[Spatial distribution of Oncomelania hupensis spread in Hubei Province from 2020 to 2022]

OBJECTIVE

To identify the spatial distribution pattern of Oncomelania hupensis spread in Hubei Province, so as to provide insights into precision O. hupensis snail control in the province.

METHODS

Data pertaining to emerging and reemerging snails were collected from Hubei Province from 2020 to 2022 to build a spatial database of O. hupensis snail spread. The spatial clustering of O. hupensis snail spread was identified using global and local spatial autocorrelation analyses, and the hot spots of snail spread were identified using kernel density estimation. In addition, the correlation between environments with snail spread and the distance from the Yangtze River was evaluated using nearest-neighbor analysis and Spearman correlation analysis.

RESULTS

O. hupensis snail spread mainly occurred along the Yangtze River and Jianghan Plain in Hubei Province from 2020 to 2022, with a total spread area of 4 320.63 hm2, including 1 230.77 hm2 emerging snail habitats and 3 089.87 hm2 reemerging snail habitats. Global spatial autocorrelation analysis showed spatial autocorrelation in the O. hupensis snail spread in Hubei Province in 2020 and 2021, appearing a spatial clustering pattern (Moran's I = 0.003 593 and 0.060 973, both P values < 0.05), and the mean density of spread snails showed spatial aggregation in Hubei Province in 2020 (Moran's I = 0.512 856, P < 0.05). Local spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that the high-high clustering areas of spread snails were mainly distributed in 50 settings of 10 counties (districts) in Hubei Province from 2020 to 2022, and the high-high clustering areas of the mean density of spread snails were predominantly found in 219 snail habitats in four counties of Jiangling, Honghu, Yangxin and Gong'an. Kernel density estimation showed that there were high-, secondary high- and medium-density hot spots in snail spread areas in Hubei Province from 2020 to 2022, which were distributed in Jingzhou District, Wuxue District, Honghu County and Huangzhou District, respectively. There were high- and medium-density hot spots in the mean density of spread snails, which were located in Jiangling County, Honghu County and Yangxin County, respectively. In addition, the snail spread areas negatively correlated with the distance from the Yangtze River (r = -0.108 9, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

There was spatial clustering of O. hupensis snail spread in Hubei Province from 2020 to 2022. The monitoring and control of O. hupensis snails require to be reinforced in the clustering areas, notably in inner embankments to prevent reemerging schistosomiasis.

[Comparison of 5-year follow-up outcomes between"one-stop"procedure and long-term oral anticoagulants after radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation]

Objective: To compare the 5-year follow-up outcomes of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) combined with left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) and long-term oral anticoagulant (OAC) after RFCA in patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent"one-stop"procedure in the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University from September 2015 to December 2017 (RFCA+LAAC group). Baseline data of patients were collected. Propensity score matching at the ratio of 1∶1 was used to select patients with atrial fibrillation who took long-term OAC after RFCA (RFCA+OAC group). The maintenance rate of sinus rhythm and the incidence of adverse events during follow-up were compared between the two groups. Results: A total of 110 patients were enrolled in the RFCA+LAAC group and RFCA+OAC group, respectively. Age of patients was (67.4±8.8) years in RFCA+LAAC group, and there were 42 (38.2%) female patients. Age of patients was (67.3±7.9) years in RFCA+OAC group, and there were 47 (42.7%) female patients. The patients were followed up for mean of (5.3±1.1) years. There was no significant difference in the maintenance rate of sinus rhythm (log-rank: χ2=0.277, P=0.602) and incidence of ischemic stroke events (2.7% (3/110) vs. 4.5% (5/110), P=0.719) during follow-up between the two groups. The incidence of bleeding events (6.4% (7/110) vs. 18.2% (20/110), P=0.008) and major bleeding events (1.8% (2/110) vs. 8.2% (9/110), P=0.030) was significantly higher in the RFCA+OAC group than in the RFCA+LAAC group. Conclusion: There is no significant difference between RFCA+LAAC group and RFCA+OAC group in maintenance rate of sinus rhythm and incidence of ischemic stroke events. Patients in the RFCA+LAAC group have a lower risk of bleeding events compared to the RFCA+OAC group.

[One case of acute poisoning with stramonium]

This paper reported 1 case of poisoning caused by stramonium. Cases of Datura poisoning have been reported nationwide, Its effect on the central nervous system of patients is characterized by first excitation and then inhibition, clinical manifestations include decreased gland secretion, dilated pupils, and tachycardia, etc. Its poisoning mechanism is anticholinergic effect, the effect on Peripheral nervous system is to inhibit Parasympathetic nervous system. Hemoperfusion combined with neostigmine anticholinergic therapy at the early stage of poisoning can effectively improve the clinical symptoms of patients in a short time.

[Impact of different diagnostic criteria for assessing mild micro-hepatic encephalopathy in liver cirrhosis: an analysis based on a prospective, multicenter, real-world study]

Objective: To compare the differences in the prevalence of mild micro-hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) among patients with cirrhosis by using the psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) and the Stroop smartphone application (Encephal App) test. Methods: This prospective, multi-center, real-world study was initiated by the National Clinical Medical Research Center for Infectious Diseases and the Portal Hypertension Alliance and registered with International ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05140837). 354 cases of cirrhosis were enrolled in 19 hospitals across the country. PHES (including digital connection tests A and B, digital symbol tests, trajectory drawing tests, and serial management tests) and the Stroop test were conducted in all of them. PHES was differentiated using standard diagnostic criteria established by the two studies in China and South Korea. The Stroop test was evaluated based on the criteria of the research and development team. The impact of different diagnostic standards or methods on the incidence of MHE in patients with cirrhosis was analyzed. Data between groups were differentiated using the t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and χ (2) test. A kappa test was used to compare the consistency between groups. Results: After PHES, the prevalence of MHE among 354 cases of cirrhosis was 78.53% and 15.25%, respectively, based on Chinese research standards and Korean research normal value standards. However, the prevalence of MHE was 56.78% based on the Stroop test, and the differences in pairwise comparisons among the three groups were statistically significant (kappa = -0.064, P < 0.001). Stratified analysis revealed that the MHE prevalence in three groups of patients with Child-Pugh classes A, B, and C was 74.14%, 83.33%, and 88.24%, respectively, according to the normal value standards of Chinese researchers, while the MHE prevalence rates in three groups of patients with Child-Pugh classes A, B, and C were 8.29%, 23.53%, and 38.24%, respectively, according to the normal value standards of Korean researchers. Furthermore, the prevalence rates of MHE in the three groups of patients with Child-Pugh grades A, B, and C were 52.68%, 58.82%, and 73.53%, respectively, according to the Stroop test standard. However, among the results of each diagnostic standard, the prevalence of MHE showed an increasing trend with an increasing Child-Pugh grade. Further comparison demonstrated that the scores obtained by the number connection test A and the number symbol test were consistent according to the normal value standards of the two studies in China and South Korea (Z = -0.982, -1.702; P = 0.326, 0.089), while the other three sub-tests had significant differences (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence rate of MHE in the cirrhotic population is high, but the prevalence of MHE obtained by using different diagnostic criteria or methods varies greatly. Therefore, in line with the current changes in demographics and disease spectrum, it is necessary to enroll a larger sample size of a healthy population as a control. Moreover, the establishment of more reliable diagnostic scoring criteria will serve as a basis for obtaining accurate MHE incidence and formulating diagnosis and treatment strategies in cirrhotic populations.

Measurement of the Lifetime and Λ Separation Energy of _{Λ}^{3}H

The most precise measurements to date of the _{Λ}^{3}H lifetime τ and Λ separation energy B_{Λ} are obtained using the data sample of Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV collected by ALICE at the LHC. The _{Λ}^{3}H is reconstructed via its charged two-body mesonic decay channel (_{Λ}^{3}H→^{3}He+π^{-} and the charge-conjugate process). The measured values τ=[253±11(stat)±6(syst)]  ps and B_{Λ}=[102±63(stat)±67(syst)]  keV are compatible with predictions from effective field theories and confirm that the _{Λ}^{3}H structure is consistent with a weakly bound system.

