Pseudolaricis Cortex and its adulterants were identified using DNA barcoding technique in this study. The sequences of ITS2 of Pseudolaricis Cortex and its five adulterants including 37 samples were analyzed. Se-quences were assembled using CodonCode Aligner 3.5.7. K2P distances were calculated and NJ tree was per-formed applying MEGA5.0. The ITS2 secondary structure was predicted using the ITS2 database and website. The results showed that the haplotypes of ITS2 regions of Pseudolaricis Cortex were the same as that of the original plant leaves. The inter-specific K2P distances of ITS2 were obviously higher than the intra-specific ones. Sam-ples of Pseudolaricis Cortex were clustered into a single clade in the NJ tree. The secondary structure of ITS2 of Pseudolaricis Cortex was significantly different from its adulterants. Therefore, ITS2 could powerfully discriminate Pseudolaricis Cortex and its adulterants.

Objective : To investigate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis among drug users (DUs) in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Methods : DUs' epidemiological data were collected from 5 national AIDS surveillance sentinels in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2021 through the National HIV/AIDS Sentinel Surveillance Data Management System, and sexual behaviors, DU behaviors, HIV testing and behavioral interventions were descriptively analyzed. The factors affecting the HCV and syphilis infections were identified among DUs using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results : A total of 2 019 DUs were enrolled, with a mean age of (43.32±9.88) years. Among the participants, there were 1 958 males (96.98%), 1 830 with local registered residence (90.64%), 1 038 with marriage/cohabitation (51.41%), 1 410 with an educational level of junior high school and above (69.84%), and 1 884 with Han Ethnicity (93.36%). There were 1 605 DUs with use of conventional drugs (79.49%), 283 with use of new drugs (14.02%) and 131 with use of mixed drugs (6.49%), and there were 340 DUs with injection drug use (16.84%), including 41 that shared the needles (12.06%). There were 460 DUs with commercial sexual behaviors in the past year (22.78%). The percentage of HCV and syphilis positive was 23.63% and 3.81%, respectively, while no HIV positive case was detected. In addition, multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that age (40 years- , OR=3.747, 95%CI: 2.161-6.497; 50 years and older, OR=5.302, 95%CI: 3.064-9.177), local registered residence (OR=3.409, 95%CI: 1.935-6.008), use of conventional drugs (OR=1.477, 95%CI: 1.035-2.108), and injection drugs (OR=2.700, 95%CI: 2.067-3.527) caused an increased risk of HCV infections among DUs, and divorced/widowed (OR=3.413, 95%CI: 1.463-7.962) and non-local registered DUs (OR=2.404, 95%CI: 1.304-4.433) had an increased risk of syphilis infections. Conclusions Middle-aged men are predominant DUs in national AIDS surveillance sentinels in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and the prevalence of HCV and syphilis infections correlates with age, household registration, marital status, type of drugs used and route of drug use.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among five high-risk populations in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, so as to provide insights into improvements in the control strategy for hepatitis C. Methods: The detection of anti-HCV antibody was collected from patients receiving renal dialysis, patients receiving invasive diagnosis and treatment in hospitals, physical examination populations, unpaid blood donors and subjects admitted to family planning clinics in national hepatitis C surveillance sentinels in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2013 to 2021, and the year-, gender- and age-specific prevalence of anti-HCV antibody was analyzed. Results: The mean prevalence of anti-HCV antibody was 2.19%, 1.81%, 0.05%, 0.10% and 0.03% among 3 600 patients receiving renal dialysis, 3 600 patients receiving invasive diagnosis and treatment in hospitals, 18 000 physical examination populations, 18 000 volunteer blood donors and 3 600 subjects admitted to family planning clinics, respectively. The prevalence of anti-HCV antibody appeared a tendency towards a decline among patients receiving renal dialysis (χ2trend=49.065, P<0.001) and volunteer blood donors (χ2trend=11.419, P=0.001). The prevalence of anti-HCV antibody was higher among male patients receiving invasive diagnosis and treatment in hospitals than among females (2.34% vs. 1.36%; χ2=4.826, P=0.028), and no gender-specific prevalence of anti-HCV antibody was seen among other four high-risk populations (all P>0.05). The highest prevalence of anti-HCV antibody was detected among patients receiving renal dialysis (3.30%) and patients receiving invasive diagnosis and treatment in hospitals at ages of 50 to 59 years (3.35%), while the highest prevalence was found among physical examination populations at ages of 60 years and greater (0.18%). Conclusion The prevalence of anti-HCV antibody was high among patients receiving renal dialysis and patients receiving invasive diagnosis and treatment in hospitals and low among physical examination populations, volunteer blood donors and subjects admitted to family planning clinics in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2013 to 2021. Periodical monitoring of anti-HCV antibody is recommended among the elderly.

