Objective The present study aimed to explore the effect of miR-29b on ox-LDL-stimulated vascular smooth muscle cells and the underlying mechanism.Methods VSMCs were divided into four groups:control+NC group,control+miR-29b group,ox-LDL+NC group and ox-LDL+miR-29b group.The cells were treated with 80 mg/L ox-LDL for 24 h to estab-lish the model.A cell counting Kit-8(CCK-8)assay was performed to evaluate VSMC proliferation.The expression of miR-29b,MCP-1,MCP-3,SM α-actin,SM MHC and KLF4 was detected via quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).The expression of MCP-1 and MCP-3 in the supernatant was detected via ELISA.Protein expression was exam-ined via Western blotting.A luciferase reporter assay was used to identify the relationship between KLF4 and miR-29b.Results We found that miR-29b was downregulated significantly in ox-LDL-stimulated VSMCs.The miR-29b mimics inhibited the pro-liferation and expression of KLF4,MCP-1 and MCP-3 and increased the levels of SM α-actin and SM MHC in the VSMCs trea-ted with ox-LDL.miR-29b could bind to the 3'-untranslated region(3'UTR)of KLF4 mRNA and subsequently inhibit the activi-ty of luciferase.The overexpression of KLF4 abrogated the effects of the miR-29b mimics.Conclusion In summary,miR-29b is able to regulate the proliferation and contractile markers of VSMCs via directly regulating KLF4.

Objective:To establish the "1+3" management module of high-value consumables in Operation Room and verify its application, so as to provide new ideas for cost management of consumables in Operation Room.Methods:The Operating Room team of Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University designed a "1+3" management module in 2022, where "1" referred to the management process of high-value consumables in Operation Room, and "3" referred to the precise management of consumables in Operation Room warehouse, the management of closed-loop use of Operation Room consumables and adverse event management of consumables. Surgeries using high-value consumables in the Thoracic Surgery Department, Gastrointestinal Surgery Department, and Urology Department of the hospital were selected as the research objects. The surgeries using conventional consumables from January to June 2022 were set as the control group, and the surgeries implementing the "1+3" management module from July to December 2022 were set as the observation group. The number of consumables received by the itinerant nurses before the operation and the number of high-value consumables returned after the operation were compared between the two groups. And the number of missed and error charges for high-value consumables in the two groups were counted and compared.Results:The number of consumables received before operation in the control group was higher than that in the observation group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The number of high-value consumables returned in the observation group was less than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01). The proportion of missed charges for consumables in the observation group was lower than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01), but there was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of incorrect charges between the two groups ( P>0.05) . Conclusions:The "1+3" management module for high-value consumables in Operation Room makes the process of receiving, returning, and charging high-value consumables clear, with traceable data, achieving refined management of high-value consumables in Operation Room, reducing the number of high-value consumables returned to the warehouse and reducing the proportion of missed consumables, which is conducive to effective cost control in Operation Room.

Objective:To investigate the impact of small extracellular vesicles(sEVs) derived from perirenal adipose cells on the biological behavior of renal tubular epithelial cells under diabetic conditions and the underlying molecular mechanisms.Methods:Primary perirenal adipose cells were extracted from db/m and db/db mice for in vitro culture. The culture supernatant was collected and sEVs(NDM-sEVs PRAT-Adipo, DM-sEVs PRAT-Adipo) were extracted by ultracentrifugation. The sEVs were incubated with human renal tubular epithelial cell line(HK-2) to observe changes in their proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) levels. The protein composition of sEVs was analyzed using mass spectrometry to explore the molecular mechanisms. Results:CCK8 results showed that the proliferation level of HK-2 cells after DM-sEVs PRAT-Adipo intervention did not change significantly compared with the two control groups(Ctrl group and NDM-sEVs PRAT-Adipo intervention group). Western Blot(WB) results indicated that there were no significant changes in apoptosis levels(Bcl-2, Cleaved-caspase 3, Caspase 3) and autophagy levels(p62, LC3BⅠ, LC3BⅡ) in the DM-sEVs PRAT-Adipo intervention group compared with the two control groups. WB and immunofluorescence results demonstrated that DM-sEVs PRAT-Adipo intervention upregulated the expression levels of mesenchymal cell marker proteins(Vimentin, α-SMA, Snail2) and downregulated the expression level of epithelial cell marker protein ZO-1 in HK-2 cells compared with the two control groups. Mass spectrometry analysis of sEVs revealed that the differential proteins between DM-sEVs PRAT-Adipo and NDM-sEVs PRAT-Adipo were enriched in EMT-related pathways. Among them, the enrichment of thrombospondin(THBS1) in DM-sEVs PRAT-Adipo might be involved in the regulation of EMT in HK-2 cells. Conclusion:Under diabetic conditions, sEVs secreted by PRAT-derived adipocytes promote the upregulation of EMT in renal tubular epithelial cells, a process that may be mediated by the enrichment of THBS1 in sEVs.

