OBJECTIVE To explore the effects and mechanism of Huayu qutan formula on atherosclerosis （AS） in ApoE－/－ mice. METHODS Thirty ApoE－/－ mice were randomly divided into model group， Huayu qutan formula group [20 g/（kg·d）]， rosuvastatin group [1.55 mg/（kg·d）]， with 10 mice in each group. Another 10 C57BL/6J mice were selected as normal control group. ApoE－/－ mice were given high-lipid diet for 12 weeks to induce AS model. After modeling， each group was given relevant medicine or normal saline intragastrically， once a day， for 4 consecutive weeks. After the last administration， the levels of total cholesterol （TC）， triglycerides （TG）， low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL- C）， 5，6-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid （5，　6-EET）， 8，9-EET， 11，12-EET， 14，15-EET， interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and IL-18 in serum were detected； mRNA expressions of inhibitor of nuclear factor κB （IκB）， nuclear factor κB （NF-κB）， NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 （NLRP3）， Caspase-1， IL-1β and IL-18 in the aortic tissue of mice were detected； protein expression levels of IκB， NF- κB， NLRP3， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD （ASC）， Caspase-1， gasdermin D （GSDMD）， IL-1β and IL-18 in the aortic tissue of mice were detected. The morphological changes of the aortic tissue were observed. RESULTS Compared with model group， the serum levels of TC， TG， LDL-C， IL-1β and IL-18， the mRNA expressions of IκB， NF-κB， NLRP3， Caspase-1， IL-1β and IL-18 in aortic tissue， and the protein expressions of IκB， NF-κB， NLRP3， ASC， Caspase-1， GSDMD， IL-1β and IL-18 were all decreased significantly in Huayu qutan formula group and rosuvastatin group （P＜0.05）， while the serum levels of 5，6-EET， 8，9-EET， 11，12-EET and 14，15-EET were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. The aortic atherosclerotic plaques were alleviated significantly. CONCLUSIONS Huayu qutan formula can play role of anti-AS through EETs-mediated pyroptosis.

