Objective:To compare the efficiency and characteristics of different carrier proteins and signal sequences in delivering antigens into Escherichia coli outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). Methods:The fusion protein F1V, which consisted of the main protective antigen of Yersinia pestis F1 and LcrV, was expressed using the carrier proteins such as cytolysin A (ClyA), outer membrane protein A (OmpA), or β-lactamases (Bla) signal sequence as a carrier protein. The expression, localization, and content of F1V protein in OMVs were compared and analyzed. Results:All three delivery methods successfully incorporated F1V protein into OMVs and localized it on the surface of OMVs. Notably, when OmpA was used as the carrier protein, the F1V fusion protein constituted up to 30% of the total protein in OMVs. The highest yield of OMVs, reaching 4.2 mg/L, was achieved when Bla signal sequence was used as the carrier.Conclusions:There is a significant difference in the efficiency of different carrier proteins in delivering the F1V antigen into OMVs of Escherichia coli. Considering both the yield of OMVs and the proportion of antigen in the total protein of OMVs, the carrier Bla signal sequence demonstrated the highest efficiency in delivering F1V into OMVs, showing a potential for the future development of OMVs-based plague vaccines.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of epilepsy onset based on the theory of five circuits and six qi in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).Methods A total of 8 389 epilepsy patients from a community-based natural population cohort study from UK Biobank were included.Frequency and constituent ratio analyses were performed to describe the distribution of epilepsy onset in relation to the five circuits and six qi elements,and statistical inferences were made using chi-square tests.Results The analysis revealed statistically significant differences existed in epilepsy onset across different heavenly stems,earthly branches,recombinant yearly circuit,celestial control and terrestrial effect,and dominant qi(all P＜0.05).From the perspective of circuits,the highest incidence occurred in years corresponding to the"Ji"and"Hai"years,while the lowest incidence was observed in"Bing"and"Mao"years.Years dominated by wood circuit and wind manifestations exhibited the highest incidence,whereas years with cold manifestations showed the lowest incidence,suggesting the liver as the primary pathological site in epilepsy.From the perspective of qi,the third dominant qi was most frequently associated with onset.Regarding presiding and subordinate qi,years with taiyin damp earth presiding and taiyang cold water subordinate had the highest incidence,while years with yangming dry metal presiding and shaoyang monarch fire subordinate had the lowest incidence,indicating that cold-damp years and midsummer periods are potential triggers for epilepsy.Conclusion There is a certain regularity in the epilepsy onset correlated with the features of five circuits and six qi,which can guide prevention and clinical diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an extremely dangerous aortic dilating disease, with a high mortality rate once ruptured. With the advancement of imaging techniques such as computed tomography angiography (CTA), the detection rate of this disease has increased correspondingly. Early detection and timely treatment are crucial for reducing mortality and improving patient prognosis. Compared to traditional open surgery, endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) for AAA is minimally invasive, using a stent graft to isolate the aneurysm sac as a whole, preventing arterial blood from entering the sac and further preventing the aneurysm from progressing or rupturing. Due to the characteristics of EVAR, precise preoperative assessment of AAA anatomy is required to develop a surgical plan for selecting the appropriate stent diameter and length. However, current attention on preoperative assessment of EVAR is more focused on the neck landing zone of the aneurysm, its shape, calcification, etc., while there is relatively less attention and lack of uniform standards for the selection and positioning judgment of the distal landing zone of the iliac artery. And, a growing number of studies have shown that improper treatment of the distal landing zone may lead to complications such as type Ⅰb endoleak and restenosis after stent implantation, affecting the prognosis of patients. This article provides a review of the current domestic and international methods and progress in the preoperative assessment of the distal landing zone for EVAR.

Objective:To explore the impacts of smoking on the need for respiratory support and mortality in patients hospitalized with pneumonia.Methods:A total of 24 367 patients hospitalized with pneumonia from 2009 to 2017 in the China Kadoorie Biobank, were included. Smoking status was self-reported, and data regarding respiratory support during hospitalization and mortality during follow-up were obtained from medical claims and death registries, respectively. OR, HR, and 95% CI were calculated and adjusted for potential confounders using logistic regression models and Cox proportional hazards regression models, respectively. Results:Among males, current smokers or those who quit smoking due to illness had higher risks of requiring respiratory support ( OR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.03-1.29), 1-year mortality ( HR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.32-2.08), and 5-year mortality ( HR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.13-1.54) following pneumonia hospitalization compared to nonsmokers. Male smokers who started smoking at a younger age or with longer smoking duration had the highest mortality risks (trend test both P<0.05). Female current smokers or those who quit smoking due to illness had higher risks of 1-year mortality ( HR=1.62, 95% CI: 1.17-2.23) and 5-year mortality ( HR=1.33, 95% CI: 1.06-1.67). We found no statistically significant difference in 90-day mortality between current smokers/those who quit smoking due to illness and nonsmokers. Conclusions:Smoking was associated with higher risks of requiring respiratory support and mortality in patients hospitalized with pneumonia, especially among males and heavy smokers. These findings highlight the need for targeted strategies to promote smoking cessation in patients hospitalized with pneumonia.

