Debates persist regarding the efficacy and safety of azvudine, particularly its real-world outcomes. This study involved patients aged ≥60 years who were admitted to 25 hospitals in mainland China with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between December 1, 2022, and February 28, 2023. Efficacy outcomes were all-cause mortality during hospitalization, the proportion of patients discharged with recovery, time to nucleic acid-negative conversion (T _NANC), time to symptom improvement (T _SI), and time of hospital stay (T _HS). Safety was also assessed. Among the 5884 participants identified, 1999 received azvudine, and 1999 matched controls were included after exclusion and propensity score matching. Azvudine recipients exhibited lower all-cause mortality compared with controls in the overall population (13.3% vs. 17.1%, RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.67-0.90; P = 0.001) and in the severe subgroup (25.7% vs. 33.7%; RR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.66-0.88; P < 0.001). A higher proportion of patients discharged with recovery, and a shorter T _NANC were associated with azvudine recipients, especially in the severe subgroup. The incidence of adverse events in azvudine recipients was comparable to that in the control group (2.3% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.170). In conclusion, azvudine showed efficacy and safety in older patients hospitalized with COVID-19 during the SARS-CoV-2 omicron wave in China.

This study was aimed at evaluating the characteristics of H9N2 subtype avian influenza viruses(AIVs)origina-ting from wild birds in major wetlands in Fujian.Five H9N2 subtype AIVs isolated from fecal samples from wild birds in wet-lands of the Minjiang River,Jiulong River,Sandu Bay,Xinghua Bay,and Quanzhou Bay in Fujian were sequenced.Sequence a-nalysis of the HA genes of the five H9N2 subtype AIVs indicated that the five isolates shared 89.8％-99.4％nucleotide se-quence identity.All five isolates belonged to the same h9.4.2.5c evolutionary branch.The cleavage site motifs of HA were all PSRSSR ↓ GLF,thus indicating molecular characteristics of AIVs with low pathogenicity.The HA proteins of the viruses orig-inating from wild birds bore eight identical potential glycosylation sites,among which the glycosylation site at position 313 was located near the HA protein cleavage site.The 226th amino acid of HA in the receptor binding site was leucine in each virus,thus indicating that HAs of the five H9N2 subtype AIVs had mammalian sialic acid α-2,6 receptor binding affinity.In conclu-sion,the five H9N2 subtype AIVs originating from wild birds in Fujian had low pathogenicity,and the HAs had mammalian sialic acid α-2,6 receptor binding affinity.

Objective:To investigate the effect of oleanolic acid(OA)on inflammatory injury of pancreatic acinar cells in-duced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS)by regulating stromal cell-derived factor-1(SDF-1)/CXC chemokine receptor 4(CXCR4)signal axis.Methods:Rat pancreatic acinar cells AR42J were treated with 5,10,20 and 40 μmol/L OA,and the cell viability was detected using CCK-8 method to determine the optimal dosage for subsequent experimental OA treatment;AR42J cells were randomly divided into control group(NC),LPS group(10 mg/L LPS),OA low-dose group(OA-L group,10 mg/L LPS+5 μmol/L OA),OA medium dose group(OA-M group,10 mg/L LPS+10 μmol/L OA),OA high-dose group(OA-H group,10 mg/L LPS+20 μmol/L OA),Rr-SDF-1 activator(SDF-1)group(10 mg/L LPS+20 ng/ml Rr-SDF-1)and OA-H+Rr-SDF-1 group(10 mg/L LPS+20 μmol/L OA+20 ng/ml Rr-SDF-1).CCK-8 method and EdU staining were applied to detect proliferation of AR42J cells;flow cytometry was applied to detect apoptosis of AR42J cells;activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and content of malondialdehyde(MDA)in cell supernatant were detected by spectrophotometry;ELISA was applied to detect levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in cell supernatant;Western blot was applied to detect expressions of CyclinD1,Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax),SDF-1 and CXCR4 proteins in cells.Results:5,10 and 20 μmol/L OA were selected as the low,medium and high doses for subsequent treatment of AR42J cells;compared with NC group,A450 value,EdU positive cell rate,SOD activity,and CyclinD1 protein expression in LPS group decreased,while apoptosis rate,MDA content,IL-6,TNF-α levels,Bax,SDF-1 and CXCR4 protein expressions increased(P<0.05);compared with LPS group,A450 value,EdU positive cell rate,SOD activity,and CyclinD1 protein expression in OA-L group,OA-M group and OA-H group increased,while apoptosis rate,MDA content,IL-6,TNF-α levels,Bax,SDF-1 and CXCR4 protein expressions reduced,the change trends of corre-sponding indicators in Rr-SDF-1 group was opposite to the above(P<0.05);compared with OA-H group,A450 value,EdU positive cell rate,SOD activity,and CyclinD1 protein expression in OA-H+Rr-SDF-1 group decreased,while apoptosis rate,MDA content,IL-6,TNF-α levels,Bax,SDF-1 and CXCR4 protein expressions increased(P<0.05).Conclusion:OA may alleviate LPS induced inflam-matory damage to pancreatic acinar cells in rats by inhibiting the SDF-1/CXCR4 pathway.

