Vascular aging (VA) is a common etiology of various chronic diseases and represents a major public health concern. Intermittent hypoxia (IH) associated with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a primary pathological and physiological driver of OSAHS-induced systemic complications. A substantial proportion of OSAHS patients, estimated to be between 40% and 80%, have comorbidities such as hypertension, heart failure, coronary artery disease, pulmonary hypertension, atrial fibrillation, aneurysm, and stroke, all of which are closely associated with VA. This review examines the molecular and cellular features common to both OSAHS and VA, highlighting decreased melatonin secretion, impaired autophagy, increased apoptosis, increased inflammation and pyroptosis, increased oxidative stress, accelerated telomere shortening, accelerated stem cell depletion, metabolic disorders, imbalanced protein homeostasis, epigenetic alterations, and dysregulated neurohormonal signaling. The accumulation and combination of these features may underlie the pathophysiological link between OSAHS and VA, but the exact mechanisms by which OSAHS affects VA may require further investigation. Taken together, these findings suggest that OSAHS may serve as a novel risk factor for VA and related vascular disorders, and that targeting these features may offer therapeutic potential to mitigate the vascular risks associated with OSAHS.
Humans ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/pathology* ; Aging/physiology* ; Oxidative Stress/physiology* ; Animals

To establish the amplification-refractory mutation system quantitative real-time PCR (ARMS-qPCR) method based on qPCR technique for detecting the c.2T>C mutation of SLC25A13 gene and validate its diagnostic performance. According to the principle of ARMS-qPCR primer design, the specific primers were designed for the conserved sequence of SLC25A13. The c.2T>C mutation ARMS-qPCR detection assay of SLC25A13 gene and the corresponding Sanger sequencing system were established through the use of the synthetic plasmids of homozygous mutation and 200 human peripheral blood specimens which were verified by Sanger sequencing as templates, and the diagnostic efficacy of the qPCR assay was validated by using nucleic acid extracted from another 200 human peripheral blood specimens and the results obtained were compared with the Sanger sequencing results as the gold standard, and the consistency of the two detection methods was analyzed. The results showed that the qPCR assay could accurately identify artificial plasmids carrying different mutations of SLC25A13 gene, and distinguish between wild type SLC25A13 gene and the c.2T>C mutation. This method was used to detect the mutation status of SLC25A13 c.2T>C in human peripheral blood, and the detection results were 100% consistent with the Sanger sequencing results. Among the 200 blood samples, 8 samples (4%) carried the c.2T>C mutation of SLC25A13 gene and 192 samples (96%) did not carry it. In conclusion, the ARMS-qPCR test established in this study can quickly, simply and accurately detect the c.2T>C mutation of SLC25A13 gene, which is helpful for the diagnosis of citrin deficiency (CD).

To establish the amplification-refractory mutation system quantitative real-time PCR (ARMS-qPCR) method based on qPCR technique for detecting the c.2T>C mutation of SLC25A13 gene and validate its diagnostic performance. According to the principle of ARMS-qPCR primer design, the specific primers were designed for the conserved sequence of SLC25A13. The c.2T>C mutation ARMS-qPCR detection assay of SLC25A13 gene and the corresponding Sanger sequencing system were established through the use of the synthetic plasmids of homozygous mutation and 200 human peripheral blood specimens which were verified by Sanger sequencing as templates, and the diagnostic efficacy of the qPCR assay was validated by using nucleic acid extracted from another 200 human peripheral blood specimens and the results obtained were compared with the Sanger sequencing results as the gold standard, and the consistency of the two detection methods was analyzed. The results showed that the qPCR assay could accurately identify artificial plasmids carrying different mutations of SLC25A13 gene, and distinguish between wild type SLC25A13 gene and the c.2T>C mutation. This method was used to detect the mutation status of SLC25A13 c.2T>C in human peripheral blood, and the detection results were 100% consistent with the Sanger sequencing results. Among the 200 blood samples, 8 samples (4%) carried the c.2T>C mutation of SLC25A13 gene and 192 samples (96%) did not carry it. In conclusion, the ARMS-qPCR test established in this study can quickly, simply and accurately detect the c.2T>C mutation of SLC25A13 gene, which is helpful for the diagnosis of citrin deficiency (CD).

