A 43-year-old male patient presented with recurrent edema in different anatomical sites for over 10 years, with facial edema worsening 1 day prior to admission. He had been repeatedly admitted to dermatology, general surgery, and emergency departments of external hospitals due to " acute abdomen" and " laryngeal edema, " resistant to antihistamines and glucocorticoid therapy. Physical examination revealed non-pitting swelling of the right upper eyelid, bilateral cheeks, and lips asymmetrically. On the night of admission, he developed acute laryngeal edema with dyspnea, which was promptly treated, leading to clinical stabilization. Laboratory screening during the attack revealed decreased serum complement C4 levels, along with reduced functional activity and concentration of C1 esterase inhibitor, confirming a diagnosis of type 1 hereditary angioedema. The patient received lanadelumab for prophylaxis and achieved satisfactory clinical outcomes. He remains under long-term follow-up.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the therapeutic mechanism of 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone (DMQ) for alleviating dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice. METHODS: Eighteen male C57BL/6J mice were equally randomized into control group, DSS group and DMQ treatment group. In DSS and DMQ groups, the mice were treated with DSS in drinking water to induce UC, and received intraperitoneal injections of sterile PBS or DMQ (20 mg/kg) during modeling. The changes in body weight, disease activity index (DAI), colon length, spleen weight, and colon histological scores of the mice were examined, and the percentages of Th17 and IFN-γ⁺ CD8⁺ T cells in the mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen were analyzed using flow cytometry. The expressions of tight junction proteins (Occludin and ZO-1), proteins associated with inflammasome activation (caspase-1 and p20), IL-1β and TNF-α in the colon tissues were detected using Western blotting or ELISA. In the cell experiment, mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) primed with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were treated with DMQ, followed by stmulation with nigericin to activate the classical NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. In cultured human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) treated with either LPS alone or LPS plus nigericin, the effects of DMQ on inflammasome activation, pyroptosis, and cytokine release were evaluated via Western blotting, ELISA, and flow cytometry. RESULTS: In DSS-treated mice, DMQ treatment significantly alleviated DSS-induced body weight loss, colon shortening, spleen enlargement, and colon inflammation. The DMQ-treated mice showed significantly reduced percentages of Th17 cells and IFN-γ⁺ CD8⁺ T cells in the mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen, with increased occludin and ZO-1 expressions and decreased caspase-1 expression in the colon tissue. DMQ obviously inhibited classical NLRP3 inflammasome activation in mouse BMDMs and both the classical and alternative pathways of NLRP3 activation in human PBMCs, causing also suppression of caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis. CONCLUSIONS DMQ ameliorates DSS-induced UC in mice by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
Animals ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Colitis, Ulcerative/metabolism* ; Dextran Sulfate/adverse effects* ; Male ; Inflammasomes/metabolism* ; Mice ; Benzoquinones/therapeutic use* ; Th17 Cells ; Caspase 1/metabolism*

Objective: To understand the current status of tuberculosis prevention and control knowledge and perceived stress among college and middle school students with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in Yantai City, and to analyze the related factors, so as to provide a basis for the school to carry out health education and psychological counseling. Methods: A matched case control study was conducted, with 100 PTB student patients in junior high school and above who were diagnosed at designated medical institutions from October 2020 to October 2024. Four healthy control students of the same gender, same dormitory, or same class were selected for each case. Therefore, 100 cases and 400 controls were investigated by questionnaire. The following information was collected: personal basic information; tuberculosis prevention and control awareness; and scores of the Chinese Perceived Stress Scale (CPSS). Conditional Logistic regression model and mixed linear models were used to compare the PTB prevention and control awareness rate, as well as the perceived stress between the case and control groups. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the factors that may affect the perceived stress of students with PTB. Results: The awareness rates of four tuberculosis knowledge items (symptoms of PTB, main causes of onset after infection, consequences of PTB patients not receiving standardized and complete treatment, the most important method to prevent PTB) were higher in the case group (40.00%, 72.00% , 38.00%, 49.00%) than the control group (21.50%, 57.50%, 22.25%, 31.25%) and the differences were statistically significant ( Wald χ 2=18.44, 8.78, 13.20, 16.89, all P <0.01). The tension score (10.49±4.20), loss of control score ( 11.21± 4.58), and total score (21.70±6.88) in the case group were higher than the control group (9.35±4.73, 9.75±5.60, 19.09±8.36) and the differences were statistically significant ( t =2.21, 2.42, 2.88, all P <0.05). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that age ≥ 18 years and family history of tuberculosis were the related factors affecting the overall perceived stress and tension of college and middle school students with PTB ( B total scores =4.50, 5.91; B tension score =2.39, 3.23, all P <0.05). Conclusions The tuberculosis prevention and control awareness rate, and the perceived stress of college and middle school students with PTB in Yantai are both higher than students without tuberculosis. Moreover, the perceived stress of students with PTB who are aged ≥18 years or have a family history of tuberculosis is even higher.

