Objective To investigate the mechanism by which angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor autoantibody(AT1-AA)promotes phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs)and vascular fibrosis through abnormal expression of circadian clock protein BMAL1.Methods Twelve male SD rats(6～8 weeks old,weighing 180～220 g)were randomly divided into(n=6)a control group and an AT1-AA-positive group[established by active immunization of SD rats with AT1R extracellular loop Ⅱ peptide(AT1R-ECLⅡ)].HE and Masson stainings were used to observe structural changes and fibrosis in the thoracic aorta(n=3).Western blotting was performed to detect the expression of Collagen I,phenotypic switch-related proteins(SM22,α-SMA,OPN and MMP2)in vascular tissues and primary VSMCs(n=4),as well as the expression of BMAL1 at CT0,CT4,CT8,CT12,CT16,and CT20.Transwell and scratch assays were used to assess the proliferation and migration of VSMCs(n=3).si-RNA was employed to knock down Bmal1,followed by detection of BMAL1,Collagen I,and phenotypic conversion-related protein expression(n=3).Additionally,AT1-AA-positive AT1R-knockout(AT1R-KO)rats were constructed to measure BMAL1 expression in thoracic aortic tissues(n=4).Results The AT1-AA-positive rats had significantly thickened thoracic aortic vessel wall[(140±9)%vs(120±5)%,P<0.05],badly arranged VSMCs,obvious blue Masson staining,and up-regulated Collagen I expression(P<0.05).In the thoracic aorta of AT1-AA-positive rats and AT1-AA-treated VSMCs,the expression of contractile phenotype-related proteins(α-SMA,SM22)was decreased(P<0.05),while the expression of synthetic phenotype-related proteins(OPN,MMP2)was increased(P<0.05).AT1-AA enhanced the scratch healing ability and migration ability of VSMCs.Furthermore,both mRNA and protein levels of Bmal1 were significantly up-regulated at CT12(P<0.05),and the rhythmicity of Bmal1 was lost.Knockdown of Bmal1 partially ameliorated AT1-AA-induced phenotypic switch of VSMCs.Compared with AT1-AA-positive WT rats,AT1-AA-positive AT1R-KO rats showed significantly reduced BMAL1 expression in the thoracic aorta(1.35±0.06 vs 0.86±0.07,P<0.001).At the cellular level,AT1-AA-induced phenotypic switch and high Collagen I expression in VSMCs were partially improved in AT1R-KO VSMCs.Conclusion AT1-AA promotes VSMCs phenotypic conversion and vascular fibrosis through the AT1R-Bmal1 axis.

