Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess carotid stiffening in a pre-hypertensive (PHT) population using ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV). Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled 626 individuals who underwent clinical interviews, serum tests, and assessments of the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), pulse wave velocity-beginning of systole (PWV-BS), and pulse wave velocity-end of systole (PWV-ES) between January 2017 and December 2021. The patients were divided into three groups according to their blood pressure (BP)—normal BP (NBP): SBP <130 mmHg and DBP <80 mmHg (n=215); PHT: 130 mmHg≤SBP<140 mmHg and/or 80 mmHg≤DBP<90 mmHg (n=119); hypertensive (HT): SBP ≥140 mmHg and/or DBP ≥90 mmHg (n=292). Correlation analyses and comparisons were performed among the groups and in the cIMT subgroups (cIMT ≥0.050 cm and <0.050 cm). Results: cIMT and PWV-ES significantly differed among the BP groups (P<0.05). The BP groups had similar PWV-BS when cIMT <0.050 cm or cIMT ≥0.050 cm (all P>0.05). However, the NBP group had a notably lower PWV-ES than the PHT (P<0.001 and P=0.024) and HT (all P<0.001) groups in both cIMT categories, while the PWV-ES in the PHT group were not significantly lower than in the HT group (all P>0.05). Conclusion Carotid morphological and biomechanical properties in the PHT group differed from those in the NBP group. ufPWV could be used for an early evaluation of carotid stiffening linked to pre-hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To screen for differentially expressed circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the serum of preterm infants with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and explore the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism of circRNAs in IVH in these infants. METHODS: Fifty preterm infants (gestational age of 28 to 34 weeks) admitted in our department between January, 2019 and January, 2020 were enrolled in this study, including 25 with a MRI diagnosis of IVH and 25 without IVH. Serum samples were collected from 3 randomly selected infants from each group for profiling differentially expressed circRNAs using circRNA array technique. Gene ontology (GO) and pathway analyses were performed to reveal the function of the identified circRNAs. The circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was constructed to identify the co-expression network of hsa_circ_ 0087893. RESULTS: A total of 121 differentially expressed circRNAs were identified in the infants with IVH, including 62 up-regulated and 59 down-regulated circRNAs. GO and pathway analyses showed that these circRNAs were involved in multiple biological processes and pathways, including cell proliferation, activation and death, DNA damage and repair, retinol metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, cell adhesion molecules. Among these circRNAs, hsa_circ_0087893 was found to have significant down-regulation in IVH group and co-express with 41 miRNAs and 15 mRNAs (such as miR-214-3p, miR-761, miR-183-5p, AKR1B1, KRT34, PPP2CB, and HPRT1). CONCLUSION The circRNA hsa_circ_0087893 may function as a ceRNA and play an important role in the occurrence and progression of IVH in preterm infants.
Infant, Newborn ; Infant ; Humans ; RNA, Circular ; Infant, Premature ; MicroRNAs ; RNA, Messenger ; Cerebral Hemorrhage/genetics* ; Aldehyde Reductase

