Tooth loss is a common oral problem, and cognitive decline is a primary manifestation of neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly. Both conditions affect their daily living abilities and quality of life. Studies have shown that tooth loss may negatively impact cognitive function through physiological mechanisms such as neural pathways and inflammatory factors, and social, psychological and behavioral factors are identified as important modifiable elements for preventing cognitive decline. This review examined literature about tooth loss and cognitive decline in the elderly, and explored the potential pathways of social, psychological and behavioral factors between these two conditions. The findings indicated that tooth loss may increase the risk of cognitive decline through reduced social participation, social isolation and limited social capital, increased chronic stress, depression and negative aging attitudes, as well as altered physical activity patterns, sleep duration and diets. For the elderly with tooth loss, targeted preventive and intervention measures addressing social, psychological and behavioral aspects can be implemented to prevent and delay cognitive decline, thereby improving their quality of life.

Spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome is currently the most prevalent TCM pattern in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), with internal damp-heat accumulation regarded as a key factor contributing to its prolonged and refractory course. This syndrome represents a critical stage in the progressive pathogenesis of CAG, characterized by a deepening pathological evolution. Modern TCM practitioners generally agree that its core pathogenesis lies in "deficiency in root and excess in superficiality, with internal damp-heat retention", and emphasize a treatment strategy that combines eliminating pathogenic factors and reinforcing the body's healthy qi through dynamic syndrome differentiation. Chinese materia medica used in treating CAG with spleen-stomach damp-heat syndrome can effectively relieve clinical symptoms, improve the internal damp-heat environment, mitigate gastric mucosal atrophy and intestinal metaplasia, and delay the inflammation-to-cancer transformation. Its mechanisms may involve eradication of Helicobacter pylori, repair of gastric mucosal injury, regulation of immune inflammatory response and other aspects, which has the advantages of multi-channel and multi-target.

ObjectiveTo explore the effect and underlying mechanism of alcohol extract of Phyllanthi Fructus on silicosis mice induced by silicon dioxide （SiO₂）. MethodThirty-six male Kunming mice of SPF grade were randomly divided into a blank group，a model group，high-， medium， and low-dose Phyllanthi Fructus groups （800， 400， 200 mg·kg^-1），and a tetrandrine group （0.039 mg·kg^-1），with six mice in each group. The silicosis model was induced by static SiO₂ exposure in mice except for those in the blank group. After 28 days of administration by gavage，the lung tissues were collected and the organ coefficient was calculated. Hematoxylin-eosin（HE）staining and Masson staining were used to detect the morphology of lung tissues. The content of hydroxyproline （HYP），superoxide dismutase （SOD），malondialdehyde （MDA）， and catalase （CAT） in serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Western blot and Real-time polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression of nuclear factor E₂-related factor 2 （Nrf2），heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1），NAD（P）H：quinone oxidoreductase 1 （NQO1），and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 （Keap1）， respectively. ResultCompared with the blank group，the model group showed seriously damaged morphological structure of lung tissues with inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrous tissue proliferation， reduced serum content of SOD and CAT（P<0.01），increased content of HYP and MDA（P<0.01）， down-regulated protein and mRNA expression of Nrf2，HO-1， and NQO1（P<0.01），and up-regulated protein and mRNA expression of Keap1 （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with the model group，the high- and medium-dose Phyllanthi Fructus groups showed significantly restored morphological structure of lung tissues with reduced collagen deposition， increased serum content of SOD and CAT（P<0.05，P<0.01），decreased content of HYP and MDA（P<0.01）， up-regulated protein and mRNA expression of Nrf2，HO-1， and NQO1 （P<0.05，P<0.01），and down-regulated protein and mRNA expression of Keap1（P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionThe alcohol extract of Phyllanthi Fructus can inhibit pulmonary fibrosis in silicosis mice，and the underlying mechanism may be related to the regulation of the Nrf2/antioxidant response element （ARE） signaling pathway.

Objective:To analyze the correlation between simple thyroid nodule and blood lipid and glucose metabolism and iodine nutrition level.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted by collecting data of the population undergoing epidemiological investigation in Jinshan District, Shanghai from July to December 2015, to calculate the prevalence of thyroid nodules and analyze relevant functional indicators.Results:Simple thyroid nodules were detected in 603 subjects, with a prevalence of 22.6% (603/2 669). There were 358 female patients with simple thyroid nodules, with a prevalence rate of 26.9%, and 245 male patients with simple thyroid nodules, with a prevalence rate of 18.3%. The prevalence of simple thyroid nodule in female was higher than that in male, and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2=27.686, P<0.001). In addition, the prevalence of simple thyroid nodules increased with age (13.1% (92/704) and 20.2% (104/514) and 25.1% (145/578) and 24.4% (107/439) and 36.3% (98/270) and 34.8% (57/164), χ 2=83.872,P<0.001). In the ≤30 years group (8.0% (30/704) vs. 18.8% (62/331), χ 2=35.716, P<0.001), >30 to ≤40 years old group (14.1% (37/263) vs. 26.7% (67/251), χ 2=12.683, P<0.001), >60 to ≤70 years old group (26.2% (33/126) vs. 45.1% (65/144), χ 2=10.435, P<0.001), and the 70-year-old group (24.4% (21/86) vs. 46.2% (36/78), χ 2=8.521, P<0.001). The prevalence of simple thyroid nodules in males was lower than that in females. In the simple positive thyroid nodule group, Fasting blood glucose (5.12 (4.80, 5.69) and 5.02 (4.72, 5.48)), total cholesterol (1.24 (0.85, 1.86) and 1.13 (0.77, 1.76)), triglyceride (4.77 (4.09, 5.48) and 4.49 (3.92, 5.16)), low density lipoprotein((2.79 (2.26, 3.36) and 2.63 (2.19, 3.16)), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.41 (1.18, 1.66) and 1.35 (1.13, 1.61)) were higher than those in the negative group ( U values were 554 818, 578 468, 535 622, 556 067 and 567 960, respectively, all P<0.01). The BMI index grade distribution of thyroid nodule positive group was higher than that of negative group, and the difference was statistically significant (3.7% (77/2 066), 50.1% (1 034/2 066), 32.4% (669/2 066), 13.8% (286/2 066), 3.2% (19/603), 43.6% (263/603), 38.1% (230/603), 15.1% (91/603), χ2=9.5201, P=0.023). The prevalence of simple thyroid nodules was significantly lower in the iodized salt group than in the non-iodized salt group (20.7% (436/2 102) vs. 29.5% (167/567), χ 2=19.376, P<0.001). The urinary iodine level in the positive thyroid nodule group was significantly lower than that in the negative group (148.4(100.2, 213.7) vs. 169.5(115.4, 241.75), U=545 129.5, P<0.001). After Logistic regression screening, age ( OR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.292-1.908, P<0.001), gender ( OR=1.278, 95% CI: 1.193-1.368, P<0.001), BMI grade ( OR=1.166, 95% CI: 1.022-1.330, P=0.022), total cholesterol ( OR=1.105, 95% CI: 1.005-1.214, P=0.040), iodized salt ( OR=0.689, 95% CI: 0.556-0.854, P=0.001) were independent influencing factors of thyroid nodule. Conclusion:The prevalence of simple thyroid nodules in Shanghai is relatively low. Age, sex, BMI level, total cholesterol and iodized salt are independent factors causing thyroid nodules. In addition, blood glucose level may also be related to the prevalence of thyroid nodules.