Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and changing trend of typhus in Shaanxi Province from 2005 to 2023 to provide a scientific basis for its prevention and control. Methods Excel 2007, SPSS 25.0, Joinpoint 4.9.1.0, and Geoda 1.6 were used for data collection and statistical analysis. Super Map was used for data visualization to describe the changing characteristics of the disease. Results A total of 394 typhus cases were reported in Shaanxi Province from 2005 to 2023. The average annual incidence of typhus was 0.054/100 000, showing a dynamic fluctuation trend(AAPC=-3.3, t=-0.3, P>0.05). The cases were mainly concentrated in Baoji, Hanzhong and Xi′an, accounting for 78.68%. The incidence peak was from May to October, accounting for 64.21% of annual incidence. The epidemic season was from May to October and December. The incidence of the disease was concentrated in the 40-69 age group, accounting for 58.88%, and the sex was 1.07:1. The main occupation was farmers, accounting for 72.08%. The median time from onset to diagnosis was 7 days. Global spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that there were significant spatial autocorrelations in 11 years from 2005 to 2023(P<0.05). Local spatial autocorrelation analysis detected a total of 43“high-high”clustering areas, mainly concentrated in Baoji City. Conclusions The overall incidence of typhus in Shaanxi Province showed a dynamic fluctuation trend, with notable seasonal and regional aggregation. The incidence of typhus was higher in middle-aged and elderly people in rural areas. Surveillance should be strengthened in typhus endemic areas in summer and autumn, and health education should be conducted for key population to form good health habits and reduce the incidence of typhus.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the differential expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) in myocardial tissues of rats with sudden coronary death (SCD), and to provide ideas for the forensic identification of SCD. METHODS: The rat SCD model was established, and the transcriptome sequencing was performed by next-generation sequencing technology. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in myocardial tissues of SCD rats were screened by using the R package limma. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by using the STRING database and Cytoscape 3.8.2 on DEG, and hub genes were screened based on cytoHubba plug-in. Finally, the R package clusterProfiler was used to analyze the biological function and signal pathway enrichment of the selected DEG. RESULTS: A total of 177 DEGs were associated with SCD and were mainly involved in the renin-angiotensin system and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The genes including angiotensinogen (AGT), complement component 4a (C4a), Fos proto-oncogene (FOS) and others played key roles in the development of SCD. CONCLUSIONS Genes such as AGT, C4a, FOS and other genes are expected to be potential biomarkers for forensic identification of SCD. The study based on mRNA expression profile can provide a reference for forensic identification of SCD.
Rats ; Animals ; RNA, Messenger/genetics* ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics* ; Biomarkers

Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma is a Chinese herbal medicine that promotes blood circulation to remove blood stasis, nourishes blood to tranquilize the mind, and cools blood to disperse carbuncles. Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma has microcirculation-improving, blood vessel-dilating, atherosclerosis-preventing, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and blood pressure-and blood lipid-lowering activities. As research progresses, the chemical composition, pharmacological effect, and clinical application of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma have attracted much attention. We reviewed the research progress in this field. Based on the concept of quality marker(Q-marker) in traditional Chinese medicine, the Q-markers of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma were predicted and analyzed from the aspects of quality transfer, traceability, ingredient specificity, association between ingredients and pharmacological effects, ingredient predictability, and compounding environment. This review provides a scientific basis for the quality control of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and its preparations.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plant Roots ; Rhizome ; Salvia miltiorrhiza

BACKGROUNDThe self-consciousness and practicality of preferentially prescribed essential medicines (EMs) are not high enough in county hospitals. The purposes of this study were to use the information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model to identify the predictors of essential medicines prescribing behavior (EMPB) among doctors and to examine the association between demographic variables, IMB, and EMPB.

METHODSA cross-sectional study was carried out to assess predictive relationships among demographic variables and IMB model variables using an anonymous questionnaire administered in nine county hospitals of Anhui province. A structural equation model was constructed for the IMB model to test the instruments using analysis of moment structures 17.0.

RESULTSA total of 732 participants completed the survey. The average age of the participants was 37.7 ± 8.9 years old (range: 22-67 years old). The correct rate of information was 90.64%. The average scores of the motivation and behavioral skills were 45.46 ± 7.34 (hundred mark system: 75.77) and 19.92 ± 3.44 (hundred mark system: 79.68), respectively. Approximately half (50.8%) of respondents reported that the proportion of EM prescription was below 60%. The final revised model indicated a good fit to the data (χ2 /df = 4.146, goodness of fit index = 0.948, comparative fit index = 0.938, root mean square error of approximation = 0.066). More work experience (β = 0.153, P < 0.001) and behavioral skills (β = 0.449, P < 0.001) predicted more EMPB. Higher income predicted less information (β = -0.197, P < 0.001) and motivation (β = -0.204, P < 0.001). Behavioral skills were positively predicted by information (β = 0.135, P < 0.001) and motivation (β = 0.742, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe present study predicted some factors of EMPB, and specified the relationships among the model variables. The utilization rate of EM was not high enough. Motivation and behavior skills were crucial factors affecting EMPB. The influence of demographic variables, such as income and work experience, on EMPB should be fully appreciated. Comprehensive intervention measures should be implemented from multiple perspectives.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Hospitals, County ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Practice Patterns, Physicians' ; statistics & numerical data

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes between pressure of trochlea of talus surface and distribution of area after anterior lower tibiofibular ligament rupture, and provide basis for treating anterior lower tibiofibular ligament rupture.

