Objective:To explore inhibitory effect of Tianzhi granule on neuroinflammation in vascular dementia(VD)rats.Methods:Sixty rats were randomly divided into Sham group,VD group,TZG-L group and TZG-H group,with 15 rats in each group.Bilateral common carotid artery occlusion was used to construct VD rats model,Sham group was not ligated.Rats in TZG-L group and TZG-H group were gavaged with Tianzhi granule 5 g/kg,20 g/kg every day,while rats in Sham group and VD group were gavaged with same amount of normal saline for 8 weeks.Y-maze test was used to detect cognitive ability of rats;Nissl staining and FJC staining were used to assess neuronal damage;TUNEL staining was used to detect neuronal apoptosis;immunofluorescence staining and Western blot were used to detect Bcl-2,Bax,Caspase-3,NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,IL-18,TNF-α,Iba-1,GFAP,MPO,Nrf2,HO-1 protein levels in temporal cortex tissue.PC12 cells was divided into Control group,Glutamate group,TZG-L group and TZG-H group.Glutamate(20 μmol/L)was used to construct neuron injury model.TZG-L group and TZG-H group were added with Tianzhi granule 1 mg/ml,4 mg/ml.Neurons in each group were incubated for 48 h.CCK8 method and TUNEL staining were used to detect activity and apoptosis of neurons;immunofluorescence staining and Western blot were used to detect Bcl-2,Bax,Caspase-3,Nrf2,HO-1 protein levels in cells.Results:Compared with Sham group,cognitive ability of rats in VD group were decreased,TUNEL positive neurons ratio was increased,Bcl-2 level was decreased,Bax,Caspase-3,NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,IL-18,TNF-α,Iba-1,GFAP,MPO,Nrf2,HO-1 levels were increased(all P<0.05).Compared with VD group,cognitive ability of rats in TZG-L group and TZG-H group were increased,TUNEL positive neurons ratio was decreased,Bcl-2,Nrf2,HO-1 levels were increased,Bax,Caspase-3,NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,IL-18,TNF-α,Iba-1,GFAP,MPO levels were decreased(all P<0.05).Morphology of neurons in control group were normal;compared with control group,neurons in Glutamate group were swollen,activity of neurons was decreased,apoptosis rate was increased,Bcl-2 level was decreased,Bax,Caspase-3,Nrf2,HO-1 levels were increased(all P<0.05);compared with Glutamate group,cell damage in TZG-L group and TZG-H group were reduced,activity of neurons was increased and apoptosis rate was decreased,Bcl-2,Nrf2,HO-1 levels were increased,Bax,Caspase-3 levels were decreased(all P<0.05).Conclusion:Tianzhi granule can inhibit neuronal apoptosis and expression of NLRP3 inflammasome in VD rats,inhibit activa-tion of microglia/astrocytes and neutrophil infiltration,improve neuroinflammation of VD,which may play a role by activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in neurons.

