OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of moxibustion at "Xinshu" (BL15) and "Feishu" (BL13) on myocardial transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and typeⅠcollagen myocardial collagen fibers (CollagenⅠ) in rats with chronic heart failure (CHF), and to explore the mechanism of moxibustion for ameliorating myocardial fibrosis and improving cardiac function in CHF. METHODS: Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group (n=10) and a modeling group (n=40). The CHF model was established in the modeling group by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. After successful modeling, the rats were randomly divided into a model group (n=9), a moxibustion group (n=8), a rapamycin (RAPA) group (n=9), and a moxibustion+RAPA group (n=9). In the moxibustion group, moxibustion was delivered at bilateral "Feishu"(BL13) and "Xinshu" (BL15), 15 min at each point in each intervention, once daily, for 4 consecutive weeks. In the RAPA group, RAPA solution was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 1 mg/kg, once daily for 4 consecutive weeks. In the moxibustion+RAPA group, RAPA solution was administered intraperitoneally after moxibustion. Ejection fraction (EF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (FS) were measured after modeling and intervention. After intervention, morphology of cardiac muscle was observed using HE staining and Masson's trichrome staining. Total iron content in myocardial tissue was detected using a colorimetric method. Western blot and qPCR were adopted to detect the protein and mRNA expression of TfR1, FSP1, ANP, and CollagenⅠ in myocardial tissue. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the EF and FS values decreased (P<0.01); necrosis, edema, degeneration, and arrangement disorder were presented in cardiomyocytes; inflammatory cells were obviously infiltrated, the structure of myocardial fibers was disarranged, the collagen fibers were obviously deposited and fibrosis increased (P<0.01); the total iron content and the protein and mRNA expression of TfR1, ANP, and CollagenⅠ in myocardial tissue were elevated (P<0.01), while the protein and mRNA expression of FSP1 were reduced (P<0.01) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the moxibustion group showed that EF and FS increased (P<0.01); myocardial cell morphology was improved, and myocardial fibrosis was alleviated (P<0.01); the total iron content and the protein and mRNA expression of TfR1, ANP, and CollagenⅠ in myocardial tissue decreased (P<0.01), while the protein and mRNA expression of FSP1 increased (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the myocardial fibrosis was increased (P<0.05); the total iron content and the protein and mRNA expression of TfR1, ANP, CollagenⅠ in myocardial tissue were increased (P<0.01), while protein and mRNA expression of FSP1 decreased (P<0.01) in the RAPA group. When compared with the RAPA group and the moxibustion + RAPA group, EF and FS were elevated (P<0.01, P<0.05); myocardial cells were improved in morphology, the total iron content and the protein and mRNA expression of TfR1, ANP, and CollagenⅠ in myocardial tissue decreased (P<0.01), while protein and mRNA expression of FSP1 increased (P<0.01) in the moxibustion group. In comparison with the moxibustion + RAPA group, the RAPA group showed the decrease in EF and FS (P<0.01), the worsened myocardial fibrosis (P<0.01), the increase in the total iron content and the protein and mRNA expression of TfR1, ANP, and CollagenⅠ in myocardial tissue (P<0.01), and the decrease in the protein and mRNA expression of FSP1 (P<0.01). CONCLUSION Moxibustion at "Feishu" (BL13) and "Xinshu" (BL15) can slow down the process of myocardial fibrosis and improve cardiac function in CHF rats. The mechanism of moxibustion may be related to inhibiting ferroptosis through regulating autophagy.
