ObjectiveTo investigate the mechanisms of Runmu Dihuang decoction （RMDHD） in treating perimenopausal dry eye with liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome based on the silent information regulator 3 （SIRT3）/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α （HIF-1α）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway. MethodsSixty female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups （n=10 per group）： Sham operation group， model group， sodium hyaluronate eye drop group， and low-， medium-， and high-dose RMDHD groups （5.625， 11.25， 22.50 g·kg^-1）. Except for the sham operation group， all rats underwent bilateral ovariectomy and were administered 0.1% benzalkonium chloride eye drops combined with long-term chronic irritation to establish a perimenopausal dry eye model with liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome. Drug administration began in the 11th week after modeling and continued for 21 days. General conditions， screen-grip test scores， tear secretion volume， tear film breakup time （TFBUT）， and corneal fluorescein staining were recorded. Serum levels of reactive oxygen species （ROS）， follicle-stimulating hormone （FSH）， estradiol （E₂）， and progesterone （PROG） were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Pathological changes in the lacrimal glands， corneas， and uteri were observed using hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Protein expression levels of SIRT3， HIF-1α， phosphorylated NF-κB p65 （p-NF-κB p65）， and total NF-κB p65 in the lacrimal glands were detected by Western blot. The expression of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in the lacrimal glands was assessed by immunohistochemistry （IHC）. ResultsAfter model establishment， no significant differences were observed among the groups except the sham operation group. Compared with the sham operation group， the other groups exhibited slowed movement， dull responses， increased irritability， reduced body weight， elevated rectal temperature， decreased screen-grip test scores， reduced tear secretion， and significantly shortened TFBUT （P<0.05）. After treatment， compared with the model group， the sodium hyaluronate eye drop group and all RMDHD groups showed improved general conditions， significantly increased tear secretion （P<0.05）， prolonged TFBUT （P<0.05）， and elevated screen-grip test scores （P<0.05）. Serum ROS and FSH levels were significantly decreased， while E₂ and PROG levels were significantly increased （P<0.05）. Pathological damage to the cornea， lacrimal glands， and uterus was ameliorated. In addition， protein expression levels of SIRT3 and HIF-1α in the lacrimal glands were significantly upregulated （P<0.05）， whereas the expression of p-NF-κB p65， IL-1β， and TNF-α was significantly downregulated （P<0.05）. ConclusionRMDHD increases tear secretion and TFBUT， improves lacrimal gland and corneal injury， and alleviates dry eye symptoms in a perimenopausal dry eye rat model with liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome. The underlying mechanism may be related to regulation of the SIRT3/HIF-1α/NF-κB signaling pathway， inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammatory responses， and reduction of ocular surface tissue damage.

Human Respiratory Stem Cells (RSCs) play a crucial role in the maintenance, repair and regeneration of the respiratory system. As a novel therapeutic method, stem cell therapy is a popular research direction in the medical field. And with the in-depth research on the mechanism of pneumonia caused by respiratory infections in recent years, the use of RSCs to explore pneumonia caused by respiratory infections and its therapeutic strategies has become a hot topic. In this paper, we firstly outlined the types of RSCs, summarized the mechanism of pneumonia caused by respiratory tract infections, discussed the advantages of RSCs application and the progress of culture differentiation, and elaborated the therapeutic exploration of RSCs in pneumonia caused by respiratory tract infections.

Objective:To analyze the risk factors for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection in pediatric recipients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).Methods:Clinical data of children who underwent first allo-HSCT were retrospectively analyzed from March 2017 to November 2024. A total of 259 pediatric allo-HSCT recipients were analyzed through comparing HCMV infection group (n=115) and Non-HCMV infection group (n=144). Clinical characteristics were compared, and risk factors for HCMV infection were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression.Results:The result of univariate analysis showed that adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), length of hospitalization, duration of antiviral therapy, and bacterial infection were significantly associated with HCMV infection in pediatric allo-HSCT recipients ( P<0.05). The result of multivariate analysis showed that ALD was an independent protective factor against HCMV infection of allo-HSCT recipients ( P<0.05) [OR=0.22, 95% CI: 0.06-0.86], while umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) was an independent risk factor for HCMV infection in allo-HSCT recipients ( P<0.05) [OR=6.13, 95% CI: 1.34-28.04]. When the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for predicting post-transplant relapse based on HCMV viral load was 0.75 (95% CI: 0.55-0.94, P=0.014) and at the cutoff value of 3×10 3 copies/ml, the sensitivity and specificity for predicting relapse were 81.13% and 66.67%, respectively. Conclusions:HCMV infection in pediatric allo-HSCT recipients may lead to longer hospitalization and increased risk of relapse.

