Objective To observe the influence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the cell cycle and the mRNAs expression of procollagen type Ⅰ , Ⅲ of normal human skin fibroblasts. Methods Purified dermal fibroblasts were exposed to different doses of LPS(0. 005 ～ 1.0 μg/ml) from E. coli. Then the cell cycle of fibroblasts at logarithmic stage at day 7 after LPS administration was assayed with flow cytometry.The expression of procollagen type Ⅰ , Ⅲ and collagenase mRNAs was tested by RT-PCR. Results The percentage of S phase cells in cell cycle of normal human skin fibroblasts increased when LPS concentrations were changed from 0. 005 to 0. 1 μg/ml, and the increase showed a concentration dependent manner. However, when the concentration of LPS was 0. 5 μg/ml, the percentage of S phase cells began to decrease, but still higher than normal control. When LPS concentration reached 1.0 μg/ml, the percentage of S phase cells were lower than normal control. The expression of procollagen type Ⅰ , Ⅲ mRNAs of normal skin fibroblasts increased when LPS was challenged to the concentration of 0. 005 μg/ml, and the influence showed a concentration dependent manner. However, when the concentration of LPS was 0. 5 μg/ml, the influence of LPS on the expression of procollagen type Ⅰ , Ⅲ of normal skin fibroblasts began to decrease.When the concentration of LPS reached 1.0 μg/ml, the expression of procollagen type Ⅰ , Ⅲ mRNAs were inhibited. Conclusions LPS promoted the proliferation and collagen synthesis of normal human skin fibroblasts within a certain range of low doses, while high doses of LPS might inhibit the proliferation and collagen synthesis of normal human skin fibroblasts.

Objective:To investigate the relations between enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) and cognitive impairment in patients with acute mild ischemic stroke.Methods:A total of 234 patients with acute mild ischemic stroke admitted to our hospital from October 2019 to June 2021 were chosen in our study. According to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores 7 d after admission, these patients were divided into normal cognitive function group (MoCA scores≥26) and cognitive impairment group (MoCA scores<26). The clinical data and imaging data of patients from the 2 groups were compared. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent influencing factors for post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). Spearman correlation analysis was performed to analyze the correlations of severity degrees of EPVS of basal ganglia with MoCA total scores and each cognitive domain scores in patients from cognitive impairment group.Results:Among the 234 patients, 73 (31.2%) had normal cognitive function and 161 (68.8%) had cognitive impairment. As compared with normal cognitive function group, patients from cognitive impairment group had significantly older age, significantly less years of education, statistically higher fasting blood glucose level, significantly higher proportion of patients with moderate and severe basal ganglia EPVS, and significantly higher proportion of patients with white matter lesion (WML) grading 2 and 3 ( P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age, years of education, basal ganglia EPVS and WML grading were independent influencing factors for PSCI ( OR=1.049, 95%CI: 1.007-1.093, P=0.021; OR=0.910, 95%CI: 0.832-0.995, P=0.039; OR=0.760, 95%CI: 1.176-2.637, P=0.006; OR=2.270, 95%CI: 1.219-4.228, P=0.010). Correlation analysis showed that the severity degrees of basal ganglia EPVS were negatively correlated with MoCA scores, and scores of visual space and executive ability scale, attention scale, language scale and delayed recall scale ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Acute mild ischemic stroke patients with older age, less years of education, severer basal ganglia EPVS and higher WML grading trends to have cognitive impairment; basal ganglia EPVS mainly affects the cognitive domains of visual space and executive ability, attention, language, and delayed recall.

Objective:To reevaluate the upper limit of normal (ULN) of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) by retrospectively analyzing the ALT levels in healthy people in Ningbo area.Methods:A total of 56 140 people who underwent health examination and detection of liver biochemical indexes in the Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Ningbo University and Yinzhou Huamao Hospital of Ningbo from 2018 to 2020 were enrolled. After excluding relevant factors that may lead to liver injury, 11 411 people were included to compare the difference of serum ALT levels among different genders and age groups (20 to 29 years, 30 to 39 years, 40 to 49 years and 50 to 59 years) to determine the ALT ULN in different gender groups. Statistical methods were performed using two independent samples t test and analysis of variance. Results:The serum ALT of males was (19.20±7.90) U/L, which was higher than that of females ((13.75±6.17) U/L), with statistical significance ( t=41.16, P<0.001). The serum ALT ULN in males and in females were 35 U/L and 26 U/L, respectively. The serum ALT levels of 20 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49 and 50 to 59 years old groups were (15.48±7.61) U/L, (16.21±7.40) U/L, (17.36±7.52) U/L and (18.77±7.57) U/L, respectively.The difference was statistically significant ( F=71.51, P<0.001). Serum ALT level in 50 to 59 years old group was higher than that in 20 to 29 years old group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=13.11, P<0.01). In males, the ALT ULN of 20 to 29 years old was the lowest of 34.43 U/L, and highest of 35.29 U/L in 40 to 49 years old. In females, the ALT ULN in the 20 to 29 years old group was the lowest of 23.01 U/L, and the ALT ULN in the 50 to 59 years old group was the highest of 30.79 U/L. ALT ULN increased with age in females. The serum ALT of males was higher than that of females in all age groups ( t=29.55, 26.91, 13.43 and 4.62, respectively, all P<0.05). Conclusions:The serum ALT level is significantly correlated to gender and age. The serum ALT ULNs of healthy adult are 35 U/L in males and 26 U/L in females in Ningbo area.

