Association between perioperative self-reported sleep disturbances and delirium risk in elderly patients following total joint arthroplasty: a cohort study.

Perioperative sleep disturbance may increase delirium risk. However, the role of perioperative sleep disturbance in delirium following total joint arthroplasty remains unclear. This prospective cohort study aimed to observe the delirium risk in patients with sleep disturbances. After excluding pre-existing sleep disturbances, older patients scheduled for total joint arthroplasty from July 17, 2022, to January 12, 2023, were recruited. Preoperative sleep disturbance or postoperative sleep disturbance was defined as a Chinese version of the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) score of <50 during hospitalisation. A cut-off score of 25 was used to classify the severity of sleep disturbance. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative delirium. In all, 11.6% of cohort patients (34/294) developed delirium. After multivariate analysis, a preoperative Day 1 RCSQ score of ≤25 (odds ratio [OR] 3.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19-10.92; p = 0.02), occurrence of sleep disturbances (OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.19-6.38; p = 0.02) and RCSQ score of ≤25(OR 2.91, 95% CI 1.33-6.37; p = 0.007) postoperatively were strong independent predictors of delirium. After sensitivity analysis for daily delirium, a postoperative Day 1 RCSQ score of ≤25 (OR 9.27, 95% CI 2.72-36.15; p < 0.001) was associated with a greater risk of delirium on postoperative Day 1, with a reasonable discriminative area under the curve of 0.730. We concluded that postoperative but not preoperative sleep disturbances may be an independent factor for delirium risk. Sleep disturbance on the first night after surgery was a good predictor of subsequent delirium, no matter the nature of self-reported sleep disturbance.

[Research progress on mechanism and preventive measures of retrograde ejaculation after benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery].

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease in middle-aged and elderly men. It's first-line therapy is drugs. But with the progression of the disease or side effects of drugs, surgical treatment will become a better choice. However, either transurethral resection of the prostate, the standard procedure, or enucleation or resection of the prostate based on various laser platforms or plasma technologies cause a high incidence of retrograde ejaculation in their postoperative follow-up. In the past, retrograde ejaculation was usually regarded as the cost of benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery. In recent years, with the continuous improvement of surgical skills and the emergence of new techniques, retrograde ejaculation has aroused the attention of clinicians. This article mainly introduces the mechanism of retrograde ejaculation after benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery and the methods to reduce the incidence of retrograde ejaculation after surgery. These methods mainly include various modified surgery, as well as novel minimally invasive techniques such as prostate embolization and prostatic urethral lift.

[Study on the Relationship between First-Time Complementary Feeding Practice and the Nutritional Status of Infants and Young Children in the Multi-Ethnic Rural Areas of Sichuan Province].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the current status of first food supplement and the nutrition of infants and young children in rural areas inhabited by people of Han, Tibetan, and Yi ethnicities in Sichuan Province, and to explore the relationship between the first ever feeding of food supplement and the nutritional status. METHODS: Using a multi-stage randomized cluster sampling method, we selected 2 Han counties, 2 Tibetan counties and 2 Yi counties in rural areas of Sichuan Province. These counties were previously defined as economically poor counties, but had since been lifted out of poverty. They were selected for this study before they came out of poverty. Infants and young children of 12-24 months old and their main caregivers from these counties were the subjects of the study. Structured questionnaires were used to collect information concerning the sociodemographic characteristics of infants and young children and their caregivers, and the first complementary feeding for infants and young children. Infant and young children weight scales and length/height tapes were used to collect the weight and length/height data of infants and young children. Unconditional logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between the behavior of giving supplementary food for the first time to infants and young children and their nutritional status. RESULTS: A total of 1117 pairs of infants and children and their caregivers were investigated. Regarding the time of first supplementary food addition, nearly half of the caregivers in Han areas started adding supplementary food when the infants were 6 months old, accounting for 43.07% (171/397). Most of the caregivers in Yi and Tibetan areas started giving infants and young children supplementary food when they were less than 6 months old, accounting for 77.18% (301/390) and 47.58% (157/330), respectively. In terms of the types of supplementary food added for the first time, caregivers in Han areas mainly used homemade rice cereal, accounting for 41.56% (165/397), caregivers in Tibetan areas mainly used meat, vegetables or fruits and other complementary foods, accounting for 42.12% (139/330), and caregivers in Yi areas mainly used homemade rice cereal, accounting for 46.41% (181/390). The overall malnutrition rate of infants and young children was 28.83% (322/1117) and the malnutrition rate of infants and young children in Han, Tibetan, and Yi areas were 10.58% (42/397), 24.85 (82/330), and 50.77 (198/390), respectively. The regression analysis results show that after controlling for confounding factors, compared with Han areas, it is more likely for infants and young children in Yi areas to be malnourished ( OR=9.49, 95% CI 6.00-15.00). Compared with adding other types of complementary foods for the first time, infants and young children given iron-fortified rice cereal had a lower risk of malnutrition ( OR=0.54, 95% CI0.29-0.99). CONCLUSION: The multi-ethnic rural areas of Sichuan Province had problems that supplementary foods are added too early, and that the types of supplementary foods added for the first time were not appropriate. In addition, the nutritional status of local infants and young children in these areas was causing concerns. The malnutrition problem of infants and young children was especially prominent in the Yi ethnic areas. Adding iron-fortified rice cereal for the first time could reduce the possibility of malnutrition in infants and young children to a certain extent. It is recommended that attention should be given to the health education intervention of the first supplementary food for infants and young children to effectively improve the nutritional status of infants and young children in these areas.

