ObjectiveHistorically documented Zhejiang Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma（Baizhu） possesses premium characteristics such as phoenix-like head and crane-like neck， pronounced sweetness， and fragrant aroma. However， its current market circulation is low， and the processed products with Zhejiang-style characteristics are at the risk of being lost. This study aims to preserve the ancient Zhejiang-style processing techniques and evaluate them using modern scientific methods. MethodsMultidimensional intelligent sensory evaluation was used to digitally characterize the "quality-structure" of the external appearance of nine-steamed and nine-processed Baizhu medicinal materials（intermediate processed products） and the "odor-taste" of the internal quality of its decoction pieces（slices）， and the appearance parameters were digitally characterized by colorimeter， texture analyzer， electronic nose and electronic tongue， the chemical composition was analyzed via ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS）. Then， cluster analysis on the differences in odor between the medicinal materials（intermediate processed products） and decoction pieces（slices） of nine-steamed and nine-processed Baizhu was conducted， as well as the differences in taste between water-soluble and alcohol-soluble extracts of the decoction pieces（slices）， and the correlation analysis of chroma value-alcohol-soluble extract content-component response value. ResultsThe nine-steamed and nine-processed Baizhu had a dark brown to black epidermis， a brownish-yellow to brownish-gray cross-section， a slightly tough texture， a faint odor， and a slightly sweet， bitter and pungent taste. Texture analyzer measurements revealed minimal adhesion and maximum recovery in the middle section of the characteristic processed Baizhu， consistent with the processing endpoint of thorough steaming and cooking. The head section showed the highest internal hardness， elasticity and chewiness， indicating a denser texture in this area. The electronic nose sensor could clearly distinguish the difference between the medicinal materials and its decoction pieces， with a more significant clustering effect at 60 ℃ for 30 minutes compared to ambient temperature headspace for 2 hours， highlighting the significant impact of the baking degree before slicing on the quality. The electronic tongue taste signal map clearly distinguished the differences between water-soluble and alcohol-soluble extracts of nine-steamed and nine-processed Baizhu decoction pieces， and the addition of auxiliary materials during processing could enhance its alcohol-soluble extract content. A total of 82 chemical components were identified in the characteristic processed Baizhu. After processing， the contents of 58 components increased， while 24 components decreased. Correlation analysis revealed significant negative correlations（P<0.01） between ethanol-soluble extract content and colorimetric values of brightness（L^*）， yellow-bule value（b^*）， and total color difference（E^*_ab）. E^*_ab showed marked negative correlations（P<0.05） with the response values of isochlorogenic acid A and C. ConclusionThis study establishes a modern intelligent sensory evaluation model for multidimensional holographic characterization of nine-steamed and nine-processed Baizhu， clarifying the correlation between increased isochlorogenic acid content and the visual color appearance after different steaming cycles， as well as its intrinsic alcohol-soluble extracts. This provides a reference for quality evaluation and processing standards of the Zhejiang-style characteristic processed products.

OBJECTIVE To explore the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir-velpatasvir(SOF/VEL)combined with or without ribavirin(RBV)in treatment of the patients with genotype 3(GT3)chronic hepatitis C(CHC)and liver cirrhosis.METHODS Totally 230 patients with CT3 CHC and liver cirrhosis who were treated in Traditional Chi-nese Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,Xinjiang Hetian Specialized Hospital of Infectious Diseases and Xinjiang Manasi County People's Hospital from Jun.2018 to Mar.2023 were recruited as the research sub-jects.The clinical curative effects were observed after the subjects were treated with single SOF-VEL or the com-bination with RBV for 12 to 24 weeks.The indexes including high-sensitivity hepatitis C RNA(HCV RNA),blood routine indexes,liver function indexes and noninvasive diagnosis indexes for liver fibrosis were observed,and the sustained virological response 12 weeks after the treatment(SVR12)was analyzed.RESULTS The mean age of the enrolled patients was(42.31±11.18)years old,the male patients accounted for 66.52％,and there were 137 cases of GT3a and 93 cases of GT3b 93,there were 183 cases of CHC,44 cases of compensated cirrhosis(CC)and 3 cases of decompensated cirrhosis(DCC).There were 189 cases of single HCV infection,33 cases of mixed infections of HCV and HIV,6 cases of mixed infections of HBV/HCV and 2 cases of triple infections of HBV/HCV/HIV.The overall SVR12 of the 230 patients was 99.57％,the SVR12 of the GT3a type patients was 100.00％,the GT3b type patients 98.92％.The SVR12 of the patients with CHC,CC and DCC were 99.45％,100.00％and 100.00％,respectively.The SVR12 of the patients with single HCV infection,HCV/HIV infec-tion,HBV/HCV infection and HBV/HCV/HIV were 99.47％,100.00％,100.00％and 100.00％,respective-ly.No patient quit the direct-acting antivirals(DAAs)treatment due to the drug-induced adverse reactions.1 pa-tient had relapse due to irregular administration of DAAs.CONCLUSION The virological response rate is high a-mong the patients with GT3 CHC and liver cirrhosis who are treated with single SOF/VEL or the combination with RBV,with the safety favorable.

