ObjectiveDonkey hide is the sole legally designated raw material for the preparation of the traditional Chinese medicine Ejiao. The quality stability of donkey hide during preservation directly determines the efficacy and safety of Ejiao. This study focuses on the dynamic succession of microbial communities during the preservation of donkey hides from different origins, aiming to clarify the correlation between microbial biodiversity difference and the degradation profiles of hide collagen and critical biochemical components, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for developing targeted preservation strategies based on microbial regulation. MethodsDonkey hides originating from four different regions were subjected to an accelerated microbial aging assay to simulate the spoilage process. The microbial community succession was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. Microstructure changes and pore structure characteristics were assessed by scanning electron microscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry, respectively. Additionally, the content of major components, including lipids, proteins, and sugars were determined by biochemical methods. ResultsAfter 96 h of aging, the collagen fiber structure in Africa donkey hides (ADH) exhibited significant degradation and collapse, followed by Xinjiang donkey hides (XDH). Instead, the microstructure of Dong’e black donkey hides (DDH) and Peru donkey hides (PDH) remained relatively intact. The porosities of DDH, XDH, PDH, and ADH increased from 27.9%, 15.7%, 30.3%, and 46.2% to 36.5%, 52.6%, 42.8%, and 57.7%, respectively, during the aging process, which suggested that the originally compact fiber structure was disrupted by microbial aging. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer analysis revealed the amide bands in XDH exhibited relatively weak intensity, and no collagen amide I band was observed in ADH. Meanwhile, the lipid and protein contents decreased in all four types of donkey hides, indicating that these components served as the primary nutrient sources for the growth of microorganism. Notably, the most severe collagen degradation was observed in XDH and ADH. A substantial increase was detected in the total soluble sugar in PDH aging solution and hydroxyproline in the ADH aging solution, respectively. These results indicated that donkey hides exhibit distinct patterns of structural degradation and nutrient utilization. Furthermore, the viable cells number of donkey hides increased sharply after 48 h of aging. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the relative abundance of Euryarchaeota in ADH, PDH and XDH declining from initial 93.19%, 97.73% and 30.08% to 0.79%, 1.43% and 0.02% after 96 h, respectively. Conversely, a significantly increase was observed in the abundance of Bacillota, with a marked increase in ADH, peaking at 92.75%. Additionally, the abundance of Pseudomonadota in PDH increased from 0.10% to 87.84%, suggesting that Bacillota and Pseudomonadota may be key factors exacerbating donkey hide spoilage. Unlike the other three types of donkey hides, the dominant bacterial phylum in DDH shifted from Pseudomonadota to Bacteroidota, characterized by a substantial abundance increase of Bacteroidota from 0.13% to 44.22%. ConclusionRegional variation in origin significantly influence the microbial aging of donkey hides, leading to distinct patterns of structural deterioration and differential nutrient utilization. Therefore, implementing origin-specific preservation strategies, through the precisely controlling environmental factors to suppress harmful phyla such as Bacillota and Pseudomonadota, is crucial for enhancing the storage quality of donkey hides.

ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanism of Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription in the treatment of ulcerative colitis （UC） by inhibiting ferroptosis and alleviating intestinal mucosal injury based on the nuclear factor E₂ related factor 2/solute carrier family 7 member/glutathione peroxidase 4 （Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4） signaling pathway. MethodsA total of 60 male SD rats were divided into a normal group， a model group， high- and low-dose Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription groups （26.64 and 13.32 g·kg^-1， respectively）， a ferroptosis inhibitor group （Ferrostatin-1， 0.005 g·kg^-1）， and a mesalazine group （0.27 g·kg^-1）， with 10 rats in each group. A UC rat model was established by intrarectal administration of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid （TNBS）-ethanol. The normal group and the model group were intragastrically administered normal saline. The other groups were given intragastric administration according to the corresponding dosage for 7 d. The general condition， disease activity index （DAI） score， colon length， and mucosal injury index （CDMI） score were observed in each group. The pathological changes of colon tissue in each group were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. The intestinal mucosa and mitochondrial morphology in each group were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The expression levels of Occludin， Claudin-1， mucin 2 （MUC2）， and E-cadherin in intestinal tissue were detected by immunofluorescence （IF）. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect the expression levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and interleukin-10 （IL-10） in each group， and a lactic acid assay kit or ELISA was employed to detect the expression levels of reactive oxygen species （ROS）， ferrous ions （Fe²⁺）， glutathione （GSH）， malondialdehyde （MDA）， 4-hydroxynonenal （4-HNE）， diamine oxidase （DAO）， and D-lactate （D-LA）. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was applied to detect the mRNA expression levels of Nrf2， SLC7A11， GPX4， Occludin， Claudin-1， MUC2， and E-cadherin in each group， and Western blot was adopted to detect the protein expression levels of Nrf2， p-Nrf2， SLC7A11， and GPX4 in each group. ResultsCompared with the normal group， rats in the model group exhibited listlessness， sluggish response， and mucopurulent and bloody stools. The model group also showed significantly increased DAI score， colon length， CDMI score， and expression levels of TNF-α， IL-6， ROS， Fe²⁺， MDA， 4-HNE， DAO， and D-LA （P<0.01）. In addition， it presented significantly decreased IF values of Occludin， Claudin-1， MUC2， and E-cadherin and mRNA and protein expression levels of IL-10， GSH， Nrf2， p-Nrf2， SLC7A11， and GPX4 （P<0.01）. There were different degrees of improvement in each administration group after treatment， and the improvement was the most significant in the high-dose Xiezhuo Jiedu prescription group （P<0.01）. ConclusionXiezhuo Jiedu prescription may alleviate intestinal mucosal injury by inhibiting ferroptosis of intestinal epithelial cells via regulating the Nrf2/SLC7A11/GPX4 signaling pathway， thereby exhibiting efficacy in the treatment of UC.

Objective: To explore a simple, effective, and safe method for excluding false positives and identifying infections by comprehensively evaluating blood donors with reactive HIV screening results, thereby providing a basis for developing management strategies for such donors. Methods: HIV testing data of blood donors from our laboratory from January 2022 to December 2024 were collected. The results of ELISA and nucleic acid testing (NAT) were combined with confirmatory results from the CDC and analyzed. Results: A total of 605 929 samples were tested for HIV over the three-year period, with 682 reactive samples (reactive rate: 11.25 per 10 000). All were sent to the CDC for Western blot (WB) confirmation, resulting in 53 confirmed positives ((confirmed positive rate: 7.77%). Among these, 619 samples showed isolated HIV Ag&Ab reactivity with non-reactive NAT (HIV Ag&Ab+-&HIV RNA or NAT NR), with a confirmed infection rate of 0%; 9 samples showed dual HIV Ag&Ab reactivity with non-reactive NAT (HIV Ag&Ab++&HIV RNA NR or NAT NR), also with 0% confirmed infection; 52 samples showed dual HIV Ag&Ab reactivity and reactive NAT (HIV Ag&Ab++&HIV RNA R or NAT R), all confirmed as positive (100% infection rate); and 2 HIV Ag&Ab dual-reactive samples without NAT detection were also confirmed infected (100%). For all four HIV Ag&Ab assays, the S/CO values in the true positive group with dual reactivity were significantly higher than those in the false-positive groups (P<0.05). The S/CO distributions for both single-reactive false positives and dual-reactive false positives were narrow, with the upper box (Q3, 75th percentile) below optimal cutoff values in all cases (The optimal cutoff values for the four reagents were 5.00, 11.67, 8.50, and 20.90, respectively). Conclusion: Blood donors with positive NAT results in HIV blood screening are permanently deferred. Donors with dual positive HIV Ag&Ab but negative NAT results are classified and managed based on the S/CO values of HIV Ag&Ab and the optimal screening thresholds. Donors with single positive HIV Ag&Ab but negative NAT results are placed under evaluation status and retain their eligibility to donate blood. Optimizing the management measures for blood donors and establishing a scientific stratified management and assessment mechanism can effectively maintain the stability of the blood donor team.

