ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of Chaihu Jia Longgu Mulitang（CJLM） on depression-like behaviors and neuroinflammation in rats subjected to social isolation combined with chronic unpredictable mild stress（CUMS）， and to explore the potential underlying mechanisms. MethodsSixty male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group， a model group， and low-， medium-， and high-dose CJLM groups（2.89， 5.78， 11.56 g·kg^-1）， as well as a fluoxetine group（10 mg·kg^-1）. Except for the normal group， all other groups were subjected to social isolation combined with CUMS for 63 d. During the first 35 d， depression models were established only， and from day 36 onward， modeling and drug administration were conducted simultaneously for a total intervention period of 28 d. Depression-like behaviors were evaluated using the sucrose preference test， open-field test， and forced swimming test. Hematoxylin-eosin（HE） staining was performed to observe hippocampal histomorphology. Immunohistochemistry（IHC） was used to detect the expression levels of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1（Iba1） and gasdermin D（GSDMD） proteins in the hippocampus. Western blot analysis was employed to determine the protein expression levels of adenosine 5′-monophosphate（AMP）-activated protein kinase（AMPK） and phosphorylated（p）-AMPK， silent information regulator 1（SIRT1）， nuclear factor-κB（NF-κB） and p-NF-κB， NOD-like receptor protein 3（NLRP3）， and Caspase-1 in the hippocampus. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR） was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α）， interleukin（IL）-6， and IL-1β in the hippocampus. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed a decreased sucrose preference rate（P<0.01）， reduced total movement distance（P<0.01）， prolonged immobility time（P<0.01）， and decreased central zone residence time（P<0.01） in the open-field test， and increased immobility time in the forced swimming test（P<0.01）. Hippocampal neuronal structure was damaged. The contents of Iba1 and GSDMD in the hippocampus were significantly increased（P<0.01）. The protein expression levels of p-AMPK and SIRT1 in the hippocampus were significantly decreased（P<0.01）， whereas the protein expression levels of p-NF-κB， NLRP3， and Caspase-1 were significantly increased（P<0.01）. The mRNA expression levels of IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α in the hippocampus were significantly upregulated（P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the low-， medium-， and high-dose CJLM groups and the fluoxetine group all were able to reverse depression-like behavioral changes， as evidenced by increased sucrose preference rate， increased total movement distance with shortened immobility time in the open-field test， prolonged central zone residence time， and reduced immobility time in the forced swimming test（P<0.05， P<0.01）. Meanwhile， hippocampal neuronal structural damage was alleviated. In the hippocampus， the expression levels of Iba1 and GSDMD were downregulated， the expression levels of p-AMPK and SIRT1 were upregulated， and the abnormal elevations of p-NF-κB， NLRP3， Caspase-1， as well as IL-1β， IL-6， and TNF-α mRNA were suppressed（P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionCJLM can ameliorate depression-like behaviors in rats subjected to social isolation combined with CUMS and attenuate hippocampal neuroinflammation and pyroptosis， suggesting that its effects may be associated with the regulation of AMPK/SIRT1/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND:Magnetic nanomaterials,as a hot topic in the biomedical field in recent years,are often used to enhance the targeted delivery of drugs to the affected area.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of magnetic nano drug carriers on skeletal muscle injury markers and inflammatory responses in rats with sports injuries.METHODS:Magnetic nanoparticles were prepared.A total of 88 male SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group(n=8),an injury control group(n=32),a Yunnan Baiyao group(n=24),and a magnetic nano-drug carrier group(n=24)by using a random number table method.The latter three groups were modeled with exercise-induced muscle injury(treadmill slope of-16°,running speed of 16 m/min,and training time of 120 min).Immediately after exercise,after verifying the success of the model,Yunnan Baiyao patch was applied to the gastrocnemius muscle of the rats in the Yunnan Baiyao group.Yunnan Baiyao patch loaded with magnetic nanoparticles was applied to the gastrocnemius muscle of the rats in the magnetic nano-drug carrier group.At 24,48,and 120 hours after exercise,blood was drawn from the abdominal aorta of rats to detect the activities of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase,as well as the levels of myoglobin,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the gastrocnemius muscle.