To investigate the effects of phosphorus fertilizer on the morphological traits, active ingredients and rhizosphere soil microbial community of Polygala tenuifolia. The phosphorus fertilizer was calculated in terms of P_2O_5. Five treatments were set up: 0(CK), 17(P1), 34(P2), 51(P3), and 68(P4) kg per Mu(1 Mu≈667 m~2). A randomized block design was adopted. Samples of P. tenuifolia and its rhizosphere soil were collected under different superphosphate fertilizer treatments. Illumina high-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the rhizosphere soil microbial community, 9 morphological traits were measured and the content of 11 active ingredients were determined. The results showed that the whole plant weight, shoot fresh weight, root weight, and root peel thickness were the highest under P1 treatment, increasing by 34.41%, 38.80%, 39.21%, and 3.17% respectively compared to CK. Under P2 treatment, the plant height, stem diameter, root thickness, and core thickness were significantly higher than CK. Phosphorus fertilizer had a significant impact on the content of tenuifolin, sibiricose A5, sibiricose A6, arillanin A, 3,6'-disinapoyl sucrose, and polygalaxanthone Ⅲ. Correlation analysis results showed that the relative abundance of Arthrobacter, Bacillus, norank＿f＿Vicinamibacteraceae, norank＿o＿Vicinamibacterales, MND1 and other bacteria, as well as the relative abundance of Neocosmospora, Paraphoma and other fungi were positively correlated with root diameter, wood core diameter, the whole plant weight, root weight, shoot fresh weight of P. tenuifolia. Bacillus, Neocosmospora, Subulicystidium were significantly positively correlated with oligosaccharides such as 3,6'-disinapoyl sucrose, sibiricose A5、sibiricose A6、glomeratose A、arillanin A and tenuifoliside C. Arthrobacter, Humicola, Aspergillus, Paraphoma were positively correlated with tenuifolin and norank＿f＿Vicinamibacteraceae, norank＿o＿Vicinamibacterales, Fusarium were positively correlated with polygalaxanthone Ⅲ. Evidently, appropriate phosphorus application is conducive to the growth and quality improvement of P. tenuifolia, and can increase the abundance of beneficial microorganisms in the soil.
Rhizosphere ; Phosphorus/pharmacology* ; Soil Microbiology ; Polygala/anatomy & histology* ; Fertilizers/analysis* ; Bacteria/metabolism* ; Soil/chemistry* ; Microbiota/drug effects* ; Plant Roots/metabolism*

Objective To investigate the differential expression of miR-124-3p in peripheral blood and clinical sig-nificance of patients with β-thalassemia.Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from 33 patients with β-thalassemia and 30 healthy controls in Ningde Municipal Hospital Affiliated to Ningde Normal University from June 2021 to August 2022.The expression level of miR-124-3p was detected.Luciferase reporter gene was used to verify the interaction between miR-124-3p and ERF 3'UTR.The correlation between differential expression of miR-124-3p and β-thalassemia was analyzed and the clinical diagnostic value of miR-124-3p for β-thalassemia was eval-uated.Results Compared with healthy control individuals,the expression of miR-124-3p was significantly up-reg-ulated in patients with β-thalassemia(P＜0.001).The genotype of miR-124-3p high expression group was 84.2%β0(16/19),the genotype of low expression group was 55.6%β+(10/18).ROC curve analysis showed that miR-124-3p had predictive efficacy for β-thalassemia(AUC:0.842).Luciferase reporter gene analysis showed that ERF gene was the regulatory target of miR-124-3p.Conclusions The differential expression of miR-124-3p in patients with β-thalassemia is closely related to the genotype and clinical severity of thalassemia,and ERF is negatively reg-ulated by miR-124-3p.miR-124-3p may be an effective diagnostic biomarker for β-thalassemia.

