Accelerating the Rate-Determining Steps of Sulfur Conversion Reaction for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries Working at an Ultrawide Temperature Range.

Wide operation temperature is the crucial objective for an energy storage system that can be applied under harsh environmental conditions. For lithium-sulfur batteries, the "shuttle effect" of polysulfide intermediates will aggravate with the temperature increasing, while the reaction kinetics decreases sharply as the temperature decreasing. In particular, sulfur reaction mechanism at low temperatures seems to be quite different from that at room temperature. Here, through in situ Raman and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies, the newly emerged platform at cryogenic temperature corresponds to the reduction process of Li2S8 to Li2S4, which will be another rate-determining step of sulfur conversion reaction, in addition to the solid-phase conversion process of Li2S4 to Li2S2/Li2S at low temperatures. Porous bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) spheres are designed as sulfur host material, which achieve the rapid snap-transfer-catalytic process by shortening lithium-ion transport pathway and accelerating the targeted rate-determining steps. Such promoting effect greatly inhibits severe "shuttle effect" at high temperatures and simultaneously improves sulfur conversion efficiency in the cryogenic environment. The cell with the porous BiVO4 spheres as the host exhibits excellent rate capability and cycle performance under wide working temperatures.

Targeting 5-Hydroxytryptamine receptor 1A in portal vein to decrease portal hypertension.

BACKGROUNDS & AIMS: Portal hypertension (PH) is one of the most frequent complications of chronic liver disease. The peripheral 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) level was increased in cirrhotic patients. We aimed to elucidate the function and mechanism of 5-HT receptor 1A (HTR1A) in portal vein (PV) on PH. METHODS: PH models were induced by thioacetamide (TAA) injection, bile duct ligation (BDL) or partial portal vein ligation (PPVL). HTR1A expression was detected using real-time PCR, in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence staining. In situ intraportal infusion was employed to assess the effects of 5-HT, the HTR1A agonist 8-OH-DPAT, and the HTR1A antagonist WAY-100635 on portal pressure (PP). Htr1a knock-out (Htr1a-/-) rats and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC)-specific Htr1a knock-out (Htr1aΔVSMC) mice were utilized to confirm the regulatory role of HTR1A on PP. RESULTS: HTR1A expression was significantly increased in the hypertensive PV of PH model rats and cirrhotic patients. Additionally, 8-OH-DPAT increased but WAY-100635 decreased PP in rats, without affecting liver fibrosis and systemic hemodynamics. Furthermore, 5-HT or 8-OH-DPAT directly induced the contraction of isolated PVs. Genetic deletion of Htr1a in rats and VSMCs-specific Htr1a knock-out in mice prevented the development of PH. Moreover, 5-HT triggered the cAMP pathway-mediated PVSMCs contraction via HTR1A in PV. We also confirmed alverine as an HTR1A antagonist and demonstrated its capacity to decrease PP in TAA-, BDL-, and PPVL-induced portal hypertensive rats. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal that 5-HT promotes PH by inducing the contraction of PV, and identify HTR1A as a promising therapeutic target for attenuating PH. As an HTR1A antagonist, alverine is expected to become a candidate for clinical PH treatment.

[Ecological risk assessment and influencing factors in the Wuhan Metropolitan Area based on supply and demand bundles of ecosystem services]. / åŸºäºŽç”Ÿæ€ç³»ç»ŸæœåŠ¡ä¾›éœ€ç°‡çš„æ­¦æ±‰éƒ½å¸‚åœˆç”Ÿæ€é£Žé™©è¯„ä¼°åŠå½±å“å› ç´ .

In the context of rapid urbanization, metropolitan areas are facing the risk of supply-demand mismatches among ecosystem services. Investigating the patterns, relationships, and driving factors of multiple supply-demand risks is of great significance to support the efficient management of regional ecological risks. We quantified the single/comprehensive supply-demand risk rates of six ecosystem services in Wuhan Metropolitan Area at the township scale in 2000, 2010, and 2020. By applying the self-organizing feature map network and optimal parameter geo-detector, we identified supply-demand risks bundles of ecosystem services and influencing factors of comprehensive risks. The results showed significant spatial variations in the supply-demand risks of typical ecosystem services from 2000 to 2020. The supply-demand risk associated with grain production, water yield, carbon sequestration, and green space recreation increased, while soil conservation and water purification risks decreased. The comprehensive ecosystem services supply-demand risk increased from 0.41 to 0.45, indicating a 'core area increase and periphery decrease' trend. Throughout the study period, the area exhibited bundles of comprehensive extremely high-risk bundles (B1), comprehensive high-risk bundles (B2), water purification high-risk bundles (B3), and grain production-soil conservation risk bundles (B4). The transition of risk types from B3 to B2 and from B2 to B1 suggested an increase in the combination and intensity of supply-demand risk. Vegetation cover, nighttime light index, and population density were the main driving factors for spatial variations in comprehensive supply-demand risk. Ecologi-cal risk assessment based on ecosystem services supply-demand bundles could provide an effective and reliable way to regulate multiple regional risk issues.