[Study on sIgE distribution characteristics and the sensitization pattern of allergen in 1 161 patients with allergic diseases of respiratory tract in northwest China]

Objective: To explore the allergen map of patients with allergic diseases in northwest China, to investigate the distribution characteristics of serum specific Immunoglobulin E (sIgE) in different ages, genders, diseases and the sensitization patterns of allergens. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study, a total of 1 161 patients with confirmed respiratory allergic diseases were selected retrospectively from outpatient or inpatient department of Gansu Provincial People's Hospital, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child Care Hospital, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University and Tumor Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from June 2019 to October 2022. HAIKE ALLEOS 2000 fluorescent magnetic particle chemiluminescence method was used to quantify their serum for 12 inhaled allergen-specific IgE. Chi square test or Fisher's exact test were used for comparison between count data groups (Bonferroni correction was used for further pairwise comparison in multiple groups, two-sided P<0.05/3=0.017 considered that the difference was statistically significant). Pearson correlation analysis was used for correlation of continuous numerical variables. Results: The positive detection rate of sIgE in 1 161 patients was 66.8%(776/1 161). The three highest positive rate of inhaled allergen were mugwort(599/1 161, 51.6%), French chrysanthemum(565/1 161, 48.7%) and dandelion(412/1 161, 35.5%). In different age groups, the highest positive rate of sIgE was 7-18 age group(379/513, 73.9%) while the lowest positive rate was 4-6 age group(222/370, 60.0%), the difference between groups was statistically significant(χ2=21.177, P<0.001). The sensitization peak of mugwort, French chrysanthemum, plantain, timothy, birch, dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, dermatophagoides farinae, cat epithelium, dog epithelium and German cockroach appeared in 7-18 age group. In different disease groups, the highest positive rate of sIgE was allergic rhinitis with asthma group (500/717, 69.7%) while the lowest positive rate was asthma group (76/144, 52.8%), the difference between groups was statistically significant(χ2=15.563, P<0.001). In different gender groups, the positive rate of sIgE in male (503/711, 70.7%) was higher than in female (273/450, 60.7%), the difference between groups was statistically significant(χ2=12.630, P<0.001). The multiple-sensitization rate was 86.9%(674/776) and the double-sensitization rate was 16.8%(130/776) in sIgE positive patients. Pearson correlation results showed that there was an extremely strong correlation between dandelion and French chrysanthemum(r=0.93,P<0.001). There was a strong correlation between mugwort and French chrysanthemum(r=0.64,P<0.001). In the co-sensitization analysis, the number of patients sensitized by mugwort, French chrysanthemum, dandelion, plantain and timothy accounted for 25.2%(170/674)of the total number of multiple sensitization. The number of patients sensitized by mugwort, French chrysanthemum and dandelion accounted for 58.3%(393/674)of the total number of multiple sensitization. The number of patients sensitized by mugwort, French chrysanthemum, dandelion and plantain accounted for 35.6%(240/674) of the total number of multiple sensitization. Conclusion: Mugwort, French chrysanthemum, dandelion are the major inhaled allergens in northwest China. The positive rate of sIgE was different in different ages, diseases and genders. The multiple-sensitization rate of allergen was high and there was a certain positive correlation between pollen allergen-specific IgE pairwise, suggesting that there may exist co-sensitization or cross-reactions among allergens.

First Measurement of the Nuclear-Recoil Ionization Yield in Silicon at 100 eV

We measured the nuclear-recoil ionization yield in silicon with a cryogenic phonon-sensitive gram-scale detector. Neutrons from a monoenergetic beam scatter off of the silicon nuclei at angles corresponding to energy depositions from 4 keV down to 100 eV, the lowest energy probed so far. The results show no sign of an ionization production threshold above 100 eV. These results call for further investigation of the ionization yield theory and a comprehensive determination of the detector response function at energies below the keV scale.

Information-based continuous nursing on pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a serious pregnancy complication, and women with undiagnosed diabetes mellitus can develop chronic hyperglycemia during pregnancy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of information-based continuity of care on glucose levels, health awareness, and maternal and infant outcomes in pregnant women with GDM, thereby providing a basis for the clinical implementation of effective interventions for GDM to reduce or avoid adverse outcomes due to GDM.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred and sixty cases of pregnant women with GDM who underwent treatment in the obstetrics and gynecology department of our hospital from June 2019 to September 2021 were randomly selected as the study population and divided into the control group (n=80) and the study group (n=80). Women in the control group were received with conventional nursing intervention, and those in the study group were obtained with information-based continuity of care on the basis of the control group. Basic clinical data were collected. The levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2h postprandial glucose (2hPG), knowledge of health education, treatment compliance scores, and changes in delivery outcomes were compared between the two groups. According to the maternal blood glucose control level, 160 pregnant women with GDM were divided into the better control group (143 cases) and the poor control group (17 cases). The risk factors affecting the level of maternal glycemic control in gestational diabetes were analyzed.

RESULTS

After the intervention, the levels of FBG and 2hPG were significantly lower in both groups than those before the intervention, while the levels of FBG and 2hPG in the study group were notably lower than those in the control group. The health education knowledge score and treatment compliance score after the intervention were significantly higher than those before the intervention, and the health education knowledge score and treatment compliance score in the study group were observably higher than those in the control group (p<0.01). The adverse pregnancy outcomes of pregnant women in the study group were significantly reduced compared with those in the control group (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that body mass index (BMI), dietary control, literacy, and information-based continuity of care were all influential factors for maternal glycemic control level (p<0.05). Among the influencing factors, dietary control and continuity of care had clinical value in predicting maternal glycemic control levels in gestational diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Continuous nursing based on informatization can effectively control the blood glucose level of pregnant women with GDM, improve the treatment compliance of pregnant women and the awareness rate of gestational diabetes knowledge so as to reduce the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes and improve the health level. In addition, BMI and dietary control are independent risk factors that affect the blood glucose control level of pregnant women. Relevant intervention measures should be formulated according to the relevant influencing factors to effectively control the blood glucose level of pregnant women with GDM and improve maternal and infant outcomes.

[The value of T2 mapping for evaluating the pathological type, grade and depth of myometrial invasion in endometrial carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the value of T2 map and synthetic T2WI generated by T2 mapping in evaluating the histological type, pathological classification and depth of myometrial invasion of endometrial carcinoma (EC). Methods: Seventy-three patients with pathologically proven EC diagnosed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from December 2019 to December 2021 and 42 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. All subjects underwent conventional MRI, diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and T2 mapping sequence for the pelvic cavity to test the T2 values and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the focus nidus of the patients and the normal endometrium of the volunteers. The T2 and ADC values of EC vs normal endometrium, and those of different histological types and pathological grades were compared. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of T2 and ADC values in determining the pathological type and classification of EC. In addition, two radiologists used synthetic T2WI combined with T2 map and conventional T2WI combined with DWI, respectively, to evaluate the depth of myometrial invasion, and compared the imaging results with the results of pathological diagnosis to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the two methods in determining the depth of myometrial invasion. Results: The T2 and ADC values of endometrial carcinoma were 85.0 (80.8, 92.5) ms and 0.71 (0.64, 0.77) ×10(-3) mm(2)/s, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of normal endometrium [147.4 (123.4, 176.7) ms and 1.46 (1.26, 1.76)×10(-3) mm(2)/s, respectively; both P<0.05]. The T2 values of endometrioid carcinoma (EA) [84.1 (79.5, 88.7) ms] were significantly lower than those of non-EA [98.8 (92.1, 102.8) ms; P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in ADC values between EA and non-EA (P=0.075). The T2 values of G1, G2 and G3 groups in EA were 89.1 (84.4, 94.4) ms, 83.6 (80.9, 86.2) ms, and 76.5 (71.4, 80.3) ms, respectively. There were significant differences in the T2 values between G1 vs G2, G1 vs G3, and G2 vs G3 groups, respectively (all P<0.017). Significant difference was also found in the ADC values between the G1 and G3 groups (P<0.017). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of T2 values in distinguishing EA from non-EA was 0.867. The AUC of T2 values, ADC values and their combination in predicting high-grade EA was 0.888, 0.730 and 0.895, respectively. The accuracy of synthetic T2WI+ T2 map and conventional T2WI+ DWI in the diagnosis of deep myometrial invasion was 78.1% and 79.5%, respectively, with no significant difference (P>0.05). Conclusions: T2 mapping has great potential in preoperative evaluation of EC. The quantitative T2 value can be used in the diagnosis, pathological classification and grading of EC. The combination of synthetic T2WI and T2 map may be helpful to determine the depth of myometrial invasion.

