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With rapid economic growth, industrialization, and urbanization, various ecological and environmental problems occur, which threaten and undermine the sustainable development and domestic survival of China. On the national scale, our progress remains in a state of qualitative or semi-quantitative evaluation, lacking a quantitative evaluation and a spatial visualization of ecological and environmental security. This study collected 14 indictors of water, land, air, and biodiversity securities to compile a spatial evaluation of ecological and environmental security in terrestrial ecosystems of China. With area-weighted normalization and scaling transformations, the veto aggregation (focusing on the limit indicator) and balanced aggregation (measuring balanced performance among different indicators) methods were used to aggregate security evaluation indicators. Results showed that water, land, air, and biodiversity securities presented different spatial distributions. A relatively serious ecological and environmental security crisis was found in China, but presented an obviously spatial variation of security evaluation scores. Hotspot areas at the danger level, which are scattered throughout the entirety of the country, were identified. The spatial diversities and causes of ecological and environmental problems in different regions were analyzed. Spatial integration of regional development and proposals for improving the ecological and environmental security were put forward.

Background Neuroinflammation is an important host defense response to secondary brain injury after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) confers strong neuroprotective effects by attenuating neuroinflammation in experimental ischemic stroke. Recent studies suggest that apolipoprotein E (apoE) is a novel, high-affinity ligand of TREM2. This study aimed to investigate the effects of TREM2 activation on neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis in a mouse model of ICH. Methods Adult male CD1 mice ( n = 216) were subjected to intrastriatal injection of bacterial collagenase. The TREM2 ligand, apoE-mimetic peptide COG1410 was administered intranasally at 1 h after ICH induction. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, TREM2 small interfering RNA (siRNA) and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 were administered intracerebroventricularly prior to COG1410 treatment. Neurobehavioral tests, brain water content, immunofluorescence, western blotting, and Fluoro-Jade C- and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining were performed. Results Endogenous TREM2 expression was increased and peaked at 24 h after ICH. TREM2 was expressed on microglia, astrocytes, and neurons. COG1410 improved both short-term and long-term neurological functions, reduced brain edema, inhibited microglia/macrophage activation and neutrophil infiltration, and suppressed neuronal apoptotic cell death in perihematomal areas after ICH. Knockdown of endogenous TREM2 by TREM2 siRNA aggravated neurological deficits and decreased the expression of TREM2 in naïve and ICH mice. COG1410 was associated with upregulation of TREM2, PI3K, phosphorylated-Akt, and Bcl-2 and downregulation of TNF-α, IL-1β, and Bax after ICH. The neuroprotective effects of COG1410 were abolished by both TREM2 siRNA and PI3K inhibitor LY294002. Conclusions Our finding demonstrated that TREM2 activation improved neurological functions and attenuated neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis after ICH, which was, at least in part, mediated by activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Therefore, activation of TREM2 may be a potential therapeutic strategy for the management of ICH patients.

Retrospective Study. The selection of the upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) and lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) Lenke type 6C is critical for achieving optimal spinal alignment and preventing post-surgical complications. This study evaluates the radiographic and clinical outcomes of two UIV and LIV selection strategies in patients with AIS Lenke 6C undergoing posterior spinal fusion. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 79 patients treated between 2011 and 2020. Patients were divided into two groups based on LIV and UIV selection: Group A, with LIV at the lower end vertebra (LEV) and UIV at the upper end vertebra (UEV), and Group B, with LIV one level caudal to the LEV (LEV-1) and UIV either one level above or below the UEV (UEV + 1 or UEV-1). Radiographic parameters, including coronal and sagittal balance, and clinical outcomes were compared between the groups. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in spinal alignment. In Group A, the thoracic and lumbar/thoracolumbar Cobb angles improved from 36.1 ± 6° and 51.3 ± 3° preoperatively to 1.8 ± 0° and 2.8 ± 1° at six months postoperatively, and 1.7 ± 0° and 3.1 ± 2° at the final follow-up. In Group B, the thoracic and lumbar/thoracolumbar Cobb angles improved from 33.6 ± 5° and 51.7 ± 3° preoperatively to 2.6 ± 2° and 3.7 ± 2° at six months postoperatively, and 2.6 ± 2° and 3.7 ± 2° at the final follow-up ( P  = 0.105). Coronal and sagittal balance parameters showed comparable improvements in both groups. The SRS-22 scores at the final follow-up indicated significant enhancements in all domains, including pain, function, and mental well-being. The selection of UIV and LIV significantly impacts radiographic and clinical outcomes in AIS Lenke type 6C. Both strategies—LIV at LEV with UIV at UEV, and LIV at LEV-1 with UIV at UEV ± 1yielded comparable improvements in spinal alignment and patient-reported outcomes. However, the choice of UIV and LIV should be tailored to individual patient anatomy and surgical goals. This study underscores the importance of careful UIV and LIV selection in optimizing postoperative outcomes for AIS Lenke type 6C patients.