Objective:To investigate the effect of oleanolic acid(OA)on inflammatory injury of pancreatic acinar cells in-duced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS)by regulating stromal cell-derived factor-1(SDF-1)/CXC chemokine receptor 4(CXCR4)signal axis.Methods:Rat pancreatic acinar cells AR42J were treated with 5,10,20 and 40 μmol/L OA,and the cell viability was detected using CCK-8 method to determine the optimal dosage for subsequent experimental OA treatment;AR42J cells were randomly divided into control group(NC),LPS group(10 mg/L LPS),OA low-dose group(OA-L group,10 mg/L LPS+5 μmol/L OA),OA medium dose group(OA-M group,10 mg/L LPS+10 μmol/L OA),OA high-dose group(OA-H group,10 mg/L LPS+20 μmol/L OA),Rr-SDF-1 activator(SDF-1)group(10 mg/L LPS+20 ng/ml Rr-SDF-1)and OA-H+Rr-SDF-1 group(10 mg/L LPS+20 μmol/L OA+20 ng/ml Rr-SDF-1).CCK-8 method and EdU staining were applied to detect proliferation of AR42J cells;flow cytometry was applied to detect apoptosis of AR42J cells;activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and content of malondialdehyde(MDA)in cell supernatant were detected by spectrophotometry;ELISA was applied to detect levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in cell supernatant;Western blot was applied to detect expressions of CyclinD1,Bcl-2 associated X protein(Bax),SDF-1 and CXCR4 proteins in cells.Results:5,10 and 20 μmol/L OA were selected as the low,medium and high doses for subsequent treatment of AR42J cells;compared with NC group,A450 value,EdU positive cell rate,SOD activity,and CyclinD1 protein expression in LPS group decreased,while apoptosis rate,MDA content,IL-6,TNF-α levels,Bax,SDF-1 and CXCR4 protein expressions increased(P<0.05);compared with LPS group,A450 value,EdU positive cell rate,SOD activity,and CyclinD1 protein expression in OA-L group,OA-M group and OA-H group increased,while apoptosis rate,MDA content,IL-6,TNF-α levels,Bax,SDF-1 and CXCR4 protein expressions reduced,the change trends of corre-sponding indicators in Rr-SDF-1 group was opposite to the above(P<0.05);compared with OA-H group,A450 value,EdU positive cell rate,SOD activity,and CyclinD1 protein expression in OA-H+Rr-SDF-1 group decreased,while apoptosis rate,MDA content,IL-6,TNF-α levels,Bax,SDF-1 and CXCR4 protein expressions increased(P<0.05).Conclusion:OA may alleviate LPS induced inflam-matory damage to pancreatic acinar cells in rats by inhibiting the SDF-1/CXCR4 pathway.

This study was aimed at evaluating the characteristics of H9N2 subtype avian influenza viruses(AIVs)origina-ting from wild birds in major wetlands in Fujian.Five H9N2 subtype AIVs isolated from fecal samples from wild birds in wet-lands of the Minjiang River,Jiulong River,Sandu Bay,Xinghua Bay,and Quanzhou Bay in Fujian were sequenced.Sequence a-nalysis of the HA genes of the five H9N2 subtype AIVs indicated that the five isolates shared 89.8％-99.4％nucleotide se-quence identity.All five isolates belonged to the same h9.4.2.5c evolutionary branch.The cleavage site motifs of HA were all PSRSSR ↓ GLF,thus indicating molecular characteristics of AIVs with low pathogenicity.The HA proteins of the viruses orig-inating from wild birds bore eight identical potential glycosylation sites,among which the glycosylation site at position 313 was located near the HA protein cleavage site.The 226th amino acid of HA in the receptor binding site was leucine in each virus,thus indicating that HAs of the five H9N2 subtype AIVs had mammalian sialic acid α-2,6 receptor binding affinity.In conclu-sion,the five H9N2 subtype AIVs originating from wild birds in Fujian had low pathogenicity,and the HAs had mammalian sialic acid α-2,6 receptor binding affinity.

