Objective : To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) in Dongyang City, Zhejiang Province from 2017 to 2022, so as to provide insights into SFTS prevention and control. Methods: Data pertaining to patients with SFTS in Dongyang City from 2017 to 2022 were collected from Notifiable Infectious Disease Reporting System of Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with SFTS were descriptively analyzed, and the trends in incidence of SFTS was evaluated using annual percent change (APC). Results: A total of 32 SFTS cases were reported in Dongyang City from 2017 to 2022, with mean annual incidence of 0.63/105, and 8 cases died, with a fatality rate of 25.00%. The incidence of SFTS appeared a tendency towards a rise from 2017 to 2022 (APC=40.697%, P<0.05). The male to female ratio of SFTS cases was 0.78∶1, and farmer was the predominant occupation (31 cases, 96.88%). SFTS predominantly occurred among individuals at ages of 51 to 69 years (20 cases, 62.50%), and the incidence peaked during the period between March and May and between July and August (28 cases, 87.50%). SFTS cases were reported in 11 out of the 18 townships (streets) in Dongyang City, with the highest number found in Zuocun Township (8 cases, 28.13%), and had the lowest platelet count of (41.46±5.19)×109 platelets/L, with the lowest count of (3.00 to 67.00) ×109 platelets/L. All the SFTS cases had a history of mountain forest and farmland activities 2 weeks prior to onset of the disease, and 5 cases (15.63%) had a history of tick bites. Conclusions The incidence of SFTS appeared a tendency towards a rise in Dongyang City from 2017 to 2022, and SFTS was highly prevalent in spring and summer, with high incidence among farmers. Intensified health education of SFTS is recommended among residents in high-incidence areas.

Diabetes mellitus(DM)stands as a chronic metabolic ailment predominantly characterized by elevated blood glucose lev-els,stemming from either a resistance to insulin or aberrations in insulin secretion.The ensuing persistent hyperglycemia,a direct con-sequence of pancreatic β-cell devastation,acts as a catalyst for a myriad of complications,inclusive of extensive neuropathies.The dis-ease has substantial prevalence and mortality rates,underscoring the gravity of its impact on public health.Dental pulp stem cells(DPSCs)are readily obtainable,and they exhibit a profound capacity for self-renewal,multi-lineage differentiation,and vigorous pro-liferation.Remarkably,DPSCs can differentiate into pancreatic β-cells,subsequently participate in insulin secretion and play a pivotal role in immune modulation.This has achieved notable advancements in the therapeutic domain,particularly in the treatment of chronic diseases.Furthermore,DPSCs harbor the potential to mitigate symptoms in patients afflicted with type 1 diabetes.They navigate this therapeutic pathway through mechanisms that involve suppressing autoimmunity,modulating inflammatory responses,and counteracting oxidative stress.This article meticulously reviews the biological characteristics inherent to DPSCs and explores their multifaceted thera-peutic potential in addressing DM and its associated complications.Through this endeavor,the article aims to contribute to the refine-ment and enhancement of DM management strategies.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Gegen Qinliantang （GGQLT）-medicated serum on free fatty acid （FFA）-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis （NASH） in vitro model of human hepatoma cells HepG2. MethodNASH model of HepG2 cells was established in vitro， and the cells were intervened with different volume fractions of GGQLT-medicated serum and resveratrol. Intracellular lipid deposition in each group was detected by oil red O staining， the level of reactive oxygen species （ROS） in each group were detected by flow cytometry， the levels of glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px）， superoxide dismutase （SOD）， triglyceride （TG） and malondialdehyde （MDA） in each group were detected by kits. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of nuclear transcription factor （NF）E₂-related factor 2 （Nrf2）， heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1）， quinone oxidoreductase 1 （NQO1）， Kelch-like epichlorohydrin-associated protein-1 （Keap1）， NF-κB， thioredoxin interacting protein （TXNIP）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β） in HepG2 cells of each group. The protein expression of Nrf2， TXNIP in cells of each group was detected by Western blot. ResultFFA induced large accumulation of intracellular lipids. Compared with the normal group， the activities of GSH-Px and SOD were significantly decreased （P<0.01） and the contents of TG， ROS and MDA were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01） in the model group. Compared with the model group， all GGQLT groups and resveratrol group could elevate intracellular SOD activity to different degrees （P<0.05， P<0.01） and significantly reduce the levels of intracellular ROS and MDA （P<0.05， P<0.01）， GGQLD high- and medium-dose groups and resveratrol group significantly elevated GSH-Px activity （P<0.01）， GGQLD medium- and low-dose groups and resveratrol group significantly decreased TG content （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， GGQLT high- and medium-dose groups and resveratrol group could significantly upregulate the mRNA expression levels of Nrf2， HO-1 and NQO1 （P<0.01）， all GGQLT groups and resveratrol group could significantly downregulate the TXNIP protein expression level， as well as significantly downregulate the mRNA expression levels of Keap1， NF-κB （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Nrf2-siRNA transfection of cells revealed that Nrf2 expression was significantly downregulated （P<0.01） in the Nrf2-siRNA group of cells by comparing with NC-siRNA group at the corresponding dose of drugs， and the inhibitory effects of GGQLT and resveratrol on TXNIP， IL-1β were attenuated. ConclusionFFA induces the production of ROS and inflammatory factors in HepG2 cells， and GGQLT can improve the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacities of cells， and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of Nrf2/TXNIP signaling pathway， so as to improve NASH.

