Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic interstitial lung disease, is characterized by aberrant wound healing, excessive scarring and the formation of myofibroblastic foci. Although the role of alternative splicing (AS) in the pathogenesis of organ fibrosis has garnered increasing attention, its specific contribution to pulmonary fibrosis remains incompletely understood. In this study, we identified an up-regulation of serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 7 (SRSF7) in lung fibroblasts derived from IPF patients and a bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse model, and further characterized its functional role in both human fetal lung fibroblasts and mice. We demonstrated that enhanced expression of Srsf7 in mice spontaneously induced alveolar collagen accumulation. Mechanistically, we investigated alternative splicing events and revealed that SRSF7 modulates the alternative splicing of pyruvate kinase (PKM), leading to metabolic dysregulation and fibroblast activation. In vivo studies showed that fibroblast-specific knockout of Srsf7 in conditional knockout mice conferred resistance to bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Importantly, through drug screening, we identified lomitapide as a novel modulator of SRSF7, which effectively mitigated experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Collectively, our findings elucidate a molecular pathway by which SRSF7 drives fibroblast metabolic dysregulation and propose a potential therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an ancient medical system distinctive and effective in treating cancer, depression, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and other diseases. However, the relatively abstract diagnostic methods of TCM lack objective measurement, and the complex mechanisms of action are difficult to comprehend, which hinders the application and internationalization of TCM. Recently, while breakthroughs have been made in utilizing methods such as network pharmacology and virtual screening for TCM research, the rise of machine learning (ML) has significantly enhanced their integration with TCM. This article introduces representative methodological cases in quality control, mechanism research, diagnosis, and treatment processes of TCM, revealing the potential applications of ML technology in TCM. Furthermore, the challenges faced by ML in TCM applications are summarized, and future directions are discussed.

Background Drinking water contains a variety of chemicals that may pose certain health risks to the human body. Objective To evaluate carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks of chemical pollutants in drinking water in Nanjing from 2014 to 2022. Methods According to the Standard examination methods for drinking water (GB/T 5750-2006) and the Standards for drinking water quality (GB 5749-2006), the conventional water quality indexes of finished water, tap water, and secondary water supply in Nanjing from 2014 to 2022 were monitored. The health risk assessment model recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) was used to assess the health risks of 16 chemicals [arsenic, cadmium, chromium (hexavalent), lead, mercury, selenium, cyanide, fluoride, nitrate nitrogen, trichloromethane, carbon tetrachloride, aluminum, iron, manganese, copper, and zinc] in drinking water through different routes (drinking water and skin contact) in different populations (adult males, adult females, and children). Region (urban and rural), water period (dry period and wet period), and water sample type (finished water, tap water, and secondary water supply) were stratified for analysis. Results From 2014 to 2022, a total of 4198 samples of drinking water were monitored in Nanjing, including 483 samples of finished water, 3313 samples of tap water, and 402 samples of secondary water supply. The pass rates of all indicators were above 99%. The health risk assessment results showed that the carcinogenic/non-carcinogenic risks of arsenic and lead presenting a trend of first increasing from 2015 and 2016 respectively, remaining relatively high for 3 and 4 consecutive years respectively, and then decreasing from 2018 and 2020 respectively before remaining stable; the carcinogenic risk of cadmium was much higher than that of other chemicals, and the risk was greater than 1.00×10⁻⁴ except for 2018 and 2019. The non-carcinogenic risks of drinking water in different populations (adult males, adult females, and children) under different exposure modes (intake of drinking water and skin contact) were less than 1. The values of carcinogenic risk via drinking water in total population and of cadmium intake via drinking water in all sub-groups (adult males, adult females, and children) were greater than 1.00×10⁻⁴. The carcinogenic/non-carcinogenic risk of drinking water was the highest in children, and the carcinogenic/non-carcinogenic risk via drinking water ingestion was higher than that via skin contact. The stratified analysis showed that the carcinogenic/non-carcinogenic risks of arsenic and cadmium in urban drinking water were higher than those in rural drinking water (P<0.05); the carcinogenic/non-carcinogenic risks of arsenic and trichloromethane in wet season were higher than those in dry season (P<0.05); the carcinogenic risks of cadmium in different types of water were all greater than 1.00×10⁻⁴; the health risks varied by chemicals and water sample types for the other chemicals, but all were within an acceptable level. Conclusion The non-carcinogenic risks and carcinogenic risks of selected chemical pollutants in drinking water in Nanjing City from 2014 to 2022 show decreasing or stable trends. Among the 16 chemicals, the carcinogenic risk of cadmium exceeds the acceptable range recommended by the US EPA, and the carcinogenic/non-carcinogenic risks of the remaining chemicals are within the acceptable ranges. Cadmium should be given priority attention in future risk management of drinking water.

