BACKGROUND:Previous studies of the research group have found that icariin-containing serum can delay the progression of knee osteoarthritis,promote chondrocyte proliferation and stem cell cartilage differentiation in rats,but there is still a lack of sufficient basis for clinical application.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the repair effect of icariin-containing serum on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory damage of human chondrocytes.METHODS:The effect of icariin-containing serum on chondrocyte viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 method,and the optimal volume fraction and time of icariin-containing serum were screened.The cells were then divided into blank group,lipopolysaccharide group,icariin-containing serum group and lipopolysaccharide+icariin-containing serum group.After grouping,immunofluorescence was used to detect the secretion of type Ⅱ collagen in chondrocytes in each group.Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of related genes.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Icariin-containing serum showed good biosafety characteristics for human chondrocytes,and the cell viability reached the highest level after 48 hours of intervention when the icariin-containing serum volume fraction was 15％,and the follow-up experiments were carried out according to the conditions.(2)Compared with the blank group,lipopolysaccharide significantly inhibited the expression of type Ⅱ collagen in chondrocytes,while icariin-containing serum showed a positive mobilization effect,which could effectively promote the secretion of type Ⅱ collagen in chondrocytes under normal and inflammatory conditions.(3)The mRNA expression of type Ⅱ collagen and Aggrecan in chondrocytes decreased significantly under lipopolysaccharide stimulation,and the mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 13 and a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5 increased significantly.Icariin-containing serum promoted the mRNA expression of type Ⅱ collagen in human chondrocytes under inflammatory conditions and reduced the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 and a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5 in chondrocytes after lipopolysaccharide intervention.Therefore,these findings indicate that the icariin-containing serum has good safety for human chondrocytes and plays an important role in maintaining the normal physiological functions of chondrocytes,promoting the synthesis of extracellular matrix,and inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory factors.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies of the research group have found that icariin-containing serum can delay the progression of knee osteoarthritis,promote chondrocyte proliferation and stem cell cartilage differentiation in rats,but there is still a lack of sufficient basis for clinical application.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the repair effect of icariin-containing serum on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory damage of human chondrocytes.METHODS:The effect of icariin-containing serum on chondrocyte viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 method,and the optimal volume fraction and time of icariin-containing serum were screened.The cells were then divided into blank group,lipopolysaccharide group,icariin-containing serum group and lipopolysaccharide+icariin-containing serum group.After grouping,immunofluorescence was used to detect the secretion of type Ⅱ collagen in chondrocytes in each group.Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of related genes.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Icariin-containing serum showed good biosafety characteristics for human chondrocytes,and the cell viability reached the highest level after 48 hours of intervention when the icariin-containing serum volume fraction was 15％,and the follow-up experiments were carried out according to the conditions.(2)Compared with the blank group,lipopolysaccharide significantly inhibited the expression of type Ⅱ collagen in chondrocytes,while icariin-containing serum showed a positive mobilization effect,which could effectively promote the secretion of type Ⅱ collagen in chondrocytes under normal and inflammatory conditions.(3)The mRNA expression of type Ⅱ collagen and Aggrecan in chondrocytes decreased significantly under lipopolysaccharide stimulation,and the mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase 13 and a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5 increased significantly.Icariin-containing serum promoted the mRNA expression of type Ⅱ collagen in human chondrocytes under inflammatory conditions and reduced the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 and a disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5 in chondrocytes after lipopolysaccharide intervention.Therefore,these findings indicate that the icariin-containing serum has good safety for human chondrocytes and plays an important role in maintaining the normal physiological functions of chondrocytes,promoting the synthesis of extracellular matrix,and inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory factors.

Objective:To evaluate the mediating effect of electrocardiographic (ECG) indicators in the association between short-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and blood pressure and to explore the key PM 2.5 element constituents that produce the mediating effect. Methods:Based on a cross-sectional survey across 10 cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and surrounding areas, PM 2.5 and its element constituents were collected from the nearest air monitoring superstation. Blood pressure and ECG indicators of participants were obtained through physical examinations. A multivariate linear regression was used to evaluate the effect of short-term exposures to PM 2.5 on blood pressure. A mediation analysis was used to identify the mediating effect of ECG indicators in the association between exposure to PM 2.5 and its element constituents and blood pressure. Results:The age of the 1 793 participants was (65.1±13.3) years, and 885 (49.4%) were males. During the study period, the daily mean concentration of PM 2.5 was (70±45) μg/m 3, and the systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse pressure (PP) were (139±20), (82±11), (101±13), and (57±17) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), respectively. The results of the multivariate linear regression showed that for every 10 μg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 on the same day (lag 0), DBP increased by 0.15 (95% CI: 0.02-0.28) mmHg, and PP decreased 0.18 (95% CI: 0.36-0.01) mmHg. The exposure to 14 elemental constituents, such as Ga, Co and Se, was associated with an increase in DBP, while the exposure to 17 elemental constituents, such as Cs, Se and Ag, was associated with a decrease in PP. At lag 0, the PM 2.5-induced increase in DBP was mediated by the QRS interval (mediation percentage of 18.98%), and the PM 2.5-induced decrease in PP was mediated by the QT interval (mediation percentage of -6.31%). The exposure to K, Br, Pb, Zn, Ca, Co, Pd, Cu, and As constituents was associated with increases in DBP mediated by prolonged QRS interval. The exposure to Pb, Zn, K, and As constituents was associated with decreases in PP mediated by prolonged QRS interval. Conclusion:ECG indicators such as QRS interval may mediate the association between short-term exposure to PM 2.5 and its element constituents and blood pressure.

