OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic potential of pseudolaric acid B (PAB) on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its underlying molecular mechanism in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Eight-week-old male C57BL/6J mice (n=32) were fed either a normal chow diet (NCD) or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks. The HFD mice were divided into 3 groups according to a simple random method, including HFD, PAB low-dose [10 mg/(kg·d), PAB-L], and PAB high-dose [20 mg/(kg·d), PAB-H] groups. After 8 weeks of treatment, glucose metabolism and insulin resistance were assessed by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT). Biochemical assays were used to measure the serum and cellular levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). White adipose tissue (WAT), brown adipose tissue (BAT) and liver tissue were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining or Oil Red O staining to observe the alterations in adipose tissue and liver injury. PharmMapper and DisGeNet were used to predict the NAFLD-related PAB targets. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) pathway involvement was suggested by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and search tool Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) analyses. Luciferase reporter assay, cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), and drug affinity responsive target stability assay (DARTS) were conducted to confirm direct binding of PAB with PPARα. Molecular dynamics simulations were applied to further validate target engagement. RT-qPCR and Western blot were performed to assess the downstream genes and proteins expression, and validated by PPARα inhibitor MK886. RESULTS: PAB significantly reduced serum TC, TG, LDL-C, AST, and ALT levels, and increased HDL-C level in HFD mice (P<0.01). Target prediction analysis indicated a significant correlation between PAB and PPARα pathway. PAB direct target binding with PPARα was confirmed through luciferase reporter assay, CETSA, and DARTS (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The target engagement between PAB and PPARα protein was further confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations and the top 3 amino acid residues, LEU321, MET355, and PHE273 showed the most significant changes in mutational energy. Subsequently, PAB upregulated the genes expressions involved in lipid metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis downstream of PPARα (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Significantly, the PPARα inhibitor MK886 effectively reversed the lipid-lowering and PPARα activation properties of PAB (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION PAB mitigates lipid accumulation, ameliorates liver damage, and improves mitochondrial biogenesis by binding with PPARα, thus presenting a potential candidate for pharmaceutical development in the treatment of NAFLD.
Animals ; PPAR alpha/metabolism* ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/pathology* ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects* ; Diterpenes/therapeutic use* ; Organelle Biogenesis ; Diet, High-Fat ; Humans ; Mice ; Liver/metabolism* ; Insulin Resistance ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Molecular Docking Simulation

The COVID-19 epidemic has spread to the whole world for three years and has had a serious impact on human life, health and economic activities. China's epidemic prevention and control has gone through the following stages: emergency unconventional stage, emergency normalization stage, and the transitional stage from the emergency normalization to the "Category B infectious disease treated as Category B" normalization, and achieved a major and decisive victory. The designated hospitals for prevention and control of COVID-19 epidemic in Tianjin has successfully completed its tasks in all stages of epidemic prevention and control, and has accumulated valuable experience. This article summarizes the experience of constructing a hospital infection prevention and control system during the "Category B infectious disease treated as Category A" period in designated hospital. The experience is summarized as the "Cluster" hospital infection prevention and control system, namely "three rings" outside, middle and inside, "three districts" of green, orange and red, "three things" before, during and after the event, "two-day pre-purification" and "two-director system", and "one zone" management. In emergency situations, we adopt a simplified version of the cluster hospital infection prevention and control system. In emergency situations, a simplified version of the "Cluster" hospital infection prevention and control system can be adopted. This system has the following characteristics: firstly, the system emphasizes the characteristics of "cluster" and the overall management of key measures to avoid any shortcomings. The second, it emphasizes the transformation of infection control concepts to maximize the safety of medical services through infection control. The third, it emphasizes the optimization of the process. The prevention and control measures should be comprehensive and focused, while also preventing excessive use. The measures emphasize the use of the least resources to achieve the best infection control effect. The fourth, it emphasizes the quality control work of infection control, pays attention to the importance of the process, and advocates the concept of "system slimming, process fattening". Fifthly, it emphasizes that the future development depends on artificial intelligence, in order to improve the quality and efficiency of prevention and control to the greatest extent. Sixth, hospitals need to strengthen continuous training and retraining. We utilize diverse training methods, including artificial intelligence, to ensure that infection control policies and procedures are simple. We have established an evaluation and feedback mechanism to ensure that medical personnel are in an emergency state at all times.

