Objective The pathogenic characteristics of Escherichia coli(E.coli)in bacterial infections were analyzed using a combination of multiple molecular typing techniques in order to provide evidence for the management of clinical medication safety.Methods Samples from some bacterial infection-related cases in a district of Chongqing in 2021 were collected.A total of 30 E.coli strains were selected by a completely random method,and phoA gene PCR assay was performed for identification.Molecular typing of the strains was analyzed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis(PFGE)and multilocus sequence typing(MLST).Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted to determine the drug resistance of the strains,and four β-lactamase-encoding genes(blaCTX-M,blaTEM,blaSHV,blaZ)were selected to detect the carriage of resistance genes.Results All 30 E.coli strains displayed the phoA gene target band.Their PFGE banding patterns,with a similarity of 50%～98%,could be classified into 8 clusters.Cluster C was the dominant group,accounting for 53.3%(16/30).C1 and C2 exhibited high genetic correlation,indicating a close phylogenetic relationship.One E.coli strain could not be assigned a sequence type(ST)by MLST,while the remaining 29 E.coli isolates were classified into 16 different STs,demonstrating a polymorphic distribution.Among them,10 isolates belonged to ST131(10/30,33.33%).Evolutionary analysis of the 10 ST131 E.coli strains revealed their distribution across different branches,indicating varying degrees of genetic relatedness.Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that all 30 E.coli strains exhibited varying degrees of resistance,with the highest resistance rate observed against the β-lactam antibiotic ampicillin(25/30,83.33%).Among them,60.0%were multidrug-resistant bacteria(MDRB).These MDRB strains exhibited 16 distinct resistance profiles,displaying a scattered distribution without a dominant resistance pattern.50.0%(9/18)of the MDRB strains exhibited six-drug resistance,while the most drug-resistant strain showed eight-drug resistance.Furthermore,the blaCTX-M gene carriage rate among the 30 E.coli strains was 86.67%(26/30),while no blaZ gene was detected.Conclusion E.coli related to bacterial infections from a Chongqing district exhibited diverse PFGE/MLST patterns and significant drug resistance.The application of multiple molecular typing techniques can reveal the genetic diversity,evolutionary relationships,and antimicrobial resistance characteristics of pathogenic bacteria.Countermeasures It is recommended to enhance the molecular typing and drug resistance surveillance network for pathogenic bacteria,establish an early warning mechanism,and implement hierarchical management of antibiotics,thereby improving targeted prevention and epidemic traceability capabilities for key drug-resistant bacteria such as ST131.

Ganoderic acid is a class of lanostane-type triterpenoids found in Ganoderma species, and is one of the most important pharmacologically active components in G. lucidum, exhibiting antioxidant, anti-neuropsychiatric, anti-tumor, and immune-enhancing properties. The content of ganoderic acid in G. lucidum is very low, and the traditional extraction process is complex, yielding minimal amounts at high cost. The biosynthetic pathway of G. lucidum triterpenoids(GLTs), including the synthesis of different structural forms of ganoderic acid from lanosterol, as well as the molecular regulatory mechanisms involving key regulatory enzyme genes and their functions, are not yet fully understood. With the continuous development of synthetic biology technologies, there has been a deeper understanding of the biosynthesis and metabolic regulation pathways of ganoderic acid and its derivatives at the molecular level. Research has explored the key regulatory enzyme genes related to ganoderic acid biosynthesis and their functions. Moreover, through the optimization of synthetic biology and culture conditions, large-scale production and preparation of GLTs at the cellular level have been achieved. This paper reviews and analyzes the latest research progress on the biosynthesis pathways and metabolic regulation of GLTs, focusing on the configuration of ganoderic acid and its derivatives, the biosynthetic pathways, key enzyme genes, transcription factors related to ganoderic acid biosynthesis, signal transduction mechanisms, and factors affecting triterpenoid biotransformation. This review is expected to provide a theoretical basis and technical reference for improving the efficient production of triterpenoid pharmacological components and the exploitation and utilization of G. lucidum resources.
Triterpenes/chemistry* ; Reishi/chemistry* ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Lanosterol

This study aimed to characterize and identify the non-volatile components in aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the stems and leaves of Rhododendron tomentosum by using sensitive and efficient ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry(UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) combined with a self-built information database. By comparing with reference compounds, analyzing fragment ion information, searching relevant literature, and using a self-built information database, 118 compounds were identified from the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of R. tomentosum, including 35 flavonoid glycosides, 15 phenolic glycosides, 12 flavonoids, 7 phenolic acids, 7 phenylethanol glycosides, 6 tannins, 6 phospholipids, 5 coumarins, 5 monoterpene glycosides, 6 triterpenes, 3 fatty acids, and 11 other types of compounds. Among them, 102 compounds were reported in R. tomentosum for the first time, and 36 compounds were identified by comparing them with reference compounds. The chemical components in the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of R. tomentosum leaves and stems showed slight differences, with 84 common chemical components accounting for 71.2% of the total 118 compounds. This study systematically characterized and identified the non-volatile chemical components in the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of R. tomentosum for the first time. The findings provide a reference for active ingredient research, quality control, and product development of R. tomentosum.
Rhododendron/chemistry* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Mass Spectrometry/methods* ; Plant Leaves/chemistry*

