Objective To investigate the distribution characteristics of pathogens causing infections within 90 days after liver transplantation and the influencing factors of infection. Methods Clinical data of 176 recipients who underwent liver transplantation at the Liver Transplant Center of Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from September 2021 to August 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into the infection group (n=124) and the non-infection group (n=52) based on whether they developed infection within 90 days after transplantation. The distribution characteristics of pathogens in infected patients were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore the influencing factors of infection. Results Among the 176 liver transplant recipients, 124 cases developed 243 episodes of 518 bacterial, fungal, viral or mycoplasma infections within 90 days after transplantation, with an overall infection rate of 70.5% (124/176). The composition of pathogens was mainly Gram-negative bacteria (38.6%, 200/518), followed by Gram-positive bacteria (32.2%, 167/518) and viruses (15.4%, 80/518), and fungi accounted for 13.1% (68/518). Among Gram-negative bacteria, the main pathogen was Klebsiella pneumoniae (6.8%, 35/518), and among Gram-positive bacteria, the main pathogen was Enterococcus faecalis (8.5%, 44/518). Viruses included Epstein-Barr virus (3.7%, 19/518) and cytomegalovirus (3.7%, 19/518), and fungi were mainly Candida albicans (6.8%, 35/518). The most common infection site among the 243 episodes was pulmonary infection (42.0%, 102/243), followed by abdominal infection (22.6%, 55/243) and bloodstream infection (18.1%, 44/243). The infections mainly occurred within 2 weeks after transplantation (60.9%, 148/243). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that preoperative infection within 2 weeks, a high preoperative model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, and preoperative sarcopenia were independent risk factors for infection within 90 days after liver transplantation (all odds ratio>1, P<0.05). After multivariate correction, the levels of CD4⁺T cells and CD8⁺T cells within 90 days after surgery were independently associated with the occurrence of infection. Low levels of CD4⁺T cells and CD8⁺T cells might be related to an increased risk of infection. Conclusions The infection rate after liver transplantation is high, and the pathogens are mainly Gram-negative bacteria. The lungs are the most common infection site. Preoperative MELD score, preoperative sarcopenia and preoperative infection within 2 weeks are independent risk factors for infection within 90 days after liver transplantation. Regular monitoring of immune indicators CD4⁺T cells and CD8⁺T cells levels after transplantation is helpful to reduce the occurrence of post-transplantation infection.

ObjectiveThis study aims to compare the modeling effects of submaxillary gland antigen and salivary gland antigen in the establishment of Sjögren syndrome (SS) mouse models, and to characterize the phenotypic and immunological features of these models in comparison with spontaneous SS-prone non-obese diabetic (NOD)/LtJ mice. MethodsAdult C57BL/6J mice (equal numbers of males and females) were immunized with submaxillary gland antigen or salivary gland antigen, respectively, combined with Freund's adjuvant to induce SS models. Mice immunized with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) combined with Freund's adjuvant served as the control group. Immunization was induced via multiple subcutaneous injections in the back with antigen combined with Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) on Days 1 and 7. A booster immunization was administered via multiple subcutaneous injections in the back with antigen combined with Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA) on Day 14. Female NOD/LtJ mice were used as the spontaneous SS model group, with ICR mice as the corresponding control strain for comparative analysis. Body weight, water intake, and salivary flow rate of mice were dynamically monitored for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, tissue and serum samples were collected, the weights of submaxillary glands, thymus, and spleen were measured, and organ indices (organ-to-body weight ratios) were calculated. Pathological morphological analysis of the submaxillary gland and spleen was performed with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Serum interleukin-17 (IL-17) level was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of SS type A (SSA) and SS type B (SSB) in submaxillary gland tissues. ResultsFemale mice in the submaxillary gland antigen group exhibited significantly increased water intake (P<0.05) and reduced salivary flow rate (P<0.05) compared with the female control group. No statistically significant