“Runner’s high” refers to a momentary sense of pleasure that suddenly appears during running or other exercise activities, characterized by anti-anxiety, pain relief, and other symptoms. The neurobiological mechanism of “runner’s high” is unclear. This review summarizes human and animal models for studying “runner’s high”, analyzes the neurotransmitters and neural circuits involved in runner’s high, and elucidates the evidence and shortcomings of researches related to “runner’s high”. This review also provides prospects for future research. Research has found that exercise lasting more than 30 min and with an intensity exceeding 70% of the maximum heart rate can reach a “runner’s high”. Human experiments on “runner’s high” mostly use treadmill exercise intervention, and evaluate it through questionnaire surveys, measurement of plasma AEA, miRNA and other indicators. Animal experiments often use voluntary wheel running intervention, and evaluate it through behavioral experiments such as conditional place preference, light dark box experiments (anxiety), hot plate experiments (pain sensitivity), and measurement of plasma AEA and other indicators. Dopamine, endogenous opioid peptides, endogenous cannabinoids, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and other substances increase after exercise, which may be related to the “runner’s high”. However, attention should be paid to the functional differences of these substances in the central and peripheral regions, as well as in different brain regions. Moreover, current studies have not identified the targets of the neurotransmitters or neural factors mentioned above, and further in-depth researches are needed. The mesolimbic dopamine system, prefrontal cortex-nucleus accumbens projection, ventral hippocampus-nucleus accumbens projection, red nucleus-ventral tegmental area projection, cerebellar-ventral tegmental area projection, and brain-gut axis may be involved in the regulation of runner’s high, but there is a lack of direct evidence to prove their involvement. There are still many issues that need to be addressed in the research on the neurobiological mechanisms of “runner’s high”. (1) Most studies on “runner’s high” involve one-time exercise, and the characteristics of changes in “runner’s high” during long-term exercise still need to be explored. (2) The using of scales to evaluate subjects lead to the lacking of objective indicators. However, some potential biomarkers (such as endocannabinoids) have inconsistent characteristics of changes after one-time and long-term exercise. (3) The neurotransmitters involved in the formation of the “runner’s high” all increase in the peripheral and/or central nervous system after exercise. Attention should be paid to whether peripheral substances can enter the blood-brain barrier and the binding effects of neurotransmitters to different receptors are completely different in different brain regions. (4) Most of the current evidence show that some brain regions are activated after exercise. Is there a functional circuit mediating “runner’s high” between these brain regions? (5) Although training at a specific exercise intensity can lead to “runner’s high”, most runners have not experienced “runner’s high”. Can more scientific training methods or technological means be used to make it easier for people to experience the “runner’s high” and thus be more willing to engage in exercise? (6) The “runner’s high” and “addiction” behaviors are extremely similar, and there are evidences that exercise can reverse addictive behaviors. However, why is there still a considerable number of people in the sports population and even athletes who smoke or use addictive drugs instead of pursuing the “pleasure” brought by exercise? Solving the problems above is of great significance for enhancing the desire of exercise, improving the clinical application of neurological and psychiatric diseases through exercise, and enhancing the overall physical fitness of the population.

Objective:To investigate impacts of usnic acid(UA)on malignant behavior of gastric cancer cells by regulating the chemokine(C-C motif)ligand 2(CCL2)-CCL2 receptor(CCR2)signal axis.Methods:SGC-7901 cells,a well growing human gastric cancer cell line,were treated with different concentrations of UA,which were grouped into low concentration(UA-L)group(62.5 μmol/L UA),medium concentration(UA-M)group(125 μmol/L UA)and high concentration(UA-H)group(250 μmol/L UA);meantime,the cells were transfected with CCL2 overexpression vector(pc DNA3.1 CCL2),empty vector(pc DNA3.1),silenced CCL2(si CCL2)and negative control(si control),and SGC-7901 cells were treated with 250 μmol/L UA,labeled as UA-H+pc DNA3.1 CCL2 group,UA-H+pc DNA3.1 group,UA-H+si control group and UA-H+si CCL2 group,another untreated SGC-7901 cells were taken as the control group.Flow cytometry,MTT and qRT-PCR were applied to detect cell apoptosis,proliferation,and expres-sion levels of CCL2 and CCR2 mRNA;Western blot was applied to detect expression levels of PD-L1,apoptotic protein(Bax),proli-ferative protein(CyclinD1,CCL2,CCR2)and immune escape related protein(B7H1);after co-culturing with CD8+T cells isolated and cultured in vitro,ELISA was applied to detect levels of IL-4,IFN-γ and IL-10 in the supernatant.Gastric cancer cells in each group were co-cultured with activated peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC)1∶1 for 72 hours,and the sensitivity of gastric can-cer cells in each group to T-cell-mediated killing was compared.Results:Compared with control group,cell proliferation rate,IL-10 level,CyclinD1,PD-L1,CCL2,CCR2 and B7H1 protein and mRNA expressions,cell counts after co-culturing with activated PBMC 1∶1 for 72 hours in UA-L group,UA-M group and UA-H group were obviously reduced,while apoptosis rate,IL-4 and IFN-γ levels,Bax protein expression were obviously increased(P<0.05);compared with UA-H+pc DNA3.1 group,cell proliferation rate,IL-10 level,CyclinD1,PD-L1,CCL2,CCR2 protein and mRNA expressions,cell counts after co-culturing with activated PBMC 1∶1 for 72 hours in UA-H+pc DNA3.1 CCL2 group were obviously increased,while apoptosis rate,IL-4 and IFN-γ levels,and Bax protein ex-pression were obviously reduced(P<0.05);compared with UA-H+si control group,cell proliferation rate,IL-10 level,CyclinD1,PD-L1,CCL2,CCR2 and B7H1 protein and mRNA expressions,cell counts after co-culturing with activated PBMC 1∶1 for 72 hours in UA-H+si CCL2 group were obviously reduced,while apoptosis rate,IL-4 and IFN-γ levels and Bax protein expression were obviously increased(P<0.05).Conclusion:UA can inhibit gastric cancer cells proliferation,immune escape,and induce apoptosis,which may be related to the inhibition of the CCL2-CCR2 signaling axis.

