Objective To examine the association between epidemiological characteristics of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and meteorological factors in Shenzhen City during the period from 2012 to 2019. Methods Average atmospheric pressure, average air temperature, average relative humidity, precipitation, wind speed, and sunshine duration were captured from Meteorological Bureau of Shenzhen City each month from 2012 to 2019. The average monthly rodent densities in Shenzhen City from 2012 to 2019 were acquired from the Vector Surveillance Management System of Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the monthly HFRS incidence was retrieved from Shenzhen Municipal Disease Surveillance System from 2012 to 2019. The correlation between meteorological factors and the monthly incidence of HFRS was examined us ing Spearman’s rank correlation in Shenzhen City, and the temporal trends in monthly HFRS incidence and the degrees of freedom for the rodent density were determined in Shenzhen City with a generalized additive model. The optimal lag time was identified using excess risk (ER) and its 95% confidence interval (CI), and univariate and multivariate models were fitted to evaluate the impact of meteorological factors on HFRS incidence in Shenzhen City. Results The median number of incident HFRS cases was 3.00 (interquartile range, 3.25) in Shenzhen City from 2012 to 2019, with an average air temperature of (23.44 ± 4.91) °C, average relative humidity of (76.05 ± 7.61)%, median precipitation of 4.10 (interquartile range, 6.83) mm, average wind speed of (1.97 ± 0.26) m/s, average sunshine duration of (5.17 ± 1.64) h, and median monthly rodent density of 1.74% (interquartile range, 2.52%). Spearman’s rank correlation analysis showed that the average air temperature positively correlated with average relative humidity (r_s = 0.420, P < 0.05), precipitation (r_s = 0.658, P < 0.05) and sunshine duration (r_s = 0.633, P < 0.05), and the atmospheric pressure negatively correlated with average air temperature (r_s = −0.925, P < 0.05), relative humidity (r_s = −0.614, P < 0.05), precipitation (r_s = −0.789, P < 0.05) and sunshine duration (r_s = −0.437, P < 0.05), while the average relative humidity correlated positively with precipitation (r_s = 0.724, P < 0.05) and negatively with sunshine duration (r_s = −0.218, P < 0.05). Univariate modeling analysis showed that the ERs and their 95% CI were 0.639% (0.540%, 0.737%) for average atmospheric pressure, −7.157% (−8.113%, −6.190%) for average air temperature, −3.603% (−4.219%, −2.985%) for average relative humidity, −5.889% (−7.085%, −4.669%) forprecipitation,21.881% (−5.149%, 56.612%) for average wind speed, and −13.877% (−16.641%, −11.022%) for sunshine duation (all P values < 0.05). Multivariate modeling analysis showed that in the ensemble model combining average atmospheric pressure and precipitation, the highest ER (6.686%) was caused by increased average atmospheric pressure, and the highest absolute ER values for average air temperature (6.615%), average relative humidity (3.107%) and precipitation (5.386%) were seen after adjustment only for sunshine duration (all P values < 0.05), while the highest absolute ER for sunshine duration (11.875%) was found after adjustment for precipitation (P < 0.05). Conclusions An increase in average air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation and sunshine duration resulted in a reduced incidence rate of HFRS in Shenzhen City from 2012 to 2019, and an increase in average atmospheric pressure increased the incidence of HFRS. Meteorological factors are important determinants affecting HFRS incidence in Shenzhen City.

Sufficient bone tissue is required to ensure the long-term stability of implants. Based on the principles of guided bone regeneration, Dr. Istvan Urban proposed the “sausage technique”. Research indicates that the horizontal bone augmentation observed with the sausage technique averages (5.3 ± 2.3) mm and the vertical bone augmentation averages (4.2 ± 1.9) mm, which is significantly greater than the outcomes achieved with traditional guided bone regeneration techniques. The sausage technique is reliable because the biological membrane has sufficient elasticity and toughness with the application of membrane screws, which stabilizes the mixture of autologous bone and bone graft materials in the bone grafting area and prevents the grafting materials from being displaced. Using substitute materials for autologous bone graft balances the osteogenic activity and the low graft absorption rate. A ball drill is used to prepare nourishing holes in the cortical bone of the recipient area, providing a pathway for mesenchymal stem cells and bone progenitor cells to migrate to the bone regeneration area. Furthermore, this method accelerates the early angiogenesis of wound healing, fully reduces tension during suturing, and ensures that excessive pressure is not applied to the healing area during suturing. Thus, the sausage technique is consistent and reliable. Despite the good outcomes demonstrated by the sausage technique in clinical applications, its potential complications related to soft and hard tissue have attracted widespread attention. These complications negatively affect the patient’s recovery process and influence the final results of the surgery. Therefore, a complete understanding of the complications associated with the sausage technique and their underlying causes is necessary to enhance the clinical safety and effectiveness of the sausage technique. This article summarizes the application principles, clinical effects, barrier membrane applications, selection of bone transplant materials, and related complications of the sausage technique, aiming to provide a reference for clinical application.

