Bitter taste receptors,also known as type 2 taste receptors(T2Rs),are found not only in the mouth's taste bud cells but also in various tissues and cells,including macrophages.Macrophages,known for their re-markable plasticity,play a crucial role in regulating innate immunity,managing inflammation,and orchestrating immune responses to antigens,pathogens,and environmental factors.Recently,the study of the expression and function of bitter taste receptors within macrophages has garnered significant interest.This review summarizes the expression levels and dis-tribution characteristics of bitter taste receptors in macrophages and examines their effects on macrophage polarization,phagocytosis,and chemotaxis,as well as their potential molecular mechanisms.The purpose of this review is to provide in-sight and perspectives for research on the regulatory role of T2Rs in macrophage functions.

AIM:The effects and mechanisms of paeoniflorin(PF)on sepsis-associated acute kidney injury(SA-AKI)in mice were investigated based on cellular pyroptosis and the JNK/NEK7/NLRP3 pathway.METHODS:A murine SA-AKI model was established by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide(LPS).Twenty-four male C57BL/6J mice aged 6～8 weeks were divided into four groups(n=6)using a randomized numerical table method:control(Con)group(an equal amount of DMSO-containing PBS was injected intraperitoneally at the same time);LPS group(LPS was injected intraperitoneally at 15 mg/kg);LPS+PF group(PF was injected intraperitoneally at 50 mg/kg for 30 min prior to modeling);and LPS+PF+anisomycin group(intraperitoneal injection of PF 50 mg/kg and JNK agonist anisomycin 20 mg/kg 30 min before modeling).Samples were taken 24 h after modeling.HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes in renal tissues,and Paller scoring of renal injury was performed.ELISA was used to detect the levels of renal in-jury markers:blood creatinine(Scr),kidney injury molecule 1(KIM-1),and the inflammatory factors interleukin 1β(IL-1β)and IL-18.Western blot was used to detect changes in phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase(p-JNK),NIMA-relat-ed expressed kinase 7(NEK7),nucleotide oligomerization domain(NOD)-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3),and N-ter-minal fragment of gasdermin D(GSDMD-N)protein levels.RESULTS:Compared with the Con group,HE staining in the LPS group showed congestion and edema in renal tissues,granular or cell-like tubular patterns in the dilated tubular lu-men of renal tubules,and congestion and edema in the renal interstitium.Paller scores,Scr,serum KIM-1,IL-1β,and IL-18 levels in renal tissues were elevated(P<0.05).The expression of p-JNK,NEK7,NLRP3,and GSDMD-N also in-creased(P<0.05).Compared with the LPS group,the LPS+PF group exhibited reduced renal histopathological injury,decreased Paller score,Scr,serum KIM-1,IL-1β,and IL-18 levels(P<0.05),and decreased protein expression of p-JNK,NEK7,NLRP3,and GSDMD-N(P<0.05).Compared with the LPS+PF group,the LPS+PF+anisomycin group showed increased renal histopathological injury,Paller score,Scr,serum KIM-1,IL-1β,and IL-18 levels(P<0.05),and increased expression of p-JNK,NEK7,NLRP3,and GSDMD-N(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Paeoniflorin may at-tenuate SA-AKI by inhibiting the JNK/NEK7/NLRP3 signaling pathway and downregulating cellular pyroptosis.

Objective:To correlate the common driver gene variations in primary lung adenocarcinoma with their clinical characteristics and histopathological subtypes.Methods:There were 4 995 cases of primary lung adenocarcinoma diagnosed at Weifang People′s Hospital of Shandong Province from January 2015 to December 2021 which were retrospectively analyzed. Among them 1 983 cases were evaluated for their histopathological subtype; 3 012 were analyzed for the correlation of their histopathological subtypes and corresponding driver gene variations, including invasive non-mucinous adenocarcinoma (INMA) and invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (IMA), and morphologically, poorly-differentiated, moderately-differentiated and well-differentiated adenocarcinomas. Next-generation sequencing was used to detect variations in EGFR, KRAS, ALK, RET, ROS1, MET, HER2, or BRAF driver genes.Results:There were 2 384 males and 2 611 females. EGFR and ALK variations were more commonly found in female patients aged 60 years or older, with EGFR mutation rate in clinical stage Ⅰ (25.80%) significantly higher than in other stages ( P<0.05). KRAS mutations were more commonly detected in male smokers aged 60 years or older, HER2 mutations were more commonly in patients younger than 60 years, and RET mutations were more commonly in non-smokers (all P<0.05). No correlation was found between ROS1, MET, and BRAF gene variations and their clinical characteristics ( P>0.05). For the histopathological subtypes, among the 1 899 cases of acinar adenocarcinoma, EGFR mutation rate was the highest (67.30%) compared to the other genes. Exon 21 L858R and exon 19 del were the main mutation sites in IMA and INMA, with a higher mutation rate at exon 20 T790M (11.63%) in micropapillary adenocarcinoma. In IMA, KRAS had the highest overall mutation rate (43.80%), with statistically significant difference in mutation rates of exon 2 G12D and exon 2 G12V in acinar adenocarcinoma, solid, and IMA ( P<0.05). KRAS mutation at various sites were higher in poorly differentiated groups compared to moderately- and well-differentiated groups ( P<0.05). HER2 mutations were more commonly observed in acinar adenocarcinoma, papillary, and micropapillary adenocarcinoma of INMA. BRAF mutation was higher in micropapillary adenocarcinoma compared with other types ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Variations in EGFR, ALK, KRAS, HER2, and RET in primary lung adenocarcinoma are associated with patients′ age, smoking history, and clinical stage, and driver gene mutations vary among different histopathological subtypes. EGFR mutations are predominant in INMA, while KRAS mutations are predominant in IMA.

