OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects and potential mechanism of Qiangxin decoction on mitochondrion of rats with chronic heart failure （CHF）. METHODS The CHF model was established by ligating the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery. Modeled rats were divided into model group， Qiangxin decoction low-dose and high-dose groups （12.25， 24.50 g/kg， calculated by crude drug）， and chemical medicine group （Sacubitril valsartan sodium tablets， 10.42 mg/kg）， with 10 rats in each group； control group was set up without treatment. Each group of rats was orally administered with the corresponding medication or normal saline twice a day for 28 consecutive days. After the last medication， the contents of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide （NT-proBNP） and adenosine triphosphate （ATP） in serum and phosphatidic acid （PA） and cardiolipin （CL） in myocardial tissue were all detected； the pathological damage and collagen fibrosis of rat myocardial tissue were observed； the apoptosis of myocardial cells was determined； the ultrastructure of myocardial tissue was observed； the protein expressions of mitofusin 1 （Mfn1）， Mfn2， optic atrophy protein 1 （OPA1） and dynamin-related protein 1 （Drp1） were all detected in myocardial tissue. RESULTS Compared with control group，the serum content of NT-proBNP， apoptotic rate of myocardial cells， and relative expressions of S-OPA1 and Drp1 proteins were all increased significantly； serum content of ATP，contents of PA and CL， and relative expressions of Mfn1， Mfn2 and L-OPA1 proteins were all significantly reduced （P＜0.05）. There were abnormal membrane tissue structure in various layers of myocardial tissue， degeneration and necrosis of myocardial cells， and severe fibrosis； the mitochondria were swollen， with reduced or absent cristae， and uneven matrix density. After intervention with Qiangxin decoction， the levels of the aforementioned quantitative indicators in serum and myocardial tissue of rats （excluding CL content in the Qiangxin decoction low- dose group） were significantly reversed （P＜0.05）； the pathological damage of myocardial tissue had significantly improved， fibrosis had significantly reduced， mitochondrial morphology tended to be normal， cristae had increased， and matrix density was uniform. CONCLUSIONS Qiangxin decoction can regulate myocardial mitochondrial function and structural integrity of CHF rats， thereby improving myocardial energy metabolism and antagonizing myocardial fibrosis， the mechanism of which may be associated with activating PA/Mfn/CL signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects and potential mechanism of Qiangxin decoction on mitochondrion of rats with chronic heart failure （CHF）. METHODS The CHF model was established by ligating the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery. Modeled rats were divided into model group， Qiangxin decoction low-dose and high-dose groups （12.25， 24.50 g/kg， calculated by crude drug）， and chemical medicine group （Sacubitril valsartan sodium tablets， 10.42 mg/kg）， with 10 rats in each group； control group was set up without treatment. Each group of rats was orally administered with the corresponding medication or normal saline twice a day for 28 consecutive days. After the last medication， the contents of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide （NT-proBNP） and adenosine triphosphate （ATP） in serum and phosphatidic acid （PA） and cardiolipin （CL） in myocardial tissue were all detected； the pathological damage and collagen fibrosis of rat myocardial tissue were observed； the apoptosis of myocardial cells was determined； the ultrastructure of myocardial tissue was observed； the protein expressions of mitofusin 1 （Mfn1）， Mfn2， optic atrophy protein 1 （OPA1） and dynamin-related protein 1 （Drp1） were all detected in myocardial tissue. RESULTS Compared with control group，the serum content of NT-proBNP， apoptotic rate of myocardial cells， and relative expressions of S-OPA1 and Drp1 proteins were all increased significantly； serum content of ATP，contents of PA and CL， and relative expressions of Mfn1， Mfn2 and L-OPA1 proteins were all significantly reduced （P＜0.05）. There were abnormal membrane tissue structure in various layers of myocardial tissue， degeneration and necrosis of myocardial cells， and severe fibrosis； the mitochondria were swollen， with reduced or absent cristae， and uneven matrix density. After intervention with Qiangxin decoction， the levels of the aforementioned quantitative indicators in serum and myocardial tissue of rats （excluding CL content in the Qiangxin decoction low- dose group） were significantly reversed （P＜0.05）； the pathological damage of myocardial tissue had significantly improved， fibrosis had significantly reduced， mitochondrial morphology tended to be normal， cristae had increased， and matrix density was uniform. CONCLUSIONS Qiangxin decoction can regulate myocardial mitochondrial function and structural integrity of CHF rats， thereby improving myocardial energy metabolism and antagonizing myocardial fibrosis， the mechanism of which may be associated with activating PA/Mfn/CL signaling pathway.

