OBJECTIVEThis study investigates the immune status of T helper (Th) 17 cells in mice with periodontitis.

METHODSSeven-week-old C57BL/6 female mice were randomly divided into the control and periodontitis groups. Each group comprisedfour mice. Experimental periodontitis was induced in mice by oral infection with Porphyromonas gingivalis in the periodontitis group. Phosphate-buffered saline solution was used in the control group. All mice were sacrificed 4 weeks after the last P. gingivalis infection. CD4⁺retinoid-related orphan receptor (ROR) γτ⁺(Th17) cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The protein expression of Th17 cell-related cytokine interleukin (IL)-17A was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA).

RESULTSFlow cytometry showed that the percentage of CD4⁺RORγτ⁺(Thl7) cells in all CD4⁺ cells and the cell number in gingival tissues, cervical lymph nodes (CLNs), and the peripheral blood obviously increased (P < 0.01) in the periodontitis group. ELISA showed that compared with the control group, the periodontitis group exhibited an obvious increase in the protein expression of IL-17A (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTh17 cell-mediated cell response is enhanced, and the gingival tissues, CLNs, and the peripheral blood are probably the main locations of Thl7 cell-mediated cell response during the development of periodontitis.

Alveolar Bone Loss ; Animals ; Cytokines ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Gingiva ; Interleukin-17 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Periodontitis ; metabolism ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Random Allocation ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer

Objective:To investigate regulatory T(Treg)cell-mediated immune response in mice with periodontitis.Methods:8 sev-en-week old C57BL/6 female mice were randomly divided into 2 groups(n =4).Periodontitis was induced in mice by oral infection with Porphyromonas gingivalis(P.gingivalis).Carboxymethyl cellulose(CMC)was used for the sham control mice.All mice were sacrificed 4 weeks after the last P.gingivalis infection.CD4 +forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)+ cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.The protein ex-pression of TGF-1 and IL-1 0 was detected by ELISA.Results:Periodontitis mice showed an obvious decrease in the percentage of CD4 +Foxp3 + cells in CD4 + T cells in gingival tissues,cervical lymph nodes(CLNs)and peripheral blood(P <0.01 ).Moreover,peri-odontitis mice had an obvious increase in the expression of TGF-1 and IL-1 0 in gingival tissues,CLNs and serum(P <0.05).Conclu-sion:Treg cell-mediated immune response is weakened in the mice with periodontitis.Gingival tissues,CLNs and the peripheral blood are probably the main source of Treg cells during periodontitis.

ObjectiveTo explore the value of conventional echocardiography and transthoracic real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) in diagnosis of Ebstein anomaly.MethodsWe investigated the morphology and function of right ventricle (RV) as well as the structure, morphology and regurgitation of tricuspid valve in 61 adult patients with Ebstein anomaly before surgery by using conventional echocardiography and transthoracic RT3DE. Twenty normal adults were enrolled as control group. ResultsThe surface of the tricuspid leaflets, the morphology of the tricuspid annulus as well as the three-dimensional structure of the tricuspid valve were displayed stereoscopically by RT3DE. Complete RV volume data could be acquired in 32 patients of Ebstein anomaly. The apex or part of RV could not be contained in the remaining 29 patients. Thirty-four (55.7%) patients with Ebstein anomaly had severe tricuspid regurgitation,
16 (26.2%) patients had moderate to severe regurgitation, and 11 (18.1%) patients had moderate regurgitation. Compared with the normal adults, patients of Ebstein anomaly showed higher RV end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), end-diastolic volume index (EDVI), end-systolic volume index (ESVI), stroke volume (SV), RV anterior-posterior diameter (RV), tricuspid valve annular transverse diameter (TV-R), and lower RV ejection fraction(EF) [(273.5±77.7) mlvs (74.3±15.9) ml, (187.1±96.8) mlvs (31.1±9.2) ml, (177.4±53.6) ml/m2vs (43.4±8.2) ml/m2, (121.7±65.5) ml/m2vs (18.4±5.1) ml/m2, (95.9±20.2) ml vs (43.6±8.8) ml, (48.1±13.3) ml/m2vs (19.0±1.9) ml/m2, (56.4±8.9) ml/m2vs (28.5±4.3) ml/m2, (38.3±12.8) %vs (59.3±5.1) %, allP<0.05). The tricuspid regurgitant orifice flow cross-sectional area (EROA) were correlated positively with RV anterior-posterior diameter (r=0.691), ratio of RV and LV anterior-posterior diameter (RV/LV) (r=0.6471).ConclusionTransthoracic RT3DE is a feasible method in addition to conventional two-dimensional echocardiography in evaluation of tricuspid valve mophology and function, as well as RV volume and EF in adult patients with Ebstein anomaly.

