Serum Progesterone is Negatively Associated with Hypertension and Blood Pressure Indicators Among Men and Postmenopausal Women.

Sex hormones have been shown to be negatively associated with hypertension, but the relationship between serum progesterone levels and hypertension has not been adequately studied. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the association between progesterone and hypertension among Chinese rural adults. A total of 6222 participants were recruited, which included 2577 men and 3645 women. The concentration of serum progesterone was detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer system (LC-MS/MS). Logistic regression and linear regression were used to assess the associations between progesterone levels and hypertension and blood pressure related indicators, respectively. Constrained splines were used to fit the dose-response relationships of progesterone with hypertension and blood pressure related indicators. Moreover, the interactive effects of several lifestyle factors and progesterone were identified by a generalized linear model. After fully adjusting the variables, progesterone levels were inversely associated with hypertension in men [odds ratio (OR): 0.851, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.752, 0.964]. Among men, a 2.738 ng/ml increase in progesterone was associated with a 0.557 mmHg decrease in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (95% CI: -1.007, -0.107) and a 0.541 mmHg decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP) (95% CI: -1.049, -0.034), respectively. Similar results were observed in postmenopausal women. Interactive effect analysis showed that only a significant interaction was observed between progesterone and educational attainment on hypertension in premenopausal women (p=0.024). Elevated levels of serum progesterone were associated with hypertension in men. Except for premenopausal women, a negative association of progesterone with blood pressure related indicators was observed.

Anti-inflammatory Effect and Mechanism of Artesunate： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Inflammation， the basic pathological process of many diseases， can occur in various tissues and organs of the body and cause many diseases including cancer. So far， there are thousands of anti-inflammatory drugs on the market， but most of these drugs have adverse reactions of gastrointestinal injury， and can even cause greater damage to the body. In recent years， the research on the repurpose of Chinese medicine is in the ascendant， and the innovative research on the specific antimalarial drug artemisinin has attracted extensive attention from scholars in China and abroad. Artesunate is a water-soluble derivative of artemisinin， which has the characteristics of quick effect and low toxicity. In addition to its significant therapeutic effect on malaria， artesunate also has a potential anti-inflammatory effect. In this review， the anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism of artesunate were elaborated in detail by consulting the relevant literature. It was found that artesunate had good anti-inflammatory effects in the respiratory system， liver injury， osteoarthritis， dermatitis， kidney inflammation， colitis， neuroinflammation， and even in novel coronavirus disease 2019 （COVID-19）. It was concluded that artesunate mainly participated in apoptotic signal transduction， mediated immune regulation， and improved oxidative stress to play an anti-inflammatory role by acting on nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）， nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）， phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）/mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）， Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）/myeloid differentiation factor 88 （MyD88）/tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 （TRAF6）， high mobility group box 1 （HMGB1）/receptor for advanced glycation endproduct （RAGE）， and other pathways. Through the review of the anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism of artesunate， it is expected to provide a reference for the application of artesunate in inflammation resistance and further development and utilization of artesunate in the future.

