Objective To assess the current status of microbial and parasitic quality control for laboratory animals in Jiangxi Province by analyzing microbiological and parasitic test results from production facilities between 2020 and 2024, and to provide a basis for enhancing quality control measures. MethodsIn accordance with the current national standards for laboratory animals at the time of testing, the Jiangxi Provincial Laboratory Animal Quality Inspection Station (affiliated to Institute of Occupational Medicine of Jiangxi) conducted microbial and parasitic testing on 451 laboratory animals of 4 species from 6 laboratory animal production units in Jiangxi Province between 2020 and 2024, and analyzed the quality status of laboratory animals in the province. ResultsPasteurella pneumotropica was detected in one mouse sample in 2020, with a detection rate of 5.00%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected in one mouse sample and mouse hepatitis virus antibody was detected in another mouse sample in 2023, with a detection rate of 2.78%, respectively. No microorganisms or parasites that should be excluded from SPF grade mice as specified in the national standards were detected in 2021, 2022, or 2024, with a qualification rate of 100.00%. Pasteurella pneumotropica was detected in four rat samples in 2020, with a detection rate of 20.00%. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected in two rat samples in 2021, with a detection rate of 10.00%, and Tyzzer's disease agent antibody was detected in four rat samples in 2024, with a detection rate of 10.00%. No microorganisms or parasites that should be excluded from SPF grade rats as specified in the national standards were detected in 2022 or 2023, with a qualification rate of 100.00%. For rabbits and guinea pigs, no microorganisms or parasites required to be tested for conventional grade rabbits and guinea pigs as specified in the national standards were detected from 2020 to 2024, with the qualification rate of both species reaching 100.00%. ConclusionBased on the microbial and parasitic testing results, the quality of rabbits and guinea pigs in Jiangxi Province is satisfactory. However, some issues persist with rats and mice. It is recommended to enhance the quality of experimental animals in Jiangxi Province by increasing the frequency of random inspections by quality testing units or by improving the self-inspection capabilities of production and user facilities.

Objective To explore the potential categories and influencing factors of cognitive function trajectories in elderly hemodialysis patients.Methods A convenience sampling method was used to select elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis in the blood purification center of a tertiary hospital in Beijing,China,from June 2022 to June 2024.A general information questionnaire,the Short Physical Performance Battery,the Patients Health Questionnaire-9,the Impact on Participation and Autonomy Questionnaire,the Hemodialysis Self-Management Instrument,and the Mini-Mental State Examination,were used to collect data at the time of enrollment.Cognitive function was evaluated at the time of enrollment and 6,12,18,and 24 months after enrollment,using latent category growth model to identify trajectory categories,and logistic regression,and decision tree models to analyze the influences on cognitive function trajectories.Results Finally,304 patients were included.A total of 2 trajectories of cognitive function in elderly hemodialysis patients were identified,namely,high-level stable group(63.2％)and low-level declining group(36.8％).Both logistic regression and decision model results showed that the type of dialyzer,body mass index,physical function,and depression status were the factors influencing potential categories of cognitive function for elderly hemodialysis patients.The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for logistic regression and decision tree models were 0.823[95％CI(0.775,0.870)]and 0.816[95％CI(0.765,0.867)],respectively.Conclusion There is heterogeneity in the cognitive function trajectories of elderly hemodialysis patients,and healthcare professionals can develop targeted interventions according to the influencing factors of the trajectory categories to improve their cognitive function.

Objective To explore the potential categories and influencing factors of cognitive function trajectories in elderly hemodialysis patients.Methods A convenience sampling method was used to select elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis in the blood purification center of a tertiary hospital in Beijing,China,from June 2022 to June 2024.A general information questionnaire,the Short Physical Performance Battery,the Patients Health Questionnaire-9,the Impact on Participation and Autonomy Questionnaire,the Hemodialysis Self-Management Instrument,and the Mini-Mental State Examination,were used to collect data at the time of enrollment.Cognitive function was evaluated at the time of enrollment and 6,12,18,and 24 months after enrollment,using latent category growth model to identify trajectory categories,and logistic regression,and decision tree models to analyze the influences on cognitive function trajectories.Results Finally,304 patients were included.A total of 2 trajectories of cognitive function in elderly hemodialysis patients were identified,namely,high-level stable group(63.2％)and low-level declining group(36.8％).Both logistic regression and decision model results showed that the type of dialyzer,body mass index,physical function,and depression status were the factors influencing potential categories of cognitive function for elderly hemodialysis patients.The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for logistic regression and decision tree models were 0.823[95％CI(0.775,0.870)]and 0.816[95％CI(0.765,0.867)],respectively.Conclusion There is heterogeneity in the cognitive function trajectories of elderly hemodialysis patients,and healthcare professionals can develop targeted interventions according to the influencing factors of the trajectory categories to improve their cognitive function.

