AIM:To investigate the effects of the Qingfei-Jiedu-Huatan formula(QJHF)on damage to the lung vascular endothelial barrier induced by Klebsiella pneumoniae in mice with severe pneumonia,as well as to elucidate its underlying mechanisms.METHODS:Fifty-one C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group(n=6),model group(n=15),QJHF group(n=15),and ceftriaxone sodium(CRO)group(n=15).Severe pneumonia was in-duced in the mice by a single tracheal intubation with 50 μL of 1×1011 CFU/mL Klebsiella pneumoniae on day 0.Six hours after modeling,the mice in QJHF and CRO groups received their respective treatments,while those in control and model groups were administered an equal volume of saline.All mice were sacrificed on day 3 after the end of gavage.Lung histo-pathological changes were assessed using hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.Levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),and IL-6 in lung tissues were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Flow cytometry was used to detect CD11b+Ly6g+cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF).Proteomics and network pharma-cology analyses were conducted to elucidate the mechanisms of drug action.Western blot was conducted to assess the ex-pression levels of vascular endothelial cadherin(VE-cadherin),zonula occludens-1(ZO-1),occludin,vascular endothe-lial growth factor(VEGF),P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(P38),and phosphorylated P38(p-P38)in lung tis-sues.RESULTS:Treatment with QJHF significantly attenuated the symptoms such as mental status and respiratory dis-tress,reduced mortality,mitigated lung tissue lesions,and decreased levels of IL-6,TNF-α,IL-1β,as well as BALF to-tal protein concentration,total cell count and neutrophil content in a mouse model of severe pneumonia(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Additionally,QJHF increased the expression of VE-cadherin,ZO-1 and occludin proteins in lung tissues.Pro-teomic analysis demonstrated that QJHF modulated the expression of 129 proteins in the lung tissues of mice suffering from severe pneumonia.Network pharmacology identified 328 potential targets associated with 14 major bioactive components of QJHF and 1 665 genes related to severe pneumonia,with 125 overlapping genes between the two datasets.The construc-tion of a protein-protein interaction(PPI)network,along with Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses of the regulated proteins and overlapping genes,indicated that QJHF primarily in-fluenced the PI3K-Akt,MAPK and Rap1 signaling pathways,as well as VEGFR.Western blot analysis showed that QJHF significantly inhibited the expression of VEGF and P38 in lung tissues(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).CONCLUSION:Treatment with QJHF attenuates severe pneumonia in mice,potentially by inhibiting VEGF/P38 signaling to protect the vascular endothelial barrier.

Objective To identify biomarkers that characterize its bitter-cold properties of Scutellaria Radix on the basis of evaluating its cold and hot properties,as well as possible metabolic pathways and related targets;To explore its molecular mechanism.Methods Totally 40 mice were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group,and were orally administered with normal saline and Scutellaria Radix decoction,respectively,for 4 consecutive days.The cold and hot plate differential method was used to evaluate the cold and hot tendencies of the mice;UPLC-MS/MS technology was used to analyze mouse blood samples,differential metabolites were screened using principal component analysis,partial least squares discriminant analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis methods,and metabolic pathway analysis was performed;network modular analysis of differential metabolites was performed using Cytoscape 3.9.0 software to identify potential molecular targets.Results On the second day of administration,the anal temperature of mice in the treatment group decreased significantly compared to the control group(P<0.01);in the cold and hot tendency test,the mice in the treatment group showed an overall increase in high-temperature tendency and a higher proportion of high-temperature zone retention.There was a statistically significant difference(P<0.01,P<0.05)between the treatment group and the control group on the 2nd and 3rd day of treatment;the pattern recognition analysis of serum metabolome data showed that the serum samples of the treatment group and the control group could be completely separated,and a total of 14 differential metabolites were screened out;metabolic pathway analysis identified 16 related pathways,including unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis,linoleic acid metabolism,citric acid cycle(TCA cycle),arachidonic acid metabolism,glycine,serine and threonine metabolism,steroid hormone biosynthesis,etc.;a total of 16 modules were obtained through network modular analysis,among which the arachidonic acid metabolism pathway and linoleic acid metabolism pathway modules were larger;the nodal degree values of arachidonic acid and linoleic acid were greater than the mean,involving arachidonic acid metabolism and linoleic acid metabolism pathways;by screening 26 genes associated with the cytochrome P450 enzyme system were obtained.Conclusion Scutellaria Radix may regulate the body's energy metabolism,achieve its biological effects,and characterize its medicinal properties by intervening in metabolic pathways such as arachidonic acid and linoleic acid.

