Objective To explore a standardized approach for indicating dosages in Chinese patent medicines(CPM)instructions.Methods A review of 1 378 classic formulas of traditional Chinese medicine in the 2020 edition of the Pharmaco-poeia of the People's Republic of China(Chinese Pharmacopoeia)was conducted,focusing on three aspects:overdose,different dosage forms,and inclusion of toxic herbs.Approximately 50 representative formulas were selected,and their daily dosage of herbal pieces and the corresponding dosage of individual herbs were calculated.These results were then compared and analyzed against the dosages stipulated in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.Results ①Overdose:Among the 1 378 reviewed formulas,146(10.60％)were found to involve overdose.Specifically,eight formulas were identified as having an overdose of approximately 3 to 5 times the recommended dose,including Duanxueliu tablets and Zhixue Fumai mixture.②Dosage variations across dosage forms:Based on the conversion of the Ming-Qing dynasty dosage of one liang(Chinese traditional weight unit)to 36 g,the estimated dai-ly dose per component of crude herbs in Yinqiao powder was close to the upper limit specified in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.The total daily dose of crude herbs(75.60 g)was approximately five times that of the Yinqiao powder(15 g)listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and three times that of the Japanese Kampo Yinqiao powder(23.868 g).Significant differences in dosage were ob-served among Yinqiao Jiedu preparations of different dosage forms.In terms of total daily dose of crude herbs,granules(52.50 g)had the highest dose,approximately 3-5 times that of tablets/capsules(11.20 g),soft capsules(13.44 g),and powders(15.00 g),but still 30％ lower than the original prescription from ancient texts(75.6 g).Comparing the daily dose per compo-nent,granules fell within the Chinese Pharmacopoeia dose range,while tablets,capsules,soft capsules,and powders were all below the Chinese Pharmacopoeia dose.③Inclusion of toxic herbs:Among the 20 oral formulations containing Strychnos nux-vomica(Maqianzi)listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia,seven species exceeded the pharmacopoeial dose of 0.3-0.6 g per day.Notably,Shenjin Huoluo pill and Shufeng Dingtong pill exceeded the Chinese Pharmacopoeia dose by 1.5-2 times.The daily dose of strych-nosine in Shenjin Huoluo pill was 21.3 mg,exceeding the toxic dose range of 5-10 mg.Conclusions The dosage indications in CPM instructions must adhere to a unified format,clearly stating the daily dose per component of crude herbs,the total daily dose of crude herbs,and the total number of administrations under the"Dosage and Administration"section.For instance,"Yinqiao Jiedu granules,with a total daily dose equivalent to 60 g of crude herbs taken in four doses(including:Flos Lonicerae 10.71 g,Fructus Forsythiae 10.71 g,Radix Platycodi 6.43 g,Herba Menthae Haplocalycis 6.43 g,Fructus Arctii 6.43 g,Semen Sojae Preparatum 5.36 g,Radix Glycyrrhizae 5.36 g,Herba Lophatheri 4.29 g,Herba Schizonepetae 4.29 g)."For CPM containing tox-ic herbs,dosage indications are even more crucial,such as specifying the daily dose of Maqianzi powder/processed Maqianzi and strychnosine in formulations containing this herb.

