Objective:To investigate the effect of Budesonide (BUD) on pulmonary vascular development and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and nucleotide binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) in newborn rats with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) caused by intrauterine infection.Methods:The 15-day-pregnant SD rats were divided into control group and infection group [intraperitoneal injection of 0.35 mg/(kg·d) lipopolysaccharide], and the newborn rats born by the above groups were divided into 3 groups: BUD group (0.5 mg of BUD suspension), normal control group (NC group, equal amount of 9 g/L saline), BPD group (equal amount of 9 g/L saline), with 40 rats in each group, all of them were inhaled twice a day for 14 days.Ten newborn rats were selected at birth, on the 3 rd, 7 th and 14 th day after administration.Pulmonary histopathological changes and radial alveolar counts (RAC) were observed after HE staining, and the thickness of alveolar respiratory membrane was measured; the platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1/CD 31) in lung tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the density of pulmonary microvessels was calculated; the expressions of VEGF, NLRP3 and Caspase-1 were detected by Western blot; and the levels of serum interleukin( IL)-1β and IL-18 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results:With the increase of day-old, the lung tissue of newborn rats in NC group was gradually developed and matured, the structure of alveoli was clear, the size was uniform, the count was significantly increased, and no obvious pathological changes were observed.In BPD group, the lung tissue structure was disordered, the alveoli were different in size and few in count, and inflammatory cells were exuded from the alveoli or the alveoli space.Compared with BPD group, the pathological changes of lung tissue in BUD group were significantly reduced.On the 3 rd, 7 th and 14 th day after administration, compared with NC group, the RAC, average integral optical density of CD 31 positive cells, density of pulmonary microvessel and level of VEGF protein in lung tissue of BPD group and BUD group were lower, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05); while the thickness of respiratory membrane, level of NLRP3, Caspase-1 proteins in lung tissue and serum levels of IL-1β, IL-18 were significantly higher, and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05). Compared with BPD group, the RAC, average integral optical density of CD 31 positive cells, density of pulmonary microvessel and level of VEGF protein in lung tissue of BPD group and BUD group were significantly higher, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05); while the thickness of respiratory membrane, level of NLRP3, Caspase-1 proteins in lung tissue and serum levels of IL-1β, IL-18 were significantly lower, and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The occurrence and development of pathological changes of BPD newborn rats caused by intrauterine infection can affect the development of pulmonary vessels through the inflammatory response of lung tissue.BUD can alleviate pathological changes in lung tissues of BPD newborn rats by reducing inflammatory reaction and up-regulating VEGF expression, promoting pulmonary vascular remodeling, and increasing pulmonary microvascular density.

Objective:To study disease spectrum and genetic profiles of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) among newborns in selected areas of Nanning city.Methods:From July 2019 to December 2021, neonates born and received IEM screening in our hospital were prospectively enrolled. Heel blood samples were tested using tandem mass spectrometry as IEM screening. Neonates with positive results were called back for recheck. Whole exome sequencing was used to detect possible pathogenic genes in suspected cases and IEM was diagnosed combining clinical manifestations. Sanger sequencing method was used for the diagnosed neonates and their parents to confirm the diagnoses.Results:A total of 16 207 live-birth neonates were enrolled. For initial IEM screening, 1 423 neonates were positive (8.8%) and 1 311 were called back (92.1%). 15 cases were suspected with IEM and 8 were diagnosed. The overall detection rate was 1∶2 026. Among 8 confirmed cases, 4 cases had amino acid metabolism disorders (2 cases of phenylketonuria, 1 case of Citrin deficiency and 1 case of tyrosinemia), 2 cases had organic acid metabolism disorders (1 case of methylmalonic acidemia and 1 case of glutaric acidemia) and 2 cases had fatty acid oxidation disorders (1 case of carnitine palmitotransferaseⅡdeficiency and 1 case of primary carnitine deficiency). 5 cases had homozygous genetic variants (2 in PAH, and 1 in SLC25A13, SLC22A5 and FAH, respectively) and 3 had heterozygous genetic variants (1 in CPT2, MUT, and GCDH, respectively). During follow-up, all 8 cases had normal growth and developmental outcomes after standardized treatment.Conclusions:The overall detection rate of IEM is high, with varied genetic profiles in selected areas of Nanning. Timely genetic testing may lead to early diagnosis and treatment and improve the quality of life of neonates.

Objective To assess the quality of reports and abstracts of randomized controlled trials ( RCT) of treating Alzheimer ’ s disease ( AD ) with Chinese herbal medicines.Methods The RCT reports were included from online search of database of PubMed and CNKI.Based on the Consolidating Standards for Reporting Trials ( CONSORT) checklists, supplementary checklists of herbal medicine in-tervention and requirements of medical design, the quality of studies were performed.Results Eleven reports in English and eighteen ones in Chinese published in general medical journals were included.The number of items in six reports (20.7%) was over 50%, while the mean items in Chinese was 10.94 (30%)and in English 20.27 (55%).Altogether nine reports (31%) got the Jadad score of three or above, while the mean Jadad score of reports in Chinese was 1.67 ±0.77 and in English was 2.61 ± 0.93.Seven reports(24.1%)got the score of 2.5 or above in checklists of herbal medicine intervention, in which in Chinese got the mean score of 1.58 ±0.39 and English got 2.61 ±0.93 .Zheng ( TCM syndrome) was reported only in one paper(3.4%)in Chinese, and comparison of the types between and after treatment was conducted.Conclusion The quality of reports in English was better than that in Chinese.The main problems in Chinese study reports existed in lacking of details of random design and blind design, insufficient treatment duration, improper positive drugs controlled and poorly targeted indi-ces selected.

Objective To explore the association between pattern changes and cognitive outcome in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods The study consisted of two parts: a cross-sectional survey and a follow-up.Adults with memory complaints aged 40 to 85 years were recruited.Participants were grouped into normal cognition (NC), mild cognitive impairment(MCI)and dementia.AD Patients were followed up over 24 weeks.The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Alzheimer's disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) were used for cognitive tests.Pattern diagnosis was made by using clinical global impression of change in syndrome(CGIC-S).Results 383 participants (100 NC, 120 MCI, 125 AD, and 38 other dementia) were recruited.73 AD patients were followed up;46 (63%) were retained at 24 weeks.The new scale had a Cronbach's alpha of 0.836 and interclass correlation coefficient of 0.652 (P<0.001).50 cases were selected for a test-retest analyses with 2 weeks' interval, Pearson r was 0.561 (P=0.004).Kidney deficiency and marrow deficiency were the only two pattern elements changed over time;the pre-post change was related to ADAS-cog change (r=0.401, P=0.003).Conclusion Kidney deficiency subscale should be a fairish test for pattern change in AD clinical trials.