ObjectiveThis paper aims to use the digital muscle function assessment system Myoton PRO to assess the correlation between muscle tension，clinical characteristics， and traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） syndromes in patients with hepatolenticular degeneration ［also known as Wilson disease（WD）］. MethodsA total of 104 patients with WD accompanied by abnormal muscle tension（increased or decreased，hereinafter the same） who were hospitalized in the Brain Disease Centre of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from April 2021 to November 2023 were selected，all of whom were subjected to TCM syndrome diagnosis and Myoton PRO for the measurement of F value of muscle tension，Goldstein， and UWDRS-N scales. The age of onset of the disease and disease duration were analyzed，and the differences and correlations of the above indexes in different TCM syndromes of WD were analyzed ResultsAmong the 104 patients with WD ，the phlegm and stasis syndrome was the most common（60 patients），followed by the damp-heat syndrome（33 patients），and the least common was the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome（11 patients）. The F value of the phlegm and stasis syndrome group was higher than that of the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group and the damp-heat syndrome group（P<0.01）. The F value of the damp-heat syndrome group was higher than that of the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group（P<0.05），and the F value of the lower limbs of each group was higher than that of the upper limbs（P<0.01）. Goldstein and UWDRS-N scores of the patients in the phlegm and stasis syndrome group were higher than those in the damp-heat syndrome group and the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group（P<0.05）. There was no significant difference between the Goldstein and UWDRS-N scores of patients in the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group and the damp-heat syndrome group. Correlation analysis revealed that the age of onset and duration of the disease were positively correlated with the F values of the lower limbs（r=0.20，P<0.05，r=0.38，P<0.01）and had no significant correlation with those of the upper limbs. The F value levels of muscle tension of all limbs in the three groups of patients were positively correlated with the Goldstein and UWDRS-N scores（muscle tension of the upper limbs in the phlegm and stasis syndrome group，r=0.36，P<0.01，r=0.42，P<0.01. muscle tension of the lower limbs in the phlegm and stasis syndrome group，r=0.70，P<0.01，r=0.60，P<0.01. muscle tension of the upper limbs in the damp-heat syndrome group，r=0.64，P<0.01，r=0.53，P<0.01. muscle tension of the lower limbs in the damp-heat syndrome group，r=0.59，P<0.01，r=0.70，P<0.01. muscle tension of the upper limbs in the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group，r=0.70，P<0.01，r=0.74，P<0.01. muscle tension of the lower limbs in the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome group，r=0.85，P<0.01，r=0.62，P<0.01）. Conlusion： The digital muscle function assessment system Myoton PRO can objectively evaluate the muscle tension level of patients with WD accompanied by abnormal muscle tension. This level has significant differences among different TCM syndromes and can evaluate the patient's condition to some extent.

BACKGROUND:The preoperative planning of traditional X-ray films is often inaccurate,which can lead to some intraoperative and postoperative complications,increase the operation time and intraoperative blood loss,and to some extent affect the surgical outcome of total hip arthroplasty. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the accuracy and effectiveness of artificial intelligence preoperative planning in total hip arthroplasty. METHODS:Sixty patients who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty on the affected side were selected.30 of them used artificial intelligence 3D preoperative planning(trial group)and 30 used conventional X-ray film 2D preoperative planning(control group),and there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of gender,age,condition and other general data(P>0.05).The actual intraoperative prosthesis placement and preoperative planning prosthesis matching,intraoperative operation time,intraoperative blood loss,bilateral femoral eccentric distance difference,bilateral joint eccentric distance difference and bilateral lower limb length difference,and Harris score at 3 months after operation were compared between the two groups,and the accuracy and application effect of the two preoperative plans were analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Patients in both groups were followed up for 4-6 months postoperatively.One patient in the control group had a posterior dislocation of the prosthesis at 5 days postoperatively,which recovered after performing manual repositioning without re-dislodgement.The rest of the patients did not have postoperative complications or postoperative death.(2)Complete matching rate of the prosthesis on the acetabular side and femoral side was significantly better in the trial group than that in the control group(P<0.05).(3)Operation time and intraoperative blood loss were significantly less in the trial group than those in the control group(P<0.05).(4)The difference in bilateral lower limb length between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05),and the difference in bilateral femoral eccentric distance and bilateral joint eccentric distance was not statistically significant(P>0.05).(5)Harris score of patients in the trial group was significantly higher than that in the control group 3 months after operation(P<0.05).(6)These results confirm that compared with traditional film planning,artificial intelligence preoperative planning can predict the prosthesis type more accurately,shorten the operation time,reduce intraoperative blood loss,diminish the occurrence of postoperative bilateral lower limb inequality,and accelerate postoperative recovery.

