Objective To investigate the effects of body weight and length of SD rats on the carotid artery balloon injury-induced vascular stenosis model in order to provide a reference for replicating an ideal vascular stenosis mod-el.Methods Male rats were divided into three groups based on body weight and length.The CONQUEROR? SC PTCA balloon catheter was employed,with a fixed balloon inflation volume of 0.2 mL to induce injury in the left common carotid artery,while the right side served as a control.As soon as surgery operation,one rat from each group was selected for Evans Blue dye verification.Fourteen days later,the injured and contra lateral common ca-rotid arteries from remaining rats were harvested for HE staining to check the extent of stenosis.Based on these find-ings,six rats within the optimal range of body weight and length were selected for further validation.Results Rats with body weights ranging from 280 to 380 g(corresponding body lengths of 21.0-26.5 cm)underwent balloon catheter injury,resulting in endothelial detachment and varying degrees of stenosis in the common carotid artery.In rats weighing 280-300 g(body lengths of 21.0-22.5 cm)had severe stenosis or occlusion of the common carotid artery with thrombosis.In rats weighing 320-340 g(body lengths of 23.0-24.5 cm),the internal and external elastic plates of the common carotid artery were ruptured and the vascular morphology was abnormal.Conversely,rats weighing 360-380 g(body lengths of 25.0-26.5 cm)did not show any ruptured elastic laminae or thrombus formation in the common carotid artery,and the extent of vascular stenos in rats with a body weight of 360 g was moderate and uniform.The results of the repeated validation experiments were consistent.Conclusions Rats with a body weight range of 360 g(corresponding body length of 25.0-26.5 cm)are suitable for development of an ideal vascular stenosis model.

Objective To summarize professor LI Tianwang's medication rules for treating spleen and stomach diseases based on data mining,learn his diagnostic and therapeutic experiences to provide guidance for clinical prescription of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).Methods A total of 21,159 TCM prescriptions for spleen and stomach diseases treated by professor LI Tianwang in out-patient department from January 2015 to December 2019 were collected and selected.TCM database was established,and drug frequencies were statistically analyzed.Association rule analysis and clus-ter analysis were conducted on the drugs.Results Excluding Gancao,professor LI Tianwang com-monly used 162 TCM herbs(frequency ≥1％)for treating spleen and stomach diseases,with 26 high-frequency herbs(frequency ≥30％).The most frequently used herb was Baizhu,with a usage frequency of 18,692 times.Commonly used herbs included Baizhu,Fuling,Hehuanpi,Dangshen,Chaihu,and Baishao.The results of association rule analysis indicated high associations in herb pairs such as Dangshen-Baizhu,Fuling-Baizhu,Dangshen-Fuling,Baizhu-Fuling,and Meiguihua-Hehuan-pi.Complex network analysis revealed that core drugs included Dangshen,Baizhu,Foshou,Huanglian,Jineijin,Xiangfu,and Hehuanpi.Cluster analysis showed that herb combinations such as Qingpi-Foshou,Zhishi-Houpo,Huanglian-Wuzhuyu-Ganjiang,and Yiyiren-Muxiang-Chenpi-Shanyao were frequently used together.Conclusion Professor LI Tianwang believes that the basic pathogenesis of spleen and stomach diseases involves deficiency mingled with excess.The deficiency syndrome is mainly characterized by spleen deficiency,while the excess syndrome is mainly characterized by liver stag-nation,phlegm-dampness,and qi stagnation.The treatment principles focus on soothing the liver and relieving depression,invigorating the spleen and replenishing qi,and drying dampness and resol-ving phlegm,supplemented by promoting digestion,warming the middle,and lowering adverse qi.

ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological characteristics of pathogens in foodborne disease cases in Haining City， Zhejiang Province， and to provide a basis for the prevention and investigation of foodborne diseases and outbreak events. MethodsInformation on foodborne disease patients from 2014 to 2023 was collected， and stool or anal swab samples were tested for relevant pathogens. The χ² test was used to compare the differences in pathogen detection rates among different groups， and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors for pathogen detection. ResultsA total of 5 814 samples were tested， with a positive detection rate of 15.36%. The detection rates were 4.95% for norovirus， 4.49% for Escherichia coli， 3.59% for Salmonella， 2.22% for Vibrio parahaemolyticus， and 0.11% for Shigella. The positive detection rates showed seasonal characteristics， with a minor peak in March-April dominated by norovirus and a major peak in July-September dominated by bacteria. The three groups with the highest detection rates were workers， white-collar workers and other groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age， season， and antibiotic use before consultation were significant influencing factors for pathogen detection （P<0.05）. Total pathogen detection risk was lower in the group that took antibiotics before visiting the clinic compared to those who did not （OR=0.29， 95%CI： 0.15‒0.49）. The detection risk for norovirus was lower in the preschool age group （OR=0.19， 95%CI： 0.04‒1.00）， in summer and autumn （OR range 0.23‒0.41）， and in the group taking antibiotics （OR=0.42， 95%CI： 0.15‒0.92）， but higher in the adolescent group （OR=1.40， 95%CI： 1.05‒1.88）. The detection risk for enteropathogenic Escherichia coli was higher in summer （OR=1.82， 95%CI： 1.30‒2.60）. The detection risk for Salmonella increased in the elderly group and in summer （OR range 1.44‒2.21）， but decreased in the adolescent group， in winter， and in the group taking antibiotics （OR range 0.22‒0.65）. The detection risk for Vibrio parahaemolyticus increased in summer and autumn （OR range 1.80‒1.90）， but decreased in the primary and secondary school student group and in winter （OR range 0.10‒0.32）. ConclusionThe prevalence of foodborne disease pathogens in Haining City is relatively high. Age， season， and antibiotic use before consultation are independent influencing factors for pathogen detection. These findings suggest that specific hypotheses regarding pathogenic factors can be proposed based on the time of occurrence and the age distribution of cases during field investigations of foodborne outbreaks.

Objective: To describe the secular trend of BMI and its consistency with self-rated BMI status in Chinese children and adolescents, and to further investigate the related factors affecting self-rated BMI,so as to provide a scientific reference for interventional measures. Methods: A total of 6 238 children and adolescents aged 6-18 years were selected according to date from Chinese Health and Nutrition Svrvey during 2000-2015 and the criteria from National Health Commission of China.The Lambda-Mu-Sigma method(LMS) and Kappa consistency test were, respectively, applied to describe the percentiles for BMI and its agreement with self-rated BMI status. Multinomial Logistic model was used to assess the related factors influencing self-rated BMI status. Results: P50 and P85 percentiles showed an increasing trend, especially the increase of high percentile of BMI. Regardless of age and sex, the measured and self-rated BMI showed low agreement. More than 50% of over-weighted or underweighted children perceived themselves as normal-weight, and about 1/4 of normal weight students misclassified themselves as abnormal in weight. Urban boys were more likely to evaluate themselves as underweight [OR(95%CI) =1.43(1.18-1.73)]. Boys who favored popular showed[OR(95%CI)=1.80(1.23-2.55) and cartoon [OR (95%CI) =1.39(1.00-1.96)] were more likely to consider themselves as overweight. Girls in the older age group [OR (95%CI)=2.74(2.08-3.61)] and urban [1.53(1.21-1.94)] who favored popular programs [OR(95%CI) =1.74(1.27-2.38)] were more likely to perceived themselves as overweight. But girls who like anime/cartoons were more likely to think they were underweight [OR(95%CI)=1.78(1.33-2.40)]. Conclusion The trend of BMI has shown an increasing trend in the past decade and it demonstrated a large bias with perceived BMI. Age, area and type of video were significant factors that influenced the self-rated BMI status.

Objective: To analyze recent trends in waist circumference(WC) and central obesity rate of Chinses children and adolescence aged 7-18 from 1993 to 2015, and to provid the theoretical basis for further prevention and control of children obesity. Methods: The samples were derived from the China Health and Nutrition Survey from 1993 to 2015 (both boys and girls aged 7-18). The criteria of WS/T 586—2017 were adopted as classification standard for central obesity and the coefficient of skewness-median-coefficient of variation method was used to reveal the trends of waist circumference distribution. Results: From 1993 to 2015,waist circumference curves flattened and expanded at higher levels in boys and girls. The P50 and P85th percentile WC curves showed an increasing trend with high percentile increasing more obviously. WC increased 3.84 and 1.55 cm for boys and girls. The prevalence rate of central obesity increased in both genders, which increased from 4.08% to 20.64% in boys and from 6.29% to 20.98% in girls. Besides, higher increasing rate was observed among boy, and urban. Conclusion A rapid increase in waist circumference was present among Chinese children and adolescence. A gradient of increasing prevalence of central obesity was also observed in boys and girls, as well as in different BMI levels. Appropriate measures should be taken to control the increase in the course of the central obesity epidemic.

