Objective:To investigate the effects of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome(NRDS)on thymus of premature infants.Methods:We collected baseline data from premature infants with gestational age of 28~32 weeks in neonatal intensive care unit of Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019.The largest transverse diameter and the sagittal of thymus were measured by ultrasonography within 24 h of birth, then, the thymic index(TI)and thymic weight index(TWI)were calculated to assess the size of thymus.The preterm neonates were divided into NRDS group and non-NRDS group according to the diagnosic criteria of NRDS, and the two groups were then divided into antenatal corticosteroid administration(ACS)group and non-ACS group according to ACS exposure.We then compared the TI and TWI between these groups.Results:One hundred and sixty-three preterm neonates were enrolled in our study, including 98 NRDS preterm neonates and 65 non NRDS preterm neonates.After matching gestational age and birth weight of the preterm neonates from two groups, 65 preterm neonates with NRDS comprised the NRDS group, and 65 preterm neonates without NRDS served as controls.Preterm neonates in NRDS group had significantly smaller TI[(1.788 ± 0.803)cm 3 vs.(2.420±1.068)cm 3, t=3.818, P<0.01] and TWI[(1.278 ± 0.380)cm 3/kg vs.(1.695 ± 0.491)cm 3/kg, t=5.401, P<0.01] than those in non-NRDS group.Besides, preterm neonates in NRDS group had smaller lymphocytes count[(3.729 ± 1.263)×10 9/L vs.(4.437 ± 1.608)×10 9/L, t=2.789, P<0.01] than that in non-NRDS group.For NRDS preterm neonates, TI[(1.487 ± 0.515)cm 3 vs(2.185 ± 0.942)cm 3, t=3.542, P<0.01] ]and TWI[(1.134± 0.311)cm 3/kg vs(1.469± 0.385)cm 3/kg, t=3.882, P<0.01] in ACS group were significantly smaller than those in non-ACS group.For non-NRDS preterm neonates, TI and TWI in ACS group also were significantly smaller than those in non-ACS group( t=2.676、3.659, P<0.05). Conclusion:NRDS is associated with thymic involution of preterm neonates, and ACS exposure affected the size of thymic in premature infants.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects and possible mechanism of Wenshen Tongdu Formula （温肾通督方， WTF） on spinal cord injury. MethodsThirty-six C57BL/6 female mice were randomly divided into sham operation group， model group and WTF group， with 12 mice in each group. The spinal cord injury model was established in the model group and the WTF group using the modified Allen's method， while in the sham operation group the spinal cord was only exposed. Since the 1st day after surgery， 50 g/（kg·d） of WTF solution was given to the WTF group by gavage， while 20 ml/（kg·d） of normal saline was given to the sham operation and model group by gavage， all for 14 days. Before surgery and on the 1st， 7th， and 14th days after surgery， the motor function of the mice was evaluated using the inclined plane test and hind limb motor function score （by BMS）. On the 3rd day after surgery， the nerve electrophy-siology was detected through electromyography and motor evoked potential； the spleen length was measured， and B cells in the spleen were sorted by magnetic beads； the differential expression of proteins were detected through proteomics technology； and the protein expression of mitochondrial outer membrane transport porin 20 （Tom20） and downstream cleaved caspase-3 in spleen B cells were measured using Western blotting. On the 14th day after surgery， MRI was used to observe the recovery of the spinal cord. ResultsCompared to those in the sham operation group at the same time， the BMS scores and subscores and the inclined plane test angle in the model group were reduced on the 1st， 7th and 14th days after surgery； the peak value of electromyogram and motor evoked potential were reduced， and the spleen length was shortened， while the expression of Tom20 and cleaved caspase-3 increased in splenic B cells increased （P＜0.05）. Compared to those in the model group at the same time， the BMS subscores on the 14th day and the angle of the inclined plane test on the 7th and 14th days after surgery increased in the WTF group； the peak value of electromyography and motor evoked potential， as well as the length of spleen increased， and the expression of Tom20 and cleaved caspase-3 decreased （P＜0.05）. The proteomics results showed that there were 100 differential proteins in the WTF group versus the model group， of which 37 were up-regulated and 63 were down-regulated. GO enrichment analysis showed that differential proteins mainly played their roles in oxygen binding， exogenous apoptosis negative feedback， zinc ion response， and oxygen transport. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that differential proteins were mainly concentrated in metabolic pathways， Huntington's disease， oxidative phosphorylation and other pathways. Subcellular localization showed that differential proteins were associated with mitochondria. Magnetic resonance imaging on the 14th day after surgery showed that the spinal cord structure of the mice in the sham operation group was intact， and the segments were clear， with normal spinal cord signal； the low signal area in the spinal cord injury area increased in the model group， and the spinal cord became significantly thinner； the injured segment had obvious depression in the WTF group， but the structure was more complete than that in the model group. ConclusionWTF may promote spinal cord injury repair by regulating immune function， and its mechanism may be related to inhibiting pyroptosis of spleen B cells.

