ObjectiveThis paper aims to observe the protective effect of Huamoyan granules on knee osteoarthritis （KOA） and explore whether its protective effect is oriented toward an anti-inflammatory direction by regulation of macrophage polarization， which can effectively inhibit the progression of pathological inflammatory response， reduce the release of inflammatory pain mediators， and downregulate the protein expression level of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 （TRPV1）， so as to provide experimental evidence for its clinical application and investigate its action mechanism. MethodsAfter adaptive feeding， Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into six groups： sham group， model group， celecoxib group， and high， medium， and low-dose synovitis granule groups （9.6， 4.8， 2.4 g·kg^-1）. The administration dose of celecoxib capsules was 20 mg·kg^-1. There were 10 rats in the sham group and 12 rats in the model group and each administration group. A KOA animal model was established by means of intra-articular injection of sodium iodoacetate into the knee joint. From the 10^th day of the experiment， each administration group was given intragastric administration at a dose of 10 mL·kg^-1 for 4 weeks. General conditions of rats in each group were assessed daily. The pressure pain threshold （PPT） to mechanical stimulation and joint diameter were recorded. X-ray examination was performed on the right knee joints of rats for imaging analysis. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was performed to detect the tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， serum interleukin-1β （IL-1β）， and other pro-inflammatory cytokines in rat serum samples， as well as the expression levels of neurogenic inflammatory mediators such as nerve growth factor （NGF） and calcitonin gene-related peptide （CGRP）. Histopathological changes in the knee joint synovial tissues were examined by hematoxylineosin （HE） staining. Safranin O-fast green staining was performed to observe and evaluate the degree of knee cartilage lesions. Western blot was employed to quantitatively analyze TRPV1， p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p38 MAPK）， and phosphorylated （p）-p38 MAPK in rat knee synovial tissues. Immunofluorescence （IF） was used to measure and assess M1/M2 macrophage polarization. ResultsCompared with those in the sham group， the circumference and joint diameter of the right knee were markedly enlarged in the model group （P<0.01）， while PPTs of rats showed a significant reduction （P<0.01）. The contents of IL-1β， TNF-α， CGRP， and NGF in rats' serum were significantly elevated （P<0.01）， and the synovial Krenn score was increased （P<0.01）. The Mankin score of cartilage tissue was increased （P<0.01）， and the protein expressions of TRPV1 and p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK were significantly upregulated （P<0.01）. The experimental intervention significantly reduced the proportion of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages in the total macrophage population （P<0.01）， and the percentage of M2 macrophages was decreased （P<0.01）. The M1/M2 macrophage ratio was significantly elevated （P<0.01）. Knee joint diameters of all dose groups of Huamoyan granules and the celecoxib group were reduced （P<0.01） compared with those of the model group， and the PPT recovery speeds in the high and medium-dose groups of Huamoyan granules were more obvious （P<0.05）. The contents of IL-1β， CGRP， and NGF in the rats' serum in all administration groups were significantly reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and the content of TNF-α in rats' serum was significantly reduced （P<0.01）. All dose groups of Huamoyan granules demonstrated significant reductions in both synovial Krenn score （P<0.05， P<0.01） and protein expression of TRPV1 and p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK in rats' synovial tissues （P<0.01）. The percentage of M1 macrophages in the synovial tissues of the celecoxib group and all dose groups of Huamoyan granules was decreased （P<0.01）. The percentage of M2 macrophages was increased （P<0.05）， and the M1/M2 ratio was decreased （P<0.01）. ConclusionHuamoyan granules can alleviate the inflammatory response of KOA， reduce the release of inflammatory pain mediators， and downregulate TRPV1 protein expression by regulating macrophage polarization. Its mechanism may be related to the TRPV1/p38 MAPK signaling pathway， thereby achieving the effect of improving peripheral pain hypersensitivity in KOA.