Objective To monitor the susceptibility of clinical isolates to antimicrobial agents in tertiary hospitals in major regions of China in 2022.Methods Clinical isolates from 58 hospitals in China were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using a unified protocol based on disc diffusion method or automated testing systems.Results were interpreted using the 2022 Clinical &Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)breakpoints.Results A total of 318 013 clinical isolates were collected from January 1,2022 to December 31,2022,of which 29.5％were gram-positive and 70.5％were gram-negative.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains in Staphylococcus aureus,Staphylococcus epidermidis and other coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species(excluding Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus schleiferi)was 28.3％,76.7％and 77.9％,respectively.Overall,94.0％of MRSA strains were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and 90.8％of MRSE strains were susceptible to rifampicin.No vancomycin-resistant strains were found.Enterococcus faecalis showed significantly lower resistance rates to most antimicrobial agents tested than Enterococcus faecium.A few vancomycin-resistant strains were identified in both E.faecalis and E.faecium.The prevalence of penicillin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae was 94.2％in the isolates from children and 95.7％in the isolates from adults.The resistance rate to carbapenems was lower than 13.1％in most Enterobacterales species except for Klebsiella,21.7％-23.1％of which were resistant to carbapenems.Most Enterobacterales isolates were highly susceptible to tigecycline,colistin and polymyxin B,with resistance rates ranging from 0.1％to 13.3％.The prevalence of meropenem-resistant strains decreased from 23.5％in 2019 to 18.0％in 2022 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and decreased from 79.0％in 2019 to 72.5％in 2022 in Acinetobacter baumannii.Conclusions The resistance of clinical isolates to the commonly used antimicrobial agents is still increasing in tertiary hospitals.However,the prevalence of important carbapenem-resistant organisms such as carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae,P.aeruginosa,and A.baumannii showed a downward trend in recent years.This finding suggests that the strategy of combining antimicrobial resistance surveillance with multidisciplinary concerted action works well in curbing the spread of resistant bacteria.

Objective:To analyze the expression of histone methyltransferase SETD1A and SETD5 in breast cancer and its correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics of patients.Methods:A total of 80 breast cancer patients were included in the study. GSCA website screened SET domain family members, predicted their expression in breast cancer tissues, and verified them with immunohistochemical SP method. Chi-square test and Logistic regression model were used to analyze the correlation between SETD1A, SETD5 and clinicopathological characteristics of patients.Results:The GSCA website showed that the expressions of SETD1A and SETD5 of the SET domain family were up-regulated in breast cancer tissues compared with normal tissues (all P<0.05). Immunohistochemical SP method showed that the positive expression rates of SETD1A and SETD5 in breast cancer tissues were 73.8% and 68.8% respectively, which were significantly higher than the positive expression rates of SETD1A and SETD5 in paracancerous tissues 38.8% ( χ2=19.91, P<0.001) and 32.5% ( χ2=21.03, P<0.001). Chi-square test results showed that the expression of SETD1A was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis and vascular invasion, and the expression of SETD5 was significantly correlated with nerve invasion (all P<0.05). Logistic regression model showed that SETD1A expression was correlated with lymph node metastasis ( OR=0.07, 95% CI: 0.01-0.25, P<0.001) and molecular type ( OR=0.04, 95% CI: 0.00-0.48, P=0.022), SETD5 expression was correlated with neural invasion ( OR=6.41, 95% CI: 1.45-46.65, P=0.029) . Conclusion:The expressions of histone methyltransferases SETD1A and SETD5 are up-regulated in breast cancer tissues, and they are correlated with pathological features such as lymph node metastasis, vascular invasion, and neural invasion.

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of human brucellosis in Jiaxing City from 2010 to 2021, so as to provide insights into the development of the brucellosis control strategy. Methods: The epidemiological and clinical data of brucellosis patients and epidemiological data of brucellosis outbreaks in Jiaxing City from 2010 to 2021 were collected from Chinese Disease Control and Prevention Information System, and the epidemiological features and outbreaks of brucellosis were analyzed descriptively. Results: Totally 160 brucellosis patients were reported in Jiaxing City from 2010 to 2021, and the incidence of brucellosis appeared a tendency towards a rise (χ2trend=28.564, P=0.002), with annual mean incidence of 0.29/105. No deaths due to brucellosis occurred in Jiaxing City from 2010 to 2021. Brucellosis cases were reported each month, which were concentrated in the first and second quarters, and the greatest number was seen in May (27 cases, 16.88%). The brucellosis cases were predominantly reported in Tongxiang City (114 cases, 71.25%), and 75.00% were male (120 cases) and 70.63% were occupational populations (113 cases). The patients had a median (interquartile range) age of 57 (12) years at onset, and the median duration (interquartile range) from onset to definitive diagnosis was 18 (28) days. The clinical manifestations mainly included fever and weakness, and a total of 18 Brucella melitensis isolates and one B. bovis isolate were cultured. Conclusions The incidence of brucellosis was rising in Jiaxing City from 2010 to 2021. The brucellosis patients were predominantly reported in Tongxiang City in the first and second quarters, and young, middle-aged men and occupational populations were at a high risk of brucellosis.

