Objective To compare the efficacy of modified radiofrequency ablation (RFA) combined with sclerosing agent injection and high stripping and ligation (HSL) combined with sclerosing agent injection in the treatment of great saphenous vein varicosity. Methods A total of 220 patients (252 affected limbs) who underwent surgery for great saphenous vein varicosity at Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from May 2022 to March 2024 were selected. They were divided into RFA group (110 patients and 125 affected limbs treated with modified RFA combined with sclerosing agent injection) and HSL group (110 patients and 127 affected limbs treated with HSL combined with sclerosing agent injection) according to the surgical methods. The treatment effect, surgical time, bleeding during the surgery, time to get out of bed after surgery, and various postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. The pain level, disease severity, and the quality of life were measured using the visual analog scale (VAS), venous clinical severity score (VCSS) and chronic venous insufficiency questionnaire-14 item (CIVIQ-14), respectively. Results There was no statistically significant difference in the total effective rate between the two groups of patients, but the distribution of efficacy levels in the RFA group was better than that in the HSL group (P＝0.044). Compared with the HSL group, the RFA group had shorter surgery time, fewer incisions during surgery, less bleeding during the surgical process, shorter time to get out of bed after surgery（P＜0.01）, and a lower overall complication rate (P＝0.006). The RFA group had lower postoperative VAS, VCSS, and CIVIQ-14 scores than the HSL group 1 month after surgery (P＜0.01). During 6 months of postoperative follow-up, the recurrence rates were similar between the two groups. Conclusions Compared with HSL combined with sclerosing agent injection, the modified RFA combined with sclerosing agent injection for the great saphenous vein varicosity has the advantages of less trauma, faster recovery, fewer complications, better postoperative quality of life, and is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Objective:To investigate the common viral pathogen spectrum of acute respiratory infection (ARI) cases in Changshu city.Methods:Nasopharyngeal swab samples from outpatients and inpatients in five sentinel hospitals in Changshu city from January 2022 to October 2023 were collected. Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the nucleic acids of influenza virus (Flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus (AdV), human rhinovirus (HRV), human parainfluenza virus (HPIV), enterovirus (EV), human coronavirus (HCoV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), and human bocavirus (HBoV).Results:Of the 1 936 ARI cases, 18.1% (350/1 936) were tested positive for viral nucleic acid. Flu had the highest detection rate (7.1%), followed by HBoV (3.7%), AdV (1.9%) and RSV (1.6%). The virus detection rate was significantly different among different age groups and seasons. In March 2023, the total virus detection rate was the highest (47.6%), mainly Flu. Flu showed unimodal prevalence in spring and winter. The prevalence trend of HBoV and HCoV was consistent, and the detection rate of HBoV (5.43%) was higher than that of HCoV (2.45%), both of which peaked in summer. RSV prevalence peaks in autumn (4.5%). The detection rate of children aged 0-5 years was the highest, reaching 33.3%.Conclusions:The main ARI pathogens in Changshu city from 2022 to 2023 were Flu, HBoV, AdV and RSV.

