Objective To explore the application value of Fast Dixon technique in MR hip joint scanning.Methods Fifty young volunteers were recruited to perform axial and coronal MR scans of the hip joint.The scanning sequence was Fast Dixon T2WI sequence and conventional Dixon T2WI sequence.A double-blind five-point scale was used to subjectively evaluate the image quality of the two types sequences.The signal-to-noise ratio(SNR)and contrast-to-noise ratio(CNR)of the axial image were measured at the maximum level of the bladder display.Results In the scores of"good contrast between surrounding tissue and femoral head signal"and"overall image quality",the Fast Dixon T2WI sequence was better than the conventional Dixon T2WI sequence,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the average scores of"whether bladder artifacts affected the diagnosis"and"whether the fat suppression effect was good"between Fast Dixon T2WI sequence and conventional Dixon T2WI sequence(P>0.05).In the objective image quality evaluation,the SNR and CNR of Fast Dixon T2WI sequence were better than those of conventional Dixon T2WI sequence,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion The image quality score of the hip joint of young volunteers with Fast Dixon T2WI sequence combined with multiple averaging excitation technique is significantly higher than that of conventional Dixon T2WI sequence.The Fast Dixon T2WI sequence can increase the effect of inhibiting fat and motion artifacts without increasing the scanning time,and the joint face ratio is good.Fast Dixon technique can replace the traditional Dixon technique,thus becoming an optimal choice for hip joint MR scanning.

Objective To evaluate MRI and clinicopathological prognostic factors in predicting disease-free survival(DFS)of stage ⅢC1p cervical cancer patients.Methods A total of 102 stage ⅢC1p cervical cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment were selected.Based on survival status,stage ⅢC1p cases were divided into two subgroups:progression group and no progression group.The influencing factors of clinicopathological indexes and MRI features on prognosis in the two groups were analyzed.Results The results of the univariate analysis showed that squamous cell carcinoma antigen(SCC-Ag)level,T stage and location of lymph node metastasis(LNM)were correlated with the prognosis of stage ⅢC1p cervical cancer patients(P<0.05).Multivariate analysis results showed that late T stage,SCC-Ag>13 ng/mL,and LNM location≥3 were the high risk factors affecting the 3-year DFS decline in stage ⅢC1p cervical cancer patients.Conclusion SCC-Ag,T stage,and LNM location are independent risk factors for 3-year DFS in stage ⅢC1p cervical cancer patients.

Objective To find potential biomarkers and analyzing metabolic pathways of the treatment by honey-processed Hedysari Radix,the cecal contents of rats with spleen-Qi deficiency were used as samples for analysis.Methods Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into blank,model,experimental and control groups.The rats in other groups except the control group were carried out by using the three-factor compound modeling method of bitter-cold diarrhea,excessive exertion and hunger and satiety disorders.Experimental group was given 12.60 g·kg-1 honey-processed Hedysari Radix;control group was given 0.63 g·kg-1 lactobacillus bifidum triplex tabletsa;control and model groups received with equal volume of distilled water for a total of 15 days.Measure body weight,anal temperature,immune organ index of rats.Ultra-pressure liquid chromatography-quadrupole-exactive-mass spectrometry technology was used to measure the levels of endogenous metabolites in cecum contents.Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis and database"Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes"were used to identify potential differential metabolites and possible metabolic pathways.Results After the intervention,the average body weight of the experimental,control,model and blank groups was(216.87±7.85),(210.96±9.03),(159.47±5.18)and(293.51±22.98)g;anal temperature was(36.14±0.48),(35.40±0.64),(34.50±0.78)and(36.61±0.34)℃;the thymus indexes were(1.19±0.20),(1.24±0.25),(0.47±0.15)and(1.31±0.21)mg·g-1;the spleen indexes were(1.95±0.33),(2.18±0.28),(1.61±0.27)and(2.29±0.24)mg·g-1.Compared with the model group,the above indexes of the experimental group and the control group were significantly increased(all P＜0.01).A total of 14 potential biomarkers of Honey-processed Hedysari Radix in treating spleen-Qi deficiency syndrome were screened out in this study,which mainly involved amino acid metabolism such as tryptophan and glutamate,riboflavin metabolism and adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase metabolism.Conclusion Honey-processed Hedysari Radix can further protect the intestinal mucosal barrier and reduce the intestinal inflammatory response by improving the metabolic level of cecum contents in rats with spleen-Qi deficiency in cecum contents,thus exerting the effect of strengthening the spleen and tonifying the Qi.

