Enhancing the sequence coverage of nanodiamond-extracted early secretory proteins from the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.

The unambiguous identification of protein species requires high sequence coverage. In this study, we successfully improved the sequence coverage of early secretory 10 kDa cell filtrate protein (CFP-10) and 6 kDa early secretory antigenic target (ESAT-6) proteins from the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) in broth culture media with the use of the 4-chloro-α-cyanocinnamic acid (Cl-CCA) matrix. Conventional matrices, α-cyano-hydroxy-cinnamic acid (CHCA) and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB), were also used for comparison. After nanodiamond (ND) extraction, the sequence coverage of the CFP-10 protein was 87% when CHCA and DHB matrices were used, and the ESAT-6 protein was not detected. On the other hand, the sequence coverage for ND-extracted CFP-10 and ESAT-6 could reach 94% and 100%, respectively, when the Cl-CCA matrix was used and with the removal of interference from bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein and α-crystallin (ACR) protein. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was also adopted to analyze the protein mass spectra. A total of 6 prominent ion signals were observed, including ESAT-6 protein peaks at mass-to-charge ratios (m/z) of ∼7931, ∼7974, ∼9768, and ∼9813 and CFP-10 protein peaks at m/z of ∼10 100 and ∼10 660. The ESAT-6 ion signals were always detected concurrently with CFP-10 ion signals, but CFP-10 ion signals could be detected alone without the ESAT-6 ion signals. Furthermore, the newly found ESAT-6 peaks were also confirmed using a Mag-Beads-Protein G kit with an ESAT-6 antibody to capture the ESAT-6 protein, which was also consistent with the sequence coverage analysis.

Yunkang Oral Liquid Promotes Restoration of Mice from Postpartum Kidney Deficiency via TGF-β/Smads Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Yunkang oral liquid on postpartum kidney deficiency in mice. MethodPostpartum mice were randomized into model and low-dose （6 mL·kg-1）， medium-dose （9 mL·kg-1）， and high-dose （12 mL·kg-1） Yunkang oral liquid groups. The mouse model of postpartum kidney deficiency was established by sleep deprivation combined with forced swimming. Another 9 female ICR mice were selected as the normal control group. The mice were administrated with Yunkang oral liquid during the period of modeling. The levels of estradiol （E2）， progesterone （P）， follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， and luteinizing hormone （LH） in the serum were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The morphological changes of ovaries and uterus were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， and the expression of transforming growth factor （TGF）-β and Smad2/3 was determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. ResultThe mice in the model group showed prolonged estrous cycle， reduced voluntary activity， dorsal temperature， grip strength， and bone strength， and whitening tongue coating. Compared with the model group， Yunkang oral liquid shortened the estrous cycle， increased the voluntary activity， dorsal temperature， grip strength， and bone strength， and alleviated the whitening of tongue coating. Moreover， it elevated the E2 and P levels and lowered the FSH and LH levels in the serum， decreased ovarian follicular atresia rate， promoted uterine repair， and down-regulated the expression of TGF-β and Smad2/3 in the ovarian and uterine tissues. ConclusionYunkang oral liquid can ameliorate postpartum kidney deficiency in mice by regulating the TGF-β/Smads signaling pathway.

Dispersion-Corrected DFT-D4 Study of the Adsorption of Halobenzenes and 1,3,5-Trihalobenzenes on the Cu(111) Surface─Effect of Sigma Hole Properties.

Halogen bonds, characterized by directionality, tunability, hydrophobicity, and variable sizes, are ideal noncovalent interactions to design and control the formation of self-assembled nanostructures. The specific self-assembly cases formed by the halogen-bonding interaction have been well studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. However, there is a lack of systematic theoretical adsorption studies on halogenated molecules. In this work, the adsorption of halobenzenes and 1,3,5-trihalobenzenes on the Cu(111) surface was examined by dispersion-corrected DFT methods. The adsorption geometries, noncovalent molecule-surface interactions, electronic densities, and electrostatic potential maps were examined for their most stable adsorption sites using the DFT-D4 method. Our calculations revealed that the iodo compounds favor a different adsorption geometry from aryl chlorides and bromides. Down the halogen group (Cl to I), the adsorption energy increases and the distance between the halogen atom and Cu surface decreases, which indicates stronger molecule-surface interactions. This is supported by the changes in the density of states upon adsorption. Noncovalent interaction analysis was also employed to further understand the nature and relative strength of the molecule-surface interactions. Electrostatic potential maps revealed that the positive character of the halogen sigma hole becomes stronger upon adsorption. Thus, surface adsorption of the halogenated molecule will enhance the formation of intermolecular halogen bonds. The present theoretical findings are expected to contribute toward a more comprehensive understanding of halogen bonding on the Cu(111) surface.

