Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of blood transfusion treatment in elderly critically ill patients under different blood transfusion initiation thresholds. Methods: A total of 144 elderly critically ill patients aged >70 years who underwent red blood cell transfusion in the elderly intensive care unit (ICU) of our hospital from January 2021 to January 2023 were included. According to different blood transfusion initiation thresholds, the patients were divided into restrictive blood transfusion group (n=77, Hb<70 g/L before blood transfusion) and liberal blood transfusion group (n=67, Hb 70-100 g/L before blood transfusion). Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) score, estimated mortality and general data collection were performed when the two groups of patients entered the ICU. Blood transfusion details of these patients in the ICU were collected and documented, including pre-transfusion Hb levels, volume and number of red blood cell transfusion, and post- transfusion Hb levels. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to match the baseline data of the two groups of patients, and the clinical outcomes were compared and analyzed after matching. Results: After PSM matching, 52 pairs of patients were successfully matched. The matched restrictive and liberal transfusion groups showed comparable characterists, including age, APACHE Ⅱ score, the number of cases with APACHE Ⅱ score >20, estimated mortality, incidence of comorbidities and primary diseases (P>0.05). The number of red blood cell transfusions and transfusion volume (U) in the ICU of the two groups were 7.77±4.73 vs 12.19±10.41, 11.64±7.65 vs 19.14±16.14 (all P<0.05), and the Hb levels (g/L) before and after red blood cell transfusion in the ICU was 59.92±5.98 vs 77.44±8.60,77.88±17.21 vs 87.56±15.23 (all P<0.05). In terms of clinical outcomes, there was no significant difference between the two groups (all P>0.05): ICU length of stay (d) 39.56±36.80 vs 40.10±49.29, three-week mortality rate (%) 21.2 vs 21.2, in-hospital mortality rate (%) 46.2 vs 53.9, mortality rate in subgroup with APACHE Ⅱ score ≤ 20 (%) 11.5 vs 1.9, the incidence of severe infection (%) 78.8 vs 73.1, the incidence of heart failure (%) 57.7 vs 44.2, and the incidence of pulmonary edema (%) 26.9 vs 19.2. Conclusion: Elderly ICU patients can tolerate lower blood transfusion thresholds. Therefore, the restrictive transfusion strategy can reduce the total amount of blood transfusion, save valuable blood resources, and achieve the same blood transfusion effect as the liberal transfusion strategy.

Objective To explore the effects and mechanism of Yijing Decoction containing serum on iron overload-induced oxidative stress of human ovarian granulosa cells.Methods SD rats were used to prepare medicated serum and blank serum.Iron dextran was used to induce oxidative damage of SVOG cells.The cells were divided into control group,model group,containing serum group,blank serum group,antioxidant group and iron chelating agent group.After corresponding intervention,cell viability was detected by CCK-8 method,estrogen(E2)and progesterone(P)content in supernatant were detected by ELISA,the contents of intracellular ferrous ion(Fe2+),malondialdehyde(MDA),adenosine triphosphate(ATP)and the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),catalase(CAT)were detected by the kit,ROS content was detected by DCFH-DA fluorescence probe,the mitochondrial membrane potential was detected by JC-1 fluorescence probe,Western blot and RT-qPCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2),transferrin(Tf),transferrin receptor 1(TfR1),ferritin heavy chain 1(FTH1)and ferritin light chain(FTL).Results Compared with the control group,the viability of SVOG cells decreased in the model group,the contents of E2 and P in cell supernatant decreased,the contents of Fe2+,MDA and ROS increased,the content of ATP and activities of SOD,GSH-Px and CAT decreased,the mitochondrial membrane potential decreased,the protein and mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and FTH1 decreased,and the protein and mRNA expressions of Tf,TfR1 and FTL increased,with statistical significance(P<0.05,P<0.01).Compared with the model group,the viability of SVOG cells in containing serum group,antioxidant group and iron chelating agent group increased,the contents of E2 and P in cell supernatant increased,the contents of Fe2+,MDA and ROS decreased,the content of ATP and activities of SOD,GSH-Px and CAT increased,the mitochondrial membrane potential increased,the protein and mRNA expressions of Nrf2 and FTH1 increased,and the protein and mRNA expressions of Tf,TfR1 and FTL decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion Yijing Decoction containing serum may relieve oxidative stress damage induced by iron overload,improve mitochondrial function,and restore granulosa cell function,thereby enhancing ovarian function,potentially through up-regulating Nrf2,FTH1 expression and down-regulating Tf,TfR1 and FTL expressions.

