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.

Chagas disease(American trypanosomiasis)is a zoonosis caused by Trypanosoma cruzi,which severely affects public health.Recently,with changes in economic globalization and increased population mobility,this disease has gradually spread from the original Latin American epidemic areas to non-epidemic areas,such as Europe,thus showing a trend of globalization.The main trans-mission routes have changed from transmission via the Triatomine vector to blood transfusion transmission,mother-to-child transmis-sion,oral transmission,and other routes.Consequently,Chagas disease is spreading globally,and more people are increasingly vul-nerable to infection.This article retrospectively reviews research on the transmission routes of Chagas disease,analyzes the changing trends in transmission routes,and provides a scientific basis for the formulation and optimization of Chagas disease prevention and con-trol strategies from a One Health perspective.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of early bronchoalveolar lavage using electronic bronchoscopy in pediatric drowning cases.Methods:A retrospective analysis of clinical data from 81 pediatric drowning cases treated in the intensive care unit of Hunan Children's Hospital from January 2017 to September 2023 was conducted.Among these,43 cases underwent bronchoalveolar lavage with electronic bronchoscopy within 24 hours of drowning,constituting the treatment group,while 38 cases either did not receive treatment within 24 hours or underwent the procedure after 24 hours,forming the control group.We compared the two groups regarding pre-admission observations,admission observations,and disease progression or prognosis indicators to assess the clinical efficacy of early bronchoalveolar lavage with electronic bronchoscopy in pediatric drowning cases.Results:Compared to the control group,children in the treatment group exhibited a significant reduction in invasive ventilation time [(73.33±13.33) h vs.(94.82±15.77) h] and a significant decrease in pediatric intensive care unit stay [105.00 (94.00,121.00) h vs.123.5 (109.75,149.00) h],with both differences being statistically significant( P<0.05).No significant differences in white blood cell count and neutrophil percentage were observed between the treatment group and control group at admission and on the first day( P>0.05).However,by the third day,there was a significant improvement in white blood cell count in both groups,with statistical significance( P<0.05).There was a significant decrease in C-reactive protein and procalcitonin levels between the treatment group and control group on the 1st and 3rd days,with the differences being significant( P<0.05).Six hours after electronic bronchoalveolar lavage,the P/F ratio in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group (177.09±41.27 vs. 233.50±48.23),but it increased more significantly at 24 hours (286.00±34.32 vs.256.34±44.22),with a significant difference between two groups.The positive rate of lavage fluid culture in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant( P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the number of organ function damage between two groups( P>0.05).However,regarding prognosis,the treatment group showed significantly better outcomes than the control group( P<0.05). Conclusion:For pediatric patients with wilderness drowning,early electronic bronchoscopy with alveolar lavage may shorten the duration of invasive mechanical ventilation and pediatric intensive care unit stay,improving prognosis,and is worth promoting.

With the development of science and technology worldwide, the blooming of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data has brought new opportunities and challenges to the promotion of the research capacity of professional master's students in oncology. The construction of the new medical education in China aims to cultivate high-level medical talents with comprehensive multidisciplinary skills and innovative abilities to flexibly solve complex problems at the frontier of medicine. In this context, professional master's students in oncology, who are facing problems such as low scientific research output and uneven quality and needing improving scientific research literacy, have been required to develop into compound talents with both clinical and research prowess. To cultivate and promote the research capacity of professional master's students in oncology, the key steps include accelerating the construction of AI education and databases, highlighting the cultivation of their scientific research capacity, implementing and fostering the cultivation of innovative ability and scientific research thinking, piloting joint cultivation models by engineering universities and medical universities, emphasizing the construction of the curriculum and teacher team for oncology, piloting the multidisciplinary mode and COME mode, and establishing a multidisciplinary cooperation network.

Objective:To analyze and identify the risk factors for preoperative hypokalemia in patients with gastrointestinal tumors and to construct a risk prediction model.Methods:A prospective research design was implemented. Patients with gastrointestinal tumors who underwent surgical treatment at the First Medical Center of the People ′s Liberation Army General Hospital between March 2023 and February 2024 were recruited as research participants through convenience sampling. These participants were randomly allocated into a modeling group or a validation group in a 7:3 ratio. Preoperative hypokalemia was defined as the outcome indicator. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was employed to screen for risk factors, and a nomogram was subsequently constructed and validated. Results:Finally, a total of 600 patients were included in the study. In the modeling group ( n=420), 282 were male and 138 were female, 169 patients were under 60 years old, 233 patients were aged between 60 and 80 years, and 18 patients were over 80 years old. In the verification group ( n=180), there were 123 males and 57 females. Among these, 69 patients were under 60 years old, 102 patients were aged between 60 and 80 years, and 9 patients were over 80 years old. The multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that body mass index, occupation type, dietary habits, 6m walking speed test, grip strength relative to body mass index, and presence of digestive tract symptoms were independent risk factors for the development of preoperative hypokalemia ( χ2 values were 8.21~27.78, all P<0.05). The results of the model validation demonstrated that the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the modeling and validation groups were 0.853 (95% CI 0.811-0.895) and 0.834 (95% CI 0.756-0.912), respectively, indicating a satisfactory level of predictive performance. Conclusions:The developed predictive model for preoperative hypokalemia in gastrointestinal tumors facilitates the accurate evaluation of the risk of preoperative hypokalemia and serves as a reference for effective clinical intervention.