N6-methyladenosine(m6A)is the most abundant modification of RNA methylation,dynamically regulated by"writer"and"eraser",regulating the expression of target genes by modulating key biological processes such as mRNA splicing,stability,and translation,after being recognized and combined by"reader".Recent studies have revealed that m6A modifica-tion can regulate the expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters,consequently affecting the body's drug meta-bolic rate or intracellular drug concentrations,and ultimately in-fluencing therapeutic outcomes.This article reviews the research progress of the molecular mechanism of m6A modification regula-ting drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters,so as to pro-vide a new idea for rational and personalized clinicaldrug use.

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis in the elderly people in Wuhan during 2016-2020, and to provide a basis for formulating effective prevention and control strategies and measures. Methods Using the National Tuberculosis Information Management System, a descriptive statistical analysis was performed on the medical records of elderly (≥60 years old) pulmonary tuberculosis patients registered in Wuhan from 2016 to 2020. Results A total of 9 427 elderly pulmonary tuberculosis patients were registered in Wuhan during 2016-2020, accounting for 32.07% of the total number of registrations in the whole population. The reported incidence rate of tuberculosis in the elderly was significantly higher than that in the total population, and the reported incidence rates in both the elderly and the general population showed declining trends (whole population χ²_trend=216.97, P<0.05, elderly population χ²_trend=153.57, P<0.05). The time distribution showed that more cases occurred from April to November (70.90%). The top three districts with the largest number of registered cases were far urban areas, namely Huangpi District (13.81%), Xinzhou District (11.55%), and Jiangxia District (9.82%). The ratio of male to female with pulmonary tuberculosis in elderly patients was 2.85:1. Among the elderly pulmonary tuberculosis, the most registered cases were in the age group of 60 ~ years old, followed by 65 ~ years old. The proportion of smear-positive in elderly patients with pulmonary tuberculosis retreatment was 16.83%. Conclusion From 2016 to 2020, the epidemic situation of elderly pulmonary tuberculosis showed a downward trend in Wuhan. However, the elderly population with tuberculosis registrations still accounted for a relatively high proportion of the total population. According to the epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis among the elderly, the city should carry out tuberculosis prevention and control work in a timely, appropriate and focused manner.

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Aurantii Fructus Immaturus， Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma， and their combination on slow transit constipation via PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 （PINK1）/Parkin pathway-mediated mitophagy. MethodFifty-six male SD rats were randomly assigned into normal group， model group， natural recovery group， Aurantii Fructus Immaturus group， Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma group， Aurantii Fructus Immaturus combined with Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma group， and mosapride group， with 8 rats in each group. Slow transit constipation model was established by gavage with loperamide （3 mg·kg^-1·d^-1） for 14 days in other groups except the normal group. After successful modeling， except that the model group was continuously induced by loperamide， the normal group and the natural recovery group were administrated with 0.9% normal saline by gavage， and the rats in the Aurantii Fructus Immaturus （1.35 g·kg^-1·d^-1） group， the Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma （2.7 g·kg^-1·d^-1） group， the Aurantii Fructus Immaturus combined with Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma （4.05 g·kg^-1·d^-1） group， and the mosapride （1.56 mg·kg^-1·d^-1） group were administrated with corresponding drugs by gavage for 7 days. The amount of feces， fecal water content， and intestinal propulsion rate of rats were determined. The pathological changes of the colon were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff （AB-PAS） staining. The activity of respiratory chain complex and the ultrastructure of the colon tissue were determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry and observed by transmission electron microscopy， respectively. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） was employed to determine the mRNA levels of PINK1， Parkin， and p62， and Western blot to determine the protein levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 （LC3）， PINK1， and Parkin. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group and the natural recovery group showed decreases in the amount of feces， fecal water content， intestinal propulsion rate （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes Ⅱ， Ⅲ， and Ⅳ in the colon tissue （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Further， the mRNA levels of PINK1 and Parkin and the protein levels of PINK1， Parkin， and LC3 were up-regulated （P<0.01） and the mRNA level of p62 was down-regulated in the model group （P<0.05） and the natural recovery group. Compared with the model group and the natural recovery group， the Aurantii Fructus Immaturus combined with Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma group showed increased amount of feces， fecal water content， intestinal propulsion rate， and activities of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes Ⅱ， Ⅲ， and Ⅳ （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Moreover， the combination meliorated the degree of mitochondrial swelling in the colon tissue， down-regulated the mRNA levels of PINK1 and Parkin and the protein levels of PINK1， Parkin， and LC3 （P<0.05，P<0.01）， and up-regulated the mRNA level of p62 （P<0.05）. ConclusionAurantii Fructus Immaturus and Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma， and their combination may remedy the colonic motility disorders in rats with slow transit constipation by blocking PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway to inhibit the excessive mitophagy in interstitial cells of Cajal in the colon tissue.

