Background Metals and metalloids in fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) may cause damage to the respiratory and circulatory systems of the human body, and long-term exposure is prone to causing chronic poisoning, cancer, and other adverse effects. Objective To assess the distribution characteristics of metals and metalloids in outdoor PM_2.5 in a southern city of China, conduct source apportionment, and evaluate the associated health risks, thereby providing theoretical support for further pollution control measures. Methods PM_2.5 samples were collected in districts A, B, and C of a southern China city, and the concentrations of 17 metals and metalloids were detected by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Pollution sources were assessed through enrichment factor and principal components analysis, and the main pollution sources were quantified using absolute principal component scores-multivariate linear regression (APCS-MLR). Health risks were evaluated based on the Technical guide for environmental health risk assessment of chemical exposure (WS/T777—2021). Results The ambient air PM_2.5 concentrations in the city were higher in winter and spring, and lower in summer and autumn. The annual average concentrations of ambient PM_2.5 in districts A, B, and C were 36.7, 31.9, and 24.4 μg·m⁻³, respectively. The ambient PM_2.5 levels in districts B and C were below the second-grade limit set by the Ambient air quality standards (GB 3095—2012). The enrichment factors of cadmium (Cd), aluminum (Al), and antimony (Sb) were greater than 10, those of copper (Cu), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), mercury (Hg), and molybdenum (Mo) fell between 1 and 10, and those of manganese (Mn), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), and uranium (U) were below or equal to 1. The comprehensive evaluation of source analysis showed that the main pollution sources in districts A and C and the whole city were coal-burning. In district B, the main pollution source was also coal combustion, followed by industrial process sources and dust sources. The carcinogenic risks of As and Cr were between 1×10⁻⁶ and 1×10⁻⁴. However, the hazard quotients for 15 metals and metalloids in terms of non-carcinogenic risk were below 1. Conclusion Cr and As in the atmospheric PM_2.5 of the city present a certain risk of cancer and should be paid attention to. In addition, preventive control measures should be taken against relevant pollution sources such as industrial emission, dust, and coal burning.

The accumulation of uremic toxins such as urea nitrogen, blood creatinine, and uric acid of patients with renal failure in vivo would lead to aggravated kidney damage. In this study, coated aldehyde oxy-starch (CAO) was used as an adsorbent to investigate its in vitro adsorption performance on renal failure indexes for urea, indoxyl sulfate (INS), monomethylamine (MMA), dimethylamine (DMA), uric acid (UA), and creatinine (Cr). The effects of variables such as pH, temperature, concentration, dosage, and time on the adsorption capacity of CAO were systematically investigated, employing analytical techniques of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC). The results revealed that CAO exhibited a strong adsorption capacity for urea, INS, and MMA, alongside a moderate adsorption capacity for DMA, UA, and Cr. The adsorption kinetics and thermodynamic studies indicated that the adsorption of urea and UA by CAO were fitted in pseudo-first-order kinetics, and the adsorption isotherm aligned with the Freundlich adsorption model. The enthalpy change ΔH of urea in adsorption was in the range of 40 to 60 kJ·mol^-1, which demonstrated the presence of strong adsorption force due to the interactions of coordinating groups. The ΔH of UA was greater than 80 kJ·mol^-1, indicating the generation of chemical bonds during the adsorption. Both of them, Gibbs free energy ΔG was less than 0, within the range of -20 to 0 kJ·mol^-1, suggested that the adsorption of urea and UA by CAO occurred spontaneously as physical adsorption process. The adsorption entropy ΔS of urea and UA was > 0, which indicated an increase in entropy throughout the adsorption. The infrared spectroscopygram showed the formation of a chemical bond, specifically the imine bond, following the adsorption of urea by CAO, thereby indicating a chemical reaction during the adsorption. This study elucidates the adsorption mechanism of CAO on various indexes of renal failure, providing a scientific basis for its clinical usage.