Objective:To explore the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic-assisted liposuction in the treatment of gynecomastia.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 115 male breast development patients from January 2021 to May 2023 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University and Shaoguan Hospital of Southern Medical University. The patients were divided into two groups based on surgical methods: the laparoscopic combined liposuction technique group (observation group) and the traditional areola incision group (control group). The control group consisted of 59 cases, aged between 18 and 52 years (26.2±5.2); There were 56 cases in the observation group, aged between 18 and 55 years (26.5±5.2). The differences in surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, drainage tube removal time, incidence of surgical complications, postoperative drainage volume, pain visual analog scale (VAS), and patient satisfaction were compared between two groups of patients.Results:The intraoperative bleeding volume, drainage tube removal time, and postoperative drainage volume in the observation group were 12.25±2.23, 2.85±0.53, and 80.52±7.53, respectively, all of which were lower than those in the control group (26.53±2.35, 4.22±0.59, 81.25±8.54, respectively), and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05).The incidence of sensory abnormalities in the nipple areola area of the observation group was 1.8% (1/56), which was lower than the 10.2% (6/59) of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05).The postoperative breast shape, nipple shape, and incision score of the observation group were 81.15±18.52, 77.85±22.15, and 72.58±10.56 points, respectively, all higher than the control group's 69.34±18.48, 78.12±21.75, and 60.35±9.35 points, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Laparoscopic combined with liposuction technology for the treatment of gynecomastia can reduce intraoperative bleeding and postoperative drainage volume and shorten the time for removing drainage tubes with better safety.

Objective:To explore the dynamic changes of donor derived T cells at different time points in the aplastic anemia mouse model.Methods:The aplastic anemia mouse model was induced and then the proportion of infiltrated donor derived T cells in spleen and bone marrow, expression of activation molecular markers, cell cycle and functional subsets were measured by flow cytometry at different time points to evaluate the functional status of T cells in different periods.Results:①T cell immune-mediated aplastic anemia mouse model was successfully established by half lethal dose irradiation combined with major histocompatibility antigen (MHC) haploidentical lymph node cells infusion. ②The donor derived T cells began to infiltrate significantly in the spleen of aplastic anemia mouse from the 3rd day after transplantation and the ratio of CD4 +/CD8 + gradually inverted. After the 5th day, they gradually entered the bone marrow, predominated by CD8 + cells. ③The expression peak of CD69 in donor CD4 + cells was later than that in CD8 + cells. The trend of CD25 expression in CD4 + cells was the same as that in CD8 + cells, but the expression level in CD8 + cells was higher than CD4 + cells. ④The proportion of donor CD4 + cells in S/G 2/M phase reached the peak in spleen, about 12%, within 3 days after transplantation, while a higher level in CD8 + cells, which was about 20%. And the proportion of both CD4 + and CD8 + cells in S/G 2/M phase increased again after entering bone marrow, which was continued to be higher in CD8 + cells than that in CD4 + cells after 3 days of transplantation. ⑤Immune activated T cells in the spleen rapidly differentiated into effector memory T cells (T EM) after a short central memory T cell (T CM) stage. After entering the bone marrow, some T EM differentiated into effector cells to further function. Conclusion:In the aplastic anemia mouse model, donor derived T cells activated rapidly after entering the allogenic recipient, reached its proliferation booming period and differentiated into T EM cells within 5 days. After 5 days, they began to enter the bone marrow to continue proliferate and damage hematopoiesis.

Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic regulated cell death caused by iron accumulation and subsequent lipid peroxidation. Currently, the therapeutic role of ferroptosis on cancer is gaining increasing interest. Baicalin an active component in

Objective:To establish an index system of population based SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid screening, and provide reference to determine the screening coverage appropriately.Methods:The literature review and brain storming sessions were used to develop the basic frame and index system of population based SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid screening. Based on Delphi method and Analytic Hierarchy Process, 21 domestic experts were selected for two rounds of consultation to determine the index system of population based SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid screening and its weight.Results:The positive indexes of experts in two rounds of consultations were both 100%. The experts' authority coefficients ( Cr) were 0.88±0.08 and 0.89±0.07, respectively. And the range of coefficient of variation ( CV) were (0.08, 0.24), (0.09, 0.25). The Kendall's W coordination coefficients were 0.34 and 0.22 respectively, which were statistically significant. The index system of population based SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid screening was established, which had 4 first-level indexes, 11 second-level indexes and 58 third-level indexes. Besides, the weight of each index was determined. Conclusion:The index system of population based SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid screening has been established, which can provide scientific reference for the health administration to determine the coverage of population based SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid screening when local COVID-19 epidemic occurs.

Objective:To develop a self-management scale for patients with ulcerative colitis and test its reliability and validity,so as to provide a measurement tool for evaluating the self-management level of patients with ulcerative colitis in China.Methods:Guided by the theory of self-management, combined with extensive literature review and semi-structured interview results, the initial item pool was formed, and the initial questionnaire was formed through expert consultation. 324 cases of ulcerative colitis in a third-class Hospital of Tianjin were investigated by convenience sampling.Results:The self-management scale of ulcerative colitis patients included 4 dimensions and 23 items. The content validity of each item was between 0.867 and 1,and the content validity index of the scale was 0.860. Four factors were extracted by exploratory factor analysis,and the cumulative variance contribution rate of variance was 66.395%. The Cronbachs coefficient of overall scale was 0.937,while four dimensions was between 0.820 and 0.916. The retest reliability of the scale was 0.934 ( P<0.01) and the retest reliability of each dimension was between 0.914 and 0.950 ( P<0.01). Conclusions:The self-management scale of patients with ulcerative colitis has been developed. The scale includes four dimensions: disease treatment management,daily life management,psychosocial management and disease information management. It has 23 items in total and has good reliability and validity. It can be used to evaluate the self-management level of patients with ulcerative colitis.

Objective:To understand the epidemiological characteristics of imported COVID-19 cases in Guangzhou and provide scientific basis for the prevention and control of the disease.Methods:The data of imported COVID-19 in Guangzhou reported as of April 1, 2020 were collected from National Notifiable Disease Report System of China. The software Excel 2010 and SPSS 19.0 were applied for data cleaning and statistical analysis.Results:As of April 1, 2020, a total of 103 imported COVID-19 cases had been reported in Guangzhou, in which 92 were confirmed cases and 11 were asymptomatic infection cases. The number of the confirmed imported cases accounted for 11.4 % (92/806) in of the total in China at the same time. The male to female ratio of the cases was 1.58∶1 (63∶40). The median age of the cases was 31 years ( P 25- P 75:22-40 years), range of age was 11-63 years. The main occupational distributions of the cases were business services (41/103, 39.8 %) and students (36/103, 35.0 %). The imported cases whose destinations were 19 provinces and municipalities rather than Guangdong after entering the country accounted for 43.7 %. The main source countries of infections were the United Kingdom (27/103, 26.2 %), the Philippines (13/103, 12.6 %), the United States (13/103, 12.6 %) and Nigeria (7/103, 6.8 %). There were 34 inbound flights from which the imported COVID-19 cases were detected, in which 10 flights (10/34, 29.4 %) were found to carry more than 3 cases, with an average voyage time of (11.14±0.53) hours. A total of 29 imported cases(28.2 %) showed symptoms before entering the country, and 65 cases (63.1 %) had been isolated before the onset of the disease. The mean free activity time of the isolated cases after the onset was (6.76±0.79) days. The average number of the imported cases’ close contacts was 53. There were 13 clusters of COVID-19 caused by the imported cases, involving 36 cases (including 1 imported associated case). Conclusions:The sources of the imported COVID-19 cases in Guangzhou were widely distributed, and no cases had been found to be infected on the flights. In the early stage of the imported epidemic, there was high risk for the spread of the epidemic. Strengthened prevention and control of imported COVID-19 effectively reduced the of transmission risk of COVID-19 in communities.

Hydrofluoric acid inhalation injury is difficult to treat, despite it has low incidence. It could cause mild symptoms such as cough and sore throat, or severe symptom that may develop into life-threatening acute respiratory distress syndrome, and even rare pulmonary diseases such as reactive airway dysfunction syndrome and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Currently, there is no specific standard for the diagnosis and treatment of hydrofluoric acid inhalation injury. Authors summarize the incidence, injury mechanism, clinical diagnosis and treatment of hydrofluoric acid inhalation injury by searching literature at home and abroad and propose that pulse contour cardiac output monitor and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation have great application prospects in treatment of severe cases, so as to provide references for peers.