Emerging trends and future challenges of advanced 2D nanomaterials for combating bacterial resistance.

The number of multi-drug-resistant bacteria has increased over the last few decades, which has caused a detrimental impact on public health worldwide. In resolving antibiotic resistance development among different bacterial communities, new antimicrobial agents and nanoparticle-based strategies need to be designed foreseeing the slow discovery of new functioning antibiotics. Advanced research studies have revealed the significant disinfection potential of two-dimensional nanomaterials (2D NMs) to be severed as effective antibacterial agents due to their unique physicochemical properties. This review covers the current research progress of 2D NMs-based antibacterial strategies based on an inclusive explanation of 2D NMs' impact as antibacterial agents, including a detailed introduction to each possible well-known antibacterial mechanism. The impact of the physicochemical properties of 2D NMs on their antibacterial activities has been deliberated while explaining the toxic effects of 2D NMs and discussing their biomedical significance, dysbiosis, and cellular nanotoxicity. Adding to the challenges, we also discussed the major issues regarding the current quality and availability of nanotoxicity data. However, smart advancements are required to fabricate biocompatible 2D antibacterial NMs and exploit their potential to combat bacterial resistance clinically.

Update on the development of TGR5 agonists for human diseases.

The G protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1 (GPBAR1) or TGR5 is widely distributed across organs, including the small intestine, stomach, liver, spleen, and gallbladder. Many studies have established strong correlations between TGR5 and glucose homeostasis, energy metabolism, immune-inflammatory responses, and gastrointestinal functions. These results indicate that TGR5 has a significant impact on the progression of tumor development and metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus and obesity. Targeting TGR5 represents an encouraging therapeutic approach for treating associated human ailments. Notably, the GLP-1 receptor has shown exceptional efficacy in clinical settings for diabetes management and weight loss promotion. Currently, numerous TGR5 agonists have been identified through natural product-based approaches and virtual screening methods, with some successfully progressing to clinical trials. This review summarizes the intricate relationships between TGR5 and various diseases emphasizing recent advancements in research on TGR5 agonists, including their structural characteristics, design tactics, and biological activities. We anticipate that this meticulous review could facilitate the expedited discovery and optimization of novel TGR5 agonists.

In-situ synthesis Fe3C@C/rGO as matrix for high performance lithium-sulfur batteries at room and low temperatures.

People have been focusing on how to improve the specific capacity and cycling stability of lithium-sulfur batteries at room temperature, however, on some special occasions such as cold cities and aerospace fields, the operating temperature is low, which dramatically hinders the performance of batteries. Here, we report an iron carbide (Fe3C)/rGO composite as electrode host, the Fe3C nanoparticles in the composite have strong adsorption and high catalytic ability for polysulfide. The rGO makes the distribution of Fe3C nanoparticles more disperse, and this specific structure makes the deposition of Li2S more uniform. Therefore, it realizes the rapid transformation and high performance of lithium-sulfur batteries at both room and low temperatures. At room temperature, after 100 cycles at 1C current density, the reversible specific capacity of the battery can be stabilized at 889 ± 7.1 mAh/g. Even at -40 °C, in the first cycle battery still emits 542.9 ± 3.7 mAh/g specific capacity. This broadens the operating temperature for lithium-sulfur batteries and also provides a new idea for the selection of host materials for sulfur in low-temperature lithium-sulfur batteries.

