.

Objective: To explore the prevalence of screening myopia and depressive symptom among primary and secondary school students in Xuzhou, and to explore the association of sleep and screen time on the coexistence of screening myopia and depressive symptom, so as to provide scientific references for developing intervention strategies to address the development of myopia and promote mental health in children and adolescents. Methods: From September to October 2024, a stratified cluster random sampling method was used to select 6 605 students in grade 4 to 12 in 2 urban and 2 suburban districts in Xuzhou. The students health condition and influencing factors questionnaire were used to assess students basic information, sleep time, and screen time. The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to assess primary and secondary school students depressive symptom.Unaided distance visual acuity examination was conducted, and refractive assessment was performed using an automated refractometer without cycloplegic agents. The Chi-square test and multiple Logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the association of sleep and screen time with the coexistence of screening myopia and depressive symptom. Results: The detection rates of screening myopia, depressive symptom, and screening myopia and depressive symptoms co morbidity among primary and secondary school students in Xuzhou were 60.35%, 4.45% and 18.61% respectively. Results from the multinomial Logistic regression analysis, using the healthy group as the reference and after adjusting for confounding factors, showed that students with insufficient sleep duration were more likely to have depressive symptom ( OR=1.57, 95%CI =1.08-2.27) and the coexistence of screening myopia and depressive symptom ( OR=1.85, 95%CI =1.45-2.36). Students with daily screen time≥2 h were more likely to have depressive symptom only ( OR=1.41, 95%CI =1.04-1.93) and the coexistence of screening myopia and depressive symptom ( OR=1.31, 95%CI =1.06-1.61). Further stratified analysis based on sufficient and insufficient sleep duration revealed that only in the insufficient sleep duration group, students with daily screen time≥2 h had an increased risk of depressive symptom only ( OR=1.49, 95%CI =1.07-2.07) and the coexistence of screening positive myopia and depressive symptom ( OR=1.40, 95%CI =1.11- 1.77 ) (all P <0.05). Conclusions Primary and secondary school students with insufficient sleep duration and daily screen time≥2 h have higher risks of depressive symptoms and the coexistence of screening myopia and depressive symptoms. It is recommended to ensure adequate sleep duration and limit screen time for children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Spicy food consumption has been reported to be inversely associated with mortality from multiple diseases. However, the effect of spicy food intake on the incidence of vascular diseases in the Chinese population remains unclear. This study was conducted to explore this association. METHODS: This study was performed using the large-scale China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) prospective cohort of 486,335 participants. The primary outcomes were vascular disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), major coronary events (MCEs), cerebrovascular disease, stroke, and non-stroke cerebrovascular disease. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the association between spicy food consumption and incident vascular diseases. Subgroup analysis was also performed to evaluate the heterogeneity of the association between spicy food consumption and the risk of vascular disease stratified by several basic characteristics. In addition, the joint effects of spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of vascular disease were also evaluated, and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the reliability of the association results. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 12.1 years, a total of 136,125 patients with vascular disease, 46,689 patients with IHD, 10,097 patients with MCEs, 80,114 patients with cerebrovascular disease, 56,726 patients with stroke, and 40,098 patients with non-stroke cerebrovascular disease were identified. Participants who consumed spicy food 1-2 days/week (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = [0.93, 0.97], P <0.001), 3-5 days/week (HR = 0.96, 95% CI = [0.94, 0.99], P = 0.003), and 6-7 days/week (HR = 0.97, 95% CI = [0.95, 0.99], P = 0.002) had a significantly lower risk of vascular disease than those who consumed spicy food less than once a week ( Ptrend <0.001), especially in those who were younger and living in rural areas. Notably, the disease-based subgroup analysis indicated that the inverse associations remained in IHD ( Ptrend = 0.011) and MCEs ( Ptrend = 0.002) risk. Intriguingly, there was an interaction effect between spicy food consumption and the healthy lifestyle score on the risk of IHD ( Pinteraction = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS Our findings support an inverse association between spicy food consumption and vascular disease in the Chinese population, which may provide additional dietary guidance for the prevention of vascular diseases.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Prospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Vascular Diseases/etiology* ; Risk Factors ; China/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Cerebrovascular Disorders/epidemiology* ; East Asian People

BACKGROUND: The transcription factor POU2F1 regulates the expression levels of microRNAs in neoplasia. However, the miR-29b1/a cluster modulated by POU2F1 in gastric cancer (GC) remains unknown. METHODS: Gene expression in GC cells was evaluated using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR), western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and RNA in situ hybridization. Co-immunoprecipitation was performed to evaluate protein interactions. Transwell migration and invasion assays were performed to investigate the biological behavior of GC cells. MiR-29b1/a cluster promoter analysis and luciferase activity assay for the 3'-UTR study were performed in GC cells. In vivo tumor metastasis was evaluated in nude mice. RESULTS: POU2F1 is overexpressed in GC cell lines and binds to the miR-29b1/a cluster promoter. POU2F1 is upregulated, whereas mature miR-29b-3p and miR-29a-3p are downregulated in GC tissues. POU2F1 promotes GC metastasis by inhibiting miR-29b-3p or miR-29a-3p expression in vitro and in vivo . Furthermore, PIK3R1 and/or PIK3R3 are direct targets of miR-29b-3p and/or miR-29a-3p , and the ectopic expression of PIK3R1 or PIK3R3 reverses the suppressive effect of mature miR-29b-3p and/or miR-29a-3p on GC cell metastasis and invasion. Additionally, the interaction of PIK3R1 with PIK3R3 promotes migration and invasion, and miR-29b-3p , miR-29a-3p , PIK3R1 , and PIK3R3 regulate migration and invasion via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) pathway in GC cells. In addition, POU2F1 , PIK3R1 , and PIK3R3 expression levels negatively correlated with miR-29b-3p and miR-29a-3p expression levels in GC tissue samples. CONCLUSIONS The POU2F1 - miR-29b-3p / miR-29a-3p-PIK3R1 / PIK3R1 signaling axis regulates tumor progression and may be a promising therapeutic target for GC.
MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms/pathology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement/physiology* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Animals ; Mice ; Octamer Transcription Factor-1/metabolism* ; Mice, Nude ; Class Ia Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/metabolism* ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/genetics* ; Male ; Immunohistochemistry ; Female