Objective: To summarize the outcomes of different types of pulmonary atresia in neonates treated by ductus arteriosus stenting. Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort study. A total of 19 neonates who had pulmonary atresia treated by ductus arteriosus stenting in Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from April 2014 to June 2021 were included. They were divided into the intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS) group and the ventricular septal defect (PA-VSD) group. Ductus arteriosus stents were implanted by different approaches. These children were followed up regularly at the 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the surgery and annually since then to evaluate the outcome. Independent sample t-test was used for the statistical analysis. Results: There were 12 children in PA-IVS group and 7 in PA-VSD group. All of them were full term in fants. The gestational age of the PA-IVS group and the PA-VSD group was (38.8±1.1) and (37.7±1.8) weeks, the birth weights were (3.2±0.4) and (3.4±1.1) kg, and the age at operation was (10±9) and (12±7) days, respectively, without significant difference (all P>0.05). Among the 12 children with PA-IVS, 9 had stents successfully implanted through the femoral artery and 3 through the femoral vein. Of the 7 children with PA-VSD, 2 had the stents successfully implanted via the femoral artery and 2 failed, and the remaining 3 had stents successfully implanted via the left carotid artery. There was no postoperative thromboembolism, arteriovenous fistula, pseudoaneurysm or other vascular complications. Five children with PA-VSD who had successful operations were followed up at 6 months of age. They all had the operation for pulmonary atresia, repair of the ventricular septal defect, removal of arterial duct stents, and ligation of the arterial duct. All children survived without any stent displacement or stenosis and biventricular circulation was achieved during the follow-up. Conclusions: Ductus arteriosous stenting can be the first-stage treatment for children with PA-IVS and PA-VSD. In addition to the traditional femoral vein and femoral artery approach, the carotid artery can be used as a route for stent placement.
Child ; Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Infant ; Pulmonary Atresia/surgery* ; Ductus Arteriosus ; Retrospective Studies ; China ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent/surgery* ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; Stents

Objective: To investigate the distribution of blood pressure and analyze the associated factors of blood pressure of the elderly with type 2 diabetes in Jiangsu Province. Methods: The elderly over 60 years old participants with type 2 diabetes in the communities of Huai'an City and Changshu City, Jiangsu Province were selected in this study. They were divided into two groups: taking antihypertensive drugs and not taking antihypertensive drugs. The demographic characteristics, such as age and sex, and relevant factors were collected by questionnaire. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured by physical examination. The percentile of SBP and DBP in each age group of men and women were described. The kernel density estimation curve was used to show the blood pressure distribution. The trend of blood pressure with age was fitted by locally weighted regression. The logistic regression model was used to analyze relevant factors of blood pressure. Results: A total of 12 949 participants were included in this study, including 7 775 patients in the antihypertensive drug group and 5 174 patients in the group without antihypertensive drugs. The SBP of participants was concentrated at 140-160 mmHg, and their DBP was concentrated at 75-85 mmHg. There were significant differences in the distribution of blood pressure among the subgroups of body mass index (BMI) and rural areas whether taking antihypertensive drugs and not. For participants aged under 80 years old, the SBP showed an increasing trend with age and the DBP showed a decreasing trend with age. Age, BMI ≥24 kg/m², fasting blood glucose ≥7.0 mmol/L, living in rural areas and no smoking were influencing factors of the elevated SBP; BMI ≥24 kg/m², male, living in rural areas, no smoking, drinking alcohol and not receiving drug hypoglycemic treatment were influencing factors of the elevated DBP. Conclusion: The SBP of older diabetic adults in Jiangsu Province is at a high level, and the distribution of blood pressure is significantly different between men and women in taking antihypertensive drugs group. The SBP presents a rising trend and the DBP is decreasing at the age of 60-80 years. The blood pressure level of this population are mainly affected by age, BMI, urban and rural areas, smoking.
Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Pressure/physiology* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/epidemiology* ; Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Smoking ; Body Mass Index ; Hypertension/epidemiology*

