ObjectiveTo investigate the status of overlapping hepatitis B virus （HBV） infection in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus （HCV） infection and the serological characteristics of such patients. MethodsA total of 8 637 patients with HCV infection who were hospitalized from January 1， 2010 to December 31， 2020 and had complete data of HBV serological markers were enrolled， and the composition ratio of patients with overlapping HBV serological markers was analyzed among the patients with HCV infection. The patients were divided into groups based on age and year of birth， and serological characteristics were analyzed， and the distribution of HBV-related serological characteristics were analyzed across different HCV genotypes. ResultsThe patients with HCV/HBV overlapping infection accounted for 5.85%， and the patients with previous HBV infection accounted for 48.10%； the patients with protective immunity against HBV accounted for 14.67%， while the patients with a lack of protective immunity against HBV accounted for 31.39%. The patients were divided into groups based on age： in the 0 — 17 years group， the patients with protective immunity against HBV accounted for 61.41% （304 patients）； the 18 — 44 years group was mainly composed of patients with previous HBV infection （698 patients， 37.31%）， the 45 — 59 years group was predominantly composed of patients with previous HBV infection （1 945 patients， 50.38%）， and the ≥60 years group was also predominantly composed of patients with previous HBV infection （1 486 patients， 61.66%）. The patients were divided into groups based on the year of birth： in the pre-1992 group， the patients with previous HBV infection accounted for 51.63% （4 112 patients）； in the 1992 — 2005 group， the patients with protective immunity against HBV accounted for 54.72% （168 patients）； in the post-2005 group， the patients with protective immunity against HBV accounted for 64.38% （235 patients）. In this study， 6 301 patients underwent HCV genotype testing： the patients with genotype 1b accounted for the highest proportion of 51.71% （3 258 patients）， followed by those with genotype 2a （1 769 patients， 28.07%）， genotype 3b （63 patients， 1.00%）， genotype 3a （10 patients， 0.16%）， genotype 4 （21 patients， 0.33%）， and genotype 6a （5 patients， 0.08%）. ConclusionWith the implementation of hepatitis B planned vaccination program in China， there has been a significant reduction in the proportion of patients with previous HBV infection among the patients with HCV/HBV overlapping infection， but there is still a relatively high proportion of patients with a lack of protective immunity against HBV.

Intestinal aging is central to systemic aging, characterized by a progressive decline in intestinal structure and function. The core mechanisms involve dysregulation of epithelial cell renewal and gut microbiota dysbiosis. In addition to previous results in model organisms like Drosophila melanogaster, recent studies have shown that in mammalian models, aging causes increased intestinal permeability and intestinal-derived systemic inflammation, thereby affecting longevity. Therefore, anti-intestinal aging can be an important strategy for reducing frailty and promoting longevity. There are three key gaps remaining in the study of intestinal aging: (1) overemphasis on aging-related diseases rather than the primary aging mechanisms; (2) lack of specific drugs or treatments to prevent or treat intestinal aging; (3) limited aging-specific dysbiosis research. In this review, the basic structures and renewal mechanisms of intestinal epithelium, and mechanisms and potential therapies for intestinal aging are discussed to advance understanding of the causes, consequences, and treatments of age-related intestinal dysfunction.

Objective:To evaluate the characteristics of vaginal flora between normal and abnormal pregnant women throughout pregnancy.Methods:Vaginal swab specimens were collected from pregnant women in the first (<14 gestation weeks, GW), second (14~28 GW) and third trimester (>28 GW) in Anqing, Anhui Province from February 2018 to February 2020. Pregnant women were divided into normal and abnormal groups according to all clinical diagnosis. The sequences of 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4) from vaginal swabs were analyzed using QIIME2 platform. The differences in the dominance of Lactobacillus, community state type (CST) transition, Alpha diversity and Beta diversity were analyzed. Diversity data after log transition were used in the analysis of linear mixed model. Results:A total of 34 pregnant women (10 normal and 24 abnormal) with 102 samples were included for analysis. The composition of vaginal flora between two groups: the relative abundance of Lactobacillus was the highest at the genus level and Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus iners was the top two species with high relative abundance. The dominance of Lactobacillus, Alpha diversity and transition of CST were also similar. Both groups had a gradually decreased trend of Alpha diversity with GW, and the Chao1, Observed species and Faith′s PD indexes′ were different in different GW ( P<0.05). All Beta diversity metrics in normal group had descending trend, with lower value of the index of first distance which implied a higher microbiota stability, while Bray-Curtis, Weighted UniFrac distance had ascending trend in abnormal group, indicating lower stability. Jaccard distance′s first distance was statistically differed among GW and Unweighted UniFrac distance′s differed between normal and abnormal groups. Conclusions:The first distance of Unweighte UniFrac distance in abnormal pregnant women is higher than that of normal pregnant women and the vaginal flora in abnormal group has lower stability.

