OBJECTIVES: As early as the Apollo 11 mission, astronauts experienced ocular, skin, and upper airway irritation after lunar dust (LD) was brought into the return cabin, drawing attention to its potential biological toxicity. However, the biological effects of LD exposure through the digestive system remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of digestive exposure to lunar dust simulant (LDS) on gut microbiota and on the intestine, liver, kidney, lung, and bone in mice. METHODS: Eight-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were used. LDS was used as a substitute for lunar dust, and Shaanxi loess was used as Earth dust (ED). Mice were randomly divided into a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) group, an ED group (500 mg/kg), and a LDS group (500 mg/kg), with assessments at days 7, 14, and 28. Mice were gavaged once every 3 days, with body weight recorded before each gavage. At sacrifice, fecal samples were analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing; inflammatory cytokine expression [interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)] in intestinal, liver, and lung tissues was measured by real-time reverse transcription PCR (real-time RT-PCR); hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed on lung, liver, and intestinal tissues; Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining was used to assess the integrity of the intestinal mucus barrier, and immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate the expression of mucin-2 (MUC2). Serum biochemical tests assessed hepatic and renal function. Femoral bone mass was analyzed by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT); osteoblasts and osteoclasts were assessed by osteocalcin (OCN) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining. Bone marrow immune cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: At day 10, weight gain was slowed in ED and LDS groups. At days 22 and 28, body weight in both ED and LDS groups was significantly lower than controls (both P<0.05). LDS exposure increased microbial species richness and diversity at day 7. Compared with the PBS and ED groups, mice in the LDS group showed increased relative abundance of Deferribacterota, Desulfobacterota, and Campylobacterota, and decreased Firmicutes, with increased Helicobacter typhlonius and reduced Lactobacillus johnsonii and Lactobacillusmurinus. HE and PAS staining of the colon showed that mucosal structural disruption and goblet cell loss were more severe in the LDS group. In addition, immunohistochemistry revealed a significant downregulation of MUC2 expression in this group (P<0.05). No obvious pathological alterations were observed in liver HE staining among the 3 groups, and none of the groups exhibited notable hepatic or renal dysfunction. HE staining of the lungs in the ED and LDS groups showed increased perivascular inflammatory cell infiltration (both P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS LDS exposure via the digestive route induces gut dysbiosis, intestinal barrier disruption, pulmonary inflammation, bone loss, and bone marrow immune imbalance. These findings indicate that LD exposure poses potential health risks during future lunar missions. Targeted restoration of beneficial gut microbiota may represent a promising strategy to mitigate LD-related health hazards.
Animals ; Dust ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Dysbiosis/etiology* ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Moon ; Liver/metabolism* ; Digestive System/microbiology* ; Lung/metabolism* ; Kidney