Background: Rhei Radix et Rhizoma has been traditionally used as a potent laxative for centuries due to its remarkable efficacy. Raw pieces of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma (RP) are known for their strong laxative effects, often accompanied by side effects, while steamed Rhei Radix et Rhizoma pieces (SP) possess a milder laxative effect and are widely used clinically. However, there is a lack of comprehensive evidence examining the mechanisms underlying SP's effectiveness, particularly from a bioavailability perspective. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of the steaming process on the in vivo disposition of RP and SP through pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution, and excretion assays. Methods: An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of prototype anthraquinones and their glucuronide metabolites. Pharmacokinetic, tissue distribution, and excretion assays were conducted in constipation rats following oral administration of RP and SP. Blood, tissue, urine, and fecal samples were collected and analyzed to compare the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion profiles of anthraquinones, highlighting differences in bioavailability and safety between RP and SP. Results: Compared with the RP group, the SP group showed significantly reduced area under the plasma concentration-time curve, mean residence time, and half-life time values for rhein-8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, rhein, emodin, aloe-emodin, and their glucuronide metabolites. The clearance values were significantly increased in the SP group. These results demonstrate that SP led to lower exposure levels and higher elimination rates of these components compared with RP. Additionally, these components were primarily distributed in the large intestine, where they exerted their laxative effects. Glucuronide metabolites were mainly excreted through urination, while prototype components were excreted in both urine and feces. Notably, the cumulative excretion of aloe-emodin, emodin, rhein, and their glucuronide metabolites was significantly higher in both urine and feces after SP administration, indicating that SP enhances the excretion of these components compared with RP. Conclusion: The findings suggest that SP reduced anthraquinone exposure levels while enhancing their excretion, demonstrating that the steaming process significantly promotes the elimination of key components. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of how steaming alters the in vivo disposition of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, offering a scientific basis for the improved safety and clinical use of SP. These insights not only clarify the mechanistic differences between RP and SP but also contribute to a broader understanding of processing-induced modifications in Chinese medicines. This research paves the way for optimizing Chinese medicine processing techniques to enhance the safety and efficacy of herbal therapies.

Objective To analyze the characteristic influencing factors for enlarged perivascular spaces(EPVS)in different regions of acute ischemic stroke(AIS)patients and explore their un-derlying pathogenesis.Methods A total of 172 AIS patients admitted to our department from September 2020 to September 2023 were consecutively enrolled.According to the distribution of EPVS,they were divided into basal ganglia EPVS group(n=103)and non-basal ganglia EPVS group(n=69),as well as centrum semiovale EPVS group(n=77)and non-centrum semiovale EPVS group(n=95).General information,NIHSS score at onset,TOAST classification,fasting blood glucose,liver function,coagulation function,and homocysteine(Hcy)level were collected in all the patients.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent influen-cing factors for EPVS in different regions.Results The basal ganglia EPVS group had significant-ly advanced age and larger proportion of hypertension than the non-basal ganglia EPVS group,while the centrum semiovale EPVS group had smaller proportion of hyperhomocysteinemia,and larger ratios of smoking and alcohol consumption,higher alanine aminotransferase(ALT)level,and longer thrombin time than the non-centrum semiovale EPVS group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Mul-tivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hypertension(OR=2.093,95％CI:1.045-4.192,P=0.037)and age(OR=1.071,95％CI:1.016-1.130,P=0.011)were independent influ-encing factors for basal ganglia EPVS,while alcohol consumption(OR=2.418,95％CI:1.097-5.330,P=0.029)and thrombin time(OR=1.593,95％CI:1.129-2.249,P=0.008)were inde-pendent influencing factors for centrum semiovale EPVS.Conclusion EPVS in different regions of AIS patients are associated with distinct risk factors.Age and hypertension are primary influen-cing factors for basal ganglia EPVS,while alcohol consumption and prolonged thrombin time are significant factors for centrum semiovale EPVS.