To investigate the changes in peripheral blood immune cells before and after the onset of septic shock in patients with malignant tumors, and to analyze the relationship between these immune cells and patient prognosis.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy and safety of omadacycline in the treatment of macrolide-unresponsive Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia （MUMPP） in children. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted on children aged 1-18 years old with MUMPP who were hospitalized in the Department of Pediatrics， the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from January 2022 to June 2025. According to the selection of secondary antibiotics after 72 h of initial treatment with macrolides， they were divided into the omadacycline group and the doxycycline group. Based on conventional treatment， children in the omadacycline group were given intravenous infusion of 2.4 mg/kg （once daily） of omadacycline tosylate， while children in the doxycycline group were given oral doxycycline hydrochloride tablets at 2 mg/kg （twice daily）. The efficacy and safety were compared between the two groups of pediatric patients. Univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were performed on clinical efficacy， and subgroup analysis along with multiple sensitivity analyses were conducted to verify the robustness of the conclusions. RESULTS A total of 284 children with MUMPP were included in this study， with 142 in the omadacycline group and 142 in the doxycycline group. In terms of efficacy， although the hospitalization time of children in the omadacycline group was longer than that in the doxycycline group （ P ＜0.05）， the lung lesion absorption rate and clinical efficacy were significantly higher or better than those in the doxycycline group （ P ＜0.05）. The results of multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that medication （OR＝5.300， 95%CI： 2.526-11.123）， length of hospital stay （OR＝1.348， 95%CI： 1.167-1.556）， and medication duration （OR＝1.422， 95%CI： 1.169-1.729） were influencing factors of clinical efficacy （ P ＜0.05）. The subgroup analysis results showed that the clinical efficacy of omadacycline was significantly better than that of doxycycline in all subgroups （ P ＜0.05）. The results of multiple sensitivity analysis showed that the regression coefficients B of the four models （gradually adjust variables） before and after inverse probability of treatment weighting were significantly greater than 1 （ P ＜0.05）. In terms of safety， there was no statistically significant difference in the inci dence of adverse drug reactions between the two groups of patients （ χ 2 ＝0.447， P ＝0.504）. CONCLUSIONS In the case of hospitalization and prolonged medication， the efficacy of omadacycline in treating childhood MUMPP is superior to that of doxycycline， and its safety is good.

ObjectiveTo establish a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis with interstitial lung disease （RA-ILD） in DBA/1 mice using Porphyromonas gingivalis （Pg） infection combined with collagen-induced arthritis （CIA）， and to comprehensively evaluate pathological characteristics in joints， lungs， and serum. MethodsForty DBA/1 mice were randomly divided into four groups， i.e.， Control， Pg infection （Pg）， CIA， and Pg infection combined with CIA （Pg+CIA）， with 10 mice in each group. Arthritis clinical symptoms were evaluated by recording arthritis incidence and clinical scores. Micro-CT scanning was used to assess knee joint pathology. Histopathological changes and collagen deposition in knee joints and lung tissues were analyzed using hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and Masson staining. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect protein expression of α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）， typeⅠ collagen （ColⅠ）， and fibronectin （FN） in lung tissues. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction（Real-time PCR）was used to measure mRNA expression levels of α-SMA， ColⅠ， FN， tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）， interleukin-6 （IL-6）， and IL-1β in lung tissues. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was used to detect serum levels of Pg， cyclic citrullinated peptide （CCP）， and immunoglobulin G （IgG）. ResultsJoint lesions： The CIA and Pg+CIA groups showed 100% arthritis incidence， with evident joint redness， swelling， and deformity. The number of affected limbs was 27 and 28， and clinical scores were 68 and 70， respectively. No obvious clinical symptoms were observed in the Pg group. Histopathological and imaging analyses showed severe joint lesions in the CIA and Pg+CIA groups， with significantly increased histopathological scores， bone mineral density， bone volume fraction， trabecular thickness， and trabecular number compared to the Control group （P<0.01）. No obvious joint pathology was observed in