Tuberculosis (TB), a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is primarily airborne and remains a global health problem, especially in resource-limited countries and regions. The emergence of drug resistance in M. tuberculosis has rendered the existing means ineffective in the treatment of TB. Therefore, research in new therapeutic directions has become imperative. In this review, we outline functional peptides in terms of the mechanisms of action, anti-TB attempts, advantages and disadvantages, and latest advances, aiming to analyze the research progress in anti-TB peptides. Furthermore, we investigate the potential applications of bioactive compounds found in traditional Chinese Medicine within the context of peptides.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (CIPN) is a severe dose-limiting adverse event of chemotherapy. Presently, the mechanism underlying the induction of CIPN remains unclear, and no effective treatment is available. In this study, through metabolomics analyses, we found that nab-paclitaxel therapy markedly increased serum serotonin [5-hydroxtryptamine (5-HT)] levels in both cancer patients and mice compared to the respective controls. Furthermore, nab-paclitaxel-treated enterochromaffin (EC) cells showed increased 5-HT synthesis, and serotonin-treated Schwann cells showed damage, as indicated by the activation of CREB3L3/MMP3/FAS signaling. Venlafaxine, an inhibitor of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake, was found to protect against nerve injury by suppressing the activation of CREB3L3/MMP3/FAS signaling in Schwann cells. Remarkably, venlafaxine was found to significantly alleviate nab-paclitaxel-induced CIPN in patients without affecting the clinical efficacy of chemotherapy. In summary, our study reveals that EC cell-derived 5-HT plays a critical role in nab-paclitaxel-related neurotoxic lesions, and venlafaxine co-administration represents a novel approach to treating chronic cumulative neurotoxicity commonly reported in nab-paclitaxel-based chemotherapy.
Paclitaxel/toxicity* ; Animals ; Albumins/adverse effects* ; Serotonin/metabolism* ; Mice ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Venlafaxine Hydrochloride/therapeutic use* ; Neurotoxicity Syndromes/metabolism* ; Middle Aged ; Schwann Cells/metabolism* ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/drug therapy* ; Antineoplastic Agents

Lumbar disc (LD) herniation and aging are prevalent conditions that can result in substantial morbidity. This study aimed to clarify the mechanisms connecting the LD aging and herniation, particularly focusing on cellular senescence and molecular alterations in the nucleus pulposus (NP). We performed a detailed analysis of NP samples from a diverse cohort, including individuals of varying ages and those with diagnosed LD herniation. Our methodology combined histological assessments with single-nucleus RNA sequencing to identify phenotypic and molecular changes related to NP aging and herniation. We discovered that cellular senescence and a decrease in nucleus pulposus progenitor cells (NPPCs) are central to both processes. Additionally, we found an age-related increase in NFAT1 expression that promotes NPPC senescence and contributes to both aging and herniation of LD. This research offers fresh insights into LD aging and its associated pathologies, potentially guiding the development of new therapeutic strategies to target the root causes of LD herniation and aging.
Intervertebral Disc Displacement/metabolism* ; Humans ; Aging/pathology* ; Nucleus Pulposus/pathology* ; Male ; Female ; Transcriptome ; Middle Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae/pathology* ; Adult ; Cellular Senescence ; Stem Cells/pathology* ; Aged ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration/metabolism*

Objective:To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of B-type natriuretic peptide(BNP)combined with the Evaluation of Guidelines in Syncope Study(EGSYS)score for cardiogenic syncope(CS), and to provide evidence for rapid clinical identification of high-risk patients.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed 366 patients with syncope hospitalized in the department of cardiovascular medicine of Beijing Hospital from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2022.Based on the international guideline diagnostic criteria, the patients were categorized into four groups: neutrally mediated reflex syncope(NMS)group, orthostatic hypotension(OH)group, cardiogenic syncope(CS)group, and syncope of unknown origin(US)group.BNP levels were measured at admission and EGSYS scores were calculated.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic efficacy of individual and combined indices for CS.Results:A total of 366 syncope patients were included, among which 70 patients(19.1%)were diagnosed with NMS, 25 patients(6.8%)with OH, 44 patients(12.0%)with CS, and 227 patients(62.0%)with US.Patients in the CS group had significantly higher BNP levels and EGSYS scores compared to those in the NMS, OH, and US groups(all P<0.001). The AUC of EGSYS score for diagnosing CS was 0.783(95% CI: 0.711-0.855), while the AUC of BNP level for diagnosing CS was 0.805(95% CI: 0.727-0.884). When BNP level was combined with EGSYS score, diagnostic performance was significantly improved, with the AUC increasing to 0.855(95% CI: 0.792-0.918). Conclusions:The combination of BNP and EGSYS score significantly can improve the diagnostic accuracy of cardiogenic syncope, providing a practical diagnostic strategy for the early identification of high-risk syncope patients in clinical practice.

