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.

Purpose: This study was performed to establish a procedure for simulated low-dose cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and to investigate whether the resulting images are comparable in diagnostic accuracy to those obtained using a clinical low-dose protocol. Materials and Methods: ImageJ was used to manipulate the sinogram data from CBCT scans acquired at 5 mA to mimic a technical setting of 2 mA by adding noise to the Radon-transformed projection data before image reconstruction. Four observers compared the simulated 2 mA CBCT scans with original clinical 2 mA CBCT scans acquired previously. The CBCT images were analysed using a protocol with a ranking scale, and the observers were required to select only 1 category for each variable. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to assess differences between the 2 CBCT scan types, with a significance level of P<0.05. Intra-observer agreement was evaluated using the Cohen kappa. Results: Pairwise observer comparisons of the simulated and clinical low-dose CBCT scans showed no significantdifferences in image quality. Intra-observer agreement was acceptable, and in 5 comparisons, the results indicated a high degree of agreement. Conclusion Simulated low-dose CBCT scans can be generated using ImageJ. No significant differences in imagequality were observed between simulated and clinical low-dose CBCT scans when evaluating mandibular third molars. These findings suggest that manipulation of sinogram data is a promising radiation-free approach for simulating low-dose images in optimisation efforts.

Amorphous calcium phosphate（ACP）is a component of urinary stones，primarily forming mixed stones with calcium oxalate，while pure ACP stones are relatively rare. This article reports a case of a patient with an ACP bladder stone who was admitted due to progressive dysuria over 5 years，which had worsened in the past months. Upon admission，tPSA was 29.63 ng/ml. CT and enhanced MRI revealed multiple bladder stones and prostatic hyperplasia. The patient underwent ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy and transurethral cystolithotripsy with pneumatic lithotripsy. Postoperative infrared spectroscopy confirmed the stone composition as ACP，and prostatic adenocarcinoma was diagnosed by prostate biopsy pathology. Endocrine therapy was administered postoperatively，and follow-up imaging at 3 months showed no stone. This article presents the first reported case of an ACP bladder stone coexisting with prostate cancer，providing important clinical insights into the etiology of such stones and the rare local manifestations of prostate cancer.

AIM:To establish a cell model of visceral hypersensitivity and nerve hyperplasia in irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)by conducting an in vitro co-culture of mouse P815 mast cells and N2a nerve cells and explore its possible mechanism.METHODS:Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)with three replicates was used to confirm the C48/80-induced P815 degranulation.The length of neurites was observed under bright field microscopy to determine the number of differentiated neurons,thereby selecting the concentration of retinoic acid(RA)for stimulating the differentia-tion of N2a cells,with four replicates.A co-culture system of P815 and N2a cells was established using Transwell cham-bers with four replicates.The following groups were established:N2a cells cultured alone,N2a cells co-cultured with P815 cells,N2a cells co-cultured with P815 cells plus C48/80,and N2a cells plus RA group.After co-culturing,the num-ber of differentiated N2a cells was observed under bright field.The expression of nerve growth factor(NGF),tyrosine ki-nase receptor A(TRKA),growth-associated protein-43(GAP43),neuron-specific enolase(NSE),synapsin(SYN),and postsynaptic density protein-95(PSD-95)at both protein and gene levels in N2a cells was detected using Western blot and polymerase chain reaction(PCR),with four replicates.RESULTS:The best condition for N2a differentiation was stimulation with 10 μmol/L RA for 24 hours,whereas the best condition for degranulation was stimulation of P815 cells with 20 mg/L C48/80 for 24 hours.Compared with N2a cells cultured alone,the differentiation ratio of the N2a+P815+C48/80 and N2a+RA groups was significantly increased(P<0.01),and the protein and mRNA expressions of NGF,TRKA,GAP43,NSE,SYN,and PSD-95 were significantly increased(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Our results revealed that mast cell degranulation enhances the level of nerve hyperplasia in enteric nerve cells and promotes changes in nerve structure and function.Synaptic remodeling regulated by abnormal expression of key proteins such as NGF,TRKA,and GAP43 is involved in the nerve hyperplasia induced by mast cell degranulation.

