ObjectiveTo investigate the effect and mechanism of Polygonatum neutral polysaccharides from sibiricum （PSP-NP） on colon injury in mice with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD）. MethodsMale C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a control group， a COPD model group， and a PSP-NP group. The COPD model was established using smoke exposure combined with intranasal LPS administration. The PSP-NP group was simultaneously treated daily with 200 mg/kg of PSP-NP via intragastric gavage， while the other groups received an equal volume of saline. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes in the colon. ELISA was employed to detect the levels of LPS in serum and the expressions of ZO-1， Occludin， IL-6， and TNF-α in colon tissue. UPLC-MS was used to detect the types and contents of bile acids in colonic content， and to screen for differential bile acids. Differential microbial flora were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing， and correlation analysis was conducted with differential bile acids. PSP-NP was combined with the differential bile acids cholic acid （CA）， and deoxycholic acid （DCA） in vitro to analyze the binding capacity of PSP-NP for CA and DCA. PSP-NP was applied to NCM460 normal colonic epithelial cells cultured in CA and DCA. Cell migration ability was assessed using the scratch assay， and the mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α， IL-6， and NF-κB were measured by RT-qPCR. ResultsPSP-NP effectively improved colonic damage in COPD model mice， enhanced mechanical barrier function， alleviated inflammatory response， and regulated abnormal changes in colonic flora and bile acid metabolism. Correlation analysis further revealed that PSP-NP regulated colonic bile acid metabolism and reduced the redundancy of secondary bile acids by increasing the relative abundance of Bacteroidota， Verrucomicrobiota， Bacteroides， and Akkermansia， while decreasing the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Notably， in vitro binding assays demonstrated that PSP-NP bound to differential bile acids DCA and CA， with the strongest binding capacity for DCA at 58.2%. In cellular functional studies， DCA inhibited the migration ability of colonic epithelial cells NCM460 and significantly increased the relative mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α， IL-6， and NF-κB. Importantly， co-treatment with PSP-NP significantly ameliorated the impact of DCA on NCM460 cells. ConclusionsPSP-NP may significantly improve colonic damage in COPD model mice. The mechanism may involve the regulation of colonic bile acid metabolism and bile acid profiles through both microbial modulation and direct binding， thereby reducing the damage caused by secondary bile acids such as DCA to colonic epithelial cells.

Abstract On 18 May 2021, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of X District in P City, Z Province received a co-investigation of a suspected case of intentional HIV transmission from the public security branch, and conducted epidemiological investigations on Zhao and Wang (both males). Wang was confirmed HIV-positive in 2019. Zhao had unprotected sexual encounters several times with Wang in March 2021 without being informed of Wang's HIV infection. Zhao developed fever, sore throat and other symptoms of acute infection phase on 28 March, and were confirmed HIV positive by the CDC of P City on 11 May. Zhao did not have sex with anyone else before or after having sex with Wang. In addition, Zhao had no history of surgery, blood transfusions, drug use or any other history of HIV exposure. Laboratory tests conducted by the CDC of Z Province showed that the HIV nucleic acid sequences between the samples of Zhao and Wang had a high degree of homology. Combined with the epidemiological investigation, laboratory testing and the evidence from the public security branch, it was concluded that Wang intentionally transmitted HIV to Zhao through unprotected anal sex without disclosing his HIV infection status.

