1.Toxicity of lunar dust simulant exposure via the digestive system: Microbiota dysbiosis and multi-organ injury.
Yixiao CHEN ; Yiwei LIU ; Shiyue HE ; Xiaoxiao GONG ; Qiyun CHENG ; Ya CHEN ; Xinyue HU ; Zhenxing WANG ; Hui XIE
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2025;50(8):1289-1305
OBJECTIVES:
As early as the Apollo 11 mission, astronauts experienced ocular, skin, and upper airway irritation after lunar dust (LD) was brought into the return cabin, drawing attention to its potential biological toxicity. However, the biological effects of LD exposure through the digestive system remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of digestive exposure to lunar dust simulant (LDS) on gut microbiota and on the intestine, liver, kidney, lung, and bone in mice.
METHODS:
Eight-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were used. LDS was used as a substitute for lunar dust, and Shaanxi loess was used as Earth dust (ED). Mice were randomly divided into a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) group, an ED group (500 mg/kg), and a LDS group (500 mg/kg), with assessments at days 7, 14, and 28. Mice were gavaged once every 3 days, with body weight recorded before each gavage. At sacrifice, fecal samples were analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing; inflammatory cytokine expression [interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)] in intestinal, liver, and lung tissues was measured by real-time reverse transcription PCR (real-time RT-PCR); hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed on lung, liver, and intestinal tissues; Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining was used to assess the integrity of the intestinal mucus barrier, and immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate the expression of mucin-2 (MUC2). Serum biochemical tests assessed hepatic and renal function. Femoral bone mass was analyzed by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT); osteoblasts and osteoclasts were assessed by osteocalcin (OCN) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. Bone marrow immune cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry.
RESULTS:
At day 10, weight gain was slowed in ED and LDS groups. At days 22 and 28, body weight in both ED and LDS groups was significantly lower than controls (both P<0.05). LDS exposure increased microbial species richness and diversity at day 7. Compared with the PBS and ED groups, mice in the LDS group showed increased relative abundance of Deferribacterota, Desulfobacterota, and Campylobacterota, and decreased Firmicutes, with increased Helicobacter typhlonius and reduced Lactobacillus johnsonii and Lactobacillusmurinus. HE and PAS staining of the colon showed that mucosal structural disruption and goblet cell loss were more severe in the LDS group. In addition, immunohistochemistry revealed a significant downregulation of MUC2 expression in this group (P<0.05). No obvious pathological alterations were observed in liver HE staining among the 3 groups, and none of the groups exhibited notable hepatic or renal dysfunction. HE staining of the lungs in the ED and LDS groups showed increased perivascular inflammatory cell infiltration (both P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
LDS exposure via the digestive route induces gut dysbiosis, intestinal barrier disruption, pulmonary inflammation, bone loss, and bone marrow immune imbalance. These findings indicate that LD exposure poses potential health risks during future lunar missions. Targeted restoration of beneficial gut microbiota may represent a promising strategy to mitigate LD-related health hazards.
Animals
;
Dust
;
Mice
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Dysbiosis/etiology*
;
Female
;
Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects*
;
Moon
;
Liver/metabolism*
;
Digestive System/microbiology*
;
Lung/metabolism*
;
Kidney
2.Effects of lunar soil simulant and Earth soil on lung injury in mice.
Xiaoxiao GONG ; Shiyue HE ; Yixiao CHEN ; Yiwei LIU ; Qiyun CHENG ; Ya CHEN ; Xinyue HU ; Zhenxing WANG ; Hui XIE
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences) 2025;50(8):1306-1319
OBJECTIVES:
Due to prolonged exposure to cosmic radiation and meteorite impacts, lunar surface dust forms nanoscale angular particles with strong electrostatic adsorption properties. These dust particles pose potential inhalation risks, yet their pulmonary toxicological mechanisms remain unclear. Given the need for dust exposure protection in future lunar base construction and resource development, this study established an acute exposure model using lunar soil simulant (LSS) and used Earth soil (ES; Loess from Shaanxi, China) as a comparison to investigate lung injury mechanisms.
