To reduce the dependency on high-carbon-load chromatographic columns,a new method has been established for the determination of the content of docusate sodium using ion-pair high-performance liquid chromatography (IP-HPLC). Tetrapropylammonium chloride was used as the ion-pair reagent with a mobile phase, composition of acetonitrile:10 mmol/L tetrapropylammonium chloride solution = 66∶34, adjusting pH to 6.5 with 0.1% phosphoric acid solution,flow rate of 1.5 mL/min, detection wavelength of 214 nm,column temperature of 35 °C, and an injection volume of 25 μL,and quantified by an external standard method. The main peak of docusate sodium exhibited a tailing factor of 1.34. The method showed good linearity within the range of 0.02 mg/mL to 0.40 mg/mL, with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.999 9. It also demonstrated good repeatability, with recovery ranging from 97.0% to 98.2% (n=6). The quantification limit was 3.31 μg/mL, and the detection limit was 2.76 μg/mL.In summary,the new method shows good durability, a wide linear range, and high sensitivity, it is suitable for the determination of docusate sodium.

The identification and optimization of mutations in nanobodies are crucial for enhancing their therapeutic potential in disease prevention and control. However, this process is often complex and time-consuming, which limit its widespread application in practice. In this study, we developed a workflow, named Evolutionary-Nanobody (EvoNB), to predict key mutation sites of nanobodies by combining protein language models (PLMs) and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations. By fine-tuning the ESM2 model on a large-scale nanobody dataset, the ability of EvoNB to capture specific sequence features of nanobodies was significantly enhanced. The fine-tuned EvoNB model demonstrated higher predictive accuracy in the conserved framework and highly variable complementarity-determining regions of nanobodies. Additionally, we selected four widely representative nanobody-antigen complexes to verify the predicted effects of mutations. MD simulations analyzed the energy changes caused by these mutations to predict their impact on binding affinity to the targets. The results showed that multiple mutations screened by EvoNB significantly enhanced the binding affinity between nanobody and its target, further validating the potential of this workflow for designing and optimizing nanobody mutations. Additionally, sequence-based predictions are generally less dependent on structural absence, allowing them to be more easily integrated with tools for structural predictions, such as AlphaFold 3. Through mutation prediction and systematic analysis of key sites, we can quickly predict the most promising variants for experimental validation without relying on traditional evolutionary or selection processes. The EvoNB workflow provides an effective tool for the rapid optimization of nanobodies and facilitates the application of PLMs in the biomedical field.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between blood pressure reactivity index (BPRI) and in-hospital mortality risk in patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to collect data from patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and clinically diagnosed with SA-AKI between 2008 and 2019 in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) database in the United States. The collected data included demographic characteristics, comorbidities, vital signs, laboratory parameters, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) and simplified acute physiology scoreII(SAPSII) within 48 hours of SA-AKI diagnosis, stages of AKI, treatment regimens, mean BPRI during the first and second 24 hours (BPRI_0_24, BPRI_24_48), and outcome measures including primary outcome (in-hospital mortality) and secondary outcomes (ICU length of stay and total hospital length of stay). Variables with statistical significance in univariate analysis were included in LASSO regression analysis for variable selection, and the selected variables were subsequently incorporated into multivariate Logistic regression analysis to identify independent predictors associated with in-hospital mortality in SA-AKI patients. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was employed to examine whether there was a linear relationship between BPRI within 48 hours and in-hospital mortality in SA-AKI patients. Basic prediction models were constructed based on the independent predictors identified through multivariate Logistic regression analysis, and receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was plotted to evaluate the predictive performance of each basic prediction model before and after incorporating BPRI. RESULTS: A total of 3 517 SA-AKI patients admitted to the ICU were included, of whom 826 died during hospitalization and 2 691 survived. The BPRI values within 48 hours of SA-AKI diagnosis were significantly lower in the death group compared with the survival group [BPRI_0_24: 4.53 (1.81, 8.11) vs. 17.39 (5.16, 52.43); BPRI_24_48: 4.76 (2.42, 12.44) vs. 32.23 (8.85, 85.52), all P < 0.05]. LASSO regression analysis identified 20 variables with non-zero coefficients that were included in the multivariate Logistic regression analysis. The results showed that respiratory rate, temperature, pulse oxygen saturation (SpO₂), white blood cell count (WBC), hematocrit (HCT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), lactate, oxygenation index, SOFA score, fluid balance (FB), BPRI_0_24, and BPRI_24_48 were all independent predictors for in-hospital mortality in SA-AKI patients (all P < 0.05). RCS analysis revealed that both BPRI showed "L"-shaped non-linear relationships with the risk of in-hospital mortality in SA-AKI patients. When BPRI_0_24 ≤ 14.47 or BPRI_24_48 ≤ 24.21, the risk of in-hospital mortality in SA-AKI increased as BPRI values decreased. Three basic prediction models were constructed based on the identified independent predictors: Model 1 (physiological indicator model) included respiratory rate, temperature, SpO₂, and oxygenation index; Model 2 (laboratory indicator model) included WBC, HCT, APTT, and lactate; Model 3 (scoring indicator model) included SOFA score and FB. ROC curve analysis showed that the predictive performance of the basic models ranked from high to low as follows: Model 3, Model 2, and Model 1, with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.755, 0.661, and 0.655, respectively. The incorporation of BPRI indicators resulted in significant improvement in the discriminative ability of each model (all P < 0.05), with AUC values increasing to 0.832 for Model 3+BPRI, 0.805 for Model 2+BPRI, and 0.808 for Model 1+BPRI. CONCLUSIONS BPRI is an independent predictor factor for in-hospital mortality in SA-AKI patients. Incorporating BPRI into the prediction model for in-hospital mortality risk in SA-AKI can significantly improve its predictive capability.
Humans ; Acute Kidney Injury/mortality* ; Sepsis/complications* ; Retrospective Studies ; Hospital Mortality ; Prognosis ; Blood Pressure ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Female ; Length of Stay ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Adult ; Logistic Models

