ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Baitouweng Tang in inhibiting the growth of esophageal cancer （EC） cells by regulating budding uninhibited by benzimidazoles 1 （BUB1）/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 （STAT3） signaling pathway. MethodGene chip technology was used to explore the differential gene expression between esophageal cancer tissues and normal tissues and identified differentially expressed genes. The differentially expressed genes were analyzed by bioinformatics methods. EC cells were treated with 25， 50， 100， 200， 400， 800 mg·L^-1 Baitouweng Tang. EC cell viability was detected by Thiazolyl Blue （MTT） colorimetry. Cell cycle and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. The expression of BUB1 was measured by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. The protein levels of BUB1， STAT3， phosphorylated （p）-STAT3， Cyclin B1 （CCNB1）， cyclin-dependent kinase 1 （CDK1）， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase（Caspase）-3， and Caspase-9 were measured by Western blot. The migration and invasion abilities of the cells were measured by wound-healing and Transwell invasion assays. ResultDifferentially expressed genes were primarily involved in biological processes， signaling pathways， and network construction related to cell mitosis， with BUB1 identified as a key core gene. Compared with the control group， Baitouweng Tang inhibited BUB1 expression （P<0.05，P<0.01）. In vitro experiments showed that compared with the control group， Baitouweng Tang could significantly inhibit the growth （P<0.05，P<0.01）， migration and invasion （P<0.05，P<0.01） of EC cells， induce apoptosis （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and cause G₂/M phase increase （P<0.01）. After treatment with Baitouweng Tang， compared with the results in the control group， the expression of Caspase-3， and Caspase-9 in EC cells increased significantly （P<0.05，P<0.01）， while the expression of Bcl-2， BUB1， CCNB1， and CDK1 decreased significantly （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Moreover， the STAT3 signaling pathway was also found to play an important role in this process. ConclusionBaitouweng Tang may inhibit the growth of EC cells by downregulating BUB1 and mediating the STAT3 signaling pathway.

Objective:To observe any effect of warm acupuncture on chondrocyte apoptosis and the miR-27a-mediated PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway using a rat model of early knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Methods:Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a warm acupuncture group, an inhibitor group, and an inhibitor + warm acupuncture group (the combined group), each of 10. Three days before the modeling, both the inhibitor and combined groups were injected with miR-27a inhibitor. Papain was then injected in all groups except the control group to establish the early KOA model. After successful modeling, the combined and warm acupuncture groups were given 30 minutes of warm acupuncture at the medial and lateral Xiyan points daily for 14 days. The model and inhibitor groups were fixed for 30 minutes during those sessions. After the 2 weeks, hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe any pathological changes in the cartilage tissue. Terminal deoxynucleoitidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling was used to detect chondrocyte apoptosis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were employed to observe the levels of interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and IL-6. Western blotting was used to evaluate the expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT, p-mTOR, PI3K, AKT, mTOR, LC3-II, and Beclin1 proteins in the cartilage tissue, while quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions detected the content of miR-27a.Results:After the intervention, the morphology of the chondrocytes in the warm acupuncture group had improved significantly compared to the model group, while that of the inhibitor and combined groups was better than among the warm acupuncture group. The rate of chondrocyte apoptosis in the warm acupuncture group was significantly lower than in the model group, while the rates of the inhibitor and combined groups were lower still. There was no significant difference between the inhibitor and the combination group on average. The average expression of IL-6, IL-1β, LC3-II and Beclin1 protein and of miR-27a were significantly lower in the warm acupuncture, inhibitor and combined groups than among the model group, with those of the inhibitor and combined groups significantly lower than among the warm acupuncture group, on average. The average p-PI3K/PI3K, p-AKT/AKT and p-mTOR/mTOR levels of the warm acupuncture, inhibitor and combined groups were significantly higher than those of the model group, with those of the inhibitor and combined groups significantly higher, on average, than among the warm acupuncture group. However, there was no significant difference between the inhibitor group and the combined group in their protein expression and mRNA levels.Conclusions:Warm acupuncture may down-regulate the expression of miR-27a to promote the activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, inhibiting excessive autophagy and apoptosis. That would relieve inflammation and damage, and delay degeneration in early KOA, at least in rats.