Objective:To explore inhibitory effect of Tianzhi granule on neuroinflammation in vascular dementia(VD)rats.Methods:Sixty rats were randomly divided into Sham group,VD group,TZG-L group and TZG-H group,with 15 rats in each group.Bilateral common carotid artery occlusion was used to construct VD rats model,Sham group was not ligated.Rats in TZG-L group and TZG-H group were gavaged with Tianzhi granule 5 g/kg,20 g/kg every day,while rats in Sham group and VD group were gavaged with same amount of normal saline for 8 weeks.Y-maze test was used to detect cognitive ability of rats;Nissl staining and FJC staining were used to assess neuronal damage;TUNEL staining was used to detect neuronal apoptosis;immunofluorescence staining and Western blot were used to detect Bcl-2,Bax,Caspase-3,NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,IL-18,TNF-α,Iba-1,GFAP,MPO,Nrf2,HO-1 protein levels in temporal cortex tissue.PC12 cells was divided into Control group,Glutamate group,TZG-L group and TZG-H group.Glutamate(20 μmol/L)was used to construct neuron injury model.TZG-L group and TZG-H group were added with Tianzhi granule 1 mg/ml,4 mg/ml.Neurons in each group were incubated for 48 h.CCK8 method and TUNEL staining were used to detect activity and apoptosis of neurons;immunofluorescence staining and Western blot were used to detect Bcl-2,Bax,Caspase-3,Nrf2,HO-1 protein levels in cells.Results:Compared with Sham group,cognitive ability of rats in VD group were decreased,TUNEL positive neurons ratio was increased,Bcl-2 level was decreased,Bax,Caspase-3,NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,IL-18,TNF-α,Iba-1,GFAP,MPO,Nrf2,HO-1 levels were increased(all P<0.05).Compared with VD group,cognitive ability of rats in TZG-L group and TZG-H group were increased,TUNEL positive neurons ratio was decreased,Bcl-2,Nrf2,HO-1 levels were increased,Bax,Caspase-3,NLRP3,ASC,Caspase-1,IL-1β,IL-18,TNF-α,Iba-1,GFAP,MPO levels were decreased(all P<0.05).Morphology of neurons in control group were normal;compared with control group,neurons in Glutamate group were swollen,activity of neurons was decreased,apoptosis rate was increased,Bcl-2 level was decreased,Bax,Caspase-3,Nrf2,HO-1 levels were increased(all P<0.05);compared with Glutamate group,cell damage in TZG-L group and TZG-H group were reduced,activity of neurons was increased and apoptosis rate was decreased,Bcl-2,Nrf2,HO-1 levels were increased,Bax,Caspase-3 levels were decreased(all P<0.05).Conclusion:Tianzhi granule can inhibit neuronal apoptosis and expression of NLRP3 inflammasome in VD rats,inhibit activa-tion of microglia/astrocytes and neutrophil infiltration,improve neuroinflammation of VD,which may play a role by activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in neurons.

Objective To explore the relationship of EEG and IGF-1 and NSE with infarct size and NIHSS score in patients with acute cerebral infarction(ACI).Methods A total of 218 patients with freshly diagnosed ACI admitted in our department from August 2021 to December 2022 were enrolled,and according to the lesion volume,they were divided into large-,medium-and small-volume groups(63,103 and 52 cases,respectively).The(δ+θ)/(α+β)ratio(DTABR),brain-spine interface(BSI),and serum IGF-1 and NSE levels were measured in these patients.The cor-relation of the above indicators with the volume of infarct volume by MRI,and NIHSS score at baseline and at 2 and 4 weeks after rt-PA thrombolysis was analyzed.Results The medium-and large-volume groups had significantly lower serum IGF-1 level,and higher NSE level and in-creased DTABR and BSI values than the small-volume group(P＜0.05).When compared with the medium volume group,the serum IGF-1 level was obviously lower,and the NSE level and DTABR and BSI values were higher in the large-volume group(P＜0.05).The DTABR and BSI values and serum NSE level were positively correlated with the infarct size(r=0.563,P=0.000;r=0.318,P=0.038;r=0.673,P=0.000)and baseline NIHSS score(r=0.499,P=0.000;r=0.362,P=0.013;r=0.750,P=0.001).The serum IGF-1 level had a negative correlation with the infarct size(r=-0.572,P=0.000)and baseline NIHSS score(r=-0.438,P=0.001).In addi-tion,positive correlations were observed in DTABR and BSI values,serum NSE level and infarct size with the 2-week and 4-week NIHSS scores,while negative correlations were seen in the ser-um IGF-1 level with the NIHSS scores at the two time points(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusion EEG parameters,IGF-1 and NSE are significantly correlated with infarct size and NIHSS score af-ter thrombolysis in ACI patients.