Objective:To compare the protective effects of the static cold storage (SCS) and normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) on the skeletal muscle of the amputated limbs of pigs.Methods:Four Landrace pigs were selected, from which eight limbs were amputated and divided into SCS group ( n=5) and NMP group ( n=3) according to the random number table method. After blood collection from the carotid artery, an amputated limb model was established by amputating the limbs at the scapulohumeral joints. The limbs in the SCS group were wrapped in sterile cloth and stored at 4 ℃ for 24 hours. In the NMP group, the limbs were mechanically perfused with a red blood cell-containing perfusion fluid at 37 ℃ for 24 hours, with 70% of the perfusion fluid replaced every 6 hours. Before the experiment, cross-matching tests with the saline medium were conducted between donor and recipient pigs to evaluate blood coagulation and blood safety in the NMP group. An allogeneic red blood cell perfusion fluid was prepared and the levels of pH, Na +, K +, Cl -, Ca 2+, glucose (Glu), hematocrit (Hct), lactic acid (Lac) and osmotic pressure of the perfusion fluid were measured. At 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours after perfusion, the skin temperature and oxyhemoglobin saturation (SaO 2) levels in the NMP group were monitored and the levels of pH, Glu, creatine kinase (Ck), K +, Ca 2+, and Na +levels of the perfusion fluid were analyzed to evaluate the metabolism of the skeletal muscle in the amputated limbs. The mean intercellular distance and apoptosis index of the myocytes were quantitatively analyzed and histopathological changes were observed by performing HE staining and TUNEL staining on the skeletal muscle of the amputated limbs in both groups at 0 and 24 hours after perfusion. After perfusion was ended, the weight gain rate and swelling degree of the amputated limbs were compared between the two groups and the overall state of the amputated limbs was evaluated. Results:The result of the cross-matching test between donor and recipient pig blood was negative. The parameters in the prepared red blood cell-containing perfusion fluid generally maintained within a normal range: pH 7.38±0.04, Na + concentration (138.30±4.48)mmol/L, K + concentration (3.50±0.26)mmol/L, Glu concentration (6.11±2.08)mmol/L, and osmotic pressure (305.67±3.79)mmol/L. However, slightly higher Cl - and Ca 2+ concentrations [(118.34±12.00)mmol/L and (2.00±0.15)mmol/L] and lower Hct and lactate concentrations [0.30±0.03 and (1.54±0.38)mmol/L] were detected when compared with the reference range. During the perfusion, the average skin temperature of the amputated limbs in the NMP group was (36.13±0.98)℃, with the skin temperatures at 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours after perfusion being significantly higher than that at 0 hour ( P<0.01), while no significant difference among the skin temperatures at 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours after perfusion was observed ( P>0.05). The SaO 2 levels in the skin of the amputated limbs in the NMP group averaged over 95%, which showed no significant difference at 0, 12, 18, and 24 hours after perfusion ( P>0.05), while a significant elevation was observed at 6 hours compared with that at 0 hour ( P<0.05). There were no significant differences in pH, Glu, Na +, and Ca 2+ levels in the NMP group at 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours after perfusion ( P>0.05), while the Ck levels at 18 and 24 hours were both significantly higher than that at 6 hours after perfusion ( P<0.05), and the Ck levels at 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours were all significantly higher than that at 0 hour ( P<0.05). The K + level progressively increased with the perfusion time, with significant elevations at 18 and 24 hours after perfusion compared with that at 0 hour ( P<0.05). HE staining revealed well-preserved muscle fiber continuity and regular arrangement in the NMP group and the SCS group at 0 hour, with an intercellular distance of (8.95±0.60)μm. At 24 hours, the NMP group exhibited slight skeletal muscle fiber rupture and swelling, with a slightly increased intercellular distance of (14.75±0.90)μm, significantly greater than that at 0 hour ( P<0.01). At 24 hours, the SCS group showed marked skeletal muscle fiber rupture and swelling, with a significantly increased intercellular distance of (23.51±1.49)μm, significantly larger than those at 0 hour in the same group and at 24 hours in the NMP group ( P<0.01). TUNEL immunofluorescence staining indicated a tiny amount of apoptotic cells in the skeletal muscle in both groups at 0 hour, with an apoptotic index of (4.26±1.62)%. There was a small number of apoptotic cells in the skeletal muscle in the NMP group at 24 hours, with an apoptotic index of (25.94±2.69)%, significantly larger than that in the same group at 0 hour ( P<0.01). The SCS group exhibited a large number of apoptotic cells at 24 hours, with an apoptotic index of (62.97±3.22)%, significantly larger than those at 0 hour in the same group and at 24 hours in the NMP group ( P<0.01). In comparison with the SCS group at 24 hours, the amputated limbs in the NMP group showed red color in the appearance, no symptoms of ischemic muscle contracture and good joint movement despite slight edema in the subcutaneous layer. At 24 hours, the weight gain rate of the amputated limbs was (15.82±0.89)% in the NMP group, significantly higher than (0.97±0.28)% in the SCS group ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Compared with SCS, NMP with the red blood cell-containing perfusion fluid prepared with the allogeneic blood for the amputated limbs of pigs can alleviate the ischemic injury of the muscle fibers and inhibit the apoptosis of the muscle cells by sustaining stable energy and oxygen supply and balancing ion homeostasis and pH of the perfusion fluid.