A single-center, randomized, double-blind, dose-controlled trial of modified Sini Powder in treating mild to moderate generalized anxiety disorder(GAD) in the patients with syndrome of liver depression transforming into fire was conducted at Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. A total of 80 patients with mild to moderate GAD and the syndrome of liver depression transforming into fire were included. Patients were assigned by the central randomization system at a ratio of 3∶1 into an observation group(n=60, receiving a conventional-dose of granules of modified Sini Powder) and a control group(n=20, receiving low-dose granules with the active ingredients being 50% of that in observation group). Assessments were conducted before treatment(baseline), after 2 weeks of introduction, after 2/4/8 weeks of treatment, and after 4 weeks of follow-up. The results were summarized as follows. In terms of primary outcome indicators, the observation group(62.2%) showed higher total response rate than the control group(26.6%)(P<0.05), and greater Hamilton anxiety scale(HAMA) score reduction after 8 weeks of treatment(P<0.05). In terms of secondary outcome indicators, the HAMA score(somatic anxiety score), traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndrome scores, Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI) scale, and clinical global impression(CGI) scale score in the observation group showed a significant compared to the control group at each visit points(P<0.05). Adverse events occurred in 10 cases, including 9(16.9%) cases in the observation group and 1(6.6%) case in the control group. No adverse reaction was observed. In conclusion, conventional-dose modified Sini Powder demonstrated superior efficacy and favorable safety for mild and moderate GAD in the patients with the syndrome of liver depression transforming into fire over low-dose treatment.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Anxiety Disorders/drug therapy* ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult ; Powders ; Aged ; Liver/drug effects* ; Generalized Anxiety Disorder

ObjectiveBased on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), we investigated the brain activity characteristics of gross motor tasks in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and motor dysfunctions (MDs) to provide a theoretical basis for further understanding the mechanism of MDs in children with ASD and designing targeted intervention programs from a central perspective. MethodsAccording to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 48 children with ASD accompanied by MDs were recruited into the ASD group and 40 children with typically developing (TD) into the TD group. The fNIRS device was used to collect the information of blood oxygen changes in the cortical motor-related brain regions during single-handed bag throwing and tiptoe walking, and the differences in brain activation and functional connectivity between the two groups of children were analyzed from the perspective of brain activation and functional connectivity. ResultsCompared to the TD group, in the object manipulative motor task (one-handed bag throwing), the ASD group showed significantly reduced activation in both left sensorimotor cortex (SMC) and right secondary visual cortex (V2) (P<0.05), whereas the right pre-motor and supplementary motor cortex (PMC&SMA) had significantly higher activation (P<0.01) and showed bilateral brain region activity; in terms of brain functional integration, there was a significant decrease in the strength of brain functional connectivity (P<0.05) and was mainly associated with dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and V2. In the body stability motor task (tiptoe walking), the ASD group had significantly higher activation in motor-related brain regions such as the DLPFC, SMC, and PMC&SMA (P<0.05) and showed bilateral brain region activity; in terms of brain functional integration, the ASD group had lower strength of brain functional connectivity (P<0.05) and was mainly associated with PMC&SMA and V2. ConclusionChildren with ASD exhibit abnormal brain functional activity characteristics specific to different gross motor tasks in object manipulative and body stability, reflecting insufficient or excessive compensatory activation of local brain regions and impaired cross-regions integration, which may be a potential reason for the poorer gross motor performance of children with ASD, and meanwhile provides data support for further unraveling the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of MDs in the context of ASD and designing targeted intervention programs from a central perspective.

