Objective: To investigate the protective effects of morusin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute liver injury in mice and its underlying mechanisms. Methods: Thirty-two male specific pathogen-free (SPF) C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8 per group): control, LPS, low-dose morusin (morusin-L, 10 mg/kg), and high-dose morusin (morusin-H, 20 mg/kg) groups. The mice in each group were administered the corresponding drugs or normal saline via continuous gavage daily for 16 consecutive days. Except for control group, which received an equal volume of normal saline, other groups were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (5 mg/kg) 2 h after the last gavage to establish the acute liver injury model. Serum and liver tissues were collected for subsequent analysis 6 h after LPS injection. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum were detected with biochemical methods. The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hepatic pathological changes were evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) sequencing was performed to assess the composition of intestinal flora, linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) was applied for multi-level species discrimination, and Spearman’s correlation analysis was performed. The liver tissues of mice with acute liver injury were analyzed by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technology to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and then enrichment analysis of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway was conducted. The expression levels of selected genes was validated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), while immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to examine the expression levels of IL-6, myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MYD88), and toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). Results: Morusin significantly reduced the serum levels of ALT, AST, and inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, or P < 0.001), while alleviating the hepatic pathological damage in mice. Based on efficacy comparisons, morusin-H group was selected for subsequent microbiome and transcriptome analyses. Microbiome analysis revealed that morusin-H effectively mitigated LPS-induced gut dysbiosis and restored the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota balance (P < 0.01). At the genus level, morusin-H significantly reduced the abundances of norank_f_Muribaculaceae, Desulfovibrio, Parabacteroides, and Muribaculum (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, or P < 0.001). At the phylum, family, and genus levels, our findings indicated that morusin-H treatment caused a significant decrease in the abundance of Desulfobacterota, Desulfovibrionaceae, and Desulfovibrio (P < 0.01). Importantly, the abundance of Desulfovibrio was positively correlated with the levels of ALT, AST, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Transcriptomic and molecular analyses showed that the therapeutic mechanism of morusin-H involved suppression of the IL-17/TNF signaling pathways and downregulating the mRNA levels of Tlr2, Tlr3, Myd88, Il6, and Cxcl10 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001), as well as the protein levels of key inflammatory mediators (IL-6, MYD88, and TLR2) (P < 0.001). Conclusion Morusin demonstrates protective effects against LPS-induced acute liver injury, likely through modulation of gut microbiota and suppression of pro-inflammatory factor expression. These findings indicate that morusin exerts its effects through the "microbiota-inflammation-liver" axis, providing a theoretical basis for its use as a multi-target plant-based drug in the treatment of metabolic inflammation-related liver diseases.

Objective:To explore the serological characteristics and genetic variant in a Chinese pedigree with Bw subtype.Methods:A 32-year-old female proband who had undergone prenatal examination on December 10, 2020 at the 960th Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force and five members from her pedigree were selected as the study subjects. Peripheral blood samples were collected and subjected to ABO blood group phenotyping with serological methods and ABO blood group genotyping with fluorescent PCR. Genetic testing and haplotype analysis were carried out by direct sequencing of the entire coding region of the ABO gene in the proband and cloned sequencing of exons 1-7. Results:The blood type serology of the proband showed Bw, and the ABO blood type genotype determined by fluorescence PCR was B/O. The direct sequencing results showed that the proband had matched the ABO* O. 01. 01/ ABO* B. 01 genotype and carried a c. 1A>G variant. Cloned sequencing has confirmed the c. 1A>G variant to have occurred in the ABO* B. 01 allele. Family analysis revealed that the mother of the proband had an O blood type, her husband had a B phenotype, and the her three children had a normal B blood type. DNA sequencing showed that the two sons of the proband had a genotype of ABO* B. 01 and c. 1A>G/ ABO* B. 01. The daughter of the proband was ABO* O. 01. 01/ ABO* B. 01, whilst her mother was ABO* O. 01. 01/ ABO * O. 01. 02. The novel c. 1A>G variant sequence has been registered with the database with a number of MZ076785 1. Conclusion:The novel c. 1A>G variant of exon 1 of α- 1, 3 galactose aminotransferase gene probably underlay the reduced expression of B antigen in this pedigree.

