ObjectiveTo explore the microbiological characteristics of Staphylococcus epidermidis with hemolytic phenotype （SEHP）. MethodsHemolytic phenotype was detected using the three-point inoculation method， involving a total of 5 strains of SEHP and 5 strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis with non-hemolytic phenotype （SENHP） . Bacterial species were identified using the Microflex LT MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer， and a phylogenetic tree was constructed through 16S rRNA sequence alignment. Growth curves were monitored through the microcultivation assay. Biofilm formation ability was assessed by microplate crystal violet staining. Red blood cell toxicity was detected using the microplate method. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of SEHP and SENHP against commonly used antibiotics was performed using a VITEK 2 GP639 test kit. Antagonistic effects of SEHP and SENHP against Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium striatum were evaluated by the Oxford cup inhibition assay. ResultsCompared with SENHP， SEHP exhibited a marked decrease in growth rate during the late logarithmic phase， accompanied by significant hemolytic toxicity. Additionally， it showed lower resistance rates to levofloxacin and moxifloxacin， and could antagonize Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium striatum. ConclusionThe microbiological characteristics of SEHP differ from those of SENHP in that SEHP demonstrates antagonistic effects against S. aureus and C. striatum.

Objective To establish a chronic rejection (CR) model of mouse heart transplantation and analyze its characteristics. Methods Allogeneic BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice were used as donor and recipient for heart transplantation, and intraperitoneal injection of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4-immunoglobulin (CTLA4-Ig) was given 1 and 2 days after surgery. Graft survival time, donor specific antibody (DSA) level, graft pathology and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed. Results In allogeneic transplantation model, graft survival time was prolonged after CTLA4-Ig treatment [(28.2±4.1) d vs. (7.0±0.7) d, P < 0.01]. The level of serum DSA-IgG increased at 2, 3 and 4 weeks after surgery, while the level of DSA-IgM remained unchanged. Myocardial cell injury, inflammatory cell infiltration, interstitial fibrosis and C4d deposition in capillaries were aggravated 3 weeks after operation and worsened 4 weeks after operation. The infiltrated immune cells were mainly macrophages, T cells and plasma cells. Conclusions Mouse allogeneic heart transplantation combined with CTLA4-Ig successfully establishes a CR model, which provides a basis for subsequent studies on the pathogenesis and intervention of CR.

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)serves as a treasure trove of ancient knowledge,holding a crucial position in the medical field.However,the exploration of TCM's extensive information has been hindered by challenges related to data standardization,completeness,and accuracy,primarily due to the decen-tralized distribution of TCM resources.To address these issues,we developed a platform for TCM knowledge discovery(TCMKD,https://cbcb.cdutcm.edu.cn/TCMKD/).Seven types of data,including syndromes,formulas,Chinese patent drugs(CPDs),Chinese medicinal materials(CMMs),ingredients,targets,and diseases,were manually proofread and consolidated within TCMKD.To strengthen the integration of TCM with modern medicine,TCMKD employs analytical methods such as TCM data mining,enrichment analysis,and network localization and separation.These tools help elucidate the molecular-level commonalities between TCM and contemporary scientific insights.In addition to its analytical capabilities,a quick question and answer(Q&A)system is also embedded within TCMKD to query the database efficiently,thereby improving the interactivity of the platform.The platform also provides a TCM text annotation tool,offering a simple and efficient method for TCM text mining.Overall,TCMKD not only has the potential to become a pivotal repository for TCM,delving into the pharmaco-logical foundations of TCM treatments,but its flexible embedded tools and algorithms can also be applied to the study of other traditional medical systems,extending beyond just TCM.