[The Association Between Abdominal Obesity and Diabetes among Middle-aged and Older Adults with Normal BMI].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between abdominal obesity and diabetes among middle-aged and older adults with normal body mass index (BMI) and to provide reference information for formulating targeted diabetes prevention and control measures for this population. METHODS: Data were extracted from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) done in 2015. Middle-aged and older adults who were aged 45 and older and had normal BMI were included in the study. According to their status of diabetes, the subjects were divided into two groups, non-diabetes and diabetes groups. χ 2 test was used to investigate the difference between two groups. Logistic regression was used to do the multivariate analysis of factors influencing diabetes. RESULTS: A total of 5 197 middle-aged and older adults with normal BMI ranging between 18.5 and 24 kg/m 2 were included. The prevalence of diabetes was 11.26% (585/5 197) and the prevalence of abdominal obesity was 41.56% (2 160/5 197). Univariate analysis showed that the difference in age, residence, the status of hypertension, dyslipidemia and abdominal obesity between non-diabetic group and the diabetic group were statistically significant ( P<0.01). The prevalence of diabetes among adults with abdominal obesity was 14.2% (307/2 160) and that among people with no abdominal obesity was 9.2% (278/3 037). Compared with people with no abdominal obesity, the prevalence of diabetes among people with abdominal obesity was higher and the difference were statistically significant ( P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, among middle-aged and older adults with normal BMI, those with abdominal obesity, aged 60 years and older, living in urban areas, having hypertension and having dyslipidemia had higher probability of developing diabetes. CONCLUSION: Abdominal obesity and diabetes are becoming a serious problem among middle-aged and older adults with normal BMI and abdominal obesity may be related to higher risks of diabetes. It is recommended that more attention is given to abdominal obesity in this population to reduce the possibilities of diabetes.

Mean platelet volume/platelet count ratio in colorectal cancer: a retrospective clinical study.

BACKGROUND: Mean platelet volume (MPV) is a marker of platelet activation. MPV and platelet count (PC) are negatively correlated, and their ratio (MPV/PC) is informative for the diagnosis of malignant tumors. However, the relationship between MPV/PC and colorectal cancer is unclear. This retrospective clinical study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of MPV/PC in colorectal cancer. METHODS: Hematological examinations were performed at initial diagnosis in patients with colorectal cancer (n = 186) or adenomatous polyp (n = 132) and healthy controls (n = 108). Hematological parameters evaluated included white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, PC, and MPV. Statistical analyses included Student's t-test, one-way ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis H test, chi-square tests, Spearman's correlation test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC). ROC curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic values of MPV and MPV/PC in colorectal cancer. RESULTS: Among these groups, MPV was significantly lower in colorectal cancer than in adenomatous polyp (p = 0.002) and healthy controls (p < 0.001) but did not significantly differ between adenomatous polyp and healthy controls (p = 0.210). MPV/PC was lower in colorectal cancer compared with adenomatous polyp and healthy controls (p < 0.001) and in adenomatous polyp compared with healthy controls (p = 0.010). MPV did not significantly differ among colorectal cancer subgroups, while MPV/PC significantly differed between TNM stages and the presence/absence of lymph node metastasis. MPV/PC was negatively correlated with the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio(NLR) (p = 0.002) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio(PLR) concentration (p < 0.001). In the differential diagnosis between colorectal cancer and adenomatous polyp, MPV/PC produced a larger ROC curve than MPV, NLR or PLR alone. Using MPV/PC to distinguish between colorectal cancer and controls produced a larger AUC than using MPV or NLR alone. CONCLUSIONS: MPV/PC may be useful for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer. However, further studies are warranted to include additional regions and more data, to assess the utility of MPV/PC as a novel diagnostic screening tool for colorectal cancer.

