ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of the Yiqi Yangyin Huoxue prescription （YYHP） in the treatment of cathartic colon （CC） and its effects on fecal short-chain fatty acids （SCFAs）， and to explore the correlations among CC severity indicators and between these indicators and patient history. MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria， 98 patients meeting the diagnostic criteria of both traditional Chinese and Western medicine for CC with the syndrome of Qi-Yin deficiency complicated by blood stasis were randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group. The observation group received YYHP granules， while the control group received lactulose. Both medications were administered twice daily， one sachet each time， half an hour after breakfast and dinner， with a treatment course of 8 weeks. The primary constipation symptom score， Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life （PAC-QOL） score， and TCM syndrome score were assessed before and after treatment and at the 8^th week after the end of treatment. The overall clinical effective rate， as well as the efficacy attenuation index and degree， were evaluated. Fecal SCFA levels were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry （GC-MS）. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to explore the correlations among CC severity indicators and between these indicators and patient history. ResultsThe overall clinical effective rate in the observation group （95.83%） was higher than that in the control group （78.72%） （P<0.05）. After treatment， the total scores for primary constipation symptoms， PAC-QOL， and TCM syndromes decreased in both groups （P<0.05）， with more significant reductions in the observation group （P<0.05）. The severity of all primary constipation symptoms was alleviated in both groups （P<0.05）. In terms of "excessive straining and difficult defecation"， "anal heaviness， incomplete evacuation， and bloating sensation"， "abdominal distension"， and "defecation frequency"， the observation group showed better efficacy than the control group （P<0.05）. Scores of the four PAC-QOL dimensions and the scores and severity of primary and secondary TCM symptoms were reduced in both groups （P<0.05）， with more significant reductions in the observation group （P<0.05）. After treatment， acetic acid， propionic acid， butyric acid， and total SCFAs in the observation group increased significantly （P<0.05）. The efficacy attenuation index and degree in the observation group were lower than those in the control group （P<0.05）. No severe adverse reactions occurred in either group， and there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups. Positive correlations of varying degrees were observed among the total scores of primary constipation symptoms， PAC-QOL， and TCM syndromes， as well as between these scores and the history of stimulant laxative use， disease duration， and age. ConclusionYYHP can effectively alleviate the primary constipation symptoms in CC patients， improve quality of life， and ameliorate TCM syndromes， with good safety. It also has the advantage of a lower rebound degree after drug withdrawal， and its mechanism may be related to increasing fecal SCFA levels. Long-term abuse of stimulant laxatives may aggravate the severity of CC and prolong the disease course.

ObjectiveTo investigate the whole genomic characteristics and phylogenetic relationships of clinical isolates of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) in diarrhea outpatients in Pudong New Area, Shanghai. MethodsBased on the diarrheal disease surveillance network in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, whole-genome sequencing was performed on a total of 55 EAEC strains isolated from fecal samples of the diarrhea outpatients from January 2015 to December 2019. The genome analyses based on raw sequencing data encompassed genome size, coding genes, dispersed repeat sequences, genomic islands, and protein coding regions, and pan-genome analyses were conducted simultaneously. Contigs sequences assays were performed to analyze molecular characteristics including serotypes, antibiotic resistance genes, and virulence factors. The phylogenetic clusters and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were identified, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. ResultsEAEC exhibited an open pan-genome. The predominant serotype of EAEC in diarrhea outpatients in Pudong New Area was O130:H27, and the carriage rate of β-lactam resistance genes was the highest (67.27%, 37/55). A total of 29 virulence factors and 106 virulence genes were identified, phylogenic group B1 was the predominant group, and clonal group CC31 was the dominant clonal group. The strain distribution was highly heterogeneous. ConclusionThe genomic characteristics of EAEC displayed significant strain polymorphism. It is necessary to develop effective strategies for differential diagnosis and improve detection capabilities for infection with EAEC of different serotypes and genotypes.