Effective removal of cardiac interference noise is essential to improve the accuracy of thoracic impedance respiration measurements.A cascaded LMS adaptive filter which can effectively remove the cardiac interference noise is proposed according to the characteristics of the real thoracic impedance respiration signal.The comparisons with several commonly used denoising algorithms reveal that the proposed algorithm can better remove cardiac interference while retaining the respiratory component of the original thoracic impedance respiration signal.The feasibility and accuracy of the proposed algorithm are further verified using real respiratory data with cardiac interference,and the experimental data show that the proposed method has a signal-to-noise ratio of(23.568±3.037)dB,a mean square error of 0.002±0.001,and a mean absolute error of 0.033±0.011,which fully confirms its effectiveness and stability.

Effective removal of cardiac interference noise is essential to improve the accuracy of thoracic impedance respiration measurements.A cascaded LMS adaptive filter which can effectively remove the cardiac interference noise is proposed according to the characteristics of the real thoracic impedance respiration signal.The comparisons with several commonly used denoising algorithms reveal that the proposed algorithm can better remove cardiac interference while retaining the respiratory component of the original thoracic impedance respiration signal.The feasibility and accuracy of the proposed algorithm are further verified using real respiratory data with cardiac interference,and the experimental data show that the proposed method has a signal-to-noise ratio of(23.568±3.037)dB,a mean square error of 0.002±0.001,and a mean absolute error of 0.033±0.011,which fully confirms its effectiveness and stability.

Objective To explore the relationship of EEG and IGF-1 and NSE with infarct size and NIHSS score in patients with acute cerebral infarction(ACI).Methods A total of 218 patients with freshly diagnosed ACI admitted in our department from August 2021 to December 2022 were enrolled,and according to the lesion volume,they were divided into large-,medium-and small-volume groups(63,103 and 52 cases,respectively).The(δ+θ)/(α+β)ratio(DTABR),brain-spine interface(BSI),and serum IGF-1 and NSE levels were measured in these patients.The cor-relation of the above indicators with the volume of infarct volume by MRI,and NIHSS score at baseline and at 2 and 4 weeks after rt-PA thrombolysis was analyzed.Results The medium-and large-volume groups had significantly lower serum IGF-1 level,and higher NSE level and in-creased DTABR and BSI values than the small-volume group(P＜0.05).When compared with the medium volume group,the serum IGF-1 level was obviously lower,and the NSE level and DTABR and BSI values were higher in the large-volume group(P＜0.05).The DTABR and BSI values and serum NSE level were positively correlated with the infarct size(r=0.563,P=0.000;r=0.318,P=0.038;r=0.673,P=0.000)and baseline NIHSS score(r=0.499,P=0.000;r=0.362,P=0.013;r=0.750,P=0.001).The serum IGF-1 level had a negative correlation with the infarct size(r=-0.572,P=0.000)and baseline NIHSS score(r=-0.438,P=0.001).In addi-tion,positive correlations were observed in DTABR and BSI values,serum NSE level and infarct size with the 2-week and 4-week NIHSS scores,while negative correlations were seen in the ser-um IGF-1 level with the NIHSS scores at the two time points(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusion EEG parameters,IGF-1 and NSE are significantly correlated with infarct size and NIHSS score af-ter thrombolysis in ACI patients.

Objective To explore the effects of intravenous thrombolysis combined with Solitaire FR stent thrombectomy on vascular recanalization,neurologic function and prognosis in patients with acute cerebral infarction(ACI)due to large artery occlusion(LAO).Methods A total of 172 patients with ACI-LAO treated in our department between October 2020 and March 2023 were retrospectively enrolled.According to treatment regimens,they were assigned into control group(86 cases,alteplase intravenous thrombolysis)and study group(86 cases,alteplase intravenous thrombolysis combined with Solitaire FR stent thrombectomy).Vascular recanalization,neurolog-ic function,cerebral perfusion and occurrence of adverse events were compared between the two groups.After 90 d of follow-up,their prognosis was evaluated with modified Rankin scale.Results There was no significant difference in success rate of vascular recanalization between the two group(P＞0.05),but complete recanalization rate was statistically higher in the study group than the control group(68.60％vs 50.00％,P＜0.05).The study group had obviously lower NHISS scores at 7 and 14 d after treatment,higher cerebral blood volume and cerebral blood flow,but shorter mean transit time when compared with the control group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).No notable difference was observed in the total incidence of adverse events between them(P＞0.05).After 90 d of follow-up,the proportion of good prognosis was higher in the study group than the control group(80.23％vs 63.95％,P＜0.05).Conclusion Intravenous thrombolysis combined with Soli-taire FR stent thrombectomy shows better efficacy in ACI-LAO patients,with better vascular re-canalization and great improvements in neurologic function and prognosis.