METHODS:
C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to 3 groups: Phosphate buffered saline (PBS), LSS, and ES, with 5 to 7 mice per group. Mice in the LSS and ES groups received a single intratracheal instillation to induce acute inhalation exposure. Body weight was monitored for 28 days. Mice were euthanized at days 3, 7, 14, and 28 post-exposure, and peripheral blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lung tissues were collected. Immune cell subsets in BALF were analyzed using flow cytometry. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining assessed lung structure and inflammation; periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining evaluated airway mucus secretion; Masson staining examined collagen deposition. Real-time reverse transcription PCR (real-time RT-PCR) was used to measure the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and epithelial barrier genes (Occludin, Cadherin-1, and Zo-1). Lung tissues at day 7 were subjected to transcriptomic sequencing, followed by immune infiltration and pathway enrichment analyses to determine immunoregulatory mechanisms.
RESULTS:
Body weight in the ES group progressively declined after day 18 (all P<0.05), while the LSS group showed no significant changes compared with the control group. HE staining showed both LSS and ES induced inflammatory cell infiltration around airways and vasculature, which persisted for 28 days but gradually lessened over time. PAS staining revealed marked mucus hypersecretion in the LSS group at day 3, followed by gradual recovery; no significant mucus changes were observed in the ES group. Masson staining indicated no obvious pulmonary fibrosis in either group within 28 days. Real-time RT-PCR demonstrated significant upregulation of IL-1β and TNF-α in both LSS and ES groups, peaking on day 7, accompanied by downregulation of epithelial barrier genes (Occludin, Cadherin-1, and Zo-1)(all P<0.05). Transcriptomic analysis showed that both LSS and ES activated chemokine-related pathways and enriched leukocyte migration and neutrophil recruitment pathways. Further validation revealed upregulation of CXCL2 and MMP12 in the LSS group, whereas CXCL3 and MMP12 were predominantly elevated in the ES group.
CONCLUSIONS
Both LSS and ES can induce sustained lung injury and neutrophil infiltration in mice, though the underlying molecular mechanisms differ. Compared with ES, exposure to LSS additionally triggers a transient eosinophilic response, suggesting that lunar dust particles possess stronger immunostimulatory potential and higher biological toxicity.
Animals
;
Mice
;
Mice, Inbred C57BL
;
Soil
;
Lung Injury/etiology*
;
Dust
;
Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid
;
Moon
;
Lung/pathology*
;
Inhalation Exposure/adverse effects*
;
Male
3.Expert consensus on peri-implant keratinized mucosa augmentation at second-stage surgery.
Shiwen ZHANG ; Rui SHENG ; Zhen FAN ; Fang WANG ; Ping DI ; Junyu SHI ; Duohong ZOU ; Dehua LI ; Yufeng ZHANG ; Zhuofan CHEN ; Guoli YANG ; Wei GENG ; Lin WANG ; Jian ZHANG ; Yuanding HUANG ; Baohong ZHAO ; Chunbo TANG ; Dong WU ; Shulan XU ; Cheng YANG ; Yongbin MOU ; Jiacai HE ; Xingmei YANG ; Zhen TAN ; Xiaoxiao CAI ; Jiang CHEN ; Hongchang LAI ; Zuolin WANG ; Quan YUAN
International Journal of Oral Science 2025;17(1):51-51
Peri-implant keratinized mucosa (PIKM) augmentation refers to surgical procedures aimed at increasing the width of PIKM. Consensus reports emphasize the necessity of maintaining a minimum width of PIKM to ensure long-term peri-implant health. Currently, several surgical techniques have been validated for their effectiveness in increasing PIKM. However, the selection and application of PIKM augmentation methods may present challenges for dental practitioners due to heterogeneity in surgical techniques, variations in clinical scenarios, and anatomical differences. Therefore, clear guidelines and considerations for PIKM augmentation are needed. This expert consensus focuses on the commonly employed surgical techniques for PIKM augmentation and the factors influencing their selection at second-stage surgery. It aims to establish a standardized framework for assessing, planning, and executing PIKM augmentation procedures, with the goal of offering evidence-based guidance to enhance the predictability and success of PIKM augmentation.