Objective:To analyze the risk factors of bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD)in very preterm infants(VPI), and to provide scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of BPD in VPI.Methods:A prospective multicenter study was designed to collect the clinical data of VPI in department of neonatology of 28 hospitals in 7 regions from September 2019 to December 2020.According to the continuous oxygen dependence at 28 days after birth, VPI were divided into non BPD group and BPD group, and the risk factors of BPD in VPI were analyzed.Results:A total of 2 514 cases of VPI including 1 364 cases without BPD and 1 150 cases with BPD were enrolled.The incidence of BPD was 45.7%.The smaller the gestational age and weight, the higher the incidence of BPD( P<0.001). Compared with non BPD group, the average birth age, weight and cesarean section rate in BPD group were lower, and the incidence of male infants, small for gestational age and 5-minute apgar score≤7 were higher( P<0.01). In BPD group, the incidences of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome(NRDS), hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus, retinopathy of prematurity, feeding intolerance, extrauterine growth restriction, grade Ⅲ~Ⅳ intracranial hemorrhage, anemia, early-onset and late-onset sepsis, nosocomial infection, parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis were higher( P<0.05), the use of pulmonary surfactant(PS), postnatal hormone exposure, anemia and blood transfusion were also higher, and the time of invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation, oxygen use and total hospital stay were longer( P<0.001). The time of starting enteral nutrition, cumulative fasting days, days of reaching total enteral nutrition, days of continuous parenteral nutrition, days of reaching 110 kcal/(kg·d) total calorie, days of reaching 110 kcal/(kg·d) oral calorie were longer and the breastfeeding rate was lower in BPD group than those in non BPD group( P<0.001). The cumulative doses of amino acid and fat emulsion during the first week of hospitalization were higher in BPD group( P<0.001). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that NRDS, invasive mechanical ventilation, age of reaching total enteral nutrition, anemia and blood transfusion were the independent risk factors for BPD in VPI, and older gestational age was the protective factor for BPD. Conclusion:Strengthening perinatal management, avoiding premature delivery and severe NRDS, shortening the time of invasive mechanical ventilation, paying attention to enteral nutrition management, reaching whole intestinal feeding as soon as possible, and strictly mastering the indications of blood transfusion are very important to reduce the incidence of BPD in VPI.

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of ticks parasitic on domestic animals in Yiwu City of Zhejiang Province. MethodsWe monitored， identified and analyzed ticks parasitic on domestic animals in Yiwu in 2021. ResultsA total of 452 domestic animals were monitored， of which 306 were infected with ticks， suggesting a prevalence of 67.70%. A total of 2，603 ticks were captured， and the tick index was determined to be 5.76. The ticks were identified to belong to one family， four genera， and 10 species. Haemaphysalis longicornis was the dominant tick （59.16%）， followed by Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides （26.32%） and Rhipicephalus microplus （6.45%）. Prevalence of ticks， tick index， and number of tick species were listed for domestic animals as follows： goats （74.37%， 7.45， 7 species）， yellow cattle （62.50%， 4.14，6 species）， and dogs （54.62%， 2.59， 8 species）. Moreover， goat was the main domestic animal infected with more than two tick species （25.99%）； H.longicornis （91.26%） was the species with most repated infections. The dominant species of ticks were H.longicornis （65.15%） and R.haemaphysaloides （29.42%） in goats， R.microplus （67.67%） and R.haemaphysaloides （20.69%） in yellow cattle， and H.longicornis （57.14%） and Haemaphysalis porcupines （21.10%） in dogs. However， seasonal fluctuation in tick index differed among goats， yellow cattle and dogs. The fluctuation in tick index in goats and dogs was consistent with that of H.longicornis， with a major peak in March and the minor peaks in September and October. The fluctuation in tick index in yellow cattle was consistent with that of R.microplus， with two peaks in April and August-September. In addition， larval ticks， nymphal ticks and adult ticks were caught in this study， among which nymphal ticks were most common. We found that single domestic animals were infected with ticks of the same species and different stages， which was more common in goats and those animals infected with H.longicornis. ConclusionTicks parasitic on domestic animals are common in Yiwu. Multiple species of ticks have been identified， with H.longicornis as the dominant species. It warrants further monitoring and countermeasures.

Purpose: The present study investigated the association between Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE)-estimated cardiovascular risk and carotid stiffening in a middle-aged population using ultrafast pulse wave velocity (ufPWV). Methods: This study enrolled 683 participants without known cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus who underwent ufPWV measurements. Clinical interviews, physical examinations, laboratory findings, carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV) at the beginning of systole (PWV-BS), and PWV at the end of systole (PWV-ES) were assessed. Each participant underwent an assessment of SCORE risk based on major cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs), including age, sex, smoking, systolic blood pressure (SBP), and total cholesterol (TC). Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals and ordinal logistic regression were used. Overall CVRFs were adjusted to assess ORs. Results: cIMT and carotid stiffening in PWV-BS and PWV-ES were significantly different between sex subgroups (all P<0.05), but only PWV-ES increased gradually in age and SCORE-estimated risk subgroups (all P<0.05). Compared with cIMT (r=0.388, P<0.001) and PWV-BS (r=0.159, P<0.001), PWV-ES was more strongly correlated with SCORE categories (r=0.405, P<0.001). Higher PWV-ES values were associated with SCORE categories independently of sex, SBP, TC, and smoking in moderate-risk and high-risk subgroups (OR, 1.63; P<0.001 and OR, 2.12; P=0.024, respectively), but were not independent of age in all risk subgroups (all P>0.05). Conclusion Carotid stiffening quantified by ufPWV is linked to SCORE categories, and elevated PWV-ES may aid in cardiovascular risk stratification.

