ObjectiveTo explore the effects of astragalin （AST） on autophagy and apoptosis of astrocytes in the L_4-5 dorsal horn of the spinal cord in mice with inflammatory pain induced by complete Freund's adjuvant （CFA）. MethodsTwenty-four male C57BL/6 mice， aged six months， were randomly assigned to four groups： control group， saline group， CFA model group， and CFA+AST group， six mice in each group. The inflammatory pain model was established by injection of 10 µL CFA into the right lateral malleolus fossa. The saline group were injected with an equal amount of normal saline at the same site. The inflammatory pain mice in CFA+AST group were further treated with AST （60 mg/kg） intraperitoneally once a day for 21 consecutive days. Multiplex immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the coexpression of autophagy-related factors including ATG 12 and Beclin-1， apoptosis-related factors including Cleaved-Caspase3 and Caspase9， and the astrocyte marker such as GFAP in the L_4-5 spinal dorsal horn of the mice in each group. Western blot was used to examine the protein expression levels of autophagy-related proteins（ATG12， Beclin-1） and apoptosis-related proteins（Caspase 3， Caspase 9） in the L_4-5 spinal dorsal horn of mice. ResultsImmunofluorescent staining showed that in the L_4-5 dorsal horn of the spinal cord， the fluorescence intensity of ATG12 （P<0.000 1） and Beclin-1 （P<0.000 1） was significantly increased， while that of Cleaved-Caspase 3 （P<0.001） and Caspase 9 （P<0.000 1） was decreased in the CFA+AST group when compared to the CFA model group. Furthermore， AST could inhibit the activation of astrocytes. Western blot further confirmed that AST significantly upregulated the expression of ATG12 （P<0.000 1） and Beclin-1 （P<0.000 1） in the L_4-5 spinal cord of CFA mice， and downregulated the expression of Caspase 3 （P<0.01） and Caspase 9 （P<0.001）. ConclusionsAST promotes autophagy of astrocytes and inhibits their apoptosis in the L_4-5 spinal dorsal horn of CFA mice.

AIM:To investigate the effect of 3% diquafosol sodium eye drops on tear film homeostasis in patients wearing overnight orthokeratology lenses.METHODS:Retrospective study. A total of 340 patients(564 eyes)fitted with night-worn orthokeratology lenses from June to December 2022 were respectively divided into a diquafosol sodium group(200 cases, 323 eyes, treated with 3% diquafosol sodium eye drops)and a sodium hyaluronate group(140 cases, 241 eyes, treated with sodium hyaluronate eye drops). The uncorrected visual acuity(LogMAR), ocular surface disease index(OSDI), non-invasive tear film break-up time(NIBUT), meibomian gland infrared imaging score, and corneal epithelial fluorescein staining were analyzed and compared between the two groups.RESULTS:Compared to baseline, both groups showed significant improvements in uncorrected visual acuity(LogMAR)at 1 wk, 1, and 3 mo after lens wear(all P<0.01). However, no statistically significant difference in uncorrected visual acuity(LogMAR)was observed between the two groups at any time point(all P>0.05). No significant differences in NIBUT or OSDI scores were found between the groups before and at 1 wk after lens wear(all P>0.05). At the 1- and 3 mo follow-ups, the 3% diquafosol sodium group demonstrated significantly longer NIBUT(all P<0.001)and lower OSDI scores(all P<0.001)compared to the sodium hyaluronate group. After wearing lens for 3 mo, the meibomian gland infrared imaging scores were significantly better in the diquafosol sodium group(P<0.001), whereas no significant intergroup difference was observed in corneal fluorescein staining(P>0.05). Furthermore, the incidence of adverse events during the study period did not differ significantly between the two groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION:Compared with sodium hyaluronate, 3% diquafosol sodium eye drops were more effective in maintaining tear film homeostasis in patients wearing overnight orthokeratology lenses.

ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological trends and characteristics of brucellosis in humans (hereinafter referred to as brucellosis) in Tangshan City, Hebei Province from 2016 to 2023, and to provide a scientific basis for formulating brucellosis prevention and control strategies in the region. MethodsThe incidence data of human brucellosis in Tangshan City from 2016 to 2023 were collected from the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System. The diagnosis time, infection route, and clinical characteristics of the cases were obtained from the case investigation reports. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the temporal, spatial, demographic distributions, and clinical characteristics of human brucellosis. Brucella species were identified using agglutination tests with bacterial suspension and A/M antigen-positive serum. ResultsA total of 2 193 cases of human brucellosis were confirmed and clinically diagnosed in Tangshan City from 2016 to 2023, with the peak incidence occured from March to August, and which exhibited distinct geographic distribution patterns. The highest incidence rate was found in people aged 60‒<70 years. The occupation of cases were primarily farmers. The incidence rate in males (528/100 000) was higher than that in females (184/100 000). All cases had confirmed exposure to infected animals or contaminated animal products. ConclusionThe epidemic of human brucellosis in Tangshan exhibited an overall steady downward trend from 2016 to 2023, except for a slight increase in 2016 and 2021, with the incidence rate controlled at 289/100 000‒335/100 000. The prevention and control situation of human brucellosis still remains severe, with the highest incidence rate in the eastern region of Tangshan, which are characterized by the breeding, slaughtering, and processing of cattle and sheep. Therefore, it it is necessary to enhance the prevention and control of human brucellosis among the personnel engaged in these industries in the eastern areas.

