Objective To investigate an automated pretreatment technology for detecting levels of free silica in workplace dust. Methods An fully automated pretreatment workstation for detecting free silica levels in workplace dust was developed by integrating graphite-controlled digestion temperature, online-controlled dilution of digestion solutions, and filtration endpoint recognition based on monitoring technology, combined with multi-channel synchronous measurements. Results The fully automatic pretreatment workstation was used to digest and filter 14 standard samples of free silica produced by three institutions, and then detected by pyrophosphate method. The result range of high-, medium-, and low-level free silica standard samples detection was 66.5%-84.8%, 40.0%-44.5%, and 2.1%-24.8%, respectively. The mean relative standard deviations were 3.9%, 1.4% and 1.5%. Conclusion The fully automated pretreatment workstation produced results that met relevant requirements. It can effectively replace the manual digestion and filtration steps of the pyrophosphate method to measure free silica levels in workplace dust and enable rapid detection of free silica in dust samples.

Objective:To investigate the detection status and genotypes distribution characteristics of norovirus(NoV)in environmental sewage from three monitoring points in Fujian province, and to explore the significance of its application to NoV monitoring.Methods:Sewage samples were collected monthly at 5 sampling sites in representative monitoring cities, enriched and concentrated. Partial gene fragments of norovirus VP1 were amplified by reverse transcription-semi nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-snPCR), TA cloned and sequenced. Genotypes were identified based on the sequencing.Results:A total of 56 sewage samples were collected from July 2022 to June 2023. The detection rates of GⅠ and GⅡ were 89.29% (50/56) and 94.64% (53/56), respectively. A total of 7 NoV GⅠ genotypes and 13 GⅡgenotypes were identified. GⅠ.1, GⅠ.4, GⅡ.4 and GⅡ.17 were the dominant genotypes. NoV genotypes detected in different sampling sites were not exactly the same. The detection rate of NoV was low from August to November 2022, and the prevalence of the dominant genotypes was different in different seasons. GⅠ.1 and GⅡ.4 were highly prevalent from August to November 2022, but were replaced by GⅠ.4 and GⅡ.17 from December 2022 to June 2023, respectively. More NoV genotypes were detected in January-June 2023, comparing to the July-December 2022. The dominant genotype GII.17, has multiple clades and new variants have been discovered that are different from the 2014/2015 circulating strains.Conclusions:The detection rates of NoV in environmental sewage were very high, and genotypes were diverse. Environmental sewage surveillance could be an important complementary method for NoV cases surveillance.

