Background: Malignant pleural effusion (MPE), a common complication of advanced cancers, is associated with poor prognosis and reduced quality of life. Although host–tumor interactions are known to drive MPE development, the associated immune dynamics during disease progression remain unclear. Using a Lewis lung carcinoma-induced MPE model in C57BL/6JNidfc mice, we systematically evaluated general parameters and immune cell changes at two-day intervals throughout disease progression. Results: The day of Lewis lung carcinoma cell injection into the pleural space was designated as day 0. By day 10 post-injection (p.i.), MPE-bearing mice exhibited ~ 10% body weight loss, marking the experimental endpoint. Pleural tumor mass and pleural effusion volume were minimal up to day 4 p.i. but increased sharply from day 6 onward.CD45⁺ immune cell counts rose over time, and days 6, 8, and 10 p.i. marked key stages of MPE progression. On day 6, B cells, T cells, and natural killer cells, but not macrophages and neutrophils, increased significantly compared to earlier timepoints. By day 8, all immune cell subsets except T cells exceeded day 6 levels, and at day 10, natural killer cell numbers declined while others continued to increase. Besides, the numbers of CD8⁺ T cells, Th1 cells, regulatory T cells, and M2 macrophages progressively increased from day 6 to 10. Based on these data, days 6 and 10 were defined as early and advanced MPE stages, respectively, with distinct immune phenotypes. In advanced MPE, CD8⁺ T cells displayed reduced IFN-γ, TNF-α, Granzyme B, Perforin, FasL, and Ki-67, but upregulated PD-1 and CTLA-4 relative to early stage. Similarly, Th1 cells showed decreased IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 production along with reduced Ki-67 expression. Advanced-stage M2 macrophages exhibited lower MHC-II levels and impaired phagocytosis, but higher PD-L1 and IL-10 production, while neutrophils showed reduced TNF-α release and phagocytic activity. Conclusions Our findings characterize the temporal immune dynamics associated with MPE progression in a mouse model, revealing a transition from an early immunostimulatory state to a late immunosuppressive state. This study enhances our understanding of MPE immunopathogenesis and provides a foundation for developing precise, stagespecific therapeutic strategies.

Although global brain science research has progressed rapidly in recent decades, several fundamental questions in neuroscience remain unresolved. In particular, the physical mechanism underlying neural signal transmission remains controversial, and the carriers responsible for neural information storage and retrieval have not yet been fully clarified. These unresolved issues motivate us to re-examine the processes of neural information generation, transmission, integration, storage, and retrieval from multiple perspectives. A key observation is that neural electromagnetic activities are closely associated with time. Their duration, temporal structure, and dynamic evolution play crucial roles in neural information processing. In this work, we analyze neural electromagnetic activities from the perspective of temporal scales (referred to here as the “time course”). By reviewing and integrating findings from previous studies, we examine the characteristic time requirements and dynamic features of neural processes occurring at different stages of information processing. These stages include neural signal generation, signal transmission along axons, synaptic integration, synaptic plasticity, and memory formation and retrieval. Based on this temporal analysis, we outline a framework describing neural electromagnetic activities across a wide range of time scales, spanning from microseconds to minutes, hours, or even longer periods associated with long-term memory, which suggests that neural information processing involves multiple physical processes operating at different time levels. Rapid electromagnetic events may occur on microsecond scales, whereas electrophysiological phenomena such as action potentials typically last on the order of milliseconds. Longer time scales are associated with synaptic plasticity and memory-related processes. From this perspective, we propose that the physical carrier of neural information may be transient electromagnetic pulses with durations on the microsecond scale. In this framework, action potentials can be interpreted as the macroscopic electrophysiological manifestation of underlying electromagnetic processes triggered by ionic currents across neuronal membranes. Rather than being the fundamental neural signal itself, the action potential may represent a measurable membrane-level response associated with the successful activation of these electromagnetic events. Moreover, we discuss a possible mechanism for long-term memory storage. Considering the apparent temporal contradiction between the millisecond-scale excitation of neurons and the long-term persistence of memories, we believe that long-term memory information may be stored within neural network topologies formed by electrical synapse coupling. Such structures, referred to as electrically coupled memory networks (ECMNs), may enable neurons within the same network to respond rapidly and synchronously to stimuli, thereby facilitating efficient memory retrieval. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of considering the temporal organization of neural electromagnetic activities when interpreting neural signaling mechanisms. It may provide new insights into the physical nature of neural information carriers and the mechanisms of memory storage and retrieval. Furthermore, highlighting the potential role of electromagnetic interactions in neural activity may contribute to the development of new theoretical frameworks and experimental approaches in neuroscience. Such perspectives may also offer valuable references for future research on neural coding, brain function mechanisms, and neuromodulation technologies.