Objective:To determine the epidemiological characteristics of human bocavirus (HBoV) in children with acute respiratory infections (ARI) in Bengbu City, Anhui Province, in 2024.Methods:Nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected from 269 children with ARI in Bengbu City, Anhui Province, in 2024. Seventeen respiratory pathogens were screened using quantitative fluorescence PCR. For HBoV-positive samples, the VP1/VP2 structural gene fragments of HBoV were amplified and sequenced for genetic evolutionary analysis.Results:Among the 269 nasopharyngeal swab samples from children with ARI, the overall detection rate of respiratory pathogens was 48.33% (103/269). The top three pathogens with the highest detection rates were: Influenza A virus (FluA): 10.04% (27/269), Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): 8.18% (22/269), Human bocavirus (HBoV): 7.43% (20/269). The age distribution of HBoV-infected children showed that the detection rate was highest in the 0-2 years age group (50%, 10/20), followed by the 3-5 years age group (25%, 5/20) and the over 6 years age group (25%, 5/20). However, there was no statistically significant difference in viral detection rates among the age groups. Genetic evolutionary analysis based on VP1/VP2 revealed that all 13 HBoV strains were of the HBoV-1 genotype.Conclusions:HBoV is one of the major pathogens causing ARI in children in Bengbu City, Anhui Province, in 2024, with HBoV-1 being the predominant genotype. Additionally, infants aged 0-2 years are the most susceptible population to HBoV infection.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and cytokines expression characteristics in infants with mild and severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection.Methods:From May 2023 to December 2023, plasma samples and clinical information were collected from 16 infants with RSV infection and 14 control infants. Cytek Aurora flow cytometry (Cytek, America) and Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect the expression levels of 25 cytokines after mild and severe RSV infection.Results:Cough and nasal obstruction were the main clinical manifestations in infants with mild RSV infection, accompanied by polypnea, wheezing and other symptoms. The main symptoms of severe RSV infection were cough and rales, accompanied by fever and polypnea. In comparison with the control group, the expression levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-13, IL-22, TNF-α, IFN-α, IFN-β, MIP-1β, I-TAC, ENA-78, GROα, Eotaxin, and MCP-1 in the RSV infection group all exhibited an upregulation trend. Both IP-10 and MIP-3α demonstrated a downward trend in the RSV infection group; however, there was no statistically significant difference ( P>0.05). The levels of IL-10, IFN-γ, MIP-1α, and IL-8 in the RSV infection group were significantly higher than those in the control group, whereas the levels of MIG, TARC, and RANTES in the RSV infection group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.05). The levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IL-13, IL-22, IFN-β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-8, I-TAC, MIP-1β, Eotaxin, and MCP-1 in the mild RSV infection group were significantly higher than those in the severe RSV infection group ( P>0.05). Among these, the levels of MIG, RANTES, TARC, MIP-3α, and ENA-78 in the mild infection group were all lower than those in the severe infection group. The expressions of ENA-78 and MIP-1α in the severe infection group were significantly higher than those in the mild infection group and also higher than those in the control group. There was no significant difference in IP-10 and GROα between the mild and severe RSV infection groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:The differences in clinical features and cytokines between infants with mild and severe RSV infection provide important data support for the prevention and treatment of RSV infection in infants.

Vertebral refracture following percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) is commonly seen in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures (OTLCF). It can lead to recurrent pain, loss of vertebral height, progression of kyphosis, and even neurological dysfunction, significantly impairing patients′ quality of life. Current diagnosis and treatment face multiple challenges, including high misdiagnosis rate, difficulty in choosing between surgical and non-surgical treatment options, lack of standardized surgical protocols, interference from intralesional bone cement during procedures, inadequate stability of internal fixation in osteoporotic bone, and suboptimal compliance of anti-osteoporotic therapy. Establishing a standardized diagnostic and therapeutic framework is urgently needed. To standardize the management process and improve outcomes for vertebral refractures after PVA in elderly OTLCF patients, Spinal Trauma Group of the Orthopedic Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association organized experts in the field to develop Guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of vertebral refracture after percutaneous vertebral augmentation in elderly patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar compression fractures ( version 2025), based on current literature and clinical experience, and adhering to principles of scientific rigor and clinical applicability. A total of 11 recommendations were proposed, encompassing diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of vertebral refracture after PVA in elderly patients with OTLCF, aiming to provide a foundation for a standardized management.

