Objective:To analyze the reinfection rates in people previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Zhengzhou and Yuzhou cities (first infected with Delta/B.1.617.2 variant), and Anyang city (first infected with Omicron/BA.1.1 variant) in January 2022 and the population characteristics, and compare the differences in antibody levels among different populations.Methods:Serum samples were collected from 371 previously infected, 134 reinfected and 19 uninfected people for IgG antibody detection. Among them, serum samples from 45 previously infected, 44 reinfected and 19 uninfected people were tested with different novel coronavirus variants (early original strain, BA.5.2 variant, XBB.1.5 variant) for neutralizing antibody detection.Results:The rate of reinfection was 32.82% (85/259) in Zhengzhou and Yuzhou cities, and 19.92% (49/246) in Anyang city. The IgG antibody level in reinfected people was higher than that in previously infected and uninfected people ( P<0.05). The IgG antibody level in uninfected group was higher in people vaccinated within three months than in those vaccinated six months ago ( P<0.05). The IgG antibody level in the group receiving four doses of vaccine was higher than that in the group receiving three doses of vaccine ( P<0.05). The results of true virus neutralization antibody detection showed that in the Zhengzhou and Yuzhou cases, the level of neutralization antibody against the early original strain was higher than those against the BA.5.2 variant and the XBB.1.5 variant ( P<0.05), and the level of neutralizing antibody against BA.5.2 variant was higher than that against XBB.1.5 variant ( P<0.05). In Anyang city cases, the level of neutralizing antibody against the early original strain was higher than those against BA.5.2 variant and XBB.1.5 variant ( P<0.05); in the reinfected population, the level of neutralizing antibody against the early original strain was higher than that against the XBB.1.5 variant ( P<0.05). In addition, the levels of all neutralizing antibodies in both previously infected and reinfected people were higher than those in uninfected people ( P<0.05). The level of neutralizing antibody in the infected population in Zhengzhou and Yuzhou cities was higher than that in the infected population in Anyang city and in uninfected population ( P<0.05). The levels of antibodies against BA.5.2 and anti-XBB.1.5 variants in infected people in Zhengzhou and Yuzhou cities were higher than those in uninfected people ( P<0.05). The level of neutralizing antibody against BA.5.2 variants in the previously infected population in Anyang city was higher than that in the uninfected population ( P<0.05), and the level of neutralizing antibody against XBB.1.5 variants in the infected population in Anyang city was higher than that in the uninfected population ( P<0.05). Conclusions:After infection with SARS-CoV-2, the neutralizing antibodies produced in the human body have a certain cross-protection effect on other variants, but the antibody level will gradually decrease over time. Protection from a previous early SARS-CoV-2 variants infection against the current main circulating Omicron variants (such as XBB variants) is low, and the immunity conferred by pervious infection or booster vaccination may not be able to provide sufficient protection against new variants.

