OBJECTIVE: CRISPR-Cas protects bacteria from exogenous DNA invasion and is associated with bacterial biofilm formation and pathogenicity. METHODS: We analyzed the type I-F CRISPR-Cas system of Legionella pneumophila WX48, including Cas1, Cas2-Cas3, Csy1, Csy2, Csy3, and Cas6f, along with downstream CRISPR arrays. We explored the effects of the CRISPR-Cas system on the in vitro growth, biofilm-forming ability, and pathogenicity of L. pneumophila through constructing gene deletion mutants. RESULTS: The type I-F CRISPR-Cas system did not affect the in vitro growth of wild-type or mutant strains. The biofilm formation and intracellular proliferation of the mutant strains were weaker than those of the wild type owing to the regulation of type IV pili and Dot/Icm type IV secretion systems. In particular, Cas6f deletion strongly inhibited these processes. CONCLUSION The type I-F CRISPR-Cas system may reduce biofilm formation and intracellular proliferation in L. pneumophila.
Legionella pneumophila/pathogenicity* ; CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Biofilms/growth & development* ; Phenotype ; Bacterial Proteins/metabolism* ; Gene Deletion

Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma is the dried rhizome of Acorus tatarinowii in the family of Tennantiaceae, which has the efficacy of opening up the orifices and expelling phlegm, awakening the mind and wisdom, and resolving dampness and opening up the stomach. Modern studies have shown that volatile oil is the main active ingredient of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, and α-asarone and β-asarone have been proved to be the active ingredients in the volatile oil of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma, with pharmacological effects such as anti-Alzheimer's disease, antiepileptic, anti-Parkinson's disease, antidepressant, anticerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, anti-thrombosis, lipid-lowering, and antitumor. By summarising and outlining the pharmacological effects of α-asarone and β-asarone and elucidating the possible mechanisms of their pharmacological effects, we can provide theoretical basis for the further research and clinical application of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma.
Allylbenzene Derivatives ; Acorus/chemistry* ; Anisoles/chemistry* ; Rhizome/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Humans ; Animals

Sulfur dioxide(SO2)is involved in regulating various physiological processes of blood vessels,such as maintaining normal vascular structure,regulating vascular tension,controlling blood pressure,inhibiting vascular cell proliferation,regulating apoptosis and autophagy.In pathophysiological conditions such as hypertension,pulmonary hypertension and atherosclerosis,SO2 plays a protective role in pathological changes through different molecular mechanisms.In this paper,we will review the endogenous SO2 production and metabolism,vascular biological effects and its regulation on blood vessels.

Hydrogen sulfide(H2S)is an emerging endogenous neuromodulator that holds significant potential in the realm of neurological diseases.Its role encompasses reducing neuronal damage,inhibiting excessive activation of striatal astrocytes,and regulating cerebrovascular function,among other physiopathological pathways.Conversely,microRNAs(miRNAs)are widely recognized as pivotal regulators of neurological diseases.They primarily target the 3'untranslated region of the target gene mRNA,impeding mRNA translation and hindering its expression to impart neuroprotective effects.Recent findings have underscored the crucial involvement of H2S and miRNAs in the pathogenesis of various neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease,stroke,and spinal cord diseases,thereby garnering significant attention.This paper comprehensively summarizes the protective effects arising from the interplay between H2S and miRNAs in neurological diseases,while also delving into the potential therapeutic efficacy they hold for such conditions.