Objective:To investigate the neurorestorative effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on neurological function recovery in rats with spinal cord injury and its potential mechanisms.Methods:Ninety adult SD rats were selected and randomly divided into 6 groups using a random number table: sham-operated group ( n=24), spinal cord injury group ( n=24), bFGF group ( n=24), bFGF autophagy pathway validation group ( n=6), bFGF+rapamycin group ( n=6), and bFGF+MHY1485 group ( n=6). A spinal cord injury model was established by impacting the T 10 spinal cord segment using a self-made Allen′s weight-drop impactor. The sham-operated group underwent a 3 cm midline dorsal incision without spinal cord injury; the bFGF group received immediate intrathecal injection of 100 μl bFGF solution (20 μg/L) after injury; the sham surgery group and spinal cord injury group received an equal volume of saline after injury; the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group received the identical treatment as the bFGF group; the bFGF+rapamycin group received the same treatment as the bFGF group with additional intraperitoneal injection of rapamycin (4 mg·kg -1·d -1); the bFGF+MHY1485 group received the identical bFGF treatment plus intraperitoneal injection of MHY1485 (10 mg·kg -1·d -1). At 28 days after injury, the rats were sacrificed and the spinal cord tissue was collected at 5 mm from the injury epicenter for HE staining and pathological observation. At 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after injury, BBB scoring was used to assess hindlimb motor function; P wave latency and P1-N1 wave amplitude were recorded to evaluate neuroelectrophysiological changes; Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression levels of phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3-II (LC3-II) and evaluate changes in mTOR signaling pathway and autophagy activity. At 28 days after injury, behavioral alterations, neuroelectrophysiological changes, and auctophagy-related protein expression levels were assessed in the bFGF autophagy pathyway validation group, bFGF+rapamycin group and bFGF+MHY1485 group. Results:At 28 days after injury, the sham-operated group exhibited regular nuclear morphology, while the spinal cord injury group showed disordered cell structures and the bFGF group displayed relatively normal nuclear morphology. At 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after injury, the BBB scores in both the spinal cord injury group and bFGF group were lower than those in the sham-operated group ( P<0.01), with higher scores in the bFGF group than those in the spinal cord injury group ( P<0.01). At 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after injury, P-wave latency was longer and P1-N1 wave amplitude was lower in both the spinal cord injury group and bFGF group compared to those in the sham-operated group ( P<0.01), with shorter P-wave latency and higher P1-N1 wave amplitude in the bFGF group compared to those in the spinal cord injury group ( P<0.01). Western blot results indicated that at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after injury, in the spinal cord injury group, p-mTOR/mTOR levels were lower than those in both the sham-operated group and bFGF group ( P<0.01), while LC3-II expression levels were higher ( P<0.01); in the bFGF group, p-mTOR/mTOR levels were higher than those in the spinal cord injury group but lower than those in the sham-operated group ( P<0.01), and LC3-II expression levels were lower than those in the spinal cord injury group but higher than those in the sham-operated group ( P<0.01). At 28 days after injury, the BBB scores were higher in both the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group and bFGF+MHY1485 group than those in the bFGF+rapamycin group ( P<0.01), with higher scores in the bFGF+MHY1485 group than those in the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group ( P<0.01). P-wave latency was shorter in both the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group and bFGF+MHY1485 group than those in the bFGF+rapamycin group ( P<0.01), with shorter P-wave latency in the bFGF+MHY1485 group than that in the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group ( P<0.01). P1-N1 wave amplitude was lower in both the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group and bFGF+MHY1485 group than that in the bFGF+rapamycin group ( P<0.01), with lower P1-N1 wave amplitude in the bFGF+MHY1485 group than that in the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group ( P<0.01). The p-mTOR/mTOR levels were higher in both the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group and bFGF+MHY1485 group than those in the bFGF+rapamycin group ( P<0.01), with higher p-mTOR/mTOR levels in the bFGF+MHY1485 group than those in the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group ( P<0.01). The LC3-II expression levels were higher in both the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group and bFGF+MHY1485 group than those in the bFGF+rapamycin group ( P<0.01), with higher LC3-II expression levels in the bFGF+MHY1485 group than those in the bFGF autophagy pathway validation group ( P<0.01). Conclusion:bFGF can improve the pathological state, motor behavior, and neuroelectrophysiological function in rats with spinal cord injury, for which the mechanism of action may involve downregulating cellular autophagy function by activating the mTOR pathway, thereby inhibiting excessive autophagy to promote neuronal regeneration and repair.