BACKGROUND:The renin-angiotensin system plays a key role in the occurrence and development of hypertension,in which angiotensin(1-7)has antihypertensive effect and reversely regulates the adverse effects of angiotensin Ⅱ.Exercise rehabilitation therapy is an important non-pharmaceutical means to prevent and treat hypertension;however,whether angiotensin(1-7)and exercise have a synergistic effect is not yet clear. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of angiotensin(1-7)supplementation combined with exercise therapy on cardiac remodeling in rats with renal hypertension and to investigate the possible mechanism of angiotensin(1-7)and its receptor signal axis. METHODS:Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected,of which 12 rats were randomly selected as normotensive group and the remaining 48 rats were used to make animal models of renal hypertension using two-kidney one-clip method and were then randomly divided into hypertension control group,hypertension exercise group,angiotensin(1-7)group and combined treatment group.One week after successful modeling,different interventions were given(for a period of 6 weeks)as follows:the hypertension exercise group was subjected to a running training on an electric treadmill,the angiotensin(1-7)group was perfused with angiotensin(1-7)by implanting Alzet microosmotic pump subcutaneously on the back of the rats,and the combined treatment group was perfused with angiotensin(1-7)after running training,while the normotensive group and hypertension control group were caged quietly.At 48 hours after the last training session,the tail artery blood pressure was measured with a non-invasive sphygmomanometer;the heart structure and function were detected by echocardiography;the left ventricular myocardium was taken for histopathological observation by hematoxylin-eosin and Masson staining,and the cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area and collagen volume fraction were obtained by image analysis software as markers of myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis,respectively;the content of angiotensin(1-7)in the heart was detected by high performance liquid chromatography;the mRNA expression of cardiac embryonic genes,atrial natriuretic peptide and β-myosin heavy chain,was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR;and the protein expression of cardiac Mas receptor,angiotensin Ⅱ type 2 receptor and endothelial nitric oxide synthase was measured by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the normotensive group,blood pressure increased(P<0.05),cardiac function had no significant changes(P>0.05),cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area and collagen volume fraction increased(P<0.05),mRNA expression of atrial natriuretic peptide and β-myosin heavy chain was upregulated(P<0.05),angiotensin(1-7)content and protein expression of Mas receptor,angiotensin Ⅱ type 2 receptor and endothelial nitric oxide synthase was downregulated(P<0.05)in the hypertension control group.Compared with the hypertension control group,blood pressure decreased(P<0.05),cardiac function improved(P<0.05),collagen volume fraction decreased(P<0.05),cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area and angiotensin(1-7)content showed no significant changes(P>0.05),mRNA expression of atrial natriuretic peptide and β-myosin heavy chain was downregulated(P<0.05),and the protein expression of Mas receptor,angiotensin Ⅱ type 2 receptor and endothelial nitric oxide synthase was upregulated(P<0.05)in the hypertension exercise group;except for an increase in myocardial angiotensin(1-7)content(P<0.05),other parameters had no statistical significance(P>0.05)in the hypertension angiotensin(1-7)group.Compared with the hypertension exercise group,blood pressure decreased(P<0.05),cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area and cardiac function had no significant changes(P>0.05),collagen volume fraction decreased(P<0.05),angiotensin(1-7)content increased(P<0.05),mRNA expression of atrial natriuretic peptide and β-myosin heavy chain was downregulated(P<0.05),and the protein expression of Mas receptor,angiotensin Ⅱ type 2 receptor and endothelial nitric oxide synthase was upregulated(P<0.05)in the combined treatment group.To conclude,supplementation of angiotensin(1-7)alone cannot improve cardiac remodeling in rats with renal hypertension,but it can enhance the efficacy of exercise.The mechanism is related to the improvement of angiotensin(1-7)receptor deficiency and restoration of its signaling pathway function.

To reduce the subjectivity and uncertainty present in the current international methods of drug value pricing when converting value into monetary prices,based on the hedonic pricing theory,it considers the post-negotiation price between manufacturers and payers as a reasonable price reference in the value pricing of Chinese patent medicine.By constructing an indicator system for the characteristics of Chinese patent medicine,it selects and measures the value characteristic variables that affect the price of Chinese patent medicine.It serves as the theoretical foundation and research basis for establishing a Hedonic price model between characteristic price variables and negotiation prices,thereby promoting the enhancement of rationality and objectivity in value-guided pricing of Chinese patent medicine.

