Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by synovial inflammation, joint destruction, and functional impairment. Angiogenesis plays a key role in the pathological progression of RA with dysfunction of endothelial cells to promote synovial inflammation, sustain pannus formation, subsequently leading to joint damage. Colquhounia Root Tablets (CRT), a Chinese patent drug, has shown a satisfying clinical efficacy in treating RA, while the underlying mechanism by which CRT inhibits RA-associated angiogenesis remains unclear. In this study, we applied a research approach combining transcriptomic data analysis, bio-network mapping, and in vivo and in vitro experiments to explore the molecular mechanisms of CRT in suppressing angiogenesis in RA. Animal welfare and experimental procedures follow the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of Institute of Basic Theory for Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences (ratification number: IBTCMCACMS21-2307-06). Network analysis identified that key genes such as nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2), SMAD family member 3 (SMAD3), and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) significantly enriched in pathways related to NOD-like receptor signaling and VEGF signaling, indicating that CRT may inhibit angiogenesis by regulating vascular endothelial cell function with modulating angiogenesis-related pathways. In vivo data showed that CRT significantly reduced the positive expression of CD31 and VEGF in the ankle joint of adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats. In vitro data further confirmed that CRT effectively inhibited VEGF-induced migration, invasion, and tube formation in HUVECs, while significantly reduced the expression of angiogenesis-related factors VEGF/CD31/Ang-1, as well as the positive expression of VEGF and CD31 in HUVECs. Furthermore, CRT markedly decreased the protein expression of NOD2, VEGFA, and SMAD3. In conclusion, these findings indicate that CRT may inhibit the RA-related angiogenesis by targeting the NOD2/SMAD3/VEGF signaling axis to improve endothelial cell function, enriching the scientific connotation of CRT in inhibiting pathological angiogenesis in RA and also offer new insights for clinical prevention and treatment of RA.

ObjectiveNeuroinflammation plays a crucial role in both the onset and progression of ischemic stroke, exerting a significant impact on the recovery of the central nervous system. Excessive neuroinflammation can lead to secondary neuronal damage, further exacerbating brain injury and impairing functional recovery. As a result, effectively modulating and reducing neuroinflammation in the brain has become a key therapeutic strategy for improving outcomes in ischemic stroke patients. Among various approaches, targeting immune regulation to control inflammation has gained increasing attention. This study aims to investigate the role of in vitro induced regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in suppressing neuroinflammation after ischemic stroke, as well as their potential therapeutic effects. By exploring the mechanisms through which Tregs exert their immunomodulatory functions, this research is expected to provide new insights into stroke treatment strategies. MethodsNaive CD4⁺ T cells were isolated from mouse spleens using a negative selection method to ensure high purity, and then they were induced in vitro to differentiate into Treg cells by adding specific cytokines. The anti-inflammatory effects and therapeutic potential of Treg cells transplantation in a mouse model of ischemic stroke was evaluated. In the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model, after Treg cells transplantation, their ability to successfully migrate to the infarcted brain region and their impact on neuroinflammation levels were examined. To further investigate the role of Treg cells in stroke recovery, the changes in cytokine expression and their effects on immune cell interactions was analyzed. Additionally, infarct size and behavioral scores were measured to assess the neuroprotective effects of Treg cells. By integrating multiple indicators, the comprehensive evaluation of potential benefits of Treg cells in the treatment of ischemic stroke was performed. ResultsTreg cells significantly regulated the expression levels of both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in vitro and in vivo, effectively balancing the immune response and suppressing excessive inflammation. Additionally, Treg cells inhibited the activation and activity of inflammatory cells, thereby reducing neuroinflammation. In the MCAO mouse model, Treg cells were observed to accumulate in the infarcted brain region, where they significantly reduced the infarct size, demonstrating their neuroprotective effects. Furthermore, Treg cell therapy notably improved behavioral scores, suggesting its role in promoting functional recovery, and increased the survival rate of ischemic stroke mice, highlighting its potential as a promising therapeutic strategy for stroke treatment. ConclusionIn vitro induced Treg cells can effectively suppress neuroinflammation caused by ischemic stroke, demonstrating promising clinical application potential. By regulating the balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, Treg cells can inhibit immune responses in the nervous system, thereby reducing neuronal damage. Additionally, they can modulate the immune microenvironment, suppress the activation of inflammatory cells, and promote tissue repair. The therapeutic effects of Treg cells also include enhancing post-stroke recovery, improving behavioral outcomes, and increasing the survival rate of ischemic stroke mice. With their ability to suppress neuroinflammation, Treg cell therapy provides a novel and effective strategy for the treatment of ischemic stroke, offering broad application prospects in clinical immunotherapy and regenerative medicine.