Objective:To investigate the regulatory effect of WNT1-inducible signaling pathway protein 2(WISP2)on macrophage polarization in palmitic acid(PA)and lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammation.Methods:The macrophage cell line RAW264.7 was treated with different concentrations of WISP2 protein, and cell viability was determined by means of luminescence assay using Cell-Titer Glo to determine the concentration of WISP2.The cells were divided into control group, palmitic acid group, palmitic acid combined with different concentrations of WISP2 group(10 μg/L and 100 μg/L)and lipopolysaccharide group, lipopolysaccharide combined with different concentrations of WISP2 group(10 μg/L and 100 μg/L). mRNA expression of M1 and M2 macrophages phenotype of each group were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.The protein expression of important inflammatory factors, TNF-α and IL-6, were evaluated by ELISA.Results:Compared with the control group, both 10 μg/L and 100 μg/L WISP2 groups had no effect on the activity of RAW264.7 cells, but significantly up-regulated the expression of various inflammatory factors, including Tnfα(1.877±0.039, 2.202±0.034, F=309.7, P<0.001), Il6(1.418±0.056, 1.506±0.059, F=81.39, P<0.001), Mcp1(1.620±0.014, 1.982±0.125, F=71.45, P<0.001), Ccl3(1.892±0.118, 1.942±0.132, F=32.93, P<0.001), and iNos(1.691±0.201, 1.548±0.090, F=13.60, P<0.05). mRNA in macrophages, and significantly down-regulated the expression of anti-inflammatory factors, including Tgfβ(1.376±0.025, 2.152±0.107, F=1.846, P<0.05), CD206(2.123±0.031, 3.139±1.663, F=8.037, P<0.05), Il4(2.098±0.464, 2.494±0.141, F=48.68, P<0.01), and Il10(1.303±0.216, 1.574±0.274, F=5.774, P<0.05)mRNA, causing M1 type macrophage polarization.Compared with the control group, 100 μmol/L palmitic acid could mildly but significantly increase the expression of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL-6 at the transcriptional and protein levels.Compared with palmitic acid stimulation alone, the combination of palmitic acid and WISP2 further promoted the protein expression of macrophage inflammatory factors TNF-α[(589.4±17.0)ng/L, (692.6±83.4)ng/L, F=56.38, P<0.05], IL-6[(15.13±1.14)ng/L, (13.33±1.22)ng/L, F=23.32, P<0.001]and the mRNA expression of chemokines Mcp1(160±9.796, 140±18.91, F=141.1, P<0.0001)and C cl3(17.76±1.92, 14.41±1.27, F=125.2, P<0.0001). Compared with the control group, 100 μg/L lipopolysaccharide strongly stimulated the expression of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α[(3444±423)ng/L, F=71.20, P<0.0001]and IL-6[(497.0±41.2)ng/L, F=63.50, P<0.0001]in macrophages at the protein level.Compared with lipopolysaccharide stimulation alone, the combination of lipopolysaccharide and WISP2 further significantly up-regulated the mRNA expression of chemokines Mcp1(106.8±8.7, 118.7±4.6, F=251.5, P<0.0001)and Ccl3(35.3±12.5, 116.4±4.5, F=160.1, P<0.0001). Conclusions:The adipokine WISP2 can promote M1 macrophage polarization in palmitic acid and lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation, and it had distinct regulation in macrophage polarization under different inflammatory response conditions.