Xiaohuang Qudan decoction (XHQDD) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula widely used in the treatment of cholestatic liver injury. Despite its widespread use, the protective mechanism of XHQDD against cholestatic liver injury remains incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether XHQDD mediates its beneficial effects by inhibiting the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway and regulating TH17/Treg balance. To this end, the researchers used Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and established a cholestatic liver injury model by oral administration of alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT). The experimental group was divided into six groups: Control (CON), ANIT, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), XHQDD-low dose (XHQDD-L) group, XHQDD-medium dose (XHQDD-M) group, and XHQDD-high dose (XHQDD-H) groups. Then, after 7 d of treatment, various tests were performed to verify the results. Firstly, XHQDD and its drug-containing serum were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and 14 blood-entry components were identified. Then, bile flow was monitored and found to be significantly reduced in the model group, which was significantly reversed in the UDCA and XHQDD groups. To further assess ANIT-induced liver injury, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Sirius red staining, alongside transmission electron microscopy (TEM), were employed to observe liver tissues, revealing hepatocellular injury, cholestasis, and hepatic fibrotic changes. Serum inflammatory factors and liver injury indicators were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indicating an inflammatory state in ANIT-induced liver injury rats. The expression levels of JAK2/STAT3-related genes and proteins in liver and intestinal tissues were measured via quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence (IF) staining, and Western blottting (WB) assays. These studies revealed that the inflammatory state of liver-injured rats was inextricably linked to the inflammatory cascade associated with the JAK2/STAT3 pathway and that XHQDD may exert anti-inflammatory efficacy by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Flow cytometry was used to determine the percentage of T helper 17 (Th17)/regulatory T (Treg) cells in serum and hepatocytes, and it was further found that XHQDD was able to regulate Th17/Treg immune homeostasis in liver-injured rats. The findings suggest that XHQDD markedly alleviates inflammation in ANIT rats, potentially treating cholestasis and liver injury through JAK2/STAT3 inhibition and Th17/Treg balance regulation.
Animals ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/immunology* ; Janus Kinase 2/immunology* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; 1-Naphthylisothiocyanate/adverse effects* ; Male ; Rats ; Th17 Cells/immunology* ; Cholestasis/immunology* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology* ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/immunology* ; Liver/drug effects*

Background::Total human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) DNA and integrated HIV DNA are widely used markers of HIV persistence. Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) can be used for absolute quantification without needing a standard curve. Here, we developed duplex ddPCR assays to detect and quantify total HIV DNA and integrated HIV DNA.Methods::The limit of detection, dynamic ranges, sensitivity, and reproducibility were evaluated by plasmid constructs containing both the HIV long terminal repeat (LTR) and human CD3 gene (for total HIV DNA) and ACH-2 cells (for integrated HIV DNA). Forty-two cases on stable suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) were assayed in total HIV DNA and integrated HIV DNA. Correlation coefficient analysis was performed on the data related to DNA copies and cluster of differentiation 4 positive (CD4 +) T-cell counts, CD8 + T-cell counts and CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio, respectively. The assay linear dynamic range and lower limit of detection (LLOD) were also assessed. Results::The assay could detect the presence of HIV-1 copies 100% at concentrations of 6.3 copies/reaction, and the estimated LLOD of the ddPCR assay was 4.4 HIV DNA copies/reaction (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 3.6-6.5 copies/reaction) with linearity over a 5-log 10-unit range in total HIV DNA assay. For the integrated HIV DNA assay, the LLOD was 8.0 copies/reaction (95% CI: 5.8-16.6 copies/reaction) with linearity over a 3-log 10-unit range. Total HIV DNA in CD4 + T cells was positively associated with integrated HIV DNA ( r = 0.76, P <0.0001). Meanwhile, both total HIV DNA and integrated HIV DNA in CD4 + T cells were inversely correlated with the ratio of CD4/CD8 but positively correlated with the CD8 + T-cell counts. Conclusions::This ddPCR assay can quantify total HIV DNA and integrated HIV DNA efficiently with robustness and sensitivity. It can be readily adapted for measuring HIV DNA with non-B clades, and it could be beneficial for testing in clinical trials.

Objective:To explore the role of prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and pleural thickness in the prognostic evaluation of patients with epithelial malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) .Methods:In April 2022, a retrospective analysis was conducted on the data and laboratory data of 41 patients with epithelial MPM admitted to the cardiothoracic surgery department of Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture People's Hospital from January 2018 to May 2021. Univariate and multivariate analysis were used to evaluate the relationships between total survival time, clinical characteristics, PNI and pleural thickness in patients.Results:The 41 patients were mostly male (26 cases, 63.4%) , with a median age of 55 years old. The main clinical manifestations were chest pain (53.7%) , bloody pleural effusion (75.6%) , and chest pain combined with bloody pleural effusion (36.6%) . The median survival time of patients with different TNM stage, efficacy after 4 cycles of chemotherapy, PNI, maximum pleural thickness after chemotherapy (post max) , sum of post max in 3 zones after chemotherapy (post sum) were statistically different (χ 2=3.89, 14.51, 15.33, 4.33, 12.05, P<0.05) . Compared with patients with high PNI and post sum<32.26 mm, MPM patients with low PNI and post sum≥32.26 mm have higher risk of death, and the differences were statistically significant ( HR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.75-11.93, P=0.002; HR=1.70, 95% CI: 1.84-16.23, P=0.002) . Conclusion:PNI and post sum can be used to predict the prognosis of patients with epithelial MPM.

