Objective To explore the dynamic changes of gut microbiota metabolites in septic patients following admission, as well as the correlations between these metabolites, the gut microbiota, and the prognosis of septic patients. Methods A total of 119 fecal samples were collected from 23 septic patients, 16 non-septic patients admitted to the Emergency Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and 20 healthy controls at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, from January to August 2019. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology was applied to analyze the microbiome, while ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was used for metabolomics research. The R software was used to analyze the gut microbiota and metabolite data. Based on 180-day survival status after admission, the sepsis group was divided into the survival group (n＝15) and the death group (n＝8) to analyze differential metabolites between the two groups. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to assess correlations between gut microbiota and metabolites. Results In the first week of ICU stay, gut microbiota metabolites such as nicotinic acid, methylsuccinic acid, and glutaric acid were significantly lower in septic patients than in healthy controls (P＜0.05), whereas tryptophan, histidine, valine, and pyroglutamic acid were higher in septic patients (P＜0.05). The methylsuccinic acid and phenylacetic acid levels in the first week were lower in the death group than those in the survival group (P＜0.05), and the levels of methylsuccinic acid, phenylacetic acid, and glutaric acid were lower in the third week (P＜0.05). Further analysis indicated that methylsuccinic acid was closely associated with sepsis prognosis. These differential metabolites involved in metabolic pathways such as phenylalanine metabolism and β-alanine metabolism. Most differential amino acids were positively correlated with opportunistic pathogens but negatively correlated with normal gut microbiota. Conversely, metabolites such as nicotinic acid, phenylacetic acid, methylsuccinic acid, and glutaric acid were negatively correlated with opportunistic pathogens and positively correlated with normal gut microbiota. Conclusions Significant dynamic changes occur in gut microbiota metabolites in septic patients, with methylsuccinic acid, phenylacetic acid, and glutaric acid potentially playing important roles in determining patient prognosis.

Solid-phase extraction(SPE)combined with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy(SERS)has emerged as a promising analytical technique for detection and analysis of trace components in complex sample matrices.SPE enriches analytes through selective adsorption and solvent elution,effectively increasing the concentration and signal intensity.SERS enables ultra-sensitive and highly selective molecular analysis through the use of SERS-active substrates engineered to amplify Raman signals.The integration of these two techniques overcomes the limitations of conventional Raman spectroscopy in low-concentration detection field,while significantly improving sample preparation efficiency and analytical accuracy.This review provided a comprehensive overview of the characteristics of three SPE-SERS coupling modes,including two-step,one-step,and online integration.Special emphasis was placed on recent advancements in one-step SPE-SERS approaches based on novel functional adsorbent materials such as graphene,metal-organic frameworks,covalent organic frameworks,and molecularly imprinted polymers.Furthermore,future directions and development prospects of SPE-SERS technology were discussed.

Programmed cell death is known to play a crucial role in host defense,with various cell death pathways having u-nique regulatory mechanisms.In recent years,further research into cell death pathways has revealed crosstalk and coordination among them,leading to the proposition of a new cell death path-way:PANoptosis.PANoptosis is believed to be an inflammatory form of programmed cell death regulated by the PANoptosome complex,possessing key features of pyroptosis,apoptosis,and ne-croptosis,and it cannot be solely characterized by any single mode of cell death.PANoptosis is involved in various diseases,such as infectious diseases and tumor-related conditions,where specific triggers can induce host cell death via the PANoptosis pathway.In-depth investigation of PANoptosis promises a better understanding of the complex regulatory network of cell death and may offer new therapeutic targets for diseases.This review provides an overview of the specific mechanisms underlying PANoptosis and its potential roles in various diseases such as cancer,infectious diseases,and cardiovascular disorders.

Programmed cell death is known to play a crucial role in host defense,with various cell death pathways having u-nique regulatory mechanisms.In recent years,further research into cell death pathways has revealed crosstalk and coordination among them,leading to the proposition of a new cell death path-way:PANoptosis.PANoptosis is believed to be an inflammatory form of programmed cell death regulated by the PANoptosome complex,possessing key features of pyroptosis,apoptosis,and ne-croptosis,and it cannot be solely characterized by any single mode of cell death.PANoptosis is involved in various diseases,such as infectious diseases and tumor-related conditions,where specific triggers can induce host cell death via the PANoptosis pathway.In-depth investigation of PANoptosis promises a better understanding of the complex regulatory network of cell death and may offer new therapeutic targets for diseases.This review provides an overview of the specific mechanisms underlying PANoptosis and its potential roles in various diseases such as cancer,infectious diseases,and cardiovascular disorders.