Objective:To analyze the potential risk factors for early relapse/progression in patients with multiple myeloma(MM)and develop a risk prediction model based on these factors.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 187 newly diagnosed multiple myeloma(NDMM)patients who treated at the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College from February 2014 to December 2020.The clinical,laboratory examination,and follow-up data of patients experiencing relapse/progression within 24 months after treatment(ER/EP24)were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses,and a nomogram prediction model was established.Results:Among the 187 patients,58(31.0％)experienced ER/EP24,with a median survival time of only 24 months.The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that failure to achieve partial response(PR)or better after 3-4 cycles of chemotherapy and albumin(ALB)levels＜35 g/L were independent risk factors for ER/EP24(P＜0.05).These factors,along with other clinically relevant variables,were further incorporated into the nomogram prediction model.The model demonstrated a concordance index(C-index)of 0.784,indicating strong predictive accuracy.Conclusion:MM patients experiencing ER/EP24 exhibit poor outcome,and the nomogram model developed in this study effectively predicts the risk of ER/EP24 in NDMM patients,providing a valuable tool for clinical risk assessment.

Objective To compare the capture performance differences between TruSeq? Exome and NimbleGen SeqCap EZ Human Exome kits in children with cerebral palsy(CP),and to provide a technical selection basis for clinical genetic research and diagnosis.Methods Peripheral blood samples from 48 sporadic CP patients were included.Exome libraries were constructed using TruSeq(DNA probes)and NimbleGen(RNA probes),followed by sequencing on the Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform.Bioinformatics analysis was applied to evaluate mapping rate,target region coverage,variant concordance,and clinical relevance based on a CP-related gene set(2 293 genes).The statistical analysis was performed using a paired t-test with a significance threshold of α=0.05.Results The results showed no significant differences between NimbleGen and TruSeq exome capture kits in basic data quality(alignment rate,insert size)and GC content.However,they exhibited complementary characteristics in key performance metrics:NimbleGen demonstrated superior performance in specific depth coverage(1×coverage rate,P=1.84×10-5;20×coverage rate,P=1.49×10-20).TruSeq,on the other hand,showed higher sensitivity in Indel detection(TruSeq vs.NimbleGen:11 371±1 689 vs.11 274±1 670,P=3.24×10-7)and rare variant capture(TruSeq vs.NimbleGen:3 164±766 vs.3 072±774,P=1.20×10-4),successfully identifying all 11 pathogenic variants(including 2 missed by NimbleGen).Conclusion TruSeq,with its superior variant detection rate,is more suitable for clinical diagnostic applications,while NimbleGen's coverage stability may be advantageous for research-oriented projects.

Objective:To investigate and analyze the service needs of family members of Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit patients and provide references for improving Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit nursing services.Methods:Totally 270 family members of neurosurgical patients hospitalized between March and May 2024 at Intensive Care Unit of Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University were selected by convenience sampling. Kano Model-based Questionnaire on the Needs of Family Members of Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit Patients designed based on literature review and expert consultation, was distributed to investigate their families service needs. The Kano model analysis was applied to categorize service needs and prioritize them, followed by constructing a satisfaction-importance quadrant diagram.Results:A total of 270 questionnaires were distributed, with 248 valid responses collected, yielding an effective response rate of 91.85% (248/270) . The Kano attribute analysis revealed that all service needs were classified as "expected attributes". The satisfaction-importance quadrant diagram indicated that 10 items were located in the "advantage zone", nine items in the "retention zone", four items in the "observation zone", and seven items in the "improvement zone".Conclusions:The Kano model-based analysis of service needs helps healthcare providers identify the diverse needs of family members of Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit patients. It is recommended that while maintaining the provision of services in the "advantage zone", healthcare providers integrate hospital resources to continuously improve services in the "improvement zone" to enhance family satisfaction and strengthen hospital competitiveness.

