BACKGROUND:Streptococcus mutans is an important pathogen of dental caries,and timely detection of its levels is of great significance for early detection and treatment of dental caries. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effect of loop-mediated isothermal amplification(FTA-LAMP)direct extraction of Streptococcus mutans DNA. METHODS:(1)Bacterial suspensions containing ATCC standard strains(Streptococcus mutans)were prepared and inoculated into the brain-heart leachate medium.After mixed thoroughly,the mixture was then diluted in a 10-fold gradient into seven concentrations(4.2×107,4.2×106,4.2×105,4.2×104,4.2×103,4.2×102,4.2×10 CFU/mL),two parallel controls were made for each dilution level,and sterile water was used as a blank control.(2)The DNA of Streptococcus mutans was extracted using FTA Elute card,boiling method,kit extraction and lysate extraction methods separately and then amplified using LAMP technology was amplified.A specificity test was also performed to compare the differences between the four DNA extraction methods.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The DNA extracted by all four methods met the requirements for LAMP amplification.Specificity test results showed that only Streptococcus mutans could specifically amplify the target gene.The detection limit value of the DNA concentration was 4.2×103 CFU/mL for the lysate method,4.2×104 CFU/mL for the FTA Elute card extraction method,4.2×106 CFU/mL for the kit extraction method,and 4.2×107 CFU/mL for the boiling method.In the other aspects of the four extraction methods,the kit extraction method had the highest experimental cost,number of steps and time;the other three methods had the same number of steps,with the FTA Elute card method requiring the least amount of instruments,the boiling method having the lowest single cost,and the lysate extraction method taking the least amount of time.Only a small amount of bacteria were needed for successful extraction using both the FTA Elute card and lysate extraction methods.Compared with the FTA Elute card method,the lysate extraction method was superior in terms of time,but it had a high single cost and required more equipment.To conclude,the FTA-LAMP technology established in this study has the advantages of ease of operation,high specificity,high sensitivity,and visualization,which is expected to be a new way for efficient extraction and detection of Streptococcus mutans.

Objective To explore whether renal denervation (RDN) could improve the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of patients with heart failure (HF) on the basis of guideline-directed management and therapy (GDMT). Methods From January 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024, HF patients diagnosed as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) who underwent RDN in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were retrospectively enrolled, all patients had received GDMT for at least three months but the LVEF remained below 55%. Parameters of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) at baseline, during GDMT, and after RDN were compared to analyze whether RDN can further improve the LVEF of patients on the basis of GDMT. Results A total of 7 HF patients diagnosed with DCM were enrolled, the mean age was (52.86±9.86) years old, and 5(71.4%) were male. After an average of (9.29±8.06) months of GDMT, LVEF significantly increased from baseline (34.86%±10.22%) to (44.57%±5.59%, P=0.024).Three months after RDN, LVEF was further significantly improved (54.43%±9.05%, P=0.026). The average follow-up after RDN was (11.00±4.12) months. The LVEF remained stable (54.86%±7.10%, P=0.805), and no adverse events occurred in the patients. Conclusions RDN can further enhance the LVEF of HF patients on the basis of GDMT.

Objective:To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of 4-octyl itaconate(4-OI)on vascular endothelial function in diabetic mice,since endothelial dysfunction is the key and initial factor for vascular complications in diabetes.Methods:The db/db mice were used to establish a mouse model of diabetes,and high glucose(HG)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs)were used to establish a cell model of diabetes.After 4-OI treatment,HE staining,Masson staining,and reticular fiber staining were used to observe pathological changes of the thoracic aorta in the control group,the model group,and the intervention group;Western blot was used to measure the expression of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),a marker for endothelial fibrosis;immuno-fluorescence assay was used to measure the expression levels of Bcl-2-associated X protein(BAX)and B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2)in the thoracic aorta of mice in the control group,the model group,and the intervention group;immunoblotting was used to observe the effect of 4-OI intervention on the expression of BAX,Bcl-2,and the proteins associated with the cytochrome C(CytC)/cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase(caspase)pathway in HG-induced HUVECs.Results:The results showed that 4-OI could significantly improve vascular endothelial dysfunction in db/db diabetic mice.Compared with the model group,the intervention group had a significant increase in the expression of Bcl-2(0.73±0.07 vs.0.52±0.04,F=49.380,P=0.009)and a significant reduction in the expression of BAX(1.41±0.14 vs.1.89±0.12,F=37.270,P=0.008)after 4-OI treatment.In the cell model of HUVECs induced by HG,compared with the high glucose group,the intervention group had a sig-nificant increase in the expression of Bcl-2(1.22±0.04 vs.0.81±0.09,F=75.410,P<0.001)and a significant reduction in the expres-sion of BAX(0.83±0.04 vs.1.12±0.04,F=268.100,P<0.001)after 4-OI treatment,as well as significant reductions in the expres-sion of CytC(0.61±0.03 vs.1.01±0.03,F=234.000,P<0.001),caspase-9(0.62±0.03 vs.1.04±0.04,F=164.300,P<0.001),and caspase-3(0.92±0.06 vs.1.74±0.04,F=424.100,P<0.001).Conclusion:In conclusion,4-OI inhibits vascular endothelial cell apoptosis in diabetic mice by affecting the expression of the CytC/Caspase pathway factors,thereby improving vascular endothelial dys-function in diabetes.

