AIM: To observe the changes of retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)thickness and radial peripheral capillary(RPC)density in patients with unilateral branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO), and further analyze the correlation between RPC density and RNFL thickness.METHODS: Observational study. Totally 37 patients with unilateral BRVO diagnosed at the ophthalmology department of First Hospital of Qinhuangdao from October 2020 to January 2022 were selected, the 37 affected eyes were the unilateral BRVO group, and 37 fellow healthy eyes were the contralateral unaffected group, and 35 healthy individuals(35 right eyes were selected)without ocular diseases during the same period were selected as the normal control group. The best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, anterior segment, fundus and optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA)were examined in both eyes of all BRVO patients and healthy individuals. The central macular thickness(CMT), the RNFL thickness, and the optic disc-AV crossing distance(DAVD)were measured by built-in software of the OCTA equipment. The optimized U-net algorithm was used to eliminate the large blood vessels, and then the RPC density was calculated. The CMT, RNFL thickness and RPC density were compared among the three groups. And the correlations of the RPC density with the CMT, RNFL thickness, and the DAVD were investigated.RESULTS: Compared with the contralateral unaffected group and the normal control group, the CMT and the RNFL thickness were significantly thickened in the unilateral BRVO group(all P<0.05); there were no statistical differences in the CMT and the RNFL thickness between the contralateral unaffected group and the normal control group(all P>0.05). The RPC density in the unilateral BRVO group increased compared with the contralateral unaffected group and decreased compared with the normal control group, but there was no statistically difference(all P>0.05). However, the RPC density in the contralateral unaffected group decreased compared with the normal control group(P<0.05). The RPC density in the unilateral BRVO group was not correlated with the CMT(P=0.960), but positively correlated with the RNFL thickness(r=0.401, P=0.014)and negatively correlated with the DAVD(r=-0.339, P=0.040).CONCLUSION: The RNFL thickened significantly and the RPC density did not change significantly in the optic disc area of BRVO patients. The RPC density is positively correlated with the RNFL thickness, indicating that the RNFL thickness can be used as a monitoring indicator to analyze and study the damage degree of the RPC density.

L-theanine is an important natural non-protein amino acid that is widely used in food and medicine. Although in previous studies, a microbial fermentation method for L-theanine without the addition of ethylamine has been developed, the conversion rate of this process needs to be further improved. In this study, we constructed a de novo synthesis pathway of L-theanine with glucose as the substrate. First, an in vitro transformation pathway containing ω-transaminase (TA) and γ-glutamylmethylamide synthetase (GMAS) was designed, optimized, and introduced into the chassis strain Escherichia coli K12 W3110 to achieve de novo synthesis of L-theanine. To improve the synthesis efficiency through metabolic engineering, we increased the copies of the GMAS gene gams and the TA gene spuC and enhanced the expression of the aldehyde dehydrogenase gene eutE to provide sufficient acetaldehyde substrate, knocked out the lactate dehydrogenase gene ldhA and the pyruvate formate lyase gene pflB to block bypass metabolism, and introduced the alanine dehydrogenase gene alD to recycle alanine. Furthermore, we over-expressed the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase gene ppc to enhance the carbon flux of the TCA cycle, knocked out the succinyl-CoA synthase gene sucCD to reduce the loss of downstream flux of TCA, and integrated the glutamate dehydrogenase gene gdh to enhance the supply of L-glutamate. Finally, the polyphosphate kinase gene ppk was introduced to the ATP cycle, which enhanced the energy supply in L-theanine production. The recombinant strain Tea11 produced 22.60 g/L L-theanine in a 5 L fermenter in 28 h, with a conversion rate of 41.71%. This synthetic pathway in this study balanced the relationship between the supply of ethylamine and the production of theanine, providing a new idea for metabolic engineering of microorganisms to produce L-theanine.
Glutamates/biosynthesis* ; Metabolic Engineering/methods* ; Escherichia coli/genetics* ; Fermentation ; Transaminases/metabolism* ; Amide Synthases/metabolism* ; Glucose/metabolism*