Objective:To assess the effect of short-term exposures to atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) and its components on cognitive function in middle-aged and older people aged 40-89 and identify key components that affect cognitive function. Methods:From October 2018 to March 2019, a cross-sectional survey of middle-aged and older people aged 40-89 was conducted across 10 cities in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and neighboring regions of China. Data on PM 2.5 and its components were collected from the nearest air supermonitoring stations to the residential addresses. The cognitive function was assessed using the Min-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the effect of short-term exposures to PM 2.5 and its components on cognitive function in middle-aged and older people. The restricted cubic spline function was used to fit the exposure-response relationship between different components and changes in MMSE scores. Results:The age of the 1 978 respondents was (65.1±13.4) years, and 976 (49.34%) were males. During the study period, the daily mean concentration of PM 2.5 was (71.2±43.2) μg/m 3, and the MMSE score was (28.2±3.7). The results of the multiple linear regression model showed that short-term exposures to PM 2.5 and its components were associated with cognitive decline in middle-aged and older people after adjusting for confounding factors, and the effect was higher at lag 0-28 days. For an interquartile range (64.3 μg/m 3) increase in PM 2.5 at lag 0-28 d, the MMSE score decreased by 5.91 (95% CI: 0.04, 11.77). For an interquartile range increase in organic carbon (OC), antimony (Sb), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), tin (Sn), and cadmium (Cd), the MMSE scores of middle-aged and older people decreased by 5.71 (95% CI: 1.69, 9.73), 4.67 (95% CI: 2.50, 6.84), 4.49 (95% CI: 1.05, 7.92), 3.65 (95% CI: 0.89, 6.42), 2.76 (95% CI: 1.22, 4.30), and 1.72 (95% CI: 0.53, 2.92). Conclusions:Short-term exposures to atmospheric PM 2.5 and its components (OC, Sb, Cr, Zn, Sn, and Cd) are associated with cognitive decline in middle-aged and older people.

Whole-genome sequencing, serotype typing, MLST typing, population genetic structure analysis, and core-genome single nucleotide polymorphism (cgSNP) analysis were performed on 23 strains of mucoid Haemophilus influenzae collected from the Laboratory Center of Hunan Children′s Hospital from January 2021 to December 2022. Drug susceptibility tests were conducted using the automated microbial identification and susceptibility analysis system AF-600, and virulence genes and drug resistance genes were analyzed based on the whole-genome sequences. Based on the serotype typing of whole-genome sequencing, all 23 strains were Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). MLST analysis revealed that the 23 strains belonged to six ST types, among which 10 strains (43.5%) were ST386, 5 strains (21.7%) were ST18, and 2 strains (8.7%) were the newly discovered ST2887. Bayesian population structure analysis (BAPS) showed three distinct populations. The results of the virulence gene analysis showed that the carriage rates of genes encoding capsule-related proteins and those associated with bacterial immune regulation and inflammatory signaling pathways were all 100%. However, the ompP5 gene related to bacterial adhesion, and the hgpC and hxuA genes related to bacterial protein metabolism were all present in the newly discovered ST2887. The in vitro drug susceptibility test results of 23 strains of mucoid Hib showed that the resistance rates to ampicillin, cefuroxime, and Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were 13.0%(3 strains), 13.0%(3 strains), and 87.0%(20 strains), respectively. They were sensitive to other beta-lactam drugs. All the 23 strains of mucoid Haemophilus influenzae infected children were Hib, and the main ST types were ST386 and ST18. It is very important to advocate Hib vaccination.

Natural antimicrobial peptides(AMPs)are promising candidates for the development of a new gener-ation of antimicrobials to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens.They have found extensive applications in the fields of medicine,food,and agriculture.However,efficiently screening AMPs from natural sources poses several challenges,including low efficiency and high antibiotic resistance.This review focuses on the action mechanisms of AMPs,both through membrane and non-membrane routes.We thoroughly examine various highly efficient AMP screening methods,including whole-bacterial adsorption binding,cell membrane chromatography(CMC),phospholipid membrane chromatography binding,membrane-mediated capillary electrophoresis(CE),colorimetric assays,thin layer chromatography(TLC),fluorescence-based screening,genetic sequencing-based analysis,computational mining of AMP data-bases,and virtual screening methods.Additionally,we discuss potential developmental applications for enhancing the efficiency of AMP discovery.This review provides a comprehensive framework for identifying AMPs within complex natural product systems.

