Evaluation of the cross-protection of the Vero cell-derived attenuated influenza vaccines with compound adjuvant, through intranasal immunization.

This study was to evaluate the sufficient safety and effect of the novel influenza vaccine program. It prepared new reassortant influenza virus, with high yield on Vero cells. According to the plaque counting, one dose LAIV was composed with 105 PFU of H1, H3, BY, and BV, respectively. Then mixed this LAIV with compound adjuvant, containing 500 µg/mL of carbopol971P and 50 µg/mL of tetanus toxin. That vaccination was called catt-flu. And it employed the GYZZ02 vaccine (commercialized freeze-dried LAIV, listed in China) as cohort analysis control. All mice received two doses of the vaccine, administered on days 0 and 14, respectively. That catt-flu program could induce more cross-protection with neutralizing antibody against heterogeneous types of influenza virus, not only based on HA but also NA protective antigen, through convenient nasal immunization, which had non-inferiority titter compared with the chicken embryo-derived GYZZ02 vaccine on safe and effect. The Vero cell-derived vaccine (LAIV) combined compound catt adjuvant (contain carbopol971P and tetanus toxin) could provide another safety and protective program of influenza vaccine by intranasal administration, as catt-flu program.

Research on the status and risk factors of cognitive function among nursing home population in Changning District, Shanghai / 公共卫生与预防医学

Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of cognitive impairment in the nursing home population in Changning District, Shanghai. Methods In this study, random cluster sampling method was used to select 570 elderly people from 5 nursing homes in Changning District. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors influencing cognitive function. Results The total prevalence of cognitive impairment in Changning nursing home population was 22.5%. The prevalence rates of ≤80 and >80 age groups were 16.8% and 23.9%, respectively, and the prevalence rates of men and women were 19.2% and 23.9%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that age ≥ 80 years old (OR=1.839, 95% CI: 1.045~3.235), no habit of reading book or newspaper (OR=2.087, 95%CI: 1.282~3.398), limitation of daily activity ability (OR=1.577, 95% CI: 1.023~2.431), and having depressive symptoms (OR=2.809, 95% CI: 1.840~4.288) were all influencing factors for cognitive impairment. Conclusion More than one fifth of elderly people in nursing homes in Changning District have symptoms of cognitive impairment. It is necessary to carry out routine cognitive assessment and appropriate cognitive intervention for the nursing home population to reduce the health and economic losses caused by cognitive impairment.

Pharmacodynamic Substances in Promoting Osteogenic Differentiation of Epimedii Folium and Epimedii Wushanensis Folium Based on Chemical Fingerprint-cell Metabolomics Correlation Analysis / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo determine the pharmacodynamic substance basis of Epimedii Folium（EF） and Epimedii Wushanensis Folium（EWF） in promoting osteogenic differentiation， and to establish a method to analyze the material basis of Chinese materia medica based on the correlation between chemical fingerprint and cellular metabolomics. MethodThe chemical fingerprints of 15 batches of EF with 4 species and 3 batches of EWF were analyzed by ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-MS）， and partial least squares-discriminant analysis（PLS-DA） was used to analyze the peak areas of chemical fingerprints of samples. The effects of different samples on proliferative activity of MC3T3-E1 osteoblast precursors， as well as the activity of alkaline phosphatase（ALP） in osteoblasts were detected by cell counting kit-8（CCK-8） and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA）. At the same time， UPLC-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS） was used to analyze the effects of different samples on the metabolomics of MC3T3-E1 cells， then metabolic peak table of osteogenic differentiation cells was constructed， and pharmacodynamic index mean Y0 was introduced into the peak table. PLS was used to calculate mean Y0 of each group， and the mean Y0 was added to the peak table of chemical fingerprint to construct the correlation between chemical fingerprint and cell metabolome， the pharmacodynamic components of EF and EWF that promote bone differentiation were screened according to variable importance in the projection（VIP） value>1. The pharmacodynamic effects of EF and EWF were evaluated according to the mean Y0 of each group. ResultThe chemical fingerprints of EF with different origins and EWF were completely separated. Compared with the blank group， the activity of MC3T3-E1 cells in EF and EWF groups was significantly increased， the activity of ALP in the Epimedium brevicornu（Gansu province）， E. koreanum and E. pubescens groups was significantly increased（P<0.05）. The results of cell metabolomics showed that the blank group and the model group had an obvious trend of separation. EF with different origins and EWF had different distance from the model group， indicating that EF with different origins and EWF had different effect on promoting osteogenic differentiation. Chemical fingerprint-cell metabolomics integration analysis screened 9 components closely related to the efficacy of EF and EWF， including diphylloside B， epimedin C， icariin， baohuoside Ⅰ， yinyanghuo B， β-anhydroicaritin， magnoflorine， cryptochlorogenic acid and quercetin. E. koreanum had the strongest effect on promoting osteogenic differentiation. ConclusionThis study determined that the material basis of EF and EWF promoting osteogenic differentiation were mostly flavonoids， alkaloids and organic acids， which provided ideas and methods for the screening of pharmacodynamic components and the prediction of therapeutic effect of Chinese materia medica.