Effect of Flavanomarein from Coreopsis tinctoria Ethanol Extract in Small Intestinal Organoids in Insulin-resistant Mice Based on Transcriptome Sequencing / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of flavanomarein on the transcriptome of small intestinal organoids in insulin-resistant mice. MethodFirstly， small intestinal organoids of C57BL/6J and db/db mice were established. Ki-67 and E-cadherin expression was determined by immunofluorescence. Small intestinal organoids were divided into the following three groups： C57BL/6J mouse small intestinal organoids as the normal control group， db/db mouse small intestinal organoids as the model group （IR group）， and db/db mouse small intestinal organoids treated with flavanomarein as the administration group （FM group）. Western blot was used to detect the expression of glucagon-like peptide-1（GLP-1） protein on the small intestinal organoids of the three groups. Finally， transcriptome sequencing was performed on samples from the three groups. ResultOn the 6th day of small intestine organoids culture， a cyclic structure was formed around the lumen， and a small intestine organoids culture model was preliminarily established. Immunofluorescence detection showed that ki-67 and E-cadherin were expressed in small intestinal organoids. Western blot results showed that the expression of GLP-1 protein was increased by flavanomarein. In the results of differential expressed gene （DEG） screening， there were 1 862 DEGs in the IR group as compared with the normal control group， and 2 282 DEGs in the FM group as compared with the IR group. Through protein-protein interaction（PPI） network analysis of the DEGs of the two groups， 10 Hub genes， including Nr1i3， Cyp2c44， Ugt2b1， Gsta1， Gstm2， Ptgs1， Gstm4， Cyp2c38， Cyp4a32， and Gpx3， were obtained. These genes were highly expressed in the normal control group， and their expression was reduced in the IR group. After the intervention of flavanomarein， the expression of the above genes was reversed. ConclusionFlavanomarein may play its role in improving insulin resistance by reversing the expression levels of 10 Hub genes， including Nr1i3， Cyp2c44， Ugt2b1， Gsta1， Gstm2， Ptgs1， Gstm4， Cyp2c38， Cyp4a32， and Gpx3.

SARS-CoV-2 RNA wastewater settled solids surveillance frequency and impact on predicted COVID-19 incidence using a distributed lag model

SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in wastewater settled solids correlate well with COVID-19 incidence rates (IRs). Here, we develop distributed lag models (DLMs) to estimate IRs using concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from wastewater solids and investigate the impact of sampling frequency on model performance. SARS-CoV-2 N gene and PMMoV RNA concentrations were measured daily at four wastewater treatment plants in California. Artificially reduced datasets were produced for each plant with sampling frequencies of once every 2, 3, 4, and 7 days. Sewershed-specific models that related daily N/PMMoV to IR were fit for each sampling frequency with data from mid-Nov 2020 through mid-July 2021, which included the period of time during which Delta emerged. Models were used to predict IRs during a subsequent out-of-sample time period. When sampling occurred at least once every 4 days, the in- and out-of-sample root mean square error (RMSE) changed less than 7 cases/100,000 compared to daily sampling across sewersheds. This work illustrates that real-time, daily predictions of IR are possible with small error, despite changes in circulating variants, when sampling frequency is once every 4 days or more. However, reduced sampling frequency may not serve other important wastewater surveillance use cases.

Preliminary results of domestic surgical robot-assisted remote nephrectomy based on 5G communication technology / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective:To explore the feasibility and safety of long-distance urological nephrotomy with the support of 5G communication technology by using the domestic robot.Methods:Clinical data of the patients with remote robot-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy, which were completed from March to April 2021 by the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University (as the host hospital where the main operating system located) were retrospectively analyzed. There were 3 patients, including 2 males and 1 female.The average age was 61 (49-73) years, and the average body mass index was 23.73 (20.00-27.76) kg/m 2. One patient had a ASA classification of grade 2, and the other 2 patients had grade 3. All patients met the surgical criteria for non-functional nephrectomy. The chief surgeon who performing the telesurgery was located at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University. The surgeon remotely controlled the bedside operating system (slave system) in 3 local hospitals located in other cities in Shandong Province (network communication distances of 82.5, 141 and 229 km, respectively) by manipulating the master system located in Qingdao. Images and operating instructions during surgery were transmitted using 5G wireless communication technology. Intraoperative network conditions, robot operation, and patient perioperative data were summarized. Results:All 3 tele-nephrectomies were successfully completed. The average network signal latency time was 27.3 (23-30) ms, with no packet loss, and the average total latency time was 177.3(173-180) ms. The mean resection time was 79.3 (52-111) min, and the average intraoperative blood loss was 31.1 (15.6-41.9) ml. There were no network related adverse events occurred during the operation, and the robot-related adverse events occured 3 times, all three of which were characterized by inconsistent master and slave movements of the manipulator arm and the bedside robotic arm. None of these adverse events affected the successful performance of the telesurgery. The mean postoperative exhaust time was 60.5 (38.5-78.0) h. The mean postoperative VAS score at 24 hours was 3.7 (3-4). The Clavien-Dindo classification were all grade I. No significant abnormality was found on the 30th day after surgery, and the patients recovered well at the follow-up until 6 months postoperatively.Conclusions:It is safe and feasible to perform remote robot-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy based on 5G communication technology with no serious adverse events or surgical complications.However, the conclusion needs to be further verified by large sample and multi-center prospective study.

Influence of traditional Chinese medicines on the in vivo metabolism of lopinavir/ritonavir based on UHPLC-MS/MS analysis / 药物分析学报

A fast,reliable,and cost-effective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was established to determine the effects of the traditional Chinese medicine employed to treat coronavirus disease 2019,namely,Lianhua Qingwen granules,Huoxiang Zhengqi capsules,Jinhua Qinggan granules,Shufeng Jiedu capsules,and Angong Niuhuang pills,on the pharmacokinetics of lopinavir/ritonavir in rats.Blood samples were prepared using the protein precipitation method and atazanavir was selected as the internal standard(IS).Separation was performed on an Agilent ZORBAX eclipse plus C18(2.1 mm x 50 mm,1.8 μm)column using acetonitrile and water containing 0.1％formic acid as the mobile phase for gradient elution.The flow rate was 0.4 mL/min and the injection volume was 2 μL Agilent Jet Stream electrospray ionization was used for mass spectrometry detection under positive ion multiple reaction monitoring mode at a transition of m/z 629.3→447.3 for lopinavir,m/z 721.3→296.1 for rito-navir,and m/z 705.4→168.1 for the IS.The method showed good linearity in the concentration range of 25-2500 ng/mL(r=0.9981)for lopinavir and 5-500 ng/mL(r=0.9984)for ritonavir.The intra-day and inter-day precision and accuracy were both within±15％.Items,such as dilution reliability and residual effect,were also within the acceptable limits.The method was used to determine the effects of five types of traditional Chinese medicines on the pharmacokinetics of lopinavir/ritonavir in rats.The pharmaco-kinetic results showed that the half-life of ritonavir in the groups administered Lianhua Qingwen granules and Huoxiang Zhengqi capsules combined with lopinavir/ritonavir was prolonged by approx-imately 1.5-to 2-fold relative to that in the control group.Similarly,the pharmacokinetic parameters of lopinavir were altered.Overall,the results of this study offer important theoretical parameters for the effective clinical use of five types of traditional Chinese medicines combined with lopinavir/ritonavir to reduce the occurrence of clinical adverse reactions.

High frequency, high throughput quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater settled solids at eight publicly owned treatment works in Northern California shows strong association with COVID-19 incidence

A number of recent retrospective studies have demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in wastewater are associated with COVID-19 cases in the corresponding sewersheds. Implementing high-resolution, prospective efforts across multiple plants depends on sensitive measurements that are representative of COVID-19 cases, scalable for high throughput analysis, and comparable across laboratories. We conducted a prospective study across eight publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). A focus on SARS-CoV-2 RNA in solids enabled us to scale-up our measurements with a commercial lab partner. Samples were collected daily and results were posted to a website within 24-hours. SARS-CoV-2 RNA in daily samples correlated to incidence COVID-19 cases in the sewersheds; a 1 log10 increase in SARS-CoV-2 RNA in settled solids corresponds to a 0.58 log10 (4X) increase in sewershed incidence rate. SARS-CoV-2 RNA signals measured with the commercial laboratory partner were comparable across plants and to measurements conducted in a university laboratory when normalized by pepper mild mottle virus PMMoV RNA. Results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 RNA should be detectable in settled solids for COVID-19 incidence rates > 1/100,000 (range 0.8 - 2.3 cases per 100,000). These sensitive, representative, scalable, and comparable methods will be valuable for future efforts to scale-up wastewater-based epidemiology. ImportanceAccess to reliable, rapid monitoring data is critical to guide response to an infectious disease outbreak. For pathogens that are shed in feces or urine, monitoring wastewater can provide a cost-effective snapshot of transmission in an entire community via a single sample. In order for a method to be useful for ongoing COVID-19 monitoring, it should be sensitive for detection of low concentrations of SARS-CoV-2, representative of incidence rates in the community, scalable to generate data quickly, and comparable across laboratories. This paper presents a method utilizing wastewater solids to meet these goals, producing measurements of SARS-CoV-2 RNA strongly associated with COVID-19 cases in the sewershed of a publicly owned treatment work. Results, provided within 24 hrs, can be used to detect incidence rates as low as approximately 1/100,000 cases and can be normalized for comparison across locations generating data using different methods.