Objective:To establish and assess the quality control and improvement system for metabolic and bariatric surgery in Beijing.Methods:Based on relevant documents from the National Health Commission and the Beijing Municipal Health Commission,and referencing the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery,a quality control system was developed under the Beijing Quality Control and Improvement Center of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. The system incorporated on-site evaluations,data registration,and specialized training. From May to December 2023,on-site assessments were conducted at 21 hospitals in Beijing performing bariatric surgery,evaluating personnel qualifications,infrastructure,clinical workflows,and postoperative follow-up. A quality control database was created to collect real-time surgical data,and training was provided for data entry and professional skills. Assessment results were classified as excellent,qualified,or needing improvement,with rectification suggestions offered and follow-up visits conducted to track progress.Results:All 21 hospitals achieved a 100% compliance rate for surgical indications, 16 (76.2%) met standardized surgical operation criteria,and 14 (66.7%) had standardized postoperative management. However,only 5 (23.8%) achieved a 12-month postoperative follow-up rate of ≥60%,and 4 (19.1%) had established specialized databases. Key challenges included insufficient specialized staffing (19.1%), lack of multidisciplinary collaboration (47.6%), inadequate equipment (57.1%), and low follow-up rates (57.1%). The database collected data from over 2 000 patients across 111 fields. After rectification, specialized database coverage rose to 61.9% (13 hospitals). Multi-level training programs developed backbone physicians and specialized nurses,significantly addressing the shortage of specialized personnel.Conclusion:The quality control system established in this study,through the integration of on-site evaluation,data registration,and specialized training,effectively enhances the standardization of surgical practices and data management capabilities.

Objective To investigate the potential beneficial predictors for endovascular treatment(EVT)in case of acute anterior circulation large vessel occlusion with large-core infarction.Methods We made a retrospective inclusion of 92 patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion and core infarct volume ranging from 50 to 100 mL,who underwent EVT at Zhangzhou Municipal Hospital of Fujian Province from March 2018 to February 2021.All the patients were confirmed as anterior circulation large infarction and large infarct volume using computed tomography(CT),computed tomography angiography(CTA),and computed tomography perfusion(CTP)before EVT.All clinical and imaging data were collected to observe the postoperative recurrence rate,incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage(sICH),and functional prognosis 90 days.Then the patients were divided into favorable outcomes group(mRS≤3)and unfavorable outcomes group(mRS＞3)based on Rankin scores 90 days post-stroke.Univariate and multivariate Logistic analysis were conducted to analyze factors influencing the patients'prognosis.By combining the results of multivariate analysis,we constructed receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves and identified the cut-off value to evaluate the predictive value of age for post-vascular treatment prognosis.Results Among the included patients,the postoperative revascularization rate(mTIICI≥2b)was 95％(88 cases),the rate of favorable outcomes at 90 days postoperatively(mRS≤3)was 32.61％(30 cases),the incidence of sICH was 13％,and the mortality rate was 31.5％.Compared with the unfavorable outcomes group,the favorable outcomes group had a younger age and a higher proportion of males.Multivariate analysis indicated that older age was an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes following endovascular treatment(OR=4.97,95％CI:1.78-13.90,P=0.002).The ROC curve indicated that the area under the curve was maximized at the age of 72.5 years(AUC=0.763,95％CI:0.661-0.864,P＜0.001).Its sensitivity and specificity was 0.565 and 0.833,respectively.Conclusion Age is an independent predictor of the prognosis of acute procirculatory large core stroke.Patients with large core infarction older than 72.5 years may not benefit from endovascular therapy,which needs to be confirmed by a multicenter large sample prospective randomized controlled trial.