Detection and identification standard of hookworm—Hookworm larvae coproculture techniques (WS/T 791—2021) is the first recommended technical standard for hookworm detection and species identification using the hookworm larvae coproculture technique in China. This standard was issued on November 23, 2021, and had been in effect since May 1, 2022. This article provides a detailed interpretation pertaining to the background, drafting process, main contents, and dos and don’ts for better understanding and application of this standard among professionals working in disease control and prevention institutions and medical institutions.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Jinan City according the national and international criteria, as well as to compare the Chinese and international standards, so as to provide basic data for relevant intervention strategies. Methods: From September to December 2021, using the height and weight data obtained from the health checkup reports of 746 985 primary and secondary school students in Jinan City in 2021, body mass index(BMI) was calculated to evaluate the current status of the prevalence of overweight and obesity among this sample of children and adolescents aged 6- 18 years old. The consistency of the Chinese standard, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) standard, International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) standard, and World Health Organization (WHO) standard was compared by calculating the weighted Kappa value. Results: Based on the Chinese, U.S. CDC, IOTF and WHO standards, the overweight rates of children and adolescents aged 6-18 years in Jinan were 17.3%, 16.5%, 21.1% and 13.6%, respectively, and the obesity rates were 23.1%, 19.5%, 13.5% and 6.6%, respectively. The overweight and obesity rates of boys were higher than those of girls under the four criteria (China: χ 2=1 418.48, 9 868.51, U.S. CDC: χ 2=145.78, 23 211.41, IOTF: χ 2=1 326.94, 13 615.62, WHO: χ 2=873.13, 46.41, P <0.01).The overweight rate of adolescents in the 13-18 year-old age group was higher than that of children aged 6-12 years (China: χ 2=29.13, U.S. CDC: χ 2=6.43, IOTF: χ 2=15.87, WHO: χ 2=19.48, P <0.01) and the obesity rate of the group aged 6-10 years was significantly higher than that of the group aged 11-18 years (China: χ 2=217.02, U.S. CDC: χ 2=227.54, IOTF: χ 2=171.91, WHO: χ 2=165.91, P <0.01). The rates of overweight and obesity in urban children and adolescents were slightly higher than those in rural children and adolescents (China: χ 2=25.06, 245.12, U.S. CDC: χ 2=56.13, 205.93, IOTF: χ 2= 182.34 , 22.04, WHO: χ 2=200.88, 21.61, P <0.01). The Chinese standard showed good agreement with the IOTF standard and U.S. CDC standard, with weighted Kappa values of 0.72 and 0.83, but poor agreement with the WHO standard, with a weighted Kappa value of 0.33. Conclusion The current prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Jinan is serious. The Chinese standard has good consistency with IOTF standard and American CDC standard, and poor consistency with WHO standard.

Objective:To establish an in vivo model of acute radiation esophagitis in Wistar rats based on a small animal precision radiotherapy platform (SARRP). Methods:Thirty-six Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, 40, 60 and 75 Gy groups. Based on MRI images, the esophageal target area of rats was outlined and the radiotherapy plan was formulated. The rats were respectively irradiated with 0, 8, 12 and 15 Gy per day for 5 consecutive days. The changes of body weight, food intake, esophageal pathology and magnetic resonance imaging were observed.Results:The body weight of rats in 75 Gy group decreased significantly on the 6th day after irradiation (IR) ( P<0.05). The esophageal tissue of rats in each IR group was thicker than that in control ( F = 14.20, P < 0.05). HE staining showed that the formation rate of radiation-induced esophagitis in 40 Gy and 60 Gy groups were 4/5 and 5/5, respectively, mainly mild. In 75 Gy group, the incidence of radiation-induced esophagitis approached to 5/5, of which 3/5 was severe at 9 d post-IR. The pathological injury scores [ M( Q1, Q3)] of rats in each group were 0, 1.0 (0.5, 2.5), 1.0 (1.0, 2.5) and 4.0 (1.5, 6.0) on the 9th day after IR. There was significant difference between the 75 Gy group and the control group ( H=12.69, P<0.05). After dynamic monitoring of neck MRI images, it was found that the esophageal signal of rats in each IR group increased and widened at 9 d post-irradiation. Conclusions:The animal model of acute radiation-induced esophagitis in rats was successfully established based on a small animal precision radiotherapy platform combined with MRI. 75 Gy was the best irradiation dose and the 9th day was the best observation time point.

Objective:To analyze the correlation and diagnostic value of serum homocysteine (Hcy), methionine (Met) and cysteine (Cys) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).Methods:One hundred and seventy-eight patients with acute decompensation CHF (CHF group) and 70 healthy persons (healthy control group) from October 2018 to September 2019 in Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University were continuously enrolled. In CHF group, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) was in 53 cases, heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) was in 50 cases, and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) was in 75 cases. Serum levels of Hcy, Met and Cys were detected by tandem mass spectrometry. Serum level of N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide precursor (NT-proBNP) was detected by electrochemical luminescence immunity. The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESd) and early diastolic peak blood flow velocity of mitral valve annulus/early diastolic peak velocity of mitral annulus (E/e′) were detected by echocardiography, then left ventricular eject fraction (LVEF) was calculated. Correlation was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn, and the area under curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the efficacy of serum Hcy, Met, Cys, NT-proBNP and LVEF in the diagnosis of CHF.Results:The Hcy, Met, Cys, NT-proBNP, LVEDd and E/e′ in CHF group were significantly higher than those in healthy control group: (12.64 ± 5.02) μmol/L vs. (8.71 ± 3.47) μmol/L, (23.38 ± 5.75) μmol/L vs. (20.52 ± 4.18) μmol/L, (343.45 ± 44.49) μmol/L vs. (290.53 ± 48.38) μmol/L, (5 759.43 ± 3 806.22) pg/L vs. (40.24 ± 31.91) pg/L, (52.67 ± 12.27) mm vs. (46.41 ± 12.27) mm and (17.32 ± 5.61)% vs. (9.54 ± 2.64)%, the LVEF was significantly lower than that in healthy control group: (45.27 ± 4.93)% vs. (62.37 ± 5.41)%, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01 or <0.05). The Hcy and Cys in patients with HFmrEF and HFrEF were significantly higher than those in patients with HFpEF: (16.29 ± 8.18) and (18.68 ± 8.99) μmol/L vs. (13.75 ± 6.48) μmol/L, (346.64 ± 51.85) and (361.40 ± 52.34) μmol/L vs. (329.35 ± 55.16) μmol/L, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05); there were no statistical differences between patients with HFmrEF and patients with HFrEF ( P>0.05). The serum Met in patients with HFrEF was significantly higher than that in patients with HFpEF and HFmrEF: (28.74 ± 8.22) μmol/L vs. (24.76 ± 7.60) and (25.15 ± 6.96) μmol/L, and there was statistical difference ( P<0.05); there was no statistical difference between patients with HFpEF and patients with HFmrEF ( P>0.05). Pearson correlation analysis result showed that serum Hcy, Met and Cys were positively correlated with NT-proBNP ( r = 0.632, 0.206 and 0.455; P<0.01), positively correlated with E/e′( r = 0.463, 0.198 and 0.346; P<0.01), and negatively correlated with LVEF ( r = -0.491, -0.152 and -0.330; P<0.05 or <0.01). ROC curve analysis result showed that ROC the cut-off value for the diagnosis of CHF with serum NT-proBNP based on the maximum Youden index (0.994) was 120 pg/L, and AUC was 0.994 (95% CI was 0.997 to 1.000); the cut-off value for the diagnosis of CHF with serum Hcy based on the maximum Youden index (0.646) was 10.56 μmol/L, and AUC was 0.899 (95% CI 0.859 to 0.939); the cut-off value for the diagnosis of CHF with serum Met based on the maximum Youden index (0.218) was 25.58 μmol/L, and AUC was 0.637 (95% CI 0.563 to 0.711); the cut-off value for the diagnosis of CHF with serum Cys based on the maximum Youden index (0.391) was 298.05 μmol/L, and AUC was 0.765 (95% CI 0.700 to 0.830); the AUC of LVEF less than 0.5. Conclusions:Serum Hcy, Met and Cys levels in patient with CHF are significantly increased, which are positively correlated with NT-proBNP and E/e′, negatively correlated with LVEF. Moreover, serum Hcy has certain application value in the diagnosis of CHF.