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the effects of aerobic exercise on cognitive function in aging mice and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms by which aerobic exercise ameliorates cognitive decline through the regulation of gut microbiota-metabolite network. By providing novel insights into the interplay between exercise, gut microbiota, and cognitive health, this research seeks to offer a robust theoretical foundation for developing anti-aging strategies and personalized exercise interventions targeting aging-related cognitive dysfunction. MethodsUsing naturally aged C57BL/6 mice as the experimental model, this study employed a multi-omics approach combining 16S rRNA sequencing and wide-targeted metabolomics analysis. A total of 18 mice were divided into 3 groups: young control (YC, 4-month-old), old control (OC, 21-month-old), and old+exercise (OE, 21-month-old with 12 weeks of moderate-intensity treadmill training) groups. Behavioral assessments, including the Morris water maze (MWM) test, were conducted to evaluate cognitive function. Histopathological examinations of brain tissue sections provided morphological evidence of neuronal changes. Fecal samples were collected for gut microbiota and metabolite profiling via 16S rRNA sequencing and ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS). Data were analyzed using a combination of statistical and bioinformatics tools to identify differentially abundant microbial taxa and metabolites and to construct interaction networks between them. ResultsBehavioral tests revealed that 12 weeks of aerobic exercise significantly improved spatial learning and memory capacity of aged mice, as evidenced by reduced escape latency and increased target area exploration and platform crossings in the MWM. Histopathological analysis demonstrated that exercise mitigated aging-related neuronal damage in the hippocampus, enhancing neuronal density and morphology. 16S rRNA sequencing indicated that exercise increased gut microbiota α‑diversity and enriched beneficial bacterial genera, including Bifidobacterium, Parabacteroides, and Rikenella. Metabolomics analysis identified 32 differentially regulated metabolites between OC and OE groups, with 94 up-regulated and 30 down-regulated in the OE group when compared with OC group. These metabolites were primarily involved in energy metabolism reprogramming (e.g., L-homocitrulline), antioxidant defense (e.g., L-carnosine), neuroprotection (e.g., lithocholic acid), and DNA repair (e.g., ADP-ribose). Network analysis further revealed strong positive correlations between specific bacteria and metabolites, such as Parabacteroides with ADP-ribose and Bifidobacterium with lithocholic acid, suggesting potential neuroprotective pathways mediated by the gut microbiota-metabolite axis. ConclusionThis study provides comprehensive evidence that aerobic exercise elicits cognitive benefits in aging mice by modulating the gut microbiota-metabolite network. These findings highlight three key mechanisms: (1) the proliferation of beneficial gut bacteria enhances metabolic reprogramming to boost DNA repair pathways; (2) elevated neuroinflammation-inhibiting factors reduce neurodegenerative changes; and (3) enhanced antioxidant defenses maintain neuronal homeostasis. These results underscore the critical role of the “microbiota-metabolite-brain” axis in mediating the cognitive benefits of aerobic exercise. This study not only advances our understanding of the gut-brain axis in aging but also offers a scientific basis for developing personalized exercise and probiotic-based interventions targeting aging-related cognitive decline. Future research should further validate these mechanisms in non-human primates and human clinical trials to establish the translational potential of exercise-induced gut microbiota-metabolite modulation for combating neurodegenerative diseases.

Human physiological indicators have become an important standard for assessing health in modern society.Traditional detection methods often require a separate laboratory,complex operation process and long detection time,so it is urgent to develop portable,fast and accurate on-site detection technologies for bioanalysis.Point-of-care testing(POCT),which differs from traditional laboratory testing,can realize the rapid in situ detection of biomarkers without the complicated analytical process of the laboratory.Smartphones,which are an essential tool in our daily life,not only have independent operating systems and built-in storage functions,but also have high-definition cameras,which have great application potential in POCT visualization.The combination of various biosensing technologies and smartphones has developed into a new direction in the field of POCT.This review mainly introduced the research progress of smartphone-based visual biosensors in POCT in recent years,including colorimetric sensors,fluorescence sensors,chemiluminescence sensors and electrochemiluminescence sensors.Finally,the problems faced by smart-phone-based visual biosensors in the application of POCT were summarized,and their future development was prospected.