Humans
;
Consensus
;
Dental Implants
;
Mouth Mucosa/surgery*
;
Keratins
4.Feasibility Analysis of Multi-indication Drug Insurance Access and Pricing Strategy in China
Yuyan FU ; Meif-Eng WANG ; Wendi CHENG ; Xiaoxiao TAN ; Haiyin WANG
Chinese Health Economics 2024;43(2):29-33
Objective:On the basis of summarizing the previous studies on the access and pricing strategies of multi-indication drugs,based on the actual situation in China,it develops the access and pricing strategies of multi-indication drugs applicable to the adjustment mechanism of China's health insurance catalog and carry out feasibility analysis,with a view to providing methodological support for the national health insurance department in the adjustment of the health insurance catalog in the future.Methods:First,through literature review and expert survey,it sorts out the medical insurance access and pricing strategies for multi-indication drugs that may be applicable in China.Secondly,a feasibility evaluation framework for National Drug Insurance List(NRDL)access and pricing strategies for multi-indication drugs is constructed through literature review,and various stakeholders in the NRDL process are invited to conduct feasibility scores based on the questionnaire.In addition,9 pathways are identified through expert research,and various stakeholders in NRDL process are invited to conduct path analysis based on questionnaires.Finally,relevant recommendations are formed based on the research results.Results:According to the results of the feasibility evaluation the direct access is less feasi-ble,while negotiated access and simplified negotiated access are comparable;pricing by weighted average was less feasible,pricing by primary indication and pricing by minimum value are comparable.The results of the pathway analysis show that differences in health insurance access and pricing strategies for selecting drugs with multiple indications under different pathways.Conclusion:It is needed to refine the medical insurance access and price calculation methods for drugs with multiple indications;improve the database construction to support refined calculation of medical insurance;and actively explore the innovative payment methods for medical insurance with multiple indications.
5.Application and comparison of three occupational health risk assessment methods in an automobile manufacturing industry
Qiang ZENG ; Tao LIU ; Xiaoxiao GUO ; Cheng HAN ; Jing LIU ; Hui TAO
Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases 2024;42(4):271-276
Objective:Three occupational health risk assessment methods were used to assess the occupational health risk of noise exposed posts in an automobile manufacturing enterprise. According to the results, the selection of risk assessment methods and risk management of such occupational noise enterprises were provided.Methods:Form April to November 2021, The occupational health field survey was carried out in an automobile manufacturing industry in Tianjin. The occupational health MES risk assessment method, occupational health risk index risk assessment method and Australian occupational hazard risk assessment method were used to evaluate the occupational health risk of noise-exposed posts in this enterprise, and the evaluation results of different methods were analyzed and compared.Results:The average value of LAeq, 8 h in the four workshops of automobile manufacturing industry was 82.95 dB (A) , and the noise detection exceeding rate was 22.41% (26/116) . The LAeq, 8h and exceeding rate noise of welding workshop were higher than those of other workshops (χ 2=23.56, 32.94, P<0.01) . The three occupational health risk assessment methods have the same risk assessment results for the four major workshops. The assembly and painting workshops are level 4 risk (possible risk) , and the stamping and welding workshops are level 3 risk (significant risk) . Conclusion:Occupational noise has certain potential hazards to workers in automobile manufacturing enterprises. Therefore, in the future work, corresponding organizational management measures should be taken to improve the working environment and reduce the actual exposure level of workers in order to protect the health of occupational workers.
