Objective:To explore the distribution variation of ultrasound-detected inflammatory lesions with clinical signs in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).Methods:This was based on the Peking University First Hospital Psoriatic Arthritis (PKUPsA) cohort. Patients enrolled from January 2019 to June 2024 were inchuded, patients with complete data of physical examination and ultrasonographic evaluations of 62 joints in the hand and foot. The ultrasound-detected inflammatory lesions including synovitis, tenosynovitis, enthesitis, and soft tissue inflammation were compared with joint tenderness/swelling. The χ2 test was employed to analyze differences between groups. Results:A total of 7 440 joints in 120 PsA patients were included. Overall, the proportion of joints with clinical signs (tenderness or swelling) was higher than those with ultrasound-detected inflammatory lesions [9.14%(680/7 440) vs. 7.93%(590/7 440), χ2=1 245.928, P<0.001], with more tenderness joints than swelling joints [7.72%(574/7 440) vs. 6.14%(457/7 440), χ2=3 264.45, P<0.001]. Clinical signs were primarily observed in hand proximal interphalangeal (PIP), distal interphalangeal (DIP), wrist and ankle joints, mostly in DIP2 joints [19.58%(47/240)]. Ultrasound-detected inflammatory lesions were predominantly found in metatarsophalangeal (MTP), wrist, and ankle joints, mostly in MTP2 joints (18.75%, 45/240). Clinical signs were more prevalent than ultrasound-detected inflammatory lesions in hand PIP1-3, PIP5, DIP2, and DIP5 joints ( P<0.05), whereas more frequent ultrasound-detected inflammatory lesions than clinical tenderness/swelling were in MTP1-4 joints ( P<0.05). Among ultrasound-detected inflammatory lesions, synovitis in MTP2 joints (18.75%, 45/240), tenosynovitis in ankle joints (10.00%, 24/240), enthesitis in hand DIP2 joints (8.75%, 21/240), and soft tissue inflammation in MTP4 joints (2.50%, 6/240) most commonly observed. Dactylitis was more frequently observed in toes than in fingers, with the fourth toe most commonly affected(16.67%, 40/240). Ultrasound-detected inflammatory lesions were observed in 72.37%(55/240) of fingers/toes with clinical dactylitis, mainly presenting as synovitis, tenosynovitis, or combinations of these. Conclusion:PsA exhibits significant heterogeneity in the inflammatory lesions across different joints and lesion types. The discrepancies between clinical findings and ultrasonic inflammatory changes highlight the limitations of physical examination in fully capturing the pathological features of PsA. As a critical tool for PsA evaluation, ultrasonography offers distinct advantages in detecting subclinical inflammation and differentiating inflammatory from non-inflammatory lesions.

The aim of this study was to identify the Salmonella strains isolated from an outbreak of foodborne illness in a seafood buffet restaurant and analyze their pathogenic characteristics.Epidemiological data,fecal samples from patients and chefs,and food/environmental samples from the restaurant were analyzed.Research methods included bacterial culture,serotyping,quadruple fluo-rescence PCR identification,whole-genome sequencing and antibiotic susceptibility testing.The results showed that 4 S.Java strains(serotype 1,4,12∶b∶1,2;ST42)were isolated from two outbreak cases and two sporadic cases.All isolates exhibited similar genomic features,harboring 9 virulence islands and 98 virulence genes.Antimicrobial resistance profiling revealed streptomycin monoresis-tance,mediated by aac(6′)-Iy and aac(6′)-Iaa genes.In conclusion,this event was the first reported outbreak of foodborne illness caused by S.Java in China,indicating that S.Java may be prevalent in the surveyed district.The catering industry should optimize food handling and processing procedures and enhance the surveillance of high risk pathogens.Meanwhile,further studies should ad-dress differential diagnosis and pathogenic mechanism differences between S.Java and S.paratyphi B,which will facilitate evidence-based monitoring in China.

