Objective:To evaluate the morphological and functional changes of the heart during second trimester fetuses with ventricular septal defect (VSD) using fetal heart quantification (fetal HQ) technology.Methods:A prospective study was conducted from July 2022 to January 2024 at Chengdu Women′s and Children′s Central Hospital, collecting 91 singleton fetuses diagnosed with isolated VSD (VSD group) and 91 normal fetuses matched for gestational age (control group). Fetal HQ technology was used to measure the length and width of the four-chamber view of the fetal heart, obtaining the global sphericity index (GSI). Speckle tracking technology was used to track the endocardial motion trajectories of the left and right ventricles during diastole and systole, obtaining parameters such as left and right ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS and RV-GLS), end-diastolic diameter (EDD), 24-segment sphericity index (SI), 24-segment fraction of shortening (FS), left ventricular ejection fraction (LV-EF), fraction of area change (FAC), left ventricular stroke volume (LV-SV), and left ventricular cardiac output (LV-CO).The differences between groups were compared, and the correlations between the values of VSD and GSI, GLS, and FAC were evaluated.Results:The EDD of the left ventricular segments 20-23 in the VSD group was lower, while the SI value of the right ventricular segments 1-4 in the VSD group was higher than that in the control group (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in GSI between the two groups ( P>0.05). LV-GLS in the VSD group was lower than that in the control group ( P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in RV-GLS ( P>0.05). Values of LV-FAC, LV-EF, LV-SV, and LV-CO in the VSD group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The FS value of left ventricular segments 1-10 in the VSD group presented lower, but the FS value of right ventricular segments 7-21 higher compared to controls(all P<0.05). LV-GLS and LV-FAC absolute values were negatively correlated with the size of VSD ( r=-0.309, P=0.004; r=-0.264, P=0.015), while GSI, RV-GLS, and RV-FAC showed no significant correlation with the size of VSD (all P>0.05). Conclusions:The overall sphericity index of second trimester VSD fetuses is normal, but there are changes in the shape of the left ventricular apical segments and the right ventricular basal segments, with the left heart chamber tending to be flatter and the right heart chamber more fusiform. The left ventricular systolic function of VSD fetuses is significantly reduced, the local systolic function of right ventricular increases while the global systolic function shows no significant change. The absolute values of LV-GLS and LV-FAC in VSD fetuses are negatively correlated with the size of VSD.

Objective:To analyze the fetal ultrasonographic features of malformation of cortical development (MCD) during the second trimester, and explore and summarize the relevant diagnostic clues, so as to improve the ability of diagnosis and differential diagnosis of fetal MCD.Methods:A total of 313 fetuses with brain abnormalities suspected on ultrasound in Chengdu Women′s and Children′s Central Hospital from April 2018 to August 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The fetuses were examined using MRI. The ultrasonographic characteristics of fetal MCD were summarized, and the fetal ultrasound and MRI imaging data were compared for fetal MCD.Results:Nineteen fetuses were diagnosed with MCD from 313 fetuses(6.07%, 19/313). Seventeen cases of MCD were identified by ultrasonography and subsequently validated by fetal MRI, including 6 cases of schizencephaly, 2 cases of hemimegalencephaly(HMEG), 3 cases of periventricular nodular heterotopia(PVNH), 3 cases of lissencephaly, 2 cases of microcephaly and 1 case of polymicrogyria(PMG). There were 3 cases with two concurrent MCD, 1 case of HMEG, and MRI increased the diagnosis of left parietal PMG; 1 case of lissencephaly, and MRI increased the diagnosis of PVNH. The other case was PMG, and MRI increased the diagnosis of lissencephaly. Two cases of fetal MCD were not indicated by ultrasonography, one of which was diagnosed as tuberous sclerosis and another one as schizencephaly by MRI, both due to ventriculomegaly.Conclusions:Various types of MCD in the second trimester have ultrasonographic characteristics. Abnormal lateral ventricles, intracranial structural changes such as sulci and gyrus can provide reliable ultrasound diagnostic clues for fetal MCD.