In the context of delayed marriage and parenthood, decreased willingness in having children, and population aging in China, maternal and child health has become an important and urgent issue. Being essential platforms for research in maternal and child health, the importance of birth cohorts has been widely recognized. In the past 20 years, tens of birth cohorts have been established in major cities and regions of China, with cohorts ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands. These cohorts, particularly those large ones launched in recent years, have collected a wide spectrum of data and biological samples from mothers and children. Although they have made considerable preliminary achievements, there remain difficulties and challenges. The significant challenges include small and medium-sized cohorts' lacking of clear research themes; insufficient recognition of and emphasis on behavioral and social determinants of health while emphasizing biological determinants of health; variations in types of variables and quality of data collected, which make it difficult for cohorts to be merged and shared; lack of and difficulties in long-term follow-up; significant uncertainties in resources for long-term sustention of the cohorts, and so on. So, we argue that birth cohorts should focus on essential and urgent issues in maternal and child health in the country and seek recognition and support from the government and the entire society. Last but not least, the overall success of birth cohorts in the country requires scientists to be not only academically capable, but also realistic, persistent, altruistic, and collaborative.

Specific pathogen-free(SPF)chickens are widely used in the research of avian diseases and vaccines.Vertically transmissible diseases are transmitted to chickens through vertical transmission,seriously affecting their survival rate,increasing production costs,and causing significant economic losses to the poultry industry,while severely impacting the breeding and use of SPF chickens.Therefore,it is crucial for researchers and managers to enhance their understanding of vertically transmissible pathogens in chickens and to develop effective monitoring measures.Quality monitoring is an important part of ensuring the quality of SPF chickens,with pathogen detection being the primary step.Based on this,it is necessary to cultivate qualified SPF chickens through purification methods and biosecurity measures.This paper reviews the major vertically transmissible pathogens in chickens,including viral pathogens,bacterial pathogens and mycoplasmas,as well as their detection methods.This study compares the differences in microbiological testing items and methods for SPF chickens between the U.S.corporate standard and the Chinese national standard.Analysis of the results shows that in both standards,vertically transmissible pathogens such as Escherichia coli,Proteus mirabilis,Salmonella,and avian leukosis are not included in the microbiological testing items for SPF chickens.Instead,these pathogens are characterized by mixed infections,and outbreaks can seriously affect flock health.To produce higher-quality SPF chickens,it is necessary to include these pathogens in the mandatory testing items.The aim of this paper is to help readers understand the relevant standards for microbiological monitoring of SPF chickens,the hazards of vertically transmissible pathogens,and prevention and control strategies,so as to provide a reference for the detection and purification of pathogens in SPF chickens.

Microplastics(MPs)and nanoplastics(NPs)have become hazardous materials due to the massive amount of plastic waste and disposable masks,but their specific health effects remain uncertain.In this study,fluorescence-labeled polystyrene NPs(PS-NPs)were injected into the circulatory systems of mice to determine the distribution and potential toxic effects of NPs in vivo.Interestingly,whole-body imaging found that PS-NPs accumulated in the testes of mice.Therefore,the toxic effects of PS-NPs on the reproduction systems and the spermatocytes cell line of male mice,and their mechanisms,were investigated.After oral exposure to PS-NPs,their spermatogenesis was affected and the spermatogenic cells were damaged.The spermatocyte cell line GC-2 was exposed to PS-NPs and analyzed using RNA sequencing(RNA-seq)to determine the toxic mechanisms;a ferroptosis pathway was found after PS-NP exposure.The phenomena and indicators of ferroptosis were then determined and verified by ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1(Fer-1),and it was also found that nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2)played an important role in spermatogenic cell ferroptosis induced by PS-NPs.Finally,it was confirmed in vivo that this mechanism of Nrf2 played a protective role in PS-NPs-induced male reproductive toxicity.This study demonstrated that PS-NPs induce male reproductive dysfunction in mice by causing spermatogenic cell ferroptosis dependent on Nrf2.