Objective To analyze the correlation between T lymphocyte subsets,neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio(NLR),procalcitonin(PCT)and the severity of sepsis.Methods A prospective research method was adopted.A total of 78 sepsis patients admitted to the department of intensive care medicine of Zibo Central Hospital from January 2021 to December 2022 were selected as the research subjects.Patients were divided into a septic shock group(37 cases)and a sepsis group(41 cases)based on the severity of their condition,with 40 healthy examinees from our hospital as the healthy control group.Using flow cytometry to measure the levels of CD4+ T lymphocytes count(CD4+ T)and CD8+ T lymphocytes count(CD8+ T)in three groups of subjects,calculate the CD4+ T/CD8+ T lymphocyte ratio(CD4+ T/CD8+ T)and NLR.The levels of PCT and interleukin-6(IL-6)were measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay,and the levels of C-reactive protein(CRP)were measured using immunoassay turbidimetry.Acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ)score within 24 hours was recorded for the two groups of patients,and the differences in lymphocyte subsets and various inflammatory indicators were compared between the groups.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between various indicators and APACHEⅡscore.Results The CD4+ T,CD8+ T,and CD4+T/CD8+T levels in the septic shock and sepsis groups were significantly lower than those in the healthy control group[CD4+ T(×106/L):168.27±76.68,266.08±131.57 vs.789.60±173.78,CD8+ T(×106/L):156.50±68.37,205.81±75.60 vs.636.42±90.59,CD4+ T/CD8+ T:1.09±0.39,1.27±0.34 vs.1.44±0.38,all P<0.01],NLR,PCT,CRP and IL-6 were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group[NLR:25.85±11.62,15.94±8.72 vs.2.68±1.31,PCT(μg/L):21.82±15.28,9.09±4.96 vs.0.13±0.10,CRP(mg/L):158.65±62.33,106.97±51.49 vs.6.48±2.08,IL-6(ng/L):1 344.64±899.21,245.31±176.99 vs.3.25±1.83,all P<0.01].The APACHEⅡscore in the septic shock group was significantly higher than that in the sepsis group(32.00±1.00 vs.22.01±1.09,P<0.05).Correlation analysis showed that the levels of CD4+ T,CD8+ T,CD4+ T/CD8+ T in two groups of sepsis patients were negatively correlated with the APACHEⅡscore(r values were-0.571,-0.506,and-0.555,respectively,all P<0.01),while the levels of NLR,PCT,CRP,and IL-6 were positively correlated with the APACHEⅡscore(r values were 0.711,0.709,0.777,and 0.707,respectively,all P<0.01).Conclusions As the levels of T lymphocyte subsets decrease,inflammatory indicators like NLR and PCT rise,indicating a more severe sepsis condition.Therefore,T lymphocyte subsets and levels of various inflammatory indicators can serve as markers for evaluating the severity of sepsis.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the genotypes and biochemical phenotypes of neonates with abnormal metabolism of butyrylcarnitine (C4). METHODS: One hundred and twenty neonates with increased C4 levels detected by tandem mass spectrometry in the neonatal screening at Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 2018 to June 2023 were included. The initial screening data and recalled data of C4 and C4/C3 were collected and converted into multiples of C4 reference range. Next generation sequencing was performed and the exons with adjacent 50 bp regions of ACAD8 and ACADS genes were captured by liquid phase capture technique. Variant information was obtained by bioinformatic analysis and the pathogenicity were classified according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics criteria. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to analyze the differences in C4 levels among neonates with different variation types. RESULTS: In total, 32 variants in ACAD8 gene were detected, of which 7 variants were reported for the first time; while 41 variants of ACADS gene were detected, of which 17 variants have not been previously reported. There were 39 cases with ACAD8 biallelic variations and 3 cases with ACAD8 monoallelic variations; 34 cases with ACADS biallelic variations and 36 cases with ACADS monoallelic variations. Furthermore, 5 cases were detected with both ACAD8 and ACADS gene variations. Inter group comparison showed that the multiples of C4 reference range in initial screening and re-examination of the ACAD8 biallelic variations and ACADS biallelic variations groups were significantly higher than those of the ACADS monoallelic variations group (all P<0.01), while the multiples in the ACAD8 biallelic variations group were significantly higher than those in the ACADS biallelic variations group (all P<0.01). The multiples of C4 reference range in the initial screening greater than 1.5 times were observed in all neonates carrying ACAD8 or ACADS biallelic variations, while only 25% (9/36) in neonates carrying ACADS monoallelic variations. CONCLUSIONS ACAD8 and/or ACADS gene variants are the main genetic causes for elevated C4 in newborns in Zhejiang region with high genotypic heterogeneity. The C4 levels of neonates with biallelic variations are significantly higher than those of neonates with monoallelic variations. The cut-off value for C4 level could be modestly elevated, which could reduce the false positive rate in tandem mass spectrometry neonatal screening.
Child ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase/genetics* ; Genotype ; Phenotype ; Carnitine/metabolism* ; Mutation

Objective To analyze the related factors of micro-albuminuria and macroalbuminuria in type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) in the classification tree model,and to screen the high risk population of diabetic kidney disease.Methods 394 patients with type 1 diabetes were enrolled in the hospital from 2008 to 2015.According to glomerular filtration rates and urine albumin quantification,the patients were divided into type 1 diabetes group (299 cases),micro-albuminuria group (73 cases) and macro-albuminuria group (22 cases).The classification tree model was utilized to analyze related factors of the different stages of proteinuria,and the high-risk population was screened by node gain analysis.Results Four important explanatory variables were screened out by the classification tree model from the 27 candidate variables related to primary renal damage,including retinopathy,fibrinogen,waist-hip ratio (WHR),red blood cell distribution width (RDW).Retinopathy was an major factor of DKD.The probability of macro-albuminuria in retinopathy and WHR ＞ 0.82 group was 43.8％,and if at the same time RDW ＞ 0.14,the probability of macro-albuminuria was 88.9％.Conclusions The classification tree model can analyze factors of the separate stages of proteinuria in type 1 diabetic patients effectively.Retinopathy is the major influential factors of type 1 diabetic patients with proteinuria.