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) is a prevalent metabolic and endocrine disorder. Long-term hyperglycemia can lead to severe chronic complications, imposing substantial economic burdens on both society and patients. Despite the availability of various hypoglycemic agents for clinical use, these agents often fail to meet the therapeutic needs of T2DM and its complications. Consequently, there is an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies and drugs. Lithocarpus litseifolius(L. litseifolius), commonly referred to as "cordyceps on trees", has a long history of use in traditional medicine and can be applied in tea, sugar, and medicine. Research indicates that L. litseifolius extracts are rich in dihydrochalcones, including trilobatin, phloridzin, and phloretin, which exhibit a range of pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective effects. These properties suggest potential applications in the treatment of T2DM and its complications. This review systematically compiled and organized the relevant literature from the past decade on dihydrochalcones(trilobatin, phloridzin, and phloretin) from L. litseifolius extracts. It highlighted recent research progress regarding their role in treating T2DM and its complications through mechanisms such as reducing insulin resistance, regulating glucose transport, improving glucose and lipid metabolism, modulating enzyme activity, regulating gut microbiota, and alleviating inflammation and oxidative damage. The purpose of this review is to provide a reference and basis for future research on the prevention and treatment of T2DM and its complications using dihydrochalcones(trilobatin, phloridzin, and phloretin) from L. litseifolius extracts.
Chalcones/chemistry* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism* ; Humans ; Animals ; Elaeocarpaceae/chemistry* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Hypoglycemic Agents/chemistry* ; Plant Extracts/chemistry*

The gut microbiota regulates intestinal nutrient absorption, participates in modulating host glucolipid metabolism, and contributes to ameliorating glucolipid metabolism disorder. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota can compromise the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier, induce inflammatory responses, and exacerbate insulin resistance and abnormal lipid metabolism in the host. Dangua Humai Oral Liquid, a hospital-developed formulation for regulating glucolipid metabolism, has been granted a national invention patent and demonstrates significant clinical efficacy. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Dangua Humai Oral Liquid on gut microbiota and the intestinal mucosal barrier in a mouse model with glucolipid metabolism disorder. A glucolipid metabolism disorder model was established by feeding mice a high-glucose and high-fat diet. The mice were divided into a normal group, a model group, and a treatment group, with eight mice in each group. The treatment group received a daily gavage of Dangua Humai Oral Liquid(20 g·kg~(-1)), while the normal group and model group were given an equivalent volume of sterile water. After 15 weeks of intervention, glucolipid metabolism, intestinal mucosal barrier function, and inflammatory responses were evaluated. Metagenomics and untargeted metabolomics were employed to analyze changes in gut microbiota and associated metabolic pathways. Significant differences were observed between the indicators of the normal group and the model group. Compared with the model group, the treatment group exhibited marked improvements in glucolipid metabolism disorder, alleviated pathological damage in the liver and small intestine tissue, elevated expression of recombinant claudin 1(CLDN1), occluding(OCLN), and zonula occludens 1(ZO-1) in the small intestine tissue, and reduced serum levels of inflammatory factors lipopolysaccharides(LPS), lipopolysaccharide-binding protein(LBP), interleukin-6(IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α). At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Bacteroidota decreased, while that of Firmicutes increased. Lipid-related metabolic pathways were significantly altered. In conclusion, based on the successful establishment of the mouse model of glucolipid metabolism disorder, this study confirmed that Dangua Humai Oral Liquid effectively modulates gut microbiota and mucosal barrier function, reduces serum inflammatory factor levels, and regulates lipid-related metabolic pathways, thereby ameliorating glucolipid metabolism disorder.