OBJECTIVE To establish a quantitative analysis model for the contents of tussilagone， moisture， ethanol-soluble extract and total ash in Farfarae Flos based on near-infrared spectroscopy （NIRS）， providing a new idea for the rapid quality evaluation of Farfarae Flos and its preparations. METHODS Referring to the 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia， the contents of the main quality control indexes tussilagone， moisture， ethanol-soluble extract and total ash in 130 batches of Farfarae Flos from 19 producing areas were determined by HPLC， drying method， hot dip method and ash assay， respectively. The NIRS data information of the medicinal herbs of Farfarae Flos was collected， and then NIRS combined with the partial least squares method was used to establish the individual quantitative analysis models of the above quality control indexes in the samples， and the predictive model of the NIRS content was obtained after sample validation with validation set. RESULTS The range for the contents of tussilagone， moisture， ethanol-soluble extract and total ash in 130 batches of Farfarae Flos were 0.051 4%-0.103 5%， 7.75%-10.93%， 20.17%-31.12%， and 7.68%-12.10%， respectively. The internal cross-validation coefficients of determination （R2） of the established models for the quantitative analysis of tussilagone， moisture， ethanol-soluble extract and total ash in Farfarae Flos were 0.985 8， 0.968 4， 0.973 4， 0.988 0， respectively； the root mean square errors of calibration （RMSEC） were 0.001 54， 0.187， 0.478， 0.127， respectively； the root mean square errors of prediction （RMSEP） were 0.001 81， 0.212， 0.543， 0.149， respectively； RMSEP/RMSEC were 1.175 3， 1.133 7， 1.136 0 and 1.173 2， respectively， which were all within a reasonable range （1＜RMSEP/RMSEC≤1.2）. The mean absolute errors between the true and model-predicted values of the above four quality control indexes in the validation set of samples were －0.000 36， 0.061 43， 0.144 00， and 0.010 43， respectively，and the mean predicted recoveries were 99.65%， 100.72%，100.66%， and 100.15%， respectively. CONCLUSIONS The established NIRS quantitative analysis model has high stability and reliable results， which can be used for the rapid batch prediction of the content of relevant quality control indexes in Farfarae Flos.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics and regularity of aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) induced by drugs containing aristolochic acid. Methods The clinical data of 111 patients with AAN induced by aristolochic acid were reviewed. The clinical features, medication and treatment of AAN were analyzed. Results Among 111 patients, there were more females than males (2.58∶1), 101 cases (90.99%) were over 50 years old； the mean age was (63.70±11.67) years old;the average duration of medication was (8.08±6.94) years. The drugs involved were Guanxinsuhe pill and Longdanxiegan pill in 106 cases (95.50%). Serum creatinine increased in 108 cases, urea nitrogen increased in 106 cases and hemoglobin decreased in 103 cases, most of which were hypogravity urine, mild to moderate proteinuria and occult blood. Ultrasonic examination revealed that the kidneys were damaged to varying degrees. Pathological biopsy of kidney showed renal tubular damage. Most patients had an insidious onset and varying degrees of progression, which were not proportional to the age and the duration of taking the medicine. In clinical, the renal function was progressively damaged, most of which were irreversible and with a poor prognosis. Conclusion Patients with renal impairment differed greatly individually, and the renal damage was not paralleled with the medication duration and dose of drugs containing aristolochic acid.AAN progressed rapidly, and the disease still progressed even after stopping taking drugs containing aristolochic acid. Strengthening pharmacovigilance, implementing early diagnosis and effective intervention could help to reduce the occurrence of AAN and attenuate its development.

