Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of remimazolam combined with afentanyl for fiberoptic bronchoscopy.Methods:Sixty patients admitted to Chifeng Hospital for fiberbronchoscopy from January to April 2022 were selected and divided into two groups by random number table method: remimazolam group (group R) and propofol group (group P), 30cases in each group. After intravenous injection of alfentanil for anesthesia induction, group R was sedated by intravenous injection of remidazolam besylate, and group P was sedated by intravenous injection of propofol emulsion. When sufficient sedation was achieved, fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed. The patients were scored with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) before examination and before leaving the room. The recovery rate of sedation and the recovery rate of drugs during operation were compared. Blood pressure, heart rate (HR), bispectral index (BIS), SpO 2 value and Modified Observer′s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (MOAA/S) score were compared before induction (T 0), at the beginning of examination (T 1), immediately when fiber bronchoscope reached juga (T 2), at the end of surgery (T 3), immediately, when patients regained consciousness (T 4). Drug onset and recovery time (time out of hospital) as well as the incidence of intraoperative and postoperative adverse reactions were recorded in both groups. Results:There was no statistically significant difference in general condition, MMSE score and examination time between the two groups (all P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the success rate of sedation and the number of sedative remedy times (all P>0.05). The number of additional drugs in group R was significantly higher than that in group P ( P<0.05). The systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and BIS values of patients in group P at T 1 and T 2 were significantly lower than those in group R (all P<0.05). After administration, the MOAA/S score of the two groups began to decrease, and the decrease of the P group was significantly greater than that of the R group, and the MOAA/S value of the patients was the lowest at the 3rd and 4th minutes after administration, respectively. The time from the beginning of administration to the MOAA/S score ≤3 in group P was significantly shorter than that in group R (all P<0.05). The incidence of pain and respiratory depression after injection in group P was significantly higher than that in group R ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The application of afentanil combined with remimazolam in the patients undergoing fiberoptic bronchoscopy has good sedative effect and high anesthesia quality, and has no obvious effect on cognitive function and few adverse reactions, so it is safe and effective.

Candida albicans is the most abundant fungal species in oral cavity. As a smart opportunistic pathogen, it increases the virulence by switching its forms from yeasts to hyphae and becomes the major pathogenic agent for oral candidiasis. However, the overuse of current clinical antifungals and lack of new types of drugs highlight the challenges in the antifungal treatments because of the drug resistance and side effects. Anti-virulence strategy is proved as a practical way to develop new types of anti-infective drugs. Here, seven artemisinins, including artemisinin, dihydroartemisinin, artemisinic acid, dihydroartemisinic acid, artesunate, artemether and arteether, were employed to target at the hyphal development, the most important virulence factor of C. albicans. Artemisinins failed to affect the growth, but significantly inhibited the hyphal development of C. albicans, including the clinical azole resistant isolates, and reduced their damage to oral epithelial cells, while arteether showed the strongest activities. The transcriptome suggested that arteether could affect the energy metabolism of C. albicans. Seven artemisinins were then proved to significantly inhibit the productions of ATP and cAMP, while reduced the hyphal inhibition on RAS1 overexpression strain indicating that artemisinins regulated the Ras1-cAMP-Efg1 pathway to inhibit the hyphal development. Importantly, arteether significantly inhibited the fungal burden and infections with no systemic toxicity in the murine oropharyngeal candidiasis models in vivo caused by both fluconazole sensitive and resistant strains. Our results for the first time indicated that artemisinins can be potential antifungal compounds against C. albicans infections by targeting at its hyphal development.
Animals ; Mice ; Candida albicans ; Candidiasis, Oral/drug therapy* ; Antifungal Agents/pharmacology* ; Hyphae ; Artemisinins/pharmacology*