Objective To investigate the effect of miR-495-3p targeting budding uninhibited by benzimidazoles(BUB1)on signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)signaling pathway on biological behavior of esophageal cancer(EC)cells.Methods The differentially expressed genes in EC tissues and normal tissues were screened by the cDNA microarray technique.The differentially expressed genes were analyzed by bioinformatics methods.The target genes of miRNAs were predicted by the TargetScan database and verified by a dual luciferase gene reporter assay.KYSE150 cells were divided into blank control group,NC mimics group and miR-495-3p mim-ics group.The activity of KYSE150 cells were detected by the CCK-8 method.Cell cycle and apoptosis were meas-ured by flow cytometry.The expression of BUB1 mRNA was measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-qPCR).The levels of BUB1,STAT3,phosphor(p)-STAT3,cyclin dependent kinase 1(CCNB1),cyclin dependent kinase 1(CDK1),B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),cysteinyl aspar-tate-specific proteinase-3(Caspase-3)and cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-3(Caspase-9)were measured by Western blot.The migration and invasion abilities of the cells were measured by wound-healing and Transwell inva-sion assays.Results Differentially expressed genes were involved in biological processes,signaling pathways and network construction,which were mainly related to cell cycle.BUB1 is the key(Hub)gene,and BUB1 is the tar-get gene of miR-495-3p.In vitro experiments showed that overexpression of miR-495-3p could significantly inhibit the migration and invasion of EC cells and induce apoptosis and G2/M phase arrest.After treatment with overex-pression of miR-495-3p,the expression of Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 in EC cells increased significantly(P＜0.01),while the expression of Bcl-2,BUB 1,CCNB1,CDK1 and p-STAT3 decreased significantly(P＜0.01).Moreover,the STAT3 signaling pathway might play an important role in this process.Conclusion miR-495-3p may influence the biological behavior of esophageal cancer cells by down-regulating BUB 1-mediated STAT3 signaling pathway.

Objective:To learn about the clinical manifestations, laboratory characteristics and treatment of patients with acute and chronic brucellosis.Methods:Clinical data of 153 brucellosis patients admitted to the Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University from 2012 to 2022 were retrospectively collected, including general information, epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory test results, imaging examination results, treatment and prognosis. According to the course of disease < 180 d and ≥180 d, these patients were divided into acute brucellosis group and chronic brucellosis group, and the clinical data of the two groups of patients were compared and analyzed.Results:A total of 153 patients with brucellosis were included, including 119 in the acute brucellosis group and 34 in the chronic brucellosis group. The age was (46.2 ± 13.8) years old, with 115 males (75.2%) and 38 females (24.8%), and 85 patients (55.6%) were occupational exposed. Complications occurred in 90 patients (58.8%), and the incidence of complications in the acute brucellosis group was lower than that in the chronic brucellosis group [76.5% (26/34) vs 53.8% (64/119), χ 2 = 5.62, P = 0.018]. The most common clinical manifestations were fever and arthralgia, with 128 cases (83.7%) and 124 cases (81.0%), respectively. The incidence of fever in the acute brucellosis group was higher than that in the chronic brucellosis group [87.4% (104/119) vs 70.6% (24/34), χ 2 = 5.46, P = 0.019], while the incidence of arthralgia was lower than that in the chronic brucellosis group [77.3% (92/119) vs 94.1% (32/34), χ 2 = 4.83, P = 0.027]. In laboratory tests, the positive rate of blood culture was 59.5% (91/153), and it was higher in the acute brucellosis group than that in the chronic brucellosis group [67.2% (80/119) vs 32.4% (11/34), P < 0.05]. The incidence of elevated procalcitonin [PCT, 58.6% (58/99) vs 24.1% (7/29), χ 2 = 10.65, P = 0.001] and the incidence of liver dysfunction [33.9% (40/118) vs 15.2% (5/33), χ 2 = 4.33, P = 0.037] in the acute brucellosis group were higher than those in the chronic brucellosis group. In the imaging examination, 61 patients (39.9%) experienced bone destruction, and the incidence of bone destruction in the chronic brucellosis group was higher than that in the acute brucellosis group [55.9% (19/34) vs 35.3% (42/119), χ 2 = 4.68, P = 0.031]. All patients were treated with antibiotics, with a median of 3 and 4 types of antibiotics used in the acute and chronic brucellosis groups, respectively. The overall incidence of adverse drug reactions was 5.2% (8/153). After treatment, 65 cases (42.5%) recovered, 70 cases (45.8%) improved, and 18 cases (11.8%) did not recover. Conclusions:The main clinical manifestations of brucellosis patients are fever and arthralgia, with a high incidence of complications. All patients are treated with combined antibiotics therapy. Patients in acute brucellosis group have a higher incidence of fever, positive blood culture, elevated PCT and abnormal liver function, while patients in chronic brucellosis group have a higher incidence of complications, arthralgia and bone destruction.