An electrochemical sensor based on a chitosan-carbon nanotube(CS-CNT)composite-modified glassy carbon electrode(GCE)was developed in this work for highly sensitive detection of sunset yellow(SY)in food.The CS-CNT composite dispersion was prepared via an ultrasonic dispersion method.Combined with quantum chemical calculations,the adsorption mechanism of SY molecules onto the electrode surface,facilitated by π-π conjugation and electrostatic interactions,was elucidated.The optimized experimental conditions were determined as follows:12 μL of CS-CNT dispersion modification volume,accumulation time of 300 s,and a phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.0 as supporting electrolyte solution.Experimental results demonstrated that CS significantly enhanced the dispersion of CNT,increasing the effective surface area of the modified electrode by 2.22 times(reaching 0.1587 cm2)compared to the bare GCE.The sensor exhibited a linear detection range of 3.0×10-7 mol/L to 1.0×10-5 mol/L,with a detection limit(S/N=3)of 5.0×10-10 mol/L.Satisfactory spiked recoveries ranging from 96.9%to 101.1%were achieved,along with good preparation reproducibility(relative standard deviation,RSD=4.96%).Interference tests indicated high selectivity of the sensor against citric acid,glucose,and common metal ions.The reliability of the sensor was validated through the detection of SY in actual beverage samples.This electrode design simplified operational procedures,avoiding cross-contamination between measurements,and provided an efficient solution for the on-site monitoring of food additives.

The present study aimed to explore whether hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) improved hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) in rats by inhibiting aerobic glycolysis-pyroptosis. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal group, normal+NaHS group, hypoxia group, and hypoxia+NaHS group, with 6 rats in each group. The control group rats were placed in a normoxic (21% O₂) environment and received daily intraperitoneal injections of an equal volume of normal saline. The normal+NaHS group rats were placed in a normoxic environment and intraperitoneally injected with 14 μmol/kg NaHS daily. The hypoxia group rats were placed in a hypoxia chamber, and the oxygen controller inside the chamber maintained the oxygen concentration at 9% to 10% by controlling the N₂ flow rate. An equal volume of normal saline was injected intraperitoneally every day. The hypoxia+NaHS group rats were also placed in an hypoxia chamber and intraperitoneally injected with 14 μmol/kg NaHS daily. After the completion of the four-week modeling, the mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) of each group was measured using right heart catheterization technique, and the right ventricular hypertrophy index (RVHI) was weighed and calculated. HE staining was used to observe pathological changes in lung tissue, Masson staining was used to observe fibrosis of lung tissue, and Western blot was used to detect protein expression levels of hexokinase 2 (HK2), pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), pyruvate kinase isozyme type M2 (PKM2), nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), GSDMD-N-terminal domain (GSDMD-N), Caspase-1, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-18 in lung tissue. ELISA was used to detect contents of IL-1β and IL-18 in lung tissue. The results showed that, compared with the normal control group, there were no significant changes in all indexes in the normal+NaHS group, while the hypoxia group exhibited significantly increased mPAP and RVHI, thickened pulmonary vascular wall, narrowed lumen, increased collagen fibers, up-regulated expression levels of aerobic glycolysis-related proteins (HK2 and PKM2), up-regulated expression levels of pyroptosis-related proteins (NLRP3, GSDMD-N, Caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18), and increased contents of IL-1β and IL-18. These changes of the above indexes in the hypoxia group were significantly reversed by NaHS. These results suggest that H₂S can improve rat HPH by inhibiting aerobic glycolysis-pyroptosis.
Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/metabolism* ; Glycolysis/drug effects* ; Hydrogen Sulfide/therapeutic use* ; Hypoxia/complications* ; Rats ; Pyroptosis/drug effects*