Japanese spotted fever(JSF)is an infectious disease caused by Rickettsia japonica,with nonspecific clinical symptoms and a high risk of misdiagnosis.We reported a case of JSF,in which Rickettsia japonica was detected in blood cells by metagenomic next-generation sequencing.The patient recovered after treatment with doxycycline.This report provides a reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of JSF.
Humans ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Metagenomics ; Rickettsia/isolation & purification* ; Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis/microbiology*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) activity of total alkaloids from Gelsemium elegans Benth. (TAG) in vivo and in vitro and to elucidate their potential mechanisms of action through transcriptomic analysis. METHODS: TAG extraction was conducted, and the primary components were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The effects of TAG (100, 150, and 200 µg/mL) on various tumor cells, including SMMC-7721, HepG2, H22, CAL27, MCF7, HT29, and HCT116, were assessed. Effects of TAG on HCC proliferation and apoptosis were detected by colony formation assays and cell stainings. Caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Bax protein levels were detected by Western blotting. In vivo, a tumor xenograft model was developed using H22 cells. Totally 40 Kunming mice were randomly assigned to model, cyclophosphamide (20 mg/kg), TAG low-dose (TAG-L, 0.5 mg/kg), and TAG high-dose (TAG-H, 1 mg/kg) groups, with 10 mice in each group. Tumor volume, body weight, and tumor weight were recorded and compared during 14-day treatment. Immune organ index were calculated. Tissue changes were oberseved by hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry. Additionally, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, as well as quatitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), were performed to detect mRNA and metabolite expressions. RESULTS: HPLC successfully identified the components of TAG extraction. Live cell imaging and analysis, along with cell viability assays, demonstrated that TAG inhibited the proliferation of SMMC-7721, HepG2, H22, CAL27, MCF7, HT29, and HCT116 cells. Colony formation assays, Hoechst 33258 staining, Rhodamine 123 staining, and Western blotting revealed that TAG not only inhibited HCC proliferation but also promoted apoptosis (P<0.05). In vivo experiments showed that TAG inhibited the growth of solid tumors in HCC in mice (P<0.05). Transcriptomic analysis and RT-qPCR indicated that the inhibition of HCC by TAG was associated with the regulation of the key gene CXCL13. CONCLUSION TAG inhibits HCC both in vivo and in vitro, with its inhibitory effect linked to the regulation of the key gene CXCL13.
Animals ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Liver Neoplasms/genetics* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics* ; Humans ; Alkaloids/therapeutic use* ; Gelsemium/chemistry* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Mice ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

The PA-PB1 interface of the influenza polymerase is an attractive site for antiviral drug design. In this study, we designed and synthesized a mini-library of indazole-containing compounds based on rational structure-based design to target the PB1-binding interface on PA. Biological evaluation of these compounds through a viral yield reduction assay revealed that compounds 27 and 31 both had a low micromolar range of the half maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀) values against A/WSN/33 (H1N1) (8.03 μmol/L for 27; 14.6 μmol/L for 31), while the most potent candidate 24 had an EC₅₀ value of 690 nM. Compound 24 was effective against different influenza strains including a pandemic H1N1 strain and an influenza B strain. Mechanistic studies confirmed that compound 24 bound PA with a K _d which equals to 1.88 μmol/L and disrupted the binding of PB1 to PA. The compound also decreased the lung viral titre in mice. In summary, we have identified a potent anti-influenza candidate with potency comparable to existing drugs and is effective against different viral strains. The therapeutic options for influenza infection have been limited by the occurrence of antiviral resistance, owing to the high mutation rate of viral proteins targeted by available drugs. To alleviate the public health burden of this issue, novel anti-influenza drugs are desired. In this study, we present our discovery of a novel class of indazole-containing compounds which exhibited favourable potency against both influenza A and B viruses. The EC₅₀ of the most potent compounds were within low micromolar to nanomolar concentrations. Furthermore, we show that the mouse lung viral titre decreased due to treatment with compound 24. Thus our findings identify promising candidates for further development of anti-influenza drugs suitable for clinical use.

