Pathobiological characterization of a novel duck picornavirus in duck in China.

A novel strain of duck picornavirus was isolated from duck tissue in Taian, Shandong Province, in 2017 in our laboratory. The virus was amplified in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chicken embryos, purified and then analyzed by whole genome sequencing, which revealed a new duck-derived small RNA virus that was designated as Duck/FC22/China/2017 (FC22, GenBank accession no. MN102111) based on its genome structure and phylogenetic relationship. An in-depth study revealed that the virus grew well on the Leghorn male hepatoma (LMH) cell line. After propagation of the virus, SPF ducks were inoculated for pathogenicity tests, and their mental state, growth and development were observed after inoculation; the ducks were dissected to observe the organs and histopathological changes. A TaqMan fluorescence quantitative PCR method was utilized to detect the proliferation and shedding patterns of the virus within the ducks, while the SYBR Green I fluorescence quantitative PCR method was used to assess cytokine expression levels in the organs. The results showed that following inoculation with the FC22 strain, the mental status of the SPF ducks remained unchanged. Mild oedema was observed in some tissue organs during dissection; however, no pathological changes, such as congestion or degeneration, were noted. Histopathological analysis revealed cellular necrosis in organs, including the heart, liver, and bursa of Fabricius, as well as a reduced volume and deep staining of certain neurons in the cerebrum. Following infection, the virus titres in various organs and in cloacal swabs of the SPF ducks peaked on the first day before gradually decreasing daily. By the 10th d, the virus titres in all organs had decreased to less than 101 copies/µL. Additionally, notable alterations were observed in the expression levels of the cytokines IFNα, IL6, IL10, and TNFα. This indicates that the FC22 strain does not cause significant disease in ducks. This report presents the initial study on a recently discovered picornavirus, offering a thorough and methodical examination of its pathogenic characteristics and provides a reference for the clinical evaluation and scientific strategies for the prevention and treatment of this particular picornavirus.

Establishment and Application of Mismatch Amplification Mutation Assay-PCR for Rapid Detection and Differentiation of Duck Hepatitis A Virus-1 Attenuated Vaccine and Wild Strains.

Duck hepatitis A virus type 1 (DHAV-1) is the main pathogen causing viral hepatitis in ducks, marked by high contagion and acute mortality. Live attenuated DHAV-1 vaccines are widely used to control the disease. This study aims to develop a mismatch amplification mutation assay (MAMA)-PCR for the rapid detection and differentiation of Korean DHAV-1 wild-type strains from vaccine strains. A MAMA primer was designed to target a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) at position 2276 within the VP1 gene, allowing differentiation in a single PCR reaction. The MAMA-PCR accurately identified both strains, with detection limits of 100.5 ELD50/mL and 102.3 ELD50/mL, respectively. The MAMA-PCR demonstrated specificity, showing no cross-reactivity with 12 other viral and bacterial pathogens. The MAMA-PCR was applied to 89 farms, yielding results consistent with nested-PCR and sequence determination, identifying four positive farms for DHAV-1 vaccine strains. In conclusion, this study is the first to employ the MAMA-PCR method to distinguish between DHAV-1 wild-type and vaccine strains. The developed method is rapid, simple, specific, and sensitive, thereby serving as an effective tool for clinical diagnostics in identifying and differentiating between Korean DHAV-1 wild-type and vaccine strains.

A drug delivery system of HIF-1α siRNA nanoparticles loaded by mesenchymal stem cells on choroidal neovascularization.

Aim: To assess mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as carriers for HIF-1α siRNA-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) for targeted therapy of experimental choroidal neovascularization (CNV).Materials & methods: A poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-core/lipid-shell hybrid NP was designed. The transfection efficacy of MSCs with the hybrid NPs was assessed. Mice were intravenously injected with MSCs after laser photocoagulation and CNV was assessed at 7 days post-injection.Results & conclusion: The transfection efficiency of hybrid NPs into MSCs was 72.7%. HIF-1α mRNA expression in 661w cells co-cultured with MSC-hybrid-siRNA NPs was significantly lower. Intravenous delivery of MSC-hybrid-siRNA NPs greatly reduced CNV area and length. Intravenous injection of MSC-hybrid-siRNA NPs achieved therapeutic efficacy in reducing CNV area. The MSC-mediated homing enabled targeted inhibition of ocular angiogenesis.