Objective This study reports on the obligatory parasitism of water mites Arrenurus sp. on Anopheles messeae at the Manzhouli Port, Inner Mongolia, China. Methods Duing July 2024, a survey on the mosquito diversity was conducted at the Manzhouli Port. Captured mosquitoes and their ectoparasites were identified to species level. Results A total of 1840 adult mosquitoes were collected, representing species from three genera: Culex(Cx. modestus, Cx. pipiens pallens), Aedes(Ae. dorsalis, Ae. flavidorsalis, Ae. flavescens), and Anopheles (An. messeae). Among all the mosqutioes specimens,3 out of 150 captured An. messeae were found to carry ectoparasitic mites, with number of 2,4,27 mites separately. Morphological and molecular identification reached the same result as water mites(Hydrachnidiae, Hydracrina). COI gene sequence showed 94% similarity with the closest species Arrenurus truncatellus. Conlusions Literature review suggests water mites are host-specific parasitism of mosquito species and herein with the first record of Arrenurus sp. parasiting on An. Messeae in the most high-latitude region globally.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the serum toll-like receptor 4(TLR4),matrix metalloproteinase-3(MMP-3),in-terleukin-1β(IL-1β)and peripheral blood helper T-cell 17/regulatory T-cell(Th17/Treg)levels in patients with chronic periodontitis infected with porphyromonas gingivalis(Pg),as well as their diagnostic value of Pg infection in patients with chronic periodontitis.METHODS Totally 390 cases of patients with chronic periodontitis who at-tended Tianjin Stomatological Hospital from Jan.2022 to Jan.2024 were selected as the study subjects,and were divided into the infected group(113 cases)and the uninfected group(277 cases)according to Pg infection,and those patients in the infected group were further classified into the mild group(31 cases),the moderate group(45 cases),and the severe group(37 cases)according to the condition of the disease.Serum TLR4,MMP-3,IL-1β,and peripheral blood Th17/Treg levels were compared between the infected and uninfected groups and patients with different conditions of chronic periodontitis Pg infection,and the infected group was included in the positive and the uninfected group was included in the negative,and the receiver's operating characteristics(ROC)curves were plotted to obtain the area under the curve(AUC)to analyze the diagnostic value of single and combined de-tection of serum TLR4,MMP-3,and IL-1β,Peripheral blood Th17/Treg for Pg infection in patients with chronic periodontitis.RESULTS Serum TLR4,MMP-3,IL-1β and peripheral blood Th17/Treg levels in the infected group were(20.41±5.12)ng/ml,(6.12±2.03)μg/L,(10.24±2.19)μg/L and(0.32±0.10),higher than those in the uninfected group(P＜0.05).Serum TLR4,MMP-3,IL-1β and peripheral blood Th17/Treg levels in the se-vere group were(22.58±6.10)ng/ml,(8.12±2.67)μg/L,(12.49±3.10)μg/L and(0.52±0.15),higher than those in the moderate group[(14.78±3.44)ng/ml,(6.15±2.07)μg/L,(7.23±1.99)μg/L and(0.22±0.07)]and mild group(P＜0.05),which in the moderate group was higher than those in the mild group(P＜0.05).The results of ROC analysis showed that the AUC of serum TLR4,MMP-3,IL-1β,and peripheral blood Th17/Treg combined test for diagnosing Pg infection in patients with chronic periodontitis was 0.937,which was higher than that of the four single tests(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION Serum TLR4,MMP-3,IL-1β and peripheral blood Th17/Treg were highly expressed in chronic periodontitis patients infected with Pg,and all four indicators can participate in the progression of the disease,and the combined detection of these four indicators has a higher diagnostic value for Pg infection in patients with chronic periodontitis.

