Background and aims The mechanism of cholestatic liver injury (CLI) is unclear, and effective therapies are lacking. While peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) agonists show potential hepatoprotective effect and pyroptosis is implicated in hepatocellular damage, how PPARα activation mitigates lithocholic acid (LCA)-induced pyroptosis remains unknown. Methods The hepatoprotective effect of PPARα agonists was evaluated in a mouse model of intrahepatic cholestasis induced by LCA. Liver injury was assessed via serum biochemistry, hematoxylin and eosin and TUNEL staining, and electron microscopy. Pyroptosis pathways were analyzed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and co-immunoprecipitation. Results Combined morphological, histopathological, and biochemical analyses confirmed that PPARα activation protects against CLI. Compared with LCA treatment alone, PPARα activation significantly attenuated the elevation of serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), the increased TUNEL-positive cells, and the formation of hepatocyte membrane pores. Mechanistically, PPARα activation suppressed both NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis and apoptosis protease-activating factor-1 (APAF-1)/CASPASE-3/GSDME-mediated pyroptosis. Furthermore, PPARα agonist pretreatment inhibited activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) signaling pathways. Conclusions PPARα protects against LCA-induced CLI by inhibiting both NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis associated with NF-κB and APAF-1/CASPASE-3/GSDME-mediated pyroptosis associated with the FOXO1 signaling pathway.

The recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH) can be used for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) preparation before ¹³¹I therapy, and follow-up. Since its approval by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998, rhTSH has been clinically used in European countries, the United States, and other countries for nearly 30 years. In April 2024, China’s first independently developed rhTSH agent was approved. Based on clinical experience and evidence from domestic and international studies, an expert consensus on the application of rhTSH has been developed following thorough consultations among experts. The consensus offers evidence-based recommendations to guide the appropriate use of rhTSH in clinical practice.

Objective To analyze acupoint selection law of Professor Fu Wenbin in using acupuncture for the treatment of insomnia based on data mining technology;To provide references for the formulation and optimization of clinical treatment plans.Methods The cases of insomnia treated by acupuncture in the Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 1,2020 to December 31,2021 and in the Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department of Shenzhen Bao'an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from August 1,2018 to December 31,2021 were collected.A database of prescription information for acupuncture treatment for insomnia was established.The law of acupoint selection frequency,meridians,specific acupoints,correlation analysis and hidden structure analysis for acupuncture treatment of insomnia was mined.Results A total of 517 prescriptions were collected.Acupoints were mainly taken from Baihui(DU20,516 times),Yintang(DU29,499 times),Zhongwan(RN12,482 times)and Taichong(LR3,410 times),and meridians were mainly from Conception Vessel(2 120 times,11 acupoints),Governor Vessel(1 074 times,5 acupoints),liver meridian(410 times,1 acupoint),stomach meridian(401 times,8 acupoints)and kidney meridian(300 times,6 acupoints).The main specific acupoints were the Jiaohui(2 723 times,20 acupoints),Mu(892 times,4 acupoints),and Yuan(746 times,8 acupoints).The core acupoint combination based on Zhongwan-Baihui,Yintang(RN12-DU20-DU29)was formed by the correlation analysis of high-frequency acupoints,and the hidden structure of high-frequency acupoints was analyzed to obtain four comprehensive clustering models corresponding to the evidence of heart-kidney disharmony,liver depression and kidney deficiency,liver depression and kidney deficiency,and heart and gallbladder dysregulation.Conclusion Professor Fu Wenbin uses acupuncture to treat insomnia,with balancing yin and yang,regulating Conception Vessel and Conception Vessel as the basic treatment principle,dredging the liver to regulate the spirit,harmonizing the stomach to calm the spirit,communicating with the heart and kidney,and treating the heart and gallbladder as the treatment method.

