Objective: To investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Yangzhou City, and its association with screen behaviors, so as to provide scientific evidence for weight management among students. Methods: In May 2025, an electronic questionnaire survey was conducted among children and adolescents in Yangzhou City. A total of 3 722 participants were selected from grades 4 to 12 in 18 primary and secondary schools (108 classes) by using stratified cluster random sampling. The Chi square test was used to compare the differences in the detection rates of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents with 5 types of screen behaviors (watching TV, playing electronic games, scrolling short videos, screen based learning, electronic socializing) in different time groups each day (never, >0~<2 h, ≥2 h). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the associations of five types of screen behaviors, presence of electronic devices in the bedroom, and screen use during meals on the weight status of children and adolescents. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents was 37.3%. For all five types of screen behaviors, the differences in the distribution of overweight and obesity detection rates among children and adolescents across the three time spent categories were statistically significant ( χ 2=30.76- 70.78 , all P <0.01). After adjusting for confounding factors, multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that frequent or always using screens during meals( OR =1.63, 95％ CI =1.14~2.31), playing video games ( OR =1.28, 95% CI =1.11-1.48), browsing short videos ( OR =1.29, 95％ CI=1.09-1.54), and screen based learning ( OR =1.26, 95％ CI =1.10-1.44) were significantly associated with overweight and obesity among children and adolescents (all P <0.05). Conclusions Excessive screen use is positively correlated with the incidence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. Targeted interventions on screen behaviors among children and adolescents are therefore warranted.

Objective: To explore the effects of personality and sleep quality with psychological distress of junior and senior high school stduents, so as to provide a reference basis for precise interventions of junior and senior high school students mental health. Methods: In October 2023, a convenience sampling method was used to select 9 034 students aged 12-17 from Shiyan City as the study subjects. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) were used to collect information on sleep quality and psychological distress of junior and senior high school stduents. Between group comparison was conducted by using t-test and Chi-square test. Generalized linear models were employed to analyze the interaction and joint effects of personality and sleep quality on psychological distress. Results: The generalized linear model analysis showed that the interaction between personality and sleep quality on psychological distress was statistically significant of junior and senior high school students(effect size=0.80, P <0.01). The general linear model analysis indicated that, after adjusting for variables such as age, gender, screen time, and daily sitting time with the extroverted and good sleep quality group as the reference, the introverted and poor sleep quality group had the largest mean difference in psychological distress scores (difference=0.51, P <0.05). When stratified by sleep quality, psychological distress scores were higher in the introverted and neutral personality groups with both poor and good sleep quality compared to the extroverted group (poor sleep quality: introverted difference=3.71, neutral difference=1.14; good sleep quality: introverted difference=2.23, neutral difference=0.57, all P < 0.05). When stratified by personality, psychological distress scores were higher in the poor sleep quality groups for introverted, neutral, and extroverted individuals compared to their good sleep quality counterparts (differences=8.66, 7.83, 7.34, all P < 0.05 ). Conclusions Personality and sleep quality have interactive and joint effects on psychological distress of junior and senior high school stduents. Personalized psychological interventions should be developed based on personality and sleep quality.

Dietary therapy represents a promising approach to modulate gut microbiota in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and may ameliorate certain neurological conditions through the gut-brain axis. The dietary therapy rich in fatty acids has been demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in both IBD and central nervous system (CNS) disorders, mainly manifested as controlling intestinal and neural inflammation through fatty acids. However, robust clinical evidence regarding the efficacy of dietary therapy against neurological manifestations in IBD remains limited. Therefore, this review summarizes the effects of fatty acid-rich dietary therapy in patients with IBD or CNS disorders, as well as the underlying mechanisms of fatty acids, with the aim of providing a reference for the application of such dietary therapy in IBD patients presenting with concurrent CNS manifestations and the development of treatment protocols.