Objective:To search, evaluate and summarize the best evidence summary of perioperative accelerated rehabilitation nursing for patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty, so as to provide reference for clinical perioperative nursing.Methods:Evidence-based nursing methods were used to search for relevant databases such as BMJ Best Practice, UpToDate, PubMed, CINAHL, and CNKI, etc.. The search period was from December 2010 to December 2022. Four researchers independently evaluated the quality of the guidelines, and two researchers independently evaluated the quality of expert consensus and system evaluation. Finally, the included literature was summarized.Results:A total of 12 pieces of literature, 3 guidelines, 5 expert consensus and 4 systematic reviews were included. From 13 aspects of preoperative education, preoperative optimization, anesthesia management, perioperative blood management, perioperative pain management, perioperative fluid management, perioperative temperature protection, infection prevention, thrombus prevention, postoperative nausea and vomiting, postoperative drainage, functional exercise, and perioperative rehabilitation promotion, 35 pieces of the best evidence for hip and knee replacement patients to accelerate rehabilitation nursing in the perioperative period was summarized.Conclusions:This study summarizes the best evidence of accelerated rehabilitation nursing in the perioperative period of hip and knee arthroplasty, aiming to build and standardize the accelerated rehabilitation nursing scheme in the perioperative period of hip and knee arthroplasty, so as to provide reference for clinical perioperative nursing.

BACKGROUND:Grape seed extract has been shown to be effective in inhibiting the growth of androgen-dependent tumors(e.g.,breast cancer),and thus grape seed extract could theoretically inhibit epiphyseal closure induced by estrogen in late adolescence. OBJECTIVE:To screen the effects of grape seed extract on apoptosis of growth plate chondrocytes and epiphyseal closure in rats. METHODS:(1)In vitro experiment:Growth plate chondrocytes from rat large tibia and femur at logarithmic growth stage were obtained and cultured in groups:normal control group,model control group(adding 17β-estradiol to induce apoptosis),positive control group(adding letrozole and 17β-estradiol),grape seed extract group(adding 17β-estradiol and 10 μg/mL grape seed extract),Caspase-9 inhibitor group(adding 17β-estradiol and Caspase-9 inhibitor),Caspase-9 agonist group(adding 17β-estradiol and Caspase-9 agonist).Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry after 48 hours of culture.(2)In vivo experiment:Thirty 3-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into model control group,positive control group and low-,medium-and high-dose groups,with five rats in each group.All rats were injected subcutaneously with 17β-estradiol(3 times per week)to establish epiphyseal closure models,followed by intragastric administration of letrozole in positive control group and 0.05,0.2 and 0.8 g/kg grape seed extract in low-,medium-and high-dose groups,respectively,once a day until over 2/3 of the epiphyseal plate in the model control group was closed.The length of the tibia was then observed.Another 18 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into model control group,positive control group,and medium-dose group,with 6 rats in each group,treated as above for 1.5 continuous months.The expression of Caspase-9 protein in rat growth plate cartilage was detected by western blot. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)In vitro experiment:17β-estradiol could induce apoptosis in growth plate chondrocytes,and letrozole,grape seed extract,and caspase-9 inhibitors could all inhibit apoptosis in growth plate chondrocytes.(2)In vivo experiment:When more than 2/3 of the epiphyseal plate in the model control group was closed,the number of rats with epiphysis closure in the positive control and medium-dose groups was less than that in the model control group(P＜0.05),and the tibial length was longer than that in the model control group(P＜0.05),and the Caspase-9 protein expression in the tibial growth plate was lower than that in the model control group(P＜0.05).To conclude,the appropriate dose of grape seed extract can effectively inhibit the apoptosis of growth plate chondrocytes and delay epiphyseal closure,which has the potential to promote bone growth.

