Background Atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) can disrupt the metabolic homeostasis of the liver and accelerate the progression of liver diseases, but there are few studies on the effects of sub-chronic PM_2.5 exposure on the liver metabolome. Objectives To investigate the effects of sub-chronic exposure to concentrated PM_2.5 on hepatic metabolomics in mice by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and to identify potentially affected metabolites and metabolic pathways. Methods Twelve male C57BL/6J (6 weeks old) mice were randomly divided into two groups: a concentrated PM_2.5 exposure group and a clean air exposure group. The mice were exposed to concentrated PM_2.5 using the "Shanghai Meteorological and Environmental Animal Exposure System" at Fudan University. The exposure duration was 8 h per day, 6 d per week, for a total of 8 weeks. The mice's liver tissues were collected 24 h after the completion of exposure. LC-MS was performed to assess changes in the hepatic metabolome. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis and t-test were employed to identify differentially regulated metabolites between the two groups under the conditions of variable important in projection (VIP)≥1.0 and P<0.05. Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis was performed using MetaboAnalyst 5.0 software and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Results A total of 297 differentially regulated metabolites were identified between the concentrated PM_2.5 exposure group and the clean air group. Among these metabolites, 142 were upregulated and 155 were downregulated. A total of 38 metabolic pathways were altered, with 7 pathways showing significant perturbation (P<0.05). These pathways involved amino acid metabolism, glucose metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, as well as cofactor and vitamin metabolism. The 7 significant metabolic pathways were pantothenic acid and coenzyme A biosynthesis; purine metabolism; amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism; arginine biosynthesis; alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism; aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis; and fructose and mannose metabolism. Conclusion The results from metabolomics analysis suggest that sub-chronic exposure to PM_2.5 may disrupt hepatic energy metabolism and induce oxidative stress damage. Aspartic acid, succinic acid, ornithine, fumaric acid, as well as purine and xanthine derivatives, were identified as potential early biomarkers of hepatic response to sub-chronic PM_2.5 exposure.

Metal pollutants in the natural environment and industrial environment can enter organisms through the respiratory tract and digestive tract causing adverse health effects. Many kinds of literatures confirm that metal pollutants have neurotoxicity. Recent studies have showed that astrocytes play an important role in neurotoxicity induced by metal pollutants. In this review, the latest progress of neurotoxicity induced by lead, mercury, cadmium, antimony and copper through astrocytes in recent years is summarized, which provides a new clue for the neurotoxicity research of metal pollutants.

Currently,human health due to corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic has been seriously threatened.The coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)spike(S)protein plays a crucial role in virus transmission and several S-based therapeutic approaches have been approved for the treatment of COVID-19.However,the efficacy is compromised by the SARS-CoV-2 evolvement and mutation.Here we report the SARS-CoV-2 S protein receptor-binding domain(RBD)inhibitor licorice-saponin A3(A3)could widely inhibit RBD of SARS-CoV-2 variants,including Beta,Delta,and Omicron BA.1,XBB and BQ1.1.Furthermore,A3 could potently inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Omicron virus in Vero E6 cells,with EC50 of 1.016 pM.The mechanism was related to binding with Y453 of RBD deter-mined by hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry(HDX-MS)analysis combined with quan-tum mechanics/molecular mechanics(QM/MM)simulations.Interestingly,phosphoproteomics analysis and multi fluorescent immunohistochemistry(mIHC)respectively indicated that A3 also inhibits host inflammation by directly modulating the JNK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)path-ways and rebalancing the corresponding immune dysregulation.This work supports A3 as a promising broad-spectrum small molecule drug candidate for COVID-19.

