Guided by the concept of quality by design(QbD), this study optimizes the calcination and quenching process of calcined Magnetitum and establishes the XRD characteristic spectra of calcined Magnetitum, providing a scientific basis for the formulation of quality standards. Based on the processing methods and quality requirements of Magnetitum in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the critical process parameters(CPPs) identified were calcination temperature, calcination time, particle size, laying thickness, and the number of vinegar quenching cycles. The critical quality attributes(CQAs) included Fe mass fraction, Fe~(2+) dissolution, and surface color. The weight coefficients were determined by combining Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP) and the criteria importance though intercrieria correlation(CRITIC) method, and the calcination process was optimized using orthogonal experimentation. Surface color was selected as a CQA, and based on the principle of color value, the surface color of calcined Magnetitum was objectively quantified. The vinegar quenching process was then optimized to determine the best processing conditions. X-ray diffraction(XRD) was used to establish the characteristic spectra of calcined Magnetitum, and methods such as similarity evaluation, cluster analysis, and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) were used to evaluate the quality of the spectra. The optimized calcined Magnetitum preparation process was found to be calcination at 750 ℃ for 1 h, with a laying thickness of 4 cm, a particle size of 0.4-0.8 cm, and one vinegar quenching cycle(Magnetitum-vinegar ratio 10∶3), which was stable and feasible. The XRD characteristic spectra analysis method, featuring 9 common peaks as fingerprint information, was established. The average correlation coefficient ranged from 0.839 5-0.988 1, and the average angle cosine ranged from 0.914 4 to 0.995 6, indicating good similarity. Cluster analysis results showed that Magnetitum and calcined Magnetitum could be grouped together, with similar compositions. OPLS-DA discriminant analysis identified three key characteristic peaks, with Fe_2O_3 being the distinguishing component between the two. The final optimized processing method is stable and feasible, and the XRD characteristic spectra of calcined Magnetitum was initially established, providing a reference for subsequent quality control and the formulation of quality standards for calcined Magnetitum.
X-Ray Diffraction/methods* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry* ; Quality Control ; Particle Size

BACKGROUND: Based on the China-VHD database, this study sought to develop and validate a Valvular Heart Disease- specific Age-adjusted Comorbidity Index (VHD-ACI) for predicting mortality risk in patients with VHD. METHODS & RESULTS: The China-VHD study was a nationwide, multi-centre multi-centre cohort study enrolling 13,917 patients with moderate or severe VHD across 46 medical centres in China between April-June 2018. After excluding cases with missing key variables, 11,459 patients were retained for final analysis. The primary endpoint was 2-year all-cause mortality, with 941 deaths (10.0%) observed during follow-up. The VHD-ACI was derived after identifying 13 independent mortality predictors: cardiomyopathy, myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary artery hypertension, low body weight, anaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, renal insufficiency, moderate/severe hepatic dysfunction, heart failure, cancer, NYHA functional class and age. The index exhibited good discrimination (AUC, 0.79) and calibration (Brier score, 0.062) in the total cohort, outperforming both EuroSCORE II and ACCI (P < 0.001 for comparison). Internal validation through 100 bootstrap iterations yielded a C statistic of 0.694 (95% CI: 0.665-0.723) for 2-year mortality prediction. VHD-ACI scores, as a continuous variable (VHD-ACI score: adjusted HR (95% CI): 1.263 (1.245-1.282), P < 0.001) or categorized using thresholds determined by the Yoden index (VHD-ACI ≥ 9 vs. < 9, adjusted HR (95% CI): 6.216 (5.378-7.184), P < 0.001), were independently associated with mortality. The prognostic performance remained consistent across all VHD subtypes (aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, mitral stenosis, mitral regurgitation, tricuspid valve disease, mixed aortic/mitral valve disease and multiple VHD), and clinical subgroups stratified by therapeutic strategy, LVEF status (preserved vs. reduced), disease severity and etiology. CONCLUSION The VHD-ACI is a simple 13-comorbidity algorithm for the prediction of mortality in VHD patients and providing a simple and rapid tool for risk stratification.