A novel colorimetric aptasensor for detection of chloramphenicol based on lanthanum ion-assisted gold nanoparticle aggregation and smartphone imaging.

A label-free, rapid response colorimetric aptasensor for sensitive detection of chloramphenicol (CAP) was proposed, which was based on the strategy of ssDNA-modified gold nanoparticle (AuNP) aggregation assisted by lanthanum (La3+) ions. The AuNPs generated a color change that could be monitored in the red, green, and blue and analyzed by the smartphone imaging app. La3+, as a trigger agent, strongly combined with the phosphate groups of the surface of ssDNA-AuNPs probe, which helps create AuNP aggregation and the color change of AuNPs from red to blue. On the contrary, when mixing with CAP, the aptamer (Apt) bound to CAP to form a rigid structure of the Apt-CAP complex, and La3+ attached to the phosphate groups of the complex, which prevented the aptamer from binding to the surface of the AuNPs. As a result, the color of the AuNPs changed to violet-red. Finally, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy and the smartphone imaging app were employed to determine CAP with a lower detection limit of 7.65 nM and 5.88 nM, respectively. The proposed strategy featuring high selectivity and strong anti-interference ability for detection of CAP in practical samples was achieved. It is worth mentioning that the simple and portable colorimetric aptasensor will be used for facilitating on-site detection of food samples.

Diagnostic value of derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation plays an important role in the occurrence and development of cancer. Numerous studies have used the derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR) to evaluate prognosis in many types of cancer. However, the relationship between dNLR and ovarian cancer and its value in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant ovarian tumors remain unknown. METHODS: A total of 262 patients with ovarian cancer, 258 with benign ovarian disease, and 232 healthy controls were included in this study. dNLR was calculated using whole blood cell parameters. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to obtain sensitivity, specificity, and area under the ROC curve (AUC) to evaluate the diagnostic values of dNLR. RESULTS: dNLR was significantly different among the ovarian cancer, benign ovarian disease, and healthy control groups (all P < 0.001). Moreover, there were significant differences in dNLR between patients with early-stage (I and II) and advanced-stage (III and IV) disease (P < 0.001). dNLR was positively correlated with stage and carbohydrate antigen-125 in ovarian cancer. A cutoff value of dNLR ≤2.11 was diagnostic in distinguishing ovarian cancer from benign ovarian disease with AUC of 0.729 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.689-0.767; P = 0.0001). A cutoff value of dNLR ≤1.9 was diagnostic in distinguishing ovarian cancer from healthy controls with an AUC of 0.821 (95% CI, 0.784-0.854; P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: dNLR may be a useful indicator for distinguishing between ovarian cancer and benign ovarian disease and for identifying early and advanced ovarian cancer.

Colorimetric determination of cytosine-rich ssDNA by silver(I)-modulated glucose oxidase-catalyzed growth of gold nanoparticles.