OBJECTIVES: Due to prolonged exposure to cosmic radiation and meteorite impacts, lunar surface dust forms nanoscale angular particles with strong electrostatic adsorption properties. These dust particles pose potential inhalation risks, yet their pulmonary toxicological mechanisms remain unclear. Given the need for dust exposure protection in future lunar base construction and resource development, this study established an acute exposure model using lunar soil simulant (LSS) and used Earth soil (ES; Loess from Shaanxi, China) as a comparison to investigate lung injury mechanisms. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to 3 groups: Phosphate buffered saline (PBS), LSS, and ES, with 5 to 7 mice per group. Mice in the LSS and ES groups received a single intratracheal instillation to induce acute inhalation exposure. Body weight was monitored for 28 days. Mice were euthanized at days 3, 7, 14, and 28 post-exposure, and peripheral blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lung tissues were collected. Immune cell subsets in BALF were analyzed using flow cytometry. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining assessed lung structure and inflammation; periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining evaluated airway mucus secretion; Masson staining examined collagen deposition. Real-time reverse transcription PCR (real-time RT-PCR) was used to measure the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and epithelial barrier genes (Occludin, Cadherin-1, and Zo-1). Lung tissues at day 7 were subjected to transcriptomic sequencing, followed by immune infiltration and pathway enrichment analyses to determine immunoregulatory mechanisms. RESULTS: Body weight in the ES group progressively declined after day 18 (all P<0.05), while the LSS group showed no significant changes compared with the control group. HE staining showed both LSS and ES induced inflammatory cell infiltration around airways and vasculature, which persisted for 28 days but gradually lessened over time. PAS staining revealed marked mucus hypersecretion in the LSS group at day 3, followed by gradual recovery; no significant mucus changes were observed in the ES group. Masson staining indicated no obvious pulmonary fibrosis in either group within 28 days. Real-time RT-PCR demonstrated significant upregulation of IL-1β and TNF-α in both LSS and ES groups, peaking on day 7, accompanied by downregulation of epithelial barrier genes (Occludin, Cadherin-1, and Zo-1)(all P<0.05). Transcriptomic analysis showed that both LSS and ES activated chemokine-related pathways and enriched leukocyte migration and neutrophil recruitment pathways. Further validation revealed upregulation of CXCL2 and MMP12 in the LSS group, whereas CXCL3 and MMP12 were predominantly elevated in the ES group. CONCLUSIONS Both LSS and ES can induce sustained lung injury and neutrophil infiltration in mice, though the underlying molecular mechanisms differ. Compared with ES, exposure to LSS additionally triggers a transient eosinophilic response, suggesting that lunar dust particles possess stronger immunostimulatory potential and higher biological toxicity.
Animals ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Soil ; Lung Injury/etiology* ; Dust ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Moon ; Lung/pathology* ; Inhalation Exposure/adverse effects* ; Male

Objective To assess the prognostic significance of serum cystatin C(CysC)in combination with bedside renal ultrasound for patients diagnosed with sepsis-induced acute kidney injury(AKI).Methods The study cohort comprised 134 patients with sepsis-induced AKI who were admitted to our hospital between October 2019 and October 2023.Based on the 30 day prognosis,the patients were categorized into a survival group(n=93)and a death group(n=41).Collected clinical data included gender,age,heart rate,underlying diseases,treat-ment modalities,duration of hospital stay,basic biochemical indicators,and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ(APACHEⅡ)scores.Renal function markers such as serum creatinine(SCr),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),and cystatin C levels were measured;renal blood flow resistance index(RI)was assessed using bedside routine ultrasound.Cox regression analysis was employed to evaluate factors influencing poor prognosis in patients with sepsis-induced AKI while analyzing the prognostic assessment value of combining cystatin C with bedside renal ultrasound through ROC curves.Results The death group exhibited significantly higher APACHEⅡ scores,SCr,BUN,CysC levels,and RI(all P<0.05)compared to the survival group.Cox regression analysis revealed that both CysC levels and RI were significant prognostic indicators(P<0.05).ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the combined assessment of CysC levels and RI yielded a high diagnostic accuracy of 97.5%in predicting outcomes for patients with sepsis-induced AKI.Conclusion CysC levels and bedside renal ultrasound can serve as prognostic indicators for patients with sepsis-induced acute kidney injury(AKI),thereby guiding clinical treatment.

Objective To establish a nomogram model for efficiently predicting overall survival(OS)and cancer-specific survival(CSS)in patients with CRCHBM.Method 2239 patients from 2010 to 2019 were retrospectively analyzed from the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results Program(SEER)databases and Wuhan Union Hospital Cancer Center.SEER is randomly assigned to the training and internal validation cohorts,and the Wuhan database serves as the external validation.Cox regression analyses were used to determine the independent clinicopathological prognosis factors affecting OS and CSS,and a nomogram was constructed to predict OS and CSS.The clinical utility of columnar plots was assessed using calibration curves,area under the curve(AUC),and decision curve analysis(DCA).Result OS column line graphs were constructed based on nine independent predictors:age,tumor location,degree of differentiation,tumor size,TNM stage,chemotherapy,primary focus surgery,number of lymph nodes sampled,and serum carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)level.The C-index of the nomogram to predict the 1-,3-,and 5-year OS were 0.764,0.790,and 0.805 in the training group,0.754,0.760,and 0.801 in the internal validation group,and 0.822,0.874,and 0.906 in the external validation group.CSS column line graphs were constructed based on 3 independent predictors of TNM staging,radiotherapy and chemotherapy.The 1-,3-,and 5-year CSS AUROC values of the training group were 0.791,0.757,and 0.782,respectively.0.682,0.709,0.625 in the internal validation group and 0.759,0.702,0.755 in the external validation group,respectively.The results of receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC),ROC and DCA showed that the use of our model was more effective in predicting OS and CSS than other single clinicopathological features.Conclusion In summary,the nomogram based on significant clinicopathological features can be conveniently used to predict OS and CSS individually in patients with CRCHBM.

