OBJECTIVE To explore the neural mechanisms underlying the speech perception in individuals with normal hearing under the influence of selective attention.METHODS There were 32 individuals with normal hearing who were recruited.By manipulating the participants'selective attention,two simultaneous speech streams were differentiated into target and interfering speech.Participants were guided to complete an auditory perception electroencephalogram(EEG)experiment.Fourier spectrum analysis was used to calculate the spectrum responses induced by the two types of speech,and the differences in EEG energy values at the levels of character,word,and phrase were compared.RESULTS This study observed significant differences in the EEG responses between target and ignored speech at the word level(2 Hz),while no significant differences were observed at the character level(4 Hz)and phrase level(1 Hz).CONCLUSION In environments with multiple speech streams,selective attention primarily processes and encodes the interested speech at the word level rapidly and effectively.This study preliminarily reveals how the brain represents auditory language and constructs different language hierarchy units under the modulation of selective attention,providing a theoretical model for hearing aid algorithms in hearing-impaired patients.

【Objective】 To investigate the protective effects of aflexible sleeve penile protection device on reducing postoperative pain and wound edema in patients after circumcision. 【Methods】 A total of 54 patients who underwent circumcision at Yan’an Branch of Peking University Third Hospital during Feb.1 and May 31, 2023 were enrolled.The patients were randomly divided into the experimental group and control group, with 27 patients in either groups.Patients in the experimental group were treated with a flexible sleeve penis protection device after surgery, and patients in the control group were treated with traditional gauze bandage after surgery.Postoperative pain, wound edema and complications were compared between the two groups. 【Results】 In terms of pain, the visual analogue scale of the experimental group was significantly lower at 6 hours [(1.7±0.9) vs.(3.3±1.9), P<0.001] and 2 days [(2.0±1.3) vs.(3.3±1.3), P<0.001] after surgery than that of the control group, but there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups on the 4th and 7th postoperative days (P>0.05).In terms of edema, the edema score of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group on the 2nd postoperative day [(2.0±1.0) vs.(4.0±0.8), P<0.001] , the 4th postoperative day [(1.5±1.2) vs.(2.6±0.9), P<0.001] , and the 7th postoperative day [(0.9±1.3) vs.(2.3±1.5), P<0.001] .There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups (P>0.05). 【Conclusion】 The flexible sleeve penile protection device has significant effects of reducing early postoperative pain and reducing edema in patients undergoing circumcision.

Consecutively hospitalized patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China were retrospectively enrolled from January 2020 to March 2020 to investigate the association between the use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitor (RAS-I) and the outcome of this disease. Associations between the use of RAS-I (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)), ACEI, and ARB and in-hospital mortality were analyzed using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models in overall and subgroup of hypertension status. A total of 2771 patients with COVID-19 were included, with moderate and severe cases accounting for 45.0% and 36.5%, respectively. A total of 195 (7.0%) patients died. RAS-I (hazard ratio (HR)= 0.499, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.325-0.767) and ARB (HR = 0.410, 95% CI 0.240-0.700) use was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality among patients with COVID-19. For patients with hypertension, RAS-I and ARB applications were also associated with a reduced risk of mortality with HR of 0.352 (95% CI 0.162-0.764) and 0.279 (95% CI 0.115-0.677), respectively. RAS-I exhibited protective effects on the survival outcome of COVID-19. ARB use was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality among patients with COVID-19.
Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists/therapeutic use* ; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; COVID-19 ; Humans ; Hypertension/drug therapy* ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To investigate the maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) during pregnancy at advanced maternal age for their second child at advanced maternal age, and to explore the relationship with neonatal outcomes.Methods:This study involved 1 965 women of advanced maternal age who delivered the second child in the Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital from July 1 to December 31, 2017. Clinical data of these women and their newborns were collected through the electronic medical record information system. According to pre-pregnancy BMI, all subjects were divided into four groups: underweight group (<18.5 kg/m 2, n=139), normal weight group (18.5-23.9 kg/m 2, n=1 342), overweight group (24.0-27.9 kg/m 2, n=404) and obese group (&ge;28.0 kg/m 2, n=80). According to the GWG standard recommended by the American Institute of Medicine (IOM) in 2009, they were also divided into three groups: inadequate GWG group ( n=478), normal GWG group ( n=884) and excessive GWG group ( n=603). Mann-Whitey U test, Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test were used as statistical methods. Effects of pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG on gestational age and birth weight of the newborns were analyzed by binary and multi-class logistic regression models. Results:The median pre-pregnancy BMI of the 1 965 women was 22.1 (20.3-23.9) kg/m 2 and patients with abnormal pre-pregnancy BMI accounted for 31.7% (623/1 965). Their median GWG was 13.0 (10.0-16.0) kg and 55.0% (1 081/1 965) of them were abnormal. Compared with normal pre-pregnant weight women, overweight and obesity subjects were associated with increased risks of preterm birth ( OR=2.100, 95% CI: 1.398-3.156), low birth weight infants (LBWI) ( OR=3.187, 95% CI: 1.892-5.367) and macrosomia ( OR=1.758, 95% CI: 1.182-2.614); pre-pregnancy underweight reduced the incidence of large for gestational age (LGA) infants ( OR=0.476, 95% CI: 0.236-0.960). Compared with the normal GWG group, the inadequate GWG group had increased risks of preterm birth ( OR=2.316, 95% CI: 1.530-3.505) and LBWI ( OR=1.850, 95% CI: 1.103-3.104), while the excessive GWG group showed increased risks of macrosomia ( OR=1.828, 95% CI: 1.225-2.726) and LGA infants ( OR=1.955, 95% CI: 1.448-2.640), but a reduced risk of LBWI ( OR=0.359, 95% CI: 0.193-0.667) and small for gestational age infants ( OR=0.452, 95% CI: 0.240-0.852). Conclusions:Both abnormal pre-pregnancy BMI (underweight, overweight and obese) and GWG (inadequate and excessive) have adverse effects on neonatal outcomes in women of advanced age in pregnancy for their second baby. Weight management should be addressed during the whole pregnancy, including both adjusting the pre-pregnancy BMI to normal range and maintaining reasonable GWG, so as to reduce potential adverse outcomes in newborns.