This paper reviewed the research progress in the differentiation and treatment of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer(PLGC)with traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)in the recent 10 years.PLGC refers to the intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia of gastric mucosa developed from chronic atrophic gastritis.As an intermediate stage between chronic atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer,PLGC progresses slowly.TCM has certain advantages in the treatment of PLGC.PLGC can be mainly differentiated as five TCM syndrome types:spleen-stomach weakness syndrome,damp-heat in the spleen and stomach syndrome,qi stagnation in the liver and stomach syndrome,stasis obstruction in the stomach collateral syndrome,and stomach-yin deficiency syndrome.The popularization of gastroscopy technology has promoted the development of microscopic syndrome differentiation of gastric diseases.The combination of microscopic syndrome differentiation and macroscopic syndrome differentiation provides more theoretical supports for the TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment of PLGC.The basic pathogenesis of PLGC is due to the weakness of spleen and stomach and the disordered qi movement in the spleen and stomach,complicated by the accumulation of pathological factors such as damp-heat,stasis-toxin,phlegm-damp,and then the stomach-yin will be consumed over time.An amount of clinical studies on the treatment of PLGC with Chinese medicine have been carried out in recent years.The Chinese medicine treatment of PLGC is mainly through benefiting qi and invigorating spleen,assisted by the methods of soothing liver and activating blood,resolving dampness and eliminating stasis,resolving stasis and removing toxins,and nourishing yin and benefiting stomach,so as to prevent the PLGC progressing to gastric cancer.There are few studies on acupuncture treatment of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer.Therefore,it is necessary to carry out more strict and standardized multi-center large-sample RCTs,and to further study the therapeutic mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion for PLGC,in order to provide more high-level evidence for the treatment of PLGC with TCM therapy.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD)in twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks,and to provide a basis for early identification of BPD in twin preterm infants in clinical practice.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the twin preterm infants with a gestational age of<34 weeks who were admitted to 22 hospitals nationwide from January 2018 to December 2020.According to their conditions,they were divided into group A(both twins had BPD),group B(only one twin had BPD),and group C(neither twin had BPD).The risk factors for BPD in twin preterm infants were analyzed.Further analysis was conducted on group B to investigate the postnatal risk factors for BPD within twins.Results A total of 904 pairs of twins with a gestational age of<34 weeks were included in this study.The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that compared with group C,birth weight discordance of>25%between the twins was an independent risk factor for BPD in one of the twins(OR=3.370,95%CI:1.500-7.568,P<0.05),and high gestational age at birth was a protective factor against BPD(P<0.05).The conditional logistic regression analysis of group B showed that small-for-gestational-age(SGA)birth was an independent risk factor for BPD in individual twins(OR=5.017,95%CI:1.040-24.190,P<0.05).Conclusions The development of BPD in twin preterm infants is associated with gestational age,birth weight discordance between the twins,and SGA birth.

Objective To explore clinical effect of single small incision with honeycomb titanium plate in treating acute acromioclavicular dislocation.Methods The clinical data of 40 patients with acute acromioclavicular dislocation admitted from December 2019 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed and divided into two groups according to different surgical methods.Among them,20 patients were fixed with single small incision with honeycomb titanium plate(titanium plate group),including 11 males and 9 females,aged from 23 to 65 years old with an average of(47.40±12.58)years old;12 patients on the left side,8 patients on the right side;11 patients with type Ⅲ,3 patients with type Ⅳ,and 6 patients with type Ⅴ according to Rockwood classification.Twenty patients were fixed with clavicular hook plate(clavicular hook group),including 8 males and 12 females,aged from 24 to 65 years old with an average of(48.40±12.08)years old;12 patients on the left side,8 patients on the right side;10 patients with type Ⅲ,2 patients with type Ⅳ,and 8 patients with type V according to Rockwood classifica-tion.Operative time,incision length,intraoperative blood loss,hospital stay,visual analogue scale(VAS)and Constant-Murley score of shoulder joint function were compared between two groups.Anteroposterior radiographs of the affected shoulder joint were recorded before,immediately and 6 months after surgery,and the coracoclavicular distance was measured and compared.Results Both groups of patients were successfully completed operation without serious complications.All patients were fol-lowed up for 6 to 15 months with an average of(11.9±4.8)months.There were no incisional infection,internal plant fracture or failure,bone tunnel fracture and other complications occurred.The incision length of titanium plate group(35.90±3.14)mm was significantly shorter than that of clavicular hook group(49.30±3.79)mm(P＜0.05).There were no significant difference in operative time,intraoperative blood loss and hospital stay between two groups(P＞0.05).At 1 and 3 months after operation,VAS of titanium plate group was lower than that of clavicular hook group(P＜0.05).Connstant-Murley scores in titanium plate group at 1,3 and 6 months after operation were(86.80±1.36),(91.60±2.32)and(94.90±2.22),respectively;and in clavicular hook group were(78.45±5.47),(85.55±2.01)and(90.25±1.92),which were higher than that of clavicular hook group(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in coracoclavicular distance between two groups immediately and 6 months after op-eration(P＞0.05).Conclusion For the treatment of acute acromioclavicular joint dislocation,single small incision combined with honeycomb titanium plate have advantages of shorter incision,fast recovery of shoulder joint function without the second operation,and has good satisfaction of patient.