the Pg group. Lung lesions： The Pg+CIA group exhibited marked alveolar inflammation， interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration， and alveolar wall thickening， with pronounced blue staining of collagen fibers. Histopathological scores and collagen area ratios were significantly higher than those of the Control， Pg， and CIA groups （P<0.05）. Lung protein and mRNA expression levels of α-SMA， ColⅠ， and FN were markedly increased， and mRNA levels of IL-6， TNF-α， and IL-1β were significantly elevated compared to the Control group （P<0.05）. Serology： The Pg+CIA group showed significantly higher levels of CCP， Pg， and IgG compared with the Control， Pg， and CIA groups （P<0.05）. ConclusionDBA/1 mice subjected to Pg infection combined with CIA exhibited pronounced symptoms and pathological features of RA-ILD， along with elevated serum anti-CCP antibody levels. This model represents a novel RA-ILD mouse model， providing a valuable experimental tool for investigating RA-ILD pathogenesis and developing new therapeutics， and serves as a basis for establishing anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody （ACPA）-positive RA-ILD animal models.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility of DNA tetrahedral framework (DNA-TH) as a carrier and adjuvant for mucosal vaccines, using streptavidin (SA) as a model antigen.Methods:DNA-TH was designed using software, integrating the adjuvant CpG sequence into its structure. After in vitro synthesis, it was conjugated with SA to form SA-DNA-TH nanoparticles. In vitro experiments: free SA and the two-dimensional structure SA-CpG (SA directly conjugated to CpG) were used as controls. The uptake efficiency of SA-DNA-TH by mouse primary macrophages and its ability to activate antigen-presenting cells (APCs) were evaluated. In vivo experiments: following submucosal oral injection, a mixture of free SA and free CpG (mixed group) was used as a control. The distribution of SA within mouse lymph nodes was observed using immunofluorescence staining. Levels of SA-specific antibodies (serum IgG, IgM; salivary sIgA) in serum and saliva were measured to assess humoral and mucosal immune responses.Results:Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis confirmed the successful synthesis of DNA-TH and SA-DNA-TH. In vitro experiments: SA-DNA-TH was rapidly taken up by primary macrophages. Its uptake rate (92.65%±4.43%) was significantly higher than that of the SA-CpG group (25.37%±3.56%) and the free SA group (1.80%±1.02%; both P<0.01). SA-DNA-TH also induced significantly stronger APC activation (OD value fold increase: 3.60±0.32) compared to the free SA group (1.13±0.10) and the SA-CpG group (1.21±0.02; both P<0.01). In vivo experiments: lymph node distribution analysis revealed overlapping signals of SA with subcapsular sinus macrophages (SCSMs) and dendritic cells (DCs) in the SA-DNA-TH group, whereas SA signals appeared dispersed and non-overlapping with APCs in the mixed group. Regarding immunogenicity, both serum anti-SA antibody (IgG+IgM) titers and salivary anti-SA sIgA antibody titers induced by SA-DNA-TH were significantly higher than those in the mixed group and the blank control group (both P<0.05). Conclusion:DNA-TH effectively delivers the model antigen SA to antigen-presenting cells, significantly induces the production of serum-specific antibodies, and activates mucosal immune responses. It demonstrates potential as a carrier and adjuvant for developing mucosal vaccines.

Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment of patients with acute Q fever in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province.Methods:A total of 26 patients with acute Q fever admitted to People′s Hospital of Yunnan Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture from October 2022 to December 2023 were enrolled. A retrospective cross-sectional study analysis was performed to analyze the demographic characteristics, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests and pathogen detection of these patients.Results:Of the 26 patients, 25 were male and one was female. The age ranged from 18 to 82 years with an average age of (45.6±17.2) years. All of them were sporadic cases. The neighbors of eight patients had sheep and cattle, 11 cases had a history of field work, and four cases had a history of field trip. Coxiella burnetii was detected in 26 patients by different molecular diagnostic techniques, including 21 cases by blood quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), three cases by sputum multi-pathogen targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS), one case by alveolar lavage fluid tNGS, and one case by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). Routine blood cultures of 19 cases were negative. All 26 patients presented with chills and fever, 21 cases (80.8%) with headache, 19 cases (73.1%) with fatigue, 