Objective:To investigate the neuroelectrophysiology, tumor necrosis factor -β ( TNF- β) gene polymorphism, and the characteristics of T helper 22 cells (Th22) and follicular helper T cells (Tfh) in peripheral blood of patients with Guillan-Barre syndrome (GBS). Methods:One hundred and twenty patients with GBS who were treated in People′s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from January 2021 to December 2023 were selected as the observation group, and one hundred healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations in our hospital during the same period were selected as the control group. The differences in TNF- β gene polymorphism in peripheral blood and the characteristics of Th22 and Tfh cells in peripheral blood between the two groups were compared. Meanwhile, the differences in neuroelectrophysiology, peripheral blood TNF- β gene polymorphism, and peripheral blood Th22 and Tfh cell characteristics among patients with different severity levels in the observation group were analyzed. Results:There were statistically significant differences in TNF- β genotypes and alleles between the observation group and the control group (all P<0.05). The proportions of TNF- β1/1 and 1/2 genotypes and the proportion of TNF- β1 alleles in the observation group were 67.50% and 44.17%, respectively. The ratios of Th22 cells and Tfh cells were (1.23±0.34)% and (7.23±1.12)% respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the control group (all P<0.05). In the observation group, the conduction rates of the common peroneal nerve and the motor conduction rates of the tibial nerve in severe patients were (38.12±4.48)m/s and (32.23±3.88)m/s respectively, which were significantly lower than those in mild patients (all P<0.05). The abnormal rate of distal complex muscle action potential amplitude in severe patients of the observation group was 33.33%, which was significantly higher than that in mild patients ( P<0.05). In the observation group, the ratios of Th22 cells and Tfh cells in severe patients were (1.43±0.21)% and (8.01±1.02)% respectively, which were significantly higher than those in mild patients (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in neuroelectrophysiological indicators and the ratios of Th22 and Tfh cells in peripheral blood among patients with different TNF- β genotypes in the observation group (all P>0.05). Conclusions:Compared with the healthy population, the polymorphism of TNF- β gene and the characteristics of Th22 and Tfh cells in peripheral blood in patients with GBS were significantly abnormal, and the neuroelectrophysiology and the characteristics of Th22 and Tfh cells in peripheral blood were associated with the severity of the disease.

