Angiopoietin-like protein 8(ANGPTL8)secreted by liver and adipose tissue,is a glycoprotein exerting paramount effects on facilitation of vascular remodeling and regulation of inflammatory response;ANGPTL8 is in-volved in the initiation and progression of cardiovascular diseases including coronary artery disease,hypertension,aortic aneurysm and pathological cardiac hypertrophy,and holds promise for being a new target for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Objective: To explore the factors affecting carotid plaque formation among high-risk populations for stroke, so as to provide the reference for early intervention for carotid atherosclerosis among the populations. Methods: Permanent residents were selected from Minhang District, Shanghai Municipality using the multi-staged cluster random sampling method from April to September 2021. Basic information, family history of stroke and past medical history were collected by the Community and Township Population Screening Scale for Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease Risk Factors. High-risk populations for stroke were identified according to the Technical Specifications for Stroke Screening and Prevention. Carotid plaque status was assessed using carotid ultrasonography. Factors affecting carotid plaque formation were analyzed using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: Among the 25 666 permanent residents surveyed, 8 459 were identified as high-risk populations for stroke, including 3 362 males and 5 097 females, with a male-to-female ratio of 0.66︰1. The median age was 66.00 (quartile range, 11.00) years. Carotid plaque were detected in 4 305 cases among high-risk population for stroke, accounting for 50.89%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age (OR=1.052, 95%CI: 1.043-1.061), family history of stroke (OR=1.297, 95%CI: 1.103-1.526), hypertension (OR=1.245, 95%CI: 1.025-1.512) and diabetes (OR=1.439, 95%CI: 1.241-1.669) were associated with a higher risk of carotid plaque formation in male high-risk population for stroke, advanced age (OR=1.058, 95%CI: 1.051-1.066), lack of exercise (OR=1.138, 95%CI: 1.001-1.294), family history of stroke (OR=1.201, 95%CI: 1.062-1.357), significant overweight or obesity (OR=1.269, 95%CI: 1.127-1.430) and hypertension (OR=1.169, 95%CI: 1.003-1.362) were associated with a higher risk of carotid plaque formation in female high-risk population for stroke. Conclusion The main influencing factors for carotid plaque formation among high-risk populations for stroke include age, family history of stroke, exercise, significant overweight or obesity, hypertension and diabetes, with gender differences observed.

Objective:To investigate the Kub stage classification of clinical renal tuberculosis and provide a reference for disease evaluation and management.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from 180 patients diagnosed with renal tuberculosis who were admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Dali University between January 2011 and December 2022. The 180 cases included 82 males and 98 females. The average age was (44.56±9.62) years. The tuberculosis lesions of 101 cases were on left kidney, while that of 79 cases were on right kidney. Localized/multiple lesions were observed in 118 cases, whereas extensive destruction was found in 62 cases. Moreover, the ureters were involved in 165 cases, and bladder invasion occurred in 139 cases. For patients undergoing renal preservation treatment, a comprehensive approach was employed, including ureteral stricture stenting and regular replacement of double-J stent, percutaneous nephrostomy, excision of tuberculosis lesions or partial nephrectomy, ureter reconstruction, and sigmoidocystoplasty. In cases requiring nephrectomy, either laparoscopic or open surgical approaches are utilized. Based on the results of patient imaging and endoscopy, staging and classification were performed based on the extent of tuberculosis lesions involving the kidneys (K), ureters (u), and bladder (b). The state for each above organ was divided into four stages: K stage (K 1-4), u stage (u 0-u 3), and b stage (b 0-b 3), which were then combined with the actual disease condition for further categorization. The classifications included local intrarenal type(K 1-2u 0b 0), local renal-ureteral involvement type(K 1-2u 1-2b 0-2), multiple renal-ureteral invasion type(K 3u 1-3b 0-2) and extensive destruction type(K 4u 1-3b 1-3). Further analysis was conducted on kidney preservation and subsequent disease progression among patients with different subtypes. Results:Among the 180 patients, 15 cases of local intrarenal type underwent kidney-preserving treatment. Out of these cases, 6 patients (4 patients in stage K 1u 0b 0 and 2 