Panax species are mostly valuable medicinal plants. While some species' seeds are sensitive to dehydration, the dehydration tolerance of seeds from other Panax species remains unclear. The phospholipase D(PLD) gene plays an important role in plant responses to dehydration stress. However, the characteristics of the PLD gene family and their mechanisms of response to dehydration stress in seeds of Panax species with different dehydration tolerances are not well understood. This study used seeds from eight Panax species to measure the germination rates and PLD activity after dehydration and to analyze the correlation between dehydration tolerance and seed traits. Bioinformatics analysis was also conducted to characterize the PnPLD and PvPLD gene families and to evaluate their expression patterns under dehydration stress. The dehydration tolerance of Panax seeds was ranked from high to low as follows: P. ginseng, P. zingiberensis, P. quinquefolius, P. vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus, P. japonicus var. angustifolius, P. japonicus, P. notoginseng, and P. stipuleanatus. A significant negative correlation was found between dehydration tolerance and seed shape(three-dimensional variance), with flatter seeds exhibiting stronger dehydration tolerance(r=-0.792). Eighteen and nineteen PLD members were identified in P. notoginseng and P. vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus, respectively. These members were classified into five isoforms: α, β, γ, δ, and ζ. The gene structures, subcellular localization, physicochemical properties, and other characteristics of PnPLD and PvPLD were similar. Both promoters contained regulatory elements associated with plant growth and development, hormone responses, and both abiotic and biotic stress. During dehydration, the PLD enzyme activity in P. notoginseng seeds gradually increased as the water content decreased, whereas in P. vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus, PLD activity first decreased and then increased. The expression of PLDα and PLDδ in P. notoginseng seeds initially increased and then decreased, whereas in P. vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus, the expression of PLDα and PLDδ consistently decreased. In conclusion, the dehydration tolerance of Panax seeds showed a significant negative correlation with seed shape. The dehydration tolerance in P. vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus and dehydration sensitivity of P. notoginseng seeds may be related to differences in PLD enzyme activity and the expression of PLDα and PLDδ genes. This study provided the first systematic comparison of dehydration tolerance in Panax seeds and analyzed the causes of tolerance differences and the optimal water content for long-term storage at ultra-low temperatures, thus providing a theoretical basis for the short-term and ultra-low temperature long-term storage of medicinal plant seeds with varying dehydration tolerances.
Seeds/metabolism* ; Panax/physiology* ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Phospholipase D/metabolism* ; Plants, Medicinal/enzymology* ; Germination ; Multigene Family ; Water/metabolism* ; Dehydration ; Phylogeny

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the incidence of abnormal hemoglobin (Hb) in neonates in Guangzhou area, as well as the results of quantitative analysis of Hb in neonatal umbilical cord blood and genetic diagnosis of thalassemia in neonates with abnormal Hb; And to explore the hematological phenotypes and clinical characteristics of neonates with abnormal Hb and their parents, providing a reference for eugenics and childcare. METHODS: 650 neonates born at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital who underwent Hb electrophoresis were included in this study. The results of routine blood test of umbilical cord blood , Hb electrophoresis and α-, β-thalassemia gene detection of the neonates were collected. The genotype distribution of thalassemia in the neonates was analyzed. Additionally, the abnormal Hb content of α and β variants was studied. Furthermore, the differences in hematological parameters between abnormal Hb neonates and normal neonates and α-thalassemia neonates, as well as between the parents of abnormal Hb neonates and normal adults were compared. RESULTS: Among the 650 neonates, 332 (51.08%) were diagnosed with thalassemia, including 235 cases of α-thalassemia (36.15%), 79 cases of β-thalassemia (12.15%), and 18 cases of compound αβ-thalassemia (2.77%). Among all the α-thalassemia genotypes, the most prevalent one was -- ^SEA/αα (48.94%), followed by -α^3.7/αα (20.00%), -α^4.2/αα (11.06%), and αα^CS/αα (8.94%). The four most common genotypes of β-thalassemia were β^CD41-42 (32.91%), β^IVS-Ⅱ-654 (26.58%), β^-28 (21.52%), and β^E (10.13%), respectively. 