This study was aimed at comparing the effects of storage conditions on the Brucella survival number in brain heart infu-sion medium,to provide experimental data support for the selection of storage conditions for Brucella strains.We created bacterial sus-pensions of seven strains of Brucella melitensis,Brucella abortus,and Brucella suis(denoted A,B,C,D,E,F,G)by using 30%glycerol brain heart infusion medium,then conducted stability testing.For accelerated stability tests,the bacterial solution was placed in a 37℃chamber for 1,2,3,or 4 weeks continuously,and the Brucella survival number at each time point was measured.For freeze-thaw stability testing,the bacterial solutions were frozen at-80℃,transferred to room temperature for 4 hours,and melted in one freeze-thaw cycle,and the Brucella survival number was measured for 2,4,6,and 8 freeze-thaw times.For long-term stability testing,the bacterial solutions were stored at-80℃,and the Brucella survival number was measured at various time points during the first,third,sixth,and twelfth months of storage.A line graph was plotted to demonstrate the changes in Brucella survival number at each time point in the three stability tests.IBM SPSS Statistics 22 software was used to assess statistically significant differences in Brucella survival number at each time point and the initial Brucella survival number.Accelerated stability tests showed that the Bru-cella survival number of the seven strains significantly decreased,and a statistically significant difference in Brucella survival number was observed after 1 week.In freeze-thaw stability tests,with increasing freeze-thaw times,the Brucella survival number of the seven strains showed a decreasing trend.Strains C and F showed statistically significant differences with respect to the initial Brucella sur-vival number after two times of freeze-thaw;strains A and D showed statistically significant differences with respect to the initial Bru-cella survival number after four times of freeze-thaw;strain G showed statistically significant differences with respect to the initial Bru-cella survival number after six times of freeze-thaw;and strain E showed statistically significant differences with respect to the initial Brucella survival number after eight times of freeze-thaw.The data for strain B showed abnormalities.In long-term stability testing,the Brucella survival number for strains C and F after storage for 1 month showed a statistically significant difference with respect to the initial bacterial solution.No statistically significant difference in Brucella survival number was observed for strains B and E after stor-age for 1,3,6,or 12 months.The data for strains A,D,and G showed abnormalities.The sterile 30%glycerol brain heart infusion medium maintained the Brucella survival number in an-80℃environment,and freezing and thawing multiple times should be avoided.Compared with the traditional freeze-drying method,this method is not only easy to perform but also avoids potential bio-safety hazards,and provides a reliable Brucella culture preservation scheme for researchers in related fields.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of cervical length(CL)measured at 16-24 weeks of ges-tation for spontaneous preterm birth in twin pregnancies.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 1001 twin pregnancy cases,including 569 cases in the spontaneous preterm birth group and 432 cases in the term birth group.Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with spon-taneous preterm birth.The predictive value of CL for spontaneous preterm birth was analyzed by the receiver op-erating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results:At 16-24 weeks of pregnancy,the CL in the spontaneous preterm birth group(3.460±0.866 cm)was significantly shorter than that in the term birth group(3.711±0.589 cm),and the difference was statistically significant(P=0.005).There were statistically significant differences in the cervical fun-neling and its morphology between the term birth group and the spontaneous preterm birth group(P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that monochorionicity(aOR 0.161,95％ CI 0.074-0.351) and CL at 16-24 weeks of pregnancy(aOR 0.655,95％ CI 0.496-0.864) were influencing factors for spontaneous preterm birth(P <0.05).ROC curve analysis indicated that a CL cutoff of 3.045 cm at 16-24 weeks of pregnancy predicted spontaneous preterm birth before 34 weeks,with a sensitivity of 90.2％ ,specificity of 64.9％ ,and an area under the curve of 0.650.Conclusions:Measurement of CL at 16-24 weeks of pregnancy is a potential predictor of spontaneous preterm birth in twin pregnancies.In addition,when establishing a prediction model for spontaneous preterm birth,future research should also consider cervical funnel morphology.