Regulatory effect of retinoid X receptor on oxidative stress response in-duced by hypoxia/reoxygenation in rat type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM:To investigate the regulatory role of retinoid X receptor(RXR)in oxidative stress response of rat type Ⅱ alveolar epithelial cells(AECII)induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation(HR).METHODS:The AECII were di-vided into control(C)group,HR group,HR+solvent dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO)group(HD group),HR+RXR agonist 9-cis-retinoic acid(9-RA)group(RA group),and HR+RXR antagonist HX531 group(HX group).Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8)method was used to measure the cell viability.Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of surfactant protein A(SP-A)and RXRα in AECII.Kits were detected to the levels of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and malondialdehyde(MDA)in cells.Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructural changes of the cells.Western blot was used to detect the protein level of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2).RT-PCR was used to detect the expression level of Nrf2 mRNA.RESULTS:Compared with C group,the cell viability and SOD activity in HR,HD,RA and HX groups were decreased significantly(P<0.05),the MDA content were increased significantly(P<0.05),the Nrf2 mRNA and protein expression levels were decreased significantly(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the immuno-fluorescence expression of RXRα was significantly increased(P<0.01).Compared with HR and HX groups,the cells in RA group showed significantly increased cell viability(P<0.05),increased SOD activity(P<0.05),decreased MDA con-tent(P<0.05),increased Nrf2 mRNA and protein expression levels(P<0.01),and significantly increased immunofluo-rescence expression of RXRα(P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Hypoxia/reoxygenation can aggravate the oxidative stress re-sponse of rat AECII,and RXR agonist intervention can alleviate HR-induced rat AECII injury by inhibiting oxidative stress.

Systematic review of therapeutic effect of taohua decoction on ulcerative colitis / 中国现代医生

@#Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Taohua Decoction in treating ulcerative colitis.Methods Searching CNKI,Wanfang,Weipu,China Biomedical Database,PubMed,Web of science,and Cochrane library,Screening literature and collecting literature related information.Using Review Manager 5.3 to evaluate the risk of bias and systematically evaluate efficacy indicators.Results A total of 546 articles were retrieved,and 16 were eventually included after censoring and screening.Meta analysis showed that total clinical effective rate:RR=1.19,95%CI:1.14-1.24,P<0.001.Colonoscopy score:MD=-0.61,95%CI:-1.11--0.11,P=0.02.Tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α:MD=-22.18,95%CI:-36.70--7.66,P=0.003.C-reactive protein:MD=-10.85,95%CI:-30.48-8.77,P=0.28.Incidence of adverse reactions:RR=0.40,95%CI:0.24-0.65,P<0.001.Conclusion The total clinical effective rate,colonoscopy score,TNF-α and incidence of adverse reactions of Taohua Decoction in treating ulcerative colitis was superior to that in the control group.There was no significant difference between Taohua Decoction and the control group in reducing C-reactive protein.