Objective:To investigate the esthetic outcomes of socket-shield technique (SST) for immediate implantation in the maxillary anterior zone and its effect on gingival morphology.Methods:This case-control study included 75 patients with maxillary anterior tooth defects who were treated at Huzhou Central Hospital between January 2019 and September 2021. Based on their respective treatment methods, these patients were divided into two groups: SST implantation ( n = 30) and immediate implantation ( n = 45). All patients were followed up for 1 year. During this period, the thickness of the labial plate, pink esthetic score, probing depth, and patient satisfaction were compared between the two groups. Results:At 6 and 12 months post-surgery, the SST group exhibited significantly lower labial plate bone resorption [(0.24 ± 0.07) mm, (0.41 ± 0.10) mm] compared with the immediate implantation group [(0.56 ± 0.11) mm, (0.86 ± 0.15) mm, t = 14.12, 14.41, both P < 0.001]. Furthermore, at both time points, the SST group scored significantly higher in curvature, height, color, and texture of the labial gingival margin using the pink esthetic score scale ( t6 months = 7.13, 6.38, 5.45, 4.92; t12 months = 3.43, 2.92, 7.50, 6.25, all P < 0.05). The mesial and distal papilla scores did not differ significantly between the SST and immediate implantation groups at various time points (all P > 0.05). However, at 6 months post-surgery, the periodontal probing depth in the SST group was (1.21 ± 0.06) mm, which was significantly lower than the corresponding value of (1.92 ± 0.07) mm in the immediate implantation group ( t = 45.49, P < 0.001). By 12 months post-surgery, no significant difference in periodontal probing depth was observed between the two groups ( P > 0.05). Additionally, there was no significant difference in patient satisfaction between the SST and immediate implantation groups ( P > 0.05). Conclusion:SST effectively addresses insufficient labial bone mass and prevents bone resorption. Additionally, it is advantageous for restoring the morphology of the labial alveolar process and soft tissue level. Clinically, its application produces similar results to immediate implantation.

【Objective】 To elucidate the possible role of arginine and histidine in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia by exploring the serum levels of semi-essential amino acids (arginine and histidine) in patients with schizophrenia and their correlation with psychiatric symptoms. 【Methods】 We selected 72 inpatients with schizophrenia admitted to The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University from March 2021 to October 2022 and 72 healthy volunteers enrolled in Yanta Community during the same period as the research subjects. Serum arginine and histidine levels were measured in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls using serum liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). We used the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS) to evaluate the mental symptoms of patients with schizophrenia and analyzed the correlation of serum arginine and histidine levels with disease course, frequency of onset, and PANSS score. 【Results】 The levels of serum arginine (P<0.001) and histidine (P=0.011) in the schizophrenia group were significantly lower than those in the control group. The levels of serum arginine and histidine were significantly negatively correlated with the frequency of onset (rs=-0.410, rs=-0.262), total score of PANSS (rs=-0.298, rs=-0.256), positive factors (rs=-0.299, rs=-0.234) and cognitive impairment factors (rs=-0.251, rs=-0.296). In addition, serum arginine levels had significantly negative correlation with anxiety and depression factors (rs=-0.269, P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 The serum levels of arginine and histidine in patients with schizophrenia are significantly lower than those in healthy individuals, and are negatively correlated with overall mental symptoms, severity of positive symptoms and cognitive impairment. The severity of anxiety and depression symptoms is negatively correlated with arginine levels. The detection of serum arginine and histidine can provide reference for the diagnosis and assessment of the severity of schizophrenia in the future.

Based on the natures and flavors of herbal medicinals recorded in Shen Nong's Classic of the Materia Medica （《神农本草经》）； Miscellaneous Records of Famous Physicians （《名医别录》）， this study analyzed the characte-ristics of the natures， flavors and combination of medicinals of the two-herb compound formulas in Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases （《伤寒杂病论》）.Finally， 31 compound formulas were included， and it was found that the nature and flavor of the herbs in these two-herb compound formulas are closely related to the functions of the compound formulas， such as the common pairing of the acrid and the sweet herbs to warm yang and transform qi， the acrid and the bitter herbs in pairs to regulate and harmonize cold and heat， the sweet and the bitter in pairs to remove dampness and clear heat， the acrid and the acrid in pairs to arrest vomiting and direct qi downward， and the sour and the sweet in pairs to slow the urgent and relieve pain. Regardless of the deficiency or excess nature of the disease， the corresponding two-herb compound formulas often aim to reinforce healthy qi while eliminating pathogenic factors， with some formulas showcasing a unique correspondence between the disease pattern and the symptoms addressed.

