Objective To investigate the changes in eosinophil counts and the activation of microglial cells in the brain tissues of mice at different stages of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection, and to examine the role of microglia in regulating the progression of angiostrongyliasis and unravel the possible molecular mechanisms. Methods Fifty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into the control group and the 7-d, 14-d, 21-day and 25-d infection groups, of 10 mice in each group. All mice in infection groups were infected with 30 stage III A. cantonensis larvae by gavage, and animals in the control group was given an equal amount of physiological saline. Five mice were collected from each of infection groups on days 7, 14, 21 d and 25 d post-infection, and 5 mice were collected from the control group on the day of oral gavage. The general and focal functional impairment was scored using the Clark scoring method to assess the degree of mouse neurological impairment. Five mice from each of infection groups were sacrificed on days 7, 14, 21 d and 25 d post-infection, and 5 mice from the control group were sacrificed on the day of oral gavage. Mouse brain tissues were sampled, and the pathological changes of brain tissues were dynamically observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Immunofluorescence staining with eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) was used to assess the degree of eosinophil infiltration and the counts of microglial cells in mouse brain tissues in each group, and the morphological parameters of microglial cells (skeleton analysis and fractal analysis) were quantified by using Image J software to determine the morphological changes of microglial cells. In addition, the expression of M1 microglia markers Fcγ receptor III (Fcgr3), Fcγ receptor IIb (Fcgr2b) and CD86 antigen (Cd86), M2 microglia markers Arginase 1 (Arg1), macrophage mannose receptor C-type 1 (Mrc1), chitinase-like 3 (Chil3), and phagocytosis genes myeloid cell triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (Trem2), CD68 antigen (Cd68), and apolipoprotein E (Apoe) was quantified using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) assay in the mouse cerebral cortex of mice post-infection. Results A large number of A. cantonensis larvae were seen on the mouse meninges surface post-infection, and many neuronal nuclei were crumpled and deeply stained, with a large number of bleeding points in the meninges. The median Clark scores of mouse general functional impairment were 0 (interquartile range, 0), 0 (interquartile range, 0.5), 6 (interquartile range, 1.0), 14 (interquartile range, 8.5) points and 20 (interquartile range, 9.0) points in the control group and the 7-d, 14-d, 21-d and 25-d groups, respectively (H = 22.45, P < 0.01), and the median Clark scores of mouse focal functional impairment were 0 (interquartile range, 0), 2 (interquartile range, 2.5), 7 (interquartile range, 3.0), 18 (interquartile range, 5.0) points and 25 (interquartile range, 6.5) points in the control group and the 7-d, 14-d, 21-d and 25-d groups, respectively (H = 22.72, P < 0.01). The mean scores of mice general and focal functional impairment were all higher in the infection groups than in the control group (all P values < 0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed a significant difference in the eosinophil counts in mouse brain tissues among the five groups (F = 40.05, P < 0.000 1), and the eosinophil counts were significantly higher in mouse brain tissues in the 14-d (3.08 ± 0.78) and 21-d infection groups (5.97 ± 1.37) than in the control group (1.00 ± 0.28) (both P values < 0.05). Semi-quantitative analysis of microglia immunofluorescence showed a significant difference in the counts of microglial cells among the five groups (F = 17.66, P < 0.000 1), and higher Iba1 levels were detected in mouse brain tissues in 14-d (5.75 ± 1.28), 21-d (6.23 ± 1.89) and 25-d infection groups (3.70 ± 1.30) than in the control group (1.00 ± 0.30) (all P values < 0.05). Skeleton and fractal analyses showed that the branch length [(162.04 ± 34.10) μm vs. (395.37 ± 64.11) μm; t = 5.566, P < 0.05] and fractal dimension of microglial cells (1.30 ± 0.01 vs. 1.41 ± 0.03; t = 5.266, P < 0.05) were reduced in mouse brain tissues in the 21-d infection group relative to the control group. In addition, there were significant differences among the 5 groups in terms of M1 and M2 microglia markers Fcgr3 (F = 48.34, P < 0.05), Fcgr2b (F = 55.46, P < 0.05), Cd86 (F = 24.44, P < 0.05), Arg1 (F = 31.18, P < 0.05), Mrc1 (F = 15.42, P < 0.05) and Chil3 (F = 24.41, P < 0.05), as well as phagocytosis markers Trem2 (F = 21.19, P < 0.05), Cd68 (F = 43.95, P < 0.05) and Apoe (F = 7.12, P < 0.05) in mice brain tissues. Conclusions A. cantonensis infections may induce severe pathological injuries in mouse brain tissues that are characterized by massive eosinophil infiltration and persistent activation of microglia cells, thereby resulting in progressive deterioration of neurological functions.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2018.08.009.].

