ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of Xingpi capsules （XPC） in treating diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome （IBS-D） with spleen deficiency and elucidate its potential molecular mechanisms. MethodsA rat model of IBS-D with spleen deficiency was established by administering senna leaf in combination with restrained stress and swimming fatigue for 14 d. Ten specific pathogen free （SPF）-grade healthy rats were used as the normal control group. After successful modeling， SPF-grade rats were randomly divided into a model group， a pinaverium bromide group （1.5 mg·kg^-1）， and low- and high-dose XPC groups （0.135 and 0.54 g·kg^-1）， with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the normal control group and the model group were given distilled water by gavage， while the remaining groups were administered corresponding drug solutions by gavage once a day for 14 consecutive days. The rat body weights and fecal condition were observed every day， and the Bristol score was recorded. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to determine the levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT） in serum and colon tissue. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the microvilli and tight junctions in the colon. The integrity of the colonic barrier， intestinal motility， and expression of related pathway proteins were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， immunohistochemistry， and Western blot. ResultsCompared with those in the normal control group， rats in the model group showed a significantly decreased body weight and increased diarrhea rate， diarrhea grade， and Bristol score （P<0.01）. HE staining revealed incomplete colonic mucosa in the model group， with evident congestion and edema observed. Electron microscopy results indicated decreased density and integrity of the colonic barrier， shedding and disappearance of microvilli， and significant widening of tight junctions. The expression levels of colonic tight junction proteins Occludin and Claudin-5 were downregulated （P<0.01）， and the levels of 5-HT in serum and colon tissue were elevated （P<0.01）. The small intestine propulsion rate significantly increased （P<0.01）， and the expression of contractile proteins Ras homolog family member A （RhoA） and Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 2 （ROCK2） in colon and phosphorylation of myosin light chain （MLC₂₀） were upregulated （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the treatment groups showed alleviated diarrhea， diarrhea-associated symptoms， and pathological manifestations of colon tissue to varying degrees. Specifically， high-dose XPC exhibited effectively relieved diarrhea， promoted recovery of colonic mucosal structure， significantly reduced congestion and edema， upregulated expression of Occludin and Claudin-5 （P<0.01）， decreased levels of 5-HT in serum and colon tissue （P<0.05，P<0.01）， significantly slowed small intestine propulsion rate （P<0.01）， and significantly downregulated expression of contractile proteins RhoA and ROCK2 in colon and phosphorylation of MLC₂₀ （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionXPC effectively alleviates symptoms of spleen deficiency and diarrhea and regulates the secretion of brain-gut peptide. The characteristics of XPC are mainly manifested in alleviating IBS-D with spleen deficiency from the aspects of protecting intestinal mucosa and inhibiting smooth muscle contraction， and the mechanism is closely related to the regulation of the 5-HT-RhoA/ROCK2 pathway expression.