Objective:To explore the correlation between frailty and carotid plaque stability in patients with ischemic stroke.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. From May to December 2023, convenience sampling was used to select 360 patients with ischemic stroke in the Department of Neurology of Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University and underwent carotid artery color Doppler ultrasound examination as the study subject. Patients were surveyed using the General Information Questionnaire, Barthel Index and the Edmonton Frail Scale. Carotid artery color Doppler ultrasound was used to evaluate the stability of carotid plaques in patients. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to explore the correlation between frailty and carotid plaque stability.Results:A total of 360 questionnaires were distributed, and 352 valid questionnaires were collected, with a valid response rate of 97.78%. The incidence of frailty in 352 ischemic stroke patients was 44.89% (158/352). Multivariate analysis showed that compared to stable plaques, unstable carotid plaques were an independent risk factor for frailty in patients with ischemic stroke ( OR=2.127, 95% confidence interval: 1.247-3.626) . Conclusions:Compared to stable plaques, unstable carotid plaques increase the risk of frailty in patients with ischemic stroke. Strengthening the assessment of carotid plaques in patients with ischemic stroke by nursing staff can early identify high-risk individuals for frailty, and timely carry out personalized interventions, thereby reducing the occurrence of adverse health events in patients.

Objective To observe the value of tissue motion mitral annular displacement(TMAD)technique to assess left ventricular function in patients with cardiac amyloidosis.Methods A total of 34 adult patients with cardiac amyloidosis diagnosed by pathology were retrospectively included as the observation group,and 32 healthy adults were collected as the control group for the same period.Basic data of the subjects were collected,and data of routine ultrasonic parameters of left ventricular function and TMAD parameters were obtained,and then compared between groups.The correlation of TMAD parameters with left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)or mitral annular plane systolic excursion(MAPSE)were assessed.Results Compared with the control group,the observation group had higher levels of body surface area(BSA),systolic blood pressure,N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP),creatinine and urea(all P＜0.05).The observation group had increased values of ascending aorta(AO),left atrium(LA),interventricular septum(IVS),left ventricular posterior wall thickness in diastole(LVPWD),pulmonary artery(PA),and early diastolic peark velocity of mitral inflow(peak E),while smaller values of left ventricular end-diastolic dimension(LVEDD),LVEF,fractional shortening(FS),early diastolic tissue Doppler velocity E'septal(IVS E')and lateral(LW E')and MAPSE(all P＜0.05),and the LVEF in observation group was(58.18±7.09)％.For TMAD patameters,the observation group had smaller values of the following parameters on apical four chamber(A4C)view as medial displacement of mitral valve annulus(A4C MV1),displacement of lateral mitral valve annulus(A4C MV2),displacement of the midpoint of the mitral valve annulus(A4C Midpt)and the corresponding percentage(A4C Midpt％),as well as smaller values of the following paramets on apical two chamber(A2C)view as A2C MV1,A2C MV2,A2C Midpt and A2C Midpt％(all P＜0.05).In the observation group,A4C Midpt％showed a moderate positive correlation with LVEF(r=0.488,P＜0.05),and A2C Midpt showed a high positive correlation with M APSE(r=0.712,P＜0.05),and A4C MV2,A4C Midpt,A4C Midpt％,A2C MV1,A2C MV2,A2C Midpt％all showed a moderate positive correlation with MAPSE(r=0.420 to 0.691,all P＜0.05).Conclusion Compared with LVEF,the TMAD parameters might reflect the changes in left ventricular systolic function more sensitively in patients with cardiac amyloidosis.

As an important complementary form of decoction pieces of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）， TCM dispensing granules has the advantages of being free of decoction， easy to take， easy to carry and easy to be dispensed， which greatly improves the capacity of emergency services of TCM and is more in line with the needs of modern society. With the end of the pilot project of TCM dispensing granules， the market has been fully liberalized， the competition has been intensified， and it is in the transition period of switching between the new standard and the old one， and there are some problems such as the shortage of varieties， the change of specifications and the difference of quality， and the production enterprises are facing new opportunities and challenges. Based on this， the authors intend to systematically sort out the policies and regulations， enterprise layout and standard formulation since the pilot of TCM dispensing granules. In view of the problems in the post-pilot stage and from the perspective of survival and development of enterprises， it is suggested that enterprises should establish a quality control system for the whole industry chain of TCM dispensing granules to reduce process costs and increase enterprise competitiveness， further increase the investment in scientific research， overcome the key technical problems of difficult varieties， actively and orderly promote the research of national standards， in order to ensure the integrity of clinical formula varieties， and establish and improve the efficacy evaluation mechanism of TCM dispensing granules， build a consistency evaluation system between TCM dispensing granules and decoction pieces. Government departments should strengthen the guidance， fully mobilize the enthusiasm of scientific research institutions， enterprises and hospitals， and explore the establishment of "government-industry-study-research-application" mode to promote the development of TCM dispensing granule industry.