BACKGROUND:Intervertebral disc degeneration is clinically considered to be the main cause of low back pain,but due to the unclear pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration,there is still a lack of effective means to delay the progression of the disease.Single-cell RNA sequencing technology can amplify and sequence mRNA at the single-cell level,reveal the gene expression intensity of a single cell,discover different cell subsets in tissues according to the heterogeneity of cells,study the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration at the molecular level,and provide a new theoretical basis for its early diagnosis and treatment. OBJECTIVE:To introduce the basic principles of single-cell RNA sequencing technology and review the research progress of single-cell RNA sequencing technology in intervertebral disc degeneration in recent years. METHODS:A computer was used to search PubMed,Web of Science,CNKI and WanFang databases for the literature published from 2012 to 2022.Key words were"single-cell RNA sequencing,intervertebral disc degeneration,sequencing Technology"in Chinese and English.Duplicate,poor-quality and irrelevant articles were excluded;a total of 70 articles were eventually included. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)We identified new cell subsets such as homeostatic chondrocytes,hypertrophy chondrocyte-like nucleus pulposus cells and fibrous nucleus pulposus cells,identified the marker genes and transcription factors of these cell subsets,and described the functions,differentiation paths and cell fate of these cell subsets during the development and progression of intervertebral disc degeneration,and proposed the concept of progenitor nucleus pulposus cells.A cell subpopulation with progenitor nucleus pulposus cells properties was identified and its effectiveness in treating intervertebral disc degeneration was verified in mice.(2)Fibro chondrocyte-like annulus fibrosus cells and annulus fibrosus stem cells with both cartilage and fiber properties were identified,and a new type of composite hydrogel was prepared by combining fibrous cartilage inducers silk fibroin and hyaluronic acid in vitro.Experiments in mice demonstrated that this hydrogel could repair both annulus fibrosus tissue and cartilage matrix,and was remarkably effective in the treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration.(3)Regulatory chondrocytes were found in endplate cartilage.Two distinct fates in the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration were analyzed and the differential genes in the two fates were identified.Intercellular communication analysis indicated that regulatory chondrocytes interact with endothelial cells to promote angiogenesis.(4)Immune cells such as macrophages,T cells,myeloid progenitor cells and neutrophils were identified in the degenerated intervertebral disc tissues,demonstrating the existence of immune response during intervertebral disc degeneration.It was found that apolipoprotein induced the polarization of macrophages M1 and M2 subtypes,and this polarization process affected the activity of progenitor nucleus pulposus cells by amplifying the inflammatory response through the MIF signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the long-term therapeutic effects and safety of renal denervation (RDN) on hypertensive patients with different cardiovascular risks, as well as its impact on adverse events, cardiovascular death and all-cause mortality.Methods:This was a single-center, single-arm, real-world retrospective study. Patients with refractory hypertension who underwent RDN at Tianjin First Central Hospital from July 6, 2011 to December 23, 2015 were enrolled and divided into either a high or intermediate-low risk group based on baseline cardiovascular risk. The treatment responsiveness of hypertensive patients with different cardiovascular stratification to RDN was assessed by comparing the results of office blood pressure, home blood pressure, and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring at 1, 5, and 11 years after RDN. Long-term safety of RDN was assessed by creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 1 and 11 years after RDN. In addition, the total defined daily dose (DDD) of antihypertensive medications and the incidence of long-term adverse events, cardiovascular deaths, and all-cause deaths after RDN were followed up 11 years after RDN in person or by telephone.Results:A total of 62 patients with refractory hypertension, aged (50.2±15.0) years, of whom 35 (56.5%) were male, were included. There were 35 cases in high-risk group and 27 cases in low and medium risk group. The decrease in clinic systolic blood pressure (high risk vs. low-medium risk: (-38.0±15.1) mmHg vs. (-25.0±16.6) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133kPa), P=0.002), home self-measured systolic blood pressure ((-28.4±12.7) mmHg vs. (-19.7±13.1) mmHg, P=0.011) and clinic systolic blood pressure 11 years after RDN ((-43.0±18.4) mmHg vs. (-27.8±17.9) mmHg, P=0.003) in the high-risk group was significantly higher than that in the low-medium risk group. The differences in heart rate and the decrease in total DDD number of antihypertensive drugs between the two groups were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Creatinine and eGFR levels in the two groups at 1 and 11 years after RDN were not statistically significant when compared with the baseline values (all P>0.05). The cumulative cardiovascular mortality rate was 1.6% (1/62) and 8.1% (5/62), and the cumulative all-cause mortality rate was 3.2% (2/62) and 11.3% (7/62) at 5 and 11 years after RDN, respectively. The differences in the incidence rate of adverse events, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality rate between the two groups were not statistically significant (all P>0.05). Conclusions:RDN has long-term antihypertensive effect and good safety. Hypertensive patients who belong to the high-risk stratification of cardiovascular risk may respond better to RDN treatment.

