Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a clinically significant complication in elderly patients, largely driven by surgery-induced neuroinflammation. The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway, a crucial regulator of innate immunity, has been implicated in neuroinflammatory activation. This study investigated whether electroacupuncture (EA) improves POCD by modulating this pathway in aged rats. Aged male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to sevoflurane anesthesia and splenectomy to establish a POCD model. Animals were divided into sham, POCD, POCD+EA, and POCD+EA+cGAS inhibitor groups. The EA groups received stimulation at Baihui (Governor Vessel 20 (GV20)), Neiguan (Pericardium 6 (PC6)), and Zusanli (Stomach 36 (ST36)) acupoints. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Morris water maze, while hippocampal expression of cGAS-STING pathway components and downstream effectors—interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β)—was assessed by Western blot. Cellular localization was determined by immunofluorescence staining. Compared with the Sham group, rats in the POCD group showed significant impairments in spatial memory, accompanied by upregulated protein expression of cGAS, STING, NF-κB, IRF3, and IL-1β in the hippocampus. Upon pathway activation, cGAS and STING proteins were predominantly co-localized with neurons, and their fluorescence intensity in the hippocampus was markedly increased. These behavioral deficits and molecular alterations were partially reversed in both the POCD+EA and POCD+EA+inhibitor groups. Electroacupuncture alleviates POCD in aged rats by inhibiting hippocampal cGAS-STING pathway activation and reducing neuroinflammation, suggesting a promising non-pharmacological strategy for POCD management.

BACKGROUND:Hydrogen peroxide-based bleach is widely used in clinical tooth whitening treatment,but its mechanism of action has not been uniformly determined so far.OBJECTIVE:To examine the effects of two bleaching agents,neutral 10％carbamide peroxide and neutral 40％hydrogen peroxide,on teeth and explore the mechanism of teeth whitening.METHODS:Forty-five discarded teeth extracted for orthodontic treatment were collected,and the dentin sections were made and polished.After removing the smear layer,they were randomly divided into three groups.The control group(n=15)was placed in deionized water;the carbamide peroxide group(n=15)was placed in a neutral 10％carbamide peroxide solution,and the hydrogen peroxide group(n=15)was placed in a neutral 40％hydrogen peroxide solution.The treatment was continued for 6 hours every day for 1 week.The Raman absolute intensity and Raman relative intensity of the three groups of samples were detected by Raman spectrometer every day,and the fluorescence background intensity(the difference between the Raman absolute intensity and the Raman relative intensity)was calculated.The change trend of the amide peak of the three groups of samples every day was recorded by infrared spectrometer.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The relative Raman intensity of the three groups did not change significantly during the 1-7 days of treatment.The fluorescence background intensity of the control group did not change significantly during the 1-7 days of treatment.The fluorescence background intensity of the carbamide peroxide group showed a downward trend during the 1-7 days of treatment.The fluorescence background intensity of the hydrogen peroxide group decreased significantly during the 1-4 days of treatment and did not change significantly thereafter.(2)The peak areas of amide Ⅰ and amide Ⅲ did not change significantly during the 1-7 days of treatment in the control group.The peak areas of amide Ⅰ and amide Ⅲ showed a downward trend during the 1-7 days of treatment in the carbamide peroxide group and the hydrogen peroxide group,and the downward trend was more obvious in the hydrogen peroxide group.(3)The results show that the change in the laser-induced fluorescence background intensity of dentin Raman spectroscopy may be derived from the non-collagen components in dentin,and under the action of whitening agents,it may have a certain adverse effect on tooth tissue.