OBJECTIVE To study the improvement effect and mechanism of Shengmai powder on heart failure （HF） mice with qi-yin deficiency. METHODS The mice were randomly divided into blank group （water）， model group （water）， Shengmai powder low-， medium-， and high-dose groups [2.61， 5.22 and 10.44 g/kg （based on crude drug dosage）] and positive control group （metoprolol， 30 mg/kg）， with 10 mice in each group. Except for the blank group， all other groups were subcutaneously injected with D-galactose， and a qi-yin deficiency HF mice model was established by continuous food restriction and weight-bearing swimming. At the same time of modeling， the corresponding medicine/water was gavaged once a day for five weeks. The general state of mice was recorded and the traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） syndrome score was evaluated. Behavioral experiments were conducted to investigate the total distance of open field action， the percentage of immobility time， and the swimming exhaustion time of mice. The contents of aspartate transaminase （AST）， creatine kinase （CK） and lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） in the serum of mice were detected； cardiac function indexes [heart rate， left ventricular ejection fraction （LVEF）， left ventricular end systolic diameter （LVESD）， left ventricular end diastolic diameter （LVEDD）， left ventricular mass index and whole heart mass index] were all detected； the histopathological morphology of mice myocardium was observed； the level of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in mice was detected； mRNA expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2 associated X protein （Bax）， and Cleaved-caspase-3 in myocardial tissue of mice were detected； the phosphorylation levels of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium regulatory related proteins [ryanodine receptor 2 （RyR2） and phospholamban （PLB）] in myocardial tissue of mice were detected. RESULTS Compared with the blank group， the body weight， total distance of open field action， swimming exhaustion time， LVEF， LVEDD， Bcl-2 mRNA expression level in myocardial tissue and PLB protein phosphorylation level in the model group were significantly reduced/shortened （P＜0.05）； TCM syndrome score， the percentage of immobility time， heart rate， LVESD， left ventricular mass index， whole heart mass index， cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate， the contents of CK， LDH and AST in serum， mRNA expression levels of Cleaved-caspase-3 and Bax and the phosphorylation level of RyR2 protein in myocardial tissue were significantly increased （P＜0.05）； there were inflammatory cell infiltration， disordered cell arrangement and obvious myocardial interstitial fibrosis in myocardial tissue. After the intervention of Shengmai powder， most of the above quantitative indexes in mice were significantly reversed （P＜0.05）， the inflammatory cell infiltration in myocardial tissue was reduced， and the degree of fibrosis was significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS Shengmai powder can improve cardiac function， reduce the level of cardiomyocyte apoptosis and myocardial fibrosis in HF mice with qi-yin deficiency. Its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the expression of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium regulation related proteins.

Objective To analyze trend changes of disease burden of hypertensive nephropathy (HTN) between 2012 and 2023 in Chongqing, and to provide the suggestion for HTN prevention and treatment. Methods Death cases of HTN from Chongqing death registration data between 2012 and 2023 were analyzed to calculate indicators such as mortality, age standardization mortality rate (ASMR), rate of years of life lost (YLL) and Average years of life lost. The mortality of HTN between male and female, urban and rural were compared by Chi-square test. The trend change was explained by average annual percent of change (AAPC). Results The mortality and standardized mortality of HTN in Chongqing decreased from 5.44/100 000 and 3.13/100 000 in 2012 to 2.76/100 000 and 1.07/100,000 in 2023 respectively. The average annual percent change (AAPC) was -5.41% and -8.35% respectively, and the differences in the change trends were statistically significant (P<0.01). The mortality and standardized mortality of HTN in males and females decreased with AAPC of 5.50%, 8.07%, 5.27% and 8.69% respectively, and the differences in the change trends were all statistically significant (all P< 0.05). From 2012 to 2014, 2019 and 2021, the mortality rate of HTN in rural areas was higher than that in urban areas (all P < 0.05). The mortality and standardized mortality of HTN in rural areas decreased with AAPC of 6.58% and 9.46% respectively, and the differences in the change trends were all statistically significant (all P<0.05). The rate of YLL and standardized YLL of HTN in Chongqing decreased from 96.02/100 000 and 60.42/100 000 in 2012 to 44.98/100 000 and 21.49/100 000 in 2023 respectively. The AAPC was -5.83% and -7.80% respectively, and the differences in the change trends were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). AYLL of HTN were 17.88 years in 2012, and it was 17.08 years in 2023. There were no statistically significant differences in the changes (both P > 0.05). The standardized AYLL of HTN in rural areas increased at an average annual rate of 1.14%, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion The mortality and YLL rate of HNT in Chongqing was lower than it in China. Moreover, its trend was decreased. It should be strengthened early screening and healthy management of HNT.