AIM To investigate the variations in mercury dissolution from HgS-containing traditional medicines in three kinds of simulated gastrointestinal dissolution media.METHODS 39 batches of 15 types of HgS-containing traditional medicines were collected,total mercury content and dissolved mercury concentrations in simulated gastric fluid,simulated intestinal fluid,and L-cysteine-containing simulated intestinal fluid were measured.The maximum daily intake of total mercury and soluble mercury was calculated based on the maximum daily clinical dosage.RESULTS Among the 15 types of medicines,the maximum daily intake of total mercury varied by 156 times,the daily intake of soluble mercury varied by 3 502 times in simulated gastric fluid,313 times in simulated intestinal fluid,and 10 663 times in L-cysteine-containing simulated intestinal fluid,approximately.CONCLUSION For the 15 types of HgS-containing traditional medicines,the daily maximum intake of soluble mercury showed greater variations than that of total mercury.Soluble mercury concentration is more closely correlated with intestinal absorption of mercury and thus represents a more rational quality control indicator for HgS-containing traditional medicines.

Objective This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacterial strains isolated from pediatric intensive care units(PICU)in China for better antimicrobial therapy.Methods Clinical isolates were collected from 17 institutions,including tertiary care children's hospitals and pediatric department of tertiary general hospitals in China from January 1,2020 to December 31,2022.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out according to a unified protocol using Kirby-Bauer method or automated systems.Results were interpreted according to the breakpoints released by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)in 2020.Results A total of 10 688 isolates were collected,including gram-positive organisms(39.2％)and gram-negative organisms(60.8％).The top three organisms were S.aureus(13.6％,1 453/10 688),A.baumannii(10.0％,1 067/10 688),and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus(9.9％,1 058/10 688).Multi-drug resistant organisms(MDROs)were very common in children.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA),carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales(CRE),carbapenem-resistant E.coli,carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae(CRKP),carbapenem-resistant A.baumannii(CRAB),and carbapenem-resistant P.aeruginosa(CRPA)was 41.1％,19.4％,8.8％,30.9％,67.4％,and 28.8％,respectively.Overall,more than 50％of Enterobacteriales isolates were resistant to cephalosporins,while nearly 25％of Enterobacteriales isolates were resistant to carbapenems.MDROs were highly resistant to commonly used antibiotics.More than 80％of CRE and CRAB strains were resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics.CRE and CRAB showed low resistance rates to tigecycline and polymyxin.CRPA showed lower resistance rates to piperacillin,beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations than the resistance rates to third and fourth generation cephalosporins.All of the Staphylococcus and Enterococcus isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and tigecycline.None of PRSP strains isolated from meningitis and nonmeningitis samples were resistant to rifampicin,vancomycin,or linezolid.The prevalence of β-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant(BLNAR)strains was 43.3％in Haemophilus influenzae.Conclusions MDROs were prevalent in PICU.It is necessary to establish an effective multidisciplinary team(MDT)to control the antimicrobial resistance.

Aim To investigate the regulatory mecha-nisms of donepezil on the expression and enzymatic ac-tivity of cytochrome P450 3A4(CYP3A4),elucidate the synergistic impact of hypoxia on CYP3A4 function,and reveal its potential association with drug-induced cardiotoxicity,particularly QT interval prolongation.Methods Western blot,co-immunoprecipitation,and gene knockdown techniques were employed to evaluate the effects of donepezil and hypoxia on CYP3A4 pro-tein expression.CYP3A4 enzymatic activity was as-sessed using an in vitro incubation system with rat liver microsomes combined with high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC),and the half-maximal inhib-itory concentration(IC50)was determined.Results Donepezil(10 μmol·L-1)and hypoxia reduced CYP3A4 protein expression to 31.75％and 45.90％of the control levels,respectively.Both interventions activated the gp78-mediated ubiquitin-proteasome path-way,significantly increasing CYP3A4 ubiquitination levels by 2.1-fold compared to the control group,thereby promoting proteasomal degradation.Donepezil inhibited CYP3A4 enzyme activity with an IC50 of 83.4μmol·L-1,and hypoxia synergistically enhanced this inhibitory effect,reducing the IC50 to 20.79 μmol·L-1.Conclusion Donepezil downregulates CYP3A4 function through dual mechanisms involving ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation and direct enzymatic inhibition.Hypoxia potentiates this effect,leading to impaired metabolism of CYP3A4 substrate drugs,ele-vated plasma drug concentrations(1.6-2.3-fold in-crease compared to normal metabolic conditions),and an increased risk of QT interval prolongation and other forms of cardiotoxicity.