Objective To study the levels of serum Periostin and interleukin(I1-)-18 in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD),and to analyze their correlation with the severity of the disease and their predictive value for BPD.Methods A total of 62 preterm infants with BPD diagnosed and treated in the hospital from January 2019 to January 2022 were retrospectively selected as the BPD group,and 80 preterm in-fants without BPD during the same period were selected as the non-BPD group.According to the severity of BPD,the infants with BPD were divided into mild subgroup(22 cases),moderate subgroup(24 cases)and se-vere subgroup(16 cases).The serum levels of Periostin and IL-18 were detected by enzyme-linked immu-nosorbent assay.Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between the clinical parameters.Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of BPD,and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the predictive value of each indicator for BPD.Results Compared with the non-BPD group,the BPD group had a significantly higher proportion of infants with pulmonary surfactant(PS)use,neonatal respiratory distress syndrome,apnea,patent ductus arteriosus,and serum levels of Periostin and IL-18,as well as a significantly longer duration of mechanical ventilation,noninvasive respiratory support,and length of hospital stay.The lung function parameters[tidal volume per kilogram(VT/kg),ratio of time to peak tidal expiratory flow to time(TPTEF/TE),ratio of volume to peak tidal expiratory flow to volume(VPEF/VE),expiratory flow at 50％tidal volume(50％TEF),expiratory flow at 75％tidal volume(75％TEF)]and 1,5 min Apgar score of BPD group were lower than that of non-BPD group,and the differences were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The serum levels of Periostin and IL-18 in mild subgroup,moderate subgroup and severe subgroup were increased in turn.The levels of serum Periostin and IL-18 were negatively correlated with pulmonary function indexes(VT/kg,50％TEF,75％TEF,TPTEF/TE,VPEF/VE,P＜0.05).Serum Periostin,IL-18 and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome were independent risk factors for BPD(P＜0.05),and PS was a protective factor(P＜0.05).Serum Periostin,IL-18 and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome were independent risk factors for the severity of BPD(P＜0.05).The area under the curve(95％CI)of serum Periostin and IL-18 alone and in combination for predicting BPD were 0.841(0.814-0.899),0.863(0.820-0.897),0.922(0.878-0.949),respectively.The sensitivity and specificity of combined prediction were 0.902 and 0.825,respectively.The area under the curve of the combination of the two indica-tors for predicting BPD was greater than that of each index alone,and the difference was statistically signifi-cant(Z=5.357,4.894,P＜0.001).Conclusion The levels of serum Periostin and IL-18 are increased in in-fants with BPD,which are related to the severity of BPD and lung function.The combination of serum Perios-tin and IL-18 has a high predictive value for BPD.

Objective To investigate the disease spectrum and pathogenic genes of inherited metabolic disorder(IMD)among neonates in Gansu Province of China.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the tandem mass spectrometry data of 286 682 neonates who received IMD screening in Gansu Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021.A genetic analysis was conducted on the neonates with positive results in tandem mass spectrometry during primary screening and reexamination.Results A total of 23 types of IMD caused by 28 pathogenic genes were found in the 286 682 neonates,and the overall prevalence rate of IMD was 0.63‰(1/1 593),among which phenylketonuria showed the highest prevalence rate of 0.32‰(1/3 083),followed by methylmalonic acidemia(0.11‰,1/8 959)and tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency(0.06‰,1/15 927).In this study,166 variants were identified in the 28 pathogenic genes,with 13 novel variants found in 9 genes.According to American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines,5 novel variants were classified as pathogenic variants,7 were classified as likely pathogenic variants,and 1 was classified as the variant of uncertain significance.Conclusions This study enriches the database of pathogenic gene variants for IMD and provides basic data for establishing an accurate screening and diagnosis system for IMD in this region.

