Gelsemium elegans (G. elegans) is an extremely poisonous plant that is widely distributed in southern China and southeastern Asia. G. elegans poisoning events occur frequently in southern China, and are therefore an urgent public health problem requiring multidisciplinary action. However, the toxic components and toxicological mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we describe a systematic investigation on the toxic components of G. elegans, resulting in the isolation and identification of 120 alkaloids. Based on acute toxicity screening, the structure-toxicity relationship of Gelsemium alkaloids was proposed for the first time. Moreover, gelsedine- and humantenine-type alkaloids were detected in the clinical blood sample, and were confirmed to be causative in the poisoning. The most toxic compound, gelsenicine (1), had selective inhibitory effects toward ventral respiratory group (VRG) neurons in the medulla, which is the main brain region controlling respiration in the central nervous system. Gelsenicine (1) strongly inhibited the firing of action potentials in VRG neurons through its ability to stimulate GABA_A receptors, the main receptors involved in inhibitory neurotransmission. Application of GABA_A receptor antagonists successively reversed action potential firing in gelsenicine (1)-treated VRG neurons. Importantly, the GABA_A receptor antagonists securinine and flumazenil significantly increased the survival of poisoned animals. Our findings provide insight into the components and mechanisms of G. elegans toxicity, and should assist the development of effective emergency treatments for G. elegans poisoning.

Objective: To investigate the origin of infection and risk factors of a case with SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with overseas countries in the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, Zhejiang Province, so as to provide the evidence for improving the COVID-19 control measures at ports. Methods: Ningbo Center for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) and Beilun CDC conducted case finding and epidemiological surveys immediately after being informed. The general information, history of vaccination and the travel during the latest 14 days were collected from the positive case, and all close contacts were tracked. Saliva samples were collected for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing and whole-genome sequencing, and the sequencing results were aligned with the GISAID's EpiCoV database. The origin of infection and transmission route of the positive case was investigated. Results: A case was identified positive for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid during company M's routine screening in the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port on August 10, 2021, and was confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid by Beilun CDC and Ningbo CDC on August 11. Whole-genome sequencing showed SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 ( Delta ) variant, which shared the highest homology with the virus sequence uploaded by Russia on June, 2021 ( Russia/MOW-RII-MH27356S/2021 ). The case was a bundling worker for overseas container ships, and reported communicated with foreign boatmen and contacted materials without protected interventions on the SINOKOR AKITA Container Ship between August 4 and 5, 2021. This ship anchored at Vladivostok, Russia from July 27 to 29, anchored at Ningbo Harbor on August 4, and departed on August 5. Then, 11 boatmen from this ship were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid on August 8. One asymptomatic case was reported in this epidemic; 254 close contacts and 617 secondary close contacts were identified, and all were tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid. No new cases with SARS-CoV-2 infections were detected until August 25, 2021, and the emergency response was therefore terminated. Conclusions The infection was a sporadic COVID-19 epidemic associated with overseas countries, which was caused by Delta variant infection through contacts with foreign boatmen or materials by a bundling worker in Ningbo-Zhoushan Port; fortunately, no epidemic spread occurred. Intensified closed-loop management and increased frequency of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test among high-risk populations, and improving the precision and rapid emergency treatment of COVID-19 epidemics are required for the containment of COVID-19 at ports.

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of remifentanil in patients with mechanical ventilation in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) .Methods Totally 90 cases were enrolled ,patients with mechanical ventilation were randomly divided into two groups (remifentanil vs .fentanyl) ,45 cases in each group .We used facial expression score (FPS) to monitoring pain ,richmond se‐dation agitation score (RASS) was the sedation tool for measuring quality and depth of sedation .Propofol wase used for sedation therapy .We recorded the data including FPS and RASS and vital signs during the treatment .The primary outcome was the time to reach the goal of analgesia sedation ,cases of using propofol and doses of propofol .The secondory outcome was mechanical ventila‐tion time ,ICU length of stay and adverse events .Results Fentanyl and remifentanil all could achieve the desired analgesic effect . Compared with fentanyl group ,FPS scores showed significantly decreased after 5 min application of remifentanil (P< 0 .05) ,but FPS scores showed significantly decreased after 10 min application of fentanyl .Analgesia goal time of the remifentanil and fentanyl were(5 .00 ± 1 .37)min and (30 .00 ± 4 .50)min ,respectively .Only 28 .9% of the patients should be combined use of propofol in remifentanil group ,but fentanyl group was 64 .4% (P<0 .01);the dosage of propofol of remifentanil group was lower than those of fentanyl group ;there was no significant difference in central venous pressure (CVP) and heart rate(HR) between the two groups at each time point(P>0 .05) .The mechanical ventilation time ,ICU length of stay in the patients with remifentanil were significantly shorter(P<0 .05) ,and adverse events occur less(all P<0 .05) .Conclusion Remifentanil analgesia in patients mechanical ventilated patients is fast onset of action ,analgesic effect significantly ,with less sedative drug dosage .It also can shorten mechanical ventila‐tion time ,ICU length of stay and has no obvious side effects .

To investigate the efficacy of Qiangxin Mixture in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).