Brain age prediction, as a significant approach for assessing brain health and early diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases, has garnered widespread attention in recent years. Electroencephalogram (EEG), an non-invasive, convenient, and cost-effective neurophysiological signal, offers unique advantages for brain age prediction due to its high temporal resolution and strong correlation with brain functional states. Despite substantial progress in enhancing prediction accuracy and generalizability, challenges remain in data quality and model interpretability. This review comprehensively examined the advancements in EEG-based brain age prediction, detailing key aspects of data preprocessing, feature extraction, model construction, and result evaluation. It also summarized the current applications of machine learning and deep learning methods in this field, analyzed existing issues, and explored future directions to promote the widespread application of EEG-based brain age prediction in both clinical and research settings.
Humans ; Electroencephalography/methods* ; Brain/physiology* ; Machine Learning ; Aging/physiology* ; Deep Learning ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

BACKGROUND: It is inaccurate to reflect the level of dust exposure through working years. Furthermore, identifying a predictive indicator for lung function decline is significant for coal miners. The study aimed to explored whether club cell secretory protein (CC16) levels can reflect early lung function changes. METHODS: The cumulative respiratory dust exposure (CDE) levels of 1,461 coal miners were retrospectively assessed by constructed a job-exposure matrix to replace working years. Important factors affecting lung function and CC16 were selected by establishing random forest models. Subsequently, the potential of CC16 to reflect lung injury was explored from multiple perspectives. First, restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were used to compare the trends of changes in lung function indicators and plasma CC16 levels after dust exposure. Then mediating analysis was performed to investigate the role of CC16 in the association between dust exposure and lung function decline. Finally, the association between baseline CC16 levels and follow-up lung function was explored. RESULTS: The median CDE were 35.13 mg/m³-years. RCS models revealed a rapid decline in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV₁), and their percentages of predicted values when CDE exceeded 25 mg/m³-years. The dust exposure level (<5 mg/m³-years) causing significant changes in CC16 was much lower than the level (25 mg/m³-years) that caused changes in lung function indicators. CC16 mediated 11.1% to 26.0% of dust-related lung function decline. Additionally, workers with low baseline CC16 levels experienced greater reductions in lung function in the future. CONCLUSIONS CC16 levels are more sensitive than lung indicators in reflecting early lung function injury and plays mediating role in lung function decline induced by dust exposure. Low baseline CC16 levels predict poor future lung function.
Uteroglobin/blood* ; Humans ; Dust/analysis* ; Occupational Exposure/analysis* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Retrospective Studies ; Lung Injury/chemically induced* ; Coal Mining ; Biomarkers/blood* ; China/epidemiology* ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; Female

Astragalus membranaceus possesses the function of enhancing immunity, protecting the liver, diuretic, anti-aging, anti-stress, anti-hypertensive, and more extensive antibacterial effects. Polysaccharides, one kind of the major active ingredients of A. membranaceus, are considered to be responsible for their versatile use. Now, a systematic summary of research progress and prospects of polysaccharides from A. membranaceus polysaccharides (AMPs) is necessary to facilitate their further study and application. In this review, the optimal extraction methods, structural features, biological activities, and applications of AMPs were emphasized. The structure-activity relationships are also analyzed and elucidated. Solvent, ultrasonic, microwave, enzyme-assisted, ultra-high pressure, and combined methods have been used to extract AMPs. Among them, solvent extraction is the most commonly used method because it is simple and easy to operate, but the efficiency needs to be improved further. The ultra-high pressure method is the most efficient but has a low economic return. AMPs exhibited various bioactivities, including immunomodulation, antitumor, and antidiabete. The structure-activity relationships revealed that different structure configurations, chain conformations, and physical properties would have different bioactivities. However, the new method for purification of certain polysaccharides, detailed structure-activity relationships (SAR), mechanisms of bioactivities, and quality control of AMPs need to be extensively investigated.

