Objective:To investigate the drug resistance gene characteristics, plasmid characteristics and genome tracing of Shigella sonnei causing a bacillary dysentery outbreak in Shandong Province. Methods:Sixty-five Shigella sonnei strains isolated from a 2021 outbreak in a county of Shandong Province were analyzed using antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole genome sequencing (WGS), characterization of resistance and virulence genes, plasmid profiling, core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST), and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis. Results:All isolates had the same resistance phenotype and genotypes and were multidrug-resistant ESBL-producing Shigella sonnei, carrying important virulence genes. Plasmid analysis revealed a conserved genetic arrangement, pil( M/ N/ O2/ P)-tra( F/ H/ J/ K/ N/ O/ P/ Q)-IS Ecp1- blaCTX-M-14-Tn 903- yub( J/ I/ F/ G/ E/ D), and shared across strains from diverse regions and bacterial species. The cgMLST and SNP analyses demonstrated concordant clustering, with all 65 outbreak-related strains forming a single cluster alongside human-derived strains from Guangxi. Conclusion:The ESBL-producing Shigella sonnei responsible for the outbreak shares a homologous relationship with Guangxi human-derived strains, and the detected resistance plasmids and virulence genes underscore the need to strengthen drug resistance surveillance and genome tracing.

ObjectiveTo investigate the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and the level of serum homocysteine (Hcy) in association with the incidence of stroke in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. MethodsBased on the chronic disease risk factor surveillance cohort in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, excluding those with stroke in baseline survey, T2DM patients who joined the cohort from January 2016 to October 2020 were selected as the research subjects. During the follow-up period, a total of 318 new-onset ischemic stroke patients were selected as the case group, and a total of 318 individuals matched by gender without stroke were selected as the control group. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to adjust for confounding factors and explore the serum TyG index and the Hcy biochemical indicator in association with the risk of stroke. ResultsThe Cox proportional hazards regression results showed that after adjusting for confounding factors, the risk of stroke in T2DM patients with 10 μmol·L⁻¹-¹ and Hcy>15 μmol·L⁻¹ was 1.532 times (95%CI: 1.017‒2.309 times, P=0.041) and 1.738 times (95%CI: 1.119‒2.699 times, P=0.014) higher respectively, compared to T2DM patients with Hcy≤10 μmol·L⁻¹. T2DM patients with TyG>9.074 had 1.396 times higher risk of stroke (95%CI: 1.091‒1.787, P=0.008) compared to those with TyG≤9.074. The study found that urea and α1-antitrypsin (α1-AT) were independent risk factors for the incidence of stroke in T2DM patients. For every unit increase in urea andα1-AT, the risk of stroke in T2DM patients increased by 233.6% (HR=3.336, 95%CI: 1.588‒7.009, P=0.001) and 11.3% (HR=1.113, 95%CI: 1.028‒1.205, P=0.008), respectively. Cumulative risk curves showed that Hcy>10 μmol·L⁻¹ and TyG>9.074 accelerated the time to stroke occurrence in T2DM patients. ConclusionElevated levels of Hcy>10 μmol·L⁻¹ and a higher TyG index are risk factors for stroke in T2DM patients. Effective interventions for Hcy and TyG should be conducted for diabetic patients to reduce the incidence of stroke.

