Systemic inflammation of cachexia is an important cause of high mortality of degenerative diseases such as ad-vanced cancer,and also the most important factor to aggravate the cachexia process.Systemic inflammation of cachexia has a profound impact on the proliferation and invasion of tumors and the catabolism of muscle and adipose tissue in patients with cachexia.In recent years,studies have shown that the dysfunction of gut microbiota during cachexia is an important cause of cachexia systemic inflamma-tion and a key therapeutic target.The dysfunctions of intestinal barrier mediated by gut microbiota and the translocation of bacterial tox-ins during the cachexia period are important causes of cachexia systemic inflammation.This article mainly summarized the relationship between gut microbiota and cachexia systemic inflammation,and summarized the mechanism of intestinal flora inducing cachexia sys-temic inflammation by regulating short chain fatty acids,lipopolysaccharide,flagellin,peptidoglycan and other substances,with a view to providing new ideas for the prevention and treatment of cachexia systemic inflammation from the perspective of intestinal flora.

Systemic inflammation of cachexia is an important cause of high mortality of degenerative diseases such as ad-vanced cancer,and also the most important factor to aggravate the cachexia process.Systemic inflammation of cachexia has a profound impact on the proliferation and invasion of tumors and the catabolism of muscle and adipose tissue in patients with cachexia.In recent years,studies have shown that the dysfunction of gut microbiota during cachexia is an important cause of cachexia systemic inflamma-tion and a key therapeutic target.The dysfunctions of intestinal barrier mediated by gut microbiota and the translocation of bacterial tox-ins during the cachexia period are important causes of cachexia systemic inflammation.This article mainly summarized the relationship between gut microbiota and cachexia systemic inflammation,and summarized the mechanism of intestinal flora inducing cachexia sys-temic inflammation by regulating short chain fatty acids,lipopolysaccharide,flagellin,peptidoglycan and other substances,with a view to providing new ideas for the prevention and treatment of cachexia systemic inflammation from the perspective of intestinal flora.

This study design of specific identification primers for the ITS2 sequence of F. ussuriensis. The reaction system and conditions were optimized, and PCR-nucleic acid test strips were constructed to realize the visual detection of F. ussuriensis Bark. Through molecular cloning and sequencing technology, we constructed a positive control for F. ussuriensis DNA and formulated quality standards. The established method was evaluated for sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility, and the authenticity of the commercially available samples was identified. Results demonstrated that based on the ITS2 sequences, F. ussuriensis and its mixed forgeries could be distinguished. The PCR products of the authentic F. ussuriensis on test strips showed two bands in the T and C lines, while the pseudo products and negative control showed only one band in the C line, which was consistent with the results of agarose gel electrophoresis. The specificity was 100%, and the sensitivity of the PCR-nucleic acid test strip was up to 0.1 ng·μL^-1, which was 10 times higher than that of the gel electrophoresis assay. 11 out of 16 commercially available samples of F. ussuriensis were qualified, and 5 were unqualified. Collectively, the PCR-nucleic acid test strip method established in this study is specific, rapid, accurate and visualized, which can provide a new technical idea for the detection of F. ussuriensis.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis(PM),and drug sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)isolates in Chinese children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical information,laboratory data,and microbiological data of 160 hospitalized children under 15 years old with PM from January 2019 to December 2020 in 33 tertiary hospitals across the country.Results Among the 160 children with PM,there were 103 males and 57 females.The age ranged from 15 days to 15 years,with 109 cases(68.1% )aged 3 months to under 3 years.SP strains were isolated from 95 cases(59.4% )in cerebrospinal fluid cultures and from 57 cases(35.6% )in blood cultures.The positive rates of SP detection by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing and cerebrospinal fluid SP antigen testing were 40% (35/87)and 27% (21/78),respectively.Fifty-five cases(34.4% )had one or more risk factors for purulent meningitis,113 cases(70.6% )had one or more extra-cranial infectious foci,and 18 cases(11.3% )had underlying diseases.The most common clinical symptoms were fever(147 cases,91.9% ),followed by lethargy(98 cases,61.3% )and vomiting(61 cases,38.1% ).Sixty-nine cases(43.1% )experienced intracranial complications during hospitalization,with subdural effusion and/or empyema being the most common complication[43 cases(26.9% )],followed by hydrocephalus in 24 cases(15.0% ),brain abscess in 23 cases(14.4% ),and cerebral hemorrhage in 8 cases(5.0% ).Subdural effusion and/or empyema and hydrocephalus mainly occurred in children under 1 year old,with rates of 91% (39/43)and 83% (20/24),respectively.SP strains exhibited complete sensitivity to vancomycin(100% ,75/75),linezolid(100% ,56/56),and meropenem(100% ,6/6).High sensitivity rates were also observed for levofloxacin(81% ,22/27),moxifloxacin(82% ,14/17),rifampicin(96% ,25/26),and chloramphenicol(91% ,21/23).However,low sensitivity rates were found for penicillin(16% ,11/68)and clindamycin(6% ,1/17),and SP strains were completely resistant to erythromycin(100% ,31/31).The rates of discharge with cure and improvement were 22.5% (36/160)and 66.2% (106/160),respectively,while 18 cases(11.3% )had adverse outcomes.Conclusions Pediatric PM is more common in children aged 3 months to under 3 years.Intracranial complications are more frequently observed in children under 1 year old.Fever is the most common clinical manifestation of PM,and subdural effusion/emphysema and hydrocephalus are the most frequent complications.Non-culture detection methods for cerebrospinal fluid can improve pathogen detection rates.Adverse outcomes can be noted in more than 10% of PM cases.SP strains are high sensitivity to vancomycin,linezolid,meropenem,levofloxacin,moxifloxacin,rifampicin,and chloramphenicol.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):131-138]