Currently, single-cell multi-omics technologies including single-cell DNA sequencing (scDNA-seq) and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) have been used to reveal the heterogeneity of malignant tumor cells, elucidate their pathogenesis, drug resistance and recurrence mechanisms, which provide new strategies for the diagnosis and prognostic assessment of malignant tumors. This article reviews the application of single-cell sequencing technology in the diagnosis and prognostic assessment of acute leukemia based on the progress reported at the 65th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Shufeng Jiedu capsule （SFJD）-containing serum on human lung epithelial cells infected by influenza A virus， and investigate the protective effect of the drug on the cells and the potential antiviral effect. MethodThe SFJD-containing serum was prepared and used to treat human lung epithelial cells （BEAS-2B） cultured in vitro. The viability of cells treated with different concentrations of SFJD-containing serum was measured by the cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8）， and the optimal concentration of SFJD-containing serum was screened for subsequent experiments. BEAS-2B cells were classified into normal control， virus infection， and SFJD-containing serum groups， and the CCK-8 method was used to detect the survival rate of BEAS-2B cells after virus infection and drug administration. The expression of influenza virus nucleic acid in the cells of each group was determined， and the apoptosis of cells in different groups was observed by fluorescence microscopy. Real-time PCR was employed to determine the mRNA levels of influenza virus nucleoprotein （NP）， Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）， and myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 （MyD88） in each group of cells. The immunofluorescence assay was used to detect the fluorescence intensities of TLR4， MyD88， and phosphorylated nuclear factor-κB （p-NF-κB） in lung epithelial cells. ResultCompared with that in the control group （normal serum）， the cell survival rates in the blank serum and the SFJD-containing serum （5%， 10%， and 20%） groups were 100.00%±0.00%， 89.05%±4.80%， 87.13%±5.90%， 93.83%±6.03%， and 99.33%±3.39%， respectively （P<0.01）. The SFJD-containing serum of 20% was selected as the optimal treatment for subsequent experiments. Compared with the normal control group， the virus infection group showed reduced cell survival rate （P<0.01）， and the reduction was increased by the SFJD-containing serum （P<0.01）. Compared with the virus infection group， SFJD-containing serum reduced the virus load （P<0.01） to decrease apoptosis. Compared with the normal control group， the virus infection group showed up-regulated mRNA levels of NP， TLR4， and MyD88 （P<0.01）， and the up-regulation was down-regulated by the SFJD-containing serum （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The fluorescence intensities of TLR4， MyD88， and p-NF-κB proteins in the cells increased after virus infection compared with those in the normal control （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and they were decreased after administration with the SFJD-containing serum （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe SFJD-containing serum can inhibit influenza virus in vitro by increasing the survival rate， reducing the apoptosis， and down-regulating the protein levels of TLR4， MyD88， and p-NF-κB in BEAS-2B cells.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral anisodine hydrobromide tablets in the treatment of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION).Methods:A multicenter nonrandomized controlled trial was conducted.A total of 282 acute NAION patients (282 eyes) were recruited from 16 hospitals in China from July 2020 to May 2021.Patients were divided into two groups according to treatment methods, which were control group (124 cases, 124 eyes) receiving regular treatment including citicoline sodium plus Ginkgo biloba leaf liquid extract or Ginkgo biloba leaf extract tablets plus mecobalamin, and experimental group (158 cases, 158 eyes) receiving treatment in control group plus oral anisodine hydrobromide tablets 1 mg, twice daily for 2 to 3 months.Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), visual field index (VFI), peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) and radial peripapillary capillary vessel density (RPC) were assessed at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after enrollment using the standard decimal visual acuity chart, 750i Humphery visual field analyzer, Cirrus HD-OCT 4000/Cirrus HD-OCT 5000, RTVue-XR optical coherence tomography respectively.The primary outcomes were BCVA and VFI, and the secondary outcomes were pRNFL, RPC, and the side effects during the follow-up.The study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.All patients were fully informed about the treatment and purpose of this study and voluntarily signed the informed consent form.The study protocol was approved by Chinese PLA General Hospital (No.S2020-021-01). Results:In all, 242 patients (242 eyes) completed the follow-up of BCVA, and 98 patients (98 eyes) completed the VFI follow-up.In terms of visual function, BCVA and VFI improved significantly over time in the two groups, and BCVA and VFI were better in experimental group than in control group at various follow-up time points (all at P<0.05). In terms of structure, pRNFL gradually decreased in both groups with the extension of treatment, and pRNFL was significanthy thinner in experimental group than in control group at various follow-up time points (all at P<0.05). There was no significant difference in RPC between the two groups at the last follow-up ( P>0.05). There were two cases with side effects and one case was discontinued due to side effects 25 days after enrollment. Conclusions:Oral anisodine hydrobromide can improve visual acuity and visual field in NAION and accelerate the regression of optic disc edema, with good safety.

Objective:To observe the multimodal imaging features of retinal diseases associated with COVID-19.Methods:A retrospective case study. Sixteen patients (30 eyes) of retinal diseases associated with COVID-19 admitted to the Ophthalmology Department of the Second People's Hospital of Zhengzhou in December 2022 were included in the study. There were 5 males and 11 females, with the mean age of (26.69±9.88) years; 14 patients were bilateral and 2 patients were unilateral. The time of ocular symptoms after the diagnosis of COVID-19 was (2.63±0.89) days. All patients underwent the examinations of best corrtected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus color photography (FP), infrared fundus photography (IR), optical coherence tomography (OCT). Fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA) was performed in 2 patients (4 eyes). There were 20 eyes with acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN), including 6 eyes with cotton wool spots; 10 eyes with Purtscher-like retinopathy (PLR). The BCVA of the patients was 0.1-1.0. No obvious abnormality was found in anterior segment examination. The features of FP, IR and OCT were analyzed retrospectively.Results:In 20 eyes of AMN, irregular reddish brown lesions in the central or paracentral area of the macula in 14 eyes; FP showed no obvious abnormality in 6 eyes; IR showed irregular map like low reflection in the central or paracentral area of macular in all eyes; OCT showed hyperreflectivity in outer plexiform layer and outer nuclear layer, hyporeflectivity in the ellipsoid zone and photoreceptor layers in all eyes; no abnormal fluorecence was observed in 2 eyes examined by FFA. In 10 eyes with PLR, cotton wool spots and retinal hemorrhage were observed in the posterior pole and/or peripapillary area, and the peripheral retina was generally normal, Purtscher spot was found in 5 eyes and macular edema in 4 eyes; OCT showed strong reflex signal in neuroepithelial layers, edema in neuroepithelial layers in 6 eyes; in the 2 eyes examined by FFA, fluorescein leakage from the retinal vein wall was observed, the posterior pole and peripapillary area retinal arteriole occlusions showed patchy hypofluorescence, the fluorescence was obscured by retinal hemorrhage below at inferior retina.Conclusions:For AMN associated with COVID-19, IR can show the lesion contour, OCT shows lesions in the outer retina. PLR associated with COVID-19 are usually at the posterior pole and/or peripapillary area in FP, OCT shows neurocortical edema.

