BACKGROUND: Circular RNA is the most concerned star molecules in the field of epigenetics in recent years, and has been proven to have such characteristics as universality, evolutionary conservatism, structural stability, tissue specificity and functional diversity. With the development of basic research on osteoarthritis, various kinds of mechanisms have been revealed, in which circular RNAs play an important role. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the progress of circular RNAs in the research of osteoarthritis, including the regulation of inflammation, the senescence and apoptosis of chondrocytes, the change of extracellular matrix components and the mediation of mechanical stress stimulation. METHODS: The first author used computers to retrieve PubMed, Web of Science, and Medline. English retrieval words were “circular RNA, osteoarthritis, cartilage, chondrocyte”. The retrieval period was from March 2015 to March 2020. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) It is suggested that circular RNA is a pivotal link in the occurrence and progression of osteoarthritis, and can be used as diagnostic markers and biological therapeutic targets. (2) In addition, current studies are limited to circular RNA sponging, articular cartilage degeneration and repair, while other functional mechanisms and the chondrogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells are still unknown. These may be the direction in which basic research will translate into clinical outcomes in the future.

To evaluate the effects of Xiayuxue Decoction, a compound traditional Chinese medicine, on liver angiogenesis in rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver fibrosis.

Objective: To forecast the risk distribution of inter-animal plague in Meriones unguiculatus effectively and provide scientific evidence for prevention and control of inter-animal plague, through studying the correlation between meteorological and environmental factors and inter-animal plague in Meriones unguiculatus. Methods: Positive data of plague bacterial culture in 30 epidemic source areas of Meriones unguiculatus in the Inner Mongolia plateau from 2005 to 2018, including detecting time, number of bacteria, latitude and longitude or detailed location, host type, were from the Chinese Disease Prevention and Control System Plague Prevention Management Information System and related professional institutions for plague prevention and treatment. Logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between the inter-animal plague and climate-related risk factors. The Maximum Entropy (Maxent) model was used to predict the habitat distributions of inter-animal plague, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to validate the model. Results: There were 11 climatic factors including annual mean temperature, isothermality, temperature seasonality, mean temperature of driest quarter, mean temperature of warmest quarter, mean temperature of coldest quarter, annual precipitation, precipitation seasonality, globcover, normalized difference vegetation index and slope, were related to the outbreak of plague among Meriones unguiculatus and included in the model (OR = 1.302, 0.455, 0.957, 0.930, 4.864, 0.179, 0.986, 1.126, 0.992, 0.981, 0.721, P < 0.01). The increase of annual mean temperature, mean temperature of warmest quarter and precipitation seasonality will increase the risk of animal plague in the plague foci of Meriones unguiculatus; the increase of isothermality, temperature seasonality, mean temperature of driest quarter, mean temperature of coldest quarter, annual precipitation, globcover, normalized difference vegetation index, and slope will reduce the risk of animal plague in the plague foci of Meriones unguiculatus. The areas under the curve (AUCs) of the Maxent model training data and test data were 0.988 and 0.985, the prediction effect of the model was better. The habitat distribution of Meriones unguiculatus plague mainly concentrated in the central and northern Ulanqab plateau, Ordos plateau, and eastern Hetao plain. Conclusions The use of Maxent model and climate data can predict the potential risks and spatial distribution of animal plague in Meriones unguiculatus; the results are accurate and reliable.

Orthopedic robots, as intelligent medical devices, have achieved good outcomes in clinical application in some orthopedic surgeries. Artificial intelligence (AI) has played an important role in the development of orthopedic robots due to its powerful capabilities of information processing and decision-making. The developing trends of orthopedic robotics are automation and intelligentization. Since AI has demonstrated great advantages in preoperative planning, an increasing number of researchers have been devoted to AI application in intraoperative navigation by an orthopedic robot. This paper outlines the exploratory efforts in applying AI technology to the intraoperative navigation assisted by an orthopedic robot, describes the advantages of AI in improving accuracy and reducing radiation, and forecasts research prospects in application of AI technology to orthopedic robots based on the current situation.