Nanomaterial-based Therapeutics for Biofilm-generated Bacterial Infections / 生物化学与生物物理进展

Bacterial biofilms gave rise to persistent infections and multi-organ failure, thereby posing a serious threat to human health. Biofilms were formed by cross-linking of hydrophobic extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), such as proteins, polysaccharides, and eDNA, which were synthesized by bacteria themselves after adhesion and colonization on biological surfaces. They had the characteristics of dense structure, high adhesiveness and low drug permeability, and had been found in many human organs or tissues, such as the brain, heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, and skeleton. By releasing pro-inflammatory bacterial metabolites including endotoxins, exotoxins and interleukin, biofilms stimulated the body’s immune system to secrete inflammatory factors. These factors triggered local inflammation and chronic infections. Those were the key reason for the failure of traditional clinical drug therapy for infectious diseases.In order to cope with the increasingly severe drug-resistant infections, it was urgent to develop new therapeutic strategies for bacterial-biofilm eradication and anti-bacterial infections. Based on the nanoscale structure and biocompatible activity, nanobiomaterials had the advantages of specific targeting, intelligent delivery, high drug loading and low toxicity, which could realize efficient intervention and precise treatment of drug-resistant bacterial biofilms. This paper highlighted multiple strategies of biofilms eradication based on nanobiomaterials. For example, nanobiomaterials combined with EPS degrading enzymes could be used for targeted hydrolysis of bacterial biofilms, and effectively increased the drug enrichment within biofilms. By loading quorum sensing inhibitors, nanotechnology was also an effective strategy for eradicating bacterial biofilms and recovering the infectious symptoms. Nanobiomaterials could intervene the bacterial metabolism and break the bacterial survival homeostasis by blocking the uptake of nutrients. Moreover, energy-driven micro-nano robotics had shown excellent performance in active delivery and biofilm eradication. Micro-nano robots could penetrate physiological barriers by exogenous or endogenous driving modes such as by biological or chemical methods, ultrasound, and magnetic field, and deliver drugs to the infection sites accurately. Achieving this using conventional drugs was difficult. Overall, the paper described the biological properties and drug-resistant molecular mechanisms of bacterial biofilms, and highlighted therapeutic strategies from different perspectives by nanobiomaterials, such as dispersing bacterial mature biofilms, blocking quorum sensing, inhibiting bacterial metabolism, and energy driving penetration. In addition, we presented the key challenges still faced by nanobiomaterials in combating bacterial biofilm infections. Firstly, the dense structure of EPS caused biofilms spatial heterogeneity and metabolic heterogeneity, which created exacting requirements for the design, construction and preparation process of nanobiomaterials. Secondly, biofilm disruption carried the risk of spread and infection the pathogenic bacteria, which might lead to other infections. Finally, we emphasized the role of nanobiomaterials in the development trends and translational prospects in biofilm treatment.

Survey on the home environmental hazards related to falls of the elderly in Changning District, Shanghai / 公共卫生与预防医学

Objective To investigate the current situation of home environment safety of the elderly in Changning District, identify the risk factors related to the fall of the home environment of the elderly, and take targeted rectification measures, so as to create a safer environment for the elderly. Methods A phased random sampling method was used to select 201 elderly households from 10 streets in Changning District. Community doctors conducted on-the-spot investigation and assessment to collect information, and Epidata3.1 was used to input data and SAS 9.2 was used for statistical analysis. Results The incidence of falls in the past year was 19.90%, and the score of environmental risk factors/the number of environmental risk factors in each family ranged from 0 to 25, with an average of 9 items (standard deviation of 4.71). The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis show that the high level of falling environment (the number of falling risk factors in home environment ≥12) is still an independent risk factor for falls of the elderly, except for the influence of age and the number of drugs taken (OR=3.835, 95% CI:1.718-8.561). Conclusion The environmental risk factors causing falls are common in the home environment of the elderly in the community. It is necessary to focus on improving the home environment, reducing the risk of falls for the elderly, and creating a safe and comfortable home environment for the elderly.

