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.

Cardiac fibrosis is characterized by an elevated amount of extracellular matrix (ECM) within the heart. However, the persistence of cardiac fibrosis ultimately diminishes contractility and precipitates cardiac dysfunction. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging as important regulators of cardiac fibrosis. Here, we elucidate the functional role of a specific circular RNA CELF1 in cardiac fibrosis and delineate a novel feedback loop mechanism. Functionally, circ-CELF1 was involved in enhancing fibrosis-related markers' expression and promoting the proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), thereby exacerbating cardiac fibrosis. Mechanistically, circ-CELF1 reduced the ubiquitination-degradation rate of BRPF3, leading to an elevation of BRPF3 protein levels. Additionally, BRPF3 acted as a modular scaffold for the recruitment of histone acetyltransferase KAT7 to facilitate the induction of H3K14 acetylation within the promoters of the Celf1 gene. Thus, the transcription of Celf1 was dramatically activated, thereby inhibiting the subsequent response of their downstream target gene Smad7 expression to promote cardiac fibrosis. Moreover, Celf1 further promoted Celf1 pre-mRNA transcription and back-splicing, thereby establishing a feedback loop for circ-CELF1 production. Consequently, a novel feedback loop involving CELF1/circ-CELF1/BRPF3/KAT7 was established, suggesting that circ-CELF1 may serve as a potential novel therapeutic target for cardiac fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and diagnosis of imported Plasmodium malariae and P. ovale malaria cases in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Zhejiang Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Henan Province from 2014 to 2021, so as to provide insights into malaria control in these five provinces. Methods All data pertaining to malaria cases reported in five provinces of China were captured from Chinese Disease Control and Prevention Information System from 2014 to 2021, and the epidemiological characteristics of imported P. malariae and P. ovale malaria cases were analysed using a descriptive epidemiological method. The duration from onset of malaria to initial diagnosis, duration from initial diagnosis to definitive diagnosis, institutions of initial and definitive diagnoses, and proportion of correct malaria diagnosis at initial diagnosis were statistically analyzed. Results A total of 1 223 imported P. malariae and P. ovale malaria cases were reported in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Zhejiang Province, Henan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from 2014 to 2021, there were 158 P. malariae malaria cases (12.92%) and 1 065 P. ovale malaria cases (87.08%). Totally 98.53% (1 205/1 223) of the imported malaria cases were from Africa, with Angola (18.99%, 30/158), Nigeria (11.39%,18/158), Cameroon (10.76%, 17/158), Ghana (10.13%, 16/158) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (10.13%,16/158) as predominant countries where P. malariae malaria cases were from, and Ghana (23.19%, 247/1 065), Cameroon (14.74%, 157/1 065), Nigeria (9.39%, 100/1 065) and Angola (6.95%, 74/1 065) as predominant countries where P. ovale malaria cases were from. There were significant differences in the duration from onset of malaria to initial diagnosis (χ² = 27.673, P = 0.000) and duration from initial diagnosis to definitive diagnosis of P. malariae and P. ovale malaria cases (χ² = 29.808, P = 0.000), and the proportions of correct initial diagnosis of P. malariae and P. ovale malaria cases were 38.61% (61/158) and 56.53% (602/1 065). There were 74.69% (118/158) of P. malariae malaria cases with definitive diagnosis in county-, city-, and province-level medical institutions, and 79.25% (844/1 065) of P. ovale malaria cases with definitive diagnosis in county- and city-level medical institutions and county-level centers for disease control and prevention. Conclusions The imported P. malariae and P. ovale malaria cases in Anhui Province, Hubei Province, Zhejiang Province, Henan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from 2014 to 2021 were mainly returned from Africa and the proportion of correct diagnosis of P. malariae and P. ovale malaria was low at initial diagnosis. Persistent improvements in the diagnostic capability of malaria are required in medical institutions.

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.

Objective:To compare the effects of concentrated growth factors (CGF) and lower-level laser therapy (LLLT) on alveolar bone changes at the extraction site in orthodontic patients.Methods:Twenty-one patients who underwent orthodontic treatment at the Department of Stomatology, Tianjin Beichen Hospital, from June 2020 to May 2022 were enrolled and randomly divided into the control group, LLLT group, and CGF group, with 7 patients in each group and 28 extraction sites. The control group received natural healing with tooth extraction (minimally invasive healing with tooth extraction). The LLLT group received diode laser treatment on the 1st, 2nd, and 7th days after minimally invasive tooth extraction (wavelength 808 nm, average output power 0.25 W, energy density 4 J/cm 2, spot area 0.28 cm 2), with each site irradiated for 20 seconds. After minimally invasive tooth extraction in the CGF group, immediately place the CGF membrane in the extraction socket. The changes in alveolar bone height and width before and after tooth extraction and bone density and bone contour after alveolar bone healing were measured. Meanwhile, the concentration changes of growth factors osteopontin (OPN) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in gingival crevicular fluid at tooth extraction were measured and statistically analyzed. Results:Compared with the control group, the height and width of the alveolar bone at the tooth extraction wound in the LLLT group and CGF group decreased significantly (all P < 0.05). Compared with the LLLT group, the height and width of the alveolar bone at the tooth extraction wound in the CGF group decreased, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The bone contour score and bone density grading of the LLLT and CGF groups after tooth extraction wound healing were better than those of the control group (all P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in bone contour score and bone density grading between the LLLT group and the CGF group after tooth extraction wound healing ( P > 0.05). At 1 and 6 months after tooth extraction, there was no statistically significant difference in the concentration of OPN in the gingival crevicular fluid at the extraction site among the control group, LLLT group, and CGF group (all P > 0.05). One month after tooth extraction, compared with the control group, the concentration of TGF-β1 in the gingival crevicular fluid of the tooth extraction wound increased in the LLLT group and the CGF group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Six months after tooth extraction, there was no statistically significant difference in TGF-β1 concentration among the three groups (all P > 0.05). Conclusions:Both LLLT and CGF treatments can effectively reduce the height and width of alveolar bone in tooth extraction wounds, promote the recovery of alveolar bone contour and bone density in tooth extraction wounds and provide clinical data support for how to delay the atrophy of alveolar bone in tooth extraction wounds.

Objective:To investigate the validity of AirwayEx@ software in fiberoptic bronchoscopy teaching of standardized residency training.Methods:A total of 36 residents from Department of Anesthesiology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University were selected as objects and randomized into AirwayEx@ software teaching group (group A, n=18) and control group (group C, n=18). All residents had completed traditional learning course of fiberoptic bronchoscopy before training. Group A adopted AirwayEx@ software teaching method and group C took the traditional video teaching method. The training course lasted for two weeks in both groups, and the learning effects of two groups were compared. SPSS 19.0 was used to conduct t-test and Pearson chi-square test. Results:①After the training, the time required for successful tracheal intubation in group A was significantly reduced by 62.76%, the assessment results increased by 30.03%, and the success rate of one-time tracheal intubation was significantly increased by 61.11%. While, the time required for successful tracheal intubation in group C was significantly reduced by 27.96%, the assessment results increased by 10.51%, and the success rate of one-time tracheal intubation did not change obviously. The learning effect in group A was significantly superior to that in group C ( P<0.05). ②Compared with the group C, the group A teaching mode was significantly more interesting and effective ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Compared with the traditional video teaching, the application of AirwayEx@ software in simulating the operational teaching of fiberoptic bronchoscopy show more interest and has better effect.

Objective:To evaluate the epidemiology of bacterial bloodstream infections in patients submitted to hematologic wards in southern China.Methods:A total of 50 teaching hospitals were involved based on the China Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System. The data of clinical isolates from blood samples were collected from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted by the Kirby-Bauer automated systems, and the results were interpreted using the CLSI criteria.Results:The data of 1,618 strains isolated from hematologic wards in 2019 were analyzed, of which gram-negative bacilli and gram-positive cocci accounted for 71.8% and 28.2%, respectively. Of those, the five major species were most often isolated, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, coagulase-negative staphylococcus, and Streptococcus viridans. The prevalence rates of methicillin-resistant strains in Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococcus were 19.7% and 80.6%, respectively. No gram-positive cocci were resistant to vancomycin, linezolid, and teicoplanin, and none of the enterococci were resistant to linezolid. The resistance rate of S. viridans to penicillin G was 6.9%, and those to ceftriaxone and cefotaxime were more than 25%. The resistance rate of E. coli and K. pneumoniae in Enterobacteriaceae was higher in children than that in adults. The resistance rate of K. pneumoniae to meropenem was 14.1%. The resistant rate of Enterobacter cloacae to carbapenem was more than 25%. P. aeruginosa was more sensitive to more antibiotics than 80%, but the resistance rate to meropenem in children was higher than that in adults (11.8% vs. 6.5%). The proportion of gram-positive cocci in the ICU and respiratory departments was higher than that in the hematology department. The detection rates of carbapenem-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae in the respiratory department were the lowest with 0.3% and 3.7%, respectively, while those of CRPA and CRAB in the hematology department were the lowest with 8.3% and 25.8%, respectively. The detection rate of all carbapenem-resistant organisms in the ICU was the highest among the three departments.Conclusion:The etiology and drug resistance of bacteria from blood samples in the hematology department are different from those in the ICU and respiratory departments. The proportions of K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, E. cloacae, and S. viridans dominating in the department of Hematology were significantly higher than those in the ICU and respiratory departments in Guangdong region.