Background: Zhongyi paste is a traditional Chinese medicine herbal paste that is externally applied to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Methods: An acute foot swelling inflammation model in C57BL/6J mice was established by carrageenan-induced pathogenesis. Zhongyi paste raised the pain threshold and also reduced the degree of swelling in mice with carrageenan-induced foot swelling. Results: Analysis indicated that serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) cytokine levels and PGE2levels in the paw tissue of the mice were decreased by Zhongyi paste treatment. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot results showed that Zhongyi paste downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and also downregulated the mRNA expression of PGE2 . At the same time, the Zhongyi paste exerted a stronger effect as an external drug than that of indomethacin, which is an oral drug, and voltaren, which is an externally applied drug. Conclusions Our results indicated that Zhongyi paste is a very effective drug to reduce inflammatory swelling of the foot, and its mechanism of action is related to regulation of the ERK1/2–COX-2–PGE2 pathway.

Objective:To investigate the specific chest computed tomography(CT) features of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to evaluate its clinical diagnostic value.Methods:The clinical data of 35 cases with suspected COVID-19 from Shanghai Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Shanghai East Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University from January 1 to February 14, 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 17 cases with positive results of two times of real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) were evaluated as the case group, and the remaining 18 cases with negative results of two times of RT-PCR for 2019-nCoV were evaluated as the control group. The features of chest CT images of 35 cases were obtained. The frequencies of four CT imaging indicators including ground glass opacities (GGO), crazy paving, heterogeneous consolidation and mutiple subpleural lesions were analyzed. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for COVID-19 were calculated.Results:In the case group, there were 11 cases with GGO, seven cases with crazy paving, six cases with heterogeneous consolidation, and 16 cases with mutiple subpleural lesions, while in the control group, there were seven cases with GGO, one case with crazy paving, six cases with heterogeneous consolidation, and five cases with mutiple subpleural lesions. When multiple subpleural lesions or any two of the CT imaging indicators were used as the characteristic indicators, the diagnosis efficiencies were better, with the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and Youden index of 94.12%, 72.22%, 76.19%, 98.86% and 0.66, respectively, and 88.24%, 77.78%, 78.95%, 87.50% and 0.66, respectively.Conclusions:Chest CT indictors are of high clinical diagnostic value for COVID-19. Any two of the four CT indicators (GGO, crazy paving, heterogeneous consolidation and mutiple subpleural lesions) or the single characteristics (mutiple subpleural lesions) are of high diagnostic efficacy.

Objective To investigate the expression of aquaporins-3 (AQP3) in amniotic epithelial cells regulated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate-protein kinase A (cAMP-PKA) signal pathway and to explore the mechanisms of its expression.Methods The amniotic epithelial cells were collected from 30 patients who underwent elective caesarean sections at term with normal amniotic fluid volume and primarily cultured.The cultured cells were treated with (1) forskolin groups: different concentration (0,2.5,5,50 or 100 μmol/L) of forskolin treated cells for 2 hours,and the optimal concentration of forskolin treated cells with different time (0,1,2,10 or 20 hours) ; (2)SP-cAMP groups: different concentration (0,2.5,5,50 or 100 μmol/L) of SP-cAMP treated cells for 2 hours,and the optimal concentration of SP-cAMP treated cells with different time (0,1,2,10 or 20 hours); (3)H-89 groups: different concentration (0,5,10,50 or 100 μmol/L) of H-89 treated cells for 2 hours,and the optimal concentration of H-89 treated cells with different time (0,1,2,10 or 20 hours).The level of intracellular cAMP and activity of PKA were detected by using ELISA,and immunohistochemistry was used to detect the localization of AQP3,the protein expression of total cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) and phospho-CREB (p-CREB) and AQP3 were assessed by western blot analysis.Cell proliferation was assessed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8)assay.Results (1) The brown staining of AQP3 was detected in both cell membrane and cytoplasm in each group.(2) There was no significant change of the cell proliferation rate among groups with different concentration of forskolin,SP-cAMP and H-89 treatment (P ＞ 0.05).(3) After different concentration of forskolin treated 2 hours,the expression of total CREB had no significant difference among them(P ＞ 0.05).While the expression of cAMP level,PKA activity,p-CREB and AQP3 protein were significantly changed,which were higher in 2.5 μmol/L,5 μmol/L,50 μmol/L forskolin group when compared with 0 μmol/L (P ＜ 0.05).Their expressions in 5 μmol/L forskolin group were higher than that in 2.5 μmol/L and 50 μmol/L (P ＜ 0.05).The optimal forskolin concentration was 5 μmol/L.(4) After different concentration of SP-cAMP treated 2 hours,the expression of total CREB and cAMP level had no significant difference among them (P ＞ 0.05),while the expression of PKA activity,p-CREB and AQP3 protein were significantly changed,which were higher in 5 μμmol/L,50 μmol/L SP-cAMP group when compared with 0 μmol/L (P ＜ 0.05).Their expressions in 50 μmol/L SP-cAMP group were higher than that in 5 μmol/L (P ＜0.05).The optimal SP-cAMP concentration was 50 μmol/L (5) After different concentration of H-89 treated 2 hours,the expression of total CREB and cAMP level had no significant difference among them (P ＞ 0.05),while the expression of PKA activity,p-CREB and AQP3 protein were significantly changed,which were lower in 10 μmol/L,50 μmol/L and 100 μmol/L H-89 group when compared with 0 μmol/L (P ＜ 0.05).Their expressions in 10 μmol/L H-89 group were lower than that in 50 μmol/L,100 μmol/L (P ＜ 0.05).The optimal H-89 concentration was 10 μmol/L.(6) p-CREB and AQP3 protein expression were significantly lower in 5 μmol/L forskolin combined 10 μmol/L H-89 incubating 2 hours group when compared with 5 μmol/L forskolin,but higher than that in 10 μmol/L H-89 treated group (P ＜ 0.05).Total CREB was no significant difference among the three groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion cAMP-PKA signal transduction pathway may regulate AQP3 protein expression in human amniotic epithelial cells.