Objective To investigate the potential mechanism of miR-21-5p in alleviating cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by targeting STAT3.Methods The HT22 cells were induced by OGD/R to construct a cell model of cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury.The expression of miR-21-5p was detected by RT-qPCR.The CCK-8 assay,TUNEL staining and flow cytometry were respectively used to detect the cell viability and apoptosis.ELISA assay was used to determine the contents of inflammatory factors IL-6,IL-10 and TNF-α in the cell supernatant.Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of p-STAT3/STAT3,Cleaved-Caspase-3,Bax and Bcl-2 proteins.The TargetScan database was used to predict the binding sites of miR-21-5p and STAT3.The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verify the targeting relationship between miR-21-5p and STAT3.Results The relative expression level of miR-21-5p was down-regulated in HT22 cells which induced by OGD/R(P<0.001).The cell viability(P<0.0001)was decreased and the apoptosis rate(P<0.001)was increased in OGD/R induced-HT22 cells.The contents of pro-inflammatory factors IL-6(P<0.001)and TNF-α(P<0.001)was increased,while the content of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10(P<0.001)decreased.After transfection with miR-21-5p mimic,cell viability was enhanced,apoptosis rate was reduced and neuroinflammation was inhibited.MiR-21-5p could target and bind to STAT3.After miR-21-5p inhibitor transfection,cell viability decreased,apoptosis was promoted,and neuroinflammation occurred;STAT3 inhibitor Stattic could reverse the effect of miR-21-5p inhibitor.Conclusion MiR-21-5p could specifically bind to STAT3 and reduce the neuroinflammation and apoptosis of OGD/R induced-HT22 cells.

The cultivation of top innovative nursing talents with Chinese characteristics in the new era lends critical support to the accomplishment of the strategic goal of the Healthy China Initiative.Herein,we reviewed the historical development of nursing science in China,clarified the conceptual framework of nursing science with Chinese characteristics in the new era,and identified the essential qualities and competencies required for top innovative nursing talents.Furthermore,we analyzed the mission and challenges in cultivating these nursing talents,and put forward new approaches,including formulating new ethics and political education theories specific to nursing science with Chinese characteristics,establishing a cross-disciplinary educational model of Nursing+X,and creating a new nursing talent cultivation ecosystem adapted to the era of human-machine symbiosis.This study provides theoretical insights into the cultivation of top innovative nursing talents who align their development well with national strategic needs,embody patriotism,and possess a strong sense of contemporary responsibility.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of a low-fluence Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser combined with light-emitting diode (LED) phototherapy in the treatment of melasma.Methods:A total of 46 female patients with melasma, with age ranging from 30 to 58 (41.4±5.8) years, were retrospectively collected from August 2022 to February 2024 at the Department of Plastic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University. The patients were divided into two groups according to the treatment method. The experimental group received low-fluence Q-switched Nd:YAG laser treatment combined with LED phototherapy ( n=23), whereas the control group received low-fluence Q-switched Nd:YAG laser treatment alone ( n=23). The treatment interval for both groups was 4 weeks, and a total of four treatments were conducted. Treatment efficacy was evaluated at the 12-week follow-up after completion of the entire treatment course. Pre-treatment and post-treatment melasma area and severity index (MASI) scores were compared between the two groups. The pain visual analog scale (VAS) score was obtained immediately after each treatment. The occurrence of adverse reactions after treatment, including blisters, persistent erythema, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, and scarring, was recorded in both groups. Results:The efficacy rates in the experimental and control groups were 87% (20/23) and 82.61% (19/23), respectively, with no statistically significant difference between them ( P=1.000). The pre-treatment MASI scores of the experimental and control groups were (24.60±8.69) and (21.48±9.01) scores, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between them ( P=0.239). The post-treatment MASI scores of the experimental group was (7.70±4.36) scores, which was significantly lower than that of the control group [(16.34±7.29) scores, P<0.001). In both groups, the post-treatment MASI scores were significantly lower than the pre-treatment MASI scores (all P<0.001). Both groups experienced mild pain during the treatment. The VAS scores for pain during laser treatment in the experimental and control groups were (1.78±0.90) and (1.61±0.89) scores, respectively, with no statistically significant differences between them ( P=0.514). In the experimental group, the VAS score for pain was zero during LED phototherapy, indicating no increase in pain. No adverse reactions such as blisters, persistent erythema, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, or scarring were observed in either group. Conclusion:Low-fluence Q-switched Nd:YAG laser combined with LED phototherapy can effectively improve the efficacy of melasma treatment, without increasing pain or any other serious adverse effects during or after therapy.

