Objective To investigate the effect of tube voltage and iodine concentration of contrast medium (CM) on abdominal dynamic enhanced CT image quality.Methods Six miniature pigs underwent repeated upper abdomen dynamic contrast-enhanced CT scans in 4 scanning protocols with different concentration of CM and tube voltage,namely,protocol 1,CM with iodine concentration of 270 milligrams iodine per milliliter (mg/ml) and 80 kV tube voltage;protocol 2,270 mg/ml and 120 kV;protocol 3,370 mg/ml and 80 kV and protocol 4,370 mg/ml and 120 kV.The same iodine dose (600 mg/ml) and iodine delivery rate (IDR) (920 mg/s) were used in all protocols.The CM with iodine concentration of 270 mg/ml were injected at a flow rate of 3.4 ml/s,and 370 mg/ml CM injected at 2.5 ml/s.Image reconstruction was performed with iterative reconstruction (iDose4) in protocol 1 and 3,filtered back projection (FBP) was used in protocol 2 and 4.A subjective scoring system for image quality,image noise and sharpness was conducted by 2 radiologists independently.The measured values (peak of enhanced CT values,image noise of aorta,inferior vena cava,portal vein,hepatic vein and liver parenchyma) as well as the calculated values [their time-to-peak,signal-to-noise (SNR) and contrast-to-noise (CNR) ratios] were compared between among 4 protocols.The CT volume dose index (CDTIvol) and dose length product (DLP) were recorded from the CT console after each scanning.Factorial designed ANOVA was used for comparison of enhanced CT values of vessels and liver parenchyma,noise,SNR and CNR.The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for comparison of values among the 4 protocols,including the time-to-peak enhancement of vessels and liver parenchyma,the subjective scores of image quality indices.Result There was no significant differences in subjective scores of the image quality,image noise and image sharpness (P＞0.05).The scored were more than 3,and the images with 4 scanning protocols were all acceptable for diagnosis.There was no significant differences between protocol 1 and 3,protocol 2 and 4 in the peak enhancement CT values of aorta [(729±46) HU vs.(707±59)HU,(515±84)HU vs.(513±53)HU],inferior vena cava [(366±95)HU vs.(368±92)HU,(282±39)HU vs.(262 ± 67)HU],portal vein [(213± 18)HU vs.(201 ±29)HU,(180±21)HU vs.(176±27)HU],hepatic vein [(207±18)HU vs.(193±10)HU,(179±24)HU vs.(170±14)HU] and liver parenchyma [(128±7) HU vs.(127±4) HU,(135±5)HU vs.(135±6)HU] (P＞0.05).But the CT values of vessels (aorta,inferior vena cava,portal vein and hepatic vein) in protocol 1 and 3 were significantly higher than those in protocol 2 and 4 (P＜0.05),the CT values of liver parenchyma in protocol 1 and 3 were significantly lower than values in protocol 2 and 4 (P＜0.05).The image noises of vessels were higher in protocol 1 and 3 than noises in other protocols (P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference in liver parenchyma noise among protocols (P＞0.05).No significant differences were observed on the peak times,SNR and CNR in aorta,inferior vena cava,portal vein,hepatic vein and liver parenchyma among 4 protocols (P＞0.05).The CDTIvol and DLP were 199.67 mGy,1 597.4 mGy· cm respectively in protocol 1 and 3,585.12 mGy and 4 680.9 mGy· cm in protocol 2 and 4 (scanning with 120 kV).Conclusions CM with different iodinated concentration could achieve the same enhancement in the abdominal vessels and liver parenchyma by using the proper scan protocols,which have the same IDR and iodine dose per kilogram body weight.Higher vessel enhanced peak values were achieved when using the protocols with 80 kV tube voltage than 120 kV.By using a low dose protocol of 80 kV tube voltage with the iterative reconstruction algorithm,the quality of image can be warranted.

Objective　To understand the infection status and typing of Wolbachia in Culex pipiens pallens population in coastal areas of Shandong Province, and to provide new research directions and theoretical basis for the prevention and control of mosquito-borne diseases. Methods　From June 2022 to August 2023, mosquito samples were collected from 8 sites in four coastal cities of Yantai, Qingdao, Rizhao, and Dongying in Shandong Province by light lure method. The collected samples were identified as Culex pipiens pallens by combining morphological and molecular methods. Then, using the PCR detection method established by the Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) gene sequence, the Wolbachia infection rate of Culex pipiens pallens collected in the field from 8 sites along the coast of Shandong Province was detected. In addition, the representative strain of Wolbachia was downloaded from the GenBank database, and the obtained gene sequences were subjected to phylogenetic analysis using Mega5.2 software for typing. Results　Wolbachia infection was found in all four coastal areas of Shandong Province, with an average infection rate of 80.8% (261/323). Among them, Yanti had the highest infection rate of 100% (46/46), while Wulian County, Rizhao City had the lowest infection rate of 60.6% (20/33). A total of 12 wsp haplotypes were identified, with 92.5% infection rates for Hap1, 70.0% for Hap2, and lower rates for Hap3 to Hap12. From the perspective of haplotype sources, Hap1 was detected in all 8 sampling sites, while other haplotypes were only detected in some geographical populations of sampling sites. Among them, Dongying District, Dongying City had the highest haplotype diversity, with six haplotypes detected. Phylogenetic tree analysis concluded that the Wolbachia strains found in all eight sampling points belonged to group B. Conclusions　Infection of Wolbachia group B is common in Culex pipiens pallens in coastal areas of Shandong Province. Still, there are certain differences in the haplotypes of Wolbachia infections in different regions. This provides a valuable theoretical basis for targeted prevention and control of specific mosquito-borne diseases in the region．