Objective:To establish ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) characteristic chromatogram of Pulsatilla chinensis; To provide reference for the origin identification and quality control of Pulsatilla chinensis. Methods:UPLC Method was adopted. The determination was performed on a column of Agilent SB C18 (2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.8 μm) . The mobile phase was acetonitrile-methanol (2:1) -0.1% phosphoric acid solution by fradient elution at a flow rate of 0.30ml/min. The column temperature was 30 ℃. The detection wavelength was 215 nm. The injection volume was 2 μl. The common counterfeit products and medicinal herbs of Pulsatilla chinensis from different areas were evaluated by comparison of characteristic chromatogram, principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Results:There were 9 characteristic peaks in the characteristic chromatogram of Pulsatilla chinensis, and 8 common peaks were identified by high resolution mass spectrometry and comparison of reference materials. Through PCA analysis, it was possible to clearly distinguish the medicinal herbs of Pulsatilla chinensis from different areas. Combined with OPLS-DA analysis, it was found that peak 2, peak 3, peak 6 were the main markers of Pulsatilla chinensis from different producing areas. Conclusion:The established method has good specificity, repeatability and durability, and it can effectively distinguish the common counterfeits of Pulsatilla chinensis, and provide the basis of quality control and selection of origin for Pulsatilla chinensis.

Objective:To establish the ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) fingerprints of Mume flos at different flowering stages; To provide reference for the quality research of Mume flos.Methods:The fingerprints of Mume flos were established by UPLC method, and the common peaks were identified by high performance liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Chemometrics analysis was carried out with the fingerprints' common peak area of plum blossom at different flowering stages as a variable. Semiquantitative analysis of changes in flavonoids and phenolic acids in Mume flos at different flowering stages was conduct using peak area calculation method.Results:Totally 31 common peaks were identified in the fingerprints of plum blossom medicinal materials at different flowering stages and 9 components were identified. Clustering analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) both classified plum blossom medicinal herbs at different flowering stages into three categories. Among them, there were significant differences between the groups at the bud stage, blooming period, and final flowering period, while the differences between the groups at blooming period and final flowering period were relatively small. The orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) screened 16 different components with VIP>1.0. The contents of phenolic acids in different flowering stages were as follows: bud stage>blooming period>final flowering period, while the contents of flavonoids were as follows: blooming period>final flowering period>bud stage.Conclusions:This method is simple and reliable, and can provide reference for the quality evaluation of plum blossom medicinal materials at different flowering stages.

Objective To establish the ultra-high performance liquid chromatography(UPLC)chromatographic fingerprint of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix;To determine the contents of ferulic acid,nodakenin,ammijin,notopterol,isoimperatorin and volatile oil of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix from different producing areas;To provide reference for quality evaluation of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix.Methods Waters BEH C18 chromatographic column(2.1 mm×150 mm,1.7 μm)was used,with mobile phase acetonitrile-0.02%formic acid aqueous solution gradient elution,flow rate 0.25 mL/min,column temperature 25℃,detection wavelength 330 nm,injection volume 2 μL.UPLC fingerprints of 25 batches of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix were established,and the similarity analysis and chemometrics analysis were carried out.The contents of ferulic acid,nodakenin,ammijin,notopterol and isoimperatorin were determined simultaneously,and the contents of volatile oil was determined by steam distillation method.Results Totally 23 common fingerprint peaks were calibrated,11 known components were identified.According to the results of the cluster analysis and principal component analysis,25 batches of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix samples were divided into 3 categories,and the 6 potential differential components were screened out by orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA).The results showed that the contents of notopterol and volatile oil from Sichuan Province were higher than those from Gansu Province and Qinghai Province.Conclusion The method established in the study is accurate and reliable,which can provide scientific basis and reference for the quality evaluation and control of Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix.

