ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of α-ketoglutarate （α-KG） on hepatic lipid deposition in offspring caused by arsenic exposure during pregnancy. Methods8-week-old institute of cancer research （ICR） mice were mated in a ratio of 2∶1 between females and males， and the detection of vaginal plugs confirmed pregnant. A total of 32 pregnant mice were randomly divided into four groups： control group， arsenic group， α-KG group， arsenic+α-KG group. On gestational day 0-16 （GD0-GD16）， the arsenic and arsenic+α-KG groups were exposed to sodium arsenite （NaAsO₂ ，15 mg/L） in drinking water everyday， and the α-KG and arsenic+α-KG groups were gavaged with α-KG （2 g/kg） everyday. On GD16， pregnant mice were euthanized to collect fetal liver， and fetal body weight and crown-rump length were measured. Gene expression differences between the control group and the arsenic group were analyzed by transcriptome. The total triglycerides （TGs） and subtypes in fetal liver were detected by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry （LC-MS/MS）. Oil red O staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in the liver. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction （qPCR） was used to detect the expression level of genes related to lipid synthesis， transport， and degradation， and phosphatidylinositol 3' -kinase/ protein kinase B （PI3K/AKT） in the liver of fetus. ResultsTranscriptomics analysis showed that 2 144 genes were downregulated and 1 675 genes were upregulated in the arsenic exposed fetal liver； body weight and crown-rump length were reduced （P_TuKey<0.05）； the level of hepatic TGs was elevated in arsenic group （P_TuKey<0.05）； oil-red O staining showed a significant increase in lipid droplets in arsenic group （P_TuKey<0.01）； the expression of lipid synthesis-related genes were significantly upregulated （P_TuKey<0.05）； the expression of β-oxidation-related genes and lipid degradation-related genes were downregulated （P_TuKey<0.05）； the expression of PI3K， AKT decreased（P_TuKey<0.05）. Compared with the arsenic group， the body weight and crown-rump length of fetus increased in the arsenic+α-KG group （P_TuKey<0.05）； the level of hepatic TGs decreased in the arsenic+α-KG group （P_TuKey<0.05）； oil red O staining showed lipid droplets significantly decreased （P_TuKey<0.01）； the expression of lipid synthesis-related genes were downregulated （P_TuKey<0.05）， the expression of β-oxidation-related genes and lipid degradation-related genes were upregulated （P_TuKey<0.05）； the expression levels of PI3K and AKT increased （P_TuKey<0.05）. Conclusionα-KG alleviated hepatic lipid deposition in offspring exposed to arsenic during pregnancy through activating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Objective To conduct a comparative analysis of the epidemic characteristics of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Northeast and Southwest China from 2005 to 2020, and to provide a reference for developing regional prevention and control strategies. Methods Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of HFRS outbreaks. The Joinpoint regression model was employed to calculate the annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC), thereby analyzing the trends in HFRS incidence. Results From 2005 to 2020, 63 878 HFRS cases were reported in Northeast China (average annual incidence: 3.58/100,000), showing a significant downward trend (AAPC=-13.08%, P<0.05). In Southwest China, 5 313 cases were reported (average annual incidence: 0.168/100 000) with stable overall incidence (AAPC=2.73%, P>0.05) but obvious inter-provincial differences. Northeast had a primary autumn-winter peak (Nov-Dec) and a secondary spring-summer peak (Apr-Jun), while Southwest showed the opposite seasonal pattern. For population distribution, both regions had males (Northeast: 45.01/100 000; Southwest: 1.76/100 000) and farmers aged 20-60 as the main high-risk groups, but differed in the second largest group: household workers/unemployed in the Northeast and students in the Southwest. Incidence presented an inverted ^”U^”-shape with age, peaking in the 40-50 years group. Geographically, high-incidence areas were widely distributed across multiple prefectures (e.g., Shuangyashan) in the Northeast, while in the Southwest, the distribution was highly concentrated, clustered only in a few ethnic minority autonomous prefectures such as Dali and Chuxiong in Yunnan. Conclusion The incidence of HFRS in Northeast China continues to decline, while it remains generally stable but shows localized increases in Southwest China, exhibiting regional differences in seasonal characteristics and geographical distribution. The differences in epidemic patterns across different regions may be related to climate and host species. Differentiated prevention and control strategies should be developed based on the specific epidemic characteristics of each region.