Objective To study the expressions of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1 and angiopoietin (Ang)-2 in repeated gastrointestinal bleeding due to vascular malformation, and the efficacy of treatment with thalidomide. Methods Twenty-five patients with repeated gastrointestinal bleeding due to vascular malformation confirmed by capsule endoscopy or enteroscopy were collected and 18 subjects without severe diseases were served as controls. Ten patients with gastrointestinal vascular malformation, who received 25 mg of thalidomide 4 times daily for 4 months and were followed up for at least one year, were also enrolled. The serum samples from all participauts were detected for expressions of HIF-1 and Ang-2 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The expressions of HIF-1 and Ang-2 were compared between angiodysplasia group and control group.The expressions of HIF-1 and Ang-2 were comparatively evaluated before and after treatment with thalidomide in treatment group. Results The expressions of HIF-1 and Ang-2 in vascular malformation group [( 113. 84 ± 26. 66 ) ng/ml and ( 652. 11 ± 140. 39) ng/ml, respectively] were significantly higher than that of control group [(43.28±17.30) ng/ml and (265.60±53.88) ng/ml,respectively, P=0. 000]. The expression of HIF-1 was positively associated with that of Ang-2. (r=0. 700, P= 0. 000). There was no difference in expressions of HIF-1 and Ang-2 before and after treatment with thalidomide (P=0. 498 and =0. 136, respectively). However, significant reduction of Ang-2 [(113. 80±73. 60) ng/ml(P=0. 003)] was found in 8 effectively treated patients after thalidomide treatment. Conclusions HIF-1 and Ang-2 might play an important role in the formation of vascular malformation. The extent of Ang-2 reduction after thalidomide treatment may be helpful in evaluating its efficacy or prognosis.

Objective To establish high level expression system of exogenous hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) protein in mouse livers by in vivo gene transfection and to observe the inhibition effect of exogenous HGF on hepatocyte apoptosis in mice. Methods Mice were divided into four groups, with 10 mice in each arm, which were injected with control solution, empty pcDNA3 plasmids, pCMV-HGF plasmid or 0.9% sodium chloride solution by tail vein. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to determine the peak level and the expression duration of HGF protein in the peripheral blood and liver tissue. Western blotting was performed to measure the Caspase-3, tBid, Bax and Cytochrom C in the hepatocyte homogenatea and mitochondrion. Results HGF protein was detected in the mice blood as early as 4 hours after single injection of pCMV-HGF plasmid. The peak level of HGF protein in liver and plasma was respectively achieved by 8 hours and 12 hours after first injection while HGF protein was still detectable in the blood 6 days after the initial injection. D-Galactosamine/lipopolysaeeharide (LPS) led to obvious hepatocyte apoptnsis and induced an increased concentration of tBid, Bax, Caspase-3 and Cytochrom C in the hepatocyte homogenates and mitochondrion. Compared to sodium chloride control group and empty pcDNA3 protected group, the expression of tBid, Bax, Caspase-3 and Cytochrom C decreased in pCMV-HGF plasmid protecting group. Conclusions Hepatocyte apoptosis can be inhibited by exogenous HGF protein expression in mouse livers, which is induced by in vivo gene transfection. Moreover, it may inhibit the activation of downstream apoptotic proteins by blocking the expression of tBid.

ObjectiveTo study the pathogcncsis of gastrointestinal vascular malformation (GIVM) and the potential mechanism of thalidomide in the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding due to GIVM.Methods We collected the surgical intestinal specimens from 10 patients who suffered from massive hemorrhage of gastrointestinal tract owning to GIVM and the normal intestinal mucosa around the lesions,as well as normal intestinal mucosa from healthy subjects.Immunohistochemical(IHC) staining was carried out to investigate the differences of angiopoietin 2 ( Ang2 ),Notch1 and delta like ligand 4 (Dll4) in the above three intestinal mucosa to find the relationship with the pathogenesis of GIVM. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) were cultured with 0,25,50,100 and 200 mg/L thalidomide for 24 or 48 hours to observe their mRNA and protein expressions of Ang2,Notch1,Dll4 by real-time PCR and Western blot.ResultsBy IHC staining,more expressions of Ang2,Notch1 and Dll4 in the lesions were detected than those in the normal intestinal mucosa around the lesions and the normal intestinal mucosa in healthy people.The expressions of Ang2,Notch1 and Dll4 were significantly correlated (P =0.016,r =0.732),and the expressions of Notch1 and Dll4 were absolutely correlated ( P =0.000,r =1.000).Real-time PCR and Western blot showed that thalidomide could down-regulate the expressions of them,which were in a concentration-dependent manner.ConclusionAng2,Notch1 and Dll4 may correlate with the pathogenesis of GIVM,while thalidomide can concentration-dependently down-regulate the expression of Ang2,Notch1 and Dll4,which may be one of the mechanism that thalidomide play a therapeutic role in GIVM.

