1.Mechanisms of Dihuang Yinzi in Treating Advanced Parkinson's Disease Based on Gut Microbiota-SCFAs-inflammation Axis
Renzhi MA ; Yasi LIN ; Tingyue JIANG ; Hongmei ZHU ; Jiayuan LI ; Yu WANG ; Ge ZHANG ; Wenxin FAN ; Jinli SHI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2026;32(7):11-21
ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Dihuang Yinzi (DY) on motor dysfunction in rats with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) and to investigate the mechanisms by which DY improves advanced PD symptoms through the "gut microbiota-short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-inflammation-neuroprotection pathway". MethodsAn advanced PD rat model was induced by rotenone. Rats were divided into a normal group, model group, positive drug group (levodopa, 50 mg·kg-1), and DY low-, medium-, and high-dose groups (5.2, 10.4, 20.8 g·kg-1). After 7 days of administration, motor function was evaluated using the open-field, pole-climbing, and inclined plate tests. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe pathological changes in the substantia nigra and colon, and immunohistochemistry was performed to detect α-Synuclein (α-Syn) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in the substantia nigra. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure levels of dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), Levodopa, homovanillic acid (HVA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin. Gut microbiota diversity was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing, and gas chromatography (GC) was used to determine the content of SCFAs in colonic contents. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the model group showed significantly decreased movement speed and distance in the open-field test, prolonged pole-climbing time, and reduced retention angle on the inclined plate (P<0.01), accompanied by increased α-Syn expression (P<0.01) and decreased TH expression (P<0.01) in the brain. Compared with the model group, all DY dose groups improved motor dysfunction in advanced PD rats to varying degrees (P<0.05, P<0.01) and alleviated pathological damage in the brain and colon. High-dose DY significantly reduced α-Syn aggregation in the substantia nigra (P<0.01) and increased TH expression (P<0.01). ELISA and Western blot results showed that, compared with the normal group, the model group exhibited decreased levels of DA, 5-HT, DOPAC, Levodopa, and HVA in the striatum (P<0.01), increased levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in the colon and striatum (P<0.01), and significantly reduced expression of ZO-1 (P<0.05) and occludin in the colon (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, all DY dose groups increased the levels of DA, 5-HT, DOPAC, Levodopa, and HVA in the striatum to varying degrees (P<0.05, P<0.01). In the high-dose DY group, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in the colon and striatum were reduced (P<0.01), while the expression of ZO-1 (P<0.05) and occludin in the intestine was increased. The 16S rRNA sequencing results indicated that the relative abundances of Actinobacteriota, Enterobacteriaceae, and Erysipelotrichaceae were increased in the model group, whereas the relative abundances of Bacteroidota, class Clostridia, Lachnospiraceae, and Akkermansia muciniphila were decreased. These changes were effectively reversed after high-dose DY intervention. GC analysis showed that the content of SCFAs in the colonic contents of rats in the model group was decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), while after high-dose DY intervention, the levels of acetate, propionate, isobutyrate, and butyrate were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionDY may exert therapeutic effects in advanced PD by regulating the gut microbiota-SCFAs-inflammation pathway.
2.Association between lifestyle and risk for all-cause mortality in middle-aged and elderly residents in China: a prospective study
Mengjie HU ; Yanqiu ZOU ; Dixin ZHENG ; Zhuoma DIJI ; Xiaoxue LIU ; Yan SU ; Ying WANG ; Xiuze TIAN ; Xia JIANG ; Mengyu FAN ; Jiayuan LI
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(5):761-767
Objective:To investigate the prospective association between lifestyle and the risk for all-cause mortality in middle-aged and elderly residents in China.Methods:The data from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were used. Baseline information about the lifestyle were collected through questionnaire survey and physical measurements, and the mortality data were obtained through surveys conducted at 2-3 year intervals. A total of 5 436 study participants were included. A comprehensive lifestyle including smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep, BMI and physical activity was constructed, and a multivariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the association between lifestyle and the risk for all-cause mortality.Results:During the follow-up of average 8.2 years, 695 deaths were recorded. The comprehensive lifestyle score was linearly associated with the risk for all-cause mortality. Compared with the study participants with comprehensive lifestyle score of 0-1, those with score of 2-5 all had lower risk for all-cause mortality, with HRs of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.62-0.98), 0.56 (95% CI: 0.44-0.72), 0.36 (95% CI:0.27-0.48), and 0.33 (95% CI: 0.21-0.52), respectively. The results of Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis of single lifestyle showed that compared with those with unhealthy lifestyles, the HRs of all-cause mortality for study participants who never smoked, had moderate alcohol consumption, had appropriate night sleep, maintained healthy body weight and kept active physical activity were 0.70 (95% CI: 0.57-0.84), 0.76 (95% CI: 0.64-0.90), 0.79 (95% CI: 0.67-0.94), 0.73 (95% CI: 0.62-0.87), and 0.68 (95% CI: 0.58-0.80), respectively. Conclusions:Keeping healthy lifestyles can significantly reduce the risk for all-cause mortality in middle-aged and elderly residents China. The higher the healthy lifestyle level, the lower the risk for all-cause mortality.
