Objective To evaluate the current status in the implementation of GBZ/T 201.5-2015 Radiation shielding requirements for radiotherapy rooms-Part 5: Radiotherapy room of proton accelerators, identify issues in the application of its technical indicators, and provide a basis for the in-depth implementation and further revision of the standard. Methods In accordance with the Standardization Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Guidelines for Health Standards Tracking Evaluation (WS/T 536-2017), a combination of cluster sampling and stratified sampling methods was employed to select professionals involved in proton accelerator radiotherapy devices and facilities in three provinces (or municipalities directly under the central government) as the subjects of the survey. A questionnaire was developed to collect basic information about the subjects and their understanding and application of the technical indicators in the standard. A standard evaluation indicator system with a total score of 100 points was established to score the implementation of the standard (40 points), the technical content (30 points), and the effectiveness of the implementation (30 points). Results A total of 169 professionals from 107 institutions participated in the survey, with 79.88% of the respondents having at least 5 years of experience in radiation therapy and 74.56% holding intermediate or higher professional titles. The score of standard implementation was 18.3 points. The awareness rate exceeded 80%, indicating a high level of awareness about the standard. However, the scores for the dissemination and application of the standard were relatively low, accounting for 28% and 32% of their respective full marks. The technical content of the standard and the effectiveness of its implementation scored 27.0 and 26.6 points, respectively. The overall score in the evaluation of standard implementation was 72 points, with scores of 68.6, 72.3, and 75.0 for Beijing City, Shanghai City, and Jiangsu Province, respectively. Conclusion GBZ/T 201.5-2015 Radiation shielding requirements for radiotherapy rooms-Part 5: Radiotherapy room of proton accelerators is scientific and operable, and it is well-coordinated with relevant laws and standards. However, considering the development in FLASH technology and multi-chamber radiotherapy room, it is necessary to revise and improve the standard.

Objective To investigate the levels of radionuclides in food in Beijing, China, and assess the committed effective dose to local residents from food intake. Methods From 2021 to 2022, a total of 65 food samples across 7 categories were collected in Beijing. The activity concentrations of radionuclides, including ¹³⁷Cs, ²¹⁰Pb, ²³⁸U, ²²⁸Ra, ²²⁶Ra, ⁴⁰K, ⁹⁰Sr, ²¹⁰Po, ³H and ¹⁴C, were measured using gamma spectrometry and radiochemical methods. By combining the monitoring results with dietary consumption data of Beijing residents and the internal dose coefficients for Chinese reference adult phantom, the committed effective dose was estimated. Results The levels of radionuclides in food in Beijing were within the normal background range, consistent with related surveys in China and abroad, with activity concentrations below national standard limits. No significant differences were found in the activity concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs, ²³⁸U, ²²⁸Ra, ²²⁶Ra and ⁴⁰K between food samples collected from key areas and those from control areas (P > 0.05). The committed effective doses calculated according to internal dose coefficients for Chinese reference adult male phantom and GB 18871-2002 were 0.26 mSv and 0.19 mSv, respectively. Based on the Chinese reference adult male phantom, the majority of the committed effective dose was attributed to ²¹⁰Pb (45.1%), ²²⁸Ra (37.1%), ²¹⁰Po (12.3%), and ²²⁶Ra (4.7%). Conclusion The levels of radionuclides in food in Beijing fluctuated within the background range, resulting in a low radiation dose burden to the population.

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with common pathophysiological processes, such as inflammation and fibrosis, in both the heart and the kidney. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms that drive these processes are not yet fully understood. Therefore, this study focused on the molecular mechanism of heart and kidney injury in CKD. METHODS: We generated an microRNA (miR)-26a knockout (KO) mouse model to investigate the role of miR-26a in angiotensin (Ang)-II-induced cardiac and renal injury. We performed Ang-II modeling in wild type (WT) mice and miR-26a KO mice, with six mice in each group. In addition, Ang-II-treated AC16 cells and HK2 cells were used as in vitro models of cardiac and renal injury in the context of CKD. Histological staining, immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and Western blotting were applied to study the regulation of miR-26a on Ang-II-induced cardiac and renal injury. Immunofluorescence reporter assays were used to detect downstream genes of miR-26a, and immunoprecipitation was employed to identify the interacting protein of LIM and senescent cell antigen-like domain 1 (LIMS1). We also used an adeno-associated virus (AAV) to supplement LIMS1 and explored the specific regulatory mechanism of miR-26a on Ang-II-induced cardiac and renal injury. Dunnett's multiple comparison and t -test were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Compared with the control mice, miR-26a expression was significantly downregulated in both the kidney and the heart after Ang-II infusion. Our study identified LIMS1 as a novel target gene of miR-26a in both heart and kidney tissues. Downregulation of miR-26a activated the LIMS1/integrin-linked kinase (ILK) signaling pathway in the heart and kidney, which represents a common molecular mechanism underlying inflammation and fibrosis in heart and kidney tissues during CKD. Furthermore, knockout of miR-26a worsened inflammation and fibrosis in the heart and kidney by inhibiting the LIMS1/ILK signaling pathway; on the contrary, supplementation with exogenous miR-26a reversed all these changes. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that miR-26a could be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of cardiorenal injury in CKD. This is attributed to its ability to regulate the LIMS1/ILK signaling pathway, which represents a common molecular mechanism in both heart and kidney tissues.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Angiotensin II/toxicity* ; Mice ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/chemically induced* ; Mice, Knockout ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Signal Transduction/genetics* ; LIM Domain Proteins/genetics* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Cell Line ; Humans