Objective To explore the feasibility of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy(RARP)in the treatment of highly suspected prostate cancer without biopsy,in order to provide reference for clinical practice.Methods This study included 82 patients with highly suspected prostate cancer treated in our hospital during Jan.2021 and Dec.2022.The patients were divided into the puncture group(n=41)and non-puncture group(n=41)with random number table method.All patients underwent RARP.Biopsy was performed before operation in the puncture group while no biopsy was performed in the non-puncture group.The main outcome indicators(diagnostic accuracy,complications,hospital stay,hospital costs,urinary control rate)and secondary outcome indicators(operation time,intraoperative blood loss,number of blood transfusion,catheter indwelling time,positive incisal margin,anxiety and depression scores before and after treatment)were compared between the two groups.Results All 41 cases(100％)in the puncture group were prostate cancer,and 40 cases(97.56％)in the no-puncture group were pathologically confirmed as prostate cancer.The non-puncture group had significantly lower perioperative complication rate(19.52％vs.2.50％),shorter operation time[(75.31±20.35)min vs.(60.25±10.64)min],less intraoperative blood loss[(141.25±30.45)mL vs.(111.45±33.58)mL],shorter hospital stay[(7.89±1.21)d vs.(5.13±1.02)d],lower total hospital costs[(4.12±0.56)ten thousand yuan vs.(2.61±0.43)ten thousand yuan],and lower anxiety and depression scores[(7.02±1.25)vs.(1.99±0.42);(7.05±1.31)vs.(1.95±0.38)](P＜0.05).The no-puncture group had slightly higher urinary control rate 1,6 and 12 months after treatment than the puncture group(75.00％vs.58.54％;87.50％vs.80.49％;95.00％vs.92.68％),but with no statistical significance(P＞0.05).Conclusion RARP is feasible in the surgical treatment of prostate cancer without biopsy,which can shorten the postoperative rehabilitation time,reduce the hospital costs,and alleviate the anxiety and depression of patients.

Objective To investigate the disease spectrum and pathogenic genes of inherited metabolic disorder(IMD)among neonates in Gansu Province of China.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the tandem mass spectrometry data of 286 682 neonates who received IMD screening in Gansu Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021.A genetic analysis was conducted on the neonates with positive results in tandem mass spectrometry during primary screening and reexamination.Results A total of 23 types of IMD caused by 28 pathogenic genes were found in the 286 682 neonates,and the overall prevalence rate of IMD was 0.63‰(1/1 593),among which phenylketonuria showed the highest prevalence rate of 0.32‰(1/3 083),followed by methylmalonic acidemia(0.11‰,1/8 959)and tetrahydrobiopterin deficiency(0.06‰,1/15 927).In this study,166 variants were identified in the 28 pathogenic genes,with 13 novel variants found in 9 genes.According to American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines,5 novel variants were classified as pathogenic variants,7 were classified as likely pathogenic variants,and 1 was classified as the variant of uncertain significance.Conclusions This study enriches the database of pathogenic gene variants for IMD and provides basic data for establishing an accurate screening and diagnosis system for IMD in this region.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of cattle encephalon glycoside and ignotin injection combined with reduced glutathione injection and levodopa and benserazide hydrochloride tablets in the treatment of elderly patients with Parkinson's disease complicated with mild cognitive impairment(PD-MCI).Methods Elderly patients with PD-MCI were randomly divided into control group and treatment group.Two groups were treated with levodopa and benserazide hydrochloride tablet for anti-Parkinson's disease therapy,and on this basis,the control group was given intravenous drip of reduced glutathione 1.2 g(qd),and the