Objective To observe the correlations of pontine biological indicators on fetal brain median sagittal MRI with gestational week.Methods Data of head MRI of 226 normal fetuses without obvious abnormalities of central nervous system(normal group)and 17 fetuses with abnormalities(abnormal group)at gestational age of 23 to 38 weeks were retrospectively analyzed.Pontine biological indicators based on median sagittal MRI were obtained,including pons anteroposterior diameter(PAD),total pons area(TPA),pontine basal anteroposterior length(AP),pontine basal cranio-caudal length(CC),basis pontis area(BPA)and pontine angle of midbrain(MAP).According to the gestational week,the fetuses of normal group were divided into 8 subgroups.The distributing ranges of pontine biological indicators at different gestational weeks were analyzed,and the correlations of pontine biological indicators with gestational week in normal group were explored,and the developmental status of fetal pons in abnormal group were assessed.Results In normal group,PAD,TPA,AP,CC and BPA all showed linear positive correlation(r=0.887,0.914,0.787,0.866,0.865,all P＜0.001),while MAP was not significantly correlated with gestational week(P＞0.05).Among 17 fetuses in abnormal group,abnormal PAD or TPA was found each in 8 fetuses,abnormal AP was observed in 14,abnormal CC was noticed in 3 and abnormal BPA was found in 11 fetuses.Conclusion Fetal pontine biological indicators such as PAD,TPA,AP,CC and BPA on median sagittal MRI were positively correlated with gestational week,hence being able to be used for evaluating fetal pontine development.

Objective To explore the effects and mechanism of Baitouweng Decoction in intestinal mucosal healing in mice with ulcerative colitis(UC)based on RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL signaling pathway.Methods Totally 30 C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into control group,model group,Baitouweng Decoction group,infliximab group and combination group(Baitouweng Decoction+infliximab),with 6 mice in each group.A mouse model of UC was established by free administration of 3.5%sodium gluconate sulfate solution for 7 days.After modeling,Baitouweng Decoction group was given 8 g/kg Baitouweng Decoction solution by gavage daily,while the infliximab group was given 5 mg/kg infliximab intraperitoneal injection,the combination group was given synchronous gastric and intraperitoneal injection,while the control group and model group were given equal volume of normal saline by gavage for 7 consecutive days.The body mass of mice was recorded daily,fecal characteristics were observed,and disease activity index(DAI)score was performed,colon length was measured after intervention,ELISA was used to detect the contents of serum interleukin-6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),RT-qPCR was used to detect mRNA expressions of RIPK1,RIPK3 and MLKL in colon tissue,Western blot and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect the expressions of RIPK1,RIPK3 and MLKL protein in colon tissue.Results Compared with the control group,the model group mice showed a decrease in body mass(P<0.01),an increase in DAI score(P<0.01),a shortened colon length(P<0.01),and an increase in serum IL-6 and TNF-α content(P<0.01);colonic mucosal was destructed,with disappearance of crypts and glandular structures,extensive infiltration of inflammatory cells,and increased pathological score of colon tissue(P<0.01);the mRNA and protein expressions of RIPK1,RIPK3 and MLKL in colon tissue increased(P<0.01,P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the body mass of mice in each treatment group increased(P<0.01),and the DAI score decreased(P<0.01),colon length increased(P<0.01),and the contents of serum IL-6 and TNF-α decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01);the destruction of the colonic mucosal barrier was reduced,the pathological score of colon tissue was reduced(P<0.05);the expressions of RIPK1,RIPK3 and MLKL mRNA and protein in colon tissue decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Baitouweng Decoction can alleviate intestinal mucosal damage and inflammation in UC mice,and its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of improved nursing strategy on prognosis of older immunosuppressed patients with pneumonia and sepsis. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted. The older immunosuppressed patients with pneumonia and sepsis admitted to the department of intensive care medicine and emergency intensive care unit (ICU) of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2017 to July 2022 were enrolled. In the first stage (from January 2017 to December 2019), patients received the original nursing strategy (original nursing strategy group), including: (1) nurses were randomly assigned; (2) routine terminal cleaning; (3) ICU environmental cleaning twice a day; (4) oral care was performed with chlorhexidine twice a day; (5) original lung physiotherapy [head of bed elevated at 30 degree angle-45 degree angle, maintaining a Richmond agitation-sedation scale (RASS) -2 to 1, sputum aspiration as needed]. After 1 month of learning and training of the modified nursing treatment strategy for nurses and related medical staff, the patients in the second stage (from February 2020 to July 2022) received the improved nursing strategy (improved nursing strategy group). The improved nursing strategy improved the hospital infection prevention and control strategy and lung physical therapy strategy on the basis of the original nursing strategy, including: (1) nurses were fixed assigned; (2) patients were placed in a private room; (3) enhanced terminal cleaning; (4) ICU environmental cleaning four times a day; (5) education and training in hand hygiene among health care workers was improved; (6) bathing with 2% chlorhexidinegluconate was performed once daily; (7) oral care with a combination of chlorhexidine and colistin was provided every 6 hours; (8) surveillance of colonization was conducted; (9) improved lung physiotherapy (on the basis of the original lung physiotherapy, delirium score was assessed to guide early mobilization of the patients; airway drainage was enhanced, the degree of airway humidification was adjusted according to the sputum properties, achieving sputum viscosity grade II; lung ultrasound was also used for lung assessment, and patients with atelectasis were placed in high lateral position and received the lung recruitment maneuver). Baseline patient information were collected, including gender, age, underlying diseases, source of admission, disease severity scores, vital signs, ventilatory parameters, blood gas analysis, life-sustaining treatments, clinical laboratory evaluation, indicators of infection and inflammation, pathogens and drug therapy. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, and the secondary outcomes were duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, and ICU mortality. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors for 28-day death in older immunosuppressed patients with pneumonia and sepsis. RESULTS: Finally, 550 patients were enrolled, including 199 patients in the original nursing strategy group and 351 patients in the improved nursing strategy group. No significant differences were found in gender, age, underlying diseases, source of admission, disease severity scores, vital signs, ventilatory parameters, blood gas analysis, life-sustaining treatments, clinical laboratory evaluation, indicators of infection and inflammation, coexisting pathogens or drug therapy between the two groups. Compared with patients in the original nursing strategy group, those in the improved nursing strategy group had significantly fewer duration of mechanical ventilation and length of ICU stay [duration of mechanical ventilation (days): 5 (4, 7) vs. 5 (4, 9), length of ICU stay (days): 11 (6, 17) vs. 12 (6, 23), both P < 0.01], and lower ICU mortality and 28-day mortality [ICU mortality: 23.9% (84/351) vs. 32.7% (65/199), 28-day mortality: 23.1% (81/351) vs. 33.7% (67/199), both P < 0.05]. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the improved nursing strategy acted as an independent protective factor in 28-day death of older immunosuppressed patients with pneumonia and sepsis [odds ratio (OR) = 0.543, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 0.334-0.885, P = 0.014]. CONCLUSIONS Improved nursing strategy shortened the duration of mechanical ventilation and the length of ICU stay, and decreased ICU mortality and 28-day mortality in older immunosuppressed patients with pneumonia and sepsis, significantly improving the short-term prognosis of such patients.
Humans ; Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Chlorhexidine/therapeutic use* ; Intensive Care Units ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; Sepsis/therapy* ; Inflammation