This study was aimed at comparing the effects of storage conditions on the Brucella survival number in brain heart infu-sion medium,to provide experimental data support for the selection of storage conditions for Brucella strains.We created bacterial sus-pensions of seven strains of Brucella melitensis,Brucella abortus,and Brucella suis(denoted A,B,C,D,E,F,G)by using 30%glycerol brain heart infusion medium,then conducted stability testing.For accelerated stability tests,the bacterial solution was placed in a 37℃chamber for 1,2,3,or 4 weeks continuously,and the Brucella survival number at each time point was measured.For freeze-thaw stability testing,the bacterial solutions were frozen at-80℃,transferred to room temperature for 4 hours,and melted in one freeze-thaw cycle,and the Brucella survival number was measured for 2,4,6,and 8 freeze-thaw times.For long-term stability testing,the bacterial solutions were stored at-80℃,and the Brucella survival number was measured at various time points during the first,third,sixth,and twelfth months of storage.A line graph was plotted to demonstrate the changes in Brucella survival number at each time point in the three stability tests.IBM SPSS Statistics 22 software was used to assess statistically significant differences in Brucella survival number at each time point and the initial Brucella survival number.Accelerated stability tests showed that the Bru-cella survival number of the seven strains significantly decreased,and a statistically significant difference in Brucella survival number was observed after 1 week.In freeze-thaw stability tests,with increasing freeze-thaw times,the Brucella survival number of the seven strains showed a decreasing trend.Strains C and F showed statistically significant differences with respect to the initial Brucella sur-vival number after two times of freeze-thaw;strains A and D showed statistically significant differences with respect to the initial Bru-cella survival number after four times of freeze-thaw;strain G showed statistically significant differences with respect to the initial Bru-cella survival number after six times of freeze-thaw;and strain E showed statistically significant differences with respect to the initial Brucella survival number after eight times of freeze-thaw.The data for strain B showed abnormalities.In long-term stability testing,the Brucella survival number for strains C and F after storage for 1 month showed a statistically significant difference with respect to the initial bacterial solution.No statistically significant difference in Brucella survival number was observed for strains B and E after stor-age for 1,3,6,or 12 months.The data for strains A,D,and G showed abnormalities.The sterile 30%glycerol brain heart infusion medium maintained the Brucella survival number in an-80℃environment,and freezing and thawing multiple times should be avoided.Compared with the traditional freeze-drying method,this method is not only easy to perform but also avoids potential bio-safety hazards,and provides a reliable Brucella culture preservation scheme for researchers in related fields.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the biological characteristics and genomic features of highly lytic bacteriopha-ges isolated from sewage in tropical hospitals and provide references for the hospital-associated infection prevention and control of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii(MDR-Ab).METHODS With MDR-Ab as the host bacterium,bacteriophages were isolated from sewage.Transmission electron microscopy was employed to observe their morphology,and determine the optimal multiplicity of infection(MOI),one-step growth curve and environ-mental stability.Whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were conducted to annotate functional genes and construct a phylogenetic tree.RESULTS A virulent bacteriophage,HN_Aba_01,was isolated.Elec-tron microscopy revealed that it belonged to the Myoviridae family,with a head diameter of 50 nm and a tail length of 90 nm.This bacteriophage exhibited strong lytic activity,with an optimal MOI of 0.000 000 1,a latent period of 5 minutes and a lysis yield of 15 PFU/cell.It remained stable at temperatures ranging from 4 ℃ to 60 ℃and pH values from 3 to 10.Genomic analysis identified 85 ORFs,including lyase,perforin and depolymerase genes.It shared 98.12％identity with the bacteriophage AbP2 genome(reference genome)and was classified into the Obolenskvirus genus.CONCLUSIONS The bacteriophage isolated from tropical hospital sewage,with high lyt-ic activity and good environmental adaptability,can be used for the hospital-associated infection prevention and control of MDR-Ab.

Objective:To explore the predictive value of cervical length(CL)measured at 16-24 weeks of ges-tation for spontaneous preterm birth in twin pregnancies.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 1001 twin pregnancy cases,including 569 cases in the spontaneous preterm birth group and 432 cases in the term birth group.Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with spon-taneous preterm birth.The predictive value of CL for spontaneous preterm birth was analyzed by the receiver op-erating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results:At 16-24 weeks of pregnancy,the CL in the spontaneous preterm birth group(3.460±0.866 cm)was significantly shorter than that in the term birth group(3.711±0.589 cm),and the difference was statistically significant(P=0.005).There were statistically significant differences in the cervical fun-neling and its morphology between the term birth group and the spontaneous preterm birth group(P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that monochorionicity(aOR 0.161,95％ CI 0.074-0.351) and CL at 16-24 weeks of pregnancy(aOR 0.655,95％ CI 0.496-0.864) were influencing factors for spontaneous preterm birth(P <0.05).ROC curve analysis indicated that a CL cutoff of 3.045 cm at 16-24 weeks of pregnancy predicted spontaneous preterm birth before 34 weeks,with a sensitivity of 90.2％ ,specificity of 64.9％ ,and an area under the curve of 0.650.Conclusions:Measurement of CL at 16-24 weeks of pregnancy is a potential predictor of spontaneous preterm birth in twin pregnancies.In addition,when establishing a prediction model for spontaneous preterm birth,future research should also consider cervical funnel morphology.