Purpose To investigate the clinical pathology of SMARCB1/INI1-deficient poorly differentiated chordoma.Methods Ten patients with poorly differentiated chordoma were collected.The expression of CK,vimentin,INI1,and Brachyu-ry was detected using EnVision immunohistochemistry.Clinical characteristics,histopathological features,as well as related prognosis were analyzed and the literature was reviewed.Results Among the 10 cases,including 5 males and 5 females,the mean age of onset was 4 years.10 cases were located in the cliv-us and had bone invasion,3 involved the cervical spine(18.2％).In morphology,tumor cells showed sheet or nest mass growth,with epithelioid tumor cells.The nucleus was round or oval,with obvious atypia and visible nucleoli.Mitotic figures were active.Lymphocytic infiltration was noted in the stroma.Tumor cells in 10 cases were positive for CK,Vimen-tin,EMA and Brachyury with loss of SMARCB1/INI1 expres-sion.Ten patients were followed-up postoperatively.5 patients had tumor recurrence(median progression-free survival was 4 months)and 7 died(median overall survival was 5 months).Conclusion SMARCB1/INI1-deficient poorly-differentiated chordoma is a relatively rare bone tumor with poor prognosis and challenging diagnosis.Understanding the clinical pathological characteristics of this tumor has great significance for diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose To investigate the clinicopathological features and molecular features of diffuse paediatric-type high-grade glioma,H3-wildtype and IDH-wildtype(pHGG H3/IDH WT)of central nervous system.Methods The clinical and pathological data of 6 cases of pHGG H3/IDH WT diagnosed by Department of Pathology,Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine were retrospectively ana-lyzed.The expression of GFAP,Olig2,Syn,NeuN,IDH1,H3K27M was detected by immunohistochemistry(automatic im-munohistochemical staining device).The EGFR and MYCN gene amplification was detected by FISH.IDH,H3F3A and TERT gene mutations were detected by Sanger sequencing.The literatures were reviewed.Results The 6 patient's age ranged from 5 to 11 years,with a median age of 7.5 years.Among them,there were 2 males and 4 females,with a male to female ratio of 1∶2.The clinical symptoms were limb weakness,hemi-plegia,vomiting,convulsions,blurred vision and so on.Tumors were located in supratentorial brain for 5 cases and one in brain stem and cerebellum.Histologically,3 cases showed the mor-phological features of high-grade glioma,2 of which with giant cells.Two cases showed embryonal tumor-like features,and one had both high-grade glioma and embryonal tumor-like morpho-logical features.Microvascular proliferation and/or necrosis were present in 5 cases.Myxoid/microcystic stroma was found in 1 case.By immunohistochemistrically,the tumor cells were par-tially or focally positive for GFAP(6/6)and Olig2(6/6),fo-cally positive for Syn(3/6)and NeuN(1/6),and negative for IDH1,H3K27M,H3G34V and H3G34R.ATRX,H3K27me3,INI1 and BRG1 were diffusely positive(6/6).The positive rate of p53 was 5％-95％,and Ki67 proliferation index was 40％-90％.Molecular analysis showed that all 6 cases were IDH1/2 and H3F3A wild-type.MYCN amplification was observed in 2 cases.Two cases of EGFR amplification with polyploidy;one case had both EGFR amplification and MYCN amplification.PDGFRA amplification was observed in one case.For treatment and follow-up,the patients received postoperative radiotherapy and/or temozolomide chemotherapy;three patients died at 1 to 5 months after operation.Two patients survived and were followed up for 4 and 7 months,respectively.One patient was lost to fol-low-up.Conclusions pHGG H3/IDH WT is a highly malignant tumor with glioblastoma-like or embryonal tumor-like features.According to the molecular characteristics,it can be divided into three molecular subtypes,RTK1,RTK2 and MYCN.pHGG MYCN has the worst prognosis.Attention should be paid to the differential diagnosis of other pediatric or adult high-grade glio-mas and embryonal tumors.