Testicular ectopia: A case report.

This paper mainly describes three cases of children with ectopic testis, of which two patients with transverse testicular ectopia (TTE) and one with perineal ectopic testis (PET). All patients who underwent orchidopexy at the same pediatric surgical unit in the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University (Jining, China) between June 2010 and February 2021 were retrospectively evaluated (age range, 14-34 months). A total of two patients (67%) was admitted with asymptomatic unilateral inguinal masses and the contralateral testis missing; the first patient was diagnosed with TTE intraoperatively, whereas the other patient was diagnosed with TTE through physical examination and ultrasound preoperatively. The third patient (33%) was admitted with the right testis missing and a left perineal mass, which was confirmed using PET by physical and ultrasound examination before the operation. The first two patients underwent transseptal orchidopexy, whereas the third patient underwent simple orchidopexy. Postoperative complications were not observed (follow-up, 10-24 months). The low incidence and poor understanding of ectopic testis compels us to report our findings and further discuss this particular disease of testicular ectopia, including its pathogenesis, diagnostic and treatment options.

Systems-level analyses of protein-protein interaction network dysfunctions via epichaperomics identify cancer-specific mechanisms of stress adaptation.

Systems-level assessments of protein-protein interaction (PPI) network dysfunctions are currently out-of-reach because approaches enabling proteome-wide identification, analysis, and modulation of context-specific PPI changes in native (unengineered) cells and tissues are lacking. Herein, we take advantage of chemical binders of maladaptive scaffolding structures termed epichaperomes and develop an epichaperome-based 'omics platform, epichaperomics, to identify PPI alterations in disease. We provide multiple lines of evidence, at both biochemical and functional levels, demonstrating the importance of these probes to identify and study PPI network dysfunctions and provide mechanistically and therapeutically relevant proteome-wide insights. As proof-of-principle, we derive systems-level insight into PPI dysfunctions of cancer cells which enabled the discovery of a context-dependent mechanism by which cancer cells enhance the fitness of mitotic protein networks. Importantly, our systems levels analyses support the use of epichaperome chemical binders as therapeutic strategies aimed at normalizing PPI networks.

Clinical application of enhanced recovery after surgery concept in laparoscopic treatment of pediatric acute appendicitis.

BACKGROUND: This study assesses whether enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is beneficial in treating acute appendicitis in pediatrics by laparoscopic techniques. METHOD: The children with acute appendicitis (n = 116) were divided into the ERAS group (n = 54) and the control group (n = 62). Then the preoperative data, intraoperative observation indexes, and postoperative data were analyzed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in preoperative data and intraoperative observation indexes between the two groups. C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) in the ERAS group were significantly lower than those in the control group 3 days after the operation. Moreover, no significant difference in the visual analog score (VAS) between the two groups 3 days after the operation, but the other postoperative observation indexes in the ERAS group were significantly better than those in the control group. Nausea and vomiting in the ERAS group were significantly lower than those in the control group, with no significant difference in other complications between the two groups. CONCLUSION: ERAS could improve children's comfort, reduce some postoperative complications, reduce hospitalization expenses, and speed up recovery from acute appendicitis treated by laparoscopy. Therefore, it has clinical application value.

Comparison of Single Target-Controlled Infusion Pump-Delivered Mixed Propofol and Remifentanil with Two Target-Controlled Infusion Pumps-Delivered Propofol and Remifentanil in Patients Undergoing Breast Cancer Surgery-A Prospective Study.

Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with remifentanil and propofol (RP) is considered to be an ideal type of general anesthesia (GA) for pediatric and adult patients undergoing medical procedures. However, delivery of an RP mixture by target-controlled infusion (TCI) for GA in surgical procedures has not been described. We investigated the merit of this approach for breast cancer surgery. Eighty-four patients (n = 42 per group) were randomly allocated to propofol and remifentanil either delivered by separate TCI pumps (S group) or in an RP mixture by a single TCI pump (M group). Dosages were adjusted based on the bispectral index (BIS) and the analgesia nociception index (ANI). The primary outcomes were adequate anesthesia (BIS 40-60 and ANI 50-70, respectively), acceptable hemodynamic fluctuations (<30% of baseline) with less frequent TCI pump adjustments, bolus injections of anesthetics, and total consumption of anesthetics during the procedure. The secondary endpoints included time of emergence from anesthesia, patient satisfaction, postoperative pain, rescue with opioids, and adverse events. The characteristics of patients, hemodynamic parameters, BIS and ANI scores, duration of surgery, anesthesia, and emergence were not significantly different between groups. The adjustment frequency of TCI was significantly higher in the S group (3 (range 0-6) vs. 2 (0-6) times; p = 0.005). The total dosage of anesthetics, pain rating, patient satisfaction, need for opioids postoperatively, and incidence of adverse events were not significantly different. We have demonstrated that this RP mixture provided adequate hypnotic and analgesic effects under BIS and ANI monitoring in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery within 1 h.

Advanced Platelet-Rich Fibrin Extract Treatment Promotes the Proliferation and Differentiation of Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells through Activation of Tryptophan Metabolism.

BACKGROUND: Advanced platelet-rich fibrin extract (APRFE) contains a high concentration of various cytokines that are helpful for improving stem cells repair function. OBJECTIVE: However, the underlying mechanism of APRFE improving stem cell repairing is not clear. METHODS: We produced APRFE by centrifuging fresh peripheral blood samples and isolated and identified human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs). The abundance of cytokines contained in APRFE was detected by the Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ADMSCs treated with or without APRFE were collected for transcriptome sequencing. RESULTS: Based on the sequencing data, the expression profiles were contracted. The differentially expressed genes and lncRNA (DEGs and DElncRNAs) were obtained using for the differential expression analysis. The lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network was constructed based on the miRNet database. The further enrichment analysis results showed that the biological functions were mainly related to proliferation, differentiation, and cell-cell function. To explore the role of APRFE, the protein-protein interaction network was constructed among the cytokines included in APRFE and DEGs. Furthermore, we constructed the global regulatory network based on the RNAInter and TRRUST database. The pathways in the global regulatory network were considered as the core pathways. We found that the DEGs in the core pathways were associated with stemness scores. CONCLUSION: In summary, we predicted that APRFE activated three pathways (tryptophan metabolism, mTOR signaling pathway, and adipocytokine signaling) to promote the proliferation and differentiation of ADMSCs. The finding may be helpful for guiding the application of ADMSCs in the clinic.

Analysis of pathogenic fungi causing tinea capitis: a single-center retrospective study / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective:To investigate the distribution of pathogenic fungi in patients with tinea capitis diagnosed in Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University in the past 10 years.Methods:A total of 871 outpatients or inpatients with tinea capitis were collected from the Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital from January 2011 to December 2020, and their clinical data and pathogen distribution were retrospectively analyzed. Pearson chi-square test was used to analyze differences in the pathogen distribution between children and adult patients with tinea capitis.Results:Of 871 patients with tinea capitis, 588 (67.5%) were males and 283 (33.5%) were females; 21 (2.40%) were aged less than 1 year, 266 (30.50%) aged 1 - 3 years, 352 (40.40%) aged 4 - 6 years, 187 (21.50%) aged 7 - 12 years, 4 (0.50%) aged 12 - 18 years, and 41 (4.70%) were aged 18 - 74 years. A total of 705 pathogenic strains were isolated from these patients, including 599 strains of Microsporum canis (85.0%) , 52 strains of Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex (7.4%) , 27 strains of Trichophyton tonsurans (3.8%) , and 18 strains of Trichophyton violaceum (2.6%) . Among the pathogenic fungi of tinea capitis, the proportion of Trichophyton violaceum was significantly higher in adults (8.8%) than in children (2.2%, P = 0.048) . Conclusions:In the past 10 years, the patients with tinea capitis in the Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital were mainly children aged 1 - 6 yearswhile adults, and adult patients with tinea capitis were uncommon. The main pathogen of tinea capitis was Microsporum canis, followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex.