[Prevalence and Influencing Factors of Isolated Diastolic Hypertension in Tibetan Population in Tibet]. / è¥¿è—åœ°åŒºè—æ—äººç¾¤å•çº¯èˆ’å¼ æœŸé«˜è¡€åŽ‹çš„æ‚£ç— çŽ°çŠ¶åŠå ¶å½±å“å› ç´ åˆ†æž.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) in the Tibetan population in Tibet and to provide some evidence for the prevention and control of hypertension and other related diseases in high-altitude areas. Methods: A multistage stratified whole-group random sampling method was used to enroll participants from Ngari Prefecture, Nagqu City, Shannan City, and Lhasa City, Tibet. A total of 3918 native Tibetans with complete data were enrolled in the survey between June 2020 and August 2023. The participants were aged from 18 to 80. The demographic data, life habits, and chronic disease prevalence of the participants were collected. Fasting venous blood samples were collected to perform the routine blood tests and blood biochemistry tests. The prevalence of IDH in subgroups with different characteristics was analyzed and the influencing factors were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression, accordingly. The predictive value of influencing factors on the prevalence of IDH was analyzed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the findings were compared with those of the previous prediction models for IDH. Results: The prevalence of hypertension in the participants was 33.7% (n=1321), among which, 395 had IDH, accounting for 29.9% of the hypertensive patients. The results of multivariate regression showed that age, heart rate, body mass index, waist circumference, hemoglobin, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were associated with risks of developing IDH (P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.71, which indicated improved accuracy for predicting the risks for IDH in comparison with previous predictive models for IDH. Among the influencing factors, BMI showed the best predictive value for IDH risks. Conclusion: The prevalence of IDH is high among Tibetans in Tibet, suggesting the necessity for rational allocation of health resources in accordance. Compared with the previous IDH prediction models, the model proposed in this study is more suited for the Tibetan population. Targeted interventions should be carried out for the high-risk populations, such as young and middle-aged adults and populations suffering from overweight/obesity, central obesity, high-altitude polycythemia, and dyslipidemia, so as to effectively control the occurrence and development of IDH.

Current insights and future perspectives of ultraviolet radiation (UV) exposure: Friends and foes to the skin and beyond the skin.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is ubiquitous in the environment, which has been classified as an established human carcinogen. As the largest and outermost organ of the body, direct exposure of skin to sunlight or UV radiation can result in sunburn, inflammation, photo-immunosuppression, photoaging and even skin cancers. To date, there are tactics to protect the skin by preventing UV radiation and reducing the amount of UV radiation to the skin. Nevertheless, deciphering the essential regulatory mechanisms may pave the way for therapeutic interventions against UV-induced skin disorders. Additionally, UV light is considered beneficial for specific skin-related conditions in medical UV therapy. Recent evidence indicates that the biological effects of UV exposure extend beyond the skin and include the treatment of inflammatory diseases, solid tumors and certain abnormal behaviors. This review mainly focuses on the effects of UV on the skin. Moreover, novel findings of the biological effects of UV in other organs and systems are also summarized. Nevertheless, the mechanisms through which UV affects the human organism remain to be fully elucidated to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of its biological effects.

[Analysis of Influencing Factors of Hyperuricemia in Tibetan Population in Nagqu City, Tibet]. / è¥¿è—é‚£æ›²å¸‚è—æ—äººç¾¤é«˜å°¿é ¸è¡€ç—‡å½±å“å› ç´ åˆ†æž.

Objective: To analyze the prevalence of hyperuricemia (HUA) among the Tibetan population in Nagqu City, Tibet and to uncover the relevant influencing factors. Methods: From July 2020 to August 2021, 763 Tibetan natives from Bangor County (specifically Xinji Township and Jiaqiong Township) and Seni District (specificially Sexiong Township), Nagqu City were investigated by multi-stage cluster random sampling method and the prevalence of HUA was studied by retrospective analysis. Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression were used to analyze the influencing factors of HUA prevalence. Results: The overall prevalence of HUA among the Tibetan population in the three townships of Nagqu City was 19.66% (150/763). In particular, the prevalence in men was 35.00%, while that in women was 8.58%, showing significant difference (P<0.05). According to the results of univariate analysis, there were significant differences in the distribution of sex, abnormal liver function, abnormal hemoglobin, hyperlipidemia, high level of low-density lipoprotein, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, abnormal creatinine, hyperhomocysteinemia, obesity, and hypertension between HUA and non-HUA patients (P<0.05). Multiple logistic regression showed that female sex (odds ratio [OR]=0.195, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.120-0.315) was a protective factor for HUA, while abnormal liver function (OR=2.812, 95% CI: 1.685-4.692), abnormal creatinine (OR=7.374, 95% CI: 1.446-37.620), high level of low-density lipoprotein (OR=2.357, 95% CI: 1.011-5.492), and hyperlipidemia (OR=3.056, 95% CI: 1.886-4.951) were independent risk factors. Conclusion: The prevalence of HUA is relatively high in Nagqu city and the prevalence of HUA is much higher in men than that in women. Male sex, abnormal liver function, abnormal creatinine, elevated low-density lipoprotein, and hyperlipidemia may be the risk factors for HUA in the local Tibetan population.

