ObjectiveTo find out whether there is any difference in the monitoring results of mosq-ovitraps placed in different orientations in multi-storey residential areas, so as to provide a scientific basis for routine and emergency monitoring of Aedes albopictus with mosq-ovitraps in residential areas. MethodsFrom July 6th to October 26th 2023, one mosquito ovitrap was set up in each of the 4 orientations of east, south, west and north around the buildings in a multi-storey residential area in Jinhui Town, Fengxian District, Shanghai. Data was collected and recorded 72 hours after placement. The chi-square test was used to compare the mosquito ovitrap indices (MOIs) of two independent samples, and the Kruskal⁃Wallis H test was used to compare the MOIs of multiple independent samples. ResultsAfter 16 weeks of surveillance, 997 mosquito ovitraps were recovered, of which 211 were positive, with the mosquito ovitrap index (MOI) of 21.16% and the Aedes albopictus density index of 1.03 mosquitoes·ovitrap^-1. The MOIs were higher in September (24.22%) and October (23.96%), and the MOIs in the west, south and north within the two months were all above 20.00%. From July to October, the MOIs in the east, west, south and north were 20.70%, 22.20%, 25.50% and 16.20%, respectively, and the difference in MOIs among the 4 orientations was not statistically significant (χ²=6.647, P=0.084). Stratified analysis by month showed that in August, the south side of the multi-storey residential areas had the highest MOI (31.30%), the north side had the lowest MOI (1.30%), and there was a statistically significant difference in MOI in the east, west, south and north (χ²=25.986, P<0.001). In October, the MOI in the west was the highest (33.30%) and the MOI in the east was the lowest (6.30%), the difference in MOIs of the 4 orientations was statistically significant (χ²=12.007, P=0.007). The MOIs in the south side of the building in the outskirts of the residential area from the 1st week in July to the 4th week in October was lower (19.20%) than that in the south side of the inner building (31.70%), and the difference in MOI was statistically significant (χ²=5.118, P=0.024). ConclusionThe study of MOI in different orientations in a multi-storey residential area is a preliminary exploration based on field work, and the results show that there is a difference in MOIs in different orientations during the peak breeding period of mosquitoes. Further indicators such as temperature, humidity and wind speed in different orientations can be collected to explore the influencing factors of MOIs.

ObjectiveObesity has been identified as one of the most important risk factors for cognitive dysfunction. Physical exercise can ameliorate learning and memory deficits by reversing synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and cortex in diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, we aimed to determine whether 8 weeks of treadmill exercise could alleviate hippocampus-dependent memory impairment in high-fat diet-induced obese mice and investigate the potential mechanisms involved. MethodsA total of sixty 6-week-old male C57BL/6 mice, weighing between 20-30 g, were randomly assigned to 3 distinct groups, each consisting of 20 mice. The groups were designated as follows: control (CON), high-fat diet (HFD), and high-fat diet with exercise (HFD-Ex). Prior to the initiation of the treadmill exercise protocol, the HFD and HFD-Ex groups were fed a high-fat diet (60% fat by kcal) for 20 weeks. The mice in the HFD-Ex group underwent treadmill exercise at a speed of 8 m/min for the first 10 min, followed by 12 m/min for the subsequent 50 min, totally 60 min of exercise at a 0° slope, 5 d per week, for 8 weeks. We employed Y-maze and novel object recognition tests to assess hippocampus-dependent memory and utilized immunofluorescence, Western blot, Golgi staining, and ELISA to analyze axon length, dendritic complexity, number of spines, the expression of c-fos, doublecortin (DCX), postsynaptic density-95 (PSD95), synaptophysin (Syn), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and the number of major histocompatibility complex II (MHC-II) positive cells. ResultsMice with HFD-induced obesity exhibit hippocampus-dependent memory impairment, and treadmill exercise can prevent memory decline in these mice. The expression of DCX was significantly decreased in the HFD-induced obese mice compared to the control group (P<0.001). Treadmill exercise increased the expression of c-fos (P<0.001) and DCX (P=0.001) in the hippocampus of the HFD-induced obese mice. The axon length (P<0.001), dendritic complexity (P<0.001), the number of spines (P<0.001) and the expression of PSD95 (P<0.001) in the hippocampus were significantly decreased in the HFD-induced obese mice compared to the control group. Treadmill exercise increased the axon length (P=0.002), dendritic complexity(P<0.001), the number of spines (P<0.001) and the expression of PSD95 (P=0.001) of the hippocampus in the HFD-induced obese mice. Our study found a significant increase in MHC-II positive cells (P<0.001) and the concentration of IL-1β (P<0.001) in the hippocampus of HFD-induced obese mice compared to the control group. Treadmill exercise was found to reduce the number of MHC-II positive cells (P<0.001) and the concentration of IL-1β (P<0.001) in the hippocampus of obese mice induced by a HFD. ConclusionTreadmill exercise led to enhanced neurogenesis and neuroplasticity by increasing the axon length, dendritic complexity, dendritic spine numbers, and the expression of PSD95 and DCX, decreasing the number of MHC-II positive cells and neuroinflammation in HFD-induced obese mice. Therefore, we speculate that exercise may serve as a non-pharmacologic method that protects against HFD-induced hippocampus-dependent memory dysfunction by enhancing neuroplasticity and neurogenesis in the hippocampus of obese mice.