Endothelial Function and Postprandial Glucose Control in Response to Test-Meals Containing Herbs and Spices in Adults With Overweight/Obesity.

Objectives: Herbs and Spices (H/S) contain bioactive compounds with purported health benefits. This study investigated the effect of H/S intake on indicators of vascular and metabolic health over 24 h using a test-meal challenge paradigm in adults with overweight or obesity. Methods: In a randomized, single-blinded, 4-arm, 24 h, multi-sampling, crossover clinical trial, adults (n = 25) aged 36.6 ± 3.1 years with BMI 28.5 ± 0.6 kg/m2 (mean ± SEM) consumed a high-fat, high-carbohydrate challenge meal (~810 kcal) with salt/pepper only (control) or control with one of three different H/S combinations: Italian herb (rosemary, basil, thyme, oregano, and parsley), cinnamon, or pumpkin pie spice mix (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice) on four separate visits at least 3 days apart. Meals provided 35% of subjects' energy to maintain weight and ~1 g H/S per 135 kcal of the meal. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 4, 5.5, 7, and 24 h for endpoint analysis (additional blood draw at 0.5 h for insulin/glucose). Mixed-model analysis of repeated measures via PROC MIXED PC-SAS 9.4 was performed on the primary outcome (FMD) and secondary outcome variables. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03926442). Results: Italian herb and pumpkin spice meals significantly increased %FMD at 24 h compared to the control meal (P = 0.048 and P = 0.027, respectively). The cinnamon meal reduced postprandial glycemia (Δ) compared to control (P = 0.01), and pumpkin pie spice mix and cinnamon meals reduced postprandial insulin at 0.5 h compared to the control meal (P = 0.01 and P = 0.04, respectively). IL-6 and triglycerides increased in response to all meals (Time, P < 0.0001) but were not significantly different between meals. Conclusions: The test-meal challenge study design coupled with multiple sampling over 24 h provides insights into time-course bioactivity of H/S on vascular function and metabolic indices in overweight/obese adults. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03926442.

Shenqi Fuzheng Injection () Combined with Chemotherapy for Acute Leukemia: A Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate to the efficacy and safety of Shenqi Fuzheng Injection (, SFI) combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of acute leukemia (AL) by meta-analysis. METHODS: PubMed, Cochrane library, Embase, SinoMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Journal Integration Platform, Wanfang Database were searched from establishment to November 1, 2018. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of SFI combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of AL were included. The Cochrane risk assessment form (RevMan 5.1) was used to evaluate the quality of included studies. RESULTS: A total of 14 RCTs and 1,088 patients was included. The quality evaluation were mostly low risk or unclear. Meta-analysis showed that compared with chemotherapy alone, SFI combined with chemotherapy can improve the total clinical effective rate in patients with AL (RR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.056-1.177; P=0.0001), and relieve adverse reactions caused by chemotherapy drugs, including infection (RR=0.561, 95% CI: 0.397-0.792; P=0.001), nausea and vomiting (RR=0.662, 95% CI: 0.524-0.835; P=0.001), bleeding (RR=0.548, 95% CI: 0.39-0.768; P=0.0001), cardiotoxicity (RR=0.230, 95% CI: 0.080-0.660; P=0.006) and hyperhidrosis (RR=0.348, 95% CI: 0.208-0.581; P=0.0001). The incidence rates of adverse reactions in SFI combined with chemotherapy group were significantly lower than that of the chemotherapy alone group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Shenqi Fuzheng Injection combined with chemotherapy has good efficacy and safety for AL, and it can alleviate the adverse reactions caused by chemotherapy. However, subject to the limitations of the methodological quality of the literature, the conclusions of this study need to be further verified by large-scale and multi-center RCTs.