ObjectiveTo describe the epidemic characteristics of COVID-19 after policy adjustment from “Category B notifiable disease with category A management” to “Category B notifiable disease with category B management”， and to explore the protective effect of previous infection with SARS-CoV-2 on common symptoms of reinfection. MethodsHealthcare workers infected with SARS-CoV-2 in a grade A tertiary hospital in Shanghai were included in the study from December 4， 2022 to January 11， 2023. Data on demographic characteristics， clinical symptoms， medical history， and COVID-19 vaccination history were collected. We determined the epidemiological curve and characteristics， and then compared the difference in the severity of clinical symptoms between primary and reinfection subjects. ResultsA total of 2 704 cases were included in the study， of which 45 had reinfection， 605 （22.4%）were males， 608 （22.5%）were doctors， 1 275 （47.2%） were nurses， and 2 351 （86.9%） received ≥3 doses of COVID-19 vaccination. The average age of these healthcare workers was （34.9±9.1） years old. The number of cases with mild/moderate illness， asymptomatic infection， fever， headache， dry cough， expectoration， and chest tightness were 2 704 （100.0%）， 92 （3.4%）， 2 385 （88.2%）， 2 066 （76.4%）， 1 642 （60.7%）， 1 807 （66.8%）， and 439 （16.2%）， respectively. Reinfection was a protective factor for fever （OR=0.161， P<0.001）， headache （OR=0.320， P<0.001）， and peak body temperature （β=-0.446， P<0.001）. ConclusionFollowing the COVID-19 policy adjustment as a category B notifiable disease， healthcare workers at a grade A tertiary hospital in Shanghai predominantly experiences mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms. Reinfection results in milder clinical manifestations， with a lower proportion of being asymptomatic.

Objective To investigate the distribution of abnormal karyotypes and their associations with clinical manifestations of the infertile patients in southern Sichuan Province.Methods A total of 4 157 infertile patients who attended the Reproductive Medicine Center of our hospital from July 2018 to June 2021 were included.The chromosome karyotype in peripheral blood was detected by G-banding,and their semen analysis results,uterine development and other clinical data were collected.Results Among the 4 157 patients,chromosomal polymorphisms were found in 239 cases(5.75％),and abnormal karyotypes wee found 137 cases(3.30％).The abnormal karyotypes included 57 cases(41.61％)of sex chromosome aneuploidy,6 cases(4.38％)of Robertsonian transloca-tions,32 cases(23.36％)of balanced translocations,21 cases(15.33％)of chromosomal inversions,9 cases(6.57％)of mosai-cism,8 cases(5.84％)of marker chromosomes,3 cases(2.19％)of sex reversal and 1 case(0.73％)of sex chromosome deletion.In male patients with abnormal karyotypes,91.58％showed abnormal semen parameters,while in those with polymorphic karyotypes,55％had abnormal semen parameters.The patients with Turner syndrome had significantly smaller uterine dimensions(longitudinal,transverse,and anteroposterior)compared to the normal control group(P＜0.01).Conclusion Chromosomal abnormalities should be the important cause of infertility.Conducting karyotype analysis combining with clinical manifestations is crucial examination for the di-agnosis and reproductive guidance of infertile patients.

The ultrasonic manifestations of benign and malignant breast imaging-reporting and data system(BI-RADS)4 lesions overlap in some degrees,is able to result in unnecessary biopsy or untimely therapy.Accurate classifying the nature of BI-RADS 4 breast lesions can provide reliable references for clinical decision-making.The progresses of application of new ultrasonic technologies,including automated breast volume scanner,superb micro-vascular imaging,elastography,contrast-enhanced ultrasound and artificial intelligence for assisting diagnosis of BI-RADS 4 lesions were reviewed in this article.

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of HIV-1 molecular transmission network among HIV/AIDS patients in parts of Jiangxi Province, so as to provide insights into guiding AIDS prevention and intervention. Methods: The HIV/AIDS patients newly reported from January to June 2018 in Shangrao City, Yichun City and Ganzhou City were recruited, and demographic information and infection routes were collected. Blood samples were obtained to extract HIV RNA, and HIV-1 pol gene was amplified and sequenced using reverse transcription PCR and nested PCR assays. Gene subtypes were analyzed by constructing a phylogenetic tree. Molecular transmission network was constructed using gene-set distance, and the clustering patterns and the characteristics of HIV/AIDS patients within the clusters were analyzed. Results: A total of 305 pol gene sequences were obtained successfully, including 231 males (75.74%), 184 patients aged 50 years and above (60.33%), and 288 patients with heterosexual contact (94.43%). The main subtypes were CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE, accounting for 51.48% and 29.18%, respectively. Ganzhou City had the most genetic subtypes, with 8 types. Under the 1.0% gene distance threshold, 27 molecular clusters were established, with 107 nodes and 150 edges, and the molecular clustering rate was 35.08%. The largest molecular cluster involved 30 patients from 7 counties (districts) of Shangrao City. All of them were CRF07_BC subtypes, had an average age of (63.03±9.46) years, and were infected through heterosexual contact. Among the 17 patients with high transmission risk (degree value≥4), 10 patients came from Yushan County. Conclusions The main subtypes of HIV-1 are CRF07_BC and CRF01_AE in parts of Jiangxi Province, and the subtypes in Ganzhou City are diversified. There may be potential transmission risk points in Yushan County.

