A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS)method was developed for determination of three kinds of β-agonists(Clenbuterol(CL),Ractopamine(RAC)and Salbutamol(SAL))residues in animal liver samples.The liver sample homogenates were extracted with organic solvent,followed by clean-up using the automatic magnetic solid-phase extraction(MSPE),and then analyzed using LC-MS/MS.The results showed that the magnetic mixed-mode cation exchange adsorbent(M-MCX)exhibited 34%higher adsorption capacity than the conventional mixed-mode cation exchange(MCX)column.Furthermore,the clean-up was conducted by using an automatic MSPE device,and 8 samples could be simultaneously treated within 30 min.The limits of detection(LOD)were 0.01-0.1 μg/kg,the average recoveries ranged from 88.2%to 110.5%,and the relative standard deviations(RSDs)were in range of 2.9%-10.3%at three spiked levels for the three kinds of β-agonists.Compared with the traditional SPE technique,the present method had many advantages such as simple operation,rapidity and high efficiency,which was suitable for high-throughput and automatic detection of residues in routine analysis.

Objective This study investigated the impact of occupational mercury(Hg)exposure on human gene transcription and expression,and its potential biological mechanisms. Methods Differentially expressed genes related to Hg exposure were identified and validated using gene expression microarray analysis and extended validation.Hg-exposed cell models and PTEN low-expression models were established in vitro using 293T cells.PTEN gene expression was assessed using qRT-PCR,and Western blotting was used to measure PTEN,AKT,and PI3K protein levels.IL-6 expression was determined by ELISA. Results Combined findings from gene expression microarray analysis,bioinformatics,and population expansion validation indicated significant downregulation of the PTEN gene in the high-concentration Hg exposure group.In the Hg-exposed cell model(25 and 10 μmol/L),a significant decrease in PTEN expression was observed,accompanied by a significant increase in PI3K,AKT,and IL-6 expression.Similarly,a low-expression cell model demonstrated that PTEN gene knockdown led to a significant decrease in PTEN protein expression and a substantial increase in PI3K,AKT,and IL-6 levels. Conclusion This is the first study to report that Hg exposure downregulates the PTEN gene,activates the PI3K/AKT regulatory pathway,and increases the expression of inflammatory factors,ultimately resulting in kidney inflammation.

Objective To assess the clinical short-term outcomes of implanting D-shant atrial shunt device(aSD)in a single center for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction(HFrEF).Methods From January 2022 to January 2023,a retrospective analysis was conducted on 12 patients with HFrEF who underwent percutaneous implantation of a D-shant aSD.We assessed cardiac chamber size and ventricular function using echocardiography,right heart catheterization measurements and patient clinical indicators were collected,follow up data of 12 months postoperative and pre-implantation D-shant were compared.The primary endpoint of the study was the cumulative occurrence of adverse cardiac,neurologic,or renal events during the follow-up period.Secondary endpoints were improvements in functional status included cardiac function,quality of life,and exercise capacity.Results All 12 patients underwent successful percutaneous inter-atrial shunting procedures using the D-shant.Postoperative immediately fluoroscopy and echocardiography confirmed accurate localization and patency of the atrial shunt devices in all cases.Postoperative hemodynamic assessment revealed a significant decrease in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure[(29.8±3.4)mmHg vs.(17.8±0.8)mmHg,P＜0.001].During 12 months follow-up,the cumulative adverse event rate was 8.3％(one patient received a heart transplant),a significant reduction in left atrial diameter from(65.8±6.5)mm to(48.0±4.5)mm(P＜0.001)was observed.Furthermore,there was notable improvement in clinical cardiac function indices quality of life,and exercise capacity of the patients.Conclusions This single-center retrospective study found that the use of a D-shant aSD to perform percutaneous interatrial shunting in patients with HFrEF is safe and effective.Short-term follow-up demonstrated sustained patency of the shunt and that the intervention was associated with improved functional status.