Clinical and pathological analysis of six cases of Meyerson nevi / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective:To investigate clinical and histopathological features of Meyerson nevus.Methods:Clinical and histopathological data were collected from 6 patients with confirmed Meyerson nevi in Department of Dermatology, the Fourth Military Medical University from January 2015 to January 2019, and retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among the 6 patients, 3 were males and 3 were females, with a median age of 10.5 years (range, 7 months to 28 years). Skin lesions were located on the extremities of 3 cases, as well as on the trunk of 3 cases. Meyerson nevi arose from congenital pigmented nevi in 4 cases, as well as from acquired pigmented nevi in 2 cases. The duration of pigmented nevi varied from 7 months to 18 years. Four patients felt itching in the past 2 months, and 2 had no concomitant symptoms such as itching. Central pigmented nevi manifested as papules in 5 cases and a plaque in 1 case, which were brown or black in color, with regular shapes, uniform pigmentation and clear borders. Pigmented nevi were surrounded by a halo of erythema in 6 cases, and skin lesions were covered with scales or crusts in 4 cases. Histopathological examination of Meyerson nevi revealed characteristics of both pigmented nevus and eczema. Histopathologically, pigmented nevi manifested as junctional nevi or compound nevi, and eczema manifested as serous exudation, irregular epidermal hyperplasia, spongiosis and perivascular infiltration of lymphocytes in the superficial dermis.Conclusions:Meyerson nevus is rare, and mostly occurs on the trunk and extremities. When itching occurs or erythema appears around the pigmented nevus, the diagnosis of Meyerson nevus should be considered.

Minimally invasive treatment with anterograde multiple endoscopes for upper urinary tract stones in allograft kidney / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective:To discuss the clinical experience and efficacy of minimally invasive anterograde multiple endoscopic treatment of upper urinary tract stones in allograft kidney.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 14 patients with upper urinary tract stones in allograft kidney admitted to our hospital from June 2018 to August 2020. 8 cases were female and 6 cases were male, with an average age of 47.3±11.1 years. 3 patients had hyperuricemia and four had hypertension and diabetes. The history of renal transplantation was over ten years in 3 cases, three to five years in 4 cases, two years in 3 cases, 1 year in 3 cases, and 4 months in 1 case. 3 patients had a history of RIRS, and the operation was terminated due to severe ureteral tortuosity resulting in failure of sheathing or ureteroscopy. Ureteral stent was performed in 2 cases due to stone obstruction and hydronephrosis. Serum creatinine was normal in 7 patients before operation, and serum creatinine was 91-139μmol/L in 4 patients in the compensatory stage of chronic renal insufficiency. The serum creatinine was 292, 544 and 708μmol/L respectively in 3 patients in the decompensated stage of chronic renal insufficiency or renal failure stage. The preoperative average hemoglobin was 117.5g/L. 3 cases were partial staghorn calculi, 4 cases were single caliceal or renal pelvis calculi, 2 cases were renal pelvis or caliceal calculi with upper ureteral calculi, and 5 cases were renal pelvis or renal caliceal calculi with multiple calculi. Stone size were 1 case of single upper caliceal stone of 0.7cm, 3 cases of lower caliceal stones of 1.5, 1.6 and 2.0cm, 1 case of renal pelvic stone of 1.5cm, 2 cases of middle and upper caliceal stones of 2.8 and 3.1cm, 2 cases of middle and lower caliceal stones of 1.5 and 3.2cm, respectively. 3 cases of middle upper caliceal and renal pelvic stones were 2.2, 2.5 and 2.6cm. 2 cases of renal pelvis with upper ureteral stones were 1.3 and 1.7cm, 0.7 and 0.5cm respectively. Preoperative routine urine examination showed that 9 cases had urinary tract infection, among which 5 cases had positive urine culture. Surgery was performed after therapeutic improvement with sensitive antibiotics. According to the size and distribution of stone, the combination of single access or multi-access PCNL in different diameters was adopted, supplemented by FURS. Surgical methods selection and performance: 2 cases performed in single S-PCNL with stone size were 2.2cm and 2.6cm, 2 cases performed in single M-PCNL with stone size were 1.5cm and 1.5cm, 1 case performed in Needle-perc with stone size was 0.7cm, 2 cases performed in S-PCNL combined M-PCNL with stone size were 2.8cm and 3.1cm, 3 cases performed in S-PCNL combined Needle-perc with stone size were 2.0cm, 2.5cm and 3.2cm, 2 cases performed in M-PCNL combined Needle-perc with stone size were 1.5cm and 1.6cm, 2 cases performed in S-PCNL combined anterograde FURS with stones size were 1.3cm and 1.7cm in allograft kidney and ureter stone were 0.7cm and 0.5cm, a total of 7 kinds of way, and postoperative stone free rate, laboratory indexes (serum creatinine, blood hemoglobin), surgical complications, postoperative hospital stay were analyzed.Results:All 14 patients (mean age was 47.3±11.1 years) were successfully operated. Postoperative examination revealed 1 case had 0.6cm residual stone and it was cleared at the second stage anterograde FURS through the original access. The mean operative time and postoperative hospital stay were 68.2±21.6min and 6.2±1.3 days. Compared with preoperative serum creatinine changes, 2 cases showed slight increase (mean 12.6±0.3μmol/L), 3 cases showed significant decrease (mean 329.6±216.6μmol/L), and the other 9 cases showed no significant change (range<10μmol/L), among which 5 cases showed an increase (mean 5.4±0.7 μmol/L) and 4 cases showed a decrease (mean 3.7±0.4 μmol/L). The mean decrease of hemoglobin was 9.3±4.1g/L. Two patients had fever and their body temperature returned to normal after anti-inflammatory treatment. No blood transfusion, abdominal organ injury or urogenic sepsis occurred.Conclusions:Invasive anterograde multiple endoscopic treatment of upper urinary tract stones in allograft kidney is a single or combined operation using single-channel PCNL, multi-channel PCNL of different sizes and diameters and anterograde FURS according to individual differences, which can effectively reduce renal function injury is safe, efficient and feasible.

