Objective:To explore the current status of cognitive function of the older adults in Beijing,and to analyze the factors affecting their cognitive function.Methods:It was a cross-sectional study.A questionnaire survy was conducted in 2023 among the older adults in Beijing.The cognitive function of the older adults was assessed with the Hong Kong brief cognitive test(HKBC)scale,a simple cognitive assessment tool.Using SPSS 27.0 to perform the descriptive analysis and multiple linear regression analy-sis of factors,which affect cognitive function among the older adults.Results:Totally 349 older adults were recruited,with the highest percentage of respondents aged 60-69 years(41.3％),of whom 58.7％were female,88.0％of the respondents had a junior high school or above education level.Most of the older adults(68.8％)worked 35-48 h/week before they retired,and 14.0％of the older adults had a family history of dementia.After controlling age and gender,the linear regression analysis showed that marital status married(β=0.501,95％CI:0.144-0.859)and 3-4 times physical activity per week(β=0.617,95％CI:0.087-1.148)were protective factors of cognitive function in the older adults,and depressive symptoms were a risk factor(β=-0.723,95％CI:-1.198 to-0.247)of cognitive function for the older adults.Conclusion:In this study,the factors influencing cognitive function among the older adults was analyzed based on a life-cycle perspective.Lack of physical activity and depressive symptoms were risk factors for cognitive function among the older adults.It was suggested that strengthening physical activity,improving mental health of the older adults,as well as conducting preventive intervention in early stages of the life-cycle will be benefit for preventing and slowing cognitive decline in the older adults.

Objective:To investigate the molecular characteristics of obacunone, and to screen and identify potential targets of obacunone against sepsis.Methods:The pharmacological parameters and molecular characteristics of obacunone were analyzed with the aid of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database Analysis Platform (TCMSP). The potential targets of obacunone against sepsis were screened using SwissTargetPrediction and Drug Repositioning and Adverse Drug Reaction Chemical-Protein Interactome (DRAR-CPI) software, with a Z'-score < -0.5. The anti-sepsis targets of obacunone were selected by Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) and Therapeutic Target Database (TTD). The anti-sepsis potential target was identified by molecular docking software.Results:The oral bioavailability of obacunone was 81.58% and the drug-likeness was 0.57 indicating that obacunone showed good drug formation. A total of 242 potential targets were screened through SwissTargetPrediction and DRAR-CPI software, 13 targets were directly related to sepsis. Cathepsin G (CTSG), caspase-1 (CASP1), S100 calcium binding protein A9 (S100A9), protein C (inactivator of coagulation factors Ⅴa and Ⅷa, PROC), mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), interleukin-10 (IL-10), migration inhibitory factor (MIF), complement C5a receptor 1 (C5AR1), caspase-3 (CASP3), CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2), thrombin receptor (F2R), nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) were identified as the potential targets for anti-sepsis of obacunone by molecular docking software, the free binding energies were -32.55, 1.26, -30.00, 300.08, -31.88, -30.29, -21.38, -30.79, 16 777.84, -21.80, 6 443.36, -20.38, -23.47 kJ/mol, respectively.Conclusions:Obacunone can inhibit blood coagulation and improve inflammatory response by regulating PROC and F2R. It regulates MIF, S100A9, G6PD and IL-10 to play a role in immune response. It regulates CTSG, CASP1, MAPK1, C5AR1 and CASP3 to protect sepsis-damaged organs. By regulating CXCR2, it can reduce the excessive migration of neutrophils to the site of inflammation, alleviate tissue damage. By regulating NAMPT, it improves cellular energy status, reduces oxidative stress, and protects cells from damage.