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This study aims to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of total flavonoids of hawthorn leaves(TFHL)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammatory injury in rat intestinal epithelial(IEC-6)cells,as well as the underlying mechanisms.An in vitro inflam-mation model was first established by treating IEC-6 cells with lipopolysaccharide(LPS).IEC-6 cells were then incubated with three concentrations of TFHL for 24 h prior to a further 24 h LPS treatment.RT-qPCR was used to quantify mRNA levels of the inflammatory genes COX-2 and iN-OS,while Western blotting was used to assess protein levels of the apoptotic markers Bax,cleaved Caspase-3,Bcl-2,and the JNK/p-JNK signaling pathway.Finally,cells were pretreated with TFHL and/or the JNK inhibitor SP600125 for 24 h before LPS exposure for 24 h,in order to evaluate the combined effects of TFHL and SP600125 on LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine expression and apoptotic protein levels in IEC-6 cells.The results showed that,compared with the LPS group,the mRNA level of COX-2 and iNOS in the 2.5,5.0,10.0 mg/L TFHL group and the Bax and Caspase-3 protein levels decreased significantly(P＜0.01),and the Bcl-2 protein level was significantly higher(P＜0.01),p-JNK protein level and p-JNK/JNK ratio decreased significantly(P＜0.01);compared with the LPS group,the COX-2 and iNOS mRNA levels of the TFHL+LPS group de-creased significantly(P＜0.01),Bax,and Caspase-3 protein levels decreased significantly(P＜0.01),and the level of Bcl-2 protein increased significantly(P＜0.05);compared with the LPS group,the COX-2 and iNOS mRNA levels of the TFHL+SP600125 group decreased significantly(P＜0.01),Bax and Caspase-3 protein levels decreased significantly(P＜0.01),and Bcl-2 protein level increased significantly(P＜0.01).These findings indicate that TFHL exerts anti-inflammato-ry and anti-apoptotic effects in LPS-challenged IEC-6 cells by inhibiting the JNK signaling path-way.

Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) on proliferation and metastasis of myeloma through miR-195-5p/CCAAT enhancer binding protein α (CEBPA) axis. Methods ① From March 2021 to February 2023,bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMNC) from 40 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and 10 healthy bone marrow donors who were hospitalized in the Department of Hematology the Second People's Hospital of Liaocheng City,Shandong First Medical University and MM cell lines U266,RPMI 8226,NCI-H929 and MM.1S were collected. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect NEAT1,miR-195-5p,CEBPA mRNA and protein levels in cells. ② U266 cells were divided into overexpressing NEAT1 group (NEAT1 group) and its control group (NC group),knockdown NEAT1 expression group (sh-NEAT1 group) and its control group (sh-NC group),overexpressing NEAT1 and miR-195-5p group (NEAT1+miR-195-5p group) and its control group (NEAT1+miR-NC group),and overexpressing miR-195-5p and CEBPA group (miR-195-5p+CEBPA group) and its control group (miR-195-5p+NC group). CCK-8 and EdU staining were used to detect cell proliferation ability. Transwell assay was used to detect cell migration and invasion ability. RT-qPCR was used to detect NEAT1,miR-195-5p,and CEBPA mRNA levels in cells. Western blot was used to detect CEBPA,Ki67,proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA),matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2,MMP-9,phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K),p-PI3K,protein kinase B (AKT),p-AKT,mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR),and p-mTOR protein levels. ③ Twenty nude mice were divided into knockdown NEAT1 expression group (sh-NEAT1 group) and its control group (sh-NC group),with ten mice in each group. Nude mice were subcutaneously injected with corresponding transfected U266 cell suspension,and the differences in various indicators of transplanted tumor were measured after 4 weeks. Results ① Compared with normal BMNC,NEAT1,CEBPA mRNA and protein levels in MM patients and MM cell lines were increased,while miR-195-5p level was decreased,and the differences were significant (t=11.697,9.272,4.352,11.639,all P<0.05). ② After overexpression of NEAT1,NEAT1,CEBPA mRNA and protein levels in cells were increased (t=12.825,5.874,13.893),while miR-195-5p level