Comparative bone histology of two thalattosaurians (Diapsida: Thalattosauria): Askeptosaurus italicus from the Alpine Triassic (Middle Triassic) and a Thalattosauroidea indet. from the Carnian of Oregon (Late Triassic)

Here, we present the first bone histological and microanatomical study of thalattosaurians, an enigmatic group among Triassic marine reptiles. Two taxa of thalattosaurians, the askeptosauroid Askeptosaurus italicus and one as yet undescribed thalattosauroid, are examined. Both taxa have a rather different microanatomy, tissue type, and growth pattern. Askeptosaurus italicus from the late Anisian middle Besano Formation of the southern Alpine Triassic shows very compact tissue in vertebrae, rib, a gastralium, and femora, and all bones are without medullary cavities. The tissue shows moderate to low vascularization, dominated by highly organized and very coarse parallel-fibred bone, resembling interwoven tissue. Vascularization is dominated by simple longitudinal vascular canals, except for the larger femur of Askeptosaurus, where simple vascular canals dominate in a radial arrangement. Growth marks stratify the cortex of femora. The vertebrae and humeri from the undescribed thalattosauroid from the late Carnian of Oregon have primary and secondary cancellous bone, resulting in an overall low bone compactness. Two dorsal vertebral centra show dominantly secondary trabeculae, whereas a caudal vertebral centrum shows much primary trabecular bone, globuli ossei, and cartilage, indicating an earlier ontogenetic stage of the specimens or paedomorphosis. The humeri of the thalattosauroid show large, simple vascular canals that are dominantly radially oriented in a scaffold of woven and loosely organized parallel-fibred tissue. Few of the simple vascular canals are thinly but only incompletely lined by parallel-fibered tissue. In the Oregon material, changes in growth rate are only indicated by changes in vascular organization but no distinct growth marks were identified. The compact bone of Askeptosaurus is best comparable to some pachypleurosaurs, whereas its combination of tissue and vascularity is similar to eosauropterygians in general, except for the coarse nature of its parallel-fibred tissue. The cancellous bone of the Oregon thalattosauroid resembles what is documented in ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs. However, in contrast to these its tissue does not consist of fibro-lamellar bone type. Tissue types of both thalattosaurian taxa indicate rather different growth rates and growth patterns, associated with different life history strategies. The microanatomy reflects different life styles that fit to the different environments in which they had been found (intraplatform basin vs. open marine). Both thalattosaurian taxa differ from each other but in sum also from all other marine reptile taxa studied so far. Thalattosaurian bone histology documents once more that bone histology provides for certain groups (i.e., Triassic Diapsida) only a poor phylogenetic signal and is more influenced by exogenous factors. Differences in lifestyle, life history traits, and growth rate and pattern enabled all these Triassic marine reptiles to live contemporaneously in the same habitat managing to avoid substantial competition.

[Clinicopathological features of rectal adenocarcinoma with enteroblastic differentiation]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features, immunophenotype, and genetic alterations of rectal adenocarcinoma with enteroblastic differentiation. Methods: Four cases of rectal adenocarcinoma with enteroblastic differentiation were collected at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China (three cases) and Yantai Yeda Hospital of Shandong Province, China (one case) from January to December 2022. Their clinical features were summarized. Hematoxylin and eosin stain and immunohistochemical stain were performed, while next-generation sequencing was performed to reveal the genetic alterations of these cases. Results: All four patients were male with a median age of 65.5 years. The clinical manifestations were changes of stool characteristics, bloody stools and weight loss. All cases showed mixed morphology composed of conventional adenocarcinoma and adenocarcinoma with enteroblastic differentiation. Most of the tumors consisted of glands with tubular and cribriform features. In one case, almost all tumor cells were arranged in papillary structures. The tumor cells with enteroblastic differentiation were columnar, with relatively distinct cell boundaries and characteristic abundant clear cytoplasm, forming fetal gut-like glands. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for SALL4 (4/4), Glypican-3 (3/4) and AFP (1/4, focally positive), while p53 stain showed mutated type in 2 cases. The next-generation sequencing revealed that 2 cases had TP53 gene mutation and 1 case had KRAS gene mutation. Conclusions: Rectal adenocarcinoma with enteroblastic differentiation is rare. It shows embryonal differentiation in morphology and immunohistochemistry, and should be distinguished from conventional colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Postoperative pulmonary complications in older patients undergoing elective surgery with a supraglottic airway device or tracheal intubation

The two most commonly used airway management techniques during general anaesthesia are supraglottic airway devices and tracheal tubes. In older patients undergoing elective non-cardiothoracic surgery under general anaesthesia with positive pressure ventilation, we hypothesised that a composite measure of in-hospital postoperative pulmonary complications would be less frequent when a supraglottic airway device was used compared with a tracheal tube. We studied patients aged ≥ 70 years in 17 clinical centres. Patients were allocated randomly to airway management with a supraglottic airway device or a tracheal tube. Between August 2016 and April 2020, 2900 patients were studied, of whom 2751 were included in the primary analysis (1387 with supraglottic airway device and 1364 with a tracheal tube). Pre-operatively, 2431 (88.4%) patients were estimated to have a postoperative pulmonary complication risk index of 1-2. Postoperative pulmonary complications, mostly coughing, occurred in 270 of 1387 patients (19.5%) allocated to a supraglottic airway device and 342 of 1364 patients (25.1%) assigned to a tracheal tube (absolute difference -5.6% (95%CI -8.7 to -2.5), risk ratio 0.78 (95%CI 0.67-0.89); p < 0.001). Among otherwise healthy older patients undergoing elective surgery under general anaesthesia with intra-operative positive pressure ventilation of their lungs, there were fewer postoperative pulmonary complications when the airway was managed with a supraglottic airway device compared with a tracheal tube.

Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for menopausal mood disorder: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) on mood disorder symptoms for menopausal women.

METHODS

A total of 95 qualified Chinese participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: 31 in the acupuncture combined with CHM group (combined group), 32 in the acupuncture combined with CHM placebo group (acupuncture group) and 32 in the CHM combined with sham acupuncture group (CHM group). The patients were treated for 8 weeks and followed up for 4 weeks. The data were collected using the Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS), self-rating depression scale (SDS), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and safety index.

RESULTS

The three groups each showed significant decreases in the GCS, SDS and SAS after treatment (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the effect on the GCS total score and the anxiety domain lasted until the follow-up period in the combined group (p < 0.05). Within the three groups, there was no difference in GCS and SAS between the three groups after treatment (p > 0.05). However, the combined group showed significant improvement in the SDS, compared with both the acupuncture group and the CHM group at 8 weeks and 12 weeks (p < 0.05). No obvious abnormal cases were found in any of the safety indexes.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that either acupuncture, or CHM or combined therapy offer safe improvement of mood disorder symptoms for menopausal women. However, the combination therapy was associated with more stable effects in the follow-up period and a superior effect on improving depression symptoms.

[C2 pedicle screw insertion assisted by mobilization of the vertebral artery in cases with high-riding vertebral artery]

Objective: To examine the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of mobilization of the vertebral artery for C2 pedicle screws in cases with high-riding vertebral artery (HRVA). Methods: The clinical data of 12 patients with basilar invagination and atlantoaxial dislocation underwent atlantoaxial reduction and fixation in the Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China between January 2020 and November 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients had high-riding vertebral artery on at least one side that prohibited the insertion of C2 pedicle screws. There were 2 males and 10 females aged (48.0±12.8) years (range: 17 to 67 years). After correction of vertical dislocation during the operation, the C2 pedicle screw insertion and occipitocervical fixation and fusion were performed using the vertebral artery mobilization technique. Neurological function was assessed using the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scale. The preoperative and postoperative JOA score and the main radiological measurements, including the anterior atlantodental interval (ADI), the distance of the odontoid tip above the Chamberlain line, the clivus-canal angle, were collected and compared by paired t-test. Results: Mobilization of the high-riding vertebral artery was successfully completed, and C2 pedicle screws were then fulfilled after the vertebral artery was protected. There was no injury to the vertebral artery during the operation. Meanwhile, no severe surgical complications such as cerebral infarction or aggravated neurological dysfunction occurred during the perioperative period. Satisfactory C2 pedicle screw placement and reduction were achieved in all 12 patients. All patients achieved bone fusion 6 months after surgery. No looseness and shift in internal fixation or reduction loss was observed during the follow-up period. Compared to the preoperative, the postoperative ADI decreased from (6.1±1.9) mm to (2.0±1.2) mm (t=6.73, P<0.01), the distance of the odontoid tip above the Chamberlain line decreased from (10.4±2.5) mm to (5.5±2.3) mm (t=7.12, P<0.01), the clivus-canal angle increased from (123.4±11.1) ° to (134.7±9.6) ° (t=2.50, P=0.032), the JOA score increased from 13.3±2.1 to 15.6±1.2 (t=6.99, P<0.01). Conclusion: The C2 pedicle screw insertion assisted by mobilization of the vertebral artery is safe and considerably effective, providing a choice for internal fixation in cases with high-riding vertebral arteries.