Objective: To explore the differential expression of microRNAs in the serum among patients with electrical burn or thermal burn and healthy persons and to explore the significance. Methods: In this study we included three patients with electrical burn and three patients with thermal burn, conforming to the inclusion criteria and hospitalized in our burn ward from June to August 2015, and three healthy adult volunteers. Their serum samples were separated from whole blood and divided into electrical burn group, thermal burn group, and normal control group. Total RNA was extracted from their serum samples using Trizol method. The differentially expressed microRNAs (with differential ratio larger than or equal to 2.000, less than or equal to 0.500) among the three groups were screened by microRNA chip technique. Then cluster and Venn diagram analysis of the differentially expressed microRNAs were performed. Enrichment analysis of Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) signaling pathway was performed on the distinctly changed microRNAs (with differential ratio larger than or equal to 5.000, less than or equal to 0.500). Results: There were 220 differentially expressed microRNAs among serum of the three groups. MicroRNA expression profiles in serum of electrical burn and thermal burn groups were different from that in serum of normal control group. Compared with those in serum of normal control group, the expressions of 59 microRNAs changed more than 2.000 times in serum of electrical burn group, with 50 up-regulated microRNAs and 9 down-regulated microRNAs; the expressions of 40 microRNAs changed more than 2.000 times in serum of thermal burn group, with 21 up-regulated microRNAs and 19 down-regulated microRNAs. Compared with those in serum of thermal burn group, the expressions of 167 microRNAs changed more than 2.000 times in serum of electrical burn group. There were 17 exclusively expressed microRNAs in serum of thermal burn group and 26 exclusively expressed microRNAs in serum of electrical burn group, compared with those in serum of normal control group. Enrichment analysis of KEGG signaling pathway showed that compared with those in serum of normal control group, microRNAs which changed distinctly in serum of electrical burn group took part in the insulin secretion signaling pathway, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy signaling pathway, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy signaling pathway, glutamatergic synapse signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway, cyclic adenosine monophosphate signaling pathway, glycerophospholipid metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, serotonergic synapse signaling pathway, etc, while microRNAs which changed distinctly in serum of thermal burn group took part in the tumor transcription misregulation signaling pathway, proteoglycans in tumor signaling pathway, microRNAs in tumor signaling pathway, long-term potentiation signaling pathway, citrate cycle signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, focal adhesion signaling pathway, endocytosis signaling pathway, insulin secretion signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, and estrogen signaling pathway, etc. Conclusions MicroRNA expression profiles in serum of electrical and thermal burn are different from that in serum of healthy adult. The signaling pathways enriched with target genes which are regulated by the differentially expressed microRNAs are related to the pathological changes and clinical manifestations after electrical or thermal burn.

Based on repeated experiments as well as continuous researching and improving, an efficient scheme to measure velocity and displacement of the coxa and knee movements based on video image processing technique is presented in this paper. The scheme performed precise and real-time quantitative measurements of 2D velocity or displacement of the coxa and knee using a video camera mounted on one side of the healing and training beds. The beds were based on simplified pinhole projection model. In addition, we used a special-designed auxiliary calibration target, composed by 24 circle points uniformly located on two concentric circles and two straight rods which can rotate freely along the concentric center within the vertical plane, to do the measurements. Experiments carried out in our laboratory showed that the proposed scheme could basically satisfy the requirements about precision and processing speed of such kind of system, and would be very suitable to be applied to smart evaluation/training and healing system for muscles/balance function disability as an advanced and intuitional helping method.
Biomechanical Phenomena ; Calibration ; Hip ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Knee Joint ; Movement

Objective To explore the moderating or mediating effects of life-meaning between optimism and suicide risk in undergraduates.Methods A total of 1310 college students from one Chinese university completed a survey that included Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R),the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) and the Chinese meaning in life questionnaire (C-MLQ).Results The total scores of SBQ-R,LOT-R and C-MLQ of undergraduate were (5.04 ± 2.28),(11.22 ± 2.07) and (37.22 ± 5.22),respectively.Optimism had significant negative correlation with suicide risk (r =-0.22,P ＜ 0.01),and positive correlation with life-meaning (r=0.28,P＜0.01).Life-meaning had significant negative correlation with suicide risk (r=-0.18,P＜0.01).The life-meaning's moderating effects between optimism and suicide risk were not significant(P ＞ 0.05),while the relationship between optimism and suicide risk was mediated by life-meaning,and the mediating effect was 0.07,which accounted for 17％ of the total effects.Conclusion Life-meaning doesnt morderating effect,but partially mediates the relationship between optimism and suicide risk.