Hypoxic Preconditioning Enhances Cellular Viability and Migratory Ability: Role of DANCR/miR-656-3p/HIF-1α Axis in Placental Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a common complication of pregnancy characterized by new-onset hypertension, albuminuria, or end-stage organ dysfunction, which is seriously harmful to maternal and infant health. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pluripotent stem cells derived from extraembryonic mesoderm. They have the potential for self-renewal, multidirectional differentiation, immunomodulation, and tissue regeneration. Several in vivo and in vitro experiments have confirmed that MSCs can delay the pathological progression of PE and improve maternal and fetal outcomes. However, the major limitations in the application of MSCs are their low-survival rates in ischemic and hypoxic disease areas after transplantation and their low rate of successful migration to the diseased regions. Therefore, enhancing cell viability and migration ability of MSCs in both ischemic and anoxic environments is important. This study aimed to investigate the effects of hypoxic preconditioning on the viability and migration ability of placental mesenchymal stem cells (PMSCs) and their underlying mechanisms. In this study, we found that hypoxic preconditioning enhanced the viability and migration ability of PMSCs, increased the expression of DANCR and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), and decreased the expression of miR-656-3p in PMSCs. Inhibiting the expression of HIF-1α and DACNR in PMSCs under hypoxia can inhibit the promotive effect of hypoxic preconditioning on viability and migration ability. In addition, RNA pull down and double luciferase assays confirmed that miR-656-3p could directly bind to DANCR and HIF-1α. In conclusion, our study showed that hypoxia could promote the viability and migration ability of PMSCs through the DANCR/miR-656-3p/HIF-1α axis.

Quantifying carotid stiffness in a pre-hypertensive population with ultrafast ultrasound imaging

Purpose@#The aim of this study was to assess carotid stiffening in a pre-hypertensive (PHT) population using ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV). @*Methods@#This study retrospectively enrolled 626 individuals who underwent clinical interviews, serum tests, and assessments of the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), pulse wave velocity-beginning of systole (PWV-BS), and pulse wave velocity-end of systole (PWV-ES) between January 2017 and December 2021. The patients were divided into three groups according to their blood pressure (BP)—normal BP (NBP): SBP 0.05). However, the NBP group had a notably lower PWV-ES than the PHT (P0.05). @*Conclusion@#Carotid morphological and biomechanical properties in the PHT group differed from those in the NBP group. ufPWV could be used for an early evaluation of carotid stiffening linked to pre-hypertension.

Treatment of chronic urticaria with acupuncture and moxibustion by "mind-body regulation" based on "psychosomatic medicine" / 中国针灸

The treatment idea for chronic urticaria with acupuncture and moxibustion by "mind-body regulation" is explored in reference with "psychosomatic medicine". Chronic urticaria refers to "mind and body comorbidity" because qi and blood dysfunction and emotional abnormality are presented simultaneously in the disease and affected each other. In clinical diagnosis and treatment, the mutual regulation of mind and body should be considered to improve the curative effect. In treatment with acupuncture and moxibustion, through regulating the mind of brain, heart and zang organs, as well as qi movement, the mental activity is adjusted; through harmonizing the defensive qi and the nutrient blood, eliminating wind and stopping itching, the unhealthy conditions of body are treated. The comprehensive therapy of acupuncture is adopted in combination with moxibustion, bloodletting and auricular point therapy, in which, "regulating the mind" goes through the whole process of treatment, and the doctors and patients are well cooperated to ensure the qi-blood harmonization and the mind-body wellness.

Effects of bisphenol A and bisphenol analogs on the nervous system / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Estrogen impacts neural development; meanwhile, it has a protective effect on the brain. Bisphenols, primarily bisphenol A (BPA), can exert estrogen-like or estrogen-interfering effects by binding with estrogen receptors. Extensive studies have suggested that neurobehavioral problems, such as anxiety and depression, can be caused by exposure to BPA during neural development. Increasing attention has been paid to the effects on learning and memory of BPA exposure at different developmental stages and in adulthood. Further research is required to elucidate whether BPA increases the risk of neurodegenerative diseases and the underlying mechanisms, as well as to assess whether BPA analogs, such as bisphenol S and bisphenol F, influence the nervous system.