Objective To explore the genetic characteristics of fetuses with congenital heart diseases(CHD)diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound.Methods Data of 613 singletons with prenatal ultrasonic diagnosed CHD were retrospectively analyzed.The cardiac structural abnormalities were classified into 8 types.Whole-exome sequencing(WES)was performed for 40 fetuses since chromosomal karyotyping analysis and/or chromosomal microarray analysis(CMA)showed benign copy number variations(CNV)or variants of uncertain significance(VUS).Results Among 613 fetuses,479 fetuses underwent both chromosomal karyotyping analysis and CMA,genomic abnormalities were detected in 60 fetuses(60/479,12.53％).Among 134 fetuses underwent only CMA,genomic abnormalities were found in 4 fetuses(4/134,2.99％).According to results of chromosomal karyotyping analysis and/or CMA,abnormalities were noticed in 40 fetuses(40/568,7.04％)among 568 fetuses with isolated CHD,while in 15 fetuses(15/45,33.33％)among 45 fetuses with non-isolated CHD,respectively.Abnormality detection rate of chromosomal karyotyping analysis and/or CMA in fetuses with complex CHD(10/41,24.39％)was higher than that in fetuses with non-complex CHD(54/572,9.44％).Among complex CHD fetuses,abnormality detection rate was the highest in fetuses with conotruncal defect(CTD)combined with malformation of venous system(4/13,30.77％),while among fetuses with non-complex CHD,situs inversus viscerum had the highest detection rate(1/4,25.00％).Among 40 fetuses chromosomal karyotyping analysis and/or CMA showed benign CNV or VUS,WES indicated pathogenic CNV/likely pathogenic CNV(P/LP)in 3 fetuses,VUS in 3 fetuses and benign CNV in 34 fetuses.Conclusion Fetuses with CHD,especially extracardiac malformations had possibilities of genomic abnormalities.Fetuses with CTD combined with malformation of venous system had higher possibilities of genomic abnormalities.Compared with CMA alone,chromosomal karyotyping analysis combined with CMA was helpful for detecting genomic abnormalities.

AIM:The paper is to explore a rapid and simple method for the culture of mouse primary thyroid cells.METHODS:Mouse thyroid cells were isolated by enzyme digestion and cultured with improved medium,and their morphology,characteristics and secretory function were observed within 14 d.RESULTS:In the cultures,the active pri-mary cells were obtained from the thyroid tissue after digestion for 25 min;adherent growth was observed on the 2nd day.And secondary follicles appeared from the 5th to 7th day.Over 95%cells were detected with thyroglobulin.The secretion of total triiodothyronine and total thyroxine maintains over 60%in 7 d.The expression levels of specific genes can still maintain more than 50%in 10 d.CONCLUSION:Mouse thyroid primary cells can be rapidly cultured by this method,and the cells can be used for studying thyroid endocrine secretion within 7 d and studying thyroid genes within 10 d.

Objective:To analyze the use of medicare antiviral drugs (ART) and related factors among HIV-infected people in Ningbo City.Methods:The retrospective data was collected related to infection and treatment of HIV-infected people in ART in Ningbo up to February 2023 through the National Infectious Disease Surveillance System. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the factors related to medicare antiviral drug use in HIV-infected people. R 4.2.2 software was used for statistical analysis.Results:A total of 6 433 HIV-infected people with ART records were collected, among which 5 783 were in ART. The prevalence of medicare drugs use among people in ART was 24.8% (1 435/5 783, 95% CI: 23.7%-25.9%). Beilun District (8.7%, 43/497) and Fenghua District (5.7%, 14/247) had the lowest level in medicare drugs use. Among people in ART using medicare or out‐of‐pocket drugs, the prevalence of those who had at least one viral load test in the last year (84.9%, 1 352/1 593) was significantly lower than that of those using free drugs (91.4%, 3 829/4 190) ( χ2=52.50, P<0.001). The results of multivariate logistic analysis showed that the factors influencing medicare drug use included low educational level (junior high school and below: a OR=0.24, 95% CI:0.17-0.34), farmer or worker (farmer: a OR=0.60, 95% CI: 0.39-0.91; worker: a OR=0.42, 95% CI: 0.27-0.64), low monthly income (<3 000 Yuan: a OR=0.29, 95% CI: 0.18-0.45), the longer interval time between diagnosis and treatment (≥21 days: a OR=0.47, 95% CI: 0.30-0.74). Conclusions:Significant regional differences on the prevalence of medicare antiviral drugs use in HIV-infected people exist in Ningbo City. Follow-up management program of patients should be improved to strengthen patient compliance to mobilize medicare drug promotion. Meanwhile, publicity of medicare drugs should be strengthened for farmers or workers with low education level and patients with delayed treatment.