Objective A simple,sensitive and rapid ultra high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS)method was developed and validated for the determination of ertapenem in human plasma.Methods Using ertapenem-D4 as internal standard,the protein in plasma was precipitated with acetonitrile;chromatographic column:ACQUITY HSS T3(2.1 mm × 50.0 mm,1.8 μm);the mobile phase was 0.1％formic acid aqueous solution(containing 2 mmol·L-1 ammonium formate)-acetonitrile(0.1％formic acid),using a gradient elution;flow rate:0.4 mL·min-1,injection volume:1 μL,column temperature:45 ℃,the analysis time was 4.5 min,the scanning mode is positive ion selective reaction monitoring mode(SRM)with an electric spray ion source(ESI).The specificity,standard curve and lower limit of quantification,precision and recovery,matrix effect,dilution effect and stability were investigated.Results Ertapenem had a good linearity within 0.5-80.0μg·mL-1,and the standard curve was y=4.25 × 10-1x-2.64× 10-2(r2=0.999 0),the lower limit of quantification was 0.5 μg·mL-1,the relative standard deviation within and between batches is 1.39％-4.15％.The extraction recovery rate was 58.36％-64.57％,and the relative standard deviation of dilution effect was 3.30％,and the matrix effect was 99.71％-103.23％.The relative standard deviation of room temperature,repeated freeze-thaw,4 ℃,and long-term stability are all less than 10％.Conclusion The method is sensitive,rapid and specific,which is suitable for clinical monitoring of Ertapenem.

Objective To mine and analyze the adverse event data of polatuzumab vedotin(Pola)and fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki(T-Dxd),so as to provide reference for clinical medication safety.Methods The adverse events reported from January 1,2004 to June 7,2023 were extracted based on openFDA database.The suspicious risk signals were screened by the Open Vigil 2.1 data platform and ranked by signal strength and frequency of occurrence;then ADEs were classified by reference to the MedDRA 26.0.Results A total of 7 164 and 22 870 ADE reports related to Pola and T-Dxd were obtained,and 104 and 95 suspicious ADE signals were detected,respectively.According to the signal intensity,cytomegalovirus enterocolitis(ROR=416.94)for Pola and interstitial lung disease[reporting odds ratio(ROR)=82.55]for T-Dxd ranked first,both of which were recorded in the drug instructions.According to the frequency of occurrence,the two drugs were most frequently associated with death(n=111)and nausea(n=285),respectively.The risk of Pola was associated with 12 systems/organs,of which 26 risk signals were not documented in the drug instruction,and the risk of T-Dxd was associated with 13 systems/organs,of which 18 risk signals were not documented in the drug instruction.Conclusion By tapping the ADE after real-world administration of Pola and T-Dxd,physicians are prompted to pay attention to the risk of adverse reactions in clinical use and actively take preventive and therapeutic measures to ensure the safety of patients'medication.