Objective To compare the size discrepancy between ultrasonic and pathological measurement of solitary cN0M0 papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(PTMC),and to explore their correlation with lymph node metastasis.Methods From April 2021 to January 2022,234 patients with solitary cN0M0 PTMC who received thyroid lobectomy or total thyroidectomy in the Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine,Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine were analyzed retrospectively.The size discrepancy between ultrasonic and pathological measurement were compared,and the risk factors of central lymph node metastasis were analyzed.Results The mean of maximum diameter of PTMC measured by ultrasound was 6.8(range 5.6 to 8.4)mm,which was significantly bigger than that measured by pathology 5.0(range 4.0 to 7.0)mm(P=0.000).Of them,37.2%of the tumor size measured by ultrasound is consistent with pathology,61.1%of the tumor size measured by ultrasound is bigger than that measured by pathology,and only 1.7%of the tumor size measured by ultrasound is smaller than that measured by pathology.There was a linear correlation between the diameter measured by ultrasound and pathology.And the regression equation can be expressed as:pathological diameter=0.799×ultrasonic diameter-0.221.In addition,28.6%patients had central lymph node metastasis.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the diameter measured by pathology is a risk factor for central lymph node metastasis in patients(OR=17.845,95%CI:2.507-127.025,P=0.004),and the cutoff value is 5.5 mm which corresponded to the diameter measured by ultrasound as 7.2 mm.Conclusions The sizes of solitary cN0M0 PTMC measured by ultrasound and pathology are different but also correlated.PMTC with pathological diameter>5.5 mm with its corresponding ultrasonic diameter as 7.2 mm indicated an increased risk of central lymph node metastasis.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of hypomethylating agents (HMA) in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) .Methods:A total of 409 MDS patients from 45 hospitals in Zhejiang province who received at least four consecutive cycles of HMA monotherapy as initial therapy were enrolled to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HMA. Mann-Whitney U or Chi-square tests were used to compare the differences in the clinical data. Logistic regression and Cox regression were used to analyze the factors affecting efficacy and survival. Kaplan-Meier was used for survival analysis. Results:Patients received HMA treatment for a median of 6 cycles (range, 4-25 cycles) . The complete remission (CR) rate was 33.98% and the overall response rate (ORR) was 77.02%. Multivariate analysis revealed that complex karyotype ( P=0.02, OR=0.39, 95% CI 0.18-0.84) was an independent favorable factor for CR rate. TP53 mutation ( P=0.02, OR=0.22, 95% CI 0.06-0.77) was a predictive factor for a higher ORR. The median OS for the HMA-treated patients was 25.67 (95% CI 21.14-30.19) months. HMA response ( P=0.036, HR=0.47, 95% CI 0.23-0.95) was an independent favorable prognostic factor, whereas complex karyotype ( P=0.024, HR=2.14, 95% CI 1.10-4.15) , leukemia transformation ( P<0.001, HR=2.839, 95% CI 1.64-4.92) , and TP53 mutation ( P=0.012, HR=2.19, 95% CI 1.19-4.07) were independent adverse prognostic factors. There was no significant difference in efficacy and survival between the reduced and standard doses of HMA. The CR rate and ORR of MDS patients treated with decitabine and azacitidine were not significantly different. The median OS of patients treated with decitabine was longer compared with that of patients treated with azacitidine (29.53 months vs 20.17 months, P=0.007) . The incidence of bone marrow suppression and pneumonia in the decitabine group was higher compared with that in the azacitidine group. Conclusion:Continuous and regular use of appropriate doses of hypomethylating agents may benefit MDS patients to the greatest extent if it is tolerated.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules in the treatment of cough caused by acute bronchitis in children, which is defined in TCM terms as a syndrome of phlegm-heat obstructing the lung.Methods:This was a block-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial.From January 2022 to September 2023, 359 children aged 3 to 7 years old diagnosed as acute bronchitis (lung-obstructing phlegm-heat syndrome) were enrolled from 21 participating hospitals and randomly assigned to the experimental group and placebo group in a 3︰1 ratio, and respectively treated with Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules and its matching placebo.Cough resolution/general resolution rate after 7 days of treatment was used as the primary efficacy outcome for both groups.Results:(1)On the seventh day of treatment, the rate of cough disappearance/basically disappearance in the experimental group and placebo group were 73.95% and 57.61% retrospectively, which had statistically significance ( P=0.001).