Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of emodin(EMO)on dextran sulfate(DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis(UC)in mice.Methods DSS induced UC mouse model,detection of body weight,colon length and histopathological changes.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to measure tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6),interleukin-10(IL-10),and myeloperoxidase(MPO)levels.Western blot analysis examined the expression of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88)/nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)signaling pathway-related proteins.Flow cytometry assessed the ratio of helper T cells 17(Th17)to regulatory T cells(Treg).Additionally,16S rDNA sequencing was employed to evaluate gut microbiota composition.Results Compared with the normal group,DSS-treated mice exhibited significant weight loss,shortened colon length,and marked histological damage(P<0.001).EMO intervention,particularly at high doses,demonstrated dose-dependent improvements in body weight and colon injury(P<0.05).ELISA analysis showed EMO reduced TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6 levels while increasing IL-10(P<0.05).Western blot results indicated EMO inhibited abnormal activation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway and restored IκB.Conclusion EMO effectively mitigates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis(UC)inflammation and intestinal damage by regulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway,restoring Th17/Treg balance,and maintaining microbial homeostasis,providing theoretical support for its potential as a UC therapeutic agent.

Objective:To explore the effects of the scaffolding-based flipped classroom approach in the teaching of Infectious Disease Nursing. Methods:We assigned 152 students of nursing and midwifery majors of grade 2018 (experimental group) to be taught using the scaffolding-based flipped classroom approach and 182 students of grade 2017 (control group) to be taught using the traditional lecture method. Teaching effects were evaluated through students' exam performance and a questionnaire survey. Numerical data were analyzed using the χ2 test and t test with the use of SPSS 18.0, and text data were processed using NVivo 11 for thematic analysis. Results:The experimental group and control group showed significant differences in the interim exam score (83.19±7.96 vs. 79.62±3.14, P<0.001) and final exam score (78.47±6.92 vs. 73.16±8.24, P<0.001). The students of grade 2018 had a high level of participation in online learning. The questionnaire results showed that the scaffolding-based flipped classroom was well recognized in terms of students' overall perception, perceived course quality, perceived value of learning, and satisfaction and the open-ended question, with low scores for learner complaints and loyalty. Conclusions:The scaffolding-based flipped classroom is feasible in the teaching of Infectious Disease Nursing, which can improve students' academic performance and overall competence.

Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is a prevalent malformation of the human forebrain, with an increasing annual prevalence in China. Its etiology remains unclear, and its diagnosis and treatment are challenging due to the heterogeneity of clinical manifestations. This article summarizes and expounds the etiology, clinical manifestations, imaging and genetic diagnosis, as well as medical and surgical treatment of HPE. The aim is to enhance medical personnels’ understanding of this disease, and to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of patients with HPE.

Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is a prevalent malformation of the human forebrain, with an increasing annual prevalence in China. Its etiology remains unclear, and its diagnosis and treatment are challenging due to the heterogeneity of clinical manifestations. This article summarizes and expounds the etiology, clinical manifestations, imaging and genetic diagnosis, as well as medical and surgical treatment of HPE. The aim is to enhance medical personnels’ understanding of this disease, and to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment of patients with HPE.