Objective:To explore the effects of medication interval on the quality of split-dose bowel preparation and analyze the independent risk factors affecting the quality of bowel preparation.Methods:This pilot study involved two centers. Adult outpatients who underwent screening, surveillance, and diagnostic colonoscopy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University ( n=46) and the Fifth Hospital of Zhangjiakou ( n=20) between April and June 2023 were enrolled. Bowel preparation was conducted based on the guideline. Patients were divided into the short-interval group (4-<10 hours, n=45) and the long-interval group (10-16 hours, n=21) based on the time between the two administrations of polyethylene glycol during bowel preparation. Differences in terms of patient-reported outcome measurements (patient-reported willingness to repeat the bowel preparation regimen, satisfaction with bowel preparation, satisfaction with sleep), defecation frequency, Boston bowel preparation scale scores, bowel preparation bubble scores, bowel preparation qualified rates, polyp detection rates and incidence of adverse events were compared. Relevant factors influencing bowel preparation quality were analyzed by univariate logistic regression. Results:There were no significant differences in patient-reported willingness to repeat the bowel preparation regimen [88.9% (40/45) VS 85.7% (18/21), χ2<0.001, P>0.999], the satisfaction with bowel preparation [65.9% (29/45) VS 57.1% (12/21), χ2=0.469, P=0.493], or the satisfaction with sleep quality [35.6% (16/45) VS 28.6% (6/21), χ2=0.314, P=0.575] between the short-interval and long-interval groups. Similarly, no significant differences were observed between the groups in defecation frequency (11.3±4.8 VS 10.2±4.4, t=0.861, P=0.395), Boston bowel preparation scale scores (8.2±1.4 scores VS 7.9±1.2 scores, t=1.024, P=0.311), bowel preparation bubble scores (8.6±1.0 scores VS 8.4±1.5 scores, t=0.672, P=0.506), bowel preparation qualified rates [88.9% (40/45) VS 90.5% (19/21), χ2<0.001, P>0.999], polyp detection rates [33.3% (15/45) VS 47.6% (10/21), χ2=1.242, P=0.265], or incidence of adverse events [24.4% (11/45) VS 14.3% (3/21), χ2=0.381, P=0.537]. Univariate logistic analysis suggested that a low-fiber diet ( OR=8.100, 95% CI:1.400-46.849, P=0.019) was an influencing factor for qualified bowel preparation. Conclusion:Medication interval of the two doses of polyethylene glycol in a split-dose bowel preparation regimen for colonoscopy has no significant impact on bowel preparation quality. Notably, preoperative low-fiber diet emerges as an independent protective factor for qualified bowel preparation.

Objective:To explore the effectiveness of a modified puncture method in hemodialysis patients with difficult internal fistula.Methods:From January 2022 to October 2023, patients with difficult internal fistula undergoing dialysis at the Blood Purification Center of Qingdao Municipal Hospital were selected for the study using the convenience sampling method. According to the hemodialysis time, patients dialyzed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays were included in the conventional group, and patients dialyzed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays were included in the experimental group, with 56 cases in each group. Internal fistula puncture was performed in the conventional group using the traditional puncture method and in the experimental group using the modified puncture method. The success rate of one-time puncture of internal fistula and the injury rate of internal fistula were compared between the two groups of patients.Results:The success rate of one-time puncture of internal fistula in the experimental group was higher than that in the conventional group, with a statistical difference ( P<0.05). The injury rate of the internal fistula vessel of the experimental group was lower than that of the conventional group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:Modified puncture methods have a positive effect on increasing the success rate of a one-time puncture of the internal fistula and decreasing the rate of internal fistula injuries in patients with difficult internal fistula.