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is fundamentally driven by an imbalance in hepatic fatty-acid flux: the influx of fatty acids exceeds the liver’s capacity for disposal, resulting in excessive hepatic lipid accumulation, predominantly in the form of triglycerides (TGs). The occurrence and progression of MAFLD depend on disordered regulation across multiple metabolic steps, including fatty-acid uptake, de novo lipogenesis (DNL), fatty-acid oxidation (FAO), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) export. Forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) is a key transcriptional regulator within the hepatic network coordinating glucose and lipid metabolism. Under metabolic stress and insulin resistance (IR), FOXO1 expression is frequently increased, whereas its inhibitory phosphorylation is reduced. These changes enhance FOXO1 nuclear localization and transcriptional activity, thereby reprogramming the expression of genes related to metabolism in the liver. Because hepatic lipid deposition is the central pathological feature of MAFLD, the functional status of FOXO1 directly influences hepatic lipid homeostasis. Growing evidence suggests that FOXO1 can exert bidirectional, environment-dependent effects on hepatic lipid accumulation; however, the molecular basis for this functional switch remains incompletely understood. This review systematically summarizes the biological functions and regulatory mechanisms of FOXO1 and its roles in hepatic lipid metabolism, with a particular focus on its crosstalk with insulin signaling. FOXO1 expression is shaped by RNA modifications and epigenetic regulation mediated by non-coding RNAs. Its transcriptional output is precisely governed by post-translational modifications—such as phosphorylation and acetylation—as well as by coordinated nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. Notably, these regulatory patterns vary markedly across nutritional states, degrees of insulin resistance, and stages of disease. In the fed state, insulin/IGF-1 signaling activates the PI3K-AKT pathway, promoting the inhibitory phosphorylation of FOXO1 and facilitating additional modifications, including acetylation, methylation, and ubiquitination. Together, these events drive FOXO1 export from the nucleus and dampen its transcriptional activity, suppressing gluconeogenesis and constraining lipogenic programs. Conversely, during fasting or when insulin signaling is weakened, FOXO1 inhibition is relieved. FOXO1 accumulates in the nucleus, binds to DNA, and regulates the transcription of downstream target genes. Mechanistically, FOXO1 can aggravate hepatic lipid accumulation by activating genes involved in TG synthesis while repressing FAO-related pathways, thereby favoring storage over oxidation. However, under specific conditions, FOXO1 may also alleviate the hepatic lipid burden by promoting TG hydrolysis and enhancing VLDL secretion, thereby reducing the net hepatic lipid load. In addition, lipotoxic signals mediated by ceramides and diacylglycerols (Cer/DAG) activate atypical protein kinase C (aPKC), further exacerbating the disruption of the AKT-FOXO1 axis. This vicious cycle ultimately produces a metabolic paradox in which increased hepatic glucose output coexists with persistent, insulin-independent lipogenesis, accelerating MAFLD progression. Importantly, FOXO1 regulation is not uniform: during early metabolic overload, insulin-mediated suppression may remain effective, whereas in advanced insulin resistance, the loss of AKT control permits sustained FOXO1 activity. Such stage-dependent dynamics may help explain why FOXO1 can either promote steatosis or, in certain contexts, support programs that facilitate lipid turnover. Accordingly, interventions should be liver-specific and tuned to the disease stage, aiming to curb maladaptive FOXO1 signaling while preserving its capacity to promote triglyceride hydrolysis and VLDL secretion when advantageous. Overall, this review offers an important perspective on MAFLD pathogenesis, emphasizing FOXO1 as a potential therapeutic target and providing a theoretical basis for developing liver-specific, disease-course-dependent precision interventions.