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is prevalent among men, but its relationship with dietary habits is uncertain. The aim of our study was to assess whether dietary patterns enhance erectile function by reviewing the literature published before August 1, 2022, via PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases. The data compiled included author details; publication dates, countries, treatments, patient numbers, ages, follow-ups, and clinical trial outcomes, such as ED cases, odds ratios (ORs), confidence intervals (CIs), and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) scores with means and standard deviations. An analysis of 14 studies with 27 389 participants revealed that plant-based diets (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.66-0.75; P < 0.00001), low-fat diets (OR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.13-0.53; P = 0.0002), and alternative diets such as intermittent fasting and organic diets (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.36-0.80; P = 0.002) significantly reduced ED risk. High-protein low-fat diets (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.12-1.64; P < 0.00001) and high-carb low-fat diets (HR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.55-1.04; P < 0.00001) improved IIEF-5 scores. Combined diet and exercise interventions decreased the likelihood of ED (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.28-0.85; P = 0.01) and increased the IIEF-5 score (OR = 3.40, 95% CI: 1.69-5.11; P < 0.0001). Diets abundant in fruits and vegetables (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.96-0.98; P < 0.00001) and nuts (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.37-0.80; P = 0.002) were also correlated with lower ED risk. Our meta-analysis underscores a strong dietary-ED association, suggesting that low-fat/Mediterranean diets rich in produce and nuts could benefit ED management.
Humans ; Male ; Erectile Dysfunction/epidemiology* ; Diet ; Diet, Fat-Restricted ; Feeding Behavior ; Penile Erection/physiology* ; Diet, Vegetarian

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a hospital-made resuscitation pack, a Chinese medicinal herbal compound formula designed to enhance recovery in post-bronchoscopy patients. METHODS: In this randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, eligible patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to either the treatment or control groups. The patients in the treatment group applied the resuscitation pack, which contained aromatic compounded Chinese herbs. The patients in the control group applied a hospital-made, single herb placebo pack. Packs were placed on the Tiantu (CV 22) acupuncture point for 4 h as soon as the bronchoscopy finished. Efficacy indicators, such as recovery time, patients' symptoms including nausea and dizziness, and adverse events (AEs) were observed and compared. The outcome indices were evaluated at baseline, 1 and 24 h after the bronchoscopy. Subgroup analysis was further performed by patients' age and depth of sedation. RESULTS: When applying generalized estimating equations (GEE) to evaluate the intensity of post-bronchoscopy nausea and vomiting, the intensity was lower in the treatment group (163 cases) compared with the control group (162 cases; 95% CI: 0.004, 0.099, P=0.03]. Also, significantly lower intensity of nausea was observed in the 60-70 years of age subgroup (95% CI: 0.029, 0.169, P=0.006) and deep sedation subgroup (95% CI: 0.002, 0.124; P=0.04). There was no significant difference in dizziness between two groups by GEE (95% CI: -0.134, 0.297; P=0.459). In addition, no serious AEs were observed in either group. CONCLUSIONS Our study found that the resuscitation pack markedly improved patients' symptoms by reducing nausea and vomiting after bronchoscopy without AEs, compared with placebo in the perioperative period. (Trial registration No. ChiCTR2000038299).
Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Female ; Bronchoscopy/adverse effects* ; Single-Blind Method ; Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/adverse effects* ; Treatment Outcome ; Resuscitation ; Adult ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Acute kidney injury (AKI) has high morbidity and mortality, but effective clinical drugs and management are lacking. Previous studies have suggested that macrophages play a crucial role in the inflammatory response to AKI and may serve as potential therapeutic targets. Emerging evidence has highlighted the importance of forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1) in mediating macrophage activation and polarization in various diseases, but the specific mechanisms by which FoxO1 regulates macrophages during AKI remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the role of FoxO1 in macrophages in the pathogenesis of AKI. We observed a significant upregulation of FoxO1 in kidney macrophages following ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Additionally, our findings demonstrated that the administration of FoxO1 inhibitor AS1842856-encapsulated liposome (AS-Lipo), mainly acting on macrophages, effectively mitigated renal injury induced by I/R injury in mice. By generating myeloid-specific FoxO1-knockout mice, we further observed that the deficiency of FoxO1 in myeloid cells protected against I/R injury-induced AKI. Furthermore, our study provided evidence of FoxO1's pivotal role in macrophage chemotaxis, inflammation, and migration. Moreover, the impact of FoxO1 on the regulation of macrophage migration was mediated through RhoA guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 (ARHGEF1), indicating that ARHGEF1 may serve as a potential intermediary between FoxO1 and the activity of the RhoA pathway. Consequently, our findings propose that FoxO1 plays a crucial role as a mediator and biomarker in the context of AKI. Targeting macrophage FoxO1 pharmacologically could potentially offer a promising therapeutic approach for AKI.