Objective:To optimize the different salt preparation processes of salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus and compare the differences among different salt products.Methods:Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) characteristic chromatogram of Psoraleae Fructus was established. By using the comprehensive scoring method, the total content of psoralen and isopsoralen and the peak area of the characteristic chromatogram were used as the evaluation index to optimize the four different processing technologies, including "stir-frying with salt-water", "steaming with salt-water", "spraying with salt-water" and "microwaving with salt-water". Meanwhile, entropy weight TOPSIS method, clustering analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA) and other chemical pattern recognition methods were used to compare the quality difference of different salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus.Results:The optimized "stir-frying with salt-water" process of salt-processed Psoralea Fructus was 170 ℃ for 13 min, "steaming with salt-water" process for 1 h, "spraying with salt-water" process for 110 ℃ for 13 min and "microwaving with salt-water" process for 105 s microwave heating. TOPSIS comprehensive evaluation results of entropy weight showed that the quality of different salt products of Psoraleae Fructus ranked as product of stir-frying with salt-water > product of stir-frying with green salt-water > product of spraying with salt-water > product of microwaving with salt-water > product of steaming with salt-water; HCA results showed that different salt products of Psoraleae Fructus could be polymerized into two categories, between which product of stir-frying with salt-water and product of stir-frying with green salt-water were polymerized into one category; product of spraying with salt-water, product of microwaving with salt-water and product of steaming with salt-water were another category; the results of PCA showed that different salt products of Psoraleae Fructus could be clustered into 4 categories, among which product of stir-frying with salt-water, product of stir-frying with green salt-water and product of spraying with salt-water were clustered into the same category respectively, and product of microwaving with salt-water and product of steaming with salt-water were clustered into the same category.Conclusion:The chemical composition of Psoraleae Fructus processed by different salting methods is different. The results of this study can provide reference for processing optimization of salt-processed Psoraleae Fructus and identification of different salt products.

Objective To investigate the type and consumption of sanitary insecticides used in Putuo District of Shanghai， determine the current resistance of Aedes albopictus to the insecticides， and explore the causes of regional variations in insecticide resistance spectrum. Methods Public and private institutions of pest control operation were investigated on the use of sanitary insecticides. Dipping method and tube method were used to measure the insecticide resistance of Aedes albopictus， including larvae and adults. Results The main insecticides used in residential areas and governmental units was β-cypermethrin， while that in markets and public environment was propoxur. In addition， and the insecticides in dengue control program was λ-cyhalothrin. Aedes albopictus larvae had medium resistance to parathion， and were sensitive to propoxur， with insignificant change within three years. Their resistance to permethrin and deltamethrin was medium and high， respectively. Moreover， resistance to β-cypermethrin increased over years. In contrast， resistance of adult Aedes albopictus differed by area， except consistently being sensitive to fenitrothion. Conclusion Multiple sanitary insecticides have been used in Putuo District. In addition， Aedes albopictus has different resistance to these insecticides by area. It suggests that resistance surveillance should be promoted， which may be crucial for scientific application of insecticides and impede the development of potential resistance.

In February, 2019, a patient with a defect of open dorsal cartilage and bone in the first metatarsal head, including the defects of soft tissue, tendon and joint capsule, was treated in our department. After multiple debridement, the vascularised medial femoral condyle osteochondral chimeric tissue flap was transferred to repair the composite tissue defect in the metatarsal head at the second stage. After 18 months of follow-up, the patient felt no pain in the foot and walking, and there was no sign of lameness and discomfort at donor sites. The postoperative functional recovery was satisfactory.