Objective This study aims to investigate controversial cases of forensic clinical re-identification of fractures,exploring the characteristics,causes,and countermeasures related to identification errors in primary bone injuries,complications,and subsequent changes.The goal is to provide identification strategies for similar cases regarding the collection of identification materials,timing,and examination method selection,ultimately establishing a paradigm for such identifications.Methods A total of 103 cases of clinical re-identification of fractures accepted by the West China Forensic Identification Center from 2020 to 2024 were collected,and the data from initial identifications and re-identifications were retrospectively analyzed.Results Male cases accounted for 69.90%of the re-identifications,with disability grade(67.96%)and injury degree(30.10%)being the primary concerns.Individual requests represented a high proportion(92.86%)in the initial assessment of disability levels,while unit or joint requests dominated the re-assessment(92.86%).The agreement rates for disability grade and injury degree were 55.26%and 59.38%,respectively.The reassessment of disability grades primarily involved fractures of limb long bones,spine,and ribs,with 75.53%of opinions resulting in downgraded disability levels.Rib,orbital,and nasal bone fractures were the main focus in injury degree reassessments,with 84.62%of opinions indicating aggravated injuries.The consistency rates for fracture identification in disability grade assessments was 92.21%,while rates for injury degree and sequelae were 65.63%and 48.94%,respectively.Inconsistencies in identifying damage facts—including the presence of fractures,distinguishing between fresh and old fractures,and determining the nature of fractures and sequelae—were primarily noted in rib,orbital,and nasal bone fractures.The utilization rate of CT metadata in initial evaluations(25.00%)was significantly lower than in re-evaluations(95.00%).The identification time for joint mobility dysfunction after fracture in re-identifications was significantly longer than in initial identifications(P=0.0002),and the identification time for cases with agreement was significantly shorter than for cases with disagreement(P=0.036).Conclusion Image data type and identification timing are critical factors that may influence the accuracy and consistency of forensic clinical identification of bone injuries.When necessary,dynamic CT metadata in conjunction with image post-processing technology can be routinely employed to identify fractures of the ribs,orbital bones,or nasal bones,thereby reducing the risk of misidentification.

OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of Shixiang plaster on promoting the wound healing of diabetic foot ulcer.METHODS Totally 50 male SPF grade SD rats were prepared to establish the diabetic models by feeding with high glucose and high fat forage and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin,the rats models that were es-tablished successfully were randomly divided into the model group,the Shixiang plaster group and the Kangfuxin solution group.The models of diabetic ulcers were established.The Shixiang plaster group was treated with exter-nal Shixiang plaster,the Kangfuxin solution group was given external Kangfuxin solution,and the model group was treated with coverage with sterile gauze.The wound healing status of the rats was observed,the wound tis-sues were collected for bacterial culture and hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining after drug administration for 14 and 28 days,respectively.The expression levels of nuclear factor-red cell-2-related factor 2(Nrf-2),heme oxygenase-1(HO-1),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)were detected by immunohistochemistry(IHC),the expression levels of Nrf-2 and HO-1 were detected with the use of Western Blot,and the levels of serum malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD)and reactive oxygen species(ROS)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).RESULTS After the drug administration for 14 and 28 days,the wound healing rates of the Shixiang plaster group were(62.15±3.82)％and(81.68±3.83)％,respectively,higher than(47.14±2.80)％and(69.96±6.49)％of the Kangfuxin solu-tion group and(29.14±9.52)％and(57.91±6.63)％of the model group,and there were significant differences(F=21.716,12.626,P=0.002,0.007).The bacterial colony counts of the Shixiang plaster group were less than those of the Kangfuxin solution group and the model group after the drug administration for 14 and 28 days(P＜0.05).The result of HE staining showed that the Shixiang plaster group had a better wound healing.The result of IHC indicated that the expression levels of Nrf-2,HO-1 and VEGF of the Kangfuxin solution group and the Shix-iang plaster group were up-regulated after the drug administration for 28 days,while the expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were down-regulated.The expression levels of Nrf-2 and HO-1 proteins of the Shixiang plaster group were higher than those of the Kangfuxin solution group and the model group after the drug administration for 14 and 28 days,the levels of serum MDA and ROS of the Shixiang plaster group were lower than those of the Kangfuxin solution group and the model group,and the serum SOD level of the Shixiang plaster group was higher than that of the model group(P＜0.05).CONCLUSIONS Shixiang plaster can effectively promote the wound heal-ing of the rats with diabetic foot ulcers and reduce the bacterial colony counts of wound surfaces.The mechanism may be associated with the alleviation of oxidative stress injury by mediating the Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling pathways,promotion of angiogenesis and inhibition of excessive inflammatory reactions.