Objective:A comparative study of non-invasive hemodynamics and echocardiography in 139 cases of heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) at baseline and one year follow-up to explore its value on diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis in patients with HFpEF.Methods:The baseline and one year follow-up data of 139 patients with HFpEF in Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University patients who had been enrolled in the China PEACE 5P-HF from June 2016 to May 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. The general data were collected which contented age of the study subjects is (30 - 80) y, average age (64.0 ± 12.3) y, and 63.31% male, (88/139) and 36.69% female (51/139), 56.8% smokers (79/139). t-test way was used to analyze the baseline and one year follw-up data, The indexs included blood pressure (BP), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and 6-munites walk test (6MWT). Non-invasive hemodynamic indicators included stroke volume (SV), ejection fractions (EF), cardiac index (CI), index of contratility (IC), pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PCWP), maximum angiectatic velocity(AMPC), left ventricular ejection time (LVET), left ventricular isovolumetric relaxation time (LVLVIVRT), pre-ejection period/left ventricular ejection fractions (PEP/LVET), left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and left cardiac work index (LCWI). Hemodynamic indicators included left ventricular end diastolic dimension(LVEDd), left ventricular end systolic dimension (LVEDs), interventricular septal thickness at diastole (IVSD), left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF) and E/e′.Results:There was no significant difference between the baseline and one year follow-up data in SBP, DBP, NT-proBNP, eGFR, 6MWT ( P>0.05). There were significant increase in SV, EF, CI, IC in one year′ follow-up compared with that in baselinee [(73.39 ± 29.47) ml vs. (63.39 ± 30.08) ml, (64.87 ± 9.16)% vs. (61.81 ± 9.02)%, (3.06 ± 1.10) ml/(min·m 2) vs. (2.62 ± 1.06) ml/(min·m 2), (0.039 ± 0.037) L/s vs. (0.028 ± 0.015) L/s] ( P<0.05). PCWP in one year′ follow-up was significantly decreased compared with that in baselin [(9.21 ± 3.34) mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) vs. (9.87 ± 3.13) mmHg]( P<0.05), However, AMPC, LVE, LVLVIVRT, PEP/LVET, LVEDP, LCWI in baseline and one year′ follow-up showed no significant difference ( P>0.05). The Hemodynamic indicators in baseline and one year′s follow-up were as followed: LVEF in one year′ follow-up was significantly elevated compared with that in the baseline [(63.53 ± 8.39)% vs. (61.02 ± 7.16)%]; E/e′ in one year′s follow-up was significantly decresed compared with that in the baseline [12.89 ± 5.86 vs. 14.32 ± 6.61]( P<0.05); there were no significant differences in LVEDd, LVEDs and IVSD in baseline compared with those in one year′s followed-up ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Hemodynamic indicators including SV, EF, CI, IC and PCWP could be new reflections of early diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis on HFpEF. The combination of non-invasive hemodynamics and echocardiography on HFpEF can be more significant in reflecting the changes of myocardial remodeling and cardiac function.