Objective To evaluate the subchronic systemic toxicity of disposable plasma virus-inactivated blood transfusion sets using hydroxyethyl starch(HES)130/0.4 sodium chloride injection as an extraction medium.Methods Firstly,40 Sprague Dawley(SD)rats including 20 male and 20 female ones were seleted and randomly enrolled into a sample group and a control group by sex,with 20 ones in each group.Secondly,instead of plasma HES 130/0.4 sodium chloride injection was used to leach disposable plasma virus-inactivated blood transfusion sets to prepare the test solution by simulating clinical application such as lighting,adsorption and filtration and storage.Finally,the test solution and HES 130/0.4 sodium chloride injection were injected into the tail vein of the SD rats at a dose of 20 mL/kg for 28 d in the sample group and in the control group respectively,and the subchronic systemic toxicity of disposable plasma virus-inactivated blood transfusion sets and the feasibility of using HES 130/0.4 sodium chloride injection as the extraction medium to assess their subchronic systemic toxicity were evaluated with clinical observation,body mass monitoring,clinical pathology examination,gross necropsy and histopathology examination.Results The sample group and control group had no significant differences in mortality rates,clinical observation results,body mass,gross necropsy results,hematological and coagulation examination results and organ weight(all P>0.05);blood biochemical examinations showed the male rats in the sample group had the cholesterol(CHO)values higher while the creatinine(CR)values lower than those in the control group,with the differences being statistically significant(both P<0.05)and the two indexes within the range of the laboratory's historical reference data,and other blood biochemical indexes were not significantly different(all P>0.05);the sample group had the spleen weight-to-body mass ratios of the female rates lower significantly than those in the control group(P<0.05),and the ratios of other organ weight to body mass had significant differences(all P>0.05);histopathology examination showed slight pathological changes in liver,spleen and kidney of female rats and in spleen and kidney of male rats in the sample group,and the female and male rats in the control group had similar pathological changes found in the sample group,which might be caused by HES metabolites.Conclusion Disposable plasma virus-inactivated blood transfusion sets prove to have no significant subchronic systemic toxicity,and its feasible to use HES 130/0.4 sodium chloride injection as the extraction medium to evaluate the subchronic systemic toxicity of disposable plasma virus-inactivated blood transfusion sets.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(10):29-35]

Over 40%of critically ill patients will develop coagulopathy.Once critically ill patients are complicated with coagulopathy,the incidence of bleeding and mortality can increase by more than 4 times.Early identification of coagulopathy and accurate evaluation of coagulation function are essential for correcting coagulopathy as soon as possible.Therefore,Chinese Society of Thrombosis,Hemostasis and Critical Care,Chinese Medicine Education Association,together with Chinese People's Liberation Army Professional Committee of Critical Care Medicine updated the"Chinese expert consensus on standardized assessment of severe coagulopathy(2025 Edition)"on the basis of the"Consensus of Chinese experts on standardized evaluation of coagulation dysfunction in severe patients"formulated in 2022.This consensus includes four parts:classification and typing,etiology and mechanism,assessment methods,and diagnostic criteria of severe coagulopathy,with a total of 14 recommendations,aiming to provide corresponding guidance for clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) could participate in the regulation of diverse cells via interacting with non-G-protein-coupled receptors. In the present work, we explored how paroxetine, a GRK2 inhibitor, modulates the differentiation and activation of immune cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: The blood samples of healthy individuals and RA patients were collected between July 2021 and March 2022 from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. C57BL/6 mice were used to induce the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. Flow cytometry analysis was used to characterize the differentiation and function of dendritic cells (DCs)/T cells. Co-immunoprecipitation was used to explore the specific molecular mechanism. RESULTS: In patients with RA, high expression of GRK2 in peripheral blood lymphocytes, accompanied by the increases of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). In animal model, a decrease in regulatory T cells (T regs ), an increase in the cluster of differentiation 8 positive (CD8 + ) T cells, and maturation of DCs were observed. Paroxetine, when used in vitro and in CIA mice, restrained the maturation of DCs and the differentiation of CD8 + T cells, and induced the proportion of T regs . Paroxetine inhibited the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, the expression of C-C motif chemokine receptor 7 in DCs and T cells. Simultaneously, paroxetine upregulated the expression of programmed death ligand 1, and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, paroxetine inhibited the PI3K-AKT-mTOR metabolic pathway in both DCs and T cells. This was associated with a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential and changes in the utilization of glucose and lipids, particularly in DCs. Paroxetine reversed PI3K-AKT pathway activation induced by 740 Y-P (a PI3K agonist) through inhibiting the interaction between GRK2 and PI3K in DCs and T cells. CONCLUSION Paroxetine exerts an immunosuppressive effect by targeting GRK2, which subsequently inhibits the metabolism-related PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway of DCs and T cells in RA.
G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2/metabolism* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/immunology* ; Animals ; Dendritic Cells/metabolism* ; Paroxetine/therapeutic use* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Mice ; Humans ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Male ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects* ; Female ; T-Lymphocytes/metabolism* ; Middle Aged