A colorimetric assay is described for determination of cytosine-rich ssDNA at physiological pH values. The working principle is based on (a) Ag(I) ion-induced formation of an i-motif structure, and (b) glucose oxidase-controlled growth of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The combination between Ag+ and cytosine-rich DNA can modulate the generation of H2O2 resulting from enzyme catalyzed glucose oxidation. Depending on the amount of H2O2 formed, the solution containing the AuNPs will turn red in the presence of cytosine-rich ssDNA but blue in the absence of such DNA if Ag+ is added before the formation of the red AuNPs. Upon addition of C-DNA at different concentrations, the peak shift (Δλ) of the AuNP solution relative to the SPR peak position (560 nm) in the absence of C-DNA is taken as the signal readout. The method shows a good linear response toward C-DNA over the range 10-200 nM with a detection limit of 2.7 nM. It may also be performed visually. The photometric assay is highly sensitive, specific, and rapid. The method is particularly attractive in terms of applications such as in human serum analysis, a colorimetric logic gate, and the calculation of binding constants for the interaction between Ag+ and glucose oxidase (GOx), and between Ag+ and cytosine-rich ssDNAs. Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of colorimetric detection of cytosine (C)-rich ssDNA (C-DNA) based on the modulation of the glucose oxidase (GOx)-catalyzed growth of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with Ag+ as the enzyme inhibitor.

Cs2Ge3In6Se14: A Structure Transformation Driven by the Size Preference and Its Properties.

The new selenide Cs2Ge3In6Se14, featuring its own structure type with germanium in mixed-valence states, is discovered via a solid-state reaction at 1173 K. The compound crystallizes in the R3̅ m space group with a = 7.9951(6) Å and c = 41.726(4) Å. Two adjacent condensed layers of InSe4 tetrahedra are linked by a [Ge2+Se6] octahedron into a double slice that is further stacked along the c direction with a packing sequence of ··· abca··· through the [Ge3+2Se6] dimer via its Ge-Ge metallic bond. The coexistence of Ge2+/Ge3+ and Ge-Ge metallic bonding has been confirmed by XPS and ELF analyses, respectively. More interestingly, although sharing many structure similarities, Cs2Ge3In6Se14 and our previously reported Cs2Ge3In6Te14 reveal a R3̅ m to P3̅ m1 structure transformation with a tripled c parameter. Single-crystal diffraction data and a thorough structure survey of related compounds point out that such a transformation is driven by the size preference of the [Ge2Q6] dimer. The title compound possesses a band gap of 2.08 eV and shows photodegradation of RhB under visible light that is more efficient than that for the commercial P25.

Rare LPL gene missense mutation in an infant with hypertriglyceridemia.

BACKGROUND: Severe hypertriglyceridemia usually results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors and is most often attributable to mutations in the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify rare mutations in the LPL gene causing severe hypertriglyceridemia. METHODS: A Chinese infant who presented classical features of severe hypertriglyceridemia recruited for DNA sequencing of the LPL gene. The pathogenicity grade of the variants was defined based on the prediction of pathogenicity using in silico prediction tools. Review some studies to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the severe hypertriglyceridemia. RESULTS: We identified a rare mutation in the LPL gene causing severe hypertriglyceridemia: a nucleotide substitution (c.836T>G) resulting in a leucine to arginine substitution at position 279 of the protein (p.Leu279Arg).The pathogenicity of the variant was predicted by in silico analysis using PolyPhen2 and SIFT prediction programs, which indicated that mutation p.Leu279Arg is probably harmful. We have also reviewed published studies concerning the molecular mechanisms underlying severe hypertriglyceridemia. A missense mutation in the 6 exon of the LPL gene is reportedly associated with LPL deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: We have here identified a rare pathogenic mutation in the LPL gene in a Chinese infant with severe hypertriglyceridemia.

The combined detection of hematological indicators is used for the differential diagnosis of colorectal cancer and benign-colorectal lesions.

OBJECTIVE: This article aims to investigate the clinical value of hemoglobin/red cell distribution width ratio (Hb/RDW), C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR) and plateletcrit (PCT) combined with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in colorectal cancer (CRC) auxiliary diagnosis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed in 718 subjects (212 with CRC, 209 with benign colorectal lesions (BCL), 111 with other cancers, and 186 healthy controls). RESULTS: The CAR, PCT, and CEA in the CRC group were higher than those in the BCL, other cancers, and the healthy control group. However, Hb/RDW in the CRC group was lower than the other three groups. Moreover, there were significant differences in Hb/RDW and CEA among different T-N-M stages (all P< 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression showed that low level of Hb/RDW and high level of CAR, CEA, PCT were risk factors for CRC, and are correlated with CRC stage. Additionally, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of Hb/RDW+CEA (AUC: 0.735), CAR+CEA (AUC: 0.748), PCT+CEA (AUC: 0.807) was larger than that of Hb/RDW (AUC: 0.503), CAR (AUC: 0.614), or PCT (AUC: 0.713) alone (all P< 0.001) in distinguishing CRC from BCL. CONCLUSIONS: Hb/RDW, CAR, PCT, and CEA are independent risk factors for CRC. Hb/RDW, CAR, and PCT combined with CEA have significant value for auxiliary differential diagnosis of CRC and BCL.

