OBJECTIVE To analyze the clinical characteristics and the correlation between laboratory indicators and prognosis of severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(SMPP)in children.METHODS A total of 85 children with SMPP admitted to Anhui Provincial Children's Hospital from Nov.2021 to May 2024 were selected as the study subjects.Based on clinical typing at admission,they were divided into a high-risk group(n=59)and a low-risk group(n=26).The clinical manifestations,laboratory indicators and outcomes at 28 days of treatment were compared between the two groups.RESULTS The duration of fever and cough before admission in the high-risk group was(7.17±1.09)days and(6.79±1.25)days,respectively,which was longer than that in the low-risk group(P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in pulmonary auscultation(wheezing rales,moist rales)and extrapulmonary complications between the two groups.The levels of C-reactive protein(CRP),serum amyloid A(SAA),platelets(PLT),fibrinogen(FIB),D-dimer(DD)and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)in the high-risk group were(11.62±1.45)mg/L,(226.88±36.83)mg/L,(3 18.57±39.82)×109/L,(4.28±0.74)g/L,(0.81±0.12)μg/ml and(2 295.48±413.75)pg/ml,respectively,all of which were higher than those in the low-risk group(P＜0.05).Within 28 days after treatment of children in both groups,one patient in the high-risk group died.CONCLUSIONS Compared with children with SMPP in the low-risk group,those in the high-risk group have a higher risk of prognostic mor-tality,suggesting a correlation between the children's blood CRP,SAA,PLT,FIB,DD and NT-proBNP levels and the prognosis of children with SMPP.

Objective:To investigate the effects of baicalein on the protein kinase B(AKT)/glycogen synthase kinase 3β(GSK3β)pathway and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-1 β(IL-1 β)in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-activated BV2 microglial cells.Methods:BV2 microglial cells were cultured and divided into control group,LPS-induced group,and LPS+Baicalein group.Molecular docking was conducted to verify the bind-ing affinity of baicalein to AKT.Western blot and immunofluorescence staining were used to assess the expression and phosphorylation levels of AKT,GSK3β,TNF-α,and IL-1β in activated BV2 cells.Results:Baicalein exhibited a strong binding affinity for AKT.Western blot results showed that LPS stimulation led to increased TNF-α and IL-1 βexpression and decreased phosphorylation of AKT and GSK3β in BV2 cells(P＜0.05).After Baicalein treatment,TNF-α and IL-1 β expression significantly decreased,while AKT and GSK3β phosphorylation levels increased compared to the LPS group(P＜0.05).Immunofluorescence staining results were consistent with those of Western blot.Conclusion:Baicalein inhibits the expression of TNF-α and IL-1 β in activated microglia,potentially through activation of the AKT/GSK3β pathway.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the clinical characteristics and the correlation between laboratory indicators and prognosis of severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia(SMPP)in children.METHODS A total of 85 children with SMPP admitted to Anhui Provincial Children's Hospital from Nov.2021 to May 2024 were selected as the study subjects.Based on clinical typing at admission,they were divided into a high-risk group(n=59)and a low-risk group(n=26).The clinical manifestations,laboratory indicators and outcomes at 28 days of treatment were compared between the two groups.RESULTS The duration of fever and cough before admission in the high-risk group was(7.17±1.09)days and(6.79±1.25)days,respectively,which was longer than that in the low-risk group(P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in pulmonary auscultation(wheezing rales,moist rales)and extrapulmonary complications between the two groups.The levels of C-reactive protein(CRP),serum amyloid A(SAA),platelets(PLT),fibrinogen(FIB),D-dimer(DD)and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)in the high-risk group were(11.62±1.45)mg/L,(226.88±36.83)mg/L,(3 18.57±39.82)×109/L,(4.28±0.74)g/L,(0.81±0.12)μg/ml and(2 295.48±413.75)pg/ml,respectively,all of which were higher than those in the low-risk group(P＜0.05).Within 28 days after treatment of children in both groups,one patient in the high-risk group died.CONCLUSIONS Compared with children with SMPP in the low-risk group,those in the high-risk group have a higher risk of prognostic mor-tality,suggesting a correlation between the children's blood CRP,SAA,PLT,FIB,DD and NT-proBNP levels and the prognosis of children with SMPP.