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of HIV-infected pregnant women and exposed infant in Guangdong province and identify the factors associated with infant HIV infection through mother-to-child transmission. Methods: National Information System for Prevention of mother-to-child HIV Transmission and Early Infant Diagnosis Information Management Platform were used to collect the individual information about HIV-infected pregnant women and exposed infants who were delivered in Guangdong from January 1, 2014 to December 31 in 2017. The differences in pregnant women’s demographic data, history of pregnancy and childbirth, the utilization of mother-to-child transmission prevention services and early infant diagnosis between the infected HIV exposed infants and uninfected HIV exposed infants were compared, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the factors associated with mother-to-child HIV transmission. Results: Among 349 HIV infected pregnant women, the proportions of the pregnant women whose HIV infection status were confirmed before pregnancy, during pregnancy and at or after childbirth were 30.4% (106/349), 49.6% (173/349) and 20.0% (70/349) respectively. The proportions of those with sexual partners whose HIV infection status were unknown and those receiving no antiviral treatment were 39.5% (138/349) and 13.2% (46/349) respectively. Among the HIV exposed infants, the mother-to-child transmission rate was 4.2%(15/353), the HIV exposed infants had the first or second early diagnosis tests within 44 (P₂₅-P₇₅: 42-50) days and 96 (P₂₅-P₇₅: 92-106) days after birth, respectively. Univariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the risk for mother-to-child HIV transmission increased in those whose HIV infection status were confirmed at or after childbirth compared with before pregnancy (OR=5.72, 95%CI: 1.52-21.61) and in the group that antiviral treatment was given to either mothers or infants compared with the group that antiviral treatment was given to both mothers and infants (OR=33.56, 95%CI: 9.04-124.55), while there was lower mother-to-child HIV transmission risk in artificial feeding group compared with breast feeding group (OR=0.07, 95%CI: 0.01-0.76). Conclusion The risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission in Guangdong can be effectively reduced by the measures of early diagnosis, antiviral treatment and artificial feeding as well as the improvement of mother-to-child transmission prevention service.

Sensory processing is strongly modulated by different brain and behavioral states, and this is based on the top-down modulation. In the olfactory system, local neural circuits in the olfactory bulb (OB) are innervated by centrifugal afferents in order to regulate the processing of olfactory information in the OB under different behavioral states. The purpose of the present study was to explore the organization of neural networks in olfactory-related cortices and modulatory nuclei that give rise to direct and indirect innervations to the glomerular layer (GL) of the OB at the whole-brain scale. Injection of different recombinant attenuated neurotropic viruses into the GL showed that it received direct inputs from each layer in the OB, centrifugal inputs from the ipsilateralanterior olfactory nucleus (AON), anterior piriform cortex (Pir), and horizontal limb of diagonal band of Broca (HDB), and various indirect inputs from bilateral cortical neurons in the AON, Pir, amygdala, entorhinal cortex, hippocampus, HDB, dorsal raphe, median raphe and locus coeruleus. These results provide a circuitry basis that will help further understand the mechanism by which olfactory information-processing in the OB is regulated.

Objective To investigate the changes of the levels of sonic hedgehog (SHH) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in serum and its relationship with collateral circulation in patients with symptomatic middle cerebral artery stenosis. Methods From January 2015 to January 2018, a total of 268 patients with acute ischemic stroke confirmed as unilateral middle cerebral artery M1 segment (MCA-M1) severe stenosis or occlusion by digital subtract angiography (DSA) were enrolled. The baseline clinical data were collected. According to the establishment of collateral circulation shown by DSA, they were divided into good collateral circulation group (152 patients) and poor collateral circulation group (116 patients). The levels of SHH and VEGF in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the expression characteristics of SHH and VEGF in serum and the relative factors influencing the establishment of collateral circulation were analyzed. Results The levels of serum SHH and VEGF in good collateral circulation group were significantly higher than those in poor collateral circulation group (P < 0.01). Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between SHH and VEGF (r=0.758, P < 0.01). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the levels of serum SHH ( OR=0.310, 95% CI 0.117-0.819, P=0.018) and VEGF ( OR=0.361, 95% CI 0.147-0.887, P=0.026) were independent protective factors for the establishment of collateral circulation. Diabetes ( OR=3.094, 95% CI 1.321-7.245, P=0.009) was independent risk factor for the establishment of collateral circulation. Conclusions The levels of serum SHH and VEGF are closely related to the formation of collateral circulation and they are independent protective factors. SHH may be involved in the establishment of cerebral collateral circulation by regulating the expression of VEGF and diabetes is not conducive to the formation of collateral circulation.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease caused by the interaction of environment and genetic factors. Epigenetic modification is a bridge between environmental factors and genetic factors. DNA methylation is an important regulatory mode of epigenetic modification, which can regulate gene expression at the pre-transcriptional level. Studies have shown that DNA methylation plays an important role in the occurrence and development process of atherosclerosis. Therefore, atherosclerosis-related DNA demethylation, especially carotid atherosclerosis-related DNA demethylation, can be achieved by natural or synthetic DNA demethylases, thereby achieving the purpose of preventing or treating atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease. This article reviews DNA methylation and its relationship with atherosclerosis and DNA demethylation therapy.