Aim To explore the improvement effect of Bazi Bushen capsule on thymic degeneration in SAMP6 mice and the possible mechanism.Methods Twenty 12 week old male SAMP6 mice were randomly divided into the model group(SAMP6)and the Bazi Busheng capsule treatment group(SAMP6+BZBS).Ten SAMR1 mice were assigned to a homologous control group(SAMR1).The SAMP6+BZBS group was oral-ly administered Bazi Bushen capsule suspension(2.8 g·kg-1)daily,while the other two groups were orally administered an equal amount of distilled water.After nine weeks of administration,the morphology of the thymus in each group was observed and the thymus in-dex was calculated;HE staining was used to observe the structural changes of thymus tissue;SA-β-gal stai-ning was used to detect thymic aging;flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of thymic CD3+T cells in each group;Western blot was used to detect the levels of p16,Bax,Bcl-2,and cleaved caspase-3 proteins in thymus;immunofluorescence was applied to detect the proportion of cortical thymic epithelial cells in each group;ELISA was employed to detect IL-7 lev-els in thymus.Results Compared with the SAMP6 group,the thymic index of the SAMP6+BZBS group significantly increased(P＜0.05);the disordered thy-mic structure was significantly improved;the positive proportion of SA-β-gal staining significantly decreased(P＜0.01);the proportion of CD3+T cells apparently increased(P＜0.05);the level of p16 protein signifi-cantly decreased(P＜0.05);the level of Bcl-2 pro-tein significantly increased(P＜0.05),while the lev-el of cleaved caspase-3 protein markedly decreased(P＜0.05);the proportion of cortical thymic epithelial cells evidently increased;the level of IL-7 significantly increased(P＜0.01).Conclusions Bazi Bushen capsule can delay thymic degeneration,inhibit cell ap-optosis in thymus and promote thymic cell development in SAMP6 mice,which may be related to increasing the proportion of cortical thymic epithelial cells and promoting IL-7 secretion.

Here,5 important pathogens carried by ticks in Maanshan City,Anhui Province,China were identified.In to-tal,642 ticks were collected from 13 villages around Maanshan City and identified by morphological and mitochondrial COI genes.The 16S rRNA gene of Francisella tularensis,ssrA gene of Bartonella,16S rRNA,ompA and ompB genes of Rickett-sia,16S rRNA and gltA genes of Anaplasma,and groEL and rpoB genes of Coxiella were sequenced.Reference sequences were retrieved from a public database.Phylogenetic trees were constructed with MEG A1 1.0 software.In total,36 Rickettsiae isolates were detected in 640 Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks,which included 20 isolates of Rickettsia heilongjian-gensis,16 of Candidatus Rickettsia jingxinensis,2 of Ana-plasma bovis,and 186 of Coxiella-like endosymbiont.R.hei-longjiangensis HY2 detected in this study and Anhui B8 strain,Ca.R.jingxinensis QL3 and those from Shanxi Prov-ince and Jiangsu Province,A.bovis JX4 and those from Shanxi Province were clustered on the same branch.Overall,17 ticks had combined infections and none of the 5 bacteria were detected in two Amblyomma testudinarium ticks.This is the first report of Ca.R.jingxinensis detected in H.longicornis ticks from Anhui Province.It is recommended that the two types of Rickettsia that cause spotted fever and A.bovis should be reported to local health authorities to initiate appropriate prevention and control measures.

