catechin plus dexamethasone-treated group. Compared with nephrotic group, the renal pathologic score were significantly different among the nephrotic group and the catechin-treated group (6 80?0 84,P

Objective To analyze the prevalence and genetic characteristics of influenza A(H3N2) viruses in the city of Xiangyang in 2022-2023, and to provide a scientific basis for predicting the epidemic and mutation of influenza virus. Methods Throat swab specimens of the influenza like cases were collected from national influenza monitoring sentinel hospitals in Xiangyang every week. RNA was extracted from the specimens for influenza diagnosing using real-time RT-PCR．Viruses were isolated from H3N2 positive specimens, and HA and NA genes were amplified and sequenced．3D modeling analyses were conducted. Results The gene phylogenetic tree showed that the H3N2 isolates in 2022-2023 belonged to 3C.2a1b.2a1 and 3C.2a1b.2a2 branches, respectively. The A(H3N2) influenza virus strains all had amino acid point mutation sites on important antigenic determinants of HA protein. The epitope mutations of the 2022 A(H3N2) strain mainly occurred in regions B, C, and D. The epitope mutations of the A(H3N2) strain in 2023 mainly occurred in regions C and D. Different glycosylation sites of HA gene were found in 2022-2023 strains. No variation was found in key amino acid sites associated with neuraminidase inhibitor resistance. The difference of overall structure was not obvious in the three-dimensional simulation structure diagram. Conclusion The A(H3N2) influenza strains isolated in this study have shown antigenic drift, especially the mutation of HA, which may affect the protective effect of the vaccine on the local population and lead to influenza epidemic. The variations of HA and NA suggest that close attention should be paid to the epidemic and genetic variation of H3N2 subtype influenza virus, to provide a scientific basis for the selection of influenza virus vaccine strains and the prevention and control of influenza.

piRNA is a novel class of small single strand RNA that were recently isolated from testes of the mammals. These RNAs are bigger (26～31 nt) than most previously described small RNAs (21～23 nt) and are associated with Piwi-subfamily members of the Argonaute protein family.

12 m/s group,n=70;cfPWV≤12 m/s group,n=49). Carotid atheromatous plaque was assessed by Doppler echocardiograph;blood pressure and hemoglobin A1c were measured. Results After adjustment for body mass index (BMI),sex,stroke and fasting blood glucose,logistic multivariable analysis showed that cfPWV associated with age,systolic blood pressure(SBP),pulse pressure,coronary artery disease,diabetes,carotid atheromatous plaque and hemoglobin A1c. Conclusion Arterial stiffness in elderly patients with essential hypertension was strongly positively associated with age,SBP,pulse pressure,coronary artery disease,diabetes,carotid atheromatous plaque and hemoglobin A1c.

The purpose of the study is to use O. intermedium DN2 to degrade nicotine in tobacco extracts for making reconstituted tobacco. Firstly, we studied the effects of various factors on degradation of nicotine in the extracts by strain DN2. When we added 0.1% yeast extract into the extracts, adjusted its pH value to 7.0 by ammonia solution, inoculated 15% cultures and maintained fermentation temperature of 30 degrees C, the degradation rate of nicotine by strain DN2 was the fastest. Furthmore, under these conditions, we studied the degradation rates of nicotine in three fed batches culture which carried out in a 30-L reactor, the result showed that the average degradation rate of nicotine by strain DN2 was 140.55 mg/L/h, which was much higher than that reported in other studies. These results indicated that strain DN2 may be useful for reducing nicotine content of reconstituted tobacco.
Nicotine ; metabolism ; Ochrobactrum ; classification ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; metabolism ; Tobacco ; chemistry

Objective To explore the relationship between cognitive impairment and arterial stiffness in elderly patients. Methods A total of 142 elderly patients were enrolled. Cognitive function was assessed by mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and arterial stiffness was assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV). A full score on the MMSE was 30, and cognitive impairment was defined as a score less than 24. All subjects underwent the measurement of PWV and MMSE . The subjects were divided into 2 groups: 93 were assigned to the normal cognitive function group (MMSE score 24), and the remainders (n=49) were assigned to the cognitive impairment group (MMSE score 24). Results The PWV was significantly increased in the cognitive impairment group than in the normal cognitive function group [(13.3±2.4) m/s vs. (11.8±2.2) m/s, t=3. 775, P=0. 000]. Logistic regression analysis showed that the PWV was also independently and significantly associated with the MMSE score. Conclusions The increase of arterial stiffness is an important risk factor for impaired cognitive function in elderly patients.