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of typhus in China from 1950 to 2021, and discuss the challenges in typhus prevention and control in China and suggest future prevention and control strategies. Methods: Based on the reported data of typhus from 1950 to 2021 in China from the Infectious Disease History Database of China Public Health Science Data Center and the National Notifiable Infectious Disease Reporting Information System of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, we conducted a descriptive statistical analysis. Mann-Kendall test and circular distribution method were used to analyze the incidence, mortality and case fatality of typhus to reveal the temporal, spatial and population distributions and diagnosis of typhus in China. Results: From 1950 to 2021, a total of 452 965 typhus cases and 7 339 typhus deaths were reported in China, with the cases numbers exceeding 10 000 in 14 years of the 1950s, 1960s and 1980s, respectively. Since 1990s, the reported cases and incidence rate of typhus have decreased dramatically and the most cases were sporadic. However, the reported typhus cases in Anhui, Hubei, Hunan Provinces showed significant uptrends. Although typhus could occur all the year round, but the seasonality was observed with the incidence mainly in summer and autumn. For different provinces from the north to the south, the peaks of typhus' monthly incidence tended to shift to earlier dates. The male to female ratio of the cases was 1.01∶1 (18 529∶18 366). However, more cases occurred in women in recent years. The cases aged ≤9 years accounted for the highest proportion (18.9%), but the number of cases aged ≥50 years showed an upward trend. Most cases were farmers with the proportion increasing year by year. Moreover, the cases in students and scattered-living children also accounted for relatively higher proportions. The median of the interval between onset and diagnosis of typhus was 6 days. Most cases were clinically diagnosed, while the proportion of laboratory-confirmed cases was low and most laboratory cases were confirmed by Well-Felix reaction. Conclusions: Although the incidence and mortality of typhus in China has decreased significantly, the risk for local typhus outbreaks still exists. The prevention and control of typhus still face many challenges. It is indispensable to strengthen the pathogen detection and surveillance for typhus in China.
Child ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Scrub Typhus/epidemiology* ; Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne/epidemiology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Incidence ; Disease Notification

Congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD) is observed in 1%-2% of males presenting with infertility and is clearly associated with cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutations. CFTR is one of the most well-known genes related to male fertility. The frequency of CFTR mutations or impaired CFTR expression is increased in men with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). CFTR mutations are highly polymorphic and have established ethnic specificity. Compared with F508Del in Caucasians, the p.G970D mutation is reported to be the most frequent CFTR mutation in Chinese patients with cystic fibrosis. However, whether p.G970D participates in male infertility remains unknown. Herein, a loss-of-function CFTR p.G970D missense mutation was identified in a patient with CBAVD and NOA. Subsequent retrospective analysis of 122 Chinese patients with CBAVD showed that the mutation is a common pathogenic mutation (4.1%, 5/122), excluding polymorphic sites. Furthermore, we generated model cell lines derived from mouse testes harboring the homozygous Cftr p.G965D mutation equivalent to the CFTR variant in patients. The Cftr p.G965D mutation may be lethal in spermatogonial stem cells and spermatogonia and affect the proliferation of spermatocytes and Sertoli cells. In spermatocyte GC-2(spd)ts (GC2) Cftr p.G965D cells, RNA splicing variants were detected and CFTR expression decreased, which may contribute to the phenotypes associated with impaired spermatogenesis. Thus, this study indicated that the CFTR p.G970D missense mutation might be a pathogenic mutation for CBAVD in Chinese males and associated with impaired spermatogenesis by affecting the proliferation of germ cells.
Humans ; Animals ; Mice ; Male ; Mutation, Missense ; Retrospective Studies ; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator/genetics* ; Infertility, Male/genetics* ; Mutation ; Vas Deferens/abnormalities* ; Spermatogenesis/genetics*