patients in stage K 2bu 0b 0) achieved clinical cure after receiving a pure durative anti-tuberculosis for two years. Additionally, 4 patients in stage K 2au 0b 0 attained clinical cure following anti-tuberculosis drugs combined with partial nephrectomy after two years of follow-up. Furthermore, 5 patients in stage K 2bu 0b 0 underwent ureteroscopy and D-J stent placement for regular stent replacement. The stents were subsequently removed after two years, and the patients remained clinically stable. Among the 47 cases with localized renal-ureteral involvement type, all initially underwent kidney-preserving treatment. Of these, 5 patients in stage K 1u 1b 0-2 achieved clinical remission, while disease progression necessitated nephrectomy for 3 patients in stage K 2au 1-2b 0-2 and 7 patients in stage K 2bu 1-2b 0-2. The remaining patients maintained stable conditions. Among the 56 cases of multiple renal-ureteral invasion type, stable conditions were observed in 9 out of 24 patients with stage K 3u 1-2b 0-2, while disease progression necessitated nephrectomy in 15 cases. Nephrectomy was performed for all 32 patients with stage K 3u 3b 0-2. In instances of extensive destruction type, nephrectomy was conducted for all 62 cases. The progression rates of the local renal-ureteral involvement type and the multiple renal-ureteral invasion type were 21.28% (10/47) and 48.39% (15/31), and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The kidney preservation rates of the local renal-ureteral involvement type and multiple renal-ureteral invasion type were 78.72% (37/47) and 16.07% (9/56), and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.001). Conclusions:The Kub stage classification can provide reference to management and monitoring for renal tuberculosis. The patients in the local intrarenal type and local renal-ureteral involvement type are often treated with anti-tuberculosis plus ureteral stent implantation or partial nephrectomy or ureteral reconstruction. The patients in the multiple renal-ureteral invasion type and extensive destruction type are mostly managed by nephrectomy.

Objective:To observe the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on ubiquitin-like containing PHD and RING finger domains 1(UHRF1)and DNA methyltransferase 1(DNMT1)in ectopic endometrium of rats with endometriosis(EMS). Methods:Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group with 10 rats and a model-building group with 30 rats according to body mass.EMS rat models were established in the model-building group and then were divided into a model group,an acupuncture and moxibustion group,and a progesterone group,with 10 rats in each group.All rats were fixed by a fixator.The sham operation group and the model group were given normal saline by gavage.The acupuncture and moxibustion group received acupuncture at Xuehai(SP10)and Sanyinjiao(SP6),moxibustion at Guanyuan(CV4),and gavage of normal saline.The progesterone group was given the mixed liquid made of dydrogesterone and normal saline by gavage.After 28 d of treatments,the three diameters(length,width,and height)of EMS rats'ectopic cysts were measured,the cyst volumes were calculated,the volumes before intervention were subtracted,and the difference values were used to evaluate the growth of ectopic cysts.UHRF1 and DNMT1 mRNA and protein levels in normal endometrium,eutopic endometrium,and ectopic endometrium were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Results:There was no significant difference in the ectopic cyst volume difference between the acupuncture and moxibustion group and the progesterone group(P>0.05),but they were smaller than that of the model group(P<0.05).The levels of UHRF1 and DNMT1 mRNA and protein in the ectopic endometrium of the model group were lower than those in the normal endometrium(P<0.05).The levels of DNMT1 mRNA and UHRF1 protein in the eutopic endometrium of the model group were lower than those in the normal endometrium(P<0.05).The levels of UHRF1 mRNA and protein and the level of DNMT1 protein in the ectopic endometrium of the acupuncture and moxibustion group were higher than those in the model group(P<0.05),and the level of UHRF1 mRNA was higher than that in the progesterone group(P<0.05).The level of DNMT1 mRNA in the eutopic endometrium of the acupuncture and moxibustion group was higher than that in the model group(P<0.05).The levels of UHRF1 and DNMT1 mRNA and protein in the acupuncture and moxibustion group were insignificantly different from those in the normal endometrium(P>0.05). Conclusion:Acupuncture and moxibustion may up-regulate the levels of UHRF1 mRNA and UHRF1 and DNMT1 proteins in the ectopic endometrium to the normal level so as to reduce the volume of ectopic cysts and cure EMS in rats.