L-tyrosine is one of the 20 amino acids that make up proteins and is an essential amino acid for mammals, often used as a nutritional supplement. The conventional methods for synthesizing L-tyrosine have some problems such as the production of many by-products, high requirements for production conditions, and environmental pollution. In this study, we designed and constructed a multi-enzyme cascade for the synthesis of L-tyrosine with alanine, glutamate, ammonium chloride, and phenol as substrates. Initially, the sources of glutamate oxidase, alanine aminotransferase, and tyrosine phenol lyase were screened and analyzed, which was followed by the identification of the rate-limiting enzyme in the reaction process. A colorimetric screening method was established, and the rate-limiting enzyme DbAlaA was engineered to enhance its activity by 40.0%. Subsequently, the reaction conditions, including temperature, pH, cell concentration, and surfactant and coenzyme dosages, were optimized. After optimization, the yield of L-tyrosine reached 9.93 g/L, with a alanine conversion rate of 54.90%. Finally, a feed-batch fermentation strategy was adopted, and the yield of L-tyrosine reached 56.07 g/L after 24 h, with a alanine conversion rate of 65.22%. This study provides a reference for the whole-cell catalytic synthesis of L-tyrosine and its industrialization.
Tyrosine/biosynthesis* ; Escherichia coli/metabolism* ; Tyrosine Phenol-Lyase/genetics* ; Multienzyme Complexes/metabolism* ; Fermentation

Objective To analyze the short- and long-term therapeutic effects of heart transplantation in children. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on recipients and donors who underwent heart transplantation at the 7th People’s Hospital of Zhengzhou from May 2018 to August 2023, analyzing their clinical characteristics, surgical data, postoperative complications, and survival rates. Results A total of 22 children underwent heart transplantation, including 14 males and 8 females, with a median age of 13.5 (10.0, 15.0) years and a median weight of 41.9 (30.5, 55.4) kg. The primary diseases included: dilated cardiomyopathy in 16 patients, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in 1 patient, myocardial dysplasia in 3 patients, right ventricular dysplasia in 1 patient, and congenital heart disease with abnormal coronary artery origin in 1 patient. The median age of the donors was 21.0 (13.0, 29.0) years, and the median weight was 50.5 (47.3, 75.0) kg. The blood types of the donors and recipients were the same, with type A in 10 patients, type B in 5 patients, type O in 5 patients, and type AB in 2 patients. Before transplantation, all children had a New York Heart Association cardiac function grade Ⅳ, with 1 patient assisted by intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), 3 patients assisted by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), 2 patients assisted by continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), and 2 patients on mechanical ventilation. Nine patients met the criteria for emergency child status allocation, and the panel reactive antibody level in the patients was<10%. The median cold ischemic time of the donor heart was 355.0 (262.0, 395.5) min, the median aortic cross-clamping time was 45.0 (38.3, 51.3) min, the median mechanical ventilation time was 22.5 (16.8, 52.5) h, the median postoperative hospital stay was 29.5 (20.0, 43.0) d, and the median intensive care unit stay was 6.0 (5.0, 8.3) d. After surgery, 4 patients were assisted by ECMO, 2 patients by CRRT, and 7 patients developed complications, including lung fungal infection in 6 patients, liver and kidney dysfunction in 1 patient, local wound non-union and mediastinal infection in 1 patient, and multiple organ failure in 1 patient. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that the survival rates of children after surgery were 91.3% at 1 year and 3 years; the survival rates of adult heart transplant recipients at our center were 86.7% and 73.8% at 1 year and 3 years, respectively, indicating that the survival rate of children with heart transplantation was higher than that of adult patients. Conclusion Heart transplantation is an effective treatment for end-stage heart failure in children, and the short- and long-term survival rates of children with heart transplantation are superior to those of adults. There are still many difficulties to be solved in pediatric heart transplantation, requiring joint efforts from society and the medical community.

Objective To sort out and summarize the research hotspots and trends of Chinese medicine nursing technolo-gy at the present stage.Methods We searched the research literature on TCM nursing technology included in China Knowledge,Wanfang,and Wipu build-up to November 30,2023,and used CiteSpace 6.1.R6 software to perform co-occurrence analysis of research institutions and keyword clustering,timeline,and emergence analysis.Results A total of 5 771 documents were in-cluded,with a general upward trend in the number of publications,peaking at 692 publications in 2021.5 206 documents from 673 journals were included in the research literature,of which 19 journals had ≥50 publications(35.47％).2 087 research or-ganizations were involved,of which 27 had ≥20 publications(13.24％).Involving 9 484 authors,there were a total of 8 au-thors ≥5 in the cluster,indicating the existence of stable teamwork in the cluster.The keyword co-occurrence analysis yielded the research hotspots of TCM nursing technology as TCM nursing,training,nursing management,clinical efficacy,complica-tions,and quality of life.Conclusion Based on the econometrics and visualization analysis of the literature on TCM nursing technology,we explored the research hotspots and trends in this field,and provided two theoretical paths for medical institution managers to construct and optimize the management system of TCM nursing technology:to standardize the TCM nursing technology in hospitals and establish a clinical access management system;and based on the multidimensional management method,to inno-vate the training system of TCM nursing technology.