Objective To investigate the biomechanical effects of the medial protrusio technique on the acetabular cup in adult patients with developmental hip(DDH)after total hip arthroplasty.Methods The CT scanning data of bilateral hips from an adult patient with unilateral DDH were obtained further to develop a finite element model of the affected hemipelvis.The medial protrusio technique with various levels of medial protrusio was simulated,and the biomechanical differences between the medial protrusio and non-protrusio groups were evaluated.Results In the simulated pull-out test,the maximum anti-pull-out load strength of the non-protrusio group was 1 166 N.Compared with the non-protrusio group,the anti-pull-out load strength of the 4 mm and 8 mm medial protrusio groups increased by 45.8％and 57.1％,respectively.The peak micromotion at the cup-bone interface for the non-protrusio group was 166.4 μm in the standing phase of the gait cycle,and that of the 4 mm and 8 mm medial protrusio groups was decreased by 46.2％and 62.1％,respectively.Regarding the immediate stress distributions of periacetabular bone tissues following cup implantation,the differences between the groups were not significant.Under the loading condition of the standing phase,the non-protrusio group yielded the lowest average and peak stresses.The average stress increased with the level of medial protrusio,and the highest peak stress was observed in the 4 mm medial protrusio group.Conclusions The medial protrusio technique can improve the initial stability of the acetabular cup,and the initial stability is positively proportional to the protrusio level.However,owing to the concentration of marginal stress at the cup-bone interface,a minor medial protrusio cup with insufficient bone coverage might increase the risk of various prosthesis-related complications.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficacy of tumor-treating fields (TTFields) and chemoradiation in patients with high-grade glioblastoma.Methods:Clinical data of 38 patients admitted to the Jiangsu Cancer Hospital from September 2021 to May 2023 who were diagnosed with high-grade glioblastoma (36 cases of World Health Organization grade Ⅳ and 2 cases of grade Ⅲ) were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received TTFields combined with concurrent chemoradiation after surgery. Response assessment in neuro-oncology (RANO) criteria was used to evaluate the glioma responses as tumor remission, stable or progression. Common terminology criteria for adverse events v5.0 and TTFields related skin adverse reaction (dAE) criteria were used to evaluate the adverse events. Treatment compliance was assessed by data on the NovoTTF-200A therapeutic device, calculated as a percentage of daily TTFields usage time. Survival analysis was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test.Results:The median duration of treatment with TTFields in 38 patients was 20 h (rang: 2.4-22.6 h), and the median treatment compliance was 83% (range: 10%-94%). After 42 days of TTFields combined with concurrent chemoradiation, 12 patients who underwent complete tumor resection were assessed as stable according to RANO criteria. Among the 26 patients who underwent partial tumor resection, 23 (88%) were evaluated as disease remission according to RANO criteria. The 7-, 10-, 13-month progression-free survival rate was 81.0%、64.0%、49.5%, repectively. The common adverse events included grade 1 (45%) and grade 2 (8%) dAE, without grade 3-4 dAE. Typical presentations included contact dermatitis, blisters, lesions or ulcers, and abscesses. The median follow-up time was 10.0 months (range: 1.6-21.3 months). At follow-up as of July 2023, 26 of the 38 patients were stable and 12 had disease progression (8 died).Conclusion:The preliminary results show that TTFields combined with chemoradiation is effective, safe and reliable treatment for high-grade glioblastoma.

Objective To assess early clinical safety and efficacy of transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TF-TAVR) for pure aortic regurgitation (PAR). Methods The clinical data of PAR patients who underwent TAVR in Wuhan Asia Heart Hospital and Wuhan Asia General Hospital from January 2018 to October 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into a TF-TAVR group and a transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TA-TAVR) group. The clinical data of the patients were analyzed. Results A total of 54 patients were enrolled, including 34 males and 20 females with an average age of 74.43±6.87 years. The preoperative N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide level was lower [808.50 (143.50, 2 937.00) pg/mL vs. 2 245.00 (486.30, 7 177.50) pg/mL, P=0.015], and the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (56.00±6.92 mm vs. 63.07±10.23 mm, P=0.005) and sinus junction diameter (32.47±4.41 mm vs. 37.65±8.08 mm, P=0.007) were smaller in the TF-TAVR group. There was no death in the two groups during the hospitalization. Only 1 new death within postoperative 1 month in the TF-TAVR group (cerebral hemorrhage). A total of 2 new deaths in the TF-TAVR group (1 patient of sudden cardiac death and 1 of multiple organ failure), and there was no death in the TA-TAVR group within postoperative 3 months. There was 1 new death in the TA-TAVR group (details unknown), and there was no death in the TF-TAVR group within postoperative 6 months. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in the all-cause mortality and the cumulative survival rate during the follow-up period (P>0.05). The incidence of high atrioventricular block was 36.0% in the TF-TAVR group and 10.3% in the TA-TAVR group (P=0.024). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the perivalvular leakage (≥moderate), valve in valve, a second valve implantation, valve migration, cerebrovascular events, major vascular complications, complete left bundle branch block, new permanent pacemaker implantation or transferring to surgery (P>0.05). However, the incidence rates of complete left bundle branch block and new permanent pacemaker implantation were higher in the TF-TAVR group, accounting for 56.0% and 40.0%, respectively. Conclusion TF-TAVR is a safe and feasible treatment for PAR patients, which is comparable to TA-TAVR in the early postoperative safety and efficacy.