Background: and Purpose Ruptured intracranial aneurysms (RIA) are associated with a mortality rate of up to 40% in the Chinese population, highlighting the critical need for targeted treatment interventions for at-risk individuals. Although the impact of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) gene mutations on susceptibility to intracranial aneurysms (IA) is well documented, the potential connection between ALDH2 rs671 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and RIA remains unexplored. Given the increased prevalence of ALDH2 gene mutations among Chinese Han individuals, it is clinically relevant to investigate the link between ALDH2 rs671 SNP and IA rupture. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 546 patients diagnosed with IA to investigate the association between ALDH2 rs671 SNP and the risk of IA rupture. Results: The ALDH2 rs671 SNP (ALDH2*2) was significantly more prevalent in patients with unruptured IA (UIA) than in those with RIA (32.56% vs. 18.58%, P=0.004). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that people with the ALDH2 mutation (ALDH2*1/*2 and ALDH2*2/*2 gene type) had a significantly reduced odds ratio (OR=0.49; 95% confidence level [CI] 0.27–0.88; P=0.018) for RIAs. Age-specific subgroup analysis indicated that the ALDH2 mutation provided a stronger protective effect in individuals aged 60 years and above with IA compared to those under 60 years old (OR=0.38 vs. OR=0.52, both P<0.05). Conclusion The incidence of RIA was significantly higher in individuals with a normal ALDH2 gene (ALDH2*1/*1) than in those with an ALDH2 rs671 SNP (ALDH2*1/*2 or ALDH2*2/*2). ALDH2 rs671 SNP may serve as a protective factor against RIA in the Chinese Han population.

Background: and Purpose Ruptured intracranial aneurysms (RIA) are associated with a mortality rate of up to 40% in the Chinese population, highlighting the critical need for targeted treatment interventions for at-risk individuals. Although the impact of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) gene mutations on susceptibility to intracranial aneurysms (IA) is well documented, the potential connection between ALDH2 rs671 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and RIA remains unexplored. Given the increased prevalence of ALDH2 gene mutations among Chinese Han individuals, it is clinically relevant to investigate the link between ALDH2 rs671 SNP and IA rupture. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 546 patients diagnosed with IA to investigate the association between ALDH2 rs671 SNP and the risk of IA rupture. Results: The ALDH2 rs671 SNP (ALDH2*2) was significantly more prevalent in patients with unruptured IA (UIA) than in those with RIA (32.56% vs. 18.58%, P=0.004). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that people with the ALDH2 mutation (ALDH2*1/*2 and ALDH2*2/*2 gene type) had a significantly reduced odds ratio (OR=0.49; 95% confidence level [CI] 0.27–0.88; P=0.018) for RIAs. Age-specific subgroup analysis indicated that the ALDH2 mutation provided a stronger protective effect in individuals aged 60 years and above with IA compared to those under 60 years old (OR=0.38 vs. OR=0.52, both P<0.05). Conclusion The incidence of RIA was significantly higher in individuals with a normal ALDH2 gene (ALDH2*1/*1) than in those with an ALDH2 rs671 SNP (ALDH2*1/*2 or ALDH2*2/*2). ALDH2 rs671 SNP may serve as a protective factor against RIA in the Chinese Han population.