Whole-course application of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to spinal-epidural anesthesia for cesarean section: A randomized, controlled trial.

Background: Dexmedetomidine is known to prolong the analgesic duration of spinal anesthesia, but it can be challenging to achieve further extension without opioids. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate a novel analgesic strategy using dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to spinal-epidural anesthesia for elective cesarean surgery. Methods: The study was a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial conducted at a single center. Sixty parturients who underwent elective cesarean were randomly assigned to either group C or group D. Group D received an intrathecal injection of 12.5 mg ropivacaine and 5 µg dexmedetomidine followed by continuous epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) infusion with a total volume of 100 ml, containing 0.2 % ropivacaine and 0.5 µg/kg dexmedetomidine. Group C received an intrathecal injection of 12.5 mg ropivacaine with an equivalent saline placebo followed by a similar PCA infusion, containing 0.2 % ropivacaine and an equivalent saline placebo. Results: The primary outcome was visual analog scale score on movement at 24 h after surgery. The results showed that the rest and motion pain scores in group D were significantly lower than those in group C at 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h after surgery (P < 0.05), with the differences at 24 h were 5.0 (5.0, 5.0)in group D versus 5.0 (5.0, 6.0) in group C (P = 0.04). Additionally, the time to the first PCA in group D was significantly longer than that in group C (P < 0.05), as well as the time of sensory and motor recovery. Conclusions: Whole-course application of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to spinal-epidural anesthesia could effectively extend the analgesic duration of ropivacaine to 24 h following elective cesarean surgery.

Stellate ganglion block for visceral pain in elderly patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic lung cancer surgery: a randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Visceral pain occurs commonly following thoracic surgery, but an effective method to relieve visceral pain in thoracic surgery remains controversial. We test the effect of stellate ganglion blocks (SGB) on perioperative visceral pain following video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). METHODS: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial enrolled 77 elderly patients undergoing VATS. Patients were randomized to SGB followed by modified intercostal nerve block (Group S, n=37); or modified intercostal nerve block only (Group C, n=40). Remifentanil 0.02-0.2 µg·kg-1·min-1 was titrated to keep pain threshold index values between 40-65 and maintain mean arterial pressure or heart rate values around 20% of baseline values. Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia with sufentanil was used in the postoperative period. The co-primary outcomes were the perioperative cumulative opioid consumption and pain scores on movement at 24 h after surgery. RESULTS: Compared with control group, SGB greatly reduced the intraoperative remifentanil consumption[300.00(235.00-450.00)µg versus 710.00(500.00-915.00)µg; P<0.01], with no difference in cumulative sufentanil consumption to 48h post-surgery. There was a statistically significant difference in pain scores on movement at 24h between groups [4.00(3.00-4.00) versus 4.00(3.25-5.00); P=0.01]. Further exploratory analyses showed significant difference for intra-chest pain on movement at 24h [3.00(2.00-3.00) versus 3.00(2.25-4.00); P=0.01]. No significant difference was observed in nausea/vomiting, time to pass flatus and postoperative length of stay. CONCLUSION: Preoperative stellate ganglion blocks for elderly patients could effectively blunt intraoperative visceral stress and reduce postoperative visceral pain extending 24 h after VATS. This initial finding deserve further investigation.

[Dynamics of ginsenoside biosynthesis in suspension culture of Panax notoginseng].