To develop a deep learning model based on arteriovenous dual-phase CT imaging features and evaluate its diagnostic value in differentiating benign from malignant pancreatic cystic lesions(PCLs).

OBJECTIVE To explore the changes and correlations of color， components and anti-tumor activity of Gelsemium elegans during sand-frying processing， so as to provide a reference for the toxicity-attenuating and efficacy-preserving processing as well as quality control of sand-fried G. elegans decoction pieces.METHODS Raw G.elegans and its processed products prepared by sand-frying for 15， 30， 75， 105 and 120 s were taken as test samples. The chromatic values， contents of total alkaloids and seven main active components （gelsemine， humantenine， koumine， gelsenicine， etc.） were determined. Their in vitro anti-tumor activity was investigated. The correlations between color and component contents， as well as between total alkaloid content and anti-tumor activity were analyzed.RESULTS The color of G.elegans samples generally darkened after sand-frying， and the total color difference （Δ E * ） of samples sand-fried for 75 s was greater than 20. At the initial stage of sand-frying （15-30 s）， the total alkaloid content in processed products decreased sharply compared with the raw material； at the later-stage of sand-frying （75-105 s）， the declining rate of total alkaloid content slowed down and tended to be stable. The contents of gelsenicine and humantenidine in processed products dropped drastically at 30 s of sand-frying， while the contents of koumine and sempervirine decreased substantially （by about 80%） after 75 s of sand-frying and then gradually tended to be stable. The anti-HepG2 cell proliferation activity of each processed product decreased with the extension of frying time. Correlation analysis demonstrated that color brightness and yellow-blue chromaticity were significantly positively correlated with the contents of total alkaloids and all determined active components except gelsemine （ P ＜0.05 or P ＜0.01）； red-green chromaticity was significantly positively correlated with the contents of koumine， sempervirine， gelsemivirine and humantenidine （ P ＜0.05 or P ＜0.01）； Δ E * was significantly negatively correlated with the contents of total alkaloids and all determined active components except gelsemine. Besides， total alkaloid content was significantly negatively correlated with the half maximal inhibitory concentration of the samples on HepG2 cells （ P ＜0.05 or P ＜0.01）.CONCLUSIONS With the prolongation of sand-frying time， the color of sand-fried G.elegans decoction pieces gradually turned brownish-brown， the contents of seven active components and total alkaloids decreased progressively， and its anti-HepG2 cell activity showed an overall downward trend. Sand-frying for 75 s serves as a critical turning-point for the above-mentioned changes.

Objective To construct three models, SARIMA, XGBoost, and LightGBM, to predict the future trend of human brucellosis in mainland China, and to provide a basis for formulating policies for the prevention and control of brucellosis. Methods Monthly case data of human brucellosis in mainland China from 2014 to 2023 were collected. The SARIMA model was constructed using R 4.4.1. The XGBoost and LightGBM models were constructed using Python 3.8. Results From 2014 to 2023, a total of 536,443 cases of human brucellosis were reported in mainland China. The incidence rate first decreased and then increased. The average annual incidence was 3.82 per 100,000 people. The LightGBM model effectively captured the complex time‑series characteristics of human brucellosis. It had good performance while accurately predicting the trend. Based on the optimal LightGBM model, a short‑term prediction was made for the trend of human brucellosis in 2024. The results showed that in 2024, the disease would still have a clear seasonal pattern in China. The peak months were from April to June. The highest number of cases was in June (8,733.48 cases). The lowest number was in October (3,260.69 cases). The predicted total number of cases for the year was about 70,260. Overall, the incidence remained high. Conclusion China remains in a high-incidence phase of human brucellosis, necessitating further implementation of prevention and control measures and enhanced supervision and monitoring in key regions.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between sarcopenic obesity(SO), defined by various obesity indicators, and mortality risk in older adults based on a prospective cohort from multiple nursing homes.Methods:Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the 2019 consensus of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia.Obesity was defined using six different indicators: waist circumference(WC), waist-hip ratio(WHR), waist-height ratio(WHTR), body mass index(BMI), visceral fat area(VFA), and percentage of body fat(PBF).A prospective cohort of adults aged 60 and above was established across 15 nursing homes in Zigong City, with annual follow-ups on survival status conducted over two consecutive years.Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to analyze the association between SO, defined by different obesity indicators, and mortality risk, calculating hazard ratios( HR)and their 95% confidence intervals( CI). Results:A total of 695 older adults were included in the study, of whom 67.1% were male.During the 2-year follow-up period, 88 participants died.The prevalence of SO as defined by WC, WHR, WHTR, BMI, VFA, PBF was found to be 17.6%, 30.1%, 48.9%, 3.0%, 28.3%, and 58.7%, respectively.When SO was defined using WC, WHR, WHTR, BMI, and VFA, there was no statistically significant difference in mortality rates between the SO and non-SO groups.However, when defined by PBF, the SO group exhibited a significantly higher mortality rate compared to the non-SO group(16.9% vs.6.6%, P<0.01).Cox proportional hazards regression analysis revealed that, compared to the non-SO group, the SO group defined by PBF had a significantly increased mortality risk( HR=2.81, 95% CI: 1.67-4.73, P<0.001).After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the mortality risk for the SO group remained significantly higher than that of the non-SO group( HR=1.97, 95% CI: 1.14-3.38, P=0.015). Conclusions:The prevalence of SO varies significantly across different obesity indicators.SO defined by PBF is significantly associated with mortality risk in nursing home residents.This study provides new evidence for further optimizing the diagnostic criteria for SO in this population.