Background: and Purpose Ruptured intracranial aneurysms (RIA) are associated with a mortality rate of up to 40% in the Chinese population, highlighting the critical need for targeted treatment interventions for at-risk individuals. Although the impact of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) gene mutations on susceptibility to intracranial aneurysms (IA) is well documented, the potential connection between ALDH2 rs671 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and RIA remains unexplored. Given the increased prevalence of ALDH2 gene mutations among Chinese Han individuals, it is clinically relevant to investigate the link between ALDH2 rs671 SNP and IA rupture. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 546 patients diagnosed with IA to investigate the association between ALDH2 rs671 SNP and the risk of IA rupture. Results: The ALDH2 rs671 SNP (ALDH2*2) was significantly more prevalent in patients with unruptured IA (UIA) than in those with RIA (32.56% vs. 18.58%, P=0.004). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that people with the ALDH2 mutation (ALDH2*1/*2 and ALDH2*2/*2 gene type) had a significantly reduced odds ratio (OR=0.49; 95% confidence level [CI] 0.27–0.88; P=0.018) for RIAs. Age-specific subgroup analysis indicated that the ALDH2 mutation provided a stronger protective effect in individuals aged 60 years and above with IA compared to those under 60 years old (OR=0.38 vs. OR=0.52, both P<0.05). Conclusion The incidence of RIA was significantly higher in individuals with a normal ALDH2 gene (ALDH2*1/*1) than in those with an ALDH2 rs671 SNP (ALDH2*1/*2 or ALDH2*2/*2). ALDH2 rs671 SNP may serve as a protective factor against RIA in the Chinese Han population.

AIM To study the chemical constituents from the branches and leaves of Toona ciliata Roem.var.pubescens(Franch.)Hand-Mazz.and their antitumor activities.METHODS The compounds were isolated and purified by silica gel,RP-18 reverse phase silica gel and semi-preparative HPLC,the structures of compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.The antitumor activities were determined by MTT method.RESULTS Fifteen compounds were isolated and identified as toonaolide D(1),toonaciliatin E(2),bourjotinolone A(3),(21R,23R)-epoxy-21α-ethoxy-24S,25-dihydroxyapotirucalla-7-en-3-one(4),(Z)-toonasterone C(5),(E)-toonasterone(6),3-epi-dyscusin C(7),(Z)-aglawone(8),(E)-volkendousin(9),8(14),15-isopimaradiene-2α,3α,19-triol(10),(-)-loliolide(11),cyclohexenone(12),pubinernoid A(13),quercetin-3-O-(4″-methoxy)-α-L-rahmnopyranosyl(14),5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxaldehyde(15).The IC50 values of compounds 3 and 4 on K562 cells were 54.2 and 47.3 μmol/L,respectively,and the IC50 values on HEL cells were 47.3 and 61.1 μmol/L,respectively.CONCLUTION Compounds 4,7,10 and 11 are isolated from Toona genus for the first time,and compounds 2,15 are first isolated from this plant.Compounds 3 and 4 show weak antitumor activities.