Objective:To compare the efficacy of Kirschner wire fixation combined with Suture-Bridge technique and simple Kirschner wire fixation in the treatment of old lateral malleolar avulsion fractures under all-inside arthroscopy.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the clinical data of 56 patients with old lateral malleolar avulsion fractures, admitted at Xuzhou Central Hospital from January 2018 to June 2022, including 32 males (32 feet) and 24 females (24 feet), aged 19-57 years [(35.2±11.1)years]. Twenty-five patients were treated with Kirschner wire fixation under all-inside arthroscopy (K-wire group), while the other 31 patients were treated with Kirschner wire fixation combined with Suture-Bridge technique under all-inside arthroscopy (K-wire combined with suture group). The surgical time, incision healing at 2 weeks after surgery, and fracture healing rate at 6 months after surgery of the two groups were detected. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot scores, and foot and ankle ability measure (FAAM) scores [including activities of daily living (ADL) scores and sports function (S) scores] of the two groups were assessed before surgery, at 3, 6 months after surgery, and at the last follow-up. The anterior drawer test was performed at 3, 6 months after surgery and at the last follow-up. The time of return to sports after surgery and complication rates were also recorded.Results:All the patients were followed up for 12-18 months [(14.2±2.2)months]. The surgical time in the K-wire combined with suture group was (56.3±12.5)minutes, longer than (41.1±8.2)minutes in the K-wire group ( P<0.01). The incisions in both groups were healed by first intention at 2 weeks after surgery. In the K-wire combined with suture group, all the fractures were healed at 6 months after surgery (100%), while in the K-wire group 22 patients (88%) obtained fracture healing ( P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores, FAAM-ADL scores, or FAAM-S scores between the two groups preoperatively ( P>0.05). At 3, 6 months after surgery, and at the last follow-up, the AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores in the K-wire combined with suture group were (89.7±3.4)points, (92.8±2.8)points, and (94.9±3.3)points respectively, higher than (87.4±4.4)points, (90.4±4.1)points, and (92.5±4.6)points in the K-wire group ( P<0.05); the FAAM-ADL scores and the FAAM-S scores in the K-wire combined with suture group were (90.1±3.5)points, (91.5±2.9)points, (92.8±3.0)points and (91.4±5.4)points, (92.8±5.0)points, (94.4±4.8)points respectively, higher than (86.8±5.0)points, (88.7±3.8)points, (90.3±3.7)points and (88.0±5.3)points, (89.5±4.8)points, (91.5±5.2)points ( P<0.05 or 0.01). The AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores, FAAM-ADL scores, and FAAM-S scores at all postoperative time points were higher than those preoperatively and increased with the passage of the follow-up time ( P<0.01). The results of the anterior drawer test at all postoperative time points in the two groups were negative. The time of return to sports after surgery in the K-wire combined with suture group was (9.2±1.3)weeks, shorter than (10.3±1.5)weeks in the K-wire group ( P<0.01). One patient (3.2%) in the K-wire combined with suture group and 3 patients (12.0%) in the K-wire group had Kirschner wire loosening and withdrawal ( P>0.05). Neither of the two groups developed complications such as nerve or tendon injuries. Conclusion:Compared with simple Kirschner wire fixation under all-inside arthroscopy, Kirschner wire fixation combined with Suture-Bridge technique under all-inside arthroscopy achieves higher fracture healing rate, more obvious improvement in life quality and ankle function, as well as earlier return to sports in the treatment of old lateral malleolar avulsion fractures.

Objective:To examine the application of a novel pedagogical approach multidimensional supportive psychological intervention(MSPI)in the clinical practice teaching of andrological nursing care.Methods:Using the Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD),we assessed the psychology of 100 nursing interns about to enter clinical practice in the Department of Andrology from De-cember 2021 to December 2022.We equally randomized the subjects into an experimental and a control group,the former receiving MSPI and the latter trained on the conventional teaching model without any psychological support intervention.Results:Compared with the baseline,the HAMD scores were significantly decreased in the experimental group after intervention(12.4±2.1 vs 8.9±2.4,P＜0.01),but increased in the controls(13.1±1.8 vs 14.7±1.9,P＜0.01);the skill scores dramatically increased in the experimental group(82.6±4.7 vs 91.2±2.4,P＜0.01),but decreased in the control group after intervention(81.0±3.5 vs 80.4±2.7,P=0.28).Conclusion:MSPI can significantly enhance the learning enthusiasm of nursing students in a short period,re-duce their psychological stress and improve teaching outcomes.This approach,combining psychology with teaching,can also strength-en the mental resilience of nursing students and better confront them with future professional challenges.