T-cell Repertoire Characteristics of Asymptomatic and Re-detectable Positive COVID-19 Patients

BackgroundThe prevention of COVID-19 pandemic is highly complicated by the prevalence of asymptomatic and recurrent infection. Many previous immunological studies have focused on symptomatic and convalescent patients, while the immune responses in asymptomatic patients and re-detectable positive cases remain unclear. MethodsHere we comprehensively analyzed the peripheral T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire of 54 COVID-19 patients in different phases, including asymptomatic, symptomatic, convalescent and re-detectable positive cases. ResultsWe found progressed immune responses from asymptomatic to symptomatic phase. Furthermore, the TCR profiles of re-detectable positive cases were highly similar to those of asymptomatic patients, which could predict the risk of recurrent infection. ConclusionTherefore, TCR repertoire surveillance has the potential to strengthen the clinical management and the immunotherapy development for COVID-19. FundingThe Science and Technology Innovation Project of Foshan Municipality (2020001000431) and the National Key Research and Development Project (2020YFA0708001).

Epidemiological analysis of 286 clustered cases of rotavirus infection in Hohhot Clustering analysis of 286 cases of rotavirus infection in Hohhot / 公共卫生与预防医学

Objective To identify the pathogen and origins of 286 clustered cases of rotavirus infection in Hohhot, and to provide reliable basis for formulating preventive measures of rotavirus infection outbreaks. Methods Epidemiological investigation was conducted on 286 rotavirus outbreaks involving 8,560 cases in Hohhot from December 2017 to December 2020. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the genotypes, and the related risk factors were analyzed. Results Of the 286 rotavirus outbreaks, 165 were clustered outbreaks, and the duration was 5 to 8 days, with an average of (7.05±1.06) days, presenting temporal and spatial clustering. The causes of the outbreaks included rotavirus contamination in drinking water, improper management of household infections, and inadequate hospital preventive measures. The total number of cases was 8,560, and the positive rate of rotavirus was 47.17% (4 038/8 560). Group A and B rotavirus strains were detected in vomit or stool samples. Rotavirus infection in children was mostly caused by group A rotavirus (100%) and in adults by group B rotavirus (97.59%), and the common symptoms included diarrhea, vomiting and fever. The infection rate of children (87.67%, 3,540/4,038) was significantly higher than that of adults (12.33%, 4,98/4,038) (χ2=115.520, P<0.05). Rotavirus infection occurred most frequently in autumn and winter. Conclusion Clustered outbreaks account for most of rotavirus infection events, and children are the key targets of prevention and treatment. Rotavirus screening should be strengthened.