Objective:To explore the relationship between the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and the risk of developing hypertension among rural Chinese adults.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted from 2007 to 2008, involving 20 194 adults selected through random cluster sampling from a rural community in Luoyang City, Henan Province. Follow-ups were carried out in 2013-2014 and 2018-2020. After excluding participants with hypertension at baseline, those with missing TyG index data, individuals who passed away during follow-up, and those with incomplete hypertension status at the second visit, 9 802 participants were included in the analysis. Baseline and follow-up assessments included questionnaire interviews, physical measurements (including blood pressure), and blood sample collection for fasting lipid and glucose levels. Participants were divided into four groups according to TyG index quartiles, and a modified Poisson regression model was utilized to assess the association between TyG index quartiles and hypertension risk.Results:The study cohort comprised 9 802 participants with a median age of 48 (39, 57) years, including 3 803 males (38.80%). Participants were distributed across TyG index quartiles as follows: TyG<8.2 group (2 224 individuals), TyG 8.2-8.5 group (2 653 individuals), TyG 8.6-8.9 (2 441 individuals), and TyG≥9.0 (2 484 individuals). Over a follow-up period of (11.1±1.3) years, 3 378 subjects developed hypertension, resulting in a cumulative incidence of 34.46% (3 378/9 802). The risk of hypertension increased with higher TyG index quartiles ( Ptrend<0.05). Compared to the TyG<8.2, the TyG 8.2-8.5 ( RR=1.11, 95% CI 1.01-1.22, P=0.023), TyG 8.6-8.9 ( RR=1.16, 95%CI 1.06-1.27, P=0.023), and TyG≥9.0 ( RR=1.20, 95%CI 1.10-1.31, P=0.023) exhibited increased hypertension risk after adjusting for age, gender, educational level, and other potential confounders. Subgroup analyses based on gender and age at baseline yielded results consistent with the main analysis. Conclusions:The TyG index is positively correlated with the risk of developing hypertension in the rural adult population.

Objective:To explore the relationship between the hypertensive snowbirds′ length of migratory stay and their blood pressure control and blood pressure levels.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. A population of snowbirds with hypertension was recruited between October and November 2022, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect their self-measured blood pressure and length of stay in Hainan Province. The blood pressure control status is determined based on self-measured blood pressure. According to the self-measured blood pressure to determine whether the blood pressure was well controlled. The associations between snowbirds′ length of stay and their blood pressure control as well as their self-measured blood pressure were analyzed using restricted cubic splines.Results:A total of 362 research subjects were included, 169(46.7%) of whom were male, and their age was (69.7±7.0) years old. The participants′ self-measured systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were (129.1±16.2) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and (78.9±10.1) mmHg, respectively. Overall, 174 (48.1%) participants attained adequate blood pressure control. The median length of stay in Wuzhishan City was 7(6, 7) months. There was an inverted U-shaped association between snowbirds′ length of stay and blood pressure control (overall: P=0.023; nonlinearity: P=0.014), where participants with a length of stay of 7 months had the highest rate of blood pressure control. There is a U-shaped curve relationship between length of stay and systolic blood pressure (overall: P=0.001; nonlinearity: P=0.033), and a linear negative correlation with diastolic blood pressure ( β=-1.19, P=0.003). Conclusions:Compared with hypertensive snowbirds with too long or too short lengths of stay, snowbirds who stayed in Wuzhishan City for seven months have better blood pressure control, and systolic blood pressure is also lower.

Objective:To verify the feasibility of using Elekta accelerated go live (AGL) standard process for the acceptance of multiple accelerators.Methods:The beams of three accelerators were adjusted by PTW Beamscan three-dimensional water tank to reach the AGL standard. Dose verification was performed for three accelerators that met AGL standards. A simple field test example from Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences was used to compare the MapCheck 3 surface dose measurement results with the surface dose calculated by the same accelerator model. Images of 10 patients including head and neck, esophagus, breast, lung and rectum were randomly selected. volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment techniques were used for planning design, and the measured dose of ArcCheck was compared with the planned dose calculated by the same accelerator model. One-way ANOVA was used to statistically analyze the passing rates of two-dimensional and three-dimensional dose verification.Results:The 6 MV X-ray percentage depth dose at 10 cm underwater (PDD 10) of three accelerators was 67.45%, 67.36%, 67.47%, and the maximum deviation between the three accelerators was 0.11%. The 6 MV flattenting filter free (FFF) mode X-ray PDD 10 was 67.33%, 67.20%, 67.20%, and the maximum deviation between the three accelerators was 0.13%. All required discrete point doses on each energy 30 cm×30 cm Profile spindle of the three accelerator X-rays deviated less than ±1% from the standard data. Absolute γ analysis was performed on the results of MapCheck 3 two-dimensional dose matrix validation. Under the 10% threshold of 2 mm/3% standard, the average passing rate of the test cases in Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences was above 99%, and the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Absolute γ analysis was performed on the ArcCheck verification results. Under the 10% threshold, the pass rate of 2 mm/3% was all above 95%, the maximum average passing rate of the three accelerators with different energy and different treatment techniques was 0.28% (6 MV, VMAT), 0.19%(6 MV FFF, VMAT), 0.56% (6 MV, IMRT) and 0.05% (6 MV FFF, IMRT), and the difference was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Compared with traditional accelerator acceptance process, the acceptance time of each accelerator is shortened by 4-6 weeks by using the AGL standard process, and the radiotherapy plan of patients can be interchangeably executed among different accelerators.