275 cases of abnormal bands were found in Hb electrophoresis of umbilical cord blood, with a detection rate of 42.31%. The abnormal Hb content of α-variant in the neonates was significantly higher than that of β-variant (P < 0.001). The levels of Hb, MCV, MCH, Hb A, and Hb F in neonates with abnormal Hb were lower than those in normal neonates, while the RDW-CV was higher than that in normal neonates, with statistical significantce (P < 0.05). The levels of RBC and Hb A in neonates with abnormal Hb were lower than those in neonates with α-thalassemia, while the level of MCH was higher than that in neonats with α-thalassemia, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). The levels of Hb, MCV, MCH, and Hb A in parents of neonates with abnormal Hb were lower than those in normal adults, while the RDW-CV was higher than that in normal adults, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The abnormal Hb content of α-variant in the neonates is significantly higher than that of β-variant in the neonates in Guangzhou, which can help to presume whether it is α chain or β chain based on the abnormal Hb content, providing a reference for globin gene sequencing. Meanwhile, analysis of various hematological screening-related indicators in neonates in the early stage is beneficial for early warning of the occurrence of abnormal Hb combined with thalassemia, reducing missed diagnoses to a certain extent.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Genotype ; Hemoglobins, Abnormal/genetics* ; China/epidemiology* ; alpha-Thalassemia/epidemiology* ; beta-Thalassemia/genetics* ; Parents ; Female ; Male ; Fetal Blood

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic efficacy of portal and tail vein transplantation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) against cholestatic liver fibrosis in mice. METHODS: BMSCs were isolated and co-cultured with starvation-activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). HSC activation markers were identified using immunofluorescence and qRT-PCR. BMSCs were injected into the liver tissues of bile duct ligation (BDL) mice via the tail and portal veins. Histomorphology, liver function, inflammatory cytokines, and the expression of key proteins were all determined in the liver tissues. RESULTS: BMSCs inhibited HSC activation by reducing α-SMA and collagen I expression. Compared to tail vein injection, DIL-labeled BMSCs injected through the portal vein maintained a high homing rate in the liver. Moreover, BMSCs transplanted through the portal vein resulted in greater improvement in liver color, hardness, and gallbladder size than did those transplanted through the tail vein. Furthermore, BMSCs injected by portal vein, but not tail vein, markedly ameliorated liver function, reduced the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, and decreased α-SMA + hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and collagen fiber formation. CONCLUSION The therapeutic effect of BMSCs on cholestatic liver fibrosis in mice via portal vein transplantation was superior to that of tail vein transplantation. This comparative study provides reference information for further BMSC studies focused on clinical cholestatic liver diseases.
Animals ; Mice ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Liver Cirrhosis/etiology* ; Male ; Cholestasis/therapy* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) poses a significant risk of neural damage during pregnancy. As the most prevalent intrauterine infectious agent in low- and middle-income countries, HCMV disrupts the development of neural stem cells, leading to fetal malformations and abnormal structural and physiological functions in the fetal brain. This review summarizes the current understanding of how HCMV infection dysregulates the Wnt signaling pathway to induce fetal malformations and discusses current management strategies.
