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Background The most effective prevention strategy for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is primary management, with the core measure of risk assessment. The existing prediction models for ASCVD for the elderly are not able to guide TCM primary management well. Therefore, it is necessary to integrate TCM elements into the development of prediction models to guide the primary management of ASCVD with combined traditional Chinese and western medicine. Objective To construct and validate the ASCVD prediction model for the elderly based on TCM constitution. Methods A total of 1 418 elderly people who underwent physical examination at Huayuan Street Community Health Service Center, Chentangzhuang Street Community Health Service Center, Xiangyang Road Street Community Health Service Center and Daqiuzhuang Town Central Health Center in 2017 were included as the study subjects. General data of the study subjects were collected and constitution identification was performed. The incidence of ASCVD (clinical outcome) was followed up from 2017 to 2022. The follow-up will end at 2022-11-30. The data of the subjects were randomly divided into a training set (n=1 127) and validation set (n=291) according to 8∶2. In the training set, the conventional ASCVD prediction model for the elderly (model 1) and the conventional ASCVD+constitution prediction model for the elderly (model 2) were constructed by using the forward stepwise method. The nomogram of ASCVD prediction model for the elderly based on TCM constitution was plotted. The calibration curve was plotted and the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test was performed to determine the calibration of the model. The receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to determine the discrimination of the model. AUC, Net Reclassification Index (NRI), Integrated Discrimination Improvement (IDI), and Decision Curve Analysis (DCA) were used to compare model 2 with model 1 to evaluate the improvement efficacy of model 2. Results There was no significant difference in the general data between the training set and validation set (P>0.05). The results of multivariate analysis showed that model 1 included 7 predictors of gender, age, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triacylglycerol (TG), BMI, systolic blood pressure×hypertension medication history. model 2 included 8 predictors of gender, age, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, TG, BMI, systolic blood pressure×hypertension medication history, and constitution type. Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test showed good fit of model 2; Delong test results showed that AUC of model 2 was higher than that of model 1 (Z=2.741, P=0.006), NRI=0.511 (95%CI=0.359-0.663, P

目的 本研究对烟雾病患者血管样本的差异表达基因（differentially expressed genes，DEGs）进行生物信息学鉴定和分析，旨在探讨烟雾病的潜在发病机制。 方法 本研究以烟雾病和颈内动脉瘤患者大脑血管样本为研究对象。利用R语言线性模型微阵列数据（linear models for microarray data，limma）分析包对基因表达综合数据库（gene expression omnibus，GEO）中的GSE141025数据集进行分析，该数据集涵盖4例烟雾病患者和4例颈内动脉瘤患者的大脑中动脉和颞浅动脉样本各1个，共计16个样本。选择烟雾病患者的大脑中动脉、颞浅动脉及颈内动脉瘤患者的颞浅动脉共12个样本进行DEGs筛选。通过R语言功能富集分析工具包clusterProfiler，对筛选出的DEGs进行基因本体（gene ontology，GO）富集分析和京都基因与基因组百科全书（Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes，KEGG）通路分析。利用STRING数据库构建蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用（protein-protein interaction，PPI）网络，并使用网络可视化软件Cytoscape进行蛋白质网络的可视化和枢纽基因筛选。 结果 本研究在烟雾病患者的大脑中动脉与颞浅动脉样本间鉴定出138个DEGs，包括18个上调基因和120个下调基因。GO富集分析显示，以上DEGs在细胞外基质、受体配体活性和生长因子活性等方面显著富集，可能与烟雾病相关的血管病变和神经保护机制有关。KEGG通路分析提示，DEGs主要在酪氨酸代谢通路中富集。通过PPI网络分析，共筛选出9个枢纽基因，包括骨膜蛋白（periostin，POSTN）、脑源性神经营养因子（brain derived neurotrophic factor，BDNF）、血小板衍生生长因子受体α（platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha，PDGFRA）、Thy-1细胞表面抗原（Thy-1 cell surface antigen，THY1）、ⅩⅤ型胶原蛋白α1链（collagen type ⅩⅤ alpha 1 chain，COL15A1）、成纤维细胞生长因子7（fibroblast growth factor 7，FGF7）、光蛋白聚糖（lumican，LUM）、层粘连蛋白α2亚基（laminin subunit alpha 2，LAMA2）和RELN（reelin）。此外，上调基因delta样典型Notch配体4（delta like canonical Notch ligand 4，DLL4）在本研究中首次被发现可能在烟雾病中扮演重要角色，或与烟雾病的病理性血管生成有关。 结论 细胞外基质、生长因子及其受体的表达失调等可能参与烟雾病的发病过程。DEGs分析筛选出的枢纽基因（POSTN、BDNF、PDGFRA、THY1、COL15A1、FGF7、LUM、LAMA2、RELN）以及DLL4可能在烟雾病的病理形成过程中发挥作用。 Abstract: Objective In this study, bioinformatics analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between blood vessel samples of patients with moyamoya disease were conducted to explore the potential pathogenesis of moyamoya disease. Methods The cerebral blood vessel samples from patients with moyamoya disease and internal carotid aneurysm were taken as research subjects. The linear models for microarray data (limma) package in R was used to analyze the GSE141025 dataset downloaded from the gene expression omnibus (GEO). The dataset included samples from 4 moyamoya disease patients and 4 internal carotid aneurysm patients, providing a total of 16 samples including one middle cerebral artery and one superficial temporal artery from each patient. A total of 12 samples of middle cerebral artery and superficial temporal artery from moyamoya disease patients and superficial temporal artery from internal carotid aneurysm patients were selected for DEGs screening. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis on the DEGs were conducted using the clusterProfiler package in R. The STRING database was utilized to construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and the network visualization software Cytoscape was used to visualize the protein network and to filter hub genes. Results In the comparison between middle cerebral artery and superficial temporal artery samples from patients with moyamoya disease, 138 DEGs were identified, including 18 up-regulated genes and 120 down-regulated genes. GO enrichment analysis revealed that these DEGs were significantly enriched in extracellular matrix, receptor ligand activity, and growth factor activity, suggesting their potential involvement in vasculopathy and neuroprotective mechanisms associated with moyamoya disease. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that DEGs were primarily enriched in the tyrosine metabolic pathway. Through PPI network analysis, 9 hub genes were filtered, including periostin (POSTN), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA), Thy-1 cell surface antigen (THY1), collagen type ⅩⅤ alpha 1 chain (COL15A1), fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7), lumican (LUM), laminin subunit alpha 2 (LAMA2) and reelin (RELN). Additionally, the up-regulated gene delta like canonical Notch ligand 4 (DLL4) was firstly founded possibly associated with pathological angiogenesis of moyamoya disease in this study, suggesting that it may play a significant role in moyamoya disease. Conclusions The study indicates that the dysregulation of the expression of extracellular matrix components, growth factors and their receptors might be involved in the pathogenesis of moyamoya disease. The hub genes selected by DEGs analysis (POSTN, BDNF, PDGFRA, THY1, COL15A1, FGF7, LUM, LAMA2, RELN) and DLL4 may play a role in the pathological process of moyamoya disease.

As an effective technology for the rapid treatment of soft-soil foundations, geosynthetic encased stone column (GESC) composite foundations are commonly used in various embankment engineerings, including those situated on sloped soft foundations. Nevertheless, there is still a scarcity of stability studies for sloped GESC composite foundations. Several 3D numerical models for sloped GESC composite foundations were established using an equivalent method. The influences of the area replacement ratio and the tensile strength of geosynthetic encasement on the stability were investigated. The results showed that the stability increased nonlinearly with the area replacement ratio, and there existed an optimal area replacement ratio (e.g., 24.56% in this study) to balance the safety and economic requirements. The stability increased linearly with the tensile strength of geosynthetic encasement at low tensile strength levels (lower than 105 kN/m in this study), and the impact was relatively limited compared with that of the area replacement ratio. In addition, the stability generally decreased nonlinearly as the foundation slope decreased, and high-angle (foundation slope close to 30°) sloped GESC composite foundations are recommended to be treated with multiple reinforcement techniques. The relationship between the minimum area replacement ratio and the foundation slope was further quantified by an exponential function, allowing for the determination of the area replacement ratio of various sloped GESC composite foundations and providing theoretical guidance for engineering practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The productivity equation of a gas well is, in the final analysis, an expression that describes the relationship between the production of a gas well and its bottom-hole flowing pressure. There are two kinds of productivity equations in common use at present: binomial productivity equation and exponential productivity equation. Combined with the modified isochronal well test, the test data are interpreted, and it is found that the open flow rates calculated by the two productivity equations are basically the same when the pressure difference at the test point is large, and the deviation of the exponential productivity equation is large when the pressure difference at the test point is small. Using binomial productivity equation and modifying isochronous well test, we established the single-point deliverability formula for the Jingbian sector of the Yan’an gas field. The field experience formula and production data are used to verify it. Their average errors are 2.59% and 7.12%, respectively; and the coincidence rate of productivity evaluation is 90%. The one-point productivity formula established has high precision and is suitable for productivity analysis of gas wells in paleozoic reservoirs in the Jingbian sector of the Yan’an gas field. This paper provides insights into the one-point productivity evaluation and its future application in the gas field.

