ObjectiveTo observe the effects of Yifei Tongluo prescription on the NOD-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）/Caspase-1/gasdermin D （GSDMD） pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition （EMT） in rats with pulmonary fibrosis. MethodsTracheal instillation of bleomycin was conducted to establish a rat model of pulmonary fibrosis. Thirty Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into a blank group， a model group， a prednisone acetate group （1.17 mg·kg^-1）， and low- and high-dose Yifei Tongluo prescription groups （10.62 and 21.24 g·kg^-1， respectively）. Administration started on the 7th day after modeling， once a day for 28 consecutive days. The lung coefficient of each group was calculated. The pathological changes of lung tissues in each group were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining and Masson staining. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） and vimentin in rat lung tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The expression of NLRP3 inflammasome， E-cadherin （E-cad）， and typeⅠ collagen （ColⅠ） in lung tissues was detected by immunofluorescence. The content of hydroxyproline （HYP）， tumor necrosis factor （TNF）-α， interleukin （IL）-18， and IL-1β in rat serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The mRNA expression levels of NLRP3， apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD （ASC）， IL-1β， and transforming growth factor （TGF）-β₁ in rat lung tissues were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. The protein expression levels of NLRP3， GSDMD， ASC， and Caspase-1 in rat lung tissues were determined by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the blank group， the model group exhibited a significantly increased lung coefficient （P<0.01） and significantly increased range of pulmonary interstitial inflammation and collagen deposition. In addition， the levels of α-SMA， Vimentin， E-cad， and ColⅠ in lung tissues were significantly increased （P<0.01）. The levels of fibrosis- and inflammation-related factors HYP， TNF-α， IL-18， and IL-1β in serum were significantly upregulated （P<0.01）. The levels of factors related to the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in lung tissues， including NLRP3， GSDMD， ASC， Caspase-1， IL-1β， and TGF-β₁， were significantly upregulated （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the Yifei Tongluo prescription groups showed improved lung coefficients. Additionally， the extent of lung inflammation and collagen deposition was significantly reduced. The expression of α-SMA， Vimentin， E-cad， and ColⅠ in lung tissue was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The levels of HYP， TNF-α， IL-18， and IL-1β in serum were significantly reduced （P<0.01）. The expression levels of NLRP3， GSDMD， ASC， Caspase-1， IL-1β， and TGF-β₁ in lung tissue were also significantly decreased （P<0.01）. ConclusionYifei Tongluo prescription can regulate the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway， down-regulate release of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines， alleviate NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis and EMT， and thereby improve pulmonary fibrosis in rats.

Objective:To investigate the influence and mechanism of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADMSCs), i.e. hADMSC-EVs on pyroptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by high glucose, with the aim of providing evidence for improving vascular function in diabetic wounds.Methods:This study was an experimental research. The umbilical cords from 5 women aged 25 to 40 years were collected who had normal vaginal delivery at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from June to September in 2023, and HUVECs were isolated and successfully identified. Adipose tissue was obtained from 6 healthy women aged 25 to 35 years who underwent abdomen liposuction at the Department of Plastic Surgery of the above-mentioned hospital in the same period. After hADMSCs were isolated, hADMSC-EVs were extracted and successfully identified. The fourth passage of HUVECs were cultured in endothelial cell medium containing glucose in a molarity of 33 mmol/L and divided into phosphate buffered solution (PBS) group cultured with PBS, EV group cultured with hADMSC-EVs, and EV+LY294002 group cultured with hADMSC-EVs and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway inhibitor LY294002. Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway-related proteins PI3K and Akt, and pyroptosis-related proteins nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), cysteinyl aspartate specific protease-1 (caspase-1), gasdermin D, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-18 of cells after 48 hours of culture. A cell counting kit-8 was used to test the proliferation levels of cells at 0 (immediately), 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 hours of culture. After 48 hours of culture, the cell scratch test was performed and the cell migration rates at 12 and 24 hours after scratching were calculated; the cell Transwell assay was conducted and the number of cells migrating in 24 hours was calculated; the cell tube formation experiment was performed, and the total length of tube formation and the number of branch nodes were measured and counted. The sample size was 3.Results:After 48 hours of culture, the protein expressions of PI3K and Akt of cells in EV group were significantly higher than those in PBS group ( P<0.05), and the protein expressions of PI3K and Akt of cells in EV+LY294002 group were significantly lower than those in EV group ( P<0.05). After 48 hours of culture, the protein expressions of NLRP3, caspase-1, gasdermin D, IL-1β, and IL-18 of cells in EV group were 0.54±0.08, 0.96±0.11, 0.525±0.061, 1.216±0.039, and 1.317±0.023, respectively, which were significantly lower than 2.32±0.11, 1.86±0.07, 1.256±0.113, 2.589±0.084, and 2.042±0.132 in PBS group ( P<0.05); the protein expressions of NLRP3, caspase-1, gasdermin D, IL-1β, and IL-18 of cells in EV+LY294002 group were 1.16±0.05, 1.37±0.06, 0.962±0.028, 1.834±0.017, and 1.803±0.065, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in EV group ( P<0.05). At 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 hours of culture, the proliferation levels of cells in EV group were significantly higher than those in PBS group ( P<0.05), and the proliferation levels of cells in EV+LY294002 group were significantly lower than those in EV group ( P<0.05). After 48 hours of culture, the cell migration rates at 12 and 24 hours after scratching in EV group were significantly higher than those in PBS group ( P<0.05), and the cell migration rates at 12 and 24 hours after scratching in EV+LY294002 group were significantly lower than those in EV group ( P<0.05); the number of cells migrating in 24 hours in EV group was significantly greater than that in PBS group ( P<0.05), and the number of cells migrating in 24 hours in EV+LY294002 group was significantly less than that in EV group ( P<0.05). After 48 hours of culture, compared with those in PBS group, the total length of tube formation of cells in EV group was significantly prolonged ( P<0.05), and the number of branch nodes was significantly increased ( P<0.05); compared with those in EV group, the total length of tube formation in EV+LY294002 group was significantly shortened ( P<0.05), and the number of branch nodes was significantly decreased ( P<0.05). Conclusions:hADMSC-EVs can inhibit the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins in HUVECs induced by high glucose through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and improve the proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis capabilities of HUVECs.

Objective:To investigate the influence and mechanism of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADMSCs), i.e. hADMSC-EVs on pyroptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by high glucose, with the aim of providing evidence for improving vascular function in diabetic wounds.Methods:This study was an experimental research. The umbilical cords from 5 women aged 25 to 40 years were collected who had normal vaginal delivery at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from June to September in 2023, and HUVECs were isolated and successfully identified. Adipose tissue was obtained from 6 healthy women aged 25 to 35 years who underwent abdomen liposuction at the Department of Plastic Surgery of the above-mentioned hospital in the same period. After hADMSCs were isolated, hADMSC-EVs were extracted and successfully identified. The fourth passage of HUVECs were cultured in endothelial cell medium containing glucose in a molarity of 33 mmol/L and divided into phosphate buffered solution (PBS) group cultured with PBS, EV group cultured with hADMSC-EVs, and EV+LY294002 group cultured with hADMSC-EVs and the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) signaling pathway inhibitor LY294002. Western blotting was used to detect the expressions of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway-related proteins PI3K and Akt, and pyroptosis-related proteins nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), cysteinyl aspartate specific protease-1 (caspase-1), gasdermin D, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-18 of cells after 48 hours of culture. A cell counting kit-8 was used to test the proliferation levels of cells at 0 (immediately), 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 hours of culture. After 48 hours of culture, the cell scratch test was performed and the cell migration rates at 12 and 24 hours after scratching were calculated; the cell Transwell