Isolated male epispadias typically presents with preputial defects and dorsal urethral dehiscence. A less common subtype, known as concealed epispadias, is distinguished by an intact prepuce. Despite its clinical relevance, there is limited literature on this variant. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 86 pediatric patients with isolated male epispadias treated in Beijing Children's Hospital (Beijing, China) from May 2004 to July 2023, including 19 cases of concealed epispadias and 67 of nonconcealed epispadias. We compared clinical characteristics, preoperative diagnostics, surgical techniques, postoperative outcomes, and sexual function during follow-up between the concealed and nonconcealed groups. No significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding surgical methods, postoperative complications, or rates of urinary incontinence. However, notable distinctions were found in the age at initial diagnosis, timing of surgery, frequency of incontinence, location of the urethral meatus, and postoperative urinary incontinence scores (all P < 0.05). Given the absence of penopubic epispadias in concealed cases, we categorized glans and penile epispadias within nonconcealed epispadias as distal epispadias ( n = 40) and subsequently compared them with concealed epispadias cases. The postoperative urinary incontinence scores did not differ significantly between the concealed and distal epispadias groups. These findings suggest that concealed epispadias represents a relatively milder form of the condition, characterized by the absence of penopubic involvement, lower rates of urinary incontinence, and favorable surgical outcomes. However, the intact prepuce in concealed cases underscores the need for careful identification and early diagnosis.
Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Epispadias/classification* ; China ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; Urinary Incontinence/epidemiology* ; Urethra/surgery* ; Infant ; Penis/surgery* ; Adolescent ; Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male/methods* ; East Asian People

Objective:To investigate the association of blood lipids and body mass index (BMI) with hyperuricemia (HUA) in the elderly.Methods:It was a cross-sectional study. A total of 114 391 elderly individuals received health examinations at primary healthcare institutions in Wujin District from January to December in 2022. The health examination included questionnaire survey, physical examination and laboratory examination. The multivariate logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) plots were used to analyze the association and dose-response relationship of blood lipid and BMI with HUA. The mediating effect model was used to explore the mediation effect of BMI on the association between blood lipid and HUA.Results:Among the 112 415 subjects, 18 506 (16.46%) were checked with HUA. After adjusting for relevant confounders, total cholesterol (TC) ( OR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.16-1.23), triglyceride (TG) ( OR=1.46, 95% CI: 1.44-1.49), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ( OR=0.74, 95% CI: 0.73-0.76), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ( OR=1.14, 95% CI: 1.12-1.15) and BMI ( OR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.39-1.44) were all associated with HUA (all P0.05). The RCS analysis revealed that TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C each exhibited a nonlinear dose-response relationship with HUA, the inflection points was 3.00 mmol/L, 1.57 mmol/L and 2.50 mmol/L, respectively (all P-nonlinear0.001). The results of interaction showed that there were additive interaction between high TC( S=1.27 , 95% CI: 1.17-1.37), high TG( S=1.32 , 95% CI: 1.25-1.40), high LDL-C( S=1.23 , 95% CI: 1.14-1.34) and overweight/obesity with HUA (all P0.05). The results of mediation effect analysis showed that the mediation effect of BMI on the association between blood lipids (HDL-C, LDL-C, TG and TC) and HUA, from high to low, were as follows: 22.5% (95% CI: 20.8%-24.2%), 13.9% (95% CI: 12.0%-16.2%), 13.5% (95% CI: 12.7%-14.4%) and-3.9% (95% CI:-6.6%--1.8%). Conclusion:The blood lipid levels and BMI are positively correlated with HUA in the elderly.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between the morphology of bone marrow plasma cells, the identification of M protein, and the detection of minimal residual disease(MRD)by flow cytometry in elderly patients with multiple myeloma(MM).Additionally, the impact on progression-free survival(PFS)is analyzed.Methods:A total of 60 elderly MM patients with bone marrow morphology reports and corresponding flow MRD detection, collected from February 1, 2017, to January 31, 2022, at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, were included in this study.We collected data on plasma cells from morphological examination and flow cytometry-based MRD detection. By combining these findings with M-protein identification results from 35 cases, we analyzed the correlations among these three parameters. Patients were stratified into two groups based on median values of: flow cytometry MRD(0.246% of nucleated cells), morphological plasma cell percentage(3.5%), and M-protein quantification(2.5 g/dl).This stratification enabled evaluation of their prognostic value for PFS.Results:A total of 60 elderly MM patients were enrolled, including 41 males with age of 65.0(63.0, 68.5)years and 19 females with age of 67.0(64.0, 72.0)years The morphology of bone marrow in 60 elderly patients with MM revealed 10 cases of primitive plasma cells(16.67%), 48 cases of immature plasma cells(80.00%), and 2 cases with no plasma cells(3.33%).A positive correlation was observed between the proportion of bone marrow plasma cells and the corresponding flow MRD in terms of both the proportion of nuclear cells and the proportion of plasma cells.Specifically, the proportion of the morphological protoplasma group showed a strong correlation with flow MRD(proportion of plasma cells)( r=0.82, P<0.01), while the proportion of the morphological immature plasma group exhibited moderate correlations with flow MRD(proportion of nuclear cells)( r=0.74, P<0.05)and flow MRD(proportion of plasma cells)( r=0.70, P<0.01).No significant correlation was found between the type and quantity of M protein and flow MRD( P>0.05).The PFS time for the flow MRD ≥0.246%(nucleated cells)group was shorter than that of the<0.246% group( P<0.05).There was no significant difference in PFS between the groups with plasma cell ratios ≥3.5% and<3.5%( P=0.15).Additionally, no significant difference in PFS was observed between patients with M protein quantitation ≥2.5 g/dl and those with M protein quantitation<2.5 g/dl( P=0.94). Conclusions:The proportion of bone marrow plasma cells correlates with flow MRD in elderly patients with MM, and a high MRD load indicates a poor prognosis.However, no significant correlation was found between M protein levels and flow MRD or PFS.Clinical attention should focus on the dynamic monitoring of plasma cell morphology and flow MRD.Nevertheless, the morphological detection of plasma cells remains crucial for auxiliary diagnosis due to its intuitiveness, cost-effectiveness, and broad applicability.