14 cases (53.8%) with generalized aches and pains, 12 cases (46.2%) with poor appetite, and 14 cases (53.8%) with cough. Twenty-four cases had concurrent hepatitis, 12 cases had pneumonia, one had encephalitis, and 19 cases had myocardial damage. The laboratory tests showed that 23 cases (88.5%) had normal white blood cell count, eight cases (30.8%) had decreased platelet count, 25 cases (96.2%) had C-reactive protein elevated, 24 cases (92.3%) had procalcitonin elevated, 14 out of 17 cases had elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and 19 cases had elevated D-dimer levels. Liver function tests showed that alanine aminotransferase increased in 24 cases (92.3%) (all less than 10 times of upper limit of normal (ULN)), aspartate aminotransferase increased in 23 cases (88.5%) (all less than 10 times of ULN), alkaline phosphatase increased in 10 cases (38.5%)(all less than two times of ULN), and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase increased in 19 cases (73.1%), which were all less than 10 times of ULN. Myocardial enzymes were detected in 21 cases, of which seven cases (33.3%) had elevated lactate dehydrogenase and 12 cases (57.1%) had elevated hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (all less than three times of ULN). In terms of treatment, 16 cases were treated with doxycycline alone, and nine cases were treated with doxycycline combined with azithromycin or quinolones or rifampicin, and one with tigecycline. After treatment, the conditions of patients improved. The overall length of hospital stay was (7.7±5.0) d, and that of eight patients treated with doxycycline combined with quinolones or azithromycin was 4.8 to 6.0 days. Conclusions:Acute Q fever often has no clear epidemiological history, and the clinical manifestations and laboratory tests are lack of specificity. qPCR, tNGS, mNGS can provide pathogenic diagnostic evidence for suspected cases. In terms of treatment, doxycycline is the first choice for treatment of acute Q fever, and combined treatment with azithromycin or quinolones could result in a shorter hospital stay.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between terminal soft tissue infection of the diabetic foot and glucose and lipid metabolism as well as inflammatory factors.Methods:A total of 126 patients with diabetes mellitus combined with foot-soft tissue infections, who hospitalized in our hospital from March 2018 to February 2023 were divided into mild group (46 cases), moderate group (43 cases) and severe infections group (37 cases) according to the degree of foot-soft tissue infection before treatment. The glucose and lipid metabolism and inflammatory factors of patients among the different groups were compared, and the effects of glycolysis and lipid metabolism and inflammatory factors on the soft tissue infection at the end of diabetic foot were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Patients were treated with antimicrobial therapy and other treatments. After 2 weeks of anti-infective treatment, if three consecutive cultures of secretions were negative for bacteria, antibiotic therapy was discontinued and glucose-lipid metabolism and inflammatory factors after treatment were compared. Patients were followed up for 1 year, and the changes in glucose-lipid metabolism and inflammatory factors were observed in toe or limb amputations group ( n=38) and non-toe or limb amputations group ( n=88). Results:Before treatment, the levels of total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), free fatty acids (FFA), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin (FINS), glycosylated hemoglobin typeA1c (HbA 1c), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), C reactive protein (CRP,) tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in the mild group were significantly lower than those in the moderate and severe group, and the adiponectin (APN) level was significantly higher than that in the moderate and severe group (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that FFA, FPG, FINS, APN, VCAM-1, CRP, TNF-α and IL-6 were risk factors of terminal soft tissue infection ( P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of TC, LDL-C, FFA, FPG, FINS, HbA1c, VCAM-1, CRP, TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly decreased, and the APN was significantly increased (all P<0.05). The levels of TC, LDL-C, FFA, FPG, FINS, HbA1c, VCAM-1, CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6 were significantly higher in the toe/limb amputation group than in the non-toe/limb amputation group, and the APN levels were significantly lower in the toe/limb amputation group than in the non-toe/limb amputation group (all P<0.05). Conclusion:There is a close relationship between glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammatory factors and terminal soft tissue infection of the diabetic foot.