6.Application and comparison of three occupational health risk assessment methods in an automobile manufacturing industry
Qiang ZENG ; Tao LIU ; Xiaoxiao GUO ; Cheng HAN ; Jing LIU ; Hui TAO
Chinese Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases 2024;42(4):271-276
Objective:Three occupational health risk assessment methods were used to assess the occupational health risk of noise exposed posts in an automobile manufacturing enterprise. According to the results, the selection of risk assessment methods and risk management of such occupational noise enterprises were provided.Methods:Form April to November 2021, The occupational health field survey was carried out in an automobile manufacturing industry in Tianjin. The occupational health MES risk assessment method, occupational health risk index risk assessment method and Australian occupational hazard risk assessment method were used to evaluate the occupational health risk of noise-exposed posts in this enterprise, and the evaluation results of different methods were analyzed and compared.Results:The average value of LAeq, 8 h in the four workshops of automobile manufacturing industry was 82.95 dB (A) , and the noise detection exceeding rate was 22.41% (26/116) . The LAeq, 8h and exceeding rate noise of welding workshop were higher than those of other workshops (χ 2=23.56, 32.94, P<0.01) . The three occupational health risk assessment methods have the same risk assessment results for the four major workshops. The assembly and painting workshops are level 4 risk (possible risk) , and the stamping and welding workshops are level 3 risk (significant risk) . Conclusion:Occupational noise has certain potential hazards to workers in automobile manufacturing enterprises. Therefore, in the future work, corresponding organizational management measures should be taken to improve the working environment and reduce the actual exposure level of workers in order to protect the health of occupational workers.
7.Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the ventromedial prefrontal lobe of adolescents with bipolar de-pression with anxiety symptoms
Chengji WANG ; Yuan QU ; Cheng ZHANG ; Xiaoxiao TANG ; Abula GULIBAKERANMU ; Gaiyu TONG ; Shaohong ZOU
Chinese Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases 2023;49(10):604-608
Objective Exploring the relationship between anxiety symptoms and neurometabolism in the ventrome-dial prefrontal cortex(vmPFC)of adolescents with bipolar depression.Methods Thirty-six adolescent patients with bi-polar depression were assessed and grouped by using the 14-item Hamilton anxiety rating scale(HAMA),including 20 pa-tients with anxiety symptoms and 16 patients without anxiety symptoms.The severity of depressive symptoms was assessed using the 24-Hamilton depression scale(HAMD),and 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy(1H-MRS)was used.The dif-ference of vmPFC neurometabolism between 2 groups was compared.Results Compared with the group without anxiety symptoms,the HAMD score[24.50(24.00,26.75)vs.23.00(22.00,24.00)]and the proportion of family history(40.0%vs.0)were significantly higher in the group with anxiety symptoms than in the group without anxiety symptoms(P<0.05).The level of mI/Cr was higher in the group with anxiety symptoms than that in the group without anxiety symptoms(0.58±0.12 vs.0.47±0.11),and the difference was significant(P<0.05).Cho/Cr and HAMD scores in patients with anxiety symptoms were positively correlated(r=0.589,P=0.006),and mI/Cr was negatively correlated with disease duration(r=-0.481,P= 0.032).Conclusions Anxiety symptoms in adolescent bipolar depression patients may be related to elevated levels of mI,a neurometabolite in the brain region of vmPFC.
8.Development and primary evaluation of a minimally invasive surgical robot system in endoscopic submucosal dissection: an ex vivo feasibility study
Xiaoxiao YANG ; Huxin GAO ; Shichen FU ; Jianxiao CHEN ; Cheng HOU ; Zhifeng ZHOU ; Rui JI ; Huicong LIU ; Hongliang REN ; Lining SUN ; Jialin YANG ; Xiaoyun YANG ; Yanqing LI ; Xiuli ZUO
Chinese Journal of Digestive Endoscopy 2023;40(3):182-188
Objective:To develop a novel, flexible, dual-arm, master-slave digestive endoscopic minimally invasive surgical robot system named dual-arm robotic endoscopic assistant for minimally invasive surgery (DREAMS) and to evaluate its feasibility for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) by using ex vivo porcine stomachs.Methods:A novel endoscopic robot (DREAMS) system was developed which was composed of a flexible two-channel endoscope, two flexible robotic manipulators, a master controller, a robotic arm, and a control system. A total of 10 artificial round-like lesions with diameters ranging from 15 to 25 mm were created (5 in gastric antrum and 5 in gastric body) by using fresh peeled stomach of healthy pigs as the model. Submucosal dissection was performed with the assistance of the DREAMS system by two operators. The main outcome was submucosal dissection speed, and the secondary outcomes included muscular injury rate, perforation rate, and grasping efficiency of the robot.Results:All 10 lesions were successfully dissected en bloc by using the DREAMS system. The diameter of the artificial lesions was 22.34±2.39 mm, dissection time was 15.00±8.90 min, submucosal dissection speed was 141.79±79.12 mm 2/min, and the number of tractions required by each ESD was 4.2 times. Muscular injury occurred in 4/10 cases of ESD. No perforation occurred. Conclusion:The initial animal experiment shows the DREAMS system is safe and effective.