Objective:To explore the mediating role of rumination thinking between demoralization and quality of life in malignant tumor patients, provide guidance and reference for helping tumor patients overcome rumination thinking and demoralization and improve quality of life.Methods:From February 2020 to June 2022, 189 patients with malignant tumors admitted to the Department of Oncology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University were selected by convenience sampling method as the research objects, and a cross-sectional survey was conducted using general information questionnaire, Demoralization Scale-Mandarin Version, Ruminative Responses Scale, Punctional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General.Results:Among 189 malignant tumor patients, there were 102 males, 87 females, aged (43.54 ± 13.12) years old. The total score of loss of demoralization was (34.37 ± 10.34) points, the total score of rumination thinking was (41.01 ± 17.10) points, the total score of quality of life was (48.51 ± 15.41) points. The Pearson analysis results showed that the total score of demoralization in malignant tumor patients was negatively correlated with the total score of quality of life ( r = -0.502, P<0.01); the total score of rumination thinking was negatively correlated with the total score of quality of life ( r = -0.465, P<0.01), and the total score of demoralization was positively correlated with the total score of rumination thinking ( r = 0.628, P<0.01). Bootstrap mediation test results showed that ruminant thinking played a partial mediating effect between demoralization and quality of life of patients with malignant tumors, accounted for 30.9% of the total effect. Conclusions:Rumination plays a partially mediating role in the demoralization and quality of life of patients with malignant tumors, suggesting that clinical staff can improve the quality of life of patients with tumors by developing a systematic and comprehensive cognitive-behavioral intervention strategy to improve the demoralization and rumination.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between heart rate variability(HRV), deceleration capacity(DC) and cardiovascular metabolic disease(CMD) in children and adolescents with normal weight obesity(NWO).Methods:A total of 200 children and adolescents aged 6-17 who underwent normal physical examination in Chengdu Women′s and Children′s Central Hospital from December 2022 to June 2023 were included in this retrospective case-control study.They were divided into the NWO group, normal weight lean(NWL) group, and overweight-obesity(OW-OB) group according to their body mass index(BMI) and body fat percentage(BF%).Fifty children were enrolled into the NWO group; fifty-one children were enrolled into the NWL group; and 99 children were enrolled into the OW-OB group.All the subjects received 24-hour heart monitoring, and their HRV indexes, such as the standard deviation of N-N interval in normal sinus(SDNN), the standard deviation of the mean value N-N intervals every 5-minute(SDANN), the mean of the standard deviations of all N-N intervals for each 5-minute segment of 24 hours(SDNNindex), the root mean square of successive N-N interval difference(rMSSD), the proportion of N-N 50(the successive N-N interval differences>50 ms) in the total number of N-N intervals(pNN50), and DC were automatically calculated.Blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and blood lipids were measured, and the cardiometabolic risk score(CRS) was obtained through the accumulation of relevant factors.The general data, SDNN, SDANN, SDNNindex, rMSSD, pNN50, DC and CRS of the three groups were compared by variance analysis.Spearman correlation and multivariate Logistic regression were used to analyze the risk factors affecting CRS.Results:There was no significant difference in age, gender and other general information among the three groups(all P>0.05).SDNN in the NWO, NWL, and OW-OB groups were(120.88±16.36) ms, (129.07±16.36) ms, and(109.29±16.38) ms, respectively( F=26.231, P<0.001); SDANN were(64.44±11.61) ms, (66.25±8.34) ms, and(61.70±6.85) ms, respectively( F=5.048, P=0.007); rMSSD were(27.02±3.87) ms, (27.51±5.92) ms, and(25.12±6.78) ms, respectively( F=3.328, P=0.038); pNN50 were(12.62±4.04)%, (13.39±2.26)%, and(11.22±2.93)%, respectively( F=9.099, P<0.001); DC were(4.83±0.20) ms, (4.94±0.33) ms, and(4.63±0.28) ms, respectively( F=23.496, P<0.001)and CRS was 0.94±0.87, 0.69±0.19 and 1.57±1.07, respectively( P<0.01).The differences between the three groups were statistically significant.Spearman correlation analysis showed that BMI( r=0.211, P=0.003) and BF%( r=0.558, P<0.001) were significantly positively correlated with CRS, while SDNN( r=-0.258, P<0.001) and DC( r=-0.499, P<0.001) were significantly negatively correlated with CRS.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that BF%(95% CI: 0.098-0.265, P<0.001) and DC(95% CI: -3.962--1.391, P<0.001) were independent risk factors for predicting CMD. Conclusions:Increased BF% and decreased DC are independent risk factors for CMD.Analysis of body composition and HRV in children and adolescents can help to identify potentially high-risk groups more accurately, intervene early, and reduce the risk of CMD.

The early diagnosis of congenital heart disease is very important. Ultrasound is widely used in the early diagnosis and evaluation of congenital heart disease because of its advantages of non-radiation, non-invasive property and portability.Speckle tracking imaging has the advantages of being free from angle, efficient and accurate, which makes up for some shortcomings of traditional echocardiography. It greatly improves the diagnosis accuracy of fetal congenital heart disease, especially congenital heart disease with outflow tract obstruction.Myocardial strain index and left ventricular torsion can more accurately evaluate myocardial function,help to judge prognosis, choose the time of operation and assist perioperative management. Blood speck tracking helps identify different blood flow patterns and may become an important diagnostic tool for the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease.