Objective:To observe and evaluate the safety and efficacy of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the treatment of eyes with macular edema (ME) secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) in Lhasa, Tibet.Methods:A retrospective case series. From September 2018 to January 2022, a total of 41 patients (41 eyes) with BRVO-ME, who were diagnosed in Department of Ophthalmology of Tibet Autonomous Region People’s Hospital, were included in this study. There were 21 eyes in 21 males and 20 eyes in 20 females. The median age was 53 (31,75) years. There were 24 patients with hypertension (58.8%, 24/41). Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), ocular pressure, fundus color photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed in all eyes. The BCVA was performed using the international standard logarithmic visual acuity chart, which was converted into logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) BCVA for record. The foveal macular thickness (CMT) was measured by OCT. All eyes were treated with intravitreous injection of anti-VEGF drugs, once a month, among which 23 eyes (56.1%, 23/41) received intravitreous injection of ranibizumab (IVR), and 18 eyes (43.9%, 18/41) received intravitreous injection of conbercept (IVC), and were grouped accordingly. There was no significant difference in age ( Z=-0.447), gender composition ( Z=-0.485), logMAR BCVA ( t=-1.591), intraocular pressure ( t=-0.167) and CMT ( t=-1.290) between two groups ( P>0.05). During the follow-up, the same devices and methods were used at baseline to perform relevant examinations, and the changes of BCVA, intraocular pressure, CMT and new cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events were compared between baseline and the last follow-up. logMAR BCVA, intraocular pressure and CMT were compared between baseline and last follow-up using Student t test. The comparison of injection times and follow-up time between IVR group and IVC group was conducted by Mann-Whitney U test. Results:At baseline, logMAR BCVA, intraocular pressure, and CMT were 0.852±0.431, (12.5±2.5) mm Hg (1 mm Hg= 0.133 kPa), and (578.1±191.1) μm, respectively. At the last follow-up, the number of anti-VEGF drug treatments was (2.7±1.2) times; logMAR BCVA and CMT were 0.488±0.366 and (207.4±108.7) μm, respectively, with CMT > 250 μm in 14 eyes (34.1%, 14/41). Compared with baseline, BCVA ( t=4.129) and CMT ( t=-0.713) were significantly improved, with statistical significance ( P<0.001). The injection times of IVR group and IVC group were (2.6±0.9) and (3.0±1.5) times, respectively. There were no significant differences in the number of injection times ( t=-1.275), logMAR BCVA ( t=-0.492), intraocular pressure ( t=0.351) and CMT ( t=-1.783) between the two groups ( P>0.05). No new hypertension, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events occurred in all patients during follow-up. At the last follow-up, there were no eye complications related to treatment modalities and drugs. Conclusion:Short-term anti-VEGF treatment can improve the visual acuity of BRVO secondary ME patients and alleviate ME in Lhasa, Tibet. The safety and efficacy of ranibizumab and conbercept were similar.

Objective To understand the application value of spacial clusters detection of human schistosomiasis epidemic,based on small scale level in heavy mountainous and hilly endemic areas, Songzi County,Hubei Province,China. Methods Positive results of human serological detection antibody titer equal or above 80,and positive schistosomiasis cases of fecal examination from 2016 to 2018 as research object in Songzi County.The flexible irregular space scan statistics was used to analyse the spatial clustering analysis of human schistosomiasis epidemic in the heavy mountainous and hilly endemic areas, setting parameter K=2 ,K=6 or K=10, respectively,based on small scale of village level in Songzi County. Results There was none positive schistosomiasis cases of fecal examination in Songzi County from 2016 to 2018.The number of human serological detection antibody titer equal or above 80 were  74, 206, 83, from 2016 to 2018，respectively.There was spatial clusters of positive of human serological detection antibody titer equal or above 80 for schistosomiasis cases in the county from 2016-2018. Areas of flexible irregular space scan statistic in cluster detection changing with the change of different K values. Under different parameters of flexible irregular space scan statistic results show that the most likely cluster of 40 endemic villages in three towns,inculding Laocheng town,Chendian town and Wangjiaqiao town were the prominent. Conclusion There are spatial clusters of human schistosomiasis based on small scale of village level by flexible irregular space scan statistic in mountainous and hilly endemic areas, Songzi County,Hubei Province.Therefore,the monitoring and control of schistosomiasis should be consolidated in the future,in order to achieve schistosomiasis elimination in Hubei Province at an early date.