Water eutrophication poses great threats to protection of water environment. Microbial remediation of water eutrophication has shown high efficiency, low consumption and no secondary pollution, thus becoming an important approach for ecological remediation. In recent years, researches on denitrifying phosphate accumulating organisms and their application in wastewater treatment processes have received increasing attention. Different from the traditional nitrogen and phosphorus removal process conducted by denitrifying bacteria and phosphate accumulating organisms, the denitrifying phosphate accumulating organisms can simultaneously remove nitrogen and phosphorus under alternated anaerobic and anoxic/aerobic conditions. It is worth noting that microorganisms capable of simultaneously removing nitrogen and phosphorus absolutely under aerobic conditions have been reported in recent years, but the mechanisms remain unclear. This review summarizes the species and characteristics of denitrifying phosphate accumulating organisms and the microorganisms capable of performing simultaneous nitrification-denitrification and phosphorous removal. Moreover, this review analyzes the relationship between nitrogen removal and phosphorus removal and the underlying mechanisms, discusses the challenges of denitrifying phosphorus removal, and prospects future research directions, with the aim to facilitate process improvement of denitrifying phosphate accumulating organisms.
Phosphorus ; Phosphates ; Wastewater ; Denitrification ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; Nitrogen ; Bioreactors/microbiology* ; Nitrification ; Sewage

Diabetic nephropathy （DN） is one of the serious and common microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus （DM） and the main cause of end-stage renal disease （ESRD）. Endoplasmic reticulum stress （ERS） is a common stress defense mechanism in eukaryotic cells. In the ERS state， cells activate the unfolded protein response （UPR） to enhance the folding of unfolded proteins and the degradation of misfolded proteins， so as to restore the normal physiological function of the endoplasmic reticulum and avoid cell damage. However， excessive or chronic persistent ERS can induce apoptosis， inflammation， oxidative stress and other pathways to eventually cause cell damage. In recent years， a large number of studies have confirmed that ERS is closely associated with the occurrence and development of DN. In the case of DN， ERS is involved in the damage or protection of podocytes， glomerular mesangial cells， renal tubular epithelial cells， and glomerular endothelial cells. The regulation of ERS has become one of the hotspots in the prevention and treatment of DN and has received extensive attention in the field of traditional Chinese medicine. This paper systematically expounds the role of ERS in the occurrence and development of DN and summarizes the ERS-targeted regulation of DN by traditional Chinese medicine， with a view to providing certain research ideas for the prevention and control of DN with traditional Chinese medicine.

Accurate and efficient methods for identifying and tracking each animal in a group are needed to study complex behaviors and social interactions. Traditional tracking methods (e.g., marking each animal with dye or surgically implanting microchips) can be invasive and may have an impact on the social behavior being measured. To overcome these shortcomings, video-based methods for tracking unmarked animals, such as fruit flies and zebrafish, have been developed. However, tracking individual mice in a group remains a challenging problem because of their flexible body and complicated interaction patterns. In this study, we report the development of a multi-object tracker for mice that uses the Faster region-based convolutional neural network (R-CNN) deep learning algorithm with geometric transformations in combination with multi-camera/multi-image fusion technology. The system successfully tracked every individual in groups of unmarked mice and was applied to investigate chasing behavior. The proposed system constitutes a step forward in the noninvasive tracking of individual mice engaged in social behavior.
Animals ; Mice ; Deep Learning ; Zebrafish ; Algorithms ; Neural Networks, Computer ; Social Behavior

Objective: To observe and explore the therapeutic efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) in the treatment of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). Methods: A total of 139 NAION patients were randomly divided into a control group of 72 and a hyperbaric oxygen group of 67. Both groups were given conventional drugs including prednisolone, mecobalamin and compound anisodine, while the hyperbaric oxygen group was additionally provided with hyperbaric oxygen treatment at a pressure of 0.2MPa once a day for 30 days. Each day′s treatment lasted for 110 minutes, including 20 minutes at increasing pressure, 20 minutes decreasing and 60 minutes with the pressure stable at 0.2MPa. Before and after the 30-day treatment, the visual acuity and visual mean sensitivity (MS) of the two groups were observed and compared. Results: There was no significant difference between the control group and the hyperbaric oxygen group in terms of average visual acuity or visual MS before the treatment. Afterward the average visual acuity (4.88±0.25) and visual MS (16.68±1.19) of the hyperbaric oxygen group were significantly higher than before the treatment and significantly better than those of the control group. The total effective rate of the hyperbaric oxygen group was 91%, significantly higher than that of the control group (75%). Conclusions Conventional treatment combined with hyperbaric oxygen therapy can significantly promote the visual acuity and visual MS of NAION patients.