Animals ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome/drug effects* ; Mice ; Intestinal Mucosa/microbiology* ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Humans ; Glycolipids/metabolism* ; Lipid Metabolism/drug effects* ; Administration, Oral ; Disease Models, Animal

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of oblique lateral interbody fusion(OLIF) combined with lateral fixation and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion(TLIF) in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. METHODS: Totally 47 patients with lumbar stenosis from November 2018 to December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively and were divided into two groups according to the surgical methods. Among them, 21 cases underwent oblique lumbar interbody fusion supplemental anterolateral screw and rod instrumentation, including 5 males and 16 females, with a mean age of (68.19±6.13) years old ranging 55 to 74 years; the other 26 cases underwent posterior pedicle screw fixation and reduction were recorded, including 8 males and 18 females with a mean age of (65.35±7.64) years old ranging 54 to 78 years. Visual analogue scale(VAS) of pain was recorded to evaluate the degree of low back pain and lower extremity pain. The radiographic parameters were collected to evaluate the efficacy of two approaches including disc height, foraminal height, canal sagittal diameter and cross-sectional area. RESULTS: All operations were completed successfully. The wound healed normally and bone fusion was obtained in the last final follow up. No serious complication was occurred in both groups. One case of dural tear occurred in direct compression group. Four cases of left thigh weakness and pain were recorded in indirect decompression group. The average postoperative follow-up was(21.69±4.37)months in direct compression group, while(20.43±4.80)months in another group. There were no significant difference in bone density, body mass index(BMI), hospital stay, Cobb angel(P>0.05). The differences in intra-operative blood loss, operation time, disc height, foraminal height between two groups were statistically significant(P<0.05). The area and sagittal diameter of the spinal canal in the two groups were significantly improved after surgery(P<0.05). CONCLUSION Both two fusion methods have achieved good clinical results in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis, with the advantages of good stability, fast recovery and high fusion rate. Compared with TLIF, the advantage of OLIF has greater advantages in less bleeding and less trauma.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Spinal Stenosis/surgery* ; Spinal Fusion/methods* ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Lumbar Vertebrae/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: To investigate the protective effect of sub-hypothermic mechanical perfusion combined with membrane lung oxygenation on ischemic hypoxic injury of yorkshire brain tissue caused by traumatic blood loss. METHODS: This article performed a random controlled trial. Brain tissue of 7 yorkshire was selected and divided into the sub-low temperature anterograde machine perfusion group (n = 4) and the blank control group (n = 3) using the random number table method. A yorkshire model of brain tissue injury induced by traumatic blood loss was established. Firstly, the perfusion temperature and blood oxygen saturation were monitored in real-time during the perfusion process. The number of red blood cells, hemoglobin content, NA⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ ions concentrations and pH of the perfusate were detected. Following perfusion, we specifically examined the parietal lobe to assess its water content. The prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were then dissected for histological evaluation, allowing us to investigate potential regional differences in tissue injury. The blank control group was sampled directly before perfusion. All statistical analyses and graphs were performed using GraphPad Prism 8.0 Student t-test. All tests were two-sided, and p value of less than 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: The contents of red blood cells and hemoglobin during perfusion were maintained at normal levels but more red blood cells were destroyed 3 h after the perfusion. The blood oxygen saturation of the perfusion group was maintained at 95% - 98%. NA⁺ and K⁺ concentrations were normal most of the time during perfusion but increased significantly at about 4 h. The Ca²⁺ concentration remained within the normal range at each period. Glucose levels were slightly higher than the baseline level. The pH of the perfusion solution was slightly