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of edaravone(Eda)on myocardial injury in chronic heart failure(CHF)rats by regulating Notch/Hes-1 signaling pathway.Methods The CHF rat model was established and the rats were separated into sham surgery(S)group,model(M)group,low dose Eda(Eda-L)group,medium dose Eda(Eda-M)group,high dose Eda(Eda-H)group,and Eda-H+Notch signal pathway inhibitor DAPT(Eda-H+DAPT)group,with 25 rats in each group.Echocardiography was applied to detect the levels of left ventricular end diastolic diameter(LVEDd),left ventricular end-systolic diameter(LVEDs),and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)in rats.ELISA was applied to detect levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6,malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD),and angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ)in serum.Myocardial infarction was observed by 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride(TTC)staining.HE staining,TUNEL staining and Masson staining were applied to observe the morphological changes of myocardial tissue,myocardial cell apoptosis and myocardial fibrosis respectively.immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expression of collagen Ⅰ and angiotensin converting enzyme 2(ACE2)proteins in myocardial tissue.Western blotting was applied to detect the expression of Notch 1,Hes-1,transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1),Bcl-2,Bax,and Caspase-3 proteins in myocardial tissue.Results Compared with the sham group,the distribution of cardiomyocytes in model group was disordered,and severe inflammatory symptoms.There was a large amount of blue collagen deposition between the perivascular area and the myocardium.The LVEDd,LVEDs,TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,MDA and Ang Ⅱ levels,myocardial infarction size,cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate,Collagen Ⅰ,Bax,Caspase-3 and TGF-β1 protein expressions increased obviously(P＜0.05),the LVEF,SOD levels,ACE2,Bcl-2,Notch 1,and Hes-1 protein expressions were obviously reduced(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the myocardial tissue damage was reduced in the Eda-L,Eda-M,and Eda-H groups,with reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition;The LVEDd,LVEDs,TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,MDA and Ang Ⅱ levels,myocardial infarction size,cardiomyocyte apoptosis rate,collagen Ⅰ,Bax,Caspase-3 and TGF-β1 protein expressions reduced obviously(P＜0.05),the LVEF,SOD levels,ACE2,Bcl-2,Notch 1,and Hes-1 protein expressions increased obviously(P＜0.05).Notch signaling pathway inhibitor DAPT reversed the protective effect of edaravone on myocardial injury in rats with CHF(P＜0.05).Conclusion Edaravone may improve myocardial injury in CHF rats by activating Notch/Hes-1 signaling pathway.

Objective:To determine whether the Rb1 of ginsenoside has protective effects on PA induced oxidative stress in endothelial cells.Methods:Established a model of palmitic acid-induced oxidative stress injury in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs).Using MTT assay,flow cytometry,fluorescent probe staining,and Western blot analysis to detect whether Rb1 of ginsenoside has effects on the cell viability,apoptosis rate,ROS and NO production,mitochondrial membrane potential,and the expression levels of related proteins.Results:MTT assay and flow cytometry revealed that ginsenoside Rb1 can reduce PA-induced apoptosis in HUVECs(P＜0.05).The mechanism may be related to the following two points:(1)reducing ROS production and increasing NO levels,thereby enhancing the antioxidant capacity of HUVECs;(2)regulating the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins,increasing the BCL-2/Bax ratio(P＜0.05),modulating mitochondrial membrane permeability,reducing cytochrome C release(P＜0.001),and decreasing Caspase protein activation(P＜0.01),thereby attenuating PA-induced apoptosis.Conclusion:After the stimulation with PA,ROS production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells increased while NO content and cell activity decreased,oxidative stress induced apoptosis in cells.By regulating the production of ROS and NOx stabilizing the mitochondrial transmembrane potential,reducing the leakage of cytochrome C,Ginsenoside Rb1 can reduce HUVECs apoptosis induced by PA.