Objective:To evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture on the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)/PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin signaling pathway during acute kidney injury in endotoxemic rats.Methods:Twenty-four SPF healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 180-220 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=6 each) by a random number table method: control group(group C), endotoxemia group(group E), acupoint electroacupuncture+ endotoxemia group(group EE), and non-acupoint electroacupuncture+ endotoxemia group(group NE). The endotoxemia model was developed by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide 10 mg/kg. The equal volume of normal salinewas injected in group C. LPS 10 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected in group E. In group EE, 30-min electroacupuncture was performed at bilateral Zusanli and Shenshu acupoints using disperse-dense waves with a frequency of 2/15 Hz to induce slight muscle tremor once a day starting from 5 days before developing the model, and the needle was retained until 6 h after injection. Electroacupuncture was performed at the points 0.5 cm lateral to the acupoints of Zusanli and Shenshu in group NE. The rats were anesthetized at 6 h after lipopolysaccharide injection, and blood samples from the femoral vein were obtained for determination of the serum creatinine (Cr) and urea nitrogen (BUN) concentrations(with a biochemical analyzer) and concentrations of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipid transport protein (NGAL), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and kidney injury molecule-1(KIM-1) in serum (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Then the rats were sacrificed and kidney tissues were taken for determination of histological score of kidneys (HSK, using HE staining) and expression of HO-1, PINK1, Parkin, mitochondrial fusion protein 2(Mfn2), optic atrophy protein 1(OPA1) and mitochondrial dynamic-related protein 1 (Drp1) (by Western blot). Results:Compared with group C, serum concentrations of Cr, BUN, KIM-1, NGAL, IL-6 and TNF-α and HSK score of renal tissues were significantly increased, the expression of HO-1, PINK1, Parkin and Drp1 was up-regulated, and the expression of Mfn2 and OPA1 was down-regulated in E, EE and NE groups ( P<0.05). Compared with group E, serum concentrations of Cr, BUN, KIM-1, NGAL, IL-6 and TNF-α and HSK score of renal tissues were significantly decreased, and the expression of HO-1, PINK1, Parkin, Mfn2 and OPA1 was up-regulated, and Drp1 expression was down-regulated in group EE( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in group NE ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which electroacupuncture alleviates acute kidney injury is associated with activation of HO-1/PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway in endotoxemic rats.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of ozone preconditioning on splenic natural killer (NK) cells in septic mice.Methods:Twenty-four SPF-grade male C57BL/6 mice, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 18-22 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=6 each) according to the random number table method: control group (group C), lipopolysaccharide (LPS)group, ozone+ LPS group (O 3+ LPS) and air+ LPS group (Air+ LPS). The sepsis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of LPS 10 mg/kg. Ozone preconditioning was started at 5 days before developing the model: ozone 1 mg/kg was intraperitoneally injected once a day for 5 consecutive days, the equal volume of air was injected in Air+ LPS group. The survival was observed within 72 h after LPS injection, and sepsis score and ear temperature (once every 2 h, an average was calculated) were recorded. The posterior orbital venous blood samples were taken at 6 and 24 h after LPS injection for determination of serum interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) concentrations using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The spleen was then taken, and a single cell suspension of the spleen was prepared for measurement of the percentage of NK cells in the spleen by flow cytometry. Results:Compared with C group, the ear temperature, sepsis score and 72-h survival rate were significantly decreased, serum IFN-γ and IL-10 concentrations were increased at each time point after LPS injection, and the percentage of splenic NK cells was increased at 6 h after LPS injection and decreased at 24 h after LPS injection in LPS, Air+ LPS and O 3+ LPS groups ( P<0.05). Compared with LPS group, the ear temperature, sepsis score and 72-h survival rate were significantly increased, serum IFN-γ concentrations were decreased at each time point after LPS injection, serum IL-10 concentrations were increased at each time point after LPS injection, and the percentage of splenic NK cells was decreased at 6 h after LPS injection and increased at 24 h after LPS injection in O 3+ LPS group ( P<0.05), and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in Air+ LPS group ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The mechanism by which ozone preconditioning reduces sepsis may be related to reduction of inflammatory responses and regulation of splenic NK cell levels in septic mice.

