Objective:To investigate the risk factors for severe hyperbilirubinemia complicated by acute bilirubin encephalopathy (ABE), and the value of total serum bilirubin (TSB) and bilirubin (B)/albumin (A) ratio in predicting ABE.Methods:Clinical data of children with severe hyperbilirubinemia admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Ordos Central Hospital, People's Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the Fourth Hospital of Baotou, Tongliao Hospital, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hohhot, the Affiliated Hospital of Chifeng University, Manzhouli People's Hospital, and Chifeng Hospital from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021, were retrospectively collected. The subjects were divided into ABE and non-ABE groups based on the occurrence of ABE. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify high-risk factors for ABE. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, or Chi-square tests. Indicators with statistically significant differences were included in the multivariate logistic regression model, and stepwise regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of ABE. Results:(1) A total of 543 children were included in this study, accounting for 3.7% (543/14 831) of the total admissions during the same period. Among the 543 children, 81 (14.9%) had ABE, and 462 (85.1%) did not. The age at admission was (7.2±2.1) d, and the length of hospital stay was (5.2±2.2) d. The breastfeeding initiation time was 2 d (1-4 d) after birth. The peak TSB of the 543 cases was (385.98±51.22) μmol/L, and the age at peak TSB was (4.4±2.1) d. Fourteen cases (2.5%) gradually reached the peak TSB after admission [(392.01±61.24) μmol/L], while 529 cases (97.5%) had already reached the peak TSB at admission [(386.42±50.22) μmol/L]. Among the 543 cases, 356 had a clear etiology (65.6%, with 278 cases having a single cause and 78 cases having more than two causes), and 187 cases (34.4%) had an unknown etiology. (2) Compared with the non-ABE group, the breastfeeding initiation in the ABE group was later [6 h (2-6 h) vs. 2 h (1-3 h), Z=－6.87] and the length of hospital stay was longer [(6.5±1.9) d vs. (5.0±2.1) d, t=0.55]. The proportions of breastfeeding, delayed meconium passage, isoimmune hemolysis, and maternal gestational diabetes, as well as peak TSB and B/A ratio at peak TSB, were higher in the ABE group than in the non-ABE group [64.2% (52/81) vs. 36.8% (170/462), χ2=21.96; 16.0% (13/81) vs. 2.4% (11/462), χ2=27.32; 27.2% (22/81) vs. 10.6% (40/462), χ2=16.61; 24.7% (20/81) vs. 13.6% (63/462), χ2=6.50; (442±68) vs. (375±39) μmol/L, t=－8.55; (11.9±1.6) vs. (9.8±1.2), t=－11.61; all P<0.05]. The admission weight, proportion of transfer from the hospital's obstetrics department, unknown etiology, and breast milk jaundice were lower in the ABE group than in the non-ABE group [(3 098±482) vs. (3 278±493) g, t=3.04; 12.3% (10/81) vs. 42.4% (196/462), χ2=30.48; 3.7% (3/81) vs. 39.8% (184/462), χ2=39.83; 0.0% (0/81) vs. 5.8% (27/462), χ2=3.81; all P<0.05]. (3) Isoimmune hemolysis, peak TSB, and B/A ratio at peak TSB were independent risk factors for ABE [ OR(95% CI) were 2.924 (1.209-7.073), 1.006 (0.997-1.014), and 2.647 (1.841-3.805), respectively]. When the peak TSB was 380.05 μmol/L and the B/A ratio at peak TSB was 10.45, the sensitivity for predicting ABE was 0.963, the specificity was 0.789, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.752. Conclusions:Isoimmune hemolysis, peak TSB, and B/A ratio at peak TSB are independent risk factors for ABE. The B/A ratio at peak TSB and peak TSB can effectively predict ABE.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for severe hyperbilirubinemia complicated by acute bilirubin encephalopathy (ABE), and the value of total serum bilirubin (TSB) and bilirubin (B)/albumin (A) ratio in predicting ABE.Methods:Clinical data of children with severe hyperbilirubinemia admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Ordos Central Hospital, People's Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the Fourth Hospital of Baotou, Tongliao Hospital, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hohhot, the Affiliated Hospital of Chifeng University, Manzhouli People's Hospital, and Chifeng Hospital from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021, were retrospectively collected. The subjects were divided into ABE and non-ABE groups based on the occurrence of ABE. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify high-risk factors for ABE. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, or Chi-square tests. Indicators with statistically significant differences were included in the multivariate logistic regression model, and stepwise regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of ABE. Results:(1) A total of 543 children were included in this study, accounting for 3.7% (543/14 831) of the total admissions during the same period. Among the 543 children, 81 (14.9%) had ABE, and 462 (85.1%) did not. The age at admission was (7.2±2.1) d, and the length of hospital stay was (5.2±2.2) d. The breastfeeding initiation time was 2 d (1-4 d) after birth. The peak TSB of the 543 cases was (385.98±51.22) μmol/L, and the age at peak TSB was (4.4±2.1) d. Fourteen cases (2.5%) gradually reached the peak TSB after admission [(392.01±61.24) μmol/L], while 529 cases (97.5%) had already reached the peak TSB at admission [(386.42±50.22) μmol/L]. Among the 543 cases, 356 had a clear etiology (65.6%, with 278 cases having a single cause and 78 cases having more than two causes), and 187 cases (34.4%) had an unknown etiology. (2) Compared with the non-ABE group, the breastfeeding initiation in the ABE group was later [6 h (2-6 h) vs. 2 h (1-3 h), Z=－6.87] and the length of hospital stay was longer [(6.5±1.9) d vs. (5.0±2.1) d, t=0.55]. The proportions of breastfeeding, delayed meconium passage, isoimmune hemolysis, and maternal gestational diabetes, as well as peak TSB and B/A ratio at peak TSB, were higher in the ABE group than in the non-ABE group [64.2% (52/81) vs. 36.8% (170/462), χ2=21.96; 16.0% (13/81) vs. 2.4% (11/462), χ2=27.32; 27.2% (22/81) vs. 10.6% (40/462), χ2=16.61; 24.7% (20/81) vs. 13.6% (63/462), χ2=6.50; (442±68) vs. (375±39) μmol/L, t=－8.55; (11.9±1.6) vs. (9.8±1.2), t=－11.61; all P<0.05]. The admission weight, proportion of transfer from the hospital's obstetrics department, unknown etiology, and breast milk jaundice were lower in the ABE group than in the non-ABE group [(3 098±482) vs. (3 278±493) g, t=3.04; 12.3% (10/81) vs. 42.4% (196/462), χ2=30.48; 3.7% (3/81) vs. 39.8% (184/462), χ2=39.83; 0.0% (0/81) vs. 5.8% (27/462), χ2=3.81; all P<0.05]. (3) Isoimmune hemolysis, peak TSB, and B/A ratio at peak TSB were independent risk factors for ABE [ OR(95% CI) were 2.924 (1.209-7.073), 1.006 (0.997-1.014), and 2.647 (1.841-3.805), respectively]. When the peak TSB was 380.05 μmol/L and the B/A ratio at peak TSB was 10.45, the sensitivity for predicting ABE was 0.963, the specificity was 0.789, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.752. Conclusions:Isoimmune hemolysis, peak TSB, and B/A ratio at peak TSB are independent risk factors for ABE. The B/A ratio at peak TSB and peak TSB can effectively predict ABE.

2019-nCoV Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant, which has brought new challenges to the prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic, has the characteristics of stronger transmissibility and more rapid transmission and more significant immune evasion. It took only two months to become a predominant strain worldwide after its identification in South Africa in November 2021. Local epidemics caused by Omicron variant have been reported in several provinces in China. However, the epidemiological characteristics of highly mutated Omicron variant remain unclear. This article summarizes the progress in the research of functional mutations, transmissibility, virulence, immune evasion and cross-reactive immune responses of Omicron variant, to provide references for the effective prevention and control of COVID-19 pandemic caused by Omicron variant.