assay was conducted and the number of cells migrating in 24 hours was calculated; the cell tube formation experiment was performed, and the total length of tube formation and the number of branch nodes were measured and counted. The sample size was 3.Results:After 48 hours of culture, the protein expressions of PI3K and Akt of cells in EV group were significantly higher than those in PBS group ( P<0.05), and the protein expressions of PI3K and Akt of cells in EV+LY294002 group were significantly lower than those in EV group ( P<0.05). After 48 hours of culture, the protein expressions of NLRP3, caspase-1, gasdermin D, IL-1β, and IL-18 of cells in EV group were 0.54±0.08, 0.96±0.11, 0.525±0.061, 1.216±0.039, and 1.317±0.023, respectively, which were significantly lower than 2.32±0.11, 1.86±0.07, 1.256±0.113, 2.589±0.084, and 2.042±0.132 in PBS group ( P<0.05); the protein expressions of NLRP3, caspase-1, gasdermin D, IL-1β, and IL-18 of cells in EV+LY294002 group were 1.16±0.05, 1.37±0.06, 0.962±0.028, 1.834±0.017, and 1.803±0.065, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in EV group ( P<0.05). At 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 hours of culture, the proliferation levels of cells in EV group were significantly higher than those in PBS group ( P<0.05), and the proliferation levels of cells in EV+LY294002 group were significantly lower than those in EV group ( P<0.05). After 48 hours of culture, the cell migration rates at 12 and 24 hours after scratching in EV group were significantly higher than those in PBS group ( P<0.05), and the cell migration rates at 12 and 24 hours after scratching in EV+LY294002 group were significantly lower than those in EV group ( P<0.05); the number of cells migrating in 24 hours in EV group was significantly greater than that in PBS group ( P<0.05), and the number of cells migrating in 24 hours in EV+LY294002 group was significantly less than that in EV group ( P<0.05). After 48 hours of culture, compared with those in PBS group, the total length of tube formation of cells in EV group was significantly prolonged ( P<0.05), and the number of branch nodes was significantly increased ( P<0.05); compared with those in EV group, the total length of tube formation in EV+LY294002 group was significantly shortened ( P<0.05), and the number of branch nodes was significantly decreased ( P<0.05). Conclusions:hADMSC-EVs can inhibit the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins in HUVECs induced by high glucose through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and improve the proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis capabilities of HUVECs.

BackgroundPostoperative cognitive dysfunction （POCD） is a common complication in elderly patients after surgery， and has a great impact on postoperative rehabilitation of patients. ObjectiveTo explore the effect of mindfulness-based therapy on cognitive function and sleep quality in elderly patients after surgery under local anesthesia， so as to provide references for reducing their incidence risk of POCD and improving sleep quality. MethodsThe simple random sampling method was utilized to select 78 elderly patients who underwent surgery under local anesthesia in The Third Hospital of Mianyang from March 2022 to March 2023. Participants were assigned into study group and control group， each with 39 cases. All patients were subjected to conventional treatment and nursing interventions， and study group added mindfulness-based therapy on this basis. Mini-Mental State Examination （MMSE） was administered to patients on 1 day before surgery， and on the 1^st， 3^rd and 5^th day after surgery. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index （PSQI） was employed on 1 day before surgery and on the 3^rd day after surgery. ResultsMMSE scores revealed a significant time effect， group effect and time×group interaction effect （F=78.251， 197.071， 371.915， P<0.05）. Analysis of simple effect denoted that study group scored higher on MMSE on the 1^st， 3^rd and 5^th day after surgery compared with control group， with statistical significance （t=-3.579， -1.764， -0.253， P<0.05）. Study group reported lower incidence rates of POCD on the 1^st， 3^rd and 5^th day after surgery compared with control group， with statistical significance （χ²=2.631， 3.471， 5.135， P<0.05）. On the 3^rd day after surgery，study group scored lower on PSQI than control group（P<0.05）， and PSQI total score， sleep latency， subjective sleep quality， daytime dysfunction and hypnotic drug use factor scores of study group were lower than baseline， with statistical significance（F=43.175， 12.594， 11.092， 4.579， 3.514， P<0.01）. ConclusionMindfulness-based therapy may have certain value in reducing incidence of POCD and improving sleep quality in elderly patients who underwent surgery under local anesthesia.

