Andrographolide sulfonate (AS) is a sulfonated derivative of andrographolide extracted from Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees, and has been approved for several decades in China. The present study aimed to investigate the novel therapeutic application and possible mechanisms of AS in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Results indicated that administration of AS by injection or gavage significantly reduced the paw swelling, improved body weights, and attenuated pathological changes in joints of rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis. Additionally, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β in the serum and ankle joints were reduced. Bioinformatics analysis, along with the spleen index and measurements of IL-17 and IL-10 levels, suggested a potential relationship between AS and Th17 cells under arthritic conditions. In vitro, AS was shown to block Th17 cell differentiation, as evidenced by the reduced percentages of CD4⁺ IL-17A⁺ T cells and decreased expression levels of RORγt, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, and IL-22, without affecting the cell viability and apoptosis. This effect was attributed to the limited glycolysis, as indicated by metabolomics analysis, reduced glucose uptake, and pH measurements. Further investigation revealed that AS might bind to hexokinase2 (HK2) to down-regulate the protein levels of HK2 but not glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) or pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), and overexpression of HK2 reversed the inhibition of AS on Th17 cell differentiation. Furthermore, AS impaired the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signals in vivo and in vitro, which was abolished by the addition of lactate. In conclusion, AS significantly improved adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rats by inhibiting glycolysis-mediated activation of PI3K/AKT to restrain Th17 cell differentiation.
Animals ; Th17 Cells/immunology* ; Diterpenes/pharmacology* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/immunology* ; Glycolysis/drug effects* ; Cell Differentiation/drug effects* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics* ; Rats ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Humans ; Andrographis paniculata/chemistry* ; Arthritis, Experimental/drug therapy* ; Interleukin-17/immunology* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects*

Objective:To explore the application of COVID-19-specific IgG antibody in identifying epidemic Omicron BA.5 strain infection.Method:Omicron BF.7/BA.5 naturally infected population, healthy population vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine, and Omicron BF.7/BA.5 breakthrough cases were enrolled into this study. The serum WT-S-IgG and BA.5-S-IgG were detected by indirect ELISA, and the serum-specific IgG antibody levels of different populations were compared. The application value of the two antibody titers and the ratio of the two antibodies in identifying Omicron BA.5 epidemic strain infection were explored by the ROC curve, aiming to provide technical support for pathogen diagnosis.Results:The antibody titers of WT-S-IgG and BA.5-S-IgG in the breakthrough cases were higher than those in the naturally infected population and the healthy population ( P<0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of WT-S-IgG and BA.5-S-IgG in identifying epidemic Omicron BA.5 strain infection was 0.947 and 0.961, respectively. The AUC of BA.5-S-IgG and WT-S-IgG antibody titer ratio was 0.873. When the antibody titer ratio was 0.855, the sensitivity and specificity were 80.00% and 90.00%, respectively. According to the interval since the last infection, the AUC of the ratio of BA.5-S-IgG to WT-S-IgG antibody titer to identify the infection of epidemic strains less than 30 days and more than 30 days was 0.887 and 0.863, respectively, and the sensitivity and specificity were both above 80%. Conclusion:Both BA.5-S-IgG and WT-S-IgG, as well as the combination of these two antibodies, are of high value in the identification of epidemic strains.

Objective:To explore the relevancy between the uridine diphosphate-glucuronylgly-cosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) gene mutation and the phenotype of indirect hyperbilirubinemia in children.Methods:Sixteen cases with indirect hyperbilirubinemia who visited the Department of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from July 2013 to November 2019 were retrospectively analyzed and were divided into Gilbert syndrome (GS), Crigler-Najjar syndrome type II (CNS-II), and indirect hyperbilirubinemia groups unexplained by UGT1A1 gene mutations. The differences in gene mutation site information and general clinical data were compared. The association between gene mutation spectrum and bilirubin level was explored by t-test analysis.Results:Ten of the sixteen cases with indirect hyperbilirubinemia had GS, three had CNS-II, and three had indirect hyperbilirubinemia unexplained by UGT1A1 gene mutations. A total of six mutation types were detected, of which c.211G?>?A accounted for 37.5% (6/16), c.1456T?>?G accounted for 62.5% (10/16), and TATA accounted for 37.5% (6/16), respectively. Compared with the GS group, the CNS group had early disease onset incidence, high serum total bilirubin ( t ?=?5.539, P ??0.05) and age of onset ( t ?=?0.3611, P ?>?0.05) between the two groups. There was no significant correlation between the number of UGT1A1 gene mutations and serum bilirubin levels. Children with c.1456T?>?G homozygous mutations had the highest serum bilirubin levels. Conclusion:The common pathogenic variants of the UGT1A1 gene sequence are c.1456T?>?G, c.211G?>?A, and TATA, indicating that these site mutations are related to the occurrence of indirect hyperbilirubinemia and have important guiding significance for the etiological analysis of indirect hyperbilirubinemia in children.