Objective:To investigate the recent epidemic trends and spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of gonorrhea in China, and to provide a reference for precise prevention and control of gonorrhea.Methods:Data on reported cases of gonorrhea in China (not including Hongkong, Macau and Taiwan regions of China) were collected from the Infectious Diseases Surveillance System of Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System from 2018 to 2023. The trends in reported incidence rates of gonorrhea in China were analyzed using the Joinpoint regression model. Global spatial autocorrelation analysis with the Moran's index and global G-statistic, as well as local spatial autocorrelation analysis, were employed to explore the clustering patterns and hotspot regions of gonorrhea at the county level. In the spatiotemporal scanning analysis, a Poisson distribution model was employed to identify clusters of gonorrhea cases.Results:The reported incidence rates of gonorrhea in China decreased from 9.59 per 100 000 in 2018 to 7.35 per 100 000 in 2023, with an average annual percent change of -4.9%, but this decreasing trend was not statistically significant ( P = 0.11). The reported incidence rates of gonorrhea at the county level in China exhibited a significant positive global spatial autocorrelation, with the global Moran's indices ranging from 0.39 to 0.60 (all P < 0.001) ; the Getis-Ord general G test statistic Z (G) values were all greater than 1.96, indicating a high-value clustering pattern of gonorrhea cases. The local spatial autocorrelation analysis showed that hotspot regions were predominantly distributed in southeastern coastal areas and southwestern China. A total of 70 clusters were identified through the spatiotemporal scanning analysis, and mainly located in southeastern coastal areas and southwestern China. Conclusions:In recent 6 years, the overall reported incidence rates of gonorrhea in China showed a fluctuating decline; there was a significant spatiotemporal clustering characteristic with regard to gonorrhea epidemic at the county level in China, and the hotspot regions were basically consistent with the spatiotemporal clusters, which were mainly distributed in southeastern coastal areas and southwestern China. Further investigation into the causes and precise prevention and control measures are needed.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and safety of Neuroform Atlas stent-assisted coil embolization in ruptured anterior communicating wide-necked aneurysms.Methods:Thirty-two patients with ruptured anterior communicating wide-necked aneurysms accepted Neuroform Atlas stent assisted coil embolization in Department of Neurosurgery, People's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University from January 2022 to June 2023 were chosen. DSA was performed immediately after surgery, and aneurysm embolization was assessed using Raymond grading. Prognoses were assessed by modified Rankin Scale (mRS, mRS scores≤2 as good prognosis and mRS scores>2 as poor prognosis) at last follow-up. DSA was performed again 6 months after surgery to assess the aneurysm healingResults:Neuroform Atlas stents were successfully implanted in all 32 patients; Postoperative DSA showed that aneurysm embolization reached Raymond grading I in all 32 patients(100%). No such complications as in-stent thrombosis, cerebral vasospasm, or poor opening of the stent were noted excepted for one with intraoperative aneurysm rupture hemorrhage. At the last follow-up, 31 patients had good prognosis and 1 had poor prognosis; in 22 patients underwent DSA re-examination, Raymond grading I was noted in 20 patients (90.91%) and grading II in 2 (9.09%).Conclusion:Neuroform Atlas stent-assisted coil embolization for ruptured anterior communicating wide-necked aneurysms seems safe and effective.