Objective:To investigate the killing effect of radiation on echinococcus in vitro culture and its effect on the mRNA expression of growth arrest and DNA damage 45 alpha (Gadd45α) gene. Methods:Echinococcus from naturally infected sheep liver was cultured in vitro and divided into 7 groups. The echinococcus was irradiated with 6 MeV at doses of 0 (control), 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 Gy, respectively. The growth of echinococcus was observed under light microscope at 1, 3, 5 and 7 d after the radiation. The expression of Gadd45α mRNA in control, 20, 40 and 60 Gy groups of echinococcus was detected by RT-PCR technique at 7 d after the radiation. Results:The disintegration and exfoliation of echinococcus were observed under light microscope at 1, 3, 5 and 7 d after the radiation, and the death rate of echinococcus was positively correlated with the radiation dosages ( r = 0.81, P < 0.05). After the radiation at 7 d, compared with the control group (100.00 ± 0.00), the mRNA expression levels of Gadd45α in echinococcus of 20, 40, and 60 Gy groups were significantly increased (279.74 ± 80.08, 759.38 ± 160.98, 1 666.68 ± 316.36, P < 0.01), and it was positively correlated with the radiation dosages ( r = 0.93, P < 0.01). Conclusion:Radiation has a certain killing effect on echinococcus cultured in vitro, and there is a certain dose-effect relationship with the radiation dosages, and Gadd45α gene may be involved in the molecular mechanism of radiation-induced killing of echinococcus in vitro.

Objective:To analyze the dynamics of plague epidemic in Spermophilus alaschanicus plague foci of Gansu Province from 1962 to 2018, and to provide evidence for plague control and prevention. Methods:The data of Spermophilus alaschanicus plague in Gansu Province from 1962 to 2018 were collected and organized from epidemic surveillance and epidemic summary. The method of descriptive epidemiology was used to analyze plague, including population (regional distribution, time distribution) and animal (geographic distribution, infected animals and vectors) epidemiology. Results:There was only one case of human plague in the Spermophilus alaschanicus plague foci of Gansu Province from 1962 to 2018. The total incidence of the disease was 26 cases, 11 cases died, the incidence rate was 29.89% (26/87), and the mortality was 42.31% (11/26). The cases were mainly distributed in Liuzhai Township and Xinyuan Township of Huining County. The outbreak occurred from July to August. Plague bacteria were isolated from the plague foci of Gansu Province during two peak epidemics of the plague among animals from 1962 to 2018. The bacteria detection area was located in 2 rural areas that were the northern area of Liuzhai in Huining County, and the neighboring Zhongtian and Fuxing in Pingchuan District. Five places were determined to be the animal epidemic sites. The endemic species were Spermophilus alaschanicus and Vulpescorsac, and the vector species were Citellophilus tesquorus mongolicus and Neopsylla abagaitui. The epidemic time of animal plague was from April to August. Totally 115 positive serum F1 antibodies were obtained. Among them, 92 positive serum samples were detected in Huining County and 23 in Pingchuan District. The positive blood coagulation sites were distributed in 11 villages, 5 towns of 2 counties (districts). The surveillance results showed that 30 species of animals belonging to 5 orders, 11 families, 5 subfamilies, and 21 genera were found in the foci, most of them were Spermophilus alaschanicus, which accounting for 69.1% (2 464/3 567) of the total species of rodents in the past years. A total of 12 482.9 hm 2 were investigated by sampling method, and 9 709 Spermophilus alaschanicus were captured, with an average density of 0.78/hm 2. Conclusions:The plague is intermittently prevalent in Gansu's Spermophilus alaschanicus plague foci. So the prevention and control strategies should be adjusted in time according to the changes. In residential areas, we should take the initiative to strengthen the monitoring of rat situation and the publicity and education of human plague prevention knowledge.