Objective To observe the effect of deglycerolized red blood cells suspended in MAP on preservation and ex-plore the most effective preservation method.Methods Concentrated red blood cells were prepared by centrifuging 400 mL of whole blood on the third day after collection.40%compound glycerol solution was added using the ACP 215 automatic blood cell analyzer,and the resulting mixture was stored in an ultra-low temperature refrigerator at-65℃for 30 days.After thawing and washing,it was equally separated into two bags.The control group received 0.9%sodium chloride solution,while the experimental group received MAP.Both groups were stored at 2-6℃.Hematological parameters,hemolysis inde-xes and cell metabolism indexes were measured on day 0,1,3,5,7 and 14 after storage.The quality changes of both groups were observed during the 14-day storage period.Results The quality of red blood cells in both groups was assessed through a panel of quality tests,including volume,hemoglobin content,free hemoglobin content,white blood cell residue,glycerin residue and sterility.These results met the Quality Requirements outlined in the"Quality Requirements of Whole Blood and Component Blood"(GB18469-2012),Hematocrit,red blood cell count,Hb recovery rate after washing and MCV meet the detection limit outlined in the"Expert Consensus on Quality Evaluation Indicators for Frozen Red Blood Cells",and the residual amount of platelets exceeds the detection limit(≤1%).There were no significant differences in RBC,Hct,MCV and hemoglobin between the two groups during the 14 day storage period.The level of free hemoglobin,hemolysis rate and K+value increased in both groups over time.Significant differences in free hemoglobin were found on day 3,5,7 and 14 between the two groups(P<0.05).Hemolysis rate was significantly different on days 3,5,7 and 14,while K+value was significantly different only on day 14(P<0.05).On day 14,the osmotic fragility of red blood cells was higher in the control group than in the experimental group(P<0.05);The ATP and pH values of both groups decreased as storage time in-creased,and significant differences in ATP and pH value were found on day 3,5,7 and on day 1,3,5,7 and 14,respec-tively(P<0.05).Conclusion Deglycerolized red blood cells suspended in MAP additive solution can extend the storage period of blood to 7 days.This study provides a reference for the formulation of relevant standards.

Hydration status refers to the balance between the intake and discharge of water in the body. When the ingested and discharged water are roughly equal and the body is in water balance, it is the normal hydration status, and when the water intake is too little or too much, it is the "dehydration" or "overhydration status". The hydration status of the body not only affects metabolism, but also affects the functions of the urinary system, cardiovascular system, nervous system, etc. In order to further clarify the relationship between body hydration status and decompression sickness (DCS), this paper reviewed relevant studies and analyzed the interaction between hydration and decompression safety during diving. The primary causes of dehydration in diving are "hyperbaric diuresis", "immersion diuresis", breathing dry gas, heat, and cold. Dehydration not only promotes the occurrence of DCS but also reduces the aerobic work efficiency and athletic performance of divers, as well as affects cognition and mood. A study found that appropriate rehydration before and during diving can reduce the risk of DCS, which possibly associates with the increase of blood volume, plasma surface tension, and vasoconstriction. Fluid therapy is also important for those who already have DCS. This paper analyzed the amount, nature, timing, and effect of rehydration involved in the above links, comprehensively sorted out the relationship between hydration and diving safety, summarized the existing problems, and provided reference for practical application and future research.