Objective To analyze the prevalence,risk factors of kidney disease in type 2 diabetic patients with KDIGO classification of chronic kidney disease,also to study cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and death in these patients,so as to investigate the significance of the KDIGO classification system.Methods One thousand six hundred and forty-five type 2 diabetic patients who were in hospitalization from June 2008 to December 2012 were grouped according to the KDIGO classification of chronic kidney disease and the incidence of vascular disease was analyzed based on the classification.Clinical features were compared between patients with or without kidney disease.The risk factors of kidney disease and the death of diabetic patients were also investigated.Results There were 915 male and 730 female,aged a median (57.86±12.54) years with (6.35±6.30) years duration of diabetes mellitus among the 1645 cases,and 37.2％ of patients had concomitant kidney disease.According to the classi fi cation of CKD,patients in CKD group 3a,group 3b and CKD group 4-5 accounted for 5.7％,3.5％ and 7.6％,while 33.4％ of patients had proteinuria,among which 19.5％ with microalbuminuria,13.5％ with macroalbuminuria.On complications,patients with hypertension accounted for 49.5％,hyperlipidemia 67.7％,diabetic retinopathy 27.4％,cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases 18.5％ (coronary artery disease 16.5％,cerebrovascular diseases 8.8％).Statistical difference was detected in the incidence of diabetic retinopathy,coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular diseases between CKD group 3a and 3b (P ＜ 0.05).The duration of diabetes,concomitant hypertention especially with elevated systolic blood pressure,diabetic retinopathy and hyperuricemia were the independent risk factors for type 2 diabetic patients with kidney disease.Age,Scr,complicating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and advanced CKD stage were the independent risk factors for the death of type 2 diabetic patients with kidney disease.Conclusion KDIGO classification of chronic kidney disease enables better staging of kidney diseases in diabetic patients for management and prognosis.Diabetic patients have a higher prevalence of renal diseases and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events than the general population.Early control of factors such as blood pressure and serum uric acid can delay the progression of kidney disease,and the predictive role of diabetic retinopathy should be emphasized.

Objective To analyze the impact factors for early renal damage in type 2 diabetic patients by the classification tree model.Methods A total of 601 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled.According to glomerular filtration rates and urine albumin quantification,the patients were divided into type 2 diabetes group (418 cases) and early diabetic renal damage group (183 cases).The clinical data of the patients were recorded to analyze the main influential factors for the microalbuminuria of type 2 diabetic patients using the Exhaustive CHAID classification tree algorithm.Results Six important explanatory variables were screened out by the classification tree model from the 34 candidate variables related to early renal damage,including fibrinogen,history of hypertension,retinopathy,Cys C levels,SBP and peripheral neuropathy.Elevated fibrinogen was the main factor.Conclusion The classification tree model can analyze the major influential factors of early renal damage in type 2 diabetic patients effectively,and it can help develop the prevention and treatment methods.

Cognitive decline is a common complication after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), but as such no pharmacological therapy has been shown to be efficacious in preventing the decline. However, gastrodin has been shown to have multi-pharmacological effects on neurological functions. We undertook this study to test the hypothesis that gastrodin would potentially prevent CPB-associated neurocognitive decline. We randomly assigned 200 patients undergoing mitral valve replacement surgery to receive either gastrodin (40 mg/kg) or saline after the induction of anesthesia and subsequently evaluated cognitive function before surgery, at discharge, and at 3rd month after surgery by using a battery of five neurocognitive tests, or adverse effects of gastrodin postoperatively. Neurocognitive decline in postoperative function was defined as a drop of 1 SD or more in the scores on tests of any one of the four domains of cognitive function. Cognitive decline occurred in 9% of the patients in the gastrodin group in contrast to 42% in the control group (P<0.01) at discharge. Cognitive outcome could be determined at 3rd month in 87 patients in the gastrodin group and 89 in the control group. Cognitive decline was detected in 6% in the gastrodin group and 31% in the control group (P<0.01). The incidences of possible adverse effects were similar between two groups. These results indicate that gastrodin is an effective and a safe drug for the prevention of neurocognitive decline in patients undergoing mitral valve replacement surgery with CPB.