As one of the key enzymes in cell metabolism, the activity of citrate synthase 3 (CS3) regulates the substance and energy metabolism of organisms. The protein members of CS3 family were identified from the whole genome of apple, and bioinformatics analysis was performed and expression patterns were analyzed to provide a theoretical basis for studying the potential function of CS3 gene in apple. BLASTp was used to identify members of the apple CS3 family based on the GDR database, and the basic information of CS3 protein sequence, subcellular localization, domain composition, phylogenetic relationship and chromosome localization were analyzed by Pfam, SMART, MEGA5.0, clustalx.exe, ExPASy Proteomics Server, MEGAX, SOPMA, MEME, WoLF PSORT and other software. The tissue expression and inducible expression characteristics of 6 CS3 genes in apple were determined by acid content and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Apple CS3 gene family contains 6 members, and these CS3 proteins contain 473-608 amino acid residues, with isoelectric point distribution between 7.21 and 8.82. Subcellular localization results showed that CS3 protein was located in mitochondria and chloroplasts, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis divided them into 3 categories, and the number of genes in each subfamily was 2. Chromosome localization analysis showed that CS3 gene was distributed on different chromosomes of apple. The secondary structure of protein is mainly α-helix, followed by random curling, and the proportion of β-angle is the smallest. The 6 members were all expressed in different apple tissues. The overall expression trend from high to low was the highest relative expression content of MdCS3.4, followed by MdCS3.6, and the relative expression level of other members was in the order of MdCS3.3 > MdCS3.2 > MdCS3.1 > MdCS3.5. qRT-PCR results showed that MdCS3.1 and MdCS3.3 genes had the highest relative expression in the pulp of 'Chengji No. 1' with low acid content, and MdCS3.2 and MdCS3.3 genes in the pulp of 'Asda' with higher acid content had the highest relative expression. Therefore, in this study, the relative expression of CS3 gene in apple cultivars with different acid content in different apple varieties was detected, and its role in apple fruit acid synthesis was analyzed. The experimental results showed that the relative expression of CS3 gene in different apple varieties was different, which provided a reference for the subsequent study of the quality formation mechanism of apple.
Citric Acid ; Malus/genetics* ; Citrate (si)-Synthase ; Phylogeny ; Citrates

Diabetic gastroparesis （DGP） is a common diabetic neuropathy that affects the normal function of gastric motility and emptying. Clinically， it often manifests as abdominal distension， nausea and vomiting， early satiety， dyspepsia， etc. The pathogenesis of DGP is multifactorial， closely related to many factors， such as chronic hyperglycemia， neuropathy， autonomic nervous system disorders， inflammation， and oxidative stress. These factors can interact with each other， leading to delayed gastric emptying and the occurrence of related symptoms. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has significant advantages in the prevention and treatment of DGP， including a long history， remarkable efficacy， individualized treatment， diverse therapeutic formulations， and improvement in the quality of life. Additionally， TCM is known for its low adverse reactions， good tolerance， and multi-targeted effects， making it an important approach in the management of DGP. Previous research has found that the main mechanisms of Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of DGP include the regulation of gastrointestinal hormones， inhibition of inflammatory responses， reduction of oxidative stress， enhancement of interstitial cells of Cajal activity， inhibition of pyroptosis， and modulation of related signaling pathways such as stem cell factor （SCF）/cellular growth factor receptor （c-Kit）， adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）， Ras homologous genome member A （RhoA）/Rho-associated coiled-coil forming kinase （ROCK）. This article primarily summarized the research progress on Chinese medicine in preventing and treating DGP through the inhibition of inflammatory responses， reduction of oxidative stress， enhancement of interstitial cells of Cajal activity， inhibition of pyroptosis， and regulation of related signaling pathways， aiming to provide a reference and basis for further research on the application value of Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of DGP.

Pigeons show flocking and homing behaviors,which require characteristics including long-distance weight-bearing and continuous flight,with excellent navigation and spatial cognitive abilities.Pigeons have been widely used in animal robot research in recent years.Pigeon robots achieve motor behavior control by applying neural information intervention to specific neural targets in the pigeon's brain.This review summarizes research progress in pigeon robots based on the sensory system,motivation and emotional system or cortex and midbrain motor area respectively,according to the distribution of hierarchical multi-level neural regulatory targets in the pigeon's brain,with the aim of providing reference and guidance for further applied research into the use of pigeon robots in space perception,reconnaissance,and anti-terrorism search and rescue.