METHODSSix fresh adult ankle joint specimens (4 males and 2 females, ranging age from 25 to 60 years, with an average of 44.6 years) were adopted. The specimens were removed from skin and muscles, remained ankle joint capsule, medial and lateral ligaments and anteroinferior tibiofibular ligament. The ankle joint was fixed with a special fixture in neutral position. Pressure sensitive film (700 N axial load ) was respectively used to measure mean pressure, peak pressure and stress distribution area of the upper articular facet of talar trochlea of the normal ankle joint and the ankle joint with anterioinferior tibiofibular ligament rupture.

RESULTSThe stress distribution areas of the control group and the ruptured group were respectively (367.8 +/- 54.0) mm2 and (386.0 +/- 53.7) mm2; the mean pressures were respectively (1.40 +/- 0.12) MPa and (1.70 +/- 0.35) MPa; the peak pressures were respectively (2.60 +/- 0.33) MPa and (3.20 +/- 0.32) MPa. The experimental results showed that the change in stress distribution area after anterioinferior tibiofibular ligament rupture was not significant (t = 0.021, P = -0.983). When stress distribution changed, the region of stress concentration transferred to poster lateral,and mean pressure (t = 4.140, P = 0.020) and peak pressure (t = 3.169, P = 0.010) increased significantly.

CONCLUSIONWhen anterior lower tibiofibular ligament rupture occurs, mean pressure,peak pressure and stress distribution of pressure of trochlea of talus surface is changed, which may cause traumatic arthritis, and surgical treatment is considerably used to restore normal anatomy.

Adult ; Ankle Injuries ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Female ; Fibula ; Humans ; Lateral Ligament, Ankle ; injuries ; Male ; Mechanical Phenomena ; Middle Aged ; Rupture ; Stress, Mechanical ; Tibia

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) transplantation on the major inflammatory cytokines content in peripheral blood, lung water mass fraction, and lung tissue injury in rabbits with smoke inhalation injury.

METHODSSixteen adult New Zealand big ear rabbits were subjected to smoke inhalation injury and then were divided into pure injury group (PI, n = 8) and MSC transplantation group (MT, n = 8) according to the random number table. Via ear marginal vein, rabbits in PI group were injected with 10 mL phosphate buffered saline (PBS); rabbits in MT group were injected with 10 mL PBS containing the third passage MSC (1 x 10⁷ cell) isolated from marrow of healthy young New Zealand big ear rabbit. Another 8 rabbits were enrolled as normal control group (NC). Rabbits in NC group were injected with 10 mL PBS via ear marginal vein without smoke inhalation injury. Blood was harvested from rabbits in PI and MT groups at post injury hour (PIH) 2, 4, 6. Contents of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 in serum were determined with ELISA. At PIH 24, left lung was harvested for morphology and histopathology observation; the right lung tissue was obtained to measure and calculate lung water mass fraction. Blood and lung tissue of rabbits in NC group were harvested and determined in the same way. Data were processed with t test.

RESULTS(1) Serum contents of TNF-α in PI and MT groups at each time point were obviously higher than that in NC group (t = 2.43 - 9.57, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Serum contents of IL-1β and IL-6 in PI group at each time point were obviously higher than those in NC group (t = 8.49 - 19.80, P values all below 0.01). Serum content of IL-1β in MT group at each time point was close to that in NC group (t = 0.11 - 0.92, P values all above 0.05). Serum content of IL-6 in MT group at PIH 2 was close to that in NC group (t = 2.12, P > 0.05), but that of MT group increased significantly at PIH 4 and 6 (t = 2.83, P values all below 0.05). Serum contents of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in MT group at each time point were obviously lower than those in PI group (t = 2.35 - 12.45, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). (2) Serum content of IL-10 in MT group at PIH 2, 4, and 6 was respectively (13.0 ± 3.6), (11.6 ± 8.5), (15.2 ± 4.4) pg/mL, and they were higher than those in PI group [(5.5 ± 3.4), (5.0 ± 1.7), (7.9 ± 3.5) pg/mL, with t value respectively 4.28, 2.15, 3.67, P values all below 0.01]. Serum contents of IL-10 in PI and MT groups were obviously higher than that in NC group (t = 2.46-8.14, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). (3) Lung tissue injury in MT group was alleviated markedly as compared with that in PI group. (4) At PIH 24, lung water mass fraction in MT group was (69 ± 7)%, which was obviously lower than that in PI group [(87 ± 6)%, t = 5.49, P < 0.01]. Compared with that in NC group [(48 ± 3)%], lung water mass fraction in PI and MT groups were increased obviously (with t value respectively 16.93 and 7.22, P values all below 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSMSC transplantation can decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines, increase anti-inflammatory cytokines, decrease lung water mass fraction, ameliorate systemic inflammatory response, and protect lung tissue in rabbits with smoke inhalation injury.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Lung Injury ; blood ; surgery ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Rabbits ; Smoke Inhalation Injury ; blood ; surgery ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of different factors (temperature, light and germinating beds) on seed germination of Codonopsis tangshen.

METHODThe general germination method was applied.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe optimum seed germination conditions of C. tangshen were as follows: temperature 25 degrees C, light, germinating-beds top of paper (TP) or between of paper (BP). The first seedling--counting time was the 10th day after beginning the test; the final time was the 18th day. The test also showed that gibberellin notably increased the seed germination rate of C. tangshen.

Codonopsis ; drug effects ; growth & development ; radiation effects ; Germination ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Gibberellins ; pharmacology ; Light ; Paper ; Seeds ; drug effects ; growth & development ; radiation effects ; Temperature ; Time Factors