Sterilization is one of the key links in the production of traditional Chinese medicine,and it is also an important factor to ensure the safety,effectiveness and quality control of traditional Chinese medicine.Traditional sterilization techniques such as moist heat sterilization are limited in many cases due to their inherent shortcomings.In contrast,irradiation sterilization has attracted more and more attention due to its advantages of fast,efficient,strong sterilization and low cost.However,the chemical composition of traditional Chinese medicine is complex,due to the radioactivity and strong penetration of irradiation,after a certain dose of irradiation,its chemical composition and pharmacological activity may change.At present,there is still a lack of systematic research on the changes of chemical composition,effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese medicine after irradiation sterilization.Based on the research status of 60Co-γ ray and electron beam irradiation sterilization in the sterilization of traditional Chinese medicine in recent years,this paper reviews the effects of irradiation on the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine,the detection methods of irradiation and the safety evaluation,in order to provide some reference for the subsequent application of irradiation sterilization of traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective To predict the potential suitable habitat of Haemaphysalis concinna in Heilongjiang Province under different climatic scenarios. Methods The geographic locations of ticks in Heilongjiang Province from 1980 to 2022 were captured from literature review and field ticks monitoring data from Harbin Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Heilongjiang Province, and the tick distribution sites with spatial correlations were removed using the software ArcGIS 10.2. The environment data under historical climatic scenarios from 1970 to 2000 and the climatic shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP) 126 scenario model from 2021 to 2040 and from 2041 to 2060 were downloaded from the WorldClim website, and the elevation (1 km, 2010), population (1 km grid population dataset of China, 2010) and annual vegetation index (1 km, 2010) data were downloaded from the Resource and Environmental Science and Data Center, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The contribution of environmental factors to H. concinna distribution was evaluated and environmental variables were screened using the software MaxEnt 3.4.1 and R package 4.1.0, and the areas of suitable habitats of H. concinna and changes in center of gravity were analyzed using the maximum entropy model in Heilongjiang Province under different climatic scenarios. In addition, the accuracy of the maximum entropy model for prediction of H. concinna distribution was assessed using the area under curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results A total of 79 H. concinna distribution sites and 24 environmental variables were collected, and 70 H. concinna distribution sites and 9 environmental factors that contributed to distribution of the potential suitable habitats of H. concinna in Heilongjiang Province were screened. The three most significant contributing factors included precipitation seasonality, annual precipitation, and mean temperature of the driest quarter, with cumulative contributions of 60.7%. The total area of suitable habitats of H. concinna was 29.05 × 10⁴ km² in Heilongjiang Province under historical climatic scenarios, with the center of gravity of suitable habitats located at (47.31° N, 129.16° E), while the total area of suitable habitats of H. concinna reduced by 0.97 × 10⁴ km² in Heilongjiang Province under the climatic SSP126 scenario from 2041 to 2060, with the center of gravity shifting to (47.70° N, 129.28° E). Conclusions The distribution of suitable habitats of H. concinna strongly correlates with temperature and humidity in Heilongjiang Province. The total area of potential suitable habitats of H. concinna may appear a tendency towards a decline with climatic changes in Heilongjiang Province, and high-, medium- and low-suitable habitats may shift.

Deinagkistrodon acutus(also known as the five-paced viper and the traditional Chinese medicine ingredient is called Agkistrodon) venom is a viscous liquid from the venom glands of the Deinagkistrodon acutus. It contains a variety of protein and peptide components such as phospholipase A2, serine protease, metalloproteinase, C-type lectin, L-amino acid oxidase, and has a variety of biological activities, playing an important role in anti-tumour, anti-thrombotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial activities. In recent years, snake venom research has become increasingly widespread, but there is still a lack of comprehensive and systematic studies on snake venom from Deinagkistrodon acutus. In this paper, the source, identification, active ingredients, toxicity studies and quality researches of Deinagkistrodon acutus venom are summarized and analysed by searching the related research progress, in order to provide reference for further development and utilization of Deinagkistrodon acutus venom.

