Background Permethrin is a commonly used pyrethroid insecticide and has been found to be potentially neurotoxic. Microglia are innate immune cells in the central nervous system and are involved in the development of a range of neurodegenerative diseases. Objective To observe possible toxic effects of permethrin on human microglia clone 3 (HMC3) in vitro and explore associated mechanism. Methods HMC3 were treated with 0, 10, 25, and 55 μmol·L⁻¹ permethrin for 72 h. Cell cycle and apoptosis were measured using flow cytometry. Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A), cyclin B2 (CCNB2), cellular tumor antigen p53 (p53), factor-related apoptosis (FAS), caspase 3 (CASP3), and H2A histone family member X (H2AX) were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). The differential genes and enrichment pathways of HMC3 after 0 and 25 μmol·L⁻¹ permethrin treatment was analyzed by RNA sequencing. HMC3 was treated by 0, 10, 25, and 55 μmol· L⁻¹ permethrin for 72 h. The content of nitric oxide (NO) in the supernatant was detected using Griess reagent. The secretion level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA expression levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway (including MAPK1, MAPK8, and MAPK14), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) families (including MMP1, MMP2, MMP3, and MMP9) were detected by qPCR. The protein expressions of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38), phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), IL-1β, IL-6, and MMP1 were detected by Western blot. Results HMC3 was arrested in G2/M phase after 0, 10, 25, and 55 μmol·L⁻¹ permethrin treatment for 72 h, of which there was a statistically significant difference between the 55 μmol·L⁻¹ permethrin treatment group and the control group (P<0.01), and the mRNA expression of CDKN1A was up-regulated according to the qPCR (P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the proportions of apoptosis between the groups (P＞0.05). The RNA sequencing showed that the differential genes were enriched in the MAPK pathway, and the mRNA expressions of MAPK1, MAPK8, and MAPK14 were up-regulated after the permethrin treatment at 55 μmol·L⁻¹ compared to the control group by qPCR (P<0.05). The Western blot revealed that, compared to the control group, the levels of p-p38 and p-ERK were increased after the 10 μmol·L⁻¹ permetrin treatment (P<0.05), the p-ERK level was increased after the 25 μmol·L⁻¹ permetrin treatment (P<0.05), and the p-p38 level was up-regulated after the 55 μmol·L⁻¹ permetrin treatment (P<0.05). The secretion of NO in the supernatant of HMC3 increased after permetrin treatment compared to the control group (P<0.05), the mRNA and protein expressions and the secretion of IL-6 showed an upward trend, the mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1β were up-regulated (P<0.05), and the mRNA and protein expressions of MMP1 were up-regulated in the 25 and 55 μmol·L⁻¹ permethrin groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Permethrin inhibits HMC3 cell proliferation in vitro, induces cell cycle arrest, activates MAPK pathway, and promotes the expression of inflammatory factors IL-1β and MMP1, which may be one of the mechanism of neurotoxicity induced by permethrin.

In the past few decades, microbubbles were widely used as ultrasound contrast agents in the field of tumor imaging. With the development of research, ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction technology combined with drug-loaded microbubbles can achieve precise drug release and play a therapeutic role. As a micron-scale carrier, microbubbles are difficult to penetrate the endothelial cell space of tumors, and nano-scale drug delivery system—nanobubbles came into being. The structure of the two is similar, but the difference in size highlights the unique advantages of nanobubbles in drug delivery. Based on the classification principle of shell materials, this review summarized micro/nanobubbles used for ultrasound diagnosis or treatment and discussed the possible development directions, providing references for the subsequent development.