OBJECTIVE: To study the dynamics of ginsenoside biosynthesis in suspension culture of Panax notoginseng. METHODS: The calli of Panax notoginseng were suspended in liquid medium for 40 d, and the changes of ginsenosides were determined by HPLC method. RESULTS: Cell growth was slow in suspension culture, but the contents of six ginsenosides varied with different culture time. The contents of four ginsenosides Rg1, Re, Rh1 and Rb1 showed the increases from about 3.63 to 9.72 mg/g, 2.34 to 7.02 mg/g, 0.42 to 2.37 mg/g and 0.24 to 1.86 mg/g, respectively during 25 and 30 days of the culture. Rh2 and F1 had no obvious change. Such results indicated that the protopanaxatriol saponions (Rg1, Re and Rh1) increased significantly during the growth phase. CONCLUSION: When the callus is cultured for 25 days, the maximum yield of total saponins content is up to 20.58 mg/g,mainly of the protopanaxatriol saponins.

Retrolaminar migration as a complication of intraocular silicone oil injection detected on unenhanced CT.

AIM: To describe the clinical and radiologic features of retrolaminar migration silicone oil (SiO) and observe the dynamic position of ventricular oil accumulation in supine and prone. METHODS: For this retrospective study, 29 patients who had a history of SiO injection treatment and underwent unenhanced head computed tomography (CT) were included from January 2019 to October 2022. The patients were divided into migration-positive and negative groups. Clinical history and CT features were compared using Whitney U and Fisher's exact tests. The dynamic position of SiO was observed within the ventricular system in supine and prone. CT images were visually assessed for SiO migration along the retrolaminar involving pathways for vision (optic nerve, chiasm, and tract) and ventricular system. RESULTS: Intraocular SiO migration was found in 5 of the 29 patients (17.24%), with SiO at the optic nerve head (n=1), optic nerve (n=4), optic chiasm (n=1), optic tract (n=1), and within lateral ventricles (n=1). The time interval between SiO injection and CT examination of migration-positive cases was significantly higher than that of migration-negative patients (22.8±16.5mo vs 13.1±2.6mo, P<0.001). The hyperdense lesion located in the frontal horns of the right lateral ventricle migrated to the fourth ventricle when changing the position from supine to prone. CONCLUSION: Although SiO retrolaminar migration is unusual, the clinician and radiologist should be aware of migration routes. The supine combined with prone examination is the first-choice method to confirm the presence of SiO in the ventricular system.

[Tracking Riverine Nitrate Sources and Transformations in the Yiluo River Basin by Nitrogen and Oxygen Isotopes].

The impacts of natural processes and anthropogenic input on riverine nitrate (NO-3) could be identified by NO-3 concentrations and nitrogen and oxygen isotope ratios (δ15N-NO-3 and δ18O-NO-3); however, the effects of variable land use on riverine NO-3 sources and transformations remain unclear. In particular, the human impacts on riverine NO-3 in mountain areas are still unknown. The Yihe River and Luohe River were used to elucidate this question due to their spatially heterogeneous land use. Hydrochemical compositions, water isotope ratios (δD-H2O and δ18O-H2O), and δ15N-NO-3 and δ18O-NO-3 values were utilized to constrain the NO-3 sources and transformations affected by different land use types. The results indicated that ① the mean nitrate concentrations in the Yihe River and Luohe River waters were 6.57 and 9.29 mg·L-1, the mean values of δ15N-NO-3 were 9.6‰ and 10.4‰, and the average δ18O-NO-3 values were -2.2‰ and -2.7‰, respectively. Based on the analysis of δ15N-NO-3 and δ18O-NO-3 values, the NO-3 in the Yihe and Luohe Rivers were derived from multiple sources, and nitrogen removal existed in the Luohe River, but the biological removal in the Yihe River was weak. ② The contributions of different nitrate sources were calculated using a Bayesian isotope mixing model (BIMM) based on δ15N-NO-3 and δ18O-NO-3 values of river water in the mainstream and tributaries with spatial locations. The results revealed that sewage and manure had major impacts on riverine nitrate in the upper reaches of both the Luohe River and Yihe River, where forest vegetation was widely distributed. However, the contributions from soil organic nitrogen and chemical fertilizer were higher in the upper reaches than in downstream ones. The contributions of sewage and manure still increased in the downstream reaches. Our results confirmed the primary impacts of point sources, e.g., sewage and manure, on riverine nitrate in the studied area, and the contributions of nonpoint sources, e.g., chemical fertilizer, had not increased as the agricultural activities elevated the downstream. Therefore, more attention should be paid to point source pollution treatment, and the high-quality development of ecological civilization in the Yellow River Basin should be maintained.

