AIM: To investigate the influence of relevant inflammatory markers in peripheral blood on the progression of neovascular glaucoma(NVG)secondary to diabetic retinopathy(DR)patients.METHODS: Retrospective case-control study. Patients were categorized into two groups based on the presence or absence of NVG: those with proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)alone(PDR group, n=148)and those with NVG secondary to PDR(NVG secondary to PDR group, n=142). Peripheral blood inflammatory markers were evaluated, including white blood cell-related indices, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio(PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio(MLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index(SII). The distinctions in peripheral blood inflammatory markers between the two groups of patients and their relationships with NVG secondary to PDR were analyzed.RESULTS:No statistically significant differences were observed in basic characteristics between the two groups, confirming their comparability. However, significant differences were found in eosinophil percentage and MLR between the PDR group and the NVG secondary to PDR group(all P<0.05), with both values being significantly higher in the NVG secondary to PDR group. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that the eosinophil percentage and the MLR were factors influencing the development of patients with NVG secondary to PDR.CONCLUSION: Eosinophil percentage and MLR may be associated with the progression of PDR to NVG, and could serve as potential predictive markers for NVG development in PDR patients.

With the continuous advancement and innovation in medical equipment technology, the transition between high-flow oxygen therapy, non-invasive ventilation, and invasive ventilation can be easily achieved by adjusting the ventilation mode of ventilators. During the weaning phase for tracheotomized patients, it is necessary to disconnect the ventilator circuit, change the ventilator mode, and gradually extend the weaning time to achieve complete ventilator liberation. During the weaning process, due to patients' excessive dependence on the ventilator, there may be situations where respiratory endpoints and Y-connectors of the ventilator are reconnected for invasive ventilation. However, during the weaning process, the Y-connector and expiratory end connectors are exposed to the air, which cannot ensure the tightness of the ventilator circuit, easily increasing the probability of ventilator circuit contamination and subsequently the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). To overcome these issues, the research team of department of critical care medicine of Zhongda Hospital Southeast University has designed a ventilator circuit interface protective device for weaning and has obtained a National Utility Model Patent of China (ZL 2023 2 1453385.8). The main body of the protective device is a Y-connector plug, consisting of multiple components, including a sealing piece, a protective cover, a sealing plug, an interface 1 (connects with the patient's tracheal tube), an interface 2 (connects with the respiratory branch of the ventilator), and an interface 3 (connects with the expiratory branch of the ventilator), featuring a unique design and easy operation. During the patient's weaning training process, the interface 1 and interface 2 is disconnected from the patient's tracheal tube and respiratory branch, respectively. The interface 1 is plugged with a stopper, and the interface 2 is covered with a protective cover to ensure the tightness of the expiratory branch and Y-connector of the ventilator. During the period when the patient is using the ventilator, the protective cover and plug are removed, and connecting them together ensures the tightness of the device itself, reducing the incidence of VAP caused by ventilator circuit contamination, avoiding nosocomial infections, and shortening the prolonged use of invasive ventilation, increased complication rate, extended hospital stay, and increased medical cost associated with weaning.
Humans ; Ventilator Weaning/methods* ; Equipment Design ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Respiration, Artificial/instrumentation* ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated/prevention & control*