Background Lead is a typical persistent environmental pollutant that can accumulate in bones for decades. During pregnancy, alterations in calcium metabolism promote the mobilization of bone lead, resulting in secondary exposure; however, the mechanisms by which pregnancy-associated bone lead mobilization affects maternal renal function remain unclear. Objective To investigate the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in pregnancy-related bone lead mobilization-induced renal injury. Methods Newly weaned female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to a control or a lead-exposed group administered either 0.05% sodium acetate or 0.05% lead acetate in drinking water. Following a 4-week lead exposure and a 4-week washout period, the females were co-housed with healthy age-matched males for mating. Rats were sacrificed at early (gestational day 3) and late (gestational day 17) pregnancystages, respectively. Renal histopathology was assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining staining. Mitochondria-related indicators, including oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and energy metabolism, were measured. Differential metabolites were identified using serum metabolomics. Results Renal injury in the lead-exposed pregnant rats progressed in a time-dependent manner, characterized by degeneration of proximal tubular epithelial cells, glomerular hyaline changes, and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated a significant interaction between the treatment factor (lead exposure) and the temporal factor (gestational stage) on renal injury (P<0.001). Further analysis of mitochondrial function-related indicators in late-pregnancy renal tissue revealed that the lead exposure group exhibited significantly increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) (P<0.05), accompanied by a reduction in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) activities (P<0.05); regarding inflammatory markers, levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were elevated (P<0.01), whereas interleukin-33 (IL-33) was decreased in the lead-exposed group (P<0.05); energy metabolism-related indicators, including adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level, Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase and Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase activities, and mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I, III, and V activities, were significantly reduced (P<0.05) in the lead-exposed gorup. The typical differential metabolite N-methylisoleucine, identified through serum metabolomics analysis, was negatively correlated with blood lead levels, kidney injury scores, and IL-1β, while positively correlated with catalase (CAT) activity and Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase. Conclusions Mitochondrial dysfunction may play a critical role in renal injury induced by bone lead mobilization during late gestation.

OBJECTIVE To form an expert consensus addressing clinical issues regarding the use of parenteral direct thrombin inhibitors （DTIs） in special populations. METHODS Led by the Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital（the Affiliated Hospital of UESTC）， a multidisciplinary working group was formed comprising experts from multiple fields， including clinical pharmacy， cardiac surgery， obstetrics， pediatrics and evidence-based medicine. Through literature review and the Delphi method， clinical questions regarding the efficacy and safety of parenteral DTIs used in special populations were identified. A structured design was adopted using the “Population-Intervention-Comparison-Outcome” （PICO） framework；systematic searches were conducted in CJFD， PubMed， Embase and other databases. Relevant evidence from randomized controlled trials，cohort studies and systematic reviews were included and synthesized. Evidence quality was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment，Development and Evaluation （GRADE） approach， and recommendations were formulated through three rounds of Delphi surveys and expert consensus meetings. RESULTS &CONCLUSIONS Seven clinical questions were ultimately selected （with a consensus rate exceeding 90%）， resulting in the formulation of seven recommendations on the use of parenteral DTIs in special populations， including children， pregnant women， patients with hepatic or renal impairment， patients with mesenteric venous thrombosis， and individuals with thrombophilia. These recommendations clarify the preferred agents， dosing ranges， monitoring parameters， and safety management strategies for parenteral DTIs in these special populations. This expert consensus， which is formulated based on the best available evidence， provides evidence-based guidance for standardized and individualized use of parenteral DTIs in special populations.

BACKGROUND:Hydrogen peroxide-based bleach is widely used in clinical tooth whitening treatment,but its mechanism of action has not been uniformly determined so far.OBJECTIVE:To examine the effects of two bleaching agents,neutral 10％carbamide peroxide and neutral 40％hydrogen peroxide,on teeth and explore the mechanism of teeth whitening.METHODS:Forty-five discarded teeth extracted for orthodontic treatment were collected,and the dentin sections were made and polished.After removing the smear layer,they were randomly divided into three groups.The control group(n=15)was placed in deionized water;the carbamide peroxide group(n=15)was placed in a neutral 10％carbamide peroxide solution,and the hydrogen peroxide group(n=15)was placed in a neutral 40％hydrogen peroxide solution.The treatment was continued for 6 hours every day for 1 week.The Raman absolute intensity and Raman relative intensity of the three groups of samples were detected by Raman spectrometer every day,and the fluorescence background intensity(the difference between the Raman absolute intensity and the Raman relative intensity)was calculated.The change trend of the amide peak of the three groups of samples every day was recorded by infrared spectrometer.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The relative Raman intensity of the three groups did not change significantly during the 1-7 days of treatment.The fluorescence background intensity of the control group did not change significantly during the 1-7 days of treatment.The fluorescence background intensity of the carbamide peroxide group showed a downward trend during the 1-7 days of treatment.The fluorescence background intensity of the hydrogen peroxide group decreased significantly during the 1-4 days of treatment and did not change significantly thereafter.(2)The peak areas of amide Ⅰ and amide Ⅲ did not change significantly during the 1-7 days of treatment in the control group.The peak areas of amide Ⅰ and amide Ⅲ showed a downward trend during the 1-7 days of treatment in the carbamide peroxide group and the hydrogen peroxide group,and the downward trend was more obvious in the hydrogen peroxide group.(3)The results show that the change in the laser-induced fluorescence background intensity of dentin Raman spectroscopy may be derived from the non-collagen components in dentin,and under the action of whitening agents,it may have a certain adverse effect on tooth tissue.