The chemical constituents from Cephalotaxus lanceolata were isolated and purified by using multiple chromatographic techniques, including octadecylsilane(ODS), silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). A total of 17 compounds obtained were identified by using spectroscopic methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR), mass spectrometry(MS), and ultraviolet(UV) combined with literature data. Compound 1 was a new alkaloid dimer, named cephalancetine E. The known compounds were determined as cephalancetine A(2), 11-hydroxycephalotaxine(3), 4-hydroxycephalotaxine(4), cephalotaxine(5), epicephalotaxine(6), cephalotaxine β-N-oxide(7), acetylcephalotaxine(8), cephalotine A(9), cephalotine B(10), 11-hydroxycephalotaxine hemiketal(11), 3-deoxy-3,11-epoxy-cephalotaxine(12), cephalotaxinone(13), isocephalotaxinone(14), 2,11-epoxy-1,2-dihydro-8-oxo-cephalotaxine(15), cephalotaxamide(16), and drupacine(17), respectively. Compounds 11, 12, and 15 were isolated from the Cephalotaxus genus for the first time. The biological activity was tested for compounds 1-17. The results reveal that compound 17 displays potent inhibitory activities against three human cancer cell lines(HepG-2, MCF-7, and SH-SY5Y).
Cephalotaxus/chemistry* ; Humans ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Harringtonines/pharmacology* ; Molecular Structure ; Dimerization ; Alkaloids/isolation & purification* ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Objective To evaluate the subchronic systemic toxicity of disposable plasma virus-inactivated blood transfusion sets using hydroxyethyl starch(HES)130/0.4 sodium chloride injection as an extraction medium.Methods Firstly,40 Sprague Dawley(SD)rats including 20 male and 20 female ones were seleted and randomly enrolled into a sample group and a control group by sex,with 20 ones in each group.Secondly,instead of plasma HES 130/0.4 sodium chloride injection was used to leach disposable plasma virus-inactivated blood transfusion sets to prepare the test solution by simulating clinical application such as lighting,adsorption and filtration and storage.Finally,the test solution and HES 130/0.4 sodium chloride injection were injected into the tail vein of the SD rats at a dose of 20 mL/kg for 28 d in the sample group and in the control group respectively,and the subchronic systemic toxicity of disposable plasma virus-inactivated blood transfusion sets and the feasibility of using HES 130/0.4 sodium chloride injection as the extraction medium to assess their subchronic systemic toxicity were evaluated with clinical observation,body mass monitoring,clinical pathology examination,gross necropsy and histopathology examination.Results The sample group and control group had no significant differences in mortality rates,clinical observation results,body mass,gross necropsy results,hematological and coagulation examination results and organ weight(all P>0.05);blood biochemical examinations showed the male rats in the sample group had the cholesterol(CHO)values higher while the creatinine(CR)values lower than those in the control group,with the differences being statistically significant(both P<0.05)and the two indexes within the range of the laboratory's historical reference data,and other blood biochemical indexes were not significantly different(all P>0.05);the sample group had the spleen weight-to-body mass ratios of the female rates lower significantly than those in the control group(P<0.05),and the ratios of other organ weight to body mass had significant differences(all P>0.05);histopathology examination showed slight pathological changes in liver,spleen and kidney of female rats and in spleen and kidney of male rats in the sample group,and the female and male rats in the control group had similar pathological changes found in the sample group,which might be caused by HES metabolites.Conclusion Disposable plasma virus-inactivated blood transfusion sets prove to have no significant subchronic systemic toxicity,and its feasible to use HES 130/0.4 sodium chloride injection as the extraction medium to evaluate the subchronic systemic toxicity of disposable plasma virus-inactivated blood transfusion sets.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(10):29-35]

Over 40%of critically ill patients will develop coagulopathy.Once critically ill patients are complicated with coagulopathy,the incidence of bleeding and mortality can increase by more than 4 times.Early identification of coagulopathy and accurate evaluation of coagulation function are essential for correcting coagulopathy as soon as possible.Therefore,Chinese Society of Thrombosis,Hemostasis and Critical Care,Chinese Medicine Education Association,together with Chinese People's Liberation Army Professional Committee of Critical Care Medicine updated the"Chinese expert consensus on standardized assessment of severe coagulopathy(2025 Edition)"on the basis of the"Consensus of Chinese experts on standardized evaluation of coagulation dysfunction in severe patients"formulated in 2022.This consensus includes four parts:classification and typing,etiology and mechanism,assessment methods,and diagnostic criteria of severe coagulopathy,with a total of 14 recommendations,aiming to provide corresponding guidance for clinical practice.

AIM To evaluate the quality of Gegen Formula Granules.METHODS Linear calibration with two reference substances(LCTRS)was adopted in the predicting of retention time with puerarin and daidzein as internal standards.UPLC characteristic chromatograms were established.The contents of 3'-hydroxy puerarin,puerarin(internal standard),3'-methoxy puerarin,puerarin 6"-O-xyloside,puerarin apioside and daidzin were determined by quantitative determination analysis multi-components by a single marker(QAMS),after which their transfer rates were calculated.RESULTS Compared with relative retention time method,LCTRS demonstrated higher positional accuracy for characteristic peaks and wider application range for columns.There were 9 characteristic peaks in the characteristic chromatograms for 14 batches of formula granules and 15 batches of standard decoctions with the similarities of more than 0.95.The contents and transfer rates of various constituents in formula granules and standard decoctions were basically consistent.CONCLUSION The chemical constituents in formula granules and their standard decoctions of Puerariae lobatae Radix display good consistency,reliable preparation process is observable in the former.