treatment group was given intravenous drip of cattle encephalon glycoside and ignotin injection 10 mL(qd)on the basis of the control group.Both groups of patients were treated continuously for 4 weeks.The clinical efficacy,serum regulated upon activation,normal T cell expressed and secreted(RANTES),α-synuclein(α-syn),brain-derived neurotrophic factor precursor protein(pro-BDNF),catalase(CAT),total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD),cognitive function and quality of life were compared between both groups,and the adverse drug reactions were observed.Results In treatment group,48 cases were enrolled but 3 cases were lost,thus 45 cases were finally included in the analysis.In control group,48 cases were enrolled but 6 cases were lost,thus 42 cases were included in the analysis.After treatment,the total effective rates in treatment and control groups were 93.33％(42 cases/45 cases)and 76.19％(32 cases/42 cases)respectively(P＜0.05).After treatment,RANTES levels in treatment group and control group were(25.57±4.62)and(30.29±4.92)pg·mL-1;α-syn levels were(3.08±0.76)and(3.74±1.09)μg·L-1;pro-BDNF levels were(144.65±17.54)and(182.26±15.75)ng·mL-1;CAT levels were(168.54±10.64)and(160.48±9.74)kU·L-1;T-SOD levels were(123.75±20.54)and(110.18±22.66)kU·L-1;Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale scores were(25.08±2.75)and(23.14±2.64)points;and 39-item Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire scores were(45.84±8.42)and(50.34±7.62)points,respectively.The differences of above indexes were statistically significant between two groups(all P＜0.05).The adverse drug reactions in treatment group were arrhythmia,dizziness,chills and gastrointestinal discomfort.The adverse drug reactions in control group were transient thrombocytopenia and arrhythmia.The total incidences of adverse drug reactions in treatment group and control group were 8.89％and 4.76％wthout significant difference(P＞0.05).Conclusion Cattle encephalon glycoside and ignotin injection combined with reduced glutathione injection and levodopa and benserazide hydrochloride tablets has exact clinical efficacy in the treatment of elderly patients with PD-MCI,and it can significantly enhance the neuroprotective and antioxidant effects and improve the cognitive function and quality of life of patients,and it does not increase the incidence rate of adverse drug reactions.

Patients with severe trauma require an extremely timely treatment and transfusion plays an irreplaceable role in the emergency treatment of such patients. An increasing number of evidence-based medicinal evidences and clinical practices suggest that patients with severe traumatic bleeding benefit from early transfusion of low-titer group O whole blood or hemostatic resuscitation with red blood cells, plasma and platelet of a balanced ratio. However, the current domestic mode of blood supply cannot fully meet the requirements of timely and effective blood transfusion for emergency treatment of patients with severe trauma in clinical practice. In order to solve the key problems in blood supply and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma, Branch of Clinical Transfusion Medicine of Chinese Medical Association, Group for Trauma Emergency Care and Multiple Injuries of Trauma Branch of Chinese Medical Association, Young Scholar Group of Disaster Medicine Branch of Chinese Medical Association organized domestic experts of blood transfusion medicine and trauma treatment to jointly formulate Chinese expert consensus on blood support mode and blood transfusion strategies for emergency treatment of severe trauma patients ( version 2024). Based on the evidence-based medical evidence and Delphi method of expert consultation and voting, 10 recommendations were put forward from two aspects of blood support mode and transfusion strategies, aiming to provide a reference for transfusion resuscitation in the emergency treatment of severe trauma and further improve the success rate of treatment of patients with severe trauma.

This study followed up the immune memory after 3-dose revaccination among infants with non-and low-response following primary hepatitis B (HepB) vaccination. About 120 children without self-booster doses were finally included who had anti-HBs<10 mIU/ml (anti-HBs negative) at the time of follow-up, of whom 86 children completed blood sampling and anti-HBs testing. Before the challenge dose, all 86 children were negative for anti-HBs, and the GMC of anti-HBs was<10 mIU/ml. The seropositive conversion rate of anti-HBs was 100% and the GMC of anti-HBs was 886.11 (95%CI: 678.15-1 157.84) mIU/ml after the challenge dose. Compared with those with GMC<7 mIU/ml before the challenge dose, infants with GMC>7 mIU/ml had a higher anti-HBs level after the challenge dose. The β value (95%CI) was 0.82 (0.18-1.46) (P=0.012). Compared with those with GMC<1 000 mIU/ml at primary vaccination, infants with GMC≥1 000 mIU/ml had a higher anti-HBs level after the challenge dose. The β value (95%CI) was 0.78 (0.18-1.38)(P=0.012). The results showed a stronger immune memory was found at 9 years after revaccination among infants with non-and low-response to HepB.
Child ; Humans ; Infant ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; Immunization, Secondary ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Immunologic Memory ; Follow-Up Studies ; Vaccination ; Hepatitis B/prevention & control* ; Hepatitis B Antibodies

Objectives: To investigated the safety and efficacy of treating patients with acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and elevated levels of N-terminal pro-hormone B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) with levosimendan within 24 hours of first medical contact (FMC). Methods: This multicenter, open-label, block-randomized controlled trial (NCT03189901) investigated the safety and efficacy of levosimendan as an early management strategy of acute heart failure (EMS-AHF) for patients with NSTEMI and high NT-proBNP levels. This study included 255 patients with NSTEMI and elevated NT-proBNP levels, including 142 males and 113 females with a median age of 65 (58-70) years, and were admitted in the emergency or outpatient departments at 14 medical centers in China between October 2017 and October 2021. The patients were randomly divided into a levosimendan group (n=129) and a control group (n=126). The primary outcome measure was NT-proBNP levels on day 3 of treatment and changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline on day 5 after randomization. The secondary outcome measures included the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in NT-proBNP levels from baseline, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during hospitalization and at 6 months after hospitalization, safety during the treatment, and health economics indices. The measurement data parameters between groups were compared using the t-test or the non-parametric test. The count data parameters were compared between groups using the χ² test. Results: On day 3, the NT-proBNP levels in the levosimendan group were lower than the control group but were statistically insignificant [866 (455, 1 960) vs. 1 118 (459, 2 417) ng/L, Z=-1.25,P=0.21]. However, on day 5, changes in the NT-proBNP levels from baseline in the levosimendan group were significantly higher than the control group [67.6% (33.8%,82.5%)vs.54.8% (7.3%,77.9%), Z=-2.14, P=0.03]. There were no significant differences in the proportion of patients with more than 30% reduction in the NT-proBNP levels on day 5 between the levosimendan and the control groups [77.5% (100/129) vs. 69.0% (87/126), χ²=2.34, P=0.13]. Furthermore, incidences of MACE did not show any significant differences between the two groups during hospitalization [4.7% (6/129) vs. 7.1% (9/126), χ²=0.72, P=0.40] and at 6 months [14.7% (19/129) vs. 12.7% (16/126), χ²=0.22, P=0.64]. Four cardiac deaths were reported in the control group during hospitalization [0 (0/129) vs. 3.2% (4/126), P=0.06]. However, 6-month survival rates were comparable between the two groups (log-rank test, P=0.18). Moreover, adverse events or serious adverse events such as shock, ventricular fibrillation, and ventricular tachycardia were not reported in both the groups during levosimendan treatment (days 0-1). The total cost of hospitalization [34 591.00(15 527.46,59 324.80) vs. 37 144.65(16 066.90,63 919.00)yuan, Z=-0.26, P=0.80] and the total length of hospitalization [9 (8, 12) vs. 10 (7, 13) days, Z=0.72, P=0.72] were lower for patients in the levosimendan group compared to those in the control group, but did not show statistically significant differences. Conclusions: Early administration of levosimendan reduced NT-proBNP levels in NSTEMI patients with elevated NT-proBNP and did not increase the total cost and length of hospitalization, but did not significantly improve MACE during hospitalization or at 6 months.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Simendan/therapeutic use* ; Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction ; Heart Failure/drug therapy* ; Peptide Fragments ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Biomarkers ; Prognosis

Objective: To investigate the effects and clinical significance of NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activated by interleukin (IL)-17A in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Methods: Patients underwent nasal endoscopic surgery in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2020 to December 2021 were collected, including 28 CRSwNP (including 19 males and 9 females, aged 19 to 67 years), 22 chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and 22 controls. qRT-PCR was used to detect the expressions of IL-17A, NLRP3, IL-1β and IL-18 in the three groups, and their correlations were analyzed. The positions of IL-17A, NLRP3 and IL-18 in nasal polys were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Western Blotting and ELISA were employed to detect the expression of NLRP3, IL-1β and IL-18 in the human nasal epithelial cells after using IL-17A stimulation or IL-17A receptor inhibitor. Immunofluorescence was used to observe the NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 protein expression after IL-17A stimulating human nasal epithelial cells, and after the use of IL-17A receptor inhibitor and NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950. The correlations between NLRP3, IL-1β, IL-18 and CT scores, nasal endoscopic scores, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, and sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT) 22 scores of CRSwNP patients were analyzed. SPSS 20.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: The expressions of IL-17A, NLRP3, IL-1β and IL-18 in the tissues of CRSwNP patients were significantly higher than those in CRSsNP group(P=0.018,P<0.001,P=0.005, P=0.016) and the control group(all P<0.001). IL-17A was positively correlated with the expression of NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18(r ralue was 0.643,0.650,0.629,respectively, all P<0.05). IL-17A, NLRP3, and IL-18 were co-localized in the epithelial propria of polyp tissue. IL-17A stimulated the expressions of NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 in human nasal epithelial cells. After the use of IL-17A receptor inhibitor, the expressions of NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18 were significantly down-regulated. After the use of NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950, IL-17A was significantly down-regulated to promote the expression of NLRP3, IL-1β, and IL-18. The expressions of NLRP3, IL-1β and IL-18 were positively correlated with CT, nasal endoscopy, VAS, and SNOT22 scores in patients with CRSwNP. Conclusions: IL-17A promotes the release of IL-1β and IL-18 by activating the NLRP3 inflammasome and aggravates the severity of the disease in CRSwNP.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Chronic Disease ; Clinical Relevance ; Inflammasomes ; Interleukin-17/metabolism* ; Interleukin-18 ; Nasal Polyps/metabolism* ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein ; Rhinitis/metabolism* ; Sinusitis/metabolism* ; Young Adult ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged

【Objective】 To compare the efficacy of transurethral columnar balloon dilation of the prostate (TUCBDP) and transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) in the treatment of small volume prostatic hyperplasia. 【Methods】 A total of 96 patients with small volume prostatic hyperplasia diagnosed in our hospital during Jan.2019 and Jan.2021 were enrolled and divided into the observation group and control group,with 48 patients in either group. The observation group received TUCBDP while the control group TURP. The International Prostate Symptom score (IPSS),Quality of Life Score (QOL), international index of erectile function-erectile function (IIEF-EF),maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax),postvoid residual urine (PVR) and maximum detrusor pressure (MDP) of the two groups were compared before surgery and 24 months after surgery. The surgery-related complications and occurrence of new or aggravated sexual dysfunction were observed. 【Results】 Both groups successfully completed the treatment. The operation time and indwelling catheterization time were shorter in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). The scores of QOL,IPSS and IIEF-EF,the levels of Qmax,PVR and MDP of both groups 24 months after surgery were significantly improved compared with those before surgery (P<0.05). The IPSS score of the observation group was lower than that of the control group 24 months after surgery (P<0.05),while the IIEF-EF score and Qmax of the observation group were higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). The incidences of surgery-related complications and new or aggravated sexual dysfunction were significantly lower in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.05). 【Conclusion】 TUCBDP is significantly effective in the treatment of small volume prostatic hyperplasia,showing greater advantages than TURP in improving postoperative IPSS,IIEF-EF score and Qmax,with higher safety.