Objective To observe the changes of liver function,blood cell,and lung function of healthy young and middle-aged men before and after fast-advancing short-term high altitude exposure(FSHAE);and to explore the effects and possible mechanisms of FSHAE on the function of liver,blood cells,and lung tissues.Methods This study included 48 healthy young and middle-aged male volunteers,who collected physiological indicators,tested liver function indicators,blood cell indicators,and lung function-related indicators 1 day before entering the plateau(100m above sea level),and 15 days after FSHAE(3000m above sea level).Differences in the relevant parameters of each system were compared before and after FSHAE.Results Compared with those before entering the plateau,the physiological parameters of young and middle-aged men after 15 days of FSHAE heart rate increased significantly,respiratory rate increased,systolic blood pressure increased,mean arterial blood pressure increased,oxygen saturation decreased(P＜0.01),and diastolic blood pressure increased(P＜0.05),all of which were statistically significant;and the indicators of liver function:glutamic oxaloacetic aminotransferase,glutamic alanine aminotransferase increased(P＜0.01),glutamylamine aminotransferase,glutamate aminotransferase,glutaminase,and pulmonary function were increased(P＜0.01),glutamyl transpeptidase,alkaline phosphatase,and total bile acids were elevated,and total protein decreased(P＜0.05),and the differences were statistically significant.Hemocyte-related indexes:erythrocyte count,erythrocyte pressure volume,mean erythrocyte volume,mean hemoglobin volume,mean hemoglobin concentration,and hemoglobin were elevated,and platelet count decreased(P＜0.01),and the differences were statistically significant.although there was an elevation of leukocyte count(P＞0.05);Lung function-related indexes:decreased exertion lung volume(P＜0.05).There were decreased exertion expiratory volume in the first second,increased one-second rate(P＞0.05).Conclusion FSHAE can lead to oxidative stress in the organism,and acute hypoxic multisystemic injury will occur,with the simultaneous emergence of hypoxic adaptive regulation of various systems,self-compensatory repair of various organs of the organism,and there may be the possibility of interactions between various systems.

Objective To investigate and analyze the distribution of serum cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen 21-1(CYFRA21-1)and squamous cell carcinoma-associated antigen(SCCA)levels in healthy pregnant women during pregnancy and to assess their diagnostic value for cervical cancer in pregnancy.Methods A total of 441 healthy pregnant women and 69 patients with cervical cancer in pregnancy who attended the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University from Jan 2021 to May 2024 were selected,and 165 healthy women in the Physical Examination Center of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University were included in the same period as the control group.The healthy pregnant women were divided into 143 in early pregnancy(T1 group),147 in middle pregnancy(T2)and 151 in late pregnancy(T3).Serum CYFRA21-1 and SCCA values were detected and analyzed in all groups.One-way ANOVA,independent samples t-test,Mann-Whitney U-test,Kruskal-Wallis H-test,logistic analysis,and ROC curves were used for comparative analysis.Results The CYFRA21-1 and SCCA values were 1.66(1.19-2.17)ng/mL and 0.8(0.6-1.0)ng/mL in the control group,3.07(2.11-4.14)ng/mL and 0.9(0.7-1.3)ng/mL in the healthy pregnant women group,and were 4.33(2.99-7.60)ng/mL and 1.8(0.9-8.5)ng/mL in the patients with cervical cancer in pregnancy group,respectively.There was a statistically significant difference in the two serum values between every two groups(P<0.05).CYFRA21-1 levels were 3.13(2.46-4.05)ng/mL,1.89(1.50-2.53)ng/mL and 4.19(3.48-5.43)ng/mL in the T1,T2,and T3 groups,respectively;and SCCA levels were 0.9(0.7-1.1)ng/mL,0.7(0.6-1.0)ng/mL and 1.2(0.8-1.7)ng/mL,respectively.The results of T1 and T3 groups were higher than those of the control group(P<0.05);however,there was no statistically significant difference between the results of the T2 group and those of the control group(P>0.05).The areas under the ROC curves for the diagnosis of cervical cancer in pregnancy for CYFRA21-1,SCCA,human epididymis protein 4(HE4),anti-carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA)and joint indicators were 0.684,0.724,0.612,0.791 and 0.913,with sensitivities of 36%,48%,38%,57%and 73%,specificities of 96%,97%,89%,86%and 99%,respectively.The cut-off values of each indicator were 6.05 ng/mL,2.60 ng/mL,51.45 pg/mL and 1.75 ng/mL,respectively.Conclusion Serum CYFRA21-1 and SCCA levels were higher in pregnant women during early and late pregnancy compared with non-pregnant individuals,while they were not statistically different from non-pregnant women during mid-trimester.CYFRA21-1 and SCCA have diagnostic value for patients with cervical cancer during pregnancy.