Objective To investigate the cardiac protective effect of Taohong Tongluo granules on coronary microvascular dysfunction(CMD)rats.Methods SD rats were randomly assigned to sham-operated group,CMD group,nicorandil group(5 mg/kg),or Taohong Tongluo granule group(50 mg/kg).Animals were administered corresponding drugs for 7 d according to the grouping,and the CMD model was prepared 2 h after the last administration.The rat CMD model was induced by injecting embolization microspheres(diameter 40-120 μm,approximately 1 000 microspheres)into the left ventricular cavity.Twenty-four hours after modeling,echocardiography was performed to measure the left ventricular ejection fraction(EF),fractional shortening(FS),and end-diastolic volume(EDV).The damaged myocardial area was assessed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC)staining.Myocardial morphological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(H-E)staining.The protein expression levels of NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing protein 3(NLRP3),apoptosis-associated speck-like protein(ASC),and cysteine aspartic acid specific protease(caspase)-1 in rat myocardial tissue were detected by immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting.Results Echocardiography showed that the EF and FS values in the Taohong Tongluo granule group,CMD group,and nicorandil group were significantly lower than those in the sham-operated group(all P＜0.001).The EF and FS values in the Taohong Tongluo granule group and nicorandil group were significantly higher than those in the CMD group(all P＜0.01).However,there were no significant differences in EDV among the groups(all P＞0.05).H-E staining showed no abnormalities in the myocardium in the sham-operated group.The CMD group exhibited microsphere embolism in the myocardium,myocardial cell dissolution and rupture,and inflammatory infiltration.The lesions in the nicorandil group and the Taohong Tongluo granule group were relatively milder,and the number of thrombi in both groups was lower than that in the CMD group(both P＜0.01).The results of TTC staining indicated that the areas of damaged myocardial regions in both the nicorandil group and the Taohong Tongluo granule group were smaller than that in the CMD group(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Moreover,the area in the Taohong Tongluo granule group was smaller than that in the nicorandil group(P＜0.05).The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that in the CMD model,the expression of ASC and caspase-1 proteins,as well as the number of positive cells for these proteins,was increased and was distributed in myocardial and interstitial cells.The numbers of ASC and caspase-1 positive cells in the Taohong Tongluo granule group were lower than that in the CMD group(both P＜0.01).The Western blotting showed that the expression levels of NLRP3,ASC,and caspase-1 proteins in the Taohong Tongluo granule group were all lower than those in the CMD group(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Taohong Tongluo granules can improve cardiac function,ameliorate hemodynamic parameters,and reduce myocardial infarction area in rats with CMD induced by microsphere embolism.The mechanism is related to the inhibition of myocardial inflammasome activation,thereby attenuating the myocardial injuries.

Objective: To analyze the bioinformatics of domestic Clostridium difficile toxin B(TcdB) and prepare it to provide data support for the development of effective vaccines. Methods: Using bioinformatics software such as Snippy, Blast, Muscle, and the dist.alignment() and hclust() functions in R, 1 355 strains of Clostridium difficile from NCBI GenBank in China were compared and analyzed, and TcdB were grouped. The maximum likelihood tree and phylogenetic tree were beautified and displayed using iTOL. An online bioinformatics analysis website was used to predict and analyze the spatial structure and antigenic epitopes of the two largest subgroups, TcdB1 and TcdB2. The antigen protein TcdB was expressed and purified by prokaryotic system. Results: According to the genotype of toxin B, the 1 355 prevalent strains of Clostridium difficile in China could be roughly divided into 12 subtypes, among which TcdB1 and TcdB2 were the main subtypes, accounting for more than 93.94% of all isolated strains, and about 17.20% of the strains were nontoxigenic or lack TcdB. The antigen epitope prediction of TcdB1 and TcdB2 showed that their antigen epitope distributions were basically the same, and many of them were distributed outside the C-terminal combined repetitive oligopeptides domains. Conclusion A specialized typing system for C. difficile TcdB in China has been established, and its main subtypes have been predicted for antigenic epitopes. The screened TcdB has been expressed for recombinant preparation.

Objective:To explore the mechanism of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma in treatment of Alzheimer's Disease(AD).Methods:The active ingredients and targets of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma for treatment of AD were screened with network pharmacology methods,the protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed and the core targets were analyzed.Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathways enriching analysis was performed.The peripheral blood lymphocytes were extracted and lymphoblastoid cell lines(LCL)were constructed and an in vitro cell model of LCL-SKNMC was established.MTT and CCK-8 methods were used to quantify SKNMC/LCL cells,2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate(DCFH-DA)probe was used to detect reactive oxygen species(ROS),and immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the generation of Aβ1-42 in a co-cultured model.Western blotting was used to detect protein expression in the co-culture model.The lifespan of N2 nematodes was observed under oxidative stress,normal state,and heat stress;ROS generated by N2 nematodes was detected by DCFH-DA probes.The paralysis time of CL4176 N2 nematodes was evaluated by paralysis assay,and Aβ deposition in the pharynx was detected by Thioflavin S staining.Results:Through network pharmacology,15 potential active ingredients and 103 drug-disease targets were identified.PPI analysis showed that the Anemarrhenae Rhizoma might play anti-AD roles through albumin,Akt1,tumor necrosis factor,epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA),mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR),amyloid precursor protein(APP)and other related targets.KEGG analysis showed that the pharmacological effects of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma might involve the biological processes of Alzheimer's disease,endocrine resistance,insulin resistance;and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction,phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)-Akt signaling pathway,calcium signaling pathway,AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetes complications,neurotrophic factor signaling pathway and others.The in vitro cell experiments showed that Anemarrhenae Rhizoma was able to reduce the production of ROS and Aβ1-42(both P<0.01),inhibit the expression of β-secretase 1(BACE1),APP and Aβ1-42 proteins(all P<0.05),up-regulate the expression of p-PI3K/PI3K,p-AKT/AKT,p-GSK3β/GSK3β in SKNMC cells(all P<0.05).The in vivo studies further confirmed that Anemarrhenae Rhizoma prolonged the lifespan of C.elegans under stress and normal conditions,reduced the accumulation of ROS and the toxicity of Aβ deposition.Conclusion:Anemarrhenae Rhizoma may reduce the production of Aβ in AD and inhibit its induced oxidative stress,which may be achieved by regulating the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway.

