ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Yifei Jianpi prescription on the of signal transducer and activator of transcription protein 1 （STAT1）/interferon regulatory factor 3 （IRF3） signaling pathway in a pneumonia model induced by lipopolysaccharide （LPS） and to explore the mechanism of Yifei Jianpi prescription in improving lung immune and inflammatory responses. MethodsSixty male SPF SD rats were used in this study. Ten rats were randomly assigned to the normal control group， and the remaining 50 were instilled with LPS in the trachea to establish a pneumonia model. After successful modeling， the rats were randomly divided into the model group， dexamethasone group （0.5 mg·kg^-1）， and Yifei Jianpi prescription high-dose （12 mg·kg^-1）， medium-dose （6 mg·kg^-1）， and low-dose （3 mg·kg^-1） groups， with 10 rats in each group. Treatment was administered once daily， and the normal control and model groups received the same volume of normal saline. After 14 days， flow cytometry was used to detect the classification of whole blood lymphocytes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to measure serum levels of immunoglobulin G （IgG）， immunoglobulin A （IgA）， immunoglobulin M （IgM）， and the content of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-8 （IL-8）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and interleukin-10 （IL-10） in alveolar lavage fluid （BALF）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe lung tissue pathology and score the damage. Thymus weight， spleen weight， and wet-to-dry weight ratio （W/D） were recorded. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the mRNA expression of STAT1， IRF3， IL-6， and interferon-alpha （IFN-α） in lung tissues， while Western blot was performed to assess the protein expression of STAT1， IRF3， IL-6， and IFN-α. ResultsCompared with the normal control group， the model group showed significantly increased proportion of B lymphocytes in peripheral blood， decreased proportions of NK cells and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ （P<0.05， P<0.01）， decreased serum levels of IgG and IgA， significantly increased IgM levels （P<0.01）， significantly elevated content of TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-8 in BALF， and significantly decreased IL-10 levels （P<0.01）. Lung tissue damage was evident， with significant increases in thymus and spleen weights and a higher W/D ratio （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expression of STAT1， IRF3， IFN-α， and IL-6 in lung tissues was significantly upregulated （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the Yifei Jianpi prescription groups showed significantly reduced proportions of B lymphocytes in peripheral blood， increased proportions of NK cells and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratios （P<0.05， P<0.01）， significantly increased serum levels of IgG and IgA， significantly decreased IgM levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）， significantly reduced levels of TNF-α， IL-6， and IL-8 in BALF， and significantly increased IL-10 levels （P<0.01）. Lung tissue damage was alleviated， thymus and spleen weights were significantly reduced， and the W/D ratio was markedly decreased （P<0.01）. The mRNA and protein expression of STAT1， IRF3， IFN-α， and IL-6 in lung tissues was significantly downregulated （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionYifei Jianpi prescription can alleviate lung tissue damage and improve immune and inflammatory responses in LPS-induced pneumonia rats. The mechanism may be related to the inhibition of STAT1/IRF3 signaling pathway activation.

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.

Objective To investigate the method of tube furnace oxidation combustion and liquid scintillation counting for the determination of carbon-14 in seafood, and to provide technical support for the monitoring of carbon-14 in seafood. Methods By studying the pyrolysis characteristics of five types of dried seafood samples, including yellow croaker, white shrimp, swimming crab, clam, and seaweed, a temperature control program suitable for the oxidation combustion of seafood was established. The combustion efficiency, carbon element recovery rate, and the accuracy and precision of the method were determined. Results The combustion efficiency was more than 98% for most seafood using the recommended combustion program. The recovery rate of carbon was similar to that calculated by glucose combustion; both were more than 95%. Four laboratories validated the accuracy of the method by measuring the carbon-14 activity concentration in the Chinese sugar carbon standard material. The relative errors ranged from 1.03% to 3.41% and the average relative error was 2.36%. The precision of this method was verified by measuring the carbon-14 activity concentration in yellow croaker samples. The within-laboratory relative standard deviation ranged from 5.11% to 9.35% and the between-laboratories relative standard deviation was 4.04%. Conclusion The tube furnace oxidation combustion and liquid scintillation counting method was used to determine the activity concentration of carbon-14 in seafood. The recommended oxidation combustion program is more targeted and less time-consuming. The accuracy and precision of this method meet the requirements. This method is suitable for the determination of carbon-14 in seafood.