ObjectiveTo explore the interaction among root fungi of Stellaria dichotoma var. lanceolata， soil factors， and main components of medicinal materials in lithosol habitats. MethodHigh-throughput sequencing technology was employed to determine the fungal community of the root system of S. dichotoma var. lanceolata at different levels （bulk soil， rhizosphere soil， rhizoplane soil， and root interior） and the soil properties of the root system （bulk and rhizosphere）， and the relationship among the fungal community， soil properties， and the main components of medicinal materials was analyzed. ResultThe total phosphorus， available phosphorus， alkaline nitrogen， dissolved organic carbon， and soil water content in the rhizosphere soil of S. dichotoma var. lanceolata were slightly higher than those in the rhizosphere， but the difference was not significant. Ascomycota is the dominant phylum of root fungi in S. dichotoma var. lanceolata. In the progressive level of bulk-rhizosphere-rhizoplane-root interior system， although the fungal diversity gradually decreased， the abundance of Hypocreales， a new phylum （unclassified_ k_ Fungi）， Helotiales， and Natipusilales gradually increased， among which Hypocreales is the most important fungal group in the root system of S. dichotoma var. lanceolata. The structural equation model （SEM） shows that the physicochemical factors of the root-soil play an important regulatory role in the fungal community and the main components of medicinal herbs， with soil total nitrogen， alkaline nitrogen， soil water content， and pH being the main regulatory factors. Soil nitrogen content is the key to promoting the main components of the medicinal herbs， and Penicillium fungi are the key fungal group to regulate the main components of the medicinal herbs. ConclusionIt highlights that the physicochemical properties of the soil of S. dichotoma var. lanceolata play a crucial role in the fungal community and the components of medicinal materials. Hypocreales fungi in the root of S. dichotoma var. lanceolata were an important group， and Penicillium fungi had a certain role in mediating the components of medicinal materials.

AIM: To quantify early changes of macular capillary parameters in type 2 diabetic patients using optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA).METHODS: Retrospective case study. A total of 49 healthy subjects, 52 diabetic patients without retinopathy(noDR)patients, and 43 mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy(mNPDR)patients were recruited. Capillary perfusion density, vessel length density(VLD), and average vessel diameter(AVD)were calculated from macular OCTA images(3 mm×3 mm)of the superficial capillary plexus after segmenting large vessels and the deep capillary plexus. Parameters were compared among control subjects, noDR, and mNPDR patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve estimated the abilities of these parameters to detect early changes of retinal microvascular networks.RESULTS: Significant differences were found in the VLD and AVD among the three groups(P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the noDR group had significantly higher AVD(P<0.05). VLD of both layers in patients of mNPDR group was significant decreased compared with that of noDR group(all P<0.01). Deep AVD had a higher area under the curve(AUC)of 0.796 than other parameters to discriminate the noDR group from the healthy group. Deep AVD had the highest AUC of 0.920, followed by that of the deep VLD(AUC=0.899)to discriminate the mNPDR group from the healthy group.CONCLUSIONS: NoDR patients had wider AVD than healthy individuals and longer VLD than mNPDR patients in both layers. When compared with healthy individuals, deep AVD had a stronger ability than other parameters to detect early retinal capillary impairments in noDR patients.

BACKGROUND:In recent years,computer-assisted navigation has gradually attracted attention in the medical field.Some scholars have reported that the clinical effects of computer navigation in total knee arthroplasty vary.To explore the clinical effect of the new generation of Brainlab Knee 3 navigation system,this study is conducted. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the application effect of computer navigation system(Brainlab Knee 3)combined with gap balance technology in total knee arthroplasty. METHODS:A total of 71 patients received total knee arthroplasty at the Department of Joint Surgery of Dalian Second People's Hospital from November 2020 to May 2021.In the navigation group,35 patients underwent total knee arthroplasty by computer navigation combined with gap balance.In the traditional group,36 patients underwent osteotomy with traditional surgical instruments.The difference between medial and lateral joint spaces,knee range of motion,hospital for special surgery knee score,hip-knee-ankle angle,deviation values of coronal femoral component angle,coronal tibial component angle,and sagittal tibial component angle were compared between the two groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)In the navigation group,the differences of intraoperative medial and lateral joint gap at knee extension 0,1,and 2 mm were found in 19,14,and 2 cases,respectively.The gap difference was 0 mm in 18 cases,1 mm in 15 cases and 2 mm in 2 cases at 90° degree knee flexion.In the traditional group,the gap difference at knee extention was 0 mm in 10 cases,1 mm in 20 cases,and 2 mm in 6 cases.The gap difference at 90 degree knee flexion was 0 mm in 10 cases,1 mm in 15 cases and 2 mm in 8 cases.(2)The operation time in the navigation group was longer than that in the traditional group(P<0.05),and two patients in the navigation group developed lower limb intermuscular vein thrombosis after surgery,and none of the patients in the traditional group had complications.(3)The range of motion between the two groups increased significantly at 6 and 12 months after surgery,and the range of motion in the navigation group was higher than that in the traditional group(P<0.05).(4)At 12 months after surgery,the hospital for special surgery knee scores of both groups increased significantly,and the hospital for special surgery knee score in the navigation group was higher than that in the traditional group(P<0.05).(5)At 6 months after surgery,the deviation values of hip-knee-ankle angle,coronal femoral component angle,coronal tibial component angle,and sagittal tibial component angle of navigation group were significantly lower than those in the traditional group(P<0.05).(6)The results showed that computer navigation technique combined with gap balance in total knee arthroplasty had advantages in postoperative range of motion,lower limb alignment and the accuracy of tibial prosthesis component position,and joint function recovered well.