[Box: see text].

Simultaneous construction strategy using two types of fluorescent markers for HVT vector vaccine against infectious bursal disease and H9N2 avian influenza virus by NHEJ-CRISPR/Cas9.

Recently, herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT), which was initially employed as a vaccine against Marek's disease (MD), has been shown to be a highly effective viral vector for producing recombinant vaccines that can simultaneously express the protective antigens of multiple poultry diseases. Prior to the development of commercial HVT-vectored dual-insert vaccines, the majority of HVT-vectored vaccines in use only contained a single foreign gene and were often generated using time-consuming and inefficient traditional recombination methods. The development of multivalent HVT-vectored vaccines that induce simultaneous protection against several avian diseases is of great value. In particular, efficacy interference between individual recombinant HVT vaccines can be avoided. Herein, we demonstrated the use of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology for the insertion of an IBDV (G2d) VP2 expression cassette into the UL45/46 region of the recombinant rHVT-HA viral genome to generate the dual insert rHVT-VP2-HA recombinant vaccine. The efficacy of this recombinant virus was also evaluated in specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens. PCR and sequencing results showed that the recombinant virus rHVT-VP2-HA was successfully constructed. Vaccination with rHVT-VP2-HA produced high levels of specific antibodies against IBDV (G2d) and H9N2/Y280. rHVT-VP2-HA can provide 100% protection against challenges with IBDV (G2d) and H9N2/Y280. These results demonstrate that rHVT-VP2-HA is a safe and highly efficacious vaccine for the simultaneous control of IBDV (G2d) and H9N2/Y280.

Protection of Chickens against H9N2 Avian Influenza Isolates with a Live Vector Vaccine Expressing Influenza Hemagglutinin Gene Derived from Y280 Avian Influenza Virus.

Since the outbreak of the H9N2/Y439 avian influenza virus in 1996, the Korean poultry industry has incurred severe economic losses. A novel possibly zoonotic H9N2 virus from the Y280-like lineage (H9N2/Y280) has been prevalent in Korea since June 2020, posing a threat to the poultry sector. Rapid mutation of influenza viruses urges the development of effective vaccines against newly generated strains. Thus, we engineered a recombinant virus rHVT/Y280 to combat H9N2/Y280. We integrated the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of the H9N2/Y280 strain into the US2 region of the herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) Fc126 vaccine strain, utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology. The successful construction of rHVT/Y280 was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing, followed by efficacy evaluation. Four-day-old specific pathogen-free chickens received the rHVT/Y280 vaccine and were challenged with the H9N2/Y280 strain A21-MRA-003 at 3 weeks post-vaccination. In 5 days, there were no gross lesions among the vaccinated chickens. The rHVT/Y280 vaccine induced strong humoral immunity and markedly reduced virus shedding, achieving 100% inhibition of virus recovery in the cecal tonsil and significantly lowering tissue viral load. Thus, HVT vector vaccines expressing HA can be used for protecting poultry against H9N2/Y280. The induction of humoral immunity by live vaccines is vital in such cases. In summary, the recombinant virus rHVT/Y280 is a promising vaccine candidate for the protection of chickens against the H9N2/Y280.

Safety and efficacy of pyrotinib for HER­2­positive breast cancer in the neoadjuvant setting: A systematic review and meta­analysis.