Animals ; Rats ; Heart Failure/physiopathology* ; Moxibustion ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Receptors, Transferrin/genetics* ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Chronic Disease/therapy* ; Antigens, CD/metabolism*

Objective To investigate the changing antibiotic resistance profiles of E.coli isolated from patients in the 52 hospitals participating in the CHINET program from 2015 to 2021.Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested for clinical isolates of E.coli according to the unified protocol of CHINET program.WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 20.0 software were used for data analysis.Results Atotal of 289 760 nonduplicate clinical strains ofE.coli were isolated from 2015 to 2021,mainly from urine samples(44.7±3.2)％.The proportion of E.coli strains isolated from urine samples was higher in females than in males(59.0％vs 29.5％).The proportion of E.coli strains isolated from respiratory tract and cerebrospinal fluid samples was significantly higher in children than in adults(16.7％vs 7.8％,0.8％vs 0.1％,both P＜0.05).The isolates from internal medicine department accounted for the largest proportion(28.9±2.8)％with an increasing trend over years.Overall,the prevalence of ESBLs-producing E.coli and carbapenem resistant E.coli(CREco)was 55.9％and 1.8％,respectively during the 7-year period.The prevalence of ESBLs-producing E.coli was the highest in tertiary hospitals each year from 2015 to 2021 compared to secondary hospitals.The prevalence of CREco was higher in children's hospitals compared to secondary and tertiary hospitals each year from 2015 to 2021.The prevalence of ESBLs-producing E.coli in tertiary hospitals and children's hospitals and the prevalence of CREco in children's hospitals showed a decreasing trend over the 7-year period.The prevalence of CREco in secondary and tertiary hospitals increased slowly.Antibiotic resistance rates changed slowly from 2015 to 2021.Carbapenem drugs(imipenem,meropenem)were the most active drugs amongβ-lactams against E.coli(resistance rate≤2.1％).The resistance rates of E.coli to β-lactam/β-lactam inhibitor combinations(piperacillin-tazobactam,cefoperazone-sulbactam),aminoglycosides(amikacin),nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin(for urinary isolates only)were all less than 10％.The resistance rate of E.coli strains to antibiotics varied with the level of hospitals and the departments where the strains were isolated,especially for cefazolin and ciprofloxacin,to which the resistance rate of E.coli strains from children in non-ICU departments was significantly lower than that of the strains isolated from other departments(P＜0.05).The E.coli isolates from ICU showed higher resistance rate to most antimicrobial agents tested(excluding tigecycline)than the strains isolated from other departments.The E.coli strains isolated from tertiary hospitals showed higher resistance rates to the antimicrobial agents tested(excluding tigecycline,polymyxin B,cefepime and carbapenems)than the strains from secondary hospitals and children's hospitals.Conclusions E.coli is an important pathogen causing clinical infection.More than half of the clinical isolates produced ESBL.The prevalence of CREco is increasing in secondary and tertiary hospitals over the 7-year period even though the overall prevalence is still low.This is an issue of concern.

Objective To investigate the changing antibiotic resistance profiles of E.coli isolated from patients in the 52 hospitals participating in the CHINET program from 2015 to 2021.Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility was tested for clinical isolates of E.coli according to the unified protocol of CHINET program.WHONET 5.6 and SPSS 20.0 software were used for data analysis.Results Atotal of 289 760 nonduplicate clinical strains ofE.coli were isolated from 2015 to 2021,mainly from urine samples(44.7±3.2)％.The proportion of E.coli strains isolated from urine samples was higher in females than in males(59.0％vs 29.5％).The proportion of E.coli strains isolated from respiratory tract and cerebrospinal fluid samples was significantly higher in children than in adults(16.7％vs 7.8％,0.8％vs 0.1％,both P＜0.05).The isolates from internal medicine department accounted for the largest proportion(28.9±2.8)％with an increasing trend over years.Overall,the prevalence of ESBLs-producing E.coli and carbapenem resistant E.coli(CREco)was 55.9％and 1.8％,respectively during the 7-year period.The prevalence of ESBLs-producing E.coli was the highest in tertiary hospitals each year from 2015 to 2021 compared to secondary hospitals.The prevalence of CREco was higher in children's hospitals compared to secondary and tertiary hospitals each year from 2015 to 2021.The prevalence of ESBLs-producing E.coli in tertiary hospitals and children's hospitals and the prevalence of CREco in children's hospitals showed a decreasing trend over the 7-year period.The prevalence of CREco in secondary and tertiary hospitals increased slowly.Antibiotic resistance rates changed slowly from 2015 to 2021.Carbapenem drugs(imipenem,meropenem)were the most active drugs amongβ-lactams against E.coli(resistance rate≤2.1％).The resistance rates of E.coli to β-lactam/β-lactam inhibitor combinations(piperacillin-tazobactam,cefoperazone-sulbactam),aminoglycosides(amikacin),nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin(for urinary isolates only)were all less than 10％.The resistance rate of E.coli strains to antibiotics varied with the level of hospitals and the departments where the strains were isolated,especially for cefazolin and ciprofloxacin,to which the resistance rate of E.coli strains from children in non-ICU departments was significantly lower than that of the strains isolated from other departments(P＜0.05).The E.coli isolates from ICU showed higher resistance rate to most antimicrobial agents tested(excluding tigecycline)than the strains isolated from other departments.The E.coli strains isolated from tertiary hospitals showed higher resistance rates to the antimicrobial agents tested(excluding tigecycline,polymyxin B,cefepime and carbapenems)than the strains from secondary hospitals and children's hospitals.Conclusions E.coli is an important pathogen causing clinical infection.More than half of the clinical isolates produced ESBL.The prevalence of CREco is increasing in secondary and tertiary hospitals over the 7-year period even though the overall prevalence is still low.This is an issue of concern.