Effect of NACK knockdown on the proliferation and apoptosis of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia Jurkat cells / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect and mechanism of NACK knockdown on the proliferation and apoptosis of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) Jurkat cells. Methods:Lentivirus transfection technology was used to transfect Jurkat cells and knock down NACK gene.Real time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to detect the silencing efficiency of NACK gene.CCK-8 method and flow cytometry were used to detect the effects of NACK knockdown on the proliferation and apoptosis of Jurkat cells.The expressions of protein related with Notch1 pathway, such as Hes1 and c-Myc, were detected by Western blot. Results:After NACK-shRNA was successfully transfected into Jurkat cells by lentiviral vector, the expression of NACK mRNA and protein was reduced signi-ficantly ( P<0.05). Compared with the negative control group and the blank control group, the CCK-8 method showed that the cell proliferation in the experimental group was significantly inhibited [The inhibition rates of cell proliferation in the experimental group, negative control group and blank control group were (37.27±4.48)%, (4.25±2.10)% and (2.43±1.40)%, respectively]( F=132.640, P<0.05), and the flow cytometry test showed that the apoptosis in the experimental group increased significantly [The apoptosis rates of experimental group, negative control group and blank control group were (26.38±3.03)%, (6.07±2.61)% and (3.40±1.98)%, respectively]( F=90.534, P<0.05). Western blot results confirmed that the expression of Notch1 pathway-related proteins Hes1 and c-Myc was down-regulated compared with the negative control group and the blank control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Targeting silent NACK can down-regulate the expression of Notch1 pathway-related proteins, which leads to the inhibition of Jurkat cell proliferation and increased apoptosis, thereby exerting its anti-T-ALL effect.

Regulatory mechanisms of microRNAs involved in pubertal development / 国际儿科学杂志

The regulatory mechanisms of pubertal development are complex and affected by many factors.MicroRNAs, which major participants in epigenetics, are short single-stranded RNAs composed of 21-25 nucleotides.They can regulate the expression or translation of multiple target genes, playing an important role in complex biological phenomena.During pubertal development, microRNAs can regulate the expression of related genes on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis(HPGA). Recently, studies have found that the lack or overexpression of some specific microRNAs can cause abnormal pubertal development(premature or delayed)and lead to reproductive disorders, providing a new direction for the diagnosis and treatment of puberty diseases.Here we mainly review the regulatory mechanisms that microRNAs participate in pubertal development.

Comparison of short and long term curative effect between conservative and interventional therapy in Fontaine stage Ⅱ patients with lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans / 中华普通外科杂志

Objective:To compare the short-and long-term effects of conservative and interventional treatment in patients with lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans of Fontaine stage Ⅱ.Methods:This is a retrospective analysis,184 patients (219 limbs) admitted to the Department of Vascular Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University from Jun 2014 to Jun 2017, were divided into the conservative treatment group (93 limbs) and interventional treatment group (126 limbs).Results:The short-term effective rate in the intervention group was better than that of the conservative group (83.33% vs. 45.16%, P<0.05). After one year follow-up, the total effective rate in the groups was similar (60.32% vs. 53.76%, P>0.05). While the total effective rate of the conservative group was better than that of the intervention group (60.21% vs. 53.17%) after the 3-year follow-up,though the differences were not statistically significant ( P>0.05). The rates of all-cause death, amputation, and cardiovascular events in the conservative group were lower; though the difference was not significant ( P>0.05). However, the intervention group had a significantly higher rate of restenosis and re-intervention rate during the 3-year follow-up period ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared to intervention group,the conservative treatment is more economical ,effective and safe for patients with lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans of Fontaine stage Ⅱ.

SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater settled solids is associated with COVID-19 cases in a large urban sewershed

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) may be useful for informing public health response to viral diseases like COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2. We quantified SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater influent and primary settled solids in two wastewater treatment plants to inform the pre-analytical and analytical approaches, and to assess whether influent or solids harbored more viral targets. The primary settled solids samples resulted in higher SARS-CoV-2 detection frequencies than the corresponding influent samples. Likewise, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was more readily detected in solids using one-step digital droplet (dd)RT-PCR than with two-step RT-QPCR and two-step ddRT-PCR, likely owing to reduced inhibition with the one-step ddRT-PCR assay. We subsequently analyzed a longitudinal time series of 89 settled solids samples from a single plant for SARS-CoV-2 RNA as well as coronavirus recovery (bovine coronavirus) and fecal strength (pepper mild mottle virus, PMMoV) controls. SARS-CoV-2 RNA targets N1 and N2 concentrations correlate positively and significantly with COVID-19 clinical confirmed case counts in the sewershed. Together, the results demonstrate that measuring SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations in settled solids may be a more sensitive approach than measuring SARs-CoV-2 in influent.