Objective:To develop and test the intelligent model for automatically counting the number of vertebral ossification centers below the end of conus medullaris.Methods:From January 2021 to October 2022, 3 000 ultrasound images of the sacrococcygeal spinal middle sagittal plane were retrospectively selected from Shenzhen Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital and Zhuhai People′s Hospital. The vertebral ossification center and spinal conus medullaris were artificially fine-marked in 2, 800 images for segmentation training. Yolov8 algorithm was used to build the segmentation model for segmentation training, and the fitting and automatic counting of vertebral ossification centers were carried out by post-processing. In the other 200 planes, the counting was performed by the artificial intelligence (AI) model, attending physician (D1), and junior physician (D2), and the accuracy of their performance were evaluated by a specialist physician. The accuracy and the time spent between D1, D2, and AI were compared.Results:The accuracy of AI model segmentation fitting and counting reached 95.00% (190/200) by the specialist physician evaluation, which was almost equal to 94.50%(189/200) by D1( P=0.823) and higher than that of 88.50% by D2(177/200)( P=0.012). The counting time spent for D1, D2, and AI model were 5.00 (4.25, 6.00)s, 7.00 (7.00, 8.00)s, 0.09 (0.08, 0.10)s, respectively, showing that the time spent by AI model was significantly shorter than that of doctors(all P<0.001). Conclusions:The trained artificial intelligence model can efficiently and accurately complete the vertebral ossification center counting below the end of conus medullaris, equivalent to the level of attending physicians. This study is expected to be further applied in the screening of fetal spina bifida and improve the automation and intelligence level of prenatal ultrasound screening.

Objective To explore the improving effect and mechanism of saikosaponin A on insomnia rats based on cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway.Methods Seventy-five SD rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,low-dose saikosaponin A group(0.625 mg·kg-1),high-dose saikosaponin A group(2.500 mg·kg-1)and Estazolam group(0.1 mg·kg-1),with 15 rats in each group.Insomnia rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of Phenylalanine(PCPA,0.1 mg·kg-1).The general condition and circadian rhythm of rats were observed;the sleep latency and sleep duration of rats were measured by pentobarbital sodium righting experiment.The sleep phase of rats was observed,and the duration of slow wave sleep phase 1(SWS1),slow wave sleep phase 2(SWS2),rapid eye movement sleep phase(REMS)and total sleep time(TST)were recorded.The mRNA expression levels of hypothalamic circadian genes Clock,Bmal1 and clock-controlled genes Rev-erbα and Rorα were determined by qRT-PCR.The expression level of NeuN in hippocampus was determined by immunofluorescence.The level of cAMP in brain tissue was determined by ELISA.The expression levels of Clock,Bmal1,Rev-erbα,Rorα and cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway-related proteins in brain tissue were determined by Western Blot.Results Compared with the blank group,the rats in the model group had disordered circadian rhythms,extreme excitement,irritability,and reduced sleep;the sleep latency was significantly prolonged(P＜0.05),and the sleep duration and SWS1,SWS2,REMS and TST were significantly shortened(P＜0.05).The arrangement of neurons was disordered,and the IOD value of NeuN positive neurons was significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The mRNA and protein expression levels of Clock,Bmal1,Rev-erbα and Rorα in brain tissue were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).The expression levels of cAMP,p-PKA/PKA and p-CREB/CREB in brain tissue were significantly decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the aggressiveness of the rats in the administration group was significantly weakened,the circadian rhythm was rhythmic,the activity was reduced,and the sleep was increased.The sleep latency was significantly shortened(P＜0.05),and the sleep duration and SWS1,SWS2,REMS and TST were significantly prolonged(P＜0.05).The disorder of neuronal arrangement was restored,and the IOD value of NeuN positive neurons was significantly increased(P＜0.05).The mRNA and protein expression levels of Clock,Bmal1,Rev-erbα and Rorα in brain tissue were significantly increased(P＜0.05).The protein expression levels of cAMP,p-PKA/PKA and p-CREB/CREB in brain tissue were significantly increased(P＜0.05).Conclusion Saikosaponin A may improve the circadian rhythm of insomnia rats by activating cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway.