Wound healing is a complex biochemical process. The use of herbal medicine in wound healing not only carries forward the wisdom of traditional medicine, with its anti-inflammatory and immune-regulating effects, but also reflects the direction of modern biopharmaceutical technology, such as its potential in developing new biomaterials like hydrogels. This article first outlines the inherent structural properties of healthy skin, along with the physiological characteristics related to chronic wounds in patients with diabetes and burns. Subsequently, the article delves into the latest advancements in clinical and experimental research on the impact of active constituents in herbal medicine on wound tissue regeneration, summarizing existing studies on the mechanisms of various herbal medicines in the healing of diabetic and burn wounds. Finally, the paper thoroughly examines the application and mechanisms of plant polysaccharide hydrogels containing active herbal compounds in chronic wound healing. The primary objective is to provide valuable resources for the clinical application and development of herbal medicine, thereby maximizing its therapeutic potential. It also represents the continuation of traditional medical wisdom, offering new possibilities for advancements in regenerative medicine and wound care.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of different endotracheal tube cuff pressure management modes on cuff sealing and the pressure exerted on the tracheal wall. METHODS: A prospective self-controlled study was conducted. Eleven patients undergoing endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation with an automatic airway management system (AGs) admitted to the Second Medical Centre of the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital from October 1, 2020, to April 1, 2022, were enrolled as the study subjects. Within 24 hours after the establishment of artificial airway and mechanical ventilation, four cuff pressure management modes were randomly applied to each patient for 24 hours in sequence: automatic cuff pressure management mode [modeI: the safe range of cuff pressure was set at 20-35 cmH₂O (1 cmH₂O≈0.098 kPa), and the CO₂ pressure above the endotracheal tube cuff was automatically detected by AGs every 5 minutes to determine the cuff sealing status, and the cuff pressure was automatically adjusted], constant cuff pressure (25 cmH₂O) management mode (mode II: the cuff pressure was monitored by AGs through a pressure sensor, and the cuff pressure was maintained at 25 cmH₂O via a pressure pump), constant cuff pressure (30 cmH₂O) management mode (mode III: the cuff pressure was monitored by AGs through a pressure sensor, and the cuff pressure was maintained at 30 cmH₂O via a pressure pump), and manual cuff pressure management mode (mode IV: the cuff pressure was manually measured by nurses every 6-8 hours using a cuff pressure gauge to keep the cuff pressure at 25-30 cmH₂O after inflation). The CO₂ pressure above the endotracheal tube cuff (at 60-minute intervals) and the cuff pressure changes (at 50-ms intervals) were recorded to compare the differences in number of cuff leaks [no leak was defined as CO₂ pressure = 0, small leak as 0 < CO₂ pressure < 2 mmHg (1 mmHg≈0.133 kPa), and large leak as CO₂ pressure ≥ 2 mmHg] and cuff pressure among modesI-IV. RESULTS: A total of 24 CO₂ pressure measurements were taken per patient across the four modes, resulting in a total of 264 detections for each mode. Regarding the cuff leak, the total number of leak and large leak in modeIwas significantly lower than that in modes II-IV [total leak: 30 cases (11.36%) vs. 81 cases (30.68%), 70 cases (26.52%), 103 cases (39.02%); large leak: 15 cases (5.68%) vs. 50 cases (18.94%), 48 cases (18.18%), 66 cases (25.00%), all P < 0.05]. There was no significant difference in the number of cuff leak between modes II and III, and mode IV had the most severe cuff leak. In terms of cuff pressure, since mode IV required blocking the cuff tube from the AGs tube and the AGs cuff pressure management module did not actually work, real-time monitoring of cuff pressure was not possible. Therefore, cuff pressure changes were only analyzed in modes I-III. Each of the 11 patients underwent 24-hour cuff pressure monitoring under modes I-III, with 19 008 000 monitoring times for each mode. The cuff pressure in mode I was between that in modes II and III [cmH₂O: 27.09 (26.10, 28.14) vs. 26.60 (25.92, 27.47), 31.01 (30.33, 31.88), both P < 0.01]. Moreover, the number of extreme values of cuff pressure > 50 cmH₂O in mode I was significantly lower than that in modes II and III [19 900 cases (0.105%) vs. 22 297 cases (0.117%), 27 618 cases (0.145%), both P < 0.05]. CONCLUSION Dynamically monitoring the CO₂ pressure above the cuff to guide the adjustment of endotracheal tube cuff pressure can achieve better cuff sealing with a relatively lower cuff pressure load.
Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal/instrumentation* ; Pressure ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration, Artificial ; Male ; Airway Management/methods* ; Female ; Middle Aged

The bioactivity-guided isolation of potentially active natural products has been widely utilized in pharmaceutical discovery. In this study, by screening fungal extracts against coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), three new aspochalasins, templichalasins A‒C (1‒3), along with six known aspochalasins (4‒9) were isolated from an active extract derived from the endophytic fungus Aspergillus templicola LHWf045. Compound 1 features a unique 5/6/5/7/5 pentacyclic ring system, while compounds 2 and 3 possess unusual 5/6/6/7 tetracyclic skeletons. Their structures were characterized through extensive spectroscopic analyses, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Additionally, we demonstrated that compound 4 can be readily converted into compounds 1‒3 under mild acidic conditions and proposed a plausible mechanism for this conversion. Bioactivity evaluation of compounds 1‒9 against CVB3 revealed the inhibitory effects of all compounds against the virus. Notably, compound 9 exhibited superior antiviral activity, surpassing the commercial drug ribavirin in selectivity index (SI) value.
Antiviral Agents/isolation & purification* ; Aspergillus/chemistry* ; Molecular Structure ; Enterovirus B, Human/drug effects* ; Endophytes/chemistry* ; Cytochalasins/isolation & purification* ; Drug Discovery ; Humans

Dental treatments for children and adolescents have unique clinical characteristics that differ from dental care for adults in terms of children's physiology, psychology, and behavior. These differences impose specific requirements on the application of local anesthesia in pediatric dental procedures. This article presents expert consensus on the principles of local anesthesia techniques in pediatric dental therapies, including the use of common anesthetic drugs and dosage control, safety and efficacy evaluation, and prevention and management of complications. The aim is to improve the safety and quality of pediatric dental treatments and offer guidance for clinical application by dentists.
Humans ; Child ; Anesthesia, Local/methods* ; Consensus ; Anesthesia, Dental/methods* ; Adolescent ; Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage* ; Dental Care for Children

ObjectiveTo sum up the clinical features of 5α-reductase type 2 deficiency （5α-RD2） complicated by central precocious puberty （CPP）， and provide experience for clinicians. MethodsA retrospective review was conducted of child patients with 5α-RD2 followed up to puberty at a single tertiary pediatric center， in whom 6 cases developed CRP. Clinical characteristics and treatment history of them were analyzed. A literature review was also performed to investigate possible mechanisms underlying the co-occurrence of 5α-RD2 and CPP. ResultsThe median age at initial presentation was 5.55 years （IQR 3.50-7.20）. Common clinical features included micropenis and hypospadias. Median stretched penile length （SPL） was 2.25 cm （IQR 1.8-2.8）， with an SPL-SDS of -4.5 （IQR -3.1 to -5.8）. Median external masculinization score （EMS） and Prader scores were 8.5 （IQR 5.0-9.0） and 4.5 （IQR 3.0-5.0）， respectively. Pubertal onset occurred at a median age of 8.70 years （IQR 7.80-9.00）. Three patients were overweight or obese. Five had received 2.5% dihydrotestosterone （DHT） gel prior to pubertal onset， with a median cumulative dose of 205.5 mg/kg （IQR 72.0-660.3 mg/kg） with DHT gel therapy. Notably， one patient with normal body mass index （BMI） and no history of androgen or gonadotropin therapy also exhibited early pubertal onset at 8.4 years. ConclusionCPP in children with 5α-RD2 may be associated with prior dihydrotestosterone （DHT） gel therapy and elevated BMI； however， a potential intrinsic link to the underlying disorder cannot be excluded. Further studies are needed to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms.