Carbon nanotube (CNT) composite materials are very attractive for use in neural tissue engineering and biosensor coatings. CNT scaffolds are excellent mimics of extracellular matrix due to their hydrophilicity, viscosity, and biocompatibility. CNTs can also impart conductivity to other insulating materials, improve mechanical stability, guide neuronal cell behavior, and trigger axon regeneration. The performance of chitosan (CS)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) composite scaffolds could be optimized by introducing multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs). CS/PEG/CNT composite scaffolds with CNT content of 1%, 3%, and 5% (1%=0.01 g/mL) were prepared by freeze-drying. Their physical and chemical properties and biocompatibility were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the composite scaffolds had a highly connected porous structure. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Raman spectroscopy proved that the CNTs were well dispersed in the CS/PEG matrix and combined with the CS/PEG nanofiber bundles. MWCNTs enhanced the elastic modulus of the scaffold. The porosity of the scaffolds ranged from 83% to 96%. They reached a stable water swelling state within 24 h, and swelling decreased with increasing MWCNT concentration. The electrical conductivity and cell adhesion rate of the scaffolds increased with increasing MWCNT content. Immunofluorescence showed that rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells grown in the scaffolds had characteristics similar to nerve cells. We measured changes in the expression of nerve cell markers by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and found that PC12 cells cultured in the scaffolds expressed growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR), and class III β‍-tubulin (TUBB3) proteins. Preliminary research showed that the prepared CS/PEG/CNT scaffold has good biocompatibility and can be further applied to neural tissue engineering research.
Animals ; Axons ; Biocompatible Materials/chemistry* ; Chitosan/chemistry* ; Nanotubes, Carbon/chemistry* ; Nerve Regeneration ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Porosity ; Rats ; Tissue Engineering/methods* ; Tissue Scaffolds/chemistry*

ObjectiveTo explore the correlation between gross motor function and spinal range of motion (ROM) in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy. MethodsA total of 33 children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy in Beijing Bo'ai Hospital from December, 2019 to March, 2022 were selected and divided into group 1 (grade Ⅰ, n = 12), group 2 (grade Ⅱ, n = 11) and group 3 (grade Ⅲ, n = 10) according to Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). SpinalMouse (spine morphometric machine) was used to measure the ROM of forward and backward flexion, and left and right lateral flexion of trunk, respectively, in sitting. Their gross motor ability was then further tested using the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) 88 item. ResultsThe ROM of backward flexion, the left and right lateral flexion, and the total ROM of sagittal and coronal plane were positively correlated with the scores of GMFM88 (r > 0.424, P < 0.05), and were negatively correlated with the grade of GMFCS (|r| > 0.424, P < 0.05). ConclusionSpinal ROM correlates with gross motor function in children with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy.

Objective:To explore the application effect of a new evaluation system based on virtual simulation system in the evaluation of functional science experiment teaching.Methods:The data of students' learning in the 2019-2020 academic year were collected, and the impact of using virtual simulation teaching system on the achievement of teaching goals under the new teaching evaluation standard was comparatively analyzed. Questionnaire survey was conducted to study students' evaluation on the virtual simulation teaching system. SPSS 22.0 was used for chi-square test.Results:The students who used the new formative evaluation standard had a virtual academic excellence rate of 75.49% (308/408), while the unused students had an excellence rate of only 32.22% (135/419), with significant differences ( P<0.01). The number of virtual simulation items required for different teaching objectives were 4, 11 and 14, respectively, and the corresponding students' virtual simulation system outstanding rate was 99.19% (246/248), 93.14% (380/408), 84.72% (488/576), with significant differences ( P<0.01). And 93.8% (348/371) students thought the learning of the virtual simulation system could help improve the success rate of the experiment, and 93.26% (346/371) of the students believed that it had improved the ability to analyze and deal with unexpected problems in the experimental class. Conclusion:The new evaluation system based on the virtual simulation system can promote the improvement of the experimental teaching quality of functional science.

Objective:To explore the effect of cloud follow-up system in post-hospital follow-up management of hyperuricemia gout patients.Methods:Using the convenient sampling method, a total of 120 gout patients who were discharged after treatment in Taizhou Central Hospital in June 2021 were selected as the research objects and they were randomly divided into the control group and the experimental group according to the random number table method, with 60 cases in each group. The control group carried out routine follow-up, while the experimental group carried out follow-up based on cloud follow-up system. The serum uric acid level and self-management ability of gout patients were compared between the two groups before and after 6 months of follow-up.Results:After 6 months of follow-up, the serum uric acid levels of the control group and the experimental group were lower than those before follow-up and that of the experimental group was lower than the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . After 6 months of follow-up, the self-management ability score of the experimental group was higher than that before follow-up and higher than that after follow-up of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05) . Conclusions:The new follow-up model based on cloud follow-up system is helpful to improve the self-management ability of gout patients and reduce the blood uric acid level of gout patients.