was decreased (t=4.797),the A value and EdU positive rate after 72 hours of cell culture were increased (t=9.425,5.632),the number of migration/invasion cells were increased (t=8.841,5.364),and Ki67,PCNA,MMP-2,MMP-9,p-PI3K/PI3K,p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR/mTOR protein levels were increased (t=14.227,7.743,7.348,7.803,8.714,8.629,7.359),with significant differences (all P<0.05). After knockdown the expression of NEAT1,NEAT1,CEBPA mRNA and protein levels in cells were decreased (t=5.776,5.001,4.503),while miR-195-5p level was increased (t=4.456),the ability of cell proliferation,invasion and metastasis was decreased (t=6.204,8.792),with significant differences (all P<0.05). Overexpression of miR-195-5p could partially reverse the effects of overexpression of NEAT1 on the aforementioned cellular indicators,and the differences were significant (t=4.356～10.809,all P<0.05). Meanwhile,overexpression of CEBPA could partially reverse the effects of overexpression of miR-195-5p on the aforementioned cellular indicators,and the differences were significant (t=4.329～14.452,all P<0.05). ③ Knockdown NEAT1 expression could inhibit the growth of transplanted tumors in nude mice,and the differences were significant (t=5.175～18.190,all P<0.05). Conclusion LncRNA NEAT1 promotes proliferation,invasion and metastasis of MM cells by targeting miR-195-5p/CEBPA expression,which may act by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Background Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is associated with the development of metabolic syndrome (MS). However, the role of amino acids in PAH-induced MS remains unclear. Objective To explore the impact of PAHs exposure on the incidence of MS among coking workers, and to determine potential modifying effect of amino acid on this relationship. Methods Unmatched nested case-control design was adopted and the baseline surveys of coking workers were conducted in two plants in Taiyuan in 2017 and 2019, followed by a 4-year follow-up. The cohort comprised 667 coking workers. A total of 362 participants were included in the study, with 84 newly diagnosed cases of MS identified as the case group and 278 as the control group. Urinary levels of 11 PAH metabolites and plasma levels of 17 amino acids were measured by ultrasensitive performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between individual PAH metabolites and MS. Stratified by the median concentration of amino acids, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model was employed to assess the mixed effects of PAHs on MS. Due to the skewed data distribution, all PAH metabolites and amino acids in the analysis were converted by natural logarithm ln (expressed as lnv). Results The median age of the 362 participants was 37 years, and 83.2% were male. Compared to the control group, the case group exhibited higher concentrations of urinary 2-hydroxyphenanthrene (2-OHPhe), 9-hydroxyphenanthrene (9-OHPhe), and hydroxyphenanthrene (OHPhe) (P=0.005, P=0.049, and P=0.004, respectively), as well as elevated levels of plasma branched chain amino acid (BCAA) and aromatic amino acid (AAA) (P<0.05). After being adjusted for confounding factors, for every unit increase in lnv_2-OHPhe in urine, the OR (95%CI) of MS was 1.57 (1.11, 2.26), and for every unit increase in lnv_OHPhe, the OR (95%CI) of MS was 1.82 (1.16, 2.90). Tyrosine, leucine, and AAA all presented a significant nonlinear correlation with MS. At low levels, tyrosine, leucine, and AAA did not significantly increase the risk of MS, but at high levels, they increased the risk of MS. In the low amino acid concentration group, as well as in the low BCAA and low AAA concentration groups, it was found that compared to the PAH metabolite levels at the 50th percentile (P₅₀), the log-odds of MS when the PAH metabolite levels was at the 75th percentile (P₇₅) were 0.158 (95%CI: 0.150, 0.166), 0.218 (95%CI: 0.209, 0.227), and 0.262 (95% CI: 0.241, 0.282), respectively, However, no correlation between PAHs and MS was found in the high amino acid concentration group. Conclusion Amino acids modify the effect of PAHs exposure on the incidence of MS. In individuals with low plasma amino acid levels, the risk of developing MS increases with higher concentrations of mixed PAH exposure. This effect is partly due to the low concentrations of BCAA and AAA.