AIM To investigate the renal protective effects of Shiwei Ruxiang Powder on gouty nephritis in rats based on mitophagy.METHODS Rats were randomly divided into the blank group,the model group,the low-dose,medium-dose,and high-dose Shiwei Ruxiang Powder groups(200,400,800 mg/kg)and allopurinol group(10 mg/kg).The rat model of gouty nephropathy was established by gavage of potassium oxyzinate(750 mg/kg)and uric acid(300 mg/kg).The rats had their levels of UA,SCr,BUN,XOD,SOD,MDA,ROS measured by automatic biochemical analyzer,ELISA and chemical fluorescence method;their renal pathological changes observed by HE staining;their apoptosis of renal tissue cells observed by TUNEL staining;and their mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1β,TNF-α,Bax,Bcl-2,caspase-3,caspase-9,PINK1,Parkin and LC3-Ⅱ detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot.RESULTS Compared with the model group,Shiwei Ruxiang Powder groups displayed dose-dependently decreased serum levels of UA,BUN and SCr,renal deposition of urate crystal and apoptosis(P<0.05);decreased renal levels of ROS and inflammatory factors IL-1β and TNF-α(P<0.05);and increased renal expressions of mitochondrial autophagy-related proteins PINK1,Parkin and LC3-Ⅱ(P<0.01).CONCLUSION Shiwei Ruxiang Powder may relieve gouty kidney injury in rats by reducing the uric acid level,the renal oxidative stress and inflammatory response,and activating mitophagy pathway as well.

Objective To observe the effects of moxibustion on myocardial pathological morphology,α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)and chromosome 10 deletion phosphatase and tensin homologous protein(PTEN)/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)signalling pathway in rats with chronic heart failure(CHF),and to explore the possible mechanism of moxibustion in attenuating myocardial fibrosis in rats with CHF.Methods According to the random number table method,60 male SD rats were divided into the normal group(n=10)and the surgery group(n=50),and the rats in the surgery group were ligated the left coronary artery to replicate the CHF model.According to the random number table method,40 successfully modelled rats were divided into the model group,the moxibustion group,the bpV(phen)group,and the moxibustion+bpV(phen)group,with 10 rats in each group.The normal and model groups were not given any intervention;in the moxibustion group,customized moxa sticks were used to moxibrate the bilateral"Feishu"(BL13)and"Xinshu"(BL15)on the back of the rats for 30 min at each point once a day;the bpV(phen)group was injected intraperitoneally with the bpV(phen)solution(0.15 mg/kg)twice a week;the moxibustion+bpV(phen)group was based on the bpV(phen)group,and moxibustion was applied according to the moxibustion group.The intervention was carried out for 4 weeks.The general conditions of rats,such as feeding and activity were observed;HE staining was used to detect morphological changes of the cardiomyocytes;Masson staining was used to detect myocardial fibrosis;the cardiac echocardiography was used to detect ejection fraction(EF)and fractional shortening(FS);real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expressions of PTEN and mTOR in the cardiac muscle tissues;protein expressions of PTEN,mTOR,α-SMA in rat myocardial tissue were detected by Western blotting.Results Compared with the normal group,rats in the model group had altered cardiomyocyte morphology,severe damage to myocardial fiber structure,significantly lower EF,FS,and mTOR mRNA and protein expressions,and significantly higher PTEN,α-SMA protein expressions and PTEN mRNA expression(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,myocardial ultrastructural damage was attenuated in the moxibustion group,bpV(phen)group,and moxibustion+ bpV(phen)group,and EF,FS,and mRNA and protein expressions of mTOR were significantly higher,α-SMA protein expression was significantly lower,and mRNA and protein expressions of PTEN were significantly lower(P<0.05).Compared with the moxibustion+bpV(phen)group,myocardial ultrastructural damage was worsen in the moxibustion and bpV(phen)groups,with significantly lower EF,FS,and mRNA and protein expressions of mTOR,significantly higher α-SMA protein expression,and significantly higher mRNA and protein expressions of PTEN(P<0.05).Conclusion Moxibustion can improve the pathological morphology and function of cardiomyocytes and attenuate myocardial fibrosis in rats with CHF,and its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of PTEN expression,and then the up-regulation of mTOR expression.