Objective:To study the characteristics of vaginal microbiota in pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and to establish prediction models for PROM.Methods:This study involved 35 women with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), 180 with term premature rupture of membranes (TPROM) and 255 term birth cases without premature rupture of membranes (TBWPROM, control group). The V3-V4 hypervariable region sequences in the vaginal samples collected at 16-28 weeks of gestation were detected by 16S rRNA gene next-generation sequencing. The differences in Alpha and Beta diversity, and the attributes and metabolic function prediction of each recognized species among the three groups were analyzed. Subsequently, a random forest model was used to establish the prediction models for PROM using vaginal microbiota species and environmental risk factors.Results:Compared with the control group, the Alpha diversity of the PPROM group was higher (Observed features, P=0.022; Faith_pd index, P=0.024) and Beta diversity was also significantly different (Unweighted UniFrac, P=0.010; Jaccard index, P=0.008). In PPROM cases, Megasphaera genomosp. typeⅠ was significantly increased ( P=0.017) and Lactobacillus mulieris was significantly decreased ( P=0.003). In the patients with TPROM, Megasphaera was significantly increased ( P=0.009) and Lactobacillus mulieris was significantly decreased ( P=0.002). In terms of functional pathways, sulfur oxidation ( P=0.021), methanogenesis from acetate ( P=0.036), L-histidine biosynthesis ( P=0.009), adenosylcobalamin biosynthesis ( P=0.041) and fucose degradation ( P=0.001) were significantly increased in patients with PPROM; L-histidine biosynthesis ( P<0.001) and fucose degradation ( P=0.030) were significantly increased in patients with TPROM. The prediction models were established using the random forest model with vaginal microbiota species and environmental risk factors and the prediction model for PPROM performed well [AUC: 0.739 (95%CI: 0.609-0.869), sensitivity: 0.928, specificity: 0.659, positive predictive value: 0.750, negative predictive value: 0.906], which had a certain reference value. Conclusions:Vaginal microbiota might be related to the development and progression of PROM. Studying the differences in vaginal microbiota might provide a new idea for the prevention and treatment of PROM. Functional prediction provided a direction for further research on the mechanism of PROM. The established prediction model could prevent the occurrence of PPROM and promote maternal and infant health.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of psoraleae crude polysaccharide(PPS) on metabolism and toxicity/efficacy relationship of coumarin components of Psoraleae Fructus(CCPF) by zebrafish integrated evaluation. METHODS Zebrafish(1-6 days post fertilization, dpf) was used to evaluate the safety of CCPF, PPS and their combination; the morphologies of zebrafish organs was observed and the number of deaths was recorded and the half death concentration of zebrafish(LC50) was calculated. Zebrafish(1-6 dpf) were exposed to CCPF and its combination with PPS; the dynamic changes of psoralenoside and isopsoralenoside and their metabolites psoralen and isopsoralen were analyzed. The zebrafish osteoporosis model was induced with 25 μmol·L-1 prednisolone; microscopic observation and digital imaging of zebrafish larvae of each treatment group cultured to 8 dpf were performed using alizarin red, and the bone staining area was quantitatively analyzed by image software to evaluate the anti-osteoporosis activity of above samples. RESULTS Evaluation of the safety of CCPF, PPS and their combination by interaction with zebrafish juveniles. The toxicity of the combination of CCPF and PPS to zebrafish was greater than that of CCPF or PPS alone, and the toxicity increased with the increase of the proportion of PPS: PPS reduced the poisoning concentration of zebrafish, causing serious morphological distortion of zebrafish organs, shortening the death time of zebrafish and increasing the death rate of zebrafish. PPS obviously accelerated the deglycosylation of psoralenoside and isopsoralenoside in CCPF into psoralen and isopsoralen, which were potential metabolites of liver injury. CCPF and its combination with PPS increased the mineralized area and cumulative optical density of zebrafish skull and the combination had a certain synergistic effect, which suggested that PPS increased the anti-osteoporosis activity of CCPF to some extent. CONCLUSION Based on the integrated evaluation of zebrafish, the effects of PPS on the metabolism and toxicity/efficacy relationship of CCPF are revealed, which provides an efficient method and idea for revealing the toxicity/efficacy relationship action of PPS on other structural components.

