ObjectiveTo establish a model that can quickly identify the aroma components in different parts of Nardostachys jatamansi， so as to provide a quality control basis for the market circulation and clinical use of N. jatamansi. MethodsHeadspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry（HS-SPME-GC-MS） combined with Smart aroma database and National Institute of Standards and Technology（NIST） database were used to characterize the aroma components in different parts of N. jatamansi， and the aroma components were quantified according to relative response factor（RRF） and three internal standards， and the markers of aroma differences in different parts of N. jatamansi were identified by orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis（OPLS-DA） and cluster thermal analysis based on variable importance in the projection（VIP） value >1 and P<0.01. The odor data of different parts of N. jatamansi were collected by Heracles Ⅱ Neo ultra-fast gas phase electronic nose， and the correlation between compound types of aroma components collected by the ultra-fast gas phase electronic nose and the detection results of HS-SPME-GC-MS was investigated by drawing odor fingerprints and odor response radargrams. Chromatographic peak information with distinguishing ability≥0.700 and peak area≥200 was selected as sensor data， and the rapid identification model of different parts of N. jatamansi was established by principal component analysis（PCA）， discriminant factor alysis（DFA）， soft independent modeling of class analogies（SIMCA） and statistical quality control analysis（SQCA）. ResultsThe HS-SPME-GC-MS results showed that there were 28 common components in the underground and aboveground parts of N. jatamansi， of which 22 could be quantified and 12 significantly different components were screened out. Among these 12 components， the contents of five components（ethyl isovalerate， 2-pentylfuran， benzyl alcohol， nonanal and glacial acetic acid，） in the aboveground part of N. jatamansi were significantly higher than those in the underground part（P<0.01）， the contents of β-ionone， patchouli alcohol， α-caryophyllene， linalyl butyrate， valencene， 1，8-cineole and p-cymene in the underground part of N. jatamansi were significantly higher than those in the aboveground part（P<0.01）. Heracles Ⅱ Neo electronic nose results showed that the PCA discrimination index of the underground and aboveground parts of N. jatamansi was 82， and the contribution rates of the principal component factors were 99.94% and 99.89% when 2 and 3 principal components were extracted， respectively. The contribution rate of the discriminant factor 1 of the DFA model constructed on the basis of PCA was 100%， the validation score of the SIMCA model for discrimination of the two parts was 99， and SQCA could clearly distinguish different parts of N. jatamansi. ConclusionHS-SPME-GC-MS can clarify the differential markers of underground and aboveground parts of N. jatamansi. The four analytical models provided by Heracles Ⅱ Neo electronic nose（PCA， DFA， SIMCA and SQCA） can realize the rapid identification of different parts of N. jatamansi. Combining the two results， it is speculated that terpenes and carboxylic acids may be the main factors contributing to the difference in aroma between the underground and aboveground parts of N. jatamansi.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Tangning Tongluo tablets in the treatment of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy （DR）. MethodsFourteen research centers participated in this study， which spanned a time interval from September 2021 to May 2023. A total of 240 patients with nonproliferative DR were included and randomly assigned into an observation group （120 cases） and a control group （120 cases）. The observation group was treated with Tangning Tongluo tablets， and the control group with calcium dobesilate capsules. Both groups were treated for 24 consecutive weeks. The vision， DR progression rate， retinal microhemangioma， hemorrhage area， exudation area， glycosylated hemoglobin （HbA1c） level， and TCM syndrome score were assessed before and after treatment， and the safety was observed. ResultsThe vision changed in both groups after treatment （P<0.05）， and the observation group showed higher best corrected visual acuity （BCVA） than the control group （P<0.05）. The DR progression was slow with similar rates in the two groups. The fundus hemorrhage area and exudation area did not change significantly after treatment in both groups， while the observation group outperformed the control group in reducing the fundus hemorrhage area and exudation area. There was no significant difference in the number of microhemangiomas between the two groups before treatment. After treatment， the number of microhemangiomas decreased in both the observation group （Z=-1.437， P<0.05） and the control group （Z=-2.238， P<0.05）， and it showed no significant difference between the two groups. As the treatment time prolonged， the number of microhemangiomas gradually decreased in both groups. There was no significant difference in the HbA1c level between the two groups before treatment. After treatment， the decline in the HbA1c level showed no significant difference between the two groups. The TCM syndrome score did not have a statistically significant difference between the two groups before treatment. After treatment， neither the TCM syndrome score nor the response rate had significant difference between the two groups. With the extension of the treatment time， both groups showed amelioration of TCM syndrome compared with the baseline. ConclusionTangning Tongluo tablets are safe and effective in the treatment of nonproliferative DR， being capable of improving vision and reducing hemorrhage and exudation in the fundus.