ObjectiveTo determine the influence of COVID-19 prevention and control on the epidemic characteristics and dynamics of notifiable infectious diseases in the first quarters， Zhejiang Province， and to explore more effective countermeasures against infectious diseases. MethodsDescriptive epidemiology was conducted to determine the change in notifiable infectious diseases during the prevention and control of COVID-19 in Zhejiang Province by retrieving the data of notifiable infectious diseases from 2017 to 2022 in the Chinese information system for disease control and prevention. Cumulative reported new cases of notifiable infectious diseases in the first quarters of 2017‒2019 were compared with that of 2020‒2022. ResultsA total of 546 753 cases of notifiable infectious diseases were newly reported in the first quarters of 2017‒2019， with an average incidence of 321.92/10⁵. In contrast， a total of 509 908 cases of notifiable infectious diseases were newly reported in the first quarters of 2020‒2022， during which the COVID-19 epidemic occurred， with an average incidence of 270.39/10⁵. The incidence in 2020‒2022 significantly declined by 51.53/10⁵， compared with that in 2017‒2019 （χ²=8 072.06， P<0.001）. In the first quarters of 2020‒2022， the average incidence of zoonotic diseases and vector-borne diseases decreased by more than 50%. In addition， the incidence of respiratory， enteric， blood-borne， and sexually transmitted diseases declined to certain degree. ConclusionThe decline in the newly reported cases of non-COVID-19 notifiable infectious diseases in the first quarters of 2020‒2022 indicates that the countermeasures against COVID-19 epidemic， such as multi-disease co-prevention， multi-sectoral collaboration， societal mobilization and personal hygiene and protection， may also decrease the incidence of multiple infectious diseases. It suggests the countermeasures are effective， which would provide evidence for routine prevention and control of infectious diseases in future.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels and white matter high signal and non-dementia vascular cognitive dysfunction in patients with cerebral small vascular disease (CSVD).Methods:Total 106 patients with CSVD who were admitted to the Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College from April 2019 to December 2020 were enrolled.They were divided into vascular cognitive impairment no dementia group (VCIND group, n=47) and no vascular cognitive impairment group (N-VCI group, n=59)according to mini-mental assessment scale (MMSE), Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) scale and activity of daily living scale (ADL). Serum VEGF levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The baseline data, serum VEGF levels, MoCA score and Fazekas score were compared between the two groups.The correlation between serum VEGF level and white matter high signal and cognitive function was analyzed.SPSS 19.0 software was used for data processing.The statistical methods were t-test, Chi square test, nonparametric test, Logistic regression analysis, Pearson correlation analysis and Spearman correlation analysis. Results:There were significant differences in serum VEGF level((464.18±114.58)pg/mL, (414.17±45.80)pg/mL, F=22.880), MoCA score((13.07±6.48), (20.17±4.06), F=17.920) and Fazekas score (4(3, 5), 3(1, 3), Z=-4.189)between the two groups (all P<0.05). The level of VEGF( β=0.008, OR=1.008, 95% CI=1.001-1.015, P<0.05) was the influencing factor of cognitive function in patients with CSVD .The level of VEGF was negatively correlated with the total score of MoCA, attention and calculation power, and orientation ability ( r=-0.345, -0.373, -0.445, all P<0.05) and it was positively correlated with the total Fazekas score and the Fazekas score of paraventricular and deep white matter ( r=0.392, 0.495, 0.302, all P<0.05). There was a linear trend between the high signal grade of paraventricular and deep white matter and VCIND (both P<0.05). Conclusion:Serum VEGF level is correlated with cognitive function and white matter hyperintensity in patients with CSVD.The increase of VEGF level may be a factor reflecting cognitive dysfunction.In addition, with the increase of white matter hyperintensity level, the risk of VCIND in CSVD is increased.

