Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic interstitial lung disease, is characterized by aberrant wound healing, excessive scarring and the formation of myofibroblastic foci. Although the role of alternative splicing (AS) in the pathogenesis of organ fibrosis has garnered increasing attention, its specific contribution to pulmonary fibrosis remains incompletely understood. In this study, we identified an up-regulation of serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 7 (SRSF7) in lung fibroblasts derived from IPF patients and a bleomycin (BLM)-induced mouse model, and further characterized its functional role in both human fetal lung fibroblasts and mice. We demonstrated that enhanced expression of Srsf7 in mice spontaneously induced alveolar collagen accumulation. Mechanistically, we investigated alternative splicing events and revealed that SRSF7 modulates the alternative splicing of pyruvate kinase (PKM), leading to metabolic dysregulation and fibroblast activation. In vivo studies showed that fibroblast-specific knockout of Srsf7 in conditional knockout mice conferred resistance to bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Importantly, through drug screening, we identified lomitapide as a novel modulator of SRSF7, which effectively mitigated experimental pulmonary fibrosis. Collectively, our findings elucidate a molecular pathway by which SRSF7 drives fibroblast metabolic dysregulation and propose a potential therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.

ObjectiveTo establish an analytical method for the determination of resorcinol, ferulic acid, phenethylresorcinol and benzoyl peroxide in freckle whitening cosmetics by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), to provide data support for the establishment of cosmetics inspection methods and technical support for the supervision of the cosmetics industry. MethodsThe analytes in samples were extracted by ultrasonic acetonitrile after methanol vortex, and then filtered by centrifugation and microporous filter membrane. Finally, the analytes were separated with a SVEA C4 column (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm). The mobile phase was composed of 0.1% phosphoric acid solution -acetonitrile, and the gradient elution was applied, with a flow rate of 1.0 mL·min^-1. The samples were detected by an ultra-violet detector and quantified by external standard method. ResultsResorcinol, ferulic acid, phenylethylresorcinol and benzoyl peroxide showed good linearity in the experimental range with r>0.999. HPLC was used to investigate the positive spiked recoveries of ferulic acid or phenylethylresorcinol with different matrices. The results showed that the recoveries were all in the range of 87.48% to 101.00%, and the relative standard deviations were all in the range of 3.4% to 4.1%. Furthermore, HPLC also examined the blank matrix spiked with the recoveries ranged from 93.26% to 107.66%, with the relative standard deviation of 0.90% to 2.90%. The limits of detection ranged from 0.000 8% to 0.002%. Among the30 batches of standard freckle whitening cosmetics determined, 6 batches of which were detected with phenethylresorcinol and 1 batch with ferulic acid. ConclusionHPLC is a method with rapidity, simplicity, and high sensitivity, which is suitable for the simultaneous determination of resorcinol, ferulic acid, phenethylresorcinol and benzoyl peroxide in commercially available cosmetics.

