AIM: To explore the effect of adiponectin(ADPN)on angiogenesis of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells(hRMECs)in high glucose(HG)environment and role of NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3(NLRP3)inflammasome.METHODS: The hRMECs were divided into six groups, including control group(without treatment), HG group: incubated with D-glucose, ADPN group: pretreatment with ADPN and then incubated with D-glucose, CY-09 group: pretreatment with CY-09(an NLRP3 inhibitor)and then incubated with D-glucose, Nigericin group: pretreatment with nigericin(an NLRP3 activator)and then incubated with D-glucose, Nigericin+ADPN group: pretreatment with nigericin and ADPN and then incubated with D-glucose. NLRP3 level was detected using Western blot analysis. hRMECs migration was measured using scratch wound healing assay. The tube formation of hRMECs was detected using Matrigel.RESULTS: The NLRP3 expression in hRMECs cultured in an HG environment was significantly increased(P<0.01), while ADPN and CY-09 reduced the elevated NLRP3(both P<0.05 vs HG group). Nigericin significantly increased NLRP3 levels(P<0.01 vs control group)which was reversed by ADPN(P=0.032 vs Nigericin group). hRMECs migration ability(P<0.001), and total master segments length and number of meshes increased in HG group(P<0.001)while decreased in ADPN and CY-09 groups(all P<0.01 vs HG group). The hRMECs migration ability and tube formation(total master segments length and number of meshes)in HG environment were significantly increased by nigericin(P=0.003), while ADPN inversed the change. CONCLUSION: ADPN alleviates the migration and angiogenesis of hRMECs under HG conditions.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2024.03.030.].

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of pediatric Tuina(Chinese therapeutic massage)plus Saccharomyces Boulardii sachets for infectious diarrhea in children.Methods:A total of 55 children with rotavirus infectious diarrhea who received pediatric Tuina and Saccharomyces Boulardii sachets were included in the combination group.A total of 43 children with rotavirus infectious diarrhea who received Saccharomyces Boulardii sachets during the same period were included as the control group.In addition,both groups were treated with routine oral rehydration salts Ⅲ and montmorillonite powder.The clinical efficacy was compared between the two groups after 1 week of treatment.Changes in clinical manifestations,immune function indicators,and inflammatory factor levels before and after treatment were collected and compared between the two groups.At the same time,the adverse reactions and satisfaction of the parents were recorded and compared between the two groups.Results:The total effective rate of the combination group was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the defecation frequency,stool trait score,and levels of C-reactive protein,tumor necrosis factor-α,and interleukin-6 decreased in both groups(P<0.05).And these indicators in the combination group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The remission time of fever,abdominal pain,diarrhea,and vomiting in the combination group was shorter than that in the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the levels of CD4+and CD4+/CD8+in both groups increased(P<0.05),and the levels in the combination group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).The satisfaction level of parents in the combination group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05).There were no significant adverse reactions in either group.Conclusion:Based on routine treatment,the additional pediatric Tuina plus Saccharomyces Boulardii sachets treatment has valid efficacy in the treatment of infectious diarrhea in children,helpful to improve clinical symptoms,immune function,and inflammatory reactions,with good safety.The children's parents are satisfied with the treatment results.

