ObjectiveDonkey hide is the sole legally designated raw material for the preparation of the traditional Chinese medicine Ejiao. The quality stability of donkey hide during preservation directly determines the efficacy and safety of Ejiao. This study focuses on the dynamic succession of microbial communities during the preservation of donkey hides from different origins, aiming to clarify the correlation between microbial biodiversity difference and the degradation profiles of hide collagen and critical biochemical components, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for developing targeted preservation strategies based on microbial regulation. MethodsDonkey hides originating from four different regions were subjected to an accelerated microbial aging assay to simulate the spoilage process. The microbial community succession was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. Microstructure changes and pore structure characteristics were assessed by scanning electron microscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry, respectively. Additionally, the content of major components, including lipids, proteins, and sugars were determined by biochemical methods. ResultsAfter 96 h of aging, the collagen fiber structure in Africa donkey hides (ADH) exhibited significant degradation and collapse, followed by Xinjiang donkey hides (XDH). Instead, the microstructure of Dong’e black donkey hides (DDH) and Peru donkey hides (PDH) remained relatively intact. The porosities of DDH, XDH, PDH, and ADH increased from 27.9%, 15.7%, 30.3%, and 46.2% to 36.5%, 52.6%, 42.8%, and 57.7%, respectively, during the aging process, which suggested that the originally compact fiber structure was disrupted by microbial aging. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer analysis revealed the amide bands in XDH exhibited relatively weak intensity, and no collagen amide I band was observed in ADH. Meanwhile, the lipid and protein contents decreased in all four types of donkey hides, indicating that these components served as the primary nutrient sources for the growth of microorganism. Notably, the most severe collagen degradation was observed in XDH and ADH. A substantial increase was detected in the total soluble sugar in PDH aging solution and hydroxyproline in the ADH aging solution, respectively. These results indicated that donkey hides exhibit distinct patterns of structural degradation and nutrient utilization. Furthermore, the viable cells number of donkey hides increased sharply after 48 h of aging. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the relative abundance of Euryarchaeota in ADH, PDH and XDH declining from initial 93.19%, 97.73% and 30.08% to 0.79%, 1.43% and 0.02% after 96 h, respectively. Conversely, a significantly increase was observed in the abundance of Bacillota, with a marked increase in ADH, peaking at 92.75%. Additionally, the abundance of Pseudomonadota in PDH increased from 0.10% to 87.84%, suggesting that Bacillota and Pseudomonadota may be key factors exacerbating donkey hide spoilage. Unlike the other three types of donkey hides, the dominant bacterial phylum in DDH shifted from Pseudomonadota to Bacteroidota, characterized by a substantial abundance increase of Bacteroidota from 0.13% to 44.22%. ConclusionRegional variation in origin significantly influence the microbial aging of donkey hides, leading to distinct patterns of structural deterioration and differential nutrient utilization. Therefore, implementing origin-specific preservation strategies, through the precisely controlling environmental factors to suppress harmful phyla such as Bacillota and Pseudomonadota, is crucial for enhancing the storage quality of donkey hides.

Objective To study the five-year survival status and influencing factors of elderly patients with lung cancer complicated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods A cohort study was conducted to follow up 450 patients with lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who were hospitalized in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2023. The endpoint of the follow-up was the end of a five-year period or death. The Life Tables method was used to calculate survival rates and plot survival curves. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the influencing factors of five-year survival. Results The results indicated that the overall five-year survival rate of patients was 4.89%, and it decreased year by year. Cox regression analysis showed that age, gender, family functioning, and psychological status significantly influenced patient survival rate (all P<0.05). Stratified analysis found that the smoking status, family functioning, and psychological status of male patients all had an impact on survival rate (all P<0.05), while the psychological status of female patients had a more significant impact on survival (P=0.008). Conclusion This study provides a scientific basis for comprehensive intervention of elderly lung cancer patients with COPD. It is recommended that clinical attention should be paid to psychological and family factors to improve patient prognosis.