BACKGROUND:Disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC)is associated with increased mortality in sepsis patients.In this study,we aimed to assess the clinical ability of sepsis-induced coagulopathy(SIC)and sepsis-associated coagulopathy(SAC)criteria in identifying overt-DIC and pre-DIC status in sepsis patients. METHODS:Data from 419 sepsis patients were retrospectively collected from July 2018 to December 2022.The performances of the SIC and SAC were assessed to identify overt-DIC on days 1,3,7,or 14.The SIC status or SIC score on day 1,the SAC status or SAC score on day 1,and the sum of the SIC or SAC scores on days 1 and 3 were compared in terms of their ability to identify pre-DIC.The SIC or SAC status on day 1 was evaluated as a pre-DIC indicator for anticoagulant initiation. RESULTS:On day 1,the incidences of coagulopathy according to overt-DIC,SIC and SAC criteria were 11.7％,22.0％and 31.5％,respectively.The specificity of SIC for identifying overt-DIC was significantly higher than that of the SAC criteria from day 1 to day 14(P＜0.05).On day 1,the SIC score with a cut-off value＞3 had a significantly higher sensitivity(72.00％)and area under the curve(AUC)(0.69)in identifying pre-DIC than did the SIC or SAC status(sensitivity:SIC status 44.00％,SAC status 52.00％;AUC:SIC status 0.62,SAC status 0.61).The sum of the SIC scores on days 1 and 3 had a higher AUC value for identifying the pre-DIC state than that of SAC(0.79 vs.0.69,P＜0.001).Favorable effects of anticoagulant therapy were observed in SIC(adjusted hazard ratio[HR]=0.216,95％confidence interval[95％CI]:0.060-0.783,P=0.018)and SAC(adjusted HR=0.146,95％CI:0.041-0.513,P=0.003). CONCLUSION:The SIC and SAC seem to be valuable for predicting overt-DIC.The sum of SIC scores on days 1 and 3 has the potential to help identify pre-DIC.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prospective association between cumulative resting heart rate (cumRHR) and rapid renal function decline (RRFD) in a cohort of individuals aged 60 and older. METHODS: In the Tianjin Chronic Kidney Disease Cohort Study, the individuals who underwent three consecutive physical examinations between 2014 and 2017, with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) greater than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m² and aged 60 years or older were enrolled. A total of 27,564 patients were prospectively followed up from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2020. The 3-year cumRHR was calculated. The primary outcome was RRFD, defined as an annualized decline in eGFR of 5 mL/min per 1.73 m² or greater. Logistic and restricted spline regression models and subgroup analysis were used to investigate the association of cumRHR with RRFD after adjusting for all confounders. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 3.2 years, a total of 4,347 (15.77%) subjects developed RRFD. In fully-adjusted models, compared with the lowest quartile of cumRHR, the odds ratio (OR) for the highest was 1.44 (1.28-1.61), P < 0.001. Furthermore, each 1-standard deviation (27.97 beats/min per year) increment in cumRHR was associated with a 17% (P < 0.001) increased risk of RRFD, with a linear positive correlation (P for non-linear = 0.803). Participants with a 3-year cumRHR ≥ 207 (beats/min) * year (equivalent to ≥ 69 beats/min per year in 3 years) were found to be at a higher risk of RRFD. CONCLUSIONS The cumRHR is significantly associated with a higher risk of RRFD among older adults. These results might provide an effective goal for managing and delaying the decline of renal function in the older adults.

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of ultrasound-indicated cervical cerclage in twin pregnancies.Methods:This retrospective cohort study included 96 asymptomatic twin pregnancies with cervix length (CL)≤2.5 cm at 16-27 +6 weeks indicated by transvaginal ultrasound from January 2013 to May 2022 in Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital. They received either cervical cerclage (cerclage group, n=45) or conservative treatment (conservative group, n=51). The subgroup analysis was further performed after stratifying the subjects into the CL≤1.0 cm subgroup, the CL>1.0-≤1.5 cm subgroup, and the CL>1.5 cm subgroup. Two independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Chi-square test were used to compare the differences in the pregnancy and perinatal outcomes between different groups. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the impact of cervical cerclage on pregnancy outcomes of women with different CLs. Results:The average gestational age at delivery and the prolonged gestation were significantly greater in the cerclage group than those in the conservative group [35.9 (34.9-37.0) weeks vs 34.9 (29.1-36.1) weeks; 10.7 (9.6-13.1) weeks vs 8.7 (4.8-11.0) weeks, Z=－2.59 and -3.63, both P<0.05]. The incidences of preterm birth before 34 weeks and 28 weeks, chorioamnionitis, and preterm premature rupture of membrane were lower in the cerclage group than those in the conservative group [17.8% (8/45) vs 45.1% (23/51), χ2=8.16; 2.2% (1/45) vs 15.7% (8/51), Fisher' exact test; 8.9% (4/45) vs 25.5% (13/51), χ2=4.52; 15.6% (7/45) vs 33.3% (17/51), χ2=4.03; all P<0.05]. There were no statistically significant differences in the proportion of postpartum hemorrhage and live births between the two groups (both P>0.05). In the women with CL≤1.0 cm, the cerclage group had a greater gestational age at delivery [36.0 (34.8-37.3) weeks vs 34.9 (28.6-35.4) weeks, Z=－2.61, P=0.009], greater prolonged gestation [12.3 (9.7-13.9) weeks vs 7.3 (3.4-9.1) weeks, Z=－3.34, P=0.001], higher birthweight [2 430.0 (2 173.8-2 646.3) g vs 1 900.0 (1 372.5-2 435.0) g, Z=－3.06, P=0.002], lower incidence of adverse neonatal outcomes [16.7% (6/36) vs 36.7% (11/30), χ2=4.22, P=0.048] compared with the conservative group. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that cerclage reduced the risks of preterm birth before 34 and 32 weeks [ aOR (95% CI)=0.083 (0.009-0.790) and 0.092 (0.009-0.939), both P<0.05]. However, cerclage did not reduce the risk of preterm birth in women with CL>1.5 cm or CL>1.0-≤1.5 cm (both P>0.05). Conclusion:Ultrasound- indicated cervical cerclage can reduce the risk of preterm birth before 34 and 32 weeks, prolong pregnancy, and improve perinatal outcomes in asymptomatic twin pregnancies with CL≤1.0 cm.

Prunellae Spica is the dried spica of Prunella vulgaris belonging to Labiatae and it is widely used in pharmaceutical and general health fields. As a traditional Chinese medicine cultivated on a large scale, it produces a large amount of non-medicinal parts, which are discarded because they are not effectively used. To analyze the chemical constituents in the different samples from spica, seed, stem, and leaf of P. vulgaris, and explore the application value and development prospect of these parts, this study used ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupoles time of flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) to detect chemical constituents in different parts of P. vulgaris. As a result, 117 compounds were detected. Among them, 87 compounds were identified, including 32 phenolic acids, 8 flavonoids, and 45 triterpenoid saponins. Some new triterpenoid saponins containing the sugar chain with 4-6 sugar units were found. Further, multivariate statistical analysis was conducted on BPI chromatographic peaks of multiple batches of different parts, and the results showed that spica had the most abundant chemical constituents, including salviaflaside and linolenic acid highly contained in the seed and phenolic acids, flavonoids, and triterpenoid saponins in the stem and leaf. In general, the constituents in the spica were composed of those in the seed, stem, and leaf. UPLC was used to determine the content of 6 phenolic acids(danshensu, protocatechuic acid, protocatechuic aldehyde, caffeic acid, salviaflaside, and rosmarinic acid) in different parts. The content of other phenolic acids in the seed was generally lower than that in the spica except that of salviaflaside. The content of salviaflaside in the spica was higher than that in the stem and leaf, but the content of other phenolic acids in the spica was not significantly different from that in the stem. The content of protocatechuic aldehyde and caffeic acid in the spica was lower than that in the leaf. DPPH free radical scavenging method was used to detect the antioxidant activity of four parts, and there was no significant difference in the antioxidant activity between the spica and the stem and leaf, but that was significantly higher than the seed. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of these parts was correlated with the content of total phenolic acids. Based on the above findings, the stem and leaf of P. vulgaris have potential application value. Considering the traditional medication rule, it is feasible to use the whole plant as a medicine. Alternatively, salviaflaside, occurring in the seed, can be used as a marker compound for the quality evaluation of Prunellae Spica, if only using spica as the medicinal part of P. vulgaris, as described in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition).
Antioxidants/chemistry* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Prunella/chemistry* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Caffeic Acids ; Flavonoids/analysis* ; Triterpenes/analysis* ; Saponins ; Sugars

For a long time, the cultivation of medical students’ scientific research and innovation abilitymainly depends on scattered extracurricular scientific research activities. With limited students, unsystematic teaching and inadequate administrative guarantee, it often results in obvious weakness andinefficiency. Since 2002, the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology teaching team in Shantou UniversityMedical College has been working on a “3+X” model to nurture the scientific research and innovationability of medical students. Guided by the concepts of complementary development of science andeducation, student-centeredness, and Problem-based Learning, a model is established based on the‘HEART” professionalism courses and the academy culture specific to Shantou University. We also takefull advantage of the first-tier disciplines of biology, basic medicine and clinical medicine in ShantouUniversity and collaborate with other professional teaching teams. It is conceptualized in a framework thatembraces the comprehensive connotation of scientific research and innovation ability and adopts a corecurriculum system that runs through the 5-year medical undergraduate education. In this model, " 3" means " whole-person training", " whole-process training" and " omni-directional training" for medicalstudents; " X" refers to several confirmatory dimensions of the operational effectiveness of the " 3+X" model, including organizing medical students to participate in various forms of national college students’ innovative experimental research competitions, international college students’ academic seminars, writingand publishing academic papers by medical undergraduates as the first author, etc. The model proves tobe effective in cultivating the scientific research and innovation ability of medical students, hence settinga good example to solve the current problems in the cultivation of medical students’ scientific researchand innovation ability.

Objective:Evaluation of combined inflammatory and coagulation markers for early identification of DIC in septic patients.Methods:This study was a single-center, retrospective, observational study involving 356 patients with sepsis. Sepsis was defined by the diagnostic criteria of Sepsis version 3.0. Definition of DIC was from the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) DIC Score. Inflammatory biomarkers, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β,2R,6,8,10, etc. and biomarkers of coagulation, like platelet (PLT), international normalized ratio (INR), D-dimer, fibrinogen (Fib), etc. were included in this study.Results:Among 356 patients with sepsis, 301 patients did not develop DIC (non-DIC) during hospitalization, 32 patients had DIC on the day of admission (overt-DIC), and 23 patients developed DIC within 1 week of admission (pre-DIC). Compared to non-DIC patients, pre-DIC patients had lower platelet counts and fibrinogen ( P < 0.05), higher levels of INR and D-dimer ( P < 0.05), higher levels of cytokines (TNF-α、IL-1β、IL-2R、IL-8、IL-10) and procalcitonin ( P < 0.05), higher APACHEⅡ and SOFA scores ( P < 0.05). Using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis, we found that some biomarkers of coagulation and inflammation could discriminate pre-DIC from non-DIC patients. The area under the curve (AUC) of INR in the ROC analysis was 0.773 (95% CI: 0.696-0.851), the AUC of IL-2R was 0.700 (95% CI: 0.599-0.798) which is highest among inflammation markers, the highest AUC was obtained from the combination of platelets, INR, Fib, D-dimer and IL-2R (AUC = 0.843; 95% CI: 0.758-0.928). Kaplan-Meier survival curve suggested that high level of IL-2R (> 1064.5 U/mL) was a valuable predictor of 28-day mortality in septic patients. Conclusion:Inflammatory marker, IL-2R, is related to the occurrence of DIC in septic patients and has predictive value for pre-DIC. Combination of coagulation (platelets, INR, Fib, D-dimer) and inflammatory markers (IL-2R) can help to identify pre-DIC state in septic patients.