Objective:To investigate the effects of Xuebijing injection on gut microbiota and intestinal mechanical barrier in mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis, and analyze the potential mechanism by which Xuebijing injection protects gastrointestinal tract.Methods:Twenty-four healthy and clean grade male C57BL/6N mice were divided into four groups, control group, LPS group, LPS+ 5 μl/g Xuebijing injection group (5 μl/g Xuebijing injection group), and LPS+ 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection group (10 μl/g Xuebijing injection group), with six mice in each group. A mouse model of sepsis was established by intraperitoneal injection of mice with 10 μg/g LPS. At 0 and 12 h after successful modeling, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with 5 or 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection. Blood, ileum, and colon fecal samples were collected 12 h after the second administration. ELISA was used to detect the levels of diamine oxidase (DAO), D-blood lactic acid (D-Lac), TNF-α, and IL-6. HE staining was used to observe the local ileum damage, and Chiu′s score was used to evaluate the degree of intestinal tissue damage. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot were used to detect the expression of Claudin-1, Occludin, and zona occludins-1(ZO-1) in ileum tissues, followed by semi quantitative analysis. One-way analysis of variance was used for intergroup comparisons, and LSD or Tamhane′s T2 test was used for pairwise comparisons based on the homogeneity of variance. The diversity and species composition of mouse fecal microbiota, and the differences among groups were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing.Results:The levels of DAO, D-Lac, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the LPS group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.000 1). After the intervention with Xuebijing injection, the levels of DAO, D-Lac, TNF-α, and IL-6 decreased (all P<0.05) and showed no significant differences with those in the control group (all P>0.05). Besides, 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection was more effective than 5 μl/g Xuebijing injection in reducing the concentrations (all P<0.05). Chiu′s score was higher in the LPS group than in the control group and the 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection group (both P<0.05). Western blot showed that the expression levels of Occludin, Claudin-1, and ZO-1 in the LPS group were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.01), and Xuebijing injection intervention significantly increased the expression levels of these proteins in a dose-dependent manner as compared with the LPS group (all P<0.000 1). Apart from the expression level of ZO-1, which showed no significant difference between the two Xuebijing injection groups ( P>0.05), the results of immunohistochemical staining were consistent with those of Western blot. The 16S rRNA sequencing results showed that there were differences in the Alpha and Beta diversity indices, and the composition and structure of gut microbiota among the four groups. The structure of gut microbiota in the mice treated with Xuebijing injection was similar to that in the mice of the control group and it was in a dose-dependent manner. Wilcoxon rank sum test showed that there were statistically significant differences in six gut microbiota groups at the phylum level, and 32 gut microbiota groups at the genus level among the mice of four groups (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Xuebijing injection can provide protective effects on the gastrointestinal tract by protecting the structure of gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function, and the protective effect is somewhat correlated with the drug dosage.

Objective:To characterize the vaginal flora of pregnant women during the second trimester using full-length 16S rRNA sequencing.Methods:A total of 142 pregnant women were systematically sampled from a pregnancy cohort. Vaginal swabs were collected for full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing，and bioinformatics analysis was performed to characterize the vaginal microbiota and identify associated influencing factors.Results:Among the 142 pregnant women，the most frequently detected species were Lactobacillus iners（83.10%，118/142）and Lactobacillus crispatus（49.30%，70/142）. The majority of samples（90.85%，129/142）were classified as Lactobacillus-dominant vagitypes，with the Lactobacillus iners vagitype accounting for 48.59%（69/142）and the Lactobacillus crispatus vagitype accounting for 38.73%（55/142）. The vaginal microbiota was clustered into five community state types（CSTs）：Ⅰa，Ⅰb，Ⅲa，Ⅲb，and Ⅳ. The most prevalent CSTs were Lactobacillus iners-dominated CST-Ⅲ（51.41%，73/142）and Lactobacillus crispatus-dominated CST-Ⅰ（24.65%，35/142）. No samples were classified as CST-Ⅱ or CST-Ⅴ. A significant negative correlation was observed between Lactobacill and vaginosis-associated bacteria. Age，alcohol consumption，smoking，and vaginal treatments showed significant associations or trends toward significance with various Alpha diversity indices. Vaginal douching was associated with CST clustering，while obstetric history（primiparity，previous miscarriage history）was associated with vagitype classification. However，no significant associations were identified between maternal baseline characteristics and Beta diversity indices. Conclusions:Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing reveals that the vaginal microbiota of pregnant women is dominated by Lactobacillus iners and Lactobacillus crispatus. Maternal age，lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption，and obstetric history are significantly associated with variations in vaginal microbiota composition.