Objective:To investigate the level of beliefs about medication in young patients with newly treated pulmonary tuberculosis and analyze its influencing factors.Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. Using the convenient sampling method, a total of 320 young newly treated pulmonary tuberculosis patients who visited the designated tuberculosis hospitals in Kashgar Prefecture and Hotan Prefecture of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from January 2022 to April 2023 were selected as the research objects. The investigation was carried out with the General Information Questionnaire, Beliefs about Medicines Questionaire Specific (BMQ-S), 8-Item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8), Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) and Tuberculosis-related Stigma Scale (TSS). Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of medication beliefs in young patients with newly treated tuberculosis.Results:A total of 320 questionnaires were distributed in this study, and 302 valid questionnaires were collected, with an effective response rate of 94.38% (302/320). The total score of BMQ-S of 302 young patients with newly treated tuberculosis was -1.00 (-2.00, 1.00), MMAS-8 score was 5.38 (4.75, 5.75), BIPQ score was 37.00 (24.00, 44.00) and TSS score was 48.00 (44.00, 52.00). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that comorbidities, medication adherence, disease perception and stigma were the influencing factors of medication beliefs in young newly treated pulmonary tuberculosis patients ( P<0.01) . Conclusions:The medication belief level of young patients with newly treated pulmonary tuberculosis needs to be improved. Medical staff should correct the negative cognition of the patient's disease, emphasize the benefits of drug treatment and enhance the patients' beliefs in the necessity of medication.

To investigate the existence of tick-borne pathogens infection of rodents at the border of China and the Demo-cratic People's Republic of Korea(DPRK).PCR was used to detect the spotted fever group rickettsiae(SFGR)ompA gene,Ehrlichia chaffeensis(Ec)and Anaplasma phagocytophilum(Ap)16S rRNA,Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis(CNm)groEL gene,Bartonella(Ba)rpoB gene,and Francisella tularensis(Ft)fopA gene in rodents samples collected from Ji'an of Jilin province and Kuandian of Liaoning Province.The positivity rates of 132 wild rats spleen samples,SFGR,Ec,Ap,CNm,Ba,and Ft were 9.85％,12.88％,5.30％,3.79％,51.52％,and 6.06％,respectively,with statistical differences in in-fection rates(x2=149.236,P=0.000).The infection rate of Ba was the highest in wild rats in this area.There was no signifi-cant difference in the infection rate of SFGR,Ec,Ap,CNm,and Ft among different rats species,but there were significant differences in the infection rate of Ba(x2=13.36,P=0.010).The infection rate of Apodemus agrarius was the highest.A-mong 132 wild rats specimens,the coinfection rate of the two pathogens was 15.9％(21/132),with Ba as the main species(15/132),and two cases of coinfection with three pathogens were detected.The infection of six tick-borne pathogens is common in wild rats at the China/DPRK border.Co-infection of two or three pathogens indicates a risk of multiple tick-borne pathogens and mixed natural foci of multiple tick-borne infec-tious diseases.

