OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism of the inhibitory effect of total flavonoids from Taraxacum mongolicum on high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice through modulation of intestinal flora. METHODS Twenty-four C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into blank group， model group and T. mongolicum total flavonoid group， with 8 mice in each group. Except for the blank group， the other 2 groups were given a high-fat diet， while T. mongolicum total flavonoid group was given T. mongolicum total flavonoid [400 mg/（kg·d）] intragastrically， once a day， for 8 consecutive weeks. During the experiment， the food intake of each group of mice was recorded. After the last medication， the body mass， fat weight， blood lipid level and pathological changes of liver and epididymal fat in mice were evaluated to observe the effect of T. mongolicum total flavonoid on the treatment of obesity in mice. The changes in abundance and structure of intestinal flora in mice were detected by amplicon sequencing； the effects of T. mongolicum total flavonoids on fat metabolism related genes were analyzed by qPCR. RESULTS Compared with model group， the body weight of mice in T. mongolicum total flavonoids group was decreased significantly （P＜0.05）； the levels of total lipid cholesterol， triglycerides， and LDL cholesterol were all decreased significantly （P＜0.01）， and the level of HDL cholesterol was increased significantly （P＜0.01）； the fat indexes of inguinal white adipose tissue and epididymal white wind_lz@hactcm.edu.cn adipose tissue were significantly reduced （P＜0.05）； significant improvement in hepatocellular steatosis and adipose cytopathy were significantly improved； mRNA expressions of COX7A1 and COX8B were significantly upregulated （P＜0.05）. The results of bacterial colony detection showed that compared with the model group， there was a rising trend in the diversity of the bacterial colony in T. mongolicum total flavonoids group， and the Sobs index characterization and β diversity were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. Relative abundances of Blautia， norank_f_Ruminococcaceae， Bilophila， Alistipes， classified_f_Ruminococcaceae， Parabacteroides， norank_f_Desulfovibrionaceae， Anaerotruncus were significantly up-regulated（P＜0.05）， while those of Faecalibaculum， Erysipelatoclostridium， GCA-900066575， Tuzzerella， Lactobacillus， norank_f_norank_o_RF39， achnospiraceae_FCS020_group were significantly down-regulated （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS T. mongolicum total flavonoids can reduce body mass， fat weight and blood lipid levels， and repair the pathological damage to liver and epididymal fat in obese mice， which is related to improving intestinal flora disorders caused by high-fat diet.

Objective:In order to explore the impact of corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19)on the hospitalization of children with bronchiolitis and to improve clinicians′ understanding of the characteristics of bronchiolitis during the COVID-19 epidemic.Methods:This was a multicenter clinical study, and the data have been collected from 23 children′s medical centers in China.All the clinical data were retrospectively collected from children with bronchiolitis who were hospitalized at each study center from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021.The results included gender, age at hospitalization, length of stay, respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) test results, severity rating, ICU treatment, and the total number of children hospitalized with respiratory tract infection during the same period.The clinical data of children with bronchiolitis in 2019 before COVID-19 epidemic and in 2020、2021 during COVID-19 epidemic were statistically analyzed and compared.Results:According to a summary of data provided by 23 children′s medical centers, there were 4 909 cases of bronchiolitis in 2019, 2 654 cases in 2020, and 3 500 cases in 2021.Compared with 2019, the number of bronchiolitis cases decreased by 45.94% in 2020 and 28.70% in 2021.In 2019, 2020 and 2021, there were no significant differences in gender ratio, age, and duration of hospitalization.Compared with 2019, the ratio of bronchiolitis to the total number of hospitalizations for respiratory tract infection decreased significantly in 2020 and 2021( χ2=12.762, P<0.05; χ2=84.845, P<0.05).The proportion of moderate to severe bronchiolitis cases in both 2020 and 2021 was lower than that in 2019, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=4.054, P<0.05; χ2=8.109, P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of bronchiolitis cases requiring ICU treatment between 2019, 2020, and 2021 ( χ2=1.914, P>0.05).In 2019, a total of 52.60%(2 582/4 909) of children with bronchiolitis underwent RSV pathogen testing, and among them, there were 708 cases with RSV positive, accounting for 28.00%.In 2020, 54.14%(1 437/2 654) of children with bronchiolitis underwent RSV pathogen testing, and there were 403 cases with RSV positive, accounting for 28.04%.In 2021, 66.80%(2 238/3 500) of children with bronchiolitis underwent RSV pathogen testing, and there were 935 cases with RSV positive, accounting for 41.78%.Compared with 2019 and 2020, the RSV positive rate in 2021 showed a significant increase( χ2=99.673, P<0.05; χ2=71.292, P<0.05). Conclusion:During the COVID-19 epidemic, the implementation of epidemic prevention and control measures reduced the hospitalization rate and severity of bronchiolitis, but did not reduce the positive rate of RSV detection.