Objective To evaluate the effects of total intravenous anesthesia on the circadian rhythms in the patients undergoing cardiac transcatheter closure.Methods Thirty patients undergoing cardiac transcathe-ter closure under elective intravenous anesthesia were included in this study.Paired t-tests were performed to com-pare the mRNA levels of the genes encoding circadian locomotor output cycles kaput(CLOCK),brain and mus-cle ARNT-1 like protein-1(BMAL1),cryptochrome1(CRY1),and period circadian clock 2(PER2),the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire(MCTQ)score,and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)score be-fore and after anesthesia.Multiple stepwise regression analysis was performed to screen the factors influencing sleep chronotype and PSQI total score one week after surgery.Results The postoperative mRNA level of CLOCK was higher[1.38±1.23 vs.1.90±1.47;MD(95％CI):0.52(0.20-0.84),t=3.327,P=0.002]and the postoperative mRNA levels of CRY1[1.56±1.50 vs.1.13±0.98;MD(95％CI):-0.43(-0.81--0.05),t=-2.319,P=0.028]and PER2[0.82±0.63 vs.0.50±0.31;MD(95％CI):-0.33(-0.53--0.12),t=-3.202,P=0.003]were lower than the preoperative levels.One week after surgery,the pa-tients presented advanced sleep chronotype[3:03±0:59 vs.2:42±0:37;MD(95％CI):-21(-40--1),t=-2.172,P=0.038],shortened sleep latency[(67±64)min vs.(37±21)min;MD(95％CI):-30.33(-55.28--5.39),t=-2.487,P=0.019],lengthened sleep duration[(436±83)min vs.(499±83)min;MD(95％CI):62.80(26.93-98.67),t=3.581,P=0.001],increased sleep efficiency[(87.59±10.35)％vs.(92.98±4.27)％;MD(95％CI):5.39(1.21-9.58),t=2.636,P=0.013],decreased sleep quality score[1.13±0.78 vs.0.80±0.71;MD(95％CI):-0.33(-0.62--0.05),t=-2.408,P=0.023],and declined PSQI total score[6.60±3.17 vs.4.03±2.58;MD(95％CI):-2.57(-3.87--1.27),t=-4.039,P＜0.001].Body mass index(BMI)(B=-227.460,SE=95.475,t=-2.382,P=0.025),anesthesia duration(B=-47.079,SE=18.506,t=-2.544,P=0.017),and mRNA level of PER2(B=2815.804,SE=1080.183,t=2.607,P=0.015)collectively influenced the sleep chronotype,and the amount of anesthesia medicine(B=0.067,SE=0.028,t=2.385,P=0.024)independently influenced the PSQI one week after surgery.Conclusions Total intravenous anesthe-sia can improve sleep habits by advancing sleep chronotype.BMI,anesthesia duration,and mRNA level of PER2 collectively influence sleep chronotype one week after surgery.The amount of anesthesia medicine independently influences the PSQI total score one week after surgery.