Art therapy plays an important role in enhancing the emotional expression of patients, treating mental and psychological diseases, and promoting the recovery of cancer patients.Due to its extensive meaning and various intervention measures, strengthening the guidance and monitoring of art therapy are important in improving the medical quality of related fields.Clinical practice guidelines are important tools to guide and standardize medical behavior, and also are important guarantees for the implementation effect of medical behavior.Therefore, this article will summarize the current situation of art therapy guidelines, and on this basis, reflect on the formulation and implementation of relevant guidelines and recommendations.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in monitoring left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation.Methods:Between March 2019 and November 2021, 23 consecutive patients from TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital, including 21 cases with dilated cardiomyopathy, 1 case with myocardial noncompaction and 1 case with ischemic cardiomyopathy, underwent HeartCon blood pump, a type of third generation LVAD implantation for severe heart failure. TEE was preformed in all cases before and after cardiopulmonary bypass. The dimensions of left-sided and right-sided cardiac chamber, ventricular function, de-airing, interventricular septal position, inlet cannulae position and the function of device were observed and recorded during LVAD implantation. Paired t test was used for statistical analysis of left-sided and right-sided heart parameters in pre- and post-operative measurements. Results:The left heart was dilated significantly and coexistent with right heart enlargement in some degree before LVAD implantation in total 23 cases. More than moderate mitral regurgitation (MR) in 16 cases and less than moderate MR in 7 cases were present. Mild or trace aortic regurgitation (AR) existed in 13 cases. More than moderate tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in 4 cases and less than moderate TR in 16 cases were observed. Left atrial appendage thrombosis was detected in 2 cases. After LVAD implantation, TEE revealed that the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter reduced significantly (42 mm/m 2 vs 32.8 mm/m 2, P<0.05) and left ventricular ejection fraction increased accordingly (22.2% vs 34.0%, P<0.05). There were no significant differences in right ventricular diameter and fractional area change between pre- and post-operative findings(all P>0.05). The ratio of left ventricular inner diameter to right ventricular inner diameter (2.09 vs 1.69, P<0.05) decreased in total 23 cases after LVAD implantation.Interventricular septal position became neutral position instead of pre-oprative rightward position. The severity of MR decreased in varying degrees in total 23 cases after LVAD implantation. All patients underwent tricuspid valvuloplasty with residual mild regurgitation in 8 cases. Conclusions:HeartCon blood pump can effectively unload the left ventricle with sufficient cardiac output in patients with severe congestive heart failure. TEE plays a major role in the clinical decision making during LVAD implantation, which can evaluate pre-operative cardiac abnormalities, intra-operative air embolism, inlet cannulae position, cannulas patency and cardiac function, especially blood volume status and the balance between double ventricles, which is critical for optimal functioning of the device.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of elderly patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19), in order to provide scientific evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 in elderly patients.Methods:Clinical data of 102 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the B11 East Ward of the Zhongfaxincheng campus and the E1-3 ward of the Guanggu Campus of Tongji Hospital affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan from 1 February 2020 to 28 February 2020 were retrospectively collected and analyzed.Patients were categorized into 2 groups: the elderly group(≥60 years old)and the young and middle-aged group(<60 years old). Differences in epidemiological features, demographics, clinical symptoms, laboratory results and imaging findings between the two groups were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among 102 patients with COVID-19, 58 were in the elderly group(≥60 years old), with a median age of 67.0(63.8, 71.0)years old, and 44 in the young and middle-aged group(<60 years old), with a median age of 47.5(38.0, 51.8)years old.There was no significant difference in gender ratio between the two groups( χ2=0.033, P=0.855). Of 102 patients, 42.0%(21/50)had close contact with an infected person, 14.0%(7/50)were from infection clusters, and 18.0%(9/50)had suspected hospital-acquired infections.Fever and cough remained the most common symptoms, but gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, poor appetite, diarrhea and muscle cramps were also warning signs.Fatigue and cough were the most common presenting symptoms in elderly male patients.Bilateral patchy infiltrates(57.9%, 22/38)and ground-glass opacities(42.1%, 16/38)were the main imaging features and 42.1%(16/38)patients had multiple areas of the lungs involved.Over 50% patients had increased levels of blood glucose, D-dimer, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, multiple cytokines and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, as well as decreased levels of albumin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, lymphocytes and serum calcium.Compared with the young and middle-aged group, the elderly group had higher rates of abnormality in levels of D-dimer and serum calcium( χ2=7.067 and 4.166, P=0.008 and 0.041). Conclusions:Fever and cough are the most common symptoms in elderly patients with COVID-19.Elderly patients with COVID-19 have multiple abnormalities in clinical laboratory test results, which show a certain level of specificity compared with young and middle-aged patients.