Objective:To analyse the effects of meteorological factors on plague epidemic in Himalayana marmot plague natural foci in Subei and Sunan counties of Gansu Province. Methods:The surveillance data of plague from 1973 to 2016 in Himalayan marmot foci of Subei and Sunan counties (from Gansu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention) and the meteorological factors (rainfall, temperature, relative humidity) of current, preceding first, second and third years (the first, second and third years before the reference year, from China Meteorological Data Sharing Service System) were collected. In order to build generalized additive model (GAM), the positive rate of plague was used as dependent variable while meteorological factors of the current, preceding first, second and third years were used as independent variables. The influence of meteorological factors on plague was quantitatively analyzed by using R2.3.2 software. Results:In 2006 - 2016, compared with 1974 - 1983, the average temperature in Subei rose by 0.99 ℃, the average relative humidity rose by 3.55%RH, and the average rainfall rose by 12.16 mm; in Sunan County, the average temperature rose by 1.00 ℃, the average relative humidity rose by 2.01%RH, and the average rainfall rose by 14.60 mm. From 1973 to 2016, 11 cases of human plague with 7 cases of dead (12 cases of attack) occurred in the investigated district. The average rainfall of the preceding third year of Subei rose every 1.00 mm within a certain range, the animal plague occurred rose by 0.40%. The average relative humidity of preceding second year of Subei rose every 1.00%RH within a certain range, animal plague occurred rose by 11.66%. The average rainfall of the preceding first year of Sunan rose every 1.00 mm within a certain range, the animal plague occurred rose by 1.32%. The average relative humidity of preceding third year of Sunan rose every 1.00%RH within a certain range, animal plague occurred rose by 11.96%. The average temperature of the preceding second year of Subei, Sunan rose every 1.00 ℃ within a certain range, animal plague rose 73.17%, 70.18%, respectively.Conclusions:The occurrence and prevalence of plague in Himalayana marmot are closely related to meteorological factors, and the temperature within a certain range (but not continuously) not only promotes the epidemic of plague, but also has a lag effect. In addition, the effects of different types of climate in the same foci on the prevalence of animal plague vary.

Objective: To investigate the correlation of meteorological factors with the numbers of marmots and parasitic fleas in the plague foci of Himalayan marmot in Subei County and Sunan County of Gansu Province. Methods: The surveillance data(from Gansu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention) of natural plague foci of Subei, Sunan of Himalayan marmot from 1982 to 2016 and the meteorological factors data (from China Meteorological Data Sharing Service Network) such as annual average temperature, rainfall and relative humidity during the same period were collected. The correlation between marmot density, body flea index and meteorological factors were analyzed by SAS 9.3 software. Based on the meteorological data as an independent variable in current year and previous 1, 2, and 3 years (relative to previous 1, 2, and 3 years as the reference), the marmot density as the dependent variable, the time series semiparametric generalized additive model (GAM) was established to quantitatively study the nonlinear effect of meteorological factors on the marmot density by R2.3.2 software. Results: From 1982 to 2016, the marmot density in Subei County of Gansu Province was 0.29-6.63 per hectare, and the body flea index range was 0.04-4.56; the marmot density in Sunan County of Gansu Province was 1.22-7.92 per hectare, and the body flea index range was 0.06-0.42. In Subei County, the marmot density was correlated with the previous 1 year rainfall and relative humidity, respectively (r= 0.43, 0.36, P < 0.05), and negatively correlated with the average temperature of the year and the previous 1, 3 years (r=-0.58,-0.55,-0.41, P < 0.05). In Sunan County, the marmot density was correlated with the relative humidity of the year and the previous 1 year rainfall and relative humidity, respectively (r= 0.36, 0.57, 0.43, P < 0.05). In Subei County, the body flea index was negatively correlated with the average temperature of the year and the previous 1, 2, 3 years, respectively(r=-0.57,-0.43,-0.31,-0.37, P < 0.05). In Sunan County, there was a negative correlation between the body flea index and the average temperature of the year and the previous 1, 2, 3 years (r=-0.71,-0.46,-0.38,-0.40, P < 0.05). After controlling other influencing factors, the results of the GAM showed that for every 1 mm increase in rainfall of the year in Subei County, the marmot density increased 0.93%; for every 1% increase in relative humidity of the previous 3 year in Subei County, the marmot density increased 25.34%; for every 1 mm increase in rainfall of the previous 3 year in Sunan County, the marmot density increased 1.69%. Conclusions The numbers of marmots in the plague foci of Himalayan marmot in Subei County and Sunan County of Gansu Province are closely related to rainfall and relative humidity, and the influence has different hysteresis effects. Surface temperature is a important factor affecting the population of parasitic fleas.