Objective:To investigate the molecular mechanism and distribution characteristics of RhD negative phenotypes in Han population of blood donors in Wuhu city.Methods:A total of 210 RhD-samples from August 2021 to August 2022 were screened by serological test and collected from Wuhu Central Blood Station for the voluntary blood donor population.Exons 1 and 10 of the RHD gene were amplificated by PCR to determine whether the samples had the RHD gene.Exons 1-10 of the RHD gene were amplificated by PCR and zygosity analysis were performed in 82 samples containing D gene,and Sanger sequencing was performed on 55 samples containing all RHD exons to determine the genotype.Results:Among 210 RhD-specimens,128 cases(60.38％)had RHD gene deletion.27 cases had partial exons of RHD,including 2 cases with RHD*DVI.3/RHD*01N.01,24 cases with RHD*01N.04/RHD*01N.01,and 1 case with RHD-CE(2-10)/RHD*01N.01.55 cases had retained all of 10 exons,including 4 cases with RHD*01/RHD*01N.01,6 cases with RHD*15/RHD*01N.01,1 case with RHD*01W.72/RHD*01N.01,1 case with RHD*15/RHD*01EL.01,39 cases with RHD*01EL.01/RHD*01N.01,and the remaining 4 cases were determined to have no RHD gene deletion by zygosity analysis and sequencing showed the presence of 1227G＞A mutation loci.Conclusion:There is polymorphism in the molecular mechanism of RhD-D gene in Wuhu blood donor population,among which RHD*01EL.01 and RHD*15 are the main variants in this region.The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for RhD blood group identification and clinical blood transfusion in this region.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is an increasingly common liver disease worldwide. MAFLD is diagnosed based on the presence of steatosis on images, histological findings, or serum marker levels as well as the presence of at least one of the three metabolic features: overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic risk factors. MAFLD is not only a liver disease but also a factor contributing to or related to cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which is the major etiology responsible for morbidity and mortality in patients with MAFLD. Hence, understanding the association between MAFLD and CVD, surveillance and risk stratification of MAFLD in patients with CVD, and assessment of the current status of MAFLD management are urgent requirements for both hepatologists and cardiologists. This Taiwan position statement reviews the literature and provides suggestions regarding the epidemiology, etiology, risk factors, risk stratification, nonpharmacological interventions, and potential drug treatments of MAFLD, focusing on its association with CVD.

This study aimed to explore the possible effect of Xixin Decoction(XXD) on the learning and memory ability of Alzheimer's disease(AD) model senescence-accelerated mouse-prone 8(SAMP8) and the related mechanism in enhancing neuroprotective effect and reducing neuroinflammation. Forty SAMP8 were randomly divided into a model group(10 mL·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), a probiotics group(0.39 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), a high-dose group of XXD granules(H-XXD, 5.07 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), a medium-dose group of XXD granules(M-XXD, 2.535 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and a low-dose group of XXD granules(L-XXD, 1.267 5 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)). Eight senescence-accelerated mouse-resistant 1(SAMR1) of the same age and strain were assigned to the control group(10 mL·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)). After ten weeks of intragastric administration, the Morris water maze was used to test the changes in spatial learning and memory ability of mice after treatment. Meanwhile, immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the positive expression of receptor for advanced glycation end products(AGER), Toll-like receptor 1(TLR1), and Toll-like receptor 2(TLR2) in the hippocampal CA1 region of mice. Western blot was employed to test the protein expression levels of silencing information regulator 2 related enzyme 1(SIRT1), AGER, TLR1, and TLR2 in the hippocampus of mice. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was applied to assess the levels of Aβ_(1-42) in the hippocampus of mice and the levels of nuclear factor κB p65(NF-κB p65), NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) in the serum and hippocampus of mice. Compared with the model group, XXD significantly improved the spatial learning and memory ability of SAMP8, increased the expression of neuroprotective factors in the hippocampus, decreased the levels of neuroinflammatory factors, and inhibited the expression of Aβ_(1-42). In particular, H-XXD significantly increased the expression of SIRT1 in the hippocampus of mice, reduced the expression levels of NF-κB p65, NLRP3, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the serum and hippocampus of mice, and decreased the expression of AGER, TLR1, and TLR2 in the hippocampus of mice(P<0.05 or P<0.01). XXD may improve the spatial learning and memory ability of AD model SAMP8 by enhancing the neuroprotective effect and inhibiting neuroinflammation.
Humans ; Neuroprotective Agents/therapeutic use* ; Sirtuin 1/metabolism* ; Toll-Like Receptor 2/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Neuroinflammatory Diseases ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Toll-Like Receptor 1/metabolism* ; Alzheimer Disease/genetics* ; Hippocampus