Following the principles of evidence-based medicine,in accordance with the structure and drafting rules of standardized documents,based on literature research,according to the characteristics of chronic cough in children and issues that need to form a consensus,the TCM Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Cough in Children was formulated based on the Delphi method,expert discussion meetings,and public solicitation of opinions.The guideline includes scope of application,terms and definitions,eti-ology and diagnosis,auxiliary examination,treatment,prevention and care.The aim is to clarify the optimal treatment plan of Chinese medicine in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease,and to provide guidance for improving the clinical diagnosis and treatment of chronic cough in children with Chinese medicine.

This study was designed to evaluate the effect and mechanism of mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)activated protein kinase 2(MK2)in Angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ)-induced mouse renal damage.Total of 16 wild type C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into MK2+/+control group and MK2+/++AngⅡ group,while 16 MK2 knockout C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into MK2-/-control group and MK2-/-+AngⅡ group.Kidney damage was induced by subcutaneous injection of AngⅡ for 4 weeks.Then corresponding methods were carried out to detect systolic pressure,serum creatinine,24h urinary albumin,glomerulosclerosis index,renal tubulointerstitial injury score,the expression level of phosphorylated MK2(p-MK2),p-p65 nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB),the contents of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6),reactive oxygen species(ROS),superoxide dismutase(SOD)and malondialdehyde(MDA).Compared with the MK2+/+control group,MK2+/++AngⅡ group demonstrated significant increase in systolic blood pressure,serum creatinine,24h urinary albumin,glomerulosclerosis index,renal tubulointerstitial injury score,the expression levels of p-MK2,p-p65 NF-κB expression,and the contents of TNF-α,IL-6,ROS,MDA,while significant decrease in the level of SOD in kidney(P<0.05).Compared with the MK2+/++AngⅡ group,MK2-/-+AngⅡ group showed no significant difference in systolic blood pressure(P>0.05),significant decrease in the serum creatinine,24 h urinary albumin,glomerulosclerosis index,renal tubulointerstitial injury score,the expression levels of p-MK2,p-p65 NF-κB and the contents of TNF-α,IL-6,ROS,MDA,while significant increase in the content of SOD in kidney(P<0.05).In conclusion,MK2 knockout significantly alleviates AngⅡ-induced renal damage and inhibits inflammatory and oxidative stress responses.MK2 is involved in AngⅡ induced renal damage.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided semispinalis capitis plane (SCP) block for treatment of occipital neuralgia (ON).Methods:This was a prospective study. Ninety patients of both sexes, aged 29-66 yr, suffering ON for 3 months-6 yr in Zibo Municipal Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023, were divided into 3 groups ( n=30 each) using a random number table method: combination of greater occipital nerve (GON) block and the third occipital nerve (TON) block group (group GT), SCP block via the medial head of semispinalis capitis muscle (SCM) group (group Sm), and SCP block via the space between obliquus capitis inferior and C 2, 3 facet joint (OCI-C 2, 3) group (group OC). In GT group, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory compound solution 2.5 ml was injected around GON in the SCM-OCI space at the C 2 level of the cervical vertebra and at the lateral surface of C 2, 3 facet joint. In Sm group, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory compound solution 5 ml was injected into the medial head of SCM at the level of C 1. In OC group, the analgesic and anti-inflammatory compound solution 5 ml was injected into the OCI-C 2, 3 space in the deep part of SCM. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score were recorded before treatment (T 1) and at 1, 3, 7, 10 and 14 days after treatment (T 2-6), and then the rates of pain relief and improvement in sleep quality were calculated. The time spent in blocking, onset time of blocking, completion time of blocking, duration of block, and occurrence of adverse reactions within 24 h after block were recorded. Results:There were no significant differences in VAS scores and PSQI scores at T 1-3 and T 5-6 among the three groups ( P>0.05), and VAS and PSQI scores were significantly higher at T 4 in Sm group than in OC and GT groups ( P<0.05). Compared with GT group, the time spent in blocking was significantly shortened, the onset time and completion time of block was prolonged, and the duration of block was shortened in Sm group, and the time spent in blocking was significantly shortened, the onset time and completion time of block was shortened ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the duration of block in OC group ( P>0.05). No severe complications were observed in the three groups. Conclusions:Compared with the combination of GON and TON blocks, ultrasound-guided SCP block for treating ON is simple and highly safe, SCP block via the OCI-C 2, 3 space has rapid onset and long duration, leading to significant improvements in pain and sleep quality, and it can be used as the first-choice block method for treating ON.