Measurement of the J/ψ Polarization with Respect to the Event Plane in Pb-Pb Collisions at the LHC

We study the polarization of inclusive J/ψ produced in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV at the LHC in the dimuon channel, via the measurement of the angular distribution of its decay products. We perform the study in the rapidity region 2.5 Collapse

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First Measurement of Antideuteron Number Fluctuations at Energies Available at the Large Hadron Collider

The first measurement of event-by-event antideuteron number fluctuations in high energy heavy-ion collisions is presented. The measurements are carried out at midrapidity (|η|<0.8) as a function of collision centrality in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV using the ALICE detector. A significant negative correlation between the produced antiprotons and antideuterons is observed in all collision centralities. The results are compared with a state-of-the-art coalescence calculation. While it describes the ratio of higher order cumulants of the antideuteron multiplicity distribution, it fails to describe quantitatively the magnitude of the correlation between antiproton and antideuteron production. On the other hand, thermal-statistical model calculations describe all the measured observables within uncertainties only for correlation volumes that are different with respect to those describing proton yields and a similar measurement of net-proton number fluctuations.

Enhanced Deuteron Coalescence Probability in Jets

The transverse-momentum (p_{T}) spectra and coalescence parameters B_{2} of (anti)deuterons are measured in p-p collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV for the first time in and out of jets. In this measurement, the direction of the leading particle with the highest p_{T} in the event (p_{T}^{lead}>5  GeV/c) is used as an approximation for the jet axis. The event is consequently divided into three azimuthal regions, and the jet signal is obtained as the difference between the toward region, that contains jet fragmentation products in addition to the underlying event (UE), and the transverse region, which is dominated by the UE. The coalescence parameter in the jet is found to be approximately a factor of 10 larger than that in the underlying event. This experimental observation is consistent with the coalescence picture and can be attributed to the smaller average phase-space distance between nucleons in the jet cone as compared with the underlying event. The results presented in this Letter are compared to predictions from a simple nucleon coalescence model, where the phase-space distributions of nucleons are generated using pythia8 with the Monash 2013 tuning, and to predictions from a deuteron production model based on ordinary nuclear reactions with parametrized energy-dependent cross sections tuned on data. The latter model is implemented in pythia8.3. Both models reproduce the observed large difference between in-jet and out-of-jet coalescence parameters, although the almost flat trend of the B_{2}^{Jet} is not reproduced by the models, which instead give a decreasing trend.

[Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton immunotherapy for cervical high-risk HPV persistent infection]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton (Nr-CWS) in the treatment of persistent cervical high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection. Methods: A randomized, double blind, multi-center trial was conducted. A total of 688 patients with clinically and pathologically confirmed HR-HPV infection of the cervix diagnosed in 13 hispital nationwide were recruited and divided into: (1) patients with simple HR-HPV infection lasting for 12 months or more; (2) patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) Ⅰ and HR-HPV infection lasting for 12 months or more; (3) patients with the same HR-HPV subtype with no CINⅡ and more lesions after treatment with CINⅡ or CIN Ⅲ (CINⅡ/CIN Ⅲ). All participants were randomly divided into the test group and the control group at a ratio of 2∶1. The test group was locally treated with Nr-CWS freeze-dried powder and the control group was treated with freeze-dried powder without Nr-CWS. The efficacy and negative conversion rate of various subtypes of HR-HPV were evaluated at 1, 4, 8, and 12 months after treatment. The safety indicators of initial diagnosis and treatment were observed. Results: (1) This study included 555 patients with HR-HPV infection in the cervix (included 368 in the test group and 187 in the control group), with an age of (44.1±10.0) years. The baseline characteristics of the two groups of subjects, including age, proportion of Han people, weight, composition of HR-HPV subtypes, and proportion of each subgroup, were compared with no statistically significant differences (all P>0.05). (2) After 12 months of treatment, the effective rates of the test group and the control group were 91.0% (335/368) and 44.9% (84/187), respectively. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ²=142.520, P<0.001). After 12 months of treatment, the negative conversion rates of HPV 16, 18, 52, and 58 infection in the test group were 79.2% (84/106), 73.3% (22/30), 83.1% (54/65), and 77.4% (48/62), respectively. The control group were 21.6% (11/51), 1/9, 35.1% (13/37), and 20.0% (8/40), respectively. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.001). (3) There were no statistically significant differences in vital signs (body weight, body temperature, respiration, pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, etc.) and laboratory routine indicators (blood cell analysis, urine routine examination) between the test group and the control group before treatment and at 1, 4, 8, and 12 months after treatment (all P>0.05); there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions related to the investigational drug between the two groups of subjects [8.7% (32/368) vs 8.0% (15/187), respectively; χ²=0.073, P=0.787]. Conclusion: External use of Nr-CWS has good efficacy and safety in the treatment of high-risk HPV persistent infection in the cervix.

Energetic Electron Precipitation Driven by Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves from ELFIN's Low Altitude Perspective

We review comprehensive observations of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) wave-driven energetic electron precipitation using data collected by the energetic electron detector on the Electron Losses and Fields InvestigatioN (ELFIN) mission, two polar-orbiting low-altitude spinning CubeSats, measuring 50-5000 keV electrons with good pitch-angle and energy resolution. EMIC wave-driven precipitation exhibits a distinct signature in energy-spectrograms of the precipitating-to-trapped flux ratio: peaks at >0.5 MeV which are abrupt (bursty) (lasting ∼17 s, or Δ L ∼ 0.56 ) with significant substructure (occasionally down to sub-second timescale). We attribute the bursty nature of the precipitation to the spatial extent and structuredness of the wave field at the equator. Multiple ELFIN passes over the same MLT sector allow us to study the spatial and temporal evolution of the EMIC wave - electron interaction region. Case studies employing conjugate ground-based or equatorial observations of the EMIC waves reveal that the energy of moderate and strong precipitation at ELFIN approximately agrees with theoretical expectations for cyclotron resonant interactions in a cold plasma. Using multiple years of ELFIN data uniformly distributed in local time, we assemble a statistical database of ∼50 events of strong EMIC wave-driven precipitation. Most reside at L ∼ 5 - 7 at dusk, while a smaller subset exists at L ∼ 8 - 12 at post-midnight. The energies of the peak-precipitation ratio and of the half-peak precipitation ratio (our proxy for the minimum resonance energy) exhibit an L -shell dependence in good agreement with theoretical estimates based on prior statistical observations of EMIC wave power spectra. The precipitation ratio's spectral shape for the most intense events has an exponential falloff away from the peak (i.e., on either side of ∼ 1.45 MeV). It too agrees well with quasi-linear diffusion theory based on prior statistics of wave spectra. It should be noted though that this diffusive treatment likely includes effects from nonlinear resonant interactions (especially at high energies) and nonresonant effects from sharp wave packet edges (at low energies). Sub-MeV electron precipitation observed concurrently with strong EMIC wave-driven >1 MeV precipitation has a spectral shape that is consistent with efficient pitch-angle scattering down to ∼ 200-300 keV by much less intense higher frequency EMIC waves at dusk (where such waves are most frequent). At ∼100 keV, whistler-mode chorus may be implicated in concurrent precipitation. These results confirm the critical role of EMIC waves in driving relativistic electron losses. Nonlinear effects may abound and require further investigation.

Retraction Note: Lixisenatide protects doxorubicin-induced renal fibrosis by activating wNF-κB/TNF-α and TGF-β/Smad pathways

The article "Lixisenatide protects doxorubicin-induced renal fibrosis by activating wNF-κB/TNF-α and TGF-β/Smad pathways", by N.-F. Guo, Y.-J. Cao, X. Chen, Y. Zhang, Y.-P. Fan, J. Liu, X.-L. Chen published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019; 23 (9): 4017-4026. DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201905_17832-PMID: 31115031 has been retracted by the Editor in Chief for the following reasons: This paper has been questioned on PubPeer (https://pubpeer.com/publications/983F02C9C18817139AE18497C359FA). In particular, concerns were raised about Figures 2A and 5A as the figures result to overlap with previously published papers. The Editorial Office has contacted the corresponding author of the article to provide a reply to the comments on PubPeer and check the raw data. Still, the journal has yet to receive a reply. Therefore, considering the comments released on PubPeer and the lack of response from authors, the Editor in Chief no longer relies on the data presented and decided to withdraw the manuscript. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/17832.

Luminescence Dynamics of Single Self-Assembled Chains of Förster (FRET)-Coupled CdSe Nanoplatelets

Self-assembled linear chains of CdSe nanoplatelets are known to exhibit highly efficient Förster resonant energy transfer (FRET) leading to fast exciton diffusion between platelets. Here, we compare the luminescence decay dynamics of single nanoplatelets, clusters of a few platelets, and self-assembled chains. As the number of stacked platelets is increased, we show that the luminescence decay becomes faster, which can be interpreted as the FRET-mediated effect of quenchers: excitons may diffuse to nearby quenchers so that their decay rate is increased. On the other hand, a minor slow decay component is also observed for single platelets, corresponding to trapping-detrapping mechanisms in nearby trap states. The contribution of the slow component is enhanced for the platelet chains. This is consistent with a FRET-mediated trapping mechanism where the excitons would diffuse from platelet to platelet until they reach a trap state. Finally, we develop toy models for the FRET-mediated quenching and trapping effects on the decay curves and analyze the relevant parameters.

[UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS combined with network pharmacology for exploring antiinflammatory mechanism of Eurycoma longifolia]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the mechanisms that mediate the anti-inflammatory activity of Eurycoma longifolia.

METHODS

Kunming mouse models of xylene-induced ear swelling and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute pneumonia were used to compare the anti- inflammatory activities of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Eurycoma longifolia. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS was used to identify the chemical composition in the ethanol extract of Eurycoma longifolia, based on which the potential antiinflammatory targets of Eurycoma longifolia were screened using the databases including SwissADME, SwissTargetPrediction, and Genecards. The String database was used to generate the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and Cytoscape was used for network topology analysis and screening the core targets. The enrichment of the core targets was analyzed using Metascape database, the core components and targets were docked with Autodock software, and the docking results were visualized using Pymol software. In a RAW264.7 cell model of LPS-induced inflammation, the Griess reagent was used to measure NO level, and Western blotting was performed to detect the expression levels of MAPK1, JAK2, and STAT3 proteins to verify the anti- inflammatory mechanism of Eurycoma longifolia.

RESULTS

The ethanol extract (75%) of Eurycoma longifolia (ELE) was the active site, which contained a total of 37 chemical components. These chemical compounds and diseases had 541 targets, involving the JAK/STAT3, cAMP and other signaling pathways. Twelve indicator components were identified, which all showed good results of molecular docking with two core targets involved in the signaling pathways. In the cell validation experiment, treatment of the cells with low-, medium-, and high-dose ELE significantly reduced NO release in the cells, and ELE at the medium dose significantly decreased the cellular expressions of JAK2 and STAT3.

CONCLUSION

The anti-inflammatory activity of Eurycoma longifolia is attributed primarily to its active ingredients bitter lignin and alkaloids, which may regulate the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway by targeting JAK2 and STAT3.

[Percutaneous pedicle screw fixation combined expandable tubular retractor in the treatment of spinal metastases]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effectiveness of percutaneous pedicle screw fixation combined expandable tubular retractor in the treatment of patients with spinal metastases.

METHODS

In the study, 12 patients of spinal metastases treated with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation combined expandable tubular retractor in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed between June 2017 and October 2019. Among the 12 patients, 9 were males and 3 were females; the median age was 62.5 years [(65.1±2.9) years]. The decompression segment of 7 patients was located at the lower thoracic spine (including 1 patient with incomplete paraplegia) and the decompression segment of 5 patients was located at the lumbar spine; Tomita score was 6.0±0.6. Perioperative data of the patients were reviewed. Visual analog scale (VAS score), Karnofsky score, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score were compared before and after surgery. The patient's survival, adjuvant treatment, and internal fixation failure were observed in the follow-up period.

RESULTS

All the 12 patients had a successful operation with percuta-neous pedicle screw fixation combined expandable tubular retractor. The average operative time, blood loss, and blood transfused of the patients were (247.0±14.6) min, (804.2±222.3) mL and (500.0±100.0) mL, respectively. The average amount of drainage was (240.8±79.3) mL. Drainage tubes were pulled out early postoperative [(3.2±0.3) d], allowing early mobilization. The patients discharged (7.8±0.8) d postoperative. All the patients were followed up for 6-30 months, and the average overall survival time was (13.6±2.4) months. During the follow-up period, 2 patients experienced screw displacement, the internal fixation was stable after conservative treatment and no revision surgery was performed. The VAS of the patients was 7.1±0.2 before surgery, which decreased to 2.3±0.1 and 2.8±0.4 at 3 and 6 months after surgery (P < 0.05). The Karnofsky score of the patients was 59.2±1.9 before surgery, which increased to 75.0±1.9 and 74.2±3.1 at 3 and 6 months after surgery (P < 0.05). The ECOG of the patients was 2.3±0.2 before surgery, which decreased to 1.7±0.1 and 1.7±0.2 at 3 and 6 months after surgery (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

For selected patients with spinal metastases, minimally invasive surgical treatment of spinal metastases (percutaneous pedicle screw internal fixation combined with expandable tubular retractor) can effectively relieve the clinical symptoms and improve the quality of life, with satisfactory clinical outcome.

[Effect and safety of 10-day decitabine-containing conditioning regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in 31 patients with acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome]

Objective: To investigate the early effect and safety of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) with a 10-day decitabine-containing conditioning regimen in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) /myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) . Methods: From April 2021 to May 2022, 31 AML/MDS patients who received allo-HSCT with a 10-day decitabine-containing conditioning regimen were analyzed. Results: AML (n=10), MDS-AML (n=6), CMML-AML (n=1), and MDS (n=14) were identified in 31 patients, 16 males, and 15 females, with a median age of 41 (20-55) yr. Neutrophils and platelets were successfully implanted in 31 patients (100%), with a median implantation duration of 12 (9-30) and 14 (9-42) days, respectively. During the preconditioning period, 16 patients (51.6%) developed oral mucositis, with 15 cases of Ⅰ/Ⅱ grade (48.4%) and one case of Ⅲ grade (3.2%). After transplantation, 13 patients (41.9%) developed CMV viremia, six patients (19.4%) developed hemorrhagic cystitis, and four patients (12.9%) developed a local infection. The median time of acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) following transplantation was 33 (12-111) days. The cumulative incidence of aGVHD and Ⅲ/Ⅳ grade aGVHD was 41.9% (95% CI 26.9%-61.0%) and 22.9% (95% CI 13.5%-47.5%), respectively. There was no severe cGVHD, and mild and moderate chronic GVHD (cGVHD) incidence was 23.5% (95% CI 12.1%-43.6%). As of November 30, 2022, only one of the 31 patients had relapsed, with a 1-yr cumulative relapse rate (CIR) of 3.2% (95% CI 0.5%-20.7%). There was only one relapse patient death and no non-relapse deaths. The 1-yr overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 92.9% (95% CI 80.3%-100%) and 96.8% (95% CI 90.8%-100%), respectively. Conclusions: A 10-day decitabine-containing conditioning regimen for allo-HSCT reduced relapse and was safe and feasible in treating AML/MDS.

Effectiveness of China-PAR and Framingham risk score in assessment of 10-year cardiovascular disease risk in Chinese hypertensive patients

OBJECTIVES

Estimating the total risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) using risk prediction models represents a huge improvement in identifying and treating each of the risk factors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the China-PAR (Prediction of atherosclerotic CVD risk in China) and Framingham risk score (FRS) in predicting the 10-year risk of CVD in Chinese hypertensive patients. The results of the study can be used to design health promotion strategies.

STUDY DESIGN

A large cohort study was used to assess the validity of models by comparing model predictions with actual incidence rates.

METHODS

In total, 10,498 hypertensive patients aged 30-70 years in Jiangsu Province, China, participated in the baseline survey that took place between January and December 2010 and were followed up to May 2020. China-PAR and FRS were used to calculate the predicted 10-year risk of CVD. The 10-year observed incidence of new cardiovascular events was adjusted by the Kaplan-Meier method. The ratio of the predicted risk to the actual incidence was calculated to evaluate the effectiveness of the model. The discrimination Harrell's C statistics and calibration Chi-square value were used to evaluate the predictive reliability of the models.

RESULTS

Of the 10,498 participants, 4411 (42.02%) were male. During the mean follow-up of 8.30 ± 1.45 years, a total of 693 new cardiovascular events occurred. Both models overestimated the risk of morbidity to varying degrees, and the FRS overestimated to a greater extent. After adjustment for covariates, the results of Cox proportional hazards regression showed that the risk of CVD in the high-risk group was higher than in low-risk group. The degree of discrimination in both models was approximately 0.6, which showed that discrimination was not ideal in the models. In addition, Chi-square calibrations of the two models were <20 in males, which showed that calibration of the models was better for men than women.

CONCLUSIONS

The China-PAR and FRS models overestimated the risk of CVD for participants in this study. In addition, the degree of discrimination was not ideal, and both models performed better in males than in females in terms of calibration. The results of this study suggest that a more suitable risk prediction model should be established according to the characteristics of the hypertensive population in Jiangsu Province.

A tera-electron volt afterglow from a narrow jet in an extremely bright gamma-ray burst

Some gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have a tera-electron volt (TeV) afterglow, but the early onset of this has not been observed. We report observations with the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory of the bright GRB 221009A, which serendipitously occurred within the instrument field of view. More than 64,000 photons >0.2 TeV were detected within the first 3000 seconds. The TeV flux began several minutes after the GRB trigger, then rose to a peak about 10 seconds later. This was followed by a decay phase, which became more rapid ~650 seconds after the peak. We interpret the emission using a model of a relativistic jet with half-opening angle ~0.8°. This is consistent with the core of a structured jet and could explain the high isotropic energy of this GRB.