ObjectiveTo investigate the ameliorative effect of Xingpi capsules on functional dyspepsia（FD） and the potential mechanism. MethodsSixty SPF-grade male SD neonatal rats（7 days old） were randomly divided into the normal group（n=12） and the modeling group（n=48）， and the FD model was prepared by iodoacetamide gavage in the modeling group. After the model was successfully prepared， the rats in the modeling group were randomly divided into the model group， the low-dose and high-dose groups of Xingpi capsules（0.135， 0.54 g·kg^-1） and the domperidone group（3 mg·kg^-1）， with 12 rats in each group. Rats in the normal and model groups were gavaged with distilled water， and rats in the rest of the groups were gavaged with the corresponding medicinal solution， once a day for 7 d. The general survival condition of the rats was observed， and the water intake and food intake of the rats were measured， the gastric emptying rate and the small intestinal propulsion rate were measured at the end of the treatment， the pathological damage of the rat duodenum was examined by hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining， and the expressions of colonic tight junction protein（Occludin） and zonula occludens protein-1（ZO-1） were detected by immunofluorescence. The differentially expressed genes in the duodenal tissues of the model group and the normal group， and the high-dose group of Xingpi capsules and the model group were detected by transcriptome sequencing after the final administration， and Gene Ontology（GO） and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes（KEGG） enrichment analyses were carried out. The transcriptomic results were validated by Western blot， immunofluorescence， and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR）， and the active ingredients of Xingpi capsules were screened for molecular docking with the key targets. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the general survival condition of rats in the model group was poorer， and the water intake， food intake， gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate were all significantly reduced（P<0.05）， inflammatory infiltration was seen in duodenal pathology， and the fluorescence intensities of Occludin and ZO-1 in the colon were significantly reduced（P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the general survival condition of rats in the high-dose group of Xingpi capsules improved significantly， and the water intake， food intake， gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate were all significantly increased（P<0.05）， the duodenal pathology showed a decrease in inflammatory infiltration， and the fluorescence intensities of colonic Occludin and ZO-1 were significantly increased（P<0.01）. Transcriptomic results showed that Xingpi capsules might exert therapeutic effects by regulating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase（PI3K）/protein kinase B（Akt） through the key genes such as Slc5a1， Abhd6. The validation results showed that compared with the normal group， the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt proteins， the protein expression level of interleukin（IL）-1β， and the fluorescence intensities of IL-6 and IL-1β were significantly increased in the model group（P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the mRNA levels of Slc5a1， Abhd6， Mgam， Atp1a1， Slc7a8， Cdr2， Chrm3， Slc5a9 and other key genes were significantly increased（P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt， the protein expression level of IL-1β and the fluorescence intensities of IL-6 and IL-1β in the high-dose group of Xingpi capsules were significantly reduced（P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the mRNA levels of Slc5a1， Abhd6， Mgam， Atp1a1， Slc7a8， Cdr2， Chrm3 and Slc5a9 were significantly reduced（P<0.05）. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis and molecular docking results showed that E-nerolidol and Z-nerolidol in Xingpi capsules were well bound to ABDH6 protein， and linarionoside A， valerosidatum and senkirkine were well bound to Slc5a1 protein. ConclusionXingpi capsules can effectively improve the general survival and gastrointestinal motility of FD rats， its specific mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to alleviate the low-grade inflammation of duodenum， and E-nerolidol， Z-nerolidol， linarionoside A， valerosidatum and senkirkine may be its key active ingredients.

ObjectiveTo investigate the ameliorative effect of Xingpi capsules on functional dyspepsia（FD） and the potential mechanism. MethodsSixty SPF-grade male SD neonatal rats（7 days old） were randomly divided into the normal group（n=12） and the modeling group（n=48）， and the FD model was prepared by iodoacetamide gavage in the modeling group. After the model was successfully prepared， the rats in the modeling group were randomly divided into the model group， the low-dose and high-dose groups of Xingpi capsules（0.135， 0.54 g·kg^-1） and the domperidone group（3 mg·kg^-1）， with 12 rats in each group. Rats in the normal and model groups were gavaged with distilled water， and rats in the rest of the groups were gavaged with the corresponding medicinal solution， once a day for 7 d. The general survival condition of the rats was observed， and the water intake and food intake of the rats were measured， the gastric emptying rate and the small intestinal propulsion rate were measured at the end of the treatment， the pathological damage of the rat duodenum was examined by hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining， and the expressions of colonic tight junction protein（Occludin） and zonula occludens protein-1（ZO-1） were detected by immunofluorescence. The differentially expressed genes in the duodenal tissues of the model group and the normal group， and the high-dose group of Xingpi capsules and the model group were detected by transcriptome sequencing after the final administration， and Gene Ontology（GO） and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes（KEGG） enrichment analyses were carried out. The transcriptomic results were validated by Western blot， immunofluorescence， and real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR）， and the active ingredients of Xingpi capsules were screened for molecular docking with the key targets. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the general survival condition of rats in the model group was poorer， and the water intake， food intake， gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate were all significantly reduced（P<0.05）， inflammatory infiltration was seen in duodenal pathology， and the fluorescence intensities of Occludin and ZO-1 in the colon were significantly reduced（P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the general survival condition of rats in the high-dose group of Xingpi capsules improved significantly， and the water intake， food intake， gastric emptying rate and small intestinal propulsion rate were all significantly increased（P<0.05）， the duodenal pathology showed a decrease in inflammatory infiltration， and the fluorescence intensities of colonic Occludin and ZO-1 were significantly increased（P<0.01）. Transcriptomic results showed that Xingpi capsules might exert therapeutic effects by regulating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase（PI3K）/protein kinase B（Akt） through the key genes such as Slc5a1， Abhd6. The validation results showed that compared with the normal group， the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt proteins， the protein expression level of interleukin（IL）-1β， and the fluorescence intensities of IL-6 and IL-1β were significantly increased in the model group（P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the mRNA levels of Slc5a1， Abhd6， Mgam， Atp1a1， Slc7a8， Cdr2， Chrm3， Slc5a9 and other key genes were significantly increased（P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and Akt， the protein expression level of IL-1β and the fluorescence intensities of IL-6 and IL-1β in the high-dose group of Xingpi capsules were significantly reduced（P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the mRNA levels of Slc5a1， Abhd6， Mgam， Atp1a1， Slc7a8， Cdr2， Chrm3 and Slc5a9 were significantly reduced（P<0.05）. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis and molecular docking results showed that E-nerolidol and Z-nerolidol in Xingpi capsules were well bound to ABDH6 protein， and linarionoside A， valerosidatum and senkirkine were well bound to Slc5a1 protein. ConclusionXingpi capsules can effectively improve the general survival and gastrointestinal motility of FD rats， its specific mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to alleviate the low-grade inflammation of duodenum， and E-nerolidol， Z-nerolidol， linarionoside A， valerosidatum and senkirkine may be its key active ingredients.

