This study investigated the potential pathogenicity and genetic characteristics of ST314 Salmonella Kentucky(S.Ken-tucky)isolates from a broiler slaughterhouse.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing(WGS)were used to determine antimicrobial resistance,virulence factors,and the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes(ARGs)and mobile genetic elements(MGEs)among the isolates.The three multidrug resistant(MDR)isolates exhibited high resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents.The F4-2S strain exhibited resistance to 14 drugs across seven categories,whereas the F4T strain showed resistance to 13 drugs in the same number of categories.In contrast,the Y23 strain was resistant to nine drugs in six categories.Notably,F4-2S dem-onstrated high homology with F4T:both possessed 13 ARGs distributed across nine categories,in addition to a wide range of virulence factors,including secretion systems and effector proteins.The presence of IncR and IncX1 plasmids significantly enhanced both the antimicrobial resistance and pathogenicity of the isolates.The genome map of Y23 revealed a chromosome alongside two plasmids.The chromosome containedonly one resistance gene but several virulence factors,including the type III secretion system(T3SS),which is crucial for bacterial invasion.The plasmid pY23-1 contained eight types of 19 ARGs.Comparative analysis indicated that pY23-1 ex-hibited high homology with pZ1323SSL0055 and pSAL-045,all of which contained multiple ARGs,thus suggesting critical roles of these genes in the evolution of bacterial resistance.In conclusion,ST314 S.Kentucky demonstrated a complex mechanism of resis-tance coupled with significant pathogenic potential.The ARGs and MGEs in the plasmid contributed to the emergence and dissemina-tion of antimicrobial resistance.The multiple virulence factors present in the chromosome may be key factors driving the increasing virulence of ST314 S.Kentucky.

OBJECTIVE To develop a nomogram model for prediction of the risk of sepsis in the patients with acute liver failure(ALF)and validate its clinical value.METHODS Totally 228 patients with ALF who were treated in the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from Jan.2009 to Mar.2023 were recruited as the re-search subjects and were grouped according to the occurrence of sepsis,the clinical characteristics and results of laboratory tests were collected from the patients.The subjects were brought into multivariate logistic regression a-nalysis after the primary screening with univariate regression analysis,the independent predictive factors were screened out,and the nomogram model was established.The accuracy,calibration accuracy and clinical practica-bility of the model were assessed by means of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves,calibration curves and decision curve analysis(DCA).RESULTS Among the 228 patients with ALF,159(69.74％)were diagnosed with sepsis.Totally 6 independent predictive factors were screened out by the multivariate analysis,including age[odd ratio(OR)=1.098,95％CI:1.030 to 1.220],aspartate transaminase(OR=0.998,95％CI:0.996 to 0.999),white blood cells counts(OR=1.037,95％CI:1.020 to 1.064),hemoglobulin(OR=0.981,95％CI:0.962 to 0.998),lactic acid(OR=1.187,95％CI:1.022 to 1.426)and mechanical ventilation(OR=3.463,95％CI:2.340 to 5.125).The area under the curve(AUC)of the nomogram model was 0.864(95％CI:0.807 to 0.921)in the training set,0.817(95％CI:0.717 to 0.918)in the validation set,remarkably better than that of sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)scores[0.710(95％CI:0.625 to 0.795)and 0.647(95％CI:0.515 to 0.779)].Hosmer-Lemeshow test(P=0.512)and the calibrated curves showed that the predication probability of the model was highly consistent with the actual risk,and DC A indicated that the net clinical benefit was brought more from the model than from SOFA score.CONCLUSION The age,hemoglobulin,aspartate transaminase,white blood cells counts,lactic acid and mechanical ventilation are the independent predictive factors for the sepsis in the ALF patients.The nomogram model established based on the factors has high predictive efficiency and clini-cal application value.

