ObjectiveTo characterize the seasonal patterns of influenza in Kunming City, Yunnan Province before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and provide scientific evidence for optimizing influenza prevention and control strategies. MethodsInfluenza-like illness (ILI) and etiological surveillance data for influenza from the 14^th week of 2010 to the 13^th week of 2024 in Kunming City of Yunnan Province were collected. Harmonic regression models were constructed to analyze the epidemic characteristics and seasonal patterns of influenza before (2010/2011‒2019/2020 influenza seasons), during (2020/2021‒2022/2023 influenza seasons), and after (2023/2024 influenza season) the COVID-19 pandemic. ResultsBefore the COVID-19 pandemic, influenza in Kunming City mainly exhibited an annual cyclic pattern without a significant semi-annual periodicity, peaking from December to February of the next year, with an epidemic duration of 20‒30 weeks. During the pandemic, influenza seasonality shifted, with an increase in semi-annual periodicity and an approximate one month delay in annual peaks. However, after the pandemic, the annual amplitude of influenza increased compared with that before the pandemic, and the epidemic duration extended by about one month. Although the annual peak largely reverted to the pre-pandemic levels, the annual peaks for different influenza subtypes/lineages had not fully recovered. ConclusionInfluenza seasonality in Kunming City underwent substantial alterations following the COVID-19 pandemic and has not yet fully reverted to pre-pandemic levels. Continuous surveillance on different subtypes/lineages of influenza viruses remains essential, and prevention and control strategies should be adjusted and optimized in a timely manner based on current epidemic trends.

Objective To investigate the consistency between mismatch repair proyeins expressions detected by immunohistochemistry(IHC)and microsatellite instability(MSI)identified by next-generation sequencing(NGS),and evaluate the correlation of these results with the clinical characteristics of Chinese colorectal cancer(CRC).Methods Using IHC and NGS to identify mismatch repair(MMR)and MSI status in CRC,and assessing the consistency between these different detection methods.Results The concordance rate of MSI status detected by IHC and NGS was 98.36%,indicating good agreement(Kappa=0.856).Certain pathogenic or likely pathogenic germline variants were present in the pMMR/MSI-H subtype.The co-deficiency of MLH1 and PMS2 was most common in the dMMR/MSS subtype.Patients with inconsistent typing were more likely to have early-onset right-sided colon cancer(P<0.01)and the tumor with relatively poor differentiation.Conclusions The consistency of MSI status detected by IHC and NGS is very high,98%or more.To avoid the misdiagnosis of MSI status affecting clinical decision-making for treatment plans,it is imperative to ensure the accuracy of MSI analysis,particularly in poorly differentiated early-stage right-sided colon cancers.

The endothelial glycocalyx(EG)is a polyglycoprotein complex present on the internal vascular surface,and its impairment is associated with the progression of multiple diseases,including atherosclerosis,stroke,sepsis,diabetes,kidney disease,hypertension,and lung edema.Therefore,glycocalyx health can be used as a biomarker to evaluate vascular health.Aging leads to dysfunctional changes in the glycocalyx;for example,its thickness decreases,and the genes of enzymes involved in its synthesis and digestion are dysregulated.As a natural barrier to the vascular system,age-related glycocalyx disruption is associated with vascular dysfunction,including impairment of vascular contraction and dilation,enhancement of permeability,dysregulation of inflammatory and immune reactions,and imbalance of anticoagulation and thrombin.From the perspective of'structure determines function'studies on the changing regularity of the thickness,components,microstructure,and mechanical properties of EG with aging and its relationship with vascular dysfunction are of great significance for the prevention,diagnosis,and treatment of atherosclerosis and other age-related cardiovascular diseases.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors recorded worldwide. This condition has high morbidity and mortality and seriously endangers people's health. Traditional diagnostic models fail to meet people's current needs for real-time monitoring of tumors. Compared with traditional detection methods, ctDNA detection is not only noninvasive but can also attain real-time detection of comprehensive genomic information of tumors. The advancement of detection technology has gradually highlighted the potential of ctDNA detection in the clinical treatment of CRC. This article reviews the advancements on the clinical application of ctDNA in early screening, minimal residual disease detection, and guidance on individualized treatment of CRC patients.