Objective To explore the influencing factors for ischemic stroke in patients with unilateral moderate-to-severe extracranial internal carotid artery(ICA)stenosis and to construct a nomogram prediction model.Methods This study retrospectively and consecutively enrolled patients diagnosed with unilateral moderate-to-severe extracranial ICA stenosis and exhibited indications for carotid endarterectomy(CEA)hospitalized in the Department of Neurosurgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University,between August 2019 and September 2024.The patients were divided into a stroke group and a non-stroke group,based on their clinical presentation and head MRI results.Baseline characteristics and clinical data including age,sex,body mass index,blood pressure(systolic and diastolic pressure[＜140 mmHg,140-＜160 mmHg,≥160 mmHg]),hypertension,diabetes,smoking and alcohol consumption history,use of statin and antiplatelet medication,fasting blood glucose,high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),triglycerides(TG),total cholesterol(TC)were collected and ratios between LDL-C/HDL-C,TG/HDL-C,non-HDL-C(calculated according to equation:non-HDL-C=TC-HDL-C),and non-HDL-C/HDL-C(nHHR)were calculated based on aforementioned data.The clinical and baseline data were then compared between two groups.Imaging data included side of carotid artery stenosis(identified through neck vascular ultrasound,CT angiography and/or DSA),degree of carotid stenosis(with 50％-69％categorized as moderate stenosis,and,70％-99％as severe stenosis),plaque echogenicity(predominantly low,medium or high),plaque calcification(surface and basal calcification),plaque ulceration(exists or not),bilateral middle cerebral artery(MCA)hemodynamic parameters measured by transcranial Doppler ultrasound(including,mean flow velocity[Vm],peak systolic velocity[Vs],end-diastolic velocity[Vd]),and the pulsatility index(PI,calculated via formula:PI=[Vs-Vd]/Vm).The hemodynamic parameter differences(△Vm,△Vs,△Vd,△PI)between the healthy and affected MCA were calculated.The baseline,clinical and imaging data with P＜0.05 in univariate analysis were included in multivariate Logistic regression analysis using forward stepwise selection to identify influencing factors for ischemic stroke in patients with unilateral moderate-to-severe extracranial ICA stenosis,and a nomogram prediction model was then constructed base on the analyzed results.Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted,and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated to evaluate the predictive performance of the nomogram.Delong's test was used to compare AUC differences between single indicators and the combined model.Results A total of 166 patients with unilateral moderate-to-severe extracranial ICA stenosis and CEA indication were included.In which,99 patients were in the stroke group and 67 patients were in the non-stroke group.The stroke group had a significantly higher proportion of hypertension patients(78.8％[78/99]vs.59.7％[40/67],P=0.008),higher systolic blood pressure([152±15]mmHg vs.[137±18]mmHg,P＜0.01),higher diastolic blood pressure([84±10]mmHg vs.[80±10]mmHg,P=0.042),higher TG(1.33[0.95,1.77]mmol/L vs.1.10[0.87,1.48]mmol/L,P=0.019),higher TG/HDL-C(1.35[0.97,2.08]vs.1.07[0.81,1.52],P=0.003),and higher nHHR(2.89[2.25,3.61]vs.2.48[1.93,3.27],P=0.027)than the non-stroke group.The HDL-C was significantly lower in the stroke group(0.96[0.80,1.15]mmol/L vs.1.03[0.91,1.16]mmol/L,P=0.014).Statistically significant differences were also observed in the distribution of systolic blood pressure between the groups(P＜0.01).No significant differences were found in other clinical data(all P＞0.05).The proportion of patients with carotid plaque ulceration was higher in the stroke group(35.4％[35/99]vs.16.4％[11/67],P=0.007),while stenosis side,stenosis degree,plaque echogenicity,and plaque calcification type showed no significant differences between the groups(all P＞0.05).△Vm(19[4,32]cm/s vs.10[-3,21]cm/s,P=0.001),△Vs(32[9,55]cm/s vs.24[3,40]cm/s,P=0.005),and △Vd(10[-1,19]cm/s vs.6[-3,12]cm/s,P=0.006)were significantly higher in the stroke group.No significant difference was found in △PI(P=0.076).