OBJECTIVE To develop a nomogram model for prediction of the risk of sepsis in the patients with acute liver failure(ALF)and validate its clinical value.METHODS Totally 228 patients with ALF who were treated in the Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from Jan.2009 to Mar.2023 were recruited as the re-search subjects and were grouped according to the occurrence of sepsis,the clinical characteristics and results of laboratory tests were collected from the patients.The subjects were brought into multivariate logistic regression a-nalysis after the primary screening with univariate regression analysis,the independent predictive factors were screened out,and the nomogram model was established.The accuracy,calibration accuracy and clinical practica-bility of the model were assessed by means of receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves,calibration curves and decision curve analysis(DCA).RESULTS Among the 228 patients with ALF,159(69.74％)were diagnosed with sepsis.Totally 6 independent predictive factors were screened out by the multivariate analysis,including age[odd ratio(OR)=1.098,95％CI:1.030 to 1.220],aspartate transaminase(OR=0.998,95％CI:0.996 to 0.999),white blood cells counts(OR=1.037,95％CI:1.020 to 1.064),hemoglobulin(OR=0.981,95％CI:0.962 to 0.998),lactic acid(OR=1.187,95％CI:1.022 to 1.426)and mechanical ventilation(OR=3.463,95％CI:2.340 to 5.125).The area under the curve(AUC)of the nomogram model was 0.864(95％CI:0.807 to 0.921)in the training set,0.817(95％CI:0.717 to 0.918)in the validation set,remarkably better than that of sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA)scores[0.710(95％CI:0.625 to 0.795)and 0.647(95％CI:0.515 to 0.779)].Hosmer-Lemeshow test(P=0.512)and the calibrated curves showed that the predication probability of the model was highly consistent with the actual risk,and DC A indicated that the net clinical benefit was brought more from the model than from SOFA score.CONCLUSION The age,hemoglobulin,aspartate transaminase,white blood cells counts,lactic acid and mechanical ventilation are the independent predictive factors for the sepsis in the ALF patients.The nomogram model established based on the factors has high predictive efficiency and clini-cal application value.

This study investigated the potential pathogenicity and genetic characteristics of ST314 Salmonella Kentucky(S.Ken-tucky)isolates from a broiler slaughterhouse.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and whole-genome sequencing(WGS)were used to determine antimicrobial resistance,virulence factors,and the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes(ARGs)and mobile genetic elements(MGEs)among the isolates.The three multidrug resistant(MDR)isolates exhibited high resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents.The F4-2S strain exhibited resistance to 14 drugs across seven categories,whereas the F4T strain showed resistance to 13 drugs in the same number of categories.In contrast,the Y23 strain was resistant to nine drugs in six categories.Notably,F4-2S dem-onstrated high homology with F4T:both possessed 13 ARGs distributed across nine categories,in addition to a wide range of virulence factors,including secretion systems and effector proteins.The presence of IncR and IncX1 plasmids significantly enhanced both the antimicrobial resistance and pathogenicity of the isolates.The genome map of Y23 revealed a chromosome alongside two plasmids.The chromosome containedonly one resistance gene but several virulence factors,including the type III secretion system(T3SS),which is crucial for bacterial invasion.The plasmid pY23-1 contained eight types of 19 ARGs.Comparative analysis indicated that pY23-1 ex-hibited high homology with pZ1323SSL0055 and pSAL-045,all of which contained multiple ARGs,thus suggesting critical roles of these genes in the evolution of bacterial resistance.In conclusion,ST314 S.Kentucky demonstrated a complex mechanism of resis-tance coupled with significant pathogenic potential.The ARGs and MGEs in the plasmid contributed to the emergence and dissemina-tion of antimicrobial resistance.The multiple virulence factors present in the chromosome may be key factors driving the increasing virulence of ST314 S.Kentucky.