Objective:To investigate the clinical features of pregnant associated Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (PTCM).Methods:We reviewed reported PTCM cases published from January 2007 to June 2022 using the keywords "Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy""Takotsubo cardiomyopathy" "stress cardiomyopathy" AND "parturition" "pregnancy" "cesarean delivery" "postpartum" "peripartum" "eclampsia" "abortion" in Pubmed and Web of Science databases and the corresponding Chinese words in Wanfang and Chinese Medical Journal Network. Age, obstetric history, mode of delivery, mode of anesthesia, etiological factors, clinical manifestations, treatment, and prognosis of PTCM were recorded. Descriptive statistical analysis was adopted.Results:A total of 55 articles were included, covering 60 patients with PTCM. (1) Age and time of onset: The age of onset was (32.4±6.0) years old. PTCM occurred most frequently during labor [42% (25/60)] and within one day postpartum [32% (19/60)] and during the gestational period [13%(8/60), 33.0 weeks (24.5-37.7 weeks)]. (2) Delivery-related factors: There were 38% (16/42) primiparas and 60% (25/42) multiparas. Among them, 67% (38/57) and 18% (10/57) were delivered by cesarean section and vaginal delivery, respectively. PCTM often lacks obvious triggers [40% (24/60)], with the most common inducing factor being pregnancy-related diseases [27% (16/60)]. (3) Clinical features: The initial symptoms of PTCM were dyspnea [44% (26/59)], followed by chest pain accompanied by dyspnea [17% (10/59)]. The most common subtype of PTCM was the apical type [45% (26/58)], followed by the basal type [24% (14/58)], while the biventricular type was the least common [3% (2/58)] in the PTCM classification. The left ventricular ejection fraction was (31.6±12.1) % at the onset of PTCM, which recovered to (58.2±7.6) % at discharge. PCTM was often complicated by pulmonary edema [67% (40/60)] and cardiogenic shock [55% (33/60)]. (4) Treatment and prognosis: Patients with PCTM usually require noninvasive or invasive ventilator-assisted ventilation [40% (23/58)]. One pregnant woman and five neonates died, while the remaining patients recovered well.Conclusions:PTCM should be considered in differential diagnosis of patients experiencing dyspnea and chest pain during labor and pregnancy. PTCM patients are younger and have more pulmonary edema and cardiogenic shock. Mechanical ventilation is often required, but the prognosis is favorable.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between the serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), prostate specific antigen (PSA) and bone metastasis in initially diagnosed prostate cancer (PCa) patients in different ISUP(International Society of Urological Pathology)groups.Methods:The 368 initial diagnosed prostate cancer patients recruited from January 2013 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, including 247 cases in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 111 cases in the Yuebei People's Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Shantou University and 10 cases in Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University. According to whether there was bone metastasis at the initial diagnosis, it was divided into 230 cases in the bone metastasis group and 138 cases in the non bone metastasis group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in age [(71.9±9.4) years and (71.2±8.7) years], body mass index (BMI) [(23.1±3.7) kg/m 2 and (23.7±2.6) kg/m 2]. There were significant differences in PSA [(307.3±847.0) ng/ml and (84.5±257.3) ng/ml] and ALP [(174.5±270.8) U/L and (71.0±23.2) U/L] between the two groups. In different PSA subgroups, there were 45 cases in PSA <10 ng/ml, 35 cases in PSA 10-20 ng/ml and 288 cases in PSA >20 ng/ml. The differences of ALP and PSA between bone metastasis group and non-bone metastasis group based on different ISUP stratification were analyzed, ROC curves were used to predict their risks of bone metastasis. Results:There were 3(1.3%), 22(9.6%), 34(14.8%), 85(37.0%) and 86 (37.4%) prostate cancer patients with bone metastasis from ISUP group 1 to 5, and 14(10.1%), 19(13.8%), 29(21.0%), 32(23.2%) and 44(31.9%) without bone metastasis, respectively. There was significant difference in the serum ALP levels between the bone metastasis group and the boneless metastasis group in the ISUP group 4(157.6±207.7 vs. 66.5±17.0) and 5(189.4±257.5 vs. 69.2±18.4)( P<0.001) and PSA levels had difference in the ISUP group 3(240.3±313.0 vs. 42.4±42.1), 4(152.3±184.5 vs. 44.7±33.3) and 5(435.2±1006.3 vs. 60.8±84.8)( P<0.001). There was statistically significant between the bone metastasis group and the without(336.1±882.2 vs. 139.3±328.1) when PSA>20 ng/ml( P=0.006). ROC curve analysis: the cut-off values of ALP were 115.5, 109.0, 75.5 and 86.0 U/L from ISUP group 2 to 5 respectively, the sensitivity was 23.8%, 56.5%, 66.4% and 50.6% respectively, the specificity was 99.7%, 93.4%, 78.3% and 89.2% respectively, and the accuracy were 59.4%, 73.1%, 69.7% and 63.3%, respectively. The cut-off values of PSA were 39.5, 93.1, 54.2 and 28.9 ng/ml from ISUP group 2 to 5 respectively, the sensitivity was 64.4%, 68.4%, 87.4% and 88.3% respectively, and the specificity was 79.5%, 90.6%, 63.7% and 61.6% respectively, and the accuracy were 71.6%, 78.1%, 80.1% and 79.2%, respectively. Conclusion:ALP increased significantly in ISUP group ≥4 and PSA in ISUP group ≥3, which related to bone metastasis in patients with initial diagnosed prostate cancer.

