OBJECTIVE: Paridis Rhizoma (Chonglou in Chinese), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has been shown have strong anti-tumor effects. Paris saponin VII (PSVII), an active constituent isolated from Paridis Rhizoma, was demonstrated to significantly suppress the proliferation of BxPC-3 cells in our previous study. Here, we aimed to elucidate the anti-pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) effect of PSVII and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: Cell viability was determined by CCK-8, colony formation, and cell migration assays. Cell apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were measured by flow cytometry with annexin V/propidine iodide (Annexin V/PI) and 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA), respectively. Pyroptosis was evaluated by morphological features, Hoechst 33342/PI staining assay, and release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). JC-1 fluorescent dye was employed to measure mitochondrial membrane potential. Western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to determine the levels of proteins or mRNAs. The effect in vivo was assessed by a xenograft tumor model. RESULTS: PSVII inhibited the viability of PDAC cells (BxPC-3, PANC-1, and Capan-2 cells) and induced gasdermin E (GSDME) cleavage, as well as the simultaneous cleavage of Caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP). Knockdown of GSDME shifted PSVII-induced pyroptosis to apoptosis. Additionally, the effect of PSVII was significantly attenuated by Z-Asp(OMe)-Glu(OMe)-Val-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone (Z-DEVD-FMK), on the induction of GSDME-dependent pyroptosis. PSVII also elevated intracellular ROS accumulation and stimulated Bax and Caspase-3/GSDME to conduct pyroptosis in PDAC cells. The ROS scavenger N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) suppressed the release of LDH and inhibited Caspase-9, Caspase-3, and GSDME cleavage in PDAC cells, ultimately reversing PSVII-induced pyroptosis. Furthermore, in a xenograft tumor model, PSVII markedly suppressed the growth of PDAC tumors and induced pyroptosis. CONCLUSION These results demonstrated that PSVII exerts therapeutic effects through Caspase-3/GSDME-dependent pyroptosis and may constitute a novel strategy for preventing chemotherapeutic resistance in patients with PDAC in the future.

Objective:To explore the risk factors for lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) in children with thalassemia major (TM) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).Methods:This was a retrospective case-control study.A total of 482 children with TM who underwent allo-HSCT at Shenzhen Children′s Hospital between January 2020 and December 2022 were selected and classified into the PTLD and non-PTLD groups according to the occurrence of PTLD.The risk factors for PTLD after allo-HSCT in children with TM were analyzed, and the diagnostic efficiency of relevant risk factors for PTLD was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results:A total of 25 out of 482 patients (5.2%, 25/482) developed PTLD about 114 (54-271) days after allo-HSCT.Among them, 12 cases (12/25, 48.0%) occurred within 100 days, and 22 cases (22/25, 88.0%) occurred within 1 year after allo-HSCT.Univariate analysis showed that there were significant differences in gender composition, type of transplant donor, number of natural killer cells and B lymphocytes in peripheral blood at 30 days after allo-HSCT, positive rate of plasma Epstein-Barr virus deoxyribonucleic acid (EBV-DNA) and incidence rate of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) between the 2 groups (all P<0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that female ( OR=3.196, 95% CI: 1.144-8.929), positive plasma EBV-DNA ( OR=17.523, 95% CI: 5.449-56.344) and aGVHD ( OR=3.156, 95% CI: 1.161-8.575) were independent risk factors for PTLD after allo-HSCT in TM children (all P<0.05).The ROC curve analysis showed that positive plasma EBV-DNA had an excellent accuracy in predicting the occurrence of PTLD after allo-HSCT (sensitivity was 0.796, specificity was 0.800, area under the curve was 0.803).If combined with aGVHD and gender, the area under the curve for the prediction of PTLD increased to 0.831. Conclusions:Female, positive plasma EBV-DNA and aGVHD are independent risk factors for PTLD after allo-HSCT in children with TM.It provides useful early warnings for the prediction and prevention of PTLD.