Objective To explore the severity of loneliness among the elderly in communities in Shanghai,and to identify factors associated with social and emotional loneliness respectively.Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in older adults aged 65 years or above in Pudong New Area,Jing'an District and Huangpu District in Shanghai from Mar to Jun 2021.In Pudong New Area,multi-stage stratified random sampling was conducted based on the age and gender distribution of Shanghai,while in Huangpu District and Jing'an District convenience sampling was conducted.A total of 635 samples were included in the study.Loneliness was assessed using the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale with social and emotional loneliness subscales.Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with social and emotional loneliness.Results Among the 635 participants,only 53 older adults(8.4%)were not lonely.Female(OR=0.46,95%CI:0.31-0.70),higher self-efficacy(OR=0.97,95%CI:0.94-1.00),more objective social support(OR=0.96,95%CI:0.93-0.99)were associated with less severe social loneliness.Meanwhile,higher level of education(secondary education,OR=0.56,95%CI:0.34-0.95;college or above,OR=0.30,95%CI:0.11-0.83)and higher self-efficacy(OR=0.96,95%CI:0.93-0.99)were associated with less severe emotional loneliness,while depression(OR=3.41,95%CI:1.76-6.60)and worse social capital(OR=2.02,95%CI:1.29-3.16)were associated with more severe emotional loneliness.Conclusion Up to 91.6%of the elderly in our study sample were moderately lonely or above.The factors associated with social loneliness include self-efficacy,gender and social support.The factors associated with emotional loneliness are self-efficacy,education level,depression,and social capital.

Objective:To discover a novel and intuitive anterograde tracing method for observing the course of sensory nerve fibers in dorsal root ganglia (DRG).Methods:From July 2022 to August 2023, studies were conducted in the Department of Plastic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Three healthy 1-month old female SD rats, weighed approximately 180-220 g, were randomly selected. An adeno-associated virus carrying a neuron-specific promoter and red fluorescent protein (AAV- syp-mCherry) was prepared. The virus was injected into the spinal roots outside L 4-L 6 DRG through sterile surgery. After 1 month of breeding, L 4-L 6 spinal cord tissue of immunofluorescent staining of the side injected with viral tracer, DRG, sciatic nerve, and plantar skin of the SD rats were collected for immunofluorescent staining of neurofilament protein (NF) and microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP2). Distribution characteristics of AAV-positive nerve fibers were observed using a confocal microscope by average optical density (AOD) . Results:One month after injection of the viral tracer, red markers were visible in the dorsal horn of the L 4-L 6 spinal cord (AOD=0.5419±0.0245), DRG (AOD=0.4917±0.0087), sciatic nerve (AOD=0.6237±0.0634), dermis of plantar skin and skin appendages on the injected side (AOD=0.4943±0.0165). The red fluorescent clusters were found co-labeled with NF-positive nerve fibers or MAP2-positive neurons, it suggested that AAV- syp-mCherry could be transported anterogradely within sensory axons to distant target organs (skin) and offered a long-term image. Conclusion:The anterograde tracing method by adeno-associated virus can effectively show the complete trace of the central and peripheral processes of primary sensory neurons, and can serve as an effective methodology in observation of the pathways of peripheral sensory nerve fibers.

Objective:To discover a novel and intuitive anterograde tracing method for observing the course of sensory nerve fibers in dorsal root ganglia (DRG).Methods:From July 2022 to August 2023, studies were conducted in the Department of Plastic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Three healthy 1-month old female SD rats, weighed approximately 180-220 g, were randomly selected. An adeno-associated virus carrying a neuron-specific promoter and red fluorescent protein (AAV- syp-mCherry) was prepared. The virus was injected into the spinal roots outside L 4-L 6 DRG through sterile surgery. After 1 month of breeding, L 4-L 6 spinal cord tissue of immunofluorescent staining of the side injected with viral tracer, DRG, sciatic nerve, and plantar skin of the SD rats were collected for immunofluorescent staining of neurofilament protein (NF) and microtubule associated protein 2 (MAP2). Distribution characteristics of AAV-positive nerve fibers were observed using a confocal microscope by average optical density (AOD) . Results:One month after injection of the viral tracer, red markers were visible in the dorsal horn of the L 4-L 6 spinal cord (AOD=0.5419±0.0245), DRG (AOD=0.4917±0.0087), sciatic nerve (AOD=0.6237±0.0634), dermis of plantar skin and skin appendages on the injected side (AOD=0.4943±0.0165). The red fluorescent clusters were found co-labeled with NF-positive nerve fibers or MAP2-positive neurons, it suggested that AAV- syp-mCherry could be transported anterogradely within sensory axons to distant target organs (skin) and offered a long-term image. Conclusion:The anterograde tracing method by adeno-associated virus can effectively show the complete trace of the central and peripheral processes of primary sensory neurons, and can serve as an effective methodology in observation of the pathways of peripheral sensory nerve fibers.