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Tangning Tongluo tablets in the treatment of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy （DR）. MethodsFourteen research centers participated in this study， which spanned a time interval from September 2021 to May 2023. A total of 240 patients with nonproliferative DR were included and randomly assigned into an observation group （120 cases） and a control group （120 cases）. The observation group was treated with Tangning Tongluo tablets， and the control group with calcium dobesilate capsules. Both groups were treated for 24 consecutive weeks. The vision， DR progression rate， retinal microhemangioma， hemorrhage area， exudation area， glycosylated hemoglobin （HbA1c） level， and TCM syndrome score were assessed before and after treatment， and the safety was observed. ResultsThe vision changed in both groups after treatment （P<0.05）， and the observation group showed higher best corrected visual acuity （BCVA） than the control group （P<0.05）. The DR progression was slow with similar rates in the two groups. The fundus hemorrhage area and exudation area did not change significantly after treatment in both groups， while the observation group outperformed the control group in reducing the fundus hemorrhage area and exudation area. There was no significant difference in the number of microhemangiomas between the two groups before treatment. After treatment， the number of microhemangiomas decreased in both the observation group （Z=-1.437， P<0.05） and the control group （Z=-2.238， P<0.05）， and it showed no significant difference between the two groups. As the treatment time prolonged， the number of microhemangiomas gradually decreased in both groups. There was no significant difference in the HbA1c level between the two groups before treatment. After treatment， the decline in the HbA1c level showed no significant difference between the two groups. The TCM syndrome score did not have a statistically significant difference between the two groups before treatment. After treatment， neither the TCM syndrome score nor the response rate had significant difference between the two groups. With the extension of the treatment time， both groups showed amelioration of TCM syndrome compared with the baseline. ConclusionTangning Tongluo tablets are safe and effective in the treatment of nonproliferative DR， being capable of improving vision and reducing hemorrhage and exudation in the fundus.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between long-term glycemic control and cerebral infarction risk in patients with diabetes through a large-scale cohort study. METHODS: This prospective, community-based cohort study included 12,054 patients with diabetes. From 2006 to 2012, 38,272 fasting blood glucose (FBG) measurements were obtained from these participants. FBG trajectory patterns were generated using latent mixture modelling. Cox proportional hazards models were applied to assess the subsequent risk of cerebral infarction associated with different FBG trajectory patterns. RESULTS: At baseline, the mean age of the participants was 55.2 years. Four distinct FBG trajectories were identified based on FBG concentrations and their changes over the 6-year follow-up period. After a median follow-up of 6.9 years, 786 cerebral infarction events were recorded. Different trajectory patterns were associated with significantly varied outcome risks (Log-Rank P < 0.001). Compared with the low-stability group, Hazard Ratio ( HR) adjusted for potential confounders were 1.37 for the moderate-increasing group, 1.23 for the elevated-decreasing group, and 2.08 for the elevated-stable group. CONCLUSION Sustained high FBG levels were found to play a critical role in the development of ischemic stroke among patients with diabetes. Controlling FBG levels may reduce the risk of cerebral infarction.
Humans ; Cerebral Infarction/blood* ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Female ; Blood Glucose/analysis* ; Fasting/blood* ; Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Diabetes Mellitus/blood* ; Adult ; Proportional Hazards Models

Objective:To investigate the impact of ginseng alcohol extract(GEE)on improving sleep quality in the aged Drosophila model by regulating the redox balance,and to elucidate its associated mechanism.Methods:Thirty-two male drosophila melanogaster(7-days-old)were randomly selected as young group,while 64 male Drosophila melanogaster flies(35-days-old)were randomly assigned to aged model group(n=32)and GEE group(n=32).The sleep parameters,including total sleep duration,daytime sleep duration,night sleep duration,0-4 h of sleep duration after lights off(ZT0-4 sleep duration),deep sleep duration,sleep episodetimes,sleep fragmentation,and the activity parameters such as the total number of locomotor activity daytime locomotor activity amount and nighttime locomotor activity amount were analyzed using the DAM2 Drosophila behavioral analysis system 7 d after administration.The grouping of the drosophila was as above,and there were 100 drosophila ineach group.The differentially expressed proteins in drosophila brain tissue were screened,identified,and functionally analyzed using two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis(2D-DIGE)and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS)proteomic methods.The grouping of the drosophila was as above,and there were 100 drosophila in each group.The activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)and the levels of lipid peroxidation product(MDA)in brain tissue of the drosophila were determined using assay kits.Results:Compared with young group,the total sleep duration daytime sleep duration and night sleep cluration of the drosophila in agaed group were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01);and the sleep rhythm amplitude was shortened.Compared with aged group,the total sleep duration and daytime and nighttime sleep durations of the drosphila in GEE group were lengthened(P<0.01).Compared with young group,the ZT0-4 sleep duration deep sleep duration and sleep fragment of the drosophila in aged group were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the sleep rhythm amplitude was shortened.Compared with young group,the ZT0-4 sleep duration,deep sleep duration,and single sleep fragment of the drosphila in GEE group were significantly prolonged(P<0.01),and the sleep amplitude was increased.Compared with young group,there was no significant difference in diurnal spontaneous activity or total spontaneous activity of the drosophila in aged group(P>0.05),while the nocturnal spontaneous activity was significantly increased(P<0.05).Compared with aged group,the diurnal spontaneous activity,nocturnal spontaneous activity,and total spontaneous activity of the drosophila in GEE group were significantly decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01).A total of 47 differentially expressed proteins were selected in the 2D-DIGE electrophoretic mapping.Compared with young group,the expressions of 47 differentially expressed protein sites in aged group were down-regulated mainly including glutathione S-transferase,peroxiredoxin 1 and dihydrolipoic dehydrogenase,which were related to redox balance.Compared with young group,the activities of SOD,CAT and GSH-Px in brain tissue of the drosophila in aged group were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the level of MDA was increased(P<0.01);compared with aged group,the activities of SOD,CAT and GSH-Px in brain tissue of the drosphila in GEE group were increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the MDA level was decreased(P<0.05).Conclusion:GEE has improvement effect on the sleep quality of aged drosophila,and its possible mechanism may be related to upregulating the activities of antioxidant enzymes,inhibiting the accumulation of lipid peroxidation products,and maintaining redox balance.

Scanning electrochemical microscopy(SECM)is an advanced characterization technique with high spatiotemporal resolution and plays an important role in the field of electrochemical analysis and imaging.Its applications have been extended to multiple fields,including materials science,biomedical science,and electrochemical energy storage.In recent years,Chinese research teams have made a series of progress in the field of SECM technology,mainly focusing on the optimization of instrument accuracy,innovation of working modes,improvement of imaging quality,and the integration of multiple technologies.These studies have significantly enhanced the technical performance of SECM and expanded its application scope,providing technical support for research in related fields.This article provided a systematic overview of representative achievements in the development of SECM technology in China,focusing on the improvement and design of instrument hardware,strategic optimization of working modes,intelligent upgrading of digital image algorithms,and the collaborative combination of multiple characterization techniques.On this basis,the key scientific issues and technological bottlenecks that currently constrained the development of SECM technology were discussed,and the future development trends were prospected.