Infant, Newborn ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Case-Control Studies ; Tracheotomy ; Respiration, Artificial

Objective:To study the outcomes and post-discharge follow-up of neonatal tracheotomy in neonatal intensive care unit(NICU).Methods:This study included patients who were admitted to NICU in Beijing Children′s Hospital from January, 2016 to August, 2021, and less than 28 days or 44 weeks(corrected age)on admission, and required tracheotomy.The patients were divided into tracheotomy group and the non-tracheotomy group (the parents signed to refuse the tracheotomy) according to whether perform tracheotomy.Demographic data, general hospitalization information, diagnosis, indications for tracheotomy, follow-up outcomes at 3/6/12 months of age after discharge of patients were collected and analyzed.Results:Totally 26 patients were included in this study, 14 cases in tracheotomy group and 12 cases in non-tracheotomy group.The average gestational age was(37.7±3.80)weeks and(38.99±1.83)weeks, and birth weight was(2 823.57±948.89)g and (3 320.83±378.76)g, respectively.There were no significant differences in sex, gestational age, birth weight, age on admission, weight on admission, age at diagnosis, ratio of endotracheal intubation for respiratory support on admission between two groups( P>0.05). The commonest indications of tracheotomy group were bilateral vocal cord paralysis(50.0%) and congenital anomaly/defect of throat/larynx(21.4%), and the commonest indications of non-tracheotomy group were bilateral vocal cord paralysis(50.0%) and vocal cord/subglottic mass(25.0%), and there was no significant difference between two groups( P>0.05). The rate of discharge-against-medical order of tracheotomy and non-tracheotomy group was 7.14% and 66.67%( P=0.003), respectively.The total follow-up rate of tracheotomy and non-tracheotomy group was 88.9% and 38.9%, while the follow-up rates at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months were 100.0% vs. 50.0%, 83.3% vs. 41.7%, and 81.8% vs. 25.0%, respectively, whose differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05). In the 14 cases of tracheotomy group, 3 cases died, 4 cases successfully removed the tracheal cannula, 5 cases did not remove the tracheal cannula, and 2 cases were lost. Conclusion:Bilateral vocal cord paralysis is the commonest indication of neonatal tracheotomy.Parents′ compliance in the tracheotomy group is significantly higher than that in non-tracheotomy group.To give caring skill training for parents of neonates with tracheotomy before discharge is beneficial for improving the overall prognosis of children.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xiaoxuming Decoction combined with conventional western medicine for acute ischemic stroke (AIS).Methods:Randomized controlled trials of Xiaoxuming Decoction combined with conventional western medicine on AIS were retrieved from various databases including CNKI, SinoMed, WanFang, VIP, The National Library of Medicine (MEDLINE), Excerpt Medica Database (EMBASE), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) with the deadline of March 31th, 2021. The risk of bias of included trials was assessed in the light of the criteria recommended by the Cochrane Handbook 5.0.1 for Systematic Reviews of interventions. Data were retrieved and analysed by Review Manager 5.3 software.Results:Thirteen qualified trials with 1 007 patients were included, with the control group given conventional western medicine ( n=488) and the treatment group on the basis of the CG adding Xiaoxuming Decoction ( n=519). The risk of bias was general high among the included studies. Meta analyses showed that Xiaoxuming Decoction combined with conventional western medicine on AIS was significantly better to attenuate NIHSS scores and improve clinical effective rate than the routine treatment of western medicine, with MD=-2.51, 95% CI [-3.55, -1.47], P<0.05 and RR=1.14, 95% CI [1.07, 1.21], P=0.07. Two articles truthfully reported and recorded the incidence rate of total adverse events with 3.45% and 6.82%. Conclusion:Current evidence indicates that treating acute ischemic stroke with Xiaoxuming Decoction combined with conventional western medicine can improve the clinical efficacy and attenuate NIHSS scores.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics and prognosis of children with inborn error of immunity (IEI) onset in the neonatal period.Methods:The clinical data of 21 cases of IEI neonates admitted to the Neonatal Center of Beijing Children′s Hospital were collected, and their clinical manifestations, peripheral blood test characteristics, genetic diagnosis, and primary disease during hospitalization were collected.The prognosis follow-up results were summarized and analyzed.Results:Twenty-one children with IEI were finally diagnosed by whole exome sequencing, including 15 cases of primary immunodeficiency(including 6 cases of chronic granulomatous disease, 3 cases of DiGeogre syndrome, 2 cases of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, 2 cases of severe combined immunodeficiency disease, 1 case of selective IgA deficiency, and 1 case of ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency), 5 cases of infantile inflammatory bowel disease, and 1 case of familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.Clinical manifestations of sepsis and colitis were the most common(accounting for 12/21), and 16/21 of the children had an increase in the absolute value of eosinophils(>0.5×10 9/L). Children received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation accounted for 7/21, and the median time of receiving transplantation was 11 months after birth.By the time of follow-up, the primary disease remission after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation accounted for 5/7.Among them, 2 cases were diagnosed with CGD associated inflammatory bowel disease before transplantation, and the primary disease resolved after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.Of the 14 children who did not receive hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, 10 children died.Five of the 11 deaths were treated with systematic steroid before diagnosised. Conclusion:The clinical manifestations of IEI in the neonatal period are not specific.Sepsis and colitis are the most common manifestations.Most of the cases have elevated eosinophils in the peripheral blood.Systematic streoid therapy needs to be cautious, and timely evaluation for hematopoietic stem cells transplantation is an effective option to resolution.