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the blank group,the levels of myoglobin,creatine kinase,lactate dehydrogenase and tumor necrosis factorα in the injury control group at 24,48 and 120 hours after exercise were increased(P＜0.05),and the level of interleukin 6 at 24 and 120 hours after exercise was increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the injury control group,the level of myoglobin in the Yunnan Baiyao group at 24 and 48 hours after exercise was decreased(P＜0.05),the activities of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase at 24,48 and 120 hours were decreased(P＜0.05),and the levels of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor α at 120 hours after exercise were decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the Yunnan Baiyao group,the level of myoglobin in the magnetic nano-drug carrier group at 24 and 48 hours after exercise was decreased(P＜0.05),the activities of creatine kinase and tumor necrosis factor α at 48 and 120 hours after exercise were decreased(P＜0.05),and the lactate dehydrogenase activity was reduced(P＜0.05).(2)Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated in the muscle fibers of the injury control group 24 hours after exercise,and then the inflammatory cell infiltration gradually decreased,and the local damaged muscle fibers began to regenerate 120 hours after exercise.A large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated in the muscle fibers of the Yunnan Baiyao group and the magnetic nano-drug carrier group 24 hours after exercise,and then the inflammatory cell infiltration gradually decreased,and the damaged muscle fibers were regenerating 120 hours after exercise,and there was no significant difference from the blank group.(3)The results show that Yunnan Baiyao patch combined with magnetic nanoparticles can accelerate the recovery of exercise-induced muscle injury in rats,and the effect is better than that of Yunnan Baiyao alone.

BACKGROUND:Magnetic nanomaterials,as a hot topic in the biomedical field in recent years,are often used to enhance the targeted delivery of drugs to the affected area.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of magnetic nano drug carriers on skeletal muscle injury markers and inflammatory responses in rats with sports injuries.METHODS:Magnetic nanoparticles were prepared.A total of 88 male SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group(n=8),an injury control group(n=32),a Yunnan Baiyao group(n=24),and a magnetic nano-drug carrier group(n=24)by using a random number table method.The latter three groups were modeled with exercise-induced muscle injury(treadmill slope of-16°,running speed of 16 m/min,and training time of 120 min).Immediately after exercise,after verifying the success of the model,Yunnan Baiyao patch was applied to the gastrocnemius muscle of the rats in the Yunnan Baiyao group.Yunnan Baiyao patch loaded with magnetic nanoparticles was applied to the gastrocnemius muscle of the rats in the magnetic nano-drug carrier group.At 24,48,and 120 hours after exercise,blood was drawn from the abdominal aorta of rats to detect the activities of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase,as well as the levels of myoglobin,interleukin-6,and tumor necrosis factor-α.Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the gastrocnemius muscle.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Compared with the blank group,the levels of myoglobin,creatine kinase,lactate dehydrogenase and tumor necrosis factorα in the injury control group at 24,48 and 120 hours after exercise were increased(P＜0.05),and the level of interleukin 6 at 24 and 120 hours after exercise was increased(P＜0.05).Compared with the injury control group,the level of myoglobin in the Yunnan Baiyao group at 24 and 48 hours after exercise was decreased(P＜0.05),the activities of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase at 24,48 and 120 hours were decreased(P＜0.05),and the levels of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor α at 120 hours after exercise were decreased(P＜0.05).Compared with the Yunnan Baiyao group,the level of myoglobin in the magnetic nano-drug carrier group at 24 and 48 hours after exercise was decreased(P＜0.05),the activities of creatine kinase and tumor necrosis factor α at 48 and 120 hours after exercise were decreased(P＜0.05),and the lactate dehydrogenase activity was reduced(P＜0.05).(2)Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated in the muscle fibers of the injury control group 24 hours after exercise,and then the inflammatory cell infiltration gradually decreased,and the local damaged muscle fibers began to regenerate 120 hours after exercise.A large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated in the muscle fibers of the Yunnan Baiyao group and the magnetic nano-drug carrier group 24 hours after exercise,and then the inflammatory cell infiltration gradually decreased,and the damaged muscle fibers were regenerating 120 hours after exercise,and there was no significant difference from the blank group.(3)The results show that Yunnan Baiyao patch combined with magnetic nanoparticles can accelerate the recovery of exercise-induced muscle injury in rats,and the effect is better than that of Yunnan Baiyao alone.

Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome （IBS-D） exhibits typical characteristics of psychosomatic comorbidity. Its core pathogenesis is considered to involve simultaneous disorders of both the body and the spirit， for which the former is attributed to liver constraint and spleen deficiency， and dysfunction of large intestine conduction， whereas the latter is induced by spirit restlessness of zang （脏） organs， and gate insecurity of the corporeal soul. Based on this understanding， the therapeutic principle of "simultaneous regulation of body and spirit" is established. For regulating the body， the methods include soothing the liver， fortifying the spleen， consolidating the intestines， and stopping diarrhea， with emphasis on the front-mu （募） points of the related zang-fu （脏腑） organs and acupoints of the foot yangming （阳明） stomach channel and foot taiyin （太阴） spleen channel. For regulating the spirit， the methods include calming the brain spirit， tranquilizing the zang organs spirit， and securing the corporeal soul gate， mainly selecting acupoints of Governer Vessel （督脉） and the back-shu （背俞） points of the corresponding zang-fu organs. Needle manipulation techniques for supplementation and drainage are flexibly applied according to the deficiency or excess nature of the syndrome. In addition， comprehensive application of moxibustion， electroacupuncture， and auricular therapy is emphasized， with the aim of providing clinical insights for diagnosis and treatment.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory impairment in clinical. Currently, there are no effective treatments for AD. In recent years, a variety of therapeutic approaches from different perspectives have been explored to treat AD. Although the drug therapies targeted at the clearance of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) had made a breakthrough in clinical trials, there were associated with adverse events. Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the onset and progression of AD. Continuous neuroinflammatory was considered to be the third major pathological feature of AD, which could promote the formation of extracellular amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. At the same time, these toxic substances could accelerate the development of neuroinflammation, form a vicious cycle, and exacerbate disease progression. Reducing neuroinflammation could break the feedback loop pattern between neuroinflammation, Aβ plaque deposition and Tau tangles, which might be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating AD. Traditional Chinese herbs such as Polygonum multiflorum and Curcuma were utilized in the treatment of AD due to their ability to mitigate neuroinflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and indomethacin had been shown to reduce the level of inflammasomes in the body, and taking these drugs was associated with a low incidence of AD. Biosynthetic nanomaterials loaded with oxytocin were demonstrated to have the capability to anti-inflammatory and penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively, and they played an anti-inflammatory role via sustained-releasing oxytocin in the brain. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells could reduce neuroinflammation and inhibit the activation of microglia. The secretion of mesenchymal stem cells could not only improve neuroinflammation, but also exert a multi-target comprehensive therapeutic effect, making it potentially more suitable for the treatment of AD. Enhancing the level of TREM2 in microglial cells using gene editing technologies, or application of TREM2 antibodies such as Ab-T1, hT2AB could improve microglial cell function and reduce the level of neuroinflammation, which might be a potential treatment for AD. Probiotic therapy, fecal flora transplantation, antibiotic therapy, and dietary intervention could reshape the composition of the gut microbiota and alleviate neuroinflammation through the gut-brain axis. However, the drugs of sodium oligomannose remain controversial. Both exercise intervention and electromagnetic intervention had the potential to attenuate neuroinflammation, thereby delaying AD process. This article focuses on the role of drug therapy, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, gut microbiota therapy, exercise intervention, and brain stimulation in improving neuroinflammation in recent years, aiming to provide a novel insight for the treatment of AD by intervening neuroinflammation in the future.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical phenotypes and genetic characteristics of a pedigree with Distal arthrogryposis type 5D (DA5D) caused by compound heterozygous variants in the ECEL1 gene. METHODS: A child (proband) diagnosed with DA5D and his family members (proband's parents and sister) who was admitted to the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Henan Children's Hospital in July 2022 due to "multiplex distal arthrogryposis" were enrolled into this study. Clinical data of the proband were collected and peripheral blood samples were obtained from the proband and members of his family about 3 mL. Trio-whole genome sequencing (trio-WGS) was carried out to detected the genetic variations of the proband and his family members. The candidate's pathogenic gene variants were screened and analyzed by Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) and other databases. The screened variants were annotated for clinical phenotypes using databases like the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). The pathogenicity of the candidate variants was predicted by bioinformatics tools such as Provean. Based on the guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), pathogenicity ratings were conducted for variant sites. The protein conservation and mutation structure prediction of ECEL1 protein among species were carried out though MEGA-X and PyMOL. The research protocol of this study was reviewed by the Ethics Committee of Henan Provincial Children's Hospital (Approval No. 2023-H-H01), and informed consent for clinical research was obtained from the guardians of the probands. RESULTS: The proband had multiplex distal arthrogryposis involving hands, feet, knees, and ankles, and had right ptosis, micrognathia, low auricular position, and upturned nose. The parents and sister both had normal phenotypes. Trio-WGS and Sanger sequencing revealed that the child had compound heterozygous variants of paternal c.1742_c.1743insT and maternal c.2314T>G, for which the father and sister were carriers of the c.1742_c.1743insT heterozygous variant and the mother was carrier of c.2314T>A. Neither mutation site has been reported. According to guidelines of ACMG, the c.1742_c.1743insT variant was classified as likely pathogenic (PSV1+PM2_Supporting), and c.2314T>G was classified as uncertain (PM2_Supporting+PM3+PP3). The results of conserved analysis of amino acid residue sequences of ECEL1 protein showed that the missense mutation of the maternal c.2314T>G (p.Cys772Gly) was highly conserved among humans and other seven species. The protein structure prediction revealed that the c.1742_c.1743insT frameshift mutation led to the protein truncation, and the c.2314T>G missense mutation resulted in the failure of forming 1 disulfide bond. CONCLUSION The compound heterozygous variants of ECEL1 gene were considered to be pathogenic for this DA5D patient, which have expanded the mutational spectrum of the ECEL1 gene and provided a reference for clinical diagnosis as well as genetic counseling for this family.
Humans ; Pedigree ; Arthrogryposis/genetics* ; Male ; Female ; Heterozygote ; Phenotype ; Mutation ; Child ; Metalloendopeptidases

Objective To summarize the changing prevalence of carbapenem resistance in Enterobacterales based on the data of CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program from 2015 to 2021 for improving antimicrobial treatment in clinical practice.Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using a commercial automated susceptibility testing system according to the unified CHINET protocol.The results were interpreted according to the breakpoints of the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)M100 31st ed in 2021.Results Over the seven-year period(2015-2021),the overall prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales(CRE)was 9.43％(62 342/661 235).The prevalence of CRE strains in Klebsiella pneumoniae,Citrobacter freundii,and Enterobacter cloacae was 22.38％,9.73％,and 8.47％,respectively.The prevalence of CRE strains in Escherichia coli was 1.99％.A few CRE strains were also identified in Salmonella and Shigella.The CRE strains were mainly isolated from respiratory specimens(44.23±2.80)％,followed by blood(20.88±3.40)％and urine(18.40±3.45)％.Intensive care units(ICUs)were the major source of the CRE strains(27.43±5.20)％.CRE strains were resistant to all the β-lactam antibiotics tested and most non-β-lactam antimicrobial agents.The CRE strains were relatively susceptible to tigecycline and polymyxins with low resistance rates.Conclusions The prevalence of CRE strains was increasing from 2015 to 2021.CRE strains were highly resistant to most of the antibacterial drugs used in clinical practice.Clinicians should prescribe antimicrobial agents rationally.Hospitals should strengthen antibiotic stewardship in key clinical settings such as ICUs,and take effective infection control measures to curb CRE outbreak and epidemic in hospitals.