Objective:To explore the correlations of brain network functional connectivity (FC) alterations with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathological biomarkers in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods:A total of 39 patients with cognitive impairment, admitted to Department of Neurology, Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University from January 2020 to December 2022 were recruited; 23 patients were with AD and 16 with non-AD. Clinical data were compared between the 2 groups. Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data were collected, and FC differences between brain networks and FC differences within brain networks were compared by independent component analysis. Correlations of FC differences between brain networks and FC differences within brain networks with concentrations of β-amyloid protein 1-42 (Aβ 1-42) and Tau protein in CSF were analyzed. Results:Compared with the non-AD group, AD group had significantly lower Aβ 1-42 in CSF ( P<0.05). Compared with those in the non-AD group, FC alterations between the left frontoparietal network (lFPN) and anterior default mode network (aDMN) and between the visual network (VN) and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), as well as FC alterations in lFPN, were significantly increased in AD group ( P<0.05). Compared with those in the non-AD group, FC alterations between lFPN and cerebellar network (CEN), and FC alterations in aDMN, sensorimotor network (SMN) and VN were significantly decreased in AD group ( P<0.05). In AD group, FC in SMN was positively correlated with total Tau and phosphorylated-Tau181 in CSF ( P<0.05); FC between VN and PCC was positively correlated with total Tau in CSF ( P<0.05). CSF Aβ 1-42 was positively correlated with FC alterations in aDMN and VN, but negatively correlated with FC in FPN ( P<0.05). Conclusion:In AD patients, characteristic changes in FC within and between multiple brain networks are noted, which are related to changes of Tau protein and Aβ 1-42 in CSF.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and risk factors for severe disease of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in underage patients, and to construct the severe disease risk model.Methods:A total of 170 HFRS patients (<18 years old) from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University (153 cases) and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiaotong University (17 cases) from January 2009 to December 2021 were included. According to the severity of the disease, the patients were divided into mild and severe groups. Baseline demographic data, symptoms, signs, laboratory examination on admission and prognosis were analyzed between the two groups. Statistical comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test.Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors of patients with severe disease, and the severe disease risk model was built.The receiver operator characteristic curve was used to analyze the value of the risk model in predicting severity of disease. Results:Among the 170 underage patients, 132 (77.6%) were males, aged (14.9±3.1) years, including 124 cases in mild group and 46 cases in severe group. One hundred and sixty-nine cases (99.4%) had fever, 119 cases (70.0%) had headache, 106 cases (62.4%) had lumbago, 158 cases (92.9%) had skin and mucous congestion, and 101 cases (59.4%) had nausea and vomiting. Renal percussive pain was found in 139(81.8%) patients. The incidence of nausea and vomiting and bleeding of skin and mucosa in the severe group were 71.7%(33/46) and 67.4%(31/46), respectively, which were both higher than those in the mild group (54.8%(68/124) and 44.4%(55/124), respectively), and the differences were statistically significant ( χ2=3.97 and 7.12, respectively, both P<0.05). There were significant differences in platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), serum creatinine (SCr), aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, leukocyte count, total bilirubin and albumin levels between the two groups ( Z=-4.14, -4.04, -4.87, -3.90, -4.07, -2.60, -2.78 and t=2.50, respectively, all P<0.05). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that chemosis (odds ratio ( OR)=8.035, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.946 to 21.916), SCr ( OR=1.010, 95% CI 1.006 to 1.015) and APTT ( OR=1.049, 95% CI 1.003 to 1.098) were the independent risk factors for severe HFRS in the underage patients. The risk model was constructed as: Logit(P)=-10.323+ 2.084×chemosis (no=0, grade Ⅰ=1, grade Ⅱ=2, grade Ⅲ=3)+ 0.010×SCr (μmol/L)+ 0.048×APTT (s). The area under the curve to predict severity of disease in underage HFRS patients was 0.868, with an optimal cut-off value of -4.39, with a sensitivity of 73.90% and a specificity of 91.10%. According to the internal verification of the data of the study based on the severe disease risk model, 34 out of 46 patients with severe disease were severe (sensitivity, 73.91%), 113 out of 124 patients with mild disease were mild (specificity, 91.13%). Conclusions:The clinical manifestations of the underage HFRS patients are not typical.The main manifestations are fever, headache and lumbago, nausea and vomiting, and the incidences of skin and mucous congestion and renal percussive pain are high.Chemosis, SCr and APTT are independent risk factors for severe disease in underage patients with HFRS. The severe disease risk model could effectively predict the severity of disease.

Inflammation, abnormal cholesterol metabolism, and macrophage infiltration are involved in the destruction of the extracellular matrix of the nucleus pulposus (NP), culminating in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Whether nimbolide (Nim), a natural extract, can alleviate IDD is unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that Nim promotes cholesterol efflux and inhibits the activation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways by activating sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) during inflammation. Thus, Nim balanced matrix anabolism and catabolism of NPCs. However, the inhibition of SIRT1 significantly attenuated the effects of Nim. We also found that Nim promoted the expression of SIRT1 in RAW 264.7, which enhanced the proportion of M2 macrophages by facilitating cholesterol homeostasis reprogramming and impeded M1-like macrophages polarization by blocking the activation of inflammatory signaling. Based on these results, Nim can improve the microenvironment and facilitate matrix metabolism equilibrium in NPCs. Furthermore, in vivo treatment with Nim delayed IDD progression by boosting SIRT1 expression, modulating macrophage polarization and preserving the extracellular matrix. In conclusion, Nim may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for treating IDD.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect and prognostic significance of lateral lymph node dissection (LPLND) in patients with lateral lymph node (LPLN) metastasis. Methods The clinicopathological data of rectal cancer patients who underwent total mesorectal excision (TME) combined with LPLND and pathologically confirmed as LPLN metastasis after operation were retrospectively analyzed. The clinicopathological characteristics and metastasis rules of patients with LPLN metastasis were discussed, and the survival prognosis after LPLND was analyzed. Results A total of 102 rectal cancer patients with pathologically confirmed LPLN metastasis were included. The common sites of LPLN metastasis were internal iliac vessels lymph nodes (n=68, 66.7%), followed by obturator lymph nodes (n=44, 43.1%), and common iliac vessels or external iliac vessels lymph nodes (n=12, 11.8%). There were 10 patients (9.8%) with bilateral LPLN metastases, and the mean number of LPLN metastases was 2.2±2.4, among which 16 patients (15.7%) had LPLN metastases number≥2. The 3-year OS (66.8% vs. 7.7%, P < 0.001) and DFS (39.1% vs. 10.5%, P=0.012) of patients with LPLN metastases to the external iliac or common iliac lymph node were significantly lower than those with metastases to the internal iliac or obturator lymph node. The multivariate analysis showed that LPLN metastasis to external iliac or common iliac lymph node was an independent risk factor both for OS (HR=3.53; 95%CI: 1.50-8.31; P=0.004) and DFS (HR=2.40; 95%CI: 1.05-5.47; P=0.037). Conclusion LPLN mainly metastasizes to the internal iliac or obturator lymph node areas. The survival of patients with metastasis to the external iliac or common iliac lymph node cannot be improved by LPLND, and thus systemic comprehensive treatment is often the optimal treatment option.