AIM To study the chemical constituents of dichloromethane fraction from Hypericum perforatum L.METHODS The dichloromethane fraction from H.perforatum was isolated and purified by silica gel,ODS,Sephadex LH-20,semi-preparative HPLC and etc.The structures of obtained compounds were identified by physicochemical properties and spectral data.RESULTS Eleven compounds were isolated and identified as hypernorpoleketone A(1),α-onocerin(2),(3R)-thunberginol C(3),2-geranyloxy-1-(2-methylpropanoyl)-phloroglucinol(4),4,6-dihydroxy-2-O-(3″,7″-dimethyl-2″,6″-octadienyl)-1-(2′-methylbutanoyl)benzene(5),norhyperpalum G(6),garsubellin A(7),garsubellin B(8),(2″R/S)-kellerine C(9),kobusone(10),eriodictyol(11).CONCLUSION Compound 1 is a new compound.Compounds 2-3 are isolated from the plants of family Guttiferae for the first time.Compounds 4-10 are isolated from this plant for the first time.

This study was aimed at understanding the Blastocystis,Enteroc ytozoon bieneusi,Cryptosporidium spp.,Gi-ardia duodenalis,and Pentatrichomonas hominis infection status in Chinese Milu deer(Elaphurus davidianus)in various prov-inces of China.A total of 81 fecal samples were collected from Beijing,Inner Mongolia,Hebei,and Hubei.PCR was used to detect the protozoans,and their subtypes and zoonoticity were determined through sequence and phylogenetic analyses.PCR re-sults indicated an infection prevalence of 40.74％,19.75％,and 8.64％for Blastocystis,E.bieneusi,and Cryptosporidium spp.,respectively,whereas G.duodenalis and P.hominis was not detected.Only one subtype of Cryptosporidium spp.(Cryptosporidium deer genotype)was detected.Four E.biene-usi genotypes were detected:HLJD-V,MWC-d1,BEB6,and CGC2.Five Blastocystis ST types were found:ST10,ST14,ST21,ST23,and ST25.Cryptosporidium spp.,E.bieneusi,and Blastocystis infections were prevalent,and zoonotic subtypes or genotypes of E.bieneusi and Blastocystis were i-dentified.The prevention and control of intestinal protozoa in Chinese Milu deer would support population health and is im-portant for public health.

Objective To evaluate the management and indicators of pathogen detection before antimicrobial treat-ment for inpatients in second level and above medical institutions(MIs)in Guangdong Province,and provide direc-tion and decision-making basis for the improvement of pathogen detection quality in the region.Methods The ma-nagement status,information system functions,and pathogen detection rate indicators of secondary and above MIs in 21 cities in Guangdong Province was surveyed through online questionnaire surveys and system submission.A baseline survey on sentinel monitoring MIs was conducted from July 15th to August 8th,2023.From November 7th to 30th,a baseline survey on non-sentinel monitoring MIs was launched.Surveys on indicator information of all MIs were completed from January 15th to 30th,2024.Results A total of 265 MIs were surveyed,and the proportions of establishing special working groups(83.98％),developing special action improvement plans(79.01％),estab-lishing pathogen detection rate management systems(91.71％),and developing management assessment plans(76.80％)of tertiary MIs were all higher than that of secondary MIs,differences were all statistically significant(all P＜0.05).The proportion of tertiary MIs with various information system functions was higher than that of secondary MIs(all P＜0.05).The pathogen detection rate(61.07％)before antimicrobial treatment and health-care-associated infection(HAI)diagnosis-related pathogen detection rate(88.00％)of inpatients in tertiary MIs were both higher than those in secondary MIs(both P＜0.05).Among different types of MIs,pathogen detection rate before antimicrobial treatment of inpatients in maternal and child health MIs was higher than that in other types of MIs.HAI diagnosis-related pathogen detection rate in other specialized hospitals was the highest,and pathogen detection rate before combined use of key antimicrobial treatment in traditional Chinese medicine hospitals was the lowest,differences were all statistically significant(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Tertiary MIs have more advantages in management strategies and information technology construction than secondary MIs,secondary MIs need more guidance and support.Monitoring and analysis of pathogen detection rate indicators in MIs of different levels and types should be strengthened through special actions.