Ferroptosis is a new type of cell death caused by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. In recent years, it has been found that ferroptosis can promote the progression of atherosclerosis (AS). Macrophages have been proven to play multiple roles in the occurrence and development of AS. Iron is a necessary mineral that participates in different functions of macrophages under physiological conditions. But iron overload and ferroptosis in macrophages may promote the progression of AS. Herein, we summarize the role of iron overload and ferroptosis in macrophages in AS from the perspective of iron metabolism, and iron overload and ferroptosis are significant contributors to AS development.

The unbalanced development of production-living-ecological land (PLEL) on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains has led to a series of environmental and ecological problems. Clarifying the evolution of spatial and temporal patterns and driving mechanisms of the PLEL is highly important for promoting the optimization of land use functions and sustainable development in this region. Previous research has focused primarily on the area or probability of conversion between different types of PLEL, neglecting the overall structural characteristics of the PLEL system. It is difficult to quantify the connectivity and importance of each PLEL type within the entire PLEL system, making it challenging to identify key PLEL types. Furthermore, quantitative characterization of the PLEL system stability is lacking. Accordingly, in this paper, PLEL conversion networks were constructed on the basis of complex network theory, and the dynamic evolution of the PLEL was analyzed from a systemic and holistic perspective. Network metrics (weighted degree, integrated node centrality, and average path length) were calculated to identify key types of PLEL, analyze the main conversion processes of PLEL, and quantify the stability of the PLEL system. The results indicated that: (1) In the PLEL system, ecological land occupied a dominant position but gradually declined between 2000 and 2023. (2) The grassland ecological land, agricultural production land, and ranching production land all had high integrated node centrality and were identified as key types in the PLEL conversion network from 2000 to 2023. (3) The conversion of grassland ecological land, ecological accommodation land, and ranching production land into agricultural production land were the main process of PLEL conversion, with conversion ratios of 53%, 28%, and 16%, respectively. (4) The average path length of the PLEL conversion network from 2000 to 2023 was 1.153, indicating that the overall stability of the PLEL system was poor and that the conversion between PLEL types was easy. (5) The PLEL evolution was the combined result of natural, economic, and social factors. This study demonstrated that complex network models can effectively identify key regulatory land types within the PLEL system. Furthermore, the system’s high instability serves as a warning that the current PLEL development model is unsustainable. This insight provides a crucial scientific basis for precise spatial management and ecological security safeguards on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains.

Optimizing the allocation schemes of post-disaster recovery resources can promote the sustainable development of a regional economy. However, previous studies determined the inputs and allocation schemes of recovery resources based on direct economic (DE) loss while neglecting indirect economic (IDE) loss, which restricted economic recovery. This study considered DE and IDE loss, and used a dynamic disastrous computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to simulate multiple scenarios with different inputs and allocation schemes to identify a better economic recovery strategy. Taking Super Typhoon Mangkhut’s landing in Guangdong Province in 2018 as an example, the results showed that the IDE loss had a long-term impact and dynamic accumulation without post-disaster recovery, reaching 15.25 times the DE loss by 2022. In the baseline scenario, the recovery resource inputs, including relief funds, reconstruction funds, and natural disaster commercial insurance, were limited, leading to a cumulative loss recovery rate of less than 2% in 2018–2022. According to our findings, recovery resources needed a 15-fold increase to recover to pre-disaster levels. Considering the impacts of sector connections on IDE loss, six allocation schemes were established based on DE loss, IDE loss, and industrial structure. Compared with the typical allocation scheme based on DE loss, allocating recovery resources according to the diffusion coefficient substantially improved the loss recovery rate and recovery resource utilization efficiency. The dynamic disastrous CGE model conducted multi-scenario simulations to identify the optimal recovery resource allocation scheme that supported rapid and efficient post-disaster economic recovery.

To evaluate the corrective effect of posterior hemivertebra resection and short-segment fusion surgery on pediatric patients and to assess the impact of short-segment fixation surgery on vertebral development during follow-up, a retrospective analysis was performed on 28 pediatric patients who underwent posterior hemivertebra resection surgery. The corrective effect was evaluated by comparing indicators such as segmental scoliosis Cobb angle, upper and lower compensatory curves and trunk balance at different time points. Meanwhile, the vertebral and spinal canal diameters of instrumented vertebrae and adjacent noninstrumented vertebrae were measured and compared to assess vertebral and spinal canal development. The correction rate of segmental scoliosis was 72.2%. The estimated mean vertebral volume of the instrumented vertebra was slightly lower than that of the unfused segment at the final follow-up, but the difference was not statistically significant. The growth rate of the spinal canal during follow-up was much smaller than that of the vertebral body. In summary, internal fixation at a young age shows no significant inhibitory effects on spinal development within the fusion segment. Posterior hemivertebra resection and short-segment fusion surgery are safe and effective.