Objective To investigate the effect of Polyetheretherketone(PEEK)rod semi-rigid pedicle screw fixation sys-tem in lumbar spine non-fusion surgery.Methods A total of 74 patients with tow-level lumbar degenerative diseases who un-derwent surgery from March 2017 to December 2019 were divided into PEEK rod group and titanium rod group.In the PEEK rod group,there were 34 patients,including 13 males and 21 females,aged from 51 to 79 years old with an average of(62.4±6.8)years old;There were 1 patient of L1-L3 segments,7 patients of L2-L4 segments,20 patients of L3-L5 segments and 6 pa-tients of L4-S1 segments.In the titanium rod group,there were 40 patients,including 17 males and 23 females,aged from 52 to 81 years old with an average of(65.2±7.3)years old;There were 3 patient of L1-L3 segments,11 patients of L2-L4 segments,19 patients of L3-L5 segments and 7 patients of L4-S1 segments.The general conditions of operation,such as operation time,intraoperative blood loss,postoperative drainage was recorded.The visual analogue scale(VAS)for low back pain and Os-westry disability index(ODI)were compared in preoperatively and postoperatively(3 months,12 months and last follow-up)between two groups.The change of range of motion(ROM)was observed by flexion and extension x-ray of lumbar Results All patients successfully completed the operation.The follow-up time ranged from 22 to 34 months with an average of(26.8±5.6)months.The operative time(142.2±44.7)min and intraoperative blood loss(166.5±67.4)ml in PEEK group were lower than those in titanium group[(160.7±57.3)min、(212.8±85.4)ml](P＜0.05).There was no significant differences in postoperative drainage between the two groups(P＞0.05).At the final follow-up visit,in PEEK group and titanium group VAS of low back pain[(0.8±0.4)points vs(1.0±0.5)points],VAS for leg pain[(0.7±0.4)points vs(0.8±0.5)points]and ODI[(9.8±1.6)％vs(12.1±1.5)％]were compared with preoperative[(5.8±1.1)points vs(6.0±1.1)points],[(7.2±1.7)points vs(7.0±1.6)points],[(68.5±8.9)％vs(66.3±8.2)％]were significantly different(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in VAS scores between the two groups at each postoperative time point(P＞0.05).At 3 months after surgery,there was no difference in ODI between the two groups(P＞0.05).There were significant differences in ODI between PEEK group and titanium rod group at 12 months[(15.5±2.1)％vs(18.4±2.4)％]and at the last follow-up[(9.8±1.6)％vs(12.1±1.5)％](P＜0.05).The total range of motion(ROM)of lumbar decreased in both groups after surgery.At 12 months after surgery and the last follow-up,the PEEK group compared with the titanium rod group,the total range of motion of lumbar was statistically significant(P＜0.05).The range of motion(ROM)of the fixed segments decreased in both groups after surgery.The ROM of the fixed segments in PEEK group decreased from(9.5±4.6)° to(4.1±1.9)° at the last follow-up(P＜0.05),which in the titanium rod group was de-creased from(9.8±4.3)°to(0.9±0.5)° at the last follow-up(P＜0.05).The range of motion(ROM)of upper adjacent segment increased in both groups,there was statistical significance in the ROM of upper adjacent segment between the two groups at 12 months after surgery and the last follow-up,(P＜0.05).There was no screw loosening and broken rods in both groups during the follow-up period.Conclusion The PEEK rod semi-rigid pedicle screw internal fixation system used in lumbar non-fusion surgery can retain part of the mobility of the fixed segment,showing comparable short-term clinical efficacy to titanium rod fu-sion.PEEK rod semi-rigid pedicle screw internal fixation system is a feasible choice for the treatment of lumbar spine degener-ative diseases,and its long-term efficacy needs further follow-up observation.

