Serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 6 (SRSF6) is a member of the serine and arginine-rich (SR) protein family,and it plays a crucial regulatory role in RNA splicing.Dysregulation of SRSF6 ex-pression or function can lead to aberrant alternative splicing of certain genes,and contribute to the devel-opment and progression of inflammatory diseases,including tumors,diabetes,and pleural fibrosis.How-ever,the role of SRSF6 in inflammation remains unclear.In this study,we found that the expression of inflammatory factors,including tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2),was induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) .Concurrently,both the levels of SRSF6 mRNA and protein ex-pression significantly increased with prolonged LPS stimulation (P<0.05) .Furthermore,we investigated the change of SRSF6 expression on the expression of inflammatory factors.The results showed that upreg-ulation of SRSF6 enhanced the expression of LPS-induced inflammatory factors (P<0.05),while down-regulation of SRSF6 inhibited their expression (P<0.05) .Additionally,the activation of the nuclear fac-tor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways was suppressed by SRSF6 knockdown (P<0.05),indicating that SRSF6 is involved in regulating inflammatory responses in macrophages.Myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) is a key adaptor protein in the TLR4 signaling pathway,with its splicing isoforms MyD88-L and MyD88-S exerting pro-inflammatory and anti-inflamma-tory effects,respectively.Analysis of RNA-binding protein database and RNA immunoprecipitation showed that SRSF6 binds to MyD88 mRNA.Splicing analysis indicated that downregulation of SRSF6 promoted the expression of the anti-inflammatory MyD88-S mRNA isoform (P<0.01) .Moreover,knock-down of MyD88-S could rescue the expression of inflammatory factors suppressed by SRSF6 downregula-tion.These findings suggest that SRSF6 regulates MyD88 alternative splicing in macrophages,thereby af-fecting the activation of inflammatory signaling pathways and the expression of inflammatory factors.This study provides a foundation for further elucidating the role of SRSF6 in inflammatory diseases.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of gut flora related to dampness syndrome in the population at risk of cerebrovascular disease and to explore their influencing factors.Methods Based on the results of epidemiological investigation of damp syndrome in at-risk population of cerebrovascular disease in Guangdong from October 2021 to February 2023,60 subjects(including 41 at-risk cases of cerebrovascular disease and 19 healthy controls)were included in the study.The identification of dampness syndrome and the risk rating of stroke were carried out for the subjects,and fecal samples were collected.High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing technology and bioinformatics methods were used to analyze the characteristics of gut flora.Results(1)A total of 53 cases(88.33％)were identified as dampness syndrome.There was significant difference in the quantitative score of dampness syndrome between the risk group and the healthy group,and between the low-,medium-and high-risk groups(P=0.016;P=0.041).(2)There was no statistical difference in the species and abundance of gut flora between the dampness syndrome group and the non-dampness syndrome group.(3)In the population identified as dampness syndrome,there was no significant difference in Alpha diversity between the healthy group and the risk group,but there was significant difference in Beta diversity analysis;LEfSe analysis found that Fusobacterium and Lactobacillus were enriched in the risk group;correlation analysis showed that the differential bacteria were related to the three risk factors of diabetes,dyslipidemia and obesity and carotid intima-media thickness(IMT).(4)In the population identified as dampness syndrome and having the risk of cerebrovascular disease,there was no significant difference in Alpha diversity among three groups with different levels of risks,while significant difference in Beta diversity was observed;LEfSe analysis showed that Acidaminococcaceae,Phascolarctobacterium and Butyricimonas were enriched in the low-risk group,Veillonellaceae was enriched in the medium-risk group,and Ruminococcus 2 and Alloprevotella were enriched in the high-risk group;correlation analysis showed that the differential bacteria were associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),white blood cell count(WBC),and neutrophil count(NEUT).Conclusion In the Guangdong population predominated by dampness syndrome,the severity of dampness syndrome is related to the risk of stroke,and the specific flora associated with sub-clinical atherosclerosis,inflammatory response and lipid metabolism are presented.