differences were observed in the submaxillary gland index, thymus index and spleen index (P>0.05). Focal lymphocytic infiltration was observed in the submaxillary glands, and the splenic marginal zone was enlarged. Serum IL-17 levels were significantly increased (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in submaxillary gland SSA/SSB expression levels (P>0.05). Compared with the female control group, female mice in the salivary gland antigen group showed no statistically significant differences in water intake, salivary flow rate, submaxillary gland index, and spleen index (P>0.05), whereas the thymus index was significantly reduced (P<0.01). Mild inflammatory cell infiltration and glandular atrophy were observed in the submaxillary glands, and the splenic white pulp and marginal zone were slightly enlarged. Serum IL-17 levels and submaxillary gland SSB mRNA expression levels were significantly increased (P<0.01), whereas no significant change was observed in submaxillary gland SSA expression levels (P>0.05). Compared with the male control group, mild submaxillary gland atrophy was observed in male mice in the submaxillary gland antigen group, whereas no obvious changes were found in other modeling-related indicators (P>0.05). Compared with the ICR control group, NOD/LtJ model mice exhibited elevated water intake (P<0.05), significantly reduced salivary flow rate (P<0.01), no significant differences in the submaxillary gland index or spleen index (P>0.05), but a significantly increased thymus index (P<0.05). Marked focal infiltration was observed in the submaxillary glands, the splenic marginal zone was obviously enlarged, and serum IL-17 concentrations as well as submaxillary gland SSA/SSB expression levels were significantly increased (P<0.05). ConclusionSubmaxillary gland antigen and salivary gland antigen can induce SS-related features in female C57BL/6J mice. The SS-related phenotype is more pronounced in the submaxillary gland antigen group than in the salivary gland antigen group, but weaker than that in spontaneously SS-prone female NOD/LtJ mice. Immunization of male C57BL/6J mice with submaxillary or salivary gland antigens fails to induce an obvious SS phenotype.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of solute carrier family 7 member 5 (SLC7A5) inhibitor JPH203 on renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction in mice. MethodsSixteen SPF male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the control group and the experimental group, with 8 mice in each group. The mouse model of renal fibrosis was established by unilateral ureteral obstruction. From the third day after surgery, the mice in the control group were intraperitoneally injected with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for 11 consecutive days, and the injection dose was 200 μL/d. Mice in the experimental group received intraperitoneal injection of JPH203 (50 mg/kg) every day for 11 days. On day 14, the mice were euthanized, then the kidney tissues were obtained. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was used to assess renal tissue damage, Masson staining was used to evaluate collagen fiber deposition in the extracellular matrix, and immunohistochemistry was used to detect the levels of fibroblast activation markers α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen type Ⅰ (COL-Ⅰ) in kidney tissues. Western blotting was further performed to measure the expression levels of SLC7A5 and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), as well as the phosphorylation levels of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling pathway-related molecules. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to verify changes in the mRNA levels of SLC7A5, α-SMA, and COL-Ⅰ in kidney tissues. ResultsCompared with the control group, the experimental group showed reduced destruction of renal tissue structure and a significantly lower pathological injury score (P<0.05). Additionally, collagen deposition in the extracellular matrix was decreased, and the percentage of collagen fiber area was significantly reduced (P<0.001) in the experimental group. The levels of fibroblast activation markers α-SMA and COL-Ⅰ were significantly lower in the experimental group (both P<0.001). The expression levels of SLC7A5 and TGF-β1 were also significantly decreased (P<0.001), and the phosphorylation levels of mTORC1 signaling pathway-related proteins 4E-BP1 and mTORC1 were significantly reduced (P<0.001). Real-time quantitative PCR confirmed that the mRNA levels of SLC7A5, α- SMA, and COL-Ⅰ in kidney tissues were significantly lower in the experimental group (P<0.001). ConclusionJPH203 may inhibit the progression of renal fibrosis in mice by suppressing SLC7A5 expression, regulating the mTORC1 signaling pathway, and altering fibroblast activation status.

OBJECTIVE Melatonin(MEL),a natural hormone with broad-spectrum anticancer effects,has been shown to potentiate the therapeutic outcomes of conventional chemotherapy.This study aims to investigate the combined effects of Doxorubicin(DOX)and MEL on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC)cell lines.METHODS The effects of MEL and DOX on cell proliferation in HNSCC cell lines TU686 and CAL-27 were assessed using the MTT assay.The effects of MEL and DOX on reactive oxygen species(ROS)expression levels in HNSCC cell lines were detected using DCFH-DA fluorescent probe.The effects of MEL and DOX on 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine(8-oxodG)levels in HNSCC cell lines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The effects of MEL and DOX on γ-H2AX protein levels in HNSCC cell lines were analyzed via Western blot.The effects of MEL and DOX on antioxidant enzymes levels in HNSCC cell lines were evaluated based on spectrophotometry.The effects of MEL and DOX on cell apoptosis in HNSCC cell lines were detected using an ELISA cell death detection kit.RESULTS The MTT assay revealed that MEL significantly enhanced the cytotoxic effects of DOX in HNSCC cell lines(tTU686=13.51,tCAL-27=17.580,all P<0.05).The combination of MEL and DOX markedly increased intracellular ROS levels(FTU686=89.984,FCAL-27=102.853,all P<0.05),while the expression of antioxidant enzymes was significantly reduced(TU686:the F values of CAT,GPx,GR,GST and SOD are 176.035,34.662,20.260,120.105 and 184.254,all P<0.05;CAL-27:the F values are 96.801,177.398,97.849,102.750 and 186.608 respectively,all P<0.05).Furthermore,this combination treatment significantly elevated the expression levels of 8-oxodG(FTU686=200.078,FCAL-27=663.982,all P<0.05)and γ-H2AX(FTU686=192.500,FCAL-27=285.700,all P<0.01)in HNSCC cell lines.Additionally,compared to single-agent treatment,MEL significantly enhanced DOX-induced apoptosis in HNSCC cell lines(FTU686=2718.253,FCAL-27=5185.334,all P<0.01).CONCLUSION The combination of MEL and DOX can enhance cytotoxic effects on HNSCC cell lines,increase intracellular ROS levels,induce DNA oxidative damage,and impair cellular antioxidant defense capacity,thereby effectively promoting HNSCC cell apoptosis.This combination may represent a novel therapeutic approach to improve clinical outcomes in HNSCC.

The conversion of abundant and low-cost biomass waste into highly efficient two-electron oxygen reduction(ORR)electrocatalyst is an important link in the degradation of pollutants in industrial wastewater through the electro-Fenton process.In this work,porous biocarbon materials doped with manganese and nitrogen(MnNBC)were prepared from corn stalk.The H2O2 selectivity of MnNBC in acidic media was up to 81% @0.6 Vvs RHE,also MnNBC exhibited a long-term stability in a 10-h uninterrupted lifetime test.The ORR activity of MnNBC could be attributed to the synergistic effect of the hierarchical porous structure,improved defect level and heteroatom doping.Moreover,MnNBC as a cathode material for the electro-Fenton system could completely degrade four kinds of common organic dye pollutants,e.g.,Rhodamine B,methyl orange,methylene blue and crystal violet(25 mg/L),respectively,within 40?60 min.The present study provided valuable insights into the transformation of corn stalk waste into efficient cathode materials for the electro-Fenton process.