Objective:To explore the impacts of smoking on the need for respiratory support and mortality in patients hospitalized with pneumonia.Methods:A total of 24 367 patients hospitalized with pneumonia from 2009 to 2017 in the China Kadoorie Biobank, were included. Smoking status was self-reported, and data regarding respiratory support during hospitalization and mortality during follow-up were obtained from medical claims and death registries, respectively. OR, HR, and 95% CI were calculated and adjusted for potential confounders using logistic regression models and Cox proportional hazards regression models, respectively. Results:Among males, current smokers or those who quit smoking due to illness had higher risks of requiring respiratory support ( OR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.03-1.29), 1-year mortality ( HR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.32-2.08), and 5-year mortality ( HR=1.32, 95% CI: 1.13-1.54) following pneumonia hospitalization compared to nonsmokers. Male smokers who started smoking at a younger age or with longer smoking duration had the highest mortality risks (trend test both P<0.05). Female current smokers or those who quit smoking due to illness had higher risks of 1-year mortality ( HR=1.62, 95% CI: 1.17-2.23) and 5-year mortality ( HR=1.33, 95% CI: 1.06-1.67). We found no statistically significant difference in 90-day mortality between current smokers/those who quit smoking due to illness and nonsmokers. Conclusions:Smoking was associated with higher risks of requiring respiratory support and mortality in patients hospitalized with pneumonia, especially among males and heavy smokers. These findings highlight the need for targeted strategies to promote smoking cessation in patients hospitalized with pneumonia.

Objective:To compare the efficiency and characteristics of different carrier proteins and signal sequences in delivering antigens into Escherichia coli outer membrane vesicles (OMVs). Methods:The fusion protein F1V, which consisted of the main protective antigen of Yersinia pestis F1 and LcrV, was expressed using the carrier proteins such as cytolysin A (ClyA), outer membrane protein A (OmpA), or β-lactamases (Bla) signal sequence as a carrier protein. The expression, localization, and content of F1V protein in OMVs were compared and analyzed. Results:All three delivery methods successfully incorporated F1V protein into OMVs and localized it on the surface of OMVs. Notably, when OmpA was used as the carrier protein, the F1V fusion protein constituted up to 30% of the total protein in OMVs. The highest yield of OMVs, reaching 4.2 mg/L, was achieved when Bla signal sequence was used as the carrier.Conclusions:There is a significant difference in the efficiency of different carrier proteins in delivering the F1V antigen into OMVs of Escherichia coli. Considering both the yield of OMVs and the proportion of antigen in the total protein of OMVs, the carrier Bla signal sequence demonstrated the highest efficiency in delivering F1V into OMVs, showing a potential for the future development of OMVs-based plague vaccines.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an extremely dangerous aortic dilating disease, with a high mortality rate once ruptured. With the advancement of imaging techniques such as computed tomography angiography (CTA), the detection rate of this disease has increased correspondingly. Early detection and timely treatment are crucial for reducing mortality and improving patient prognosis. Compared to traditional open surgery, endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) for AAA is minimally invasive, using a stent graft to isolate the aneurysm sac as a whole, preventing arterial blood from entering the sac and further preventing the aneurysm from progressing or rupturing. Due to the characteristics of EVAR, precise preoperative assessment of AAA anatomy is required to develop a surgical plan for selecting the appropriate stent diameter and length. However, current attention on preoperative assessment of EVAR is more focused on the neck landing zone of the aneurysm, its shape, calcification, etc., while there is relatively less attention and lack of uniform standards for the selection and positioning judgment of the distal landing zone of the iliac artery. And, a growing number of studies have shown that improper treatment of the distal landing zone may lead to complications such as type Ⅰb endoleak and restenosis after stent implantation, affecting the prognosis of patients. This article provides a review of the current domestic and international methods and progress in the preoperative assessment of the distal landing zone for EVAR.