Objective:To explore the application of COVID-19-specific IgG antibody in identifying epidemic Omicron BA.5 strain infection.Method:Omicron BF.7/BA.5 naturally infected population, healthy population vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine, and Omicron BF.7/BA.5 breakthrough cases were enrolled into this study. The serum WT-S-IgG and BA.5-S-IgG were detected by indirect ELISA, and the serum-specific IgG antibody levels of different populations were compared. The application value of the two antibody titers and the ratio of the two antibodies in identifying Omicron BA.5 epidemic strain infection were explored by the ROC curve, aiming to provide technical support for pathogen diagnosis.Results:The antibody titers of WT-S-IgG and BA.5-S-IgG in the breakthrough cases were higher than those in the naturally infected population and the healthy population ( P<0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of WT-S-IgG and BA.5-S-IgG in identifying epidemic Omicron BA.5 strain infection was 0.947 and 0.961, respectively. The AUC of BA.5-S-IgG and WT-S-IgG antibody titer ratio was 0.873. When the antibody titer ratio was 0.855, the sensitivity and specificity were 80.00% and 90.00%, respectively. According to the interval since the last infection, the AUC of the ratio of BA.5-S-IgG to WT-S-IgG antibody titer to identify the infection of epidemic strains less than 30 days and more than 30 days was 0.887 and 0.863, respectively, and the sensitivity and specificity were both above 80%. Conclusion:Both BA.5-S-IgG and WT-S-IgG, as well as the combination of these two antibodies, are of high value in the identification of epidemic strains.

Objective:To evaluate the detection ability of two kinds of high-throughput method to determine neutralizing antibodies based on a microneutralization test (MNT).Methods:Serum samples were collected from the early phase and follow-up period (117 samples in total) for neutralizing antibody testing. They were tested using MNT, pseudovirus neutralization assay (PBNA), competitive inhibition assay (including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA)) to evaluate the correlation coefficients and threshold values for the effectiveness of these high-throughput neutralizing antibody assays.Results:The correlation coefficients for PBNA, ELISA, and CLIA relative to MNT were 0.760, 0.778, and 0.725, respectively, for individuals infected with 2019-nCoV. The area under the ROC curve was 0.901 for a cutoff value of 50 for the PBNA assay, 0.934 for a cutoff value of 1∶8 for the ELISA assay and 0.838 for a cutoff value of 1.28AU/ml for the CLIA assay when the threshold value for the microneutralization test was taken as 1: 10 (less than 1: 10 is considered negative).Conclusions:The high-throughput method for the detection of COVID-19 neutralizing antibodies are scientific and feasible, and provide an important technical tool for the regular prevention and control of the epidemic.

Clinical data, nutrition support and 6-year follow-up results of a patient with Tricho-hepato-enteric syndrome (THES) diagnosed in the Children′s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University in December 2013 were analyzed.The patient suffered severe malnutrition, growth retardation, hypophosphatemia, hypoglobulinemia, high nutritional risk status and significant intestinal dysfunction.The genetic testing revealed SKIV2 L gene variation in this case of THES.During the acute exacerbation of diarrhea, enteral nutrition and periodical short-term parenteral nutrition were given as nutrition support.Deep-hydrolyzed formula by oral and low-fat, low-residue, high-quality-protein diet was given during the remission phase.At last, the diarrhea and nutritional status of the patient improved gradually.The growth and development, including neuromotor development of the case also caught up to children with the same age, and he was capable of schooling.It is suggested that rational individualized nutrition support can significantly improve intestinal function and nutritional status of children with THES, which overcome the dangerous period, improve the quality of life and prolong the survival time.