A deep-learning model for the assessment of coronary heart disease and related risk factors via the evaluation of retinal fundus photographs / 中华心血管病杂志

Objective: To develop and validate a deep learning model based on fundus photos for the identification of coronary heart disease (CHD) and associated risk factors. Methods: Subjects aged>18 years with complete clinical examination data from 149 hospitals and medical examination centers in China were included in this retrospective study. Two radiologists, who were not aware of the study design, independently evaluated the coronary angiography images of each subject to make CHD diagnosis. A deep learning model using convolutional neural networks (CNN) was used to label the fundus images according to the presence or absence of CHD, and the model was proportionally divided into training and test sets for model training. The prediction performance of the model was evaluated in the test set using monocular and binocular fundus images respectively. Prediction efficacy of the algorithm for cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., age, systolic blood pressure, gender) and coronary events were evaluated by regression analysis using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and R2 correlation coefficient. Results: The study retrospectively collected 51 765 fundus images from 25 222 subjects, including 10 255 patients with CHD, and there were 14 419 male subjects in this cohort. Of these, 46 603 fundus images from 22 701 subjects were included in the training set and 5 162 fundus images from 2 521 subjects were included in the test set. In the test set, the deep learning model could accurately predict patients' age with an R2 value of 0.931 (95%CI 0.929-0.933) for monocular photos and 0.938 (95%CI 0.936-0.940) for binocular photos. The AUC values for sex identification from single eye and binocular retinal fundus images were 0.983 (95%CI 0.982-0.984) and 0.988 (95%CI 0.987-0.989), respectively. The AUC value of the model was 0.876 (95%CI 0.874-0.877) with either monocular fundus photographs and AUC value was 0.885 (95%CI 0.884-0.888) with binocular fundus photographs to predict CHD, the sensitivity of the model was 0.894 and specificity was 0.755 with accuracy of 0.714 using binocular fundus photographs for the prediction of CHD. Conclusion: The deep learning model based on fundus photographs performs well in identifying coronary heart disease and assessing related risk factors such as age and sex.