For the first time, this study evaluated the gender differences and mechanisms of the antidepressant effects of raw Rehmanniae Radix(RRR) based on the classic depression model with traditional Chinese medicine syndrome of Yin deficiency and internal heat. The depression model with Yin deficiency and internal heat was established by the widely recognized and applied method of thyroxine induction of the classic depression model with Yin deficiency and internal heat(chronic unpredictable mild stress). Male and female mice were simultaneously treated with RRR. The study analyzed indicators of nourishing Yin and clearing heat, conventional antidepressant efficacy test indicators, and important biomolecules reflecting the pathogenesis and prevention and treatment mechanisms of depression, and conducted a correlation analysis of antidepressant efficacy, Yin-nourishing and heat-clearing efficacy, and biological mechanism in different genders, thereby comprehensively assessing the antidepressant effects of RRR on depression of Yin deficiency and internal heat, as well as its gender differences and mechanisms. RRR exhibited antidepressant effects in both male and female mouse models, and its antidepressant efficacy showed gender differences, with a superior effect observed in females. Moreover, the effects of RRR on enhancing or improving hippocampal neuronal pathology, nucleus-positive areas, postsynaptic dense area protein 95, and synaptophysin protein expression were more significant in females than in males. In addition, RRR significantly reversed the abnormal upregulation of nuclear factor(NF)-κB/cyclooxygenase 2(COX2)/NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3(NLRP3) pathway proteins in the hippocampus of both male and female mouse models. The antidepressant effects of RRR were more pronounced in depression female mice with Yin deficiency and internal heat syndrome, possibly due to the improvement of neuronal damage and enhancement of neuroplasticity. The antidepressant mechanisms of RRR for depression with Yin deficiency and internal heat syndrome may be associated with the downregulation of the NF-κB/COX2/NLRP3 pathway to reduce neuronal damage and enhance neuroplasticity.
Male ; Female ; Mice ; Animals ; Yin Deficiency ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein ; Sex Factors ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; NF-kappa B ; Antidepressive Agents/pharmacology*

Simiao Yong'an Decoction is a classic prescription for treating gangrene. Modern medical evidence has proven that Si-miao Yong'an Decoction has therapeutic effects on atherosclerosis(AS), vascular occlusion angeitides, and hypertension, while its pharmacodynamic mechanism remains unclear. The evidence of network pharmacology, molecular docking, literature review, and our previous study suggests that luteolin and kaempferol are two major flavonoids in Simiao Yong'an Decoction and can inhibit macrophage inflammation and exert anti-AS effects. However, due to lack of the metabolism studies in vivo, little is known about the metabolic characteristics of luteolin and kaempferol. This study employed ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap-Orbitrap mass spectrometry(UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS/MS) and relevant software to identify the metabolites and metabolic pathways of luteolin and kaempferol in rat plasma, urine, and feces, after oral administration of luteolin and kaempferol, respectively. After the administration of luteolin, 10, 11, and 3 metabolites of luteolin were detected in the plasma, urine, and feces, respectively. After the administration of kaempferol, 9, 3, and 1 metabolites of kaempferol were detected in the plasma, urine, and feces, respectively. The metabolic pathways mainly involved methylation, glucuronidation, and sulfation. This study enriches the knowledge about the pharmacological mechanism of luteolin and kaempferol and supplies a reference for revealing the metabolic process of other flavonoids in Simiao Yong'an Decoction, which is of great significance for elucidating the pharmacological effects and effective substances of this decoction in vivo.
Rats ; Animals ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Luteolin/analysis* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Kaempferols/analysis* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Molecular Docking Simulation