Objective:To explore the mechanism of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma in treatment of Alzheimer's Disease(AD).Methods:The active ingredients and targets of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma for treatment of AD were screened with network pharmacology methods,the protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed and the core targets were analyzed.Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathways enriching analysis was performed.The peripheral blood lymphocytes were extracted and lymphoblastoid cell lines(LCL)were constructed and an in vitro cell model of LCL-SKNMC was established.MTT and CCK-8 methods were used to quantify SKNMC/LCL cells,2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate(DCFH-DA)probe was used to detect reactive oxygen species(ROS),and immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the generation of Aβ1-42 in a co-cultured model.Western blotting was used to detect protein expression in the co-culture model.The lifespan of N2 nematodes was observed under oxidative stress,normal state,and heat stress;ROS generated by N2 nematodes was detected by DCFH-DA probes.The paralysis time of CL4176 N2 nematodes was evaluated by paralysis assay,and Aβ deposition in the pharynx was detected by Thioflavin S staining.Results:Through network pharmacology,15 potential active ingredients and 103 drug-disease targets were identified.PPI analysis showed that the Anemarrhenae Rhizoma might play anti-AD roles through albumin,Akt1,tumor necrosis factor,epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA),mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR),amyloid precursor protein(APP)and other related targets.KEGG analysis showed that the pharmacological effects of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma might involve the biological processes of Alzheimer's disease,endocrine resistance,insulin resistance;and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction,phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)-Akt signaling pathway,calcium signaling pathway,AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetes complications,neurotrophic factor signaling pathway and others.The in vitro cell experiments showed that Anemarrhenae Rhizoma was able to reduce the production of ROS and Aβ1-42(both P<0.01),inhibit the expression of β-secretase 1(BACE1),APP and Aβ1-42 proteins(all P<0.05),up-regulate the expression of p-PI3K/PI3K,p-AKT/AKT,p-GSK3β/GSK3β in SKNMC cells(all P<0.05).The in vivo studies further confirmed that Anemarrhenae Rhizoma prolonged the lifespan of C.elegans under stress and normal conditions,reduced the accumulation of ROS and the toxicity of Aβ deposition.Conclusion:Anemarrhenae Rhizoma may reduce the production of Aβ in AD and inhibit its induced oxidative stress,which may be achieved by regulating the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway.