ObjectiveTo investigate the infection characteristics of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in children with acute respiratory tract infection (ARI) in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, from 2013 to 2023, so as to provide an evidence for the prevention and control of RSV in Shanghai. MethodsChildren who sought medical care at sentinel healthcare facilities in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, between January 2013 and December 2023 and met the case definition of ARI were included in the study. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected and tested for viral pathogens using real-time fluorescene PCR, and the clinical information of whom was collected simultaneously. ResultsA total of 4 980 children were included in the ARI surveillance, among whom 231 tested positive for RSV, with an overall detection rate of 4.64%. Of these, 106 cases were type A and 125 were type B. From 2013 to 2023, the detection rate of RSV in children showed an overall trend of initial increase followed by a decline, with higher detection rates in autumn and winter and lower rates in spring and summer. The RSV detection rate gradually decreased with age, with the highest rate observed in children <1 year old, accounting for 16.33% (80/490) of RSV-detection cases. Cough was the most common clinical symptom. Among the RSV-positive cases, 36 involved co-infection with another virus, 6 co-infected with three viruses, and 1 with mixed infection of four viruses. The most frequent co-infection was RSV and human coronavirus. ConclusionChildren under 1 year of age are more susceptible to RSV infection, with cough being the predominant symptom. RSV infection in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, mainly occurs in winter. Targeted prevention and control measures should be taken for children under 1 year old during the winter season to reduce the risk of both RSV infection and co-infection with human coronavirus and influenza virus.

Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is a common pathological hallmark of cardiovascular diseases, reflecting shared mechanisms in their progression. However, the lack of reliable MF models that accurately mimic its pathogenesis has hindered drug discovery, highlighting the urgent need for more effective therapeutic agents. Herein, a novel contractile three-dimensional (3D) myocardial tissue model integrating cardiomyocytes, cardiac-fibroblasts, and bone marrow-derived macrophages in collagen hydrogel was developed to simulate the fibrotic changes of cardiovascular disease, and facilitate the screening of anti-MF compounds. The 3D myocardial tissue model exhibited precise, visualizable, and quantifiable contractile characteristics under hypoxia and drug interventions. 76 compounds extracted from the resins of Toxicodendron vernicifluum, a traditional Chinese medicine with clear clinical benefits for fibrotic diseases, were screened for anti-fibrotic activity. Using an in vitro 3D oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-treated myocardial tissue model instead of a two-dimensional transforming growth factor-β treated cardiac-fibroblasts model, two candidates including LQ-40 and SQ-3 exert impressive anti-MF activity, which was further validated in left anterior descending coronary artery ligation-induced MF mouse model. The current results demonstrate the feasibility and advantage of the novel contractile 3D tissue model with multi-cell types in discovering candidates for MF, further stressing the great potential of regulating macrophages in the treatment of MF.