Objective:To investigate the expression levels of miRNA-21 (miR-21) and miRNA-330 (miR-330) in serum exosomes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastases, and the correlation of the two with the prognosis of patients.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted. A total of 125 NSCLC patients who were admitted to the Affiliated People's Hospital of Shandong First Medical University from March 2021 to September 2022 were prospectively selected, and the brain metastasis was determined by CT, contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the head, or surgical pathology. The NSCLC patients were divided into the metastatic group (58 cases) and the non-metastatic group (67 cases) according to whether they had brain metastases, and 50 patients with benign lung diseases and 50 healthy subjects who underwent physical examination in the same period were selected as benign group and healthy control group respectively. Serum samples were collected from all subjects (including patients' pre-treatment samples), the exosomes were extracted, and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the relative expression of miR-21 and miR-330 in exosomes at the transcriptional level, and electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was used to detect the levels of serum tumor markers [neuron-specific enolase (NSE), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA)]. The levels of miR-21 and miR-330 in serum exosomes and serum tumor markers in the 4 groups were compared, and the correlation between miR-21 and miR-330 in serum exosomes of NSCLC patients with brain metastases before treatment and the correlation between miR-21, miR-330 and serum tumor markers were analyzed by Pearson method. Using brain metastases identified by CT, contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the head or surgical pathology as the gold standard, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to determine the occurrence of brain metastases in NSCLC patients based on the levels of miR-21, miR-330 and their combination in the serum exosomes before treatment. NSCLC patients were divided into the poor prognosis group and the good prognosis group according to whether or not they died of tumor during the follow-up period, and the clinical characteristics and levels of miR-21 and miR-330 in serum exosomes before treatment were compared between the two groups. The independent influencing factors of death due to tumor in NSCLC patients were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression.Results:Among 125 NSCLC patients, 68 (54.4%) were male and 57 (45.6%) were female; the age was (63±5) years old, ranging from 49 to 82 years old; 89 patients (71.2%) were adenocarcinoma and 36 patients (28.8%) were squamous cell carcinoma. The transcriptional level relative expression of miR-21 in serum exosomes of healthy control group, benign group, non-metastatic group and metastatic group increased sequentially, the transcriptional level relative expression of miR-330 decreased sequentially, the protein concentrations of NSE, CEA and SCCA increased sequentially, and the differences between each two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.001). Pearson correlation analysis showed that in the serum exosomes of NSCLC patients with brain metastases before treatment, miR-21 was positively correlated with serum NSE, CEA and SCCA levels ( r values were 0.641, 0.785 and 0.612, respectively; P values were 0.015, 0.011 and 0.019, respectively), miR-330 in the serum exosomes before treatment was negatively correlated with serum NSE, CEA, and SCCA levels ( r values were -0.612, -0.689 and -0.587, respectively; P values were 0.016, 0.021 and 0.013, respectively), and miR-21 was positively correlated with miR-330 in the serum exosomes before treatment ( r = -0.529, P = 0.023). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of miR-21, miR-330 and their combination in serum exosomes before treatment for determining the occurrence of brain metastases in NSCLC patients were 0.861 (95% CI: 0.792-0.931), 0.894 (95% CI: 0.840-0.947) and 0.906 (95% CI: 0.849-0.963), and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.001). The optimal cut-off value of miR-21 relative expression was 1.625, and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 77.4% and 71.5%, respectively; the optimal cut-off value of miR-330 was 0.611, and the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 81.1% and 74.9%, respectively; the sensitivity and specificity when the two were combined to reach the optimal cut-off value were 84.5% and 73.8%, respectively. NSCLC patients were followed up for a median time of 19 months (95% CI: 17-21 months), and 23 cases (18.4%) died due to the tumor during the follow-up period. The proportions of patients with age ≥60 years old, clinical stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ and brain metastases and the relative expression of miR-21 in serum exosomes before treatment in the poor prognosis group were higher than those in the good prognosis group, the relative expression of miR-330 in the serum exosomes before treatment was lower than that in the good prognosis group, and the differences were all statistically significant (all P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the high age (≥60 years old vs. <60 years old, OR = 3.750, 95% CI: 1.191-11.806, P = 0.024), late clinical stage (stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ vs. stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ, OR = 4.667, 95% CI: 1.303-16.716, P = 0.018), brain metastasis (with metastasis vs. non-metastasis, OR = 2.573, 95% CI: 1.008-6.611, P = 0.049), and elevated relative expression of miR-21 in serum exosomes before treatment ( OR = 2.585, 95% CI: 1.198-6.152, P = 0.008) were the independent risk factors for death due to tumor in NSCLC patients, and elevated relative expression of miR-330 in serum exosomes before treatment was an independent protective factor for death due to tumor ( OR = 0.821, 95% CI: 0.715-0.954, P < 0.001). Conclusions:miR-21 level is high and miR-330 level is low in serum exosomes of NSCLC patients with brain metastases before treatment, and there is a negative correlation between them, and they are closely related to various serum tumor markers of NSCLC patients with brain metastases and NSCLC patients' prognosis; the combination of the two may predict the occurrence status of brain metastases in NSCLC.