Objective:To understand the awareness and influencing factors of core information on tuberculosis prevention and control in the elderly population in China.Methods:The study included all participants aged ≥60 from the "13 th Five-Year" National Tuberculosis Control Plan end-term assessment in 2020, with 13 706 valid questionnaires obtained. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of the awareness rate of core information on tuberculosis prevention and control in the elderly. Results:The total awareness rate of core information on tuberculosis prevention and control in the elderly aged ≥60 was 78.4%, with the highest for "suspicious symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis" (85.4%) and the lowest for "whether pulmonary tuberculosis can be cured" (65.3%). The complete awareness rate of core information on tuberculosis prevention and control in the elderly was 41.3%, and the proportion of those who received tuberculosis health education is 67.6%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that factors associated with low awareness of core information included females ( OR=0.93, 95% CI: 0.86-1.00), ages 70- ( OR=0.91, 95% CI: 0.84-0.98) and ≥80 ( OR=0.77, 95% CI: 0.68-0.87) and minority ethnicity ( OR=0.85, 95% CI: 0.74-0.99). Factors associated with high awareness of core information included educational levels of junior high school ( OR=1.46, 95% CI: 1.34-1.58), high school ( OR=1.62, 95% CI: 1.45-1.81), junior college ( OR=1.37, 95% CI: 1.11-1.68), and an undergraduate degree or higher ( OR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.09-2.11), and receiving tuberculosis health education ( OR=2.13, 95% CI: 1.97-2.27). Conclusions:In 2020, the awareness rate of core information on tuberculosis prevention and control in Chinese older adults aged ≥60 was lower than the national planning target. Therefore, there should be an increased focus on health education about tuberculosis for elderly females, those aged ≥70, ethnic minorities, and those with lower education levels.

Objective:To assess the effectiveness of a 6-month Ba Duan Jin exercise program in improving the balance of community-dwelling older adults.Methods:A two arms, parallel-group, cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in 1 028 community residents aged 60-80 years in 40 communities in 5 provinces of China. Participants in the intervention group (20 communities, 523 people) received Ba Duan Jin exercise 5 days/week, 1 hour/day for 6 months, and three times of falls prevention health education, and the control group (20 communities, 505 people) received falls prevention health education same as the intervention group. The Berg balance scale (BBS) score was the leading outcome indicator, and the secondary outcome indicators included the length of time of standing on one foot (with eyes open and closed), standing in a tandem stance (with eyes open and closed), the closed circle test, and the timed up to test.Results:A total of 1 028 participants were included in the final analysis, including 731 women (71.11%) and 297 men (28.89%), and the age was (69.87±5.67) years. After the 3-month intervention, compared with the baseline data, the BBS score of the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group by 3.05 (95% CI: 2.23-3.88) points ( P<0.001). After the 6-month intervention, compared with the baseline data, the BBS score of the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group by 4.70 (95% CI: 4.03-5.37) points ( P<0.001). Ba Duan Jin showed significant improvement ( P<0.05) in all secondary outcomes after 6 months of exercise in the intervention group compared with the control group. Conclusions:This study showed that Ba Duan Jin exercise can improve balance in community-dwelling older adults aged 60-80. The longer the exercise time, the better the improvement.

Objective Scutellaria baicalensis stems and leaves glucuronic hydrolase(sbsl GUS)was used to enzymatically hydrolyze scutellarin in Erigeron breviscapus(Vant.)Hand.Mazz.to prepare scutellarein,and the high-purity scutellarein was obtained through separation and purification.Methods Orthogonal experiments were used to optimize the process parameters for the extraction of Erigeron breviscapus(Vant.)Hand.Mazz..Using the rate of enzymatic hydrolysis conversion of scutellarin as the index,the amount of enzyme,pH,temperature,time and antioxidant were investigated,and the preparation process parameters of scutellarein were optimized.Ethanol extraction,activated carbon decolorization,and fractional crystallization were used to purify the crude extract.Results The extraction process was determined to be:segments of Erigeron breviscapus were decocted twice with 10 times water for 1 hour each time.The preparation process of scutellarein was as follows:the amount of sbsl GUS extract and Erigeron breviscapus decoction was 1∶10 based on crude drugs,0.5%sodium metabisulfite was added,pH value was about 6.0,the temperature was about 45℃,and the time was 20 hours.The crude extract of scutellarein with the content more than 60%was obtained.The crude extract was purified by fractional crystallization,refluxed with 80%ethanol,decolorized with activated carbon,concentrated and crystallized,and the scutellarein extract with content more than 85%was obtained.Conclusion sbsl GUS enzymatic hydrolysis technology,which was used to prepare scutellarein,is simple and feasible.This study provides a new way for the manufacture of scutellarein.

Objective To assess the effect of ultrasonic thyroid artificial intelligence(AI)-assisted diagnostic system(AI-assisted diagnostic system)for diagnosing medullary thyroid carcinoma(MTC)compared with different physicians and taken papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)as the controls.Methods Totally 63 MTC,70 PTC and 62 benign thyroid nodules confirmed by pathology were enrolled.AI-assisted diagnostic system was utilized to analyze thyroid nodules and identify the likelihood of malignancy,and the probability value threshold was set at ≥0.40.All thyroid nodules were retrospectively reviewed and categorized by 3 physicians(1 senior physician,1 attending physician and 1 junior physician)according to Chinese thyroid imaging reporting and data system(C-TIRADS).The efficacy of AI-assisted diagnostic system and physicians for diagnosing MTC and PTC were evaluated.Results AI-assisted diagnostic system showed lower sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,accuracy,and area under the curve(AUC)for diagnosing MTC and PTC compared with physicians.Significant differences of AUC were found between senior physician and AI-assisted diagnostic system,as well as between attending physician and AI-assisted diagnostic system for diagnosing MTC and PTC(all P＜0.01),while no significant difference of AUC was between junior physicians and AI-assisted diagnostic system(both P＞0.05).The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value,accuracy and AUC for AI-assisted diagnostic system for diagnosing MTC were all lower than those for diagnosing PTC,but the AUC was not significantly different(P＞0.05).Conclusion Ultrasonic thyroid AI-assisted diagnostic system had relatively high value for diagnosing MTC.

Humans ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation Conditioning ; Graft vs Host Disease