Objective:To investigate the drug resistance gene characteristics, plasmid characteristics and genome tracing of Shigella sonnei causing a bacillary dysentery outbreak in Shandong Province. Methods:Sixty-five Shigella sonnei strains isolated from a 2021 outbreak in a county of Shandong Province were analyzed using antimicrobial susceptibility testing, whole genome sequencing (WGS), characterization of resistance and virulence genes, plasmid profiling, core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST), and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis. Results:All isolates had the same resistance phenotype and genotypes and were multidrug-resistant ESBL-producing Shigella sonnei, carrying important virulence genes. Plasmid analysis revealed a conserved genetic arrangement, pil( M/ N/ O2/ P)-tra( F/ H/ J/ K/ N/ O/ P/ Q)-IS Ecp1- blaCTX-M-14-Tn 903- yub( J/ I/ F/ G/ E/ D), and shared across strains from diverse regions and bacterial species. The cgMLST and SNP analyses demonstrated concordant clustering, with all 65 outbreak-related strains forming a single cluster alongside human-derived strains from Guangxi. Conclusion:The ESBL-producing Shigella sonnei responsible for the outbreak shares a homologous relationship with Guangxi human-derived strains, and the detected resistance plasmids and virulence genes underscore the need to strengthen drug resistance surveillance and genome tracing.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of a low-fluence Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser combined with light-emitting diode (LED) phototherapy in the treatment of melasma.Methods:A total of 46 female patients with melasma, with age ranging from 30 to 58 (41.4±5.8) years, were retrospectively collected from August 2022 to February 2024 at the Department of Plastic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University. The patients were divided into two groups according to the treatment method. The experimental group received low-fluence Q-switched Nd:YAG laser treatment combined with LED phototherapy ( n=23), whereas the control group received low-fluence Q-switched Nd:YAG laser treatment alone ( n=23). The treatment interval for both groups was 4 weeks, and a total of four treatments were conducted. Treatment efficacy was evaluated at the 12-week follow-up after completion of the entire treatment course. Pre-treatment and post-treatment melasma area and severity index (MASI) scores were compared between the two groups. The pain visual analog scale (VAS) score was obtained immediately after each treatment. The occurrence of adverse reactions after treatment, including blisters, persistent erythema, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, and scarring, was recorded in both groups. Results:The efficacy rates in the experimental and control groups were 87% (20/23) and 82.61% (19/23), respectively, with no statistically significant difference between them ( P=1.000). The pre-treatment MASI scores of the experimental and control groups were (24.60±8.69) and (21.48±9.01) scores, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between them ( P=0.239). The post-treatment MASI scores of the experimental group was (7.70±4.36) scores, which was significantly lower than that of the control group [(16.34±7.29) scores, P<0.001). In both groups, the post-treatment MASI scores were significantly lower than the pre-treatment MASI scores (all P<0.001). Both groups experienced mild pain during the treatment. The VAS scores for pain during laser treatment in the experimental and control groups were (1.78±0.90) and (1.61±0.89) scores, respectively, with no statistically significant differences between them ( P=0.514). In the experimental group, the VAS score for pain was zero during LED phototherapy, indicating no increase in pain. No adverse reactions such as blisters, persistent erythema, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, or scarring were observed in either group. Conclusion:Low-fluence Q-switched Nd:YAG laser combined with LED phototherapy can effectively improve the efficacy of melasma treatment, without increasing pain or any other serious adverse effects during or after therapy.