As a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), pyrotinib can irreversibly block dual pan-ErbB receptors and has been used in the treatment of advanced or metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer. However, there are limited data on the use of pyrotinib in early breast cancer. Therefore, the present meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pyrotinib in the neoadjuvant setting for patients with early-stage or locally advanced HER2-positive breast cancer. Online databases (Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Library) were comprehensively searched for eligible prospective clinical trials on August 17, 2023. The primary endpoint was the treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), and the secondary endpoint was pathological complete response (pCR) rate. In total, seven trials with a total enrolment of 407 patients were included. A total of seven studies evaluated pyrotinib in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting. The median age ranged from 47-50 years. The most common TRAEs were diarrhea [98% of patients; 95% confidence interval (CI): 92-100%], followed by anemia (71%; 95% CI: 55-89%), vomiting (69%; 95% CI: 55-82%), and leucopenia (66%; 95% CI: 35-91%). No treatment-related deaths occurred. The pooled pCR rate was 57% (95% CI: 47-68%). It was concluded that pyrotinib-containing neoadjuvant therapy could be an effective treatment strategy in patients with early-stage or locally advanced HER2-positive breast cancer; however, the management of adverse events should be a key consideration. The management of adverse events should be paid great attention to, during pyrotinib therapy, although pyrotinib-contained neoadjuvant therapy could be an effective treatment for patients with early-stage or locally advanced HER2-positive breast cancer. Head-to-head randomized clinical trials are warranted to further confirm the benefits and risks associated with pyrotinib therapy in patients with breast cancer.

Development of a Highly Efficient CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Herpesvirus of Turkey-Based Vaccine against Novel Variant Infectious Bursal Disease Virus.

Infectious bursal disease (IBD), caused by IBD virus (IBDV), is an extremely contagious immunosuppressive disease that causes major losses for the poultry industry worldwide. Recently, the novel variant IBDV (G2d) has been highly prevalent in Korea, but the current vaccines against this very virulent IBDV have limited efficacy against this novel variant. To develop a vaccine against this variant IBDV, a recombinant virus designated rHVT-VP2 was constructed by inserting the IBDV (G2d) VP2 gene into herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology. The PCR and sequencing results obtained showed that the recombinant virus rHVT-VP2 was successfully constructed. Vaccination with rHVT-VP2 generated IBDV-specific antibodies in specific pathogen-free chickens starting from 2 weeks post-immunization. Seven days after the challenge, the autopsy results showed that the bursa atrophy rates of the rHVT-VP2, HVT, vaccine A, and positive control groups were 0%, 100%, 60%, and 100%, respectively, and the BBIX values were 1.07 ± 0.22, 0.27 ± 0.05, 0.64 ± 0.33, and 0.32 ± 0.06, respectively. These results indicate that rHVT-VP2 can provide 100% protection against a challenge with the IBDV (G2d), whereas vaccine A only provides partial protection. In conclusion, vaccination with the recombinant virus rHVT-VP2 can provide chickens with effective protection against variant IBDV (G2d).

Genetic Characterization of Avian Paramyxovirus Isolated from Wild Waterfowl in Korea between 2015 and 2021.

Avian paramyxoviruses (APMVs) are often carried by wild waterfowl, and the wild waterfowl may play an important role in the maintenance and spread of these viruses. In this study, we investigated APMVs in the population of migratory wild waterfowl from 2015 to 2021 in Korea and analyzed their genetic characteristics. Fourteen viruses were isolated and subsequently identified as APMV-1 (n = 13) and APMV-13 (n = 1). Phylogenetic analysis of the full fusion gene of 13 APMV-1 isolates showed that 10 APMV-1 isolates belonged to the class II sub-genotype I.2, which was epidemiologically linked to viruses from the Eurasian continent, and 3 viruses belonged to class I, which linked to viruses from the USA. The APMV-13 isolates from wild geese in this study were highly homology to the virus isolated from China. Sequence analysis of 14 isolates showed that all isolates had a typical lentogenic motif at the cleavage site. In summary, we identified the wild species likely to be infected with APMV and our data suggest possible intercontinental transmission of APMV by wild waterfowl. Our current study also provides the first evidence for the presence of class I of APMV-1 and APMV-13 in wild waterfowl surveyed in Korea.

Identifying the effective combination of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicinal herbs for postmenopausal osteoporosis therapy through studies of their molecular regulation of bone homeostasis.