Responses of blood parameters and hemoglobin subtypes in plateau zokors and plateau pikas to different altitude habitats / 生理学报

The plateau zokor (Myospalax baileyi) and plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) are native species unique to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau with successful adaptation to the hypoxic environment. In this study, the number of red blood cells, hemoglobin concentration, mean hematocrit and mean volume of red blood cells were measured in plateau zokors and plateau pikas at different altitudes. Hemoglobin subtypes of two plateau animals were identified by mass spectrometry sequencing. The forward selection sites in two animals' hemoglobin subunits were analyzed by PAML4.8 program. Homologous modeling was used to analyze the effect of forward selection sites on the affinity of hemoglobin to oxygen. The adapting strategies of plateau zokors and plateau pikas to hypoxia at different altitudes were analyzed through comparing blood parameters between the two species. The results indicated that, with increasing altitudes, plateau zokors responded to hypoxia by increasing red blood cell count and decreasing red blood cell volume, while plateau pikas took the opposite strategies to plateau zokors. In erythrocytes of plateau pikas, both adult α2β2 and fetal α2ε2 hemoglobins were identified, while erythrocytes of plateau zokors only had adult α2β2 hemoglobin, however the affinities and the allosteric effects of the hemoglobin of plateau zokors were significantly higher than those of plateau pikas. Mechanistically, in the α and β subunits of hemoglobin of plateau zokors and pikas, the numbers and the sites of the positively selected amino acids as well as the side chain groups polarities and orientations of the amino acids differed significantly, which may result in the difference of the affinities to oxygen of hemoglobin between plateau zokors and pikas. In conclusion, the adaptive mechanisms to respond to hypoxia in blood properties of plateau zokors and plateau pikas are species-specific.

Awareness of HPV and HPV vaccine and willingness to be vaccinated among parents of children aged 9-14 / 公共卫生与预防医学

Objective To investigate the HPV vaccination status of children aged 9-14 years, parents’ vaccine-related cognition, willingness to vaccinate children and their influencing factors. Methods From January to April 2021, the convenience sampling method was used to collect data based on the online platform and the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Gynecology of the Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. The data were analyzed by descriptive analysis, Chi-square test, and logistic regression. Results A total of 864 questionnaires were collected, and 846 valid questionnaires were obtained after screening, with an effective rate of 97.9%. 13.57% of mothers and 3.09% of girls were vaccinated, and the vaccine awareness rate was 68.43%. 87.22% of parents were willing to bring their children for vaccination. Risk perception (OR=4.79, 95% CI: 2.22-10.35), willingness to vaccinate themselves (OR =29.01, 95% CI: 12.62-66.69), awareness of sex education (OR =3.73, 95% CI: 1.08-12.83) and whether the vaccines were free (P<0.001) were related to whether parents were willing to vaccinate their children. Conclusion Parents of children aged 9-14 have high awareness of HPV and HPV vaccine and are willing to vaccinate their children with HPV vaccine , but the vaccination rate in children is low. Disease perception, willingness to vaccinate, awareness of sex education, and whether vaccines are free are all the factors influencing parents' willingness to vaccinate children.

Analysis on the Distribution Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Factors in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease at Different Ages / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

Objective To collect information from the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)four diagnostic information of patients with coronary heart disease(CHD)and to observe the characteristics of their Chinese medicine syndrome factor at different ages,to provide an objective basis for the Chinese medicine treatment of patients with CHD at different ages.Methods The TCM Four Diagnostic Information Collection Scale for CHD developed by the group was used to collect the four diagnostic information of patients with coronary heart disease,and the syndrome elements were extracted according to the syndrome differentiation standard to observe the distribution of syndrome elements at different ages.Results CHD is located in the heart and accompanied by liver,kidney,stomach,lung and other organs.Qi deficiency is the most common syndrome factor,followed by phlegm turbidity,yin deficiency,blood stasis and qi stagnation.Among the syndrome elements of disease location,the heart and liver were the most common in the young group,and the heart and kidney were more common in the middle-aged group and the elderly group.Among the syndrome elements of disease nature,qi deficiency was more common in the young group,phlegm turbidity and qi stagnation were more common in the empirical group,and qi deficiency and phlegm turbidity were the most frequent.In the middle-aged group,qi deficiency was more common in deficiency syndrome,phlegm turbidity and blood stasis were more common in excess syndrome,and the frequency of qi deficiency and phlegm turbidity and blood stasis was the highest.In the elderly group,qi deficiency and yin deficiency were more common in deficiency syndrome,phlegm turbidity and blood stasis were more common in excess syndrome,and qi and yin deficiency combined with phlegm turbidity and blood stasis had the highest frequency.Conclusion The combination of syndrome elements in patients with CHD in different age groups has its own characteristics.The young,middle and elderly groups are all visible in the mixture of deficiency and excess,while the young group is the most common with qi deficiency and phlegm turbidity,the middle-aged group is the most common with qi deficiency and phlegm turbidity and blood stasis,and the elderly group is the most common with qi and yin deficiency and phlegm turbidity and blood stasis.With the increase of age,the complexity of the combination of syndrome elements is higher.