Fe-codoped carbon dots serving as a peroxidase mimic to generate in situ hydrogen peroxide for the visual detection of glucose.

Nanozyme technology has gained significant regard and been successfully implemented in various applications including chemical sensing, bio-medicine, and environmental monitoring. Fe-CDs were synthesized and characterized well in this study. As compared to HRP (3.7 mM), the Fe-CDs exhibited a higher affinity towards H2O2 (0.2 mM) using the steady-state kinetic assay and stronger catalytic capability by changing the color of TMB to the blue color of the oxidized state, oxTMB. Additionally, an efficient peroxidase mimic, Fe-CDs/GOx, based on the hybrid cascade system to produce in situ H2O2 for the visual detection of glucose (color change: colorless to blue, and then to green), has been developed in detail, with limits of detection (LODs) for H2O2 and glucose of 0.33 µM and 1.17 µM, respectively. The changes further demonstrate a linear relationship between absorbance and H2O2 concentration, ranging from 10 to 60 µM, and for glucose (1 to 60 µM). To assess the accuracy and detection capability of the Fe-CDs/GOx system, we evaluated a real human serum sample obtained from adult males in a local hospital. In conclusion, Fe-CDs serving as a peroxidase mimic have the potential for various applications in the fields of biomedicine and nanozymes.

JD-312 - A novel small molecule that facilitates cartilage repair and alleviates osteoarthritis progression.

Background: The chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to enhance cartilage repair and regeneration is a promising strategy to alleviate osteoarthritis (OA) progression. Method: The potency of JD-312 in inducing chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs was assessed and verified. The efficacy of JD-312-treated MSCs was evaluated using a Sprague-Dawley rat DMM model. Additionally, the capacity of JD-312 to successfully recruit bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) for the treatment of OA in vitro was confirmed via intra-articular injection. The repair status of the articular cartilage was analyzed in vivo through histological examination. Result: In this study, we identify JD-312 as a novel non-toxic small molecule that can promote chondrogenic differentiation in human umbilical cord-derived MSCs (hUCMSCs) and human bone marrow MSCS (hBMSCs) in vitro. We also show that transient differentiation of MSCs with JD-312 prior to in vivo administration remarkably improves the regeneration of cartilage and promotes Col2a1 and Acan expression in rat models of DMM, in comparison to kartogenin (KGN) pre-treatment or MSCs alone. Furthermore, direct intra-articular injection of JD-312 in murine model of OA showed reduced loss of articular cartilage and improved pain parameters. Lastly, we identified that the effects of JD-312 are at least in part mediated via upregulation of genes associated with the focal adhesion, PI3K-Akt signaling and the ECM-receptor interaction pathways, and specifically cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) may play a vital role. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that JD-312 showed encouraging repair effects for OA in vivo. The translational potential of this article: Together, our findings demonstrate that JD-312 is a promising new therapeutic molecule for cartilage regeneration with clinical potential.

Diversity and genetic characterization of orthohantavirus from small mammals and humans during 2012-2022 in Hubei Province, Central China.

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a significant public health problem in Hubei Province, China, where a novel strain of orthohantavirus, HV004, was reported in 2012. However, no systematic study has investigated the prevalence and variation of orthohantavirus in rodents and humans. Herein, 2137 small mammals were collected from ten HFRS epidemic areas in Hubei Province from 2012 to 2022, and 143 serum samples from patients with suspected hemorrhagic fever were collected from two hospitals from 2017 to 2021. Orthohantavirus RNA was recovered from 134 lung tissue samples from five rodent species, with a 6.27 % prevalence, and orthohantavirus was detected in serum samples from 25 patients. Genetic analyses revealed that orthohantavirus hantanense (HTNV), orthohantavirus seoulense (SEOV), and orthohantavirus dabieshanense (DBSV) are co-circulating in rodents in Hubei, and HTNV and SEOV were identified in patient serum. Phylogenetic analysis showed that most of the HTNV sequences were clustered with HV004, indicating that HV004-like orthohantavirus was the main HNTV subtype in rodents. Two genetic reassortments and six recombination events were observed in Hubei orthohantaviruses. In summary, this study identified the diversity of orthohantaviruses circulating in Hubei over the past decade, with the HV004-like subtype being the main genotype in rodents and patients. These findings highlight the need for continued attention and focus on orthohantaviruses, especially concerning newly identified strains.