ObjectiveTo study the correlation between the content of active ingredients of Aurantii Fructus in different main production areas and soil factors， so as to provide a theoretical basis for implementing ecological regulation of soil， improving the quality of Aurantii Fructus， and revealing the origin of genuine medicinal materials. MethodThe content of naringin， neohesperidin， total flavonoids， volatile oil， total nitrogen， total phosphorus， total potassium， and 17 soil factor-related indicators in 25 batches of Aurantii Fructus from different production areas were determined. The main soil factors affecting the content of active ingredients of Aurantii Fructus were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis， principal component analysis， and grey correlation analysis. ResultThe pH value of the soil is between 4.83 and 8.21， and the soil is weakly acidic and neutral in general. Soil fertility exceeds the average. Pearson correlation analysis shows that the soil factors most related to the four active ingredients of Aurantii Fructus are total phosphorus， available copper， available zinc， exchangeable magnesium， available sulfur， available phosphorus， and available molybdenum. Principal component analysis shows that total nitrogen， alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen， organic matter， available phosphorus， and available zinc are the main characteristic factors in soil. Grey correlation analysis shows that the main soil factors affecting the active ingredients of Aurantii Fructus are total phosphorus， total nitrogen， available zinc， available copper， exchangeable magnesium， and pH. ConclusionIn the cultivation of Aurantii Fructus， the medicinal material quality of Aurantii Fructus could be improved by adjusting the level of beneficial factors in the soil and improving the soil texture.

Objective To monitor the susceptibility of clinical isolates to antimicrobial agents in tertiary hospitals in major regions of China in 2022.Methods Clinical isolates from 58 hospitals in China were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using a unified protocol based on disc diffusion method or automated testing systems.Results were interpreted using the 2022 Clinical &Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)breakpoints.Results A total of 318 013 clinical isolates were collected from January 1,2022 to December 31,2022,of which 29.5％were gram-positive and 70.5％were gram-negative.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains in Staphylococcus aureus,Staphylococcus epidermidis and other coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species(excluding Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus schleiferi)was 28.3％,76.7％and 77.9％,respectively.Overall,94.0％of MRSA strains were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and 90.8％of MRSE strains were susceptible to rifampicin.No vancomycin-resistant strains were found.Enterococcus faecalis showed significantly lower resistance rates to most antimicrobial agents tested than Enterococcus faecium.A few vancomycin-resistant strains were identified in both E.faecalis and E.faecium.The prevalence of penicillin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae was 94.2％in the isolates from children and 95.7％in the isolates from adults.The resistance rate to carbapenems was lower than 13.1％in most Enterobacterales species except for Klebsiella,21.7％-23.1％of which were resistant to carbapenems.Most Enterobacterales isolates were highly susceptible to tigecycline,colistin and polymyxin B,with resistance rates ranging from 0.1％to 13.3％.The prevalence of meropenem-resistant strains decreased from 23.5％in 2019 to 18.0％in 2022 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and decreased from 79.0％in 2019 to 72.5％in 2022 in Acinetobacter baumannii.Conclusions The resistance of clinical isolates to the commonly used antimicrobial agents is still increasing in tertiary hospitals.However,the prevalence of important carbapenem-resistant organisms such as carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae,P.aeruginosa,and A.baumannii showed a downward trend in recent years.This finding suggests that the strategy of combining antimicrobial resistance surveillance with multidisciplinary concerted action works well in curbing the spread of resistant bacteria.