Objective To predict the potential suitability distribution of Vitex negundo in China;To analyze the key environmental factors influencing its suitability distribution.Methods Based on the geographic distribution data of Vitex negundo from 196 sites across China and 55 environmental variables,the Maximum Entropy(MaxEnt)model and ArcGIS 10.2 were employed to predict the potential distribution of suitable habitats for Vitex negundo in China.Results The constructed MaxEnt prediction model demonstrated high reliability.The primary environmental factors influencing the suitable distribution of Vitex negundo included the average temperature from June to October,precipitation in April and November,the mean temperature of the warmest season,soil type,and vegetation type.The predicted suitable habitats for Vitex negundo would be widely distributed,primarily concentrated in Jiangxi,central and southern Anhui,northwestern Zhejiang,eastern and northeastern Hunan,as well as eastern and southeastern Hubei.Conclusion The predicted potential distribution of Vitex negundo in China can provide a valuable reference for the conservation and sustainable utilization of this medicinal resource.

Objective:To identify the serotype and genotype characteristics of the first cluster infection of Brucella in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province. Methods:The information of seven suspected cluster brucellosis cases reported in Lanping County, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture in April 2023 were collected, blood samples were collected, and the strains were isolated and cultured. Serological methods were employed for brucellosis diagnosis, bacterial species identification was performed using BCSP31-PCR and AMOS-PCR. Multilocus locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) was conducted for strain genotyping, followed by phylogenetic analysis comparing the strains with those from other regions of China.Results:All seven cases were diagnosed with brucellosis, they were all villagers from the same village and had daily contact with sheeps. Four suspected Brucella strains were isolated, identified as Brucella melitensis biotype by BCSP31-PCR and AMOS-PCR. The four isolated strains exhibited identical MLVA-16 genotype, with MLVA-8 genotype 42 and MLVA-11 genotype 180, belonging to the Eastern Mediterranean lineage. Compared with the MLVA-16 of the isolated strains from other regions of China, the four isolated strains formed an independent cluster. Conclusion:The first cluster infection of Brucella in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province is caused by Brucella melitensis biotype, and the four isolated strains have showed unique MLVA genotype.

Objective To analyze the health economics of ultra-short wave therapy adjuvant to drug therapy for acute pharyngitis,and to provide a more cost-effective treatment option for clinical management.Methods Seventy patients with acute pharyngitis were randomly divided into a control group(35 cases)and an ultra-short wave group(35 cases).The control group received conventional drug therapy,while the ultra-short wave group received ultra-short wave therapy in addition to conventional drug therapy.The cure rate,treatment duration,direct costs,indirect costs,and total costs were compared between the two groups for clinical efficacy and health economics analysis.Results The cure rate in the ultra-short wave group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P=0.008),while the total treatment cost and treatment duration were significantly re-duced.To achieve the same therapeutic effect,the ultra-short wave group required 129.73 yuan less than the control group.Conclusion Ultra-short wave therapy adjuvant to conventional drug treatment for acute pharyngitis can more rapidly alleviate symptoms,reduce indirect costs due to work absence,without significantly increasing treatment expenses.It is a safe,effective,and economical therapy with higher therapeutic value compared to drug therapy alone,and is worthy of widespread promotion.

Objective To analyze the health economics of ultra-short wave therapy adjuvant to drug therapy for acute pharyngitis,and to provide a more cost-effective treatment option for clinical management.Methods Seventy patients with acute pharyngitis were randomly divided into a control group(35 cases)and an ultra-short wave group(35 cases).The control group received conventional drug therapy,while the ultra-short wave group received ultra-short wave therapy in addition to conventional drug therapy.The cure rate,treatment duration,direct costs,indirect costs,and total costs were compared between the two groups for clinical efficacy and health economics analysis.Results The cure rate in the ultra-short wave group was significantly higher than that in the control group(P=0.008),while the total treatment cost and treatment duration were significantly re-duced.To achieve the same therapeutic effect,the ultra-short wave group required 129.73 yuan less than the control group.Conclusion Ultra-short wave therapy adjuvant to conventional drug treatment for acute pharyngitis can more rapidly alleviate symptoms,reduce indirect costs due to work absence,without significantly increasing treatment expenses.It is a safe,effective,and economical therapy with higher therapeutic value compared to drug therapy alone,and is worthy of widespread promotion.

As the most common phenotype of type 1 neurofibromatosis(NF1),plexiform neurofibromas(pNF)exhibit early asymptomatic presentation but multisite involvement,with a risk of progression.Imaging serves as vital tool for evaluation and management of NF1-associated pNF.The progresses of imaging for evaluating NF1-related pNF were reviewed in this article.

As the most common phenotype of type 1 neurofibromatosis(NF1),plexiform neurofibromas(pNF)exhibit early asymptomatic presentation but multisite involvement,with a risk of progression.Imaging serves as vital tool for evaluation and management of NF1-associated pNF.The progresses of imaging for evaluating NF1-related pNF were reviewed in this article.