This study was aimed at examining the influence of meteorological factors on scrub typhus in Xiamen.Scrub ty-phus monitoring data and meteorological factors were collected in Xiamen from 2005 to 2023.Spearman correlation analysis and nonlinear regression were used to analyze the correlation between scrub typhus incidence and meteorological factors.The inci-dence of scrub typhus first increased and subsequently decreased in Xiamen from 2005 to 2023.The highest incidence was be-tween 2014 and 2016,and the peak incidence was from June to October.The monthly incidence of scrub typhus positively cor-related with daily minimum temperature(r=0.637,P＜0.001,daily average temperature(r=0.627,P＜0.001),daily maxi-mum temperature(r=0.612,P＜0.001),sunshine duration(r=0.405,P＜0.001),average relative humidity(r=0.346,P＜0.001),and daily rainfall(r=0.207,P=0.002),and negatively correlated with average atmospheric pressure(r=-0.549,P＜0.001),whereas no correlation was observed with the average wind speed in Xiamen.The regression equation of scrub ty-phus monthly incidence and meteorological parameters was y=-433.869-11.503x1+0.381x1 2+9.150x2-0.197x2 2+3.936 x3-0.132x3 2+0.881x4+0.035x4 2-1.048x5+0.009x5 2+0.186x6-0.023x6 2+0.421x7+6.210×10-5x8-1.051 × 10-10x8 2 in Xiamen,and the R2 was 0.473,thus indicating good model fit.Scrub typhus incidence correlated with the daily minimum av-erage temperature,average temperature,daily maximum tem-perature,sunshine duration,daily rainfall,relative humidity,and average atmospheric pressure in Xiamen.Various meteoro-logical factors had differing effects on scrub typhus.

In order to establish a rapid,specific and sensitive detection method for Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus(SEZ)and to understand the infection status of SEZ in horses ente-ring China,specific primers were designed and synthesized based on the conserved gene comB of standard strain SEZ(ATCC 43079)in this work.Then,the pMD19-T-comB recombinant plasmid was constructed and used as a standard positive template.After that,the fluorescence-based quantitative PCR(qPCR)detection method based on SYBR Green Ⅰ dye was established.Totally,477 equine entry serum samples from 6 countries,including Netherlands,Belgium,Japan,Germa-ny,Argentina and New Zealand,during 2018 to 2023,were randomly selected and detected for SEZ by the qPCR method.Results showed that the established qPCR method had specific amplification for only SEZ,which illustrated a good specificity.Sensitivity test of the method showed that the limited detection amount was 4.58 X101 copies/μL.And the repeatability test showed that the coef-ficient of variation of intra-batch repeatability was less than 0.5％,while the inter-batch repeat-ability was less than 3.0％,which indicated good repeatability and high stability.Retrospective a-nalysis showed that totally 11 of 477 positive samples were detected,with a relatively low positive rate of 2.31％(11/477).Among them,all the 40 samples from Netherlands in 2018 were negative(0/40).In the samples of 2019,one positive was detected from Belgium(1/20),while all other 36 samples which form Japan and Germany were negative.In the samples of 2021,three samples(3/34)from Japan and one sample(1/20)from Argentina were positive,and all the other 40 samples from the Netherlands were negative.In the samples of 2022,76 samples from Netherlands were all negative.While in the 2023,5(5/126)of 126 samples from Netherlands and one(1/88)of 88 from New Zealand were found positive with SEZ.To summarize,The SYBR Green Ⅰ qPCR method for the diagnosis of SEZ was successfully established,and it could provide necessary technical support for the rapid quarantine of China's entry-exit and port departments,as well as the epidemiological investigation of the disease.

Objective:To explore the involvement of miR-126 and the role of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/hypoxia-induced factor 1 α (HIF-1 α) pathway in regulating human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) exosomes (Exo) on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A levels in high glucose-induced human retinal vascular endothelial cells (HRECs).Methods:The hREC was cultured in EGM-2-MV endothelial cell culture medium with 30 mmol/L glucose and placed in hypoxic cell incubator by 1% oxygen concentration. The cell model of high glucose and low oxygen was established. After modeling, divided HRECs into Exo group, phosphate buffer saline (PBS) group, PBS+anti-miR126 group, Exo+anti-miR126 group, PBS+anti-mTOR group, and PBS+anti-HIF-1 α group. High-glucose and hypoxia-induced hREC in the PBS and Exo groups were respectively co-cultured with PBS and 100 μg/ml hUCMSC Exo. PBS+anti-mTOR group, PBS+anti-HIF-1 α group: 500 nmol/L mTOR inhibitor ADZ2014, 25 μmol/L HIF-1 α inhibitor YC-1 pretreatment for hREC 12 h, and then co-culture with PBS after High-glucose and hypoxia-induced. PBS+anti-miR126 group, Exo+anti-miR126 group: miR-126 LNA power inhibitor probe was transfected with high glucose, and co-cultured with PBS and hUCMSC Exo 6 h after transfection. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) measured miRNA-126 expression levels in PBS, and Exo groups for 0, 8, 16 and 24 h. After 24 h of co-culture, the levels of mTOR and HIF-1 α in the cells of PBS and Exo groups were detected by immunofluorescence, Western blot and qPCR, respectively. Western blot, qPCR detection of VEGF-A expression levels in cells of the PBS+anti-mTOR and PBS+anti-HIF-1 α groups. The expression of VE GF-A, mTOR, and HIF-1 α mRNA was measured in cells of PBS+anti-miR126 group and Exo+anti-miR126 group by qPCR. Comparison between two groups was performed by t-test; one-way ANOVA was used for comparison between multiple groups. Results:At 0, 8, 16 and 24 h, the relative mRNA expression of miR-126 gradually increased in the Exo group ( F=95.900, P<0.05). Compared with the PBS group, The mTOR, HIF-1 α protein ( t=3.466, 6.804), mRNA in HRECs in the Exo group, VEGF-A mRNA expression ( t=8.642, 7.897, 6.099) were all downregulated, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The relative expression level of VEGF-A protein ( t=3.337, 7.380) and mRNA ( t=8.515, 10.400) was decreased in HRECs of the anti-mTOR+PBS group and anti-HIF-1 α+PBS group, differences were statistically significant ( P<0.05). The relative expression of VEGF-A, mTOR, and HIF-1 α mRNA was significantly increased in the cells of the Exo+anti-miR126 group, the differences were all statistically significant ( t=4.664, 6.136, 6.247; P<0.05). Conclusions:miR-126 plays a role in regulating the effect of hUCMSCs exosomes on VEGF-A levels in high glucose-induced HRECs via mTOR-HIF-1 α pathway.

Objective:To investigate the prognostic value of serum adenosylhomocysteinase (AHCY) in patients with hepatitis E virus acute liver failure (HEV-ALF).Methods:From 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2022, 100 patients each with HEV-ALF and acute hepatitis E (AHE) from the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Zhejiang University and Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were included in this case-control study. The HEV-ALF group was 58.56±11.16 years old, including 71 men. The AHE group was 56.04±14.30 years old, including 61 men. All serum samples were obtained before the patient had an acute onset and were obtained without treatment. Firstly, the serum AHCY levels in patients with HEV-ALF and AHE were analyzed by ELISA. Secondly, the serum AHCY levels in HEV-ALF patients with different organ failure and disease condition were compared. According to the number of organ failure, 100 HEV-ALF patients were divided into organ failure number=2 group ( n=58), number=3 group ( n=24) and number>3 groups ( n=18). According to the disease condition, 100 patients were divided into improvement group ( n=49), disease fluctuation group ( n=37), and deterioration group ( n=14). Thirdly, the survival times between the high serum AHCY level group ( n=50) and the low serum AHCY level group ( n=50) were compared. Finally, the independent risk factors to predict mortality using the multivariate Logistic regression analysis, and evaluated the predictive and decision-making abilities of serum AHCY levels were explored using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results:Serum AHCY levels in HEV-ALF patients were significantly higher than those in AHE patients [326.92 (295.37-385.84) pg/ml vs. 222.88 (188.04-246.78) pg/ml, Z=-12.217, P<0.001]. Serum AHCY levels in group 2 were significantly lower than those in group 3 [303.44 (284.40-330.15) pg/ml vs. 335.36 (306.30-385.84) pg/ml, Z=-3.353, P=0.001]. Serum AHCY level in group 3 were significantly lowerthan those in group>3 [335.36 (306.30-385.84) pg/ml vs. 549.89 (423.35-660.22) pg/ml, P<0.001]. The serum AHCY levels in the fluctuation group were lower than those in the deterioration group [322.17 (283.92-423.74) pg/ml vs. 458.26 (374.66, 593.89) pg/ml, Z=-4.016, P=0.009]. The survival time of high serum AHCY level group was significantly lower than that of low serum AHCY level group [23.11 (20.25-25.96) days vs. 29.49 (28.79-30.20) days, Z=-2.596, P<0.001]. The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the levels of serum AHCY and total bilirubin were independent risk factors to predict mortality in HEV-ALF patients [AHCY, OR (95% CI): 1.008 (1.002-1.015), P=0.008; total bilirubin, OR (95% CI): 1.011 (1.005-1.018), P=0.001]. Serum AHCY level predicting the area under the curve (AUC) of 30-day mortality in HEV-ALF patients was 0.912, with a sensitivity of 90.00% and a specificity of 93.75%. DCA results demonstrated that serum AHCY level had good decision-making power for predicting 30-day mortality in HEV-ALF patients. Conclusion:Serum AHCY has an important prognostic value for HEV-ALF patients. Higher serum AHCY levels indicate the worse prognosis of HEV-ALF patients.

Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of low negative pressure fat suction combined with bipolar radiofrequency in repairing facial fat overfilling.Methods:A total of 29 patients with facial fat overfilling underwent low negative pressure fat suction combined with bipolar radiofrequency between February 2022 and October 2023 in Changsha My Like Medical Cosmetology Hospital. All patients were female. The mean age was 35.7 years (range, 25-51 years) and the mean body mass index was 20.3 (range, 16.8-24.3 kg/cm 2). The mean time after autologous fat transplantation was 53.4 months (range, 19-96 months). Postoperative patient satisfaction surveys were conducted, and 2 independent doctors evaluated clinical effect preoperative and postoperative photographs at 3-6 months postoperatively. Results:There were 29 cases (100%) underwent liposuction in the pre-zygomatic region, and the amount of fat was 4.1-12.6 (7.95±1.85) ml. There were 4 cases (13.8%) underwent liposuction in the forehead, and the amount of fat was 1.8-5.2 (2.75±0.50) ml. There were 7 cases (24.1%) underwent liposuction in the temporal region, and the amount of fat was 2.8-6.5 (3.86±1.07) ml. There were 8 cases (27.6%) underwent liposuction in the cheek, and the amount of fat was 5.2-10.5 (7.25±2.12) ml. There were 18 cases (62.1%) underwent liposuction in the perioral region, and the amount of fat was 3.7-9.5 (6.33±1.28) ml. The energy delivered by bipolar radiofrequency was 3.3-10.2 (5.71±2.27) KJ. 82.8% of patients were satisfied with their postoperative effect (24/29 patients). 86.2% of doctors were satisfied with the postoperative effect (25/29 patients). Two out of 29 patients (6.9%) developed irregularity by liposuction.Conclusions:Low negative pressure liposuction combined with bipolar radiofrequency can effectively reduce the fat, narrow the tissue gap and improve facial sagging, which is an effective method for repairing facial fat overfilling.

Objective:To explore the effect and safety of mesenchymal stem cell exosome microneedle introduction in the treatment of melasma.Methods:Thirty cases of female patients with stable melasma in the Department of Dermatology, Changsha Meilai Medical Beauty Hospital, aged (36±5) years and with a disease duration of (42.4±20.7) months, from July 2021 to July 2022, were retrospectively included. According to Fitzpatrick skin typing, 23 cases of type Ⅲ and 7 cases of type Ⅳ were included. All patients were locally anesthetized with lidocaine cream for 30 min, and rolled with a 0.5 mm needle in a zigzag pattern with even force, in the order of the right cheek, the left cheek, the forehead, the nose, the mandible, and the upper lip. During the rolling process, 3 ml of MSC exosome medical liquid wound dressing was applied to the facial skin, and after it was fully absorbed, exosome was locally readministered in the area of melasma. Treatment ended with a slight redness at the site of application. 1 MSC exosome wound dressing was appllied as a cold compress for 15 min after treatment. Treatment was given once every 2 weeks for 6 consecutive sessions. All the patients were followed up at 4 and 12 weeks after the last session, and the area and severity index of melasma (MASI) were scored before and after the treatment, the clinical efficiency and patient satisfaction rate and the incidence of adverse reactions were also counted.Results:At 4 and 12 weeks after the end of treatment, the skin color of all 30 patients was brighter than that before treatment, and no recurrence of melasma symptoms seen. At 12 weeks after the end of treatment, the decrease rate of MASI score was 66.1%, among which the decrease rate of MASI score in patients with type Ⅲ melasma was 63.9%, and the decrease rate of MASI score in patients with type Ⅳ melasma was 63.9%. Among the 30 patients, 1 case was cured, 25 cases showed obvious improved, 4 cases were improved, and no cases were ineffective, with an effective rate of 86.7% (26/30). Five patients were very satisfied, 18 patients were satisfied, 6 patients were generally satisfied, and 1 patient was dissatisfied; the patient satisfaction rate was 76.7% (23/30). No serious adverse reactions occurred in all patients.Conclusions:MSC exosome microneedle introduction is safe and effective in the treatment of melasma without serious adverse reactions.