3.Fufang Kangjiaolv Capsules Treat Anxiety in Rat Model of Chronic Restraint Stress via Microbiota-gut-brain Axis
Wenxin FAN ; Tingyue JIANG ; Yu WANG ; Ge ZHANG ; Yifan LU ; Mengmeng LIU ; Jiayuan LI ; Renzhi MA ; Jinli SHI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(4):95-107
ObjectiveTo observe the intervention effect of Fufang Kangjiaolv capsules on anxiety-like behaviors in the rat model of chronic restraint stress (CRS) and explore the mechanism underlying the anti-anxiety effect via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. MethodsRats were assigned into blank, model, positive drug (diazepam, 1 mg·kg-1), and low-, medium-, and high-dose (0.75, 1.5, 3 g·kg-1, respectively) Fufang Kangjiaolv capsules groups. After 14 days of administration, the elevated plus maze test, open field test, light and dark box test, and marble burying test were performed. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was employed to observe the pathological changes in the hippocampus and colon of rats, and Nissl staining was conducted to observe the damage of hippocampal neurons. The gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was employed to determine the mRNA levels of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin in the colon of rats. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the colon, serum, and hippocampus were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of ZO-1, occludin, nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) in the colon tissue and NF-κB p65 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampal tissue. ResultsCompared with the blank group, the model group showed reductions in the time and frequency ratio of rats entering the elevated plus maze, the time and frequency of rats entering the central area of the open field, the time of entering the open box, the times of passing through the light and dark box, and the number of unburied beads (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, Fufang Kangjiaolv capsules ameliorated the anxiety of the model rats to varying degrees, and the high-dose group had the best effect, with increases in the proportions of time and frequency of rats entering the open arm in the elevated plus maze (P<0.05), the number of rats entering the central area in the open field (P<0.05), the time of entering the open box, the times of passing through the light and dark boxes, and the number of unburied beads (P<0.01). Moreover, the high-dose group showed alleviated pathological damage of hippocampal neurons and colon. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the model group had increased relative abundance of Firmicutes, Deferribacterota, Romboutsia, and Phascolarctobacterium, while it had decreased relative abundance of Bavcteroidota and Lactobacillus. The drug administration groups showed increased relative abundance of Bavcteroidota, Bacteroides, norank f norank o Clostridia UCG-014, and Blautia and decreased relative abundance of Firmicutes and Deferribacterota. Compared with the blank group, the model group showed down-regulated protein and mRNA levels of ZO-1 and occludin in the colon (P<0.01), elevated levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-β in the colon, serum, and hippocampus (P<0.01), up-regulated protein level of NF-κB p65 in the colon and hippocampus (P<0.01), and down-regulated protein level of BDNF in the hippocampus (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, high-dose Fufang Kangjiaolv capsules up-regulated the mRNA levels of ZO-1 and occludin in the colon (P<0.01), lowered the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-β in the colon, serum, and hippocampus (P<0.01), up-regulated the protein levels of ZO-1 (P<0.01) and occludin (P<0.05) in the colon, down-regulated the protein level of NF-κB p65 in the colon and hippocampus (P<0.05), and up-regulated the protein level of BDNF in the hippocampus. ConclusionFufang Kangjiaolv capsules can reduce the anxiety-like behaviors in the rat model of CRS by regulating the gut microbiota disturbance, up-regulating the expression of tight junction proteins in the colon, repairing intestinal mucosal mechanical barrier, and down-regulating NF-κB/BDNF signaling pathway, thereby reducing peripheral and central inflammation. This study proves the hypothesis that Fufang Kangjiaolv capsules play an anti-anxiety role via the microbiota-gut-brain axis, providing a new idea for further research.