To analyze the body composition of adolescents idiopathic scoliosis(AIS) patients at different stages of skeletal maturity and to explore the correlation between body composition and the severity of scoliosis. Data were collected from 243 patients diagnosed with AIS who fulfilled the specified inclusion and exclusion criteria at the Spine Surgery Outpatient Clinic of Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, during the period from 2023 to 2024. The data encompassed basic demographic information, radiological assessments, and body composition metrics. Patients were categorized based on Risser grade (0–5) and Cobb angle, with classifications of mild (< 20°), moderate (20–40°), and severe (≥ 40°) scoliosis. A comparative analysis of body composition across the different groups was conducted, alongside an investigation into its correlation with the severity of scoliosis. As the Risser sign grade increases, the age, height, weight, and BMI of AIS patients gradually increase ( p  < 0.05), while the muscle percentage of the whole-body, trunk, and limbs gradually decrease ( p  < 0.05). Patients in the mild group have significantly higher muscle percentage and significantly lower subcutaneous fat percentage compared to the moderate and severe groups ( p  < 0.05) ; the whole-body muscle percentage and the ratio of it to subcutaneous fat percentage have a weak negative correlation with the rotation of the apical vertebra (AVR) ( r = − 0.131, p  = 0.042; r = − 0.169, p  = 0.009), and the whole-body subcutaneous fat percentage has a weak positive correlation with AVR ( r  = 0.150, p  = 0.021). In AIS patients, as skeletal maturity progresses, there is a gradual decrease in both whole-body and local muscle percentage. The whole-body muscle percentage and whole-body subcutaneous fat percentage exhibit a weak correlation with the curvature associated with scoliosis. During conservative treatment, increasing the percentage of whole-body muscle mass while reducing the percentage of whole-body subcutaneous fat may be beneficial for patients with AIS.

Currently, major concerns about the safety and efficacy of RNA interference (RNAi)-based bone anabolic strategies still exist because of the lack of direct osteoblast-specific delivery systems for osteogenic siRNAs. Here we screened the aptamer CH6 by cell-SELEX, specifically targeting both rat and human osteoblasts, and then we developed CH6 aptamer–functionalized lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) encapsulating osteogenic pleckstrin homology domain-containing family O member 1 ( Plekho1 ) siRNA (CH6-LNPs-siRNA). Our results showed that CH6 facilitated in vitro osteoblast-selective uptake of Plekho1 siRNA, mainly via macropinocytosis, and boosted in vivo osteoblast-specific Plekho1 gene silencing, which promoted bone formation, improved bone microarchitecture, increased bone mass and enhanced mechanical properties in both osteopenic and healthy rodents. These results indicate that osteoblast-specific aptamer-functionalized LNPs could act as a new RNAi-based bone anabolic strategy, advancing the targeted delivery selectivity of osteogenic siRNAs from the tissue level to the cellular level.

Adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) often exhibit a slender body shape and reduced bone mass, even in the absence of evident vertebral deformities. Although prior studies have implicated microRNAs (miRNAs) in the development and progression of AIS, the precise mechanisms remain poorly understood. Therefore, primary osteoblasts and plasma samples from AIS patients and controls were isolated and associated mechanism was investigated in this study. We observed impaired osteogenic capacity of AIS-osteoblasts, and further identified a significant elevation of miRNA-130b-3p in AIS patients compared to controls through RNA sequencing of plasma samples. The expression levels of miR-130b-3p were validated in an independent cohort of 40 individuals using qPCR. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry showed reduced bone mineral density (BMD) in AIS patients. And the correlation analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between miR-130b-3p levels and BMD. Additionally, transcriptomic analysis and dual-luciferase assays confirmed that overexpression of miR-130b-3p in primary osteoblasts inhibited the activation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway by targeting IGF1, thereby disrupting bone metabolism. Meanwhile, knockdown of miR-130b-3p in AIS-derived osteoblasts improved osteogenic function. In zebrafish, miR-130b-3p overexpression delayed vertebral development and induced spinal deformities. In summary, this study identifies a significant increase of miR-130b-3p in AIS patients and demonstrates its role in impairing osteogenic function through suppression of the IGF1/ERK signaling pathway.