ObjectiveTo investigate the contamination status of ochratoxin A (OTA) in commercially available food products in Shanghai, and to assess OTA exposure levels and the associated non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks among pregnant women by integrating dietary consumption data of this population. MethodsThe levels of OTA contamination in 1 520 food samples collected in Shanghai from 2022 to 2023 were determined using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. An exposure assessment model was developed based on the dietary consumption levels of pregnant women from the 2016‒2017 Shanghai Pregnant Women Dietary Monitoring Survey to calculate the estimated daily intake (EDI) of OTA, the margin of exposure for non-carcinogenic toxicity (MOE₁), and the margin of exposure for carcinogenic toxicity (MOE₂). An MOE₁ greater than 200 and an MOE₂ greater than 10 000 indicate that the non-carcinogenic toxicity and carcinogenic toxicity resulting from exposure are negligible, respectively. For samples with OTA contamination levels below the limit of detection (LOD), which accounted for more than 80% of the samples, the OTA levels were assigned values of 0 and LOD, respectively, for subsequent calculations. ResultsThe detection rates of OTA in cereals, nuts, dried fruits, and alcohol samples collected in 2022 were 2.03%, 0, 0, and 0, respectively. The OTA detection rates in cereals, nuts, dried fruits, beans, and alcohol samples collected in 2023 were 2.50%, 0.39%, 2.47%, 1.67%, and 13.33%, respectively. For pregnant women in Shanghai in 2022, simulation results indicated that when assigning a value of 0 and the LOD, theP₅₀ values of EDI for dietary OTA exposure were 0.05 and 0.72 ng·(kg·d)^-1, respectively, and the P₉₅ values of EDI for dietary OTA exposure were 0.25 and 2.40 ng·(kg·d)^-1, respectively. For pregnant women in Shanghai in 2023, the P₅₀ values of EDI for dietary OTA exposure were 0.04 and 1.00 ng·(kg·d)^-1, respectively, and the P₉₅ values of EDI for dietary OTA exposure were 0.23 and 2.67 ng·(kg·d)^-1, respectively, both substantially below the tolerable daily intake (TDI) for OTA [17 ng·(kg·d)^-1]. The EDI for dietary OTA exposure in 100.0% of Shanghai pregnant women was lower than the TDI, indicating an overall low level of dietary OTA exposure among this population. For 100.0% of pregnant women, the MOE₁ for dietary OTA exposure exceeded 200. When assigned a value of 0, the MOE₂ for 100.0% of pregnant women in both 2022 and 2023 exceeded10 000. When assigned the LOD value, 72.3% and 81.8% of pregnant women in 2022 and 2023, respectively, had an MOE₂ exceeding 10 000. ConclusionFrom 2022 to 2023, samples of cereals, nuts, dried fruits, beans, and alcohol sold in Shanghai exhibited varying degrees of OTA contamination. The overall EDI of OTA exposure among pregnant women in Shanghai remained at a low level. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with OTA exposure were generally low and at controllable levels.

Aim To explore the role and mechanism of epimedokoreanin B(EKB)in HepaRG cell pyroptosis through endoplasmic reticulum stress and NLRP1-me-diated pyroptosis pathway.Methods The effect of EKB on the viability of HepaRG cells at different con-centrations was determined by MTT assay,and the cell growth status was recorded by Incucyte.Four groups of HepaRG cells were set up.The control group was cul-tured with complete medium for 24 h;the drug admin-istration group was cultured with three concentration gradients of 6.25,12.5 and 25 μmol·L-1 of EKB for 24 h.Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins and pyroptosis-related proteins in the cells of each group.Results HepaRG cells showed cytotoxicity at a concentration of 6.25 μmol·L-1 for 24 h,and the half maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50)was 12.41 μmol·L-1.Incucyte recordings of the cell growth status showed that the cells in the control group were in good growth status,and the vesicular pyropto-sis cells appeared in the different concentrations of EKB and the cells swelled and ruptured after 24 h.Western blot showed that the protein expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins pERK,eIF-2α,ATF-4,GRP78,and CHOP significantly in-creased in HepaRG cells at 25 μmol·L-1 of EKB compared with the control group.The proteins of the classical pathway of cellular pyroptosis mediated by NLRP1,caspase-1,cleaved caspase-1,GSDMD,GS-DMD-N significantly increased in HepaRG cells.Con-clusion EKB administration induces HepaRG cell py-roptosis,and EKB activates HepaRG cells to undergo endoplasmic reticulum stress and activates the NLRP1/caspase-1/GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis pathway.

Objective To study the need for blood compatibility evaluation of medical devices that come into indirect contact with blood in order to accurately evaluate the risk of their interaction with blood.Methods Seven medical devices with indirect contact with blood were selected as samples including extension tubes of central venous catheters,port bodies of implantable drug delivery devices,infusion sets,receiving lines of dialysis equipment,auxiliary lines of left ventricular assist devices,blood monitors and catheter holders,with high-density polyethylene as the negative control,glass beads as the positive control and blank whole blood or plasma for the blank control.Partial thromboplastin time(PTT)test,platelet count test and hematology test(white blood cell and red blood cell count)were performed by direct contact method and indirect contact method,respectively.In the direct contact method,whole blood or plasma was in direct contact with the sample;while in the indirect contact method,whole blood or plasma was not in direct contact with the extraction solution,with no direct contact with the sample.Results With the indirect contact method the ratios(expressed as a percentage)of the PTT,platelate,WBC and RBC counts of the samples,positive and negative controls to those of the blank control were all higher than those with the direct contact method,and the indirect contact method had the sensitivity lower than that of the direct contact method.Conclusion Medical devices indirectly contacting blood have low risks for causing coagulation and platelet and hematologic adverse reactions,which are suggested to be evaluated for hemolysis testing only in case of the history of safe clinical use.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2025,46(8):44-49]