4.Comparative analysis on elderly-friendly management of drug instructions in China,the United States and Japan
Siyi WANG ; Xiaoyong YU ; Jiayuan JIANG ; Kan TIAN
China Pharmacy 2025;36(9):1030-1034
OBJECTIVE To compare the measures taken by China, the U.S. and Japan to adapt drug instructions to aging, and provide reference for the reform of elderly-friendly drug instructions in China. METHODS The relevant documents published by the official websites of National Medical Products Administration of China, the U.S. FDA, and Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency of Japan, were consulted. Additionally, relevant literature from comprehensive databases such as CNKI, Wanfang data, and Web of Science, as well as search engines, was reviewed to understand the measures taken by the above countries in elderly-friendly management process of drug instructions. The comparative analysis was conducted for elderly-friendly adaptations of drug instructions in China, the U.S. and Japan, and the suggestions were put forward for the reform of elderly-friendly drug instructions in China. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS The measures taken by China, the U. S., and Japan in the process of elderly- friendly management of drug labels had different emphases: China adopted large fonts and simplified drug instructions to alleviate the problem of the elderly being unable to read and understand drug instructions; the U.S. had set up a special section for the elderly in the drug instructions for special populations and issued the principles for writing information on medications for the elderly. The U. S. and Japan had established a classification management system for patient instructions and professional instructions, promoted structured electronic instructions, and built a unified electronic instructions platform. It is recommended that China incorporate elderly-specific medication information into the writing requirements of drug instructions, improve specific measures to encourage the reform of drug instructions suitable for the elderly, improve the accessibility and readability of electronic drug instructions, and build a drug instruction information disclosure platform to better ensure the safety of medication for the elderly.
5.Association between lifestyle and risk for all-cause mortality in middle-aged and elderly residents in China: a prospective study
Mengjie HU ; Yanqiu ZOU ; Dixin ZHENG ; Zhuoma DIJI ; Xiaoxue LIU ; Yan SU ; Ying WANG ; Xiuze TIAN ; Xia JIANG ; Mengyu FAN ; Jiayuan LI
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2025;46(5):761-767
Objective:To investigate the prospective association between lifestyle and the risk for all-cause mortality in middle-aged and elderly residents in China.Methods:The data from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study were used. Baseline information about the lifestyle were collected through questionnaire survey and physical measurements, and the mortality data were obtained through surveys conducted at 2-3 year intervals. A total of 5 436 study participants were included. A comprehensive lifestyle including smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep, BMI and physical activity was constructed, and a multivariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the association between lifestyle and the risk for all-cause mortality.Results:During the follow-up of average 8.2 years, 695 deaths were recorded. The comprehensive lifestyle score was linearly associated with the risk for all-cause mortality. Compared with the study participants with comprehensive lifestyle score of 0-1, those with score of 2-5 all had lower risk for all-cause mortality, with HRs of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.62-0.98), 0.56 (95% CI: 0.44-0.72), 0.36 (95% CI:0.27-0.48), and 0.33 (95% CI: 0.21-0.52), respectively. The results of Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis of single lifestyle showed that compared with those with unhealthy lifestyles, the HRs of all-cause mortality for study participants who never smoked, had moderate alcohol consumption, had appropriate night sleep, maintained healthy body weight and kept active physical activity were 0.70 (95% CI: 0.57-0.84), 0.76 (95% CI: 0.64-0.90), 0.79 (95% CI: 0.67-0.94), 0.73 (95% CI: 0.62-0.87), and 0.68 (95% CI: 0.58-0.80), respectively. Conclusions:Keeping healthy lifestyles can significantly reduce the risk for all-cause mortality in middle-aged and elderly residents China. The higher the healthy lifestyle level, the lower the risk for all-cause mortality.
6.Association of Obesity Phenotypes With Cognitive Impairment and Genetic Stratification Analysis in Older Chinese Adults
Xin CHEN ; Haiyu YAN ; Qingwen ZHAO ; Nan YANG ; Bin XU ; Jiaqiang LIAO ; Xia JIANG ; Jiayuan LI
Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences) 2025;56(4):956-963
Objective To evaluate the association of different obesity phenotypes and their components with the risk of cognitive impairment in older Chinese adults,and to assess the association between obesity and cognitive impairment in different cognition-related genetic backgrounds.Methods A cross-sectional study based on the West China Health and Aging Cohort was conducted.Logistic regression was applied to estimate the association of obesity phenotypes and components with cognitive impairment in older Chinese adults stratified by APOE gene and polygenic risk scores.Results A total of 7 316 participants were enrolled,of whom 1 820 had cognitive impairment.Weight gains were associated with a reduced risk of cognitive impairment(odds ratio[OR]=0.96,95%CI,0.95-0.97).Being overweight with a normal waist-to-hip ratio was a protective factor for cognition(OR=0.74,95%CI,0.61-0.90),whereas the coexistence of elevated waist-to-hip ratio and overweight did not increase the risk of cognitive impairment.Sarcopenia was associated with an elevated risk of cognitive impairment.This association was found in both overweight(OR=2.03,95%CI,1.71-2.41)and non-overweight older adults(OR=1.86,95%CI,1.58-2.20),and was significant across all polygenic risk score strata.Conclusion Increasing body mass may serve as a key protective factor against cognitive decline in older adults.Having sarcopenia and obesity is associated with an elevated risk of cognitive impairment,independent of genetic susceptibility.