(2)After 7 days of treatment, the median duration of cough disappearance/basic disappearance were 5 days and 6 days in the two groups , with a statistically significant difference ( P=0.006).The area under the curve of cough symptom severity time was 7.20 ± 3.79 in the experimental group and 8.20±4.42 in the placebo group.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.039).(3) After 7 days of treatment, the difference between TCM syndrome score and baseline was -16.0 (-20.0, -15.0) points in the experimental group and -15.0 (-18.0, -12.0) points in the placebo group, with significant difference between the two groups ( P=0.004).In the experimental group, the clinical control rate, the markedly effective rate, the effective rate and the ineffective rate were 49.04%, 28.35%, 16.48% and 6.13% severally; and in the placebo group, the clinical control rate, the markedly effective rate, the effective rate and the ineffective rate were 38.04%, 26.09%, 29.35%, and 6.52% separately, which had statistically significant ( P=0.014).(4) There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events or adverse reactions during the trial between both groups.Moreover, while adverse reactions in the form of vomiting and diarrhea were occasionally reported, no serious drug-related adverse event or adverse reaction was reported.(5)The tested drug provided good treatment compliance, showing no statistically significant difference from the placebo in terms of compliance rate. Conclusions:Based on the above findings, it can be concluded that Xiao′er Huangjin Zhike Granules provides good safety, efficacy, and treatment compliance in the treatment of cough caused by acute bronchitis, and lung-obstructing phlegm-heat syndrome, in children.

Objective:To explore the application effect of slope adjustment mattresses in the position management of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) mechanically ventilated children, in order to seek methods for maintaining effective posture in clinical practice.Methods:This was a quasi-experimental study. In this study, the mechanically ventilated children in PICU of Hunan Children′s Hospital from January 1 to December 31, 2022 were selected by convenient sampling method and divided into control group ( n=21) and experimental group ( n=21) according to random number table. Children in control group used the hospital bed and the traditional posture management, and children in experimental group used the slope adjustment mattress for posture management. The comfort scores, mechanical ventilation time, PICU length of stay, postural decline, unplanned extubation and blood gas analysis index were compared between the two groups. Results:There were 21 cases were admitted in each group ultimately. In the control group, there were 10 males and 11 females, the age was (31.43 ± 27.01) months. There were 11 males and 10 females in the experimental group, the age was (24.57 ± 24.20) months. The comfort scores of the experimental group were (13.57 ± 0.93) and (12.52 ± 0.60) points at the 24 hour and 72 hour respectively; while the comfort scores of the control group were (16.05 ± 1.72) and (15.81 ± 1.66) points at the 24 hour and 72 hour respectively. There were significant differences between the two groups ( t=5.82, 8.52, both P<0.05). The mechanical ventilation time was (5.43 ± 2.48) d, the PICU length of stay was (9.29 ± 3.04) d, and the number of postural decline was (7.52 ± 2.06) times in the experimental group which was superior to control group (8.52 ± 4.65) d, (12.71 ± 6.76) d, (14.95 ± 6.86) times, the differences were significant ( t=2.69, 2.12, 4.75, all P<0.05). There were 0 case of unplanned extubation in the experimental group and 4 cases of unplanned extubation in the control group .The difference was significant ( χ2=5.97, P<0.05). For blood gas analysis, PaCO 2 on the second day were (56.90 ± 6.77) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) in the control group, and (48.67 ± 8.13) mmHg in the experimental group; PaO 2, oxygenation index, PaCO 2 on the third day were (91.19 ± 16.27), (278.19 ± 71.54), (51.62 ± 4.73) mmHg in the control group, and (110.43 ± 21.73), (347.33 ± 90.95), (40.24 ± 5.57) mmHg in the experimental group, the differences were significant ( t values were 7.50-51.00, all P<0.05). There were significant differences about blood gas analysis of time interaction, inter-group interaction, time and inter-group interaction were compared between the two groups ( F values were 3.62-66.38, all P<0.05). Conclusions:Slope adjustment mattresses can maintain effective posture, improve comfort, shorten PICU hospital stay and mechanical ventilation time, significantly reduce posture decline and the risk of unplanned tube withdrawal adverse events in PICU mechanically ventilated children. Improving ventilation and ventilation disorders to enhance blood gas analysis indicators.This appliance can be used as an optimized choice for posture management and expected to effectively improve the quality of nursing care.