Objective To analyze the overall characteristics, research hotspots, and development trends of immune cell-related studies in radiotherapy for rectal cancer. Methods A systematic search was conducted by using Web of Science Core Collection to retrieve articles related to radiation therapy and immune cells in rectal cancer published from 1991 to 2024. Advanced bibliometric tools, such as VOSviewer and CiteSpace, were utilized to facilitate analysis and describe publication trends, geographic contributions, institutional affiliations, journal prominence, author collaboration, and prominent keywords. Results The annual number of relevant publications has increased steadily, showing remarkable growth over the past five years. Studies focusing on adaptive immune cells (T and B cells) account for the largest proportion of works and form the most extensive collaboration networks, reflecting the central role of T cell–mediated antitumor immunity in radiotherapy. Meanwhile, innate immune cells, including myeloid-derived suppressor cells, macrophages, monocytes, and neutrophils, are increasingly investigated for their regulatory roles in shaping the tumor immune microenvironment and influencing therapeutic responses. Among countries, China and the United States have contributed the highest number of publications and demonstrated strong academic influence. While several stable research groups have been formed, intergroup collaboration remains limited. Keyword analysis revealed that radiotherapy-induced immune modulation, tumor immune microenvironment remodeling, and treatment response have emerged as major research hotspots. Conclusion Research on immune cells in rectal cancer radiotherapy has progressed rapidly in recent years. The emphasis of this field has gradually shifted from single-treatment approaches to mechanistic studies investigating the interaction between radiotherapy and the tumor immune microenvironment. The field still demonstrates considerable potential for future research and clinical translational applications.

Objective To explore the health issues and influencing factors of workers in new forms of employment, represented by couriers and food delivery workers, based on the social-ecological model (SEM). Methods A total of 44 couriers and food delivery workers from Beijing City, Shanghai City, Guangzhou City, and Chongqing City were recruited as the study subjects using purposive sampling combined with snowball sampling method. An interview guide was developed based on the SEM to conduct semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was employed to code and analyze the interview data. Results The health influencing factors among the couriers and food delivery workers based on the SEM included three first-level themes at the micro-, meso-, and macro-levels, namely "individual factors," "occupational environmental factors," and "social environmental factors," each comprising three second-level themes. At the micro-level, individual factors such as insufficient health literacy, unhealthy lifestyles and behaviors, and sustained psychological burden jointly contributed to the health vulnerability among these couriers and food delivery workers. At the meso-level, occupational environmental factors including algorithmic management, high-load work environments, and inadequate interpersonal support, jointly construct a high-pressure and high-intensity work pattern. At the macro-level, social environmental factors such as insufficient social security caused by the de facto nature of labor relations, economic pressure resulting from unstable income in the market environment, and psychological depletion caused by occupational discrimination further exacerbate the health vulnerability among these workers. Conclusion The health issues of the couriers and food delivery workers result from the interplay of factors across micro-, meso-, and macro- levels. Therefore, a multi-level collaborative health protection system involving individuals, organizations, and society should be established to improve their health status.