Purpose To investigate the clinicopathological features,molecular features,treatment and prognosis of infant-type hemispheric glioma(IHG)with ALK gene fusion of central nervous system.Methods Clinical data of 2 cases of IHG were collected,and the expression of GFAP,Olig2,Syn,NeuN,H3K27M,H3K27me3,H3G34V,H3G34R,ALK,and BRAF were detected using immunohistochemistry.FISH and NGS method was used to detect ALK fusion genes,and relevant liter-atures were reviewed.Results Case 1,a male,15 months old,showed a huge mass in the left frontal and temporal lobe on cranial MRI.Case 2(external hospital consultation),a male,18 months old,was found to have a space occupying lesion in the frontaltemporal lobe.Microscopic examination:in case 1,tumor cells showed diffuse patchy pattern,with small nodular shapes in some areas which separated by fibrous blood vessels.The cell density was high,and the nucleus was round or oval.The mitotic was easy to see,accompanied by bleeding and nec-rosis.In case 2,tumor cells were diffusely distributed,some of them formed pseudorosette around blood vessels and others ar-ranged in bundles.The cells were mild to moderate dysplasia with round or oval nuclei,light staining,small nucleoli,rare mitotic figures,and no microvascular proliferation or necrosis.Immunophenotypes:in case 1 tumor cells were focal positive for GFAP and NeuN,diffuse positive for H3K27me3,ALK(cyto-plasm and cell membrane),and ATRX,p53 positive(30％),negative for Olig2,Syn,H3K27M,H3G34V,H3G34R,and BRAF,Ki67 proliferation index of 20％.In case 2:tumor cells were diffusedly expressed GFAP,ATRX,H3K27me3,ALK(cytoplasm and cell membrane),and Olig2,Syn was weakly positive,NeuN and p53 were negative,and Ki67 proliferation index was 5％.FISH and NGS tests showed ALK gene fusion in both cases,with EML4::ALK fusion in case 1 and LRRFIP1::ALK fusion in case 2.Follow up for 7 months showed that the residual lesion in case 1 had shrunk and was generally in good condition;case 2 lost follow-up.Conclusion The histology of IHG often presents as high-grade gliomas or accompanied by an-aplastic features.The heterogeneity of ALK variants can also manifest as low-grade gliomas,which need to be differentiated from other high-grade gliomas,desmoplastic infantile gangliogli-oma/astrocytoma,ependymoma,etc.

BACKGROUND:C2 ceramide reduces the formation of Alpha-Synuclein(α-Syn)oligomers as the protein phosphatase 2A agonist,which has an important regulatory effect on cell aging in the central nervous system. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the protective mechanism of C2 ceramide on dopaminergic neurons. METHODS:Twenty-five C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group,model group,C2 ceramide low-,medium-and high-dose groups(n=5 per group).Except for the control group,a mouse model of Parkinson's disease was established by injecting mutant A53T α-Syn oligomers into the left striatum in the other groups.On the 30th day after the striatal injection,three C2 ceramide groups were intragastrically administered with C2 ceramide(1,5,10 μg/g)dissolved in saline at one time,while the control and model groups were administered with the same amount of saline within 30-90 days after modeling,for a total of 60 days.Behavioral changes in each group of mice were observed during this period.On the 90th day after striatal injection,mouse brain tissue was extracted by perfusion under anesthesia,and the changes of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain substantia nigra were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining.The levels of α-Syn oligomerization and phosphorylation in the midbrain of mice were detected by ELISA,and the changes of enzyme activities related to α-Syn phosphorylation were analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:C2 ceramide had an ameliorating effect on Parkinson's disease-like dyskinesia in mice caused by the striatal injection of mutant A53T α-Syn oligomers.High-dose C2 ceramide showed better effects on dyskinesia in mice with Parkinson's disease(P<0.01).The mutant A53T α-Syn oligomers significantly reduced the number of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of mice(P<0.01),while the number of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra increased significantly in the C2 ceramide high-dose group(P<0.01).The levels of α-Syn oligomers and phosphorylated α-Syn in the brain were significantly reduced in the C2 ceramide high-dose group compared with the model group(P<0.01),while the level of ceramide was increased(P<0.05)and the activity of protein phosphatase 2A was significantly upregulated(P<0.01).To conclude,C2 ceramide can attenuate the neurotoxic effects induced by oligomerized α-Syn by the phosphorylation modification environment of α-Syn in mouse midbrain tissue and protect against the reduction in the number of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in mice,thereby reducing the degree of dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease.

With the development of society and the awakening of civic consciousness,hospital volunteer service has be-come an indispensable part of modern medical and health system,which plays an important role in improving service mode,im-proving patients'medical experience,and establishing the public welfare image of hospitals.Based on the humanistic hospital construction thinking and combined with the connotation and goal of humanistic hospital construction,this paper is committed to building the hospital volunteer service brand,and summarizes the volunteer management system,service content and process,in order to provide theoretical reference and guidance for the standardization and systematization of hospital volunteer service brand construction.