Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of newly reported HIV/AIDS cases at ages of 50 years and older in Zhengzhou City from 2017 to 2021, so as to provide the evidence for formulating the AIDS control measures among the elderly. Methods: Epidemiological data of newly reported HIV/AIDS cases at ages of 50 years and older in Zhengzhou City from 2017 to 2021 were collected through the Zhengzhou Municipal Intelligent Public Health Management System. The epidemiological characteristics including population distribution, transmission route and route of detection were analyzed using a descriptive epidemiological method. Results: A total of 533 newly reported HIV/AIDS cases at ages of 50 years and older were diagnosed in Zhengzhou City from 2017 to 2021, accounting for 25.94% of all HIV/AIDS cases. There were 400 male cases and 133 female cases, with a male-to-female ratio of 3.01∶1, 288 cases at ages of 50 to 59 years (54.03%), 467 cases with an educational level of junior high school and below (87.62%), 391 cases with household registered residence in Zhengzhou City (73.36%), and 333 farmers (62.48%). Sexual contact was the main route of transmission (524 cases, 98.31%), and HIV/AIDS cases were predominantly detected by medical institutions (305 cases, 57.22%), followed by counseling and testing (167 cases, 31.33%). The proportion of HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed by medical institutions appeared a tendency towards a decline in Zhengzhou City from 2017 to 2021 (χ2trend=10.953, P=0.001), while the proportion of HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed by counseling and testing showed a tendency towards a rise (χ2trend=5.438, P=0.020). Conclusions The newly reported HIV/AIDS cases at ages of 50 years and older were predominantly local male farmers in Zhengzhou City from 2017 to 2021, with sexual contact as the main transmission route and medical institutions as the predominant route of detection. The proportion of newly reported HIV/AIDS cases appeared a tendency towards a rise.

BACKGROUND: Type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen, the main components of cardiac stroma,have supporting,protective and restrictive effects on myocardial cells. They are essential for the heart to maintain its normal shape and function. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects of types Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen on cardiac function by observing their changes in atrium myocardium of children with ventricular septal defect (VSD). DESIGN: A case analysis. SETTTING: Department of Cytobiology, Xinxiang Medical College. PARTICIPANTS: Six children who had died from accidents were selected from the Pediatric Department of the First Affiliated Hospital,Xinxiang Medical College, between January and August 2003. Informed consent was obtained form their relatives. They were 4 males and 2 females,ranging from 1 to 15 years in age. Congenital heart diseases were excluded by naked-eye anatomical examination,and right atrium tissues were collected for the study. Meanwhile, 21 children with VSD, 12 males and 9 females aged 1-17 years,were recruited from the Department of Cardiac-thoracic Surgery of the same hospital. METHODS:A small amount of fresh myocardium was cut from the right atrium at the edge of incision. Peroxidase-labeled strepto-avidin immunohistochemical method was adopted to detect the expression of types Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen protein in atrium myocardium, which was analyzed using image analysis to calculate the area composition ratio of type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen in atrium myocardium(representing the relative area percentage of collagen protein) and area percentage (representingthe expression percentage of collagen protein). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Expression of typeⅠand type Ⅲ collagen protein in atrium myocardium. RESULTS: Six normal controls and 21 patients with VSD entered the final statistical analysis. ① Type Ⅰcollagen of normal atrium was strip-like fibers with different diameters connected with each other,whereas type Ⅲ collagen was scattered in spots and pieces. ② The distribution of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen of atrium in VSD patients was mostly similar to that of the normal controls; only part of them displayed extreme rearrangement, that is,type Ⅰcollagen presenting large-speckle increment,breakage or disappearance, while type Ⅲ collagen increased in stripes and bundles. ③ The area percentage and area composition ratio of type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen:type Ⅰ collagen expressed more than type Ⅲ collagen in normal myocardium [area percentage: (48.82±12.35)％ vs (40.02±13.53)％, t=2.173, P ＜ 0.05;area composition: (15.87±6.03) μm2 vs (13.62 6.94) μm2, t=2.221, P ＜ 0.05].Likewise, type Ⅰ collagen expressed more highly than type Ⅲ collagen in VSD myocardium [area percentage: (55.37±10.42)％ vs (50.27±14.36) ％,t=2.173, P ＜ 0.05; area composition: (24.93±9.62) μm2 vs (19.22 12.03) μm2,t=2.221, P＜ 0.05]. The content of both type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen in VSD children was obviously higher than that in normal children(t=2.153-2.234,P ＜ 0.05). CONCLUSION: In children with VSD, part of type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen is found rearranged and increased in atrium, which may result from the interstitial compensation due to cardiac dysfunction.