Background Sleep is a crucial physiological activity for the human body, and research has shown that air pollution can affect sleep quality. However, the association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure, neurotoxic compounds in air pollutants, and sleep quality remains uncertain. Objective To evaluate the association of PAHs exposure with sleep quality, and to provide evidence for improving sleep quality. Methods This study used a cross-sectional design. We selected 632 workers from a coking plant of a large state-owned enterprise as the exposure group, and 477 workers from the energy and power plant of the same enterprise as the control group. All workers worked in three shifts. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect basic information including gender, years of service, age, educational level, smoking, alcohol consumption, consumption of fried foods, cooking frequency, types of cooking fuels. Worker's post-shift morning midstream urine was sampled to determine the concentrations of eight PAHs metabolites (OH-PAHs) using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Worker's sleep quality was assessed using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A higher PSQI score indicated a lower sleep quality. Associations of urinary OH-PAHs levels with sleep quality in the workers were analyzed using linear regression, Bayesian kernel-machine regression (BKMR), and quantile g-computation. Results The median (P₂₅, P₇₅) concentration of total OH-PAHs in the exposure group [88.84 (46.27, 151.96) μg·L⁻¹] was higher than that in the control group [54.33 (24.86, 97.97) μg·L⁻¹]. Additionally, the PSQI score (\begin{document}$ \overline{x}\pm {s} $\end{document}) in the exposure group (5.16±3.84) was higher than that in the control group (4.60±3.17). The multiple linear regression revealed that an increase in the sum of the concentrations of eight OH-PAHs after natural logarithmic transformation (lnΣ₈OH-PAHs) was associated with an increase of 0.3646 (95%CI: 0.1337, 0.5955) in PSQI score, and an increase in lnΣlow-ring OH-PAHs was associated with an increase of 0.2954 (95%CI: 0.0941, 0.4967) in PSQI score. The BKMR analysis demonstrated that PSQI score was gradually increased as the increasing of lnΣ₈OH-PAHs concentration. The quantile g-computation analysis indicated that a quantile increase in lnΣ₈OH-PAHs concentration was associated with an increase of 0.4062% (95%CI: 0.1176%, 0.6949%) in PSQI score. Conclusion Compared to the controls, the coking workers show a higher concentration of urinary OH-PAHs and report worse sleep quality. The concentration of OH-PAHs is significantly negatively associated with sleep quality.

