Background The impact of cold spells on population health can be categorized into an independent main effect of extreme low temperatures and an added effect of prolonged low temperatures. However, studies on the added effects of cold spells on hospitalizations remain limited. Objective To investigate the added effects of cold spells on hospitalizations of residents in Hengyang City, Hunan Province, and to provide a scientific basis for establishing a cold spell early warning system. Methods Daily meteorological data, air pollutant data, and hospitalization data from six tertiary hospitals of four districts in Hengyang City from 2017 to 2023 were collected. A generalized linear model (GLM) combined with a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was used to assess the added effects of cold spells on non-accidental hospitalizations, as well as hospitalizations for circulatory system diseases and respiratory system diseases, after controlling the main effect of temperature. The modifying effects of cold spell characteristics (intensity and duration) and individual characteristics (gender and age) were also analyzed. Results Compared with non-cold spell periods, the relative risks (RRs) of total non-accidental hospitalizations and hospitalizations across disease categories, genders, and age groups were elevated during cold spells of varying intensities and durations. However, the total effects of cold spells exhibited a "U-shape" nonlinear relationship with intensity and decreased with prolonged duration. During high-intensity cold spells (daily average temperature < P₅ and lasting ≥ 2 d), the RR (95%CI) for non-accidental hospitalizations was 1.71 (1.21, 2.42); the RRs (95%CIs) for males and females were 1.99 (1.38, 2.84) and 1.47 (1.00, 2.16), respectively; for individuals < 65 years and ≥ 65 years, the RRs (95%CIs) were 1.59 (1.12, 2.26) and 1.93 (1.27, 2.92), respectively; and for circulatory and respiratory system diseases, the RRs (95%CIs) were 1.84 (1.22, 2.79) and 1.07 (0.71, 1.60), respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed between the above subgroups. The single-day lagged effects of cold spells displayed a two-peaked pattern. The single-day lag RR for total non-accidental hospitalizations peaked at lag 1 d after cold spell exposure, declined thereafter, and began to rise again after lag 5 d, reaching a second peak at lag 12–13 d before gradually decreasing. The lagged effects remained statistically significant during lag 8–18 d. The lag patterns of cold spell associations across disease categories, genders, and age groups were largely consistent with those of total hospitalizations. Conclusion Cold spells have a significant impact on non-accidental hospitalizations of residents in Hengyang City, with notable lagged effects. The findings provide important theoretical support for establishing a more targeted cold spell early warning system.

Endothelial cells have important physiological functions and regulatory effects related to the occurrence and development of various diseases. Piezo1 is a mechanically sensitive ion channel protein, which is widely distributed in various tissues of the body and participates in the occurrence and development of various diseases. Piezo1 is highly expressed in endothelial cells and plays an important regulatory role in endothelial cell function. This article reviews the structure and function of Piezo1, the physiological function and pathological damage mechanism of endothelial cells, and the role of endothelial cell Piezo1 in various diseases, in order to understand the function and regulation mechanism of endothelial cell Piezo1, and provide new targets and strategies for the treatment of related diseases.