In order to solve the problems in traditional health management experimental teaching, such as high cost, safety and difficult repeatability, a virtual simulation experimental teaching platform for health management combined with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) characteristics has been constructed by using virtual simulation, multimedia, and human-computer interaction technologies, which comprises TCM constitution identification, TCM health management and health management service process. Through the combination of virtual simulation and reality situation, the platform has formed an online and offline model of experimental teaching, which has improved the innovation and practice ability of students and enhanced the teaching quality.

Cathartic colon （CC） is a common and refractory digestive system disease， with the pathogenesis not fully clarified. The effective therapies other than laxatives and surgery remain to be developed for CC. Therefore， establishing the CC animal models that fit the disease characteristics of western medicine and syndrome characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） is an important link to promote the research on this disease. The fitting degree of animal models with the latest Chinese and western medical diagnostic criteria is an indicator to assess the effectiveness of the animal models in simulating the disease characteristics of western medicine and syndrome characteristics of TCM. The literature review showed that the model animals， drugs and their dosage forms， doses， administration methods， and modeling period of CC varied in different studies， and the available CC animal models presented different fitting degrees with the disease characteristics of western medicine and syndrome characteristics of TCM. Rats were the preferred animals for the modeling of CC. Rhei Radix et Rhizoma preparations were commonly used for model inducing， which， however， may cause water electrolyte disorders， decreased immunity， and even death of animals at the late stage of modeling. The animals were modeled by gradually increasing the starting dose， while the starting dose and increasing dose varied. The maintenance dose was determined based on 50% of the animals having loose stools， and the end for a cycle was determined as the time when loose stools disappeared in 80% of animals. The modeling always lasted for 2-3 cycles， approximately 2-4 months. The CC models established with Rhei Radix et Rhizoma granules and rhein had high fitting degrees with the disease and syndrome characteristics. In addition， the CC animal models of TCM syndromes were still in the exploration stage. There were only the animal models of four TCM syndromes： liver depression and spleen deficiency， both Qi and Yin deficiency， Qi stagnation and blood stasis， and spleen and kidney deficiency. Efforts should be made to establish the animal models that meet the characteristics of disease of western medicine and syndromes of TCM， so as to facilitate the research on CC mechanism and drug development.

Objective:To analyze the imaging etiology of patients having vision loss with pathological myopia.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted.The clinical data of 110 cases (138 eyes) who had vision loss with pathological myopia diagnosed in Xiamen Eye Center of Xiamen University from June 1st, 2016 to May 31st, 2017 was collected and analyzed.Fundus photography was used to observe lacquer cracks; spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), fundus fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) were employed to evaluate the choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC). The macular retinoschisis (MRS), macular atrophy, macular hole and epiretinal membranes were assessed by SD-OCT.The proportion and age distribution of different fundus lesions of pathological myopia complicated with vision loss were analyzed.The study protocol was approved by an Ethics Committee of Xiamen Eye Center of Xiamen University (No.XMYKZX-2016-KY-010). Written informed consent was obtained from each patient before study.Results:Among the imaging causes of visual impairment caused by pathological myopia, there were 87 (63.0%) eyes of myopic CNV (MCNV) with the highest proportion, followed by 53 (38.4%) eyes of lacquer cracks, 48 (34.8%) eyes of MRS, 44 (31.9%) eyes of macular atrophy, 42 (30.4%) eyes of epiretinal membranes, 14 (10.1%) eyes of macular lamellar hole, 19 (13.8%) eyes of full-thickness macular hole (FTMH), and 3 (2.2%) eyes of PIC.The average age was (53.00±1.51) years of MCNV, (53.00±1.77) years of lacquer cracks, (58.00±1.64) years of MRS, (57.00±1.76) years of macular atrophy, (59.00±1.48) years of epiretinal membranes, (61.00±3.90) years of macular lamellar hole, (59.00±3.39) years of FTMH with retinal detachment (RD), and (67.00±0.50) years of FTMH without RD.The average age of PIC patients was (31.00±8.50) years, which was significantly smaller than that of the other groups (all at P<0.05). Conclusions:The main cause of visual impairment resulted from pathological myopia is the obvious abnormality of macular structure, and MCNV is the most common type.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of continuous pumping of teriparatide (TPTD) on bone metabolism in ovariectomized and normal mice and provide experimental evidence for the selection of animal models for studying the effects of TPTD and its related peptides on osteoclasts. METHODS: Twenty-four female C57BL mice (6-weeks old) were subjected to ovariectomy (OVX) or sham operation followed 7 days later by continuous pumping of TPTD or the solvent vehicle (VEH) a micropump (SHAM-VEH, SHAM-TPTD, OVX-VEH, and OVX-TPTD groups; =6). Two weeks later, the tibial and femoral bones were harvested for micro-CT scanning to measure the parameters of the tibia and the femoral cortical bone. Histopathological examinations of the tibial tissue were conducted using HE staining and TRAP staining and the number of osteoclasts and the growth plate thickness were determined. The serum Ca2 + levels of the mice were measured. The primary osteoblasts from the cranial bone were treated with estradiol (E2) and TPTD for 48 h, and the expressions of β-catenin and RANKL protein in the cells were analyzed. RESULTS: The trabecular bone mass of OVX mice was significantly lower than that of sham-operated mice ( < 0.05). Continuous TPTD pumping significantly reduced tibial cancellous bone mass and femoral cortical bone area in the sham-operated mice, while in the castrated mice, TPTD pumping increased the cancellous bone mass without changing the cortical bone area. TRAP staining showed that cancellous osteoblasts in the tibia increased significantly in the castrated mice as compared with the sham-operated mice, and TPTD pumping significantly increased the number of cancellous osteoblasts in the sham-operated mice ( < 0.05). In the primary cultured osteoblasts, treatment with both E2 and TPTD obviously lowered the expression of β-catenin and increased the expression of RANKL as compared with TPTD treatment alone. CONCLUSIONS Continuous pumping of TPTD promotes bone resorption in normal mice but does not produce obvious bone resorption effect in the ovariectomized mice, suggesting that castrated mice are not suitable models for studying the effect of TPTD and the related peptides on the osteoclasts.
Animals ; Bone Density ; Bone Density Conservation Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Bone Resorption ; drug therapy ; Bone and Bones ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Growth Plate ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Osteoclasts ; drug effects ; Ovariectomy ; RANK Ligand ; metabolism ; Teriparatide ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