Clinical analysis of three cases of disseminated cutaneous alternariosis caused by Alternaria / 中华皮肤科杂志

Objective:To analyze clinical manifestations, histopathological and pathogenic fungus characteristics as well as treatment of 3 cases of disseminated cutaneous alternariosis caused by Alternaria. Methods:Clinical data were collected from 3 cases of disseminated cutaneous alternariosis caused by Alternaria, who were diagnosed in Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital from 2019 to 2021, and clinical and histopathological features, fungal culture, strain identification and treatment results were retrospectively analyzed. Results:The 3 patients were aged 55, 41 and 46 years respectively, including 1 male and 2 females. Two patients were previously diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome and 1 with systemic lupus erythematosus. All the patients had a history of taking glucocorticoids and tacrolimus for different durations, and experienced chronic infections. Histopathological examination with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining showed double-contour thick-walled spores and knot-shaped thick-walled septal hyphae, but no melanin in skin lesions. Sequencing of the fungal internal transcribed spacer region confirmed that 2 cases were infected with Alternaria alternate, and 1 with Alternaria infectoria. Fungal culture at different temperatures showed that the growth ability of Alternaria markedly decreased at the temperature over 35 ℃. To treat these patients, the dose of tacrolimus was reduced to less than 1/3 of the standard dose, or tacrolimus was switched to other immunosuppressants, and systemic antifungal therapy was also given at the same time. After 7-month treatment, good clinical outcomes were achieved in the 3 patients. Conclusion:Disseminated cutaneous alternariosis is characterized by bilateral hematogenous dissemination and lymphatic distribution in unilateral limbs, and the skin lesions are characterized by verrucous plaques covered with scabs, nodules and/or sinuses.

Toxicity and Mechanism of Alkaloids in Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma （STRER） is a commonly used Chinese medicine in clinical practice， which has the effects of clearing heat， removing the toxin， alleviating edema， and relieving sore throat. In recent years， the clinical reports of STRER-induced poisoning have gradually increased， with neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity as the main characteristics of the acute attack. Timely treatment will lead to the good prognosis， but long-term or high-dose administration will cause irreversible damage. Therefore， the safety of clinical use of STRER should be highlighted. The chemical components in STRER mainly include alkaloids， flavonoids， triterpenoids， triterpenoid saponins， and polysaccharides， as well as small amounts of proteins， organic acids， and trace elements， where alkaloids both serve as the important material basis for the pharmacodynamic action and the main substances causing toxicity. The adverse events induced by STRER and its alkaloids include nerve injury, Hepatic injury, cardiovascular injury, kidney injury and reproductive injury， and gastrointestinal reaction. Quinolizidine alkaloids are the main toxic components， mainly including matrine， oxymatrine， cytisine， sophocarpine， oxysophocarpine， sophoridine， sophoramine， and lehmannine. Many studies have been carried out on the toxicity of different extracts and alkaloids of STRER in China and abroad， but there are no comprehensive and detailed reports on the toxicity mechanism of alkaloids in STRER. As a Chinese medicine， STRER is widely used. It's an urgent problem to clarify the material basis and mechanism of toxicity caused by STRER and reduce the toxicity for good clinical application. The present study reviewed the components of alkaloids， toxicity， and toxic mechanism of extracts and alkaloids in STRER to provide the basis for further development and clinical safe and effective application of STRER.

The Clinical Application of Pulsed Radiofrequency Induces Inflammatory Pain via MAPKs Activation: A Novel Hint for Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment.

Pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) works by delivering short bursts of radiofrequency to a target nerve, thereby affecting nerve signal transduction to reduce pain. Although preliminary clinical investigations have shown that PRF treatment can be used safely as an alternative interventional treatment in patients with refractory pain conditions, unexpected damage to a normal nerve/ganglion is still one of the possible complications of using the PRF strategy. Noxious pain may also be triggered if PRF treatment accidentally damages an intact nerve. However, few studies in the literature have described the intracellular modifications that occur in neuronal cells after PRF stimulation. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the effects of PRF on unimpaired nerve function and investigated the potential mechanisms of PRF-induced pain. Wistar rats were stimulated with 30-60 V of PRF for 6 min, and mechanical allodynia, cold hypersensitivity, cytokine and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) production, and mitogen-activated protein kinase activity (p38 MAPK, ERK1/2, JNK/SAPK) were analyzed. The results indicated that PRF stimulation induced a significant algesic effect and nociceptive response. In addition, the protein array and Western blotting analyses showed that the clinical application of 60 V of PRF can induce the activation of MAPKs and the production of inflammatory cytokines and MMPs in the lumbar dorsal horn, which is necessary for nerve inflammation, and it can be suppressed by MAPK antagonist treatment. These results indicate that PRF stimulation may induce inflammation of the intact nerve, which in turn causes inflammatory pain. This conclusion can also serve as a reminder for PRF treatment of refractory pain.