OBJECTIVE: To propose a machine learning-based method for predicting the trajectories during manual acupuncture manipulation (MAM), aiming to improve the precision and consistency of acupuncture practitioner' operation and provide the real-time suggestions on MAM error correction. METHODS: Computer vision technology was used to analyze the hand micromotion when holding needle during acupuncture, and provide a three-dimensional coordinate description method of the index finger joints of the holding hand. Focusing on the 4 typical motions of MAM, a machine learning-based MAM trajectory predictive model was designed. By integrating the changes of phalangeal joint angle and hand skeletal information of acupuncture practitioner, the motion trajectory of the index finger joint was predicted accurately. Besides, the roles of machine learning-based MAM trajectory predictive model in the skill transmission of acupuncture manipulation were verified by stratified randomized controlled trial. RESULTS: The performance of MAM trajectory predictive model, based on the long short-term memory network (LSTM), obtained the highest stability and precision, up to 98%. The learning effect was improved when the model applied to the skill transmission of acupuncture manipulation. CONCLUSION The machine learning-based MAM predictive model provides acupuncture practitioner with precise action prediction and feedback. It is valuable and significant for the inheritance and error correction of manual operation of acupuncture.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/instrumentation* ; Machine Learning ; Adult ; Male ; Female

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of manual acupuncture manipulations (MAMs) on subcutaneous muscle tissue, by developing quantitative models of "lifting and thrusting" and "twisting and rotating", based on machine learning techniques. METHODS: A depth camera was used to capture the acupuncture operator's hand movements during "lifting and thrusting" and "twisting and rotating" of needle. Simultaneously, the ultrasound imaging was employed to record the muscle tissue responses of the participants. Amplitude and angular features were extracted from the movement data of operators, and muscle fascicle slope features were derived from the data of ultrasound images. The dynamic time warping barycenter averaging algorithm was adopted to align the dual-source data. Various machine learning techniques were applied to build quantitative models, and the performance of each model was compared. The most optimal model was further analyzed for its interpretability. RESULTS: Among the quantitative models built for the two types of MAMs, the random forest model demonstrated the best performance. For the quantitative model of the "lifting and thrusting" technique, the coefficient of determination (R²) was 0.825. For the "twisting and rotating" technique, R² reached 0.872. CONCLUSION Machine learning can be used to effectively develop the models and quantify the effects of MAMs on subcutaneous muscle tissue. It provides a new perspective to understand the mechanism of acupuncture therapy and lays a foundation for optimizing acupuncture technology and designing personalized treatment regimen in the future.
Humans ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Machine Learning ; Male ; Adult ; Female ; Subcutaneous Tissue/diagnostic imaging* ; Young Adult

Based on the pharmacokinetics theory, this study investigated the pharmacokinetic characteristics of albiflorin, paeoniflorin, wogonoside, and wogonin in normal and febrile rats and summarized absorption and elimination rules of Dayuanyin in them to provide reference for further development and clinical application of Dayuanyin. Blood samples were taken from the fundus venous plexus of normal and model rats after intragastric administration of Dayuanyin at different time points. The concentration of each substance in blood was determined by ultra performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS) technique at different time points. DAS 2.0, a piece of pharmacokinetics software, was used to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters of each component. The results show that the 4 components had good linear relationship in their respective ranges, and the results of methodological investigation met the requirements. The pharmacokinetic parameters of C_(max), T_(max), t_(1/2), AUC_(0-t), AUC_(0-∞), and MRT_(0-t) were calculated by the DAS 2.0 non-compartmental model. Compared with those in the normal group, C_(max) and AUC_(0-t) of the 4 components in the model group were significantly increased. There were significant differences in the pharmacokinetic characteristics between the normal and model groups, suggesting that the absorption and elimination of Dayuanyin may be affected by the changes of internal environment of the body in different physiological states.
Animals ; Rats ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Fever/metabolism* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Glucosides/pharmacokinetics* ; Monoterpenes