Objective:To investigate the changes of T1 and T2 values in residual liver after major liver resection in rats and the relationship with pathologic indices related to liver regeneration.Methods:Seventy healthy male Sprague Dawley rats, SPF grade, aged 7-8 weeks, weighting 250-280 g, were divided into MR scan group ( n=14) and pathologic analysis group ( n=56). The MR scan group was further divided into partial hepatectomy group ( n=7) and the sham operation group ( n=7). MRI T 1 mapping and T 2 mapping were performed before surgery and on day 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21 after surgery. T1 and T2 values of liver parenchyma were measured. In the pathologic analysis group, 7 rats were randomly included at each time point before and after surgery for pathologic examination, the diameter and proliferative activity (Ki-67 indices) of hepatocytes were assessed. The changes of imaging and pathologic indices were observed, and the correlations between MR parameters and liver volume and pathologic indices were analyzed. Results:Both T1 and T2 values in liver parenchyma were increased on day 1 after surgery and reached their maximum values on day 2 ( P=0.005 and P<0.001, compared with baseline), then were gradually decreased, and recovered to the preoperative level on day 14 and 21 ( P>0.05), respectively. T2 value was correlated with hepatocyte diameter, liver volume and Ki-67 indices better ( r=0.640, -0.764, 0.765, respectively, all P<0.001). T1 value was correlated with hepatocyte diameter, liver volume and Ki-67 indices ( r=0.472, -0.481 and 0.444, all P<0.001). Conclusion:The T1 and T2 values of rats liver remnant parenchyma showed regular changes, and were correlated with liver regeneration indices, which reflect the microscopic changes of rat liver remnant parenchyma, and are expected to be used for quantitative monitoring of liver remnant regeneration.

Toxoplasma gondii infection is widespread worldwide, not only posing a serious threat to human food safety and animal husbandry, but also endangering human health. The selectivity index was employed to measure anti-T. gondii activity. Hederagenin (HE) exhibited potent anti-T. gondii activity and low cytotoxicity. For this reason, HE was selected for in vivo experiments. HE showed 64.8%±13.1% inhibition for peritoneal tachyzoites in mice, higher than spiramycin 56.8%±6.0%. Biochemical parameters such as alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, glutathione, and malondialdehyde, illustrated that HE was a good inhibitor of T. gondii in vivo. This compound was also effective in relieving T. gondii-induced liver damage. Collectively, it was demonstrated that HE had potential as an anti-T. gondii agent.

Objective To establish a deep learning-based visual model for intelligent recognition of Oncomelania hupensis, the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum, and evaluate the effects of different training strategies for O. hupensis image recognition. Methods A total of 2 614 datasets of O. hupensis snails and 4 similar snails were generated through field sampling and internet capture, and were divided into training sets and test sets. An intelligent recognition model was created based on deep learning, and was trained and tested. The precision, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, F1 score and Youden index were calculated. In addition, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the model for snail recognition was plotted to evaluate the effects of “new learning”, “transfer learning” and “transfer learning + data enhancement” training strategies on the accuracy of the model for snail recognition. Results Under the “transfer learning + data enhancement” strategy, the precision, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, Youden index and F1 score of the model were 90.10%, 91.00%, 97.50%, 96.20%, 88.50% and 90.51% for snail recognition, which were all higher than those under both “new learning” and “transfer learning” strategies. There were significant differences in the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the model for snail recognition under “new learning”, “transfer learning” and “transfer learning + data enhancement” training strategies (all P values < 0.001). In addition, the area under the ROC curve of the model was highest (0.94) under the “transfer learning + dataenhancement” training strategy. Conclusions This is the first visual model for intelligent recognition of O. hupensis based on deep learning, which shows a high accuracy for snail image recognition. The “transfer learning + data enhancement” training strategy is helpful to improve the accuracy of the model for snail recognition.

Toxoplasma gondii infection is widespread worldwide, not only posing a serious threat to human food safety and animal husbandry, but also endangering human health. The selectivity index was employed to measure anti-T. gondii activity. Hederagenin (HE) exhibited potent anti-T. gondii activity and low cytotoxicity. For this reason, HE was selected for in vivo experiments. HE showed 64.8%±13.1% inhibition for peritoneal tachyzoites in mice, higher than spiramycin 56.8%±6.0%. Biochemical parameters such as alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, glutathione, and malondialdehyde, illustrated that HE was a good inhibitor of T. gondii in vivo. This compound was also effective in relieving T. gondii-induced liver damage. Collectively, it was demonstrated that HE had potential as an anti-T. gondii agent.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the environmental contamination degree of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) wards, to offer gui-dance for the infection control and to improve safety practices for medical staff, by sampling and detecting SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid from the air of hospital wards, the high-frequency contact surfaces in the contaminated area and the surfaces of medical staff's protective equipment in a COVID-19 designated hospital in Wuhan, China. METHODS: From March 11 to March 19, 2020, we collected air samples from the clean area, the buffer room and the contaminated area respectively in the COVID-19 wards using a portable bioaerosol concentrator WA-15. And sterile premoistened swabs were used to sample the high-frequency contacted surfaces in the contaminated area and the surfaces of medical staff's protective equipment including outermost gloves, tracheotomy operator's positive pressure respiratory protective hood and isolation clothing. The SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid of the samples were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. During the isolation medical observation period, those medical staff who worked in the COVID-19 wards were detected for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid with oropharyngeal swabs, IgM and IgG antibody in the sera, and chest CT scans to confirm the infection status of COVID-19. RESULTS: No SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid was detected in the tested samples, including the 90 air samples from the COVID-19 wards including clean area, buffer room and contaminated area, the 38 high-frequency contact surfaces samples of the contaminated area and 16 surface samples of medical staff's protective equipment including outermost gloves and isolation clothing. Moreover, detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid by oropharyngeal swabs and IgM, IgG antibodies in the sera of all the health-care workers who participated in the treatment for COVID-19 were all negative. Besides, no chest CT scan images of medical staff exhibited COVID-19 lung presentations. CONCLUSION Good ventilation conditions, strict disinfection of environmental facilities in hospital wards, guidance for correct habits in patients, and strict hand hygiene during medical staff are important to reduce the formation of viral aerosols, cut down the aerosol load, and avoid cross-infection in isolation wards. In the face of infectious diseases that were not fully mastered but ma-naged as class A, it is safe for medical personnel to be equipped at a high level.
Betacoronavirus ; COVID-19 ; China ; Coronavirus Infections ; Humans ; Medical Staff ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; Protective Devices ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome/prevention & control*