OBJECTIVE: This study reports the first imported case of Lassa fever (LF) in China. Laboratory detection and molecular epidemiological analysis of the Lassa virus (LASV) from this case offer valuable insights for the prevention and control of LF. METHODS: Samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood, urine, saliva, and environmental materials were collected from the patient and their close contacts for LASV nucleotide detection. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on positive samples to analyze the genetic characteristics of the virus. RESULTS: LASV was detected in the patient's CSF, blood, and urine, while all samples from close contacts and the environment tested negative. The virus belongs to the lineage IV strain and shares the highest homology with strains from Sierra Leone. The variability in the glycoprotein complex (GPC) among different strains ranged from 3.9% to 15.1%, higher than previously reported for the seven known lineages. Amino acid mutation analysis revealed multiple mutations within the GPC immunogenic epitopes, increasing strain diversity and potentially impacting immune response. CONCLUSION The case was confirmed through nucleotide detection, with no evidence of secondary transmission or viral spread. The LASV strain identified belongs to lineage IV, with broader GPC variability than previously reported. Mutations in the immune-related sites of GPC may affect immune responses, necessitating heightened vigilance regarding the virus.
Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Genome, Viral ; Lassa Fever/virology* ; Lassa virus/classification* ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Phylogeny

Here, we report a previously unrecognized syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder associated with biallelic loss-of-function variants in the RBM42 gene. The patient is a 2-year-old female with severe central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities, hypotonia, hearing loss, congenital heart defects, and dysmorphic facial features. Familial whole-exome sequencing (WES) reveals that the patient has two compound heterozygous variants, c.304C>T (p.R102*) and c.1312G>A (p.A438T), in the RBM42 gene which encodes an integral component of splicing complex in the RNA-binding motif protein family. The p.A438T variant is in the RRM domain which impairs RBM42 protein stability in vivo. Additionally, p.A438T disrupts the interaction of RBM42 with hnRNP K, which is the causative gene for Au-Kline syndrome with overlapping disease characteristics seen in the index patient. The human R102* or A438T mutant protein failed to fully rescue the growth defects of RBM42 ortholog knockout ΔFgRbp1 in Fusarium while it was rescued by the wild-type (WT) human RBM42. A mouse model carrying Rbm42 compound heterozygous variants, c.280C>T (p.Q94*) and c.1306_1308delinsACA (p.A436T), demonstrated gross fetal developmental defects and most of the double mutant animals died by E13.5. RNA-seq data confirmed that Rbm42 was involved in neurological and myocardial functions with an essential role in alternative splicing (AS). Overall, we present clinical, genetic, and functional data to demonstrate that defects in RBM42 constitute the underlying etiology of a new neurodevelopmental disease which links the dysregulation of global AS to abnormal embryonic development.
Female ; Animals ; Mice ; Humans ; Child, Preschool ; Intellectual Disability/genetics* ; Heart Defects, Congenital/genetics* ; Facies ; Cleft Palate ; Muscle Hypotonia

Aim To investigate the role of metabolites of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in promoting the transdifferentiation of pancreatic α cells to β cells. Methods Male C57BL/6J mice were injected intraperitoneally with 60 mg/kg streptozocin (STZ) for five consecutive days to establish a type 1 diabetes (T1DM) mouse model. After two weeks, they were randomly divided into model groups and 97% EPA diet intervention group, 75% fish oil (50% EPA +25% DHA) diet intervention group, and random blood glucose was detected every week; after the model expired, the regeneration of pancreatic β cells in mouse pancreas was observed by immunofluorescence staining. The islets of mice (obtained by crossing GCG

Objective To introduce a partially nested design based on the characteristics of TCM in treating the same disease with different treatments and syndrome differentiation and treatment.Methods Partially nested design was used for standardized treatment of complex interventions.The TCM group was divided into multiple subsets according to"syndrome type-treatment method-prescription"(with nested structure),while the control group was treated with standardized Western medicine(without nested structure);taking a case study of"different treatments for the same disease"data for ulcerative colitis,this design type was applied and analyzed using a multi-level model.Results The partially nested design was consistent with the feature of TCM of"different treatments for the same disease"and met the methodological requirements for evidence-based evaluation.Multilevel models allowed analyses with this type of data.Conclusion The use of partially nested design enables the evaluation of the comprehensive effectiveness of"different treatments for the same disease",which can provide a methodological reference for the assessment of clinical effectiveness of TCM.