The aim of this study was to identify the Salmonella strains isolated from an outbreak of foodborne illness in a seafood buffet restaurant and analyze their pathogenic characteristics.Epidemiological data,fecal samples from patients and chefs,and food/environmental samples from the restaurant were analyzed.Research methods included bacterial culture,serotyping,quadruple fluo-rescence PCR identification,whole-genome sequencing and antibiotic susceptibility testing.The results showed that 4 S.Java strains(serotype 1,4,12∶b∶1,2;ST42)were isolated from two outbreak cases and two sporadic cases.All isolates exhibited similar genomic features,harboring 9 virulence islands and 98 virulence genes.Antimicrobial resistance profiling revealed streptomycin monoresis-tance,mediated by aac(6′)-Iy and aac(6′)-Iaa genes.In conclusion,this event was the first reported outbreak of foodborne illness caused by S.Java in China,indicating that S.Java may be prevalent in the surveyed district.The catering industry should optimize food handling and processing procedures and enhance the surveillance of high risk pathogens.Meanwhile,further studies should ad-dress differential diagnosis and pathogenic mechanism differences between S.Java and S.paratyphi B,which will facilitate evidence-based monitoring in China.

Objective:To explore the distribution variation of ultrasound-detected inflammatory lesions with clinical signs in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).Methods:This was based on the Peking University First Hospital Psoriatic Arthritis (PKUPsA) cohort. Patients enrolled from January 2019 to June 2024 were inchuded, patients with complete data of physical examination and ultrasonographic evaluations of 62 joints in the hand and foot. The ultrasound-detected inflammatory lesions including synovitis, tenosynovitis, enthesitis, and soft tissue inflammation were compared with joint tenderness/swelling. The χ2 test was employed to analyze differences between groups. Results:A total of 7 440 joints in 120 PsA patients were included. Overall, the proportion of joints with clinical signs (tenderness or swelling) was higher than those with ultrasound-detected inflammatory lesions [9.14%(680/7 440) vs. 7.93%(590/7 440), χ2=1 245.928, P<0.001], with more tenderness joints than swelling joints [7.72%(574/7 440) vs. 6.14%(457/7 440), χ2=3 264.45, P<0.001]. Clinical signs were primarily observed in hand proximal interphalangeal (PIP), distal interphalangeal (DIP), wrist and ankle joints, mostly in DIP2 joints [19.58%(47/240)]. Ultrasound-detected inflammatory lesions were predominantly found in metatarsophalangeal (MTP), wrist, and ankle joints, mostly in MTP2 joints (18.75%, 45/240). Clinical signs were more prevalent than ultrasound-detected inflammatory lesions in hand PIP1-3, PIP5, DIP2, and DIP5 joints ( P<0.05), whereas more frequent ultrasound-detected inflammatory lesions than clinical tenderness/swelling were in MTP1-4 joints ( P<0.05). Among ultrasound-detected inflammatory lesions, synovitis in MTP2 joints (18.75%, 45/240), tenosynovitis in ankle joints (10.00%, 24/240), enthesitis in hand DIP2 joints (8.75%, 21/240), and soft tissue inflammation in MTP4 joints (2.50%, 6/240) most commonly observed. Dactylitis was more frequently observed in toes than in fingers, with the fourth toe most commonly affected(16.67%, 40/240). Ultrasound-detected inflammatory lesions were observed in 72.37%(55/240) of fingers/toes with clinical dactylitis, mainly presenting as synovitis, tenosynovitis, or combinations of these. Conclusion:PsA exhibits significant heterogeneity in the inflammatory lesions across different joints and lesion types. The discrepancies between clinical findings and ultrasonic inflammatory changes highlight the limitations of physical examination in fully capturing the pathological features of PsA. As a critical tool for PsA evaluation, ultrasonography offers distinct advantages in detecting subclinical inflammation and differentiating inflammatory from non-inflammatory lesions.

Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)is a serious disorder,and exploration of active compounds to treat it is necessary.An acidic polysaccharide named SUSP-4 was purified from Selaginella uncinata(Desv.)Spring,which contained galacturonic acid,galactose,xylose,arabinose,and rhamnose with the main chain structure of →4)-α-D-GalAp-(1 → and →6)-β-D-Galp-(1 → and the branched structure of →5)-α-L-Araf-(1 →.Animal experiments showed that compared with Model group,SUSP-4 significantly improved body weight status,disease activity index(DAI),colonic shortening,and histopathological damage,and elevated occludin and zonula occludens protein 1(ZO-1)expression in mice induced by dextran sulfate sodium salt(DSS).16S ribosomal RNA(rRNA)sequencing indicated that SUSP-4 markedly downregulated the level of Akkermansia and Alistipes.Metabolomics results confirmed that SUSP-4 obviously elevated thiamine levels compared with Model mice by adjusting thiamine metabolism,which was further confirmed by a targeted metabolism study.Fecal transplantation experiments showed that SUSP-4 exerted an anti-IBD effect by altering the intestinal flora in mice.A mechanistic study showed that SUSP-4 markedly inhibited macrophage activation by decreasing the levels of phospho-nuclear factor kappa-B(p-NF-κB)and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)and elevating NF-E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)levels compared with Model group.In conclusion,SUSP-4 affected thiamine metabolism by regulating Akker-mania and inhibited macrophage activation to adjust NF-κB/Nrf2/COX-2-mediated inflammation and oxidative stress against IBD.This is the first time that plant polysaccharides have been shown to affect thiamine metabolism against IBD,showing great potential for in-depth research and development applications.