Aim To explore the role and mechanism of epimedokoreanin B(EKB)in HepaRG cell pyroptosis through endoplasmic reticulum stress and NLRP1-me-diated pyroptosis pathway.Methods The effect of EKB on the viability of HepaRG cells at different con-centrations was determined by MTT assay,and the cell growth status was recorded by Incucyte.Four groups of HepaRG cells were set up.The control group was cul-tured with complete medium for 24 h;the drug admin-istration group was cultured with three concentration gradients of 6.25,12.5 and 25 μmol·L-1 of EKB for 24 h.Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins and pyroptosis-related proteins in the cells of each group.Results HepaRG cells showed cytotoxicity at a concentration of 6.25 μmol·L-1 for 24 h,and the half maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50)was 12.41 μmol·L-1.Incucyte recordings of the cell growth status showed that the cells in the control group were in good growth status,and the vesicular pyropto-sis cells appeared in the different concentrations of EKB and the cells swelled and ruptured after 24 h.Western blot showed that the protein expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins pERK,eIF-2α,ATF-4,GRP78,and CHOP significantly in-creased in HepaRG cells at 25 μmol·L-1 of EKB compared with the control group.The proteins of the classical pathway of cellular pyroptosis mediated by NLRP1,caspase-1,cleaved caspase-1,GSDMD,GS-DMD-N significantly increased in HepaRG cells.Con-clusion EKB administration induces HepaRG cell py-roptosis,and EKB activates HepaRG cells to undergo endoplasmic reticulum stress and activates the NLRP1/caspase-1/GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis pathway.

OBJECTIVE To understand the disinfectant-resistant genes in the gram-negative bacteria isolated from the dirt retention on air recure filters of air conditioners and observe the drug resistance.METHODS The dirt re-tention samples were collected from the air return filters of air conditioners of some wards in 3 hospitals of Wuhan(Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology,Wuhan Central Hospital,and Hubei Provincial Maternal and Child Health Hospital)from 2018 to 2024.The gram-negative bac-teria were screened out,the disinfectant-resistant genes in the strains were detected by polymerase chain reaction(PCR),and the results of drug susceptibility test were analyzed.RESULTS Of 354 dirt retention samples that were collected from the air return filers of air conditioners,77 were detected with 138 strains of gram-negative bacteria,87 of which were Acinetobacter baumannii,50 were Enterobacteriaceae,and 1 was Pseudomonas aerug-inosa.The detection rates of qacEΔ1,qacEΔ1-sul1,aceI and qacA/B were 73.19％,82.61％,69.57％and 2.90％,respectively.None of the strains were detected with qacC,qacH or qacJ.The result of drug susceptibility test showed that 76.81％of the gram-negative bacteria were resistant to at least 1 type of antibiotic;93 strains of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria were isolated,most of which were isolated from intensive care unit(ICU).The detection rates of qacEΔ1 and qacEΔ1-sul1 were higher in the drug-resistant strains than those in the non-drug-resistant strains;there were significant differences in the drug resistance rates to carbapenems,quin-olones and β-lactams between the qacEΔ1-sul 1-positive strains and the qacEΔ1-sul1-negative strains(P＜0.05).CONCLUSIONS There are drug-resistant gram-negative bacteria contaminations in some wards of the 3 hospitals in Wuhan.The carrying rates of disinfectant-resistant genes of the strains are high,and the strains show varying degree of resistance to the commonly used antibiotics;the strains carrying the qacEΔ1-sul1 have certain statistical association with the drug resistance.It is suggested that the hospital should take targeted disinfec-tion measures for the environment and reasonably use antibiotics.