Enhancing or Quenching of a Mitochondria-Targeted AIEgens-Floxuridine Sensor by the Regulation of pH-Dependent Self-assembly, Efficient Recognition of Hg2+, and Stimulated Response of GSH.

Biocompatible fluorescent probes have emerged as essential tools in life sciences for visualizing subcellular structures and detecting specific analytes. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a novel fluorescent probe (TPE-FdU), incorporated with hydrophilic 2'-fluoro-substituted deoxyuridine and hydrophobic ethynyl tetraphenylethene moieties, which possessed typical aggregation-induced emission (AIE) behavior. In comparison to the TPE-FdU (pKa 7.68) treated in neutral conditions, it performed well at pH 4, exhibiting an enhanced 450 nm emission signal of approximately four times stronger. As the pH value was increased to 10, the fluorescence intensity was completely quenched. The TEM images of TPE-FdU in an acidic environment (nanospherical morphology, AIE enhance, pH = 4) and in a basic environment (microrods, fluorescence quenching, pH = 9) revealed that it was a pH-dependent self-assembled probe, which was also illustrated by the interpretation of the NMR spectrum. Furthermore, the TPE-FdU probe exhibited a specific response to trace Hg2+ ions. Interestingly, the quenched fluorescence of the TPE-FdU probe caused by Hg2+ can be recovered by the addition of GSH due to the formation of the Hg-S bond being released away. MTT assay and CLSM images demonstrated that TPE-FdU was nontoxic and selectively visualized in the intracellular mitochondria. These results contributed to the development of advanced fluorescent probes with diverse applications in cell imaging, environment protection, and biomedical research.

Multifunctional nucleoside-AIEgens bearing quaternary ammonium cationic for reversible response, bioimaging, and antibacterial.

A multifunctional nucleoside-based AIEgens sensor (TPEPy-dU) was constructed for visual screening of Hg2+, determine to the reversible response of Fe3+ and biothiols, and applied for cell imaging, and drug-free bacterial killing. The TPEPy-dU displayed 10-folds fluorescence enhancement at 540 nm of emission in response to trace Hg2+ ions with 10 nM of LOD, which can be immediately quenched by adding Fe3+ or GSH/Cys-containing sulfhydryl groups. Moreover, their bacterial staining efficiency closely correlates with their antibacterial efficacy as they demonstrated comparatively higher antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria. The drug-free antibacterial results involved the stating prominent surface damages at the sites of interactions between bacterial cells and TPEPy-dU that were further verified by CLSM and SEM images. It can be applied as a potential fluorescent agent to explore the related antibacterial mechanisms for treating and monitoring bacterial infections in vivo due to their nontoxic nature. Compared with conventional sensors and antibacterial therapies, these findings elevated the synthetic strategies of fluorescent probes and represented an advanced antibacterial agent wearing quaternary ammonium cationic with low resistance in clinical diagnosis.

Pathogenicity of novel hantavirus isolate and antigenicity and immunogenicity of novel strain-based inactivated vaccine.

BACKGROUND: Hantaan virus (HTNV, Orthohantavirus hantanensae species, Hantaviridae family) is the main etiological agent responsible for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). The novel HTNV may pose a potential danger to the control and prevention of HFRS in China, which highlights the importance of vaccine development in public health management. In previous studies, our laboratory discovered and successfully isolated a new HTNV strain, HV004 strain, from Apodemus agrarius captured in an epidemic area in Hubei, China. METHODS: An initial biological and pathogenicity characterization of HTNV 76-118 (standard train), HV114 strain (a clinical isolate from Hubei province in 1986), and the novel isolate HV004 strain from the epidemic areas of Hubei province were performed in susceptible cells and in vivo. An experimental HV004 strain inactivated vaccine was prepared, and its corresponding immunogenicity was analyzed in BALB/c mice. RESULTS: HV004 strain had a similar but higher pathogenicity than HTNV 76-118 and HV114 in suckling mice. A subcutaneous vaccination (s.c.) with the inactivated HTNV vaccine adjuvanted with aluminum, followed by a challenge intraperitoneally with 106 FFU/ml HTNV, afforded full protection against an HTNV challenge. All immunized mice in every group elicited serum neutralizing antibodies with increasing dosages, which may protect mice from HTNV infection. A dose-dependent stimulation index of splenocytes was also observed in immunized mice. The percentage of IFN-γ-producing CD3+CD8+ T cells was significantly higher in the spleens of immunized mice than in those of control mice. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the inactivated HTNV vaccine may stimulate mice to produce high levels of antibodies with neutralization activity and elicit specific anti-HTNV humoral and cellular immune responses in BALB/c mice against the prevalent strain of HTNV in south central China.