9.Corticotropin releasing factor type 1 receptor antagonist: a promising therapy for 21-hydroxylase deficiency
Xiaoxiao LIU ; Shifeng MA ; Cong ZHANG ; Yue ZHAO ; Siqi CHENG ; Haiyan JIANG ; Sihan SHENG ; Rongxiu ZHENG
Chinese Journal of Applied Clinical Pediatrics 2023;38(4):313-317
21-hydroxylase deficiency(21-OHD) is mainly characterized by cortisol deficiency with or without aldosterone deficiency and hyperandrogenemia.The disease requires lifelong exogenous glucocorticoid/salt supplementation.Excessive doses of exogenous glucocorticoids are often needed to control hyperandrogenemia, but the effect is not satisfactory.Corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) type 1 receptor antagonist can directly block the production of adrenocorticotropin, inhibit the generation of adrenogenic androgen, reduce the dose of glucocorticoid therapy, and thus lower the incidence of adverse reactions.In this article, the current research progress on 21-OHD therapy and CRF1 receptor antagonist was reviewed.
10.Prevalence of dyslipidemia among adults in Moyu County
Juan YANG ; Xiaoxiao LI ; Ruirui CHENG ; Jinhui ZHUGE ; Wuzimu Jigeer ; Hua YAO ; Mingchen ZHANG
Journal of Preventive Medicine 2022;34(6):590-594
Objective:
To investigate the prevalence of dyslipidemia among adults in Moyu County, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, so as to provide insights into the management of dyslipidemia.
Methods:
The physical examination data of permanent residents at ages of 18 years and older were collected from Moyu County from 2018 to 2019, including demographic features, height, body weight, blood pressure and blood biochemical parameter measurements. The epidemiological characteristics of dyslipidemia were analyzed among residents.
Results:
Totally 166 142 adults were investigated, with a mean age of (41.08±15.72) years. There were 77 744 men (46.76%), 34 728 obese adults (20.90%), 5 776 adults with diabetes (3.48%) and 26 294 adults with hypertension (15.83%). The levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were (1.38±0.98), (4.13±1.19), (1.31±0.41) and (2.25±0.77) mmol/L, respectively. The prevalence of dyslipidemia was 29.72%, and the detection rates of high TG, high TC, low-HDL-C and high LDL-C were 9.73%, 4.59%, 19.65% and 1.99%, respectively. The prevalence of dyslipidemia was higher in men than in women (33.97% vs. 25.98%; χ2=1 264.729, P<0.001), and the prevalence increased with age (χ2=539.382, P<0.001) and body mass index (χ2=3 601.833, P<0.001). The prevalence of dyslipidemia was 35.48% among patients with hypertension (χ2=497.251, P<0.001) and 46.07% among patients with diabetes (χ2=766.142, P<0.001). There were 9 059 adults with two and more abnormal blood lipid indexes (18.35%), and the detection rates of two and more abnormal blood lipid indexes were 26.50%, 24.14% and 33.15% among patients with obesity, hypertension and diabetes, respectively.
Conclusions
The prevalence of dyslipidemia among adults in Moyu County is lower than the national level, and low-HDL cholesterolemia is the most common type of dyslipidemia. The prevalence of dyslipidemia is high among patients with obesity, hypertension and diabetes mellitus, in whom abnormality of multiple blood lipid indexes is measured.


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