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis identified high systolic blood pressure(OR,1.063,95％CI 1.036-1.090,P＜0.01),high TG/HDL-C(OR,2.802,95％CI 1.551-5.061,P=0.001),high △Vm(OR,1.032,95％CI 1.010-1.055,P=0.004),and plaque ulceration(OR,2.777,95％CI 1.123-6.871,P=0.027)as independent risk factors for ischemic stroke in patients with unilateral moderate-to-severe extracranial ICA stenosis.Systolic blood pressure,TG/HDL-C,△Vm and plaque ulceration were involved in the construction of a combined predictive model for ischemic stroke in the targeted patient group(with unilateral moderate-to-severe extracranial ICA stenosis).The AUC of the combined prediction model was 0.828(95％CI 0.765-0.892,P＜0.01),which was significantly higher than the predictive efficacy of any single factor(all P＜0.01).Conclusions High systolic blood pressure,high TG/HDL-C ratio,high △Vm,and plaque ulceration are independent risk factors for ischemic stroke in patients with unilateral moderate-to-severe extracranial ICA stenosis.The nomogram prediction model based on these factors demonstrates good predictive value for assessing ischemic stroke risk in this patient population.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality based on the 10-year population-based multicenter prospective study. METHODS: A general population-based multicenter prospective study was conducted at four sites in rural China between 2013 and 2023. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline analyses were used to assess the association between BMI and mortality. Stratified analyses were performed based on the individual characteristics of the participants. RESULTS: Overall, 19,107 participants with a sum of 163,095 person-years were included and 1,910 participants died. The underweight (< 18.5 kg/m ²) presented an increase in all-cause mortality (adjusted hazards ratio [ aHR] = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [ CI]: 1.66-2.41), while overweight (≥ 24.0 to < 28.0 kg/m ²) and obesity (≥ 28.0 kg/m ²) presented a decrease with an aHR of 0.61 (95% CI: 0.52-0.73) and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.37-0.70), respectively. Overweight ( aHR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.67-0.86) and mild obesity ( aHR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.59-0.87) had a positive impact on mortality in people older than 60 years. All-cause mortality decreased rapidly until reaching a BMI of 25.7 kg/m ² ( aHR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.92-0.98) and increased slightly above that value, indicating a U-shaped association. The beneficial impact of being overweight on mortality was robust in most subgroups and sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION This study provides additional evidence that overweight and mild obesity may be inversely related to the risk of death in individuals older than 60 years. Therefore, it is essential to consider age differences when formulating health and weight management strategies.
Humans ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Rural Population/statistics & numerical data* ; Aged ; Follow-Up Studies ; Adult ; Mortality ; Cause of Death ; Obesity/mortality* ; Overweight/mortality*

Objective To examine the changing prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Burkholderia cepacia in 52 hospitals across China from 2015 to 2021.Methods A total of 9 261 strains of B.cepacia were collected from 52 hospitals between January 1,2015 and December 31,2021.Antimicrobial susceptibility of the strains was tested using Kirby-Bauer method or automated antimicrobial susceptibility testing systems according to a unified protocol.The results were interpreted according to the breakpoints released in the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)guidelines(2023 edition).Results A total of 9 261 strains of B.cepacia were isolated from all age groups,especially elderly patients.The proportion was 11.1％(1 032 strains)in children,significantly lower than the proportion in adults.About half(46.5％,4 310/9 261)of the strains were isolated from patients at least 60 years old and 42.3％(3 919/9 261)of the strains were isolated from young adults.Most isolates(71.1％)were isolated from sputum and respiratory secretions,followed by urine(10.7％)and blood samples(8.1％).B.cepacia isolates were highly susceptible to the five antimicrobial agents recommended in the CLSI M100 document(33rd edition,2023).B.cepacia isolates showed relatively higher resistance rates to meropenem and levofloxacin.However,the resistance rates to ceftazidime,trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole,and minocycline remained below 8.1％.The percentage of B.cepacia strains resistant to levofloxacin was the highest compared to other antibiotics in any of the three age groups(from 12.4％in the patients＜18 years old to 20.6％in the patients aged 60 years or older).Conclusions B.cepacia is one of the clinically important non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria.Accurate and timely reporting of antimicrobial susceptibility test results and ongoing antimicrobial resistance surveillance are helpful for rational prescription of antimicrobial agents and proper prevention and control of nosocomial infections.