BACKGROUND: Neuropeptides, a kind of endogenous active substance in nerve tissues, can modulate physiological functions of multiple body systems.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of vascular bundles or sensory nerve tracts implanted into tissue-engineered bone for rabbit large bone defects on the expression levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and neuropeptide-Y.METHODS: Fifty-four New Zealand rabbits were enrolled to make model of large bone defects, and then, the animal models were randomly divided into three groups, including sensory nerve tract, vascular bundle, and control groups (n=18 per group), followed by implanted with sensory nerve tracts, vascular bundle, and tissue-engineered bone without sensory tracts or vascular bundle, respectively. The defected bone received gross and Masson staining at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after modeling, to compare the expression levels of CGRP and neuropeptide-Y in each group.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: mRNA expression levels of CGRP and neuropeptide-Y in the sensory nerve tract and vascular bundle groups were significantly higher than those in the control group at different time points after modeling (P < 0.05). mRNA expression levels of CGRP and neuropeptide-Y in the tissue-engineered bone began to be increased and peaked at the 8th week, and then decreased (P < 0.05), which were the lowest at the 4th week (P < 0.05).Immunohistochemical staining results showed that CGRP was mainly found in the bridge, periosteum of newly born bones and around blood vessels; while neuropeptide-Y mainly localized in the medullary cavity and around blood vessels. These results indicate that the implantation of vascular bundle and sensory nerve tracts for bone defects can upregulate the expression levels of CGRP and neuropeptide-Y, and promote bone repair. However, sensory tract implantation may cause sensory impairment; thereafter, vascular bundle implantation is more suitable for ideal tissue-engineered construction to meet physical requirements.

BACKGROUND:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in a variety of diseases. Investigation of miRNA expression profile in degenerative lumbar scoliosis is beneficial for understanding its pathogenesis, providing a novel therapeutic target. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that miRNAs promote intervertebral disc degeneration through the interleukin-10/STAT3 signaling pathway, a potential regulator of intervertebral disc degeneration.
OBJECTIVE:To compare the differentialy expressed miRNAs in the intervertebral disc tissues from patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis and normal controls and to identify specific miRNAs in degenerative lumbar scoliosis folowed by functional validation.
METHODS: An initial screening of miRNA expression in nucleus pulposus tissues by miRNA Solexa Sequencing was performed in samples from 10 patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis and 10 controls, respectively. Subsequently, differentialy expressed miRNAs were validated using qRT-PCR. The level of differentialy expressed miRNAs in degenerative nucleus pulposus tissues was investigated. Then, functional analysis of the miRNAs in regulating type II colagen expression was carried out. Western blot and luciferase reporter assay were used to further confirm the target gene.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: We identified 30 miRNAs that were differentialy expressed (16 upregulated and 14 downregulated) in patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis compared with controls. Folowing qRT-PCR confirmation, Has-let-7f was significantly down-regulated in degenerative nucleus pulposus tissues as compared with controls. Moreover, its level was correlated with the severity of disc degeneration. Overexpression of Has-let-7f promoted type II colagen expression in nucleus pulposus cels. Knockout of interleukin-10 induced effects on nucleus pulposus cels similar to Has-let-7f. Bioinformatics target prediction identified interleukin-10 as a putative target of Has-let-7f. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that Has-let-7f altered the expression of STAT3 and matrix metaloproteinase-2. These findings indicate that the downregulation of Has-let-7f induces type II colagen loss by directly targeting inleukin-10, thereby resulting in intervertebral disc degeneration and degenerative lumbar scoliosis. Has-let-7f is likely to be a novel therapeutic target for degenerative lumbar scoliosis.