Effects on Autophagy of Moxibustion at Governor Vessel Acupoints in APP/PS1double-Transgenic Alzheimer's Disease Mice through the lncRNA Six3os1/miR-511-3p/AKT3 Molecular Axis.

Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of moxibustion at acupoints of the governor vessel on lncRNA Six3os1 in amyloid precursor protein/presenilin1 (APP/PS1) double-transgenic Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice. Methods: Twenty-four specific pathogen-free and APP/PS1 double-transgenic male mice were randomly allocated into the AD model and moxibustion groups, with 12 cases in each group. Twelve syngeneic C57BL/6J mice were selected as the control group. Mice in the moxibustion group received aconite cake-separated moxibustion at the Baihui acupoint. Suspension moxibustion was applied at Fengfu and Dazhui for 15 minutes each day. All treatments were conducted over two weeks. Control and AD model mice were routinely fed without any intervention. Behavioral observation tests were conducted before and after the intervention. The autophagosome in the hippocampus was observed using transmission electron microscopy. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect Aß1-42 expression. LC3B and P62 expressions were evaluated by immunofluorescence. The expression levels of the lncRNAs Six3os1, miR-511-3p, and AKT3 were detected by qRT-PCR. The differential expression of PI-3K, AKT3, mTOR, LC3B-II/I, and P62 proteins in the hippocampus was detected by western blot. The dual-luciferase assay was undertaken to examine the targeting relationships of the lncRNAs Six3os1, miR-511-3p, and AKT3. Results: Compared with the control group, the AD model showed higher escape latency in the Morris Water Maze and reduced autophagic vacuoles in the cytoplasm of hippocampal neurons (both p < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the AD model showed higher expression of Aß1-42, the lncRNAs Six3os1, PI-3K, mTOR, P62, and AKT3 protein (all p < 0.01); but lower mir-511-3p and LC3B (both p < 0.01). Compared with the AD model group, the moxibustion group had a shorter escape latency, more autophagic bubbles in the hippocampus, and lower expression of positive Aß1-42, the lncRNAs Six3os1, PI-3K, mTOR, P62, and AKT3 protein (all p < 0.01). In contrast, the levels of miR-511-3p and LC3B proteins were considerably increased in the moxibustion group compared to the AD model group (both p < 0.01). Based on the dual-luciferase assay, there was a targeting link among the lncRNAs Six3os1, miR-511-3p, and AKT3. Conclusion: Moxibustion at acupoints of the governor vessel can suppress the lncRNA Six3os1 expression, promote cell autophagy, accelerate Aß1-42 clearance and alleviate cognitive dysfunction of AD mediated by the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway through the lncRNA Six3os1/miR-511-3p/AKT3 axis.

Effects of cadmium exposure on intestinal microflora of Cipangopaludina cathayensis.

As one of the most environmentally toxic heavy metals, cadmium (Cd) has attracted the attention of researchers globally. In particular, Guangxi, a province in southwestern China, has been subjected to severe Cd pollution due to geogenic processes and anthropogenic activities. Cd can be accumulated in aquatic animals and transferred to the human body through the food chain, with potential health risks. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of waterborne Cd exposure (0.5 mg/L and 1.5 mg/L) on the intestinal microbiota of mudsnail, Cipangopaludina cathayensis, which is favored by farmers and consumers in Guangxi. Gut bacterial community composition was investigated using high-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 segment of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Our results indicated that C. cathayensis could tolerate low Cd (0.5 mg/L) stress, while Cd exposure at high doses (1.5 mg/L) exerted considerable effects on microbiota composition. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were the dominant phyla in the mudsnail gut microbiota. The relative abundances of Bacteroidetes increased significantly under high Cd exposure (H14) (p < 0.01), with no significant change in the low Cd exposure (L14) treatment. The dominant genera with significant differences in relative abundance were Pseudomonas, Cloacibacterium, Acinetobacter, Dechloromonas, and Rhodobacter. In addition, Cd exposure could significantly alter the pathways associated with metabolism, cellular processes, environmental information processing, genetic information processing, human diseases, and organismal systems. Notably, compared to the L14 treatment, some disease-related pathways were enriched, while some xenobiotic and organic compound biodegradation and metabolism pathways were significantly inhibited in the H14 group. Overall, Cd exposure profoundly influenced community structure and function of gut microbiota, which may in turn influence C. cathayensis gut homeostasis and health.