ObjectiveTo investigate the epidemiological characteristics of human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) in Pudong New Area, Shanghai, and to provide a basis for the prevention and control of HPIV infections in this area. MethodsA total of 8 180 cases with acute respiratory infection (ARI)/influenza-like illness (ILI) attending the fever outpatient clinics, pediatric outpatient clinics, respiratory outpatient clinics, pediatric wards, emergency departments, respiratory wards, and intensive care units (ICUs) and other monitoring departments in 9 sentinel hospitals in Pudong New Area from 2017 to 2022 were selected as the research subjects, and their nasopharyngeal/ throat swabs were collected. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was performed for testing the respiratory virus such as influenza virus, human adenovirus, human parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human enterovirus, rhinovirus, et al. HPIV serotypes were analyzed, and the detection rates of HPIV were compared between different times, seasons, and population groups. ResultsThe overall HPIV detection rate of ARI/ILI cases in Pudong New Area was 3.73% (305/8 180) in 2017‒2022, with HPIV-3 being the predominant serotype. The detection rate of HPIV decreased significantly in 2017‒2022, peaking at 7.66% (99/1 293) in 2017 and falling to 0.80% (13/1 617) in 2021. Statistically significant differences were observed in HPIV detection rates across different years (χ²_trend=80.037, P_trend<0.001). The detection rate was higher in 2017‒2019 than that in 2020‒2022 (χ²_trend=38.990, P_trend<0.001). HPIV exhibited seasonal patterns in 2017‒2019, with higher detection rates in summer and autumn and lower in spring and winter, whereas no seasonal patterns were observed in 2020‒2022. Children aged <6 years had the highest detection rate (7.07%, 139/1 967), followed by adults aged ≥60 years (4.78%, 85/1 779). Statistically significant differences were observed in the detection rates of HPIV among different age groups (χ²=111.210, P<0.001). Symptoms of HPIV infection were predominantly cough, fever, and runny nose in pre-school children, fever, cough, and sore throat in school-age children, and adults, and cough, expectoration, and fever in the elderly. ConclusionThe HPIV detection rate in Pudong New Area was low in 2017‒2022. The seasonal pattern of HPIV circulation in Pudong New Area disappeared in 2020‒2022 due to the influence of infectious disease epidemics. Young children and the elderly should be prioritized in HPIV prevention and control efforts.

ObjectiveTo investigate the potential targets and mechanisms of Draconis Sanguis (DS), a valuable traditional Chinese medicine derived from the resin of the palm tree Daemonorops draco Bl (D. Sanguis, Xue Jie), in the treatment of myocardial infarction (MI).MethodsWe explored the potential mechanisms of DS in the treatment of MI using network pharmacology, bioinformatic techniques, and transcriptomic analysis, followed by validation through in vivo and in vitro experiments.ResultsNetwork pharmacology and bioinformatic analyses identified five genes (Fpr1, Glul, Mme, Mmp9, and Pla2g7) as potential targets for MI treatment. Moreover, DS significantly ameliorated cardiac function, inflammatory responses, and MI-induced myocardial fibrosis in vivo. Transcriptomic and bioinformatic analyses identified Pla2g7 as the most critical target in the DS treatment of MI. Molecular docking revealed that the key active ingredient in DS has a strong affinity for this gene. Furthermore, DS reduced the expression of Pla2g7 (P = .0009), NLRP3 (P = .003), interleukin-18 (P .001), and interleukin-1β (P = .004) mRNAs in vivo.ConclusionsThe results indicate that DS can downregulate the expression of Pla2g7 and reduce the inflammatory response. This demonstrates the potential therapeutic target of DS and the mechanism underlying its cardioprotective effects.