Changes in gray matter volume and their correlation with cognitive impairment in patients with subcortical vascular cognitive impairment / 中华神经科杂志

Objective:To analyze the changes of total gray matter volume in patients with subcortical vascular cognitive impairment (SVCI) and their correlation with cognitive impairment.Methods:Data of fifty patients with subcortical ischemic vascular disease (SIVD) who admitted to the outpatient department or ward of the Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from November 2017 to March 2019, were collected for the study, including 23 patients with SVCI and 27 patients with subcortical ischemic vascular disease without cognitive impairment (SIVD-NCI). All subjects were assessed using the Minimal Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale (MoCA), the Cambridge Cognitive Assessment scale for the elderly-Chinese version (CAMCOG-C), the Stroop test, the Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Activity of Daily Living scale (ADL). All subjects underwent 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging scans to obtain T 1WI, T 2WI, fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images and 3D-T 1 structural image data. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to analyze and compare the differences in gray matter volume between SVCI group and SIVD-NCI group. Results:Compared with the SIVD-NCI group, the MMSE score (22.00 (20.00, 24.00) vs 28.00 (27.00, 29.00), Z=-6.073, P<0.001), MoCA score (15.00 (13.00,19.00) vs 24.00 (23.00, 26.00), Z=-5.233, P<0.001), total score of CAMCOG-C (67.65±13.35 vs 88.41±10.98, t=-6.032, P<0.001) and the directional (8.00 (5.00, 9.00) vs 10.00 (9.00, 10.00), Z=-4.133, P<0.001), language (24.00 (21.00, 26.00) vs 27.00 (24.00, 28.00), Z=-3.171, P=0.002), memory (11.00 (9.00, 15.00) vs 19.00 (17.00, 21.00), Z=-4.648, P<0.001), attention (4.00 (2.00, 6.00) vs 7.00 (6.00, 7.00), Z=-3.929, P<0.001), executive (8.00 (6.00, 10.00) vs 11.00 (9.00, 12.00), Z=-3.696, P<0.001), calculation (2.00 (2.00, 2.00) vs 2.00 (2.00, 2.00), Z=-2.528, P=0.011), thinking (6.00 (3.00, 6.00) vs 6.00 (6.00, 8.00), Z=-4.029, P<0.001), perception (6.00 (6.00, 7.00) vs 8.00 (7.00, 9.00), Z=-4.221, P<0.001) in the SVCI group were obviously decreased. ADL score (21.00 (20.00, 26.00) vs 20.00 (20.00, 20.00), Z=-2.634, P=0.008) and Stroop test score (28.61±4.53 vs 20.04±6.07, t=5.704, P<0.001) were significantly higher in the SVCI group than in the SIVD-NCI group. The total gray matter volume ((556.86±49.19) mm 3vs (618.13±51.73) mm 3, t=-3.572, P=0.001) and white matter volume ((479.35±48.17) mm 3vs (507.22±43.84) mm 3, t=-2.141, P=0.037) in the SVCI group were smaller than that in the SIVD-NCI group. VBM analysis showed that the SVCI group had significantly smaller gray matter volume in the left inferior temporal gyrus ( t=5.17, P<0.001, family wise error (FWE) correction), right middle temporal gyrus ( t=4.99, P<0.001, FWE correction), right orbital superior frontal gyrus ( t=5.02, P<0.001, FWE correction), left middle occipital gyrus ( t=5.67, P<0.001, FWE correction), right middle occipital gyrus ( t=5.77, P<0.001, FWE correction). MoCA score was positively correlated with the volume of gray matter in the left inferior temporal gyrus of patients with SIVD ( r=0.292, P<0.05), language function score was positively correlated with the volume of gray matter in the left inferior temporal gyrus ( r=0.322, P<0.05), and Stroop test score was negatively correlated with gray matter volume in the left inferior temporal gyrus ( r=-0.329, P<0.05). Conclusion:Gray matter atrophy exists in multiple brain regions in patients with SVCI, and these atrophic brain regions are associated with cognitive impairment of SIVD.