Background ¹³⁷Cs in atmospheric aerosol is the product of past nuclear weapon tests and nuclear accidents. When ¹³⁷Cs is released into the atmosphere, it will deposit in dry land and marine environment, causing pollution of soil surface, water, agricultural products, and animal byproducts, and affecting public health. Objective To identify the variation pattern of ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration in aerosol and its correlation with dust concentration in Beijing area from 2017 to 2020. Methods A total of 958 aerosol samples were collected from November 1, 2017 to June 30, 2020 in Beijing with a high volume air sampler at a sampling flow rate about 600 m³·h⁻¹ and a collection time for each sample about 24 h. The activity concentration of ¹³⁷Cs in the aerosol samples was determined with a low-background high-purity germanium γ spectrometer. The dust concentration was calculated using the difference in the mass of the aerosol filter before and after sampling. The detection rate of ¹³⁷Cs and dust concentration in different seasons were compared. Spearman rank correlation test was used to analyze the correlation between ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration and dust concentration. Results From 2017 to 2020, the ¹³⁷Cs activity concentrations of 33 from 958 aerosol samples in Beijing were above the minimum detectable activityconcentration, the overall detection rate of ¹³⁷Cs was 3.4%, and the activity concentration ranged from 1.86 to 45.53 μBq·m⁻³, with a median value of 4.85 μBq·m⁻³. The detection rate of ¹³⁷Cs was highest in spring, followed by autumn, and lowest in winter and summer (8.4%, 3.0%, 1.1%, and 0.5%, respectively). The dust concentration ranged from 0.03 to 1.55 mg·m⁻³, with an average value of 0.18 mg·m⁻³. There was a statistically significant difference in the dust concentrations in spring, summer, autumn, and winter (F=45.51, P<0.05), and the highest value was 0.24 mg·m⁻³ in spring (P<0.05). The ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration was positively correlated with the dust concentration (P<0.05). Conclusion The ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration in aerosol in Beijing from 2017 to 2020 fluctuates within the range of background level, and its activity concentration is highest in spring, followed autumn, and lowest in summer and winter.

Objective To observe the daily bladder and bowel preparation of patients with prostate cancer by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and analyze its impact on the precise implementation of radiotherapy for prostate cancer and side effects. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 38 patients with prostate cancer who underwent volumetric modulated arc therapy. The number of radiation fractions for each patient ranged from 25 to 35. A CBCT scan was performed before each daily radiation therapy, and the number of scans for each patient ranged from 25 to 40. Setup errors were adjusted to ensure that the tumor was targeted and the rectum wall was not in the high-dose target area of the prostate. There were 93 instances where treatment could not be successfully implemented and re-preparation and re-scanning were required. We calculated the success rate of treatment and setup errors, compared radiotherapist-adjusted error values under different bladder and bowel preparation conditions, and recorded radiotherapy-related side effects. Results The success rate of treatment in the 38 patients was (92.14 ± 5.25)%. Among the 93 instances of seriously inadequate preparation, 48.4% were due to insufficient bladder filling, and 30.1% were due to intestinal bloating. Radiotherapy side effects were negatively correlated with the success rate of treatment (r = −0.393, P = 0.015). When bladder filling was sufficient, there were no significant differences in radiotherapist-adjusted error values in the left-right (LR), superior-inferior (SI), and anterior-posterior (AP) directions between adequate and inadequate bowel preparation (P > 0.05). When the bladder was moderately or insufficiently filled, there were significant differences in radiotherapist-adjusted error values in the LR, SI, and AP directions between adequate and inadequate bowel preparation (P < 0.05). Conclusion Insufficient bladder filling and intestinal bloating are the main factors influencing the successful implementation of radiotherapy for prostate cancer. When the bladder is sufficiently filled, bowel preparation does not affect prostate position change.

Objective To understand the effects of ²⁴¹Am standard material powder with different matrices on the determination of gross alpha activity in water, and to provide a reference for the selection and use of alpha standard sources. Methods The alpha counting efficiency of ²⁴¹Am standard material powder with different matrices was measured by low-background alpha and beta measuring instrument. The radiochemical recovery rate and whole process efficiency of gross alpha activity in water were determined by spike experiments. Results The alpha counting efficiency of the ²⁴¹Am standard material powder with four matrices was in the descending order of calcium carbonate, calcium carbonate and silica mixed matrix, calcium sulfate, and silica. The default chemical recovery rate is 1 when gross alpha activity in water is measured by thick source method. The use of ²⁴¹Am standard material with calcium carbonate as a matrix resulted in about 35% decrease in gross alpha activity, and about 10% deviation was observed using ²⁴¹Am standard material with silica or calcium carbonate and silica mixed matrices. The whole process efficiency of alpha activity in four spiked water samples with ²⁴¹Am standard solution and ²⁴¹Am standard material powder with calcium carbonate, silica, or mixed matrix was 6.34%-7.30%. Conclusion Standard materials with different matrices demonstrate different self-absorption of alpha particles and various influence on the chemical recovery. When purchasing and using standard material powders for alpha activity measurement in laboratories, the composition of the matrix should be clarified as much as possible, and the gross alpha activity in water should be determined by measuring the whole process efficiency if necessary.