Objective To analyze the incidence of and risk factors for white matter hyperintensity(WMH)in pilots.Methods A retrospective case-control study was performed.The subjects were 1,415 pilots ages 19 to 58 who had undergone cranial MRI examination in a hospital between September 2020 and August 2023.They were divided into two groups:the WMH group and the control group(without WMH).Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to identify the risk factors for WMH.Results There were 219 cases in the WMH group and 1,196 cases in the control group.The total incidence of WMH was approximately 15.48％,with mild,moderate and severe cases of WMH accounting for 70.78％,24.20％,and 0.47％,respectively.Regression analysis results showed that age(OR=1.625,95％CI:1.099-2.404)and flight time(OR=1.282,95％CI:1.033-1.592)were risk factors for WMH in pilots.Conclusion The incidence of WMH in pilots was approximately 15.48％.Most of WMH were mild according to Fazekas grading.Age increase and long flight time are risk factors for WMH in pilots.

Ulcerative colitis （UC） is one of the chronic refractory inflammatory bowel diseases characterized by abdominal pain， diarrhea， and mucus， pus and blood in the stool. In recent years， with changes in human life style and improvements of the diagnosis， the incidence and prevalence of UC have been increasing. The pathogenesis of UC is closely related to intestinal mucosal immune dysfunction， intestinal flora disturbance， and abnormal bile acid secretion. Patients with UC have abnormal bile acid secretion and intestinal flora imbalance. A large number of studies have found that abnormal bile acid secretion inhibits immune function， affects signal transduction， and destroys the intestinal mucosal barrier. Intestinal flora disturbance has an important impact on the occurrence and development of inflammation， immune homeostasis， and stress. Bile acids indirectly or directly affect the structure and function of intestinal flora， and at the same time， they produce secondary bile acids under the modification of intestinal flora， entering the liver through enterohepatic circulation. Therefore， the complex dialogue mechanism of bile acid-intestinal flora axis is closely related to the occurrence and development of UC. Based on the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） and clinical research， it is found that emotion is an important factor that induces this disease， spleen and stomach weakness is the root of the disease， and liver depression and spleen deficiency are the key pathogenesis of UC. Combined with modern medicine and molecular biology research， it is believed that abnormal secretion of bile acids is a microscopic manifestation of liver depression in TCM， and intestinal flora disturbance is the biological basis of spleen deficiency. In the pathogenesis of UC， the imbalanced bile acid-intestinal flora axis is consistent with the pathogenesis of liver depression and spleen in TCM. The exploration of the biological connotation of the pathogenesis of UC with liver depression and spleen deficiency from the perspective of bile acid-intestinal flora axis can better explain the scientific nature of its pathogenesis， which provides new clinical solutions and reliable references for studying the pathogenesis of UC with liver depression and spleen deficiency and finding representative prescriptions to prevent and treat this disease.

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of Buyang Huanwutang in regulating macrophage polarization based on the Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4） / nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） / nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor 3 （NLRP3） pathway. MethodRAW264.7 macrophages were intervened with lipopolysaccharide （LPS） of different concentrations （0， 1.25， 2.5， 5， 10， 20， 40， and 80 mg·L^-1） for 24 hours. Cell Counting Kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was used to determine the cell viability of RAW264.7 macrophages. The optimal concentration was chosen to establish an in vitro inflammation model induced by LPS. Cells were divided into a blank group （20% blank serum）， a model group （20% blank serum + 10 mg·L^-1 LPS）， a model control group （20% FBS + 10 mg·L^-1 LPS）， low-， medium-， and high-dose （5%， 10%， and 20%） Buyang Huanwutang-containing serum groups， a high-dose （20%） Buyang Huanwutang combined with NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 （50 μmol·L^-1） group， a high-dose （20%） Buyang Huanwutang combined with reactive oxygen species （ROS） inhibitor NAC （10 μmol·L^-1） group， and a high-dose （20%） Buyang Huanwutang combined with NF-κB inhibitor PDTC （10 μmol·L^-1） group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the expression of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， interleukin-18 （IL-18）， and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in RAW264.7 macrophages. Flow cytometry was employed to measure ROS levels in macrophages. Western blot was used to determine the protein expression of M1-type macrophage-related factors inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） and TNF-α， M2-type macrophage-related factors arginase-1 （Arg-1） and interleukin-10 （IL-10）， as well as the proteins in the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway. ResultCCK-8 results indicated that under 10 mg·L^-1 LPS stimulation， RAW264.7 macrophages exhibited the highest cell viability （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， the model group showed significantly increased levels of IL-1β， IL-18， and TNF-α （P<0.05，P<0.01）， increased ROS expression （P<0.05，P<0.01）， increased protein expression of M1-type macrophage factors iNOS and TNF-α （P<0.01）， decreased protein expression of M2-type macrophage factors Arg-1 and IL-10 （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and upregulated expression levels of TLR4， myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）， phosphorylated inhibitor of NF-κB （p-IκB）/NF-κB inhibitor （IκB）， phosphorylated NF-κB （p-NF-κB） p65/NF-κB p65， NLRP3， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD （ASC）， and pro-Caspase-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， all Buyang Huanwutang-treated groups and inhibitor groups significantly reduced levels of IL-1β， IL-18， and TNF-α （P<0.01）， suppressed the expression of inflammatory factors in RAW264.7 macrophages， decreased cellular ROS expression levels （P<0.01）， downregulated M1-type macrophages iNOS and TNF-α protein expression （P<0.01）， upregulated M2-type macrophages Arg-1 and IL-10 protein expression （P<0.01）， and lowered protein expression levels of TLR4， MyD88， p-IκB/IκB， p-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65， NLRP3， ASC， and pro-Caspase-1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionBuyang Huanwutang can improve macrophage inflammation， potentially by reducing macrophage ROS levels， inhibiting RAW264.7 macrophage polarization， and downregulating the protein expression levels of the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the standardized residency training of obstetrics and gynaecology in Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University with Milestones evaluation system of obstetrics and gynecology, and to evaluate the feedback effect of the system.Methods:An improved Milestones evaluation form was developed to evaluate the self-evaluation and clinical tutor's scores, collect the results and make a statistical analysis of the 1-3 years standardized training residents of the Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University in September 2019. GraphPad Prism 8 software was used for data collection and statistical analysis, and Box-Plots software was used for drawing analysist. Descriptive statistics method was used for the general situation of the research objects. After the students' self-evaluation and tutor's scores passed the normal distribution and variance homogeneity test, paired t test was performed, and the scores of residents from different sources were analyzed by variance analysis. Results:A total of 164 residents of obstetrics and gynaecology were evaluated, and there were significant differences between self-evaluation and teacher's evaluation in medical knowledge, learning ability and system work ( P<0.05). The competency scores of the first year residents ranged from 3.003 to 4.556, and at the end of the course they increased to 4.921 to 5.974, showing statistically significant differences in each item compared with the first year ( P<0.001). After three years of training, residents from different sources showed significant improvement ( P<0.001). Conclusion:The Milestones evaluation system of the obstetrics and gynecology can be used for the training assessment and feedback of the residents in obstetrics and gynecology specialty. The self-assessment of residents helps to understand the level of self-assessment, and the teacher's evaluation helps to correct the bias generated by self-assessment. The systematic and staged Milestones evaluation system can instruct the clinical tutors to instruct the residents in accordance with their aptitude, and give feedback on the training effect of the residency training base.