ObjectiveTo investigate the anti-Alzheimer's disease （AD） effect of Dipsacus asper（DA） in the Caenorhabditis elegans model， and decipher the underlying mechanism via the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α （PPARα）/transcription factor EB （TFEB） pathway. MethodsFirst， transgenic AD C. elegans individuals were assigned into the blank control， model， positive control （WY14643， 20 µmol·L^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （100， 200， and 400 mg·L^-1， respectively） DA groups. The amyloid β-42 （Aβ₄₂） formation in the muscle cells， the paralysis time， and the deposition of amyloid β-protein （Aβ） in the head were detected. The lysosomal autophagy in the BV2 cell model was examined by Rluc-LC3wt/G120A. The expression levels of lysosomal autophagy-related proteins LC3Ⅱ， LC3I， LAMP2， and TFEB were detected by Western blot. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was employed to determine the mRNA levels of autophagy-related genes beclin1 and Atg5 and lysosome-related genes LAMP2 and CLN2 downstream of PPARα/TFEB. A reporter gene assay was used to detect the transcriptional activities of PPARα and TFEB. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the fluorescence intensity of PPARα， and the active components of the ethanol extract of DA were identified by UPLC-MS. RCSB PDB， Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform （TCMSP）， and Autodock were used to analyze the binding between the active components and PPARα-ligand-binding domain （LBD）. ResultsCompared with the model group， the positive control group and 200 and 400 mg·L^-1 DA groups showed prolonged paralysis time （P<0.05）， and all the treatment groups showed decreased Aβ deposition in the head （P<0.01）. DA within the concentration range of 50-500 mg·L^-1 did not affect the viability of BV2 cells. In addition， DA enhanced the autophagy flux （P<0.05）， up-regulated the mRNA levels of beclin1， Atg5， LAMP2， and CLN2 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， promoted the nuclear translocation of TFEB （P<0.05）， increased LAMP2 expression and autophagy flux （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and enhanced the transcriptional activities of PPARα and TFEB （P<0.01）. The positive control group and 200 and 400 mg·L^-1 DA groups showed enhanced fluorescence intensity of PPARα in the BV2 nucleus （P<0.01）. UPLC-MS detected nine known compounds of DA， from which 8 active components of DA were screened out. The docking results suggested that a variety of components in DA could bind to PPARα-LBD and form stable hydrogen bonds. ConclusionDA may reduce the pathological changes in AD by regulating the PPARα-TFEB pathway.

Gardeniae Fructus, a traditional Chinese medicine, has significant pharmacological activities such as clearing heat and detoxifying, promoting bile secretion and protecting liver injury. It is widely used in clinical practice for treating conditions like fever-induced restlessness, damp-heat jaundice, dysuria with pain, and fire-toxin sores. Gardeniae Fructus has been included in "list of items that are both food and medicine", so it is also used as an ingredient in food and health products. However, recent toxicological studies have shown that Gardeniae Fructus has certain potential hepatotoxicity, and its improper use may pose a risk. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the dual regulatory effects and their scientific connotations of Gardeniae Fructus on efficacy and toxicity. Based on the current progress in clinical, pharmacological and toxicological researches, this paper will discuss the characteristics and possible mechanisms of the dual effects of efficacy and toxicity of Gardeniae Fructus, and propose thoughts on the rational clinical use and scientific supervision of Gardeniae Fructus.
Animals ; Humans ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Fruit/chemistry* ; Gardenia/chemistry* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Liver/drug effects*

Objective:To investigate the effect of early enteral nutrition on intestinal function in patients with complicated intra-abdominal infection.Methods:In this study,a prospective single-center randomized controlled trial was used to select 88 patients with severe abdominal infections in the surgical intensive care ward from January 2021 to December 2023.Among them,65 patients were eligible and were randomly divided into 33cases in the intervention group(who received early enteral nutrition),and 32cases in the control group(who did not receive early enteral nutrition).The clinical baseline characteristics of the two groups,conditions such as abdominal distension and diarrhea during enteral nutrition,intra-abdominal pressure,the time to reach the standard of complete enteral nutrition,and the indexes of pre-albumin,CRP,and leukocyte count on the third and the seventh day postoperative day were observed.The t-test was used to compare between groups for normally distributed measures.The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare between groups for skewed measures.The χ2 test or continuity-corrected χ2 test was used to compare the count data between groups.Repeated measures data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA.Results:The clinical baseline characteristics of the two groups were completely matched;There were significant differences in the changes of intra-abdominal pressure over time between the two groups(Fgroup=9.665,P=0.004),There were significant differences in the changes of intra-abdominal pressure over time between the two intervention group(Ftime=64.124,P<0.001)and the control group.and the trend of intra-abdominal pressure reduction in the intervention group was more significant than that in the control group(Finteractive=3.938,P=0.023);The time required for the recovery of bowel sounds was significantly shorter in the experimental group than in the control group[(19.5±3.5)h vs(35.3±4.5)h,P<0.001,t=15.829];there was no significant difference in the frequency of abdominal distention,vomiting and aspiration between the two groups(P>0.05),and the difference in the frequency of diarrhea was statistically significant(P=0.003);The time to reach the standard of enteral nutrition in the intervention group was shorter than that in the control group[(6.3±1.2)d vs(7.4±1.5)d,P=0.002];The total hospital stay of the intervention group was significantly shorter than that of the control group[(11±3.2)d vs(14±4.1)d,P=0.007].The prealbumin(0.21±0.2,0.28±0.2)g/L,CRP(175.5±23.6,45.4±14.5)mg/L,and white blood cell count(11.7±2.9,9.1±3.5)109/L of the intervention group on the 3rd and 7th days after surgery were significantly improved compared with those of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Early enteral nutrition can effectively promote the recovery of intestinal function in patients with complicated intra-abdominal infection.