Objective:To investigate the safety and therapeutic effect of split liver transplantation (SLT) in clinical application.Methods:This is a retrospective case-series study. The clinical data of 203 consecutive SLT, 79 living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and 1 298 whole liver transplantation (WLT) performed at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from July 2014 to July 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Two hundred and three SLT liver grafts were obtained from 109 donors. One hundred and twenty-seven grafts were generated by in vitro splitting and 76 grafts were generated by in vivo splitting. There were 90 adult recipients and 113 pediatric recipients. According to time, SLT patients were divided into two groups: the early SLT group (40 cases, from July 2014 to December 2017) and the mature SLT technology group (163 cases, from January 2018 to July 2023). The survival of each group was analyzed and the main factors affecting the survival rate of SLT were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test were used for survival analysis.Results:The cumulative survival rates at 1-, 3-, and 5-year were 74.58%, 71.47%, and 71.47% in the early SLT group, and 88.03%, 87.23%, and 87.23% in the mature SLT group, respectively. Survival rates in the mature SLT group were significantly higher than those in the early SLT group ( χ2=5.560, P=0.018). The cumulative survival rates at 1-, 3- and 5-year were 93.41%, 93.41%, 89.95% in the LDLT group and 87.38%, 81.98%, 77.04% in the WLT group, respectively. There was no significant difference among the mature SLT group, the LDLT group and the WLT group ( χ2=4.016, P=0.134). Abdominal hemorrhage, infection, primary liver graft nonfunction,and portal vein thrombosis were the main causes of early postoperative death. Conclusion:SLT can achieve results comparable to those of WLT and LDLT in mature technology liver transplant centers, but it needs to go through a certain time learning curve.

Objective Establish the fingerprint of the group and optimize the extraction process of the Yunpi Huatan Tongqiao decoction.Methods The macroscopic characterization and similarity analysis of the extract fingerprint were carried out by applying the total statistical moment method.With baicalin,wogonin,rosmarinic acid,liquiritin,glycyrrhizic acid and paste yield as key quality attributes,and extraction time,water addition and extraction times as key process parameters,the optimal extraction process was selected by AHP-independent weight method,and the process was verified.Results Establishing a total statistical moment similarity evaluation method,and the average statistical moment similarity of the total amount of fingerprints of different extraction methods was 0.8807.The ANOVA results of the process evaluation model function are displayed that P<0.0001,R2=0.9904,indicating that the model was statistically significant.The best extraction process was determined as follows:adding 10-fold volume of water in the whole prescription,extracting for 1.5 h and extracting twice.Conclusion The total statistical moment analysis method that conforms to the fingerprint characteristics of the fingerprint of the extract was established,which was stable and reliable,which provided a reference basis for the quality control of the whole process of the subsequent process research.