Objective: To develop an assessment tool for risky road behavior tendencies among middle school students in western China, as well as to determine the relevant indices and their weights, so as to provide the reference for road safety prevention and control for middle school students in western China. Methods: A Delphi study was employed to construct the assessment tool for risky road behavior tendencies among middle school students in western China. In August 2023, eighteen experts in related fields such as traffic safety, education, and healthcare were invited to achieve Delphi consensus. The final indices were initially selected based on the consulting results,followed by the determination of their individual and combined weights using the analytic hierarchy process. Results: The finalized assessment tool comprised 3 primary indicators, 13 secondary indicators, and 100 tertiary indicators. The positivity coefficient of experts was 100%, accompanied by the authority coefficient 0.90. The mean importance scores for the three primary indicators varied from 4.67 to 4.78, while those for the 13 secondary indicators ranged from 4.22 to 4.89. The Kendall coefficient W was statistically significant at 0.32 ( χ 2=96.83, P <0.05). The weights assigned to the three primary indicators were:ability (0.329 4), opportunity (0.337 3), and motivation (0.333 3). The secondary indicators with the top three highest combined weights were social influence (0.027 4), knowledge (0.027 3), and skills (0.026 7). Conclusions The assessment tool for risky road behavior tendencies among middle school students in western China demonstrates high expert consensus, with balanced weighting of primary and secondary indicators. Expanded use of the assessment tool would provide the data support for intervention work.

Objective:To observe any effect of bilateral high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the cerebellum on the swallowing of stroke survivors with dysphagia.Methods:Thirty-eight patients with post-stroke dysphagia were randomly divided into a cerebellar stimulation group of 20 and a sham group of 18. In addition to drug therapy and physical rehabilitation training, the cerebellar stimulation group received 500 pulses of rTMS of the cerebellum daily at 10Hz and 120% of the resting movement threshold lasting 1s at 9s intervals. The sham stimulation group was treated with sham rTMS (with the angle between the stimulation coil and the scalp at 90°). Twenty minutes later, both groups were given 30 minutes of routine swallowing training daily by the same speech therapist. The treatment was administered 5 times a week for 3 weeks. Before the treatment and afterward, both groups′ swallowing was evaluated y videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), using a functional dysphagia scale (FDS) and using the Rosenbek penetration aspiration scale (PAS). Oral transport time, swallowing response time, pharyngeal transport time, laryngeal vestibular closure time and upper esophageal sphincter opening duration were recorded, and the changes in swallowing function and swallowing time parameters before and after the treatment were compared between the two groups.Results:Before the stimulation there were no significant differences between the two groups. Afterward, the average PAS and FDS scores of both groups had improved significantly, but with significantly greater improvement in the cerebellar stimulation group than in the sham group. Average oral transit time and swallow response time had shortened significantly, but with significantly shorter time, on average, in the cerebellar stimulation group.Conclusion:Bilateral high-frequency rTMS of the cerebellum can improve the swallowing of persons with dysphagia, and shorten their oral transit time and swallow response time.

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy and safety of Fuzheng Huayu Capsule (FZHY Capsule) against liver fibrosis with chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: Multicentric, randomized, double blinded and paralleled control led trial was conducted on patients (aged between 18 and 65) with liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B Indexes observed: (1) hepatic histological changes and HBV markers were observed at 0 and 24th week during the treatment; serological indexes (HA, LN, P-III-P, IV-C) were determined and B ultrasound examination of spleen and liver was taken at 0, 12th, 24th week; liver function (during the period of follow-up, liver function and serological indexes for liver fibrosis were evaluated) were observed at 0, 6th, 12th, 18th, 24th week; (2) indexes for safety: blood and urine routine tests, renal function and ECG were examined. RESULTS: (1) Enrollment and demographic data: There was no significant difference between the trial (110 cases) and control group (106 cases) in demographic feature, vital signs, course of illness, history for drug anaphylaxis, history of previous therapy, liver function, serological indexes for liver fibrosis, liver histological examination (99 cases for test group, 96 cases for control group), HBV markers, and renal function, etc. (2) Histological pathological examination: 93 cases of liver histological examination were taken, of these 50 cases for the trial group and 43 cases for control group which turned out to be at S mean value of 2.33 and 2.11 respectively pretreatment according to criteria for liver fibrosis staging. Post-treatment, the trial showed a significant decrease with S value of 1.80 compared to that of pretreatment; however, there was no significant improvement in control group before and after the treatment with S mean value of 2.14. There was significant difference in reversing rate (decrease at least 1 stage according to criteria for liver fibrosis staging) between the trial (52%) and control (23.3%) after liver biopsy. The trial had a rather good effect on improving inflammatory activity and was superior to control group with a marked decrease of mean value of inflammatory activity and score of inflammation (P<0.05). (3)Serological indexes for liver fibrosis: There was a significant decrease in HA, LN, P-III-P, IV-C content in test group after 12 and 24 weeks' treatment compared to that of pretreatment; the differences of HA, LN, P-III-P, IV-C between 12, 24 weeks' treatment and pretreatment were significantly greater than control group (P<0.01 or 0.05); the effectual was defined as 2 of 4 indexes lowered more than 30% of the baseline, according to this criteria, the trial was 72.7%, while control group 27.4% (P<0.01). (4)Liver function: Obvious improvement of serum Alb, ALT, AST, GGT was seen in 2 groups; compared with control group, marked improvement of GGT and Alb in the trial (P<0.05); the effective rate of serum ALT in the trial group was 72.7%, while control 59.4%. (5)No changes of significant difference between pre- and post-treatment in routine tests for blood and urine, renal function and ECG, etc. There was also no difference in the stable rate of ALT and serological indexes for liver fibrosis between the trial and control group 12 weeks after withdrawal (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Fuzheng Huayu Capsule has good effect on alleviating liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B without any adverse effect and is superior to Heluo Shugan Capsule. Fuzheng Huayu Capsule is a safe and effective medicine for the treatment of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B.