Objective: To explore incidence trend of hepatitis C in Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2008 to 2022, so as to provide the basis for formulating prevention and control measures for hepatitis C. Methods: Data of reported hepatitis C cases in Chifeng City from 2008 to 2022 was collected through the Infectious Disease Information Reporting Management System. Trends in incidence of hepatitis C were analyzed using annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC). Impact of age, period and birth cohort on the risk of developing hepatitis C were analyzed by an age-period-cohort model. Results: The annual average reported incidence rate of hepatitis C in Chifeng City was 59.13/105 from 2008 to 2022. The incidence showed an upward trend from 2008 to 2018 (APC=9.405%, P<0.05) and a downward trend from 2018 to 2022 (APC=-17.475%, P<0.05), but the overall trend was not statistically significant (AAPC=0.937%, P>0.05). The age-period-cohort model analysis showed that the incidence risks of hepatitis C in the residents aged 0 to 4 years and 45 to 84 years were higher than those in the residents aged 40 to 44 years (the control group). The incidence risk of hepatitis C increased with age from 40 to 79 years. Compared with 2008-2012, the incidence risk of hepatitis C showed an increasing trend followed by a decline in 2008-2022. The incidence risk was higher in 2013-2017 and lower in 2018-2022 than in 2008-2012. The incidence risk of hepatitis C showed an increasing trend followed by a decreasing trend by using the birth cohort from 1968 to 1972 as the control. The birth cohort from 1953 to 1977 had a higher incidence risk of hepatitis C than other birth cohorts. Conclusions The overall incidence of hepatitis C in Chifeng City from 2008 to 2022 appeared a tendency towards a decline, and the incidence risk increased with age. Screening and health education for the elderly and high-risk birth cohorts should be strengthened.

Objective To explore humam cytomegalovirus(HCMV) encoded microRNAs during latent infection in order to help study HCMV virology and latent infection mechanisms.Methods A model of HCMV latent infection via THP-1 cells infected with HCMV was constructed.Deep-sequencing was performed using high-resolution Solexa sequencing platform.The secondary structure of the newly sequenced miRNA was predicted by RNAFold bioinformatics software. Results HCMV encoded various miRNAs during latent infection, including miR-US25-2-3p, miR-US25-2-5p, miR-UL112, miR-US25-1, miR-UL22A and PC-5p-148467 with a predicted length of 25 bp, named hcmv-miR-US33as-5p.Conclusion HCMV can express many types of miRNAs during latent infection.

Objective to accurately understand the current research situation of blended learning in medical educationand find the problems and shortcomings in the study. Methods In order to accurately understand the research status and problems of blended learning in medical education, adopting the content analysis, a literature review is constructed from the aspects of the number of publications, research contents and hot topics using the Bicomb analysis system. This paper selects 61 relevant articles from CNKI. By reliability analysis formula R=nK/[1+ (n-1) K], the reliability R is about 0.97, more than 0.9, which means the classification results have a higher degree of credibility. Results It is found that Blended learning is mainly concentrated in medical colleges and universities in the field of medical education in China. The hot research topic is the use of "flipped class", "PBL teaching mode" and other new teaching modes, mainly based on the third party network platform like MOCC and micro courses. Conclusion The results show that there are many problems in present research. In China, the research of blended learning started late, and the quality needs to be further improved. In further research, we should strengthen the cooperation of vari-ous fields, pay more attention to the development of network teaching platform, optimize the quality of teaching resources, and improve the level of empirical research.

Medicinal animals are important part of Traditional Chinese medicine resources in China. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) was selected as the standard DNA barcoding sequence for animal medical materials. In this study, the 51 animal species from 45 animal medical materials in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia were selected and the intra-specific variation and the inter-specific divergence, the barcoding gap, the identification efficiency of their COI sequences were analyzed. The results showed that the inter-specific divergence is higher than intra-specific distance. The barcoding gap existed between inter-specific sequence divergence and intra-specific dis-tance. The identification efficiencies were 100% both at the genus and species level except the Arthropoda. The cluster dendrogram exhibited that different species distinguished from others. Therefore, COI sequence as a bar-code is suitable to identify the species of animal medical materials in Chinese Pharmacopoeia.