Amorphous calcium phosphate（ACP）is a component of urinary stones，primarily forming mixed stones with calcium oxalate，while pure ACP stones are relatively rare. This article reports a case of a patient with an ACP bladder stone who was admitted due to progressive dysuria over 5 years，which had worsened in the past months. Upon admission，tPSA was 29.63 ng/ml. CT and enhanced MRI revealed multiple bladder stones and prostatic hyperplasia. The patient underwent ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy and transurethral cystolithotripsy with pneumatic lithotripsy. Postoperative infrared spectroscopy confirmed the stone composition as ACP，and prostatic adenocarcinoma was diagnosed by prostate biopsy pathology. Endocrine therapy was administered postoperatively，and follow-up imaging at 3 months showed no stone. This article presents the first reported case of an ACP bladder stone coexisting with prostate cancer，providing important clinical insights into the etiology of such stones and the rare local manifestations of prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of robot-assisted percutaneous coronary intervention (R-PCI) compared to traditional manual percutaneous coronary intervention (M-PCI). METHODS: This prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled, non-inferior clinical trial enrolled patients with coronary heart disease who met the inclusion criteria and had indications for elective percutaneous coronary intervention. Participants were randomly assigned to either the R-PCI group or the M-PCI group. Primary endpoints were clinical and technical success rates. Clinical success was defined as visually estimated residual post-percutaneous coronary intervention stenosis < 30% with no 30-day major adverse cardiac events. Technical success in the R-PCI group was defined as successful completion of percutaneous coronary intervention using the ETcath200 robot-assisted system, without conversion to M-PCI in the event of a guidewire or balloon/stent catheter that was unable to cross the vessel or was poorly supported by the catheter. Secondary endpoints included total procedure time, percutaneous coronary intervention procedure time, fluoroscopy time, contrast volume, operator radiation exposure, air kerma, and dose-area product. RESULTS: The trial enrolled 152 patients (R-PCI: 73 patients, M-PCI: 79 patients). Lesions were predominantly B2/C type (73.6%). Both groups achieved 100% clinical success rate. No major adverse cardiac events occurred during the 30-day follow-up. The R-PCI group had a technical success rate of 100%. The R-PCI group had longer total procedure and fluoroscopy times, but lower operator radiation exposure. The percutaneous coronary intervention procedure time, contrast volume, air kerma, and dose-area product were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS For certain complex lesions, performing percutaneous coronary intervention using the ETcath200 robot-assisted system is safe and effective and does not result in conversion to M-PCI.

Objective:To investigate and summarize the imaging and pathological features of non-acute occlusion following flow diverter (FD) implantation in animal models.Methods:Four experimental pigs (experimental group) that experienced non-acute occlusion (occlusion time exceeding 24 hours) within the FD stent implanted in the common carotid artery, and 19 pigs (control group) that did not experience stent occlusion during the same period were involved. Using an interventional approach under digital subtraction angiography (DSA), the 4 occluded FD lumens were mechanically opened. Optical coherence tomography (OCT), intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and histopathological examinations were performed to evaluate the intraluminal composition and characteristics of the occlusive tissues. These findings were compared with non-occluded FD stents to summarize the imaging and pathological changes within the occluded FD lumen.Results:The occlusion times of the FD stents in the 4 experimental pigs were 16 weeks, 20 weeks, 20 weeks, and 24 weeks postoperatively. All occluded stents were successfully recanalized under DSA, with a technical success rate of 4/4. Among the 19 non-occluded FD stents, OCT and IVUS revealed uniform (16 stents) or non-uniform (3 stents) neointimal coverage of the stent struts, presenting as homogeneous high/slightly high signal intensity or medium echogenicity. Histopathological examination indicated that the neointima was primarily composed of smooth muscle cells and a small amount of fibrous connective tissues. In contrast, the 4 occluded FD stents demonstrated excessive neointimal proliferation and plaque formation, leading to luminal loss, as shown by OCT and IVUS. The occlusion tissues predominantly presented as homogeneous high signal intensity with weak attenuation (fibrous plaques) on OCT, with some regions showing blurred low signal intensity and strong attenuation (lipid plaques). IVUS presented homogeneous echogenicity (fibrous plaques) and hypoechogenic zones (lipid plaques). Histopathological examination showed that the occlusion tissues mainly consisted of smooth muscle cells, fibrous connective tissues, and lipids, accompanied by numerous foam cells and a minor presence of inflammatory cells.Conclusions:Histopathological examinations confirm that non-acute occlusion of FD is mainly caused by excessive hyperplasia of intima along with the formation of fibrous plaques and lipid plaques. OCT and IVUS have typical finding in imaging that can assist in determining the cause of stent occlusion as well as the lesion's nature, thereby providing crucial guidance for subsequent clinical treatment and drug selection.