Objective:To compare the effects of citrate and heparin anticoagulation on coagulation function and efficacy in children with septic shock undergoing continuous blood purification (CBP), and to provide guidance for CBP anticoagulation in children with septic shock.Methods:A case control study was conducted. Thirty-seven children with septic shock admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of the First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University from July 2019 to September 2022 were enrolled as the research subjects. The patients were divided into citrate local anticoagulation group and heparin systemic anticoagulation group according to different anticoagulation methods. The baseline data, the level of coagulation indicators [prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen (Fib), D-dimer] before treatment and 1 day after weaning from CBP, serum inflammatory mediators [interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), hypersensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), procalcitonin (PCT)], bleeding complications during CBP and 7-day mortality were collected.Results:A total of 37 cases were enrolled finally, including 17 cases with citric acid local anticoagulation and 20 cases with heparin systemic anticoagulation. There was no statistically significant difference in general data such as gender, age, and body weight of children between the two groups. There were no statistically significant differences in baseline levels of coagulation indicators and inflammatory mediators before treatment of children between the two groups. One day after weaning from CBP, both groups showed varying degrees of improvement in coagulation indicators compared with those before treatment. Compared with before treatment, the PT of the heparin systemic anticoagulation group was significantly shortened after 1 day of weaning (s: 11.82±2.05 vs. 13.64±2.54), APTT and TT were significantly prolonged [APTT (s): 51.54±12.69 vs. 35.53±10.79, TT (s): 21.95±4.74 vs. 19.30±3.33], D-dimer level was significantly reduced (mg/L: 1.92±1.58 vs. 4.94±3.94), with statistically significant differences (all P < 0.05). While in the citrate local anticoagulation group, only APTT was significantly prolonged after treatment compared with that before treatment (s: 49.28±10.32 vs. 34.34±10.32, P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in other coagulation indicators compared with before treatment. Compared with the citric acid local anticoagulation group, the PT of the heparin systemic anticoagulation group was significantly shortened after treatment (s: 11.82±2.05 vs. 13.61±3.05, P < 0.05), and the D-dimer level was significantly reduced (mg/L: 1.92±1.58 vs. 3.77±2.38, P < 0.01). The levels of inflammatory mediators in both groups were significantly reduced 1 day after CBP weaning compared with those before treatment [citric acid local anticoagulation group: hs-CRP (mg/L) was 12.53±5.44 vs. 22.65±7.27, PCT (μg/L) was 1.86±1.20 vs. 3.30±2.34, IL-6 (ng/L) was 148.48±34.83 vs. 202.32±48.62, TNF-α (ng/L) was 21.38±7.71 vs. 55.14±15.07; heparin systemic anticoagulation group: hs-CRP (mg/L) was 11.82±4.93 vs. 21.62±8.35, PCT (μg/L) was 1.90±1.08 vs. 3.18±1.97, IL-6 (ng/L) was 143.81±33.41 vs. 194.02±46.89, TNF-α (ng/L) was 22.44±8.17 vs. 56.17±16.92, all P < 0.05]. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (all P > 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in bleeding complication during CBP and 7-day mortality in children between the citrate local anticoagulation group and the heparin systemic anticoagulation group (5.9% vs. 30.0%, 17.6% vs. 20.0%, both P > 0.05). Conclusions:Heparin for systemic anticoagulation and regional citrate anticoagulation can significantly reduce the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, hs-CRP and PCT in children with septic shock, and relieve inflammatory storm. Compared with citric acid local anticoagulation, heparin systemic anticoagulation can shorten the PT and reduce the level of D-dimer in children with septic shock, which may benefit in the prevention and treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).

Objective:To investigate the effects of poly(A) tails with different lengths on mRNA expression in vitro and the passage stability of transcription template with poly (A) tail in Escherichia coli ( E. coli). Methods:Plasmids with poly(A) tails of 38, 60, 103, 125 and 126 (60 nt+ 6 nt spacer+ 60 nt) nt were designed and constructed. Then the plasmids were linearized by single enzyme digestion and used as transcription template for preparing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-mRNA. EGFP-mRNA containing poly(A) tails of different lengths were transfected into 293T cells and the expression of EGFP was detected by flow cytometry. As to stability test, the template plasmids with poly (A) tail of 125 and 126 nt were transformed into E. coli TransStbl3 and Top10 competent cells. Seven clones were selected for culture and plasmid extraction, and then the plasmids were digested by restriction enzyme and detected by capillary electrophoresis. For passage stability, three correctly sequenced clones of each group were selected for continuous passage at 37℃, and the plasmids were extracted and digested every two generations for capillary electrophoresis. At the same time, the correctly sequenced clones of 125 nt group were also passaged at 30℃, and the plasmids were also extracted and digested every two generations for capillary electrophoresis. Results:The transcription templates with poly(A) tail of different lengths were successfully constructed. Flow cytometry showed that the fluorescence expression of the template plasmids with poly (A) tail of 103 and 125 nt were significantly higher than that of 38 and 60 nt. The fluorescence expression of the plasmid with poly (A) tail of 126 nt was significantly higher than that of all other groups. The percentages of stable sequences of the template plasmid with poly(A) tail of 125 nt in TransStbl3 and Top10 competent cells were 76% and 91%, respectively. The results of continuous passage showed that poly(A) tail of 125 nt could be stable to the 4th generation at 37℃ in both TransStbl3 and Top10 competent cells, and stable to the 16th and 10th generations at 30℃. The percentages of stable sequences of the template plasmid with poly(A) tail of 126 nt in TransStbl3 and Top10 competent cells were 95% and 48%, respectively. The results of continuous passage showed that poly(A) tail of 126 nt could be stable to the 12th generation at 37℃ in both TransStbl3 and Top10 competent cells.Conclusions:The length and composition of poly(A) tail in mRNA affected the expression of target protein. Adding a spacer with a length of 6 nt to poly(A) tail and low temperature culture were both helpful to improve the stability of the template plasmid, which provided a reference for the design and preparation of in vitro transcription template of mRNA vaccine.