Objective·To evaluate the effects of anterior maxillary segmental distraction osteogenesis(AMSDO)in treating sagittal maxillary hypoplasia in cleft lip and palate(CLP)patients and to report a 3D-printed surgical guide to facilitate the osteotomy.Methods·Twelve patients with CLP who underwent AMSDO were included in this study.Virtual osteotomy was performed in a 3-dimensional model and the osteotomy line were fabricated into a tooth-borne surgical guide by using 3D-printing technique.Lateral cephalograms taken before surgery(T0),at the end of consolidation(T1)and six months after consolidation(T2)were used to evaluate the effects of AMSDO.The accuracy of the osteotomy guide was measured by superimposing the postoperative CT data to virtual planning.Results·All the patients went through surgery without serious complications.SNA and overjet changed significantly both from T0 to T1 and from T0 to T2.ANB,facial convexity,and palatal length changed without significance from T0 to T1 and from T0 to T2.SNB remained stable.All the variables remained relatively stable from T1 to T2.The anteroposterior linear root-mean-square deviation(RMSD)between planning and actual results was 0.90 mm,while the angular RMSD in the sagittal plane was 5.07°.Conclusion·AMSDO is an effective treatment for maxillary hypoplasia secondary to CLP.The accuracy of this 3D-printed osteotomy guide is clinically acceptable,and this can simplify the surgery with fewer complications.

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum periostin (POSTN) level and bone mineral density in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Methods Ninety-five patients who had received MHD treatment for more than 3 months in the Hemodialysis Center of Qingdao Municipal Hospital from October 2022 to October 2023 were enrolled as experimental group. Meanwhile, 50 healthy individuals undergoing health examinations in the Physical Examination Center of the same hospital during the same period were selected as the control group. Clinical data such as gender and age were collected for both groups. Fasting venous blood samples were collected before dialysis to measure parathyroid hormone (PTH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, and other indicators. Serum POSTN levels in MHD patients and healthy individuals were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The correlation between serum POSTN levels and bone mineral density in MHD patients was explored. Univariate and multivariate binary Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for low bone mineral density in MHD patients and assess the clinical value of serum POSTN level in predicting low bone mineral density in these patients. Results The serum POSTN level in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). These patients were divided into two groups based on T-values: normal bone mass group(47 cases, T value >-1.0) and low bone mineral density (48 cases, T value≤-1.0). The low bone mineral density group had significantly higher serum POSTN levels, dialysis vintage, PTH, ALP, serum phosphorus, β₂-microglobulin levels, and a higher proportion of females compared to the normal bone mass group (P < 0.05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed negative correlations of bone mineral density T values with serum POSTN, dialysis vintage, C-reactive protein, PTH, ALP, serum phosphorus, and β₂-microglobulin in MHD patients (r=-0.695, -0.688, -0.246, -0.528, -0.216, -0.309, -0.293; P < 0.05). Multivariate binary Logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for confounding factors such as dialysis vintage, PTH, and ALP, high serum POSTN level was an independent risk factor for low bone mineral density in MHD patients. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve indicated that the area under the curve (AUC) for serum POSTN level in predicting low bone mineral density in MHD patients was 0.901, with a cut-off value of 29.66 ng/L. Conclusion MHD patients have higher serum POSTN levels than healthy individuals, and this marker is associated with low bone mineral density in MHD patients.