To investigate the correlation between hepatic lipid accumulation and the metabolic profiles of free fatty acids(FFAs), tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and ketone body in alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD), a chronic plus acute alcohol feeding model (Gao-Binge model) was employed using C57BL/6N mice to simulate different stages of AFLD. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was employed to measure the levels of FFAs, TCA cycle intermediates, and ketone bodies in mouse liver tissue and plasma, followed by Pearson correlation analysis. The study revealed that both acute and chronic models showed significant increases in total FFAs, saturated FFAs and short-chain FFAs, as well as β-hydroxybutyric acid(HDBT) in plasma and liver, indicating FFA metabolic profile disturbances in the Gao-Binge model. Moreover, in both models, acetic acid (AA), 2-Methylbutyric acid (2-meBA), and HDBT displayed strong positive correlations with hepatic injury markers in plasma and liver samples (for instance, in the acute model plasma data, r = 0.834, 0.699, 0.818, P<0.05), while pyruvic acid (PRA) showed a strong negative correlation (r = −0.66, P<0.05). These findings suggest that FFAs, TCA cycle, and ketone body metabolism are disrupted in the alcoholic liver disease in mice model, and metabolites such as AA, 2-meBA, HDBT and PRA may serve as potential biomarkers for AFLD, which would be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Objective:To investigate the effects of baicalein on the protein kinase B(AKT)/glycogen synthase kinase 3β(GSK3β)pathway and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-1 β(IL-1 β)in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-activated BV2 microglial cells.Methods:BV2 microglial cells were cultured and divided into control group,LPS-induced group,and LPS+Baicalein group.Molecular docking was conducted to verify the bind-ing affinity of baicalein to AKT.Western blot and immunofluorescence staining were used to assess the expression and phosphorylation levels of AKT,GSK3β,TNF-α,and IL-1β in activated BV2 cells.Results:Baicalein exhibited a strong binding affinity for AKT.Western blot results showed that LPS stimulation led to increased TNF-α and IL-1 βexpression and decreased phosphorylation of AKT and GSK3β in BV2 cells(P＜0.05).After Baicalein treatment,TNF-α and IL-1 β expression significantly decreased,while AKT and GSK3β phosphorylation levels increased compared to the LPS group(P＜0.05).Immunofluorescence staining results were consistent with those of Western blot.Conclusion:Baicalein inhibits the expression of TNF-α and IL-1 β in activated microglia,potentially through activation of the AKT/GSK3β pathway.

The prevalence of food allergy is increasing worldwide and seriously affects the living quality of patients and their families. Egg allergy is one of the commonest forms of food allergy. The traditional regimen is to delay the introduction of eggs to infant complementary foods, which is not able to reduce the prevalence of egg allergies and causes negative effects on infants′ physical and psychological conditions. Oral tolerance therapy is an approach to establish immune tolerance by the active suppression of specific immune responses to antigens in the gastrointestinal tract. The development of oral tolerance through early introduction of eggs to infant complementary has proven effective in randomized controlled trials, which has been incorporated into infant feeding guidelines in many countries. This article focuses on the mechanism, efficacy and safety of oral tolerance induction in the prevention of egg allergy.

The prevalence of food allergy is increasing worldwide and seriously affects the living quality of patients and their families. Egg allergy is one of the commonest forms of food allergy. The traditional regimen is to delay the introduction of eggs to infant complementary foods, which is not able to reduce the prevalence of egg allergies and causes negative effects on infants′ physical and psychological conditions. Oral tolerance therapy is an approach to establish immune tolerance by the active suppression of specific immune responses to antigens in the gastrointestinal tract. The development of oral tolerance through early introduction of eggs to infant complementary has proven effective in randomized controlled trials, which has been incorporated into infant feeding guidelines in many countries. This article focuses on the mechanism, efficacy and safety of oral tolerance induction in the prevention of egg allergy.

Objective To investigate the expression level of serum ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme 2C(UBE2C)and tripartite motif-containing protein 27(TRIM27)in patients with endometrial cancer(EC)and their correlation with pathological parameters.Methods A total of 96 EC patients from March 2020 to March 2023 were selected as EC group;65 patients with endometrial atypical hyperplasia(EAH)as EAH group,and 80 healthy subjects as the control group.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was applied to analyze the expression level of serum UBE2C and TRIM27.The relationship between serum UBE2C,TRIM27,and pathological data was analyzed;receiver operating characteristic was applied to evaluate the predictive value of serum UBE2C and TRIM27 level for EC.Results The level of serum UBE2C and TRIM27 of EC patients was obviously higher than that in healthy subjects(P<0.05),and was correlated with tumor diameter,tumor differentiation,lymph node metastasis,FIGO stage,muscle layer invasion depth,cervical involvement,estrogen receptor expression,and progestogen receptor expression(P<0.05).There was positive correlation between serum UBE2C and TRIM27(r=0.475,P<0.001);and the level of serum UBE2C and TRIM27 was positively correlated with tumor diameter,lymph node metastasis,FIGO stage,and depth of musclular invasion,but negatively with tumor differentiation,estrogen receptor expression,and progestogen receptor expression(P<0.05).The combination of UBE2C and TRIM27 had obviously higher AUC in evaluating EC than single detection(ZUBE2C-combination=3.406,P<0.001,ZTRIM27-combination=3.285,P=0.001).Conclusion The expression level of UBE2C and TRIM27 in serum of EC patients is up-regulated,which is closely related to pathological parameters.The level of serum UBE2C and TRIM27 can provide reference for early diagnosis of EC.