Objective Kisspeptin,a protein encoded by the KISS1 gene,functions as an essential factor in suppressing tumor growth.The intricate orchestration of cellular processes such as proliferation and differentiation is governed by the Notch1/Akt/Foxo1 signaling pathway,which assumes a central role in maintaining cellular homeostasis.In the specific context of this investigation,the focal point lies in a meticulous exploration of the intricate mechanisms underlying the regulatory effect of kisspeptin on the process of endometrial decidualization.This investigation delves into the interplay between kisspeptin and the Notch1/Akt/Foxo1 signaling pathway,aiming to elucidate its significance in the pathophysiology of recurrent spontaneous abortion(RSA).Methods We enrolled a cohort comprising 45 individuals diagnosed with RSA,who were admitted to the outpatient clinic of the Reproductive Center at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between June 2020 and December 2020.On the other hand,an additional group of 50 women undergoing elective abortion at the outpatient clinic of the Family Planning Department during the same timeframe was also included.To comprehensively assess the molecular landscape,Western blot and RT-qPCR were performed to analyze the expression levels of kisspeptin(and its gene KISS1),IGFBP1(an established marker of decidualization),Notch1,Akt,and Foxo1 within the decidua.Human endometrial stromal cells(hESC)were given targeted interventions,including treatment with siRNA to disrupt KISS1 or exposure to kisspeptin10(the bioactive fragment of kisspeptin),and were subsequently designated as the siKP group or the KP10 group,respectively.A control group comprised hESC was transfected with blank siRNA,and cell proliferation was meticulously evaluated with CCK8 assay.Following in vitro induction for decidualization across the three experimental groups,immunofluorescence assay was performed to identify differences in Notch1 expression and decidualization morphology between the siKP and the KP10 groups.Furthermore,RT-qPCR and Western blot were performed to gauge the expression levels of IGFBP1,Notch1,Akt,and Foxo1 across the three cell groups.Subsequently,decidualization was induced in hESC by adding inhibitors targeting Notch1,Akt,and Foxo1.The expression profiles of the aforementioned proteins and genes in the four groups were then examined,with hESC induced for decidualization without adding inhibitors serving as the normal control group.To establish murine models of normal pregnancy(NP)and RSA,CBA/J×BALB/c and CBA/J×DBA/2 mice were used.The mice were respectively labeled as the NP model and RSA model.The experimental groups received intraperitoneal injections of kisspeptin10 and kisspeptin234(acting as a blocker)and were designated as RSA-KP10 and NP-KP234 groups.On the other hand,the control groups received intraperitoneal injections of normal saline(NS)and were referred to as RSA-NS and NP-NS groups.Each group comprised 6 mice,and uterine tissues from embryos at 9.5 days of gestation were meticulously collected for observation of embryo absorption and examination of the expression of the aforementioned proteins and genes.Results The analysis revealed that the expression levels of kisspeptin,IGFBP1,Notch1,Akt,and Foxo1 were significantly lower in patients diagnosed with RSA compared to those in women with NP(P<0.01 for kisspeptin and P<0.05 for IGFBP1,Notch1,Akt,and Foxo1).After the introduction of kisspeptin10 to hESC,there was an observed enhancement in decidualization capability.Subsequently,the expression levels of Notch1,Akt,and Foxo1 showed an increase,but they decreased after interference with KISS1.Through immunofluorescence analysis,it was observed that proliferative hESC displayed a slender morphology,but they transitioned to a rounder and larger morphology post-decidualization.Concurrently,the expression of Notch1 increased,suggesting enhanced decidualization upon the administration of kisspeptin10,but the expression decreased after interference with KISS1.Further experimentation involved treating hESC with inhibitors specific to Notch1,Akt,and Foxo1 separately,revealing a regulatory sequence of Notch1/Akt/Foxo1(P<0.05).In comparison to the NS group,NP mice administered with kisspeptin234 exhibited increased fetal absorption rates(P<0.001)and decreased expression of IGFBP1,Notch1,Akt,and Foxo1(P<0.05).Conversely,RSA mice administered with kisspeptin10 demonstrated decreased fetal absorption rates(P<0.001)and increased expression levels of the aforementioned molecules(P<0.05).Conclusion It is suggested that kisspeptin might exert its regulatory influence on the process of decidualization through the modulation of the Notch1/Akt/Foxo1 signaling cascade.A down-regulation of the expression levels of kisspeptin could result in suboptimal decidualization,which in turn might contribute to the development or progression of RSA.

There are some issues in the process of patient treatment in the medical field, such as knowledge inequality, difficulties in doctor-patient trust and interdisciplinary cooperation, disciplinary barriers, excessive diagnosis and treatment, and structural imbalance of medical resources. In response to these issues, combined with the advantages of conceptual integration, professional integration, and resource integration of medical social work, this paper proposed a practical path for integrating medical social work services in the medical field. The main paths include micro path that systematization, comprehensiveness, and personalization of patient’s diagnosis and treatment process, the integration of intermediary path that integration of disciplinary and professional perspectives, concepts, and practices, and macro path that collaboration and coordination among society, community, and healthcare systems.

Cohort study is one of the important research methods in analytical epidemiology because of its clear time sequence relationship, which is better than other observational studies in demonstrating causal association. However, screening diagnosis or other methods are often used to exclude the individuals with outcome events during the enrollment process of the subjects in cohort studies. The accuracy of screening diagnosis and the effectiveness of exclusion will affect the accuracy of the baseline status assessment of the subjects included in the study, which may lead to the causal time sequence reversal of exposure-outcome in the estimation of causal effect. Landmark analysis can be used to control reverse causality by excluding subjects with potentially unknown expose-outcome timing. In this paper, we describe the basic principles and analytical steps of landmark analysis, and use data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey to explore the relationship between physical activity and frailty, and introduce the specific application of landmark analysis for the purpose of facilitating its application and inferring causal effects more accurately in cohort studies.