Worldwide, as the population age, osteoporosis is becoming increasingly common, and osteoporotic fractures have a significant economic burden. Postmenopausal women are the most susceptible to developing osteoporosis and the most critical time to prevent it is during the perimenopausal and early menopausal years. In this regard, we hypothesize rational combination of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the form of herbal extract could prevent osteoporosis in women. Estrogen deficiency during menopause causes low-level inflammation that stimulates the formation of osteoclasts, the bone-resorbing cells, and simultaneously inhibits the viability and function of osteoblasts, the bone-forming cells. The most potent inflammatory cytokine in skeletal homeostasis is the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) that stimulates osteoclast function. Conversely, the canonical Wnt pathway is essential for osteoblastogenesis and bone formation, and estrogen deficiency leads to diminished functioning of this pathway. TCM and acupuncture could target the RANKL and the Wnt pathway in favorable ways to prevent the accelerated bone loss experienced during the early menopausal stage and promote the gain in bone mass in postmenopausal women. In this review, we propose a rational combination of specific TCM and acupuncture targeting those signaling molecules/pathways by the drugs that are in clinical use for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Our rational approach revealed that Danshen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae) could exert a synergistic effect with acupuncture. We then propose a translational path for developing the putative combination in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis to curtail the risk of osteoporotic fractures.

Exploring the Mechanism of Sini San Formula on Ulcerative Colitis and Depression Through"Homotherapy for Heteropathy"Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking / 中药新药与临床药理

Objective To investigate the mechanism of Sini San Formula in the treatment of ulcerative colitis and depression through"homotherapy for heteropathy"based on network pharmacology and molecular docking.Methods The TCMSP database was used to obtain the potential active components and their related targets;GeneCards,CTD,and TTD databases were used to screen the disease-related targets of ulcerative colitis and depression;the intersection of the predicted targets of the active components and the disease-related targets was used to obtain the potential targets(shared targets)for the treatment of ulcerative colitis and depression by Sini San Formula,and Cytoscape 3.7.2 software to construct a"Chinese medicinals-active components-diseases-common targets"network to analyze the core components;importing the common targets into the STRING database,constructing a common protein-protein interaction(PPI)network.The GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment of the shared targets were analyzed by DAVID database,and molecular docking between the core components and the key targets was verified.Results A total of 136 active components of Sini San Formula were obtained,and 220 potential targets of action(shared targets)for the treatment of ulcerative colitis and depression by Sini San Formula,involving 657 biological processes,70 cellular components,147 molecular functions and 133 signaling pathways.The screening yielded core active compounds such as quercetin,kaempferol,lignans,naringenin,7-methoxy-2-methylisoflavone,key target proteins such as JUN,MAPK3,STAT3,AKT1,and MAPK1,as well as signaling pathways such as TNF,IL-17,Th17 cellular differentiation,HIF-1,and Toll-like receptor.Five potential key targets have strong binding activity to quercetin,kaempferol,lignans and naringenin.Conclusion Sini San Formula may act on key targets such as JUN,MAPK3,STAT3,AKT1,MAPK1,etc.through active components such as quercetin,kaempferol,lignocerotonin,naringenin,etc.,and play the role of"homotherapy for heteropathy"for ulcerative colitis and depression through the signaling pathways such as TNF,IL-17,HIF-1,Toll-like receptor and Th17 cell differentiation.

Comparative Studies of Antimicrobial Resistance in Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter Isolates from Broiler Chickens with and without Use of Enrofloxacin.

This study investigated the effect of enrofloxacin (ENR) administration on the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of E. coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter isolated from broiler chickens under field conditions. The isolation rate of Salmonella was significantly lower (p < 0.05) on farms that administered ENR (6.4%) than on farms that did not (11.6%). The Campylobacter isolation rate was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in farms that administered ENR (6.7%) than in farms that did not (3.3%). The ratio of resistance to ENR was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in E. coli isolates from farms that used ENR (88.1%) than farms that did not (78.0%). The respective ratio of resistance to ampicillin (40.5% vs. 17.9%), chloramphenicol (38.0% vs. 12.5%), tetracycline (63.3% vs. 23.2%), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (48.1% vs. 28.6%) and the ratio of intermediate resistance to ENR (67.1% vs. 48.2%) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in Salmonella isolates from the farms that used ENR than farms that did not. In conclusion, the use of ENR at broiler farms was an important factor in decreasing the prevalence of Salmonella but not Campylobacter and caused ENR resistance among E. coli and Salmonella but not Campylobacter. Exposure to ENR could have a co-selective effect on antimicrobial resistance in enteric bacteria in the field.