Objective:To investigate the safety and therapeutic effect of split liver transplantation (SLT) in clinical application.Methods:This is a retrospective case-series study. The clinical data of 203 consecutive SLT, 79 living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and 1 298 whole liver transplantation (WLT) performed at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from July 2014 to July 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Two hundred and three SLT liver grafts were obtained from 109 donors. One hundred and twenty-seven grafts were generated by in vitro splitting and 76 grafts were generated by in vivo splitting. There were 90 adult recipients and 113 pediatric recipients. According to time, SLT patients were divided into two groups: the early SLT group (40 cases, from July 2014 to December 2017) and the mature SLT technology group (163 cases, from January 2018 to July 2023). The survival of each group was analyzed and the main factors affecting the survival rate of SLT were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test were used for survival analysis.Results:The cumulative survival rates at 1-, 3-, and 5-year were 74.58%, 71.47%, and 71.47% in the early SLT group, and 88.03%, 87.23%, and 87.23% in the mature SLT group, respectively. Survival rates in the mature SLT group were significantly higher than those in the early SLT group ( χ2=5.560, P=0.018). The cumulative survival rates at 1-, 3- and 5-year were 93.41%, 93.41%, 89.95% in the LDLT group and 87.38%, 81.98%, 77.04% in the WLT group, respectively. There was no significant difference among the mature SLT group, the LDLT group and the WLT group ( χ2=4.016, P=0.134). Abdominal hemorrhage, infection, primary liver graft nonfunction,and portal vein thrombosis were the main causes of early postoperative death. Conclusion:SLT can achieve results comparable to those of WLT and LDLT in mature technology liver transplant centers, but it needs to go through a certain time learning curve.

Advance care planning(ACP)is designed to ensure that patients lacking autonomous decision-making capacity receive medical services in accordance with their expectations and preferences.Individuals with advanced cancer are a crucial target for ACP implementation.However,the current practice of ACP in this group in China is suboptimal,demanding high-quality implementation evidence to strengthen ACP in the clinical practice of patients with advanced cancer.The existing literature can be summarized into 27 pieces of evidence across 7 dimensions,including initiation time,intervention content,intervention providers,intervention modalities,communication skills,outcome indicators,and environmental support.The aforementioned evidence could provide crucial support for improving ACP implementation for patients with advanced cancer.Subsequent research efforts should integrate patient preferences and explore the most suitable implementation strategies for ACP in the Chinese population with advanced cancer,considering diverse aspects such as traditional culture,ACP education and training,legislative support,and healthcare system refinement.

Objective To investigate the effect of smoking on the semen quality in infertile men.Methods A total of 360 male infertility patients were enrolled and divided into the smoking group(n=190)and non-smoking group(n=170)based on whether they smoked or not.Furthermore,the smoking group was subdivided into group A(≤10 sticks/d,n=63),group B(11～20 sticks/d,n=80),and group C(>20 sticks/d group,n=47)according to the amount of smoking.Semen volume,liquefaction time,sperm concentration,motility,DNA fragmentation rate and normal morphological rate were observed and compared between and within the groups.Results There were significant differences in semen volume,liquefaction time,sperm motility,normal morphological rate and DNA fragmentation rate between the smoking group and the non-smoking group(P<0.05).The semen volume,sperm motility and normal morphological rate of the smoking group were lower than those in the non-smoking group,and the DNA fragmentation rate and semen liquefaction time were higher than those in the non-smoking group.And with the increase of smoking volume,sperm motility and normal morphological rate decreased,semen liquefaction time and DNA fragmentation rate increased,and there was no significant difference in the sperm concentration between the smoking group and non-smoking group(P>0.05).There was no significant difference in the semen volume between the three groups with different smoking amounts(P>0.05).Conclusion Smoking has a negative impact on the sperm quality parameters such as semen volume,sperm motility,normal morphological rate,sperm motility,liquefaction time and DNA fragmentation,and the effect of heavy smoking is particularly obvious.We should strengthen the comprehensive health education,promote the healthy lifestyles and reduce smoking.