With completing a baseline survey of a large natural population cohort, conducting regular follow-up has become a key factor in further improving the quality of cohort construction and ensuring its sustainable development. Typical cohort follow-up methods include repeat surveys, routine monitoring, and community-oriented surveillance. However, in practical applications, there are often issues such as high costs, difficulty, and high error rates. Telephone follow-up is an important supplementary method to the methods mentioned above, as it has the characteristics of low cost, fast response, and high quality. However, the with difficult organization, quality control is challenging, response rates are low, and management levels vary widely, which limits its widespread use in large-scale population cohort studies. Given the above problems, this study draws on customer relationship management based on the actual needs of the China Northwest Cohort follow-up. It relies on the REDCap electronic data collection platform to build a telephone follow-up management and quality control system. Targeted solutions are provided for key issues in telephone follow-up implementation, including organizational structure, project management, data collection, and process quality control, to improve the quality control level of telephone follow-up comprehensively and thereby enhance the quality and efficiency of follow-up. We hope to provide standardized follow-up programs and efficient quality control tools for newly established and existing cohort studies.

Objective:To explore the mediating effect of caring ability of family caregivers on dementia patients′ self-care ability and family caregiver burden.Methods:A total of 113 dementia caregivers of dementia patients recruited in Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Mental Health Center from September 2020 to January 2021 were selected, and the Barthel Index, Family Caregiver Task Inventory and Zarit Burden Interview were used to capture their responses on dementia patients′ self-care ability, caring ability, and caregiver burden.Results:The score of self-care ability of dementia patients was (75.19 ± 28.56), and scores of caring ability and care burden of caregivers were 9.00(4.00, 15.00) and (33.78 ± 16.53), respectively. The self-care ability of dementia patients was negatively associated with caring ability and care burden of caregivers ( r=-0.424, -0.420, both P<0.01), and the caring ability and care burden were positively correlated ( r=0.605, P<0.01). The intermediary effect of dementia caregivers' caring ability between patients' self-care ability and caregivers' care burden is significant. The indirect effect was -0.107 and the total effect was -0.187. The indirect effect accounted for 57.22% of the total effect. Conclusions:Caring ability of family caregivers mediates the relationship between self-care ability of dementia patients and caregivers' care burden.The caring ability may be used as an intervening target for future studies.

【Objective】 To evaluate the diet quality of pregnant women in Shaanxi Province by Diet Balance Index for Pregnancy (DBI_P) and investigate the influencing factors. 【Methods】 By using a multi-stage stratified random sampling method, 7375 pregnant women in 30 districts (counties) of Shaanxi Province were recruited. A structured questionnaire was adopted to collect general information in pregnancy, and a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to obtain dietary information in pregnancy. DBI_ P was used to evaluate the diet quality during pregnancy, and the factors influencing diet quality were assessed by multiple linear regression. 【Results】 More than 50% pregnant women had inadequate intakes of dairy products, fish and shrimp, meat and poultry, vegetables, eggs, fruits and diet variety. More than 69% pregnant women had excessive intakes of cooking oil, cereals and salt. The average values of high bound score, low bound score, and diet quality distance were 12.9, 19.5, and 32.5, respectively. The proportions of medium inadequate, excessive, and imbalance of dietary intakes were 20.3%, 22.55%, and 40.8%, respectively. DBI_LBS during pregnancy was negatively correlated with childbearing age, education level, family per capita annual income, antenatal examination frequency and folic acid supplementation, but positively correlated with living in southern and northern Shaanxi, residing in rural areas, being farmers, and drinking alcohol. DBI_HBS during pregnancy was negatively correlated with living in southern and northern Shaanxi, but positively correlated with active/passive smoking and drinking strong tea. DBI_DQD during pregnancy was negatively correlated with education level, family per capita annual income, antenatal examination frequency and folic acid supplementation, but positively correlated with living in southern Shaanxi, residing in rural areas, being farmers, parity, active/passive smoking, and drinking strong tea and coffee. 【Conclusion】 The dietary intake of pregnant women in Shaanxi Province was insufficient and unbalanced, and the dietary quality was affected by sociodemographic and life behavior factors during pregnancy. Nutritional intervention measures should be targeted.