Objective To explore the clinical value of maternal and umbilical blood inflammatory markers,interleukin-6 (IL-6),neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR),C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT),in the diagnosis of histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA).Methods A total of 102 suspected chorioamnionitic cases were enrolled from January 2014 to July 2017.They were assigned into two groups based upon postpartum histopathological examination of placenta:HCA group (48 cases) and control group (54 cases).Maternal and umbilical blood samples were collected for routine blood test and tested for IL-6,NLR,CRP and PCT levels.T,Mann-Whitney U or Chi-square (or Fisher's exact) test was used for data comparison.Meaningful indicators in maternal and umbilical cord blood were analyzed by logistic regression analysis and correlation analysis.At the same time,receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to evaluate their diagnostic values.Results (1) IL-6 level and NLR in maternal blood in HCA group were higher than those in control group [6.95 (2.40-13.50) vs 3.90 (2.30-9.20) pg/ml,Z=-5.147;5.03 (1.92-9.20) vs 3.94 (1.85-11.17),Z=-3.097;both P＜0.05],and the levels of white blood cells,neutrophile granulocytes,CRP and IL-6 as well as NLR in umbilical cord blood were also higher [(9.4± 2.0)× 109/L vs (8.6 ± 1.4)× 109/L,t=-2.522;(6.87t1.62)× 109/L vs (5.99± 1.26)× 109/L,t=-3.071;12.30 (0.50-89.04) vs 3.18 (0.50-88.93) mg/L,Z=-4.519;(8.78±2.56) vs (4.78±1.45) pg/ml,t=-7.025;(4.45±1.36) vs (3.78±1.22),t=-3.020;all P＜0.05].(2) Logistic regression analysis showed that elevated levels of IL-6 and NLR in maternal blood and CRP and IL-6 in umbilical cord blood were independent risk factors for HCA [OR (95％CI):1.65 (1.32-2.06),1.34 (1.02-1.77),1.05 (1.00-1.11) and 2.39 (1.72-3.32),all P＜0.05].Positive correlations were found between the levels of IL-6 in maternal and umbilical cord blood,and between NLR in maternal blood and CRP level in umbilical cord blood (correlation coefficient:0.680 and 0.230,both P＜0.05).(3) IL-6 level in umbilical blood was of the greatest value in the diagnosis of HCA among all single markers,followed by IL 6 in maternal blood,CRP in umbilical blood and NLR in maternal blood [area under the ROC curve (AUC):0.904,0.796,0.760 and 0.678].When two indexes were combined,NLR in maternal blood+IL 6 in umbilical cord blood showed the highest diagnostic value,followed by,IL 6 in maternal blood+CRP in umbilical cord blood,IL-6+NLR in maternal blood and NLR in maternal blood+CRP in umbilical cord blood (AUC:0.917,0.870,0.823 and 0.791).When three indexes was used in combination,the diagnostic value of IL-6 in maternal and umbilical cord blood+NLR in maternal blood was higher than that of IL-6 and NLR in maternal blood+CRP in umbilical cord blood (AUC:0.919 and 0.836).(4) There were 13 cases (27.1％) with neonatal complications in HCA group and two (3.7％) in control group (P＜0.05).Conclusions Changes in NLR and IL-6 levels in maternal blood and NLR,IL-6 and CRP levels,and white blood cells and neutrophile granulocytes counts in umbilical cord blood are associated with HCA.The diagnostic efficacy of two indexes combined is superior to that of single index,while the combination of three indexes can significantly improve the diagnostic accuracy and authenticity.