Objective:To observe any effect of tendon manipulation on the joint pain, joint motion and gait of persons with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).Methods:Sixty-one KOA patients were randomly divided into an observation group ( n=31) and a control group ( n=30). Both groups received ultrasonic physiotherapy and exercise trai-ning (including quadriceps femoris training and heel raising training), while the observation group was additionally provided with daily tendon manipulation, five times a week for 3 weeks. Before and after the treatment, knee pain (using a visual analog scale (VAS)), motor function (using the Western Ontario and McMaster University (WOMAC) osteoarthritis index scale), step length, gait speed and the double support phase ratio were evaluated in both groups using three-dimensional gait analysis equipment. Results:After the treatment the average VAS scores, as well as the joint pain, stiffness and dysfunction and the total WOMAC scores of both groups had decreased significantly. There was significant improvement in the average stride length, walking speed and the proportion of double support phase among the observation group, and the latter two measurements had also improved significantly in the control group. After the intervention, the average pain, WOMAC scores and gait descriptors of the observation group were significantly superior to the control group′s results.Conclusion:Tendon manipulation can usefully supplement routine rehabilitation in the treatment of KOA, improving walking efficiency and thus life quality.

Objective:To analyze the clinical and laboratory characteristics of mpox patients in Guangzhou City.Methods:The general conditions, symptoms and signs, and laboratory test results of mpox patients admitted to Guangzhou Eighth People′s Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University from June 8 to June 21, 2023 were collected. The clinical characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and HIV-negative patients were compared.Independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher exact probability method were used for statistical analysis. Results:Nineteen mpox patients were included in this study, none of them had been vaccinated with smallpox vaccine. All of them were identifed as gay men with an age of (33.2±6.4) years. And all of them had sex with men within 21 days of onset. There were eight cases with HIV infection and syphilis, respectively. All of these 19 patients had skin lesions which were the first symptom of 15 patients, and appeared during the course of the disease of four patients. Other common symptoms and signs were lymph node enlargement (17 cases), lymph node tenderness (15 cases), pharyngeal congestion (15 cases), tonsil enlargement (13 cases), fever (11 cases) and pruritus (10 cases). There were 13 cases with elevated CD8 + T lymphocytes, interleukin-10 level and procalcitonin level, respectively, 12 cases with elevated serum amyloid A level, and seven cases with elevated blood lymphocyte count. Eight patients were infected with HIV, including one acute infection and seven chronic infections (all of them had received regular antiviral therapy and had a CD4 + T lymphocyte count of 657(400, 757)/μL before onset). There were no significant differences in age ( t=1.55), incidence of complications (Fisher exact probability method), number of skin lesions ( Z=-0.21), incidence of lymph node enlargement (Fisher exact probability method), incidence of fever (Fisher exact probability method), duration of fever ( Z=-0.48), lymphocyte count ( t=-1.55), CD4 + T lymphocyte count ( Z=-0.17) and CD8 + T lymphocyte count ( Z=-1.49) between the HIV-infected patients and HIV-negative patients (all P>0.05). The number of skin lesions was 19(6, 26), and the locations of skin lesions were mainly in perineum and nearby areas (17 cases). The most frequent morphology of skin lesions at admission were papules (15 cases), eschar (15 cases) and pustules (12 cases). All patients recovered after topical medication and symptomatic treatment. Conclusions:Mpox mainly occurs in young and middle-aged men who have sex with men in Guangzhou City. Skin lesions, lymph node enlargement accompanied by tenderness, pharyngeal congestion, tonsil enlargement and fever are the most common features. Common laboratory abnormities are elevated inflammatory markers. The clinical characteristics of HIV-infected patients with normal immune function are similar to those of HIV-negative patients.