Objective To observe the effects of pegylated losenatide injection combined with metformin tablets on serum metabolism,lipid levels and intestinal flora in obese type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)patients after axial gastrectomy.Methods Obese T2DM patients who underwent axial gastrectomy were divided into treatment group and control group by cohort methods.The control group was treated with metformin hydrochloride tablet 0.5 g orally,tid.The treatment group was treated by subcutaneous injection of pegylated losenatide injection 0.2 mg once a week on the basis of control group.Both groups were treated continuously for 3 months.Body mass index(BMI),serum metabolic indexes,blood lipid levels,blood glucose levels,intestinal flora and adverse drug reactions were compared between the two groups.Results In this study,a total of 70 subjects were included in the treatment group,and 50 subjects were included in the control group.After three months of treatment,the BMI indices of the treatment and control groups were(26.35±2.36)and(29.34±3.59)kg·m-2,respectively;the glutathione peroxidase levels were(192.42±13.18)and(134.27±12.86)U;interleukin-6 levels were(6.14±1.78)and(7.65±2.09)μg·L-1;fasting blood glucose levels were(5.36±0.41)and(7.43±0.78)mmol·L-1;total cholesterol levels were(2.55±0.67)and(3.47±0.79)mmol·L-1 for the treatment and control groups,respectively.The levels of Bifidobacteria,Bacteroides,Lactobacilli,Enterobacteria,and Enterococci in the treatment group were(8.79±1.36),(9.62±1.37),(6.74±2.15),(7.98±0.61),and(7.23±1.29)logN·g-1,respectively;in the control group,these levels were(7.98±1.79),(8.13±1.45),(5.71±2.41),(9.21±0.88),and(8.15±1.54)logN·g-1.The differences in the above indicators between the treatment and control groups were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).The main adverse drug reactions in the treatment group included nausea,headache,dizziness,elevated blood pressure,and indigestion.In the control group,the main adverse drug reactions were nausea,headache,and indigestion.The total incidence of adverse drug reactions in the treatment and control groups was 8.57％and 6.00％,respectively,with no statistically significant difference(P＞0.05).Conclusion Pegylated losenatide injection combined with metformin tablets has a significant effect on axial gastrectomy in obese type 2 diabetes patients.

Objective To evaluate the bioequivalence and safety of the test formulation dapagliflozin tablets(10 mg)compared to the reference formulation in healthy adult subjects under fasting and fed conditions.Methods A single-center,randomized,open-label,two-period,two-sequence,crossover study design was employed.A total of 68 subjects were enrolled,with 32 subjects in the fasting group and 36 subjects in the fed group.Each subject received a single oral dose of either the test or reference formulation 10 mg.Plasma concentrations of dapagliflozin were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS).Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using Phoenix WinNonlin 8.2 to assess the bioequivalence of the two formulations and their safety.Results Key pharmacokinetic parameters of the test and reference formulations in the fasting group were as follows:Cmax were(195.08±58.24)and(200.22±45.20)ng·mL-1;tmax were 0.67 and 0.67 h;AUC0_t were(553.52±97.82)and(552.47±106.07)ng·h·mL-1;AUC0-∞ were(580.40±103.79)and(579.42±111.23)ng·h·mL-1.In the fed group,the parameters were:Cmax were(123.38±39.50)and(125.80±39.05)ng·mL-1;tmaxwere 2.00 and 2.50 h;AUC0-t were(606.05±129.44)and(596.73±131.97)ng·h·mL-1;AUC0-∞ were(637.12±138.77)and(629.38±136.81)ng·h·mL-1.The 90％confidence intervals for the geometric mean ratios of Cmax,AUC0-t and AUC0-∞ for the test and reference formulations were within the bioequivalence range of 80.00％to 125.00％.The incidence of adverse drug events was 3.23％in the fasting group and 5.56％in the fed group.Conclusion The test formulation of dapagliflozin tablets is bioequivalent to the reference formulation in healthy Chinese subjects and has a good safety profile.

The abuse of novel phenylcyclohexylpyridine drugs poses a significant threat to societal safety. The novel psychoactive substance 2-methyl-deschloroketamine (2-MDCK), belonging to the phenylcyclohexylpyridine class, has recently surfaced as a new compound. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding its metabolic pathways and the identification of suitable biomarkers. In this study, a human liver microsomal model was established, and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) technology was applied to investigate the in vitro metabolism and products of 2-MDCK. The results indicate that 2-MDCK undergoes various metabolic reactions, including dehydrogenation, deamination, hydroxylation, and demethylation, leading to the formation of eight metabolites. By conducting actual testing on hair samples from 2-MDCK abusers, the existence of six metabolites was confirmed. Comparing the metabolic products in the liver microsomal in vitro model, M3.1 and M4.1 were identified as biomarkers for 2-MDCK consumption. Five samples of abusers of 2-methyl-dechloroketamine were provided by the Anti-Drug Brigade of the Hangzhou Public Security Bureau. Negative hair samples were provided by laboratory volunteers, and all samples were obtained with the informed consent of the volunteers. These findings provide a scientific basis for the detection and identification of 2-MDCK and its metabolites, as well as crucial support for the study of the metabolic mechanisms of similar novel psychoactive substances in the phenylcyclohexylpyridine class. This research holds significant importance in addressing the issue of abuse of new psychoactive substances.