Objective:To compare the differences of brain activation in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) under contact heat stimulation (CHS), and to explore the characteristics of pain-related brain networks in NMOSD and MS patients.Methods:Fourteen NMOSD patients (NMOSD group) and 12 MS patients (MS group) admitted to Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College from September 2022 to December 2022 who met the diagnostic criteria were collected. Twelve healthy individuals (HC group) matched with gender and age were recruited during the same period. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score was used to evaluate the pain of the subjects, CHS painful stimuli were given, and task-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans were performed at the same time, and the differences in brain activation among the 3 groups were analyzed and compared.Results:(1) Compared with the HC group, the NMOSD group had a stronger activation degree than the HC group in the brain regions including the cortex around the left distance fissure, bilateral medial superior frontal gyrus; the activation degree of the NMOSD group was weaker than that of the HC group in the brain areas including the left medial and paracingulate gyrus, right superior parietal gyrus, left postcentral gyrus, and right supplementary motor area (all P<0.05). (2) Compared with the HC group, the brain regions whose activation degree was weaker in the MS group included the left caudate nucleus, left medial and paracingulate gyrus, left paracentral lobule, right superior parietal gyrus, left postcentral gyrus, left precuneus, right supplementary motor area, right superior temporal gyrus and right thalamus, and there was no brain area in the MS group whose activation degree was stronger than that of the HC group (all P<0.05). (3) Compared with the MS group, the brain regions with stronger activation degree in the NMOSD group included the left perifissure cortex and right thalamus, but no brain regions with weaker activation degree were found in the NMOSD group (all P<0.05). (4) There was a correlation between somatic pain VAS scores and activation of the medial superior frontal gyrus in the NMOSD group ( r=0.66, P<0.05). Conclusions:The results of CHS-fMRI in the NMOSD group, MS group and HC group showed that multiple brain regions were activated, indicating that multiple brain regions were involved in the generation and processing of pain, and there was a pain-related brain network. Pain-related brain networks were altered in NMOSD patients and MS patients, and there were differences in pain-related brain networks between the two diseases.

Objective:To investigate the effects of ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) on hemodynamics in children with microtia undergoing auricular reconstruction.Methods:This research was a prospective randomized control study. Patients were prospectively recruited from March 2022 to July 2022 at the Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College. Children with microtia undergoing auricular reconstruction with costal cartilage were randomly included in either a SAPB-pre group(SAPB pre-rib harvest group) or a SAPB-post group(SAPB post-rib harvest group). Both groups of children were anesthetized with combined intravenous and inhalation anesthesia. Anesthesia maintenance was provided with i. v. propofol 4-6 mg·kg -1·h -1 and remifentanil 0.1-0.3 μg·kg -1·min -1, sevoflurane at 1% concentration, and a flow rate of 2.5 L/min. During the operation, bispectral index(BIS) was maintained between 40-60, and alterations in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were <20%, compared to the basic values. During the operation, 1% sevoflurane was inhaled to maintain anesthesia. The fluctuation of BIS, MAP, and HR was adjusted by the intraoperative infusion of remifentanil and propofol. Ultrasound-guided SAPB in the SAPB-pre group was performed by an anesthesiologist after tracheal intubation of general anesthesia. In the SAPB-post group, ultrasound-guided SAPB was performed by the same anesthesiologist before the tracheal catheter was removed at the end of the operation, and the concentration of ropivacaine was 0.25% (3 mg/kg). MAP, HR, and BIS were recorded at each time point of admission, pre-rib harvest, during-rib harvest, post-rib harvest, anesthesia extubation, leaving the room. The consumptions of propofol and remifentanil during the operation were also recorded. Continuous data were presented as Mean±SD. Non-repeated measurement parametric variables were compared using the independent samples t-test. Repeated measurement parametric variables were assessed using repeated measures analysis of variance. The same data at varying time points were compared using Dunnett- t test of multiple comparison procedures. Categorical data were compared using the Chi-square test. Results:Sixty children were randomized to SAPB-pre group and SAPB-post group and 30 in each group. The data of gender (boy 22/ girl 8 vs. boy 23/ girl 7), age[(8.03±1.07)years vs. (8.33±1.16)years], body mass index [(17.46±2.79)kg/m 2 vs. (17.23±2.11)kg/m 2], operation time[(185.33±16.29)min vs. (190.00±16.50)min] and length of costocartilage[(23.13±1.46)cm vs. (23.63±1.27)cm] between the two groups showed no significant differences ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in MAP, HR and BIS values at the time of pre-rib harvest, during-rib harvest, and post-rib harvest in the SAPB-pre group ( P>0.05). In the SAPB-post group, the fluctuations of MAP, HR and BIS values at the time of pre-rib harvest, during-rib harvest and post-rib harvest were obvious ( P<0.01). The consumptions of propofol and remifentanil during the operation in the SAPB-pre group were significantly less than that in the SAPB-post group[(555.67±150.90)mg vs. (788.50±191.02)mg, P<0.01; (745.33±183.56)μg vs. (1 080.00±247.26)μg, P<0.01]. Conclusion:Ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block can stabilize the hemodynamics during auricular reconstruction using costal cartilage and reduce the consumption of general anesthetic.