Objective To evaluate the incidence, prognosis and influencing factors of lower cranial nerve palsy after microvascular decompression (MVD) in patients with hemifacial spasm (HFS). Methods Clinical data of 1033 patients with HFS, admitted to our hospital from May 2014 to August 2016, were retrospectively analyzed. The incidence of lower cranial nerve palsy after procedure and prognosis of these patients were summarized; and influencing factors were analyzed by statistical method. Results In 1033 patients with HFS, 10 patients (0.97％) had lower cranial nerve palsy after procedure: 6 patients suffered hoarseness, 2 patients suffered dysphasia, and 2 patients were with both symptoms; the symptoms in 6 patients completely recovered within one month, 2 patients within one-3 months, and 2 patients within 3-6 months. No permanent low cranial nerve palsy occurred. There were no statistical significances in age, gender, clinical course, sides, or the types of offending vessels between the lower cranial nerve palsy patients (n=10) and the non-palsy patients (n=1023)(P>0.05). Conclusion Lower cranial nerve palsy is a rare complication after MVD, and type of responsible vessels is not a influencing factor in this complication

OBJECTIVE：To establish a method for the content determination of potential genotoxic impurity maleic hydrazide in azintamide raw material. METHODS ：HPLC-FLD method was adopted. The determination was performed on Thermo Syncronis C18 column with mobile phase consisted of 0.2 mol/L acetic acid-methanol （gradient elution ）. The column temperature was set at 30 ℃，the excitation wavelength was 315 nm and emission wavelength was 389 nm. The flow rate was 1 mL/min，and the sample size was 20 μL. RESULTS：The blank solvent and azintamide did not interfere with the determination of maleic hydrazide. The linear range of maleic hydrazide was 19.5-300 ng/mL（r＝0.999 9）. The limit of detection was 4.5 ng/mL and the limit of quantification was 19.5 ng/mL. The recovery ranged from 98.79％ to 103.76％（RSDs were lower than 3.00％，n＝9）. RSDs of precision and stability （24 h）tests were no more than 5.63％，and those of durability tests were less than 2.00％（n＝6）. Maleic hydrazide was not detected in 3 batches of azinamide raw material. CONCLUSIONS ：The method is specific ，sensitive and accurate. It can be used for the trace determination of maleic hydrazide in azintamide or other matrix.

OBJECTIVES: To understand medical students' mental health, professional pride, and intention to work in the front-line during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and provide a reference for psychological intervention. METHODS: We used the depression-anxiety-stress scale and self-designed questionnaire on professional pride, intention to work in the front-line and the extent of family support. Medical students from 4 medical schools in Fujian and Hunan were investigated. Their mental health status, professional pride and first-line work willingness with different characteristics were compared, and the influential factors for professional pride and first-line work willingness were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 266 valid questionnaires were collected. During the pandemic, there were significant differences in the proportion of depressed students among different college and universities, majors and stages (<0.05), and the professional pride was significantly different (<0.001). Medical students with different mental health status showed significant differences in professional pride (<0.01). Marriage, pressure and extent of family support were the influential factors for their professional pride (<0.05). The latter two were also influential factors for their intention to work in the front-line (<0.05). CONCLUSIONS During the pandemic, students from college and nursing have relatively better mental health and higher professional pride. The professional pride is low in medical students who married, with abnormal stress or low family support. The intention to work in front-line is decreased in students with abnormal stress or low family support.
Betacoronavirus ; China ; Coronavirus Infections ; psychology ; Family ; Humans ; Intention ; Mental Health ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; psychology ; Professionalism ; Social Support ; Stress, Psychological ; Students, Medical ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires