ObjectiveMagnetoencephalography (MEG), a non-invasive neuroimaging technique, meticulously captures the magnetic fields emanating from brain electrical activity. Compared with MEG based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID), MEG based on optically pump magnetometer (OPM) has the advantages of higher sensitivity, better spatial resolution and lower cost. However, most of the current studies are clinical studies, and there is a lack of animal studies on MEG based on OPM technology. Pain, a multifaceted sensory and emotional phenomenon, induces intricate alterations in brain activity, exhibiting notable sex differences. Despite clinical revelations of pain-related neuronal activity through MEG, specific properties remain elusive, and comprehensive laboratory studies on pain-associated brain activity alterations are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of inflammatory pain (induced by Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA)) on brain activity in a rat model using the MEG technique, to analysis changes in brain activity during pain perception, and to explore sex differences in pain-related MEG signaling. MethodsThis study utilized adult male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Inflammatory pain was induced via intraplantar injection of CFA (100 μl, 50% in saline) in the left hind paw, with control groups receiving saline. Pain behavior was assessed using von Frey filaments at baseline and 1 h post-injection. For MEG recording, anesthetized rats had an OPM positioned on their head within a magnetic shield, undergoing two 15-minute sessions: a 5-minute baseline followed by a 10-minute mechanical stimulation phase. Data analysis included artifact removal and time-frequency analysis of spontaneous brain activity using accumulated spectrograms, generating spectrograms focused on the 4-30 Hz frequency range. ResultsMEG recordings in anesthetized rats during resting states and hind paw mechanical stimulation were compared, before and after saline/CFA injections. Mechanical stimulation elevated alpha activity in both male and female rats pre- and post-saline/CFA injections. Saline/CFA injections augmented average power in both sexes compared to pre-injection states. Remarkably, female rats exhibited higher average spectral power 1 h after CFA injection than after saline injection during resting states. Furthermore, despite comparable pain thresholds measured by classical pain behavioral tests post-CFA treatment, female rats displayed higher average power than males in the resting state after CFA injection. ConclusionThese results imply an enhanced perception of inflammatory pain in female rats compared to their male counterparts. Our study exhibits sex differences in alpha activities following CFA injection, highlighting heightened brain alpha activity in female rats during acute inflammatory pain in the resting state. Our study provides a method for OPM-based MEG recordings to be used to study brain activity in anaesthetized animals. In addition, the findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of pain-related neural activity and pain sex differences.

ObjectiveA multiplex amplification system was constructed based on the capillary electrophoresis platform for simultaneous detection of saliva, semen, and vaginal secretions using tissue-specific RNA markers. The aim of this study is to identify the tissue origin of suspicious body fluid stains found at crime scenes and determine whether the body fluid stains at the crime scene are one or several types among saliva, semen, and vaginal secretions. MethodsThirty saliva samples, forty semen samples, and forty vaginal secretion samples (half from 2015 and half from 2024) were collected from healthy adult volunteers. Through primer designing, system formulation, and PCR condition optimization, a multiplex fluorescent amplification system was constructed. The specificity, sensitivity, and detection ability for mixed samples of this system were investigated, and it was tested using real crime scene materials. In the primer design stage, to reduce the requirements for RNA template quality, the amplification products were set within 80-300 bp. In the system formulation stage, dominant and subordinate primers were mainly considered. By reducing the concentration of dominant primers and increasing that of subordinate primers, a capillary electrophoresis spectrum with an appropriate peak height ratio was finally obtained. Additionally, gradient experiments were designed to adjust the concentrations of PCR reagents and PCR amplification conditions, and multiple versions of DNA amplification enzymes were optimized to achieve the best experimental results. ResultsThrough statistical analysis, there was no significant difference in the capillary electrophoresis of the 3 types of body fluid samples from the two years (2015 and 2024), demonstrating that the sample preservation method in this study can preserve samples for a relatively long time. The composite amplification system constructed in this study exhibited high specificity for all 3 types of body fluid, with no cross-reactions between the markers of each type of body fluid. The minimum detection thresholds for the 3 types of body fluid reached 0.002 9, 0.001 5, and 0.42 mg/L, respectively. This system also had a high degree of discrimination for mixed samples, especially for semen-saliva mixtures, where each body fluid marker could still be successfully detected when the concentration ratio of semen to saliva was 100:1. Meanwhile, in the two actual cases presented in this article, the application of this composite amplification system performed outstandingly. ConclusionThe composite amplification detection system constructed in this study can achieve the correct screening of saliva, semen, and vaginal secretions, overcoming the problems such as low specificity and sensitivity of marker tests and unbalanced RFU values of each marker in previous studies. The specificity and sensitivity meet the practical work requirements, and the operation is simple. It provides an analytical and identification method for body fluid stains in actual case and is applicable to the identification of the tissue origin of biological evidence at crime scenes involving sexual assault, indecent assault, and other criminal acts. In the future, more types of body fluid markers will be screened to expand the types of body fluids detected by the system, and body fluid-specific cSNP and cInDel genetic markers will be introduced to infer the sources (individuals and types) of mixed and complex stains more accurately.

Objective To design a mobile personnel radiation protection equipment for operation in environments with high radiation such as spent fuel reprocessing plants, to achieve simultaneous protection against γ radiation, neutron radiation, and radioactive aerosol, to reduce the internal and external exposure dose of radioactive workers, and to meet the requirement of operation for two hours. Methods The core parts of the mobile personnel radiation protection equipment included a shielding chamber and a respiratory maintenance system. An automated chassis was used for the movement and lifting of the shielding chamber. MCNP software was used to simulate and calculate the protective effects of shielding chamber made of different materials and material thicknesses. Experimental verification of the shielding chamber design was conducted. Mathematical models were established to describe the variations in the content of various gases in the chamber with personnel operation time. A respiratory maintenance system, a harmful gas absorption device, and an automated mobile chassis were designed. Results The shielding chamber made of polyethylene with a thickness of 80 mm achieved an 80% neutron shielding rate. The respiratory maintenance system could support workers for 2 hours of operation inside the equipment. The mobile chassis allowed operation of the equipment with one person. Conclusion This mobile personnel radiation protection equipment can solve the problem in simultaneous protection against γ radiation, neutron radiation, and radioactive aerosol. The equipment can provide radiation protection for radioactive workers, reduce exposure dose, and reduce personnel burden. This system provides technical means for the operation and maintenance of equipment in high-radiation sites such as spent fuel reprocessing plants.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of Tripterygium wilfordii multiglycoside (TGW) in the treatment of psoriatic dermatitis from a cellular immunological perspective. METHODS: Mouse models of psoriatic dermatitis were established by imiquimod (IMQ). Twelve male BALB/c mice were assigned to IMQ or IMQ₊TGW groups according to a random number table. Histopathological changes in vivo were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Ratios of immune cells and cytokines in mice, as well as PAM212 cell proliferation in vitro were assessed by flow cytometry. Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression was determined using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: TGW significantly ameliorated the severity of IMQ-induced psoriasis-like mouse skin lesions and restrained the activation of CD45⁺ cells, neutrophils and T lymphocytes (all P<0.01). Moreover, TGW significantly attenuated keratinocytes (KCs) proliferation and downregulated the mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-23, tumor necrosis factor α, and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Furthermore, it reduced the number of γ δ T17 cells in skin lesion of mice and draining lymph nodes (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS TGW improved psoriasis-like inflammation by inhibiting KCs proliferation, as well as the associated immune cells and cytokine expression. It inhibited IL-17 secretion from γ δ T cells, which improved the immune-inflammatory microenvironment of psoriasis.