Objective:To clarify the potential correlation between biological changes of meninges in periodontitis mice and cognitive impairment by analyzing the biological changes of meninges in periodontitis mice using single-cell RNA sequencing.Methods:Thirty C57BL/6 mice were divided into two groups by using random number table method (15 mice in each group). Mice in the control group were locally administered 2% carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC) without Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) on both buccal sides. A mixture of Pg W83 and 2% CMC was applied on both buccal sides in the experimental group mice three times a week, lasting for 16 weeks in total. The absorption of alveolar bone, locomotor activity and cognitive function, the activation of microglia and astrocytes in the cortex were observed and assessed. The mRNA expression levels of Occludin in meninges and brain were detected in two groups. Single-cell RNA sequencing data of meninges were processed by uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP). Differential genes expressions of endothelial cells were processed by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. In addition, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to verify the expressions of transcription activating factor 3 (Atf3) and apolpoprotein L domain-containing 1 (Apold 1). Results:Methylene blue staining found the distances of buccal and palatal cement-enamel junction-alveolar bone crest in experimental mice [(185.60±17.60), (206.90±13.37) μm] increased significantly compared with the control group [(135.33±9.57), (163.05±14.98) μm] ( t=5.02, P=0.002; t=4.37, P=0.005). Open field experiment showed the total distance and average speed of mice in the experimental group [(971.88±164.57) cm, (3.25±0.55) cm/s] were not statistically significant compared with the control group [(914.24±278.81) cm, (3.05±0.93) cm/s] ( t=0.65, P=0.525; t=0.65, P=0.520). The recognition index of the experimental group [(48.02±16.92) %] was lower than the control group [(66.27±17.90) %] ( t=2.40, P=0.027) by novel object recognition tests. Compared with the control group [(63.56±11.88) %], the alternation of experimental group [(50.99±14.17) %] was significantly decreased in Y maze tests ( t=2.33, P=0.030). Immunohistochemistry results showed microglia and astrocytes were activated in the cortex of experimental mice. Compared with the control group (1.02±0.25, 1.04±0.31), the relative mRNA expressions of Occludin decreased significantly in the meninges and brain of periodontitis mice, respectively (0.61±0.10, 0.64±0.20) ( t=3.47, P=0.010; t=2.66, P=0.024). By single-cell RNA sequencing, meninges cells were divided into 11 types, such as endothelial cells, fibroblasts, immune cells and so on. Endothelial cells were the main cell types in meninges [the control group: 26.47% (1 589/6 004), the experimental group: 26.26% (807/3 073)]. Compared with the control group [5.56% (334/6 004)], the percentage of granulocytes increased in the periodontitis mice [11.65% (358/3 073)]. Using clustering analysis to further focus on endothelial cells, GO enrichment analysis revealed differential genes were mainly related to angiogenesis, cell adhesion, apoptosis and so on. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that differential genes were related to signaling pathways of interleukin-17, relaxin and so on. The relative mRNA expressions of Atf3 and Apold1 in meninges of periodontitis mice (0.42±0.24, 0.54±0.27) were significantly lower than the control group (1.03±0.26, 1.02±0.23) ( t=3.88, P=0.005; t=3.02, P=0.017). Conclusions:The mice chronically infected with Pg W83 occurred memory impairment, neuroinflammation and changes of barrier function. In the meninges of periodontitis mice, there were infiltration of immune cells and down-regulation expressions of Atf3 and Apold1 by single-cell RNA sequencing. Meningeal immunity and changes of barrier function may play an important role in the cognitive impairment caused by periodontitis.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of breast architectural distortion(AD)in mammography,MRI,and ultrasound,and to explore the value of each imaging examination in the diagnosis of AD lesions.Methods The mammography,ultrasound,and MRI data of 46 patients(48 lesions)with AD detected by mammography were analyzed retrospectively.Based on the pathological results,the imaging characteristics of benign and malignant AD were compared.Results The morphological and central density differences between benign and malignant lesions were statistically significant.There was no significant difference in microcalcification between benign and malignant AD.On 48 breast MRI,26 lesions showed mass enhancement,17 lesions showed non-mass enhancement,3 lesions showed punctate enhancement and 2 lesions showed no enhancement.There was no statistical significance in the distribution of enhancement types.The difference in time-signal intensity curve(TIC)types between benign and malignant AD was statistically significant.There was no statistical significance in ultrasound manifestation between benign and malignant AD.Using imaging findings greater than those in the breast imaging reporting and data system(BI-RADS)4 categories as a suspected malignant diagnosis,based on pathological examination results.The area under the curve(AUC)by mammography,ultrasound,and MRI was 0.582,0.426,and 0.764,respectively,showed significant differences in diagnostic efficiency.Conclusion MRI has higher sensitivity and specificity in detecting breast AD,which significantly improves the diagnosis coincidence rate of lesions,and can provide an important basis for clinicians to make decisions on surgical treatment.

Objective:To analyze the effectiveness and safety of the second course radiotherapy for unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastases.Methods:We retrospectively collected the data of 28 patients with unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastases who received the second course radiotherapy at Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute from 2017 to 2023, to analyze the feasibility of re-irradiation.Results:For the 28 patients, the median follow-up time after re-irradiation was 20.2 months. The median time interval between the first- and second-course radiotherapy was 11.1 months. The median biologically effective doses of the first- and second-course radiotherapy were 100 Gy and 96 Gy, respectively. Stereotactic body radiotherapy was administered to 25 patients (89.3%) during the first course and 24 patients (85.7%) during the second course of radiotherapy. The mean equivalent dose in 2 Gy fractions to the normal liver was 10.1 Gy in the first-course radiotherapy and 7.9 Gy in the second-course radiotherapy. The complete response rate, partial response rate, and objective response rate after re-irradiation were 54.5%, 18.2%, and 72.7%, respectively. After re-irradiation, the 2-year cumulative local failure rate was 17.0% when calculated based on patients and 15.1% when calculated based on lesions, the 1-year progression-free survival rate was 27.4%, and the 3-year overall survival rate was 46.7%. The second-course radiotherapy was well tolerated, with most patients (75.0%) experiencing grade 1-2 acute adverse reactions and only one case (3.6%) experiencing grade 3 acute adverse events.Conclusions:Second course radiotherapy is an effective and safe treatment approach for selected patients with unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastases.