African swine fever(ASF)is an acute and highly pathogenic hemorrhagic disease of pigs,causing huge economic losses to pig industry.In order to quantitatively detect clinical samples of ASF and inactivated ASFV antigens,the IgG of ASF positive serum was used as capture anti-body and the HRP-labeled p72 monoclonal antibody was used as detecting antibody.The standard curve was drawn with the cell-cultured ASFV,and a sandwich ELISA detection of antigen was es-tablished.The specificity,sensitivity and stability of the method were evaluated.The effects of dif-ferent inactivation methods and adjuvant addition on antigen detection were further evaluated.The results showed that the minimum detection limits of the recombinant protein and the ASFV were 0.1 mg/L and 103.7 TCID50/mL,respectively.There was no cross-reaction with five common porcine pathogenic viruses,and the coefficient variations between batches was less than 10％.The total co-incidence rate with real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was 92％(23/25).The sensitivity of antigen detection was significantly reduced when antigen was treated by BEI inactivation,and the detection results were severely interfered by aluminum adjuvant and nano-adjuvant.In summary,the sandwich ELISA antigen detection method established is specific,sensitive,and repeatable,with a good consistency to the qPCR method,which provides an effective clinical diagnostic meth-od for ASFV antigen.

Mirabilis jalapa L. is a plant of the family of Miraceae, native to tropical America and introduced to China during the Ming Dynasty. Its main medicinal part is the root. After sorting, it was found that the research on the medicinal properties of the Mirabilis Radixis incomplete, and the records of medicinal properties do not fully match the current application, and there is a situation of "the raw and processed for different treatments". This study further explored its medicinal properties. The Mirabilis Radix is bitter, pungent, and slight cold; belonging to the bladder, liver, and stomach meridians; it has the functions of clearing heat and dampness, detoxifying and reducing swelling, promoting blood circulation and regulating menstruation, dispelling wind and dampness, and nourishing yin. It was taken orally, with decoction, and adults should take 15-30 g, not in the form of original powder. People with spleen and stomach deficiency and cold should take it with caution, and pregnant women should not take it; for external use, an appropriate amount of fresh products should be applied and mashed. Processed Mirabilis Radix, recorded by Tujiazu medicine and Uyghur medicine, after boiling or steaming, the medicinal properties change and the nourishing effect is enhanced, but there is a lack of relevant research. Further exploration of the medicinal properties of the Mirabilis Radix can provide reference for clinical application, standard improvement, and product development.

Objective:To evaluate the predictive value of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) for the prognosis in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Methods:A retrospective study was conducted, and ARDS patients admitted to the department of emergency medicine of Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province from December 2020 to September 2022 were enrolled. General information including gender, age, causes of ARDS, disease severity scores, plasma Ang-2 levels before treatment and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after treatment, and record the 60-day prognosis were collected. Differences in clinical data between groups were compared. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors affecting the 60-day prognosis of ARDS patients, and the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was plotted to assess the predictive value of these risk factors for patient outcomes. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the correlation between Ang-2 and pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) and extravascular lung water index (EVLWI).Results:A total of 132 ARDS patients were included, of which 49 patients died within 60 days and 83 patients survived. In the death group, plasma Ang-2 levels showed a gradually increasing trend, all significantly higher than before treatment (μg/L: 12.75±1.81, 12.74±1.48, 13.45±2.21 vs. 5.98±0.57, all P < 0.05), while the trend in the survival group was not significant. At 24, 48, and 72 hours after treatment, plasma Ang-2 levels in the death group were significantly higher than those in the survival group (μg/L: 12.75±1.81 vs. 7.48±1.22, 12.74±1.48 vs. 7.41±1.19, 13.45±1.41 vs. 6.88±1.41, all P < 0.05). After adjusting for confounding variables, increased plasma Ang-2 level was an independent risk factor for prognosis in ARDS patients within 60 days [odds ratio ( OR) = 0.998, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 0.997-0.999, P < 0.01]. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that Ang-2 levels had predictive value for prognosis in ARDS patients [area under the ROC curve (AUC) = 0.985, 95% CI was 0.971-1.000, approximate maximum Youden's index 0.867, optimal cut-off value 8.43 μg/L]. Pearson correlation analysis showed that plasma Ang-2 levels were positively correlated with PVPI and EVLWI ( r values were 0.620 and 0.712 respectively, both P < 0.01). Conclusions:Elevated level of Ang-2 is an independent risk factor for increased mortality in patients with ARDS. Higher Ang-2 levels within 72 hours after treatment may indicate poorer prognosis.