Objective To explore the research dynamics and hotspots of project management in the field of hospital man-agement,and analyze the contents that still need to be improved,so as to provide references for the subsequent research,and provide hospital managers with practical experience in hospital management.Methods Based on the PubMed database,we used the citexs data analysis platform to analyze the literature and big data from January 2012 to December 2022 on the application of project management in the field of hospital management.Results The effective literature was retrieved from 4236 articles,and the analysis found thatthe annualnumberofpublicationsinthisfield hasbeenincreasing,2021 sawthe highestannualnumberof 573 articles,and the fastest growth rate was 20.36% in 2017.The country with the most publications is the United States(1 546 articles,36.5% ),the research institution with the most publications is Monash University,Australia,the journal with the most publications is BMJ Open(124 articles),and the key words with the highest frequency of occurrence in the retrieved literature are quality improvement,primary care improvement,covid-19,telemedicine.Conclusion The research in this field has been rapidly developed and is in a fast rising phase.In almost every organization and industry,the share of project management or"projectization"is increasing,and project management has become an important part of hospital management research and prac-tice.In the context of building a modern hospital management system,the application of project management to hospital manage-ment is an effective means of improving the level of fine hospital management.

Objective To observe splenic T cell apoptosis and XIAP-associated factor 1(XAF1),FAS,and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α protein expression levels in rats with acute lung injury(ALI),and to determine their roles in the protective effect of Yifei Jianpi formula.Methods Sixty male specific pathogen-free SD rats were divided randomly into blank,model,positive control,and high-,medium-,and low-dose Yifei Jianpi formula groups.Rats in the positive control group were given 0.5 g/kg dexamethasone by gavage,and rats in the high-,medium-,and low-dose Yifei Jianpi formula groups were given 12,6,and 3 g/kg Yifei Jianpi formula by gavage,respectively.Rats in the model and blank groups were given equal amounts of saline by gavage.All medications were administered once a day for 14 days.Lung function testing was carried out in all rats.We observed the imaging characteristics of the lungs and changes in the organ index and lung tissue wet/dry weight(W/D)in each group,and detected the pathological changes in lung tissues by hematoxylin-eosin staining.Splenic T-cell subpopulations(CD4+/CD8+)and apoptosis of splenic T-cells were detected by flow cytometry and XAF1,FAS,and TNF-α protein expression levels in the spleen were detected by Western Blot.Results Rats in the model group showed reduced lung function,decreased spleen and thymus organ indexes,and significantly higher W/D of lung tissue(P＜0.01).In addition,they had inflammatory exudation and alveolar rupture in the lung tissue,accompanied by thickening of the lung texture and large areas of ground-glass shadows,with a significant decrease in T-cell subsets(CD4+/CD8+)and significant increases in XAF1,FAS,and TNF-α proteins,and in the rate of T-cell apoptosis(P＜0.01).Yifei Jianpi formula significantly reduced the W/D spleen of rat lung tissues,significantly increased the thymus organ index(P＜0.05,P＜0.01)and the T-cell subpopulation(CD4+/CD8+),and significantly decreased the protein expression levels of XAF1,FAS,and TNF-α,and the T-cell apoptosis rate(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusions ALI induced up-regulation of XAF1,FAS,and TNF-α protein expression and T-cell apoptosis in the spleen of rats,and Yifei Jianpi formula may protect against ALI by down-regulating these factors.