Objective:To investigate the accuracy of free-breathing CT in evaluating the volume and shape of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), and further explore the characteristics of EAT volume and activity in patients with atrial fibrillation using 18F-FDG PET/CT " one-stop" imaging. Methods:(1) Retrospective analysis was performed on 20 patients (16 males, 4 females, age: 33-86 (61.1±14.2) years) who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging and without obvious diseases affecting the images of the heart and surrounding lungs between March 2020 and May 2020 in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital. Free-breathing CT and breath-hold high resolution CT (HRCT) images were reviewed. Spearman rank correlation analysis, Bland-Altman consistency analysis and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to evaluate the correlation and consistency of the EAT volume and shape, as well as the repeatability of the two operators′ measurements. (2) Prospective analysis was conducted to compare the differences in EAT volume and 18F-FDG uptake values between 20 patients (6 males, 14 females, age: 52-76 (66.0±6.4) years) with atrial fibrillation and 10 healthy controls (3 males, 7 females, age: 59-69 (66.0±3.6) years) collected between August 2017 and August 2018 in Beijing Chaoyang Hospital. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences in EAT volume and 18F-FDG SUV max between patients with atrial fibrillation and healthy controls. EAT volume measurement was conducted by the combination of Mimics Research 21.0 software and manual analysis. The shape of EAT was automatically calculated by the same software to obtain the maximum length of the projection of the three-dimensional (3D) model on the reference axes ( x, y, z). SUV max of EAT was manually measured. Results:The measurements of EAT volume had good repeatability (intra-operator ICC=0.999; inter-operator ICC=0.997). There was a good correlation and a good consistency between EAT volumes measured by free-breathing CT and breath-hold HRCT (96.6 (79.9, 136.4) vs 96.2 (80.9, 135.8) ml; rs=0.929, P<0.001); data of 19 cases were within 95% limits of agreement (95% LoA). The maximum projection length of EAT 3D model on the reference coordinate axis also showed good correlation and consistency ( x axis: rs=0.869, P<0.001, data of 19 cases were within 95% LoA; y axis: rs=0.854, P<0.001, data of 18 cases were within 95% LoA; z axis: rs=0.586, P=0.007, data of 20 cases were within 95% LoA). EAT volume of atrial fibrillation group was higher than those of healthy control group (137.2 (113.9, 202.9) vs 94.4 (76.6, 134.4) ml; z=-2.11, P=0.035) and SUV max of EAT in the atrial fibrillation group was higher than that in healthy control group (1.2 (1.1, 1.5) vs 1.1 (1.0, 1.2); z=-2.14, P=0.035). Conclusions:Free-breathing CT and breath-hold HRCT have good correlation, consistency and repeatability in measurement of EAT volume and shape. 18F-FDG PET/CT can be a " one-stop" imaging strategy for the evaluation of EAT volume and activity.

Objective:To analyze the thalassemia screening and genotyping in Southwest Guizhou Autonomous Prefecture (referred it as Qianxinan Prefecture), this essay provides the theoretical reference for clinical diagnosis of thalassemia and suspicious cases.Methods:The pregnant women, spouses and neonates who were screened for thalassemia gene in Qian Xi Nan People's Hospital from January 2016 to December 2020 were selected as the research subjects, and peripheral blood or umbilical cord blood samples were collected to extract DNA. The gap-polymerase chain reaction (Gap-PCR) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology were used to screen thalassemia, and ArcMap 10.8 software was adopted to map the local spatial distribution of thalassemia based on the screening data.Results:A total of 67 185 cases of people from various regions in Qianxinan Prefecture were screened, and 8 202 cases of thalassemia gene carriers were detected, with a total detection rate of 12.21%. Among them, 5 660 cases of α-thalassemia, with a detection rate of 8.42%; 2 132 cases of β-thalassemia, with a detection rate of 3.17%; 410 cases of αβ complex thalassemia, with a detection rate of 0.61%. In the detection of thalassemia genes, 27 genotypes of α-thalassemia were detected, mainly αα/-α 3.7, accounting for 41.13% (2 328/5 660); 33 genotypes of β-thalassemia were detected, mainly β CD17(A>T)/β A, accounting for 44.09% (940/2 132); 55 genotypes of αβ complex thalassemia were detected, and αα/-α 3.7 complexed β CD17(A>T)/β A dominated, accounting for 21.22% (87/410). There were high incidence areas in the spatial distribution of thalassemia, which were Wangmo County and Ceheng County, and the detection rate was 26.76% (1 438/5 374), 24.39% (1 314/5 387), respectively. Conclusions:The detection rate of thalassemia gene in Qianxinan Prefecture is relatively high, mainly αα/-α 3.7 genotype of α-thalassemia. Wangmo County and Ceheng County are high-incidence areas of thalassemia, and screening efforts should be continued.