ObjectiveMicrotube associated protein-2 （MAP-2）， alpha-tubulin （α-tubulin）， and synaptophysin （SYP） are important proteins in neuronal signal communication. This paper observed the effects of modified Zhigancao Tang on the expression of serum α-Synuclein （α-Syn） and its oligomers， MAP-2， α-tubulin， and SYP of patients with liver and kidney deficiency of Parkinson's disease （PD）， analyzed their correlation， and evaluated the therapeutic effect of modified Zhigancao Tang in patients with liver and kidney deficiency of PD based on α-Syn transmission pathway mediated by neuronal communication in vivo. MethodsA total of 60 patients with PD who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into a treatment group （30 cases） and a control group （30 cases）. Both groups were treated on the basis of PD medicine， and the treatment group was treated with modified Zhigancao Tang. Both groups were treated for 12 weeks. The changes in UPDRS score， TCM syndrome score， and expression of serum α-Syn and its oligomers， MAP-2， α-tubulin， and SYP were observed before and after 12 weeks of treatment in each group. The correlation between the above-mentioned serum biological indexes and the levels of serum α-Syn and its oligomers was analyzed. ResultsAfter treatment， the TCM syndrome score， UPDRS score， UPDRS-Ⅱ score， and UPDRS-Ⅲ score of the treatment group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The UPDRS score， UPDRS-Ⅱ score， and UPDRS-Ⅲ scores in the treatment group were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group after treatment （P<0.05）. After treatment， the total effective rate of the control group was 63.3% （19/30）， and that of the treatment group was 86.7% （26/30）. The clinical effect of the observation group was better than the control group （Z=-2.03， P<0.05）. The total effective rate of the observation group was better than that of the control group， and the difference was statistically significant （χ²=5.136， P<0.05）. After treatment， the oligomer level of serum α-Syn and MAP-2 level in the treatment group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The levels of serum α-Syn and its oligomers， as well as α-tubulin in the treatment group， were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group after treatment （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Serum α-Syn was correlated with serum MAP-2 and α-Syn oligomer in patients with PD （P<0.05， P<0.01） but not correlated with serum SYP . Serum α-Syn oligomers of patients with PD were correlated with serum MAP-2 and α-tubulin （P<0.05， P<0.01） but not correlated with serum SYP level. Serum SYP of patients with PD was correlated with serum MAP-2 （P<0.05）. ConclusionModified Zhigancao Tang has a therapeutic effect on patients with liver and kidney deficiency of PD by inhibiting the production of α-Syn oligomers and intervening α-Syn microtubule transport pathway in vivo.

ObjectiveTo explore whether fluoroethylnormemantine （FENM）， an NMDA receptor antagonist， could improve compulsive-like behaviors and to investigate its underlying mechanisms in the RU24969-induced obsessive-compulsive disorder （OCD） mouse model. MethodsThirty-two mice were randomly assigned to four groups： Saline （n=8）， RU24969 （n=8）， RU+FENM （n=8）， and FENM （n=8）. Mice received FENM or an equivalent volume of saline for pre-treatment， followed by RU24969 or saline for model induction 30 minutes later. Behavioral tests were performed 1 hour after modeling， and serum samples were collected to measure the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF）. Evans Blue dye was intravenously injected to assess dye content in brain tissue， thereby evaluating potential blood-brain barrier damage. ResultsFENM treatment significantly improved repetitive stereotyped circling behavior （F=39.850， P＜0.001） and alleviated persistent motor activity （F=50.200， P＜0.001） in RU24969 model mice. Additionally， FENM treatment significantly increased serum BDNF level in RU24969-induced OCD mice （F=18.930， P＜0.001）. ConclusionsFENM ， an NMDA receptor antagonist， may alleviate compulsive behaviors in OCD mice by modulating BDNF levels ， thereby exerting anti-compulsive effects. Neither the RU24969 model nor FENM treatment significantly affectes blood-brain barrier integrity.