Male ; Animals ; Mice ; Tripterygium ; Psoriasis/drug therapy* ; Keratinocytes ; Skin Diseases/metabolism* ; Cytokines/metabolism* ; Imiquimod/metabolism* ; Dermatitis/pathology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Skin/metabolism*

Objective:To investigate the current status of endoscopic treatment for gastroesophageal varices in portal hypertension in China, and to provide supporting data and reference for the development of endoscopic treatment.Methods:In this study, initiated by the Liver Health Consortium in China (CHESS), a questionnaire was designed and distributed online to investigate the basic condition of endoscopic treatment for gastroesophageal varices in portal hypertension in 2022 in China. Questions included annual number and indication of endoscopic procedures, adherence to guideline for preventing esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB), management and timing of emergent EGVB, management of gastric and isolated varices, and improvement of endoscopic treatment. Proportions of hospitals concerning therapeutic choices to all participant hospitals were calculated. Guideline adherence between secondary and tertiary hospitals were compared by using Chi-square test.Results:A total of 836 hospitals from 31 provinces (anotomous regions and municipalities) participated in the survey. According to the survey, the control of acute EGVB (49.3%, 412/836) and the prevention of recurrent bleeding (38.3%, 320/836) were major indications of endoscopic treatment. For primary [non-selective β-blocker (NSBB) or endoscopic therapies] and secondary prophylaxis (NSBB and endoscopic therapies) of EGVB, adherence to domestic guideline was 72.5% (606/836) and 39.2% (328/836), respectively. There were significant differences in the adherence between secondary and tertiary hospitals in primary prophylaxis of EGVB [71.0% (495/697) VS 79.9% (111/139), χ2=4.11, P=0.033] and secondary prophylaxis of EGVB [41.6% (290/697) VS 27.3% (38/139), χ2=9.31, P=0.002]. A total of 78.2% (654/836) hospitals preferred endoscopic therapies treating acute EGVB, and endoscopic therapy was more likely to be the first choice for treating acute EGVB in tertiary hospitals (82.6%, 576/697) than secondary hospitals [56.1% (78/139), χ2=46.33, P<0.001]. The optimal timing was usually within 12 hours (48.5%, 317/654) and 12-24 hours (36.9%, 241/654) after the bleeding. Regarding the management of gastroesophageal varices type 2 and isolated gastric varices type 1, most hospitals used cyanoacrylate injection in combination with sclerotherapy [48.2% (403/836) and 29.9% (250/836), respectively], but substantial proportions of hospitals preferred clip-assisted therapies [12.4% (104/836) and 26.4% (221/836), respectively]. Improving the skills of endoscopic doctors (84.2%, 704/836), and enhancing the precision of pre-procedure evaluation and quality of multidisciplinary team (78.9%, 660/836) were considered urgent needs in the development of endoscopic treatment. Conclusion:A variety of endoscopic treatments for gastroesophageal varices in portal hypertension are implemented nationwide. Participant hospitals are active to perform emergent endoscopy for acute EGVB, but are inadequate in following recommendations regarding primary and secondary prophylaxis of EGVB. Moreover, the selection of endoscopic procedures for gastric varices differs greatly among hospitals.

Objective To investigate the effect of inhibiting the expression of RNA component of mitochondrial RNA processing endoribonuclease(RMRP)on the proliferation and invasion of human lung cancer cell line A549 in order to provide evidence to support the research on NSCLC mechanism.Methods A total of 122 cases of patients who underwent surgical treatment were selected in Jiaozuo People's Hospital from March 2016 to March 2021.In the same period,50 healthy people from physical examination center were selected as the control group.RT-qPCR was used to detect the expressions of RMRP in blood and tissues.Human lung cancer cell line A549 was cultured and divided into si-RMRP group,siRNA-NC group and blank group.RT-qPCR,CCK-8 and Transwell assays were used to detect the expression of RMRP,proliferation activity and cell counting of invasive cells.Results The rel-ative expression level of RMRP in the blood of NSCLC patients was significantly higher than that of control group(P<0.001).The relative expression level of RMRP in NSCLC tissues was significantly higher than the adjacent tissues(P<0.001).The relative expression level of RMRP in blood and tissues of patients with poorly differenti-ated,lymph node metastasis and TNM stage Ⅲ compared with moderate to highly differentiated,no lymph node metastasis and TNM stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ were significantly increased(P<0.05).The relative expression level of RMRP in the cells of the si-RMRP group was lower than that of blank and the siRNA-NC group(P<0.001).Compared with the blank group and the siRNA-NC group,the absorbance(A)value of cells at 24,48,72 and 96 h in the si-RMRP group was decreased(P<0.05).The number of invasion cells in the si-RMRP group was lower than that in the blank group and the siRNA-NC group(F=27.765,P<0.001).Conclusions The relative expression levels of RMRP in blood and tissues of NSCLC patients are increased.Down-regulation of the expres-sion of RMRP gene in A549 cells can inhibit cell proliferation and reduce cell invasion.

