Objective To investigate the roles of atypical lymphocytes,interleukin-6(IL-6),and erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)in the etiological diagnosis and disease severity stratifica-tion of pediatric respiratory tract infections.Methods A total of 216 children with respiratory tract infections and normal blood routine results from May 2022 to June 2024 were selected as study sub-jects.Based on etiological findings,they were divided into bacterial group(n=55),viral group(n=85),and mycoplasma group(n=76).Additionally,50 healthy children during the same peri-od were selected as control group.The levels of atypical lymphocytes,IL-6,and ESR were compared among different groups and between children with varying disease severities.The diagnostic value of atypical lymphocytes,IL-6,and ESR alone and their combination for pathogen identification was ana-lyzed using thereceiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.The correlations of atypical lymphocytes,IL-6,ESR,with disease severity were analyzed using the Spearman method.Results Compared with the control group,the viral group had the highest proportion of atypical lymphocytes,followed by the mycoplasma group,and the bacterial group had the lowest.The viral group had the lowest IL-6 level,followed by the mycoplasma group,and the bacterial group had the highest.The bacterial group had the highest ESR,followed by the viral group,and the mycoplasma group had the lowest.Pairwise comparisons of these indicators among different groups all showed statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis revealed that atypical lymphocytes had the largest area under the curve(AUC)for distinguishing viruses,while IL-6 and ESR had the largest AUC for dis-tinguishing bacteria.The AUC values for the combined use of atypical lymphocytes,IL-6,and ESR in differentiating bacteria,viruses,and mycoplasma were 0.911,0.916,and 0.922,respectively,which were greater than the AUC values for each indicator alone in diagnosing these pathogens,with statistically significant differences(P＜0.05).Children with severe pneumonia had higher levels of atypical lymphocytes,IL-6,and ESR compared to those with ordinary pneumonia and upper respira-tory tract infections.Children with ordinary pneumonia had higher levels of these indicators com-pared to those with upper respiratory tract infections,with all differences being statistically signifi-cant(P＜0.05).Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated a significant positive correlation be-tween atypical lymphocytes,IL-6,ESR,and stratification of disease severity(upper respiratory tract infection=1,ordinary pneumonia=2,severe pneumonia=3)(P＜0.05).Conclusion Atypical lymphocytes,IL-6,and ESR are associated with the pathogen type and disease severity in children with respiratory tract infections and normal blood routine results.Combined detection of these indi-cators has a high discriminatory value for different pathogens.

Kunxian Capsule (KX) is a popular Chinese patent medicine for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, nephrotic syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and eczema. However, there is scarcity of comprehensive information on the significance of KX in the clinical application and its side effects. Hence, it is aimed to provide a review of the significance of KX, with a focus on the pharmacological effects, clinical applications, and its adverse reactions. This review was based on the published literatures in PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and WanFang database. The articles were collected by two independent authors with no time limits applied until November 30, 2022. The search term includes Kunxian Capsule and/or clinical effect, pharmacology, disease, therapy, adverse effects and quality control. KX has been shown to be effective in the treatment of autoimmune arthritis by inhibiting inflammatory responses and inducing apoptosis. Many studies suggest that KX has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that aid in the improvement of joint functions. KX dispels wind, removes dampness, invigorates the kidneys, and promotes blood circulation, thereby curing various diseases. However, studies also suggest KX-related adverse reactions in multiple systems. Overall, this review highlights the scientific basis of KX in curing or preventing various diseases and provides novel insights for further research and clinical applications.

Objective To explore the effects of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on chronic stress and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression in the hippocampus.Methods A total of 60 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a restraint group,an HBO (hyperbaric oxygen) group,an HBO-restraint group and a control group using a random number table,each group with 15 animals.All the rats in the restraint and HBO groups were constrained by immobilizing their fore-and hind-limbs on a self-made frame for 3h daily for 21 days,and those in the HBO group received HBO treatment once daily for the same 21 days.The HBO-restraint group was immobilized in the morning and treated with HBO in the afternoon.The control group was reared without any special intervention.On the 1st,11th and 21st day of treatment,rats from the different groups were assessed using the open field test.On the 21st day,all the animals were sacrificed and their brains were harvested to detect GR expression.Results In the open field test on the 11 th day,the restraint group scored (131.0 ± 20.6) in terms of motor level and (26.5 ± 4.6) for exploratory behavior,both significantly higher than before restraint and significantly higher than those in the HBO-restraint group at the same time point.Immunofluorescence assay showed that GR expression in the hippocampus of the restraint group was significantly decreased compared with the control group.There was no significant difference,however,between the HBO-restraint group and the control group.Conclusion Chronic restraint stress induces changes in behavior and GR expression in rats which can be alleviated by hypbaric oxygen treatment.

Objective To develop a gas dynamic exposure device with a simple structure.Methods The device was composed of a water tank, an gas chest, an exposure kit and an gas-out bottle. The chest body was made of organic glass pane, drainage method was used to distribute the gas properly, and airflow was regulated with the gravity and valve.Results The device was proved to have simple structure and high effects.Conclusion The device has low cost, simple structure and properly distributed gas, and can be reused for exposure test.