Beneficial effects of protocatechuic acid on diabetic retinopathy in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats.

AIM: To determine the effects of protocatechuic acid (PCA) on streptozocin-induced diabetic retinopathy (DR) in rats. METHODS: Wistar rats were given a 50 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin to induce diabetes. Animals were assigned randomly one of four groups (8 rats per group): control, diabetic, diabetic plus PCA (25 mg/kg·d), and diabetic plus PCA (50 mg/kg·d). After inducing diabetes, treatments were started one week later and continued for eight weeks. After the experiment, the rats were sacrificed, and their retinas were taken for biochemical and molecular analysis. RESULTS: PCA administration diminished the blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin levels relative to the diabetic group. In diabetic rats, PCA lowered elevated levels of advanced glycosylated end products (AGEs) and receptor for AGEs (RAGE). In the retina of diabetic rats, PCA effectively decreased inflammatory cytokine, nuclear factor-κB, tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß, and vascular endothelial growth factor, and increased antioxidant markers glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. CONCLUSION: The protective benefits of PCA against DR may be attributable to its suppression of the AGEs and RAGE and its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

A population-based nomogram to individualize treatment modality for pancreatic cancer patients underlying surgery.

As the most aggressive tumor, TNM staging does not accurately identify patients with pancreatic cancer who are sensitive to therapy. This study aimed to identify associated risk factors and develop a nomogram to predict survival in pancreatic cancer surgery patients and to select the most appropriate comprehensive treatment regimen. First, the survival difference between radiotherapy and no radiotherapy was calculated based on propensity score matching (PSM). Cox regression was conducted to select the predictors of overall survival (OS). The model was constructed using seven variables: histologic type, grade, T stage, N stage, stage, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. All patients were classified into high- or low-risk groups based on the nomogram. The nomogram model for OS was established and showed good calibration and acceptable discrimination (C-index 0.721). Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and DCA curves showed that nomograms had better predictive performance than TNM stage. Patients were divided into low-risk and high-risk groups according to nomogram scores. Radiotherapy is recommended for high-risk patients but not for low-risk patients. We have established a well-performing nomogram to effectively predict the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients underlying surgery. The web version of the nomogram https://rockeric.shinyapps.io/DynNomapp/ may contribute to treatment optimization in clinical practice.

Intelligent Electrocardiogram Analysis in Medicine: Data, Methods, and Applications.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a low-cost, simple, fast, and non-invasive test. It can reflect the heart's electrical activity and provide valuable diagnostic clues about the health of the entire body. Therefore, ECG has been widely used in various biomedical applications such as arrhythmia detection, disease-specific detection, mortality prediction, and biometric recognition. In recent years, ECG-related studies have been carried out using a variety of publicly available datasets, with many differences in the datasets used, data preprocessing methods, targeted challenges, and modeling and analysis techniques. Here we systematically summarize and analyze the ECG-based automatic analysis methods and applications. Specifically, we first reviewed 22 commonly used ECG public datasets and provided an overview of data preprocessing processes. Then we described some of the most widely used applications of ECG signals and analyzed the advanced methods involved in these applications. Finally, we elucidated some of the challenges in ECG analysis and provided suggestions for further research.

The pressure field as a methodology for fluid management and red cell preservation during cardiac surgery.

PURPOSE: Anemia and red cell transfusion contribute to morbidity and mortality of surgery. The concept of patient blood management to mitigate preoperative anemia, optimize coagulation, conserve red cells intraoperatively and accept lower post-operative transfusion thresholds has recently gained widespread acceptance across a range of surgical disciplines. Fluid administration is likely to contribute significantly to perioperative anemia and red-cell transfusion requirements, yet a robust basis for managing fluid administration in this context has not been articulated. There is an urgent need for this. METHODS: We developed 'the pressure field method' as a novel approach to guiding the administration of fluid and drugs to optimize tissue perfusion. The pressure field method was used for the intraoperative management of 67 patients undergoing semi-elective cardiac surgery. We compared intraoperative anemia and transfusion requirements in this cohort with a conventional group of 413 patients undergoing cardiac surgery. RESULTS: In the pressure field group, no patients required transfusion whereas in the conventional group, 16% required transfusion during bypass and these patients received an average of 2.4 units of packed red cells (P < 0.0001). The average decrease in hemoglobin in the pressure field group was only 13 g/L, whereas in the conventional group it was 52 g/L (P < 0.0001). 80% of the pressure field group received no intravenous fluid during cardiac surgery, and the average intraoperative fluid load was 115 mL. CONCLUSION: The pressure field method appears to reduce transfusion requirements due to decreased intraoperative fluid loading.