Objective:To evaluate the performance of key performance indicator (KPI) lean teaching management system in clinical medical laboratory.Methods:Combining lean teaching management in universities with KPI system of enterprises, an innovative KPI lean teaching management system was developed and applied in Clinical Medical Laboratory of Guangdong Provincial People′s Hospital (GDPH). A total of 106 teachers, who had worked from January 2021 to December 2022 in GDPH, joined this study. Teachers were divided into 8 professional groups. Firstly, we quantified the teaching workload by class hours, evaluated the teaching outcomes base on national, provincial, school, and college levels to assign different teaching points, and linked the teaching KPI scores to the evaluation, salary, and professional title of teachers. Then, we analyzed the overall teaching points and teaching points for each professional group (2021-2022). Finally, we asked teaching managers, teachers, and colleagues to evaluate the KPI lean teaching management system and compared the effects before and after the implementation of this system.Results:Compared with 2021, the teaching scores of 106 teachers increased significantly from 1.0 (0.2, 2.7) to 3.8 (2.3, 6.0) in 2022 ( Z=8.1, P<0.01). The teaching scores of clinical molecules, clinical coagulation, clinical immunology, clinical microbiology, Huifu laboratory, and clinical biochemistry group were significantly higher in 2022 than the scores they got in 2021 (all P<0.05). Compared with 2021, there were 3 new set up of educational reform projects, 2 submitted teaching articles, 3 new competition awards, 7 outstanding teachers, and 5 outstanding students in 2022. After application of KPI lean teaching management, the evaluation scores of teaching work by teaching managers, teachers, and colleagues are all significantly improved ( P<0.05). Conclusion:KPI lean teaching management system could effectively enhance teachers′ work initiative, improve teaching efficiency and outcome, and promote the teaching quality. Therefore, based on the performance of KPI lean teaching management system in our study, it is possible to realize its potential in terms of lean management in clinical medical laboratory.

ObjectiveExisting artificial vision devices can be divided into two types: implanted devices and extracorporeal devices, both of which have some disadvantages. The former requires surgical implantation, which may lead to irreversible trauma, while the latter has some defects such as relatively simple instructions, limited application scenarios and relying too much on the judgment of artificial intelligence (AI) to provide enough security. Here we propose a system that has voice interaction and can convert surrounding environment information into tactile commands on head and neck. Compared with existing extracorporeal devices, our device can provide a larger capacity of information and has advantages such as lower cost, lower risk, suitable for a variety of life and work scenarios. MethodsWith the latest remote wireless communication and chip technologies, microelectronic devices, cameras and sensors worn by the user, as well as the huge database and computing power in the cloud, the backend staff can get a full insight into the scenario, environmental parameters and status of the user remotely (for example, across the city) in real time. In the meanwhile, by comparing the cloud database and in-memory database and with the help of AI-assisted recognition and manual analysis, they can quickly develop the most reasonable action plan and send instructions to the user. In addition, the backend staff can provide humanistic care and emotional sustenance through voice dialogs. ResultsThis study originally proposes the concept of “remote virtual companion” and demonstrates the related hardware and software as well as test results. The system can not only achieve basic guide functions, for example, helping a person with visual impairment to shop in supermarkets, find seats at cafes, walk on the streets, construct complex puzzles, and play cards, but also can meet the demand for fast-paced daily tasks such as cycling. ConclusionExperimental results show that this “remote virtual companion” is applicable for various scenarios and demands. It can help blind people with their travels, shopping and entertainment, or accompany the elderlies with their trips, wilderness explorations, and travels.