Objective:To evaluate the application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing（mNGS）in the identification of non-tuberculous mycobacteria（NTM）.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on mNGS results of 358 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid（BALF）samples positive for NTM collected at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from February 2021 to January 2024. The analysis included the distribution of NTM species，the detection of mixed pathogens，and the performance of conventional mycobacterial detection methods.Results:The results showed that 362 strains of 15 NTM species were identified from 350 specimens，8 specimens were not precise to the species level. The most frequently detected species were Mycobacterium intracellulare（37.3%，135/362）， Mycobacterium abscessus（26.8%，97/362），followed by Mycobacterium avium（11.0%，40/362）， Mycobacterium kansasii（8.0%，29/362）and Mycobacterium chelonae（7.7%，28/362）. Single NTM species were detected in 339 specimens，while two or three NTM species were simultaneously detected in 11 specimens（3.1%，11/358）. Non-NTM microorganisms co-infected were detected in 53.4%（191/358）of NTM-positive BALF samples，including common pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa， Staphylococcus aureus，and Aspergillus fumigatus；and difficult-to-identify pathogens such as Legionella pneumophila and Talaromyces marneffei. In NTM-positive patients detected by mNGS，the results supported the diagnosis of NTM infection in 298 cases（298/358，83.2%）and 105 cases（105/358，29.3%）initiated anti-NTM treatment accordingly；while in 60 cases（60/358，16.8%）the positive results were considered as colonization or unrelated to clinical infection. For samples tested with acid-fast staining，mycobacterial liquid culture，and DNA microarray，the positivity rates for NTM were 31.5%（73/232），48.7%（57/117），and 43.0%（46/107），respectively. Conclusions:mNGS demonstrates advantages in identification of NTM. However，the test may detect multiple microorganisms，in that case，the interpretation with clinical and radiological results is requried to determine the main pathogens.

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of acute respiratory infections(ARIs)during the autumn-winter season in Beijing,providing evidence for the prevention,control,diagnosis,and treatment of ARIs.Methods A convenience sampling method was employed,enrolling patients who visited Peking Union Medical College Hospital(PUMCH)between September 2023 and February 2024 due to ARIs.Na-sopharyngeal swabs were collected,and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect six common respiratory pathogens[influenza A virus(FluA),influenza B virus(FluB),human rhinovirus(HRV),Myco-plasma pneumoniae(MP),respiratory syncytial virus(RSV),and adenovirus(ADV)],as well as SARS-CoV-2 infection.The distribution patterns of pathogen infections were analyzed.Results A total of 5556 eligible patients were included.The overall positivity rate for the six common respiratory pathogens was 63.7％,with sin-gle-pathogen positivity at 54.0％,dual-pathogen positivity at 8.9％,and triple or more pathogen positivity at 0.7％.The predominant pathogens detected were FluA(16.1％)and RSV(15.7％),followed by ADV(11.1％),MP(11.1％),HRV(10.0％),and FluB(10.0％).No significant difference in overall pathogen positivity was observed between genders.However,significant differences were found between autumn and winter(x2=34.617,P＜0.001)and among pediatric,young/middle-aged,and elderly patients(x2=422.38,P＜0.001).Specifically,MP(x2=8.647,P=0.003),FluA(x2=131.932,P＜0.001),and HRV(x2=174.199,P＜0.001)exhibited significantly higher positivity rates in autumn than in winter,whereas FluB was more prevalent in winter(x2=287.894,P＜0.001).In pediatric patients,MP,RSV,HRV,and ADV positivity rates were significantly higher than in young/middle-aged and elderly patients(all P＜0.001),whereas FluB was more common in young/middle-aged patients(both P＜0.001).The positivity rates of the six common respiratory pathogens significantly declined during the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic period,exhibiting an asynchronous seasonal pattern.Conclusions The prevalence of respiratory pathogens in Beijing is associated with age and season.Tar-geted preventive measures should be implemented in different seasons and for key populations.

INTRODUCTION: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), originally an antimalarial drug, is currently used to treat multiple disorders, especially rheumatic diseases. Given its good efficacy and safety, HCQ is widely administered in pregnant patients. However, the safety profile of HCQ during pregnancy remains controversial due to limited research. In addition, HCQ has been reported to reduce preeclampsia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and could potentially alleviate the symptom of preeclampsia. However, the clinical profile and molecular mechanism of HCQ in preeclampsia is yet to be fully understood. METHOD: We reviewed the literature on HCQ treatment in pregnancy with rheumatic diseases and preeclamp-sia in PubMed and Web of Science. We also discussed the safety of long-term therapy with HCQ during pregnancy. RESULTS: HCQ mainly modulates autoimmune response through inhibition of lysosomal function, toll-like receptor (TLR) signalling, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-mediated oxidative stress and autophagy. Benefits of HCQ in treating rheumatic diseases, including antiphospholipid syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome during pregnancy, has been demonstrated in clinics. In particular, multiple clinical guidelines recommend HCQ as an indispensable therapeutic drug for pregnant patients with SLE. Additionally, it may potentially function in preeclampsia to improve clinical symptoms. CONCLUSION HCQ is effectively used for rheumatic diseases during pregnancy. The benefits of HCQ treatment in rheumatic diseases outweigh the risk of adverse reactions it induces in pregnant women.
Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine/pharmacology* ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Antirheumatic Agents/pharmacology* ; Rheumatic Diseases/drug therapy* ; Pregnancy Complications/drug therapy* ; Pre-Eclampsia/prevention & control* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/drug therapy* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Antiphospholipid Syndrome/drug therapy* ; Sjogren's Syndrome/drug therapy*

Pain management is an important component of military medical support during wartime.Early pain management for wounded soldiers can effectively alleviate pain,which is critical to maintaining combat effectiveness,promoting physiological and psychological recovery of wounded soldiers,preventing chronic pain,and helping them return to the battle field.In recent years,the U.S.Armed Forces have increasingly emphasized prehospital pain management.They have been updating the relevant pain management guidelines to establish a practical system in order to ensure that the pain of wounded soldiers is effectively controlled.This paper reviews the current research on prehospital pain management in the U.S.Armed Forces and summarizes the advanced and practical technologies for prehospital pain management.It provides references for research on prehospital pain management,and optimization of prehospital pain management strate-gies suited to China's operational context,and for the design of related training programs.

AIM:To investigate the effect of silent information regulator 1(SIRT1)on the degree of aging and apoptosis in a mouse cardiomyocyte aging model through the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway.METHODS:An in vi-tro aging model was established by inducing HL-1 cells with 40 μmol/L D-galactose(D-Gal).The HL-1 cells were trans-fected with a lentivirus overexpressing SIRT1,and the transfection efficiency was verified by Western blot.Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of SIRT1,P53,P21,cleaved caspase-3,B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax),β-catenin,Wnt3a and c-Myc.Senescence-associated β-galactosidase(SA-β-Gal)staining was used to detect cellular senescence level.MTT colorimetric assay was used to detect the cell viability,and flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis.RESULTS:Treatment of HL-1 mouse cardiomyocytes with D-Gal led to in-creases in the expression levels of aging-related proteins P53 and P21,as well as an increase in SIRT1 protein level.Addi-tionally,the SA-β-Gal staining showed a significant increase in the positive area(P＜0.05).The expression levels of apop-tosis-related proteins cleaved caspase-3 and Bax were elevated,while the level of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was re-duced(P＜0.05).There was a marked decrease in cell viability(P＜0.05),and flow cytometry analysis demonstrated a significant increase in cell apoptosis rate(P＜0.05),which was positively correlated with the duration of D-Gal treatment.Overexpression of SIRT1 notably reduced both aging and apoptosis levels after 48 h of D-Gal treatment(P＜0.05).After D-Gal treatment,the expression levels of β-catenin,c-Myc and Wnt3a proteins were up-regulated.However,these levels were reduced when SIRT1 was overexpressed.Moreover,the addition of LiCl,a Wnt/β-catenin pathway agonist,resulted in increased expression levels of β-catenin,c-Myc and Wnt3a proteins compared with the group with SIRT1 overexpres-sion and D-Gal treatment(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:SIRT1 inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis and alleviates cardiomyo-cyte aging through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Objective To explore a standardized approach for indicating dosages in Chinese patent medicines(CPM)instructions.Methods A review of 1 378 classic formulas of traditional Chinese medicine in the 2020 edition of the Pharmaco-poeia of the People's Republic of China(Chinese Pharmacopoeia)was conducted,focusing on three aspects:overdose,different dosage forms,and inclusion of toxic herbs.Approximately 50 representative formulas were selected,and their daily dosage of herbal pieces and the corresponding dosage of individual herbs were calculated.These results were then compared and analyzed against the dosages stipulated in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.Results ①Overdose:Among the 1 378 reviewed formulas,146(10.60％)were found to involve overdose.Specifically,eight formulas were identified as having an overdose of approximately 3 to 5 times the recommended dose,including Duanxueliu tablets and Zhixue Fumai mixture.