Objective:To analyze the whole genome of Omicron variants causing the first local Omicron outbreak in Henan Province and to investigate the mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome for source tracing.Methods:Respiratory tract samples from COVID-19 cases in the Omicron outbreak in Henan Province from January 7 to 29, 2022 were subjected to whole-genome sequencing and sequence alignment analysis. Whole-genome identity, variations and evolution of the Omicron variants were analyzed.Results:Through high-throughput sequencing, the whole-genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 were obtained from 120 cases, which accounted for 25.64% (120/468) of all COVID-19 cases in Anyang during the same period. Compared with the genome of Wuhan reference strain (NC_045512.2), there were 57-59 nucleotide mutation sites in the 120 whole genome sequences, and one or two nucleotide mutation sites were added to the shared 57 nucleotide sites. All of the 120 strains were VOC/Omicron (BA.1.1) variants and shared high homology. The whole-genome sequence obtained from the first case A contained 57 nucleotide mutation sites, while apart from the 57 identical nucleotide mutation sites, one specific mutation site (C1594T) was found in the whole-genome sequence obtained from the first case B, suggesting that the two cases were in the same transmission chain. After comparing with the database of domestic and imported cases by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Henan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, it was found that the current outbreak was linked with the same transmission chain as the existing local epidemics in other provinces. Moreover, epidemiological investigation showed that on January 2, case A had come into contact with her cousin and his family who returned from an affected area outside the province.Conclusions:Based on the gene sequencing results and epidemiological investigation, the COVID-19 outbreak in Anyang city, Henan Province was a local epidemic and the source of it was a college student who returned to Anyang city from other province on December 28, 2021. These infections were linked to the same transmission chain as the existing local infection in other provinces.

With the dramatically increasing detection rate of ground-glass nodules (GGN), exact understanding and treatment strategy of them has become the hottest issue currently. More and more studies have begun to explore the underlying mechanisms of their indolent characteristics and favorable prognosis from the perspectives of molecular evolution and immune microenvironment. GGN has different dominating gene mutations at different evolutional stages. The pure GGN has a lower tumor mutation burden and genomic instability, while a gradually evolutionary feature of genomic mutation along with the pathological progression can be observed. GGN has less infiltration of immune cells, and they are under the pressure of immune surveillance with weakened immune escape. With the increase of solid components, an inhibitory immune microenvironment is gradually established and immune escape is gradually enhanced, leading to rapid tumor growth. Further exploration of the molecular characteristics of GGN will help to more precisely distinguish these highly heterogeneous lesions, which could be helpful to make personalized treatment plans.

With the dramatically increasing detection rate of ground-glass nodules (GGN), exact understanding and treatment strategy of them has become the hottest issue currently. More and more studies have begun to explore the underlying mechanisms of their indolent characteristics and favorable prognosis from the perspectives of molecular evolution and immune microenvironment. GGN has different dominating gene mutations at different evolutional stages. The pure GGN has a lower tumor mutation burden and genomic instability, while a gradually evolutionary feature of genomic mutation along with the pathological progression can be observed. GGN has less infiltration of immune cells, and they are under the pressure of immune surveillance with weakened immune escape. With the increase of solid components, an inhibitory immune microenvironment is gradually established and immune escape is gradually enhanced, leading to rapid tumor growth. Further exploration of the molecular characteristics of GGN will help to more precisely distinguish these highly heterogeneous lesions, which could be helpful to make personalized treatment plans.