The heart and kidney damage is a clinical disease commonly seen, the 2 organs can interact with each other as cause and effect, leading to a series of clinical symptoms which is the cardiorenal syndrome (CRS). In 2008, according to the connection between the heart and kidney, the nephrologists Ronco, etc, completed the definition and classification of CRS, including type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ of CRS being acute cardiorenal syndrome (ACRS). ACRS refers to the fact that when the damage of heart or kidney dysfunction influences each other leading to a clinical syndrome caused by a sharp deterioration of cardiorenal function. At present, no definite diagnostic criteria for ACRS have yet been made. The pathogenesis of ACRS may be related to the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), nitric oxide-reactive oxygen species (NO-ROS) system, inflammatory reaction, the excessive activation of sympathetic nervous system and so on. Clinically, about 50% of ACRS patients are accompanied by acute decompensated cardiorenal dysfunction or failure, that seriously impact on the patients' clinical prognosis and survival rate, so it is necessary to find an effective therapeutic regimen. At present, the treatments of ACRS have mainly the diuretic, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI), angiotensin receptor inhibitor (ARB), β-receptor blocker, positive inotropic drugs, recombinant human erythropoietin, recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide, continuous blood purification (CBP) etc, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) also has a certain effect for improving the clinical symptoms of ACRS patients. Now the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and combined treatment of TCM and western medicine for treatment of ACRS are summarized.

Objective To simulate and analyze the CT examination doses to typical patients based on Chinese reference human phantom, and to develop an online software for assessing the organ absorbed dose and effective dose to the examinees undergoing CT examination in order to provide a tool for rapid assessment of radiation dose from CT examination. Methods Based on the Monte Carlo simulation, a GE LightSpeed 16 CT scanner was modeled. The organ doses to Chinese adult male, female and 1 year-old child male from single axial scan were calculated based on the Chinese reference phantoms and an organ dose database was established. A web-based CT dose assessment software was developed to read the data from the organ dose database according to the CT scanning parameters entered by the user and to calculate the organ absorbed dose and effective dose rapidly. Results A new CT dose assessment software was developed, which can be used to assess organ doses to Chinese adult male, female and 1-year-old male for different CT scanner, voltage, current, collimator width and other CT parameters. The organ doses calculated in this work were compared with simulation data in two relevant studies. Dose differences for the organs completely included in the scan range were small, with relative differences less than 15％ and 25％, respectively. Conclusions The CT dose assessment software provides a powerful tool for the simple and rapid assessment of radiation dose to the examinees undergoing CT examinations.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of the intervention with fire needling therapy on the uterine microenvironment at the specific time points of menstrual cycle and evaluate the effects on the assisted reproduction.

METHODSSixty-eight patients of in vitro fertilization and embryo transplantation (IVF-ET) were randomized into an observation group (35 cases) and a control group (33 cases). The patients in the two groups all received post-IVF-ET corpus luteum support of the microstimulation scheme in the Clinical Reproduction Center of Jiangsu People's Hospital. In the control group, the regular sequential therapy of acupuncture was used. In the observation group, on the basis of the treatment as the control group, the intervention of fire needling therapy was applied after ovulation (the 1st time point, on the 1st day after ovulation) and at the end of premenstrual stage (the 2nd time point, 3 days before the menstruation). At the 1st time point, Shenshu (BL 23), Mingmen (GV 4) and Yaoyangguan (GV 3) were selected and at the 2nd time point, Shenshu (BL 23) and Ciliao (BL 32) were selected. The acupoints were stimulated from up to down and from the left to the right. The changes in TCM syndrome during the preparation, the endometrial thickness and types on the day of transplantation, the biochemical pregnant rate after transplantation and clinical pregnant rate were observed and compared in the patients of the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, TCM syndrome scores were all reduced in the two groups (both<0.05). In the observation group, the biochemical pregnant rate and clinical pregnant rate were slightly higher than those in the control group, without significant difference in comparison (both>0.05). In the observation group, the endo-metrial thickness on the day of transplantation was higher than that in the control group (<0.05). After treatment, the differences in TCM syndrome score and endometrial type were not significant statistically between the two groups (all>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe intervention of fire needling therapy at the specific time points of menstrual cycle relieves menstrual symptoms and increases endometrial thickness so as to assist embryo implantation in the patients of infertility.