ObjectiveTo systematically and objectively characterize the pharmacological effects of Fufang Biejia Ruangan pills （FBRP） in the intervention of alcoholic liver disease （ALD） using acute and chronic ALD mouse models and to elucidate its molecular mechanisms. MethodFifty SPF-grade male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into the normal group， model group， and FBRP low-， medium-， and high-dose groups （9.6， 19.2， 38.4 mg·kg^-1）. Except for the normal group， the remaining groups were given 56° white wine by gavage to establish the acute ALD model， with samples collected after 4 weeks. Thirty SPF-grade male C57BL/6N mice were randomly divided into the normal group， model group， and FBRP medium-dose group （19.2 mg·kg^-1）. The chronic ALD mouse model was established using the Lieber-DeCarli method over a 10-week period. Inflammatory markers in liver tissues were assessed using hematoxylin-eosin （HE）， Sirius Red， oil red O staining， and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Intoxication behaviors of each group were objectively evaluated through sobering-up time， net-catching， and pole-climbing tests. Further bioinformatics analyses based on clinical transcriptomic data were conducted to identify key targets and molecular mechanisms of FBRP in alleviating ALD through liver-brain dialogue， with experimental validation by ELISA， Western blot， and immunohistochemical staining. ResultCompared with the normal group, the levels of aspartate aminotransferase （AST） and alanine aminotransferase （ALT） in liver tissues of mice in the acute and chronic ALD model groups were significantly increased （P<0.05）. Compared with the model group， the levels of AST and ALT in liver tissue of mice in FBRP groups were significantly decreased （P<0.05）. Compared with the normal group， the time of grasping the net and climbing the pole in the acute ALD model group was significantly decreased within 4 weeks （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the grasping and climbing time of FBRP high dose groups increased significantly within 4 weeks （P<0.05）. Compared with the normal group， the expression of high mobility group protein B1 （HMGB1） protein in liver tissue and prefrontal lobe tissue of mice in the chronic ALD model group was significantly increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， the expression of HMGB1 protein in FBRP medium dose group was significantly decreased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Compared with the normal group， the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） protein and the release of γ-aminobutyric acid （GABA） in the prefrontal cortex of the model group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group, the expression of BDNF protein and the release of GABA in the FBRP medium dose group were significantly increased （P<0.05）. ConclusionThis study revealed that FBRP improved key pathological changes in ALD by modulating liver-brain dialogue mediated by the HMGB1-BDNF axis. These findings provide experimental evidence for the clinical use of FBRP in treating ALD and offer new insights for the development of ALD therapeutic agents.

ObjectiveTo identify the chemical constituents of Ruyi Zhenbaowan in vitro and in vivo. MethodThe chemical constituents of Ruyi Zhenbaowan were identified based on UHPLC-Q Exactive Orbitrap HRMS. A total of 12 male SD rats were randomized into two groups： control （pure water） and Ruyi Zhenbaowan （1.8 g·kg^-1）. The rats were administrated with the suspension of Ruyi Zhenbaowan or pure water by gavage. After 1.5 h， the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid were collected. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C₁₈ column （2.1 mm × 150 mm， 1.7 μm） with a mixture of 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution （A） and acetonitrile （B） as the mobile phase. Gradient elution was carried out according to the procedure of 0~15 min，97%~80%A；15~30 min ，80%~60%A；30~40 min，60%~30%A；40~45 min，30%~5%A. The ion source was electrospray ionization， and scan range was m/z 100-1 500. The prototype components and the components in the plasma and cerebrospinal fluid were analyzed qualitatively by scanning in positive and negative ion modes and identified by comparison with the data in published literature and the information of standard substances. ResultA total of 126 chemical constituents were identified from the 80% methanol solution of Ruyi Zhenbaowan， and 14 and 7 prototype constituents were detected in the plasma and the cerebrospinal fluid， respectively. In addition， the fragmentation rules of apigenin， apigenin-7-O-glucuronide， galangin， liquiritin， piperine， glycyrrhizic acid， eugenol， gallic acid， and cholic acid were deduced. ConclusionThis study achieved rapid multicomponent characterization and identification of Ruyi Zhenbaowan in vitro and in vivo， providing theoretical support for exploring active substances and performing quality control.l.