BACKGROUND:Platelet-rich fibrin(PRF)is a second generation platelet concentrate with the advantages of simple operation,no anticoagulant,and high bioactivity,which has been applied in the fields of trauma repair,bone defect repair,and tendon soft tissue repair,and has been proved to have a certain tissue repair-promoting effect. OBJECTIVE:To study the repair effect of PRF on articular cartilage tissue in rats with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS:Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group,model group,and PRF group,with 12 rats in each group.Rats in the normal group did not undergo any treatment.In the model group,animal models of knee osteoarthritis were prepared and rat models were then given physiological saline into the joint cavity once a week after surgery.Rat models of knee osteoarthritis were also prepared in the PRF group,and autologous PRF was injected into the joint cavity once a week after surgery.After 5 weeks of continuous treatment,tissue samples were taken.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the morphology of cartilage tissue.Tunel staining was used to detect chondrocyte apoptosis,ELISA was used to detect inflammatory factor levels.Western blot and RT-PCR were used to detect Bcl-2,Bax,and Caspase-3 expression in protein and mRNA levels,respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The model group had severe cartilage tissue damage,while the PRF group had significantly improved cartilage tissue morphology compared with the model group.The model group had more apoptotic chondrocytes.Compared with the model group,the mean absorbance of Tunel positive staining in the PRF group significantly decreased(P<0.01).The levels of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α were significantly increased in the model group and PRF group compared with the normal group(P<0.01)and were significantly decreased in the PRF group compared with the model group(P<0.01).The relative expressions of Bax and Caspase-3 at protein and mRNA levels were significantly increased in the model group and PRF group compared with the normal group(P<0.01),while the relative expressions of Bcl-2 at protein and mRNA were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the relative expression of Bax and Caspase-3 at protein and mRNA levels were significantly decreased in the PRF group(P<0.01),while the relative expressions of Bcl-2 at protein and mRNA levels were significantly increased(P<0.01).To conclude,PRF can inhibit chondrocyte apoptosis by inhibiting the expression of pro-inflammatory factors,thereby promoting cartilage tissue repair in knee osteoarthritis rats.

Objective To explore the role of the PPARα/HOXA10 signaling pathway in mediating the effect of adiponectin(APN)for improving endometrial receptivity in a rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).Methods Forty female SD rat models with letrozole-induced PCOS were randomized,with 10 normal rats as the control,into 4 equal groups for treatment with APN alone,APN combined with GW6471(a specific PPARα inhibitor)or the vehicle for 20 days,or no further treatment(PCOS model group).GW6471 treatment(daily dose of 1 mg/kg)and vehicle treatment were initiated on the 11th day following the start of APN treatment,all administered via intraperitoneal injection.The rats were observed for changes in estrous cycle,body weight,ovarian index and morphology,uterine index and morphology,serum hormone levels and lipid metabolism parameters.Endometrial expressions of PPARα and HOXA10 were detected with immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.The development of endometrial pinopodes was observed under electron microscope,and pregnancies of the rats were recorded.Results The rat models of PCOS exhibited obvious estrous cycle disorders with significantly prolonged estrous interval,increased body weight and ovarian index,decreased uterine index,disordered serum hormones and lipid metabolism(P<0.05),and polycystic ovarian changes,and these changes were significantly improved by APN treatment.Endometrial expressions of PPARα and HOXA10 were significantly lowered in PCOS rats and effectively up-regulated after APN treatment,but GW6471 treatment obviously blocked the effect of APN(P<0.05).APN showed strong protective effect against PCOS-induced impairment of endometrial pinopode development,and this effect was obviously attenuated by GW6471.APN also significantly increased the pregnancy rate and embryo number in PCOS rats,while GW6471 obviously reduced the embryo number and caused developmental retardation of the embryos.Conclusion APN can improve endometrial receptivity in PCOS rats by upregulating the PARα/HOXA10 pathway.