Radiomic analysis of MRI for prediction of response to induction chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients

AIM

To establish and validate radiomic models for response prediction to induction chemotherapy (IC) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) using the radiomic features from pretreatment MRI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective analysis included 184 consecutive NPC patients, 132 in the primary cohort and 52 in the validation cohort. Radiomic features were derived from contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging (CE-T1) and T2-weighted imaging (T2-WI) for each subject. The radiomic features were then selected and combined with clinical characteristics to build radiomic models. The potential of the radiomic models was evaluated based on its discrimination and calibration. To measure the performance of these radiomic models in predicting the treatment response to IC in NPC, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were used.

RESULTS

Four radiomic models were constructed in the present study including the radiomic signature of CE-T1, T2-WI, CE-T1 + T2-WI, and the radiomic nomogram of CE-T1. The radiomic signature of CE-T1 + T2-WI performed well in distinguishing response and non-response to IC in patients with NPC, which yielded an AUC of 0.940 (95% CI, 0.885-0.974), sensitivity of 83.1%, specificity of 91.8%, and accuracy of 87.1% in the primary cohort, and AUC of 0.952 (95% CI, 0.855-0.992), sensitivity of 74.2%, specificity of 95.2%, and accuracy of 82.7% in the validation cohort.

CONCLUSION

MRI-based radiomic models could be helpful for personalised risk stratification and treatment in NPC patients receiving IC.

[Effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme on reproduction of Culex pipiens pallens]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in the reproduction of Culex pipiens pallens, so as to provide insights into selection of targets for controlling mosquito vector populations.

METHODS

Cx. pipiens pallens was collected from Tangkou County, Shandong Province in 2009. Female and male mosquitoes were selected at 72 hours post-eclosion, and quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qPCR) assay was used to detect the expression of ACE gene in the whole body and reproductive tissues of male mosquitoes and fertilized female mosquitoes before (0 h) and after blood meals (24, 48, 72 h), respectively. Then, 150 female and 150 male mosquitoes at 0 to 4 hours post-eclosion were selected and divided into the wild-type group (WT group), small interfering RNA-negative control group (siNC group) and small interfering RNA-ACE group (siACE group), of 50 mosquitoes in each group. Mosquitoes in the WT group were given no treatment, and mosquitoes in the siNC and siACE groups were given microinjection of siNC and siACE into the hemolymph at a dose of 0.3 μg per mosquito. The knockdown efficiency was checked using qPCR assay, and the reproductive phenotype of mosquitoes was observed.

RESULTS

The relative ACE gene expression was higher in the whole body of male mosquitoes (5.467 ± 1.006) relative to females (1.199 ± 0.241) (t = 5.835, P = 0.004) at 72 h post-eclosion, and the highest ACE expression was seen in reproductive tissues of male mosquitoes (199.100 ± 24.429), which was 188.3 times higher than in remaining tissues (1.057 ± 0.340) (t = 6.602, P = 0.002). Blood meal induced high ACE expression in all body tissues of fertilized female mosquitoes, with peak expression at 24 h after blood meals (14.957 ± 2.815), which was 14.8 times higher than that before blood meals (1.009 ± 0.139) (P = 0.002). The transcriptional level of ACEs continued to increase in the ovaries of female mosquitoes after blood meals during the vitellogenesis phase, peaking at 48 h after blood meals (5.500 ± 0.734), which was 5.1 times higher than that before blood meals (1.072 ± 0.178) (P = 0.002). Small RNA interference targeting ACE resulted in a 57.2% reduction in ACE expression in female mosquitoes in the siACE group (0.430 ± 0.070) relative to the siNC group (1.002 ± 0.070) (P = 0.001), and a 41.1% reduction in male mosquitoes in the siACE group (0.588 ± 0.067) relative to the siNC group (1.008 ± 0.131) (P = 0.016). Knockdown of ACE expression resulted in a 48.0% decrease in the number of eggs laid by female mosquitoes in the siACE group [(94.000 ± 27.386) eggs] relative to the siNC group [(180.800 ± 27.386)] (P < 0.001), and a 45.0% decrease in the number of eggs laid by wild female mosquitoes mated with males in the siACE group [(104.500 ± 20.965) eggs] relative to the siNC group [(190.050 ± 10.698) eggs] (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Reduced ACE expression may inhibit the fecundity of male and female mosquitoes, and ACE may be as a potential target for mosquito vector population suppression.

[Evaluation of the relationship between the attachment type of lateral pterygoid muscle and the position of temporomandibular joint disc in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders based on wireless amplified MRI detector high resolution imaging]

Objective: To explore the correlation between the attachment type of lateral pterygoid muscle (LPM) and the position of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) by using wireless amplified magnetic resonance imaging detector (WAND) coupled with conventional head and neck joint coil for high resolution imaging of TMJ. Methods: Eighty-five patients with TMD diagnosed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons of Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital from October 2019 to January 2022 were collected. A total of 160 TMJ were included. There were 16 males and 69 females, aged (32.7±14.2) years. All patients were scanned with open, closed oblique sagittal and coronal WAND coupled head and neck coils with bilateral TMJ. Based on TMJ and LPM high resolution imaging, to explore the correlation between LPM attachment types and the position of TMJ disc in TMD patients, and to evaluate the potential clinical value of LPM attachment types in TMD patients. χ² test and Pearson correlation analysis were used to evaluate the correlation between LPM attachment type and TMJ disc location. Results: There were three types of LPM attachment: type Ⅰ in 51 cases [31.9% (51/160)], type Ⅱ in 77 cases [48.1% (77/160)] and type Ⅲ in 32 cases [20.0% (32/160)]. There was a significant correlation between the type of LPM attachment and the position of articular disc (χ²=28.20, P=0.002, r=0.776). There was no statistical significance between the type of LPM attachment and the reversible displacement of articular disc (χ²=0.24, P=0.887, r=0.825). Conclusions: There is a correlation between the attachment type of LPM and the position of the disc in TMD patients. WNAD coupled with conventional head and neck joint coil TMJ high resolution scan can provide reliable imaging evidence for TMD patients in evaluating the type of LPM attachment and the location of disc.

[Association between clinical phenotypes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and Ca2+ gene variation gene variation]

Objective: To observe the association between clinical phenotypes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients and a rare calcium channel and regulatory gene variation (Ca²⁺ gene variation) and to compare clinical phenotypes of HCM patients with Ca²⁺ gene variation, a single sarcomere gene variation and without gene variation and to explore the influence of rare Ca²⁺ gene variation on the clinical phenotypes of HCM. Methods: Eight hundred forty-two non-related adult HCM patients diagnosed for the first time in Xijing Hospital from 2013 to 2019 were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent exon analyses of 96 hereditary cardiac disease-related genes. Patients with diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, post alcohol septal ablation or septal myectomy, and patients who carried sarcomere gene variation of uncertain significance or carried>1 sarcomere gene variation or carried>1 Ca²⁺ gene variation, with HCM pseudophenotype or carrier of ion channel gene variations other than Ca²⁺ based on the genetic test results were excluded. Patients were divided into gene negative group (no sarcomere or Ca²⁺ gene variants), sarcomere gene variation group (only 1 sarcomere gene variant) and Ca²⁺ gene variant group (only 1 Ca²⁺ gene variant). Baseline data, echocardiography and electrocardiogram data were collected for analysis. Results: A total of 346 patients were enrolled, including 170 patients without gene variation (gene negative group), 154 patients with a single sarcomere gene variation (sarcomere gene variation group) and 22 patients with a single rare Ca²⁺ gene variation (Ca²⁺ gene variation group). Compared with gene negative group, patients in Ca²⁺ gene variation group had higher blood pressure and higher percentage of family history of HCM and sudden cardiac death (P<0.05); echocardiographic results showed that patients in Ca²⁺ gene variation group had thicker ventricular septum ((23.5±5.8) mm vs. (22.3±5.7) mm, P<0.05); electrocardiographic results showed that patients in Ca²⁺ gene variation group had prolonged QT interval ((416.6±23.1) ms vs. (400.6±47.2) ms, P<0.05) and higher RV5+SV1 ((4.51±2.26) mv vs. (3.50±1.65) mv, P<0.05). Compared with sarcomere gene variation group, patients in Ca²⁺ gene variation group had later onset age and higher blood pressure (P<0.05); echocardiographic results showed that there was no significant difference in ventricular septal thickness between two groups; patients in Ca²⁺ gene variation group had lower percentage of left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient>30 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa, 22.8% vs. 48.1%, P<0.05) and the lower early diastolic peak velocity of the mitral valve inflow/early diastolic peak velocity of the mitral valve annulus (E/e') ratio ((13.0±2.5) vs. (15.9±4.2), P<0.05); patients in Ca²⁺ gene variation group had prolonged QT interval ((416.6±23.1) ms vs. (399.0±43.0) ms, P<0.05) and lower percentage of ST segment depression (9.1% vs. 40.3%, P<0.05). Conclusion: Compared with gene negative group, the clinical phenotype of HCM is more severe in patients with rare Ca²⁺ gene variation; compared with patients with sarcomere gene variation, the clinical phenotype of HCM is milder in patients with rare Ca²⁺ gene variation.

[Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu Decoction promotes neural stem cell self-renewal and activates Shh signaling in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of diabetic rats with depression]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of Zuogui Jiangtang Jieyu Decoction (ZJJ) on Shh signaling and self-renewal of neural stem cells in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of diabetic rats with depression.

METHODS

Diabetic rat models with depression were randomly divided into model group, positive drug (metformin + fluoxetine) group, and low-, medium-, and high-dose ZJJ groups (n=16), with normal SD rats as the control group. The positive drugs and ZJJ were administered by gavage, and the rats in the control and model groups were given distilled water. After the treatment, blood glucose level was detected using test strips, and behavioral changes of the rats were assessed by forced swimming test and water maze test. ELISA was used to examine the serum level of leptin; The expressions of nestin and Brdu proteins in the dentate gyrus of the rats were detected using immunofluorescence assay, and the expressions of self-renewal marker proteins and Shh signaling proteins were detected using Western blotting.

RESULTS

The diabetic rats with depression showed significantly increased levels of blood glucose and leptin (P < 0.01) and prolonged immobility time in forced swimming test (P < 0.01) and increased stage climbing time with reduced stage seeking time and stage crossings in water maze test (P < 0.01). The expressions of nestin and Brdu in the dentate gyrus, the expressions of cyclin D1, SOX2, Shh, Ptch1, Smo in the hippocampus and the nuclear expression of Gli-1 were decreased (P < 0.01) while hippocampal Gli-3 expression was increased significantly (P < 0.01) in the rat models. Treatment of rat models with high-dose ZJJ significantly reduced the blood glucose (P < 0.01) and leptin level (P < 0.05) and improved their performance in behavioral tests (P < 0.01). The treatment also obviously increased the expressions of nestin, Brdu, cyclin D1, SOX2, Shh, Ptch1, and Smo and the nuclear expression of Gli-1 in the dentate gyrus (P < 0.01) and reduced hippocampal expression of Gli-3 (P < 0.05) in the rat models.

CONCLUSION

ZJJ can significantly improve the self-renewal ability of neural stem cells and activate Shh signaling in dentate gyrus of diabetic rats with depression.

Water uptake in germinating pecan (Carya illinoinensis) seed

• Water uptake is the fundamental and essential requirement for seed germination. Pecan seed has a hard woody endocarp and plays an important role during water uptake. • To explore the laws of water uptake during germination, the spatiotemporal pattern of water and the effect of endocarp were analysed by water measuring, high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), dye-tracing, blocking and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). • Isolated seeds finish water uptake in 8h while whole seeds take 6d, and the cracking of endocarp plays an important role. The hilum is the channel for water to enter the seed, the rest of the seed coat consist of cells covered with a waxy layer and act as a barrier that made it difficult to absorb water. The region with the highest water contents in pecan seed was the edge of the U-shaped region and the water progressively diffused from the edge of the U-shaped region to the whole kernel. • There seems to be a new water absorption stage between phase II and phase III of triphasic model of water uptake of pecan seeds. The cracking of endocarp changed the water distribution in pecan seeds, which may be the trigger for further water absorption and radicle elongation.

Optical Monitoring of the Magnetization Switching of Single Synthetic-Antiferromagnetic Nanoplatelets with Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy

Synthetic antiferromagnetic nanoplatelets (NPs) with a large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (SAF-PMA NPs) have a large potential in future local mechanical torque-transfer applications for e.g., biomedicine. However, the mechanisms of magnetization switching of these structures at the nanoscale are not well understood. Here, we have used a simple and relatively fast single-particle optical technique that goes beyond the diffraction limit to measure photothermal magnetic circular dichroism (PT MCD). This allows us to study the magnetization switching as a function of applied magnetic field of single 122 nm diameter SAF-PMA NPs with a thickness of 15 nm. We extract and discuss the differences between the switching field distributions of large ensembles of NPs and of single NPs. In particular, single-particle PT MCD allows us to address the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of the magnetic switching fields of the NPs at the single-particle level. We expect this new insight to help understand better the dynamic torque transfer, e.g., in biomedical and microfluidic applications.

The Experiences of Patients with Periodontitis and its Treatment: A Qualitative Study

OBJECTIVE

Gain insights into how patients with periodontitis perceive the disease and its treatment, thus identifying their potential needs.

METHODS

Descriptive qualitative research among 19 patients with periodontitis purposefully sampled for semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis of the interview data used NVivo 11.0.

RESULTS

The data could be summarized in five themes: 1) restricted physiological function of the oral cavity; 2) psychological frustration; 3) impact on social life; 4) focus on patient comfort; 5) accessibility, convenience, and science of oral health services.

CONCLUSIONS

Periodontitis can affect biopsychosocial aspects of patients lives. Some needs remain to be met or improved during treatment. As the paradigm shifts, dental practitioners should also focus on their professional roles and take measures to improve patients' experiences.

[Developmental effects of TCIPP and TnBP on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos]

Objective: To investigate the toxicity of tris (2-chloropropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) and tributyl phosphate (TnBP) on the growth and development of zebrafish embryos, as well as to explore the underlying mechanisms at the transcriptional level. Methods: With zebrafish as a model, two hpf zebrafish embryos were exposed to TCIPP and TnBP (0.1, 1, 10, 100, 500, and 1 000 μmol/L) using the semi-static method, and their rates of lethality and hatchability were determined. The transcriptome changes of 120 hpf juvenile zebrafish exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of 0.1 and 1 μmol/L were measured. Results: The 50% lethal concentrations (LC₅₀) of TCIPP and TnBP for zebrafish embryos were 155.30 and 27.62 μmol/L (96 hpf), 156.5 and 26.05 μmol/L (120 hpf), respectively. The 72 hpf hatching rates of TCIPP (100 μmol/L) and TnBP (10 μmol/L) were (23.33±7.72)% and (91.67±2.97)%, which were significantly decreased compared with the control group (P<0.05). Transcriptome analysis showed that TnBP had more differential genes (DEGs) than TCIPP, with a dose-response relationship. These DEGs were enriched in 32 pathways in total, including those involved in oxidative stress, energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, and nuclear receptor-related pathways, using the IPA pathway analysis. Among them, three enriched pathways overlapped between TCIPP and TnBP, including TR/RXR activation and CAR/RXR activation. Additionally, DEGs were also mapped onto pathways of LXR/RXR activation and oxidative stress for TnBP exposure only. Conclusion: Both TCIPP and TnBP have growth and developmental toxicities in zebrafish embryos, with distinct biomolecular mechanisms, and TnBP has a stronger effect than TCIPP.

Multiple Mechanisms in Proton-Induced Nucleon Removal at ∼100 MeV/Nucleon

We report on the first proton-induced single proton- and neutron-removal reactions from the neutron-deficient ^{14}O nucleus with large Fermi-surface asymmetry S_{n}-S_{p}=18.6  MeV at ∼100  MeV/nucleon, a widely used energy regime for rare-isotope studies. The measured inclusive cross sections and parallel momentum distributions of the ^{13}N and ^{13}O residues are compared to the state-of-the-art reaction models, with nuclear structure inputs from many-body shell-model calculations. Our results provide the first quantitative contributions of multiple reaction mechanisms including the quasifree knockout, inelastic scattering, and nucleon transfer processes. It is shown that the inelastic scattering and nucleon transfer, usually neglected at such energy regime, contribute about 50% and 30% to the loosely bound proton and deeply bound neutron removal, respectively. These multiple reaction mechanisms should be considered in analyses of inclusive one-nucleon removal cross sections measured at intermediate energies for quantitative investigation of single-particle strengths and correlations in atomic nuclei.

[Interpretation of Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards 2022]

The number of studies related to health economics evaluation is increasing. Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards 2022 (CHEERS 2022) contains 28 items. Based on CHEERS 2013, CHEERS 2022 adds a health economic analysis plan, model sharing, and community, patient, public, and other relevant stakeholders' participation in the statement, taking into account the future development direction of health economics evaluation. It provides a useful review tool for peer reviewers, editors, and readers and supports health technology assessment agencies in establishing standard reporting standards for health economics evaluations. In this study, we briefly introduced and interpreted the CHEERS 2022 statement and analyzed an example of health economics evaluation in infectious disease epidemiology to provide a reference for researchers to report studies regarding health economics evaluation standardly.