Fabrication of Large-Scale High-Mobility Flexible Transparent Zinc Oxide Single Crystal Wafers.

Single crystal wafers, such as silicon, are the fundamental carriers of advanced electronic devices. However, these wafers exhibit rigidity without mechanical flexibility, limiting their applications in flexible electronics. Here, we propose a new approach to fabricate 1.5 in. flexible functional zinc oxide (ZnO) single crystal wafers with high electron mobility (>100 cm2 V-1 s-1) and optical transparency (>80%) by a combination of thin-film deposition, a chemical solution method, and surficial treatment. The uniformity of the flexible single crystal wafers is examined by an advanced scanning X-ray diffraction technique and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The transport properties of ZnO flexible single crystal wafers retain their pristine states under various bending conditions, including cyclability and endurability. This approach demonstrates a breakthrough in the fabrication of the flexible single crystal wafers for future flexible optoelectronic applications.

Variations of microbial community in Aconitum carmichaeli Debx. rhizosphere soilin a short-term continuous cropping system.

Aconitum carmichaeli Debx. (Ranunculaceae) is a potential source of an important herbal drug named "Fuzi", which is derived from the lateral root of the plant. Increased therapeutic usage resulted in the great demand for artificial cultivation of A. carmichaeli, however, the obstacles caused by continuous cropping is a serious problem. Continuous cropping has shown to affect the soil biological and non-biological factors. The current study attempted to discover the variations of microbial communities and soil properties in short-term continuous cropping of A. carmichaeli. An experimental procedure with A. carmichaeli planted two years continuously was established. The variation of the soil microbial community, disease incidence, soil properties, and the correlation between soil microbe and disease incidence were investigated. The disease incidence increased during the continuous cropping of A. carmichaeli. The PCoA and LefSe results indicated that fungal communities in rhizosphere soil were altered during the short-term continuous croppingand the bacterial community was disturbed by the cultivation of A. carmichaeli, however, in the following two years of continuous cropping period, the soil bacterial community has not changed obviously. Proportions of some fungal and bacterial genera were varied significantly (p < 0.05), and some genera of microflora showed a significant correlation with adisease incidence of A. carmichaeli. Microorganisms contributing to community composition discrepancy were also elucidated. Continuous cropping of A. carmichaeli disturbed the rhizosphere soil microbial community and altered the soil chemical parameters and soil pH. These variations in soil may be related to the occurrence of plant diseases. The current study will not only provide theoretical and experimental evidence for the A. carmichaeli continuous cropping obstacles but will also contribute to A. carmichaeli agricultural production and soil improvement.

Tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors for the treatment of four cases of hidradenitis suppurativa / 中华皮肤科杂志

Four male cases of hidradenitis suppurativa (Hurley stage Ⅱ/Ⅲ) aged 20 - 45 years were collected from Department of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University from August 2017 to December 2019. All the patients presented with sinuses, abscesses and scars on the buttocks, axillary and inguinal regions, and showed a poor response to previous treatment with antibiotics, glucocorticoids, retinoids, traditional Chinese medicine, etc. The patients were treated with intravenous drips of infliximab at a dose of 5 mg/kg at weeks 0, 2 and 6, followed by an every-9-week treatment regimen, or with subcutaneous injection of adalimumab at a dose of 80 mg at weeks 0 and 2, followed by an every-3-week regimen at a dose of 40 mg. Two patients experienced infusion reactions after intravenous drips of infliximab, and then were switched to adalimumab. Three of these patients achieved hidradenitis suppurativa clinical response, whereas 1 showed no response.