Objective:To investigate the causes and management strategies of anesthetic complications during percutaneous spinal endoscopic surgery under local anesthesia.Methods:A total of 16 800 patients (8 625 males and 8 175 females) who underwent percutaneous spinal endoscopic surgery under local anesthesia (including intravenous basic anesthesia) in Tianjin Hospital, Shandong Public Health Clinical Center and Hebei General Hospital from February 2012 to February 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The average age was 45.3±21.6 years (range, 12-84 years). There were 220 cases of posterior cervical keyhole endoscopic surgery, 50 cases of thoracic transforaminal endoscopic surgery, 70 cases of thoracic posterior interlaminar endoscopic surgery, 11 670 cases of lumbar transforaminal endoscopic surgery, and 4 790 cases of lumbar posterior interlaminar endoscopic surgery. The occurrence time, clinical manifestations, management of intraoperative anesthesia complications were recorded, as well as surgical segments, puncture sites, complication symptoms, signs, outcome and prognosis.Results:All patients received percutaneous water-mediated uniaxial spinal endoscopic surgery under local anesthesia. There were 9 patients experienced anesthesia complications, including 6 cases of epidural diffusion of anesthetics and 3 cases of anesthetics mistakenly entering the subarachnoid space. There were 4 males and 5 females, aged 48.4±18.2 years (range, 28-84 years). There were 1 case of T 12L 1 disc herniation, 1 case of C 5-6 disc herniation, 3 cases of L 4-5 disc herniation and 4 cases of L 5S 1 disc herniation. Surgical segments and procedures: 1 case of C 5-6 posterior Keyhole endoscopic surgery, 1 case of T 12L 1 transforaminal endoscopic surgery, 2 cases of L 4-5 transforaminal endoscopic surgery, 1 case of L 4-5 interlaminar endoscopic surgery, and 4 cases of L 5S 1 interlaminar endoscopic surgery. Anesthesia complications all appeared 5-10 min after injection of local anesthetics, with symptoms of decreased oxygen saturation, decreased blood pressure, altered consciousness, and sensory and motor dysfunction of limbs. 6 patients with epidural diffusion of anesthetics recovered completely after symptomatic treatment in 5 cases, and 1 case was left with foot drop. Three patients with anesthetics mistakenly entering the subarachnoid space were immediately converted to the supine position, of which one recovered by mask oxygenation; 1 patient improved after emergency tracheal intubation, rehydration, and application of vasoconstrictive medications; and 1 patient developed multiple complications such as multiorgan failure, rhabdomyolysis, and sepsis after tracheal intubation, and recovered at 3 months after surgery with symptomatic treatment. Conclusions:Epidural diffusion and entering into subarachnoid space of anesthetics are serious complications of local anesthesia in percutaneous spinal endoscopic surgery. In addition to sensory and motor dysfunction of the limbs, the functions of the respiratory and circulatory systems can also be affected. It is necessary to be alert to the occurrence of anesthesia-related complications during operation and early identification and treatment.