A 48-year-old man presented with a 4-day history of fever and 10-year history of papulovesicles on the face, neck, trunk and limbs which had been aggravated 10 days prior to the presentation.Skin biopsy showed a dermal infiltration of numerous small- to medium-sized atypical lymphocytes, which was mainly located around blood vessels or appendages, with the involvement of subcutaneous fat tissue and destruction of blood vessels. The infiltrating atypical cells stained positive for CD45RO, CD8, CD56, T-cell intracellular antigen-1, granzyme B, Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small nuclear RNAs (EBER), but negative for CD20, CD79a, CD3, CD4 or CD30. Cytoplasmic CD3ε was also observed in these cells. Laboratory examinations on admission revealed a progressive decrease in peripheral erythrocytes, white cells and platelets, persistent increase in serum aminotransferase and bilirubin, and decline in serum fibrinogen and hypertriglyceridemia. The B-mode ultrasound of the abdomen showed hepatosplenomegaly. Based on the above findings,the diagnosis was made as extranodal nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma of skin complicated by hemophagocytic syndrome.

A 38-year-old woman presented with a 20-year history of yellow papules and band-like atrophy on the right neck. The lesions developed slowly and were asymptomatic. There was no history of long-term sun exposure or family history of similar diseases. Skin examination revealed multiple irregularly sized yellow papules and plaques on the right anterior neck following cleavage lines, multiple pin cap-sized perifollicular papules on the posterior right neck. Well-defined band-like atrophic patches with fine wrinkling were observed in the whole right neck, giving an aged appearance. The skin of the left neck was nearly normal. Pathological examination of biopsy specimens from the yellow papules showed a normal epidermis, scant lymphohistiocytic and melanophage infiltrates around the vessels in the superficial dermis without solar degradation. The collagen bundles in the mid dermis were slightly thickened and arranged tightly in parallel to the skin surface with the absence of inflammatory infiltrate. Verhoeff-van Giesen's staining confirmed a nearly complete absence of elastic fibers in the mid dermis as well as obvious swelling and breakage of resident scant elastic fibers. Von Kossa's staining was negative. Based on the above findings, the diagnosis was made as unilateral mid-dermal elastolysis.

Objective To assess the diagnostic value of 3D-enhanced T2 ? weighted angiography (ESWAN )in evaluating superficial siderosis of the central nervous system (SS-CNS)after traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (tSAH).Methods ESWAN and GRE T2 ? WI sequence were performed on 30 patients with tSAH,detection rate and the number of distribution areas of SS-CNS were compared between the two sequences.A McNemar’s test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to analyze the differences between T2 ? WI and ESWAN images sequences. Results In the tSAH group,29 of 30 patients (96.7%)showed SS-CNS on ESWAN images,the total number of SS-CNS regions was 134.Identified SS-CNS positive rate respectively was 95.8% (23/24)on ESWAN images and 66.7% (1 6/24)on T2 ? WI in 24 patients simultaneously perform ESWAN and T2 ? WI sequences.A McNemar ’s test showed that there was significant difference between the positive rates of two sequences in detecting the SS-CNS (χ2 =7.0,P <0.05).The number of SS-CNS regions on ESWAN images and T2 ? WI was 106 and 34 respectively.The Wilcoxon signed rank test showed that the number of SS-CNS regions difference between two sequences was significant (Z =-4.225,P <0.01).Conclusion Various degress of SS-CNS are detected in a majority of tSAH atients.ESWAN sequence is a reliable and efficient method for assessment of SS-CNS.

Objective To test the effect of Undaria pinnatifida soluble dietary fiber on endothelial function in hyperlipidemic rats. Method Forty rats were divided into 4 groups(n=10) :control group,hyperlipidemic model group,low dose dietary fiber-treated group(5%) ,high dose dietary fiber-treated group(10%) . After treatment for 8 w. Endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in isolated aortic rings,the content of plasma malondialdohyde(MDA) ,nitric oxide(NO) and endothelin-1(ET-1) were determined. The protein expression of endothelial NO synthase(eNOS) was measured by Western blotting. Results Undaria pinnatifida soluble dietary fiber treatment significantly decreased MDA and ET-1 level. It also significantly improved endothelial function and plasma NO level concomitantly with unregulation of the expression of eNOS protein. Conclusion In hyperlipidemic rats Undaria pinnatifida soluble dietary fiber could improve vascular endotheliual function,which might be explained by its action to decreasing plasma ET-1 level and increased NO production.