Characterization of Gut Microbiome in the Mud Snail Cipangopaludina cathayensis in Response to High-Temperature Stress.

The mud snail Cipangopaludina cathayensis is a widely distributed species in China. Particularly in Guangxi province, mud snail farming contributes significantly to the economic development. However, global warming in recent decades poses a serious threat to global aquaculture production. The rising water temperature is harmful to aquatic animals. The present study explored the effects of high temperature on the intestinal microbiota of C. cathayensis. Snail intestinal samples were collected from the control and high-temperature groups on days 3 and 7 to determine the gut microbiota composition and diversity. Gut bacterial community composition was investigated using high-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 region of bacterial 16S rRNA genes. Our results suggested that thermal stress altered the gut microbiome structure of C. cathayensis. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes were dominant in C. cathayensis gut microbiota. The T2 treatment (32 ± 1 °C, day 7) significantly decreased the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Deinococcus-Thermus. In T2, the abundance of several genera of putatively beneficial bacteria (Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Rhodobacter, and Bacteroides) decreased, whereas the abundance of Halomonas-a pathogenic bacterial genus-increased. The functional prediction results indicated that T2 treatment inhibited some carbohydrate metabolism pathways and induced certain disease-related pathways (e.g., those related to systemic lupus erythematosus, Vibrio cholerae infection, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and shigellosis). Thus, high temperature profoundly affected the community structure and function of C. cathayensis gut microbiota. The results provide insights into the mechanisms associated with response of C. cathayensis intestinal microbiota to global warming.

[Effect of moxibustion on autophagy in mice with Alzheimer's disease based on mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of moxibustion on autophagy and amyloid ß-peptide1-42 (Aß1-42) protein expression in amyloid precursor protein/presenilin 1 (APP/PS1) double-transgenic mice with Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: After 2-month adaptive feeding, fifty-six 6-month-old APP/PS1 double transgenic AD mice were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group, a rapamycin group and an inhibitor group, 14 mice in each group. Another 14 C57BL/6J mice with the same age were used as a normal group. The mice in the moxibustion group were treated with monkshood cake-separated moxibustion at "Baihui"(GV 20), "Fengfu" (GV 16) and "Dazhui" (GV 14) for 20 min; the mice in the rapamycin group were intraperitoneally injected with rapamycin (2 mg/kg); the mice in the inhibitor group were treated with moxibustion and injection of 1.5 mg/kg 3-methyladenine (3-MA). All the treatments were given once a day for consecutive 2 weeks. The morphology of hippocampal tissue was observed by HE staining; the ultrastructure of hippocampal tissue was observed by transmission electron microscopy; the expression of Aß1-42 protein in frontal cortex and hippocampal tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry; the expressions of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), phosphorylated mTOR (p-mTOR), p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) and phosphorylated p70S6K (p-p70S6K) protein in hippocampus were detected by Western blot method. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the number of neuron cells was decreased, cells were necrotic and deformed, and autophagy vesicle and lysosome were decreased in the model group. Compared with the model group, the number of neuron cells was increased, cell necrosis was decreased, and autophagy vesicle and lysosome were increased in the moxibustion group and the rapamycin group. Compared with the normal group, the protein expressions of Aß1-42, mTOR, p-mTOR, p70S6K and p-p70S6K in the model group were increased (P<0.05); compared with the model group, the protein expressions of Aß1-42, mTOR, p-mTOR, p70S6K and p-p70S6K in the moxibustion group, rapamycin group and inhibitor group were decreased (P<0.05); compared with the inhibitor group, the protein expressions of Aß1-42, mTOR, p-mTOR, p70S6K and p-p70S6K in the moxibustion group and rapamycin group were decreased (P<0.05); compared with the rapamycin group, the protein expressions of mTOR, p-mTOR, p70S6K and p-p70S6K in the moxibustion group were decreased (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Moxibustion could enhance autophagy in hippocampal tissue of APP/PS1 double transgenic AD mice and reduce abnormal Aß aggregation in brain tissue, the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway.