Objective To investigate and summarize the clinical and high-resolution computed tomography(HRCT) characteristics of invasive pulmonary fungal infections(IPFIs)in children.Methods Clinical and HRCT data of 35 cases with IPFIs admitted in our hospital between March 2007 and July 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.The clinical and HRCT characteristics were summarized.Results Thirty-five patients consisted of 23 boys and 12 girls with mean age of(3.2±1.9) years.Host factors included acute leukemia (n=12),primary immunodeficiency disease (n=4),congenital heart disease (n=2),cerebral palsy (n=2),severe influenza A infection (H1N1) (n=2),ichthyosis (n=1),acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(n=1),systemic lupus erythematous (n=1),tubercular meningitis(n=1),mechanical ventilation(n=2).All patients were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotic,ranking by descending order:third-generation cephalosporins (28 cases),carbapenems(19 cases)and vancomycin (18 cases).Seventeen cases were treated with corticosteroids systemically and 12 cases with acute leukemia took antineoplastic medicine.The symptoms of IPFIs were intermittent or persistent fever,cough and rales.HRCT results:nodules (n=25,71.4％),subpleural patchy opacities (n=24,68.6％),mass (＞3cm) (n=4,11.4％),halo sign (n=27,77.1％),cavities (n=8,22.9％),air crescent sign (n=4,11.4％),miliary nodules (n=2,5.7％),pleural effusion (n=14,40％).Conclusion There are certain specific characteristics of IPFIs in children in clinical and HRCT aspects.The possible diagnosis of IPFIs can be made based on clinical and HRCT features.

Objective To explore the effectiveness and safety of limited endoscopic sphincterotomy plus endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (ESBD)for patients with large common duct stones and periampul-lary diverticula (PAD).Methods Data of 40 patients with large common duct stones (diameter ≥10 mm) and PAD who underwent ESBD were retrospectively reviewed.The clinical feature,operation method,suc-cess rates of stone removal and early complications rates during hospitalization were evaluated according to PAD subtypes.Results The stone removal rate in first session was 90.0%(36 /40,with a median time of 29 minutes per procedure.Three patients underwent a second procedure to remove residual stones.The over-all stone removal rate was 97.5% (39 /40).The early complications rate was 15%(6 /40),including mild pancreatitis in two cases(5%),hyperamylasemia in two (5%),postoperative late bleeding in two (5%), which were cured with conservative treatment.No perforation,massive hemorrhage or death occurred.No significant differences in success stone removal rate and early complication rate were found between PAD sub-types.Conclusion ESBD is an effective and safe procedure for removing choledocholithiasis in patients with PAD,regardless of PAD subtypes.

Objective:To observe the rehabilitation effect of balance training relying on tilted table on diaphragmatic function of patients with prolonged disorder of consciousness (pDoC).Methods:A prospective study was performed. Thirty patients with pDoC were enrolled from Department of Hyperbaric Oxygen Medicine and Rehabilitation, General Hospital of Southern Theater Command of PLA from May to December 2023. The pateints were divided into study group ( n=15) and control group ( n=15) according to different rehabilitation. Patients from the control group received conventional rehabilitation, while those in the study group received passive balance training relying on tilted table in addition to conventional rehabilitation. Diaphragmatic ultrasound examination was performed before treatment, and 4 and 8 weeks after treatment to measure diaphragm excursion (DE), diaphragm thickening inspiration (DTei), diaphragm thickening expiration (DTee) and diaphragm thickening fraction (DTF) so as to assess the diaphragmatic functions of patients with pDoC. Results:During treatment, 2 patients dropped out from the study group resulting from the willing of the family members, ultimately including 13 and 15 patients in the study and control groups, respectively. (1) Between-group comparison: no significant difference in DE, DTei, DTee or DTF was noted between the study group and control group 4 weeks after treatment ( P>0.05). However, 8 weeks after treatment, the study group had statistically increased DE, DTei and DTF compared with the control group ([1.65±0.32] cm vs. [1.21±0.22] cm; [2.07±0.26] cm vs. [1.83±0.26] cm; and [24.39±3.19]% vs. [18.93±2.50]%). (2) Within-group comparison: both group had significantly increased DE 4 and 8 weeks after treatment compared with those before treatment ( P<0.05); in the study group, DE 8 weeks after treatment was significantly increased compared with that 4 weeks after treatment ( P<0.05). No significant difference in DTei, DTee or DTF was noted in both groups between 4 weeks after treatment and before treatment ( P>0.05). In the study group, DTei, DTee and DTF 8 weeks after treatment were significantly higher than those before treatment and 4 weeks after treatment ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Balance training relying on tilted table is feasible and effective in improving diaphragmatic function in patients with pDoC, and the effect is positively correlated with treatment time within a certain time.

Scutellaria baicalensis (S. baicalensis) and Scutellaria barbata (S. barbata) are common medicinal plants of the Lamiaceae family. Both produce specific flavonoid compounds, including baicalein, scutellarein, norwogonin, and wogonin, as well as their glycosides, which exhibit antioxidant and antitumor activities. Here, we report chromosome-level genome assemblies of S. baicalensis and S. barbata with quantitative chromosomal variation (2n = 18 and 2n = 26, respectively). The divergence of S. baicalensis and S. barbata occurred far earlier than previously reported, and a whole-genome duplication (WGD) event was identified. The insertion of long terminal repeat elements after speciation might be responsible for the observed chromosomal expansion and rearrangement. Comparative genome analysis of the congeneric species revealed the species-specific evolution of chrysin and apigenin biosynthetic genes, such as the S. baicalensis-specific tandem duplication of genes encoding phenylalanine ammonia lyase and chalcone synthase, and the S. barbata-specific duplication of genes encoding 4-CoA ligase. In addition, the paralogous duplication, colinearity, and expression diversity of CYP82D subfamily members revealed the functional divergence of genes encoding flavone hydroxylase between S. baicalensis and S. barbata. Analyzing these Scutellaria genomes reveals the common and species-specific evolution of flavone biosynthetic genes. Thus, these findings would facilitate the development of molecular breeding and studies of biosynthesis and regulation of bioactive compounds.
Evolution, Molecular ; Flavonoids/biosynthesis* ; Genome, Plant ; Plant Extracts/genetics* ; Scutellaria/metabolism* ; Whole Genome Sequencing