Starvation therapy is an emerging oncological treatment that targets the abnormally elevated nutrient uptake and metabolic pathways to inhibit and kill tumors. In addition to glucose, the targets of starvation therapy also include other nutrients in tumor cells.However, concerns like ineffective targeting and drug tolerance probably have an impact on their clinical translation.Nanomaterial-assisted starvation treatment has been developing quickly in recent years to address these concerns.In this review, several exemplary nanomedicines for starvation therapy and combined starvation therapy with other therapies were offered.They target nutrients other than glucose metabolism, including lactic acid, amino acids, and lipids, using nanomaterials to improve the efficacy of starvation therapy.This review provides reference for further development of nanomedicines with starvation treatment effect.

Background Long-term occupational polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure is an important risk factor for cognitive impairment. At the same time, it can also cause a decrease of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). However, it is not clear whether BDNF plays a key role in the cognitive impairment of workers caused by occupational PAHs exposure. Objective To analyze the correlation between the levels of PAHs in the plasma of coke oven workers and cognitive impairment, and to explore the possible mediating effect of plasma BDNF level on the relationship between PAHs and cognitive impairment. Methods A cross-sectional survey was carried out to select 138 pairs of workers from a coking plant (exposure group) and an energy plant (control group) in a large enterprise in Taiyuan, and the matching variables included age, education level and smoking status. The basic data of the workers were collected by questionnaire. The cognitive function of the workers was assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale. Fasting elbow venous blood was collected, the plasma concentrations of 16 PAHs were determined by high performance gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the plasma concentration of BDNF was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Multiple linear regression model was used to analyze the relationship between 12 PAHs levels in plasma and MoCA scores, and Bootstrap method was used to analyze the mediating effect of BDNF in the relationship between these two indicators. Results The average (\begin{document}$\bar x \pm s $\end{document}) age of workers in the two groups was (48.46±5.04) years, the length of service was (21.45±9.78) years, and 58.7% of the participants reported their education level at secondary vocational school, high school, and above. The median level (25th and 75th percentiles) [M(P₂₅, P₇₅)] of plasma Σ₁₂PAHs concentration of workers in the exposure group [20.937 (9.454, 38.387) μg·L⁻¹] was significantly higher than that of the control group [9.997 (4.952, 23.770)μg·L⁻¹] and the MoCA score (22.82±2.38) of the exposure group was significantly lower than that of the control group (24.60±5.67) (P<0.05). The plasma BDNF showed no significant difference between the exposure group [(29.99±9.80) μg·L⁻¹] and the control group [(31.48±9.09) μg·L⁻¹](P>0.05). Taking plasma PAHs as independent variable and MoCA score as dependent variable, after adjusting selected covariates, the results of multiple linear regression model showed that the MoCA score changed by −0.020 (95%CI: −0.035 - −0.005) for every 1 μg·L⁻¹ increase of plasma Σ₁₂PAHs. Low (<P₃₃), medium ( P₃₃~P₆₆) and high (>P₆₆) dummy variables were set according to the intertertile boundaries (8.31, 23.76) μg·L⁻¹ of the plasma level of Σ₁₂PAH of the workers. The change of MoCA score in the high concentration group versus the low concentration group was −1.167 (95%CI: −1.866 - −0.467). The MoCA score changed by 0.066 (95%CI: 0.012 - 0.119) for each 1 μg·L⁻¹ increase in plasma BDNF level. The results of dichotomous logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of cognitive impairment in the high concentration group was 2.635 (95% CI: 1.085 - 6.398) times higher than that in the low concentration group. The results of mediating effect analysis showed that plasma BDNF level was an intermediate variable between PAHs and cognitive impairment, and 45.50% of PAHs-induced cognitive impairment risk was mediated by reduced BDNF level. Conclusion The level of plasma PAHs in coke oven workers is negatively correlated with MoCA score, and PAHs may mediate cognitive impairment by reducing plasma BDNF level.