Aim To explore the effect of astragalosideⅣ(AS-Ⅳ)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced po-larization and migration of RAW 264.7 macrophages and the underlying mechanism.Methods 1 mg·L-1 LPS was used to construct cell migration model.Scratch assay was utilized to determine cell migration rate.Immunofluorescence staining was utilized to de-tect the expression and location of F4/80,iNOS and Arg-1.CCK-8 assay was used to determine the viabili-ty of RAW 264.7 cells.Griess assay was used to measure NO content.Molecular docking was used to analyze the interaction between AS-Ⅳ and the core tar-gets such as cGAS and STING protein.Western blot was employed to detect the expression of iNOS,Arg-1,cGAS,STING,NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65 protein.Results AS-Ⅳ significantly inhibited the migration and M1 polarization of RAW 264.7 cells induced by LPS.Moreover,AS-Ⅳ could interact with cGAS and STING protein,especially cGAS.Further Western blot assay showed that AS-Ⅳ significantly downregulated the expression of iNOS,cGAS,STING and p-NF-κB p65 protein.Conclusions AS-Ⅳ could promote mac-rophage M1 to M2 polarization,thereby inhibited mac-rophage migration through restraining the cGAS/STING/NF-κB signaling pathway,which provides a new therapeutic target for AS-Ⅳ to improve the early inflammatory response of AS.

Recent studies have shown that the physiological homeostasis of oral mucosal cells is regulated by the circadian clock.Dis-ruption or dysfunction of the circadian clock is closely associated with the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC).Research based on the circadian clock offers a novel perspective on the pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies for OSCC.However,there is current-ly limited research on this topic,and people generally have insufficient understanding and recognition of the circadian clock.Given the complexity and challenges of circadian clock which is the fourth dimension of medical research,we organize relevant experts based on summarizing the current research results of circadian clock in the pathogenesis and precision diagnosis and treatment of OSCC,combining the scientific principles of the circadian clock's role and their long-term research experience,then summarizes and recommends the con-sensus opinions for the research of circadian clock in the pathogenesis mechanism and precision diagnosis and treatment of human OSCC,with the hope of providing guidance for the basic research and clinical application of circadian clock or circadian rhythm in the pathogene-sis mechanism and precision diagnosis and treatment of oral and maxillofacial squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective To observe the impact factors of vascular heat sink effect during in vitro microwave ablation(MWA)of porcine lung.Methods Simulation models were established using in vitro porcine lung tissue blocks based on isobaric inflation with an air pump and cyclic perfusion of duck blood with a glass tube and peristaltic pump,etc.MWA was performed under 8 different combining conditions(vessel diameter of 3 or 5 mm,blood perfusion of 30 or 50 cm/s,as well as distance between vessel and ablation antenna of 5 or 10 mm)each for 3 times.The highest temperature TV on vessel side and TC on control side during MWA,and ablation depth DV on vessel side and DC on control side after MWA were recorded.Multi-factor linear regression equations were constructed based on simulated vessel diameters,blood perfusion and distance between vessel and ablation antenna,and the impact factors of|TC-TV|and|DC-DV|were screened,respectively.Results Simulated vessel diameter showed linear positive correlation with both|TC-TV|and|DC-DV|(both P＜0.001).Simulated distance between vessel and ablation antenna showed linear negative correlation with both|TC-TV|and|DC-DV|(both P＜0.001),and the latter had more obvious impact on vascular heat sink effect than the former.Meanwhile,no significant linear relationship was found between simulated blood perfusion and|TC-TV|nor|DC-DV|(both P＞0.05).Conclusion Simulated vessel diameter and distance between vessel and ablation antenna were both impact factors of vascular heat sink effect during in vitro MWA of porcine lung,and the latter was more influential,whereas simulated blood perfusion showed no significant impact on it.