Objective:To explore the mechanism of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma in treatment of Alzheimer's Disease(AD).Methods:The active ingredients and targets of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma for treatment of AD were screened with network pharmacology methods,the protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed and the core targets were analyzed.Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathways enriching analysis was performed.The peripheral blood lymphocytes were extracted and lymphoblastoid cell lines(LCL)were constructed and an in vitro cell model of LCL-SKNMC was established.MTT and CCK-8 methods were used to quantify SKNMC/LCL cells,2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate(DCFH-DA)probe was used to detect reactive oxygen species(ROS),and immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the generation of Aβ1-42 in a co-cultured model.Western blotting was used to detect protein expression in the co-culture model.The lifespan of N2 nematodes was observed under oxidative stress,normal state,and heat stress;ROS generated by N2 nematodes was detected by DCFH-DA probes.The paralysis time of CL4176 N2 nematodes was evaluated by paralysis assay,and Aβ deposition in the pharynx was detected by Thioflavin S staining.Results:Through network pharmacology,15 potential active ingredients and 103 drug-disease targets were identified.PPI analysis showed that the Anemarrhenae Rhizoma might play anti-AD roles through albumin,Akt1,tumor necrosis factor,epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA),mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR),amyloid precursor protein(APP)and other related targets.KEGG analysis showed that the pharmacological effects of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma might involve the biological processes of Alzheimer's disease,endocrine resistance,insulin resistance;and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction,phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)-Akt signaling pathway,calcium signaling pathway,AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetes complications,neurotrophic factor signaling pathway and others.The in vitro cell experiments showed that Anemarrhenae Rhizoma was able to reduce the production of ROS and Aβ1-42(both P<0.01),inhibit the expression of β-secretase 1(BACE1),APP and Aβ1-42 proteins(all P<0.05),up-regulate the expression of p-PI3K/PI3K,p-AKT/AKT,p-GSK3β/GSK3β in SKNMC cells(all P<0.05).The in vivo studies further confirmed that Anemarrhenae Rhizoma prolonged the lifespan of C.elegans under stress and normal conditions,reduced the accumulation of ROS and the toxicity of Aβ deposition.Conclusion:Anemarrhenae Rhizoma may reduce the production of Aβ in AD and inhibit its induced oxidative stress,which may be achieved by regulating the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway.

Objective:To explore the mechanism of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma in treatment of Alzheimer's Disease(AD).Methods:The active ingredients and targets of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma for treatment of AD were screened with network pharmacology methods,the protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed and the core targets were analyzed.Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathways enriching analysis was performed.The peripheral blood lymphocytes were extracted and lymphoblastoid cell lines(LCL)were constructed and an in vitro cell model of LCL-SKNMC was established.MTT and CCK-8 methods were used to quantify SKNMC/LCL cells,2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate(DCFH-DA)probe was used to detect reactive oxygen species(ROS),and immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the generation of Aβ1-42 in a co-cultured model.Western blotting was used to detect protein expression in the co-culture model.The lifespan of N2 nematodes was observed under oxidative stress,normal state,and heat stress;ROS generated by N2 nematodes was detected by DCFH-DA probes.The paralysis time of CL4176 N2 nematodes was evaluated by paralysis assay,and Aβ deposition in the pharynx was detected by Thioflavin S staining.Results:Through network pharmacology,15 potential active ingredients and 103 drug-disease targets were identified.PPI analysis showed that the Anemarrhenae Rhizoma might play anti-AD roles through albumin,Akt1,tumor necrosis factor,epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA),mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR),amyloid precursor protein(APP)and other related targets.KEGG analysis showed that the pharmacological effects of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma might involve the biological processes of Alzheimer's disease,endocrine resistance,insulin resistance;and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction,phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)-Akt signaling pathway,calcium signaling pathway,AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetes complications,neurotrophic factor signaling pathway and others.The in vitro cell experiments showed that Anemarrhenae Rhizoma was able to reduce the production of ROS and Aβ1-42(both P<0.01),inhibit the expression of β-secretase 1(BACE1),APP and Aβ1-42 proteins(all P<0.05),up-regulate the expression of p-PI3K/PI3K,p-AKT/AKT,p-GSK3β/GSK3β in SKNMC cells(all P<0.05).The in vivo studies further confirmed that Anemarrhenae Rhizoma prolonged the lifespan of C.elegans under stress and normal conditions,reduced the accumulation of ROS and the toxicity of Aβ deposition.Conclusion:Anemarrhenae Rhizoma may reduce the production of Aβ in AD and inhibit its induced oxidative stress,which may be achieved by regulating the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway.