Objective:To explore the construction method of a resistant multiple myeloma(MM)patient-derived xenotransplantation(PDX)model.Methods:1.0 × 107 MM patient-derived mononuclear cells(MNCs),2.0 × 106 MM.1S cells and 2.0 × 106 NCI-H929 cells were respectively subcutaneously inoculated into NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid Il2rgtml/Bcgen(B-NDG)mice with a volume of 100 p1 per mouse to establish mouse model.The morphologic,phenotypic,proliferative and genetic characteristics of PDX tumor were studied by hematoxylin-eosin staining,immunohistochemical staining(IHC),cell cycle analysis,flow cytometry and fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH).The sensitivity of PDX tumor to bortezomib and anlotinib monotherapy or in combination was investigated through cell proliferation,apoptosis and in vitro and in vivo experiments.The effects of anlotinib therapy on tumor blood vessel and cell apoptosis were analyzed by IHC,TUNEL staining and confocal fluorescence microscope.Results:MM PDX model was successfully established by subcutaneously inoculating primary MNCs.The morphologic features of tumor cells from MM PDX model were similar to those of mature plasma cells.MM PDX tumor cells positively expressed CD138 and CD38,which presented 1q21 amplification,deletion of Rb1 and IgH rearrangement,and had a lower proliferative activity than MM cell lines.In vitro,PDX,MM.1S and NCI-H929 cells were treated by bortezomib and anlotinib for 24 hours,respectively.Cell viability assay showed that the IC50 value of bortezomib were 5 716.486,1.025 and 2.775 nmol/L,and IC50 value of anlotinib were 5 5107.337,0.706 and 5.13 μmol/L,respectively.Anlotinib treatment increased the apoptosis of MM.1S cells(P＜0.01),but did not affect PDX tumor cells(P＞0.05).In vivo,there was no significant difference in PDX tumor growth between bortezomib monotherapy group and control group(P＞0.05),while both anlotinib monotherapy and anlotinib combined with bortezomib effectively inhibited PDX tumor growth(both P＜0.05).The vascular perfusion and vascular density of PDX tumor were decreased in anlotinib treatment group(both P＜0.01).The apoptotic cells in anlotinib treatment group were increased compared with those in control group(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Bortezomib-resistant MM PDX model can be successfully established by subcutaneous inoculation of MNCs from MM patients in B-NDG mice.This PDX model,which retains the basic biological characteristics of MM cells,can be used to study the novel therapies.

