Tetrodotoxin（TTX）is a potent neurotoxin known for its specific sodium channel blocking effects, widely used in biomedical research. While TTX has been identified in various marine organisms, its true origin remains unclear, and the specific biosynthetic pathways are yet to be elucidated. The reported sources of TTX and the progress in research on TTX biosynthesis were summarized, with a focus on potential microbial sources of TTX, which could provide scientific reference for the production and biosynthesis studies of TTX.

ObjectiveTo establish an adjusted Serfling regression model to estimate the excess cases and the excess epidemic period of hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) in Beijing from 2011 to 2019, so as to provide data support and decision-making basis for HFMD prevention and control. MethodsThe weekly number of HFMD cases in Beijing from 2011 to 2019 was utilized for adjusted the Serfling regression model. Then the adjusted model was used to fit the baseline and epidemic threshold of HFMD in Beijing from 2011 to 2019, calculating the excess cases and determining the excess epidemic period. ResultsA total of 279 306 cases of HFMD were reported in Beijing from 2011 to 2019, with the climax of the disease occurring in summer and autumn. After adjusting the fitting R² of the Serfling regression model to 0.773, a total of 10 excess epidemic periods totaling 92 weeks were estimated, mainly occurring in summer. The highest number of excess cases during an excess epidemic period was found in 2014 (1 272 cases, 95%CI: 990‒1 554), accounting for 65.04% of the actual cases (95%CI: 50.62%‒79.46%). ConclusionThe adjusted Serfling regression model fits well and can be utilized for early warning of HFMD and estimating the disease burden caused by HFMD.

Objective:To explore the clinical treatment principles for tibial plateau fracture related infection (TPFRI).Methods:A retrospective study was used to analyze the clinical data of 47 patients with TPFRI who had been admitted to The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from May 2015 to May 2022. There were 33 males and 14 females, with an age of (49.3±9.5) years. By admission, 32 tibial plateau fractures got healed while 15 ones remained unhealed. According to the site of infection, TPFRI was classified into 3 categories: arthritic type (9 cases), adjacent articular type (28 cases), and distal articular type (10 cases). Individualized reconstruction plans were made according to fracture union, bone and soft tissue defects, and infection involvement of the knee joint. The knee function was assessed by the modified Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) criteria at the final follow-up. The fracture union and complications were recorded.Results:All patients were followed up for (37.4±11.7) months. The infection was controlled and the fractures got united after (4.6±1.4) months in the 15 patients whose tibial plateau fractures remained unhealed by admission. In the 32 cases whose tibial plateau fractures got healed by admission (except for the 7 cases without bone defects, 1 case undergoing femoral condyle amputation and 1 case undergoing tibial flip amputation), respectively, Masquelet technique was used in 5 cases, Ilizarov bone transport in 3 cases, filling with an astrocnemius muscle flap or a myocutaneous flap in 5 cases, semi-open bone grafting in 1 case, open bone cement rod technique in 1 case, platelet-rich plasma combined with negative pressure drainage in 1 case, and knee arthrodesis in 7 cases to reconstruct their bone and soft tissue defects. At the final follow-up, the knee function was evaluated based on the modified HSS scoring as excellent in 28 cases, as good in 15 cases, as moderate in 3 cases and as poor in 1 case. The number of the patients with excellent or good knee function was significantly larger in the adjacent articular type and distal articular type than in the arthritic type ( P<0.05). The number of the patients with excellent or good knee function was significantly larger in those whose tibial plateau fractures remained unhealed by admission than in those whose tibial plateau fractures got healed by admission ( P<0.05). All patients did not experience such complications as open fat liquefaction, bone nonunion, lower limb deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism. Conclusions:In the treatment of TPFRI, individualized treatment plans should be made to improve infection control, accelerate functional recovery of the knee joint, and reduce incidence of complications, taking into consideration such factors as fracture union, bone and soft tissue defects, and infection involvement of the knee joint.