Objective:To explore the mechanism of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma in treatment of Alzheimer's Disease(AD).Methods:The active ingredients and targets of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma for treatment of AD were screened with network pharmacology methods,the protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed and the core targets were analyzed.Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathways enriching analysis was performed.The peripheral blood lymphocytes were extracted and lymphoblastoid cell lines(LCL)were constructed and an in vitro cell model of LCL-SKNMC was established.MTT and CCK-8 methods were used to quantify SKNMC/LCL cells,2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate(DCFH-DA)probe was used to detect reactive oxygen species(ROS),and immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the generation of Aβ1-42 in a co-cultured model.Western blotting was used to detect protein expression in the co-culture model.The lifespan of N2 nematodes was observed under oxidative stress,normal state,and heat stress;ROS generated by N2 nematodes was detected by DCFH-DA probes.The paralysis time of CL4176 N2 nematodes was evaluated by paralysis assay,and Aβ deposition in the pharynx was detected by Thioflavin S staining.Results:Through network pharmacology,15 potential active ingredients and 103 drug-disease targets were identified.PPI analysis showed that the Anemarrhenae Rhizoma might play anti-AD roles through albumin,Akt1,tumor necrosis factor,epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA),mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR),amyloid precursor protein(APP)and other related targets.KEGG analysis showed that the pharmacological effects of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma might involve the biological processes of Alzheimer's disease,endocrine resistance,insulin resistance;and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction,phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)-Akt signaling pathway,calcium signaling pathway,AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetes complications,neurotrophic factor signaling pathway and others.The in vitro cell experiments showed that Anemarrhenae Rhizoma was able to reduce the production of ROS and Aβ1-42(both P<0.01),inhibit the expression of β-secretase 1(BACE1),APP and Aβ1-42 proteins(all P<0.05),up-regulate the expression of p-PI3K/PI3K,p-AKT/AKT,p-GSK3β/GSK3β in SKNMC cells(all P<0.05).The in vivo studies further confirmed that Anemarrhenae Rhizoma prolonged the lifespan of C.elegans under stress and normal conditions,reduced the accumulation of ROS and the toxicity of Aβ deposition.Conclusion:Anemarrhenae Rhizoma may reduce the production of Aβ in AD and inhibit its induced oxidative stress,which may be achieved by regulating the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway.

Objective:To explore the mechanism of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma in treatment of Alzheimer's Disease(AD).Methods:The active ingredients and targets of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma for treatment of AD were screened with network pharmacology methods,the protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed and the core targets were analyzed.Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathways enriching analysis was performed.The peripheral blood lymphocytes were extracted and lymphoblastoid cell lines(LCL)were constructed and an in vitro cell model of LCL-SKNMC was established.MTT and CCK-8 methods were used to quantify SKNMC/LCL cells,2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate(DCFH-DA)probe was used to detect reactive oxygen species(ROS),and immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the generation of Aβ1-42 in a co-cultured model.Western blotting was used to detect protein expression in the co-culture model.The lifespan of N2 nematodes was observed under oxidative stress,normal state,and heat stress;ROS generated by N2 nematodes was detected by DCFH-DA probes.The paralysis time of CL4176 N2 nematodes was evaluated by paralysis assay,and Aβ deposition in the pharynx was detected by Thioflavin S staining.Results:Through network pharmacology,15 potential active ingredients and 103 drug-disease targets were identified.PPI analysis showed that the Anemarrhenae Rhizoma might play anti-AD roles through albumin,Akt1,tumor necrosis factor,epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA),mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR),amyloid precursor protein(APP)and other related targets.KEGG analysis showed that the pharmacological effects of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma might involve the biological processes of Alzheimer's disease,endocrine resistance,insulin resistance;and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction,phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)-Akt signaling pathway,calcium signaling pathway,AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetes complications,neurotrophic factor signaling pathway and others.The in vitro cell experiments showed that Anemarrhenae Rhizoma was able to reduce the production of ROS and Aβ1-42(both P<0.01),inhibit the expression of β-secretase 1(BACE1),APP and Aβ1-42 proteins(all P<0.05),up-regulate the expression of p-PI3K/PI3K,p-AKT/AKT,p-GSK3β/GSK3β in SKNMC cells(all P<0.05).The in vivo studies further confirmed that Anemarrhenae Rhizoma prolonged the lifespan of C.elegans under stress and normal conditions,reduced the accumulation of ROS and the toxicity of Aβ deposition.Conclusion:Anemarrhenae Rhizoma may reduce the production of Aβ in AD and inhibit its induced oxidative stress,which may be achieved by regulating the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β pathway.