Objective:This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms of the maladaptation of H3N2 influenza virus in chicken embryos, provide a theoretical basis for the restoration of H3N2 influenza vaccine production in chicken embryos.Methods:Samples of respiratory secretions from patients with influenza-like symptoms (Influenza-like Illness, ILI) caused by H3N2 influenza virus were inoculated into chicken embryos and Madin-Darby Canine Kidney cells (MDCK), respectively. After isolating the virus, hemagglutination experiments were conducted to detect hemagglutination titers and hemagglutination inhibition experiments were used to compare antigenic differences; further, whole-genome sequencing of H3N2 influenza virus was performed using second-generation high-throughput gene sequencing (Next Generation High-Throughput Gene Sequencing, NGS), and key amino acid sites of mutations were identified through sequence alignment; combined with sialic acid receptor binding experiments, the differences in the binding of wild-type and mutant receptor binding sites (RBS) to sialic acid receptors were compared; finally, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation method were used to explore the specific molecular mechanisms of how mutation sites affect the differences in the affinity of the RBS pocket for sialic acid receptors.Results:The hemagglutination assay result indicated that both chicken embryos and MDCK cells could isolate the influenza virus, and the hemagglutination inhibition test showed that no antigenic differences were produced in the isolated strains. NGS analysis revealed that the H3N2 virus underwent an F195Y mutation in the (RBS) region of the hemagglutinin (HA) protein after adaptation through chicken embryo passages. Receptor-binding experiments demonstrated that the F195Y mutation enhanced the virus′s binding ability to α2, 3-linked sialic acid glycan (Neu5Acα2-3Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ-PAA, 3′SLN), while the mutation did not affect the affinity of the RBS pocket for α2, 6-linked sialic acid glycan (Neu5Acα2-6Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ-PAA, 6′SLN). Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation result indicate that the F195Y mutation, by replacing a hydrophobic amino acid with a hydrophilic one, leads to a significant decrease in the structure of the RBS pocket, enhancing the binding stability of the H3N2 influenza virus with α2, 3-sln. This is specifically manifested by an increase in binding time and an increase in the number of hydrogen bonds at the RBS site with the receptor. Furthermore, the F195Y mutation does not alter the binding of the virus to other receptors.Conclusions:The F195Y mutation in the RBS pocket of H3N2 influenza virus is a key site affecting the viral chicken embryo inadaptability.

Turning to critical illness is a common stage of various diseases and injuries before death. Patients usually have complex health conditions, while the treatment process involves a wide range of content, along with high requirements for doctor′s professionalism and multi-specialty teamwork, as well as a great demand for time-sensitive treatments. However, this is not matched with critical care professionals and the current state of medical care in China. Telemedicine, which shortens the distance of medical professionals and the gap of disease diagnosis and treatments in various regions through electronic information, can effectively solve the current problem. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a standardized, high-quality visualization telemedicine round system .Therefore, experts have been organized to search domestic and foreign literature on telemedicine round for critically ill patients and to form this consensus based on clinical experiences so as to further improve the level of critical care treatments in regions.

Aim To explore the mechanisms of PM2.5 exposure exacerbating bleomycin(BLM)-induced idio-pathic pulmonary fibrosis(IFP)by regulating ferropto-sis via nuclear factor 2 related factor 2(Nrf2)/solute carrier family 7 member 11(SLC7A11)/glutathione peroxidase(GPX)4 axis.Methods Forty C57BL/6J mice were randomized into the control,BLM,PM2.5,BLM+PM2.5 and sulforaphane(SFN,Nrf2 agonist)groups,with eight mice in each group.PM2.5 expo-sures were conducted to the BLM-induced IPF mice for two weeks.The lung function was measured,and the content of hydroxyproline(HYP)in lung tissue and the pathomorphology of lungs were observed.Reactive oxygen species(ROS),malondialdehyde(MDA),ferrous ion(Fe2+)and glutathione(GSH)of the lung tissue were measured by ELISA.The mRNA and pro-teins levels of Nrf2,SLC7A11,GPX4,collagen typeⅠ(COL-1),α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)were measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR)and Western blot.Results Compared with the control group,the lung function of mice was signif-icantly reduced(P＜0.01)in the BLM and PM2.5 groups,while lung tissue showed the characteristic pathological changes of pulmonary fibrosis such as a large number of inflammatory cell infiltration,alveolar wall fracture,thickening,collagen deposition,and sig-nificantly increased HYP,Fe2+,ROS,MDA(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),genes and proteins of COL-1,α-SMA(P＜0.01);and decreased GSH,Nrf2,SLC7A11,GPX4 genes and proteins(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The above-mentioned lesions were markedly aggravated in the BLM+PM2.5 group compared with the BLM(P＜0.05)and PM2.5 groups(P＜0.01),and were also improved in the SFN group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusions PM2.5 exposures can exac-erbate IPF-induced IPF in mice,and the regulating of Nrf2/SLC7 A1 1/GPX4 axis and ferroptosis might be in-volved in the related mechanisms.