In the central nervous system (CNS), the myelin sheath, a specialized membrane structure that wraps around axons, is formed by oligodendrocytes through a highly coordinated spatiotemporal developmental program. The process begins with the directed differentiation of neural precursor cells into oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), followed by their migration, proliferation, differentiation, and maturation, ultimately leading to the formation of a multi-segmental myelin sheath structure. Recent single-cell sequencing research has revealed that this process involves the temporal regulation of over 200 key genes, with a regulatory network composed of transcription factors such as Sox10 and Olig2 playing a central role. The primary function of the myelin sheath is to accelerate nerve signal transmission and protect nerve fibers from damage. Its insulating properties not only increase nerve conduction speed by 50-100 times but also ensure the long-term functional integrity of the nervous system by maintaining axonal metabolic homeostasis and providing mechanical protection. The pathological effects of myelin sheath injury exhibit a cascade amplification pattern: acute demyelination leads to action potential conduction block, while chronic lesions may cause axonal damage and neuronal death in severe or long-term cases, ultimately resulting in irreversible neurological dysfunction with neurodegenerative characteristics. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by chronic inflammatory demyelination of the CNS. Clinically, the distribution of lesions in MS exhibits spatial heterogeneity, which is closely related to differences in the regenerative capacity of oligodendrocytes within the local microenvironment. Emerging evidence suggests that astrocytes form a dynamic “neural-immune-metabolic interface” and play a multidimensional regulatory role in myelin development and regeneration by forming heterogeneous populations composed of different subtypes. During embryonic development, astrocytes induce the targeted differentiation of OPCs in the ventricular region through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In the mature stage, they secrete platelet-derived growth factor AA (PDGF-AA) to establish a chemical gradient that guides the precise migration of OPCs along axonal bundles. Notably, astrocytes also provide crucial metabolic support by supplying energy substrates for high-energy myelin formation through the lactate shuttle mechanism. In addition, astrocytes play a dual role in myelin regulation. During the acute injury phase, reactive astrocytes establish a triple defense system within 72 h: upregulating glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) to form scars that isolate lesions, activating the JAK-STAT3 regeneration pathway in oligodendrocytes via leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and releasing tumor necrosis factor-stimulated gene-6 (TSG-6) to inhibit excessive microglial activation. However, in chronic neurodegenerative diseases, the phenotypic transformation of astrocytes contributes to microenvironmental deterioration. The secretion of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) inhibits OPC migration via the RhoA/ROCK pathway, while the persistent release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and the upregulation of complement C3-mediated synaptic pruning. This article reviews the mechanisms by which astrocytes regulate the development and regeneration of myelin sheaths in the CNS, with a focus on analyzing the multifaceted roles of astrocytes in this process. It emphasizes that astrocytes serve as central hubs in maintaining myelin homeostasis by establishing a metabolic microenvironment and signaling network, aiming to provide new therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Objective: To understand the incidence risk and risk factors of tuberculosis (TB) among middle school students in Chongqing, so as to provide a basis for formulating TB prevention and control strategies. Methods: From September to December 2022, 32 181 middle school students were selected as the study cohort from 15 administrative districts in Chongqing by using the stratified cluster random sampling method. All cohort members were screened with the tuberculin skin test (TST), and relevant information was collected from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024. On the basis of active screening, the follow up data of the participants were compared with the National Tuberculosis Management Information System to obtain the incidence status of the study subjects. The Log rank test was used to compare the TB incidence rates among students with different characteristics, and a Cox proportional hazards model was established to analyze the incidence risk and risk factors of TB. Results: The TST screening rate of the cohort members was 93.0%. During the 2 year follow up period, a total of 36 TB cases occurred, with a cumulative incidence rate of 111.87/100 000 and an incidence density of 55.95/100 000. Among them, the cumulative incidence rate of students from public schools (170.44/ 100 000 ) was higher than that of students from private schools (41.16/100 000), the cumulative incidence rate of students in schools located in high epidemic areas (153.95/100 000) was higher than that in medium epidemic areas (69.00/100 000), and the difference was statistically significant ( χ 2=11.49, 4.73, both P <0.05). The Log-rank test for different TST results showed that the difference in TB comulative incidence rate between students with strongly positive TST results (216.55/ 100 000 ) and those with negative TST results (81.40/100 000) was statistically significant ( χ 2=5.85, P <0.05). Univariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model revealed that the risk of TB was lower in students from private schools ( HR=0.25, 95% CI = 0.10-0.59) and students in medium epidemic areas ( HR=0.46, 95%CI =0.23-0.94); whereas the risk of TB was increased in students with strongly positive TST results ( HR=1.39, 95%CI =1.05-1.84) (all P <0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the risk of TB in students from private schools was lower than that of students from public schools ( HR=0.23, 95%CI=0.08-0.62, P <0.05). Conclusions The annual average incidence rate of TB among middle school students in Chongqing is at a relatively high level. It is necessary to strengthen the management and intervention for student groups, including those in public schools, those in schools located in high epidemic areas, and those with strongly positive TST results, so as to reduce the incidence rate of TB.

ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological characteristics and the pathogen dynamics of influenza in Beihai over the past ten years, and to provide a scientific basis for formulating targeted prevention and control measures. MethodsData for influenza cases, pathogen surveillance, and population statistics from 2014‒2023 were obtained from China Center for Disease Control and Prevention Information System. The analyses of epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal clustering of influenza were performed using Joinpoint 5.0, DeoDa 1.22 and SaTScan 10.1.3 software. ResultsThe average annual incidence of influenza was 254.53/100 000 in Beihai from 2014 to 2023,displaying an overall upward trend (APC=81.49%， P<0.001). Spatial autocorrelation analysis and spatiotemporal scanning results indicated that the main cluster of influenza cases was mainly located in Haicheng District. Spatiotemporal scanning results revealed that the peak periods of influenza onset were primarily from December to January of the following year, followed by June and March to April. The highest incidence of influenza was observed in 5‒9 years old group (1 289.66/100 000), followed by 0‒4 years old group (991.72/100 000). The majority of cases were students (44.24%), followed by kindergarten children (26.08%). The highest positive subtype proportion of influenza was A/H3N2 (42.01%), followed by A/H1N1 (24.96%) and B/Victoria (23.50%), while the lowest positive subtype proportion of influenza was B/Yamagata (9.33%). The risk of influenza virus positivity in winter, spring and summer was 4.70 times, 4.74 times, and 2.14 times, respectively, compared to that for autumn, with statistically significant differences (P<0.001). The dominant subtypes were A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 in 2019, 2022 and 2023. ConclusionThe overall incidence of influenza showed an upward trend in Beihai from 2014 to 2023. Continuous enhancement of influenza surveillance is necessary. It is suggested that relevant departments should carry out targeted publicity work to promote knowledge on influenza prevention and control and conduct influenza vaccination for populations in key places, such as schools and childcare institutions to prevent influenza outbreaks and epidemics of influenza.

Metabolites produced as intermediaries or end-products of microbial metabolism provide crucial signals for health and diseases, such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). These metabolites include products of the bacterial metabolism of dietary substrates, modification of host molecules (such as bile acids [BAs], trimethylamine-N-oxide, and short-chain fatty acids), or products directly derived from bacteria. Recent studies have provided new insights into the association between MASLD and the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). Furthermore, alterations in microbiota composition and metabolite profiles, notably altered BAs, have been described in studies investigating the association between MASLD and the risk of CKD. This narrative review discusses alterations of specific classes of metabolites, BAs, fructose, vitamin D, and microbiota composition that may be implicated in the link between MASLD and CKD.

Metabolites produced as intermediaries or end-products of microbial metabolism provide crucial signals for health and diseases, such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). These metabolites include products of the bacterial metabolism of dietary substrates, modification of host molecules (such as bile acids [BAs], trimethylamine-N-oxide, and short-chain fatty acids), or products directly derived from bacteria. Recent studies have provided new insights into the association between MASLD and the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). Furthermore, alterations in microbiota composition and metabolite profiles, notably altered BAs, have been described in studies investigating the association between MASLD and the risk of CKD. This narrative review discusses alterations of specific classes of metabolites, BAs, fructose, vitamin D, and microbiota composition that may be implicated in the link between MASLD and CKD.

ObjectiveTo clearly identify the difference between rescue injuries and agonal injuries and to avoid duplicate identifications and misidentifications. MethodsBased on the forensic pathological data of 5 923 cases of death cause identification from 2013 to 2022 in Sun Yat-sen University Forensic Identification Center and Guangzhou Tianhe District Branch of Guangzhou Public Security Bureau， this study retrospectively studied the characteristics of rescue injuries and agonal injuries seen in cause of death identification and their influence on cause of death identification. ResultsAmong all the 5 923 cases， 640 cases were found to have rescue injuries or agonal injuries， and 624 cases received treatment， of which 609 cases were found to have rescue injuries （97.60%）， 44 cases were found to have agonal injuries， and 13 cases were found to have both types of injuries. Among the 640 cases， 441 were male and 199 were female. The age of death was discontinuously distributed from 0 to 95 years old. The leading cause of death was disease， followed by mechanical injury and asphyxia. The main manifestations of rescue injuries were rib and sternum fractures， soft tissue injuries in the prechest area or face， and pericardial rupture. The most common injuries in agonal stage were falling after unconsciousness， inhalation of foreign body in respiratory tract or multiple violent injuries. Among the 640 cases， 19 cases were repeatedly identified， including 15 cases of rescue injuries， 6 cases of agonal injuries， and 2 cases of both types of injuries. Compared with the cases where neither type of injuries was detected， the repeated identification rate of treatment injuries and agonal injuries was significantly increased （χ²=4.04， P=0.044； χ²=43.49， P<0.001）. Among the 640 cases， 11 cases （1.72%） were misidentified as the initial injuries in the first identification， and 13 cases had combined rescue injuries or agonal injuries that were involved in death. ConclusionsBy elucidating the epidemiological characteristics of the two types of injuries， this study proved that the two types of injuries were associated with higher rates of repeated identification and misidentification， which provided a reference for reducing repeated identification and misidentification and improving the accuracy of cause of death identification.