Objective:To explore the morbidity, clinical features and mortality of unilateral pulmonary edema (PE) in the intensive care unit (ICU).Methods:Clinical data of PE patients in ICU between January 2018 and January 2021 were retrospectively collected. All patients were divided into the bilateral PE and unilateral PE groups according to imaging manifestations. Etilogy, clinical performance, cardiac ultrasound parameters, complications, treatment and prognosis were compared between the two groups. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to screen out the risk factors of death.Results:Of the 314 PE patients, 14 (4.5%) were unilateral PE patients , and 11 (78.5%) were right-sided unilateral PE. There were no differences in age, gender, heart rate, respiratory rate and left ventricular eject fraction between the unilateral and bilateral PE groups. Compared with the bilateral PE group, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower in the unilateral PE group [128 (102.7-138) mmHg vs. 135 (116-166) mmHg, 72 (54-88.2) mmHg vs. 82 (69-97.7)mmHg, respectively]. The incidence of cardiac arrest and hospital mortality were higher in the unilateral PE group [28.6% vs. 8.0%, 42.9% vs. 10%, all P<0.05]. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that age, unilateral PE, and use of vasoactive agent were associated with poor prognosis. Odds ratio of unilateral PE and use of vasoactive agent were 17.78 and 11.67, respectively. Conclusions:Unilateral PE is not rare, which is an independent risk factors for mortality and should be promptly recognized to avoid delays in treatment.

Objective:To evaluate the application of a 3D printed positioner for hip rotation center in total hip arthroplasty.Methods:From August 2015 to December 2017, 14 patients were treated by unilateral total hip arthroplasty at Department Ⅰ of Joint Surgery, Orthopaedics Hospital of Zhengzhou for avascular necrosis of femoral head or femoral neck fracture. They were 8 males and 6 females with an average age of 51.8 years (from 37 to 65 years). All their surgeries were assisted by a 3D printed positioner for hip rotation center. Postoperatively, the abduction and anteversion of acetabular cup and the hip rotation center were measured, the agreement between the hip rotation center of the affected side (O2) and the anatomical rotation center of the healthy side (O1) was assessed, and the function of the affected hip and complications were recorded at the last follow-up.Results:The 14 patients were followed up for an average of 18 months (from 6 to 24 months). The postoperative ordinates of O2 and O1 were respectively 19.36 mm±3.61 mm and 18.33 mm±3.41 mm while their abscissas 39.93 mm±2.97 mm and 39.99 mm±3.16 mm, indicating agreement between O2 and O1 ( P>0.05). The postoperative abduction and anteversion of the cup were within a normal range (39.3°±3.2°and 14.6°±1.2°, respectively). The last follow-up showed that their preoperative Harris hip scores (42.3±3.2) were significantly improved (94.3±4.7) ( t=2.873, P=0.002) and that 13 cases were rated as excellent and one as good. X-ray follow-up showed good position of their acetabular prostheses, no loosening of the cups or femoral prostheses, and no heterotopic ossification. Conclusion:A 3D printed positioner for hip rotation center can effectively assist reconstruction of the hip rotation center and accurate implantation of acetabular prosthesis in total hip arthroplasty.