Objective At present, the grading evaluation of patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC) is still a focus and difficulty in related fields. Electroencephalogram (EEG) can directly read and continuously reflect scalp electrical activity generated by brain tissue structure, with high temporal resolution. Auditory stimulation is easy to operate and has broad application prospects in clinical detection of DOC. The causal network can intuitively reflect the direction of information transmission through the causal relationship between time series, helping us better understand the information interaction between different regions of the brain of patients. This paper combines EEG and causal networks to explore the differences in brain functional connectivity between patients with unresponsive arousal syndrome (VS) and those with minimum state of consciousness (MCS) under auditory stimulation. MethodsA total of 23 DOC patients were included, including 11 MCS patients and 12 VS patients. Based on the Oddball paradigm, auditory naming stimulation was performed on DOC patients and EEG signals of DOC patients were synchronously collected. The brain functional networks were constructed using multivariate Granger causality method, and the differences in node degree, clustering coefficient, global efficiency, and causal flow of the brain networks between MCS patients and VS patients were calculated. The differences in network characteristics of patients with different levels of consciousness under auditory stimulation were compared from the perspective of cooperation between brain regions. ResultsThe causal connectivity between most brain regions in MCS patients was stronger than that in VS patients, and MCS patients had more brain network connectivity edges than VS patients. The average degree (P<0.05), average clustering coefficient, and global efficiency (P<0.05) of MCS patients under naming stimulation were higher than those of VS patients. The difference in out-degree between each node of VS patients was larger, and the difference in in-degree between each node of MCS patients was smaller. The difference in in-degree of MCS patients was more significant than that of VS patients, and the inflow and outflow of information in the brain functional network of MCS patients were stronger than those of VS patients. MCS and VS patients had differences of causal flow in the frontal and temporal lobes, the direction of information transmission in the parietal lobe and central region was not the same, and MCS patients had more electrodes as causal sources than VS patients. ConclusionThe information transmission ability of MCS patients is stronger than that of VS patients under auditory naming stimulation. Compared with VS patients, MCS patients have an increase in the number of electrode channels as the causal source, an increase in information output to other brain regions, and also an increase in the information output within brain regions, which may indicate a better state of consciousness in patients. MCS patients have more electrode channels for information output in the frontal lobe than VS patients, and the number of electrode channels for changing the direction of information transmission in the frontal lobe is the highest. The frontal lobe is closely related to the level of consciousness in patients with consciousness disorders. This study can provide a theoretical basis for the grading evaluation of consciousness levels in DOC patients.

Objective:To evaluate the interaction between remimazolam and propofol for sedation during hysteroscopy.Methods:American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰ or Ⅱ patients, aged 20-45 yr, with body mass index of 18-28 kg/m 2, scheduled for elective hysteroscopy, were included. The test was conducted in two steps. Up-and-down sequential allocation was used to determine the median effective dose (ED 50) of remimazolam (group A) and propofol (group B). The ED 50 obtained in A and B groups were then used as the standard to determine the combination regimen in group C (0.25×ED 50 of remimazolam+ 0.75×ED 50 of propofol as the initial dose), in group D (0.5×ED 50 of remimazolam+ 0.5×ED 50 of propofol as the initial dose), and in group E (0.75×ED 50 of remimazolam+ 0.25×ED 50 of propofol as the initial dose). Up-and-down sequential allocation was used to determine the ED 50 of propofol when propofol and remimazolam were combined in C, D and E groups. The interaction between the sedative effects of two drugs was analyzed using the isobolographic analysis method, and the interaction coefficient and synergistic dose ratio of two drugs were calculated. Results:The ED 50 of remimazolam was 0.180 mg/kg in group A, and the ED 50 of propofol was 1.167 mg/kg in group B. The results of isobolographic analysis showed that remimazolam and propofol had a synergistic effect. When remimazolam 0.045, 0.090 and 0.135 mg/kg were combined with propofol 0.546, 0.288 and 0.160 mg/kg, the interaction coefficients were 1.393, 1.339 and 1.127 respectively. The synergistic dosage ratio of remimazolam and propofol was 1.0∶(3.2 to 12.0). Conclusions:Remimazolam and propofol have a synergistic effect on sedation when used for hysteroscopy, and the dose ratio is 1.0∶(3.2-12.0).