Objective:To investigate the effects of ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) on hemodynamics in children with microtia undergoing auricular reconstruction.Methods:This research was a prospective randomized control study. Patients were prospectively recruited from March 2022 to July 2022 at the Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College. Children with microtia undergoing auricular reconstruction with costal cartilage were randomly included in either a SAPB-pre group(SAPB pre-rib harvest group) or a SAPB-post group(SAPB post-rib harvest group). Both groups of children were anesthetized with combined intravenous and inhalation anesthesia. Anesthesia maintenance was provided with i. v. propofol 4-6 mg·kg -1·h -1 and remifentanil 0.1-0.3 μg·kg -1·min -1, sevoflurane at 1% concentration, and a flow rate of 2.5 L/min. During the operation, bispectral index(BIS) was maintained between 40-60, and alterations in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were <20%, compared to the basic values. During the operation, 1% sevoflurane was inhaled to maintain anesthesia. The fluctuation of BIS, MAP, and HR was adjusted by the intraoperative infusion of remifentanil and propofol. Ultrasound-guided SAPB in the SAPB-pre group was performed by an anesthesiologist after tracheal intubation of general anesthesia. In the SAPB-post group, ultrasound-guided SAPB was performed by the same anesthesiologist before the tracheal catheter was removed at the end of the operation, and the concentration of ropivacaine was 0.25% (3 mg/kg). MAP, HR, and BIS were recorded at each time point of admission, pre-rib harvest, during-rib harvest, post-rib harvest, anesthesia extubation, leaving the room. The consumptions of propofol and remifentanil during the operation were also recorded. Continuous data were presented as Mean±SD. Non-repeated measurement parametric variables were compared using the independent samples t-test. Repeated measurement parametric variables were assessed using repeated measures analysis of variance. The same data at varying time points were compared using Dunnett- t test of multiple comparison procedures. Categorical data were compared using the Chi-square test. Results:Sixty children were randomized to SAPB-pre group and SAPB-post group and 30 in each group. The data of gender (boy 22/ girl 8 vs. boy 23/ girl 7), age[(8.03±1.07)years vs. (8.33±1.16)years], body mass index [(17.46±2.79)kg/m 2 vs. (17.23±2.11)kg/m 2], operation time[(185.33±16.29)min vs. (190.00±16.50)min] and length of costocartilage[(23.13±1.46)cm vs. (23.63±1.27)cm] between the two groups showed no significant differences ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in MAP, HR and BIS values at the time of pre-rib harvest, during-rib harvest, and post-rib harvest in the SAPB-pre group ( P>0.05). In the SAPB-post group, the fluctuations of MAP, HR and BIS values at the time of pre-rib harvest, during-rib harvest and post-rib harvest were obvious ( P<0.01). The consumptions of propofol and remifentanil during the operation in the SAPB-pre group were significantly less than that in the SAPB-post group[(555.67±150.90)mg vs. (788.50±191.02)mg, P<0.01; (745.33±183.56)μg vs. (1 080.00±247.26)μg, P<0.01]. Conclusion:Ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block can stabilize the hemodynamics during auricular reconstruction using costal cartilage and reduce the consumption of general anesthetic.