Objective To characterize the changing species distribution and antibiotic resistance profiles of respiratory isolates in hospitals participating in the CHINET Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Program from 2015 to 2021.Methods Commercial automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing systems and disk diffusion method were used to test the susceptibility of respiratory bacterial isolates to antimicrobial agents following the standardized technical protocol established by the CHINET program.Results A total of 589 746 respiratory isolates were collected from 2015 to 2021.Overall,82.6％of the isolates were Gram-negative bacteria and 17.4％were Gram-positive bacteria.The bacterial isolates from outpatients and inpatients accounted for(6.0±0.9)％and(94.0±0.1)％,respectively.The top microorganisms were Klebsiella spp.,Acinetobacter spp.,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Staphylococcus aureus,Haemophilus spp.,Stenotrophomonas maltophilia,Escherichia coli,and Streptococcus pneumoniae.Each microorganism was isolated from significantly more males than from females(P＜0.05).The overall prevalence of methicillin-resistant S.aureus(MRSA)was 39.9％.The prevalence of penicillin-resistant S.pneumoniae was 1.4％.The prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase(ESBL)-producing E.coli and K.pneumoniae was 67.8％and 41.3％,respectively.The overall prevalence of carbapenem-resistant E.coli,K.pneumoniae,Enterobacter cloacae,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and Acinetobacter baumannii was 3.7％,20.8％,9.4％,29.8％,and 73.3％,respectively.The prevalence of β-lactamase was 96.1％in Moraxella catarrhalis and 60.0％in Haemophilus influenzae.The H.influenzae isolates from children(＜18 years)showed significantly higher resistance rates to β-lactam antibiotics than the isolates from adults(P＜0.05).Conclusions Gram-negative bacteria are still predominant in respiratory isolates associated with serious antibiotic resistance.Antimicrobial resistance surveillance should be strengthened in clinical practice to support accurate etiological diagnosis and appropriate antimicrobial therapy based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing results.

Objective To explore the effects of sialic acid intervention during pregnancy and the lactational period on the intestinal function of autism model rats.Methods Thirty SPF-grade adult male and female Wistar rats were mated.The successfully pregnant rats were randomly assigned to a valproate-induced model(VPA)group,a high-dose sialic acid(SAH)group,a medium-dose sialic acid(SAM)group,a low-dose sialic acid(SAL)group,and a control(CON)group(n=6 per group)and were housed individually in single cages.On the 12.5th day of pregnancy(E12.5),rats in the VPA and SA intervention groups were given a single intraperitoneal injection of 600 mg/kg sodium valproate(VPA),while the pregnant rats in the CON group were given an equal amount of normal saline.The SA intervention period was from E12.5 to the 21st day after parturition.Feces of offspring rats in each group were collected.The diversity and structure of the gut microbiota were detected by 16S rRNA sequencing.The intestinal transit speed in each group was detected by intragastric administration of carmine.The levels of intestinal-related neurotransmitters(substance P,enkephalin,5-hydroxytryptamine,vasoactive intestinal peptide,and glutamate,gamma-aminobutyric acid)in the blood of rats in each group were detected by ELISA.Results High-dose SA intervention did not affect the diversity of the gut microbiota in the VPA-induced autism model rats,but it changed the structure of the gut microbiota and increased the abundance levels of Prevotella_NK3B31 group,Prevotella,Prevotella spp.,Alloprevotella,Lachnospira,Ruminococcus,and Bacteroides(P＜0.05).High-dose SA also promoted the intestinal transit speed,and increased the levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide,5-hydroxytryptamine,and gamma-aminobutyric acid in serum.Conclusions SA intervention during pregnancy and the lactational period affects the intestinal transit speed of VPA-induced autism model rats,changes the structure of the gut microbiome,and increases the levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide,5-hydroxytryptamine,and gamma-aminobutyric acid.

Department of Kidney Transplantation, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University reported a case of vasoplegic syndrome (VS). During a livingdonor kidney transplantation, the patient developed abrupt hypotension immediately after allograft reperfusion, with blood pressure dropping to 50/30 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). The diagnosis of VS was confirmed through multidisciplinary consultation, integration of clinical indicators, and ultrasonographic assessment. Management included vasopressor therapy (dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine), fluid resuscitation, blood transfusion, and albumin administration. Hemodynamics were subsequently stabilized, and kidney allograft function returned to normal. At more than three months of followup, both kidney function and blood pressure remained stable.