Objective To monitor the susceptibility of clinical isolates to antimicrobial agents in tertiary hospitals in major regions of China in 2022.Methods Clinical isolates from 58 hospitals in China were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using a unified protocol based on disc diffusion method or automated testing systems.Results were interpreted using the 2022 Clinical &Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)breakpoints.Results A total of 318 013 clinical isolates were collected from January 1,2022 to December 31,2022,of which 29.5％were gram-positive and 70.5％were gram-negative.The prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains in Staphylococcus aureus,Staphylococcus epidermidis and other coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species(excluding Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Staphylococcus schleiferi)was 28.3％,76.7％and 77.9％,respectively.Overall,94.0％of MRSA strains were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and 90.8％of MRSE strains were susceptible to rifampicin.No vancomycin-resistant strains were found.Enterococcus faecalis showed significantly lower resistance rates to most antimicrobial agents tested than Enterococcus faecium.A few vancomycin-resistant strains were identified in both E.faecalis and E.faecium.The prevalence of penicillin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae was 94.2％in the isolates from children and 95.7％in the isolates from adults.The resistance rate to carbapenems was lower than 13.1％in most Enterobacterales species except for Klebsiella,21.7％-23.1％of which were resistant to carbapenems.Most Enterobacterales isolates were highly susceptible to tigecycline,colistin and polymyxin B,with resistance rates ranging from 0.1％to 13.3％.The prevalence of meropenem-resistant strains decreased from 23.5％in 2019 to 18.0％in 2022 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and decreased from 79.0％in 2019 to 72.5％in 2022 in Acinetobacter baumannii.Conclusions The resistance of clinical isolates to the commonly used antimicrobial agents is still increasing in tertiary hospitals.However,the prevalence of important carbapenem-resistant organisms such as carbapenem-resistant K.pneumoniae,P.aeruginosa,and A.baumannii showed a downward trend in recent years.This finding suggests that the strategy of combining antimicrobial resistance surveillance with multidisciplinary concerted action works well in curbing the spread of resistant bacteria.

Objective:To explore the function of MDM2 and its relationship with p53 at the cellular level during H 2O 2 induced oxidative damage. Methods:MLE-12 HALI cell models were established using 0.5 mmol/L H 2O 2, and were divided into three groups: normal control group, H 2O 2 injury group, H 2O 2+MDM2 overexpressed group, and H 2O 2+MDM2 shRNA group. Infection of MLE-12 cells with adenovirus vector overexpressing and silencing MDM2; Using immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) to analyze the interaction between MDM2 and p53; Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of MDM2, p53, Bcl-2, Bax, and cleared caspase-3 after HALI modeling; Measure the apoptosis rate of cells in each group. Results:After transcriptome sequencing,the p53 signaling pathway closely related to HALI. Compared with the normal group, the expression of MDM2 in the H 2O 2 injury group was lower ( P<0.05); Compared with the H 2O 2 injury group, overexpression of MDM2 resulted in a decrease in the apoptosis rate of MLE-12 cells ( P<0.05), a decrease in the expression levels of p53, Bax, and cleared caspase-3 proteins, and an upregulation of MDM2 and Bcl-2 protein expression ( P<0.05). Compared with the H 2O 2 injury group, when MDM2 was silenced, the cell apoptosis rate increased ( P<0.05), and the expression levels of p53, Bax, and cleared caspase-3 proteins were upregulated, while the expression levels of MDM2 and Bcl-2 proteins decreased ( P<0.05). Co-IP experiments showed that MDM2 binds to p53 protein. Conclusions:MDM2 can exert a protective effect on HALI by inhibiting MLE-12 cell apoptosis through the p53/Bcl-2/Bax axis.