Objective: To investigate the surgical outcomes and prognosis of spinal cord anaplastic astrocytoma (AA). Methods: A total of 27 consecutive patients diagnosed as spinal cord AA between January 2008 and May 2015 in Department of Neurosurgery of Beijing Tiantan Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. There were 18 males and 9 females, the mean age was (30.7±13.0) years (ranging from 5 to 52 years). The lesions were located at cervical level in 8 patients, at thoracic level in 9 patients, at cervicothoracic level in 3 patients, and at thoracolumbar level in 7 patients, the average number of vertebral was 3.3±1.3.The median time from onset of symptom to surgery was 4 months, ranging from 3 days to 48 months. The clinical presentations were weakness (23 cases), paresthesia (22 cases), pain (20 cases), sphincter disorder (15 cases) and paralysis (7 cases). The preoperative modified McCormick scale was as follows: grade Ⅱ for 6 cases, grade Ⅲ for 7 cases, grade Ⅳ for 7 cases, grade Ⅴ for 7 cases. The tumors were surgically removed via posterior median approach with the monitoring of the somatosensory-evoked potentials to minimize the neurological injury. All of the patients were recommonded to receive adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy postoperatively after pothological verified and followed up by clinic interview or telephone postoperatively. Log-rank test was used to calculate the survival rate. Results: Gross total resection and subtotal resection were achieved in 18 patients and partial resection in 9. Twenty patients received adjuvant chemotherapy and (or) radiotherapy, 7 patients did not received chemoradiation postoperatively. Nineteen patients died and 8 were alive at the last follow-up. The median survival time was 23 months with 1 and 2-year survival rates of 85.2% and 50.0%.There was no statistical significance between subtotal resection group and partial resection group(χ²=0.089, P=0.880), the survival rates of patients in chemotherapy group and radiotherapy group were increased significantly(χ²=6.687, P=0.001; χ²=14.887, P=0.002). Conclusions Spinal cord AA is a rare spinal high-grade astrocytoma with aggressive nature, the prognosis remains poor even after comprehensive treatments. Microsurgery followed by adjuvant chemoradiation is recommended for the treatment.

Objective To explore the clinical value of 13C-methacetin breath test for the assessment of liver disorder and to analyze its predictive value to the severity of liver function injury in children.Methods Eighteen healthy children served as healthy control group,and 40 patients with different etiology and severity served as experimental group,and then the latter were divided into 2 subgroups,28 patients in Child-Pugh classification A,and 12 cases in below B(11 cases in B and 1 case in C).An oral dose of 2 mg/kg tracer 13C-methacetin was administered to each subject for the 13 C-methacetin breath test.At the same time,serum liver function markers including serum transaminase,bilirubin,albumin and prothrombin time were measured.The acquired data were analyzed by SPSS 17.0 software.Results (1) Metabolisation velocity (MV) max30 and cumulated dose (CUM) 120 in experimental group (46.64 ± 27.93,59.29 ± 30.73) were much lower than those of the healthy control group(73.56 ± 26.03,102.97 ± 41.80) (t =2.450,3.165,all P ＜0.05);(2) MVmax30 and CUM120 were closely correlated with the liver function markers of albumin,total bilirubin,direct bilirubin,prothrombin time (P ＜ 0.05);(3) MVmax30 and CUM120 could predict liver diseases in children,especially the CUM120.With CUM120 =85.80 as a cut-off value to predict liver diseases,the Youden index was 0.578 at its maximum,and the sensitivity and specificity were 77.8％ and 80.0％;(4) Compared with the Child-Pugh classification A,the CUM120 in Child-Pugh classification B and lower B was significantly lower(P ＜ 0.001);(5) CUM120 could predict the severity of liver diseases.With CUM120 =56.15 as a cut off value to predict the severity of liver diseases,the Youden index was 0.857 at its maximum,and the sensitivity and specificity were 85.7％ and 100.0％.Conclusion 13C-methacetin breath test index of CUM120 could predict liver diseases in children and the severity of liver function.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of aerophagia in children,and to evaluate the effect of 24 hours esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance monitoring in diagnosis of aerophagia.Methods The clinical data of 30 children with aerophagia hospitalized in Department of Digestive Disease,Nanjing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University from July 2005 to June 2013 were reviewed.The 24 hours esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance monitoring was performed in 8 cases of aerophagia.The treatment of these patients normally included psychological counseling,dietary adjustment,Iactulose,Domperidone and vitamins,while Simethicone was given to the patients if normal treatment was invalid.Results Of the 30 patients,aged 2 to 13 years,averaged (8.6 ± 4.5) years,the chief complaints were abdominal distention in 30 cases (100.00％),visible or audible air swallowing in 28 cases (93.33％),repetitive belching in 27 cases (90.00％),reduced appetite in 25 cases (83.33％),constipation in 22 cases (73.33％),psychological stresses in 15 cases (50.00％),recurrent abdominal pain syndrome in 10 cases(33.33％),chronic diarrhea in 3 cases(10.00％) and acute abdominal pain in 3 cases(10.00％).Among the 30 patients,24 hours esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance monitoring was performed in 8 cases,averaging 149.63 (47-553)times of air swallowing were recorded.In the 30 patients,24 cases (80.00％) were relieved after being treated with psychological counseling,dietary adjustment,lactulose,domperidone and vitamins,and only 6 cases(20.00％) were invalid for normal treatment but well responeded to Simethicone.Conclusions Aerophagia is a kind of functional gastrointestinal disorders in children.Abdominal distention,air swallowing,repetitive belching,reduced appetite,constipation and pain are common symptoms.It can be cured through psychological counseling management,diet modification,laxatives,propulsives and vitamins.24 hours esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance monitoring is a useful technology in the diagnosis of aerophagia children.