Objective:To investigate the value of radiomics nomogram based on standardized pre-treatment chest enhanced CT in predicting the mutation status of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) for patients with lung adenocarcinoma.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on pre-treatment chest enhanced CT images and clinical data of 262 patients from the affiliated hospital of Jining Medical University with pathologically proven primary lung adenocarcinoma who received EGFR gene testing, including EGFR wild type ( n=122) and mutant type ( n=140). The patients were divided into training group ( n=183) and testing group ( n=79) according to a ratio of 7∶3 by stratified sampling method. Standardized pre-processed the images, delineated the ROI and extracted the radiomics features. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm was used to reduce the dimension and select key features. The standardized radiomics model, clinical model and the combined model were established by Logistic Regression (LR) machine learning method. Calculated the Rad-score and drew the nomogram. ROC curve and Delong were used to evaluate and compare the predictive performance of different models. Results:23 standardized enhanced CT radiomics features and 4 clinical features were selected. The predictive performance of standardized radiomics model was better than that of non-standardized radiomics model [area under curve (AUC): 0.863 vs. 0.805, t=2.19, P<0.05]. The AUCs of the combined model and standardized radiomics model were higher than that of the clinical model (training group: 0.885, 0.863 vs. 0.774, t=3.57, 2.17, P<0.05; testing group: 0.873, 0.829 vs. 0.763, t=2.19, 2.02, P<0.05). The radiomics nomogram was built based on Rad-score, age, sex, smoking history and BMI. Conclusions:The combined model and standardized radiomics model could effectively predict the mutation status of EGFR gene in lung adenocarcinoma patients before treatment, providing valuable clinical insights.

Objective To explore the uranium concentration in surface water and drinking water in Beijing, China and the relationship between uranium concentration and gross α activity concentration. Methods Water samples were collected from 16 districts in Beijing. Uranium concentration and gross α activity concentration were measured with WGJ-III trace uranium analyzer and LB6008 six-channel α/β counter using the ultraviolet fluorescence and thick source methods. Results The uranium concentrations in surface water and drinking water were 1.131 and 1.572 μg/L, respectively. The gross α activity concentrations in surface water and drinking water were 0.059 and 0.074 Bq/L, respectively. There were no significant differences in uranium concentration and gross α activity concentration between surface water and drinking water (P > 0.05). The uranium concentration was positively correlated with the gross α activity concentration, with a correlation coefficient of 0.700 (P < 0.05). The gross α activity concentration was determined by the uranium concentration with a determination coefficient of 48%. The committed effective dose of ²³⁸U in drinking water was between 3.284 × 10⁻⁵ and 1.640 × 10⁻³ mSv, with an average value of 5.400 × 10⁻⁴ mSv. Conclusion The uranium concentration and gross α activity in the surface water and drinking water in Beijing fluctuate and remain in the background range. These values are much lower than the recommended limits of 0.03 mg/L and 0.5 Bq/L stipulated in the GB 5749-2021 Standard for Drinking Water Quality. The annual committed effective dose of ²³⁸U through drinking water ingestion is very small.

Objective: To explore the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and executive function in Chinese adolescents, so as to provide a reference for promoting the overall development of Chinese adolescents physical and mental health. Methods: From September to December 2022, a total of 5 018 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years from Shanghai, Suzhou, Taiyuan, Wuyuan, Xingyi, and Urumqi were selected by stratified cluster sampling method to assess cardiorespiratory fitness and executive function. Pearson s correlation and linear hierarchical regression were performed to analyze the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and executive functions. Results: Among the sample of adolescents, maximal oxygen consumption (VO 2max ) was negatively correlated with the refreshing(1-back, 2-back) and conversion executive function responses ( r=-0.07, -0.12, -0.12, P <0.01). Linear regression analysis showed that VO 2max was negatively correlated with the reaction times of the refreshing(1-back, 2-back) and conversion functions ( B=-2.99, -6.44, -1.69, P <0.01). Conclusions Higher cardiorespiratory fitness among adolescents is associated with better performance in executive function. Teenagers should strengthen high intensity cardiopulmonary endurance exercise to promote the improvement of executive function.

Objective:To preliminarily investigate the applicability of a poliovirus pseudovirus-based neutralization assay in evaluating the immunogenicity of recombinant poliovirus vaccines and their in vivo potency in rats. Methods:Serum samples from rats immunized with recombinant poliovirus vaccines were tested using both the pseudovirus neutralization assay and the live-virus neutralization assay with Sabin strain. The consistency and correlation of the two methods were analyzed using the Kappa test and Spearman′s rank correlation.Results:For the neutralizing antibodies against typeⅠ, Ⅱ, and Ⅲ polioviruses, the Kappa values for consistency analysis of the two methods were 0.914, 1.000, and 0.751, respectively ( P<0.001), and the correlation coefficients ( R values) were 0.833, 0.927, and 0.859, respectively ( P<0.001). Conclusions:The test results of the two methods are consistent and show a good correlation, indicating that the pseudovirus neutralization assay can be applied to evaluating the immunogenicity of poliovirus vaccines and also can be used in rat potency tests.