Background/Aims: The histological characteristics and natural history of precirrhotic primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) with portal hypertension (PH) are unclear. Our aim was to clarify the prevalence, risk factors, and histological characteristics of precirrhotic PBC patients with PH. Methods: This retrospective study compared the clinical features, histological characteristics, and response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) between the PH and non-PH groups of precirrhotic PBC patients. Results: Out of 165 precirrhotic PBC patients, 40 (24.2%) also had PH. According to histological stage 1, 2 and 3 disease, 5.3% (1/19), 17.3% (17/98), and 45.8% (22/48) of patients also had PH, respectively. Precirrhotic PBC with PH was significantly positively correlated with bile duct loss, degree of cytokeratin 7 positivity, and degree of fibrosis in the portal area, but significantly negatively correlated with lymphoid follicular aggregation. Compared to the non-PH group, patients in the PH group showed a higher prevalence of obliterative portal venopathy, incomplete septal fibrosis, portal tract abnormalities and non-zonal sinusoidal dilatation (p<0.05). In addition, patients with PH were more likely to present with symptoms of jaundice, ascites, epigastric discomfort, a poorer response to UDCA, and more decompensation events (p<0.05). High alkaline phosphatase levels, low white blood cell counts, high Mayo scores, and high FIB-4 index values were risk factors for precirrhotic PBC with PH. Conclusions Approximately 24.2% of precirrhotic PBC patients have PH, which is histologically related to the injury of bile ducts. High alkaline phosphatase levels, low white blood cell counts, high Mayo scores, and high FIB-4 index values are associated with increased risk of precirrhotic PBC with PH.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of stone composition prediction method based on dual-source stone energy spectrum CT for uric acid stones.Methods:The clinical data of 204 patients with urinary stones, 159 males and 45 females, admitted to Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital from July 2020 to July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The average age was (50.7±14.3) years. There were 187 cases of upper urinary tract (kidney, ureter) stones and 17 cases of lower urinary tract (bladder, urethra) stones. All patients underwent preoperative dual-source stone energy spectroscopy CT, measuring CT values at 150 kV and 100 kV, respectively, and the calculated dual energy ratio (Ratio) was used to predict stone composition. Of the 204 cases in this group, 33 cases underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy and 171 cases underwent ureteroscopic lithotripsy. Postoperative stone specimens were analyzed for stone composition by infrared spectroscopy. Subject work characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyze the efficacy of preoperative dual-source stone energy spectrum CT to predict uric acid stones.Results:In 204 patients, preoperative CT predicted 28 cases of uric acid stones and 176 cases of non-uric acid stones, including 136 cases of calcium oxalate stones, 38 cases of hydroxyapatite, and 2 cases of cystine stones. Postoperative IR spectral analysis detected 26 cases of uric acid stones and 178 cases of non-uric acid stones, including 129 cases of calcium oxalate stones, 47 cases of hydroxyapatite, and 2 cases of cystine stones. Compared with the preoperative CT results, there were 2 false positives and no false negatives in the classification of uric acid stones. The ROC curve showed that the sensitivity of the CT value for predicting uric acid stones at 100 kV was 96.2%, the specificity was 99.5%, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.995, with the best prediction value of 620 HU.The sensitivity of the CT value for predicting uric acid stones at 150 kV was 96.2%, specificity was 85.5%, AUC was 0.916, and the best predictive value was 597.5 HU. The sensitivity of using Ratio values for predicting uric acid stones was 100.0%, specificity was 97.9%, AUC was 0.996, and the best predictive value was 1.14. The CT values for uric acid stones at 100 kV and 150 kV were (558.58±77.07) HU and (521.12±83.54) HU, CT values for calcium oxalate stones were (1 335.26±301.82) HU and (878.21±200.21) HU, CT values for hydroxyapatite were (1 104.09±203.61) HU and (710.38±178.44) HU, respectively.The CT values of cystine stones were (684.5±67.18) HU and (573.5±67.10) HU, respectively, and the differences between uric acid stones and other components were statistically significant ( P<0.01). The Ratio values of uric acid stones, calcium oxalate stones, hydroxyapatite, and cystine stones were 1.08±0.06, 1.52±0.08, 1.62±0.40, and 1.19±0.02, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant ( P<0.01) when comparing uric acid stones with other components. Conclusion:The CT and Ratio values of dual-source stone energy spectrum CT can effectively distinguish uric acid stones from other types of stones, and the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of this method for predicting uric acid stones are high.