Objective:To study the protective effect of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) on adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats, in order to explore its possible mechanism. Method:Wistar rats were randomly divided into eight groups, namely AIA control group, AIA model group, AIA DHA group and AIA methotrexate group, CIA control group, CIA model group, CIA DHA group and CIA methotrexate group. To establish adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) model, rheumatoid arthritis rats were induced through intradermal injection with 0.1 mL Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) into right postpedes except for the control group. To establish the model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), except for control group, the caudal root of rats was immunized subcutaneously with 0.2 mL of emulsion containing 1 g·L^-1 of Collagen type Ⅱ (CⅡ). One week later, CⅡ emulsion was injected for the second time. After the rheumatoid arthritis model was successfully established and the administration with DHA (30 mg·kg^-1·d^-1), the anti-inflammatory effect of DHA on AIA/CIA rats was observed, including the arthritis index (AI), paw swelling degree and effect of DHA on immune organ index of AIA/CIA rats. Interleukin (IL)-6 levels in serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and pathological sections of ankle joints of AIA/CIA rats. RAW264.7 macrophage cells were cultured in vitro and treated with DHA at various doses (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 μmol·L^-1) for 24 h, and the cell viability was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT) assay. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) group, LPS+DHA groups (0.5, 1, 2 μmol·L^-1) and control group were established. The level of IL-6 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The protein expression levels of nuclear transcription factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65) was tested by Western blot. Result:Compared with control group, the paw swelling, AI, spleen index and IL-6 levels of model group were significantly increased (P<0.01, P<0.05). DHA could significantly reduce paw swelling (P<0.05), arthritis score index (P<0.05), and spleen index (P<0.01), thymus index (P<0.05) and serum IL-6 level of AIA rats (P<0.05). But the spleen index of CIA rats was not decreased, while the thymus index and IL-6 level were decreased but not statistically significant. In addition, DHA can significantly improve the pathological changes of ankle, and decrease the pathological score on AIA/CIA rats (P<0.01). Compared with control group, DHA (4, 8, 16 μmol·L^-1) groups had a remarkable effect on the cell viability (P<0.05, P<0.01). The safe medication range of DHA was less than 2 μmol·L^-1. The level of IL-6 and the protein expression of NF-κB p65 in LPS group were higher than those of control group. Compared with LPS group, DHA (0.5 μmol·L^-1) groups could significantly reduce the secretion of IL-6 (P<0.05), and inhibit the expression of NF-κB p65. Conclusion:DHA can alleviate the ankle joint lesion on rheumatoid arthritis rats. Its mechanism may be related to NF-κB signal pathway.

Objective To investigate the effects of retinal ganglion cell-conditioned medium on the differentiation of retinal stem cells.Methods Rettial stem cells and retinal ganglion cells were isolated from rats,and immunofluorescence staining was applied to identify rat retinal stem cells and retinal ganglion cells with Nestin and Thy-1 antibody,respectively.Retinal stem cells were cultured in presence or absence of retinal ganglion cell-conditioned medium for 72 h,followed by detection of Nestin,PAX6,Thy-1 and Bin-3 gene expression in retinal stem cells by qPCR.Results isolated retinal stem cells were Nestin positive,and retinal ganglion cells were Thy-1 positive,indicating the success of isolation.Compared to retinal stem cells cultured without ganglion cellconditioned medium,ones cultured with ganglion-conditioned medium had significantly downregulated expression of Nestin and PAX6 (both P ＜ 0.000 1),and markedly upregulated expression of Thy-1 and Brn-3 (both P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Retinal ganglion cell-conditioned medium can induce the differentiation of retinal progenitor cells into retinal ganglion-like cells.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of norcantharidin (NCTD) on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats.

METHODSSixty Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=10): normal group, CIA model group(model group), NCTD low-dose group [1.35 mg/(kg•d)], NCTD middle-dose group [2.7 mg/(kg•d)], NCTD high-dose group [5.4 mg/(kg•d)] and methotrexate (MTX) group [1.8 mg/(kg/w)]. Anesthetized rats were sacrificed by luxation of cervical vertebra after 4 weeks of administration. The arthritis scores were evaluated twice a week. The pathological changes in the ankle joints of rats were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. The serum levels of interleukin (IL) 1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), IL-17 and transform growth factor (TGF) β were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA expression of retinoid-related orphan nuclear receptorγt (RORγt) and forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) in peripheral blood lymphocytes were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSMTX and high-dose NCTD not only decreased the arthritis scores but also alleviated the pathological changes in CIA rats' ankle joints compared with the model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). All doses of NCTD significantly inhibited the serum levels of IL-6, IL-17 and TNF-α in CIA rats (P<0.05). Only middle- and high-dose of NCTD prominently decreased serum IL-1β and TGF-β levels of CIA rats (P<0.05). However, NCTD has no effect on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in CIA rats. The Foxp3 mRNA expression in all NCTD groups were increased significantly than in the model group (P<0.05). The mRNA expression of RORγt in NCTD high-dose group was decreased apparently in comparison with the model group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNCTD showed therapeutic effect on CIA rats by inhibition of cytokines and regulation of Th17/Treg cells.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cytokines ; blood ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Joints ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley