Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Huangqi Jianzhong Decoction(HJD)on gastric mucosal injury induced by Helicobacter pylori(Hp)infection.Methods A Wistar rat model of Hp-induced gastric mucosal injury was established.Successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into five groups:model group,low-,medium-and high-dose HJD groups,and quadruple therapy group(Omeprazole+Amoxicillin+Clarithromycin+Colloidal Bismuth pectin),8 rats per group,with an additional normal group.After 4 weeks of treatment,gastric mucosal pathological changes were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.Serum levels of interleukin 1β(IL-1β),interleukin 18(IL-18),tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α),chemokine(C-X-C motif)ligand 1(CXCL1),chemokine(C-X-C motif)ligand 9(CXCL9),and gastrin-17(G-17)were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Protein expression levels of IRF8,IFN-γ,interferon-induced tetratricopeptide repeat protein 3(Ifit3)and uridine phosphorylase 1(Upp1)in gastric mucosal tissues were detected by Western Blot.Results Compared with the normal group,the model group exhibited significant gastric mucosal damage,serum levels of IL-1β,IL-18,TNF-α,CXCL1 and CXCL9 were significantly increased,G-17 was drcreased,and protein expression levels of IRF8,IFN-γ,Ifit3 and Upp1 in gastric mucosa were significantly increased,the differences being statistically significant(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the gastric mucosal tissue injury of rats in the medium-and high-dose of HJD groups and the quadruple therapy group was significantly improved,the levels of IL-1β,IL-18,TNF-α,CXCL1 and CXCL9 in serum were significantly decreased,G-17 was significantly increased,and the protein expression levels of IRF8,IFN-γ,Ifit3 and Upp1 in gastric mucosa were significantly decreased,the differences being statistically significant(P＜0.05).The effect in above indexes in high-does HJD groups was superior to the low-and mediun-groups.Conclusion HJD alleviates Hp-induced gastric mucosal injury by inhibiting the IRF8/IFN-γ signaling pathway and subsequent inflammatory responses.

Patients with alcoholic cirrhosis often experience varying degrees of malnutrition， and the patients with malnutrition are more susceptible to complications such as infections and ascites， which may lead to a poor prognosis. Therefore， it is particularly important to conduct nutritional risk screening for patients in clinical practice， and appropriate nutritional assessment tools should be used to evaluate the nutritional status of patients and develop individualized nutritional supplementation regimens， thereby promoting disease recovery and improving prognosis and quality of life. This article elaborates on the specific methods for nutritional screening， assessment， and management in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and points out that systematic nutritional screening and assessment can help to identify the patients with malnutrition in the early stage and provide timely intervention. Individualized nutritional supplementation regimens should be adjusted based on the conditions of patients， so as to meet their nutritional needs， promote the recovery of liver function， improve overall health status， and enhance long-term quality of life.

Objective:To compare the clinical manifestations,laboratory results,and imaging features between pyogenic spondylitis(PS) and tuberculous spondylitis(TS).Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 88 patients with infectious diseases of spine(IDS) admitted to Shanghai Sixth People′s Hospital from January 2021 to December 2023 were analyzed,including 61 PS cases(PS group) and 27 TS cases(TS group). The clinical manifestations,laboratory results,and imaging features were compared between two groups. The factors associated with PS were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. The diagnostic efficacy for pathogen identification was compared between metagenomics next-generation sequencing(mNGS) and bacterial culture methods in PS and TS patients.Results:Compared with the TS group,the PS group had a higher age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index(aCCI)[3.0(1.5,4.0) points vs. 2.0(1.0,3.0) points, Z=-2.189, P=0.029],shorter onset time of disease[1.0(0.8,3.0) months vs. 6.0(2.0,12.0) months,Z=-4.353, P<0.001],and higher median blood leukocyte counts and serum ferritin(SF) level(7.2×10 9/L vs. 6.3×10 9/L, Z=-2.652, P=0.008; 571.3 ng/ml vs. 266.0 ng/ml, Z=-4.773, P<0.001). The proportions of lumbar spine involvement,non-collapsed involved vertebrae,and bone bridges formed were all higher in the PS group compared to the TS group[68.8%(99/144) vs. 41.4%(29/70), χ2=14.628, P<0.001; 68.9%(42/61) vs. 18.5%(5/27), χ2=19.055, P<0.001; 41.0%(25/61) vs. 7.4%(2/27), χ2=9.921, P=0.002]. The proportions of thoracic spine involvement,severe vertebral collapse,severe narrowing of the involved intervertebral space,sequestrum,and paravertebral soft tissue calcification were all higher in the TS group compared to the PS group[52.9%(37/70) vs. 18.1%(26/144), χ2=27.463, P<0.001; 55.6%(15/27) vs. 13.1%(8/61), χ2=17.462, P<0.001; 74.1%(20/27) vs. 37.7%(23/61), χ2=9.907, P=0.002; 74.1%(20/27) vs. 18.0%(11/61), χ2=25.761, P<0.001; 51.9%(14/27) vs. 6.6%(4/61), χ2=23.599, P<0.001]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that a symptom duration<5.5 months( OR=30.644,95% CI: 2.022-464.529, P<0.05) and a leukocyte count>7.35×10 9/L( OR=48.653,95% CI: 2.045-1 157.721, P<0.05) indicated a higher likelihood of PS; while the vertebral collapse indicated a higher likelihood of TS( OR=0.025,95% CI: 0.001-0.638, P<0.05). The most common pathogen in the PS group was Staphylococcus aureus(31 cases,50.8%),followed by Streptococcus species(10 cases,16.4%). The positive rates of mNGS testing in the PS and TS groups were 84.1%(37/44) and 12/13,respectively,which were higher than those of conventional bacterial culture[77.8%(42/54)] and Mycobacteriumtuberculosis culture(2/11). Conclusions:Compared with the TS patients,the PS patients have shorter onset time,higher aCCI scores,higher blood leukocyte counts and SF levels,less vertebral collapse and intervertebral space narrowing,and more bone bridge formation. The TS patients have more dead bones and calcifications. The mNGS has a higher diagnostic efficacy than bacterial cultures for PS and TS.