Objective:To analyze the incidence and spatiotemporal clustering of hepatitis B in China from 2006 to 2020 and provide reference for hepatitis B prevention and control.Methods:The incidence data of hepatitis B in 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) from 2006 to 2020 were collected from National Notifiable Infectious Disease Reporting System of China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. The incidence trend analysis was conducted by using software Joinpoint 5.0.2, and the spatiotemporal scan analysis was performed by using software SaTScan 10.1.2.Results:From 2006 to 2020, a total of 1 049 546 cases of acute hepatitis B were reported in China. The average annual reported incidence rate was 5.17/100 000. The reported incidence rate showed a decreasing trend during this period. The incidence decreased from 3.00/100 000 to 0.41/100 000 in age group 0-14 years, from 14.15/100 000 to 3.44/100 000 in age group 15-34 years, and from 6.87/100 000 to 3.72/100 000 in age group ≥35 years, the differences were all significant (all P<0.001). From 2006 to 2020, a total of 10 732 017 cases of chronic hepatitis B were reported in China. The average annual reported incidence rate was 52.85/100 000. The reported incidence of chronic hepatitis B varied in different age groups, which decreased from 11.38/100 000 to 2.18/100 000 in age group 0-14 years, and from 73.17/100 000 to 61.40/100 000 in age group 15-34 years, while increased from 48.07/100 000 to 90.75/100 000 in age group ≥35 years, the differences were all significant (all P<0.05). Spatiotemporal scan analysis indicated that the age of reported acute hepatitis B cases became older over time, and the regions with high-incidence gradually shifted from western China to southwestern China. The overall reported incidence of chronic hepatitis B in those aged ≥35 years showed an upward trend, and the regions with high-incidence were mainly found in coastal area in southeastern China and in southwestern China. Conclusions:From 2006 to 2020, the overall reported incidence of acute hepatitis B in China showed a continuous downward trend, while the reported incidence of chronic hepatitis B in those aged ≥35 years showed an upward trend. It indicated that the need to improve the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis B in adults in coastal area in southeastern China and southwestern China.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of children with anti-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (anti-HMGCR) antibody-mediated necrotizing myopathy, and to explore early identification and management strategies to provide reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data and treatment outcomes of 10 pediatric patients with anti-HMGCR antibody-mediated necrotizing myopathy admitted to the Department of Rheumatology, Children′s Hospital of Fudan University from December 2020 to December 2024. Statistical description was performed using SPSS 22.0.Results:Among the 10 patients, the male-to-female ratio was 1:4, the age of onset was (7.2±4.0) years, and the disease duration at diagnosis was (22.2±19.6) months. None had a history of statin exposure. Six patients presented with muscle weakness, and4 were diagnosed due to asymptomatic elevation of creatine kinase (CK); 4 had dermatomyositis-like rashes. All patients showed significantly elevated CK levels [median 3 291(1 969, 8 776)U/L] and underwent muscle biopsy. Histopathological findings revealed myofiber degeneration, necrosis, and regeneration in all cases, with inflammatory infiltration in 9 cases, MHC-Ⅰ positivity in all, and C5b-9 positivity in 9 cases. The median follow-up duration was (15.7±6.3) months. At the last follow-up, muscle strength was normal or nearly normal, and the CK median value had decreased to 977.5 (211.0, 3 536.0) U/L.Conclusion:For patients with suspected idiopathic inflammatory myopathy and significantly elevated CK, muscle-specific antibody testing-including anti-HMGCR-and muscle biopsy should be performed promptly regardless of the presence of skin rash, to ensure accurate diagnosis and guide treatment, thereby avoiding misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and independent risk factors of severe disease in patients with anti-nuclear matrix protein (NXP) 2 antibody-positive juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted, including 219 anti-NXP2 antibody-positive JDM patients admitted to 23 children′s hospitals across China from July 2011 to July 2023. Patients were classified into severe and non-severe groups based on classification criteria for severe dermatomyositis. Demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, and laboratory parameters were compared between the 2 groups using independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, or χ2 test. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for severe disease. The receiver operating characteristic curve was employed to calculate optimal cut-off values. Results:Among the 219 patients, 108 were male and 111 were female, with an age at onset of 6.3 (3.5, 9.4) years. The severe group comprised 69 patients, and the non-severe group 150 patients. The severe group had significantly higher rates of fever, heliotrope rash, subcutaneous edema, periorbital edema, anti-Ro52 antibody positivity, as well as elevated levels of ferritin-to-albumin ratio (FAR), creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis identified anti-Ro52 antibody positivity ( OR=13.26, 95% CI 1.37-128.29) and elevated FAR ( OR=1.90, 95% CI 1.09-2.31) as independent risk factors for severe anti-NXP2 antibody-positive JDM (both P<0.05). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that a FAR cutoff value of 6.82 predicted severe disease with an area under the curve of 0.87 (95% CI 0.81-0.94, P<0.001), sensitivity of 0.85, and specificity of 0.70. All patients received glucocorticoid therapy, and the severe group received higher proportions of steroid pulse therapy, cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, intravenous immunoglobulin, biologics, and adjuvant treatments compared to the non-severe group (all P<0.05). In terms of outcomes, 2 patients (2.9%) in the severe group died (due to neurological involvement and intestinal perforation, respectively), while the remaining patients achieved complete clinical response or remission. All patients in the non-severe group achieved remission. Conclusions:The primary clinical features of anti-NXP2 antibody-positive JDM included fever, heliotrope rash, subcutaneous edema, periorbital edema, anti-Ro52 antibody positivity, and elevated levels of CK, AST, LDH, and FAR. Furthermore, anti-Ro52 antibody positivity and a FAR>6.82 were identified as independent risk factors.