Objective To explore the advantages of combining small private online courses(SPOC)with artificial intelligence(AI)in radiology nursing teaching,in order to compensate for the shortcomings of traditional teaching models.Methods Eighty nursing students interning in the radiology department were randomly selected as research subjects and divided into an experimental group(SPOC+flipped classroom+AI-assisted teaching mode)and a control group(traditional teaching mode),with 40 students in each group.The effectiveness of the SPOC+flipped classroom+AI-assisted teaching mode was evaluated by comparing theoretical tests,nursing skills tests,self-learning ability assessments,and satisfaction with teaching modes between the two groups.Results The average scores of chapter tests,month-end assessments and graduation examinations in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.001);The average scores of indwelling needle embedding,contrast agent injection,and contrast agent allergy treatment tests in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.001);The online learning time,homework completion rate,and online test scores of the experimental group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.001);The overall satisfaction with the teaching mode was higher in the experimental group than in the control group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.001).Conclusion The SPOC+flipped classroom+AI-assisted teaching model possesses important advantages in the instruction of nursing the department of radiology,and provides strong support for the innovation and development of nursing education in the field.

Objective:To explore the effects of anshen jieyu decoction on hippocampal morphology and regulation of PI3K/AKT signalling pathway with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis expression in CUMS depressed rats.Methods:Rats were divided into a control group(Control),CUMS model group(CUMS),and ASJYD treatment group(CUMS+ASJYD).Rats in the CUMS and CUMS+ASJYD groups were exposed to 10 different chronic stressors to induce depressive-like behaviors.After modeling,the CUMS+ASJYD group received ASJYD via gavage.Depressive-like behaviors were assessed using the sucrose preference test and open field test.Serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hor-mone(ACTH)and corticosterone(CORT)were measured by ELISA.Hippocampal neuronal morphological changes were observed via Nissl staining,mitochondrial ultrastructure was examined using transmission electron microscopy,and hippocampal PI3K and AKT protein phosphorylation levels were detected by Western blot.Results:Compared with the Control group,the CUMS group showed significantly reduced sucrose consumption,preference rate,total travel distance in the open field,and central zone activity time(P＜0.01).Serum ACTH and CORT levels were elevated(P＜0.01),with disorganized hippocampal cell arrangement,reduced cell count,mitochondrial swelling,cristae blurring/rupture observed under electron microscopy,and decreased phosphorylation levels of PI3 K and AKT proteins(P＜0.01).After ASJYD treatment,the CUMS+ASJYD group exhibited significant improvements in sucrose consumption,preference rate,locomotor activity,and central zone exploration(P＜0.01),accompanied by reduced ACTH/CORT expression,alleviated hippocampal pathology,restored mitochondrial integrity with clear cristae,and increased PI3K/AKT phosphorylation(P＜0.01).Conclusion:Anshen Jieyu decoction significantly improved the depression-like be-haviour of CUMS rats,which may be achieved by down-regulating the hyperactive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis,regulating the expression of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway,and ameliorating the damage to hippocampal neurons and mi-tochondria.

Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of long non-coding RNA (LncRNA) nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1) on proliferation and metastasis of myeloma through miR-195-5p/CCAAT enhancer binding protein α (CEBPA) axis. Methods ① From March 2021 to February 2023,bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMNC) from 40 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and 10 healthy bone marrow donors who were hospitalized in the Department of Hematology the Second People's Hospital of Liaocheng City,Shandong First Medical University and MM cell lines U266,RPMI 8226,NCI-H929 and MM.1S were collected. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect NEAT1,miR-195-5p,CEBPA mRNA and protein levels in cells. ② U266 cells were divided into overexpressing NEAT1 group (NEAT1 group) and its control group (NC group),knockdown NEAT1 expression group (sh-NEAT1 group) and its control group (sh-NC group),overexpressing NEAT1 and miR-195-5p group (NEAT1+miR-195-5p group) and its control group (NEAT1+miR-NC group),and overexpressing miR-195-5p and CEBPA group (miR-195-5p+CEBPA group) and its control group (miR-195-5p+NC group). CCK-8 and EdU staining were used to detect cell proliferation ability. Transwell assay was used to detect cell migration and invasion ability. RT-qPCR was used to detect NEAT1,miR-195-5p,and CEBPA mRNA levels in cells. Western blot was used to detect CEBPA,Ki67,proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA),matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2,MMP-9,phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K),p-PI3K,protein kinase B (AKT),p-AKT,mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR),and p-mTOR protein levels. ③ Twenty nude mice were divided into knockdown NEAT1 expression group (sh-NEAT1 group) and its control group (sh-NC group),with ten mice in each group. Nude mice were subcutaneously injected with corresponding transfected U266 cell suspension,and the differences in various indicators of transplanted tumor were measured after 4 weeks. Results ① Compared with normal BMNC,NEAT1,CEBPA mRNA and protein levels in MM patients and MM cell lines were increased,while miR-195-5p level was decreased,and the differences were significant (t=11.697,9.272,4.352,11.639,all P<0.05). ② After overexpression of NEAT1,NEAT1,CEBPA mRNA and protein levels in cells were increased (t=12.825,5.874,13.893),while miR-195-5p level was decreased (t=4.797),the A value and EdU positive rate after 72 hours of cell culture were increased (t=9.425,5.632),the number of migration/invasion cells were increased (t=8.841,5.364),and Ki67,PCNA,MMP-2,MMP-9,p-PI3K/PI3K,p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR/mTOR protein levels were increased (t=14.227,7.743,7.348,7.803,8.714,8.629,7.359),with significant differences (all P<0.05). After knockdown the expression of NEAT1,NEAT1,CEBPA mRNA and protein levels in cells were decreased (t=5.776,5.001,4.503),while miR-195-5p level was increased (t=4.456),the ability of cell proliferation,invasion and metastasis was decreased (t=6.204,8.792),with significant differences (all P<0.05). Overexpression of miR-195-5p could partially reverse the effects of overexpression of NEAT1 on the aforementioned cellular indicators,and the differences were significant (t=4.356～10.809,all P<0.05). Meanwhile,overexpression of CEBPA could partially reverse the effects of overexpression of miR-195-5p on the aforementioned cellular indicators,and the differences were significant (t=4.329～14.452,all P<0.05). ③ Knockdown NEAT1 expression could inhibit the growth of transplanted tumors in nude mice,and the differences were significant (t=5.175～18.190,all P<0.05). Conclusion LncRNA NEAT1 promotes proliferation,invasion and metastasis of MM cells by targeting miR-195-5p/CEBPA expression,which may act by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.