Effect of solution-focused brief therapy on anxiety and depression in patients with HIV/AIDS:a meta-analy-sis / 中华护理杂志

Objective Meta-analysis was used to evaluate the effect of the solution-focused brief therapy on im-proving the anxiety and depression status of patients with HIV/AIDS.Methods Computer search of PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,CINAHL,PsycINFO,Chinese Biomedical Literature Database,China Na-tional Knowledge Infrastructure,Wanfang Database,CQVIP were conducted,and the search time frame was from the establishment of databases until April 9,2023.There were 2 investigators who independently screened the literature according to inclusion and exclusion criteria,extracted data and performed quality evaluation,and performed Meta-analysis using RevMan 5.4 software.Results A total of 11 publications were included,including 9 randomized controlled trials and 2 quasi-experimental studies,with a total of 1 219 patients with HIV/AIDS.Meta-analysis re-sults showed that solution-focused brief therapy reduced anxiety scores(SMD=-1.89;95%CI:-2.79～-0.99,P＜0.001),depression scores(SMD=-2.45;95%CI:-3.51～-1.39,P＜0.001).Subgroup analysis showed that improved anxiety(SMD=-4.16;95%CI:-7.97～-0.35,P＜0.001),depression(SMD=-5.69;95%CI:-11.20～-0.19,P＜0.001)in pregnant HIV/AIDS patients was significantly better than that in ordinary patients.Conclusion Solution-focused brief therapy is effective in improving anxiety and depression levels in patients with HIV/AIDS,and the application of this model in pregnant patients with HIV/AIDS has a more significant improvement effect,but high-quality,multicenter,large-sample clinical trial studies are needed to further confirm this conclusion in the future.

Interpretation of the limit values of iodide in the "Standards for Drinking Water Quality（GB5749-2022）" in China / 中华预防医学杂志

The Drinking Water Sanitation Standard (GB 5749-2022) has been officially promulgated and implemented, with the iodide listed as a new reference indicator for water quality. This study interprets the distribution of iodine in environmental media, the impact of water iodine on health, the significance of establishing iodide standard limits, and the use of iodide standard limits, in order to provide a scientific basis for the application of iodide standard limits in this revised standard.