This study investigated the etiological characteristics and whole genome sequencing of clostridium perfringens (CP) from a food poisoning outbreak. Multiplex real-time PCR was employed to screen pathogens in collected samples. Based on the preliminary screening results, the isolation, cultivation, and identification of suspected pathogenic CP bacteria were performed. The nucleic acid tests were conducted for CP-related virulence genes on CP isolates, anal swab specimens and food samples. The molecular typing of CP isolates was analyzed by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). A phylogenetic tree was established to analyze nucleotide and amino acid homology after sequencing the PLC gene. The whole genome sequencing and gene annotation on the representative strain QD2022FB4-CP4 were performed to explore its drug resistance, toxin genes and biological characteristics. The analysis revealed that the food poisoning was triggered by F-type Clostridium perfringens, which infected the consumers by contaminating‘roujiamo’ sandwiches. The whole genome sequencing of the strain QD2022FB4-CP found that it had active metabolic processes, multiple virulence genes and multidrug resistance characteristics.

To summarize the clinical features of pancreatic tuberculosis, analyze its endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) findings, aspiration histopathology and etiological results, the medical history, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, imaging findings, EUS findings, pathological and etiological results of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) biopsy, of 14 patients with pancreatic tuberculosis in Wuhan Union Hospital from January 2018 to January 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Among the patients with pancreatic tuberculosis, 7 were male and 7 were female with the age of 39.7±16.0 years. The main clinical manifestations were abdominal distention, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal mass, obstructive jaundice, skin pruritus, asymptomatic. Seven patients with pancreatic tuberculosis were complicated with tuberculosis in other organs, including 3 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Laboratory examination results showed 7 patients with anemia, 3 with elevated serum amylase, 2 with elevated bilirubin and 10 with positive anti-tuberculosis antibody, 12 positive for tuberculosis T-SPOT. Levels of CA19-9 in all patients were within normal range. Imaging examination results showed that 9 cases were solid mass, 4 cystic solid mass, 1 cystic mass, 4 with enlarged peripancreatic lymph node, and 2 with dilated bile duct. EUS showed that head of pancreas was the most common location of pancreatic tuberculosis. All the lesions were hyperechoic without vascular invasion, including 8 cases with homogeneous hyperecho, 6 cases with inhomogeneous hyperecho, 2 cases with hyperechoic calcification and 1 case of echoless colliquative necrosis area. The diameter of the mass was 3.9±1.6 cm, with 5 cases <3 cm and 9 cases ≥3 cm. Pathological biopsy showed 12 cases of caseous granuloma. Etiological examination results showed that 11 cases were positive for polymerase chain reaction for mycobacterium tuberculosis, 3 positive for acid-fast stain, 1 positive for culture. All the patients were treated with regular anti-tuberculosis drugs, and 3 patients with jaundice were treated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and biliary stent placement. All patients showed good prognosis during the follow-up period. For patients with pancreatic space-occupying lesions, the possibility of pancreatic tuberculosis should be considered. The current diagnostic method relies on tissue biopsy and aetiological examination. EUS-FNA is the preferred method for obtaining pancreatic tissue to avoid unnecessary surgery, and to provide timely and accurate diagnosis. Regular anti-tuberculosis treatment is the main treatment for pancreatic tuberculosis.

This study investigated the etiological characteristics and whole genome sequencing of clostridium perfringens (CP) from a food poisoning outbreak. Multiplex real-time PCR was employed to screen pathogens in collected samples. Based on the preliminary screening results, the isolation, cultivation, and identification of suspected pathogenic CP bacteria were performed. The nucleic acid tests were conducted for CP-related virulence genes on CP isolates, anal swab specimens and food samples. The molecular typing of CP isolates was analyzed by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). A phylogenetic tree was established to analyze nucleotide and amino acid homology after sequencing the PLC gene. The whole genome sequencing and gene annotation on the representative strain QD2022FB4-CP4 were performed to explore its drug resistance, toxin genes and biological characteristics. The analysis revealed that the food poisoning was triggered by F-type Clostridium perfringens, which infected the consumers by contaminating‘roujiamo’ sandwiches. The whole genome sequencing of the strain QD2022FB4-CP found that it had active metabolic processes, multiple virulence genes and multidrug resistance characteristics.