Non-peptide macrocyclic drugs possess unique structural advantages that allow them to target various biomolecules of interest and thus show therapeutic potential against various diseases such as cancer, infectious diseases, etc. This review article examines 34 non-peptide macrocyclic drugs approved between 2000 and 2024, with a particular focus on the optimization process of representative macrocyclic drugs such as natural macrocycles, natural product-inspired macrocycles, and de novo-designed macrocycles. We discuss their structural characteristics, highlighting how conformational rigidity and enhanced target specificity contribute to their efficacy. Design details of these new macrocyclic drugs are illustrated through successful examples, offering insights for optimizing macrocycles. Of note, macrocyclization of U-shaped lead structures represents a novel molecular skeleton editing strategy in de novo macrocycle drug design.

Lophatheri Herba (Danzhuye in Chinese) is derived from the dried stems and leaves of Lophatherum gracile and has a long history of use as a medicinal and food source. Flavonoids and phenolic acids are the main active ingredients in Lophatheri Herba, which produce diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic effects. Flavonoid glycosides and hydroxybenzoic acids are respectively the main structure in 44 flavonoids and 16 phenolic acids obtained from Lophatheri Herba. Modern pharmacological studies have found that the main chemical constituents of Lophatheri Herba play important roles in anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective and hypoglycaemic effects. Studies have demonstrated that flavonoid monomers, for example, luteolin, isoorientin, luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucoside and apigenin are more effective in exerting the above pharmacological effects. In addition, Lophatheri Herba is used in different food products as the main ingredient or as an accessory. This review describes Lophatheri Herba in terms of its chemical composition, pharmacological effects and efficacy, food development and applications, and clinical utility, and discusses the problems facing its use. This study provides valuable ideas and a scientific basis for the future development and use of L. gracile.

In recent years, prone mechanical ventilation has been widely used to improve oxygenation dysfunction in critically ill patients. During prone mechanical ventilation, the patient's face is compressed for a long time, and due to the difficulty in changing, facial pressure injuries and ocular complications are common and severe. These complications increase patient discomfort, reduce their tolerance and compliance with prone ventilation, and even cause tracheal tube displacement or dislodgement, leading to significant clinical challenges. In order to change this situation, the medical staff of the department of critical care medicine of the Second People's Hospital of Hengshui and the department of critical care medicine of Harrison International Peace Hospital had developed an adjustable facial support pad for prone ventilation, and obtained a National Utility Model Patent of China (ZL 2022 2 3295294.4). The device is composed of a facial support platform, a supporting telescopic foot frame and so on. There are front, back, left and right adjustable tracks below the support cushion platform, which can be adjusted to the best state suitable for the patient's face shape, which can alleviate the facial pressure injuries and ocular complications caused by the different sizes of each patient's face, improve the patient's comfort, and reduce the incidence of facial pressure injury and the occurrence of ocular complications of the patient. The height of the platform is adjusted by the telescopic feet, and there is a hook assembly below, which can be fixed by the clamp of the ventilator tubing, so as to prevent the ventilator tubing from pulling the endotracheal intubation due to the gravity of condensation, resulting in the displacement or even prolapse of the tracheal intubation, and reducing the occurrence of adverse events of tracheal intubation. It is worth promoting in the clinic.
Humans ; Respiration, Artificial/methods* ; Prone Position ; Equipment Design ; Face