Objective To explore the value of serum D-dimer(D-D),fibrinogen(FIB),platelet(PLT),C-reactive pro-tein(CRP)and tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor(PAI)-1 levels in predicting lower extremity deep vein thrombosis(DVT)after hip joint surgery in the elderly.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 165 elderly patients with hip joint surgery admitted from February 2020 to May 2022,including 89 males and 76 females,aged from 60 to 75 years old with an average of(66.43±5.48)years,and there were 102 cases of femoral neck fracture and 63 cases of femoral head necrosis.Serum levels of D-D,FIB,PLT,CRP and PAI-1 tests were performed in all patients within 24 hours after admission,and the patients were divided into DVT group and non-DVT group according to whether they developed DVT.Results The levels of D-D,FIB,PLT,CRP,and PAI-1 in the DVT group were higher than those in the non-DVT group(P＜0.001).Spearman analysis showed that DVT was positively correlated with PLT,CRP,D-D,FIB,and PAI-1 levels(r=0.382,0.213,0.410,0.310,0.353,all P＜0.001).The results of binary Logistic regression analysis showed that D-D and PLT were independent factors affecting the occurrence of DVT(OR=0.038,0.960,P=0.032,0.011).The area under curve(AUC)of D-D,FIB,PLT,CRP,PAI-1,and the five combined predictions for DVT were 0.843,0.692,0.871,0.780,0.819,and 0.960,respectively.The AUC of the five combined predictions was higher than that of the single prediction(P＜0.05).Conclusion D-D,FIB,PLT,CRP and PAI-1 are effective in predicting DVT after hip surgery in the elderly,and the combined prediction of the five factors has higher effi-cacy.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Shugan Tiaoshen acupuncture (acupuncture for soothing the liver and regulating the mentality) combined with western medication on depression and sleep quality in the patients with depression-insomnia comorbidity due to COVID-19 quarantine, and investigate the potential mechanism from the perspective of cortical excitability. METHODS: Sixty patients with depression-insomnia comorbidity due to COVID-19 quarantine were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a sham-acupuncture group, 30 cases in each one. The patients of both groups were treated with oral administration of sertraline hydrochloride tablets. In the acupuncture group, Shugan Tiaoshen acupuncture was supplemented. Body acupuncture was applied to Yintang (GV 24⁺), Baihui (GV 20), Hegu (LI 4), Zhaohai (KI 6), Qihai (CV 6), etc. The intradermal needling was used at Xin (CO₁₅), Gan (CO₁₂) and Shen (CO₁₀). In the sham-acupuncture group, the sham-acupuncture was given at the same points as the acupuncture group. The compensatory treatment was provided at the end of follow-up for the patients in the sham-acupuncture group. In both groups, the treatment was given once every two days, 3 times a week, for consecutive 8 weeks. The self-rating depression scale (SDS) and insomnia severity index (ISI) scores were compared between the two groups before and after treatment and 1 month after the end of treatment (follow-up) separately. The cortical excitability indexes (resting motor threshold [rMT], motor evoked potential amplitude [MEP-A], cortical resting period [CSP]) and the level of serum 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were measured before and after treatment in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment and in follow-up, SDS and ISI scores were decreased in both groups compared with those before treatment (P<0.05), and the scores in the acupuncture group were lower than those in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05), and the decrease range in the acupuncture group after treatment was larger than that in the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05). After treatment, rMT was reduced (P<0.05), while MEP-A and CSP were increased (P<0.05) in the acupuncture group compared with that before treatment. The levels of serum 5-HT in both groups were increased compared with those before treatment (P<0.05). The rMT in the acupuncture group was lower than that in the sham-acupuncture group, while MEP-A and CSP, as well as the level of serum 5-HT were higher in the acupuncture group in comparison with the sham-acupuncture group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION Shugan Tiaoshen acupuncture combined with western medication can relieve depression and improve sleep quality in the patients with depression-insomnia comorbidity due to COVID-19 quarantine, which is probably related to rectifying the imbalanced excitatory and inhibitory neuronal functions.