Objective:To analyzed the urinary microbiota characteristics of upper tract urothelial carcinoma(UTUC) patients.Methods:Urine samples were collected from 23 patients with UTUC (UTUC group) and 22 patients with benign diseases (control group) admitted to Yijishan Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College from July 2021 to July 2022. The differences in age [(60.9±5.7) years vs. (61.4±8.8) years], sex (male/female: 15/8 vs. 9/13), and body mass index [(22.9±1.8) kg/m 2 vs. (23.4±1.7) kg/m 2] between the UTUC group and the control group were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). The V4 region of the 16S rRNA of urinary microorganisms was sequenced using the Illumina NovaSeq6000, and the results were processed using QLLME2. Differences in α-diversity between groups were analyzed by using the Shannon, Simpson, and Chao1 indices. Differences in β-diversity between groups were analyzed by using unweighted principal coordinates analysis (PCoA). Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size(LEfSe)was used to identify the bacterial taxa with different abundances between groups. Significant differences were defined as LDA>2. Results:The Chao1 index (703.12±265.54 vs. 506.20±214.02) and Shannon index (5.61±1.85 vs. 5.07±1.34) were significantly higher in the UTUC group compared to that in the control group ( P<0.05). The α-diversity of urinary microbes was elevated in the UTUC group compared to that in the control group but the difference in β-diversity was not statistically significant ( P=0.161). The enrichment of Bacteroidaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Acidaminococcaceae, Thermaceae, Erysipelatoclostridiaceae, and Coriobacteriaceae abundance was higher in the urine of UTUC patients(LDA > 2). Further subgrouping analyses of the UTUC patients showed that the differences in Chao1 index (706.44±271.84 vs. 784.09±272.72), Shannon index (6.04±1.30 vs. 5.91±1.67), and Simpson index (0.94±0.08 vs. 0.89±0.22) between the muscle-invasive group and the non-muscle-invasive group were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). The difference in α-diversity between muscle-invasive and non-muscle-invasive group was not statistically significant, but the difference in β-diversity was statistically significant ( P=0.047). The urinary microbial communities of Gammaproteobacteria, Cutibacterium, Rhodococcus and Nocardiaceae were enriched in muscle-invasive group and differed from that in non-muscle-invasive group(LDA>2). Conclusions:This study suggests that the urinary microbial community was more abundant in UTUC patients than in non-UTUC patients and that Bacteroidaceae, Ruminococcaceae, Acidaminococcaceae, Thermaceae, Erysipelatoclostridiaceae, and Coriobacteriaceae were more abundant in the urine of UTUC patients. The urinary microbial community was more abundant in the urine of non-muscle-invasive patients than in the muscle-invasive patients, and Gammaproteobacteria, Cutibacterium, Rhodococcus and Nocardiaceae were more abundant in the urine of non-muscle-invasive patients.

【Objective】 To understand the current situation of blood components distribution in domestic prefecture-level blood stations through analyzing the components distribution data of 24 prefecture-level blood stations in China. 【Methods】 The data of components distribution of 24 blood stations from 2017 to 2020 as well as the data of blood deployment of 24 blood stations from 2019 to 2020 were collected and analyzed. 【Results】 From 2017 to 2020, positive annual growth in red blood cells, plasma and cryoprecipitate was observed in 22, 19 and 15 out of the 24 blood stations, and the annual growth median rate of above three components was 5.24%, 3.80% and 3.25%, respectively. Among the 24 prefecture-level blood stations, 23 carried out the preparation of cryoprecipitate. 【Conclusion】 The distribution of red blood cells, cryoprecipitate and plasma in prefecture-level blood stations is increasing year by year. However, there is a overstock of plasma, and most blood stations need blood employment.

The implant prosthesis has been extensively used in clinic recently, and implant failure is appearing. Many factors may cause the failure, and they work together generally. This paper summarizes and analyzes the failure cases related to implant treatment and relevant risk factors of oral implants in Department of Implantation, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University during the past six years, in order to improve the success rate of implant prosthesis and provide guidance for clinical application.