Objective:To analyze the clinical features of patients with severe dengue (SD) in Guangdong Province, and to improve the understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of SD in China.Methods:The clinical data, laboratory examination and etiological test results of 257 SD cases from 29 dengue fever designated hospitals in Guangdong Province from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2019 were respectively collected. The relevant indicators of the criteria for severe organ involvement were quantified. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the risk factors for the development of multiple organ failure in SD patients.Results:Among the 257 SD patients, age was (64.1±20.1) years old, with 65.4%(168/257) of them ≥60 years old, 142 were male and 115 were female. One hundred and fifty-two (59.1%) patients had underlying conditions, including 115(44.7%) patients with hypertension. The clinical manifestations were mainly fever (98.4%(253/257)), fatigue (70.0%(180/257)), cough or expectoration (44.4%(114/257)), lethargy or irritability (39.3%(101/257)), vomiting (30.4%(78/257)), abdominal pain or tenderness (20.6%(53/257)), hepatomegaly (2.3%(6/257)), bleeding tendency (59.5%(153/257)), and pleural effusion or ascites (43.6%(112/257)). Platelet count levels were decreased in 90.9%(231/254) of the cases, and 97.1%(234/241) of patients had normal or decreased hematocrit. The most common of severe manifestations were severe organ involvement (61.1%(157/257)), followed by severe bleeding (37.0%(95/257)) and severe plasma leakage (30.0%(77/257)). Severe organ involvements were more common in the kidney (27.6%(71/257)) and heart (26.8%(69/257)). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (odds ratio ( OR)=1.051, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.004 to 1.100, P=0.035), hypertension ( OR=5.224, 95% CI 1.272 to 21.462, P=0.022), elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level ( OR=1.002, 95% CI 1.001 to 1.003, P=0.001), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) ( OR=1.050, 95% CI 1.005 to 1.098, P=0.030), and international normalized ratio (INR) ( OR=4.604, 95% CI 1.601 to 13.238, P=0.005) were risk factors for the development of multiple organ failure in SD patients. The detection results of serum samples form 113 SD patients in acute phase showed that dengue virus (DENV)-1 accounted for 89.4%(101/113), DENV-2 accounted for 9.7%(11/113), and DENV-3 accounted for 0.9% (1/113). Conclusions:Elderly and those with co-existing conditions such as hypertension in SD patients in Guangdong Province are more common. Severe organ involvement such as kidney and heart is the main cause of SD. DENV-1 infection is predominant. Significant elevated levels of AST, BUN and INR may be related to a poor prognosis.

Objective:To explore the mediation effect of personality between negative life events and risky mentation of university students.Methods:A cross sectional investigation was conducted among 8 379 freshmen with the adolescent self-rating life events check list (ASLEC), the prodromal questionnaire(PQ-16) and the Eysenck personality questionnaire (EPQ). The data were analyzed by SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 24.0.Results:The total score of negative life events scale((31.16±0.58) vs (15.19±0.15)), the scores of neuroticism((58.20±0.36) vs (41.59±0.13)) and psychoticism((53.07±0.29) vs (47.71±0.08)) in the risk psychological state group were significantly higher ( t=26.611, 42.270, 17.286, all P<0.01), and the score of introversion-extroversion factor was significantly lower((49.83±0.42) vs (55.88±0.13), t=-13.634, P<0.01) than those in the risk-free psychological state group. There was a positive correlation between the scores of risk psychological state and negative life events( r=0.290, 0.334, both P<0.01), and the scores of risk psychological state and negative life events were positively correlated with the scores of personality neuroticism and psychoticism ( r=0.139-0.469, all P<0.01) in both risk psychological state and risk-free psychological state group.The risk psychological state score of college students was negatively correlated with the inside and outside personality score( r=-0.070, P<0.01), and the score of negative life events was not correlated with introversion-extroversion personality score in the risk psychological state group, while the score of risk psychological state, negative life events and introversion-extroversion personality score were negatively correlated in the risk-free psychological state group ( r=-0.177, -0.080, P<0.01). The personality of college students played a complete mediating role between negative life events and risk psychological state in the risk psychological state group, while the personality of college students in the risk-free psychological state group played a partial mediating role between negative life events and risk psychological state, accounted for 71.43% of the total effect. Conclusion:Negative life events not only directly lead to the risky mentation of college students, but also affect the risky mentation of college students by the mediation effect of introverted and extroverted tendency and unstable emotion.