Objective To assess the peripheral arterial structural and elastic remodeling in patients with lower extremity atherosclerotic disease (LEAD).Methods Thirty-one patients with LEAD and 34 age-,sex-matched healthy subjects (control group) were enrolled in this study.The intima-media thickness (IMT),diameter (D) and parameters of arterial stiffness (β,pulse wave velocity (PWVβ)) were measured by acquiring the longitudinal view of left and right common femoral artery (LCFA,RCFA) and common carotid artery (LCCA,RCCA) by quality intima-media thickness (QIMT) and quality arterial stiffness (QAS) techniques.The factors correlated with arterial stiffness in LEAD patients were analyzed.Results ① The systolic blood pressure(SBP),pulse pressure(PP),smoking pack-year and smoking extent (nonsmoker,smoker with ＜40 pack-year,or smoker with ≥40 pack-year) were significantly higher in LEAD group than those in the control group (P ＜0.05).②IMT of the LCCA and the diameters (D) of LCCA and RCCA were significantly increased in the LEAD group (P ＜0.05-0.01).As to the both sides CFA,IMT and IMT/D values were significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01).The mean IMT (mIMT) of both sides of CCA and CFA were increased (P ＜0.05).The values of β,PWVβ of LCCA and PWVβ of RCCA were significantly increased,and β and PWVβ values of both sides of CFA were significantly increased in the LEAD group (P ＜ 0.05).There was a positive correlation between the stiffness indexes of the carotid artery and that of the femoral artery (P ＜0.01).③The femoral mβ was correlated with femoral mIMT,SBP,PP,smoking amount and smoking extent,and the femoral mPWVβ was also correlated with mIMT,age,SBP,PP,smoking pack-year and smoking extent (P ＜0.05-0.01).In multivariable stepwise regression analysis,mIMT and PP were factors independently correlated with femoral mβ.And SBP,smoking extent,and mIMT were independently correlated with femoral mPWVβ.Conclusions Peripheral arteries in patients with LEAD experience vascular remodeling,as well as increased carotid and femoral stiffness.Femoral stiffness is correlated with IMT,arterial blood pressure and smoking extent.

Objective:To analyze the echocardiographic features of operation-related aorto-cardiac fistula(ACF) after surgery or transcatheter procedure, to explore the value of echocardiography on diagnosis of operation-related ACF, and summarize the key points of its diagnosis.Methods:Eight patients with operation-related ACF who were admitted to Fuwai Hospital were collected from July 2002 to December 2020. Echocardiographic features of the 8 patients with operation-related ACF were reviewed and analyzed. The diagnosis methodology was summarized.Results:Of the 8 patients with operation-related ACF, 3 had aortic right atrial fistula and 5 had aortic right ventricular fistula. The fistula was single, which can be located but not limited to the aortic sinus. The median size of the fistula was 4 mm (range: 3-5 mm). There was no aneurysmal dilation of the aortic sinus where the fistula was located. The fractured end of the fistula did not thin, and the fistula had a regular shape. Six of the 8 patients undertook cardiac catheterization and occlusion. One patient received surgical repairment. One patient was treated conservatively.Conclusions:Echocardiography can help diagnose operation-related ACF and provide valuable information for further clinical diagnosis and treatment. Sonographers should avoid missed diagnosis and pay attention to distinguishing from other causes of aortic-cardiac shunt disease.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of Liqingtong (LQT) granules in patients with dampness-heat hyperuricemia. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial was conducted at the 983rd Hospital of the Joint Logistic Support Force of the People's Liberation Army from March 15, 2023, to August 10, 2023. In total, 119 participants were enrolled in this trial, and participants were given either LQT granules or placebo for 60 days based on a health education. The primary outcome was serum uric acid (SUA) level, and the secondary outcome was the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom score, measured on days 0, 30, and 60. Safety indicators, including liver function, kidney function, blood routine, glucose, blood lipid, blood pressure, and heart rate were tested on days 0 and 60 of the trial. The data were analyzed using Prism 9 software, and the significance level was set at P < .05. Results: Among 119 participants, six in the LQT granule group and seven in the placebo group dropped out, and 106 participants completed clinical observation. Baseline information, including SUA levels, TCM symptom scores, and other clinical characteristics, did not differ between the groups. At the end of the trial, compared with baseline values, the SUA levels in the LQT granule group decreased (P < .001), and no significant change was observed in the placebo group (P = .422); compared with the placebo group, the SUA levels decreased in the LQT granule group (P = .001). Compared with baseline values, the total TCM symptom scores in the LQT granule group decreased (P < .001), with no change in the placebo group (P = .136). Safety indicators did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusion The pilot trial demonstrated the potential of LQT granules to lower SUA levels and improve symptoms of dampness and heat.