AIM To investigate the effects of the Chinese medicine of Huangqi Jianzhong Decoction on excessive consumption of white adipose tissue (WAT) in a rat model of cardiac cachexia and the role of BMAL1/REV-ERBα circadian loop in WAT.METHODS Forty Dahl salt-sensitive rats were randomly divided into the control group,the normal circadian rhythm group,the normal circadian rhythm+Chinese medicine group,the mass recorded;their pathomorphological changes of WAT observed using HE and oil red staining;their UCP1 expression in WAT detected by immunohistochemistry;and their protein expression of HSL,PKA,p-PKA,BMAL1 and REV-ERBα in WAT detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the control group,the normal rhythm group showed decreased rat cardiac function and body weight (P<0.05);decreased positive area of oil red staining in WAT and the inner diameter of adipocytes (P<0.01);increased positive area of UCP1 protein (P<0.01),and increased expressions of HSL,PKA,p-PKA and REV-ERBαprotein in WAT as well (P<0.01).Compared with the normal rhythm group,the disrupted circadian rhythm group displayed decreased positive area of oil red staining of WAT and the inner diameter of adipocytes (P<0.05),increased expressions of HSL,PKA,p-PKA and REV-ERBαin WAT (P<0.05),and decreased BMAL1 protein expression (P<0.05).Upon both groups of normal rhythm and disrupted circadian rhythm,the intervention of Huangqi Jianzhong Decoction increased the positive area of oil red staining in WAT and the inner diameter of adipocytes (P<0.05),decreased the positive area of UCP1 protein (P<0.01),decreased the expressions of HSL,PKA,p-PKA and REV-ERBα protein in WAT (P<0.05),and increased the expression of BMAL1 protein (P<0.05).CONCLUSION Huangqi Jianzhong Decoction may alleviate the excessive WAT depletion in the rat model of cardiac cachexia through reduction in adipose tissue dialysis and browning of white adipocytes via regulation of the circadian rhythm genes of BMAL1/REV-ERBα.

AIM To investigate the effects of the Chinese medicine of Huangqi Jianzhong Decoction on excessive consumption of white adipose tissue (WAT) in a rat model of cardiac cachexia and the role of BMAL1/REV-ERBα circadian loop in WAT.METHODS Forty Dahl salt-sensitive rats were randomly divided into the control group,the normal circadian rhythm group,the normal circadian rhythm+Chinese medicine group,the mass recorded;their pathomorphological changes of WAT observed using HE and oil red staining;their UCP1 expression in WAT detected by immunohistochemistry;and their protein expression of HSL,PKA,p-PKA,BMAL1 and REV-ERBα in WAT detected by Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the control group,the normal rhythm group showed decreased rat cardiac function and body weight (P<0.05);decreased positive area of oil red staining in WAT and the inner diameter of adipocytes (P<0.01);increased positive area of UCP1 protein (P<0.01),and increased expressions of HSL,PKA,p-PKA and REV-ERBαprotein in WAT as well (P<0.01).Compared with the normal rhythm group,the disrupted circadian rhythm group displayed decreased positive area of oil red staining of WAT and the inner diameter of adipocytes (P<0.05),increased expressions of HSL,PKA,p-PKA and REV-ERBαin WAT (P<0.05),and decreased BMAL1 protein expression (P<0.05).Upon both groups of normal rhythm and disrupted circadian rhythm,the intervention of Huangqi Jianzhong Decoction increased the positive area of oil red staining in WAT and the inner diameter of adipocytes (P<0.05),decreased the positive area of UCP1 protein (P<0.01),decreased the expressions of HSL,PKA,p-PKA and REV-ERBα protein in WAT (P<0.05),and increased the expression of BMAL1 protein (P<0.05).CONCLUSION Huangqi Jianzhong Decoction may alleviate the excessive WAT depletion in the rat model of cardiac cachexia through reduction in adipose tissue dialysis and browning of white adipocytes via regulation of the circadian rhythm genes of BMAL1/REV-ERBα.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors related to renal impairment in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) from the perspective of integrated Chinese and Western medicine. METHODS: Totally 492 patients with DKD in 8 Chinese hospitals from October 2017 to July 2019 were included. According to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) staging guidelines, patients were divided into a chronic kidney disease (CKD) 1-3 group and a CKD 4-5 group. Clinical data were collected, and logistic regression was used to analyze the factors related to different CKD stages in DKD patients. RESULTS: Demographically, male was a factor related to increased CKD staging in patients with DKD (OR=3.100, P=0.002). In clinical characteristics, course of diabetes >60 months (OR=3.562, P=0.010), anemia (OR=4.176, P<0.001), hyperuricemia (OR=3.352, P<0.001), massive albuminuria (OR=4.058, P=0.002), atherosclerosis (OR=2.153, P=0.007) and blood deficiency syndrome (OR=1.945, P=0.020) were factors related to increased CKD staging in patients with DKD. CONCLUSIONS Male, course of diabetes >60 months, anemia, hyperuricemia, massive proteinuria, atherosclerosis, and blood deficiency syndrome might indicate more severe degree of renal function damage in patients with DKD. (Registration No. NCT03865914).
Humans ; Male ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Hyperuricemia ; Kidney ; Proteinuria ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/complications*

The East Asian scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK) is one of the classical traditional Chinese medicines for treating epilepsy for over a thousand years. Neurotoxins purified from BmK venom are considered as the main active ingredients, acting on membrane ion channels. Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) play a crucial role in the occurrence of epilepsy, which make them become important drug targets for epilepsy. Long chain toxins of BmK, composed of 60-70 amino acid residues, could specifically recognize VGSCs. Among them, α-like neurotoxins, binding to the receptor site-3 of VGSC, induce epilepsy in rodents and can be used to establish seizure models. The β or β-like neurotoxins, binding to the receptor site-4 of VGSC, have significant anticonvulsant effects in epileptic models. This review aims to illuminate the anticonvulsant/convulsant effects of BmK polypeptides by acting on VGSCs, and provide potential frameworks for the anti-epileptic drug-design.
Animals ; Anticonvulsants/therapeutic use* ; Neurotoxins/pharmacology* ; Scorpion Venoms/pharmacology* ; Scorpions/chemistry* ; Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels

Objective:To confirm the efficacy and safety of cinepazide maleate injection in acute ischemic stroke patients with obvious motor function deficit.Methods:This study is a subgroup analysis of multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase Ⅳ clinical trial. A total 812 patients of acute ischemic stroke with obvious limb motor deficit [motor function of limbs score in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≥4] were enrolled in this subgroup analysis. Patients received either cinepazide maleate injection or placebo. The treatment period was 14 days and follow-up was 90 days. The efficacy endpoints included the proportions of patients with a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≤2, mRS score ≤1 and Barthel Index <95 on day 90. Safety was evaluated by recording all adverse events, monitoring vital signs, laboratory parameters and electrocardiogram.Results:A total of 732 patients were involved in the final efficacy analysis (361 in cinepazide maleate group and 371 in control group). The baseline limb motor function score of NIHSS was 5.23±1.43 in the cinepazide maleate group whereas 5.20±1.36 in the control group. Logistic regression analysis showed that following treatment for 90 days, the proportion of patients with a mRS score ≤2 was significantly higher in the cinepazide maleate group than in the control group [56.0% (202/361) vs 44.2% (164/371), OR=0.60, 95% CI 0.44-0.82, P=0.002]. The proportion of patients with a mRS score ≤1 was higher in the cinepazide maleate group than in the control group [43.3% (139/361) vs 35.2% (118/371), OR=0.69, 95% CI 0.50-0.97, P=0.031]. The proportion of patients with a Barthel Index <95 on day 90 was significantly lower in the cinepazide maleate group than in the control group [45.2% (145/361) vs 55.2% (185/371), OR=0.64, 95% CI 0.46-0.88, P=0.007]. During the treatment and follow-up period, the incidence of the most common adverse events in the cinepazide maleate group was 50.4% (199/395). Constipation and abnormal liver function were more common, but there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion:Cinepazide maleate injection is superior to placebo in improving neurological function and activities of daily living, reducing disability, and promoting functional recovery and safe in patients with acute ischemic stroke with obvious limb motor deficit.