Objective To investigate the mechanism by which angiopoietin-like protein 8(ANGPTL8)regulates vascular smooth muscle cell(VSMCs)apoptosis.Methods An in vitro abdominal aortic aneurysm cell model was established by stimulating human VSMCs(HUSMCs)with angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ).Stable ANGPTL8 knockdown and over-expression VSMC cell strains were generated using lentiviral transfection.TUNEL staining was used to de-tect apoptosis.Western blot analysis was performed to measure the protein expression of ANGPTL8,caspase9,caspase3,Bcl-2,Bax,p53,and PUMA,while RT-qPCR was used to assess mRNA expression of ANGPTL8,Bcl-2 and Bax.Results AngⅡ significantly induced ANGPTL8 expression in HVSMCs in a time-and dose-de-pendent manner(P＜0.05).ANGPTL8 knockdown significantly reduced the expression of apoptosis-related proteins caspase9,caspase3,and Bax,while increased the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2(P＜0.05).Con-versely,ANGPTL8 over-expression markedly induced HVSMCs apoptosis,which was significantly suppressed by treatment with the p53 pathway inhibitor pifithrin-α(PFT-α).Conclusions ANGPTL8 may promote VSMC apop-tosis by activation of p53 signaling pathway.

Objective:To monitor the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) in severe neurocritical pediatric patients using bedside ultrasound and to assess the relationship between ONSD and intracranial pressure (ICP) in these patients.Methods:Pediatric patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University between October 2021 and December 2022 with neurocritical conditions were enrolled.ICP was measured using lumbar puncture,and ONSD was monitored on days 1,2,and 3 post-lumbar puncture,as well as at discharge or when the patient's condition stabilized.Patients were divided into ICP-elevated group and ICP normal group based on ICP measurement results,and into different age groups: >4 years,1-4 years,and <1 year.ONSD was compared between different ICP groups and among different age groups,and the performance of ONSD in predicting ICP was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.Results:Among the 50 neurocritical pediatric patients,26 were in the ICP-elevated group and 24 in the ICP normal group; 30 patients were in the >4 years group,10 in the 1-4 years group,and 10 in the <1 year group.The ONSD was wider in the ICP-elevated group than in the ICP normal group [(6.03±0.64) mm vs.(5.64±0.66) mm, P<0.05].In the >4 years group,the ONSD was significantly wider in ICP-elevated patients compared to ICP normal patients [ (6.61±0.50) mm vs.(5.86±0.41) mm, P<0.05].In the 1-4 years group,the ONSD was (5.82±0.37) mm in ICP-elevated patients,with only one ICP normal patient having an ONSD of 4.50 mm.In the <1 year group,the ONSD was significantly wider in ICP-elevated patients compared to ICP normal patients [(5.47±0.41) mm vs.(4.52±0.53) mm, P<0.05].Among ICP-elevated patients,ONSD increased with age ( P<0.05).In the >4 years group,Spearman correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between ICP and ONSD ( r=0.564, P<0.05).ROC analysis revealed an optimal cut-off value of 5.85 mm for ONSD in diagnosing ICP elevation,with sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 60%,respectively,and the area under ROC curve of 0.880 (95% CI 0.757-1.000, P<0.05).In ICP-elevated patients,ONSD was significantly narrower before discharge or when the condition stabilized compared to days 1 and 2 after lumbar puncture( P<0.05),while no significant changes were observed in ICP normal patients. Conclusion:Ultrasonic monitoring of ONSD can be used to dynamically evaluate ICP in children with severe neurological diseases.The optimal critical value of ONSD in the diagnosis of ICP increase in children over 4 years old is 5.85 mm，and ONSD can reflect the therapeutic effect of children with severe neurological diseases to some extent.As a real-time，dynamic，simple and repeatable tool，ultrasonic monitoring ONSD can be widely used in intensive care unit.

Objective:To explore the effect of Pegylated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (PEG-rhG-CSF) with chemotherapy on breast cancer patients who got agranulocytosis of 3 to 4 degree, agranulocytosis with fever (FN) and the influential factors of relative dose intensity (RDI) chemotherapy scheme. Meantime, the value of CD34 + and CD45 in peripheral blood on predicting agranulocytosis of 3-4 degree were investigated.Methods:A total of 104 women with breast cancer were treated at Huzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital and Cancer Hospital of Zhejiang Province from Jan. 2022 to Sep. 2023. All subjects received primary prevention with PEG-rhG-CSF during chemotherapy. The clinical risk factors of agranulocytosis, FN and RDI were analyzed. The levels of CD34 + and CD45 in peripheral blood samples were analyzed by flow cytometry. Then the predictive value of the receiver characteristic curve (ROC) for Grade 3 to 4 agranulocytosis after primary prophylaxis with PEG-rhG-CSF for breast cancer chemotherapy was evaluated.Results:Among 104 breast cancer patients who received primary prevention of PEG-rhG-CSF during chemotherapy, 28 patients had agranulocytosis of 3 to 4 grade, 10 patients got FN, and 12 patients developed RDI<85%. The results of single factor analysis showed that CD34 +, CD45 and chemotherapy scheme were the influential factors of agranulocytosis of 3 to 4 degree, and low RDI of chemotherapy scheme ( OR=0.584, OR=0.999, OR=2.299, OR=0.100, OR=0.999, OR=3.088, P<0.05) . It also showed that CD34 + and chemotherapy scheme were the influential factors of FN ( OR=0.099, OR=2.667, P<0.05) . Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that CD34 +, CD45 and intensive chemotherapy were the independent risk factors of agranulocytosis of 3 to 4 degree after primary prevention with PEG-rhG-CSF ( OR=0.602, OR=0.999, OR=20.174, P<0.05) . CD34 + and intensive chemotherapy scheme were the independent influential factors of FN and RDI of chemotherapy scheme after primary prevention with PEG-RHG-CSF ( OR=0.072, OR=33.934, OR=0.086, OR=54.788, P<0.05) . The area under the curve (AUC) of CD34 + were 0.767 (95% CI:0.659-0.876) , AUC of CD45 were 0.743 (95% CI:0.644-0.842) , and the AUC of combined two indexes was 0.825 (95% CI:0.730-0.920) , which was higher than that of single index. So AUC of CD34 + and CD45 can be used for predicting agranulocytosis of grade 3 to 4 in breast cancer patients receiving primary prophylaxis with PEG-rhG-CSF. Conclusions:The levels of CD34 + and CD45 in peripheral blood of breast cancer patients with agranulocytosis of grade 3 to 4 receiving primary prevention with PEG-rhG-CSF during chemotherapy are lower. Combined detection of CD34 + and CD45 in peripheral blood can predict the occurrence of agranulocytosis of grade 3 to 4 in breast cancer patients after primary prevention with PEG-rhG-CSF. Also it can provide a reliable basis for assessing the risk of grade 3 to 4 agranulocytosis.

Objective:To explore the effect of Pegylated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (PEG-rhG-CSF) with chemotherapy on breast cancer patients who got agranulocytosis of 3 to 4 degree, agranulocytosis with fever (FN) and the influential factors of relative dose intensity (RDI) chemotherapy scheme. Meantime, the value of CD34 + and CD45 in peripheral blood on predicting agranulocytosis of 3-4 degree were investigated.Methods:A total of 104 women with breast cancer were treated at Huzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital and Cancer Hospital of Zhejiang Province from Jan. 2022 to Sep. 2023. All subjects received primary prevention with PEG-rhG-CSF during chemotherapy. The clinical risk factors of agranulocytosis, FN and RDI were analyzed. The levels of CD34 + and CD45 in peripheral blood samples were analyzed by flow cytometry. Then the predictive value of the receiver characteristic curve (ROC) for Grade 3 to 4 agranulocytosis after primary prophylaxis with PEG-rhG-CSF for breast cancer chemotherapy was evaluated.Results:Among 104 breast cancer patients who received primary prevention of PEG-rhG-CSF during chemotherapy, 28 patients had agranulocytosis of 3 to 4 grade, 10 patients got FN, and 12 patients developed RDI<85%. The results of single factor analysis showed that CD34 +, CD45 and chemotherapy scheme were the influential factors of agranulocytosis of 3 to 4 degree, and low RDI of chemotherapy scheme ( OR=0.584, OR=0.999, OR=2.299, OR=0.100, OR=0.999, OR=3.088, P<0.05) . It also showed that CD34 + and chemotherapy scheme were the influential factors of FN ( OR=0.099, OR=2.667, P<0.05) . Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that CD34 +, CD45 and intensive chemotherapy were the independent risk factors of agranulocytosis of 3 to 4 degree after primary prevention with PEG-rhG-CSF ( OR=0.602, OR=0.999, OR=20.174, P<0.05) . CD34 + and intensive chemotherapy scheme were the independent influential factors of FN and RDI of chemotherapy scheme after primary prevention with PEG-RHG-CSF ( OR=0.072, OR=33.934, OR=0.086, OR=54.788, P<0.05) . The area under the curve (AUC) of CD34 + were 0.767 (95% CI:0.659-0.876) , AUC of CD45 were 0.743 (95% CI:0.644-0.842) , and the AUC of combined two indexes was 0.825 (95% CI:0.730-0.920) , which was higher than that of single index. So AUC of CD34 + and CD45 can be used for predicting agranulocytosis of grade 3 to 4 in breast cancer patients receiving primary prophylaxis with PEG-rhG-CSF. Conclusions:The levels of CD34 + and CD45 in peripheral blood of breast cancer patients with agranulocytosis of grade 3 to 4 receiving primary prevention with PEG-rhG-CSF during chemotherapy are lower. Combined detection of CD34 + and CD45 in peripheral blood can predict the occurrence of agranulocytosis of grade 3 to 4 in breast cancer patients after primary prevention with PEG-rhG-CSF. Also it can provide a reliable basis for assessing the risk of grade 3 to 4 agranulocytosis.

Objective:To monitor the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) in severe neurocritical pediatric patients using bedside ultrasound and to assess the relationship between ONSD and intracranial pressure (ICP) in these patients.Methods:Pediatric patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University between October 2021 and December 2022 with neurocritical conditions were enrolled.ICP was measured using lumbar puncture,and ONSD was monitored on days 1,2,and 3 post-lumbar puncture,as well as at discharge or when the patient's condition stabilized.Patients were divided into ICP-elevated group and ICP normal group based on ICP measurement results,and into different age groups: >4 years,1-4 years,and <1 year.ONSD was compared between different ICP groups and among different age groups,and the performance of ONSD in predicting ICP was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.Results:Among the 50 neurocritical pediatric patients,26 were in the ICP-elevated group and 24 in the ICP normal group; 30 patients were in the >4 years group,10 in the 1-4 years group,and 10 in the <1 year group.The ONSD was wider in the ICP-elevated group than in the ICP normal group [(6.03±0.64) mm vs.(5.64±0.66) mm, P<0.05].In the >4 years group,the ONSD was significantly wider in ICP-elevated patients compared to ICP normal patients [ (6.61±0.50) mm vs.(5.86±0.41) mm, P<0.05].In the 1-4 years group,the ONSD was (5.82±0.37) mm in ICP-elevated patients,with only one ICP normal patient having an ONSD of 4.50 mm.In the <1 year group,the ONSD was significantly wider in ICP-elevated patients compared to ICP normal patients [(5.47±0.41) mm vs.(4.52±0.53) mm, P<0.05].Among ICP-elevated patients,ONSD increased with age ( P<0.05).In the >4 years group,Spearman correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between ICP and ONSD ( r=0.564, P<0.05).ROC analysis revealed an optimal cut-off value of 5.85 mm for ONSD in diagnosing ICP elevation,with sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 60%,respectively,and the area under ROC curve of 0.880 (95% CI 0.757-1.000, P<0.05).In ICP-elevated patients,ONSD was significantly narrower before discharge or when the condition stabilized compared to days 1 and 2 after lumbar puncture( P<0.05),while no significant changes were observed in ICP normal patients. Conclusion:Ultrasonic monitoring of ONSD can be used to dynamically evaluate ICP in children with severe neurological diseases.The optimal critical value of ONSD in the diagnosis of ICP increase in children over 4 years old is 5.85 mm，and ONSD can reflect the therapeutic effect of children with severe neurological diseases to some extent.As a real-time，dynamic，simple and repeatable tool，ultrasonic monitoring ONSD can be widely used in intensive care unit.

Objective:To compare the clinical manifestations,laboratory results,and imaging features between pyogenic spondylitis(PS) and tuberculous spondylitis(TS).Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 88 patients with infectious diseases of spine(IDS) admitted to Shanghai Sixth People′s Hospital from January 2021 to December 2023 were analyzed,including 61 PS cases(PS group) and 27 TS cases(TS group). The clinical manifestations,laboratory results,and imaging features were compared between two groups. The factors associated with PS were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. The diagnostic efficacy for pathogen identification was compared between metagenomics next-generation sequencing(mNGS) and bacterial culture methods in PS and TS patients.Results:Compared with the TS group,the PS group had a higher age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index(aCCI)[3.0(1.5,4.0) points vs. 2.0(1.0,3.0) points, Z=-2.189, P=0.029],shorter onset time of disease[1.0(0.8,3.0) months vs. 6.0(2.0,12.0) months,Z=-4.353, P<0.001],and higher median blood leukocyte counts and serum ferritin(SF) level(7.2×10 9/L vs. 6.3×10 9/L, Z=-2.652, P=0.008; 571.3 ng/ml vs. 266.0 ng/ml, Z=-4.773, P<0.001). The proportions of lumbar spine involvement,non-collapsed involved vertebrae,and bone bridges formed were all higher in the PS group compared to the TS group[68.8%(99/144) vs. 41.4%(29/70), χ2=14.628, P<0.001; 68.9%(42/61) vs. 18.5%(5/27), χ2=19.055, P<0.001; 41.0%(25/61) vs. 7.4%(2/27), χ2=9.921, P=0.002]. The proportions of thoracic spine involvement,severe vertebral collapse,severe narrowing of the involved intervertebral space,sequestrum,and paravertebral soft tissue calcification were all higher in the TS group compared to the PS group[52.9%(37/70) vs. 18.1%(26/144), χ2=27.463, P<0.001; 55.6%(15/27) vs. 13.1%(8/61), χ2=17.462, P<0.001; 74.1%(20/27) vs. 37.7%(23/61), χ2=9.907, P=0.002; 74.1%(20/27) vs. 18.0%(11/61), χ2=25.761, P<0.001; 51.9%(14/27) vs. 6.6%(4/61), χ2=23.599, P<0.001]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that a symptom duration<5.5 months( OR=30.644,95% CI: 2.022-464.529, P<0.05) and a leukocyte count>7.35×10 9/L( OR=48.653,95% CI: 2.045-1 157.721, P<0.05) indicated a higher likelihood of PS; while the vertebral collapse indicated a higher likelihood of TS( OR=0.025,95% CI: 0.001-0.638, P<0.05). The most common pathogen in the PS group was Staphylococcus aureus(31 cases,50.8%),followed by Streptococcus species(10 cases,16.4%). The positive rates of mNGS testing in the PS and TS groups were 84.1%(37/44) and 12/13,respectively,which were higher than those of conventional bacterial culture[77.8%(42/54)] and Mycobacteriumtuberculosis culture(2/11). Conclusions:Compared with the TS patients,the PS patients have shorter onset time,higher aCCI scores,higher blood leukocyte counts and SF levels,less vertebral collapse and intervertebral space narrowing,and more bone bridge formation. The TS patients have more dead bones and calcifications. The mNGS has a higher diagnostic efficacy than bacterial cultures for PS and TS.

Angiopoietin-like protein 8(ANGPTL8)secreted by liver and adipose tissue,is a glycoprotein exerting paramount effects on facilitation of vascular remodeling and regulation of inflammatory response;ANGPTL8 is in-volved in the initiation and progression of cardiovascular diseases including coronary artery disease,hypertension,aortic aneurysm and pathological cardiac hypertrophy,and holds promise for being a new target for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.