Microplastics and nanoplastics(MPs/NPs)are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals(EDCs),raising significant concerns about their impact on human health,Research highlights the hazardous effects of MPs/NPs on both male and female reproductive systems,influencing germ cells,embryo development,and progeny.Additionally,studies show that MPs/NPs affect the gene expression of anabolic steroid hormones in vitro and in vivo,inducing reproductive toxicity through mechanisms such as oxidative stress and inflammation,Considering these adverse effects,identifying natural compounds that can mitigate the toxicity of MPs/NPs is increasingly important.Plants offer a wealth of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that can counteract these harmful effects.Among these,anthocyanins,natural colorants responsible for the vibrant hues of fruits and flowers,exhibit a wide range of biological activities,including antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,and anti-neoplastic properties.Moreover,anthocyanins can modulate sex hormone levels and alleviate reproductive toxicity.Cyanidin-3-glucoside(C3G),one of the most extensively studied anthocyanins,shows promise in reducing reproductive toxicity,particularly in females,and in protecting male reproductive organs,including the testis and epididymis.This protective effect is believed to result from its interaction with steroid receptors,specifically the androgen and estrogen receptors(ERs).These findings highlight the need to explore the mechanisms by which anthocyanins mitigate the reproductive toxicity caused by MPs/NPs.This review provides novel insights into how natural compounds can be leveraged to lessen the impact of environmental contaminants on human health,especially concerning reproductive health.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the molecular mechanism of Jiangzhi Huaban Decoction (JZHBD) for improving atherosclerosis through the "qi meridian-blood channels" pathway. METHODS: ApoE^-/- mouse models of atherosclerosis were established by high-fat diet feeding for 8 weeks, with C57BL/6 mice on a normal diet as the controls. Forty ApoE^-/- mouse models were randomized into model group, low-, medium-, and high-dose JZHBD treatment groups, and atorvastatin treatment group (n=8) for their respective treatments for 8 weeks. The changes in body weight and overall condition of the mice were monitored weekly. After the treatments, serum levels of TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, TBA, ALT, and AST of the mice were measured, pathological changes in the liver and aortic root plaques were examined with HE staining, and lipid accumulation in the liver and aortic wall was assessed using Oil Red O staining. The core molecular mechanism was studied through transcriptomics, and the expressions of the key pathway proteins were confirmed using Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Treatment with JZHBD significantly reduced blood lipid and total bile acid levels, improved liver function and hepatic steatosis, and decreased aortic lipid deposition and plaque area in the mouse models of atherosclerosis. Transcriptomic analysis suggested that the therapeutic mechanism of JZHBD involved reverse cholesterol transport, PPAR signaling, and the inflammatory pathways. In atherosclerotic mice, JZHBD treatment obviously up-regulated hepatic expressions of PPARγ, LXRα, ABCA1, ABCG1, and CYP7A1, down-regulated hepatic expressions of p-p65/p65, IL-6, IL1β in the liver, increased ABCG5 and ABCG8 expressions in the intestines, and decreased ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expressions in the aortic plaques. CONCLUSIONS JZHBD improves atherosclerotic vascular damage and plaque formation possibly by regulating hepatic reverse cholesterol transport and inflammation via modulating the hepatic PPARγ/LXRα/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/metabolism* ; Liver/metabolism* ; Mice ; Atherosclerosis/metabolism* ; Cholesterol/metabolism* ; PPAR gamma/metabolism* ; Male ; Diet, High-Fat ; Biological Transport

Microplastics and nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), raising significant concerns about their impact on human health. Research highlights the hazardous effects of MPs/NPs on both male and female reproductive systems, influencing germ cells, embryo development, and progeny. Additionally, studies show that MPs/NPs affect the gene expression of anabolic steroid hormones in vitro and in vivo, inducing reproductive toxicity through mechanisms such as oxidative stress and inflammation. Considering these adverse effects, identifying natural compounds that can mitigate the toxicity of MPs/NPs is increasingly important. Plants offer a wealth of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that can counteract these harmful effects. Among these, anthocyanins, natural colorants responsible for the vibrant hues of fruits and flowers, exhibit a wide range of biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-neoplastic properties. Moreover, anthocyanins can modulate sex hormone levels and alleviate reproductive toxicity. Cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), one of the most extensively studied anthocyanins, shows promise in reducing reproductive toxicity, particularly in females, and in protecting male reproductive organs, including the testis and epididymis. This protective effect is believed to result from its interaction with steroid receptors, specifically the androgen and estrogen receptors (ERs). These findings highlight the need to explore the mechanisms by which anthocyanins mitigate the reproductive toxicity caused by MPs/NPs. This review provides novel insights into how natural compounds can be leveraged to lessen the impact of environmental contaminants on human health, especially concerning reproductive health.