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of different doses of remifentanil combined with sevoflurane in patients undergoing spinal surgery.Methods Patients undergoing spinal surgery were divided into low dose group,medium dose group and high dose group.Low dose group,medium dose group and high dose group were given 0.2,0.4 and 0.6 μg·kg-1·min-1 remifentanil by intravenous pump,respectively.Pain status[visual analogue score(VAS)],analgesic drug use,quality of recovery,hemodynamic indexes at different times[before surgery(T0),immediately after intubation(T1),intravenous pump injection of remifentanil 5 min(T2),10 min(T3),15 min(T4)]of the 3 groups were compared;and safety was evaluated.Results The low,medium and high dose groups were enrolled in 49,56 and 51 patients,respectively;the VAS scores at 6,12 and 24 h after operation in the low dose group were(2.48±0.51),(2.73±0.63)and(2.61±0.54)points,respectively;the VAS scores in the medium dose group were(2.36±0.54),(2.65±0.59)and(2.51±0.50)points,respectively;the VAS scores in the high dose group were(2.29±0.53),(2.53±0.57)and(2.44±0.52)points,respectively.There was no statistically significant difference between the groups(all P＞0.05).The number of patient-controlled analgesia pump compressions in the low,medium and high dose groups were(3.27±0.96),(3.02±0.90)and(2.89±0.71)times,respectively;the number of remedial analgesia cases was 2 cases(4.08％),2 cases(3.57％)and 0 cases(0.00％),respectively.There was no statistically significant difference(all P＞0.05).The recovery time of low,medium and high dose groups were(7.05±1.65),(8.24±2.17)and(9.03±2.48)min,respectively;the recovery time of consciousness were(11.26±2.73),(13.85±2.94)and(15.57±3.17)min,respectively;the extubation time were(16.34±3.05),(18.72±3.29)and(20.34±3.58)min,respectively.The differences were statistically significant(all P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in blood oxygen saturation(SpO2),mean arterial pressure and heart rate at time points of T0,T1,T2,T3 and T4 among the three groups(all P＞0.05).Adverse drug reactions in the 3 groups were mainly hypotension,nausea and vomiting,bradycardia,etc.The total incidence of adverse drug reactions in the high,medium and low dose groups was 11.76％(6 cases/51 cases),7.14％(4 cases/56 cases)and 8.16％(4 cases/49 cases),respectively.There were no statistically significant differences(P＞0.05).Conclusion 0.2 μg·kg-1·min-1 remifentanil combined sevoflurane has better recovery quality and high safety in spinal surgery patients.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of Chailian Lvping Granules(mainly composed of Bupleuri Radix,Coptidis Rhizoma,Paeoniae Radix Alba,Angelicae Sinensis Radix,Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma,Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus,and Ziziphi Spinosae Semen)in treating post-stroke anxiety and to observe their effect on serum neurotransmitters and oxidative stress.Methods A total of 104 patients with post-stroke anxiety of liver-qi stagnation and heart-fire exuberance type were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group,52 cases in each group.The control group was treated with conventional western medicine of Paroxetine,and the observation group was treated with Chailian Lvping Granules on the basis of treatment for the control group.The course of treatment lasted for eight weeks.The two groups were observed in the changes of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale(HADS)score,Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA)score,serum neurotransmitter parameters of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF),dopamine(DA),5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)and norepinephrine(NE),and oxidative stress indicators of malondialdehyde(MDA),superoxide dismutase(SOD),and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)before and after treatment.Moreover,the clinical efficacy and total incidence of adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results(1)After eight weeks of treatment,the total effective rate of the observation group was 94.23％(49/52),and that of the control group was 76.92％(40/52).The intergroup comparison(tested by chi-square test)showed that the curative effect of the observation group was significantly superior to that of the control group(P＜0.05).(2)After treatment,the HADS score and HAMA score for the axienty degree in the two groups were decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05),and the decrease of HADS score and HAMA score in the observation group was significantly superior to that in the control group(P＜0.01).(3)After treatment,the serum level of neurotransmitter BDNF in the two groups was increased while the serum levels of DA,5-HT and NE were decreased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05).The increase of serum BDNF level and the decrease of serum DA,5-HT and NE levels in the observation group were significantly superior to those in the control group(P＜0.01).(4)After treatment,the serum level of oxidative stress indicator MDA in the two groups was decreased while the serum levels of SOD and GSH-Px were increased compared with those before treatment(P＜0.05).The decrease of serum MDA level and the increase of serum SOD and GSH-Px levels in the observation group were significantly superior to those in the control group(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).(5)The total incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was 5.77％(3/52),and that in the control group was 9.62％(5/52).There was no significant difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion On the basis of conventional western medicine treatment,Chailian Lvping Granules exert certain effect in the treatment of patients with post-stroke anxiety of liver-qi stagnation and heart-fire exuberance type.The combined therapy is effective and safe on alleviating the anxiety symptoms of patients,decreasing the degree of neurological impairment and stress response level,and has few adverse reactions.