Objective: This study is designed to investigate the effect and mechanism of Pingkui enema in treatment of ulcerative colitis. Methods: Sixty SD rats at SPF level were randomly divided into 6 groups which were normal group, model group, and the low, medium and high dose groups of Chinese medicine Pingkui enema, and sulfasalazine (SASP) enema group. The normal group and model group were given an equal volume of saline enema after modeling. After continuous administration for 10 days, the histopathological effects were evaluated after extraction, and the serum interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-13 (IL-13), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), rat intestinal mucosal bifidobacteria adhesion and adhesin receptor were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) were used to detect the intestinal bifidobacterial content. Results: Compared with the model group, the content of IL-8 (153.50 ± 8.59 pg/ml, 150.84 ± 5.38 pg/ml vs. 167.13 ± 13.66 pg/ml), TNF-α (330.08 ± 10.02 pg/ml, 287.27 ± 13.89 pg/ml vs. 376.50 ± 19.06 pg/ml) in medium, high dose group of Pingkui enema significantly decreased (P<0.05), while the IL-13 (37.04 ± 3.62 pg/ml, 40.64 ± 5.98 pg/ml vs. 31.57 ± 2.95 pg/ml) significantly increased (P<0.05). The bifidobacteria adhesin (124.84 ± 9.74 ng/L, 149.93 ± 9.57 ng/L, 176.74 ± 11.01 ng/L vs. 101.11 ± 17.18 ng/L) and adhesin receptor (78.44 ± 14.03 ng/L, 99.50 ± 3.63 ng/L, 107.36 ± 5.05 ng/L vs. 60.96 ± 13.89 ng/L) in low-, medium-, high dose group of Pingkui enema significantly increased (P<0.05). The content of bifidobacteria (1 331.4 ± 242.2 copies/μl vs. 490.5 ± 106.0 copies/μl) in the middle dose Pingkui enema group significantly increased (P<0.05). Conclusions The Pingkui enema can promote the colonization of intestinal epithelial cells by promoting bifidobacteria, increase bifidobacterium adhesin and adhesin receptors, up-regulate the expression of IL-13, and down-regulate the expression of IL-8, TNF-α.

Objective Toexploretheroleofmodel-basediterativereconstruction (MBIR)algorithminimprovingthequalityof thyroidCTimagesbyreducinghardeningartifactsattheentrancetothethorax.Methods ChestCTscansof20patientswiththyroidnoduleswere retrospectivelyreviewed.AlgorithmsofFBP,ASIR40,MBIRSTNDandMBIRNR40 wereusedtoreconstructatthe0.625mmslicethickness.Region ofinterestwasplacedonthecoronalimageswiththemostobvioushardeningartifacts.ThestandarddeviationsoftheCTvaluesof theleftandrightthyroidarteriesandthesurroundingnormalthyroidtissueweremeasured,furthermore,thevalueofthyroidartifact index(AI)andAI=sqrt(SDa2-SDb2)werecalculated.Tworadiologistsused4-pointmethodtoassessimageartifactssubjectivly.(1 point,severeartifacts,unclearthyroidrimsandnodules,undiagnosed;2points,moderateartifacts,poorlydisplayingthyroid margins andinternaldetails,affectivediagnosis;3points,mildartifacts,showingthyroid marginandinternaldetails,noaffectingthediagnosis;4 points ,no ribbon artifacts ,displaying thyroid edge and internal details very w ell ).ANOVA and paired t-test w ere used to co m pare the CTvaluesofnormalthyroidtissueofleftandrightlobeamongdifferentreconstructedimagesofthyroid.Subjectivescoredifferenceswere testedusingthe W ilcoxon symbolscale.Results ThevalueofCTreductionandAIatFBPandASIR40reconstructionimagesweresignificantly greaterthanthoseatMBIRSTNDandMBIRNR40reconstructionimages. Whiletherewerenodifferenceofleftandrightlobeofthyroid CTreductionand AIvalueatFBPand ASIR40reconstruction imagesnorthoseatMBIRSTNDandMBIRNR40reconstructionimages. SubjectiveevaluationofclavicleartifactswasincreasedatMBIRSTND and MBIRNR40image,andMBIRNR40imagehadoptimalsubjectiveevaluationresults(P<0.05).Conclusion MBIRcansignificantlyreducethe impactoftheclavicularharnesshardeningartifactsandnoiseonthethyroidanditsnodulesduringCTscans,especiallyoptimizingthe low-densitycontrastsettingofMBIRNR40.