Objective To make an epidemiological investigation on traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)dampness syndrome manifestations in the population at risk of cerebrovascular diseases in Guangdong area.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze the clinical data related to the risk of cerebrovascular diseases in 330 Guangdong permanent residents.The diagnosis of dampness syndrome,quantitative scoring of dampness syndrome and rating of the risk of stroke were performed for the investigation of the distribution pattern of dampness syndrome and its influencing factors.Results(1)A total of 306(92.73%)study subjects were diagnosed as dampness syndrome.The percentage of dampness syndrome in the risk group was 93.82%(258/275),which was slightly higher than that of the healthy group(48/55,87.27%),but the difference was not statistically significant(χ2 = 2.91,P = 0.112).The quantitative score of dampness syndrome in the risk group was higher than that of the healthy group,and the difference was statistically significance(Z =-2.24,P = 0.025).(2)Among the study subjects at risk of cerebrovascular disease,evaluation time(χ2 = 26.11,P = 0.001),stroke risk grading(χ2= 8.85,P = 0.031),and history of stroke or transient ischemic attack(TIA)(χ2 = 9.28,P = 0.015)were the factors influencing the grading of dampness syndrome in the population at risk of cerebrovascular disease.Conclusion Dampness syndrome is the common TCM syndrome in the population of Guangdong area.The manifestations of dampness syndrome are more obvious in the population with risk factors of cerebrovascular disease,especially in the population at high risk of stroke,and in the population with a history of stroke or TIA.The assessment and intervention of dampness syndrome should be taken into account for future project of stroke prevention in Guangdong.

Objective: To investigate the origin of infection and risk factors of a case with SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with overseas countries in the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, Zhejiang Province, so as to provide the evidence for improving the COVID-19 control measures at ports. Methods: Ningbo Center for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) and Beilun CDC conducted case finding and epidemiological surveys immediately after being informed. The general information, history of vaccination and the travel during the latest 14 days were collected from the positive case, and all close contacts were tracked. Saliva samples were collected for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing and whole-genome sequencing, and the sequencing results were aligned with the GISAID's EpiCoV database. The origin of infection and transmission route of the positive case was investigated. Results: A case was identified positive for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid during company M's routine screening in the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port on August 10, 2021, and was confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid by Beilun CDC and Ningbo CDC on August 11. Whole-genome sequencing showed SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 ( Delta ) variant, which shared the highest homology with the virus sequence uploaded by Russia on June, 2021 ( Russia/MOW-RII-MH27356S/2021 ). The case was a bundling worker for overseas container ships, and reported communicated with foreign boatmen and contacted materials without protected interventions on the SINOKOR AKITA Container Ship between August 4 and 5, 2021. This ship anchored at Vladivostok, Russia from July 27 to 29, anchored at Ningbo Harbor on August 4, and departed on August 5. Then, 11 boatmen from this ship were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid on August 8. One asymptomatic case was reported in this epidemic; 254 close contacts and 617 secondary close contacts were identified, and all were tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid. No new cases with SARS-CoV-2 infections were detected until August 25, 2021, and the emergency response was therefore terminated. Conclusions The infection was a sporadic COVID-19 epidemic associated with overseas countries, which was caused by Delta variant infection through contacts with foreign boatmen or materials by a bundling worker in Ningbo-Zhoushan Port; fortunately, no epidemic spread occurred. Intensified closed-loop management and increased frequency of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test among high-risk populations, and improving the precision and rapid emergency treatment of COVID-19 epidemics are required for the containment of COVID-19 at ports.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical treatment outcomes and the changes of the outcomes over time in extremely preterm twins in Guangdong Province, China. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for 269 pairs of extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks who were admitted to the department of neonatology in 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 2008 to December 2017. According to the admission time, they were divided into two groups: 2008-2012 and 2013-2017. Besides, each pair of twins was divided into the heavier infant and the lighter infant subgroups according to birth weight. The perinatal data of mothers and hospitalization data of neonates were collected. The survival rate of twins and the incidence rate of complications were compared between the 2008-2012 and 2013-2017 groups. RESULTS: Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of severe asphyxia and smaller head circumference at birth (P<0.05). The mortality rates of both of the twins, the heavier infant of the twins, and the lighter infant of the twins were lower in the 2013-2017 group compared with the 2008-2012 group (P<0.05). Compared with the 2008-2012 group, the 2013-2017 group (both the heavier infant and lighter infant subgroups) had lower incidence rates of pulmonary hemorrhage, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (P-IVH), and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and a higher incidence rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a significant increase in the survival rate over time in extremely preterm twins with a gestational age of <28 weeks in the 26 grade A tertiary hospitals in Guangdong Province. The incidences of severe asphyxia, pulmonary hemorrhage, PDA, P-IVH, and NRDS decrease in both the heavier and lighter infants of the twins, but the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases. With the improvement of diagnosis and treatment, the multidisciplinary collaboration between different fields of fetal medicine including prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, and neonatology is needed in the future to jointly develop management strategies for twin pregnancy.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/epidemiology* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Extremely Premature ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Animals ; Schistosoma japonicum ; Colitis, Ulcerative

Objective: The scientific community knows little about the long-term influence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on olfactory dysfunction (OD). With the COVID-19 pandemic ongoing worldwide, the risk of imported cases remains high. In China, it is necessary to understand OD in imported cases. Methods: A prospective follow-up design was adopted. A total of 11 self-reported patients with COVID-19 and OD from Xi'an No. 8 Hospital were followed between August 19, 2021, and December 12, 2021. Demographics, clinical characteristics, laboratory and radiological findings, and treatment outcomes were analyzed at admission. We surveyed the patients via telephone for recurrence and sequelae at the 1-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. Results: Eleven patients with OD were enrolled; of these, 54.5% (6/11) had hyposmia and 45.5% (5/11) had anosmia. 63.6% (7/11) reported OD before or on the day of admission as their initial symptom; of these, 42.9% (3/7) described OD as the only symptom. All patients in the study received combined treatment with traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, and 72.7% (8/11) had partially or fully recovered at discharge. In terms of OD recovery at the 12-month follow-up, 45.5% (5/11) reported at least one sequela, 81.8% (9/11) had recovered completely, 18.2% (2/11) had recovered partially, and there were no recurrent cases. Conclusions Our data revealed that OD frequently presented as the initial or even the only symptom among imported cases. Most OD improvements occurred in the first 2 weeks after onset, and patients with COVID-19 and OD had favorable treatment outcomes during long-term follow-up. A better understanding of the pathogenesis and appropriate treatment of OD is needed to guide clinicians in the care of these patients.
COVID-19/complications* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Olfaction Disorders/etiology* ; Pandemics ; Prospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2

Objective:To study the reliability and validity of extended Barthel Index (EBI) in the assessment of activities of daily living (ADL) for stroke patients. Methods:From January, 2018 to October 2019, 136 stroke inpatients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were conveniently sampled. They were assessed with EBI by rater A twice within 48 hours after admission, with interval above twelve hours; and by rater B within 24 hours. They were also assessed with modified Barthel Index (MBI) and Function Independence Measure (FIM) within 48 hours after admission by rater C. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of retest and inter-rater of EBI were calculated, as well as the Cronbach's α coefficient, Spearman correlation coefficient between scores of items and total, and Spearman correlation coefficient of EBI to MBI or FIM. The construct validity of EBI was tested with factor analysis. Results:The retest ICC of items was 0.766 to 0.953; the retest ICC of motor and cognitive items was 0.938 and 0.845, respectively; the retest ICC of total was 0.891. The inter-rater ICC of items was 0.728 to 0.976, the inter-rater ICC of motor and cognitive items was 0.948 and 0.717, respectively; the inter-rater ICC of total was 0.866. The Cronbach's α coefficient of EBI was 0.885. The correlation coefficients were above 0.4 in all the items (P < 0.001) to the total, except the item of vision (r = 0.215, P < 0.05). The correlation of items of EBI to MBI was significant (r = 0.648 to 0.958, P < 0.01), as well as those of EBI to FIM (r = 0.722 to 0.976, P < 0.01). Four components were extracted with principal component analysis, accumulated to 72.19% of the variable; after the vision item was removed, three principal components were extracted, accumulated to 69.09% of the variable. The component 1 was mainly about sphincter control and some advanced brain functions (communication and social cognition), component 2 mainly about ADL related to lower extremities, and component 3 mainly about ADL related to upper extremities. Conclusion:EBI is reliable and valid in the assessment of ADL for stroke patients.