Objective To investigate the difference of hepatic microvessel density, neovasculariza-tion of regenerating liver tissue after ablation of two ways of irreversible electroporation and radiofrequency ablation in rats. Methods 90 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, including the control group ( n =30), the irreversible electroporation group ( n =30 ) and the radiofrequency ablation group (n=30). 3,7 and 10 days were executed after the operation and draw material, expression of vascu-lar endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and CD34 in tissue was studied by immunohistochemistry, and the mi-crovascular density of tissue and VEGF positive cells were measured. Results The microvascular density of 3, 7 and 10 days in the control group was 50. 3 ± 12. 5, 54. 6 ± 11. 9 and 58. 2 ± 14. 7, the microvascular density of the radiofrequency ablation group was 18. 4 ± 4. 7, 17. 3 ± 5. 1 and 18. 1 ± 5. 9, respectively. The microvascular density of the irreversible electroporation group was 42. 8 ± 10. 4, 45. 6 ± 10. 2 and 49. 2 ± 13. 8, respectively. The positive cells of VEGF in control group was 50, 56 and 57 at 3, 7 and 10 days, and 32, 30 and 33 at 3, 7 and 10 days in radiofrequency ablation group, 44, 43 and 45 at 3, 7 and 10 days in irreversible electroporation group; expression of VEGF and CD34 in 3, 7, 10 d and the microvascular density of ablation area in radiofrequency ablation group was significantly lower than those in control group after irreversible electroporation and radiofrequency ablation. No significant differences were found between irreversible electroporation group and control group. Conclusion The irreversible electroporation can effectively protect the microvessels in the ablation area, ensure the tissue’s blood supply after the ablation, and provide a guarantee for the repair and regeneration of the tissue.

Objective To analyze the relationship between meteorological variables and the prevalence of marmot plague in the Himalayan marmot foci of Subei County,Gansu Province.Methods The surveillance data (from Gansu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention) on human plague,the meteorological factors (average rainfall,temperature,relative humidity) data (from China Meteorological Data Sharing Service Network) of the current and preceding (relative to current year as a reference) first,second and third years and meteorological factors data of the current and preceding first,second and third months in Subei of Himalayan marmot foci from 1973 to 2014 were collected.The association of positive rate of plague bacteriological detection and meteorological factors was evaluated by using SAS 9.3 software.The influence of meteorological factors on the epidemic of marmot plague was analyzed by the logistic regression analysis.Results From 1973 to 2014,6 human plague cases with 5 dead cases occurred in Subei County.The positive rate of plague bacteriological detection was positively correlated with the average relative humidity of current year and the average temperature of preceding first year (r =0.366,0.385,P ＜ 0.05),and it was negatively correlated with the average relative humidity of preceding third year (r =-0.304,P ＜ 0.05);the positive rate of plague bacteriological detection was positively correlated with the average rainfall of preceding first month (r =0.212,P ＜ 0.05),and it was negatively correlated with the average relative humidity of preceding second and third months (r =-0.196,-0.201,P ＜ 0.05).The risk factor of animal plague epidemic in marmot foci in Subei County was average temperature of current month [odds ratio (OR) =1.304,95％ confidence intervals (CI):1.195-1.422],and the protective factor was average relative humidity of preceding third month (OR =0.960,95％CI:0.932-0.988).Conclusions The prevalence of marmot plague is closely associated with meteorological factors in the natural plague foci of Subei County of Gansu Province.The temperature not only plays a role in promoting the prevalence of plague,but also has a lagging effect.Therefore,the meteorological factors can be considered as a reference of the plague prevalence in Himalayan marmot plague foci.