②Dosage variations across dosage forms:Based on the conversion of the Ming-Qing dynasty dosage of one liang(Chinese traditional weight unit)to 36 g,the estimated dai-ly dose per component of crude herbs in Yinqiao powder was close to the upper limit specified in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia.The total daily dose of crude herbs(75.60 g)was approximately five times that of the Yinqiao powder(15 g)listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and three times that of the Japanese Kampo Yinqiao powder(23.868 g).Significant differences in dosage were ob-served among Yinqiao Jiedu preparations of different dosage forms.In terms of total daily dose of crude herbs,granules(52.50 g)had the highest dose,approximately 3-5 times that of tablets/capsules(11.20 g),soft capsules(13.44 g),and powders(15.00 g),but still 30％ lower than the original prescription from ancient texts(75.6 g).Comparing the daily dose per compo-nent,granules fell within the Chinese Pharmacopoeia dose range,while tablets,capsules,soft capsules,and powders were all below the Chinese Pharmacopoeia dose.③Inclusion of toxic herbs:Among the 20 oral formulations containing Strychnos nux-vomica(Maqianzi)listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia,seven species exceeded the pharmacopoeial dose of 0.3-0.6 g per day.Notably,Shenjin Huoluo pill and Shufeng Dingtong pill exceeded the Chinese Pharmacopoeia dose by 1.5-2 times.The daily dose of strych-nosine in Shenjin Huoluo pill was 21.3 mg,exceeding the toxic dose range of 5-10 mg.Conclusions The dosage indications in CPM instructions must adhere to a unified format,clearly stating the daily dose per component of crude herbs,the total daily dose of crude herbs,and the total number of administrations under the"Dosage and Administration"section.For instance,"Yinqiao Jiedu granules,with a total daily dose equivalent to 60 g of crude herbs taken in four doses(including:Flos Lonicerae 10.71 g,Fructus Forsythiae 10.71 g,Radix Platycodi 6.43 g,Herba Menthae Haplocalycis 6.43 g,Fructus Arctii 6.43 g,Semen Sojae Preparatum 5.36 g,Radix Glycyrrhizae 5.36 g,Herba Lophatheri 4.29 g,Herba Schizonepetae 4.29 g)."For CPM containing tox-ic herbs,dosage indications are even more crucial,such as specifying the daily dose of Maqianzi powder/processed Maqianzi and strychnosine in formulations containing this herb.

AIM:To investigate the effect of silent information regulator 1(SIRT1)on the degree of aging and apoptosis in a mouse cardiomyocyte aging model through the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway.METHODS:An in vi-tro aging model was established by inducing HL-1 cells with 40 μmol/L D-galactose(D-Gal).The HL-1 cells were trans-fected with a lentivirus overexpressing SIRT1,and the transfection efficiency was verified by Western blot.Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of SIRT1,P53,P21,cleaved caspase-3,B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax),β-catenin,Wnt3a and c-Myc.Senescence-associated β-galactosidase(SA-β-Gal)staining was used to detect cellular senescence level.MTT colorimetric assay was used to detect the cell viability,and flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis.RESULTS:Treatment of HL-1 mouse cardiomyocytes with D-Gal led to in-creases in the expression levels of aging-related proteins P53 and P21,as well as an increase in SIRT1 protein level.Addi-tionally,the SA-β-Gal staining showed a significant increase in the positive area(P＜0.05).The expression levels of apop-tosis-related proteins cleaved caspase-3 and Bax were elevated,while the level of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was re-duced(P＜0.05).There was a marked decrease in cell viability(P＜0.05),and flow cytometry analysis demonstrated a significant increase in cell apoptosis rate(P＜0.05),which was positively correlated with the duration of D-Gal treatment.Overexpression of SIRT1 notably reduced both aging and apoptosis levels after 48 h of D-Gal treatment(P＜0.05).After D-Gal treatment,the expression levels of β-catenin,c-Myc and Wnt3a proteins were up-regulated.However,these levels were reduced when SIRT1 was overexpressed.Moreover,the addition of LiCl,a Wnt/β-catenin pathway agonist,resulted in increased expression levels of β-catenin,c-Myc and Wnt3a proteins compared with the group with SIRT1 overexpres-sion and D-Gal treatment(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION:SIRT1 inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis and alleviates cardiomyo-cyte aging through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Objective:To evaluate the application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing（mNGS）in the identification of non-tuberculous mycobacteria（NTM）.