Imaging classification and analysis of the diagnosis and treatment of infected pancreatic necrosis:a report of 126 cases / 中华外科杂志

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics of various types of infected pancreatic necrosis(IPN) and the prognosis of different treatment methods in the imaging classification of IPN proposed. Methods: The clinical data of 126 patients with IPN admitted to the Department of Pancreatic and Biliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from December 2018 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 70 males(55.6%) and 56 females(44.4%), with age(M(IQR)) of 44(17)years (range: 12 to 87 years). There were 67 cases(53.2%) of severe acute pancreatitis and 59 cases (46.8%) of moderately severe acute pancreatitis. All cases were based on the diagnostic criteria of IPN. All cases were divided into Type Ⅰ(central IPN)(n=21), Type Ⅱ(peripheral IPN)(n=23), Type Ⅲ(mixed IPN)(n=74) and Type Ⅳ(isolated IPN)(n=8) according to the different sites of infection and necrosis on CT.According to different treatment strategies,they were divided into Step-up group(n=109) and Step-jump group(n=17). The clinical indicators and prognosis of each group were observed and analyzed by ANOVA,t-test,χ2 test or Fisher exact test,respectively. Results: There was no significant difference in mortality, complication rate and complication grade in each type of IPN(all P>0.05). Compared with other types of patients, the length of stay (69(40)days vs. 19(19)days) and hospitalization expenses(323 000(419 000)yuan vs. 60 000(78 000)yuan) were significantly increased in Type Ⅳ IPN(Z=-4.041, -3.972; both P<0.01). The incidence of postoperative residual infection of Type Ⅳ IPN was significantly higher than that of other types (χ2=16.350,P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the mortality of patients with different types of IPN between different treatment groups. The length of stay and hospitalization expenses of patients in the Step-up group were significantly less than those in the Step-jump group(19(20)days vs. 33(35)days, Z=-2.052, P=0.040;59 000(80 000)yuan vs. 122 000(109 000)yuan,Z=-2.317,P=0.020). Among the patients in Type Ⅳ IPN, the hospitalization expenses of Step-up group was significantly higher than that of Step-jump group(330 000(578 000)yuan vs. 141 000 yuan,Z=-2.000,P=0.046). The incidence of postoperative residual infection of Step-up group(17.4%(19/109)) was significantly lower than that of Step-jump group(10/17)(χ2=11.980, P=0.001). Conclusions: Type Ⅳ IPN is more serious than the other three types. It causes longer length of stay and more hospitalization expenses. The step-up approach is safe and effective in the treatment of IPN. However, for infected lesions which are deep in place,difficult to reach by conventional drainage methods, or mainly exhibit "dry necrosis", choosing the step-jump approach is a more positive choice.