Objective:To discuss the application of virtual endoscopy in the diagnosis of adenoid hypertrophy and the morphologic classification of adenoid. Methods:The clinical data of 97 children with adenoid hypertrophy admitted to Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shenzhen University General Hospital from July 2022 to December 2022 were collected. The virtual endoscopic reconstruction of the nasopharynx was performed by cone beam computed tomography. The results of virtual endoscopic adenoid size measurement were compared with the results of nasopharyngeal CT median sagittal position and nasopharyngeal endoscopy. Virtual endoscopic classification of adenoid based on the size of the adenoids and their relationship with the torus tubarius. Results:The t-test results of the size of adenoids measured by virtual endoscopy and nasopharyngeal CT were t=1.699 and P=0.093, and the results of intra-group correlation coefficient（ICC） analysis were ICC=0.921 and P<0.01. The proportion of adenoids measured by virtual endoscopy and nasopharyngeal CT was highly consistent. The t-test results of the size of adenoids measured virtual endoscopy and nasopharyngeal endoscopy were t=1.543 and P=0.15, and the results of intra-group correlation coefficient（ICC） analysis were ICC=0.900 and P<0.01. The proportion of adenoids measured by virtual endoscopy and nasopharyngeal endoscopy was highly consistent. Among the 97 children, the morphological classification results of adenoids were 48 cases of overall hypertrophy type, 47 cases of central bulge type, and 2 cases of flat thickening type. Conclusion:The diagnosis of adenoid hypertrophy by virtual endoscopy has high accuracy, which not only avoids the invasive operation of traditional nasopharyngeal endoscopy, but also can observe the adenoid condition and its relationship with the torus tubarius from multiple angles. And, the morphological classification of adenoids using virtual endoscopy has guiding significance for perioperative preparation.
Child ; Humans ; Adenoids/surgery* ; Nasopharynx/diagnostic imaging* ; Adenoidectomy ; Endoscopy/methods* ; Hypertrophy/surgery*

Objective:To survey the health literacy and related factors of family caregivers of patients with chronic diseases in Beijing.Methods:A survey was conducted from September to November 2018, among 1 350 family caregivers of patients with chronic diseases selected by stratified random sampling from 6 districts of Beijing. A self-filling questionnaire was used for the survey, which consisted of the basic information and health literacy of family caregivers. Health literacy included three parts: daily living habits, basic knowledge (knowledge of prevention and management of behavioral risk factors, knowledge related to chronic diseases and knowledge related to first aid) and chronic disease-related skills.Results:A total of 1 268 valid questionnaires were collected with a recovery rate of questionnaires was 93.9%. The median age of 1 268 family caregivers was 62 years (23-86) and 75.7% (960/1 268) were females. In terms of daily habits, smokers and drinkers accounted for 11.3% (143/1 268) and 21.5% (272/1 268) respectively; 82.7% (1 049/1 268) caregivers exercised regularly accounted, of whom 72.5% (761/1 049) exercised at least 4 times a week; 28.9% (366/1 268) caregivers had habit of light diet. In terms of basic knowledge of health literacy, 12.9% (163/1 268) of family caregivers mastered the basic knowledge (≥80% total score); family caregivers who were able to measure blood pressure, blood sugar, pulse, coping with hypoglycemia, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and dialing the emergency number correctly accounted for 27.4% (347/1 268), 18.1% (230/1 268), 15.1% (191/1 268), 15.7% (199/1 268), 6.0% (76/1 268) and 33.8% (429/1 268), respectively. For the six chronic disease-related skills, 23.7% (301/1 268) were able to call emergency number correctly and only 2.6% (33/1 268) were able to perform CPR. There were significant differences in the knowledge of behavioral risk factors ( χ 2=3.88, P=0.017), chronic disease related knowledge ( χ2=7.40, P=0.025), first-aid related knowledge ( χ2=12.04, P=0.002) and overall basic knowledge ( χ2=13.56, P=0.001) among family caregivers with different educational levels. There were significant differences in the knowledge of chronic diseases among family caregivers in different occupations ( χ2=8.78, P=0.012). Conclusion:The health literacy level of family caregivers of patients with chronic diseases in Beijing needs to be further improved, and there are differences in the health literacy of family caregivers with different educational qualifications and occupations.