Objective:To analyze the mutation characteristics of rpoB gene in rifampicin-resistant Brucella strains. Methods:DNA of 4 rifampicin-resistant Brucella strains (JSY-26, G-9, WSY-13 and AW-3) isolated from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was selected, rifampicin rpoB gene was amplified by PCR and its nucleotide sequence was sequenced. The rpoB gene sequences of rifampicin-resistant Brucella standard strain (RB51) and sensitive strain (ALT-8) were used as reference, the mutation sites and types of the rpoB gene inside and outside the rifampicin resistance determination region (RRDR) of the 4 rifampicin-resistant Brucella strains were analyzed by Mega 7.0 software. Results:Through sequence alignment, both JSY-26 and WSY-13 strains underwent a single base point mutation at the RRDR 1 576 bp of the rpoB gene, with the base changing from guanine (G) to adenine (A). The G-9 strain underwent a single base point mutation at the RRDR 1 606 bp of the rpoB gene, with the base changing from cytosine (C) to A. The AW-3 strain showed 5 mutations of 3 types outside rpoB gene RRDR at 2 536, 2 537, 2 626, 2 636 and 2 654 bp, namely 3 insertion mutations [thymine (T) insertion once and C insertion twice], 1 deletion mutation (C deletion), and 1 single base point mutation (from G to C mutation).Conclusion:The RRDR mutations in the rpoB gene of the rifampicin-resistant Brucella strains are mainly characterized by single base point mutations, while multiple insertion and deletion mutations occur outside the RRDR.

Based on the duality of "healthy" and "pathogenic" of the immune system in physiological and pathological states， and combined with the analogy between "immune function" and "healthy qi"， the theory of "transformation of healthy qi into pathogenic qi" was proposed to guide the pattern identification and treatment of autoimmune diseases. The theory of "transformation of healthy qi into pathogenic qi" means that "healthy qi"， which is originally used by the body's original ability to defend and remove harmful factors or normal functional activities， transformed into "pathogenic qi"， which is factors that damage and destroy the human body or abnormal body state. In the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases， the pathogenic factors and causes of congenital endowment， tissue damage under the influence of external pathogens， abnormal function of zang-fu （脏腑） organs and meridians， abnormal transmission and transformation of qi， blood， body fluids was proposed. Autoimmune diseases have the dynamic mechanism of latent pathogen at early stage， internal and external contraction at the onset stage， and the expansion of the pathogenic qi at the complete period， and also have the characteristics of the specificity， invisibility and contradiction of healthy qi and pathogenic qi. In terms of treatment， it advocates the ideas of treatment with both attack and supplementation throughout the disease， identifying diseases with special prescriptions and formulas for specific diseases， dynamically adjusting treatment by identifying the remission and onsets of the disease， observing the changes in the dynamics of healthy qi transforming into pathogenic qi， and treating disease before it arises with early intervention.

Talents are the main force for the development of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM）， and the construction of TCM talents and the reformation of talent evaluation system are essential to promote the inheritance and innovation of TCM. At present， we are still exploring and developing in the fields of the formulation， implementation and evaluation indicators of TCM talent evaluation system. However， there are shortcomings and difficulties. For instance， insufficient stratification in the evaluation， excessive emphasis on the quantity of achievements， neglecting the quality of the achievements and the actual contribution， imperfect assessment indicators， and the weak characteristics of TCM. Therefore， national ministries and commissions have jointly issued a document requesting to break the four only and set a new standard， in order to promote the construction of a scientific and technological talent evaluation system oriented by innovation value， ability and contribution. For the evaluation of TCM clinical talents， China Association for Science and Technology commissioned China Association of Chinese Medicine to build the China Clinical Cases Library of TCM（CCCL-TCM）， which aims at collecting the most authoritative and representative TCM clinical cases and exploring the advantages of applying clinical cases as masterpiece of achievement in TCM clinical talents evaluation. CCCL-TCM can promote the construction of a talent evaluation system that is more in line with the development characteristics of TCM industry， and to carry out relevant pilot in TCM colleges and institutions across the country in order to promote the reformation of TCM talent evaluation system.