Objective This study aims to establish a novel hyperglycemic obesity mouse model by utilizing Triacsin C, an inhibitor of acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 1 (ACSL1), combined with a high-fat diet, to simulate the changes in adipose tissue and cardiac function observed in patients with obesity-related type 2 diabetes. MethodsTwenty adult SPF-grade male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into two groups: the Control group (injected intraperitoneally with citric acid-sodium citrate buffer, Con group) and the TC group (injected intraperitoneally with Triacsin C, TC group). After four consecutive weeks of intraperitoneal injections, both groups were fed high-fat diets. Body weight and glucose tolerance of the mice were assessed every eight weeks. The models were considered successful if fasting blood glucose exceeded 8 mmol/L or blood glucose was above 15 mmol/L two hours after glucose injection. Cardiac function, including ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVESD), end-diastolic interventricular septal thickness (EDIVS), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and left ventricular short-axis fractional shortening (FS), was measured by echocardiography. HE staining was used to detect the changes in epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT). Immunofluorescence technology was used to analyze changes in CD31 and UCP1 in BAT. ACSL1 expression in myocardial tissue was tested by Western blotting. ResultsThe fasting blood glucose levels were (8.14±1.43) mmol/L in the Con group and (8.18±0.85) mmol/L in the TC group (P>0.05) , and the 2-hour postprandial blood glucose levels were (19.8±4.01) mmol/L in the Con group and (22.60±3.97) mmol/L in the TC group (P<0.05). This indicated that both groups of diabetic mouse models were successfully established. Compared to the Con group, the TC group showed poor glucose tolerance; significant decreases in LVEDD, LVEF and FS (P<0.05); significant increases in WAT and BAT areas (P<0.05); significant decreases in CD31 and UCP1 expression (P<0.05); and a significant decrease in the expression of ACSL1 in myocardial tissues (P<0.05). ConclusionCompared with the high-fat diet-induced type 2 diabetes model, the new hyperglycemic obesity and cardiac dysfunction mouse model, created by the combination of Triacsin C and a high-fat diet, is feasible and allows for easier observation of brown adipose tissue whitening, insulin resistance and cardiac dysfunction.

Objective To understand the genetic basis of the adaptation of Culex tritaeniorhynchus to different environmental ecology in Jining City, Shandong Province, so as to provide insights into understanding of the population structure or isolation pattern of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in the city. Methods Seven sampling sites were selected from urban, suburban and rural areas of Jining City, Shandong Province from June to August 2023, and mosquitoes were collected using mosquito-trapping lamps. All collected adult mosquitoes were identified morphologically. Genomic DNA was extracted from a single female Cx. tritaeniorhynchus mosquito, and the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase I (COI) gene was amplified using a PCR assay, sequenced and subjected to molecular identification. The number of haplotypes, haplotype diversity (Hd), nucleotide diversity (Pi), and average number of nucleotide differences (K) of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus DNA sequences were estimated among different sampling sites using the software DnaSP 6, and a neutrality test was performed. The fixation index (F_ST), and gene flow (number of migrants, Nm) of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus populations were calculated using the software Arlequin 3.5.2, and subjected to analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA). In addition, a haplotype network diagrams and a phylogenetic tree of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus populations were created using the software PopART and MEGA 11, respectively. Results A total of 420 sequences were successfully amplified from the COI gene of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus samples collected from 7 sampling sites in Jining City, and a gene fragment sequence with a length of 603 bp was obtained, with 55 variable sites and 46 haplotypes and without insertion or deletion mutations. Of the 46 haplotypes, H01 was the dominant shared haplotype, and the haplotype frequency increased gradually from urban areas (34.00%) to rural areas (47.00%). The mean Hd, Pi and K values of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus COI genes were 0.814, 0.024 and 14.129, 0.489, 0.016 and 7.941 and 0.641, 0.016 and 10.393 in suburban, urban, and rural areas, respectively, with the highest population diversity of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus in suburban areas and the lowest in urban areas. Paired F_ST analysis among different types of sampling sites showed that the mean F_ST value was 0.029 between urban and suburban areas, indicating more frequent inter-population communication. AMOVA revealed that the percentage of intra-population variation (95.74%) was higher than that of inter-population variation (4.26%). Neutrality tests showed deviation from neutrality in Cx. tritaeniorhynchus populations collected from Nanyang Township (Tajima’s D = 2.793, Fu’s Fs = 6.429, both P values < 0.05). In addition, the mismatch distribution curves of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus COI gene appeared bimodal or multimodal patterns in Jining City, indicating a relatively stable overall population size. Conclusions The mitochondrial COI gene may be used as a molecular marker to investigate the population genetic diversity of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus. The population genetic diversity of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus is higher in the suburban areas of Jining City than in rural and urban areas, and there are frequent genetic exchanges between Cx. tritaeniorhynchus populations from urban and suburban areas.