Objective:To analyze the application effect of three-fourths prone position drainage method in patients with pulmonary infection and consciousness disorders after tracheotomy.Methods:A total of 84 patients with consciousness disorders who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from January 2018 to October 2020 with pulmonary infection after tracheotomy were selected. They were divided into the control group and the observation group, there were 42 cases in each group according to random number table method. The control group received routine prone position drainage for pulmonary infection after tracheotomy and the observation group was given three-fourths prone position drainage method. The arterial partial pressure of oxygen(PaO 2), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide(PaCO 2) before and after intervention, the drainage effect after the intervention, the absorption of pulmonary infection foci, and the time of antibiotic treatment for pulmonary infection during the patients′ hospitalization were compared between the two groups. Results:After the intervention, PaO 2 and PaCO 2 were (91.87 ± 7.21), (35.34 ± 3.28) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) in the observation group, and (85.23 ± 7.90), (43.41 ± 3.39) mmHg in the control group, the differences between the two groups were statistically significant ( t=-4.02, 11.09, both P<0.05). After the intervention, the apparent rate, effective rate, and ineffective rate were 78.57%(33/42), 19.05% (8/42), 2.38% (1/42) in the observation group,and 33.33% (14/42), 45.24% (19/42), 21.43% (9/42) in the control group. The drainage effect of the observation group was better than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=-4.28, P<0.05). After the intervention, the complete absorption rate of the pulmonary infection foci and the time taken to treat pulmonary infection with antibiotics during hospitalization were 59.52% (25/42), (10.67 ± 2.70) d in the observation group, and 35.71%(15/42), (13.51 ± 3.46) d in the control group, the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=4.77, t=4.19, both P<0.05). Conclusions:The three-fourths prone position drainage method has significant application effect in patients with pulmonary infection and consciousness disorder after tracheotomy. It can effectively improve the drainage effect, improve oxygenation, promote the absorption of lung infections, and shorten the antibiotic treatment time.

A case of Usher syndrome with methylmalonic acidemia and homocysteine is reported. The patient was a two-month-old and small for gestational age male infant hospitalized for "feeding difficulties" during the neonatal period. The baby boy presented hypotonia, microcephaly, and hearing loss after birth. Genetic test found compound heterozygous mutations of c.482G>A and c.567dup in MMACHC, and both were pathogenic mutations inherited from his parents. Moreover, the patient also had compound heterozygous variants at c.2802T>G and c.14017T>C of USH2A gene. The former was suspected to be pathogenic, and the latter was of unknown clinical significance. Both were from the parents. Usher syndrome and methylmalonic acidemia with homocysteine were clinically diagnosed. Followed up to the age of two, the child was found with moderate mental retardation, while the physical development was comparable to that of the same age group.

With the increasing maturity of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, UAVs have become an indispensable part of search and rescue activities. In this paper, the background, advantages and classification of UAVs in the field of wounded search and rescue were briefly introduced. The application scenarios and research progress of UAVs were introduced from two aspects, including wounded search and target rescue. In the wounded search process, according to the configuration difference of the UAVs configuration under the active target and the passive target, the difference of the load was analyzed. During the target rescue process, the UAV-based rescue material delivery, telemedicine assistance, and wounded evacuation were analyzed. Through the introduction of the entire search and rescue process, the development direction of UAVs in the application of wounded search and rescue was prospected.

Objective:To analyze the vaginal microecological status of vaginitis population and non-vaginitis population of gynecological female outpatients.Methods:A total of 30 265 women who visited the gynecological outpatient clinic of Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital from December 2018 to December 2020 completed vaginal microecological examination. After removing the follow-up patients, 23 181 women were divided into group with symptoms and signs of vaginitis (6 697 cases) and group without symptoms and signs of vaginitis (16 484 cases), according to whether the women with symptoms and signs of vaginitis or not. And the vaginal microecological status of the two groups was compared and analyzed.Results:(1) The total detection rate of vaginitis in the initial women was 34.87% (8 083/23 181), of which 46.10% (3 087/6 697) in group with symptoms and signs of vaginitis and 30.31% (4 996/16 484) in group without symptoms and signs of vaginitis, nearly 1/3 of the gynecological outpatients without signs and symptoms of vaginitis had vaginitis. (2) Among the types of simple vaginitis, vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) was the most frequent in group with symptoms and signs of vaginitis (16.01%, 1 072/6 697), followed by aerobic vaginitis (AV; 12.83%, 859/6 697), with significant differences compared with group without symptoms and signs of vaginitis (all P<0.001). There were no statistical differences between the two groups of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and trichomonal vaginitis (TV), indicating that BV and TV were more likely to be neglected (all P>0.05). (3) The proportion of various combinations of vaginitis among 2 632 cases of mixed vaginitis were, in descending order: BV+AV, VVC+AV, BV+AV+VVC, AV+TV, AV+TV+BV, BV+VVC. (4) Microecological analysis of 15 098 cases diagnosed with non-vaginitis had normal flora (including those with normal flora and those with normal flora but decreased function) in 14 013 cases (92.81%, 14 013/15 098), abnormal flora in 429 cases (2.84%, 429/15 098) and the BV intermediate in 656 cases (4.34%, 656/15 098); this indicated that the vast majority of the microecological tests were normal in the vaginal microbiota of those without vaginitis. Conclusions:Microecological examination could diagnose multiple pathogenic infections at once, and is especially important as a guide for the definitive diagnosis of mixed vaginitis and vaginitis with atypical clinical symptoms. Vaginal infections such as BV and TV that are easily overlooked should be concerned.