Objective To investigate the effect of sleeve gastrotomy (SG) and gastric plication (GP) on the short-term metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) Zucker fatty rats.Methods Thirty healthy male rats were randomly allocated into three groups:Sham,SG and GP groups,and devices like metabolic cage were applied to detect the metabolic changes in the third week after operation.Results The body weight of the SG and GP group decreased,but no statistical significance was found when compared with that of the Sham group.Less food consumption were found in SG (P＜0.05) and GP (P＜0.05) groups compared with that of the Sham group.In the daytime,the energy expenditure of SG group was higher than that of the sham group(P＜0.01),while in the night,the energy expenditure of both the SG (P＜0.001) and GP (P＜0.001) groups were higher than that of the Sham group.In the night,the activity level of SG (P＜0.05) and GP (P＜0.05) groups were lower than that of the Sham group,and activity level in the night was lower than that in the daytime for SG group(P＜0.05).In the daytime,the respiratory exchange rate (RER) of the SG (P＜0.001) and GP (P＜0.001) group were lower than that of the Sham group,and the night RER of GP group was higher than that in the daytime (P＜0.05).No statistical significance was found in terms of the average speed among the three groups.The average speed of the Sham (P＜0.05) and SG (P＜0.05) group in the night were faster that in the daytime.The fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of SG and GP group were improved compared with that of the Sham group.Conclusion SG and GP procedures can improve the metabolism of diabetic rats in the short term.

BACKGROUND: In the early study, hydroxyapatite coatings containing magnesium (Mg-HA) were successfully prepared on the carbon/carbon composite surface by electromagnetic induction deposition. The effects of different induction deposition time on the morphology of Mg-HA coating were analyzed. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the in vitro properties of Mg-HA coating on the carbon/carbon composites. METHODS: HA (control group) and Mg-HA (experimental group) coating were prepared on the surface of carbon/carbon composites.(1)In vitro solubility:Carbon/carbon composites with different coatings were immersed in low-glucose DMEM medium, and surface morphology, ion concentration, and coating adhesion were tested before and after immersion. (2) Cytocompatibility: Carbon/carbon composites with different coatings were respectively cultured with mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells for 6 days, and cell proliferation was measured by scanning electron microscope. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) One day after soaking, sediments formed on the coating surface in both groups, but there were more sediments in the experimental group than the control group. Six days after soaking, the sediments completely covered the coating surface in the experimental group, while there were still some gaps in the control group; Ca and P were both detected on the coating surface in the two groups, and the Mg content on the coating surface was obviously higher in the experimental group than the control group. (2) Six days after soaking, the concentrations of Ca, P and Mg in the control group continued to fall; in the experimental group, the concentrations of Ca and P were also reduced gradually, but the Mg concentration arose gradually. Moreover, the Mg concentration was significantly higher in the experimental group than the control group (P < 0.05). (3) The bonding strength of the coating in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group before and after 6 days soaking. In summary, the Mg-HA coating has better bonding strength and cell compatibility.