Objective:To investigate, for multi-sensitized allergic rhinitis (AR) patients allergic to dust mites combined with other allergens (pollen, mold, animal dander, etc.), whether the single dust mite subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) can improve the specific symptoms caused by other allergens in the patients, and to analyze the relationship between the effectiveness of symptom improvement in these patients and the type, quantity and severity of the allergens.Methods:A multicenter retrospective study was conducted to collect mul-sensitized AR patients from allergy or respiratory departments of 5 hospitals who received house dust mite allergen preparation SCIT for 12 to 36 months and met other inclusion and exclusion criteria from February to July 2024. General clinical data were collected and the perennial or seasonal symptoms before and after treatment were evaluated with visual analogue scale (VAS) to assess whether there was an perennial or allergen-specific symptom improvement (VAS score decrease ≥30%), by which the patients were divided into effective group and ineffective. R software was used to analyze the differences between groups by using Fisher′s exact test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results:A total of 62 patients were enrolled, and the treatment were effective in 39 of them, with an effective rate of 62.9%. For allergen-specific symptoms, the median age of the effective group was higher than that of the ineffective group (12 years old vs. 8 years old, P=0.039), and the effective rate in dust mite specific immunoglobin E (sIgE) grade ≤5 group was higher than that in sIgE grade >5 group (81.6% vs. 45.5%, P=0.008), and the effective rate of mold sIgE grade ≤2 group was higher than that of sIgE grade >2 group (83.3% vs. 28.6%, P=0.045), and there was no statistically significant correlation between the other allergen grades and the effective rate ( P>0.05). For perennial symptoms, the effective rate in the mold grade ≤2 group was higher than that in the sIgE grade >2 group (91.3% vs. 28.6%, P=0.010), and there was no statistically significant correlation between the other allergen grades and the effective rate ( P>0.05). There was no significant correlation between the treatment effectiveness of perennial or allergen-specific symptoms and the number of combined allergens, the grade of skin test, and the difference between the grade of combined allergens and that of dust mites ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Among the patients with multi-sensitized AR allergic to dust mites included in this study, single dust mite SCIT is effective in some of them, and for allergen-specific symptoms, the effective group was elder, and dust mite sIgE grade 6 and mold sIgE grade ≥2 was related to the low effective rate of SCIT. The present results are insufficient for selecting single or multiple AIT in any type of multi-sensitized patients.

The efficacy of root canal therapy, as a core intervention for endodontic and periapical diseases, is highly dependent on the effectiveness of antimicrobial drugs. Although traditional drugs such as calcium hydroxide, chlorhexidine, and antibiotic pastes commonly used in the clinic play a role in preventing and controlling infections, they have obvious limitations. These drugs influence the mechanical properties of dentin, insufficiently solubilize necrotic tissues, and are susceptible to bacterial resistance, which makes achieving the desired effectiveness and safety difficult. Traditional macromolecular root canal drugs also face the challenge of the complexity of the root canal system. With the rapid development of material science in recent years, new antimicrobial agents have emerged. Metallic nanomaterials such as silver nanoparticles and zinc oxide nanoparticles are widely used in the medical field due to their unique physicochemical properties and superior antimicrobial properties. Chitosan nanoparticles have superior biosafety, calcium hydroxide nanoparticles compensate for the limitations of traditional calcium hydroxide formulations, and quaternary ammonium polyethyleneimine nanoparticles can confer antimicrobial properties to existing oral materials. Novel antimicrobial nanoparticles using nano-delivery systems, such as mesoporous calcium silicate and mesoporous silica, carry antimicrobial molecules with significant advantages in terms of anti-biofilm, biosafety, and promotion of tissue repair. Further, these agents reduce drug resistance, which improves prospects for application compared to traditional root canal disinfection drugs. The breakthrough of nanotechnology provides a novel direction for the innovation of root canal treatment drugs. Therefore, this paper reviews the research progress of nano-antimicrobial materials in root canal therapy.

