ObjectiveFat infiltration has been shown to be closely related to muscle mass loss and a variety of muscle diseases. This study proposes a method based on phase-angle electrical impedance tomography (ΦEIT) to visualize the electrical characteristic response caused by muscle fat infiltration, aiming to provide a new technical means for early non-invasive detection of muscle mass deterioration. MethodsThis study was divided into two parts. First, a laboratory pork model was constructed to simulate different degrees of fat infiltration by injecting1 ml or 2 ml of emulsified fat solution into different muscle compartments, and the phase angle images were reconstructed using ΦEIT. Second, a human experiment was conducted to recruit healthy subjects (n=8) from two age groups (20-25 years old and 26-30 years old). The fat content percentage η_fat of the left and right legs was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and the phase angle images of the left and right calves were reconstructed using ΦEIT. The relationship between the global average phase angle Φ_M and the spatial average phase angle Φ_Mi of each muscle compartment and fat infiltration was further analyzed. ResultsIn the laboratory pork model, the grayscale value of the image increased with the increase of η_fat and Φ_M showed a downward trend. The results of human experiments showed that at the same fat content percentage, the Φ_M of the 26-30-year-old group was about 20%-35% lower than that of the 20-25-year-old group. The fat content percentage was significantly negatively correlated with Φ_M. In addition, the M₂ (soleus) compartment was most sensitive to fat infiltration, and the spatial average phase angles of the M₂ (soleus), M₃ (tibialis posterior and flexor digitorum longus), and M₄ (tibialis anterior, extensor digitorum longus, and peroneus longus) compartments all showed significant inter-group differences. ConclusionΦEIT imaging can effectively distinguish different degrees of fat infiltration, especially in deep, small or specially located muscles, showing high sensitivity, demonstrating the potential application of this method in local muscle mass monitoring and early non-invasive diagnosis.

SARS-CoV-2 infection causes complicated clinical manifestations with variable multi-organ injuries, however, the underlying mechanism, in particular immune responses in different organs, remains elusive. In this study, comprehensive transcriptomic alterations of 14 tissues from rhesus macaque infected with SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed. Compared to normal controls, SARS-CoV-2 infection resulted in dysregulation of genes involving diverse functions in various examined tissues/organs, with drastic transcriptomic changes in cerebral cortex and right ventricle. Intriguingly, cerebral cortex exhibited a hyperinflammatory state evidenced by significant upregulation of inflammation response-related genes. Meanwhile, expressions of coagulation, angiogenesis and fibrosis factors were also up-regulated in cerebral cortex. Based on our findings, neuropilin 1 (NRP1), a receptor of SARS-CoV-2, was significantly elevated in cerebral cortex post infection, accompanied by active immune response releasing inflammatory factors and signal transmission among tissues, which enhanced infection of the central nervous system (CNS) in a positive feedback way, leading to viral encephalitis. Overall, our study depicts a multi-tissue/organ transcriptomic landscapes of rhesus macaque with early infection of SARS-CoV-2, and provides important insights into the mechanistic basis for COVID-19-associated clinical complications.
Animals ; COVID-19/genetics* ; Macaca mulatta ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics* ; Transcriptome

ObjectiveTo explore the awareness rate and the influencing factors of notification in elderly cancer patients， and to improve the community health management. MethodsA total of 622 cancer patients were selected from a community health service center in Jing’an District of Shanghai， who participated in the Survey of Unified Needs Assessment of Elderly Care in Shanghai. ResultsThe overall awareness rate was 62.86%. Multivariate analysis showed that elderly patients were more likely to have disease notification than younger patients. Patients were less likely to have notification if they were without spouse， with care needs and with more diseases other than cancer. Patients with family history of cancer， living with children were more likely to have notification （P< 0.05）. Different tumor types might also influence the notification. Moreover， under the control of different factors， the influence effect on patients in specific age group may be different. （This sentence， in Chinse and English abstracts is confusing. Suggest authors to revise） ConclusionCommunity workers should develop corresponding health management strategies to improve the patients’ proper awareness， based on tumor category， of patient health status and family attitude.

Objective:To extract the effective components from medical materials using modern preparation technology and to stud-y the preparation process to obtain Qingwen Tuire granules, and establish the quality standard. Methods:The medical materials in the formula were extracted by a heating decoction method. The wet granulation process was used for the granule preparation. The compo-nents including bupleurum, paeoniae alba, scutellaria baicalensis and indigowoad leaf in the granules were identified by TLC and the contents of seutellarin in the preparation was determined by HPLC. Results:The characteristic spots in TLC were clear without any in-terference. The linear range of scutellarin was 0. 194-1. 164 μg with the correlation coefficient of 0. 999 5. The average recovery was 100. 89%(RSD=0. 74%, n=6). Conclusion:The methods used in the identification and quantification are sensitive, simple and ac-curate, which can be used in the quality control of Qingwen Tuire granules.