Background::Although existing mycological tests (bronchoalveolar lavage [BAL] galactomannan [GM], serum GM, serum (1,3)-β-D-glucan [BDG], and fungal culture) are widely used for diagnosing invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in non-hematological patients with respiratory diseases, their clinical utility in this large population is actually unclear. We aimed to resolve this clinical uncertainty by evaluating the diagnostic accuracy and utility of existing tests and explore the efficacy of novel sputum-based Aspergillus assays. Methods::Existing tests were assessed in a prospective and consecutive cohort of patients with respiratory diseases in West China Hospital between 2016 and 2019 while novel sputum assays (especially sputum GM and Aspergillus-specific lateral-flow device [LFD]) in a case-controlled subcohort. IPA was defined according to the modified European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group criteria. Sensitivity and specificity were computed for each test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed. Results::The entire cohort included 3530 admissions (proven/probable IPA = 66, no IPA = 3464) and the subcohort included 127 admissions (proven/probable IPA = 38, no IPA = 89). Sensitivity of BAL GM (≥1.0 optical density index [ODI]: 86% [24/28]) was substantially higher than that of serum GM (≥0.5 ODI: 38% [39/102]) ( χ2 = 19.83, P < 0.001), serum BDG (≥70 pg/mL: 33% [31/95]) ( χ2 = 24.65, P < 0.001), and fungal culture (33% [84/253]) ( χ2 = 29.38, P < 0.001). Specificity varied between BAL GM (≥1.0 ODI: 94% [377/402]), serum GM (≥0.5 ODI: 95% [2130/2248]), BDG (89% [1878/2106]), and culture (98% [4936/5055]). Sputum GM (≥2.0 ODI) had similar sensitivity (84% [32/38]) (Fisher’s exact P = 1.000) to and slightly lower specificity (87% [77/89]) ( χ2 = 5.52, P = 0.019) than BAL GM (≥1.0 ODI). Area under the ROC curve values were comparable between sputum GM (0.883 [0.812-0.953]) and BAL GM (0.901 [0.824-0.977]) ( P = 0.734). Sputum LFD had similar specificity (91% [81/89]) ( χ2 = 0.89, P = 0.345) to and lower sensitivity (63% [24/38]) ( χ2 = 4.14, P = 0.042) than BAL GM (≥1.0 ODI), but significantly higher sensitivity than serum GM (≥0.5 ODI) ( χ2 = 6.95, P = 0.008), BDG ( χ2 = 10.43, P = 0.001), and fungal culture ( χ2 = 12.70, P < 0.001). Conclusions::Serum GM, serum BDG, and fungal culture lack sufficient sensitivity for diagnosing IPA in respiratory patients. Sputum GM and LFD assays hold promise as rapid, sensitive, and non-invasive alternatives to the BAL GM test.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) level and the location and severity of bleeding in patients with cerebral microbleeds(CMBs).Methods:A total of 60 CMBs patients admitted to the Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital of the Xinxiang Medical University from January 2019 to August 2020 were selected as subjects as the CMBs group, and 60 healthy controls without nervous system diseases in outpatient physical examination during the same period were selected as the control group. The clinical data and biochemical indicators of the two groups were collected. Serum MMP-9 levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). According to susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI), CMBs patients were divided into grade 1 group ( n=24), grade 2 group ( n=19) and grade 3 group ( n=17), and according to the micro analytical rating scale (MARS), the CMBs patients were divided into the lobar group ( n=19), the deep or infratentorial group ( n=17) and the mixed group ( n=24).The relationship between serum MMP-9 level and the location and severity of CMBs was analyzed. SPSS 19.0 software was used for data statistical analysis.One-way ANOVA, t-test and rank sum test were used for comparison. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors. Pearson correlation analysis and Spearman correlation analysis were used for correlation analysis. Results:The level of MMP-9 in CMBs group was significantly higher than that in control group (208.13(142.25, 285.88) μg/L, 149.50(93.40, 186.51)μg/L), and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Serum MMP-9 level was a risk factor of CMBs ( β=1.322, OR=3.750, 95% CI=2.038-7.997, P=0.002). The difference of level of MMP-9 in different severity of CMBs was statistically significant (147.55(109.25, 266.47)μg/L, 242.12(147.55, 288.80)μg/L, 270.42(203.43, 364.27)μg/L, P=0.017). Serum MMP-9 level was positively correlated with the number of CMBs ( r=0.371, P=0.003). The difference of MMP-9 level of CMBs in different locations were statistically significant (249.77(158.43, 338.46)μg/L, 188.83(138.52, 243.15)μg/L, 210.65(144.25, 255.78)μg/L, P=0.013). The increased serum MMP-9 level was a risk factor for CMBs( β=0.401, OR=1.122, 95% CI=1.004-1.204, P=0.036). Conclusion:The increased level of serum MMP-9 may be a risk factor of CMBs, especially for CMBs in cerebral lobesand, and the level of MMP-9 is positively correlated with the severity of CMBs.