The objective of this study was to examine the underlying factors and epidemiological traits of a cluster epidemic of cutaneous anthrax in Northern Anhui,to formulate targeted preventive and control strategies.After the epidemic,a rigorous epidemiological investigation was undertaken,including collection of clinical specimens and environmental samples for laboratory analysis.A total of 11 cutaneous anthrax cases were reported,comprising 2 confirmed,6 clinically diagnosed,and 3 suspected cases.These cases were geographically dispersed across a slaughterhouse in Yingzhou District,Fuyang City(5 ca-ses),and a village in Lixin County,Bozhou City(6 cases).All cases were in people engaged in cattle breeding,slaughtering,sales,and other work.The source of infection was traced to cattle purchased from a livestock trading market in another prov-ince.Our findings underscore that this epidemic was a locally transmitted,human-to-human outbreak stemming from the intro-duction of infected animals from another province.Notably,direct contact with infected cattle emerged as the primary mode of infection.

The objective of this study was to examine the underlying factors and epidemiological traits of a cluster epidemic of cutaneous anthrax in Northern Anhui,to formulate targeted preventive and control strategies.After the epidemic,a rigorous epidemiological investigation was undertaken,including collection of clinical specimens and environmental samples for laboratory analysis.A total of 11 cutaneous anthrax cases were reported,comprising 2 confirmed,6 clinically diagnosed,and 3 suspected cases.These cases were geographically dispersed across a slaughterhouse in Yingzhou District,Fuyang City(5 ca-ses),and a village in Lixin County,Bozhou City(6 cases).All cases were in people engaged in cattle breeding,slaughtering,sales,and other work.The source of infection was traced to cattle purchased from a livestock trading market in another prov-ince.Our findings underscore that this epidemic was a locally transmitted,human-to-human outbreak stemming from the intro-duction of infected animals from another province.Notably,direct contact with infected cattle emerged as the primary mode of infection.

Existing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-related databases are still insufficient in data standardization, integrity and precision, and need to be updated urgently. Herein, an Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine version 2.0 (ETCM v2.0, http://www.tcmip.cn/ETCM2/front/#/) was constructed as the latest curated database hosting 48,442 TCM formulas recorded by ancient Chinese medical books, 9872 Chinese patent drugs, 2079 Chinese medicinal materials and 38,298 ingredients. To facilitate the mechanistic research and new drug discovery, we improved the target identification method based on a two-dimensional ligand similarity search module, which provides the confirmed and/or potential targets of each ingredient, as well as their binding activities. Importantly, five TCM formulas/Chinese patent drugs/herbs/ingredients with the highest Jaccard similarity scores to the submitted drugs are offered in ETCM v2.0, which may be of significance to identify prescriptions/herbs/ingredients with similar clinical efficacy, to summarize the rules of prescription use, and to find alternative drugs for endangered Chinese medicinal materials. Moreover, ETCM v2.0 provides an enhanced JavaScript-based network visualization tool for creating, modifying and exploring multi-scale biological networks. ETCM v2.0 may be a major data warehouse for the quality marker identification of TCMs, the TCM-derived drug discovery and repurposing, and the pharmacological mechanism investigation of TCMs against various human diseases.