Objective To investigate the anti-tumor effect of Job's tears oral solution on lung cancer mice.Methods Observe the histopathological morphology of the tumor;Flow cytometry detected the changes in the levels of CD4+T and CD8+T in splenic lymphocytes;Elisa detected the contents of immunoglobulins IgA,IgG,IL-2 and IFN-γ;Blood routine was detected;the kit determined the levels of liver and kidney glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),superoxide dismutase(SOD)and malondialdehyde(MDA)content;Serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT),alkaline phosphatase(ALB),azelaic transaminase(AST),urea nitrogen(BUN),and blood creatinine(CRE)were measured in each group of mice.The transcriptome was found differential genes and pathway enrichment was performed.Western blot was used to detect the expression of proteins related to IL-17 signaling pathway(STAT3,NF-κB,VEGF)and TNF signaling pathway(PI3K/AKT,MAPK,JNK).Results Tumor histopathological and morphological changes were obvious in each administration group,and the heterogeneity was gradually reduced.Compared with the cisplatin group,the levels of CD4+T,CD8+T,CD4+T/CD8+T,IL-2,IFN-γ,and IgG in the Job's tears group were significantly increased(P<0.01).The blood routine results:compared with the model group,WBC,RBC,HGB,PLT,Lym%and GR%in the Job's tears group decreased significantly(P<0.01);Compared with the cisplatin group,WBC,RBC,PLT,HGB and Lym%in the Job's tears group increased significantly(P<0.01).The antioxidant indexes of liver and kidney showed that the levels of GSH and SOD in the liver and kidney tissues of the Job's tears group increased significantly(P<0.01),and the level of MDA decreased significantly(P<0.01).Effects on liver and kidney function indexes in mice AST,ALT,BUN and CRE decreased significantly in the Job's tears group(P<0.01),and ALB level increased significantly in the Job's tears group(P<0.01).Transcriptome results,Job's tears high-dose group mainly exerted anti-tumor effects by affecting TNF signaling pathway and IL-17 signaling pathway.Western blot results,in the IL-17 signaling pathway,S-TAT3 and VEGF decreased in the cisplatin group and the Job's tears group compared with the model group(P<0.01),and NF-κB decreased in the Job's tears high-dose group(P<0.01);Compared with the cisplatin group,STAT3 and NF-κB were decreased in the Job's tears group(P<0.01);VEGF was decreased in the Job's tears low-dose group(P<0.01);In the TNF signaling pathway,PI3K and MAPK were decreased in the cisplatin group and Job's tears group(P<0.01);AKT and P-AKT were decreased in the Job's tears group(P<0.01).Compared with the cisplatin group,the Job's tears group AKT,PI3K,and MAPK decreased(P<0.01);P-AKT decreased in the high dose group of Job's tears(P<0.01).Conclusion High-dose Job's tears oral solution inhibits tumor proliferation,attenuates inflammatory response,enhances immunity,improves blood routine and reduces liver and kidney injury in lung cancer mice mainly by inhibiting IL-17 and TNF signaling pathway.

In-fusion cloning technology,as a revolutionary and efficient molecular biology tool,has been applied in multiple research fields such as basic biology,biotechnology,and biomedicine.In this article,we introduce a teaching reform project suitable for undergraduate students in the course of"Molecular Bi-ology Laboratory",which utilizes in-Fusion cloning technology to construct a prokaryotic expression vector for alkaline phosphatase mutant genes.Through specific teaching cases,we systematically explored the design and implementation of experimental projects,and focused on analyzing the key and difficult points of the teaching content.Our teaching practice has found that the implementation of this educational re-form project has achieved very good results in enhancing students' core biological literacy,bioinformatics skills,research thinking,and innovation abilities.At the same time,the application of this technology can significantly improve the quality of experimental teaching,providing new ideas and practical refer-ences for promoting the reform and innovation of National First-Class Courses.