Humans ; Depression ; Quarantine ; Serotonin ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; COVID-19 ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Comorbidity

Objective:To investigate the feasibility of simultaneous arteriovenous enhancement of neck CT with two-stage injection of contrast agent and its effect on image quality and radiation dose.Methods:A total of 30 patients undergoing neck CT enhancement scan due to space-occupying lesions in Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University from February to April 2022 were prospectively included as the experimental group. The neck CT enhancement scan was performed with two-stage injection of contrast agent and arteriovenous simultaneous enhancement. The dosage of contrast agent was calculated according to the patient′s body weight, and the method of two-stage injection was adopted. The dosage of contrast agent in the first stage was 0.7 ml/kg, with normal saline in the middle stage, and the second stage (began at 35 s) was 0.3 ml/kg. A total of 30 patients with gender and age matching with the experimental group from December 2021 to January 2022 were retrospectively collected as the control group. The control group was treated with the traditional arterial phase and venous phase scanning method with the dosage of 1.0 ml/kg contrast agent. The arterial phase was scanned at the 30 s and the venous phase was scanned at the 60 s. The CT values of bilateral carotid arteries and jugular veins in the experimental group were measured, the CT values of bilateral carotid arteries in the arterial phase were measured in the control group, and the CT values of bilateral carotid arteries and jugular veins in the venous phase were measured. Carotid artery enhancement score was performed for images of experimental group and control group in arterial and venous phase, and jugular vein and lesion enhancement score was performed for images of experimental group and control group in venous phase. The effective dose was calculated for both groups. The difference of carotid artery CT values between images was compared by one-way analysis of variance, and LSD method was used for pairwise comparison. The CT values of jugular vein were compared using independent sample t test. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare carotid artery enhancement scores, and Nemenyi method was used for pairwise comparison. Jugular vein and lesion enhancement scores and effective dose were compared by Mann-Whitney U test. Results:The CT value of carotid artery of experimental group [left (276±24) HU, right (273±25) HU] was lower than that of control group in arterial phase [left (329±33) HU, right (327±32) HU], and higher than that in the venous phase [left (147±15) HU, right (148±16) HU]. All the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.001). The CT value of jugular vein of experimental group [left (206±18) HU, right (203±19)] was higher than that of control group in the venous phase [left (154±15) HU, right (151±15)], the difference was statistically significant ( t=11.88, 11.76, both P<0.001). There was no significant difference in carotid artery enhancement score between experimental group and control group in arterial phase ( P=0.624), but the carotid artery enhancement score of the experimental group was higher than that of the control group in the venous phase, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). The scores of jugular vein and lesion enhancement in experimental group were higher than those of control group in venous phase, and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=5.01, P<0.001). The effective dose of the experimental group [2.41(2.04, 2.72) mSv] was decreased by 52.2% compared with the control group [5.04(4.18, 5.44) mSv], and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=-6.24, P<0.001). Conclusions:The neck CT enhanced scan with two-stage injection of contrast agent and arteriovenous simultaneous enhancement method can obtain comprehensive images of arterial and venous phases, and realize simultaneous enhancement of carotid artery, jugular vein and lesions, and reduce radiation dose.

BACKGROUND: Clinical outcomes are poor if patients with acute heart failure (AHF) are discharged with residual congestion in the presence of renal dysfunction. However, there is no single indication to reflect the combined effects of the two related pathophysiological processes. We, therefore, proposed an indicator, congestion and renal index (CRI), and examined the associations between the CRI and one-year outcomes and the incremental prognostic value of CRI compared with the established scoring systems in a multicenter prospective cohort of AHF. METHODS: We enrolled AHF patients and calculated the ratio of thoracic fluid content index divided by estimated glomerular filtration rate before discharge, as CRI. Then we examined the associations between CRI and one-year outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 944 patients were included in the analysis (mean age 63.3 ± 13.8 years, 39.3% women). Compared with patients with CRI ≤ 0.59 mL/min per kΩ, those with CRI > 0.59 mL/min per kΩ had higher risks of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization (HR = 1.56 [1.13-2.15]) and all-cause death or all-cause hospitalization (HR = 1.33 [1.01-1.74]). CRI had an incremental prognostic value compared with the established scoring system. CONCLUSIONS In patients with AHF, CRI is independently associated with the risk of death or hospitalization within one year, and improves the risk stratification of the established risk models.