lower at the beginning of perfusion, and then gradually increased to the normal level. The water content of brain tissue in the sub-low and docile perfusion group was 78.95% ± 0.39%, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (75.27% ± 0.55%, t = 10.49, p < 0.001), and the difference was statistically significant. Compared with the blank control group, the structure and morphology of pyramidal neurons in the prefrontal cortex and CA1 region of the hippocampal gyrus were similar, and their integrity was better. The structural integrity of granulosa neurons was destroyed and cell edema increased in the perfusion group compared with the blank control group. Immunofluorescence staining for glail fibrillary acidic protein and Iba1, markers of glial cells, revealed well-preserved cell structures in the perfusion group. While there were indications of abnormal cellular activity, the analysis showed no significant difference in axon thickness or integrity compared to the 1-h blank control group. CONCLUSIONS Mild hypothermic machine perfusion can improve ischemia and hypoxia injury of yorkshire brain tissue caused by traumatic blood loss and delay the necrosis and apoptosis of yorkshire brain tissue by continuous oxygen supply, maintaining ion homeostasis and reducing tissue metabolism level.
Animals ; Perfusion/methods* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Brain Injuries/etiology* ; Swine ; Male ; Hypothermia, Induced/methods*

As a cheap and effective antibiotic,sulfonamides are often used in animal husbandry.However,their residues in animal-derived foodstuffs will threaten human health.Consequently,a high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)method integrated with supramolecular solvent microextraction was successfully established for simultaneous quantification of sulfonamide residues sulfachlorpyridazine,sulfamethoxazole,sulfamethoxypyridazine and sulfadimethoxine in milk matrices.This approach exhibited prominent characteristics of operational simplicity,environmental sustainability,and high extraction efficiency.The supramolecular solvents prepared by tributyl octylphosphine tetrafluoroborate and tetrahydrofuran were employed as extraction solvents.The analytes underwent isolation and concentration via dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction(DLLME)prior to quantitative determination using high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).The composition and microscopic morphology of the supramolecular solvent were characterized through a series of analytical techniques,including phase diagram,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,scanning electron microscopy,and inverted fluorescence microscopy and so on.The density and pH value of supramolecular solvents were determined.The extraction conditions were optimized through the one-factor experiments.The experimental results demonstrated that under the optimal extraction conditions,the four kinds of sulfonamide antibiotics exhibited excellent linearity within respective detection range(R2 ≥ 0.9998)and the limits of detection(LOD)were 0.67-1.45 μg/L.Compared with literature methods,this approach offered some advantages such as simplicity of operation and less reagent consumption,and could be used for analysis and detection of sulfonamide antibiotic residues in milk samples.The present method provided technical support for food safety regulation and paved a new way for the application of supramolecular solvents in the field of extraction and separation.

Aerosol-assisted plasma amplification laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy(LIBS)was employed for phosphorus detection in water.To address the multivariate coupling effects in LIBS and nebulization sampling system,an orthogonal experiment was employed to systematically optimize the key experimental parameters.Using the orthogonal experimental design,the parametric effects of laser energy(output voltage),signal acquisition delay,liquid velocity,and gas velocity on the signal to background ratio(SBR)of P I 213.618 nm were evaluated,and the optimal conditions were achieved,including laser energy of 86 mJ,delay time of 3 μs,gas velocity of 1.05 mL/min,and liquid velocity of 60 μL/min,which were in agreement with the control-variable optimization results.Moreover,the SBR response trends at P I 213.618 nm with all experimental parameters was strong in consistency with control-variable optimization results,which demonstrated the validity of the orthogonal array experimental design.This study established an efficient and accurate parameter optimization methodology for complex LIBS systems,significantly advancing the application of LIBS in environmental monitoring.