BACKGROUND:MicroRNAs are widely involved in the regulation of protein expression, and play a critical role in many physiological and pathological processes in the body. But microRNA expression profile in degenerative lumbar scoliosis is rarely reported and understood. OBJECTIVE:To compare the microRNA expression profile in the normal intervertebral disc and degenerative lumbar scoliosis and to identify degenerative lumbar scoliosis-specific microRNAs, folowed by functional validation. METHODS: Total RNA samples were extracted from the nucleus pulposus tissues of 57 patients with degenerative lumbar scoliosis as experimental groups and the normal nucleus pulposus tissues of 42 patients with lumbar fractures as control group. An initial screening of differentialy expressed microRNAs in the nucleus pulposus tissues by microRNA microarray was performed in 10 samples from each group. Subsequently, differentialy expressed microRNAs were validated using real-time quantitative RCR. The level of differentialy expressed microRNAs in the degenerative nucleus pulposus tissues was investigated. Then, the functional analysis of microRNAs in regulating colagen II expression was carried out. Western blot and luciferase reporter assay were also used to detect target genes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:We identified 22 microRNAs that were differentialy expressed (17 upregulated and 5 downregulated) in degenerative lumbar scoliosis patients compared with the controls. Folowing real-time quantitative RCR confirmation, miR-491-5p was significantly down-regulated in degenerative nucleus pulposus tissues in comparison with the controls. Moreover, its level was closely correlated with the pathological grading of disc degeneration. Overexpression of miR-491-5p promoted type II colagen expression in nucleus pulposus cels. Bioinformatics target prediction identified matrix metaloproteinase-9 as a putative target of miR-491-5p. Furthermore, luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that miR-491-5p directly targeted matrix metaloproteinase-9 and affected its protein expression in nucleus pulposus cels. These results show that the downregulation of miR-491-5p induces type II colagen loss by directly targeting matrix metaloproteinase-9, thereby resulting in degeneration of the intervertebral disc and degenerative lumbar scoliosis. This study also underscores the potential of miR-491-5p as a novel therapeutic target in degenerative lumbar scoliosis.

Objective To validate the discriminatory capacity of the new ankylosing spondylitis disease activity scores (ASDAS) in Chinese ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, and assess its clinical value. Method One hundred and twenty-nine patients with AS was included in the study, in which 87 were par-ticipat clinical trials with Etanercept (n=87) and 42 were participants of clinical trails with. The disease activity and treatment effecticacy were assessed by ASDAS, BASDAI and patient global assessment. Discriminatory ability of all the measures was analyzed as standardized mean difference (SMD) and (-score. Pearson's correlation, two indepen -dent samples t test and simple linear regression model were used for statistical analysis. Result The four ASDAS scores correlated well with patient global assessment (r=0.56～0.74), ESR (r=0.50～0.80) and CRP (r=0.50～0.69) both at baseline and the changes form baseline to 6 weeks after treatment. The four ASDAS outperformed BASDAI, patient global assessment, ESR and CRP in differentiating patients with different levels of disease activity and patients with different levels of change. There was little difference in performance between the four ASDAS versions. Conclusion The four ASDAS are highly discriminatory in evaluating the disease activity and the efficacy of drugs in Chinese AS patients, showing a significant value in clinical practice.

Objective To explore whether the respective implantation of vascular bundles and sensory nerve tracts into a tissue-engineered bone will affect the expression of CGRP (Calcitonin gene related peptide) and its receptor. Methods Fifty-four New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 3 even groups for implantation of sensory nerve tracts (group A),implantation of vascular bundles (group B),and a control group of simple tissue-engineered bone (group C) . Animals were sacrificed 4,8,12 weeks after implantation,respectively. Masson staining was conducted to observe the process of bone formation and re-molding. CGRP and CGRPR-1 expressions in the new bone were measured by immunohistochemistry and Real-time PCR at 4,8 and 12 weeks after implantation. Results At all time points,the CGRP and CGRPR-1 expressions in groups A and B were significantly higher than in group C (P<0.05),and those in group A were higher than in group B too (P<0.05) . Over time,the expressions of CGRP and CGRPR-1 mRNA in each group in the new bone tissue were gradually reduced after an initial increase. The neuropeptide expression at the 8th week was higher than those at the 4th and 12th weeks. The neuropeptide expression at the 4th week was the lowest. The expression of CGRP was mainly localized in the periphery of newly generated bone,periosteum and the blood vessels. The expression of CGRPR-1 was mainly localized in the periphery of osteoblasts. Conclusions Implantation of either vascular bundles or sensory nerve tracts can promote neuropeptide secretion. The vascular bundle implantation may result in higher expressions of CGRP and CGRPR-1 than sensory nerve tract implantation.