Objective:To investigate the effects of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) on the activation of T lymphocytes and expression of CD4 + CD45RA + T cell subsets in HIV/AIDS patients. Methods:This study prospectively analyzed 105 HIV/AIDS patients undergoing HAART and 35 HIV-1-negative cases (healthy controls). Flow cytometry was used to detect the activation of T lymphocytes and the percentages of CD4 + CD45RA + T cell subsets in whole blood samples taken from healthy controls and HIV/AIDS patients before and after therapy. Results:The activation of T lymphocytes was significantly enhanced in the 105 HIV/AIDS patients than in the healthy controls before treatment ( P<0.01). The activated T lymphocytes gradually decreased after HAART. Firstly, CD4 + CD38 + HLA-DR + , CD8 + CD38 + and CD8 + HLA-DR + T lymphocytes decreased one month after therapy ( P<0.05). Then, four indicators of T lymphocyte activation including the expression of CD8 + CD38 + HLA-DR + T lymphocytes decreased significantly six months after therapy ( P<0.01). The percentage of CD8 + CD38 + HLA-DR + T lymphocytes detected 12 months after therapy was significantly lower than that analyzed six months after therapy ( P<0.01). No significant difference was found in the expression of the other three indicators for activation ( P>0.05). Twelve months after therapy, the four indicators for T lymphocyte activation in HIV/AIDS patients were still significantly higher than those of the control group ( P<0.01). The percentages of CD4 + CD45RA + T lymphocytes in HIV/AIDS patients were significantly lower than those in healthy controls before and 12 months after treatment ( P>0.05). Conclusions:HAART could reduce immune activation after six months of treatment, but could not reverse the activation nor restore the expression of CD4 + CD45RA + T lymphocytes in HIV/AIDS patients.

Objective To investigate the cell origin of interleukin (IL)-22-secreting cell of mice infected with Trichinella spiralis (T.spiralis) at the early encapsulated stage.Methods Twelve Balb/c mice were divided into the infected group and the control group according to body weight by random number table.The infected mice were intragastrically administrated with 300 muscle larvae of T.spiralis,and the control mice were given the same amount of normal saline.The IL-22-secreting cell subsets in mouse splenic lymphocytes were detected by flow cytometry at the fourth week after infection.Results The proportion of IL-22-secreting cells in splenic lymphocytes of T.spiralis infected mice was increased when compared with control group [(0.88 ± 0.25)％ vs (0.28 ±0.17)％,t =-4.899,P ＜ 0.05].There was no significant difference between the proportion of CD3+IL-22+ cells and CD3-IL-22+ cells in the splenic lymphocytes of the infected group [(0.29 ± 0.17)％ vs (0.51 ± 0.17)％,t =-2.195,P ＞ 0.05],and the percentage of CD3-IL-22+ cells were similar between the infected group and the control group [(0.51 ± 0.17)％ vs (0.44 ± 0.22)％,t =-0.600,P ＞ 0.05].The proportion of CD3+IL-22+ cells in the infected group was significantly higher than that in the control group [(0.29 ± 0.17)％ vs (0.07 ± 0.06)％,t =-3.068,P ＜ 0.05],and the percentage of CD4+IL-22+ T cells and γδTCR+IL-22+ T cells were obviously increased in CD3+ lymphocytes [(1.28 ± 0.54)％ vs (0.16 ± 0.07)％,(0.33 ± 0.22)％ vs (0.02 ± 0.00)％,t =-4.997,-3.342,P ＜ 0.05].Conclusions The proportion of IL-22-secreting splenic lymphocytes is increased in mice infected with T.spiralis at the early encapsulated stage.The rise is caused by increased numbers of IL-22-secreting CD3 + lymphocytes,especially CD4+ T cells and γδT cells.