Aim To investigate the influence of Ramu-lus mori polysaccharides ( RMP) on blood glucose and anti-oxidative effect in streptozotocin ( STZ )-induced diabetic mice .Methods Diabetic mice were induced by intraperitoneal injection with 120 mg? kg -1 STZ and were randomly divided into the following 5 groups with 20 animals per group: model group , valsartan group ( 20 mg? kg -1 ) , low-, medium-, high-dose (0.3,0.6,1.2 g? kg -1 ) of RMP groups.Other 20 normal mice were treated as normal control group .The mice were administered orally for 90 d.On 45 d of ad-ministration , the 24 h urine was collected through met-abolic cages for urine protein detection .Pathological changes of kidney tissues were observed through HE staining .The serum levels of urea nitrogen ( BUN) and creatinine ( Cr ) were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer; and the manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), catalase(CAT), malonaldehyde(MDA) and mitochondrial respiratory chain complex Ⅰ,Ⅲac-tivity of kidney tissues were also determined .ELISA method was used to detect ROS content in renal cortex . The SIRT1 , FOXO1 and NF-κB protein expressions were analyzed by Western blot .Results Compared with model group, the FBG, microalbuminuria, BUN and Cr were decreased by RMP medication ( P <0.05).The activities of Mn-SOD, CAT and mitochon-drial respiratory chain complex Ⅰ,Ⅲ in RMP groups were enhanced , while MDA and ROS levels were re-duced. Moreover, the expressions of SIRT1 and FOXO1 were up-regulated by RMP , the expression of NF-κB was down-regulated ( P<0.05) .Conclusion RMP exerts renal protective effect through up-regula-ting the expressions of SIRT1 and FOXO1 in renal cor-tex , which may relate to the improvement of anti-oxida-tive capability .

Objective To investigate expressional pattern of the Connexin 43 in atrial myocytes of ventricular septal defect children. Methods The expressional role of the Connexin 43 in atrial myocytes of ventricular septal defect children were observed and determinated by immunohistochemistry and digital image analysis technology. Results 1.The Connexin 43 granules of 1-3 year-old-group normal children were mainly distributed on cell side surface,which took on beening spot-,belt-or chain-shaped,but seldom at intercalated disks. The Connexin 43 of 7-16 year-old-group normal children were abundantly distributed on cell side surface and intercalated disks. 2.The Connexin 43 of 1-3 year-old-group ventricular septal defect children were not noly distributed on cell side surface but could be detected at intercalated disks and cytoplasm,a few granules were irregular in arrangement.The Connexin 43 of 7-16 year-old-group ventricular septal defect children were distributed on cell side surface and in cytoplasm but seldom existed at intercalated disks,and arranged in irregular order. 3.The experimental results showed insignificant difference in the expressional amount of the Connexin 43 in atrial myocytes between the ventricular septal defect children and normal children. Conclusion The Cx 43 distributional pattern in atrial myocytes of ventricular septal defect children was changed,but its expressional amount was indistinct,which suggested that ventricular septal defect affected only the Cx43 expressional pattern.

Objective To evaluate the value of quantitative analysis of real-time elastosonography in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Methods The elastograms of eight-six patients with 98 thyroid nodules were observed. The strain ratio of each lesion and the averages of those of benignancy and malignancy were calculated. With the ROC curve, the critical point of the strain ratio of different lesions was gotten. All the lesions were confirmed with surgery and pathologic examination. Results The average of strain ratio of benign nodules was 2. 18,while that of malignancy was 8. 48. The strain ratio of benign and malignant lesions were of significant difference statistically (P <0.05). According to ROC curve, the critical point of strain ratio between benign and malignant lesions was 3. 3. Conclusions The quantitative analysis of real-time elastosonography is a newly valuable technique of ultrasonography which is helpful in the differential diagnosis of thyroid lesions.

Objective To evaluate contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging of carotid atherosclerosis with different stenostic degree as a clinical tool to study intraplaque neovascularization.Methods Fifty-eight patients suspected of carotid stenosis with 73 plaques were studied by standard and contrast-enhanced ultrasound.Plaque echogenicity at standard ultrasound were evaluated.Contrast enhancement within the plaques was categorized as 0 - 4 degree and compared to the stenosis degree and the plaque echogenicity.The degree of stenosis was determined by intravenous digital subtraction angiography.Results In the group with stenosis less than 90% ,stenosis degree was not associated with the grade of contrast enhancement (P =0.358),while the grade of enhancement was significantly higher in the group with sever stenosis(＞90%).The grades of enhancement were significantly different between plaques with different echogenicity (P =0.000).Conclusions Contrast-enhanced real-time ultrasound imaging can demonstrate the enhancement of carotid plaques non-invasively,which is helpful for assessing intraplaque neovascularization and provide valuable information for plaque risk stratification