Objective To explore the acupoint selection rules of acupuncture and moxibustion for the treatment of female menopausal obesity and to provide reference for clinical acupuncture treatment of female menopausal obesity based on data mining techniques.Methods Clinical literature on acupuncture treatment of female menopausal obesity was searched by computer in CNKI,Wanfang,VIP,SinoMed,and PubMed database,and the time limit of searching was from the establishment of database to the date of 1 August 2023,and the literature was screened and extracted according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.The association rule analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Moderler 18.0 software,and cluster analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 27.0 software.Results A total of 50 literature meeting the requirements were screened out,and 83 groups of acupoint prescriptions were extracted.Descriptive analysis showed that the intervention measures of acupuncture and moxibustion in the treatment of female menopausal obesity were mainly acupoint catgut embedding,electroacupuncture and auricular acupuncture.The top 7 acupoints with the highest frequency were Sanyinjiao(SP6),Zusanli(ST36),Shenshu(BL23),Tianshu(ST25),Guanyuan(RN4),Zhongwan(RN12)and Qihai(RN6).Stomach meridian of foot yangming,conception vessel,bladder meridian of foot taiyang and spleen meridian of foot taiyin are the most commonly selected meridians.In terms of specific acupoints,the main acupoints are intersection points,front-mu points and back-shu points.The acupoints are mainly distributed in the chest and abdomen,lower limbs and waist and back.By using data mining technology,the core acupoint pair of acupuncture and moxibustion for menopausal obesity is'Zusanli-Sanyinjiao',and the core acupoint prescription is'Zusanli,Sanyinjiao,Zhongwan,Tianshu,Shenshu,Guanyuan,Qihai';cluster analysis found 7 types of clinical acupoint clustering.Conclusion Acupuncture and moxibustion for the treatment of female menopausal obesity focuses on tonifying the essence of the kidney and restoring the qi mechanism and characteristics of acupoint selection of spleen and stomach qi.