Objective To explore the correlation between the proximal angle of carotid atherosclerotic plaques and neovascularization scores,and their clinical application value in predicting recurrent cerebral infarction.Methods A total of 88 patients who underwent carotid plaque ultrasound examination in our hospital were selected.According to CT/MRI results,patients were divided into the non-cerebral infarction group(45 cases)and the cerebral infarction group(43 cases).Conventional ultrasound examination was performed followed by contrast-enhanced ultrasound.Plaque length,thickness and proximal angle were measured,and the neovascularization score of the proximal end was evaluated using contrast-enhanced ultrasound,and the results were compared and analyzed.Results In the cerebral infarction group,plaque thickness,proximal angle,and neovascularization score were significantly higher than those in the non-cerebral infarction group(P＜0.05),while there was no significant difference in plaque length.The proportion of plaques with a proximal neovascularization score of 2 or 3 was higher in the cerebral infarction group than those of the non-cerebral infarction group(79.1%vs.24.4%,P＜0.01).A positive correlation was found between the proximal angle and neovascularization score in all patients(rs=0.374,P＜0.01).There was no significant difference between the area under the ROC curve for neovascularization score in predicting recurrent cerebral infarction and the proximal angle(P＞0.05).The optimal cutoff value of the proximal angle was 18.8,and the sensitivity and the specificity for predicting recurrent cerebral infarction were 93.0%and 62.2%.In the cerebral infarction group,seven patients(16.3%)had recurrent infarction within one year,and these patients had higher proximal neovascularization scores,with angles greater than 18.8°.Conclusion There is a strong correlation between proximal angle of carotid plaques and neovascularization score,which has a positive predictive role in the recurrence of cerebral infarction,providing a reliable auxiliary diagnostic basis for clinical practice.

Objective:To investigate the effects of Xuebijing injection on gut microbiota and intestinal mechanical barrier in mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis, and analyze the potential mechanism by which Xuebijing injection protects gastrointestinal tract.Methods:Twenty-four healthy and clean grade male C57BL/6N mice were divided into four groups, control group, LPS group, LPS+ 5 μl/g Xuebijing injection group (5 μl/g Xuebijing injection group), and LPS+ 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection group (10 μl/g Xuebijing injection group), with six mice in each group. A mouse model of sepsis was established by intraperitoneal injection of mice with 10 μg/g LPS. At 0 and 12 h after successful modeling, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with 5 or 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection. Blood, ileum, and colon fecal samples were collected 12 h after the second administration. ELISA was used to detect the levels of diamine oxidase (DAO), D-blood lactic acid (D-Lac), TNF-α, and IL-6. HE staining was used to observe the local ileum damage, and Chiu′s score was used to evaluate the degree of intestinal tissue damage. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot were used to detect the expression of Claudin-1, Occludin, and zona occludins-1(ZO-1) in ileum tissues, followed by semi quantitative analysis. One-way analysis of variance was used for intergroup comparisons, and LSD or Tamhane′s T2 test was used for pairwise comparisons based on the homogeneity of variance. The diversity and species composition of mouse fecal microbiota, and the differences among groups were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing.Results:The levels of DAO, D-Lac, TNF-α, and IL-6 in the LPS group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.000 1). After the intervention with Xuebijing injection, the levels of DAO, D-Lac, TNF-α, and IL-6 decreased (all P<0.05) and showed no significant differences with those in the control group (all P>0.05). Besides, 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection was more effective than 5 μl/g Xuebijing injection in reducing the concentrations (all P<0.05). Chiu′s score was higher in the LPS group than in the control group and the 10 μl/g Xuebijing injection group (both P<0.05). Western blot showed that the expression levels of Occludin, Claudin-1, and ZO-1 in the LPS group were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.01), and Xuebijing injection intervention significantly increased the expression levels of these proteins in a dose-dependent manner as compared with the LPS group (all P<0.000 1). Apart from the expression level of ZO-1, which showed no significant difference between the two Xuebijing injection groups ( P>0.05), the results of immunohistochemical staining were consistent with those of Western blot. The 16S rRNA sequencing results showed that there were differences in the Alpha and Beta diversity indices, and the composition and structure of gut microbiota among the four groups. The structure of gut microbiota in the mice treated with Xuebijing injection was similar to that in the mice of the control group and it was in a dose-dependent manner. Wilcoxon rank sum test showed that there were statistically significant differences in six gut microbiota groups at the phylum level, and 32 gut microbiota groups at the genus level among the mice of four groups (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Xuebijing injection can provide protective effects on the gastrointestinal tract by protecting the structure of gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function, and the protective effect is somewhat correlated with the drug dosage.