Objective:To analyze the correlation between metabolic syndrome indexes and thyroid nodules in individuals receiving health examinations.Methods:It′s a retrospective cohort study. A total of 2 678 individuals who received health examinations in the Health Management Center of the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University for four consecutive years and met the admission criteria were selected as the research objects. According to the metabolic syndrome index data of health examination, according to the different duration of metabolic syndrome during the observation period, the group-based trajectory model, Bayesian information criterion and average posterior grouping probability were used to determine the best trajectory groups, and the objects were divided into three different metabolic syndrome index trajectory groups: normal, abnormal and recovery group. During the physical examination in 2022 and 2023, the detection of thyroid nodules in each group was followed up, and the difference of detection rate of thyroid nodules in different metabolic syndrome trajectory groups was compared by Log-rank test, and the correlation between different metabolic syndrome index change trajectories and thyroid nodules was analyzed by logistic regression model.Results:The cumulative detection rate of thyroid nodules in normal group, abnormal group and recovery group was 18.8% (77/410), 27.5% (327/1 190) and 24.7% (266/1 078), respectively ( χ2=19.482, P<0.001). In model 4, after adjusting for age, gender, smoking, drinking, staying up late, insomnia, physical activity, family history and other confounding factors, the risk of thyroid nodules in abnormal group and recovery group was still 2.011 times (95% CI: 1.457-2.776) and 2.006 times (95% CI: 1.389-2.897) of that in normal group. Conclusion:There is a positive correlation between metabolic syndrome index and thyroid nodules in individuals receiving health examinations, and metabolic syndrome index can be used as a predictive index of thyroid nodules.

Objective:To evaluate the association between postoperative delirium (POD) and preoperative frailty in elderly patients undergoing knee or hip arthroplasty.Methods:This nested case-control study utilized medical records from elderly patients who underwent knee or hip arthroplasty under combined spinal-epidural anesthesia at Qingdao Municipal Hospital between September 2021 and May 2023. Participants were divided into 2 groups based on clinically diagnosed POD: POD group ( n=53) and non-POD group ( n=256). Univariate analysis was conducted on suspected influencing factors, and logistic regression analysis was utilized to identify the risk factors for POD. Receiver operating characteristic and clinical decision curves were plotted to evaluate the predictive performance of these risk factors for POD. Mediation analysis was performed, and a clinically applicable nomogram was constructed to achieve visual prediction of outcomes. Results:There were statistically significant differences in age, preoperative frailty, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification, Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale scores, and concentrations of Aβ 42, Aβ 40, phosphorylated tau protein (p-tau protein) and tau protein, Aβ 42/tau ratio and Aβ 42/p-tau ratio in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) between non-POD group and POD group ( P<0.05). Preoperative frailty was a risk factor for POD ( P<0.05). Mediation analysis revealed that the association between preoperative frailty and POD was mediated by CSF tau protein concentrations. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of preoperative frailty and CSF biomarker concentrations in predicting POD was 0.974 ( P<0.05). The clinical decision curve demonstrated that the model combining the preoperative frailty and CSF biomarker concentrations predicted a higher net benefit ( P<0.05). The clinical decision curve showed that the model combining preoperative frailty and CSF biomarker concentrations predicted a higher net benefit. Conclusions:Preoperative frailty is a risk factor for POD in elderly patients undergoing knee or hip arthroplasty, and its combination with CSF biomarker concentrations can effectively predict the occurrence of POD. CSF tau concentration mediates the association between preoperative frailty and development of POD.

Avian infectious bronchitis(IB),a rapidly spreading and acute disease in chickens,is caused by the infectious bronchitis virus(IBV).IB is characterized by its remarkable genetic varia-bility.IBV has a high degree of mutation,and the existing means of immunization often fail to a-chieve good results,seriously affecting the development of the domestic poultry industry.This ar-ticle offers a comprehensive review of the current understanding of the immune response to IBV,focusing on three key areas:non-specific immunity,mucosal immunity,and specific immunity.By dissecting these aspects,the aim is to provide a theoretical reference for the study of the immune mechanism of IBV.

Purpose To investigate the application value of MRI in distinguishing Association Research Circulation Osseous(ARCO)stage II and IIIA of osteonecrosis of the femoral head.Materials and Methods A total of 48 patients with ARCO stage II/IIIA non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head in the Fourth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from October 2022 to September 2023 were retrospectively included,with a total of 75 hips.The hips were divided into ARCO stage II group(26 hips)and stage IIIA group(49 hips)based on CT.The MRI findings(including irregular articular surface of femoral head,similar closed-loop shape of necrotic-viable interface,fibrous granulation tissue and cystic change in necrotic area,perinecrotic bone marrow edema,articular effusion and synovitis)were compared between the two groups,and the diagnostic efficiencies were evaluated.Results Irregular articular surface of femoral head,cystic change and fibrous granulation tissue in necrotic area and synovitis were more common in stage IIIA group than in stage II group,the range of bone marrow edema was larger than that in stage II group,the grade of articular effusion was larger than that in stage II group,and similar closed-loop shape of the necrotic-viable interface was found in stage II group,but no such sign was found in stage IIIA group,with statistical difference of all the above(χ2/Z=-5.727-54.764,all P<0.001).The area under the curve of irregular articular surface of femoral head,bone marrow edema,synovitis,articular effusion,fibrous granulation tissue in necrotic area,cystic change in the necrotic area,and similar closed-loop shape of the necrotic-viable interface in distinguishing ARCO stage II and IIIA were 0.931,0.891,0.845,0.799,0.772,0.724 and 0.692,respectively.The diagnostic efficiency of irregular articular surface of femoral head was not statistically significant with bone marrow edema and synovitis(both P>0.05),and higher than articular effusion,fibrous granulation tissue in necrotic area,cystic change in necrotic area,and similar closed-loop shape of the necrotic-viable interface(Z=2.054,2.711,4.182,4.003,all P<0.05).Conclusion MRI is helpful to distinguish ARCO stage II from stage IIIA of osteonecrosis of the femoral head.The diagnostic efficiencies of irregular articular surface of femoral head,bone marrow edema and synovitis are higher.

This paper starts with an analysis of the types of risks in the procurement of public hospitals,explores the weak links in internal control,identifies problems in risk management,and proposes improvement suggestions to promote stand-ardized and refined management of hospital procurement.