Objective:To explore the diagnostic value of chromosome karyotype analysis, chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and whole exome sequencing (WES) in microcephaly.Methods:A total of 9 cases of microcephaly fetuses diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound or children with microcephaly diagnosed after birth were selected from the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 2014 to August 2022.Karyotype analysis and/or CMA were used to detect. The cases with negative karyotype analysis and CMA results were further sequenced by trio-based WES (Trio-WES). Then the coding genes contained in the pathogenic copy number variation (CNV) fragments were analyzed by gene ontology (GO) enrichment. The genes related to the development of the central nervous system contained in the pathogenic CNV and the pathogenic genes found by Trio-WES were combined for gene interaction network analysis.Results:In this study, 9 cases of microcephaly were recruited, with the time of diagnosis ranged from 23 weeks of gestation to 7 years after birth, and the head circumference of fetus or children ranged from 18.3 to 42.5 cm (-7SD to -2SD). Karyotype analysis was detected in all 9 cases and no abnormality result was found. Eight cases were detected by CMA, and one abnormal was found. Five cases were detected by Trio-WES, and two cases were detected with likely pathogenic genes. The GO enrichment analysis of the coding gene in the 4p16.3 microdeletion (pathogenic CNV) region showed that: in biological process, it was mainly concentrated in phototransduction, visible light; in terms of molecular function, it was mainly concentrated in fibroblast growth factor binding; in terms of cell components, it was mainly concentrated in rough endoplasmic reticulum. Gene interaction network analysis suggested that CDC42 gene could interact with CTBP1, HTT and ASPM gene.Conclusions:CMA could be used as a first-line detection technique for microcephaly. When the results of chromosome karyotype analysis and/or CMA are negative, Trio-WES could improve the detection rate of pathogenicity of microcephaly.

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between lower limb muscle strength and walking speed in older adults, and to analyze the mediating role of flexibility and dynamic balance. MethodsFrom November to December, 2021, a total of 155 older adults at the Shanghai Senior Sports and Health Home were included. Their basic health information was collected, and the lower limb muscle strength, flexibility, dynamic balance and walking speed were tested. A mediated effects analysis was conducted. ResultsThere was a pairwise correlation among lower limb muscle strength, flexibility, dynamic balance and walking speed in older adults (r > 0.210, P < 0.01). In the mediated effects model, after controlling for age and gender, lower limb muscle strength did not directly predict walking speed in older adults (β = 0.029, P = 0.699), however, lower limb muscle strength could influence walking speed through the partial mediation of dynamic balance (effect = 0.0130, 95% CI 0.0073~0.0197) and the chain mediation of lower flexibility and dynamic balance (effect = 0.0019, 95% CI 0.0003~0.0043). ConclusionLower limb muscle strength can indirectly affect walking speed in older adults through the mediators of flexibility and dynamic balance, or the dynamic balance alone.

Objective: To investigate the use of new types of drugs among HIV/AIDS patients in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, so as to provide insights into surveillance and interventions for use of new types of drugs among HIV/AIDS patients. Methods: The HIV/AIDS patients in Ningbo City were randomly sampled from the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Information System of Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. Patients' demographics, use of new types of drugs and sexual behaviors were collected using questionnaire surveys. Patients' hair samples were collected, and new types of drugs were determined in hair using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). In addition, factors affecting the use of new types of drugs were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 254 HIV/AIDS patients were enrolled, including 214 men (84.25%), 31 cases aged under 25 years (12.20%), 66 cases aged 25 to 30 years (25.98%), and 157 cases aged 31 to 75 years (61.81%). There were 30 cases reported previous use of new drugs (11.81%), including 27 cases reported previous use of methamphetamine (90.00%). There were 48 cases tested positive of new types of drugs, with a positive rate of 18.90%, including 44 cases tested positive for methamphetamine (91.67%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified age (25 to 30 years, OR=6.926, 95%CI: 1.412-33.969), occupation (students/teachers/cadres/employees/retirees, OR=6.971, 95%CI: 2.123-22.889; housekeeping and housework servants/unemployed, OR=3.356, 95%CI: 1.289-8.739; business/public place servants, OR=2.447, 95%CI: 1.033-4.448) and syphilis infection during recent six months (OR=3.491, 95%CI: 1.664-7.326) as factors affecting the use of new types drugs among HIV/AIDS patients. Conclusions The use of new types of drugs exists in HIV/AIDS patients in Ningbo City. Age, occupation and syphilis infection were associated with the use of new types of drugs among HIV/AIDS patients.