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the serum toll-like receptor 4(TLR4),matrix metalloproteinase-3(MMP-3),in-terleukin-1β(IL-1β)and peripheral blood helper T-cell 17/regulatory T-cell(Th17/Treg)levels in patients with chronic periodontitis infected with porphyromonas gingivalis(Pg),as well as their diagnostic value of Pg infection in patients with chronic periodontitis.METHODS Totally 390 cases of patients with chronic periodontitis who at-tended Tianjin Stomatological Hospital from Jan.2022 to Jan.2024 were selected as the study subjects,and were divided into the infected group(113 cases)and the uninfected group(277 cases)according to Pg infection,and those patients in the infected group were further classified into the mild group(31 cases),the moderate group(45 cases),and the severe group(37 cases)according to the condition of the disease.Serum TLR4,MMP-3,IL-1β,and peripheral blood Th17/Treg levels were compared between the infected and uninfected groups and patients with different conditions of chronic periodontitis Pg infection,and the infected group was included in the positive and the uninfected group was included in the negative,and the receiver's operating characteristics(ROC)curves were plotted to obtain the area under the curve(AUC)to analyze the diagnostic value of single and combined de-tection of serum TLR4,MMP-3,and IL-1β,Peripheral blood Th17/Treg for Pg infection in patients with chronic periodontitis.RESULTS Serum TLR4,MMP-3,IL-1β and peripheral blood Th17/Treg levels in the infected group were(20.41±5.12)ng/ml,(6.12±2.03)μg/L,(10.24±2.19)μg/L and(0.32±0.10),higher than those in the uninfected group(P＜0.05).Serum TLR4,MMP-3,IL-1β and peripheral blood Th17/Treg levels in the se-vere group were(22.58±6.10)ng/ml,(8.12±2.67)μg/L,(12.49±3.10)μg/L and(0.52±0.15),higher than those in the moderate group[(14.78±3.44)ng/ml,(6.15±2.07)μg/L,(7.23±1.99)μg/L and(0.22±0.07)]and mild group(P＜0.05),which in the moderate group was higher than those in the mild group(P＜0.05).The results of ROC analysis showed that the AUC of serum TLR4,MMP-3,IL-1β,and peripheral blood Th17/Treg combined test for diagnosing Pg infection in patients with chronic periodontitis was 0.937,which was higher than that of the four single tests(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION Serum TLR4,MMP-3,IL-1β and peripheral blood Th17/Treg were highly expressed in chronic periodontitis patients infected with Pg,and all four indicators can participate in the progression of the disease,and the combined detection of these four indicators has a higher diagnostic value for Pg infection in patients with chronic periodontitis.

Aim To explore the effect of astragalosideⅣ(AS-Ⅳ)on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced po-larization and migration of RAW 264.7 macrophages and the underlying mechanism.Methods 1 mg·L-1 LPS was used to construct cell migration model.Scratch assay was utilized to determine cell migration rate.Immunofluorescence staining was utilized to de-tect the expression and location of F4/80,iNOS and Arg-1.CCK-8 assay was used to determine the viabili-ty of RAW 264.7 cells.Griess assay was used to measure NO content.Molecular docking was used to analyze the interaction between AS-Ⅳ and the core tar-gets such as cGAS and STING protein.Western blot was employed to detect the expression of iNOS,Arg-1,cGAS,STING,NF-κB p65 and p-NF-κB p65 protein.Results AS-Ⅳ significantly inhibited the migration and M1 polarization of RAW 264.7 cells induced by LPS.Moreover,AS-Ⅳ could interact with cGAS and STING protein,especially cGAS.Further Western blot assay showed that AS-Ⅳ significantly downregulated the expression of iNOS,cGAS,STING and p-NF-κB p65 protein.Conclusions AS-Ⅳ could promote mac-rophage M1 to M2 polarization,thereby inhibited mac-rophage migration through restraining the cGAS/STING/NF-κB signaling pathway,which provides a new therapeutic target for AS-Ⅳ to improve the early inflammatory response of AS.

This study was aimed at establishing a sensitive and specific sandwich ELISA detection method for Brucella.We screened monoclonal capture antibodies and detection antibodies for Brucella detection,and optimized and determined the opti-mal antibody coating time and concentration,as well as the optimal blocking solution,blocking time,and yin-yang critical val-ue.The specificity of this method was verified by examination of other bacteria prone to cross-reacting with Brucella.The sen-sitivity of the method was verified by detection of a gradient dilution of inactivated Brucella.Moreover,the sandwich ELISA detection results were compared with test tube agglutination and qPCR results.The selected capture antibody was 4A12,and the selected detection antibody was 6C12.Experimental analysis indicated that the optimal coating concentration for the 4A12 capture antibody was 5 μg/mL,and the optimal dilution ratio for the 6C12 detection antibody was 1∶2000.The optimal coating conditions were overnight at 4℃,and blocking with 5％skim milk powder for 2 hours.The established double antibody sand-wich ELISA method reacted with only Brucella but not other bacteria,thus demonstrating the method's good specificity.Inac-tivated Brucella solution was still detectable after dilution to 1 × 105 CFU/mL,thus demonstrating the method's good sensitiv-ity.The intra-and inter batch coefficients of variation were both below 10％,thus indicating the method's good repeatability.Thus,this study successfully established a dual antibody sandwich ELISA method for Brucella detection,which has good spe-cificity and sensitivity,and might provide an effective approach for the precise diagnosis and effective prevention and control of brucellosis.