Objective To explore the relevant relationship and specificity between the implicit and explicit loyalty of military cadets in order to provide a theoretical basis and objective indicators for a more comprehensive and objective assessment for individual loyalty.Methods E-Prime 2.0,a classic implicit association paradigm was employed to construct an implicit association loyalty test for 64 military cadets.Simultaneously,an explicit loyalty measurement was conducted using the Chinese Military Personnel Loyalty Scale.Results ① Significant implicit effect was observed in the loyalty assessment of military cadets,indicating a general tendency to perceive higher levels of personal loyalty and lower levels of loyalty to external entities.② Explicit loyalty assessment revealed that the participants had the highest loyalty score towards the Party,the Nation,and the People(4.79±0.34),followed by the loyalty score to their profession(4.38±0.53),and the relatively lower loyalty score towards the unit and leaders(4.03±0.83).Among the 3 dimensions of loyalty,the normative loyalty score ranked highest,while continuance loyalty score took lower.③ There were no correlations among the scores of loyalty to the Party,the Nation,and the People(r=-0.030,P=0.823),to the profession(r=-0.047,P=0.728),to the unit(r=0.050,P=0.710),or to the leaders(r=0.043,P=0.749).Conclusion The implicit effect in the loyalty assessment is significant in military cadets,and there is no significant correlation between explicit and implicit loyalty measurements.Thus,we cannot rely solely on explicit measurements to assess their loyalty attitudes.

OBJECTIVE To explore the pharmacodynamic related substances and mechanism of Weining San(WNS) against gastric ulcer(GU) according to fingerprint and network pharmacology. METHODS Twelve batches of WNS fingerprints were established by HPLC, and methodological investigation was carried out. Combined with reference substances, characteristic peaks were identified, pharmacodynamic related substances were screened, and network pharmacological analysis was carried out. Using TCMIP and Swiss Target Prediction database to retrieve component targets; Using OMIM, GeneCards and Drugbank databases to retrieve GU disease targets, taking the intersection targets of components and diseases, using String database to construct protein-protein interaction network diagram, and analyzing topological parameters; Using Cytoscape 3.8.2 software to construct "component-disease-target" network diagram; GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of intersection targets were carried out by Metascape website. Then the alcoholic GU mouse model was established by intragastric administration of absolute ethanol to verify the results of network pharmacology prediction. RESUITS　The precision, stability and repeatability of HPLC fingerprint method were good. By comparison and comprehensive analysis of control substances, notoginsenoside R1, ginsenoside Rg1, militarine, ginsenoside Rb1, schisandrin, schisandrol B, deoxyschizandrin and schisantherin A were identified as pharmacodynamic related substances in WNS, which may play their role by regulating core targets such as AKT1, IL-6, STAT3, TNF, IL1B and key signal pathways such as PI3K-Akt and JAK-STAT. The gastric ulcer index, ulcer inhibition rate and HE staining showed that WNS could improve gastric mucosal injury in GU mice. The results of ELISA, WST-1 and TBA showed that WNS could decrease the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and MDA, and increase the levels of SOD and PGE2, suggesting that the anti-GU effect of WNS was related to the inhibition of inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress mechanism, which further verified the prediction of network pharmacology. CONCLUSION This study combines fingerprint analysis, network pharmacology, and animal experimental validation to explore the pharmacodynamic related substances and mechanisms of WNS anti-GU efficacy, providing reference for quality control and clinical research of WNS.