Objective:To study the clinical features and prognosis of infantile hepatic hemangioendothelioma-arteriovenous fistula (IHHE-AVF) complicated with heart failure in neonates.Method:From May 2016 to June 2020, neonates with IHHE-AVF complicated with heart failure admitted were retrospectively studied. The clinical presentation, treatment and outcomes were analyzed.Result:A total of 11 cases of IHHE-AVF complicated with heart failure were enrolled (male 5, female 6). The onset age of heart failure was 12.0 (0.0, 17.0) d. 6 cases showed IHHE on fetal ultrasound. All patients had significantly enlarged heart on chest X-ray. All patients had decreased left ventricular systolic function and pulmonary hypertension on echocardiography. All patients required respiratory support and 6 of them were intubated. 3 cases received conservative treatment (all dead). 1 case received surgery (dead). 7 cases received interventional therapy at the age of (25.6±18.5) d. 1 case was dead, and the other 6 cases were improved and discharged. All the 6 cases were followed up to 3~18 months. None of them had heart failure again. The IHHE were shrunk or completely disappeared. Coagulation function and platelet count were normal.Conclusion:The fatality rate of neonatal-onset IHHE-AVF complicated with heart failure is extremely high. Interventional therapy may be more effective than conservative therapy and surgery.

Objective:To explore the clinical manifestations, genetic disorder, prognosis of 14 neonates with primary immunodeficiency disease(PID).Methods:A total of 14 newborns with PID admitted to Department of Neonatology at Beijing Children′s Hospital from January 2017 to December 2019 were enrolled for retrospective analysis, focusing on their clinical manifestation, peripheral blood cell examnations, gene mutation, and outcomes after hemotopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT).Results:The average gestational age of the newborn was (38.6±1.2) weeks, the birth weight was (3 265±325)g, and the median diagnosis time was 57.5 days.Fourteen newborns with PID were diagnosed by whole exome sequencing as chronic granuloma (6/14), DiGeogre syndrome (3/14), Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (2/14), severe combined immunodeficiency (2/14) and selective IgA deficiency (1/14). Regarding the clinical manifestations, fever, pneumounia and colitis accounted for 7/14, the decrease of T lymphocytes in peripheral blood accounted for 6/14, and the decrease of B lymphocytes accounted for 5/14.The absolute value of eosinophils increased (>500 cells/mm 3) accounted for 12/14, of which moderately increased (1 500 to 5 000 cells/mm 3) accounted for 5/12, and the absolute value of monocytes increased (median>1.5×10 9/L) accounted for 7/14.Follow-up children received HSCT accounted for 7/14, and the median time of receiving transplantation was 330 days after birth.By the time of follow-up, the primary disease resolved after HSCT accounted for 5/7, and the survival rate was 85.7%.Among them, two children with chronic granulomatosis were diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease before transplantation, and the primary disease improved after HSCT.Three-quarters of the deaths had inflammatory bowel disease-like manifestations and died of infectious shock. Conclusion:The clinical manifestations of children with PID during the neonatal period are not specific.The manifestations of colitis need more attention.Some of the newborns with PID will evolve into inflammatory bowel disease or have inflammatory bowel disease-like manifestations or even die of it.HSCT is a fundamental treatment for the primary disease.