Lead is one of the most important occupational hazards in China, and occupational exposure is the leading cause of lead poisoning. Lead can be absorbed by the body through air, food, drinking water and skin, and accumulate in multiple organs in the body, posing health risks to humans, especially to lead workers. Many previous studies have shown that lead can affect the function of glial cells such as microglia, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, resulting in irreversible neurological damage. This article provides an overview of the neurotoxic mechanism induced by lead through glial cells, elucidates that lead can induce neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer′s disease, Parkinson′s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and reviews the relationship between lead and glial cells, in order to provide reference for further research on the neurotoxic mechanism of lead on glial cells.

Metal pollutants in the natural environment and industrial environment can enter organisms through the respiratory tract and digestive tract causing adverse health effects. Many kinds of literatures confirm that metal pollutants have neurotoxicity. Recent studies have showed that astrocytes play an important role in neurotoxicity induced by metal pollutants. In this review, the latest progress of neurotoxicity induced by lead, mercury, cadmium, antimony and copper through astrocytes in recent years is summarized, which provides a new clue for the neurotoxicity research of metal pollutants.

Lead is one of the most important occupational hazards in China, and occupational exposure is the leading cause of lead poisoning. Lead can be absorbed by the body through air, food, drinking water and skin, and accumulate in multiple organs in the body, posing health risks to humans, especially to lead workers. Many previous studies have shown that lead can affect the function of glial cells such as microglia, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, resulting in irreversible neurological damage. This article provides an overview of the neurotoxic mechanism induced by lead through glial cells, elucidates that lead can induce neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer′s disease, Parkinson′s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and reviews the relationship between lead and glial cells, in order to provide reference for further research on the neurotoxic mechanism of lead on glial cells.

Objective On the premise of meeting the image quality requirements of simulated location for pediatric radiotherapy,the simulated localizable CT parameters are optimized through phantom scanning to reduce the radiation dose.Methods CatPhan700 phantom was used to simulate the child's body,Philip 24-row large-aperture spiral simulated localizable CT was performed,and the CT images were obtained by scanning the phantom at different mAs and tube voltages.The mAs range was set at 60-400 mAs,the scanning was performed every 20 mAs interval,and the kV was set at 80,100,and 120 kV.Image evaluation was carried out using parameters such as image noise(N10 and mean SD),uniformity,low contrast resolution,high contrast resolution,and the stabilities of HU values of Air,Acrylic,50%bone,LDPE,20%bone,Teflon,Polystyrene,DelrinTM,Lung,PMP and Water.The CTDIVol and DLP automatically calculated by the simulated localizable CT system were read to evaluate the radiation dose.Results At 100 kV,as mAs increased,both CTDI and DLP showed upward trends,and the fitting results were linear correlated,with slopes of 0.034 5 and 0.932 4.Image noise was decreased nonlinearly with the increasing mAs.When mAs increased from 60 to 140 mAs,N10 decreased from 0.25%to 0.14%,and SD reduced from 3.74 HU to 2.54 HU.When mAs reached 180 mAs or higher,N10 fluctuated between 0.1%and 0.12%,the mean SD fluctuated between 2.0 and 2.5 HU,and the downward trends obviously slowed down.When mAs increased from 60 to 200 mAs,the low contrast resolution of the image dropped from 0.53 to 0.29.The image uniformity,high contrast resolution and HU values of different substances were less affected by mAs.The image quality of 100 kV and 200 mAs scanning was close to that of 120 kV scanning,but the image quality of 80 kV scanning failed to meet the clinical requirements.Conclusion In order to reduce the radiation dose as much as possible,the mAs should be set at 200 mAs when the tube voltage is set at 100 kV for a simulated cylinder with a diameter of 20 cm.In the actual simulation scanning for pediatric radiotherapy,the scanning parameters should be fine-tuned according to the phantom results and the actual physical characteristics of children to satisfy the optimization principle for radiation protection.