Objective:To investigate genetic characteristics of human rhinovirus (HRV) in adult inpatients with pneumonia in autumn and winter in Bengbu, Anhui province, 2021.Methods:The pharyngeal swabs of inpatients with pneumonia in Bengbu were collected for the detection of 14 common respiratory pathogens by Real-time PCR during September to December 2021. VP4/VP2 coding regions of HRV positive samples were amplified by nested PCR and phylogenetic tree was constructed using MEGA7.0.Results:A total of 146 samples were collected from inpatients with pneumonia; 35.62% (52/146) samples were positive with at least one pathogen. The four viruses with high detection rate were HRV, adenovirus, human coronavirus OC43 and influenza B virus. HRV positive samples accounted for 44.23% (23/52) of the positive samples, among which 9 cases (39.13%, 9/23) co-infected with HRV. Phylogenetic analysis found that HRV infection were dominated by HRV-A and HRV-B groups. The analysis based on clinical syndrome found that the white blood cells count and the proportion neutrophils of patients with HRV co-infection were higher that of HRV single infection. The proportion of patients with hypertension, diabetes, mechanical ventilation and poor prognosis in the HRV co-infection group were higher than that of HRV single infection group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:HRV is the predominant pathogen among the adult inpatients with pneumonia in Bengbu. HRV-A and HRV-B groups are common. Patients accompanied by hypertension, diabetes were easily co-infected with HRV. Patients coinfeted with HRV are more likely to be mechanical ventilation and poor prognosis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of capsaicin on cognitive dysfunction in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion and its possible mechanism. MethodTwelve SD male rats were randomly selected as a sham operation group， and the remaining rats were sutured to replicate the model of middle cerebral artery occlusion （MCAO）. The successfully modeled rats were divided into a model group， a SB203580 ［p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p38 MAPK） inhibitor， 1 mg·kg^-1］ group， capsaicin low- and high-dose （50， 100 mg·kg^-1） groups ， and anisomycin （p38 MAPK agonist， 2 mg·kg^-1） + capsaicin （100 mg·kg^-1） group， with 12 rats in each group. After reperfusion and administration， the rats were scored for neurological deficits. Morris water maze and new object recognition experiments were used to test the learning and cognitive abilities of rats. The hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the pathological changes in the hippocampus of the brain tissue. Immunofluorescence method was used to detect the activation of microglia in the hippocampus. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， and prostaglandin E₂ （PGE₂） inflammatory factors in the brain tissue. Western blot was used to determine the protein expression levels of transient receptor potential vanillin subfamily 1 （TRPV1）， p38 MAPK， p-p38 MAPK， and cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2） in the hippocampal tissue. ResultAs compared with the sham group， the neurological deficit score， escape latency， the number of Iba-1 positive microglia in the hippocampal CA1 area， the IL-1β， TNF-α， and PGE₂ levels in the brain tissue， and the p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK and COX-2 expression in the hippocampus tissue was significantly increased in the model group （P<0.01）. In the model group， the number of crossing the platform position， the novel object discrimination index （DI）， and the TRPV1 expression in the hippocampus tissue was significantly reduced （P<0.01）， the number of hippocampal nerve cells was reduced， and a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated. As compared with the model group， the neurological deficit score， escape latency， the number of Iba-1 positive microglia in the hippocampal CA1 area， the IL-1β， TNF-α， and PGE₂ levels in the hippocampus tissue， and the p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK and COX-2 expression in the hippocampus tissue were significantly reduced in the capsaicin low-dose and high-dose groups （P<0.05，P<0.01）. In the capsaicin low-dose and high-dose groups， the number of crossing the platform position， the DI， and the TRPV1 expression in the hippocampus tissue were significantly increased （P<0.05，P<0.01）， a small amount of inflammatory cells were infiltrated， and the number of nerve cells was significantly increased. The use of anisomycin， an activator of p38 MAPK， increased the expression of COX-2， and significantly weakened the inhibitory effect of capsaicin on the activation of microglia. ConclusionCapsaicin has a protective effect on the cognitive function of rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion， and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the activation of p38 MAPK/COX-2 signaling pathway， thereby inhibiting the excessive activation of microglia.

BACKGROUND: The cardiomyocyte apoptosis is considered as one of major contributions to cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). Numerous studies find that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play pivotal roles in a variety of biological functions. However, the role of circ_0068655 in MI and human induced pluripotent stem-derived cardiomyocytes (HCMs) remains unknown. METHODS: The expression of circ_0068655, miR-498, and PRKC apoptosis WT1 regulator (PAWR) in human MI heart tissues and hypoxia subjected HCMs was evaluated with qRT-PCR and Western blot. The effects of circ_0068655 on hypoxia-induced apoptotic death and cell migration in HCMs were evaluated with qRT-PCR, cell viability, cell death ELISA (POD), and Caspase-3 activity assay, and Trans-well assay, respectively. Furthermore, luciferase assay, qRT-PCR, biotin-labeled miRNA pulldown assay, and Western blot were employed in the functional studies. RESULTS: We found that the expression of circ_0068655 and PAWR was enhanced in MI patients and hypoxia subjected HCMs; by contrast, the expression of miR-498 decreased. Inhibited expression of circ_0068655 in HMCs counteracted hypoxia-induced apoptotic death and impaired cell migration, in sharp contrast to circ_0068655 knockdown. We identified that circ_0068655 sponged an endogenous miR-498 to sequester and inhibit its activity, leading to the increased PAWR expression. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal that the expression of circ_0068655 can promote cardiomyocyte apoptosis through the modulation of miR-498-PAWR axis in vitro, which highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic value of circ_0068655 in patients with MI.

