Association between daily circulatory emergency ambulance dispatches and short-term PM2.5 exposure in a heavily polluted area.

Emergency ambulance dispatches (EAD) have been proven to be associated with ambient particulate matter with diameter < 2.5 µm (PM2.5) concentration, but the associations of circulatory EAD remained inconclusive, especially in heavily polluted areas. In this time series conducted in Shenyang City, Northeastern China, we explored the associations between circulatory EAD and ambient PM2.5 and its constituents. Data including 113,508 circulatory EAD records, five types of PM2.5 constituents, and meteorological information spanning from 2014 to 2019 were retrieved. Using generalized additive models (GAMs), we explored the association between circulatory EAD and calculated excess risks induced by a 10 µg/m3 increase (ERR10) in PM2.5 mass and its constituents. ERR by percentage change (ERRpc) to compare among the different constituents were also calculated. Positive associations between circulatory EAD and PM2.5 mass, sulfates, organic matters, and black carbon, were found particularly at lag0 and lag0-5, with the ERR10 of 3.8% (3.2%-4.4%), 6.5% (2.2%-10.8%), 4.2% (1.7%-6.6%), and 30.2% (17.2%-43.4%) at lag0-5, respectively. Similar associations were observed for cardiovascular EAD, while cerebrovascular EAD suggested a positive association with O3 rather than PM2.5 or its constituents. Notably, PM2.5 mass exhibited the largest ERRpc for circulatory and cardiovascular EAD, followed by sulfates and black carbon. Moreover, the risks were enhanced for circulatory and cardiovascular EAD in males compared to females and during warmer seasons compared to colder seasons. Our findings contribute new evidence on PM2.5 exposure and circulatory EAD in relatively polluted areas.

The interaction between ginseng and gut microbiota.

The importance of the gut microbiota to human health is attracting increasing attention. It is also involved in ginseng metabolism, mediating the bioactive metabolites of ginsenosides. In response, ginseng, known as the king of herbs, can regulate intestinal flora, including promoting probiotics and restricting the growth of harmful bacteria. Specifically, the interactions between ginseng or ginsenosides and gastrointestinal microbiota are complex. In this review, we summarized the effects of ginseng and ginsenosides on the composition of gut microbiota and discussed the gut microbiota-mediated biotransformation of ginsenosides. In particular, their therapeutic potential and clinical application in related diseases were also summarized.

Case report of isolated synchronous multiple splenic metastases from rectal cancer: A case report and brief review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Isolated splenic metastasis emanating from colorectal cancer is an extremely rare finding, which usually indicates widely disseminated and multiple metastatic cancer. There have only been 39 cases of isolated splenic metastasis reported in the English literature to date. PATIENT CONCERNS: An 84-year-old female patient presented to our department with dark-red bloody stool that had persisted for 1 month and with an increased serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level. DIAGNOSES: A colonoscopy showed a rectal mass located 3 cm from the anal margin, which was 45 mm in diameter. The patient was diagnosed with rectal cancer with splenic metastases by abdomen computed tomography. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent a radical resection of rectal cancer and splenectomy, and the postoperative histopathology confirmed that the splenic lesions were derived from the adenocarcinoma of the rectum. OUTCOMES: After surgical treatment, the patient recovered well and was recommended for further chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to revealing a rare case, we also performed a literature review, including a brief discussion about the atypical isolated splenic metastasis from colorectal cancer. Our findings enrich the database of this rare clinical entity and provide experience in the management of splenic metastasis.

Role of Ginseng, Quercetin, and Tea in Enhancing Chemotherapeutic Efficacy of Colorectal Cancer.

As the most common gastrointestinal malignancy, colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Although multimodal chemotherapy has effectively improved the prognosis of patients with CRC in recent years, severe chemotherapy-associated side effects and chemoresistance still greatly impair efficacy and limit its clinical application. In response to these challenges, an increasing number of traditional Chinese medicines have been used as synergistic agents for CRC administration. In particular, ginseng, quercetin, and tea, three common dietary supplements, have been shown to possess the potent capacity of enhancing the sensitivity of various chemotherapy drugs and reducing their side effects. Ginseng, also named "the king of herbs", contains a great variety of anti-cancer compounds, among which ginsenosides are the most abundant and major research objects of various anti-tumor studies. Quercetin is a flavonoid and has been detected in multiple common foods, which possesses a wide range of pharmacological properties, especially with stronger anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. As one of the most consumed beverages, tea has become particularly prevalent in both West and East in recent years. Tea and its major extracts, such as catechins and various constituents, were capable of significantly improving life quality and exerting anti-cancer effects both in vivo and in vitro. In this review, we mainly focused on the adjunctive effects of the three herbs and their constituents on the chemotherapy process of CRC.