Objective:To construct the prediction model of death risk of Stanford type A aortic dissection (AAD) based on Cox proportional risk regression model.Methods:AAD patients who were diagnosed and received surgical treatment admitted to the department of cardiothoracic surgery of Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 1st, 2019 to April 30th, 2020 were enrolled. The general situation, clinical manifestations, pre-hospital data, laboratory examination and imaging examination results of the patients were collected. The observation period was up to the death of the patients or ended on April 30th, 2021. They were divided into the model group and the verification group according to the ratio of 7∶3. Lasso method was used to screen prognostic variables from the data of the modeling group, and multivariate Cox regression analysis was included to construct the AAD death risk prediction model, which was displayed by nomogram. The receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to evaluate the discrimination of the model, the calibration curve to evaluate the accuracy of the model, and the clinical decision curve (DCA) to evaluate the effectiveness of the model.Results:A totel of 454 patients with AAD were finally included, and the mortality was 19.4% (88/454). Lasso regression analysis was used to screen out 10 variables from the data of 317 patients in the model group, and the prediction model of death risk was constructed: 0.511×abdominal pain+1.061×syncope+0.428×lower limb pain/numbness-0.365×emergency admission-1.933×direct admission-1.493×diagnosis before referral+0.662×preoperative systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 100 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa)+0.632×hypersensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) > 34.2 ng/L+1.402×De Bakey type+0.641× pulmonary infection+1.472×postoperative delirium. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of the AAD death risk prediction model were 0.873 (0.817-0.928), and that of the verification group was 0.828 (0.740-0.916). DCA showed that the net benefit value of the model was higher. The calibration curve showed that there was a good correlation between the actual observation results and the model prediction results. Conclusion:The AAD death risk prediction model based on abdominal pain, syncope, lower limb pain/numbness, mode of admission, diagnosis before referral, preoperative SBP < 100 mmHg, hs-cTnI > 34.2 ng/L, De Bakey type , pulmonary infection, and postoperative delirium can effectively help clinicians identify patients at high risk for AAD, evaluate their postoperative survival and timely adjust treatment strategies.

Psoraleae Fructus (PF) is a well-known traditional herbal medicine in China, and it is widely used for osteoporosis, vitiligo, and other diseases in clinical settings. However, liver injury caused by PF and its preparations has been frequently reported in recent years. Our previous studies have demonstrated that PF could cause idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (IDILI), but the mechanism underlying its hepatotoxicity remains unclear. This paper reports that bavachin isolated from PF enhances the specific stimuli-induced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome and leads to hepatotoxicity. Bavachin boosts the secretion of IL-1β and caspase-1 caused by ATP or nigericin but not those induced by poly(I:C), monosodium urate crystal, or intracellular lipopolysaccharide. Bavachin does not affect AIM2 or NLRC4 inflammasome activation. Mechanistically, bavachin specifically increases the production of nigericin-induced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species among the most important upstream events in the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Bavachin increases the levels of aspartate transaminase and alanine aminotransferase in serum and hepatocyte injury accompanied by the secretion of IL-1β via a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide-mediated susceptibility to IDILI. These results suggest that bavachin specifically enhances the ATP- or nigericin-induced activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Bavachin also potentially contributes to PF-induced idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity. Moreover, bavachin and PF should be evaded among patients with diseases linked to the ATP- or nigericin-mediated activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, which may be a dangerous factor for liver injury.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Animals ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/etiology* ; Flavonoids ; Humans ; Inflammasomes ; Mice ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein ; Nigericin