Analysis of copy number variation in AZF region of Y chromosome in patients with spermatogenic failure / 中华医学遗传学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the characteristics of copy number variation (CNV) within the Y chromosome azoospermia factor (AZF) region in patients with spermatogenesis disorders in the Shenzhen area.@*METHODS@#A total of 123 patients with spermatogenesis disorders who had visited Shenzhen People's Hospital from January 2016 to October 2022 (including 73 patients with azoospermia and 50 patients with oligozoospermia) and 100 normal semen males were selected as the study subjects. The AZF region was detected with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), and the correlation between the CNV in the AZF region and spermatogenesis disorders was analyzed using the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test.@*RESULTS@#19 CNV were detected among 53 patients from the 223 samples, including 20 cases (27.40%, 20/73) from the azoospermia group, 19 cases (38%, 19/50) from the oligozoospermia group, and 14 cases (14%, 14/100) from the normal control group. In the azoospermia, oligozoospermia, and normal control groups, the detection rates for CNV related to the AZFa region (including AZFab and AZFabc) were 5.48% (4/73), 2.00% (1/50), and 0 (0/100), respectively. The detection rates for the AZFb region (including the AZFbc region) were 6.85% (5/73), 0 (0/50), and 0 (0/100), respectively. The detection rates for gr/gr deletions in the AZFc region were 2.74% (2/73), 6.00% (3/50), and 9.00% (9/100), respectively, and those for b2/b4 deletions in the AZFc region were 2.74% (2/73), 10.00% (5/50), and 0 (0/100), respectively. The detection rates for complex rearrangements in the AZFc region were 6.85% (5/73), 18.00% (9/50), and 3.00% (3/100), respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in the detection rate of gr/gr deletions between the three groups (Fisher's Exact Test value = 2.712, P = 0.249); the differences in the detection rate of b2/b4 deletions between the three groups were statistically significant (Fisher's Exact Test value = 9.489, P = 0.002); the differences in the detection rate of complex rearrangements in the AZFc region between the three groups were statistically significant (Fisher's Exact Test value = 9.493, P = 0.006). In this study, a rare AZFa region ARSLP1 gene deletion (involving SY86 deletion) was detected in a patient with oligozoospermia.@*CONCLUSION@#CNV in the AZFa and AZFb regions have a severe impact on spermatogenesis, but partial deletion in the AZFa region (ARSLP1 gene deletion) has a minor impact on spermatogenesis. The b2/b4 deletion and complex rearrangement in the AZFc region may be risk factors for male infertility. The gr/gr deletion may not serve as a risk factor for male infertility in the Shenzhen area.

Mediating a host cell signaling pathway linked to overwinter mortality offers a promising therapeutic approach for improving bee health.

INTRODUCTION: Honey bees provides valuable pollination services for world food crops and wild flowering plants which are habitats of many animal species and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. Nevertheless, the honey bee population has been declining and the majority of colony losses occur during the winter. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to understand the mechanisms underlying overwinter colony losses and develop novel therapeutic strategies for improving bee health. METHODS: First, pathogen prevalence in overwintering bees were screened between 2015 and 2018. Second, RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) for transcriptional profiling of overwintering honey bees was conducted and qRT-PCR was performed to confirm the results of the differential expression of selected genes. Lastly, laboratory bioassays were conducted to measure the effects of cold challenges on bee survivorship and stress responses and to assess the effect of a novel medication for alleviating cold stress in honey bees. RESULTS: We identified that sirtuin signaling pathway is the most significantly enriched pathway among the down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in overwintering diseased bees. Moreover, we showed that the expression of SIRT1 gene, a major sirtuin that regulates energy and immune metabolism, was significantly downregulated in bees merely exposed to cold challenges, linking cold stress with altered gene expression of SIRT1. Furthermore, we demonstrated that activation of SIRT1 gene expression by SRT1720, an activator of SIRT1 expression, could improve the physiology and extend the lifespan of cold-stressed bees. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that increased energy consumption of overwintering bees for maintaining hive temperature reduces the allocation of energy toward immune functions, thus making the overwintering bees more susceptible to disease infections and leading to high winter colony losses. The novel information gained from this study provides a promising avenue for the development of therapeutic strategies for mitigating colony losses, both overwinter and annually.

The mediating effect of chronic disease self efficacy between spiritual well-being and mental resilience in patients undergoing chemotherapy after radical mastectomy for breast cancer / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective:To investigate the chronic disease self efficacy, mental resilience and spiritual well-being level in patients undergoing chemotherapy after radical mastectomy for breast cancer, and to explore whether there is a mediating effect among them.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. A total of 376 patients undergoing chemotherapy after radical mastectomy for breast cancer were selected as the survey objects by convenience sampling method from July 2020 to April 2021 in Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University. The chronic disease self efficacy, mental resilience and spiritual well-being were evaluated by Self-Efficacy Scale for Managing Chronic Disease, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Spiritual Well-being, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. The correlation among the chronic disease self efficacy, mental resilience and spiritual well-being was tested by Pearson correlation analysis. Structural equation model was used to analyze the intermediary mechanism of the chronic disease self efficacy, mental resilience and spiritual well-being.Results:The total score for chronic disease self-efficacy of the research objects was (33.34 ± 12.77) points, the total score for mental resilience was (66.13 ± 21.67) points, and the total score for spiritual well-being was (28.41 ± 10.13) points. The chronic disease self-efficacy, mental resilience, and spiritual well-being were all positively correlated ( r values were 0.689-0.949, all P<0.01). The chronic disease self-efficacy played a partially mediating role in spiritual well-being and mental resilience in patients undergoing chemotherapy after radical mastectomy for breast cancer ( β=0.387, P<0.01), the mediating effect accounted for 43.33% of the total effect. Conclusions:The chronic disease self-efficacy can indirectly affect the level of spiritual well-being in patients undergoing chemotherapy after radical mastectomy for breast cancer. Clinical medical staff should pay attention to their psychological counseling, broaden their minds, enhance spiritual well-being, and help them recover from adversity.

The relationship between sleep arousal, ambulatory blood pressure and heart failure in elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective:To evaluate the relationship between sleep arousal, ambulatory blood pressure and new-onset heart failure(NOHF)in elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea(OSA).Methods:A total of 584 elderly patients with OSA who were diagnosed and treated in our hospital between March 2015 and March 2019 were prospectively and consecutively selected, with a mean age of(70.1±7.2)years.Polysomnography(PSG)results were obtained at baseline, and the arousal index(AI)was calculated.Based on the quartiles of AI, patients were divided into 4 groups: a low-level group(AI<18.4/h, 186 cases), a low-medium level group(18.4-29.1/h, 177 cases), a medium-high level group(29.2-41.2/h, 137 cases)and a high-level group(>41.2 /h, 84 cases). Participants were followed up for 18 months, the results of ambulatory blood pressure were recorded and compared, and the relationship between AI and the risk of NOHF was analyzed.Results:Compared with the low-level group, patients in the low-medium, medium-high, and high-level groups were older(70.1, 70.3, 73.3 vs.68.7 years, F=2.726, P=0.043)and had more smokers(43.8%, 49.6%, 54.8% vs.38.2%, χ2=8.809, P=0.032), a larger body mass index(26.3, 26.7, 27.6 vs.25.4 kg/m 2, F=2.731, P=0.042), a higher Epworth sleepiness scale score(7.83, 8.50, 9.91 vs.7.64, F=5.124, P=0.018), a higher apnea hypopnea index(23.5, 34.8, 52.7 vs.17.6, F=5.632, P=0.007), lower nocturnal oxygen saturation(80.2, 75.3, 72.1 vs.83.7 mmHg, F=4.811, P=0.024), and higher N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)levels(317.5, 337.5, 359.2 vs.267.5 pg/L, F=4.307, P=0.033). At the median follow-up(18 months, 14-24 months), the results of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring showed that 24-hour systolic blood pressure(24 h SBP)(147.3, 148.6, 156.2 vs.143.8 mmHg, F=5.4311, P=0.013), 24-hour diastolic blood pressure(24 h DBP)(80.1, 79.5, 83.7 vs.76.5 mmHg, F=5.679, P=0.011)in the low-medium, medium-high and high-level groups were higher than those in the low-level group.The results of survival analysis showed that there were 75(12.8%)cases of NOHF, mostly with preserved ejection fraction(47 cases)or mid-range ejection fraction heart failure(20 cases). The incidences of NOHF were 6.5%, 12.4%, 16.1% and 22.4%, respectively for the low level, low-medium, medium-high and high-level groups, and the risk of NOHF in the low-medium, medium-high and high-level groups was significantly higher than in the low level group(log-rank χ2=11.624, P=0.007). Variables with P<0.2 in the univariate analysis, age and sex were included in the multivariate Cox regression analysis.The results showed that age( HR=1.724, 95% CI: 1.216-3.135), diabetes( HR=1.514, 95% CI: 1.127-3.058), NT proBNP( HR=1.517, 95% CI: 1.232-2.366), nocturnal diastolic blood pressure( HR=2.004, 95% CI: 1.332-4.638), and middle-high AI level( HR=1.611, 95% CI: 1.204-2.967)and high AI level( HR=1.863, 95% CI: 1.272-3.538)were independent factors of NOHF in elderly OSA patients. Conclusions:Sleep arousal in elderly patients with OSA increases blood pressure levels and the risk of NOHF.