AIM: To investigate the role and possible mechanism of gastrodin combined with dexamethasone in myocardial cell injury induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation. METHODS: Oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) model was established. The cells were divided into 5 groups: normal control group, OGD group, DEX group, GAS group and DEX+GAS group. The activity of myocardial cells was detected by CCK-8 test in each group. The activity of LDH was detected by colorimetry in each group. The apoptosis of myocardial cells was detected by TUNEL method in each group. The ELISA assay was used to detect the inflammatory factors in culture medium of myocardial cells in each group. Western blot was used to detect the expression of Notch1, Bax, Bcl-2 and Beclin1 in myocardial cells in each group.RESULTS: The results showed that GAS combined with DEX could significantly increase the activity of myocardial cells and decrease the apoptosis, reduce production of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and promote production of IL-10, decrease the release of LDH significantly of myocardial cells induced by OGD. The results of Western blot showed that GAS combined with DEX increased the expression of Notch1, Bcl-2 and autophagy-related gene Beclin1, but decreased the expression of Bax of myocardial cells induced by OGD. CONCLUSION: The combination of GAS and DEX may promote autophagy and increase cell activity, inhibit apoptosis and inflammatory reaction by activating Notch signaling pathway, thereby reducing OGD-induced myocardial cells damage.

Extracellular vesicles are a kind of membrane structures deriving from cells, which exist widely in urine, blood, saliva, milk, cerebrospinal fluid, amniotic fluid and other body fluid.Extracellular vesicles contain nucleic acid, enzymes, proteins and other bioactive molecules, which can convey the biological information to target cells through a variety of modes and participate in the pathophysiological processes of target cells.In recent years, it is considered that extracellular vesicles are associated with the pathogenesis of inflammatory disease of pulmonary such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome, and have potential therapeutic value through a large body of research.

Recently,the relationship between intestinal flora and its metabolites and tumorigenesis,inflammatory bowel diseasesas well as radiation-induced intestinal injury has captivated widespread attention from researchers.Accumulated evidence derived from nuclear accident investigation,animal model experiment and clinical research has proven the role of intestinal flora and its metabolites as the biomarkers to evaluate the radiation dose and severity of radiation-induced intestinal injury.This article reviews the relationship between intestinal flora and its metabolites and radiation-induced intestinal injury,aiming to provide theoretical reference for assessing the risk of radiation-induced intestinal injury.