Objective Explore differences in the cognitive abilities of socially different Labradors.Methods The dog mentality assessment(DMA)test created by the Swedish Working Dog Association was modified to employ 12 behavioral variables from five subtests of the DMA test,social contact,play Ⅰ,distance-play,ghosts and play Ⅱ,to assess sociability of the dogs.In accordance with the scoring criteria,49 labradors provided by the China Guide Dog Training Centre in Dalian were scored on the social behavioral variables and classified into high(n=15)and low(n=34)sociability groups by cluster analysis.A new system to test canine cognitive ability was developed using the dog cognitive development battery,which tests various domains of cognitive ability such as social cue use,unsolvable task,inhibitory control,cognitive flexibility,working memory,and multistep problem solving task.The dogs'behavioral performance and duration of the test were also recorded.Statistical analysis was performed to determine assess differences in the cognitive abilities of socially diverse dogs.Results Dogs in the high and low social subgroups differed significantly in behavioral variables of the unsolvable task,inhibitory control test,and multistep problem solving task.In the unsolvable task,dogs in the high social group looked at people for significantly longer than dogs in the low social grouping(P=0.008)and looked at people with significantly less latency time than dogs in the low social group(P=0.0001).In the inhibitory control,dogs in the high social group chose significantly more correctly than dogs in the low social group(P=0.034)and chose for significantly less time than dogs in the low social group(P=0.039).In the multistep problem solving task,for dogs in the high social group.successfully completed number of stakes was significantly higher than for dogs in the low social group(P=0.044).The percentage of operation pale time was significantly lower than for dogs in the low social group(P=0.05).The average latency time to solve the bone task was significantly higher than for dogs in the low social group(P=0.037).Moreover,the percentage of operation bone time was significantly lower than for dogs in the low social group(P=0.038).In tests involving a manipulable apparatus,dogs in the high social group spent more time looking at people than dogs in the low social group and less time manipulating the apparatus than dogs in the low subgroup,but no statistically significant differences were observed(P＞0.05).Conclusions Highly sociable labradors have a greater cognitive ability,they are more able to suppress impulses during tests,more able to complete the multistep problem solving task,and more inclined to change strategies to seek new cues from people rather than obsessing over manipulating the apparatus when they are unable to solve a problem.

BACKGROUND: Vaccination has been shown effective in controlling the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and reducing severe cases. This study was to assess the flare and change in disease activity after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with stable rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A prospective cohort of RA patients in remission or with low disease activity was divided into a vaccination group and a non-vaccination group based on their COVID-19 vaccination status. Each of them was examined every 3 to 6 months. In the vaccination group, disease activity was compared before and after vaccination. The rates of flare defined as disease activity scores based on 28-joint count (DAS28) >3.2 with ΔDAS28 ≥0.6 were compared between vaccination and non-vaccination groups. RESULTS: A total of 202 eligible RA patients were enrolled. Of these, 98 patients received no vaccine shot (non-vaccination group), and 104 patients received two doses of vaccine (vaccination group). The median time interval from pre-vaccination visit to the first immunization and from the second dose of vaccine to post-vaccination visit was 67 days and 83 days, respectively. The disease activity scores at pre-vaccination and post-vaccination visits in the vaccination group patients were similar. At enrollment, gender, RA disease course, seropositivity, and disease activity were comparable across the two groups. Flare was observed in five (4.8%) of the vaccination group patients and nine (9.2%) of the non-vaccination group patients at post-vaccination assessment ( P  = 0.221). In terms of safety, 29 (27.9%) patients experienced adverse events (AEs) after vaccination. No serious AEs occurred. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 vaccinations had no significant effect on disease activity or risk of flare in RA patients in remission or with low disease activity. Patients with stable RA should be encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.
Humans ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Cohort Studies ; COVID-19/prevention & control* ; COVID-19 Vaccines/adverse effects* ; East Asian People ; Prospective Studies ; Vaccination/adverse effects*

OBJECTIVE To optimize the preparation process of Soft-shelled turtle blood lyophilized powder （STBLP）， and to provide a reference for improving the availability and quality stability of soft-shelled turtle blood （STB）. METHODS STBLP was prepared with vacuum freeze-drying. Taking the solubility as the index， the preparation process parameters of STBLP were optimized by single factor experiment and Box-Behnken response surface method. RESULTS The optimal freeze-drying process for STBLP was obtained： pre-freezing time of 4 h， total drying time of 13 h （before at 0 ℃）， and resolution drying temperature of 25 ℃. The average solubility of 3 batches of STBLP prepared according to the optimal process was 95.72% （RSD＝0.68%， n＝3）， the relative error of which was －0.97% to the theoretical solubility （96.66%）. CONCLUSIONS Optimized lyophilization process in this study are stable and feasible， the solubility of the prepared sample is high.