Objective To create risk predictive models of healthcare-seeking delay among imported malaria patients in Jiangsu Province based on machine learning algorithms, so as to provide insights into early identification of imported malaria cases in Jiangsu Province. Methods Case investigation, first symptoms and time of initial diagnosis of imported malaria patients in Jiangsu Province in 2019 were captured from Infectious Disease Report Information Management System and Parasitic Disease Prevention and Control Information Management System of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The risk predictive models of healthcare-seeking delay among imported malaria patients were created with the back propagation (BP) neural network model, logistic regression model, random forest model and Bayesian model using thirteen factors as independent variables, including occupation, species of malaria parasite, main clinical manifestations, presence of complications, severity of disease, age, duration of residing abroad, frequency of malaria parasite infections abroad, incubation period, level of institution at initial diagnosis, country of origin, number of individuals travelling with patients and way to go abroad, and time of healthcare-seeking delay as a dependent variable. Logistic regression model was visualized using a nomogram, and the nomogram was evaluated using calibration curves. In addition, the efficiency of the four models for prediction of risk of healthcare-seeking delay among imported malaria patients was evaluated using the area under curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). The importance of each characteristic was quantified and attributed by using SHAP to examine the positive and negative effects of the value of each characteristic on the predictive efficiency. Results A total of 244 imported malaria patients were enrolled, including 100 cases (40.98%) with the duration from onset of first symptoms to time of initial diagnosis that exceeded 24 hours. Logistic regression analysis identified a history of malaria parasite infection [odds ratio (OR) = 3.075, 95% confidential interval (CI): (1.597, 5.923)], long incubation period [OR = 1.010, 95% CI: (1.001, 1.018)] and seeking healthcare in provincial or municipal medical facilities [OR = 12.550, 95% CI: (1.158, 135.963)] as risk factors for delay in seeking healthcare among imported malaria cases. BP neural network modeling showed that duration of residing abroad, incubation period and age posed great impacts on delay in healthcare-seek among imported malaria patients. Random forest modeling showed that the top five factors with the greatest impact on healthcare-seeking delay included main clinical manifestations, the way to go abroad, incubation period, duration of residing abroad and age among imported malaria patients, and Bayesian modeling revealed that the top five factors affecting healthcare-seeking delay among imported malaria patients included level of institutions at initial diagnosis, age, country of origin, history of malaria parasite infection and individuals travelling with imported malaria patients. ROC curve analysis showed higher overall performance of the BP neural network model and the logistic regression model for prediction of the risk of healthcare-seeking delay among imported malaria patients (Z = 2.700 to 4.641, all P values < 0.01), with no statistically significant difference in the AUC among four models (Z = 1.209, P > 0.05). The sensitivity (71.00%) and Youden index (43.92%) of the logistic regression model was higher than those of the BP neural network (63.00% and 36.61%, respectively), and the specificity of the BP neural network model (73.61%) was higher than that of the logistic regression model (72.92%). Conclusions Imported malaria cases with long duration of residing abroad, a history of malaria parasite infection, long incubation period, advanced age and seeking healthcare in provincial or municipal medical institutions have a high likelihood of delay in healthcare-seeking in Jiangsu Province. The models created based on the logistic regression and BP neural network show a high efficiency for prediction of the risk of healthcare-seeking among imported malaria patients in Jiangsu Province, which may provide insights into health management of imported malaria patients.

ObjectiveTo establish a more accurate and sensitive liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (LC-UV) method for the determination of uric acid in rat serum, and compare the results with those of commercial kits, providing a new method for the accurate determination of uric acid in the rat hyperuricemia model induced by potassium oxonate.Methods A hyperuricemia model was established by intraperitoneal injection of potassium oxonate (300 mg/kg) into SPF-grade male SD rats, and the control group was administered an equal amount of 0.5% sodium carboxymethylcellulose solution. Blood samples were collected from the posterior orbital venous plexus and centrifuged to obtain serum samples. After precipitation with 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid-acetonitrile (containing the internal standard 3,4-dihydroxybenzylamine hydrobromide), the supernatant was injected for analysis. Uric acid was separated on a Waters XBridge HILIC column (150 mm×4.6 mm, 3.5 μm) using acetonitrile (containing 0.5% formic acid and 2 mmol/mL ammonium formate) as the organic phase and methanol solution (methanol∶water=1∶1, containing 0.5% formic acid with 2 mmol/L ammonium formate) as the aqueous phase for isocratic elution and detection at 290 nm. Serum samples treated with activated carbon were used as substitute matrices for the methodological verification. Serum uric acid levels in rats with potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia were measured using the established LC-UV method and commercially available kits (uricase and phosphotungstic acid methods), and the accuracies of the three methods were compared.Results Serum uric acid showed a good linear relationship (R>0.999) at mass concentration of 10–200 μg/mL in rats, the lower limit of quantification was 10 μg/mL, the accuracy ranged from -2.17% to 2.21%, the intra-batch precision ranged from 0.52% to 1.95%, the inter-batch precision ranged from 3.04% to 4.90%, and the extraction recovery ranged from 83.12% to 89.91%. In the rat model, the results obtained using the commercially available phosphotungstic acid method kit were significantly higher than those of the LC-UV method, and those obtained using the commercially available uricase method kit were significantly lower than those of the LC-UV method, but the LC-UV method showed the best recovery of the spiked sample (95.90%–99.96%).ConclusionThe LC-UV method developed in this study can determine the concentration of uric acid in rat serum with higher accuracy than commercially available kits and is recommended for the determination of serum uric acid in the rat model of hyperuricemia induced by potassium oxonate.