Objective: To explore the association between sleep quality, sleep duration with blood pressure in primary and secondary school students with different nutritional status, so as to provide a reference for targeted intervention measures. Methods: By using stratified cluster random sampling method, a total of 10 871 students aged 7 to 18 years were selected from 36 primary and secondary schools in 6 counties of Yangzhou from October to November 2023. Physical examination and questionnaire survey were conducted respectively. Student Health Status and Influencing Factors Questionnaire was used to collected basic information. The overweight/obesity and sleep quality of primary and secondary school students were determined according to the Screening for Overweight and Obesity among School age Children and Adolescents and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scale. The χ 2 test was used to compare the prevalence of elevated blood pressure in different groups of primary and secondary school students. Multivariate Logistic regression model was used to explore the association between sleep and blood pressure in primary and secondary school students. Results: The prevalence of elevated blood pressure among primary and secondary school students in Yangzhou was 13.86 %, higher among boys (15.13%) than girls (12.62%) ( χ 2=14.30, P <0.01). The elevated blood pressure rate of obese and overweight primary and secondary school students were 26.98% and 14.90%, respectively, higher than 8.71% of non overweight and obese children ( χ 2=482.58, P <0.01). There were statistically significant differences in elevated blood pressure rate among primary and secondary school students in different sleep quality and sleep duration ( χ 2= 8.45, 71.58, P <0.05). After controlling for gender, residence, educational stage, parental education, sedentary time, the results of multiple Logistic regression analysis showed that no correlation between sleep quality and elevated blood pressure under different nutritional status was found among primary and secondary school students. In primary and secondary school students with obesity, prevalence of elevated blood pressure was higher among those with sleep duration <8 and 8 to <9 h/d ( OR=1.54, 1.72, P <0.05). However, there was no significant association found in the other groups ( OR=1.04-1.28, P >0.05). In gender stratification, sleep duration < 8, 8 to <9 and 9 to <10 h/d of obese boys were positively correlated with elevated blood pressure ( OR=1.97, 2.09, 1.86, P <0.05). Conclusion Among obese primary and secondary school students, sleep duration <9 h/d is associated with an increased risk of elevated blood pressure, especially among obese boys.

BACKGROUND: The contraction behaviors of cardiomyocytes (CMs), especially contraction synchrony, are crucial factors reflecting their maturity and response to drugs. A wider field of view helps to observe more pronounced synchrony differences, but the accompanied greater computational load, requiring more computing power or longer computational time. METHODS: We proposed a method that directly correlates variations in optical field brightness with cardiac tissue contraction status (CVB method), based on principles from physics and photometry, for rapid video analysis in wide field of view to obtain contraction parameters, such as period and contraction propagation direction and speed. RESULTS: Through video analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived CMs labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) cultured on aligned and random nanofiber scaffolds, the CVB method was demonstrated to obtain contraction parameters and quantify the direction and speed of contraction within regions of interest (ROIs) in wide field of view. The CVB method required less computation time compared to one of the contour tracking methods, the LucasKanade (LK) optical flow method, and provided better stability and accuracy in the results. CONCLUSION This method has a smaller computational load, is less affected by motion blur and out-of-focus conditions, and provides a potential tool for accurate and rapid analysis of cardiac tissue contraction synchrony in wide field of view without the need for more powerful hardware.

BACKGROUND: The contraction behaviors of cardiomyocytes (CMs), especially contraction synchrony, are crucial factors reflecting their maturity and response to drugs. A wider field of view helps to observe more pronounced synchrony differences, but the accompanied greater computational load, requiring more computing power or longer computational time. METHODS: We proposed a method that directly correlates variations in optical field brightness with cardiac tissue contraction status (CVB method), based on principles from physics and photometry, for rapid video analysis in wide field of view to obtain contraction parameters, such as period and contraction propagation direction and speed. RESULTS: Through video analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived CMs labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) cultured on aligned and random nanofiber scaffolds, the CVB method was demonstrated to obtain contraction parameters and quantify the direction and speed of contraction within regions of interest (ROIs) in wide field of view. The CVB method required less computation time compared to one of the contour tracking methods, the LucasKanade (LK) optical flow method, and provided better stability and accuracy in the results. CONCLUSION This method has a smaller computational load, is less affected by motion blur and out-of-focus conditions, and provides a potential tool for accurate and rapid analysis of cardiac tissue contraction synchrony in wide field of view without the need for more powerful hardware.

BACKGROUND: The contraction behaviors of cardiomyocytes (CMs), especially contraction synchrony, are crucial factors reflecting their maturity and response to drugs. A wider field of view helps to observe more pronounced synchrony differences, but the accompanied greater computational load, requiring more computing power or longer computational time. METHODS: We proposed a method that directly correlates variations in optical field brightness with cardiac tissue contraction status (CVB method), based on principles from physics and photometry, for rapid video analysis in wide field of view to obtain contraction parameters, such as period and contraction propagation direction and speed. RESULTS: Through video analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived CMs labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) cultured on aligned and random nanofiber scaffolds, the CVB method was demonstrated to obtain contraction parameters and quantify the direction and speed of contraction within regions of interest (ROIs) in wide field of view. The CVB method required less computation time compared to one of the contour tracking methods, the LucasKanade (LK) optical flow method, and provided better stability and accuracy in the results. CONCLUSION This method has a smaller computational load, is less affected by motion blur and out-of-focus conditions, and provides a potential tool for accurate and rapid analysis of cardiac tissue contraction synchrony in wide field of view without the need for more powerful hardware.

Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) is a critical transcription factor that governs the differentiation of cluster of differentiation 4⁺ (CD4⁺) T cells. The pathogenesis and progression of psoriasis are primarily attributed to an immune imbalance stemming from the overproduction of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) by T lymphocytes. However, the role of IRF4 in psoriasis remains unexplored. In this study, we found that IRF4 activity is increased in the cutaneous lesions of patients with psoriasis in response to stimulation by IL-23A and IL-1β. This IRF4 elevation heightens its binding to the E1A binding protein p300 (EP300) promoter, triggering the transcription of downstream retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor-γt (RORγt) and increasing the secretion of IL-17A, thereby establishing the IL-1β/IL-23A-IRF4-EP300-RORC-IL-17A inflammatory cascade in psoriasis. The alleviation of imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriatic-like symptoms was achieved through the creation of a Irf4 ^-/- gene deletion mouse model and pharmacological inhibition using antisense oligonucleotides targeted for Irf4. This amelioration was accompanied by a decreased number of IL-17A-producing CD4⁺ T cells in the skin. The findings of this study suggest that IRF4 plays a crucial role in the promotion of inflammation and exacerbation of IMQ-induced psoriasiform dermatitis. Consequently, IRF4 targeting could be a promising therapeutic strategy.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and analgesic effects of Yinqiao Powder (YQS) formulated granules and decoction. METHODS: We first evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of the two dosage forms of YQS in a LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell model using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. We further constructed zebrafish models of inflammation by copper sulfate exposure, caudal fin transection, or LPS and Poly (I:C) microinjection, and evaluated anti-inflammatory effects of YQS granules and decoction by examining neutrophil aggregation and HE staining findings. In a mouse model of acute lung injury (ALI) induced by intratracheal LPS instillation, the effects of YQS gavage at 10, 15, and 20 g/kg on lung pathologies were evaluated by calculating lung wet-dry weight ratio and using HE staining, ELISA and Western blotting. The microbroth dilution method was used to evaluate the antibacterial effect of YQS. Mouse pain models established by hot plate and intraperitoneal injection of glacial acetic acid were used to evaluate the analgesic effects of YQS at 10, 15, and 20 g/kg. RESULTS: Both YQS granules and decoction significantly reduced TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β expressions and p-STAT3 (Tyr 705) phosphorylation level in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, and obviously inhibited neutrophil aggregation in the zebrafish models. In ALI mice, YQS granules and decoction effectively ameliorated lung injury, lowered lung wet-dry weight ratio, and reduced p-STAT3 (Tyr 705) expression and TNF-α and IL-6 levels. YQS produced obvious antibacterial effect at the doses of 15.63 and 31.25 mg/mL, and significantly reduced body torsion and increased pain threshold in the mouse pain models. CONCLUSIONS The two dosage forms of TQS have similar anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and analgesic effects with only differences in their inhibitory effect on TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β mRNA expressions in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells.
Animals ; Mice ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology* ; Analgesics/pharmacology* ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Zebrafish ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; Powders ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Acute Lung Injury/drug therapy* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Lipopolysaccharides

Colorectal inflammatory cancer transformation poses a major risk to patients with colitis. Patients with chronic intestinal inflammation have an approximately 2-3 folds increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). Unfortunately, there is currently no effective intervention available. Huangqin decoction (HQD), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is frequently clinically prescribed for treating patients with colitis, and its active ingredients have effective antitumour efficacy. Nonetheless, the mechanism of HQD-mediated prevention of colorectal inflammatory cancer transformation remains unclear. A strategy integrating metagenomic, lipidomic, and messenger RNA (mRNA) sequencing analysis was used to investigate the regulatory effects of HQD on the gut microbiome, metabolism and potential mechanisms involved in colorectal inflammatory cancer transformation. Our study revealed that HQD suppressed colorectal inflammatory cancer transformation, which was associated with enhanced intestinal barrier function, decreased the inflammatory response, and regulation of the gut microbiome. Notably, cohousing experiments revealed that the transfer of the gut microbiome from HQD-treated mice largely inhibited the pathological transformation of colitis. Moreover, gut microbiome transfer from HQD-treated mice primarily resulted in the altered regulation of fatty acid metabolism, especially the remodeling of arachidonic acid metabolism, which was associated with the amelioration of pathological transformation. Arachidonic acid metabolism and the key metabolic enzyme arachidonic acid 12-lipoxygenase (ALOX12) were affected by HQD treatment, and no obvious protective effect of HQD was observed in Alox 12 ^-/- mice, which revealed that ALOX12 was a critical mediator of HQD protection against colorectal inflammatory cancer transformation. In summary, multiple omics analyses were applied to produce valuable data and theoretical support for the application of HQD as a promising intervention for the transformation of inflammatory CRC.