Objective To explore the relationship between dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging(DCE-MRI)and clinical pathological features of invasive breast cancer and lymphovascular invasion(LVI).Methods Imaging and clinical pathological data were retrospectively collected from 508 patients with invasive breast cancer who underwent breast DCE-MRI at the First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2019 to August 2021.Patients were divided into the LVI-positive(LVI+)group(n=79)and LVI-negative(LVI-)group(n=429)based on postoperative pathological results.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for LVI.Results Compared with LVI-group,LVI+group had a higher proportion of patients aged<45 years(44.3%vs.27.0%,P=0.002),non-mass-like enhancement(NME)(31.7%vs.17.7%,P=0.004),Ki-67 expression rate(40.0%vs.30.0%,P<0.001),high Ki-67 expression(94.9%vs.78.1%,P=0.001),Luminal B subtype(76.0%vs.60.1%,P=0.008),and positive axillary lymph nodes rate(72.2%vs.31.5%,P<0.001),while the proportion of Luminal A subtype was lower(2.5%vs.21.5%,P<0.001).Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that age≥45 years(OR=0.468,95%CI 0.280-0.783,P=0.004)was an independent protective factor for LVI,while NME(OR=1.987,95%CI 1.126-3.444,P=0.016)was an independent risk factor.Compared with Luminal A subtype,patients with Luminal B subtype(OR=10.482,95%CI 3.164-64.923,P=0.001),HER-2 overexpression subtype(OR=11.571,95%CI 2.755-79.341,P=0.003)and triple-negative subtypes(OR=8.433,95%CI 1.985-57.908,P=0.009)had a higher risk of LVI.Conclusions Age≥45 years is an independent protective factor for LVI,while NME is an independent risk factor.Among molecular subtypes,patients with Luminal B,HER-2 overexpression and triple-negative subtypes have a higher risk of LVI compared with the Luminal A subtype.

Microbial detection and control of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) decoction pieces are crucial for the quality control of TCM preparations. It is also a key area of research in the measurement technology and equipment development for TCM manufacturing. Guided by TCM manufacturing measurement methodologies, this study presented a design of a novel portable microbial detection device, using Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma decoction pieces as a demonstration. Immunomagnetic separation technology was employed for specific isolation and labeling of target microorganisms. Enzymatic signal amplification was utilized to convert weak biological signals into colorimetric signals, constructing an optical biosensor. A self-developed smartphone APP was further applied to analyze the colorimetric signals and quantify target concentrations. A portable and automated detection system based on Arduino microcontroller was developed to automatically perform target microbial separation/extraction, as well as mimetic enzyme labeling and catalytic reactions. The developed equipment specifically focuses on the rapid and quantitative microbial analysis of TCM active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates in TCM manufacturing, and final TCM products. Experimental results demonstrate that the equipment could detect Salmonella in samples within 2 h, with a detection limit as low as 5.1 × 10~3 CFU·mL~(-1). The equipment enables the rapid detection of microorganisms in TCM decoction pieces, providing a potential technical solution for on-site rapid screening of microbial contamination indicators in TCM. It has broad application prospects in measurement technology for TCM manufacturing and offers strong technical support for the modernization, industrialization, and intelligent development of TCM.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/analysis* ; Atractylodes/microbiology* ; Rhizome/microbiology* ; Biosensing Techniques/methods* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Colorimetry/instrumentation* ; Quality Control

AIM:To establish a cell model of visceral hypersensitivity and nerve hyperplasia in irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)by conducting an in vitro co-culture of mouse P815 mast cells and N2a nerve cells and explore its possible mechanism.METHODS:Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)with three replicates was used to confirm the C48/80-induced P815 degranulation.The length of neurites was observed under bright field microscopy to determine the number of differentiated neurons,thereby selecting the concentration of retinoic acid(RA)for stimulating the differentia-tion of N2a cells,with four replicates.A co-culture system of P815 and N2a cells was established using Transwell cham-bers with four replicates.The following groups were established:N2a cells cultured alone,N2a cells co-cultured with P815 cells,N2a cells co-cultured with P815 cells plus C48/80,and N2a cells plus RA group.After co-culturing,the num-ber of differentiated N2a cells was observed under bright field.The expression of nerve growth factor(NGF),tyrosine ki-nase receptor A(TRKA),growth-associated protein-43(GAP43),neuron-specific enolase(NSE),synapsin(SYN),and postsynaptic density protein-95(PSD-95)at both protein and gene levels in N2a cells was detected using Western blot and polymerase chain reaction(PCR),with four replicates.RESULTS:The best condition for N2a differentiation was stimulation with 10 μmol/L RA for 24 hours,whereas the best condition for degranulation was stimulation of P815 cells with 20 mg/L C48/80 for 24 hours.Compared with N2a cells cultured alone,the differentiation ratio of the N2a+P815+C48/80 and N2a+RA groups was significantly increased(P<0.01),and the protein and mRNA expressions of NGF,TRKA,GAP43,NSE,SYN,and PSD-95 were significantly increased(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Our results revealed that mast cell degranulation enhances the level of nerve hyperplasia in enteric nerve cells and promotes changes in nerve structure and function.Synaptic remodeling regulated by abnormal expression of key proteins such as NGF,TRKA,and GAP43 is involved in the nerve hyperplasia induced by mast cell degranulation.