Objective To study the infection of multidrug-resistant organism(MDRO)in elderly pa-tients with catheter-associated urinary tract infection(CAUTI)and analyze the infection factors.Methods The medi-cal records of 175 elderly patients with CAUTI admitted to Jiangsu Province Hospital from January 2021 to July 2022 were selected,the distribution of MDRO infection in elderly patients with CAUTI was analyzed,and the influencing factors of MDRO infection were analyzed.The predictive value of independent risk factors for rele-vant nosocomial infections was analyzed by receiver operating characteristics(ROC)curves.Results Among the 175 elderly patients with CAUTI,87 cases(49.71％)developed MDRO infection and were included in the MDRO infection group),and 88 cases(50.29％)had no MDRO infection and were included in the non-MDRO infection group.A total of 432 MDRO pathogens were detected in the MDRO infection group,inclu-ding 415 strains of Gram-negative bacteria,accounting for 96.06％,186 strains of carbapenem-resistant Acine-tobacter baumannii(43.06％),147 strains of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae(34.03％),79 strains of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa(18.29％)and 3 strains of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli(0.69％).There were 17 strains of Gram-positive bacteria(3.94％),all of which were methi-cillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.Multivariate analysis showed that the use of carbapenems,tigecycline,polymyxin,and days of central venous intubation were considered as independent risk factors.The area under the curve of MDRO infection was 0.883.Conclusion For elderly patients with CAUTI,it is necessary to take strict antimicrobial management measures,master the indications of antimicrobial application,shorten the hos-pitalization time of patients and reduce the incidence of MDRO infection.

Objective:Obesity related glomerulopathy(ORG)is induced by obesity,but the pathogenesis remains unclear.This study aims to investigate the expression of early growth response protein 3(EGR3)in the renal cortex tissues of ORG patients and high-fat diet-induced obese mice,and to further explore the molecular mechanism of EGR3 in inhibiting palmitic acid(PA)induced human podocyte inflammatory damage. Methods:Renal cortex tissues were collected from ORG patients(n=6)who have been excluded from kidney damage caused by other diseases and confirmed by histopathology,and from obese mice induced by high-fat diet(n=10).Human and mouse podocytes were intervened with 150 μmol/L PA for 48 hours.EGR3 was overexpressed or silenced in human podocytes.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detcet the levels of interleukin-6(IL-6)and interleukin-1β(IL-1β).Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expressions of EGR3,podocytes molecular markers nephrosis 1(NPHS1),nephrosis 2(NPHS2),podocalyxin(PODXL),and podoplanin(PDPN).RNA-seq was performed to detect differentially expressed genes(DEGs)after human podocytes overexpressing EGR3 and treated with 150 μmol/L PA compared with the control group.Co-immunoprecipitation(Co-IP)combined with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS)was used to detect potential interacting proteins of EGR3 and the intersected with the RNA-seq results.Co-IP confirmed the interaction between EGR3 and protein arginine methyltransferases 1(PRMT1),after silencing EGR3 and PRMT1 inhibitor intervention,the secretion of IL-6 and IL-1β in PA-induced podocytes was detected.Western blotting was used to detect the expression of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(p-STAT3)after overexpression or silencing of EGR3. Results:EGR3 was significantly upregulated in renal cortex tissues of ORG patients and high-fat diet-induced obese mice(both P<0.01).In addition,after treating with 150 μmol/L PA for 48 hours,the expression of EGR3 in human and mouse podocytes was significantly upregulated(both P<0.05).Overexpression or silencing of EGR3 in human podocytes inhibited or promoted the secretion of IL-6 and IL-1β in the cell culture supernatant after PA intervention,respectively,and upregulated or downregulated the expression of NPHS1,PODXL,NPHS2,and PDPN(all P<0.05).RNA-seq showed a total of 988 DEGs,and Co-IP+LC-MS identified a total of 238 proteins that may interact with EGR3.Co-IP confirmed that PRMT1 was an interacting protein with EGR3.Furthermore,PRMT1 inhibitors could partially reduce PA-induced IL-6 and IL-1β secretion after EGR3 silencing in human podocytes(both P<0.05).Overexpression or silencing of EGR3 negatively regulated the expression of PRMT1 and p-STAT3. Conclusion:EGR3 may reduce ORG podocyte inflammatory damage by inhibiting the PRMT1/p-STAT3 pathway.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE), prognostic nutritional index (PNI) score, hepatic encephalopathy (HE) grading, and the integrated model for end-stage liver disease (iMELD) score in assessing the short-term (90-day) prognosis of patients with cirrhosis complicated by overt hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from 470 patients with cirrhosis and overt HE, and they were divided into survival group (n=359) and mortality group (n=111) based on their survival status 90 days after admission. The PNI and iMELD scores were calculated using patient demographics, blood routine tests, coagulation function, liver and renal function electrolyte levels, and serum NSE levels within 24 hours of admission, along with HE grading. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, multivariate Logistic regression analysis, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were employed to evaluate influencing factors of short-term prognosis of patients with cirrhosis and overt HE. Results The mortality group exhibited significantly higher serum NSE levels, HE grades, and iMELD scores, while demonstrated lower PNI score compared to the survival group (P < 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis identified serum NSE, PNI score, HE grade, and iMELD score as independent predictors of short-term prognosis. The areas under the curve (AUCs) for serum NSE, PNI score, HE grade, and iMELD score in predicting short-term prognosis were 0.727, 0.717, 0.721, and 0.728, respectively, with cut-off values of 12.23 ng/mL, 34.05 ng/mL, and 39.26 points for serum NSE, PNI score, and iMELD score. A combined prediction model of four factors demonstrated the highest predictive performance, with an AUC of 0.919 and a cut-off value of 0.23. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that patients with combined score of serum NSE, PNI score, HE grade, and iMELD cut-off value < 0.23 had a significantly higher 90-day survival rate compared to those with cut-off value≥0.23 (Log-Rank=265.567, P < 0.001). Conclusion Serum NSE, PNI score, HE grade, and iMELD score exhibit good value in predicting the short-term prognosis of patients with cirrhosis and overt HE, with an even higher predictive value when used in combination.

Objective:To analyze the detection rate of respiratory syncytial virus(RSV)and human rhinovirus(HRV), in different months and age groups, and the clinical characteristics in children in eastern Guangdong from 2019 to 2020.Methods:Pharyngeal swabs were collected from 6 658 children with respiratory tract infections hospitalized in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College from January 2019 to December 2020, and respiratory pathogen nucleic acid was detected.The detection rate, month distribution, age group distribution, and clinical characteristics of single RSV as well as single HRV positive cases were analyzed and compared.Results:There were 416 single RSV positive cases(6.25%)and 341 single HRV positive cases(5.12%).The detection rates of RSV was higher than those of HRV, and the difference was statistically significant( χ2=7.880, P<0.05).The detection rates of HRV in March, April, November and December were higher than those of RSV, and the detection rates of RSV in July, August and September were higher than those of HRV, with statistically significant difference( P<0.05).The highest detection rate of RSV was in the age group of ≤6 months with a detection rate of 13.47%(192/1 425), which gradually decreased with age, and the difference was statistically significant( P<0.01).The detection rates of HRV fluctuated between 4.21% and 6.13% in each age group, and the differences among the detection rates of each age group were not statistically significant( P>0.05).All RSV-positive cases showed cough, while 77.13%(263/341)of HRV-positive cases showed cough, with a statistically significant difference( P<0.001).The incidence of wheezing in RSV-positive cases was 37.26%(155/416)compared with 28.45%(97/341)in HRV-positive cases, with a higher incidence of wheezing in RSV than that in HRV, and the difference was statistically significant( P<0.05).In terms of indicators to assess severe pneumonia, RSV-positive cases showed a higher proportion of increased respiratory rate, decreased oxygen saturation or dyspnea than HRV-positive cases, and all differences were statistically significant( P<0.05). Conclusion:The detection rate of single RSV is higher than that of single HRV in children with respiratory infections in eastern Guangdong from 2019 to 2020.The epidemic season of RSV is mainly in autumn, and the epidemic season of HRV is mainly in winter and spring.RSV is more susceptible up to 6 months of age, and the detection rate decreases gradually with age, and there is no significant difference in the detection rate of HRV by age.RSV-positive cases are more likely to have cough and wheeze.RSV-positive cases are more likely to have increased respiratory rate, decreased oxygen saturation, or respiratory distress.