Objective:To comprehensively evaluate the tricuspid valve, right heart anatomical characteristics and related dynamic parameters in patients with different degrees of functional tricuspid regurgitation (FTR) using four-dimensional auto tricuspid valve quantitative(4D Auto TVQ), four-dimensional auto right ventricle quantitative(4D Auto RVQ), and four-dimensional auto left atrium quantitative(4D Auto LAQ), and to investigate the structural and functional changes of the tricuspid valve and right heart in them.Methods:Sixty-three patients with FTR diagnosed by echocardiography at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from February to July 2022 were prospectively selected as the case group, including 30 patients with mild FTR and 33 patients with moderate or above FTR, and 30 healthy subjects were selected as the control group. Transthoracic echocardiography was used for two-dimensional and three-dimensional image acquisition of the heart. The tricuspid regurgitation volume, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), right ventricular global strain (RVGS) were measured by 2D images, and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) were measured from the tricuspid regurgitation pressure difference. The 3D images were imported into EchoPAC 204 to obtain the tricuspid valve, right heart structure and related dynamic parameters. The annulus area (AA), annulus perimeter(AP), spherical index (SI), annulus area change fraction (AC), coaptation point height (CPH), and tenting volume (TV) were measured by 4D Auto TVQ. The right atrial maximum volume (RAVmax) and right atrial minimum volume (RAVmin) were measured by 4D Auto LAQ. Right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV), right ventricular end-systolic volume (RVESV), right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) were measured by 4D Auto RVQ. After standardizing the dimension parameters with body surface area (BSA), the differences in the above parameters were compared between the three groups, the correlation between regurgitant volume and each parameter was compared by correlation analysis, and the independent factors of increased tricuspid regurgitant volume were investigated by univariate and multivariate linear regression analysis.Results:There were statistically significant differences in PASP, AA/BSA, AP/BSA, AC, TV, RAVmax/BSA, RAVmin/BSA, RVFAC, RVGS, and TAPSE between the three groups (all P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in LVEF, CPH, RVEDV/BSA, and RVESV/BSA in the moderate and above FTR group compared with the control and mild FTR groups (all P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that RAVmin was the most highly correlated with tricuspid regurgitant volume ( r=0.875, P<0.001) and TV and end-systolic annulus area(ESAA) were highly correlated with tricuspid regurgitant volume ( r=0.747, 0.683; both P<0.001) in patients with FTR. Multifactorial linear regression showed that RAVmin, TV and regurgitant volume were independently positively correlated (β=0.721, 0.205; both P<0.05). Conclusions:The four quantification technique can provide valid structural and functional information by quantifying the tricuspid valve as well as the right heart in patients with FTR, and RAVmin and TV are independent correlates of increased tricuspid regurgitant volume.