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of esketamine combined with different doses of remimazolam for induction of general anesthesia in pediatric patients.Methods:One hundred and sixty pediatric patients of either sex, aged 3-6 yr, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰ or Ⅱ, with body mass index of 13-20 kg/m 2, undergoing elective general anesthesia under a laryngeal mask, were divided into 4 groups ( n=40 each) by the random number table method: esketamine combined with propofol group (KP group) and esketamine combined with different doses of remimazolam group (0.2, 0.3, 0.4 mg/kg) groups (KR1 group, KR2 group, KR3 group). Esketamine 0.8 mg/kg was intravenously injected in the preanesthesia room. After entering the operating room, propofol 2.5 mg/kg was intravenously injected in KP group, and remimazolam 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 mg/kg were intravenously injected in KR1, KR2 and KR3 groups, respectively. When the child lost consciousness and the Modified Observer′s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation Scale score<1, sufentanil and mevacurium were intravenously injected. When the Modified Observer′s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation Scale score≥1, rescue sedation was performed, and 3 min later the laryngeal mask airway was inserted. The onset time of sedation, response to laryngeal mask airway placement, rescue sedation, hypotension, tachycardia, bradycardia, bucking, hiccup, injection pain and apnea were recorded, and the increase rate of perfusion index (PI) was calculated. Results:No response to laryngeal mask implantation occurred in the four groups. Compared with KP group, the onset time of sedation was significantly prolonged, the incidence of hypotension, bradycardia, injection pain and apnea was decreased, the incidence of tachycardia was increased, and the increase rate of PI was decreased in KR1, KR2 and KR3 groups, and the rate of rescue sedation and incidence of bucking were increased in KR1 and KR2 groups ( P<0.05). Compared with KR1 group, the onset time of sedation was significantly shortened in KR2 group and KR3 group, and the rate of rescue sedation and incidence of bucking were decreased in KR3 group ( P<0.05). Compared with KR2 group, the onset time of sedation was significantly shortened, and the rate of rescue sedation was decreased in KR3 group ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the increase rate of PI, hypotension, bradycardia, tachycardia, injection pain and apnea among KR1, KR2 and KR3 groups ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of hiccup among the four groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Esketamine 0.8 mg/kg combined with remimazolam 0.4 mg/kg can be safely and effectively used for anesthesia induction and has milder inhibition of respiration and circulation as compared with esketamine combined with propofol in pediatric patients.

AIM To establish an HPLC method for the simultaneous content determination of gallic acid,protocatechuic acid,morroniside,loganin,sweroside,paeoniflorin,hypericin,astragalin,salvianolic acid B,salvianolic acid A,epimedin C and icariin in Bushen Huoxue Sanjie Capsules.METHODS The analysis was performed on a 30℃thermostatic Agilent 5 TC-C18 column(250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm),with the mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile-0.1%phosphoric acid flowing at 1.0 mL/min in a gradient elution manner,and the detection wavelength was set at 240 nm.RESULTS Twelve constituents showed good linear relationships within their own ranges(r≥0.999 8),whose average recoveries were 97.11%-101.14%with the RSDs of 0.60%-2.65%.CONCLUSION This simple,accurate and reproducible method can be used for the quality control of Bushen Huoxue Sanjie Capsules.