Evaluation of left ventricular systolic function and global myocardial work in the patients with left bundle branch pacing operation by two-dimensional multi-layered speckle tracking imaging / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective:To assess the changes of left ventricular systolic function and global synchronization and myocardial work in patients with left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) by two-dimensional multi-layered speckle tracking imaging.Methods:Forty-two patients with Ⅱ degree Ⅱ type or Ⅲ degree atrioventricular block (AVB) in the Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University from April to December 2019 were selected as pacing group, which were further divided into two groups according to different pacemaker modes: twenty patients with right ventricular septal pacing (RVSP), twenty-two patients with LBBP, and twenty patients with normal ECG and cardiac structure were enrolled as control group. Echocardiography of pacing group and control group was performed and analyzed. The left ventricular subendocardial longitudinal strain peak(LSendo), the middle layer myocardial longitudinal strain peak(LSmid), subepicardial longitudinal strain peak(LSepi), global myocardial longitudinal strain peak(GLS), peak strain dispersion (PSD), global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work (GWW) and global work efficiency (GWE) were acquired. The differences among the three groups were analyzed and the high difference indexes were screened by statistical modeling.Results:LSendo in three groups had no difference ( P>0.05). LSmid, LSepi, GLS in the control group, LBBP group and RVSP groups were decreased gradually ( P<0.05). GLS in LBBP group was higher than in RVSP group ( P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the increases of QRS and PSD in LBBP group were not statistically significant ( P>0.05), while the decreases of QRS and PSD in LBBP group were statistically significant compared with the RVSP group ( P<0.05). The values of GCW among three groups had no statistical significance ( P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the decrease of GWI in LBBP group was not statistically significant ( P>0.05), while the increase of GWW and the decrease of GWE were statistically significant ( P<0.05). Compared with the RVSP group, the increases of GWI and GWE and the decrease of GWW in LBBP group were statistically significant ( P<0.05). QRS, LSendo, GLS, LSmid, left ventricular apex rotation to basal rotation peak time(ApexBase period) were the indexes with significant difference among LBBP and RVSP groups and all index characteristics showed better in LBBP than RVSP group. Conclusions:Two-dimensional multi-layered speckle tracking imaging can be used to evaluate the effect of LBBP on left ventricular systolic function and global synchronization and myocardial work. LBBP longitudinal mechanical synchronization is better than right ventricular septal pacing by improving the peak global myocardial longitudinal strain and myocardial work after pacemaker.

Analysis of blood free carnitine levels in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome / 中国小儿急救医学

Objective:The blood free carnitine levels of preterm infants with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) were detected within 7 days after birth, and the correlation between blood free carnitine levels and NRDS in preterm infants was explored.Methods:Seventy premature infants with gestational ages from 28 to 36 weeks who were admitted to the NICU of the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019 were selected as the participants.Among them, 35 cases were in the NRDS group, while 35 cases of premature infants without NRDS were chosen as the control group.Heel blood samples were collected from all subjects within 6 hours, 3 days and 7 days after birth, and the levels of blood free carnitine were detected by tandem mass spectrometry.Results:Within 7 days after birth, the levels of free carnitine in blood of premature infants in the two groups gradually decreased with time, but the decreasing trend was not similar( F=4.096, P=0.021). Compared with 6 hours after birth, the blood free carnitine level in NRDS group decreased significantly with 3 days after birth[(35.24±9.58) μmol/L vs.(23.96±7.12) μmol/L, P<0.05]. The levels of blood free carnitine in NRDS group at 6 hours and 3 days after birth were significantly lower than those in control group[(35.24±9.58) μmol/L vs.(40.85±11.39) μmol/L; (23.96±7.12) μmol/L vs.(29.60±8.05) μmol/L, P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in blood free carnitine levels between the two groups at 7 days after birth ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The blood free carnitine levels of premature infants decreased within 7 days after birth.The decrease of carnitine level in premature infants with NRDS may be related to the occurrence and development of NRDS.