Objective:To investigate the effects of Zhuanggu Zhitong Capsules on JNK signaling molecules and their phosphorylated proteins in postmenopausal osteoporosis model female mice.Methods:The rats were divided into sham-operation group, blank group, model group, positive drug group, and Zhuanggu Zhitong Capsules group according to the random number table method, with 10 rats in each group. The model group, the positive drug group and the Zhuanggu Zhitong Capsules group were prepared by bilateral ovarian detomy to prepare a female mouse model of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The positive drug group was given 0.9 mg/kg of alendronate sodium, the Zhuanggu Zhitong Capsules group was given was Zhuanggu Zhitong Capsules 1.944 g/kg for gavage, and the blank group, sham-operation group, and model group were given the same volume of normal saline for gavage, once a day for a total of 13 weeks. Rat vaginal exfoliated cells were stained with Wright's staining; serum Omentin-1 and 25(OH)D 3 levels were determined by ELISA; renal tissue and femoral structure were observed by HE staining; JNK and p-JNK protein expressions were detected by immunohistochemical staining; JNK mRNA levels were detected by PCR. Results:Compared with the model group, the serum levels of 25(OH)D3 and Omentin-1 in the Zhuanggu Zhitong Capsules group and the positive drug group increased ( P<0.01), the mean gray values of JNK and p-JNK protein in bone and kidney tissues decreased ( P<0.01), and the mRNA levels of JNK in bone and kidney tissues decreased ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Zhuanggu Zhitong Capsules can effectively improve the bone microstructure of postmenopausal osteoporotic rats, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of JNK signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the protective effect of Akebia saponin D(ASD)on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)in rats by regulating IL-6/STAT3 axis.Methods:Fifty SD rats were separated into control group,model group,low dose ASD group(ASD 20 mg/kg),high dose ASD group(ASD 40 mg/kg)and inhibitor group(ASD 40 mg/kg+IL-6/STAT3 signal pathway inhibitor LMT-28 3 mg/kg),with 10 rats in each group.Rats in control group were fed with standard diet,while the other four groups were fed with high fat and high sugar diet.All rats were fed for 6 consecutive weeks,and the corresponding dose of drugs was injected intraperitoneally from the 7th week,which were given drugs for 8 consecutive weeks.All rats were weighed to calculate liver index;levels of serum total cholesterol(TC),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST)and triglyceride(TG)were mea-sured by automatic biochemical analyzer;HE staining was used to observe pathological changes of rats liver;oil red staining was used to observe lipid accumulation in rats liver;expressions of IL-6,JAK1,STAT3 in rats liver were detected by qRT-PCR;Western blot was used to detect expressions of IL-6,JAK1,p-JAK1,STAT3 and p-STAT3 proteins.Results:Compared with control group,hepatocytes in liver tissue of model group were swollen,accompanied by many ballooning changes,severe cytoplasmic vacuolization,the structure of hepatic lobule was unclear,and accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltration,and obvious red granular lipid droplets occupied most of the cytoplasm,body mass,liver index,levels of serum TC,ALT,AST,TG,expressions of IL-6,JAK1,STAT3 mRNAs,and IL-6,p-JAK1/JAK1,p-STAT3/STAT3 proteins in liver tissue of rats were obviously increased(P<0.05);compared with model group,damage of hepatic lobule structure in low and high doses ASD groups were reduced,swelling and vacuolization of liver cells were reduced,and accumulation of lipid droplets in liver tissue was obviously reduced.Body mass,liver index,levels of serum TC,ALT,AST and TG in rats were obviously decreased(P<0.05),while expressions of IL-6,JAK1,STAT3 mRNAs and IL-6,p-JAK1/JAK1,p-STAT3/STAT3 proteins in liver tissue were further increased(P<0.05);LMT-28,an inhibitor of IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway,attenuated the liver protective effect of ASD on NAFLD rats.Conclusion:ASD can protect liver of NAFLD rats by activating IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway.