Objective To analyze the spatial clustering of human schistosomiasis at the village level in key counties in Hubei Province, to provide scientific evidence for formulating strategies for human schistosomiasis prevention and control in the next stage. Methods Gong^'an County and Jiangling County in Hubei Province were selected as representative counties for this study. A town or village was set up as a research unit. Schistosomiasis cases of a positive fecal examination in 2015 and cases with positive detection for schistosomiasis serological antibody titer equal or above 80 in 2016-2018 were selected as research subjects in these two counties. The Kulldorff circular scan statistic was used for the spatial clustering analysis of human schistosomiasis infection status in the population. Results There was spatial clustering of positive schistosomiasis cases of fecal examination, at the level of a town or village in both counties in 2015. There was spatial clustering of positive human serological antibody detection at the level of town or village from 2016-2018. Eighty-six endemic villages in five towns in the northeast of Gong^'an County, along the Yangtze river,including Mahaokou Town, Zhakou Town, Yangjiachang Town, Jiazhuyuan Town and Douhuti Town, were the most prominent. There was no spatial clustering of positive results of human serological antibody detection at the town and village level in Jiangling County, in2017, while there was spatial clustering of human serological antibody detection in 2016 and 2018,respectively. Fifty-seven endemic villages in two towns (Puji Town and Xionghe Town) in the southwest of Jiangling County, along the Yangtze river,were the most prominent. Conclusion There were spatial clustering of human schistosomiasis epidemic at village level both in Gong^'an County and Jiangling County, Hubei Province. Compared with the previous studies, there was a trend of shrink and decline of clustering areas. Therefore, the current situation of the epidemic has put forward higher requirements for the implementation of precise prevention and control in the progress of schistosomiasis elimination work in various epidemic areas.

Objective To detect the protein expression change in the proliferation of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (hRMECs) stimulated with 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE).Methods hRMECs were in a logarithmic growth phase, and then were separated into 4-HNE-stimulated group and negative control group. The concentration of 4-HNE included 5, 10, 20 and 50 μmol/L in 4-HNE-stimulated group, while the negative control group was added in the same volume of ethanol (the solvent of 4-HNE). Then the cells were stimulated with 4-HNE for 24 hours following by CCK-8 kits incubating for 4 hours to detect absorbance. It was found that 10 μmol/L 4-HNE had the most obvious effect on the proliferation of hRMECs. Therefore, the cellular proteins from 10 μmol/L 4-HNE-stimulated group and negative control group were acquired and prepared by FASP sample preparation method. Data independent acquisition was used for data acquisition, and the GO analysis and pathway enrichment were performed for analysis of differentially expressed proteins. Results CCK-8 kits detection results showed that theA value of the 10 and 20 μmol/L 4-HNE-stimulated groups were significantly higher than negative control group and 5 μmol/L 4-HNE-stimulated group (F=25.42, P<0.01), while there were no differences between 10 and 20 μmol/L 4-HNE-stimulated groups, and theA value of 50 μmol/L 4-HNE-stimulated groups was lower than negative control. A total of 2710 quantifiable proteins were identified by peoteomics,and 118 proteins were differentially expressed (fold change>1.5,P<0.05). Seventy-two proteins were up-regulated after 4-HNE stimulation, whereas 46 proteins were down-regulated. Particularly, the expressions of Heme oxygenase-1, Sulfoxdoxin-1, Heat shock protein A1B, Thioredoxin reductase-1, Glutathione reductase, ATPase and prothrombin were increased when cells were added in 4-HNE, whereas the expressions of apolipoprotein A1 and programmed cell death protein 4 were decreased. These differentially expressed proteins were mainly involved in the biological processes such as oxidative stress, cell detoxification, and ATPase-coupled membrane transport.Conclusion After stimulated with 4-HNE, the oxidative stress, cell detoxification, and ATPase-coupled membrane transport protein expression may change in hRMECs in order to regulate oxidative stress and growth situation.

Objective: To determine the changes of protein expressions in human retinal microvascular pericytes (HRMPCs) stimulated with high glucose by using quantitative proteomics, which provides new clues for future investigation of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods: HRMPCs were divided into two groups.The cells in control group were cultured in DMEM basic medium with 25 mmol/L glucose, while the cells in high glucose group were cultured in DMEM medium with 35 mmol/L glucose.The amount of living cells was measured by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8). The proteins were collected from the two groups and then were digested with trypsin.Peptides of 2 μg were injected into the time of flight-mass spectrometer and the acquisition mode was DDA.The results were further analyzed using bioinformatics software. Results: CCK-8 results showed that the absorbance (A₄₅₀) of HRMPCs in high glucose group was 0.75±0.04, which was significantly lower than 0.91±0.05 in control group (t=5.784, P=0.000 2). In total, 1 972 proteins were identified and 54 of them were significantly different between the two groups (fold change >1.5). Among them, 13 proteins were up-regulated, including CTNNB1 and CTBP2; while 41 proteins were down-regulated, including SQSTM1 and HMGCS1.The differentially expressed proteins were mainly involved in citric acid cycle and aerobic respiration. Conclusions The expressions of many proteins in HRMPCs change under the stimulation of high glucose, which may influence the respiration and the ATP production of cells and eventually induce the loss of pericyte.