COVID-19 ; Humans ; Mutation ; Pandemics ; SARS-CoV-2

Objective:To study the clinical efficacy of Chaihu Shugansan on non-alcoholic fatty liver（NAFLD） patients with liver stagnation and spleen deficiency syndrome and its effect on intestinal flora. Method:The study was a single-center， randomized，single-blind， placebo-controlled clinical study involving 80 patients with NAFLD treated from January 2019 to January 2020 at our hospital. They were divided into two groups （Chaihu Shugansan group，n=40） and control group （placebo group，n=40）. The two groups of patients were given lifestyle intervention as the basic protocol. The treatment group was orally given Chaihu Shugansan，and the control group was orally given placebo. The drugs were given twice in the morning and evening， 1 dose/time. Patients were followed up for 12 weeks. Before and after treatment，the efficady on liver steatosis was observed by abdominal ultrasound and transient elastography （Fibroscan）， levels of alanine aminotransferase（ALT），aspartate aminotransferase（AST），glutamyl transpeptidase（γ-GT），high density lipoprotein cholesterol（HDL-C），low density lipoprotein cholesterol（LDL-C），total cholesterol（TC），triglyceride（TG），interleukin（IL）-6，IL-1β，Toll-like receptor-4（TLR-4） in peripheral blood mononuclear cells（PBMCs） and intestinal flora were also detected. Result:There were 37 patients in the treatment group and 35 patients in the control group who finally completed the study protocol. The total effective rate of NAFLD in the treatment group（81.08%，30/37） was higher than that in the control group （68.57%，24/35）（Z=2.67，P<0.05）. The treatment group was superior to the control group in reducing the levels of BMI，ALT，AST，TC，LDL-C，TG，γ-GT and increasing the level of HDL-C（P<0.05）. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines（TNF-α，IL-1β and IL-6），the values of Controlled Attenuation Parameter（CAP），Liver Stiffness Measurement（LSM） and expression of TLR4 were down-regulated in the treatment group （P<0.01）. In addition，the treatment group showed increase in the abundance of beneficial bacteria （Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus） and inhibited the abundance of pathogenic bacteria （Enterobacter and Enterococcus） in the gut（P<0.01）. Conclusion:In addition to the lifestyle intervention，Chaihu Shugansan can improve lipid metabolism and liver function，regulate intestinal flora and inhibit the level of inflammatory factors in patients with NAFLD.

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) signaling promotes lipogenesis. However, mTOR inhibitors also displayed a significant side effect of hyperlipidemia. Thus, it is essential to develop mTOR-specific inhibitors to inhibit lipogenesis. Here, we screened the endogenous inhibitors of mTOR, and identified that FKBP38 as a vital regulator of lipid metabolism. FKBP38 decreased the lipid content

Objective:To establish a molecular identification method for Bupleurum chinense seeds based on ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence, ensuring the species authenticity of the cultivated seeds of B. chinense. Method:A total of 59 seeds samples of B. chinense and its main cultivated species, marketed B. chinense were collected. The effect of different sampling amounts and different water bath conditions on DNA extraction quality of the seeds was investigated, a DNA extraction method for seeds of Bupleurum was established. Their ITS sequences were obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bidirectional sequencing. In addition, 34 ITS sequences of main cultivated Bupleurum species, such as B. chinense, B. scorzonerifolium, B. falcatum and B. smithii, were downloaded from GenBank to enrich identification database of B. chinense seeds. The neighbor-joining (NJ) dendrogram were constructed by MEGA-X 10.0.5 software to investigate the the species identification ability of ITS sequences for B. chinense seeds. And DNA barcoding identification of marketed B. chinense seeds was conducted based on BLAST method and NJ dendrogram method. Result:In total, 59 ITS sequences were obtained. ITS sequences of B. chinense could be divided into six haplotypes, including seven variable sites. The NJ dendrogram indicated that all the haplotypes of B. chinense could form independent branches, which could be distinguished from other cultivated species of Bupleurum in the collected samples, and possessed the ability to identify species of B. chinense seeds. Based on ITS sequence barcoding identification, 3 of the 19 marketed B. chinense seeds were B. falcatum with a counterfeit rate of 15.8%. Conclusion:DNA barcoding technology based on ITS sequence can accurately and reliably identify B. chinense seeds and its adulterants, providing reference for the standardization construction of Chinese medicinal materials seeds.