Objective:To apply data mining and bibliometric methods to collect and analyze literatures related to the uPMR 790 integrated positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging(PET/MRI)of the United Imaging Healthcare(UIH)and assess its output effects in clinical research and application,continued research and development,performance improvement,technology assessment,healthcare technology management,and other aspects.Methods:To conduct literature searches on data platforms such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),WanFang Data Knowledge Service Platform(WANFANG DATA),Wanfang Medical Network(WANFANG MED ONLINE),Chinese Medical Association Journal Database(Yiigle),NIH/PubMed,etc.Based on literature review,to implement bibliometric analysis and evaluate from several technological output dimensions.Results:134 sample literatures were obtained.Among them,there are 121 journal articles,10 dissertations(1 doctoral dissertation and 9 master's theses),3 case reports from the Chinese Medical Case Repository,59 of foreign language journals,and 101 articles sourced from uPMR 790 users as the first author affiliation.Engineering and technical personnel from UIH participated in 58 journal articles;89 clinical research articles,accounting for 66.42%of the sample literatures,15 engineering research and artificial intelligence(AI)research articles,accounting for 11.19%,15 technology assessment articles,accounting for 11.19%,4 healthcare technology management articles,1 experimental research article,and 10 reviews.In addition,33 related patent technologies were retrieved from UIH and its cooperative institutions,as well as UIH PET/MRI equipment users,including 20 invention patents,13 utility model patents.Conclusion:The research results show that the innovative medical equipment,the uPMR 790 PET/MRI,has definite technological outputs in clinical research and application,providing important and widely data of evidence-based medicine for clinical application promotion.It also map out the effective support of this innovative medical equipment for multidisciplinary clinical research such as medical imaging,neurology,cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases,geriatrics,pediatrics,etc.Driven by the model of medical-engineering integration and synergy mechanism,display multidimensional output effects such as continuous research and development,quality improvement,technology assessment,configuration management,and healthcare technology management.UIH actively participates in researchs and follows up on innovative practices in medical-engineering integration,demonstrating a positive attitude as a leading medical equipment enterprise.Real world research will provide evidence support for the application demonstration and promotion for equipment manufactured by Chinese medical equipment enterprises.

Clinically,the incidence of chronic musculoskeletal pain is relatively high,and it is one of the main causes of disability in Chinese residents,causing a heavy health and economic burden to the society.There are limited treatments available for patients who are ineffective to conservative treatment and whose disorders are inoperable.Recently,transcatheter embolization(TCE)has become a potential treatment method for such patients.Chronic musculoskeletal pain,such as knee osteoarthritis,adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder(frozen shoulder),tendinopathy,and neck/back muscle pain,can induce pathological neovascularization and inflammatory reactions.TCE of abnormal neovasculature can improve patient's pain and limb function.So far,there are relatively few studies on the TCE of chronic musculoskeletal pain in China,and there are no large-scale high-quality clinical studies abroad.This paper aims to make a comprehensive review about the TCE for chronic musculoskeletal pain,focusing on its basic principles,operative techniques,and latest clinical achievements.

Objective To explore the molecular mechanism of miR-16-5p promoting apoptosis and inflammatory response by targeting GPR30 expression in an in vitro ischemic stroke microglia model(BV-2).Methods An ischemic stroke cell model was established by subjecting BV-2 cells to oxygen-glucose deprivation(OGD).qRT-PCR was utilized to assess the levels of miR-16-5p and GPR30 mRNA in OGD cells.A miR-16-5p inhibitor was transfected into OGD cells to silence miR-16-5p expression,and alterations in inflammatory response and apoptosis were measured using ELISA kits and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining.Starbase was employed to predict interactions,and dual-luciferase reporter gene assays were conducted to confirm that miR-16-5p targets the 3'-untranslated region(UTR)sequence of GPR30.Changes in cellular inflammatory response and apoptosis were evaluated by knocking down miR-16-5p and/or GPR30 in OGD cells.Results miR-16-5p expression was significantly elevated(P<0.01),while GPR30 expression was notably decreased(P<0.01)in OGD-induced cells.Knockdown of miR-16-5p reduced the expression levels of inflammatory factors and the cell apoptosis ratio(P<0.01).Inhibition of miR-16-5p expression led to an upregulation of GPR30 mRNA and protein levels(P<0.01).Simultaneous silencing of both miR-16-5p and GPR30 partially enhanced inflammatory factor expression levels and the cell apoptosis ratio compared to cells transfected solely with the miR-16-5p inhibitor(P<0.05).Conclusion In the microglia OGD model,miR-16-5p triggers inflammatory responses and enhances apoptosis by inhibiting GPR30 expression.

Osteoarthritis (OA) causes chronic pain that significantly impairs quality of life, with current treatments often proving insufficient and accompanied by adverse effects. Recent research has identified the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and its resident macrophages as crucial mediators of chronic OA pain through neuroinflammation driven by macrophage polarization. We present a novel injectable thermo-sensitive hydrogel system, KAF@PLEL, designed to deliver an anti-inflammatory peptide (KAF) specifically to the DRG. This biodegradable hydrogel enables sustained KAF release, promoting the reprogramming of DRG macrophages from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory phenotypes. Through comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies, we evaluated the hydrogel's biocompatibility, effects on macrophage polarization, and therapeutic efficacy in chronic OA pain management. The system demonstrated significant capabilities in preserving macrophage mitochondrial function, suppressing neuroinflammation, alleviating chronic OA pain, reducing cartilage degradation, and improving motor function in OA rat models. The sustained-release properties of KAF@PLEL enabled prolonged therapeutic effects while minimizing systemic exposure and side effects. These findings suggest that KAF@PLEL represents a promising therapeutic approach for improving outcomes in OA patients through targeted, sustained treatment.