Objective: To compare the 5-year follow-up outcomes of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) combined with left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) and long-term oral anticoagulant (OAC) after RFCA in patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent"one-stop"procedure in the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University from September 2015 to December 2017 (RFCA+LAAC group). Baseline data of patients were collected. Propensity score matching at the ratio of 1∶1 was used to select patients with atrial fibrillation who took long-term OAC after RFCA (RFCA+OAC group). The maintenance rate of sinus rhythm and the incidence of adverse events during follow-up were compared between the two groups. Results: A total of 110 patients were enrolled in the RFCA+LAAC group and RFCA+OAC group, respectively. Age of patients was (67.4±8.8) years in RFCA+LAAC group, and there were 42 (38.2%) female patients. Age of patients was (67.3±7.9) years in RFCA+OAC group, and there were 47 (42.7%) female patients. The patients were followed up for mean of (5.3±1.1) years. There was no significant difference in the maintenance rate of sinus rhythm (log-rank: χ²=0.277, P=0.602) and incidence of ischemic stroke events (2.7% (3/110) vs. 4.5% (5/110), P=0.719) during follow-up between the two groups. The incidence of bleeding events (6.4% (7/110) vs. 18.2% (20/110), P=0.008) and major bleeding events (1.8% (2/110) vs. 8.2% (9/110), P=0.030) was significantly higher in the RFCA+OAC group than in the RFCA+LAAC group. Conclusion: There is no significant difference between RFCA+LAAC group and RFCA+OAC group in maintenance rate of sinus rhythm and incidence of ischemic stroke events. Patients in the RFCA+LAAC group have a lower risk of bleeding events compared to the RFCA+OAC group.
Humans ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Male ; Atrial Fibrillation/surgery* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Anticoagulants/therapeutic use* ; Catheter Ablation ; Ischemic Stroke

Objective: To compare the 5-year follow-up outcomes of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) combined with left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) and long-term oral anticoagulant (OAC) after RFCA in patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent"one-stop"procedure in the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University from September 2015 to December 2017 (RFCA+LAAC group). Baseline data of patients were collected. Propensity score matching at the ratio of 1∶1 was used to select patients with atrial fibrillation who took long-term OAC after RFCA (RFCA+OAC group). The maintenance rate of sinus rhythm and the incidence of adverse events during follow-up were compared between the two groups. Results: A total of 110 patients were enrolled in the RFCA+LAAC group and RFCA+OAC group, respectively. Age of patients was (67.4±8.8) years in RFCA+LAAC group, and there were 42 (38.2%) female patients. Age of patients was (67.3±7.9) years in RFCA+OAC group, and there were 47 (42.7%) female patients. The patients were followed up for mean of (5.3±1.1) years. There was no significant difference in the maintenance rate of sinus rhythm (log-rank: χ²=0.277, P=0.602) and incidence of ischemic stroke events (2.7% (3/110) vs. 4.5% (5/110), P=0.719) during follow-up between the two groups. The incidence of bleeding events (6.4% (7/110) vs. 18.2% (20/110), P=0.008) and major bleeding events (1.8% (2/110) vs. 8.2% (9/110), P=0.030) was significantly higher in the RFCA+OAC group than in the RFCA+LAAC group. Conclusion: There is no significant difference between RFCA+LAAC group and RFCA+OAC group in maintenance rate of sinus rhythm and incidence of ischemic stroke events. Patients in the RFCA+LAAC group have a lower risk of bleeding events compared to the RFCA+OAC group.
Humans ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Male ; Atrial Fibrillation/surgery* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Anticoagulants/therapeutic use* ; Catheter Ablation ; Ischemic Stroke