AIM:To investigate the expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in atrial tissues of the patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD), and the effects of AhR on rheumatic atrial fibrosis.METHODS:Right atrial specimens obtained from the patients with RHD requiring valve replacement surgery were divided into chronic atrial fibrillation (RHD+cAF, n=11) group and sinus rhythm (RHD+sinus rhythm, n=25) group.The patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and sinus rhythm (CHD+sinus rhythm, n=12) who underwent heart surgery served as controls.The collagen volume fraction in the atrial specimens was examined by Masson`s trichrome staining.The protein expression and distribution of AhR, AhR nuclear translocator (ARNT) and CYP1A1 were detected by the methods of immunohistochemistry and Western blot.The mRNA expression of AhR, ARNT and CYP1A1 was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.RESULTS:Compared with CHD+sinus rhythm group, the collagen content and the expression of AhR, ARNT and CYP1A1 were significantly increased in RHD+sinus rhythm group and RHD+cAF group.Compared with RHD+sinus rhythm group, the collagen content and the expression of AhR, ARNT and CYP1A1 were significantly increased in RHD+cAF group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The expression of AhR is correlated with the degree of fibrosis.The expression of AhR/ARNT/CYP1A1 is increased in atrial tissues of patients with RHD, suggesting that AhR/ARNT/CYP1A1 should be involved in atrial fibrosis of the patient with RHD.

BACKGROUND:The polymorphisms of dopamine receptor in promoter region wil affect the expression of the receptor, thereby affecting the dopaminergic neurotransmitter, final y lead to related diseases.
OBJECTIVE:To construct the dual luciferase reporter vector containing human DRD1 promoter region and determine its activity, which could provide the basic tool for studying the transcriptional regulation of DRD1 gene.
METHODS:DRD1 promoter sequence was amplified by PCR using the human blood genomic DNA and cloned into pGM-T vector. After sequencing, the correctly constructed vectors were ligated to the firefly luciferase reporter plasmid pGL3-Basic. The cloned pGL3-Basic vectors were transfected into HEK293 using cationic liposome method. In the meanwhile, PGL3-Basic vector with no promoter was co-transfected with pGL3-TK plasmid as negative control group. The relative fluorescence intensity was measured by chemiluminescence.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Recombinant luciferase reporter gene vectors were confirmed by restriction analysis and sequencing. (2) Compared with the negative control group, the HEK293 cel s transfected by recombinant vectors presented transcriptional activity. (3) In conclusion, luciferase reporter gene vectors containing DRD1 promoter region are successful y constructed and can provide the basic tool for further study on the transcriptional regulation of DRD1.