Objective:To analyze the input and output status of health resources in primary medical and health institutions and their allocation efficiency in different regions of China, and to provide an empirical basis for optimizing the allocation of primary medical and health resources in China among regions.Methods:The input index data (number of beds and number of health personnel) and output index data (number of primary medical and health institutions visits, number of family health services, number of hospital admissions) of primary medical and health institutions in China in 2020 were extracted from the China Health Statistical Yearbook 2021. Based on the BCC ( Banker, Charnes, Cooper) model of data envelopment analysis ( DEA), the Bootstrap- DEA method was used to correct bias, the allocation efficiency of primary medical and health resources in 31 provinces was calculated and the regional differences were analyzed. Results:After bias correction, the technical efficiency (TE) of resource allocation in primary medical and health institutions decreased by 0.102. The average TE score of all 31 primary medical and health institutions was 0.669, indicating a serious problem of ineffective use of technology. The TE of the eastern, central and western regions was 0.694, 0.663, and 0.649 respectively. There was obvious polarization in the central regions.Further analysis of the efficiency improvement of non DEA efficient provinces showed that 2 DEA weakly efficient provinces and 16 DEA ineffective provinces had several reference provinces for efficiency configuration improvement; The provinces that have been referenced more than 10 times were Zhejiang, Chongqing, Sichuan, and Ningxia, while the provinces that were listed as the first reference by other provinces were Ningxia, Chongqing, Zhejiang, and Tibet.Conclusions:The resource allocation efficiency of primary medical and health institutions in China is relatively low, and regional differences are obvious. The balance between different inputs and outputs should be considered when allocating the resources. Non DEA effective provinces can use DEA analysis to find the most suitable reference object and make reference improvements in the short term.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between prolonged PR interval and carotid atherosclerosis(CAS)in middle-aged and elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods:A total of 537 middle-aged and elderly inpatients with T2DM in the Southern Branch of the Sixth People′s Hospital of Shanghai Jiaotong University from January 2019 to January 2021 were selected as the research objects. Color Doppler ultrasound was used to detect bilateral carotid artery intima-media thickness(CIMT). The subjects were divided into carotid atherosclerosis group(CAS group, n=352)and non-carotid atherosclerosis group(NCAS group, n=185). The difference in the PR interval of ECG between the two groups was compared. Pearson or Spearman rank correlation analysis was used for evaluating the correlation of PR interval and CAS lesions with various clinical index. The relationship between PR interval and CAS lesions was adopted by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results:The average PR interval of middle-aged and elderly patients with T2DM was(164.57±23.02)ms. The average PR interval in CAS group was significantly higher than that in NCAS group [(169.76±24.28) vs (154.70±16.42)ms, P<0.01]. The results of multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed that age, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, serum osteocalcin, and PR interval were independent factors influencing the development of CAS lesions in middle-aged and elderly patients with T2DM( OR=1.079, 1.936, 0.879, 1.039, respectively, P<0.05 or P<0.01)where each 1 ms increase in PR interval was associated with a 3.9% increase in the risk of CAS in middle-aged and elderly patients with T2DM( OR=1.039, 95% CI 1.006-1.073, P=0.020). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that middle-aged and elderly type 2 diabetic patients with PR interval≥158 ms were 4.072 times more likely to have CAS lesions than those with PR interval<158 ms( OR=4.072, 95% CI 1.417-11.702, P<0.01). Conclusion:The PR interval of electrocardiogram is correlated with CAS lesions in middle-aged and elderly patients with T2DM. Middle-aged and elderly type 2 diabetic patients with significantly prolonged PR interval should be reminded to screen for CAS lesions early.

Objective To explore the relationship between waist-hip ratio （WHR） and the risk of acute ischemic stroke （AIS） in elderly population and its clinical significance.Methods Demographic information，disease diagnosis and blood biochemical data of 8375 residents who were followed up in Huamu Community in 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into AIS group（506 cases）and non AIS group（7869 cases）according to whether residents had newly developed AIS during the follow up period. The data between the two groups were compared to analyze the correlation between WHR and AIS. Multivariate binary Logistic regression was used to analyze the influence of WHR on the risk of AIS.Results In this study，the percentages of residents in the AIS group and non-AIS group were 6.04% （506/8375） and 93.96%（7869/8375） respectively. Mean WHR of residents in the AIS group and non-AIS group was（0.91±0.07）and （0.90±0.07）respectively，and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant（t=2.715，P=0.007）.There were statistical differences in age，BMI，waist circumference，WHR，meat diet，hypertension，diabetes，coronary heart disease，serum creatinine，low density lipoprotein and total cholesterol between 2 groups（P<0.05）.There were no significant differences in gender，systolic blood pressure，diastolic blood pressure，hip circumference，smoking history，drinking history，atrial fibrillation，platelets，hemoglobin，serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase，blood urea nitrogen，fasting blood glucose，high density lipoprotein and triglyceride between the two groups （P>0.05）.The correlation between WHR and AIS risk［OR（95%CI）P］was 5.07（1.31，19.57） 0.018 before，and 4.34 （1.08，17.39）0.038 after adjusting for confounding factors.Conclusions Elevated WHR increases the risk of AIS in elderly population.These findings have certain significance for advocating weight control and prevention of cerebrovascular diseases in elderly population.