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with different types of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Methods:A total of 272 eligible COVID-19 patients who were admitted to Guangzhou Eighth People′s Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University from January 22 to February 15, 2020 were retrospectively enrolled. General characteristics, the first laboratory examination and imaging data of these patients were collected. According to the clinical classification, there were 236 cases in non-severe group (mild+ common type) and 36 cases in severe group (severe+ critical type). Comparisons between groups were performed by t test, chi-square test or rank-sum test when appropriate. Results:There were 23 males and 13 females in the severe group, 103 males and 133 females in the non-severe group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=5.149, P=0.023). The age of severe group was (60.5±11.2) years, which was higher than that of non-severe group (46.8±15.7) years. The difference was statistically significant ( t=6.43, P<0.01). The lymphocyte (LYM) count, platelet (PLT) count and arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2) in the severe group were 0.90(0.55, 1.10)×10 9/L, 170.00(143.50, 198.00)×10 9/L and 73.50(69.70, 83.00) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), respectively, which were all lower than those in the non-severe group (1.42(1.09, 1.95)×10 9/L, 187.00(148.00, 230.00)×10 9/L and 96.00(83.20, 108.00) mmHg, respectively). The differences were all statistically significant ( Z=5.59, 2.00 and 5.00, respectively, all P<0.05). The levels of creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C reaction protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) in the severe group were 123.00(79.00, 212.00) U/L, 32.10(27.00, 47.40) U/L, 305.50(216.00, 396.00) U/L, 37.02(23.92, 63.66) mg/L and 0.09(0.05, 0.19) μg/L, respectively, which were all higher than those in the non-severe group (68.00(48.00, 103.00) U/L, 20.10(16.70, 26.20) U/L, 179.00(150.00, 222.00) U/L, 26.55(18.11, 36.96) mg/L and 0.04(0.03, 0.06) μg/L respectively), and the differences were all statistically significant ( Z=3.89, 5.60, 5.12, 2.85 and 5.43, respectively, all P<0.01). No significant differences were observed in white blood cell count, creatine kinase isoenzyme and blood lactate between the two groups ( Z=1.53, 0.41 and 1.00, respectively, all P>0.05). Conclusion:Gender, age, LYM count, PLT count, PaO 2, CK, AST, LDH, CRP and PCT could be used to provide reference for clinical classification of COVID-19 patients.

Objective To investigate the effect of needle-warmed moxibustion on chondrocyte apoptosis and the lubricin protein content of osteoarthritic knees.Methods Forty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into a sham operation group,a model group,a Western medicine group and a needle-warmed moxibustion group,each of 10.Knee osteoarthritis was induced in all except the sham operation group by injecting an aqueous solution of papain into the outer edge of one patellar tendon at the inferior pole of the patella.In the sham operation group the injection needle was only inserted and withdrawn.The needle-warmed moxibustion group had needle-warmed moxibustion applied to the internal and external DUBI acupoints 14 days after the modelling in 2 courses of treatment.The Western medicine group was given diclofenac sodium (15 mg/kg body weight) by gavage on the same schedule.The sham operation group and the model group were fed normally without special treatment.At the end of the treatment,knee cartilage tissue was resected from each group and the number of chondrocytes and the expression of lubricin in the articular cartilage cells were compared.Results Compared with the model group and the Western medicine group,the number of chondrocytes in the moxibustion group was significantly greater and the cells were arranged more neatly.TUNEL staining showed that the apoptosis rate of chondrocytes in the moxibustion group was significantly lower.A reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction showed that the expression of lubricin mRNA in the moxibustion group had increased significantly.Western blotting showed that the expression of lubricin protein was also significantly enhanced in the moxibustion group.Conclusions Needle-warmed moxibustion has a positive therapeutic effect on knee osteoarthritis,at least in rabbits.It can inhibit the apoptosis of knee chondrocytes and promote the secretion of lubricin.