The purpose of this experiment was to study the effects of different levels of compound acidifiers on the growth performance, nonspecific immunity, and serum biochemical indexes of grass carp. A total of 480 grass carps with similar weight were randomly divided into four groups with three replicates in each group and 40 grass carps in each replicate. Grass carp in the control group were fed with basic feed, while grass carp in the experimental group were fed with feed containing 0.1% (0.1% compound acidifier group), 0.2% (0.2% compound acidifier group) and 0.4% (0.4% compound acidifier group), respectively. The trial period was eight weeks. The results showed that compared with the control group, the powder weight, weight gain rate and specific growth rate of grass carp in the 0.2% compound acidifier group increased significantly (P<0.05), while the feed coefficient decreased significantly (P<0.05). The liver-body ratio of grass carp in the 0.1% compound acidifier group and 0.2% compound acidifier group was significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the crude fat content of grass carp muscle in each compound acidifier group increased significantly (P<0.05), and the water content of grass carp muscle in 0.2% compound acidifier group decreased significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the activity of lysozyme (LZM) and the content of triglyceride (TG) in serum of grass carp in the 0.2% and 0.4% compound acidulant groups were significantly increased (P<0.05), and the content of immunoglobulin M (IgM) in serum of grass carp in each compound acidulant group was significantly increased (P<0.05). The serum urea nitrogen (BUN) content decreased significantly (P<0.05), total protein (TP), glucose (GLU) content and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity increased significantly in the 0.2% compound acidifier group (P<0.05). The study indicates that adding the proper amount of compound acidifier in grass carp production can improve growth performance, improve body composition, enhance immunity, and improve some serum biochemical indexes, and the suitable addition level of compound acidifier is 0.2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is one of the most important crops in both China and the world, and its domestication can be traced back to ~10000 years ago. However, the history of its origin and utilization in China remains highly ambiguous. Drawing upon the most recent results of taxonomic, genetic, archeological and textual studies focused on the wheat in prehistory, this paper argues that wheat was not domesticated but introduced into China in the late fifth millennium BP. In the subsequent centuries, this exotic crop was quickly utilized as a staple food in northwest China. In contrast, it was not adopted as a staple in the Central Plains until the Han Dynasty (202 BCE–220 CE), which was mainly as a consequence of the living environment, population and innovations in food processing technology.

Abstract Background Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection remains a global public health issue, especially in Asia. Due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains and the complexity of H. pylori infection, conventional vaccination is the best way to control the disease. Our previous study found that the N-acetyl-neuroaminyllactose-binding hemagglutinin protein (HpaA) is an effective protective antigen for vaccination against H. pylori infection, and intranasal immunization with the immunodominant HpaA epitope peptide (HpaA 154-171, P22, MEGVLIPAGFIKVTILEP) in conjunction with a CpG adjuvant decreased bacterial colonization in H. pylori-infected mice. However, to confer more robust and effective protection against H. pylori infection, an optimized delivery system is needed to enhance the P22-specific memory T cell response. Results In this study, an intranasal nanoemulsion (NE) delivery system offering high vaccine efficacy without obvious cytotoxicity was designed and produced. We found that this highly stable system significantly prolonged the nasal residence time and enhanced the cellular uptake of the epitope peptide, which powerfully boosted the specific Th1 responses of the NE-P22 vaccine, thus reducing bacterial colonization without CpG. Furthermore, the protection efficacy was further enhanced by combining the NE-P22 vaccine with CpG. Conclusion This epitope-loaded nanoemulsion delivery system was shown to extend antigen release and elicit potent Th1 response, it is an applicable delivery system for intranasal vaccine against H. pylori.