Etiology and clinical technology of the food impaction with tight proximal contacts / 中华口腔医学杂志

Food impaction with tight proximal contacts, also known as kinetic food impaction and food impaction without anatomical structure destruction, is mainly caused by a transient separation in contacts area during mastication. It′s an intractable food impaction with high morbidity and low cure rate. There are two kinds of pathogenesis accepted: the shifting of anterior teeth incongruous with adjacent teeth or lack of anterior shifting; lack of food escape grooves. The preferred treatment is occlusal adjustment, but it′s difficult to determine the area and extent of selective grinding, to quantify the occlusal adjustment, or to predict the prognosis. This review summarized the pathogenesis and treatment modality for kinetic food impaction in order to provide evidence for future researches and clinical application.

Evaluation of cardiac synchrony in patients with permanent left bundle branch area pacing by tissue Doppler imaging / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To compare and analyze the synchrony of cardiac contraction when left bundle branch area pacing ( LBBP ) using tissue Doppler imaging ( TDI ) . Methods T wenty‐four patients with LBBP and 20 patients with right ventricular pacing ( RVP ) were enrolled in the study . Among them , 35 cases were diagnosed as sick sinus syndrome ( SSS ) and 9 cases were diagnosed as Ⅱ or Ⅲ degree atrioventricular block ( AVB) before operation . Echocardiographic images were collected with ventricular pacemaker‐on ,and patients with SSS in LBBP group under the condition of pacemaker program control also collected the image of self‐conduction . TDI was used to measure time of the peak velocity ( T s ) of myocardial contraction in the left ventricular 12 segments ,right ventricle 2 segments ,and atrial 3 walls .The difference between the basal segment of left ventricular lateral wall and right ventricular free wall ( T s‐LV‐RV ) ,the mean value of the right ventricular 2 segments ( T s‐2‐RV ) ,the average( T s‐12‐LV ) and standard deviation ( T sd‐12‐LV ) of the left ventricular 12 segments ,and the difference in peak systolic time among 3 walls T AL‐R ,T AI‐R ,T AL‐I were calculated . Results Compared with the RVP pacing state ,the parameters of left ventricular systolic synchrony in LBBP pacing were shortened ,and the difference was statistically significant ( P ＜ 0 .05 ) . T here was no significant difference in parameters of left ventricular/right ventricular systolic synchrony and cardiac function between the LBBP group and the self‐conduction status ( P＞0 .05) . Conclusions Left ventricular systolic synchrony is superior to RVP in LBBP pacing ,and left/right ventricular systolic synchrony and cardiac function are not different from self‐conduction . LBBP is a new physiological pacing . TDI is able to quantitatively assess cardiac systolic synchrony .

Functional mechanism of malate dehydrogenase 2 in tumors / 国际肿瘤学杂志

The role of malate dehydrogenase 2 (MDH2) in tumors is double-sided,it has a cancerpromoting effect in some tumors and an inhibitory effect in other tumors.The function of MDH2 is related to energy metabolism,tumor resistance and its pseudo hypoxia.MDH2 plays an important role in the occurrence,development,invasion and metastasis of tumors.An in-depth understanding of the functional mechanism of MDH2 in tumors can provide new molecular targets for tumor intervention in the clinic.