Influence of paper mixing pads thickness on the compressive strength of glass ionomer cement / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the influence of the thickness of mixed cardboard on the compressive strength of glass ionomer cement and the associated factors.@*METHODS@#Three different types of glass ionomer cements were mixed on the top of 60, 40, 20 and 1 pieces of paper (P60, P40, P20 and P1), respectively. The compressive strength of the materials was tested after solidification, and the bubble rate was calculated with the assistance of scanning electron microscope.@*RESULTS@#(1) Compressive strength: ① ChemFil Superior glass ionomer (CF): The average compressive strength of P1 group was the highest, which was significantly different from that of P40 and P60 groups (P values were 0.041 and 0.032 respectively); ② To Fuji IX GP glass ionomer (IX): The average compressive strength of P1 group was the highest, which was statistically different from that of P40 and P60 groups (P values were 0.042 and 0.038 respectively); ③ Glaslonomer FX-Ⅱ glass ionomer cement (FX): The average compressive strength of P1 group was the highest, which was statistically different from that of P20, P40 and P60 groups (P values were 0.031, 0.040 and 0.041 respectively), but there was no statistical difference among the other groups. All the three materials showed that the compressive strength of glass ions gradually increased with the decrease of the thickness of the blended paperboard, and the two materials had a highly linear negative correlation, the correlation coefficients of which were CF-0.927, IX-0.989, FX-0.892, respectively. (2) Scanning electron microscope: P1 group had the least bubbles among the three materials.@*CONCLUSION@#It indicates that the thickness of mixed cardboard has a negative correlation with the compressive strength of glass ions. The thicker the mixed cardboard is, the greater the elasticity is. Excessive elasticity will accelerate the mixing speed when the grinding glass ions. Studies have shown that the faster the speed of artificial mixing is, the more bubbles is produced.The thicker ther mixed cardboard is, the more bubblesn are generated by glass ionomer cement, and the higher the compressive strength is. Using one piece of paper board to mix glass ionomer cement has the least bubbles and can obtain higher compressive strength.

Analysis of causes of graft loss in 135 kidney transplant recipients / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the causes of graft loss in kidney transplant recipients.@*METHODS@#We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 135 recipients with graft loss after renal transplantation in the Eighth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 1, 2002 to January 1, 2022.@*RESULTS@#A total of 135 kidney transplant recipients experienced graft failure. The causes of graft loss included graft rejection (70 cases, 51.8%), death of the recipients with functional graft (37 cases, 27.4%), surgical complications (12 cases, 8.9%), drug toxicity (4 cases, 3.0%), carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infection (4 cases, 3.0%), polyoma BK virus-related nephropathy (3 cases, 2.2%), primary nonfunctioning kidney (2 cases, 1.5%), recurrence of primary disease (2 cases, 1.5%), and prerenal acute renal failure (1 case, 0.7%).@*CONCLUSION@#The main cause of graft loss after renal transplantation is graft rejection, and the secondary cause is death of the recipient with functional graft, and other reasons can be rare.

Intelligent Electrocardiogram Analysis in Medicine: Data, Methods, and Applications / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a low-cost, simple, fast, and non-invasive test. It can reflect the heart's electrical activity and provide valuable diagnostic clues about the health of the entire body. Therefore, ECG has been widely used in various biomedical applications such as arrhythmia detection, disease-specific detection, mortality prediction, and biometric recognition. In recent years, ECG-related studies have been carried out using a variety of publicly available datasets, with many differences in the datasets used, data preprocessing methods, targeted challenges, and modeling and analysis techniques. Here we systematically summarize and analyze the ECG-based automatic analysis methods and applications. Specifically, we first reviewed 22 commonly used ECG public datasets and provided an overview of data preprocessing processes. Then we described some of the most widely used applications of ECG signals and analyzed the advanced methods involved in these applications. Finally, we elucidated some of the challenges in ECG analysis and provided suggestions for further research.

scRNA-seq reveals that origin recognition complex subunit 6 regulates mouse spermatogonial cell proliferation and apoptosis via activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

The regulation of spermatogonial proliferation and apoptosis is of great significance for maintaining spermatogenesis. The single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of the testis was performed to identify genes upregulated in spermatogonia. Using scRNA-seq analysis, we identified the spermatogonia upregulated gene origin recognition complex subunit 6 (Orc6), which is involved in DNA replication and cell cycle regulation; its protein expression in the human and mouse testis was detected by western blot and immunofluorescence. To explore the potential function of Orc6 in spermatogonia, the C18-4 cell line was transfected with control or Orc6 siRNA. Subsequently, 5-ethynyl-2-deoxyuridine (EdU) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays, flow cytometry, and western blot were used to evaluate its effects on proliferation and apoptosis. It was revealed that ORC6 could promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of C18-4 cells. Bulk RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis indicated that Orc6 was involved in the activation of wingless/integrated (Wnt)/ β-catenin signaling. Western blot revealed that the expression of β-catenin protein and its phosphorylation (Ser675) were significantly decreased when silencing the expression of ORC6. Our findings indicated that Orc6 was upregulated in spermatogonia, whereby it regulated proliferation and apoptosis by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling.