Microbial detection and control of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) decoction pieces are crucial for the quality control of TCM preparations. It is also a key area of research in the measurement technology and equipment development for TCM manufacturing. Guided by TCM manufacturing measurement methodologies, this study presented a design of a novel portable microbial detection device, using Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma decoction pieces as a demonstration. Immunomagnetic separation technology was employed for specific isolation and labeling of target microorganisms. Enzymatic signal amplification was utilized to convert weak biological signals into colorimetric signals, constructing an optical biosensor. A self-developed smartphone APP was further applied to analyze the colorimetric signals and quantify target concentrations. A portable and automated detection system based on Arduino microcontroller was developed to automatically perform target microbial separation/extraction, as well as mimetic enzyme labeling and catalytic reactions. The developed equipment specifically focuses on the rapid and quantitative microbial analysis of TCM active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates in TCM manufacturing, and final TCM products. Experimental results demonstrate that the equipment could detect Salmonella in samples within 2 h, with a detection limit as low as 5.1 × 10~3 CFU·mL~(-1). The equipment enables the rapid detection of microorganisms in TCM decoction pieces, providing a potential technical solution for on-site rapid screening of microbial contamination indicators in TCM. It has broad application prospects in measurement technology for TCM manufacturing and offers strong technical support for the modernization, industrialization, and intelligent development of TCM.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/analysis* ; Atractylodes/microbiology* ; Rhizome/microbiology* ; Biosensing Techniques/methods* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Colorimetry/instrumentation* ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immediate effect of Kuanxiong Aerosol (KXA) on perioperative coronary microcirculation in patients with unstable angina (UA) suffering from elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: From February 2021 to July 2023, UA inpatients who underwent PCI alone in the left anterior descending (LAD) branch were included. Random numbers were generated to divide patients into the trial group and the control group at a ratio of 1:1. The index of coronary microcirculation resistance (IMR) was measured before PCI, and the trial group was given two sprays of KXA, while the control group was not given. IMR was measured again after PCI, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB (CK-MB) were detected before and 24 h after surgery, and major cardiovascular adverse events (MACEs) were recorded for 30 days. The data statistics and analysis personnel were blinded. RESULTS: Totally 859 patients were screened, and 62 of them were involved into this study. Finally, 1 patient in the trial group failed to complete the post-PCI IMR and was excluded, 30 patients were included for data analysis, while 31 patients in the control group were enrolled in data analysis. There was no significant difference in baseline data (age, gender, risk factors, previous history, biochemical index, and drug therapy, etc.) between the two groups. In addition, differences in IMR, cTnI and CK-MB were not statistically significant between the two groups before surgery. After PCI, the IMR level of the trial group was significantly lower than that of the control group (19.56 ± 14.37 vs. 27.15 ± 15.03, P=0.048). Besides, the incidence of perioperative myocardial injury (PMI) was lower in the trial group, but the difference was not statistically significant (6.67% vs. 16.13%, P=0.425). No MACEs were reported in either group. CONCLUSIONS KXA has the potential of improving coronary microvascular dysfunction. This study provides reference for the application of KXA in UA patients undergoing elective PCI. (Registration No. ChiCTR2300069831).
Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Male ; Microcirculation/drug effects* ; Female ; Angina, Unstable/physiopathology* ; Pilot Projects ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Aerosols ; Troponin I/blood* ; Coronary Circulation/drug effects* ; Elective Surgical Procedures

Lassa virus(LASV),a member of Arenaviridae family,is the cause of severe acute hemorrhagic fever,known as Lassa fever,which has an overall fatality rate of 1％,but up to 15％in hospitalized patients.LASV is mainly endemic in West Africa.At present,there is no approved drug or vaccine for LASV,and treatment is limited to ribavirin in the early dis-ease stage.Although some drugs have entered the clinical stage,most have been studied in cellular and animal models.Accord-ing to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,LASV is a Class A pathogen due to a high mortality rate and limited treatment options.The World Health Organization has identified Lassa fever as a top priority for research and development.This article reviews recent progress in the development of LASV inhibitors.

Aim To investigate the mechanism of py-roptosis mediated by the NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway and the intervention effect of Radix Angelica Sinensis and Radix Astragalus ultrafiltration extract(RAS-RA)in radiation-induced pulmonary fi-brosis.Methods Fifty Wistar rats were randomly di-vided into five groups,with ten rats in each group.Ex-cept for the blank control group,all other groups of rats were anesthetized and received a single dose of 40 Gy X-ray local chest radiation to establish a radiation-in-duced pulmonary fibrosis rat model.After radiation,the rats in the RAS-RA intervention groups were orally administered doses of 0.12,0.24 and 0.48 g·kg-1 once a day for 30 days.The average weight and lung index of the rats were observed after 30 days of contin-uous administration.Hydroxyproline(HYP)content in lung tissue was determined by hydrolysis method.The levels of IL-18 and IL-1 β in serum were detected by ELISA.Lung tissue pathological changes were ob-served by HE and Masson staining.Ultrastructural changes in lung tissue were observed by transmission e-lectron microscopy.The expression levels of NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD pyroptosis pathway-related proteins and fibrosis-related proteins in lung tissue were detec-ted by Western blot.Results Compared with the blank group,the HYP content in lung tissue and the levels of IL-18 and IL-1 β in serum significantly in-creased in the model group(P＜0.01).HE and Mas-son staining showed inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen fiber deposition.Transmission electron mi-croscopy revealed increased damaged mitochondria,disordered arrangement,irregular morphology,shallow matrix,outer membrane rupture,mostly fractured and shortened cristae,mild expansion,increased electron density of individual mitochondrial matrix,mild sparse structure of lamellar bodies,partial disorder,unclear organelles,and characteristic changes of pyroptosis.Western blot analysis showed increased expression of caspase-1,GSDMD,NLRP3,CoL-Ⅰ,α-SMA,and CoL-Ⅲ proteins(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the RAS-RA intervention group showed signifi-cant improvement in body mass index and lung index of rats,decreased levels of IL-18 and IL-1 β inflammatory factors(P＜0.01),improved mitochondrial structure,reduced degree of fibrosis,and decreased expression of caspase-1,GSDMD,NLRP3,COL-Ⅰ,COL-Ⅲ,and α-SMA proteins in lung tissue(P＜0.01).Conclusion RAS-RA has an inhibitory effect on radiation-in-duced pulmonary fibrosis,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of pyroptosis through the regu-lation of the NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the application value of ultrasound technology in transurethral enucleation and resection of the prostate(TUERP).Methods:This study included 78 BPH patients admitted in our hospital from June 2021 to June 2023,aged 70.68±8.63 years and with the indication of surgery.We randomly divided them into two groups to receive TUERP(the control group,n=39)and ultrasound-assisted TUERP(the US-TUERP group,n=39).We statistically analyzed and compared the rele-vant parameters obtained before and after operation between the two groups.Results:No statistically significant differences were ob-served in the operation time and bladder irrigation time between the two groups(P>0.05).More glandular tissues were removed but less intraoperative bleeding and fewer perioperative complications occurred in the US-TUERP group than in the control.Compared with the baseline,IPSS,postvoid residual urine volume(PVR),quality of life score(QOL)and maximum urinary flow rate(Qmax)were significantly improved in both groups at 1 and 3 months after surgery,even more significantly in the US-TUERP than in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:US-TUERP helps achieve complete resection of the hyperplastic prostatic tissue along the surgical capsule at the anatomical level,with a higher safety,fewer perioperative complications,and better therapeutic effects.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and efficiency of China-made Toumai Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prosta-tectomy(LRP).Methods:This study included 40 cases of PCa treated from January 2023 to May 2023 by robot-assisted LRP with preservation of the bladder neck and maximal functional urethral length,15 cases with the assistance of Toumai Robot(the TMR group)and the other 25 with the assistance of da Vinci Robot as controls(the DVR group).We recorded the docking time,laparo-scopic surgery time,vesico-urethral anastomosis time,intraoperative blood loss and postoperative urinary continence,and compared them between the two groups.Results:Operations were successfully completed in all the cases.No statistically significant differ-ences were observed between the TMR and DVR groups in the docking time(6 min vs 5 min,P＞0.05)or intraoperative blood loss(200 ml vs 150 ml,P＞0.05).The TMR group,compared with the DVR group,showed a significantly longer median laparoscopic surgery time(146 min vs 130 min,P＜0.05)and median vesico-urethral anastomosis time(19 min vs 16 min,P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant differences between the TMR and DVR groups in the rates of urinary continence recovery immediately af-ter surgery(60.0％[9/15]vs 64.0％[16/25],P＞0.05)or at 1 month(80.0％[12/15])vs(76.0％[19/25],P＞0.05),3 months(93.3％[14/15])vs(92.0％[23/25],P＞0.05)and 6 months postoperatively(100％[15/15])vs(96％[24/25],P＞0.05).Conclusion:China-made Toumai? Robot surgical system is safe and reliable for laparoscopic radical prosta-tectomy,with satisfactory postoperative recovery of urinary continence.

Objective:To explore the application of modified scrotoscopic surgery(MSS)in the treatment of testicular hydro-cele.Methods:We selected 45 cases of testicular hydrocele for this study,22 treated by traditional scrotoscopic surgery(TSS)and the other 23 by MSS,which was performed with a pin-shaped electrode bent inward at an angle of 60° instead of a circular electrode used in TSS.We recorded the general clinical data,operation time,incision length,intraoperative injury,incision infection,scrotal e-dema,postoperative hospital stay and postoperative Visual Analogue Scale(VAS)scores of the patients and compared them between the two groups.Results:There was no statistically significant difference in the general clinical data between the two groups(P＞0.05).Compared with the patients of the TSS group,those of the MSS group showed significantly shorter operative time([32.86±3.80]vs[26.13±2.81]min,P＜0.05),incision length([14.09±2.23]vs[8.73±1.48]mm,P＜0.05)and postopera-tive hospital stay([4.36±1.05]vs[2.00±0.90]d,P＜0.05),and achieved remarkably lower VAS scores on postoperative days 1(4.41±1.05 vs 3.09±0.79,P＜0.05),2(3.36±1.05 vs 2.78±1.13,P＜0.05),3(2.65±0.72 vs 1.74±0.86,P＜0.05)and 7(1.91±0.81 vs 1.04±0.82,P＜0.05).At 3 and 7 days after surgery,scrotal edema was markedly mil-der in the MSS than in the TSS group(P＜0.05).No testicular or epididymal damage,or wound infection occurred in either of the two groups.Conclusion:MSS is safe and effective in the treatment of testicular hydrocele,superior to TSS for its advantages of shorter operation time,smaller surgical incision,less postoperative pain and milder scrotal edema.

Background and aim:Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury(IRI)is a significant challenge in liver trans-plantation,trauma,hypovolemic shock,and hepatectomy,with limited effective interventions available.This study aimed to investigate the role of leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2(LECT2)in hepatic IRI and assess the therapeutic potential of Lect2-short hairpin RNA(shRNA)delivered through adeno-associated virus(AAV)vectors. Materials and methods:This study analyzed human liver and serum samples from five patients under-going the Pringle maneuver.Lect2-knockout and C57BL/6J mice were used.Hepatic IRI was induced by clamping the hepatic pedicle.Treatments included recombinant human LECT2(rLECT2)and AAV-Lect2-shRNA.LECT2 expression levels and serum biomarkers including alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),creatinine,and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)were measured.Histological analysis of liver necrosis and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction were performed. Results:Serum and liver LECT2 levels were elevated during hepatic IRI.Serum LECT2 protein and mRNA levels increased post reperfusion.Lect2-knockout mice had reduced weight loss;hepatic necrosis;and serum ALT,AST,creatinine,and BUN levels.rLECT2 treatment exacerbated weight loss,hepatic necrosis,and serum biomarkers(ALT,AST,creatinine,and BUN).AAV-Lect2-shRNA treatment significantly reduced weight loss,hepatic necrosis,and serum biomarkers(ALT,AST,creatinine,and BUN),indicating thera-peutic potential. Conclusions:Elevated LECT2 levels during hepatic IRI increased liver damage.Genetic knockout or shRNA-mediated knockdown of Lect2 reduced liver damage,indicating its therapeutic potential.AAV-mediated Lect2-shRNA delivery mitigated hepatic IRI,offering a potential new treatment strategy to enhance clinical outcomes for patients undergoing liver-related surgeries or trauma.

Objective To investigate the causal relationship between obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)and hypertension using bidirectional Mendelian randomization(MR).Methods Genetic data for OSA were obtained from the Genome-wide association study(GWAS)of FinnGen Biobank,including 16 761 cases and 201 194 controls,from which 5 single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)were screened as instrumental variables(IVs)for OSA.Genetic data for hypertension were obtained from GWAS of UK Biobank,including 124 227 cases and 337 653 controls from which 214 SNPs were selected as IVs for hypertension.Multiple MR methods,mainly Inverse variance weighted(IVW),were used for analysis.Sensitivity analysis of MR results was performed using MR-Egger regression et al,and IVs were evaluated using F values.Results OSA was associated with an increased risk of hypertension(OR=1.053,95%CI 1.019-1.089,P<0.01),and hypertension was significantly associated with the risk of developing OSA(OR=1.812,95%CI 1.354-2.425,P<0.001).Heterogeneity was observed in both two-way outcomes(OSA→ hypertension,P<0.001;hypertension→ OSA,P<0.001),but no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy was detected(OSA→ hypertension,P=0.666;hypertension→ OSA,P=0.556).The IVs selected in this study were strong instrumental variables for both OSA and hypertension(OSA-IVs F=14.695;hypertension-IVs F=39.624).Conclusions Our findings indicate a bidirectional causal relationship between OSA and hypertension,with a particularly significant effect of hypertension on the development of OSA.

Objective To explore the incidence and risk factors of perioperative ischemic stroke in non-cardiac and non-neurosurgical surgeries and its correlation with preoperative risk assessment of cerebrovascular events,so as to guide perioperative risk management.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 40 patients aged≥18 years who underwent non-cardiac and non-neurosurgical surgeries and experienced perioperative ischemic stroke in the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology from January 2015 to January 2022,forming the stroke group.A control group of 160 patients without perioperative ischemic stroke was selected in a 1:4 case-control ratio,matched for gender,age,date of operation,and the surgeon.Clinical data and preoperative risk assessment of cerebrovascular events(including the single or combined application of head CT/MRI,transcranial Doppler ultrasound,carotid ultrasound,and neurological consultation)of the two groups of patients were collected and statistically analyzed.Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors associated with perioperative ischemic stroke.Results The incidence of perioperative ischemic stroke was 0.042%.Multiple logistic analysis results showed that hypertension(OR=7.858,95%CI 2.175-28.388,P=0.002),hyperlipidemia(OR=4.457,95%CI 1.320-15.049,P=0.016),renal insufficiency(OR=8.277,95%CI 1.480-46.282,P=0.016),and intraoperative hypotension(OR=3.862,95%CI 1.211-12.317,P=0.022)were independent risk factors for perioperative ischemic stroke in non-cardiac and non-neurological surgeries;preoperative cerebrovascular risk assessment(OR=0.130,95%CI 0.031-0.542,P=0.005)was a protective factor against it.Conclusions The incidence of perioperative ischemic stroke in non-cardiac and non-neurosurgical surgery is low but has a poor prognosis.Hypertension,hyperlipidemia,renal insufficiency,and postoperative hypotension are risk factors for perioperative ischemic stroke,while preoperative cerebrovascular event risk assessment is beneficial to reducing its incidence.