Objective:To investigate the clinical manifestation, genetic characteristics, treatment and prognosis of Crouzon-like syndrome.Methods:Clinical data of one case of Crouzon-like syndrome diagnosed in Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University in May 2019 were collected, including clinical test, treatment plan, follow-up outcomes. The clinical characteristics and the mutation characteristics of IL11RA-related Crouzon-like syndrome were analyzed combined with the literature.Results:The male proband, five years and four months old, was admitted with the main clinical manifestations including headache, vomiting, exophthalmos, ocular hypertelorism, nasal root flat and scaphocephaly. CT showed that the cerebellar tonsil moved down slightly, the occipital magnum was full, the bilateral cranial plates were locally thinner, the bilateral cranial diameters were increased, and the cranial seams were closed. Magnetic resonance imaging showed ChiariⅠmalformation. The mutation c.40_63del and splice site mutation c.811-2A>G of the patient′s IL11RA gene were screened by whole exome sequencing. Sanger sequencing showed that the mutations are compound heterozygous and both are first reported. The mutation c.811-2A>G was derived from the patient′s mother, and the other one is de novo.Conclusions:The main clinical manifestations of Crouzon-like syndrome are craniosynostosis and midface hypoplasia and ocular deformity. The study identified two novel mutations in the Crouzon-like syndrome related IL11RA gene. Genetic sequencing is helpful for accurate diagnosis and timely surgical treatment.

BACKGROUND: The cardiomyocyte apoptosis is considered as one of major contributions to cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). Numerous studies find that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play pivotal roles in a variety of biological functions. However, the role of circ_0068655 in MI and human induced pluripotent stem-derived cardiomyocytes (HCMs) remains unknown. METHODS: The expression of circ_0068655, miR-498, and PRKC apoptosis WT1 regulator (PAWR) in human MI heart tissues and hypoxia subjected HCMs was evaluated with qRT-PCR and Western blot. The effects of circ_0068655 on hypoxia-induced apoptotic death and cell migration in HCMs were evaluated with qRT-PCR, cell viability, cell death ELISA (POD), and Caspase-3 activity assay, and Trans-well assay, respectively. Furthermore, luciferase assay, qRT-PCR, biotin-labeled miRNA pulldown assay, and Western blot were employed in the functional studies. RESULTS: We found that the expression of circ_0068655 and PAWR was enhanced in MI patients and hypoxia subjected HCMs; by contrast, the expression of miR-498 decreased. Inhibited expression of circ_0068655 in HMCs counteracted hypoxia-induced apoptotic death and impaired cell migration, in sharp contrast to circ_0068655 knockdown. We identified that circ_0068655 sponged an endogenous miR-498 to sequester and inhibit its activity, leading to the increased PAWR expression. CONCLUSIONS Our findings reveal that the expression of circ_0068655 can promote cardiomyocyte apoptosis through the modulation of miR-498-PAWR axis in vitro, which highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic value of circ_0068655 in patients with MI.

Drug delivery systems (DDS) are defined as methods by which drugs are delivered to desired tissues, organs, cells and subcellular organs for drug release and absorption through a variety of drug carriers. Its usual purpose to improve the pharmacological activities of therapeutic drugs and to overcome problems such as limited solubility, drug aggregation, low bioavailability, poor biodistribution, lack of selectivity, or to reduce the side effects of therapeutic drugs. During 2015-2018, significant progress in the research on drug delivery systems has been achieved along with advances in related fields, such as pharmaceutical sciences, material sciences and biomedical sciences. This review provides a concise overview of current progress in this research area through its focus on the delivery strategies, construction techniques and specific examples. It is a valuable reference for pharmaceutical scientists who want to learn more about the design of drug delivery systems.