7.Research advance in regulative effects of class Ⅰ histone deacetylase on ischemic stroke
Yunqi SU ; Xingwei JIANG ; Jun MA ; Jiayuan GONG ; Fenghua GAO ; Qun YU
Chinese Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology 2024;38(5):392-400
Ischemic stroke,due to its high prevalence and mortality,has become one of the most important public health concerns globally.Nerve cell damage is the main biological event in its patho-logical process and there is still a lack of effective neuroprotective drugs for clinical use.Numerous studies have shown that inhibitions of histone deacetylases(HDACs)can exert neuroprotective effects in ischemic stroke.Due to the multiple types of HDACs and the relatively poor specificity of HDAC inhib-itors,it has been difficult to identify any HDAC that plays a key role in ischemic stroke.ClassⅠHDACs include four members:HDAC1,HDAC2,HDAC3,and HDAC8,and have been more in-depth in isch-emic stroke.The complex mechanisms of classⅠHDAC inhibitors that have been discovered so far involve neural cell function,neuroinflammation and blood-brain barriers.This article is intended to study the regulatory role of classⅠHDACs in ischemic stroke in the hopes of providing reference for the developments of effective drugs targeting HDACs.
8.Distribution and regulation of G-quadruplexes in genes related to glycolysis
Pengyu LIU ; Xingwei JIANG ; Jun MA ; Fenghua GAO ; Zhe WANG ; Suping REN ; Jiayuan GONG ; Qun YU
Chinese Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology 2024;38(7):517-525
OBJECTIVE To investigate the distribution and regulation of G-quadruplex(G4)in enzymes related to glycolysis.METHODS The sequences of the transcription start site(TSS)region upstream of 1500 bp to the 5'-Untranslated region in 200 enzymes and their subtypes in glycolysis were selected for bioinformatics analysis.Related enzymes in glycolysis containing putative G-quadru-plex-forming sequences(PQSs)were identified.Circular Dichroism and Native polyacrylamide gel elec-trophoresis were used to verify the formation of G4.The ExonucleaseⅠhydrolysis assay was used to validate the stability of the formed G4 under 0,0.5,2,8,16,and 32 min.A reporter gene plasmid was constructed by inserting specific fragments of the related enzymes before the luciferase expression sequence.The dual-luciferase reporter assay system validate the expression level of luciferase to assess the impact of G4 on promoter activity.Real-time quantitative PCR was performed to validate the transcriptional regulatory role of G4 by detecting the mRNA levels of luciferase.RESULTS ①Bioin-formatics analysis showed that out of the 200 glycolysis-related enzymes,12 contained PQSs.Based on the analysis of the length and structure of PQSs,aldolase A(ALDOA)and phosphoglycerate mutase 2(PGAM2)proved to be able to form stable G4.② ALDOA and PGAM2 had the maximum positive absorption peak at 260 nm and maximum negative absorption peak at 240 nm.Both of them could form a G4 at the same time.③After digestion with ExonucleaseⅠ,ALDOA and PGAM2 showed no significant hydrolysis and demonstrated the stability of G4 structures.However,both of them could be gradually hydrolyzed after mutations in their PQSs.④ After PQS mutation of ALDOA and PGAM2,the mRNA levels and expression of downstream luciferase of ALDOA were significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01),while PGAM2 was significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).CONCLUSION The gene sequences of glycolysis-related enzymes and their subtypes contain a large number of PQSs.ALDOA and PGAM2 can form stable G4 and perform transcriptional regulatory functions.