This study compared the effects on bone metabolism and morphology of pathological obesity induced by excessive fat intake in a non-hibernator (mice) versus healthy obesity due to pre-hibernation fattening in a hibernator (ground squirrels). Kunming mice were fed a high-fat diet to provide a model of pathological obesity (OB group). Daurian ground squirrels fattened naturally in their pre-hibernation season (PRE group) were used as a healthy obesity model. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and three-point bending tests were used to determine the microstructure and mechanical properties of bone. Western blots were used to analyze protein expression levels related to bone metabolism (Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RunX2), osteocalcin (OCN), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor-‍κB ligand (RANKL), cathepsin K, matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), patched protein homolog 1 (Ptch1), phosphorylated β‍-‍catenin (P‍-‍β‍-‍catenin), and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β)). Compared with controls, there was no obvious bone loss in the OB mice, and the stiffness of the femur was increased significantly. Compared with summer active squirrels, bone formation was enhanced but the mechanical properties did not change in the PRE group squirrels. In OB mice, western blots showed significantly increased expression levels of all proteins except RunX2, OPG, and Ptch1. PRE ground squirrels showed significantly increased expression of most proteins except OCN and Ptch1, which decreased significantly, and P‍-‍β‍-‍catenin and OPG, which did not change. In conclusion, for non-hibernating mice, moderate obesity had a certain protective effect on bones, demonstrating two-way regulation, increasing both bone loss and bone formation. For pre-hibernating ground squirrels, the healthy obesity acquired before hibernation had a positive effect on the microstructure of bones, and also enhanced the expression levels of proteins related to bone formation, bone resorption, and Wnt signaling.
Mice ; Animals ; Hibernation ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit/metabolism* ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta/metabolism* ; Diet, High-Fat ; X-Ray Microtomography ; Sciuridae/metabolism* ; Obesity

AIM: To investigate the effect of an effective component total sterone (TSR) of Echinops latifolius Tausch, the main component of a Chinese patent medicine Cuiru Keli (national drug standard WS3-413 (Z-085)-2003 (Z), on lactation and its possible mechanism. METHODS: After mating between male and female SD rats, 60 female rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, TSR low-dose and high-dose groups and prolactin granule positive control group, with 12 female rats in each group and 8 newborn rats in each nest. In addition to the normal control group, the rats in each group were intraperitoneally injected with levodopa 2 mg/kg once a day for 7 days from the second day of delivery. The rats in the normal control group were given normal saline by gavage once a day for 14 days. From the beginning of self-sufficiency, the single lactation of the female rats was measured every day until the 14th day, and then the female rats in each group were killed. Pathological HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes of mammary gland tissue in each group. ELISA was used to detect the levels of serum prolactin (PRL) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the distribution of PRL in mammary gland tissue of each group. Furthermore, Real-time qPCR was used to detect the expression of milk protein, milk fat related genes β-casein, FAS, ACC and the expression of canonical Wnt signaling pathway related genes β-catenin, c-Myc, CCND1, SFRP4, DNMT1, MeCP2 in mammary gland of each group. RESULTS: Both low and high dose TSR could significantly increase the single lactation volume, improve the pathological morphology of mammary gland, and increase the serum levels of PRL and 5-HT. TSR increased the distribution of PRL and up-regulated the expression of milk protein, milk fat related genes β-casein, FAS, ACC and canonical Wnt signaling pathway related genes β-catenin, c-Myc, CCND1, SFRP4, DNMT1, MeCP2.CONCLUSION: TSR can significantly promote lactation in lactation deficient rats, and its mechanism may be related to promoting the release of PRL and 5-HT in serum, increasing the distribution of PRL in mammary gland, up-regulating the milk protein and milk fat related genes and activating the canonical Wnt signal.