Objective:To analyze the association between air pollution, genetic susceptibility, and the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods:AF patients aged between 40-69 years old registered in the United Kingdom Biobank from 2006 to 2010 were included. After excluding those lost to follow-up or with incomplete data during follow-up, 5 814 subjects were analyzed. Long-term exposure to air pollution was estimated at the geocoded residential address of each participant. Genetic risk scores for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and stroke were constructed separately for each object to assess the corresponding genetic susceptibility. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the association between air pollution, genetic susceptibility, and the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in AF patients.Results:During a median follow-up of 12.4 years, there were 929 of all-cause mortality (15.98%) and 1 772 of cardiovascular events (30.48%). Multivariable-adjusted analyses revealed that higher exposure to PM 2.5, PM 10, NO x, and NO 2 was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and stroke, with hazard ratios ( HRs) ranging from 1.26 to 1.48. Specifically, for each interquartile range ( IQR) increase in PM 2.5 exposure, the HRs for the outcomes mentioned above were 1.33 (95% CI: 1.14-1.54), 1.42 (95% CI: 1.31-1.54), 1.46 (95% CI: 1.30-1.64), and 1.43 (95% CI: 1.27-1.61), respectively. Both NO x and NO 2 exposures were associated with a 9% increased risk of all-cause mortality per IQR increment, with corresponding HRs of 1.09 (95% CI: 1.02-1.17) and 1.09 (95% CI: 1.01-1.17), respectively. Individuals with high genetic susceptibility to AF had a higher risk of myocardial infarction and stroke compared to those with low genetic susceptibility, with corresponding HRs of 1.39 (95% CI: 1.04-1.87) and 1.46 (95% CI: 1.09-1.95), respectively. Compared to AF patients with low air pollution exposure, those with high air pollution exposure have adjusted population attributable fractions of up to 33.57% (95% CI: 17.87%-46.26%) for cardiovascular mortality, 28.61% (95% CI: 20.67%-35.75%) for heart failure, 33.35% (95% CI: 20.97%-43.79%) for myocardial infarction, and 42.29% (95% CI: 30.05%-52.71%) for stroke. Furthermore, there was an additive interaction between PM 2.5, NO x, and NO 2 exposure and high genetic susceptibility on the incidence of myocardial infarction. An additive interaction was also observed between NO x, NO 2 exposure, and high genetic susceptibility on the incidence of heart failure (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Both air pollution and genetic susceptibility increase the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in AF patients.

Background::Bladder cancer, characterized by a high potential of tumor recurrence, has high lifelong monitoring and treatment costs. To date, tumor cells with intrinsic softness have been identified to function as cancer stem cells in several cancer types. Nonetheless, the existence of soft tumor cells in bladder tumors remains elusive. Thus, our study aimed to develop a microbarrier microfluidic chip to efficiently isolate deformable tumor cells from distinct types of bladder cancer cells.Methods::The stiffness of bladder cancer cells was determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The modified microfluidic chip was utilized to separate soft cells, and the 3D Matrigel culture system was to maintain the softness of tumor cells. Expression patterns of integrin β8 (ITGB8), protein kinase B (AKT), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) were determined by Western blotting. Double immunostaining was conducted to examine the interaction between F-actin and tripartite motif containing 59 (TRIM59). The stem-cell-like characteristics of soft cells were explored by colony formation assay and in vivo studies upon xenografted tumor models. Results::Using our newly designed microfluidic approach, we identified a small fraction of soft tumor cells in bladder cancer cells. More importantly, the existence of soft tumor cells was confirmed in clinical human bladder cancer specimens, in which the number of soft tumor cells was associated with tumor relapse. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the biomechanical stimuli arising from 3D Matrigel activated the F-actin/ITGB8/TRIM59/AKT/mTOR/glycolysis pathways to enhance the softness and tumorigenic capacity of tumor cells. Simultaneously, we detected a remarkable up-regulation in ITGB8, TRIM59, and phospho-AKT in clinical bladder recurrent tumors compared with their non-recurrent counterparts.Conclusions::The ITGB8/TRIM59/AKT/mTOR/glycolysis axis plays a crucial role in modulating tumor softness and stemness. Meanwhile, the soft tumor cells become more sensitive to chemotherapy after stiffening, that offers new insights for hampering tumor progression and recurrence.