Objective To explore the effects and mechanisms of Sanzi Sijun Formula(SSF)in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)through network pharmacology,molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation;To carry out experimental validation in vivo and in vitro.Methods The active components and target genes of SSF were screened using TCMSP,TCMIP and TCMIO databases.NAFLD-related targets were screened using the GeneCards database,and the intersection targets were obtained to construct a protein-protein interaction network and screen for core targets.The intersection targets were imported into the DAVID database for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis.Molecular docking was performed using AutoDock Vina software between the key active components of SSF and core targets,and molecular dynamics simulations were conducted using Gromacs 2022 for 100 ns.C57BL/6J mice NAFLD model was established by diet induction.SSF was administered by gavage for 8 weeks.Liver histopathological changes and the levels of non-esterified fatty acids(NEFA)were detected.In vitro NAFLD model was established by inducing AML12 cells with palmitic acid(PA)for 24 hours.SSF-containing serum was added to incubate simultaneously.The lipid accumulation and cell viability were detected.The core targets of SSF intervention in the in vitro and in vivo NAFLD models were verified by RT-qPCR and Western blot.Results Network pharmacological analysis identified 75 active components in SSF and revealed 179 shared targets between these components and NAFLD.Ten main active components including arachidonate,12-senecioyl-2E,8E,10E-atractylodin,cerebrosterol,glycyrrhizol B and sinapic acid,etc.as well as 8 core targets were identified.GO enrichment analysis of targets mainly involved protein phosphorylation,inflammatory response,and apoptosis,while the KEGG enrichment analysis mainly included AGE-RAGE,TNF,AMPK,PPAR and NF-κB signaling pathways.Molecular docking demonstrated that the major active components of SSF exhibited favorable binding affinity and stability with the core targets.Molecular dynamics simulation confirmed the stability of the complex of glyasperin B with AKT1,SIRT1,STAT3,PPARG,and TNF.SSF alleviated the pathological damage of liver tissues in mice NAFLD model,reduced NAS score and NEFA levels in liver tissues(P<0.05).Additionally,SSF reversed lipid accumulation and decreased cell viability of PA-induced AML12 cells(P<0.01).Further in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that SSF significantly reversed the elevated mRNA levels of TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β and PPARγ and protein expression of STAT3(P<0.05,P<0.01)in NAFLD models,up-regulated the protein levels of SIRT1 and p-Akt/Akt(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion SSF can improve NAFLD of both in vitro and in vivo models.The regulation of multiple targets,such as AKT,SIRT1,STAT3 and PPARG,by its multiple active components,and adjustment of multiple approaches,such as lipid metabolism disorder,inflammatory responses,are involved in the potential underlying mechanisms.

Osteoporosis(OP)is a prevalent metabolic bone disease with a complex pathogenesis that has not yet been fully elucidated.Recent studies have revealed that the Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)signaling pathway plays a significant role in the development and progression of OP.TLR4,a crucial immune receptor primarily expressed in immune cells,is involved in inflammatory responses and immune regulation.The TLR4 signaling pathway influences bone metabolism and remodeling through multiple mechanisms.Therefore,investi-gating the role of the TLR4 signaling pathway in OP is of great significance for its prevention and treatment.Re-search targeting the TLR4 signaling pathway provides novel insights and approaches for OP therapy.Future studies should further explore the mechanisms of the TLR4 signaling pathway,develop therapeutic agents that modulate this pathway,and validate their efficacy in OP through clinical trials,thereby offering more options for the clinical management of OP.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics and genetic etiology of a child with Oral-facial-digital syndrome type Ⅰ(OFDSⅠ). METHODS: A child with OFDSⅠ who received treatment at the Women and Children's Hospital Affiliated to Ningbo University in March 2023 was selected as the study subject. A retrospective research method was used to collect the clinical data of the child. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from the child, her parents and sister. Genomic DNA was extracted, and whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed. Candidate variants were validated using Sanger sequencing for familial verification. According to the Standards and Guidelines for the Interpretation of Sequence Variants developed by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) (hereinafter referred to as the "ACMG Guidelines"), the pathogenicity of the candidate variant was rated. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Ningbo University Affiliated Women and Children's Hospital (Ethic No.: EC 2024-063). RESULTS: The child was a prematurely born female with deformities of the oral cavity, fingers, and toes. She was admitted to the Neonatal Department of the Hospital where she was born due to shortness of breath 15 minutes after birth. The WES results indicated that the child has harbored a heterozygous c.710dup (p.Y238Vfs*2) frameshifting variant of the OFD1 gene. Sanger sequencing confirmed that neither of the child's parents nor her sister had carried the same variant. According to the ACMG guidelines, the variant was rated as pathogenic (PVS1+PS4_Moderate+PM2-Supporting+PM6_Supporting+PP4). CONCLUSION Children with OFDSⅠ have clinical features such as oral, finger, and toe deformities. The c.710dup (p.Y238Vfs*2) variant of the OFD1 gene probably underlay the OFDSⅠ in this child. Above result has enriched the mutational spectrum of the OFD1 gene.
Humans ; Female ; Orofaciodigital Syndromes/genetics* ; Exome Sequencing ; Retrospective Studies ; Mutation ; Child ; Proteins