Objective:To establish a mouse model of liver cancer resistant to PD-1 monoclonal antibody and analyze the changes in its metabolomics to explore the potential mechanism of drug resistance.Methods:BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control and treatment groups after being loaded with tumor,and a normal group was additionally set up.The normal and control groups were injected with saline,and the treatment group was injected with PD-1 monoclonal antibody,after which the mice in the treatment group were screened for drug resistant and response groups.Observed the drug-resistant situation,body mass,tumor growth and survival rate of mice in each group,calculate the spleen index.The pathological features of tumor tissues were observed by HE staining method.Serum metabolites were detected by non-targeted metabolomics.Finally,a bivariate Pearson correlation analysis was conducted between the differential serum metabolites and tumor size.Results:The tumor-bearing mouse model with PD-1 monoclonal antibody resistance was successfully established,and the drug resistance rate of the mice was 50％.Compared with the normal and response groups,mice in the resistant group showed an increase in body weight,a significant increase in tumor volume,a decrease in survival rate,and a significant increase in splenic index.There was less lymphocyte infiltration in the tumor tissue.Metabolomics analysis showed that the serum levels of glutamic acid and aspartic acid increased and malic acid decreased in the resistant mice compared with the response group,and these changes were closely related to the arginine biosynthesis pathway.Conclusions:The tumor-bearing mouse model with PD-1 monoclonal antibody resistance was successfully established.The changes in its peripheral serum metabolomics mainly involve arginine metabolism and the related changes of aspartate,malate and glutamate.

Objective:To analyze the predictive factors associated with late-onset sepsis(LOS) in very low birth weight infants,and to develop a risk prediction score scale applicable to these infants three days postnatal.This will provide valuable insights for early diagnosis and timely intervention.Methods:Very low birth weight infants admitted to the Children's Hospital of Fudan University from January 1,2022,to June 30,2024,were selected as research subjects.These infants were categorized into two groups:the LOS group and the non-LOS group,based on whether they developed LOS.LASSO regression analysis,alongside univariate and multivariate regression analyses,was employed to identify predictive factors for LOS in this population.A Logistic model was constructed using the optimal combination of predictive variables,and a risk assessment scale was subsequently developed.The prediction performance of the model was evaluated using the Hosmer-Lemeshow chi-square test and the receiver operating characteristic curve.Results:A total of 444 cases of very low birth weight infants were included,of which 185 had LOS and 259 did not.After screening the variables,seven independent factors were included into the model:birth weight,gestational age,tracheal intubation,abnormal skin color,abdominal distension,elevated C-reactive protein levels,and right hand perfusion index.A predictive scoring scale was developed based on the regression coefficients of each variable,with corresponding risk scores assigned as follows:1,4,3,2,1,1,and 2; a score of ≥3.5 indicated high-risk groups.The Hosmer-Lemeshow test results demonstrated that χ2 = 7.602( P = 0.473).The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.792 ( P<0.001),with a sensitivity of 73.5% and specificity of 71.0%. Conclusion:The risk score scale developed in this study exhibits significant predictive capability,providing valuable insights for clinical medical personnel to assess the risk of LOS in very low birth weight infants during the early postnatal period.

Objective:This study aims to investigate the association of blood pressure,electrocardiogram(ECG)pa-rameters with body mass index(BMI)changes among adolescents of different genders.Methods:A cohort of 1,352 ad-olescents,aged 15 to 25,who underwent physical examinations at the Shanxi international travel health care center between January and December 2021,were enrolled.According to BMI,they were divided into underweight group(n=186),nor-mal weight group(n=742),overweight group(n=268)and obese group(n=156).Each group was further stratificd by sex.ECG parameters,including PR interval,QRS duration,Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc,along with blood pressure and other relevant data,were collected to facilitate comparisons across different BMI categories and between male and female participants within each group.Results:Compared to participants in normal weight group,those in overweight group and obese group had significantly higher diastolic blood pressure(DBP),systolic blood pressure(SBP),QRS duration,Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc,and those in obese group had significantly higher PR interval(P＜0.05 or＜0.01).Within the nor-mal weight group,compared to male participants,the females had significantly lower SBP,DBP,Tp-e/QTc,PR interval and QRS duration,and significantly higher heart rate(HR)and Tp-e/QT(P＜0.01 all).In the overweight group,fe-male participants had significantly lower SBP,DBP,Tp-e/QTc,Tp-e/QT,PR interval and QRS duration compared to males(P＜0.05 or＜0.01);in the obese group,females had significantly lower SBP,PR interval and QRS duration com-pared to males(P＜0.01 all).In male adolescents,compared to those in normal weight group,participants in overweight group and obese group had significantly higher SBP,DBP,Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc(P＜0.01 all).In female adoles-cents,those in overweight group and obese group had significantly higher SBP,Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc compared to those in normal weight group(P＜0.05 or＜0.01).Conclusion:With the increase in BMI,the risk of cardiovascular disea-ses in adolescents elevates.Meanwhile,the impact of BMI changes on blood pressure and ECG parameters varies across ad-olescents of different genders.