Objective:To explore the effect of NOD-like receptor thermal protein 3 ( NLRP3) knockout in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area on improving cognitive dysfunction in mice after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods:Forty-eight healthy male NLRP3 flox/flox mice weighing 25-28 g were randomly divided into 4 groups ( n=12): sham-operated+control virus group (SV group), sham-operated+ NLRP3 specific knockout group (SG group), TBI+control virus group (TV group), TBI+ NLRP3 specific knockout group (TG group). TBI in the TV and TG groups was established by free-fall method, while surgical procedures such as scalp incision and cranial window opening without impact were given to the SV and SG groups. Adenovirus was injected into the hippocampal CA1 area of SG and TG groups 21 d before TBI to induce NLRP3 specific knockout in GABA-ergic neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area; empty virus was injected into the CA1 area of SV and TV groups. Cognitive function was evaluated using novel object recognition test 30 and 31 d after TBI, and learning and memory functions were assessed using Morris water maze test 32-36 d after TBI. Field potentials in the hippocampal CA1 area were recorded during novel object recognition 31 d after TBI. After behavioral tests, these mice were sacrificed. Immunofluorescent staining was used to detect the fluorescent intensity of microtubule-associated protein2 (MAP2), glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67), and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) in the hippocampal CA1 area, as well as percentage of pyroptosis-associated inflammatory factor interleukin-18 (IL-18)/GAD67 double-positive neurons in total GAD67 positive neurons. Results:Compared with the SV and SG groups, the TV and TG groups had decreased novel object recognition index, decreased number of platform crossings during the experimental period, increased escape latency on day 3 and day 4 of the training period in Morris water maze test, decreased θ and γ oscillation power in the hippocampal CA1 area during novel object recognition, decreased fluorescent intensity of MAP2, GAD67, and PSD95 in the hippocampal CA1 area, increased percentage of IL-18/GAD67 double-positive neurons, with significant differences ( P<0.05). Compared with the TV group, the TG group had increased novel object recognition index, increased number of platform crossings in Morris water maze test, decreased escape latency during the training period, increased θ and γ oscillation power in the hippocampal CA1 area during novel object recognition, increased fluorescence intensity of MAP2, GAD67, and PSD95 in the hippocampal CA1 area, decreased percentage of IL-18/GAD67 double-positive neurons, with significant differences ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Specific inhibition of NLRP3 expression in GABA-ergic neurons in the hippocampal CA1 area can improve cognitive dysfunction in mice after TBI, whose mechanism may be related to inhibited GABA-ergic neuronal pyroptosis in the hippocampal CA1 area.

Objective To explore whether liver cirrhosis markers aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index(APRI)and fibrosis-4 index(FIB-4)based on blood biochemical indicators can predict disease free survival(DFS)and overall survival(OS)in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)after resection.Methods 300 patients with HCC who underwent radical resection in Zhongshan Hospital,Fudan University from February 2005 to July 2017 were enrolled and the clinicopathological characteristics,recurrence and survival of these patients were retrospectively collected.The relationships between APRI,FIB-4 and postoperative recurrence and survival were evaluated.The ROC curve was used to evaluate the predictive values of APRI,FIB-4.Results The median follow-up of 300 patients was 61 months.Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that APRI,FIB-4,vascular invasion were risk factors affecting postoperative DFS and OS.The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that vascular invasion was the independent risk factor for postoperative DFS(HR=1.518,95%CI 1.024-2.252,P=0.038)and OS(HR=2.301,95%CI 1.270-4.167,P=0.006).The time dependent ROC(time-ROC)curve showed that AUCs of APRI and FIB-4 predicting 1-year,3-year,and 5-year DFS were 0.555-0.596,which were 0.600-0.679 when predicting 1-year,3-year,and 5-year OS.Conclusions The predictive value of APRI and FIB-4 based on blood biochemical indicators alone for postoperative DFS and OS in HCC patients is limited.

One case of COVID-19 infection secondary to pulmonary mucormycosis in a recipient of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation was described. Early identification of the pathogen was achieved by metagenomic next-generation sequencing. On the basis of disease status and liver function changes, targeted treatments included intravenous amphotericin B liposome, amphotericin B nebulization& gargling and subsequently a maintenance therapy of oral posaconazole. This regimen resulted in the absorption of lung infection, stabilization of transplanted pancreas function and reduced levels of creatinine and urea as compared to pre-infection period. The therapeutic efficacy was decent.