Objective: To retrospectively analyze the distribution of non-fermentative bacteria causing bloodstream infection in hospitalized patients in Sichuan Province and their drug susceptibility to common antibiotics for better understanding their epidemiological characteristics. Methods: From January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017, all of the non-fermentative bacteria isolated from patients with bloodstream infection in nine hospitals in Sichuan Province were collected. Species distribution and drug resistance test results were retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 6 291 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isolated, including 3 674 strains of gram-negative bacteria (58.4%) and 2 617 strains of gram-positive bacteria (41.6%). The gram-positive bacteria were 1 895 strains of Staphylococcus (30.1%), 372 strains of Streptococcus (5.9%), 317 strains of Enterococcus (5.1%) and 33 strains of other gram-positive bacteria (0.5%). The gram-negative bacteria were 3 191 Enterobacteriaceae strains (50.7%), 389 non-fermentative strains (6.2%) and 94 other gram-negative strains (1.5%). The isolated non-fermentative bacteria were mainly Pseudomonas aeruginosa (136 strains, 35.0%), Acinetobacter baumannii (126 strains, 32.0%) and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (33 strains, 8.5%). There were 167 (42.9%), 112 (28.8%) and 82 (21.1%) non-fermentative bacteria isolated in internal medicine departments, ICUs and surgery departments, respectively. The drug resistance rates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to cefepime, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin were 16.5%, 10.7% and 9.9%, respectively. Carbapenems-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CR-PA) accounted for 13.6%. No polymyxin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found. The resistance rates of Acinetobacter baumannii to all antibiotics were over 30% except for minocycline and polymyxin and 75.7% of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CR-AB) were isolated. The drug resistance rates to levofloxacin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and ceftazidime were 0%, 0% and 37.0% in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolates and 10.5%, 4.2% and 19% in Burkholderia cepacia isolates, respectively. Conclusions Non-fermentative bacteria causing 6.2% of bloodstream infection in Sichuan, mainly by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. There were significant differences in the isolation rate of non-fermentative bacteria in different departments and most of the strains were isolated in internal medicine departments. The detection rate of Acinetobacter baumannii with multiple drug resistance was high, while other non-fermentative bacteria had good sensitivity to antibiotics.

Objective To assess the relationship between plaque burden (PB) and area strain (AS) by intravascular ultrasonic elastography (IVUSE).Methods Forty purebred New Zealand rabbits were fed with a high-cholesterol diet.And the abdominal aorta endothelium was balloon-injured after 2 weeks.At the end of the 12th week,2 plaques with moderate echo from each rabbit were chosen for in situ imaging,and 2 consecutive frames near the end-diastole images in situ were used to construct an IVUS elastogram.Cross-sectional external elastic membrane area (EEMare),lumen area (Lumenarea),plaque area (PA),PB,external elastic membrane volume (EEMvolume),lumen volume (Lumenvolume),plaque volume (PV),plaque volume burden (PVB),maximal plaque thickness (Tmax) and minimal plaque thickness (Tmin),eccentric index (EI),remodeling index (RI) and AS were measured and calculated,respectively.According to the PB,the plaques were divided into low PB group (PB≤40 ％) and high PB group (PB＞ 40 ％).The differences of all above parameters between the two groups were compared,and the relationship between the plaque morphological and mechanical parameters were analyzed.Results PA,PV,PB,PVB,Tmin,Tmax,Lumenarea,Lumenvolume and EI were different between the 2 groups (all P＜0.01).On stepwise multiple regression analysis,the regression equation were built,(Y)=-6.921+10.430X1 +12.207X2((Y):AS,X1:EI,X2:PB,R2 =0.272,P＜0.001).After eliminating the effect of EI on the AS,the lower PB group had obviously smaller AS than higher PB group (P =0.010).Conclusion The PB has effect on plaque mechanical stability.The plaques with higher burden are more vulnerable than those with lower burden.