Objective To evaluate the value of bedside lung ultrasound for diagnosis of acute re-spiratory distress syndrome ( ARDS) and for assessment of the severity. Methods Fifty patients of both se-xes suspected of having ARDS ( oxygenation index＜300 mmHg) and required lung CT tests and Pulse Indi-cator Continuous Cardiac Output because of their condition, aged 18-80 yr, were selected. At 24 h after entering ICU, chest CT, lung ultrasound and arterial blood gas analysis were performed to record Extravas-cular Lung Water Index ( EVLWI) and the number of B lines, and lung injury ultrasound score and oxygen-ation index were calculated. The patients diagnosed with ARDS by chest CT and lung ultrasound were divid-ed into 3 groups: mild group ( 200 mmHg＜oxygenation index≤300 mmHg) , moderate group ( 100 mmHg＜oxygenation index≤200 mmHg) and severe group ( oxygenation index≤100 mmHg) . Kappa consistency a-nalysis was used to assess the consistency between lung ultrasound and chest CT in diagnosis of ARDS. The receiver operating characteristic curves of th number of B lines, EVLWI and lung injury ultrasound score in assessing the severity of ARDS were drawn, and the area under the curve and 95％ confidence interval ( CI) , critical value, sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Results Forty-six patients were diag-nosed as having ARDS by both chest CT and lung ultrasound. There was good consistency ( Kappa value 0. 648, P＜0. 01) between chest CT and lung ultrasound in diagnosis of ARDS. There was good consistency ( Kappa value 0. 788, P＜0. 01) between lung ultrasound and chest CT in diagnosis of pulmonary consolida-tion. Lung ultrasound and chest CT were in good agreement ( Kappa value 0. 825, P＜0. 01) with each oth-er in diagnosis of pulmonary consolidation in the posterior region. Compared with mild group, the lung inju-ry ultrasound score was significantly increased, and the number of B lines was increased in moderate group, and the lung injury ultrasound score and EVLWI were significantly increased, and the number of B lines was increased in severe group ( P＜0. 05) . Compared with moderate group, the lung injury ultrasound score and EVLWI were significantly increased, and the number of B lines was increased in severe group ( P＜0. 05) . The area under the curve ( 95％ CI ) of the number of B lines in diagnosing severe ARDS was 0. 915 ( 0. 905-0. 935 ) , and the critical value, sensitivity and specificity were 15. 5, 78. 9％ and 85. 2％, respectively. The area under the curve ( 95％ CI) of lung injury ultrasound score in diagnosing severe ARDS was 0. 856 (0. 833-0. 878), and the critical value, sensitivity and specificity were 25. 5, 73. 7％ and 82. 5％, respectively. The area under the curve (95％ CI) of EVLWI in diagnosing severe ARDS was 0. 907 ( 0. 888-0. 933) , and the critical value, sensitivity and specificity were 15. 5, 73. 7％and 92. 6％, respectively. Conclusion Lung ultrasound can be used for diagnosis of ARDS and for evalu-ation of the severity of ARDS.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the correlation of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] with the clinical stability and severity of coronary artery stenosis in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: A total of 531 patients undergoing coronary angiography in Nanfang Hospital between January, 2013 and December, 2016 were enrolled in this study. At the cutoff Lp(a) concentration of 300 mg/L, the patients were divided into high Lp(a) group (=191) and low Lp(a) group (=340). In each group, the patients with an established diagnosis of CAD based on coronary angiography findings were further divided into stable angina pectoris (SAP) group and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) group. The correlation between the severity of coronary artery stenosis and Lp(a) was evaluated. RESULTS: The patients in high and low Lp(a) groups showed no significant differences in age, gender, body mass index, smoking status, hypertension, or diabetes (>0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age, gender, and serum levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and Lp(a) were independent risk factors for CAD in these patients. A high Lp(a) level was associated with an increased risk of CAD (OR=2.443, 95%CI: 1.205-4.951, =0.013). The patients with a high Lp(a) level were at a significantly higher risk of CAD than those with a low Lp(a) level irrespective of a low or high level of LDL-C (=0.006 and 0.020). In the patients with CAD, the ACS group had a significantly higher Lp(a) level than the SAP group ( < 0.001); the proportion of the patients with high Gensini scores was significantly greater in high Lp(a) group than in low Lp(a) group (17.3% vs 5.6%, =0.026), and a linear relationship was found between Lp(a) level and Gensini score (R=0.130, =0.006). CONCLUSIONS Serum level of Lp(a) is an independent risk factor for CAD, and an increased Lp(a) is the residual risk for CAD. In patients with CAD, a high Lp(a) level is associated with the clinical instability and severity of coronary artery stenosis.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; Angina Pectoris ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; classification ; Coronary Stenosis ; blood ; pathology ; Humans ; Lipoprotein(a) ; blood ; Regression Analysis ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of minimally invasive plate oseoynthesis (MIPO) assisted by a self-designed lower limb axial tractor in the treatment of complex tibial plateau fractures. Methods: The data were retrospectively analyzed of the 31 patients who had undergone surgical treatment for complex tibial plateau fractures from June 2015 to April 2018 at Department of Orthopeadics, Hospital Affiliated to Binzhou Medical College. MIPO was conducted with the assistance of the axial tractor in 17 of them. They were 12 men and 5 women with an age of 50.8±14.7 years, with 8 cases of Schatzker type Ⅴ and 9 ones of Schatzker type Ⅵ. MIPO was conducted without the assistance of the axial tractor but with the assistance of manipulation reduction in the other 14 patients. They were 9 men and 5 women with an age of 48.9±9.5 years, with 6 cases of Schatzker type Ⅴ and 8 ones of Schatzker type Ⅵ. The 2 groups were compared in terms of operation time, intraoperative bleeding, and Rasmussen scores for knee function and medial angle of the proximal tibia at the last follow-up. Results: The 2 groups were comparable due to insignificant differences in the preoperative general data between them (P>0.05). The tractor and manipulation groups were followed up for a mean of 9.8 months and 10.9 months respectively. Bone healing was achieved in all patients. For the tractor and manipulation groups, respectively, the operation time was127.8±40.8 min and 174.1±66.8 min, and the intraoperative bleeding 115.6±41.7 mL and 184.3±91.4 mL, showing significant differences between them (P<0.05). In the tractor group at the last follow-up, the knee flexion was 126.1°±9.3°, the medial angle of the proximal tibial 87.8°±1.4°, the posterior inclination angle 8.7°±3.8° and the Rasmussen score 26.5±2.9 points; in the manipulation group at the final follow-up, the knee flexion was 124.7°±8.9°, the medial angle of the proximal tibial 86.9°±2.1°, the posterior inclination angle 9.8°±4.1° and the Rasmussen score 25.6±3.2 points. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in the above items (P>0.05). Loss of force line was observed in none of the patients at the last follow-up. Conclusion Compared with conventional manipulation reduction, use of our self-designed lower limb axial tractor can shorten operation time, reduce bleeding and facilitate reduction of fracture fragments in the treatment of tibial plateau fractures of Schatzker types Ⅴ and Ⅵ.

Objective The study was to analyze the relationship between HDL particles,the level of HDL-C and the concordance of HDL-C and apoA-Ⅰand the degree of coronary stenosis,then to explore their values in predicting coronary artery disease.Methods 591 patients were collected for coronary angiography,and calculated Gensini score respectively.HDL particles and the level of HDL-C,apoA-Ⅰwere analyzed in coronary artery disease (CAD)group and non-CAD group,stable angina pectoris(SAP)group and acute coronary syndrome(ACS)group and four groups divided by quartile of Gensini score(A,B,C,D).To investigate the relationship between the con-cordance of HDL-C and apoA-Ⅰand the severity of coronary artery disease,HDL-C,apoA-Ⅰwere divided into low and high group according to the 50 percentile,then pair wise combination was done into four groups. Results Compared with non-CAD group,HDL particles,the level of HDL-C,apoA-Ⅰwere significantly reduced in CAD group(P<0.001).Compared with SAP group,similar results were found in ACS group.HDL particles,the level of HDL-C,apoA-Ⅰwere decreased gradually in A,B,C,D group(P<0.001).The concordance of HDL-C and apoA-Ⅰwas related to the risk of CAD(P<0.001).The area under curve(AUC)of HDL particles was higher than that of HDL-C,the concordance of HDL-C and apoA-Ⅰ.Conclusions HDL particles,HDL-C,the concordance of HDL-C and apoA-Ⅰwere related to coronary stenosis.The value of HDL particles in predicting CAD risk was su-perior to that of HDL-C,the concordance of HDL-C and apoA-Ⅰ.