Objective This study aims to investigate controversial cases of forensic clinical re-identification of fractures,exploring the characteristics,causes,and countermeasures related to identification errors in primary bone injuries,complications,and subsequent changes.The goal is to provide identification strategies for similar cases regarding the collection of identification materials,timing,and examination method selection,ultimately establishing a paradigm for such identifications.Methods A total of 103 cases of clinical re-identification of fractures accepted by the West China Forensic Identification Center from 2020 to 2024 were collected,and the data from initial identifications and re-identifications were retrospectively analyzed.Results Male cases accounted for 69.90%of the re-identifications,with disability grade(67.96%)and injury degree(30.10%)being the primary concerns.Individual requests represented a high proportion(92.86%)in the initial assessment of disability levels,while unit or joint requests dominated the re-assessment(92.86%).The agreement rates for disability grade and injury degree were 55.26%and 59.38%,respectively.The reassessment of disability grades primarily involved fractures of limb long bones,spine,and ribs,with 75.53%of opinions resulting in downgraded disability levels.Rib,orbital,and nasal bone fractures were the main focus in injury degree reassessments,with 84.62%of opinions indicating aggravated injuries.The consistency rates for fracture identification in disability grade assessments was 92.21%,while rates for injury degree and sequelae were 65.63%and 48.94%,respectively.Inconsistencies in identifying damage facts—including the presence of fractures,distinguishing between fresh and old fractures,and determining the nature of fractures and sequelae—were primarily noted in rib,orbital,and nasal bone fractures.The utilization rate of CT metadata in initial evaluations(25.00%)was significantly lower than in re-evaluations(95.00%).The identification time for joint mobility dysfunction after fracture in re-identifications was significantly longer than in initial identifications(P=0.0002),and the identification time for cases with agreement was significantly shorter than for cases with disagreement(P=0.036).Conclusion Image data type and identification timing are critical factors that may influence the accuracy and consistency of forensic clinical identification of bone injuries.When necessary,dynamic CT metadata in conjunction with image post-processing technology can be routinely employed to identify fractures of the ribs,orbital bones,or nasal bones,thereby reducing the risk of misidentification.

OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of Shixiang plaster on promoting the wound healing of diabetic foot ulcer.METHODS Totally 50 male SPF grade SD rats were prepared to establish the diabetic models by feeding with high glucose and high fat forage and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin,the rats models that were es-tablished successfully were randomly divided into the model group,the Shixiang plaster group and the Kangfuxin solution group.The models of diabetic ulcers were established.The Shixiang plaster group was treated with exter-nal Shixiang plaster,the Kangfuxin solution group was given external Kangfuxin solution,and the model group was treated with coverage with sterile gauze.The wound healing status of the rats was observed,the wound tis-sues were collected for bacterial culture and hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining after drug administration for 14 and 28 days,respectively.The expression levels of nuclear factor-red cell-2-related factor 2(Nrf-2),heme oxygenase-1(HO-1),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)were detected by immunohistochemistry(IHC),the expression levels of Nrf-2 and HO-1 were detected with the use of Western Blot,and the levels of serum malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD)and reactive oxygen species(ROS)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).RESULTS After the drug administration for 14 and 28 days,the wound healing rates of the Shixiang plaster group were(62.15±3.82)％and(81.68±3.83)％,respectively,higher than(47.14±2.80)％and(69.96±6.49)％of the Kangfuxin solu-tion group and(29.14±9.52)％and(57.91±6.63)％of the model group,and there were significant differences(F=21.716,12.626,P=0.002,0.007).The bacterial colony counts of the Shixiang plaster group were less than those of the Kangfuxin solution group and the model group after the drug administration for 14 and 28 days(P＜0.05).The result of HE staining showed that the Shixiang plaster group had a better wound healing.The result of IHC indicated that the expression levels of Nrf-2,HO-1 and VEGF of the Kangfuxin solution group and the Shix-iang plaster group were up-regulated after the drug administration for 28 days,while the expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were down-regulated.The expression levels of Nrf-2 and HO-1 proteins of the Shixiang plaster group were higher than those of the Kangfuxin solution group and the model group after the drug administration for 14 and 28 days,the levels of serum MDA and ROS of the Shixiang plaster group were lower than those of the Kangfuxin solution group and the model group,and the serum SOD level of the Shixiang plaster group was higher than that of the model group(P＜0.05).CONCLUSIONS Shixiang plaster can effectively promote the wound heal-ing of the rats with diabetic foot ulcers and reduce the bacterial colony counts of wound surfaces.The mechanism may be associated with the alleviation of oxidative stress injury by mediating the Nrf-2/HO-1 signaling pathways,promotion of angiogenesis and inhibition of excessive inflammatory reactions.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differential efficacy and safety profiles of oral mucosa (OM) grafts compared with acellular dermal matrix (ADM) grafts in the surgical management of long-segment urethral strictures. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 27 patients who underwent graft urethroplasty for long-segment urethral strictures in Peking University First Hospital, spanning from May 2010 to September 2023. The patient cohort comprised 14 individuals who received OM grafts and 13 who underwent ADM grafts. The participants were stratified into two groups based on the type of grafts material utilized during surgery. The demographic and clinical baseline characteristics included an average age of (43.3±14.0) years in the OM group and (54.2±15.9) years in the ADM group. The mean body mass index (BMI) for the respective groups were (24.7±4.3) kg/m² for OM and (25.4±4.8) kg/m² for ADM. Etiological differences were noted, with idiopathic causes predominantly in the OM cohort and lichen sclerosus in the ADM cohort. RESULTS: The surgical interventions were successfully executed for all the patients. The median stricture length was 4.5 (2.5, 9.0) cm for the OM group and 5.0 (2.0, 14.0) cm for the ADM group (P=0.555). The median operative duration was 160 (71, 221) min for the OM group and 134 (112, 274) min for the ADM group (P=0.065). The catheterization durations was 1.5 (1.0, 6.0) months for the OM group and 3.0 (1.0, 3.0) months for the ADM group. The median postoperative follow-up duration was 12.5 (1.0, 170.0) months for the OM group and 59.0 (3.0, 142.0) months for the ADM group. The surgical success rates were 50.00% in the OM group and 53.85% in the ADM group. No statistically significant differences were observed in postoperative quality of life (QoL) or international prostate symptom score (IPSS) at the final follow-up. The stricture-free survival rates did not differ significantly (HR=0.875, 95%CI: 0.507-1.511, P=0.6). In terms of safety, three patients in the OM group experienced sexual dysfunction, and two had oral complications, whereas the ADM group had one case of postoperative infection. CONCLUSION The findings suggest that ADM grafts are comparable to OM grafts in terms of efficacy and safety for the treatment of long-segment urethral strictures, including complex cases attributed to lichen sclerosus. However, given the small sample size of this study, the above conclusions may have certain limitations. Larger cohort studies will be needed in the future to further validate these findings.
Humans ; Urethral Stricture/surgery* ; Acellular Dermis ; Mouth Mucosa/transplantation* ; Retrospective Studies ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Adult ; Treatment Outcome ; Skin Transplantation/methods* ; Aged

Objective : To investigate the causes of false negative results in the detection of Streptococcus agalactiae using fluorescent quantitative PCR(qPCR) targeting the CAMP factor gene(cfb),and to perform a comprehensive analysis of the associated molecular mechanisms. Methods: A total of 76 vaginal secretion samples were evaluated using both qPCR based on cfb gene and bacterial culture methods. Four suspicious strains exhibiting negative qPCR results but positive culture findings were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF MS),latex agglutination antigen detection,and the CAMP test. Whole genome analysis was conducted utilizing the MGI DNBSEQ-T7 and Nanopore-PromethION 48 sequencing platforms. Phylogenetic and circular evolutionary trees were constructed using the 16S rRNA gene for strain verification. Multilocus sequence typing(MLST) was conducted,and cfb sequences were aligned and analyzed based on spliced sequences and original data. Specific primers targeting the cfb gene were designed for full-length amplification,followed by verification through agarose gel electrophoresis. Results: The four strains identified as suspicious were classified as S. agalactiae through MALDI-TOF MS,antigen detection,and 16S rRNA gene analysis,with MLST typing indicating ST-862. Phenotypic analysis revealed a negative CAMP test. Whole genome sequence alignment failed to detect the cfb gene or any homologous sequences,and molecular testing confirmed the absence of cfb gene PCR amplification products,thereby confirming its complete deletion. Conclusion This deletion is identified as the molecular mechanism responsible for the false negative qPCR detection of S. agalactiae when targeting this specific gene.It is recommended that the qPCR detection targeting a single cfb gene has limitation,and this may impact clinical diagnosis and treatment decisions. This limitation warrants carefulconsideration.