Objective:To investigate the genetic association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor genes cluster on chromosome 15q12 with autism in Chinese Han population.Methods:Totally 502 autism trios of Chinese Han ethnicity (including 502 autism individuals and 1004 healthy biological parents) were selected.All children met the autism diagnosis of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,Fourth edition (DSM-Ⅳ).Genotyping for 15 selected tag SNPs in three GABAA receptor genes (GABRB3,GABRA5,and GABRG3) was performed using Agena Bioscience MassARRAY platform.The family-based association test for 15 tag SNPs was performed to compare the transmitted frequency of al leles of heterozygous genotypes from parents to offspring in autism trios.Results:The C allele of rs7180500 in GABRG3 and the A allele of rs4906902 in GABRB3 exhibited the preferential transmission from parents to affected offspring (Z =3.573,P ＜0.001;Z =3.141,P =0.002),and the association was significant after Bonferroni correction.Conclusion:It suggests that GABRG3 and GABRB3 which located in chromosome 15q12 might be susceptibility genes in Chinese Han population.

AIM:To explore the influence of exogenous hydrogen sulfide ( H2 S) on coagulation and fibrinoly-sis in ferric chloride ( FeCl3 )-induced mouse carotid artery thrombosis .METHODS: The mice were divided into sham control group, model group, different concentrations (12.5, 25 and 50μmol/kg) of sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, H2S do-nor) groups and 30 mg/kg clopidogrel ( positive control ) group.Intraperitoneal injection of NaHS at different concentra-tions and oral administration of clopidogrel bisulfate were performed for 3 d prior to FeCl 3-induced carotid artery thrombo-sis.The frozen sections of the carotid artery were collected to perform HE staining , and the thrombus pattern and the chan-ges of vascular pathology were observed .The thrombus was weighed to calculate thrombosis inhibitory rate .Prothrombin time ( PT) , activated partial thromboplastin time ( APTT) , fibrinogen ( FIB) and fibrinogen degradation product ( FDP) in the mice were also measured by a coagulometer .The plasma levels of thromboxane B 2 ( TXB2 ) , 6-keto-prostaglandin F 1α(6-keto-PGF1α) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) were detected by ELISA.RESULTS: Compared with model group, NaHS dose-dependently inhibited the formation of carotid artery thrombus .NaHS treatment reduced the contents of TXB2 and PAI, and recovered 6-keto-PGF1αcontent in thrombosis model group .In NaHS treatment groups , 6-keto-PGF1α/TXB2 and thrombus weight was negatively correlated .NaHS treatment prolonged PT and APTT , reduced the content of FIB, but increased the level of FDP in thrombosis model group .CONCLUSION:Hydrogen sulfide prevents FeCl 3-induced carotid artery thrombosis by inhibiting coagulation and activating fibrinolysis .

Graft vs Host Disease ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Leukemia ; classification ; therapy ; Phenotype

To solve the problem that mostly gait analysis is independent from the treatment, this work proposes a system that integrates the functions of gait training and assessment for foot drop treatment. The system uses a set of sensors to collect gait parameters and designes multi-mode functional electrical stimulators as actuator. Body area network technology is introduced to coordinate the data communication and execution of the sensors and stimulators, synchronize the gait analysis and foot drop treatment. Bluetooth 4.0 is applied to low the power consumption of the system. The system realizes the synchronization of treatment and gait analysis. It is able to acquire and analyze the dynamic parameters of ankle, knee and hip in real-time, and treat patients by guiding functional electrical stimulation delivery to the specific body locations of patients.
Electric Stimulation ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Exercise Therapy ; Gait ; Humans ; Wireless Technology