Objective To establish a mouse model of biliogenic severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) by using a self-made device for retrograde injection of sodium taurocholate into common bile duct,and to investigate the improvement of the device on retrograde injection of sodium taurocholate into common bile duct and its safety.Methods Thirty-six adult male ICR mice were randomly divided into biliogenic SAP model group and sham group,with 18 mice in each group.A 40 U disposable insulin syringe,a 200 μL tips and a 25 μL micro-syringer were used as basic materials for making the mouse common bile duct injection device [National Utility Model Patent (ZL 2014 2 0694365.4)].In model group,3.5％ sodium taurocholate (1 mL/kg) was injected retrogradely into the common bile duct of mice,whilst in sham group,the mice underwent the injection of equal amount of normal saline instead.Six mice in each group were sacrificed at 6,24 and 48 hours after operation,and the abdominal aortic blood was collected.Serum amylase (AMY),alanine aminotransferase (ALT),creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB),serum creatinine (SCr),oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2) as well as serum Ca2+ were.determined.Pathological change in pancreas was observed under conventional light microscopy after hematoxylin and eosiu (HE) staining,and the impairment was evaluated by a widely used score system.Results The injection device was easily placed into mouse common bile duct under macroscopic observation.Six hours after operation,the levels of serum AMY,ALT and SCr in model group were significantly higher than those in sham group,and peaked at 24 hours,and they slightly decreased at 48 hours,which were still significantly higher than those of the sham group [24-hour AMY (U/L):7 325 ± 1 154 vs.1 737 ± 197,24-hour ALT (U/L):176.0±5.0 vs.38.3 ± 2.0,24-hour SCr (tmol/L):46.3 ± 1.5 vs.17.8 ±0.6,all P ＜ 0.01].The level of CK-MB at 6 hours in the model group was significantly higher than that of the sham group,and peaked at 48 hours (U/L:749.8±42.2 vs.383.3±35.5 at 6 hours,3 340.1 ± 203.6 vs.704.6 ± 63.5 at 48 hours,both P ＜ 0.01).PaO2/FiO2 at 6 hours after the operation in model group was significantly lower than that of sham group,then it began to rise at the similar level in sham group at 48 hours [mmHg (1 mmHg =0.133 kPa):327.5±33.8 vs.424.8±31.0 at 6 hours,P ＜ 0.01;429.8 ±41.8 vs.464.7±43.3 at 48 hours,P ＞ 0.05].Ca2+ level in model group was continuously decreased after operation,and it was significantly lower than that of sham group at 48 hours (mmol/L:1.58 ± 0.14 vs.2.45 ± 0.21,P ＜ 0.01).The pancreatic edema was obvious after operation in sham group,with the observation time prolongation,the changes were gradually improved;pancreatic focal necrosis was found at 6 hours after operation in model group,and it was secondary aggravated,and pancreatic lobule structure disappearance and inflammatory cells extensive infiltration was found at 48 hours.Pathological score of the model group was significantly higher than that of sham group at each time point,and peaked at 48 hours (13.3 ±0.3 vs.3.0±0.1,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion It is a highly efficient and low-cost way to induce biliogenic SAP in mice by retrograde injection of 3.5％ sodium deoxycholate into common bile duct via the self-made injection device,and the model conformed to the clinical characteristics of biliogenic SAP.

Objective To explore the method for early diagnosis of masked polycythemia vera (mPV) by comparing and analyzing the features of mPV and polycythemia vera (PV). Methods A total of 200 newly diagnosed male patients were collected based on diagnostic criteria, including 100 cases of PV and 100 cases of mPV. Erythropoietin (EPO), neutrophil alkaline phosphatase (NAP) score, bone marrow biopsy (BMB), and JAK2 V617F mutation were evaluated in all cases. After 6 months, hemoglobin (Hb) and JAK2 V617F mutation load were detected in patients without special treatment in two groups during follow-up. Results EPO, NAP score, BMB hematopoietic volume and the number of megakaryocyte had no statistical differences between PV group and mPV group [(3.4 ± 0.7) U/ml vs. (3.2±0.6) U/ml, (276±20) score vs. (278±21) score, (78±10) % vs. (76±9) %, (53±6) vs. (51±5), respectively], while JAK2 V617F mutation load in PV group was higher than that in mPV group[(89.2±9.4) % vs. (78.1±8.6) %, P<0.05]. In mPV patients without special treatment, Hb ≥185 g/L was found in 37 patients after 6 months, and the level of Hb and JAK2 V617F mutation load in these 37 patients reached (194±8) g/L and (90.7±9.1) %, respectively. Conclusions There is no significant difference in EPO, NAP score and BMB between PV and mPV, but the JAK2 V617F mutation load is different. In mPV patients without special treatment, Hb level can reach the typical PV diagnostic criteria after 6 months, meanwhile, JAK2 V617F mutation load is also increased.