Objective To find out the present situation of hepatitis B infection or immunity in Tianjin city,and to provide the scientific basis for the hepatitis B control and prevention.Methods 2 594 samples were selected with the methods of different proportionate stratified and cluster sampling,and the hepatitis B infection markers were detected by ELISA.Results The positive rates of HBsAg,anti-HBs,anti-HBc and HBV were 2.62％,46.72％,10.60％ and 51.54％.Conclusion Compared with the results in 1992,the positive rates of HBsAg,anti-HBc and HBV were decreased significantly,while the positive rate of anti-HBs increased significandy,which ascribed to the comprehensive measure with the vaccination against hepatitis B as a main strategy for control hepatitis B.

Objective To establish and assess a new screening method for anti-HIV-1 drugs.Methods JLTRG cells were co-cultured with different proportions of H9/HTLV-Ⅲ B cells for 24,48,72 and 96 h.Intensity and density of green fluorescent protein were observed under fluorescence microscope,and were tested using flow cytometry.The optimal proportion of cells in co-culture system and the culture time were determined.The effectiveness of Enfuvirtide (T20) and Efavirenz (EFV),and their half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) were determined by using cell co-culture system and half life of drugs.HIV load was detected using RT-PCR for HIV-1 p24 antigen,and its correlations with drug concentration and mean fluorescent intensity were analyzed by Spearman rank correlation analysis.Results Experiments demonstrated that JLTRG cells co-cultured with H9/HTLV-ⅢB cells at the proportion of 10 ∶ 1 for 72 hours was the best.Along with the concentrations of T20 and EFV changed,JLTRG cells were infected with HIV-1 in different degrees,and the IC50s of T20 and EFV were 10 nmol/L and 5 nmol/L,respectively.The concentrations of T20 and EFV were negatively correlated with mean fluorescent intensity and viral load (r =-1,-0.986 and-1,-1,P ＜ 0.01); and mean fluorescent intensity was positively correlated with viral load (r =0.986 and 1,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion The drug screening method established in this study is efficient and easy to operate,which provides a new option for anti-HIV-1 drug screening.

Objective To establish the optimal ethanol extraction technology of Qingshen Granule. Methods The total content of emodin, chrysophanol and physcion, the content of tanshinoneⅡA and dry extact rate was set as indexes, orthogonal test was adopted to optimize the technology. Results The optimum extraction conditions were as follows:8 times of 80%alcohol, refluxing 3 times and 2 hours for each time. Conclusion The optimum technology of Qingshen Granule is simple, stable and effective.

Objective To detect fibrillin-1 gene (FBN1) mutations in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) by denaturing high-pedormance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) and DNA sequencing. Methods Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood sample of 22 MFS patients. All 65 exens of FBN1 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) respectively. Mutations were screened by DHPLC followed by DNA sequencing of the PCR products which showed different DHPLC profiles from the normals. Results Ten mutations of the FBN1 were found in 9 MFS patients. The mutations comprised four missense[5015G > C(C1672S),5309G > A(C1770Y),7241G > A(A2414G) and 7769G > A(C2590Y)], four nonsense [3295G > T ( E1099X ), 430"/insTCGT (G1441X), 4621C > T ( R1541X ) and 8080C > T (A2694X)], and two splice site mutations (IVS29 + 4A > T and IVSSO + 1G > A). Conclusion It is suggested that DHPLC coupled with DNA sequencing is an efficient method for the detection of FBN1 gene mutations, and it may be useful in diagnosis of MFS.