Objective To assess the value of 18 F-FDG PET/CT, contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and their combination in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant pancreatic lesions. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on patients with pancreatic lesions who underwent 18 F-FDG PET/CT and contrast-enhanced ultrasound who were admitted to Tangshan Gongren Hospital from January 2015 to December 2020. The imaging results were confirmed by pathology examination to evaluate diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value. The t -test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. Results There were 83 malignant lesions and 25 benign lesions in 108 patients. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value were 86.75%, 80.00%, 85.19%, 93.51% and 64.52% for 18 F-FDG PET/CT; and 69.88%, 76.00%, 71.30%, 90.63% and 43.18% for contrast-enhanced ultrasound, respectively. The two methods differed significantly in sensitivity and accuracy (all P < 0.05), but not in specificity, negative and positive predictive value (all P > 0.05). When combined with the contrast-enhanced ultrasound, 18 F-FDG PET/CT had an increased sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value of 90.36%, 84.00%, 88.89%, 94.94% and 72.41%, respectively, though this was not statistically significant due to the increased signal of blood supply in the lesions. Conclusion 18 F-FDG PET/CT has a better performance than contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant pancreatic lesions, and their combination can improve the diagnostic value.

OBJECTIVES: Low dose computed tomography (LDCT) is the best method for early diagnosis of lung cancer. Even though it has been widely used in clinic, the selection of screening objects and the management scheme of pulmonary nodules are still not unified among research institutions. This study aims to evaluate the effect of LDCT in detection effect and follow-up process for pulmonary nodules in asymptomatic participants. METHODS: A total of 1 600 asymptomatic participants (37 to 82 years old), who came from Yantian District People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, received LDCT. The lung nodules were categorized into positive nodules and semi-positive nodules, and according to the density of positive nodules they were categorized into 4 types: solid nodules (SN), partial solid nodules (pSN), pure ground glass nodules (pGGN), and pleural nodules (PN). The number, detection rate, imaging findings, follow-up change of lung nodules, and the postoperative pathological results of positive nodules were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Lung nodules were found in 221 cases by LDCT. The total detection rate of lung nodule was 13.8% (221/1 600), and the detection rate in positive nodules was 4.9% (79/1 600). The detected nodules were mainly single (173 cases), solid (133 cases) and semi-positive nodules (142 cases). Most of nodules (177 cases) had no change in the follow-up process. The enlargement and/or increased density of nodules (5 cases) were lung cancer. Pathological results were obtained in 10 cases, 8 cases were malignant (1 small cell lung cancer and 7 adenocarcinomas), 2 cases were benign (cryptococcal infection and alveolar epithelial dysplasia). The detection rate of lung cancer was 0.5% (8/1 600), and the proportion of early lung cancer was 75% (6/8). CONCLUSIONS LDCT screening can identify and increase the detection rate in the early lung cancer, which is an effective screening method. It is safe and feasible to take regular follow-up and re-examination for nodules with diameter less than 5 mm. When the size and or density of nodule increases, it indicates the malignant prognosis of the nodule and timely clinical intervention is needed.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Early Detection of Cancer/methods* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/pathology* ; Mass Screening/methods* ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods*

Objective:To express the head domain of influenza A virus hemagglutinin (HA) in a prokaryotic expression system and to evaluate its immunogenicity.Methods:The genes encoding the HA head domains of H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses were cloned into pET-22b(+ ) prokaryotic expression plasmid. After the induction with IPTG, the fusion proteins rH1N1-HA and rH3N2-HA containing HA head domain and His-tag were expressed and obtained from E. coli BL21. SDS-PAGE and Western blot was used to verify the expression of the recombinant proteins. Rabbits were immunized with multiple doses of the purified recombinant proteins to obtain polyclonal antibodies against the HA head domains of H1N1 and H3N2. The immunogenicity of the recombinant proteins was evaluated in BALB/c mice. Results:rH1N1-HA and rH3N2-HA induced protective antibodies (geometric mean titer ≥40) in mice and could be used as protective antigens. Polyclonal antibodies against rH1N1-HA and rH3N2-HA could be used as important materials for Western blot, ELISA and other immunological assays.Conclusions:The HA head domains prepared in this study could be used as protective antigens to induce protective antibodies in mice. Polyclonal antibodies against the HA head domains could be used for immunological and serological studies of influenza A viruses.