Fluorescence switch based on NIR-emitting carbon dots revealing high selectivity in the rapid response and bioimaging of oxytetracycline.

The abuse of antibiotics has led to serious environmental pollution and the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria surpassing the replacement rate of antibiotics. Herein, near-infrared fluorescent carbon dots (NIR-CDs) were developed to meet the requirements for oxytetracycline (OTC) detection in food and water samples (milk, honey, and lake water) with a detection limit of 0.112 µM. These NIR-CDs, possessing excellent water-solubility, deep tissue penetration ability, and tunable optical properties, exhibit maximum emission at 790 nm (NIR-I window). Unlike traditional CDs, this novel NIR-CDs nanoprobe provides a dual response in the presence of OTC (quenching and bathochromic shifting), without obvious interference from other existing biomolecules and metal ions. Additionally, these NIR-CDs exhibit excellent photostability and multi-resistance under UV irradiation, exceptional pH stability (pH 6-12), reliable long-time exposure, and durability in ionic (NaCl) environments. Moreover, NIR-CDs and NIR-CDs@OTC are nontoxic and were successfully utilized for cell-imaging applications in normal (NIH3T3) and cancer cells (HeLa).

[Comparative Analysis of Influencing Factors of Health Service Utilization Among Urban and Rural Residents in Tibet].

Objective: To examine the differences and commonalities of factors influencing the utilization of health services among urban and rural residents in Tibet and to identify vulnerable populations in the utilization of health services, thereby providing references for the formulation of local health policies and the allocation of health resources. Methods: Using the Tibetan area data from the Sixth National Health Service Survey, we conducted statistical analysis of the health service utilization status of 8 297 residents of agro-pastoral areas and 2 179 residents of urban areas with χ 2 test and logistic regression model. Results: The two-week outpatient visit rates of residents in agro-pastoral areas and that of the urban residents were 65.3% and 57.1%, respectively, and the one-year hospitalization rates were 8.3% and 8.9%, respectively. The influencing factors of two-week outpatient visits for rural and pastoral residents included urban and rural health insurance coverage, Three Guarantees in One coverage, distance to medical facilities, chronic disease status, physical examination, family doctor contract status, employment status, and health status self-assessment. The influencing factors of two-week outpatient visit for urban residents included chronic disease status, urban and rural medical insurance coverage, health status self-assessment, health records, and physical examination. The factors influencing hospitalization for agro-pastoral residents were sex, age, marital status, urban and rural medical insurance coverage, Three Guarantees in One coverage, critical illness insurance, health self-assessment, mobility, health records, physical examination, and chronic disease status. The factors influencing the hospitalization of urban residents were sex, marital status, health status self-assessment, health records, urban employee medical insurance coverage, and chronic disease status. The factors influencing the hospitalization of urban residents were sex, marital status, health status self-assessment, health records, urban employee medical insurance coverage, and chronic disease status. Conclusion: The urban and rural residents in Tibet have relatively poor health and their awareness of seeking early medical help after they fall ill is relatively weak. The health institutions concerned should dedicate more attention to the vulnerable populations who have difficulty accessing health services, focus on the commonly shared influencing factors of health service utilization among urban and rural residents, take into account the differences, rationally allocate health resources, and improve the effective utilization rate of health services among residents in Tibet.