Objective To analyze the prevalence and related risk factors of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the elderly in Zhoukanghang region of Pudong New Area,Shanghai. Methods Clinical data of 1537 elderly people (aged≥60 years old) in Zhoukanghang region of Pudong New Area,Shanghai from Aug. 2019 to Sep. 2022 were collected. Demographic data,cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure,blood glucose,blood lipids,etc.),family history of dementia,cerebrovascular history,and hippocampal magnetic resonance imaging data were collected,and the MCI was tested by the simple mental state scale (MMSE) and Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA). According to the clinical diagnostic criteria of MCI,the subjects were divided into MCI group and non-MCI group. The clinical data were compared between the 2 groups,and the independent risk factors of MCI were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Among the 1537 subjects,226 cases (14.70％) were MCI patients and 1311 cases (85.30％) were non-MCI individuals. Among the 226 patients with MCI,138 had single domain amnestic MCI,33 had multiple domain amnestic MCI,11 had single domain non-amnestic MCI,and 7 had multiple domain non-amnestic MCI. The proportions of male,diabetes mellitus,hyperlipidemia,family history of dementia and cerebrovascular disease in the MCI group were significantly higher than those in the non-MCI group (all P<0.05),and the hippocampal atrophy was significantly higher than that in the non-MCI group (P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that family history of dementia,cerebrovascular history and hippocampal atrophy were independent risk factors for MCI in the elderly (all P<0.05). Totally 214 patients with MCI were followed up to Feb. 2023,of which 20 cases (9.35％) were diagnosed as Alzheimer's disease and 4 cases (1.87％) as Lewy bodies dementia. Conclusion The prevalence of MCI in the elderly in Zhoukanghang region of Pudong New Area,Shanghai is 14.70％. Family history of dementia,cerebrovascular disease and hippocampal atrophy are independent factors for MCI in the elderly.

Objective To observe the effectiveness of ultrasound wide beam(WB)-based harmonic motion imaging(HMI)(WB-HMI)for locating irradiation focus of high intensity focused ultrasound(HIFU)for in vitro tissue.Methods WB-HMI technology was developed with acoustic radiation force and ultrasound imaging as the key technology.For in vitro porcine tenderloin and bovine liver tissue,different amplitude modulation(AM)frequencies(25-100 Hz)and excitation acoustic power(0.7-28 W)were used to achieve WB-HMI localization of HIFU irradiation focus,and the differences of WB-HMI localization of HIFU irradiation focus under different parameter combinations were observed.Taken the actual focus position on ultrasonic image after HIFU as the standard and the focus positioning error＜1 mm as the effective standard of WB-HMI locating irradiation focus,the locating success rate was calculated.Results The larger the acoustic power,the larger the displacement amplitude of irradiation focus by WB-HMI at the same AM frequency,while the smaller the AM frequency,the larger the displacement amplitude of irradiation focus located by WB-HMI under the same acoustic power.Under different AM frequencies,for in vitro porcine tenderloin,the success rate of WB-HMI for locating HIFU radiation focus was higher than 90.00％when acoustic power was 15 W or 22 W,whereas the success rate showed a decreasing trend when the acoustic power was 28 W.For in vitro bovine liver tissue,the success rate of WB-HMI localization was 100％when acoustic power was ≥7.0 W.Conclusion WB-HMI could be used to effectively locate HIFU irradiation focus for isolated tissue.

With the accelerated aging society in China, the incidence of biliary surgical diseases in the elderly has increased significantly. The clinical characteristics of these patients indicate that improving treatment outcomes and realizing healthy aging are worthy of attention. How to effectively improve the treatment effect of geriatric biliary surgical diseases has attracted widespread attention. This paper reviews and comments on the hotspots and difficulties of biliary surgery in older patients from six aspects: (1) higher morbidity associated with an aging society, (2) prevention and control of pre-operative risks, (3) extending the indications of laparoscopic surgery, (4) urgent standardization of minimally invasive surgery, (5) precise technological progress in hepatobiliary surgery, and (6) guarantee of peri-operative safety. It is of great significance to fully understand the focus of controversy, actively make use of its favorable factors, and effectively avoid its unfavorable factors, for further improving the therapeutic effects of geriatric biliary surgical diseases, and thus benefits the vast older patients with biliary surgical diseases. Accordingly, a historical record with the highest age of 93 years for laparoscopic transcystic common bile duct exploration has been created by us recently.
Humans ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures ; Gallstones ; Laparoscopy ; Treatment Outcome ; Aging ; Retrospective Studies