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on mNGS results of 358 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid（BALF）samples positive for NTM collected at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from February 2021 to January 2024. The analysis included the distribution of NTM species，the detection of mixed pathogens，and the performance of conventional mycobacterial detection methods.Results:The results showed that 362 strains of 15 NTM species were identified from 350 specimens，8 specimens were not precise to the species level. The most frequently detected species were Mycobacterium intracellulare（37.3%，135/362）， Mycobacterium abscessus（26.8%，97/362），followed by Mycobacterium avium（11.0%，40/362）， Mycobacterium kansasii（8.0%，29/362）and Mycobacterium chelonae（7.7%，28/362）. Single NTM species were detected in 339 specimens，while two or three NTM species were simultaneously detected in 11 specimens（3.1%，11/358）. Non-NTM microorganisms co-infected were detected in 53.4%（191/358）of NTM-positive BALF samples，including common pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa， Staphylococcus aureus，and Aspergillus fumigatus；and difficult-to-identify pathogens such as Legionella pneumophila and Talaromyces marneffei. In NTM-positive patients detected by mNGS，the results supported the diagnosis of NTM infection in 298 cases（298/358，83.2%）and 105 cases（105/358，29.3%）initiated anti-NTM treatment accordingly；while in 60 cases（60/358，16.8%）the positive results were considered as colonization or unrelated to clinical infection. For samples tested with acid-fast staining，mycobacterial liquid culture，and DNA microarray，the positivity rates for NTM were 31.5%（73/232），48.7%（57/117），and 43.0%（46/107），respectively. Conclusions:mNGS demonstrates advantages in identification of NTM. However，the test may detect multiple microorganisms，in that case，the interpretation with clinical and radiological results is requried to determine the main pathogens.

Objective:To explore the relationship between the hypertensive snowbirds′ length of migratory stay and their blood pressure control and blood pressure levels.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. A population of snowbirds with hypertension was recruited between October and November 2022, and a structured questionnaire was used to collect their self-measured blood pressure and length of stay in Hainan Province. The blood pressure control status is determined based on self-measured blood pressure. According to the self-measured blood pressure to determine whether the blood pressure was well controlled. The associations between snowbirds′ length of stay and their blood pressure control as well as their self-measured blood pressure were analyzed using restricted cubic splines.Results:A total of 362 research subjects were included, 169(46.7%) of whom were male, and their age was (69.7±7.0) years old. The participants′ self-measured systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were (129.1±16.2) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) and (78.9±10.1) mmHg, respectively. Overall, 174 (48.1%) participants attained adequate blood pressure control. The median length of stay in Wuzhishan City was 7(6, 7) months. There was an inverted U-shaped association between snowbirds′ length of stay and blood pressure control (overall: P=0.023; nonlinearity: P=0.014), where participants with a length of stay of 7 months had the highest rate of blood pressure control. There is a U-shaped curve relationship between length of stay and systolic blood pressure (overall: P=0.001; nonlinearity: P=0.033), and a linear negative correlation with diastolic blood pressure ( β=-1.19, P=0.003). Conclusions:Compared with hypertensive snowbirds with too long or too short lengths of stay, snowbirds who stayed in Wuzhishan City for seven months have better blood pressure control, and systolic blood pressure is also lower.