The ventral anterior (VA) nucleus of the thalamus is a major target of the basal ganglia and is closely associated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Notably, the VA receives direct innervation from the hypothalamic histaminergic system. However, its role in PD remains unknown. Here, we assessed the contribution of histamine to VA neuronal activity and PD motor deficits. Functional magnetic resonance imaging showed reduced VA activity in PD patients. Optogenetic activation of VA neurons or histaminergic afferents significantly alleviated motor deficits in 6-OHDA-induced PD rats. Furthermore, histamine excited VA neurons via H1 and H2 receptors and their coupled hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channels, inward-rectifier K⁺ channels, or Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels. These results demonstrate that histaminergic afferents actively compensate for Parkinsonian motor deficits by biasing VA activity. These findings suggest that targeting VA histamine receptors and downstream ion channels may be a potential therapeutic strategy for PD motor dysfunction.
Animals ; Histamine/metabolism* ; Male ; Oxidopamine/toxicity* ; Rats ; Ventral Thalamic Nuclei/physiopathology* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Disease Models, Animal ; Parkinson Disease/metabolism* ; Neurons/physiology* ; Humans ; Optogenetics

Progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) is a progressive and lethal condition with few effective treatment options. Improvements in quality of life for patients with PPF remain limited even while receiving treatment with approved antifibrotic drugs. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has the potential to improve cough, dyspnea and fatigue symptoms of patients with PPF. TCM treatments are typically diverse and individualized, requiring urgent development of efficient and precise design strategies to identify effective treatment options. We designed an innovative Bayesian adaptive two-stage trial, hoping to provide new ideas for the rapid evaluation of the effectiveness of TCM in PPF. An open-label, two-stage, adaptive Bayesian randomized controlled trial will be conducted in China. Based on Bayesian methods, the trial will employ response-adaptive randomization to allocate patients to study groups based on data collected over the course of the trial. The adaptive Bayesian trial design will employ a Bayesian hierarchical model with "stopping" and "continuation" criteria once a predetermined posterior probability of superiority or futility and a decision threshold are reached. The trial can be implemented more efficiently by sharing the master protocol and organizational management mechanisms of the sub-trial we have implemented. The primary patient-reported outcome is a change in the Leicester Cough Questionnaire score, reflecting an improvement in cough-specific quality of life. The adaptive Bayesian trial design may be a promising method to facilitate the rapid clinical evaluation of TCM effectiveness for PPF, and will provide an example for how to evaluate TCM effectiveness in rare and refractory diseases. However, due to the complexity of the trial implementation, sufficient simulation analysis by professional statistical analysts is required to construct a Bayesian response-adaptive randomization procedure for timely response. Moreover, detailed standard operating procedures need to be developed to ensure the feasibility of the trial implementation. Please cite this article as: Zhang C, Nie YS, Zhang CT, Yang HJ, Zhang HR, Xiao W, Cui GF, Li J, Li SJ, Huang QS, Yan SY. An adaptive Bayesian randomized controlled trial of traditional Chinese medicine in progressive pulmonary fibrosis: Rationale and study design. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(2): 138-145.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Bayes Theorem ; Disease Progression ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/methods* ; Pulmonary Fibrosis/therapy* ; Quality of Life ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Research Design ; Adaptive Clinical Trials as Topic