Objective: To investigate the regional differences in the incidence of urothelial carcinoma among kidney transplant recipients between northern and southern China，so as to provide reference for early diagnosis of this disease. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases，including CNKI，Wanfang，CBM，and PubMed，using the keywords “kidney transplantation” and “tumor” to collect clinical data from qualified kidney transplant centers.The latest and most complete literature data published by 17 transplant centers in northern China and 14 in southern China were included.Statistical analyses were performed to compare the incidence of post-transplant urothelial carcinoma and non-urothelial malignancies. Results: A total of 37 475 kidney transplant recipients were included，among whom 837 (2.23%) developed post-transplant malignancies，including urothelial carcinoma (366/837，43.73%)，non-urothelial carcinoma (444/837，53.05%)，and malignancies with unspecified pathology (27/837，3.23%).The incidence of malignancies was significantly higher in northern China than in southern China [(2.82±1.39)% vs. (1.67±0.83)%，P=0.011]，with a particularly pronounced difference in the incidence of urothelial carcinoma [(1.68±1.12)% vs. (0.32±0.32)%，P<0.001].No significant difference was observed in the incidence of non-urothelial carcinoma between the two regions [(1.11±0.56)% vs. (1.35±0.65)%，P=0.279].Additionally，female transplant recipients exhibited a higher incidence of malignancies than males in both regions (southern China：2.38% vs. 1.80%; northern China：8.93% vs. 2.52%). Conclusion: The incidence of urothelial carcinoma following kidney transplantation is significantly higher in northern China than in southern China，underscoring the importance of implementing regular tumor screening for kidney transplant recipients，particularly for female patients in northern China，to facilitate early diagnosis and timely intervention.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia(HIT)is an antibody-mediated adverse reaction to heparin that is clinically manifested as a progressive reduction in platelet count after heparin administration,leading to venous and/or arterial thromboembolism and even death in severe cases.Acquired thrombocytopenia is commonly observed in hospitalized patients,the pathological mechanism is associated with drugs,autoimmune diseases,and consumptive thrombocytopenia.Patients with HIT frequently have complex clinical situations,and their manifestations are often atypical or mixed with other symptoms and signs,posing significant challenges to diagnosis and treatment for clinicians.Through the multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment process of a HIT patient,this paper discusses HIT occurrence mechanism,clinical evaluation,laboratory testing and alternative anticoagulant therapy,so as to provide reference for doctors to accurately identify and effectively intervention in clinical practice.

Background and Aims:Acute inferior vena cava thrombosis(IVCT)commonly occurs secondary to inferior vena cava filter(VCF)implantation.If not promptly treated,it may lead to serious complications such as bilateral lower limb swelling and pulmonary embolism and can also reduce the likelihood of successful filter retrieval.Percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy(PMT)and catheter-directed thrombolysis(CDT)are currently the main interventional treatments for IVCT,but comparative studies evaluating their efficacy and safety remain limited.This study was to conduct a prospective randomized controlled trial to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of AngioJet mechanical thrombectomy versus conventional CDT in the treatment of acute IVCT and to explore factors influencing filter retrieval rates,thereby providing evidence-based guidance for clinical decision-making.Methods:From January 2022 to December 2024,patients diagnosed with acute IVCT following VCF implantation were prospectively enrolled at the Department of Vascular Surgery,Beijing Jishuitan Hospital,Capital Medical University.Patients were randomly assigned to either the CDT group(n=46)or the PMT group(n=48)according to the interventional procedure used.The two groups were compared in terms of filter retrieval rates,thrombus clearance outcomes,operative time,thrombolytic drug dosage,and incidence of complications.Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with primary filter retrieval.Results:A total of 94 patients were enrolled,with 46 in the CDT group and 48 in the PMT group.Compared to the CDT group,the PMT group demonstrated a significantly higher primary filter retrieval rate(77.1%vs.43.5%),grade Ⅲ thrombus clearance rate(70.8%vs.37.0%),and better postoperative thrombus scores.Additionally,the PMT group required lower urokinase doses and shorter thrombolysis duration(all P<0.05).The overall filter retrieval rate and 3-month IVC patency were similar between groups,both exceeding 93%.Regarding safety,the CDT group had a higher incidence of catheter-related infections and medical adhesive-related skin injury,while vagal reflex symptoms were more frequent in the PMT group.Logistic regression analysis identified thrombus clearance rate as an independent factor significantly associated with primary filter retrieval in the PMT group(OR=190.773,P<0.05).Conclusion:Compared to CDT,AngioJet mechanical thrombectomy combined with manual aspiration achieves higher thrombus clearance and primary filter retrieval rates in the treatment of acute IVCT while also reducing thrombolysis duration and drug dosage.However,attention should be paid to the increased risk of vagal reflex symptoms.There was no significant difference between the two groups in secondary filter retrieval rates or long-term IVC patency.The choice of intervention should be based on the patient's condition,timing of filter retrieval,and individualized clinical considerations.