Objective To investigate the relationship of TNF-αgene promoter 308 locus(TNF-α-308)polymorphism with the susceptibility and severity of central venous catheter-related sepsis(CRS). Methods One hundred and five CRS patients admitted in Kaihua People's Hospital from January 2015 to May 2017 were enrolled in the study.According to whether complicated with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS), they were divided into CRS complicated MODS group(n=34)and CRS non-MODS group(n=71).Meanwhile,210 patients with no catheter-related infection(case control group)and 105 healthy subjects(healthy control group)were also enrolled in the study.Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP)was used to genotype TNF-α-308, and the relationship of TNF-α-308 polymorphism with the susceptibility and severity of CRS was investigated.SPSS 16.0 was used to analyze the data.Results There were no significant differences in frequencies of GG, GA,AA genotypes and G,A allele of TNF-α-308 among CRS group,case control group and healthy control group(χ2=2.262 and 0.907,both P>0.05).Compared with CRS non-MODS group,case control group and healthy control group, the frequency of GG genotype was significantly lower and the frequencies of genotype GA and AA of TNF-α-308 were significantly higher in CRS MODS group(χ2=8.809,7.700 and 9.220,all P<0.05).Compared with CRS non-MODS group,case control group and healthy control group, the allele frequencies of G were significantly lower and allele frequency of A allele of TNF-α-308 was significantly higher in CRS MODS group(χ2=9.823, 8.624 and 7.654, all P<0.05).There were no significant differences in genotype frequency and allele frequencies of TNF-α-308(χ2=0.852 and 0.975, both P>0.05)among CRS non-MODS group and case control group,healthy control group(χ2=1.022 and 0.535,both P>0.05).The odds ratio of GA +AA genotype and A allele of TNF-α-308 in CRS MODS group were 2.664(95%CI 1.259-5.639)and 2.440(95%CI 1.326-4.490).Conclusion TNF-αgene promoter 308 locus polymorphism is not a predisposing factor for CRS, but may be associated with complication of MODS in CRS patients.

ObjectiveTo investigate the regulatory effect of Mankuining Formula （MKNF） on the gut microbiota and the NOD-like receptor （NLR）P3/Caspase-1/gasdermin D （GSDMD） pyroptosis pathway-mediated inflammation in dextran sulfate sodium （DSS）-induced ulcerative colitis （UC） mice. MethodSixty SPF C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into a blank group， a model group， a MKNF group （20 g·kg^-1）， and a mesalazine group （0.266 g·kg^-1）， with 15 mice in each group. The UC model was induced in mice by freely drinking a 3% DSS solution for 7 days. After 12 hours of modeling， the treatment groups received daily oral administration， while the other groups received an equal volume of normal saline by gavage. Daily body weight and disease activity index （DAI） were recorded. On the 8th day， mice were euthanized after anesthesia， and the colon and feces were collected. The colon length was measured， and histopathological changes were observed after hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and interleukin-18 （IL-18） levels in the colon were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The differences in gut microbiota among the groups were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing technology. The protein content of NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD in colon tissues was detected by Western blot. ResultCompared with the blank group， mice in the model group showed increased DAI （P<0.01）， shortened colon length （P<0.01）， severe colon mucosal damage， elevated levels of TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-18 （P<0.01）， increased protein content of NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD in colon tissues （P<0.01）， altered gut microbiota structure with decreased abundance of Actinobacteria， Bacteroidetes， and Proteobacteria， and increased abundance of Firmicutes at the phylum level. At the genus level， there was a decrease in Lactobacillus， Alloprevotella， and Yersinia， and an increase in Bacteroides， Bacillus， and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136. Compared with the model group， the MKNF group and the mesalazine group showed a significant reduction in DAI after the 3^rd day （P<0.01）， a significant increase in colon length （P<0.01）， alleviated colon inflammation and mucosal structural damage， and decreased TNF-α， IL-1β， and IL-18 levels in the colon （P<0.01）， reduced protein content of NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD in colon tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01），an increase in the abundance of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes， and a decrease in Firmicutes at the phylum level. ConclusionMKNF can alleviate UC-induced colonic inflammation， reduce colon damage， and improve dysbiosis of the gut microbiota by inhibiting the classical pyroptosis pathway.