Objective To investigate the correlations between quantitative parameters of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS) and histopathological stage of liver fibrosis.Methods Sixty cases of hepatic fibrosis diagnosed pathologically were examined with CEUS.The dynamic images of CEUS were analyzed off-line with a quantitative software.Region of interest (ROI) were drawn separately in hepatic artery(HA),liver parenchyma(PA),main portal vein(PV) and right hepatic vein(HV).The time intensity curve(TIC) and some quantitative parameters,including arrival time,increased signal intensity(ISI),peak intensity(PI) and area under curve(AUC) were acquired.Intrahepatic transit time of contrast agents were calculated as the arrival time difference between hepatic artery(HA) and HV(HA-HVTT),between PV and HV(PV-HVTT) and between PA and HV (PA-HVTT).All the parameters were compared with histopathologic stage.Results All cases were grouped into mild fibrosis (S0 and S1,25 cases),moderate fibrosis (S2 and S3,17 cases) and severe fibrosis (S4,18 cases) according pathologic stage.HA-HVTT,PV-HVTT and PA-HVTT decreased with the development of liver fibrosis.The parameters of ISI,PI and AUC obtained from TIC of portal vein reduced with the progression of fibrosis,too(P＜0.05).Receive operating characteristic(ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under curve of HA-HVTT,PV-HVTT and PA-HVTT were 0.808,0.848,and 0.823 (S＞S1),and 0.856,0.903,and 0.806 (S＞S3),respectively.Conclusions Quantitative parameters of CEUS reflect the stage of liver fibrosis mediately.The parameters of HA-HVTT,PV-HVTT and PA-HVTT are closely correlated with the stage of liver fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS) in quantitative assessment of angiogenesis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods Thirtythree patients with HCCs confirmed by pathology underwent CEUS in one week preoperatively.The presets and contrast dosage were fixed in all the studies.The new quantitative software with GAMMA fitting technique was used to analyze the dynamic images offline.The quantitative parameters such as baseline intensity,increased signal intensity(ASI),decent curvature(a2),up slope rate(a3),arrive time(AT), time to peak(TTP), accelerate time(ACT),peak intensity(PI),and area under curve(AREA) were calculated.The pathological specimen was stained with CD34 antibady and microvessel density (MVD) was calculated automatically.The correlation between parameters of CEUS and MVD was analyzed statistically.Results The parameters of ASI, a2, a3, AT, TTP, PI and ACT in the tumor were significantly different from those in liver parenehyma ( P＜0.01 ).The value of a2 in the tumor was correlated with MVD, the standardized ASI and AREA were correlated with MVD (P＜0.05).Conclusions The quantitative analysis with CEUS reflects the microvascular perfusion flow objectively.It provides a noninvasive imaging method to assess the angiogenesis in HCCs.

AIM: To investigate the biological activity of thrombopoietin Ⅱ(TPOⅡ) in vivo , which consists of two new kinds of ligand binding with thrombopoietin receptor. METHODS: Purified ligandⅠof TPOⅡ, artificial compound ligandⅡ of TPOⅡand rhTPO were injected into purebred Babl/c mice respectively in 7 days by intraperitoneal injection once for a day. Then the biological activity of TPOⅡ was analyzed by measuring peripheral platelet counts by the end of the seventh day. RESULTS: On the seventh day, the platelet counts of mice treated by ligandⅠof TPOⅡ were higher than that in the negative control group( P 0.05). On the fourteenth day, the platelet counts increased in two all experimental groups of TPOⅡcompared with negative control group( P 0.05). Moreover the platelet counts of mice in two experimental groups of TPOⅡ and the positive group showed increase with experimental days. CONCLUSION: The purified ligandⅠof TPOⅡ had obvious activity in increasing platelet production, which is not different from the effect of rhTPO.

AIM: To investigate effects of thrombopoietin(TPO) and TPOⅡ on human platelet activation in vitro. METHODS:Human platelets were incubated in the phosphate-buffered saline containing rhTPO or TPOⅡ at the concentration of 100 ?g/L for five minutes. In order to determine the rate of platelet activation. The CD62P and CD41 expressions on platelets were analysed by flow cytometry using fluorescence labelled monoclonal antibody to CD62P and CD41. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that expression of CD62P on platelets which were incubated with rhTPO or TPOⅡ didn't increase compared with that of contrast group. CONCLUSION: Both rhTPO and TPOⅡdidn't cause the disorder of platelet activation.