Objective: To understand the characteristics of HIV/AIDS epidemic in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guangxi) with a purpose to accurately provide scientific basis for prevention and control measures, 2010-2017. Methods: Data were retrieved from case reporting cards of Guangxi during 2010 to 2017 through National HIV/AIDS Comprehensive Response Information Management System. Data was analyzed using epidemiological methods such number of cases, proportion and rate. χ² test was used for statistical analysis. Results: The HIV positive rate was 12.53 per ten thousand (85 182/67 959 000) in Guangxi during 2010 to 2017. The number of newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases and the number of death yearly respectively increased by 22.34%(2 602/11 648) and 32.83% (952/2 900) in 2011 compared with 2010, and both showed a six-year continuous downward trend (the number of newly diagnosed cases respectively 12 229 cases, 10 877 cases, 9 460 cases, 9 190 cases, 8 848 cases, 8 680 cases, and the number of death respectively 3 888 cases, 3 316 cases, 2 914 cases, 2 717 cases, 2 595 cases, 2 600 cases) from 2012 to 2017. But proportion of late discovery remained above 50.00% (50.53%-57.06%) for eight-years continuously. The ratio of male and female was 2.47 ∶ 1 (60 639/24 543). The ratio of males and females aged 50 and over was 2.71∶1 (28 654/10 557). Proportion of the cases in 25-49 years old group and 50 years old group accounting for 47.40%(40 377/85 182) and 46.03% (39 211/85 182) respectively. The occupation was farmers accounting for 68.40% (58 262/85 182), housekeeping, housework and unemployment accounting for 11.21% (9 546/85 182), student accounting for 0.86% (729/85 182). Heterosexual transmission accounted for 90.60% (77 171/85 182, homosexual transmission accounted for 3.13% (2 669/85 182), injection drug use transmission accounted for 4.60%(3 924/85 182) and mother-to-child transmission accounted for 0.73% (619/85 182). Conclusions The number of newly diagnosed cases and the number of death yearly showed a continuous downtrend for six-years from 2012 to 2017. However, proportion of late discovery remained above 50.00% for eight-years. The major route of infection was heterosexual transmission. With the change of HIV/AIDS newly epidemic mode in Guangxi, there are many new challenges for HIV/AIDS prevention and control work. Strategy of targeted intervention modes should be innovated for a new breakthrough.

To compare with the effects of the GM-CSF and IL-2 used as adjuvants in the baculovirus vaccine, we used genetic engineering to construct the recombinant baculovirus rBV-LMI-F and with GM-CSF and IL-2 to immunized chickens. Then, we compared the concentration of the neutralizing antibody and cytokines to determine the immunostimulatory effects of GM-CSF and IL-2. GM-CSF induced higher levels of antibodies and cytokines in chickens at 28 d and 42 d post-vaccination. In conclusion, GM-CSF could elicit higher serum antibody and cytokines responses and improved the effects of Baculovirus vaccine.

Objective To develop a nomogram for the use of predicting renal outcomes of Chinese lupus nephritis (LN) patients.Methods From January 1,2005 to October 1,2015,513 patients with biopsy-proven LN in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University were enrolled into this study.Renal outcomes were defined as end-stage renal disease or doubling of serum creatinine.Demographic characteristics,laboratory data,and pathologic data were recorded and included for analysis.Nomograms were designed using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression to predict the non-outcome renal survival in 5 and 8 year according to the Akaike information criterion (AIC) and continuous reclassification net improvement (cNRI).Predictive accuracy and discriminative ability of the models were determined by concordance index (C-index) and calibration curve.Results During a median follow up of 48 (24,71) months,44 patients (8.58％) reached the endpoint.1-year,5-year and 8-year non-outcome renal survival were 97.57％,92.89％,79.89％ respectively.According to multivariate Cox regression,four nomograms including index for baseline renal function,pathologic severity,and response to treatment were designed.The best model,within which included eGFR was lower than 30 ml · min-1 · (1.73 m2)-1(HR=4.44,95％ CI 2.16-9.13,P ＜ 0.01),percentage of global glomerulosclerosis was higher (HR=12.28,95％CI 3.58-42.13,P ＜ 0.01) and partial remission occurred after 6-month induction treatment (HR=9.16,95％ CI 4.71-17.82,P ＜ 0.01) demonstrated good discrimination to predict 5-year and 8-year non-outcome renal survival [C-index,0.80(95％CI 0.81-0.91),0.76(95％CI 0.68-0.85),respectively].The nomogram based on above model also performed good calibration.Conclusion The nomogram based on patients' baseline eGFR,percentage of global glomerulosclerosis,and treatment reaction after 6-month induction therapy can accurately predict 5-year and 8-year non-outcome renal survival in Chinese lupus nephritis patients.