Objective: To examine the effects of air pollution on overall mortality, mortality of respiratory diseases, and mortality of circulatory diseases among residents in Hangzhou City. Methods: Residents' mortality data in Hangzhou City from 2014 to 2016 were captured from Zhejiang Provincial Chronic Disease Surveillance Information Management System, and the ambient air quality in Hangzhou City from 2014 to 2016 were collected from Hangzhou Environmental Monitoring Center, while the meteorological monitoring data during the study period were collected from Hangzhou Meteorological Bureau. The effects of PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and SO2 on overall mortality, morality of respiratory diseases and mortality of circulatory diseases were evaluated a generalized additive model (GAM) based on Poisson distribution, and the risk of mortality was described with excess risk (ER) and its 95%CI. Results: The daily M (QR) overall deaths, deaths from respiratory diseases and deaths from circulatory diseases were 111 (30), 16 (9) and 37 (14) persons in Hangzhou City from 2014 to 2016, respectively. A 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5, PM10, NO2 and SO2 resulted in 0.47% (95%CI: 0.23%-0.70%), 0.37% (95%CI: 0.21%-0.53%), 1.06% (95%CI: 0.50%-1.61%) and 3.08% (95%CI: 2.18%-3.99%) rises in the risk of overall mortality, 0.60% (95%CI: 0.04%-1.16%), 0.45% (95%CI: 0.06%-0.83%), 2.01% (95%CI: 0.84%-3.20%) and 6.06% (95%CI: 3.80%-8.37%) rises in the risk of mortality of respiratory diseases, and 0.45% (95%CI: 0.08%-0.83%), 0.44% (95%CI: 0.17%-0.71%), 1.43% (95%CI: 0.49%-2.37%) and 3.66% (95%CI: 2.13%-5.22%) rises in the risk of mortality of circulatory diseases, and the greatest effect was observed at a 2-day lag. Multi-pollutant model analysis showed that, after adjustment for PM2.5, NO2 and PM2.5+NO2+SO2, a 10 μg/m3 increase in SO2 resulted in an elevated risk of mortality of respiratory diseases than a single-pollutant model. Conclusions The air pollutants PM10, PM2.5, NO2, and SO2 correlated positively with the risk of overall mortality, mortality of respiratory diseases and mortality of circulatory diseases in Hangzhou City from 2014 to 2016, and the co-existence of multiple pollutants enhanced the effect of SO2 on mortality of respiratory diseases.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the lipid-lowering activity of Quansanqi tablets（QSQ）， an innovative new drug of Panax notoginseng. MethodMice and golden hamsters were used to establish a hyperlipidemia model by injecting egg yolk milk and feeding high-fat diets. The levels of total cholesterol （TC），triglyceride （TG），low-density lipoprotein cholesterol （LDL-C）， and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol （HDL-C） were detected， and liver function indicators ［alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate amino-transferase （AST）， and alkaline phosphatase （ALP）］ of golden hamsters were detected. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was used to observe the degree of liver injury. In the experiments， a normal group， a model group， an atorvastatin calcium group， and low-， medium-， and high-dose QSQ groups （0.32， 0.64， 1.28 g·kg^-1 for mice， and 0.16， 0.32， 0.64 g·kg^-1 for golden hamsters） were set up. ResultCompared with the normal group， the acute hyperlipidemia model mice showed increased TC， TG， and LDL-C levels （P<0.01）， and the hyperlipidemia model mice showed increased TC and LDL-C levels （P<0.01）. Additionally， the hyperlipidemia model golden hamsters showed increased serum TC， TG， LDL-C， ALT， AST， and ALP levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）. HE staining indicated the presence of fat accumulation in the liver， accompanied by inflammatory reactions. Compared with the model group， QSQ of various doses could reduce TC， TG， and LDL-C levels in acute hyperlipidemia model mice （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the high-dose QSQ could reduce TC and LDL-C levels （P<0.01） and increase HDL-C level （P<0.05） in hyperlipidemia model mice， as well as reduce TC， TG， and LDL-C levels in hyperlipidemia model golden hamsters （P<0.05， P<0.01）， especially in the first two weeks. In addition， atorvastatin calcium could further increase ALT， AST， and ALP levels （P<0.05， P<0.01） and aggravate liver function damage， while low-dose QSQ could reduce ALT， AST， and ALP （P<0.05）， and medium- and high-dose QSQ did not cause further liver function damage. ConclusionQSQ have a significant lipid-lowering effect on different hyperlipidemia model animals and can improve liver function and liver injury.