ObjectiveTo explore the status of mild cognitive impairment （MCI） among the elderly in Shanghai communities， and to identify the factors associated with MCI. MethodsThe Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic （MoCA-B） was used to screen for MCI in elderly adults. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the factors associated with MCI. ResultsAmong 629 participants， 226 （35.90%） were positive for MCI. Older age （OR=1.04， 95%CI： 1.01-1.07）， lower family income （average OR=2.20， 95%CI： 1.01-4.80； poor OR=2.59， 95%CI： 1.03-6.50）， hearing impairment affecting daily life （OR=1.86， 95%CI： 1.19-2.91）， and anxiety symptoms （OR=1.58， 95%CI： 1.02-2.44） were associated with the positive for MCI. Living in central urban area （OR=0.57， 95%CI： 0.37-0.89） and having higher social support （OR=0.97， 95%CI： 0.94-1.00） were protective factors for MCI. ConclusionThe current status of MCI among the elderly in Shanghai communities is not optimistic. It is important and necessary to establish the cognitive-friendly community for the elderly.

To investigate the regulation of N6- methyladenosine ( m6A ) modification on L-type calcium channels in atrial myocytes under high hydrostatic pressure, mediated by methyltransferase-like protein 3 ( METTL3 ). Methods C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to the control group and the hypertension group ( treated with continuous administration of angiotensin for four weeks ). Masson staining was used to observe the fibrosis of mouse atrial tissue, while dot blot assay and Western blot were used to detect the levels of m6A, METTL3, and Cavi1 2 in the atrial tissue. A high hydrostatic pressure model was constructed using the HL-1 cell line cultured in vitro, and METTL3 was intervened to observe changes in m6A expression levels, METTL3 and Cavi1 2 levels in cells,and action potential duration ( APD ) and L-type calcium current ( I

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that has become a major gastroenterologic problem during recent decades. Numerous complicating factors are involved in UC development such as oxidative stress, inflammation, and microbiota disorder. These factors exacerbate damage to the intestinal mucosal barrier. Spirulina platensis is a commercial alga with various biological activity that is widely used as a functional ingredient in food and beverage products. However, there have been few studies on the treatment of UC using S. platensis aqueous extracts (SP), and the underlying mechanism of action of SP against UC has not yet been elucidated. Herein, we aimed to investigate the modulatory effect of SP on microbiota disorders in UC mice and clarify the underlying mechanisms by which SP alleviates damage to the intestinal mucosal barrier. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) was used to establish a normal human colonic epithelial cell (NCM460) injury model and UC animal model. The mitochondrial membrane potential assay 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and staining with Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/propidium iodide (PI) and Hoechst 33258 were carried out to determine the effects of SP on the NCM460 cell injury model. Moreover, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), western blot, and 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing were used to explore the effects and underlying mechanisms of action of SP on UC in C57BL/6 mice. In vitro studies showed that SP alleviated DSS-induced NCM460 cell injury. SP also significantly reduced the excessive generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and prevented mitochondrial membrane potential reduction after DSS challenge. In vivo studies indicated that SP administration could alleviate the severity of DSS-induced colonic mucosal damage compared with the control group. Inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress was associated with increases in the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the expression of tight junction proteins (TJs) post-SP treatment. SP improved gut microbiota disorder mainly by increasing antioxidant enzyme activity and the expression of TJs in the colon. Our findings demonstrate that the protective effect of SP against UC is based on its inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine overproduction, inhibition of DSS-induced ROS production, and enhanced expression of antioxidant enzymes and TJs in the colonic mucosal barrier.