Although somatic cells can be reprogrammed to pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) with pure chemicals, authentic pluripotency of chemically induced pluripotent stem cells (CiPSCs) has never been achieved through tetraploid complementation assay. Spontaneous reprogramming of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) was another non-transgenic way to obtain PSCs, but this process lacks mechanistic explanation. Here, we reconstructed the trajectory of mouse SSC reprogramming and developed a five-chemical combination, boosting the reprogramming efficiency by nearly 80- to 100-folds. More importantly, chemical induced germline-derived PSCs (5C-gPSCs), but not gPSCs and chemical induced pluripotent stem cells, had authentic pluripotency, as determined by tetraploid complementation. Mechanistically, SSCs traversed through an inverted pathway of in vivo germ cell development, exhibiting the expression signatures and DNA methylation dynamics from spermatogonia to primordial germ cells and further to epiblasts. Besides, SSC-specific imprinting control regions switched from biallelic methylated states to monoallelic methylated states by imprinting demethylation and then re-methylation on one of the two alleles in 5C-gPSCs, which was apparently distinct with the imprinting reprogramming in vivo as DNA methylation simultaneously occurred on both alleles. Our work sheds light on the unique regulatory network underpinning SSC reprogramming, providing insights to understand generic mechanisms for cell-fate decision and epigenetic-related disorders in regenerative medicine.
Male ; Mice ; Animals ; Cellular Reprogramming/genetics* ; Tetraploidy ; Pluripotent Stem Cells/metabolism* ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells/metabolism* ; DNA Methylation ; Spermatogonia/metabolism* ; Germ Cells/metabolism*

Objective: To investigate the core information about tuberculosis prevention and control knowledge among residents in Jiangxi Province, so as to provide insights into formulation of health education strategy for tuberculosis prevention and control. Methods: Permanent residents at ages of 15 years and older were sampled from Jiangxi Province using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method from January to June 2021. Participants' demographic features and access to health education for tuberculosis prevention and control were collected through questionnaires, and the awareness of core information about tuberculosis prevention and control was investigated according to Key Points for Core Information and Knowledge about Tuberculosis Prevention and Control (2016 version). Results: A total of 1 280 questionnaires were allocated, and 1 217 valid questionnaires were recovered, with an effective recovery rate of 95.08%. The respondents included 605 men (49.71%) and 612 women (50.29%), and had a mean age of (50.05±15.78) years. The overall awareness of core information of tuberculosis prevention and control was 80.46%, and the awareness rates of “Pulmonary tuberculosis is suspected and timely healthcare-seeking is required if you have cough or expectoration for more than 2 weeks”, “Pulmonary tuberculosis is mainly transmitted via respiratory tract, and everyone is likely to be infected”, “No spit anywhere, covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and wearing a mouth mask may reduce the transmission of pulmonary tuberculosis”, “Pulmonary tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease that poses a long-term damage to health” and “Most patients may be cured and others are avoided to be infected following standard whole-process treatment” were 90.22%, 86.52%, 85.95%, 80.03% and 59.57%, respectively. There were 491 respondents that were aware of all core information about tuberculosis prevention and control (40.35%), and network was the predominant route for acquiring health education about tuberculosis prevention and control (62.08%, 586/944). Conclusions The overall awareness of core information about tuberculosis prevention and control did not achieve the target set in the 13th Five-year Plan for Tuberculosis Prevention and Control, and the awareness of tuberculosis treatment-related knowledge was low.

Hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage(HICH)is a disease with a rapid onset,rapid progression,high mortality rate,and long-term impact on the ability to function.Non-contrast agent-based CT(NCCT)is a common method for evaluating and identifying HICH.Recent radiomics in image processing and machine learning(ML)have enabled the extraction of high-dimensional feature information from medical images,which can be used to rapidly and accurately diagnose HICH and predict its course of disease.The paper describes the application of radiomics and ML techniques in HICH diagnosis and treatment,and identifies possible directions for future research.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics of Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia in the elderly, and factor related to the disease severity. Methods:Clinical data of 32 elderly patients with Chlamydia pneumoniae pneumonia admitted in the First People′s Hospital of Xiaoshan District from January 2019 to January 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were diagnosed by the second generation sequencing using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples. There were 17 patients in moderate group and 15 patients in severe group; the liver function, muscle enzymes, imaging and lymphocyte subsets of the two groups were compared. Results:There were no significant differences in the age, gender and basic diseases, bird contact history, flaccid fever and dry cough symptoms between two groups, while there were significant differences in mental symptoms and gastrointestinal symptoms between the two groups ( P=0.032, 0.018). There were significant differences in ALT , AST, LDH , CK , CK-MB, CRP, BNP , troponin-T and PCT between the two groups (all P<0.001). The increase of leukocytes was not significant in both groups. The moderate group was dominated by single lobe involvement, while the severe group was dominated by multi lobe involvement and pleural effusion ( P=0.043, 0.015, 0.023). The total lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, CD4 +/CD8 + ratio, NK cells, B cells, CD4 +CD8 + double positive T cells decreased in both groups, while those in the severe group decrease more markedly ( P<0.05). CD4 -CD8 - double negative T cells were higher in the severe group than those in the moderate group ( P<0.001). CD4 +/CD8 + ratio and CD4 -CD8 - double negative T cells were correlated with severity index PSI and CURB-65 ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The liver function, muscle enzyme, lymphocyte immune function in patients with Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia are impaired, which were more markedly in severe patients. The multileaf infiltration and increased procalcitonin may indicate the severe pneumonia. CD4 +/CD8 + ratio and CD4 -CD8 - double negative T cells are correlated with the severity of pneumonia.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence and molecular characteristics of Escherichia coli ( E. coli) producing a novel Shiga toxin 2k subtype in goat in Lanling county, Shandong province. Methods:In November 2019, 512 goat fecal samples were collected from different households in Lanling county, Shandong province. After enriched with EC broth, stx-positive samples were detected by PCR and inoculated in CHROMagar? ECC agar and CHROMagar? STEC agar. The whole genomes of stx-positive strains were sequenced. Based on the genomic senquences, the stx subtype, serotype, multi-locus sequence type and virulence genes of each strain were analyzed. Results:Eighty-six strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) were isolated from 512 goat fecal samples. Five stx subtypes were identified and 37 strains were positive for stx2k. The 86 STEC strains belonged to 20 O∶H serotypes and 18 different sequence types (STs). Conclusions:STEC strains circulating in goats in Lanling county, Shandong province were heterogeneous in stx subtypes, serotypes and virulence gene profiles, and a certain proportion of strains producing a novel Shiga toxin 2k subtype were detected.

To explore the development tendency and major influential factors of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) resource and service by statistics analysis. Data are mainly from the Yearbook of Traditional Korean Medicine (2009-2015). Ministry of Health and Welfare Statistical Yearbook 2016, and the Ministry of health and welfare practicing qualification management system. This article analyzed the related indicators, such as the average annual growth rates and the proportion in the national medical system. From 2006 to 2015, the average annual growth rate of the number of TKM hospital and TKM clinics were 7.0％ and 3.2％ separately; the average annual growth rate of TKM doctor and TKM pharmacists were 4.3％ and 10.0％ separately; the average annual growth rate of the number of beds in TKM institutions were 9.3％; and the average annual growth rate of the number of applications for outpatient and inpatient reimbursement for medical insurance of TKM institutions were 12.3％ and 20.5％ separately. From 2006 to 2015, the resources and services of TKM presented an increasing tendency, and the accessibility of TKM resource and service was enhanced. It is suggested that China should use reference from the aspects of strengthening policy, expanding the sources of capital investment, and expanding the coverage of medical insurance.