BACKGROUND: Pergolide and madopar are the effective medicines to treat Parkinson disease, but the effects on the prognosis of patients with Parkinson disease are still under discussion. The progress of neuroimaging makes it possible to evaluate quantitatively the effect of the drug treatment on the prognosis of Parkinson disease.OBJBCTIVE: To observe the influence of pergolide or madopar as initial treatment on the prognosis and the striatal dopaminergic neuron in patients with early Parkinson disease by means of 99Tcm-TRODAT-1 dopamine transporter imaging single-photon emission computed tomtheography (SPECT) in combination with Parkinson disease scale.DESIGN: A randomized grouping, parallel control and placebo control trial.SETTING: Department of Neurology, the 81 Hospital of Chinese PLA;Department of Neurology and Department of Nuclear Medicine, Changhai Hospital of the Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-six patients with early Parkinson disease who were recruited at the Specific Clinic of Parkinson Disease in the Shanghai Changhai Hospital affiliated to the Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA and did not receive any drug treatment before, were enrolled between February and July 2002. They were randomly divided into artane control group (n=12), pergolide-treated group (n=12) and madopar-treated group. The diagnosis accorded with the clinical diagnostic standard set by United Kingdom Society of Parkinson Disease. This protocol was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Changhai Hospital, and all the subjects were enrolled in this study with informed consent.INTERVENTIONS: After test with unified Parkinson disease rating scale (UPDRS) and 99Tcm-TRODAT-1 SPECT, patients in the artane control group, pergolide-treated group and madopar-treated group were treated with corresponding drugs respectively, and each capsule of artane, pergolide and madopar contained drug of 0.05, 0.05 and 125 mg respectively. In the 1st week, the dosage was 1 capsule for each time, once a day, and then the daily dosage was increased by 1 capsule per week later, and the daily dosage reached 0.2, 0.2 and 500 mg respectively after 1 month, and then the dosages were kept constant. The curative effects were evaluated with UPDRS at 6 and 10 months after treatment. At 10 months after treatment,the 99Tcm-TRODAT-1 specific intakes of ipsilateral or contralateral striatum of the affected limb were tested with striatum dopamine transporter SPECT and semi-quantitative analysis.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Changes of percentage of 99Tcm-TRODAT-1 decrease of ipsilateral or contralateral striatum of the affected limb at 10 months after treatment were compared among the three groups;② Changes of UPDRS scores before and after treatment were compared among the three groups.RESULTS: Totally 36 patients were involved in the study, and 1 case lost in each of the 3 groups respectively at 10 months after treatment, finally 33 cases entered the analysis of results. ① Changes of percentage of 99Tcm-TRODAT-1 decrease of ipsilateral or contralateral striatum of the affected limb at 10 months after treatment: At 10 months after treatment, the percentage of 99Tcm-TRODAT-1 decrease of ipsilateral or contralateral striatum of the affected limb were obviously higher in the madopar-treated group than in the artane control group and pergolide-treated group [(46.3±19.4)%, (28.9±13.0)%, (34.4±18,1)%; (47.5±20.8)%, (31.8±15.6)%, (33.8±17.2)%; P all ＜ 0.05]. ② Changes of UPDRS scores before and after treatment: As compared with the UPDRS scores before treatment, there was no obvious change in the artane control group at 10 months after treatment,but those in the madopar-treated group and pergolide-treated group were obviously decreased [(15.5±8.68), (6.4±9.05); (15.8±6.75), (10.36±8.30); Pall ＜ 0.05].CONCLUSION: Both madopar and pergolide can ameliorate the symptoms of early Parkinson disease, but they had different influences on the prognosis of patients with Parkinson disease. Madopar may accelerate the apoptosis of dopaminergic neuron and then aggravate the severity, but pergolide does not affect the prognosis of Parkinson disease, so it is a more suitable selective drug for the treatment of early Parkinson disease.