Objective To obtain the data of radiological diagnosis and treatment resource distribution at medical institutions of different levels and in various cities, understand the status of resource allocation, provide policy-making basis and suggestions for optimizing the allocation of radiological diagnosis and treatment resources within the province, and offer data and references for related research. Methods A basic situation questionnaire survey was conducted on radiological diagnosis and treatment institutions in Hunan Province. Data were reviewed, analyzed, and statistically processed using Excel software to understand the allocation situation of radiological diagnosis and treatment resources in Hunan Province. Results As of 2022, there were 3031 radiological diagnosis and treatment institutions, 19770 radiation workers, and 6617 pieces of radiological diagnostic and treatment equipment. There were 80 radiation treatment institutions, 49 nuclear medicine institutions, 178 interventional radiology institutions, and 3028 X-ray imaging diagnosis institutions. There were 1077 radiation workers in radiation treatment, 461 radiation workers in nuclear medicine, 3369 radiation workers in interventional radiology, and 14,863 radiation workers in X-ray imaging diagnosis. There were 135 pieces of radiation treatment equipment, 56 pieces of nuclear medicine equipment, 262 pieces of interventional radiology equipment, and 6164 pieces of X-ray imaging diagnosis equipment. Conclusion Primary and lower grade medical institutions in Hunan Province account for a relatively high proportion of the total number of medical institutions, whereas radiological diagnostic and treatment resources are predominantly concentrated in tertiary medical institutions, demonstrating a unbalanced allocation of radiological diagnosis and treatment resources in various cities. In terms of the overall allocation of radiological diagnosis and treatment resources, interventional radiology is superior to the national average, nuclear medicine and X-ray imaging diagnosis are comparable to the national averages, and radiation treatment is lower than the national average. The total GDP is not the decisive factor in determining the development of local medical levels. It is suggested that relevant authorities should improve the rationality of the planning for the allocation of radiological diagnosis and treatment resources, promote the allocation of radiological diagnosis and treatment resources to the grassroots and underdeveloped areas through various measures, and thus achieve the goal of balanced resource allocation.

Skull segmentation in magnetic resonance image(MRI)provides realistic skull models for MEG and EEG positive problems.An MRI skull segmentation method based on bi-stream pyramid decoder and deep supervision(BiNETR)is proposed to solve the problem of difficult segmentation due to the blurred and complex structure of MRI skull imaging.The method uses a bi-stream pyramid decoder as the main decoder in the network structure of encoding-decoding,including serial dual decoders for edge information oriented and precise feature merging.Specifically,edge information oriented pyramid decoder effectively enhances the edge information based on feature sharpening to improve the edge segmentation accuracy,and the precise feature merging pyramid decoder further refines and reuses the edge-enhanced features to promote the fusion of deep and shallow features.In addition,deep supervised computation of intermediate feature loss is introduced to implant the gradient into the deep network for enhancing network training.The segmentation algorithm is validated on the skull dataset,achieving a Dice similarity coefficient of 0.880±0.039 and an average symmetric surface distance of(0.931±0.286)mm,outperforming other state-of-the-art methods.The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed algorithm in MRI skull segmentation.

Objective To explore the effect and mechanism of Sechang Zhixie Powder(SCZXS)on mice with acute diarrhea caused by castor oil.Methods The mice were randomly divided into blank control group,model control group,montmorillonite powder group(1.4 g·kg-1),SCZXS-L group(0.9 g·kg-1),SCZXS-M group(1.8 g·kg-1)and SCZXS-H group(3.6 g·kg-1),10 mice in each group.After continuous administration of 7 days,the acute diarrhea model of mice was prepared by oral administration of castor oil(0.01 mL·g-1).The diarrhea of mice was observed within 4 hours of castor oil administration,and the rate of loose stool,degree of loose stool,and diarrhea index were calculated;the levels of DAO,D-LDH,VIP,and SS in the colon were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay;The morphological changes in the colon tissue of mice were observed after HE staining and the thicknesses of the mucosal and muscular layers of the colon were quantified;AB-PAS staining was performed to observe the effect on mucin in the colon;and the expression of AQP3,Occludin,and ZO-1 in the colon were quantified by immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with the model control group,the rate of loose stool,degree of loose stool,and diarrhea index of the mice in the SCZXS groups tended to decrease,but the difference was not statistically significant.Compared with the model control group,the flat luminal surface of the mice in the SCZXS-M and SCZXS-H group were significantly thickened(P<0.01),and the amount of VIP in the colon was significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),and that of DAO in the colon was significantly decreased(P<0.01),Occludin and ZO-1 expression were significantly increased(P<0.01),the mucin area ratio was significantly increased(P<0.05)in the SCZXS-M group,and AQP3 expression was significantly increased(P<0.05)in the SCZXS groups.Conclusions SCZXS can improve acute diarrhea induced by castor oil in mice.and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of gastrointestinal hormones and AQP3.In addition,SCZXS improves intestinal damage caused by diarrhea and protects the intestinal barrier.