AIM:To investigate the antiviral effica-cy and mechanism of Qingre Xiaoyanning(QRXYN)in vivo,and provide experimental basis for their prevention and treatment of influenza A virus.METHODS:We constructed a mouse model infect-ed with influenza A H3N2 virus.To evaluate the therapeutic effect of QRXYN on influenza A virus,we measured the body weight changes,pathologi-cal changes in lung tissue,hemagglutination titer,and viral load in mouse.To evaluate the possible mechanism of QRXYN's anti influenza A virus infec-tion,we used the ELISA to measure the levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-4,IFN-γ,and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1)in mouse bronchoalveolar Ia-vage fluid;used flow cytometry to assess the pro-portions of macrophages(F4/80),helper T lympho-cytes(CD4+T lymphocytes),and natural killer(NK)cells in lung tissue;and used Western blotting to detect the expression of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4),myeloid differentiation factor 88(MYD88),inhibitor of kappa B kinase-β(IKK-β),NF-kappa-B inhibitor al-pha(IκBα),and phospho-IKB alpha(p-IκBα)in lung tissue.RESULTS:Compared to the model group,both Oseltamivir and QRXYN can alleviate the se-verity of lung tissue lesions in mice,decrease the blood coagulation titer and viral load of mouse lung tissue(P＜0.01),lower the levels of TNF-α,IL-4,and VCAM-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),reduce the proportion of macro-phages(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and increase the propor-tion of CD4+T lymphocytes and NK cells(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Additionally,oseltamivir can reduce the ex-pression of MYD88 protein in mouse lungs(P＜0.05),while QRXYN can decrease the expression of IKK-β and P-IκBα proteins in mouse lungs(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:QRXYN have good in vivo antiviral ef-fects against the influenza A virus,and their mecha-nism may be related to the regulation of the immu-nologic function and NF-κB signal pathway.

Objective:To analyze the incidence and spatiotemporal clustering of hepatitis B in China from 2006 to 2020 and provide reference for hepatitis B prevention and control.Methods:The incidence data of hepatitis B in 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) from 2006 to 2020 were collected from National Notifiable Infectious Disease Reporting System of China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. The incidence trend analysis was conducted by using software Joinpoint 5.0.2, and the spatiotemporal scan analysis was performed by using software SaTScan 10.1.2.Results:From 2006 to 2020, a total of 1 049 546 cases of acute hepatitis B were reported in China. The average annual reported incidence rate was 5.17/100 000. The reported incidence rate showed a decreasing trend during this period. The incidence decreased from 3.00/100 000 to 0.41/100 000 in age group 0-14 years, from 14.15/100 000 to 3.44/100 000 in age group 15-34 years, and from 6.87/100 000 to 3.72/100 000 in age group ≥35 years, the differences were all significant (all P<0.001). From 2006 to 2020, a total of 10 732 017 cases of chronic hepatitis B were reported in China. The average annual reported incidence rate was 52.85/100 000. The reported incidence of chronic hepatitis B varied in different age groups, which decreased from 11.38/100 000 to 2.18/100 000 in age group 0-14 years, and from 73.17/100 000 to 61.40/100 000 in age group 15-34 years, while increased from 48.07/100 000 to 90.75/100 000 in age group ≥35 years, the differences were all significant (all P<0.05). Spatiotemporal scan analysis indicated that the age of reported acute hepatitis B cases became older over time, and the regions with high-incidence gradually shifted from western China to southwestern China. The overall reported incidence of chronic hepatitis B in those aged ≥35 years showed an upward trend, and the regions with high-incidence were mainly found in coastal area in southeastern China and in southwestern China. Conclusions:From 2006 to 2020, the overall reported incidence of acute hepatitis B in China showed a continuous downward trend, while the reported incidence of chronic hepatitis B in those aged ≥35 years showed an upward trend. It indicated that the need to improve the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis B in adults in coastal area in southeastern China and southwestern China.