Traumatic supraorbital fissure syndrome (TSOFS) is a symptom complex caused by nerve entrapment in the supraorbital fissure after skull base trauma. If the compressed cranial nerve in the supraorbital fissure is not decompressed surgically, ptosis, diplopia and eye movement disorder may exist for a long time and seriously affect the patients′ quality of life. Since its overall incidence is not high, it is not familiarized with the majority of neurosurgeons and some TSOFS may be complicated with skull base vascular injury. If the supraorbital fissure surgery is performed without treatment of vascular injury, it may cause massive hemorrhage, and disability and even life-threatening in severe cases. At present, there is no consensus or guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of TSOFS that can be referred to both domestically and internationally. To improve the understanding of TSOFS among clinical physicians and establish standardized diagnosis and treatment plans, the Skull Base Trauma Group of the Neurorepair Professional Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, Neurotrauma Group of the Neurosurgery Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, Neurotrauma Group of the Traumatology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, and Editorial Committee of Chinese Journal of Trauma organized relevant experts to formulate Chinese expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic supraorbital fissure syndrome ( version 2024) based on evidence of evidence-based medicine and clinical experience of diagnosis and treatment. This consensus puts forward 12 recommendations on the diagnosis, classification, treatment, efficacy evaluation and follow-up of TSOFS, aiming to provide references for neurosurgeons from hospitals of all levels to standardize the diagnosis and treatment of TSOFS.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is an increasingly common liver disease worldwide. MAFLD is diagnosed based on the presence of steatosis on images, histological findings, or serum marker levels as well as the presence of at least one of the three metabolic features: overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic risk factors. MAFLD is not only a liver disease but also a factor contributing to or related to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which is the major etiology responsible for morbidity and mortality in patients with MAFLD. Hence, understanding the association between MAFLD and CVD, surveillance and risk stratification of MAFLD in patients with CVD, and assessment of the current status of MAFLD management are urgent requirements for both hepatologists and cardiologists. This Taiwan position statement reviews the literature and provides suggestions regarding the epidemiology, etiology, risk factors, risk stratification, nonpharmacological interventions, and potential drug treatments of MAFLD, focusing on its association with CVD.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and is characterized by alternating periods of inflammation and remission. Although UC incidence is lower in Taiwan than in Western countries, its impact remains considerable, demanding updated guidelines for addressing local healthcare challenges and patient needs. The revised guidelines employ international standards and recent research, emphasizing practical implementation within the Taiwanese healthcare system. Since the inception of the guidelines in 2017, the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease has acknowledged the need for ongoing revisions to incorporate emerging therapeutic options and evolving disease management practices. This updated guideline aims to align UC management with local contexts, ensuring comprehensive and context-specific recommendations, thereby raising the standard of care for UC patients in Taiwan. By adapting and optimizing international protocols for local relevance, these efforts seek to enhance health outcomes for patients with UC.

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic, fluctuating inflammatory condition that primarily affects the gastrointestinal tract. Although the incidence of CD in Taiwan is lower than that in Western countries, the severity of CD presentation appears to be similar between Asia and the West. This observation indicates the urgency for devising revised guidelines tailored to the unique reimbursement system, and patient requirements in Taiwan. The core objectives of these updated guidelines include the updated treatment choices and the integration of the treat-to-target strategy into CD management, promoting the achievement of deep remission to mitigate complications and enhance the overall quality of life. Given the diversity in disease prevalence, severity, insurance policies, and access to medical treatments in Taiwan, a customized approach is imperative for formulating these guidelines. Such tailored strategies ensure that international standards are not only adapted but also optimized to local contexts. Since the inception of its initial guidelines in 2017, the Taiwan Society of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (TSIBD) has acknowledged the importance of continuous revisions for incorporating new therapeutic options and evolving disease management practices. The latest update leverages international standards and recent research findings focused on practical implementation within the Taiwanese healthcare system.

Ligustrum lucidum is a woody perennial plant of genus Ligustrum in family Oleaceae. Its dried fruit has high medicinal value. In this study, the authors evaluated the variability and species identification efficiency of three specific DAN barcodes(rbcL-accD, ycf1a, ycf1b) and four general DAN barcodes(matK, rbcL, trnH-psbA, ITS2) for a rapid and accurate molecular identification of Ligustrum species. The results revealed that matK, rbcL, trnH-psbA, ITS2 and ycf1a were inefficient for identifying the Ligustrum species, and a large number of insertions and deletions were observed in rbcL-accD sequence, which was thus unsuitable for development as specific barcode. The ycf1b-2 barcode had DNA barcoding gap and high success rate of PCR amplification and DNA sequencing, which was the most suitable DNA barcode for L. lucidum identification and achieved an accurate result. In addition, to optimize the DNA extraction experiment, the authors extracted and analyzed the DNA of the exocarp, mesocarp, endocarp and seed of L. lucidum fruit. It was found that seed was the most effective part for DNA extraction, where DNAs of high concentration and quality were obtained, meeting the needs of species identification. In this study, the experimental method for DNA extraction of L. lucidum was optimized, and the seed was determined as the optimal part for DNA extraction and ycf1b-2 was the specific DNA barcode for L. lucidum identification. This study laid a foundation for the market regulation of L. lucidum.
Ligustrum/genetics* ; Seeds ; Fruit ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Research Design