Objective: To investigate the role of Portulaca oleracea (POL) in promoting revascularization and re-epithelization as well as inhibiting iron aggregation and inflammation of deep tissue pressure injury (DTPI). Methods: The hydroalcoholic extract of POL (P) and aqueous phase fraction of POL (PD) were prepared based on maceration and liquid–liquid extraction. The number of new blood vessels and VEGF-A expression level were assessed using H&E stain and Western blot on injured muscle to examine the role of POL different extracts in vascularization. The iron distribution and total elemental iron of injured muscle were detected using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Perls’ staining to determine whether POL extracts can inhibit the iron accumulation. Besides, the ability of POL extracts to promote wound healing by combining re-epithelization time, inflammation degree and collagen deposition area were comprehensively evaluated. Results: In vitro, we observed a significant increase in HUVEC cell viability, migration rate and the number of the tube after P and PD treatment (P < 0.05). In vivo, administration of P and PD impacted vascularization and iron accumulation on injured tissue, evident from more new blood vessels, higher expression of VEGF-A and decreased muscle iron concentration of treatment groups compared with no-treatment groups (P < 0.05). Besides, shorter re-epithelization time, reduced inflammatory infiltration and distinct collagen deposition were associated with administration of P and PD (P < 0.05). Conclusion: POL extract administration groups have high-quality wound healing, which is associated with increased new blood vessels, collagen deposition and re-epithelization, along with decreased iron accumulation and inflammatory infiltration. Our results suggest that that POL extract is beneficial to repair injured muscle after ischemia–reperfusion, highlighting the potential of POL in the DTPI treatment.

Objective:To explore the value of radiographic assessment of lung edema (RALE) score in evaluating the severity and prognosis of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).Methods:A retrospective study was conducted. Patients with ARDS admitted to the department of intensive care unit (ICU) of Affiliated Nantong Third Hospital of Nantong University from January 2016 to November 2020 were enrolled. Clinical data of those patients were collected, and two senior radiologists who did not know the outcome of the patients independently scored each chest radiograph, the mean value of which was taken as the RALE score. The patients were divided into death group and survival group according to the 28-day prognosis. The differences of the basic data, PaO 2/FiO 2, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHEⅡ) score and RALE score between groups were analyzed. ARDS patients were classified according to the Berlin standard and RALE scores were compared between groups. Then, the correlations between RALE score and PaO 2/FiO 2, SOFA score, APACHEⅡ score were analyzed. The prognostic capacity of RALE score for 28-day prognosis of ARDS patients were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival curve. Results:Of the 98 ARDS patients, 62 were included in the final analysis, 39 patients survived and 23 patients died. The 28-day mortality was 37.1%. Compared with the survival group, patients in the death group were older (years old: 72.83±12.21 vs. 64.44±14.68), had lower PaO 2/FiO 2 [mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa): 122.66±48.32 vs. 150.26±50.40], and higher SOFA score and greater difference of RALE score between the third day and the first day after admission (D3-D1 RALE score) (SOFA score: 11.26±3.91 vs. 9.04±3.72, D3-D1 RALE score: 1.35±6.42 vs. -2.74±7.35), with statistically significant differences (all P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in gender, cause of ARDS, APACHEⅡ score, and RALE scores on the first and the third day of admission (D1 RALE, D3 RALE) between the two groups. Among the 62 patients, there were 11 mild cases (17.7%), 36 moderate cases (58.1%), and 15 severe cases (24.2%). The D1 RALE score of patients with mild and moderate ARDS were lower than those of patients with severe ARDS (19.09±3.65, 22.58±6.79 vs. 27.07±5.23, both P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that D1 RALE score was negatively correlated with PaO 2/FiO 2 ( r = -0.385, P = 0.002), and positively correlated with SOFA score and APACHEⅡ score ( r1 = 0.433, r2 = 0.442, both P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the 28-day survival rate of ARDS patients in D3-D1 RALE score ≥ -1 group was significantly higher than that in D3-D1 RALE score < -1 group (73.08% vs. 55.56%; log-rank test: χ 2 = 3.979, P = 0.046). Conclusions:The RALE score is a simple and reliable non-invasive evaluation index, which can be used to evaluate the severity of ARDS patients. The difference of RALE score in early stage is helpful to identify ARDS patients with poor prognosis.

The transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-B) is activated in hepatocytes in the pathogenesis of hepatic steatosis. However, the action mechanism of NF-B remains to be established in the hepatic steatosis. In this study, the subunit of NF-B was found to promote the hepatic steatosis through regulation of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) in hepatocytes. The activity was supported by the phenotypes of knockout (-KO) mice and knockout (-KO) mice. Hepatic steatosis was reduced in the -KO mice, but not in the -KO mice. The reduction was a result of inhibition of HDAC1 activity in the -KO cells. Knockdown of gene led to suppression of hepatocyte steatosis in HepG2 cells. A decrease in sterol-regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP1c) protein was observed in the liver of -KO mice and in cell with knockdown. The decrease was associated with an increase in succinylation of SREBP1c protein. The study suggests that stabilizes HDAC1 to support the SREBP1c activity in hepatic steatosis in the pathophysiological condition. Interruption of this novel pathway in the -KO, but not the -KO mice, may account for the difference in hepatic phenotypes in the two lines of transgenic mice.

Objective To evaluate and compare the consistency and repeatability of three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US) virtual organ computer-aided analysis (VOCAL) technique and two-dimensional ultrasound (2D-US) in the measurement of thyroid volume.Methods The thyroid volume of 50 healthy female adults aged 18 to 68 years were measured by 2D-US and 3D-US.The 2D-US was used to measure the three diameter lines (L,H,W) of the largest thyroid section,and the thyroid volume was calculated by the classical ellipsoid formula V=0.523×L×H×W.The 3D-US VOCAL technique was used to acquire the thyroid three-dimensional data,and VOCAL software was used to measure the thyroid volume.The two methods of measurement were also compared and analyzed.Results The coefficient of variation in the intra-assay was 0.738％ and 1.59％ respectively for the 3D-US VOCAL technology and traditional 2D-US measurement of thyroid volume,and the 95％ limit of agreement in the intra-assay was (-0.26 cm3,0.22 cm3) and (-0.32 cm3,0.46 cm3).In addition,the correlation coefficient in the inter-assay were 0.970xx and 0.942xx,and the 95％ limit of agreement were (-0.36 cm3,0.37 cm3) and (-0.75 cm3,0.64 cm3).To compare the two methods of measuring thyroid volume,the 3D-US VOCAL had a lower variation coefficient in the intra-assay,a higher correlation coefficient in the inter-assay and a narrower 95％ limit of agreement,which showed that the repeatability of the 3D-US VOCAL technique measuring was better than the traditional 2D-US in measuring thyroid volume.Conclusions The 3D-US VOCAL technique shows a higher repeatability in measuring thyroid than traditional 2D-US.As a safe,simple and feasible precise measurement method,it provides a reliable and effective new method for clinical measurement of irregular organ volume.