Humans ; Cytomegalovirus Infections/virology* ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Cytomegalovirus/physiology* ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/virology* ; Congenital Abnormalities/virology* ; Animals

Objective To assess the blood pressure control and its influencing factors among hypertensive patients in communities in different time periods by 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring(24 h ABPM)and provide reference for optimizing the health management services for hypertension in communities. Methods A total of 765 hypertensive patients registered in the hypertension management project of national essential public health services in Sanxiang Town,Zhongshan City from October 2022 to September 2023 were identified as target subjects.The 24 h ABPM devices were distributed for blood pressure monitoring and a questionnaire survey was conducted to analyze the influencing factors of blood pressure control. Results Of all the participants,16.5% did not monitor blood pressure regularly,and 59.2% monitored blood pressure 1-2 times per week.The patients who were not on night shifts/staying up late had higher mean rates of achieving the target blood pressure and the circadian rhythm of blood pressure during 24 h,nighttime,and early morning than those who were on night shifts/staying up late(all P<0.05).The patients who never drank alcohol had higher rate of achieving the target blood pressure in early morning than those who drank alcohol(P=0.012).The average blood pressure during daytime,nighttime,and 24 h were different by sex(all P<0.05).The average blood pressure during nighttime was different by age and job types(all P<0.05).The average blood pressure during daytime,nighttime,and 24 h were different in patients with different body weight types(all P<0.05).The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that uncontrolled blood pressure during daytime was more likely to occur in male patients(OR=1.394,95%CI=1.045-1.858,P=0.024),and that during nighttime was more likely to be associated with male patients(OR=1.573,95%CI=1.088-2.275,P=0.016)and night shifts(OR=2.467,95%CI=1.198-5.077,P=0.014).It was difficult to achieve blood pressure control in early morning for the patients who drank alcohol for more than three times per week(OR=4.567,95%CI=1.629-12.807,P=0.004),woke up at night(OR=1.800,95%CI=1.125-2.878,P=0.014),and had night shifts(OR=1.579,95%CI=1.102-2.465,P=0.044).The patients on night shifts were more likely to have abnormal circadian rhythm of blood pressure(OR=1.753,95%CI:1.018-3.018,P=0.043). Conclusions The personal characteristics and lifestyle of hypertensive patients significantly affect the blood pressure control in different time periods(daytime,nighttime,and early morning)and the circadian rhythm of blood pressure.The family doctor team of community healthcare institutions can implement targeted and precise intervention measures for hypertensive patients according to the influencing factors of blood pressure control in different time periods,so as to achieve better management effects.
Humans ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Hypertension/physiopathology* ; Male ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Circadian Rhythm ; Blood Pressure ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Adult ; Aged ; Time Factors

Objective:To study the overall training effect of segmented training model on key fiberoptic bronchoscopy techniques for anesthesiology residents and the influence of key technique training order on the training effect.Methods:Different fiberoptic bronchoscopy simulators were used for specialized training in different key techniques of fiberoptic operation. To examine the effect of key technique learning order on the teaching effect, 40 anesthesiology residents who participated in fiberscope simulation training at Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine between November 2022 and March 2023 were selected for this study. They were randomly divided into two groups (Group S and Group M) using a numerical table method. The teaching was completed using two orders of key techniques. The operation time, operation quality score, and theoretical knowledge mastery score of the two groups were recorded to compare the effect of key technique learning order on the mastery of fiberoptic skills. SPSS 29.0 statistical software was used for data analysis. Measurement data that conformed to normal distribution were expressed as mean ± standard deviation, and the independent samples t-test or Fisher's exact test were used for comparison between groups. The chi-square test was used for comparison of enumeration data. Results:After segmented training in each key technique, both groups of trainees were able to shorten the operation time of the corresponding key technique [SM simulator operation time (132.25±14.69) s vs. (49.80±4.46) s in group S, P<0.01; M simulator operation time (82.30±11.60) s vs. (57.10±6.77) s in group S, P<0.01; SM simulator operation time (83.10±10.62) s vs. (52.10±5.20) s in group M, P<0.01; M simulator operation time (132.25±14.69) s vs. (55.40±5.91) s in group M, P<0.01)]. Moreover, both groups showed a reduced number of wall touches [SM simulator wall touches (3.35±0.93) times vs. (0.65±0.49) times in group S, P<0.01; M simulator wall touches (2.50±1.05) times vs. (0.70±0.80) times in group S, P<0.01; SM simulator wall touches (1.55±1.15) times vs. (0.40±0.50) times in group M, P<0.01; M simulator wall touches (5.90±1.29) times vs. (1.10±0.79) times in group M, P<0.01]. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the performance score of fiberoptic-guided tracheal intubation after training [(92.50±5.97) points vs. (91.75±5.45) points] and in the lung segment localization time [(23.15±4.39) s, (21.40±4.84) s, (22.85±4.42) s vs. (22.75±5.11) s, (21.00±5.40) s, (21.50±5.10) s]. Conclusions:Segmented training on key fiberoptic bronchoscopy techniques is an effective model of fiberscope training for anesthesiology residents, and the order of training key techniques does not affect the effectiveness of training.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis(PM),and drug sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)isolates in Chinese children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical information,laboratory data,and microbiological data of 160 hospitalized children under 15 years old with PM from January 2019 to December 2020 in 33 tertiary hospitals across the country.Results Among the 160 children with PM,there were 103 males and 57 females.The age ranged from 15 days to 15 years,with 109 cases(68.1% )aged 3 months to under 3 years.SP strains were isolated from 95 cases(59.4% )in cerebrospinal fluid cultures and from 57 cases(35.6% )in blood cultures.The positive rates of SP detection by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing and cerebrospinal fluid SP antigen testing were 40% (35/87)and 27% (21/78),respectively.Fifty-five cases(34.4% )had one or more risk factors for purulent meningitis,113 cases(70.6% )had one or more extra-cranial infectious foci,and 18 cases(11.3% )had underlying diseases.The most common clinical symptoms were fever(147 cases,91.9% ),followed by lethargy(98 cases,61.3% )and vomiting(61 cases,38.1% ).Sixty-nine cases(43.1% )experienced intracranial complications during hospitalization,with subdural effusion and/or empyema being the most common complication[43 cases(26.9% )],followed by hydrocephalus in 24 cases(15.0% ),brain abscess in 23 cases(14.4% ),and cerebral hemorrhage in 8 cases(5.0% ).Subdural effusion and/or empyema and hydrocephalus mainly occurred in children under 1 year old,with rates of 91% (39/43)and 83% (20/24),respectively.SP strains exhibited complete sensitivity to vancomycin(100% ,75/75),linezolid(100% ,56/56),and meropenem(100% ,6/6).High sensitivity rates were also observed for levofloxacin(81% ,22/27),moxifloxacin(82% ,14/17),rifampicin(96% ,25/26),and chloramphenicol(91% ,21/23).However,low sensitivity rates were found for penicillin(16% ,11/68)and clindamycin(6% ,1/17),and SP strains were completely resistant to erythromycin(100% ,31/31).The rates of discharge with cure and improvement were 22.5% (36/160)and 66.2% (106/160),respectively,while 18 cases(11.3% )had adverse outcomes.Conclusions Pediatric PM is more common in children aged 3 months to under 3 years.Intracranial complications are more frequently observed in children under 1 year old.Fever is the most common clinical manifestation of PM,and subdural effusion/emphysema and hydrocephalus are the most frequent complications.Non-culture detection methods for cerebrospinal fluid can improve pathogen detection rates.Adverse outcomes can be noted in more than 10% of PM cases.SP strains are high sensitivity to vancomycin,linezolid,meropenem,levofloxacin,moxifloxacin,rifampicin,and chloramphenicol.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):131-138]

Fluid resuscitation after burns is very crucial to the survival and prognosis of children. Although the principles of fluid resuscitation in children are similar to those in adults, the unique physiological needs of children must be fully considered to prevent insufficient or excessive fluid resuscitation. In clinical practice, due to the popularization of various monitoring techniques, insufficient fluid resuscitation can be observed in time, but excessive fluid resuscitation is often overlooked. Excessive fluid resuscitation can lead to fluid extravasation, increasing the probability of pediatric burn complications and poor prognosis. This review focuses on the unique pathophysiological characteristics of children with burns and how to avoid excessive fluid resuscitation in order to provide reference for rational fluid rehydration.