[A survey on the current status of cognition of birth safety among married HIV-infected people aged 18-45 years]

Objective: To understand the current status of fertility safety cognition among married HIV-infected people aged 18-45 years and to provide evidence for fertility safety intervention in HIV-infected families. Methods: Six districts in Chongqing and Zigong City in Sichuan Province were selected. A questionnaire survey was conducted among married HIV-infected people aged 18-45 years who were followed up from November 2021 to April 2022 to collect their general demographic characteristics, histories of sex experience, fertility intention, and knowledge of birth safety. Unconditional logistic regression and Poisson regression were used to analyze the factors affecting the cognition of birth safety. Results: A total of 266 HIV-infected people were included in the study; 58.3% (155/266) were women, and 48.9% (130/266) had fertility desire. The cognition rate of knowledge of birth safety was 59.4% (158/266). The cognition rate of women's knowledge of birth safety was 2.14 (95%CI: 1.25-3.66) times that of men's. The cognition rate of knowledge of birth safety among HIV-infected persons with a high school education level or above was 1.88 (95%CI: 1.08-3.27) times that of those with a low education level. The cognition rate of knowledge of reproductive safety among HIV-infected people with fertility intention was 1.88 (95%CI: 1.10-3.22) times that of those without fertility intention. The cognition rate of knowledge of birth safety among HIV-infected persons who received AIDS knowledge promotion and education was 9.06 (95%CI: 2.46-33.32) times that of those who did not. The cognition rate of measures of birth safety was 5.3% (14/266). The Poisson regression analysis showed no significant difference in the cognition rate of specific measures among gender, age, education and other factors. Conclusions: HIV-infected people aged 18-45 years and married with a spouse have a low awareness of birth safety, and there are risks of HIV transmission between couples and mother-to-child in the family. Targeted birth safety education and intervention should be strengthened to reduce HIV transmission.

Osteoblastic RAR Inhibition Causes VAD-Like Craniofacial Skeletal Deformity

Retinoid signaling disorders cause craniofacial deformity, among which infants with maternal vitamin A deficiency (VAD) exhibited malformation of the eye, nose, palate, and parietal and jaw bone. Previous research uncovered the pathogenesis of eye defect and cleft palate of VAD in mice, but the studies on craniofacial skeletal deformity met obstacles, and the cell/lineage and underlying mechanism remain unclear. The retinoic acid receptor (RAR) is the key transcription factor in retinoid signaling, but individual knockout cannot simulate pathway inhibition. Here, we conditionally expressed dominant-negative RARα mutation (dnRARα) in osteoblasts to specifically inhibit the transcription activity of RAR in mice, which mimics the craniofacial deformities caused by VAD in clinical cases: hypomineralization of cranial bones, mandibular deformity, and clavicular hypoplasia. Furthermore, we performed 3-dimensional reconstruction based on micro-computed tomography and confirmed the abnormalities in the shape, size, and ossification of craniofacial bones due to osteoblastic RAR inhibition. Histological analysis indicated that inhibition of RAR in osteoblasts impaired both bone formation and bone resorption, which was confirmed by transcriptome sequencing of the calvaria. Furthermore, mechanism investigation showed that inhibition of RAR in osteoblasts directly decreased osteoblast differentiation in a cell-autonomous manner by impairing osteogenic gene transcription and also inhibited osteoclast differentiation via osteoblast-osteoclast crosstalk by impairing Rankl transcription. In summary, osteoblastic RAR activity is critical to craniofacial skeletal development, and its dysfunction leads to skeletal deformities mimicking VAD craniofacial defects, providing a new insight for VAD pathogenesis.

A novel whole "Joint-in-Motion" device reveals a permissive effect of high glucose levels and mechanical stress on joint destruction

OBJECTIVE

Osteoarthritis (OA) has recently been suggested to be associated with diabetes. However, this association often disappears when accounting for body mass index (BMI), suggesting that mechanical stress may be a confounding factor. We investigated the combined influence of glucose level and loading stress on OA progression using a novel whole joint-in-motion (JM) culture system.

DESIGN

Whole mouse knee joints were placed in an enclosed chamber with culture media and actuated to recapitulate leg movement, with a dynamic stress regimen of 0.5 Hz, 8 h/day for 7 days. These joints were treated with varying levels of glucose and controlled for osmolarity and diffusion. Joint movement and joint space were examined by X-ray fluoroscopy and microCT. Cartilage matrix levels were quantified by blinded Mankin scoring and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Culturing in the JM device facilitated proper leg extension and flexion movements, and adequate mass transport for analyzing the effect of glucose on cartilage. Treatment with higher levels of glucose either via media supplementation or intra-articular injection caused a significant decrease in levels of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and an increase in aggrecan neoepitope in articular cartilage, but only under dynamic stress. Additionally, collagen II level was slightly reduced by high glucose levels.

CONCLUSIONS

High levels of glucose and dynamic stress have permissive effects on articular cartilage GAG loss and aggrecan degradation, implicating that mechanical stress confounds the association of diabetes with OA. The JM device supports novel investigation of mechanical stress on the integrity of an intact living mouse joint to provide insights into OA pathogenesis.

[Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell exosome-derived miR-335-5p promotes osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells to alleviate periodontitis by downregulating DKK1]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of miR-335-5p derived from human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (hBMMSCs) exosomes on osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cell (PDLSCs) model of periodontitis and explore its mechanism.

METHODS

The exosomes extracted from hBMMSCs were identified by transmission electron microscopy, Western blotting and PKH67 labeling. The human PDLSC model of TNF-α-induced periodontitis were co-cultured with the extracted exosomes, and qRT-PCR was performed to detect the changes in the expressions of miR-335-5p and the mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8) and the osteogenic marker genes (RunX2, OCN and BMP-2). Alizarin red staining and ALP staining were used to detect the formation of calcium nodules in the treated cells, and the expression level of DKK1 protein was detected with Western blotting. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verify the targeting relationship between miR-335-5p and DKK1.

RESULTS

High expressions of CD9 and CD81 were detected in the extracted hBMMSC exosomes (P < 0.05). In TNF-α-induced hPDLSCs, treatment with the extracted exosomes significantly reduced the mRNA expressions of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8, enhanced the mRNA expressions of RunX2, OCN, and BMP-2, and promoted the formation of calcium nodules. MiR-335-5p was highly expressed in hBMMSC-derived exosomes, and overexpression of miR-335-5p significantly downregulated DKK1 protein expression, inhibited the mRNA expressions of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8, and promoted the mRNA expressions of osteogenic markers and the formation of calcium nodules in hPDLSCs.

CONCLUSION

HBMMSC exosome-derived miR-335-5p promotes osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs and inhibits the development of periodontitis by downregulating DKK1.

[Survival efficacy of MDS/AML patients with TP53 abnormal received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation]

Objective: TP53-abnormal MDS/acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients' allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) treatment's effectiveness and influencing factors should be studied. Methods: 42 patients with TP53 gene status change MDS/AML who underwent allo-HSCT from 2014.8.1 to 2021.7.31 at the Hematology Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were the subject of a retrospective analysis. The 42 patients were divided into three groups: the TP53 deletion group (group A) , TP53 mono-alle mutation group (group B) , and TP53 multi-hit group (group C) . The differences in clinical features and prognostic factors after transplantation were analyzed. Results: There were 42 MDS/AML patients, including 21 patients with MDS, and 21 patients with AML. The median follow-up period was 34.0 (7.5-75.0) months and the median patient age at the time of transplantation was 41.5 (18-63) years old. The total OS was 66.3% (95% CI 53.4%-82.4%) in 3 years after transplantation, and EFS was 61.0% (95% CI 47.7%-78.0%) in 3 years. For 3 years after receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, there were no statistically significant differences in 3-year OS and EFS in groups A, B, and C (P≥0.05) . The 3 years OS was 82.5% (95% CI 63.1%-100.0%) in group A, 60.6% (95% CI 43.5%-84.4%) in group B, and 57.1% (95% CI 30.1%-100.0%) in group C. Univariate analysis revealed that the number of co-mutant genes, pre-HSCT treatment, and disease type did not affect prognosis, while age, karyotype, co-mutation, positive blast cell before transplantation, and positive blast cell after transplantation were common prognostic factors for OS and EFS (P<0.1) . MRD levels before transplantation were found to be independent risk factors for OS (P=0.037, HR=33.40, 95% CI 1.24-901.17) in a multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Patients with MDS/AML who have TP53 mutations can benefit from allo-HSCT, but patients with complex karyotypes have a worse prognosis. Meanwhile, the final flow cytometry (FCM) monitoring blast cell test before HSCT has a certain guiding significance for prognostic assessment.