Objective:To identify the serotype and genotype characteristics of the first cluster infection of Brucella in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province. Methods:The information of seven suspected cluster brucellosis cases reported in Lanping County, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture in April 2023 were collected, blood samples were collected, and the strains were isolated and cultured. Serological methods were employed for brucellosis diagnosis, bacterial species identification was performed using BCSP31-PCR and AMOS-PCR. Multilocus locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) was conducted for strain genotyping, followed by phylogenetic analysis comparing the strains with those from other regions of China.Results:All seven cases were diagnosed with brucellosis, they were all villagers from the same village and had daily contact with sheeps. Four suspected Brucella strains were isolated, identified as Brucella melitensis biotype by BCSP31-PCR and AMOS-PCR. The four isolated strains exhibited identical MLVA-16 genotype, with MLVA-8 genotype 42 and MLVA-11 genotype 180, belonging to the Eastern Mediterranean lineage. Compared with the MLVA-16 of the isolated strains from other regions of China, the four isolated strains formed an independent cluster. Conclusion:The first cluster infection of Brucella in Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province is caused by Brucella melitensis biotype, and the four isolated strains have showed unique MLVA genotype.

Objective To predict the potential suitability distribution of Vitex negundo in China;To analyze the key environmental factors influencing its suitability distribution.Methods Based on the geographic distribution data of Vitex negundo from 196 sites across China and 55 environmental variables,the Maximum Entropy(MaxEnt)model and ArcGIS 10.2 were employed to predict the potential distribution of suitable habitats for Vitex negundo in China.Results The constructed MaxEnt prediction model demonstrated high reliability.The primary environmental factors influencing the suitable distribution of Vitex negundo included the average temperature from June to October,precipitation in April and November,the mean temperature of the warmest season,soil type,and vegetation type.The predicted suitable habitats for Vitex negundo would be widely distributed,primarily concentrated in Jiangxi,central and southern Anhui,northwestern Zhejiang,eastern and northeastern Hunan,as well as eastern and southeastern Hubei.Conclusion The predicted potential distribution of Vitex negundo in China can provide a valuable reference for the conservation and sustainable utilization of this medicinal resource.

Objective To explore the differences of total bile acid in carotid atherosclerosis(CAS)patients with different traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)constitution.Methods CAS patients who were treated in Tai'an Municipal Hospital from December 2022 to May 2023 were selected,clinical data of patients were collected and TCM constitution was identified,and differences in serum total bile acid among patients with different TCM constitutions were analyzed.Results A total of 212 CAS patients were included,including 151 patients with biased constitution.The top 3 biased constitution included yang-deficiency constitution(49 cases,23.1％),qi-depression constitution(25 cases,11.8％),blood-stasis constitution(19 cases,9.0％).The body mass index of patients with yin-deficiency constitution was significantly lower than that of other patients(P＜0.05).The total bile acid level of patients with yang-deficiency constitution was significantly higher than that of patients with normal constitution,qi-depression constitution,blood-stasis constitution,phlegm-dampness constitution,humid heat constitution(P＜0.05).Conclusion There are differences of total bile acid in CAS patients with different TCM constitution,and yang-deficiency constitution is closely related to total bile acid metabolism.

The anterior disc displacement (ADD) leads to temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) and mandibular growth retardation in adolescents. To investigate the potential functional role of fibrocartilage stem cells (FCSCs) during the process, a surgical ADD-TMJOA mouse model was established. From 1 week after model generation, ADD mice exhibited aggravated mandibular growth retardation with osteoarthritis (OA)-like joint cartilage degeneration, manifesting with impaired chondrogenic differentiation and loss of subchondral bone homeostasis. Lineage tracing using Gli1-CreER⁺; Tm^fl/-mice and Sox9-CreER⁺;Tm^fl/-mice showed that ADD interfered with the chondrogenic capacity of Gli1⁺ FCSCs as well as osteogenic differentiation of Sox9⁺ lineage, mainly in the middle zone of TMJ cartilage. Then, a surgically induced disc reposition (DR) mouse model was generated. The inhibited FCSCs capacity was significantly alleviated by DR treatment in ADD mice. And both the ADD mice and adolescent ADD patients had significantly relieved OA phenotype and improved condylar growth after DR treatment. In conclusion, ADD-TMJOA leads to impaired chondrogenic progenitor capacity and osteogenesis differentiation of FCSCs lineage, resulting in cartilage degeneration and loss of subchondral bone homeostasis, finally causing TMJ growth retardation. DR at an early stage could significantly alleviate cartilage degeneration and restore TMJ cartilage growth potential.
Animals ; Mice ; Osteogenesis ; Zinc Finger Protein GLI1 ; Fibrocartilage ; Temporomandibular Joint ; Disease Models, Animal ; Osteoarthritis ; Stem Cells ; Growth Disorders