9.Accuracy of axis pedicle screw placement in robot-assisted upper cervical surgery
Jiayuan WU ; Da HE ; Yi WEI ; Fangfang DUAN ; Bo LIU ; Qiang YUAN ; Lin HU ; Xieyuan JIANG
Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics 2024;44(17):1125-1132
Objective:To evaluate the precision of robot-assisted axis pedicle screw placement and to evaluate the factors influencing the accuracy of the placement.Methods:The medical records of 27 consecutive patients who underwent posterior internal fixation of the upper cervical spine for atlantoaxial instability with intraoperative robot-assisted axis pedicle screw placement from January 2017 to December 2020 at Beijing Jishuitan Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. T The cohort comprised 10 males and 17 females, aged 41.3±16.6 years (range 12-75 years), with a body mass index (BMI) of 23.0±2.9 kg/m 2 (range 18.9-30.0 kg/m 2). There were 16 cases of traumatic atlantoaxial instability and 11 cases of atlantoaxial instability caused by deformity. The accuracy of robot-assisted axis pedicle screw placement was evaluated by postoperative CT using Gertzbein-Robbins scale. Factors potentially affecting placement accuracy were initially identified via univariate analysis, with significant factors ( P<0.200) subsequently analyzed through multivariate modeling using generalized estimating equations. Results:A total of 49 axis pedicle screws were placed in 27 patients, with 35 (71.4%) in Gertzbein-Robbins scale grade A, 12 (24.5%) in grade B, 2 (4.1%) in e grade C, and 0 in grades D and E. The clinically acceptable rate (Gertzbein-Robbins grades A and B) was 95.9%. No patient experienced vascular or neurologic injury due to screw displacement. The results of univariate analysis showed no statistical significance for patient factors (age, gender, BMI, preoperative cervical curvature, and causes of atlantoaxial instability); no statistical significance for the surgical factors of tracker position, screw position, screw type, and screw placement approach ( P>0.05), and a statistically significant difference for the difference between the effective width of the axis pedicle and the screw diameter ( t=3.484, P<0.001). The results of multifactorial analysis showed that tracker fixation to the Mayfield frame in robot-assisted axis pedicle screw placement over the axis spinous process resulted in more accurate screw placement [ OR=83.231, 95% CI(3.898, 1776.952), P=0.005]; and the greater the difference between the effective width of the axis pedicle and the diameter of the screw, the greater the accuracy of screw placement [ OR=5.330, 95% CI(1.648, 17.243), P=0.005]. Conclusion:Robot-assisted axis pedicle screw placement is both precise and safe. Securing the tracker to the Mayfield clamp rather than the axis spinous process enhances the accuracy of screw placement. A greater discrepancy between the axis pedicle's effective width and the screw diameter decreases the likelihood of cortical violation. Preoperative planning, including the selection of appropriate screw types and adjusting the trajectory in three dimensions to maximize the difference between the pedicle's effective width and the screw diameter, can mitigate the risk of cortical breach and subsequent vascular and neurological injury.
10.Pathological evaluation of multiple intestinal segments and the macro-phage function study in hemorrhage rats
Hanqi WEI ; Jun MA ; Xingwei JIANG ; Yunqi SU ; Fenghua GAO ; Changwen NING ; Huaying AN ; Jiayuan GONG ; Pengyu LIU ; Zhe WANG ; Qun YU
Military Medical Sciences 2024;48(11):815-825
Objective To investigate the pathological damage to and inflammation of different intestinal segments in a rat model of severe hemorrhage,and to explore the effect of polarization of intestinal macrophage on the pathophysiology of intestinal inflammation.Methods Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups:the sham operation group and hemorrhage group.In the hemorrhage group,40%of the total blood volume was lost in 25-30 minutes,while in the sham operation group,only the femoral artery and vein were intubated without bleeding.The rats were killed at 0,3,6,12 and 24 hours.The entire intestine was isolated quickly,and sections of the intestine were cut at the duodenum,jejunum,ileocecal junction,colon and rectum for histopathological evaluation.ELISA was adopted to determine related inflammation factors while multi-color immunohistochemistry was used to calculate macrophage surface markers.The data was statistically analyzed.Results(1)Compared with the sham group,there was no significant difference in colon histology at 3 h and 6 h,but significant difference was detected in rectum scores only at 24 h.The scores of other intestinal segments were significantly different at each time point.The severity of ileocecal and colonic lesions after bleeding increased with time.The duodenum,jejunum and ileocecum were more critically injured at 3 h than the rectum at 6 h.The injury to the duodenum,jejunum,ileum and colon was much more pronounced than to the rectum at 12 h.(2)The expressions of TNF-α and IL-1β in the rectum were increased significantly at 12 h post operation.The expressions of IL-1β,TNF-α in the jejunum increased obviously at 3 h and 6 h,respectively.(3)Three hours after severe bleeding,the level of macrophages in the jejunum and ileocececal area increased significantly,and the percentage of M1 macrophages was higher.After 6 hours,the proportion of M2 macrophages in the jejunum and M1 macrophages decreased significantly.After 3 hours,the percentage of M1 macrophages in the colon decreased,but that of M2 macrophages increased.The proportion of M2 polarized macrophages in the duodenum and rectum increased at 3 h after severe bleeding but decreased at 6 h.Conclusion Pathological damage to intestinal sections after bleeding varies depending on the time,and is correlated with the inflammatory level of macrophages.

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