Objective:To introduce the stereotactic cardiac radioablation (SCRA) based on the stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), and comprehensively evaluate the new approach by short-term effectiveness and safety.Methods:Patients with ventricular arrhythmia (VA) were evaluated and included in this clinical trial, who were immobilized by vacuum bag and performed simulation with 4-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT). In this study, the planning target volume (PTV) was set as the target to design a SBRT plan using volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), which was evaluated by dose parameters such as R 50%, homogeneity index and conformity index, etc. The results of Holter and echocardiography were monitored during the follow-up and compared with the data before treatment. Results:Three subjects with ventricular tachycardia (VT) and one with premature ventricular contraction (PVC) received the same prescription of 25 Gy in a single fraction. The average volume of PTV was 71.4 cm 3(60.3-89.4 cm 3). The average time of beam delivery was 12.0 min (4.5-21.0 min). And the short-term follow-up lasted for an average of 18 weeks (14-25 weeks), which showed significant decrease in both VT and PVC load without complications. Conclusion:This study reports the implementation method of SCRA and proves its short-term effectiveness and safety, but the effects and standards of the key radiotherapy techniques still need to be explored.

Objective:To study the characteristics and influencing factors of vaginal microbiota in normal pregnant women.Methods:This study was based on a cohort of pregnant women established in Anqing Municipal Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University from February 2018 to February 2020. Vaginal samples of normal pregnant women who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were ordered by the gestational weeks at sampling. Five samples were randomly selected from each gestational week group and if the samples were less than five, all samples were included. Sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was performed. Dominant species were analyzed by MicrobiomeAnalyst. Alpha diversity was measured with Chao1, Observed Features, Shannon diversity, Simpson diversity, Faith_pd and Pielou′s Evenness. The dominant status of Lactobacillus was also described and compared. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression were used to analyze the factors influencing vaginal microbiota. Analysis of variance and Kruskal Wallis test were used for statistical analysis of continuous variables, and Chi-square test and Fisher′s exact test were used for categorical data. The differences were considered statistically significant when the P value was less than 0.05. Results:This study enrolled 91 pregnant women (91 vaginal samples) with an average age of (27.37±3.60) years. There were 18, 56 and 17 vaginal samples collected at the median gestational age of 11.93 weeks (the first trimester), 19.43 weeks (the second trimester) and 38.29 weeks (the third trimester), respectively. The relative abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus was 91.30% and 87.67%, respectively. Lactobacillus iners and Lactobacillus crispatus had a relative abundance of 43.95% and 36.33%, respectively. Moreover, Lactobacillus iners-dominated vaginal microbiota was detected in all trimesters. The number of samples with high relative abundance of Lactobacillus iners gradually decreased with gestational age. Lactobacillus crispatus-dominated vaginal microbiota was found in the second and third trimesters and the number of samples with high relative abundance gradually increased during pregnancy. The Alpha diversity of vaginal microbiota had a decreasing trend during the gestation. There were significant differences in Pielou′s Evenness diversity index of vaginal microbiota between different smoking groups ( P<0.05) and in Shannon diversity index between different drinking groups ( P<0.05). There were significant differences in Chao1, Observed Features and Faith_pd diversity index of vaginal microbiota between pregnant women with different education ( P<0.05) and in Shannon and Simpson diversity index between different income groups ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Vaginal microbiota was dominated by Lactobacillus in normal pregnant women. The dominance of Lactobacillus iners gradually decreased, while that of Lactobacillus crispatus increased during gestation. In normal pregnant women, the Alpha diversity of vaginal microbiota was correlated with smoking, drinking, education and family annual income. Smoking cessation and drinking before pregnancy were related to lower Alpha diversity of vaginal microbiota in pregnant women, while lower education and higher family income were associated with higher Alpha diversity.

The integrity of lysosomes is of vital importance to survival of tumor cells. We demonstrated that LW-218, a synthetic flavonoid, induced rapid lysosomal enlargement accompanied with lysosomal membrane permeabilization in hematological malignancy. LW-218-induced lysosomal damage and lysosome-dependent cell death were mediated by cathepsin D, as the lysosomal damage and cell apoptosis could be suppressed by depletion of cathepsin D or lysosome alkalization agents, which can alter the activity of cathepsins. Lysophagy, was initiated for cell self-rescue after LW-218 treatment and correlated with calcium release and nuclei translocation of transcription factor EB. LW-218 treatment enhanced the expression of autophagy-related genes which could be inhibited by intracellular calcium chelator. Sustained exposure to LW-218 exhausted the lysosomal capacity so as to repress the normal autophagy. LW-218-induced enlargement and damage of lysosomes were triggered by abnormal cholesterol deposition on lysosome membrane which caused by interaction between LW-218 and NPC intracellular cholesterol transporter 1. Moreover, LW-218 inhibited the leukemia cell growth