Influencing factors of bone mass abnormalities among postmenopausal women in Tibet, China.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of abnormal bone mass in postmenopausal women by analysing the current situation and influencing factors of bone mass abnormalities in Tibet. METHODS: A total of 229 postmenopausal Tibetan women were randomly selected from six counties by a multistage cluster random sampling method. Multiple logistic regression was utilized to analyse the status and influencing factors of bone mass abnormalities in postmenopausal Tibetan women. RESULTS: Among 229 postmenopausal Tibetan women, the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis was 54.6% and 9.6%, respectively. Age {odds ratio (OR) = 0.022 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.003 ~ 0.163]}, BMI [OR = 441.902 (20.899,9343.717)], altitude [OR = 18.818 (1.391,254.585)], and creatinine (CREA) levels [OR = 0.895 (0.825 ~ 0.971)] were significantly associated with the risk of osteoporosis. CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal Tibetan women had high rates of abnormal bone mass. Age, BMI, altitude and CREA levels were associated with osteoporosis. It is suggested that relevant departments should take targeted measures to promote health education on the prevention of osteoporosis in the general population and increase the screening of high-risk groups for osteoporosis to improve the bone health of postmenopausal Tibetan women.

Achyranthes bidentate extracts protect the IL-1ß-induced osteoarthritis of SW1353 chondrocytes.

Osteoarthritis, the most common joint disease worldwide, is a degenerative disease characterized by cartilage degeneration and inflammation. The active ingredients in the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Achyranthes bidentate can be used to treat waist, leg, and joint pain caused by rheumatism arthralgia. In this study, we identified the optimal microwave extraction protocol for saponins from A. bidentate, evaluated their protective effects against IL-1ß-induced inflammation in SW1353 human chondrocytes, and explored their protective pathway. The microwave-extraction parameters required to obtain the maximum yield of A. bidentate saponins using 80% ethanol were identified using response surface methodology. The parameters were solid-liquid ratio, 1:10; extraction time, 20 min; power, 721 W; temperature, 65 °C. The actual yield of saponins extracted was to be 194.01 µg/mg extract. The SW1353 cells were pretreated with A. bidentate extract (ABE) at a concentration of 50 or 100 µg/mL for 3 h, after which an inflammatory response was stimulated using IL-1ß. The ABE significantly reduced the expression of proinflammatory factors IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2, iNOS, PGE2, and NO, and inhibited NF-κB activity, effectively attenuating the inflammatory response. ABE also inhibited MMP13 and ADAMTS-5 expression, reducing IL-1ß-induced degradation of the extrachondral matrix. This confirmed that ABE effectively inhibits NF-κB activity and reduces IL-1ß-induced inflammation, extracellular matrix degradation, and expression of apoptotic proteins Bax and caspase-3. Therefore, ABE has potential as a new botanical drug for preventing osteoarthritis.

[Effect of Biogas Slurry Return to Field on Heavy Metal Accumulation in Soil-crop System: A Meta-analysis].

To investigate the effects of biogas slurry return-to-field methods, the duration of biogas slurry return to field and the amount of heavy metals brought in from biogas slurry on the accumulation of heavy metals in soil-crop systems, and the importance of factors influencing heavy metal accumulation, 41 papers and 1972 pairs of data were integrated and analyzed. The results showed that the application of biogas slurry alone significantly increased the accumulation of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn in soil and As and Cr in crops by 20.5%, 15.2%, 25.6%, 18.7%, and 26.3% and 14.6% and 39.5%, respectively, and it had no significant effect on the accumulation of other heavy metals in crops. The combined application of biogas slurry and chemical fertilizers significantly increased the accumulation of soil Cr and Zn by 8.05% and 4.70% and decreased the accumulation of As by crops. Correlation analysis showed that the accumulation rates of soil As, Cd, and Cr were highly significantly and positively correlated (P<0.01) with the duration of biogas slurry return to field and soil organic matter (SOM) content, with correlation coefficients of 0.30, 0.15, and 0.13 and 0.22, 0.27, and 0.22, respectively; they were highly significantly and negatively correlated (P<0.01) with soil pH, with correlation coefficients of 0.16, 0.13, and 0.11, respectively. The heavy metals brought in by biogas slurry return to field promoted the accumulation of As, Cd, and Cr in soil and As, Cd, Cr, and Zn in crops, whereas the accumulation of Cd, Cu, and Zn in soil promoted the accumulation of Cd, Cu, and Zn in crops, with correlation coefficients of 0.45, 0.58, and 0.42, respectively. The main factors of heavy metal accumulation in the soil-crop systems were the duration of biogas slurry return to field, SOM, and soil pH.