Objective:The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 18 cases of Japanese spotted fever (JSF) in Zigui County were analyzed in order to improve the prevention and treatment of JSF.Methods:This is a case series analysis. The epidemiological and clinical data, laboratory tests and imaging characteristics of 18 JSF cases with median age of 60 years (54, 68) identified by The People′s Hospital of Zigui from April 2021 to August 2022 were collected and analyzed retrospectively.Results:Most (17/18) of the patients were farmers and all had a field exposure history. The patient′s onset was from April to October. Spring and autumn were the seasons with the highest incidence of JSF. The first symptoms of patients were high fever, headache, and fatigue. Of the 18 cases, 15 had a rash and 12 presented an eschar and 3 had neither rash nor eschar. In addition, 10 of 18 cases experienced edema of both lower extremities, and 3 got disturbance of consciousness. Laboratory tests found that 15 patients had abnormal white blood cells and 11 patients had decreased platelets. C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase, and alpha-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase were elevated in all patients; 13 patients with elevated alanine aminotransferase, 14 patients with elevated aspartate transamination. Kidney damage caused by Rickettsia japonica infection showed by abnormal proteinuria in 11 of the patients. Conclusions:The most common clinical manifestations of JSF are non-specific indications such as high fever, chills, fatigue, headache. The eschar and rash, which are the main features of Rickettsia infection, are not present in all patients, resulting delay of diagnosis or misdiagnosis. Medical workers should be more alert to rickettsial infections in patients with fever of unknown origin, especially in seasons of high incidence of spotted fever. Early diagnosis and correct antibiotic treatment shall be given according to the patient′s clinical manifestations, laboratory results and imaging test to control disease progression.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the effect of melatonin on postoperative sleep quality.Methods:Databases such as PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, China Biomedical Literature Database and China Science and Technology Journal Database were searched from inception to January 30, 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of melatonin versus placebo on postoperative sleep quality.The outcomes analyzed were visual analog scale (VAS) score, sleep quality scale score, subjective sleep scale score, St.Mary′s Hospital sleep questionnaires score, sleep latency, total sleep time, number and duration of awakenings, and incidence of postoperative sleep disturbance.Statistical analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.4 software and Stata 16 software, and the trial sequential analysis (TSA) was conducted using the TSA 0.9.5.10 Beta software. Results:Eleven RCTs involving 822 patients were finally enrolled, with 431 patients in melatonin group and 391 patients in placebo group.The results of meta-analysis showed that melatonin significantly decreased postoperative VAS and sleep quality scale scores, and increased the postoperative subjective sleep scale and St.Mary′s Hospital sleep questionnaires scores, a daily dose of melatonin 6 mg produced a better efficacy, and it also prolonged the postoperative total sleep time and decreased the incidence of postoperative sleep disorders ( P<0.05), However, it had no effect on postoperative sleep latency and the number and duration of awakenings ( P>0.05). The results of TSA showed that although the actual sample size did not reach the expected sample size, the accumulated Z value crossed the traditional boundary value and the TSA boundary value, which indicated that the results of this meta-analysis had stability and further confirmed the efficacy of melatonin in improving postoperative sleep quality. Conclusions:Melatonin can improve postoperative sleep quality and a daily dose of melatonin 6 mg exerts a better efficacy.

Objective:To investigate the association between occupational hazard exposures and small airway function among middle-aged and elderly people.Methods:From July to December in 2015, a multistage cluster random sampling method was used to select 3 600 residents aged 40 years old and above from 6 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease surveillance points in Jiangsu province. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect relevant information. Multivariable linear regression model was performed to determine the relationship between occupational hazard exposures and small airway function.Results:A total of 3 347 participants were included in the final analysis, and 44.6% of participants had been exposed to occupational hazard exposures. Compared with participants without the exposure history of occupational hazards, the significantly lower post-bronchodilator FEF 50%, FEF 75% and MMEF levels were observed in those with the exposure history of occupational hazards (β=-82.74, -55.43 and -91.57, respectively). Post-bronchodilator FEF 75% and MMEF (β=-51.78 and -79.47, respectively) in the participants with the exposure history of occupational dust and post-bronchodilator FEF 50%, FEF 75% and MMEF (β=-96.84, -32.87 and -75.72, respectively) in the participants with the exposure history of occupational harmful gas all showed a lower level. Post-bronchodilator FEF 75% was negatively associated with occupational hazard exposures in males (β male=-91.65 vs. β female=-27.21, P for interaction=0.022). Conclusions:The small airway function is worse in the middle-aged and elderly population with the exposure history of occupational hazards, and it is more significant in the male population.

Objective:To evaluate the performance and the accuracy of surgical robot for mandibular reconstruction based on intelligent surgical planning.Methods:115 CT scanning images of normal mandible (57 males, 48 females, 40.3±9.1 years old, from February 2010 to May 2019) and 115 CT scanning images of mandible with tumor (62 males, 53 females, 55.6±7.2 years old, from March 2008 to August 2019) from Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital were selected. The surgical robot system including work station, UR robot, optical navigation system, 6 dimensional force senor and surgical instrument. A 3D V-Net for mandible preoperational segmentation from CT scans was proposed and used to segment the mandible of a 54-year-old male patient who received mandible reconstruction with fibular flaps. The machine learning algorithm was used to aid surgical planning for maxillo-mandibular defect by detecting landmarks. The accuracy was defined as the distance between corresponding landmarks on the intact mandible. The robot could locate the target according to surgical planning and perform fibula osteotomy through force-motion control. The CT scanning of limb and head from the patient (male, 54 years old) was used for phantom experiments. 30 osteotomies on 5 3D-priented resin phantom were carried out. The pre- and post-operative images were compared to calculate the accuracy. The descriptive results were in the format of Mean±SD.Results:The average accuracy of V-Net for mandible segmentation was 96.581% and the time cost was less than 30 seconds. The average error of feature points on mandible was (2.24±1.74) mm. The residual length error was (1.02±0.45) mm and angle error was (0.96±0.42) degree in robotic-assisted osteotomy according to 3 cases of phantom experiments. The surgical robot could perform osteotomy safely and steadily within 15 min.Conclusions:Intelligent surgical planning can precisely segment the mandible and determine its landmarks. Robot for mandibular reconstruction can perform fibular osteotomy precisely with the pre-operative planning.

Allografts ; COVID-19 ; China/epidemiology* ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation/adverse effects* ; SARS-CoV-2

Objective:To evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on pyroptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells of rats with acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by endotoxin.Methods:Twenty-four healthy clean-grade Sprague-Dawley rats of either gender, aged 6-8 weeks, weighing 160-182 g, were divided into 4 groups ( n=6 each) using a random number table method: control group (group C), group AKI, EA plus AKI group (group EA), sham EA at non-acupoint plus AKI group (group SEA). The model of endotoxemia was established by intraperitoneally injecting 10 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide.Bilateral 30 min EA stimulation of Zusanli and Shenyu (according to atlas of animal acupoint) was performed starting from 5 days before establishing the model (once a day) and at 30 min before lipopolysaccharide administration on the day of establishing the model, with disperse-dense waves, frequency of 15 Hz, and the needle was kept until 6 h after injection of LPS in group EA.EA was performed at the points 0.5 cm lateral to the acupoints of Zusanli and Shenyu in group SEA.At 6 h after LPS injection, blood was taken from the heart, and the concentrations of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) were detected by an automatic biochemical analyzer, and the serum concentrations of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.The rats were then sacrificed, and the left renal cortex was obtained for determination of pyroptosis rate of renal tubular epithelial cells (by TUNEL). The right renal cortex was obtained to detect the expression of caspase-1 and IL-1β by Western blot, and the expression of caspase-1 mRNA and IL-1β mRNA was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results:Compared with group C, the concentrations of BUN, Cr, NGAL, KIM-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 were significantly increased, the pyroptosis rate of renal tubular epithelial cells was increased, the expression of caspase-1 and IL-1β protein and mRNA in the renal cortex was up-regulated in group AKI ( P<0.05). Compared with group AKI, the concentrations of BUN, Cr, NGAL, KIM-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 were significantly decreased, the pyroptosis rate of renal tubular epithelial cells was decreased, the expression of caspase-1 and IL-1β protein and mRNA in the renal cortex was down-regulated in group SEA ( P>0.05). Conclusion:The mechanism by which EA reduces AKI may be related to inhibiting pyroptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells of rats.