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]

Objectives:To compare the diagnostic efficacy of non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and the predictive value for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) of the 0/3-hour algorithm for high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) recommended by the 2015 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for the management of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) and the 2021 "Chinese Expert Consensus on Laboratory Testing and Clinical Application of Cardiac Troponin" in suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients in the Chinese population. Methods:This is a multicenter prospective observational study,including 1527 patients with suspected ACS from three clinical centers from January 2017 to September 2020.Plasma hs-cTnI levels were measured using the ARCHITECT assay at the time of presentation and 3 hours later in patients with suspected ACS (test determination).Clinical judgment (independent clinical judgment by cardiac experts,independent of the test results) was used as the gold standard to compare the sensitivity,specificity,and consistency of the two diagnostic algorithms,and to analyze their predictive value for MACE at 30 days and 180 days.MACE in this study was defined as a composite event of cardiovascular death,myocardial infarction,and unplanned coronary revascularization. Results:According to clinical judgment,there were 400 patients with NSTEMI and 1127 patients without NSTEMI.The 0/3-hour algorithm recommended by the 2021 Chinese Expert Consensus showed higher sensitivity in diagnosing NSTEMI than the 2015 ESC guidelines (91.50％[95％ CI:88.32％-94.04％]vs.87.75％[95％ CI:84.13％-90.80％]),but slightly lower specificity (93.88％[95％ CI:92.32％-95.21％]vs.95.56％[95％ CI:94.19％-96.69％]),with both differences being statistically significant (both P<0.001).In the follow-up at 30 days and 180 days,the incidence of MACE in patients diagnosed with NSTEMI by both algorithms was higher than in those without NSTEMI (P<0.001).The incidence of MACE at 30 days and 180 days for the group excluded from the diagnosis of NSTEMI by 2015 ESC guidelines was 0.19％ and 1.120％,respectively,and for the NSTEMI group was 2.89％ and 3.68％,respectively;for the group excluded from NSTEMI by the 2021 Chinese Expert Consensus,the incidence was 0.096％ and 0.770％,respectively,and for the NSTEMI group was 2.91％ and 4.36％,respectively.Cox analysis showed that the HR ratio for MACE at 180 days in the NSTEMI group diagnosed by both algorithms was 3.418 and 5.892,respectively,significantly higher than the group excluded from NSTEMI. Conclusions:The 0/3-hour algorithm recommended by the 2021 Chinese Expert Consensus has superior diagnostic sensitivity compared to the 2015 ESC NSTE-ACS guidelines,at the cost of slightly lower specificity.Both algorithms can effectively predict MACE within 180 days,but based on the data from this study,the algorithm recommended by the 2021 Chinese Expert Consensus is more sensitive in predicting the risk of MACE,and patients excluded from the diagnosis of NSTEMI by this method have a lower incidence of MACE,suggesting that its application in clinical practice may be more helpful in terms of long-term safe management of patients.