Objective:To learn about the condition of Keshan disease at township level in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (Inner Mongolia for short).Methods:In accordance with the "Three-Year Tackling Implementation Plan for Keshan Disease in Inner Mongolia", Keshan disease surveillance was carried out from March to December 2019 in the disease affected townships of all 12 diseased banners (counties, cities, disctricts, referred to as banners) in Hulunbuir City, Xing'an League, Chifeng City, and Xilin Gol League in Inner Mongolia, and all permanent residents who lived for more than 6 months were selected as the survey subjects. At the same time, the search for Keshan disease cases was carried out in the relevant medical institutions of the 4 leagues (cities) from 2014 to 2018. The "Diagnosis of Keshan Disease" (WS/T 210-2011) and the "Evaluation Methods for Control and Elimination of Key Endemic Diseases" (2019 edition) were used for diagnosis and elimination evaluation of Keshan disease.Results:There were 75 diseased townships under the jurisdiction of the 12 diseased banners in the 4 leagues (cities) in Inner Mongolia, with a permanent resident population of 1 246 900. A total of 356 150 subjects were examined by electrocardiogram, and 86 507 cases were found to be abnormal, with an abnormal rate of 24.29%. A total of 250 patients with chronic Keshan disease were diagnosed by echocardiography or anteroposterior chest X-ray examination, and the prevalence rate was 2.00/10 000; a total of 287 patients with latent Keshan disease were diagnosed, and the prevalence rate was 2.30/10 000; no patients with acute, subacute or new Keshan disease. After case search, 494 suspected Keshan disease cases were screened out, and 6 cases were finally diagnosed as chronic Keshan disease. From 2014 to 2018, there were no new cases of acute or subacute Keshan disease for five consecutive years, and the prevalence rates of chronic Keshan disease and latent Keshan disease were both lower than 5/10 000 in 2019, meeting the national elimination standard for Keshan disease.Conclusion:In 2019, Inner Mongolia has reached the national elimination standard for Keshan disease, but there are still patients with Keshan disease, so it is necessary to continue to strengthen the monitoring of Keshan disease.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease with unknown etiology and limited therapeutic options. Activation of fibroblasts is a prominent feature of pulmonary fibrosis. Here we report that lncRNA DACH1 (dachshund homolog 1) is downregulated in the lungs of IPF patients and in an experimental mouse model of lung fibrosis. LncDACH1 knockout mice develop spontaneous pulmonary fibrosis, whereas overexpression of LncDACH1 attenuated TGF-β1-induced aberrant activation, collagen deposition and differentiation of mouse lung fibroblasts. Similarly, forced expression of LncDACH1 not only prevented bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung fibrosis, but also reversed established lung fibrosis in a BLM model. Mechanistically, LncDACH1 binding to the serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 1 (SRSF1) protein decreases its activity and inhibits the accumulation of Ctnnb1. Enhanced expression of SRSF1 blocked the anti-fibrotic effect of LncDACH1 in lung fibroblasts. Furthermore, loss of LncDACH1 promoted proliferation, differentiation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in mouse lung fibroblasts, whereas such effects were abolished by silencing of Ctnnb1. In addition, a conserved fragment of LncDACH1 alleviated hyperproliferation, ECM deposition and differentiation of MRC-5 cells driven by TGF-β1. Collectively, LncDACH1 inhibits lung fibrosis by interacting with SRSF1 to suppress CTNNB1 accumulation, suggesting that LncDACH1 might be a potential therapeutic target for pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective:To explore the intention of exclusive breastfeeding and its influencing factors within six months after delivery of pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy in Xi'an.Methods:From January to February 2019, convenience sampling was used to select 2 671 pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy who underwent regular obstetric examinations in Obstetrics Clinic of five hospitals in Xi'an for a cross-sectional survey. Pregnant women were surveyed by means of a field survey using a self-designed Exclusive Breastfeeding Intention of Pregnant Women in the Third Trimester Questionnaire. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of the intention of exclusive breastfeeding among pregnant women in the third trimester. A total of 2 671 questionnaires were distributed, 2 479 valid questionnaires were recovered, and the valid recovery rate was 92.8% (2 479/2 671) .Results:A total of 60.8% (1 507/2 479) of pregnant women planned to exclusively breastfeed within 6 months of delivery. Pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy whose husbands ( OR=2.950, 95% CI: 2.097-4.066) and family members ( OR=2.171, 95% CI: 1.571-3.000) supported exclusive breastfeeding had high intention to exclusively breastfeed, and those who participated in breastfeeding courses had a high intention to exclusively breastfeed ( OR=1.436, 95% CI: 1.199-1.719) . Conclusions:More than half of third-trimester women plan to exclusively breastfeed within six months postpartum. Husband and family support and enrolment in breastfeeding classes increase the intention of pregnant women to exclusively breastfeed. Prenatal breastfeeding courses should be carried out to raise the awareness of pregnant women and family members about exclusive breastfeeding, and focus on the support of husbands and family members for exclusive breastfeeding, so as to increase the exclusive breastfeeding rate within six months after delivery.

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 (≥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 test the validity and reliability of the Chinese Version Scale of Social Skill for Nursing(C-SSSN).Methods:The Japanese version SSSN was translated into Chinese according to Beaton's Translation Model.Totally 547 clinical nurses who met the criterion in a tertiary hospital in Yinchuan were selected for analyzing the items and investigating content validity,structure validity and internal consistency reliability.After 2 weeks,30 nurses were randomly selected for reassessment.Results:The content validity index (S-CVI) of C-SSSN was 0.87,the items content validities (I-CVI) varied from 0.86-1.00.Exploratory factor analysis was employed for extracting the 7 common factors and conformed 6 dimensions.The loads of items in the common factors were 0.43-0.88 correspondingly.The cumulative contribution rate was 60.38％.The Cronbach alpha coefficient of the scale was 0.89,the alpha coefficients of the 6 dimensions arranged 0.76-0.93.The retest reliabilities (r) were 0.83 for the total scale and 0.77-0.83 for the six dimensions.Conclusion:The Chinese Version Scale of Social Skill for Nursing has been proved to be reliable and valid which could be used to evaluate clinical nurses' social skill.